It's Called a Birthday Week

To say my birthday was good would be a gross understatement. It was fricken fantastic.

Chris blew me away with a day of surprises on my actual birthday. He arranged for me to have a massage in the afternoon then took me for dinner at one of my favourite restaurants, Blue Water. We stayed downtown for the night and when I woke up I honestly didn't know where I was. The sun was shining and you could here the hustle of a busy downtown weekday, it felt like we had teleported away on vacation. We read the paper in bed and drank coffee while it was still hot then walked to brunch at our leisure and spent the rest of the day shopping. Chris was so patient and generous and let me choose the most gorgeous new purse. The 24 hours we spent kicking off my 30s seemed like a dream. 

The rest of the week was spent on party prep for my Clueless/90s themed birthday celebration. Considering tat I can no longer do things small scale - otherwise known as the curse of the event planner - I am actually proud of how I kept the decor at a manageable level. Some signs, candy bar labels, a little glitter and a few last minute crafts were the sum total and Chris and my mom handled food and drinks. The party turned out beautifully but the best part was all the effort my friends put into their costumes. They were fabulous! I went as Cher from Clueless, of course, and finally got to wear my yellow plaid Partyskirt bought months ago especially for this occasion. Friends came as Courtney Love & Kurt Cobain, The Spice Girls, Kriss Kross and even Mrs. Doubtfire. The prizes were well deserved. 

We ate, we drank, we danced, we stayed up til 3am and then felt like parents all over again with a 6:45 wake up call. The hangover was well worth it though and I spent the first Sunday of my 30s with my best friend, Lanny, recovering in pjs, eating chips and gabbing for hours. It was a perfect introduction to what is sure to be my best decade yet. 

Eloise's Circus Birthday

This week Eloise's Circus Themed birthday party was featured on On To Baby, one of my very favourite family blogs. The post was so full of colour and joy, with beautiful images by Jamie Lauren Photography and Christie Graham Photography, a perfect representation of the wonderful party we held for Eloise last year.

It's a little funny that it took us until Eloise turned three to get this party published but that's just the way things go. And better late than never, as this is certainly a celebration that needed sharing.

{on to baby}

{on to baby}

To see more of Eloise's Circus Themed party have a gander at the full gallery.

It Was All a Dream

Friday was my 10 year high school reunion and it was truly a surreal experience. 140 odd classmates (out of a whopping 550) showed up, so I'd say the turn out was pretty great. The planning started nearly a year ago but with poor ticket sales up until early last week, I honestly didn't think we were going to pull it off. I crafted fun "West Van High" themed decor items - striped straws with plaid flags, signs, plaid pennants and Class of 2003 bunting - and organized all of the details, but without knowing what the turn out would be, the pressure was on.

Thankfully, my worrying was for nothing. By the time the doors opened at 8pm all was set for what turned out to be a great night. I still can't believe it's been 10 whole years, and although Facebook has ruined the suspense of, "What have you been doing all this time?!" it was still exciting to see everyone in person. How cute is the photo above with my still-besties Lanny & Di? Together, with our missing BFF Linds, we have been inseparable since grade 10. 

My brother DJ'd for us, playing mostly 90's and 2000's hip hop (my fave) and the dance floor was full the moment he dropped Notorious BIG's "Juicy". For some reason this song was an anthem for our grad class and after all this time the opening lyrics "It Was All a Dream" rang true. On Friday night 10 years ago certainly seemed that way.

PS. I crafted this canvas for Eloise's room last week. My Mom thought it was from a fairy tale, but this too is a nod to Biggy. 

A Little Hangover

My parents hosted a lovely surprise party Saturday night and as usual, Eloise was the star of the show (next to the birthday girl, of course). She greeted guests as they arrived, danced on the lawn during cocktails, held several after dinner conversations and basically partied, happy as can be, until 10:30.

