I love throwing parties and entertaining, but I love throwing parties for my family even more! Joel isn't one for parties or entertaining so I try not to ask too much of him. Yard work, helping me set up for outdoor events and a few interior details and he's done! I take on all the rest.
This year was McKinley's second birthday and I started planning about a month before the big day! We threw a Sesame Street party with an emphasis on Elmo. McKinley loves Elmo, and I love all the other characters, so I incorporated both! I originally turned to Pinterest for ideas, but I ended up just going it on my own! I've been doing this long before Pinterest ever came into the cyber world! Another reason, I didn't want to feel like an unfit mother who can't compete with some of the other talented mothers in the world!
The cake sets the tone of any party so I went with the face of Elmo! I have no real artistic skills to speak of, so drawing or creating anything free hand would be a sheer disaster! That's why I rely on these useful cake pans! The artistry work is done while baking and all I have to do is follow the ice-by-numbers instructions provided! I thought he turned out really well!
I also wanted to make cupcakes in case no one wanted to cut into the cake. And, I just love to bake! A simple boxed cake, icing out of the can and tinted to as close to Big Bird yellow as possible was all it took. Cute Sesame Street papers and picks complete the decor. I wanted the Elmo face to be the focal point of the table.
Small details were scattered throughout the house. McKinley has several Sesame Street themed cars so I set the around the living. I took his small stuffed characters and placed them among the dessert and plate tables. There were cardboard center pieces, a themed table cloth and confetti sprinkled everywhere! I filled my glass canisters with goldfish to represent Dorothy, Elmo's pet goldfish, and chocolate chip cookies...Cookie Monster's favorite!
Finally, the party favors. My guests will never leave empty handed! McKinley has a Sesame Street book that came with a CD player and four CD's. The CD's are four characters singing fun children's song. Cookie Monster sings a catchy tune called "C is for Cookie" which got me thinking. I baked sugar cookies and frosted them with royal icing. I piped the letter M in the center of each cookie and made tags that said "M is for McKinley". I made the tags from red cardstock, themed stickers and tied them around the goodie bags with colorful striped ribbon.
I think the birthday boy had a great day! It started off a little rocky. He got up around 6:30 that morning, almost a full hour before normally his normal time, and needed a nap about an hour later! We made it though!
I still can't believe he's two!
This year was McKinley's second birthday and I started planning about a month before the big day! We threw a Sesame Street party with an emphasis on Elmo. McKinley loves Elmo, and I love all the other characters, so I incorporated both! I originally turned to Pinterest for ideas, but I ended up just going it on my own! I've been doing this long before Pinterest ever came into the cyber world! Another reason, I didn't want to feel like an unfit mother who can't compete with some of the other talented mothers in the world!
The cake sets the tone of any party so I went with the face of Elmo! I have no real artistic skills to speak of, so drawing or creating anything free hand would be a sheer disaster! That's why I rely on these useful cake pans! The artistry work is done while baking and all I have to do is follow the ice-by-numbers instructions provided! I thought he turned out really well!
Finally, the party favors. My guests will never leave empty handed! McKinley has a Sesame Street book that came with a CD player and four CD's. The CD's are four characters singing fun children's song. Cookie Monster sings a catchy tune called "C is for Cookie" which got me thinking. I baked sugar cookies and frosted them with royal icing. I piped the letter M in the center of each cookie and made tags that said "M is for McKinley". I made the tags from red cardstock, themed stickers and tied them around the goodie bags with colorful striped ribbon.
I think the birthday boy had a great day! It started off a little rocky. He got up around 6:30 that morning, almost a full hour before normally his normal time, and needed a nap about an hour later! We made it though!