On Sunday morning she had a two year old's version of a hangover. A little hangover if you will. Cranky and whiny, unable to articulate what she wanted to do or play, Eloise demanded water and carbs while she lay on the couch. She slept in til 9am but was back in bed by 11:30 for a nap. Sounds like how I feel after a big night out, the only things missing were two extra-strength Advil and a Caesar.

This is a party animal.

The morning after. 

The Circus Came to Town

Yesterday Eloise's Circus came to town and what a party it was.

The countless hours I put into creating and preparing for the party definitely paid off and it was a great success. The decor turned out beautifully, Chris' hot dog station was delish and I think the beer and shandies were well received by parents. But best of all, the kids had a blast! We set up an extensive train track in the living room, had out Little People play sets, balls, toys and a colouring table. Eloise's little circus tent maintained no less than two children inside at a time and at one point there was a herd of little ones running up and down the hallway screaming (mostly Eloise). It was utter chaos and Eloise loved every minute of it. I am exhausted.

When I got into bed last night I had a moment of panic remembering that I didn't take any photos. Then I realized there were not one but two very talented photographers shooting for us and that I can look forward to sharing what they captured. Phew.

Circus Circus

It's hard to believe but Eloise's second birthday is just around the corner. Of course I've been dreaming of plans for this party since shortly after her first, but now it's time to really start planning. As we enter what is sure to be an exciting and challenging year in Eloise's toddlerhood, otherwise known as the 'terrible twos' this year's birthday theme is going to be, appropriately, The Circus.

I took my inspiration for this party from a set of tin circus plates from Restoration Hardware given to us by Eloise's cousin Lucy. I just love the colours and Eloise is crazy about all of the animal images: a giraffe, monkey, elephant, and goose. There are even little tin circus animals which will hold her birthday candles.

Using these plates as a starting off point I'm thinking lots of red & white with animal motifs throughout, perfect fun for Eloise and her friends. I've been getting tons of inspiration from Pinterest and have a few other ideas up my sleeve (just like a magician, pun intended). Lots of balloons, a 'big top' in the dining room, maybe even a juggling not-scary clown, it's going to be way too much fun.

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Party Planning

{image: Pinterest}

Eloise's first birthday is just seven weeks away and I am hoping to throw her a very special Ballerina party (naturally). Pink, tulle, tutus and pretty treats, it's going to be a girly dream!

I realize that this is a birthday she will only remember from photos, but the planner in me is making it awfully hard not to go over the top in planning the details. I want this party to be fun for Eloise as well as a special way for Chris and me to celebrate our little girl, so we need to make some important decisions. Do we invite all of our friends for a big to-do or just host a small party for family? Do you plan activities for a one year old's birthday or is it just a free for all?

I have been looking to Sweet Designs, Kara's Party Ideas and of course, Pinterest for inspiration. Coincidentally, one of Eloise's little friends from will also be having a ballerina first birthday so it's been fun collaborating with her mom on craft ideas. I can't wait to make the tutu wreath below!

{images: Pinterest}

Say it with Bubbles!

'Tis the season for making merry and there's no better way to do so than with a glass (or let's be honest, at least two...) of bubbly. Whether it's prosecco, brut or Champagne, nothing says partytime quite like it.

We started off an impromptu Christmas celebration with friends at our place last night with a tasty organic prosecco from Villa Teresa followed by a crisp blanc de noir brut from the Fraser Valley winery Neck of the Woods. Both bottles worked deliciously with a selection of meats and cheeses and neither rang in at more than $20.00. This evening's bubbly (have I mentioned 'tis the season?) was decidedly more decadent as we dropped in on friends and were treated to a fruitful Taittinger Rosé and a very lovely bottle of Dom Perignon.

With Christmas morning drawing near and New Years just a week away, there will be much more time to celebrate the season with bubbles. I plan to pick up a few bottles of my favourite price-conscious bubbly, Steller's Jay Brut by Sumac Ridge and maybe a yummy bottle of Sofia Blanc de Blancs by Francis Coppola too. 

It's going to be a very merry Christmas indeed!