Getting Ready for ONE!

Kali will be 11 Months on Saturday, so I've been working hard on getting her first birthday up and running.  Since her birthday is on a Monday, we're going to have her party on Saturday, October 8th.  I wanted to go all out and have it at a jumpy-house place that makes it a big deal.  But TJ talked me out of that one, and said that she's not going to really remember or be able to enjoy the jumpy-house party right now (so I'm putting it on the back burner for next year possibly).  So, we're having her party at a park right down the road from the house, where there is a pavilion for us to do the cake and presents, but a playground for the kids, and if it's warm enough, we can play in the water.  And it's going to be a CUPCAKE theme!  I'm hoping it's a big hit.

I got introduced to www.pinterest.com and I've become addicted! It's the best site for if you're planning something to buy that you're not going to do right away.  You can pin the things you find, so that you can go back days, weeks, or even months later and be able to go right to whatever you were looking at. Awesome!  Anyway...since I was able to pin all the stuff I was looking at, I can now show/attach it here! Woo Hoo. :)

So, this is the first thing that sent me on the idea of doing a Cupcake Theme:

I love the polka dots and the "First Birthday Girl".  But unfortunately, it was on back order so I didn't get to order it (although I just linked to it from pinterest to find this picture and it might be back in stock - GOING TO BUY)! So those polka dots and scallops lead me to this:

I ordered these with her 9 month picture (super cute).  I had 6 people proofread the invite before purchasing 40 of these suckers.  I ordered them last month because I had a 30% code, so I got them for less than cost! LOL.  So I've had them for a month...and I JUST realized that I forgot to put her name on the invite.  Good thing her picture is there, so hopefully people will know who it's for! HAHA. Oh well.

So, now I have the theme. I have the invites. Now I need the OUTFIT! Whoop Whoop!
I haven't purchased this yet, but I have some front runners:
 
I can't decide which one to get.  I was originally thinking the first dress, but now that I'm looking at them side-by-side I'm thinking about the second one (and it's a bit cheaper. LOL).  I have a friend that just opened a shop who said she can make matching bloomers to whatever dress I pick. So I'm so excited.  Hopefully she'll be full on walking by then (she still has to hold onto something) so I can see her toddling around in one of these dresses!!! We'll see. I guess I do have to make a decision pretty soon though. I only have a month before her birthday (OMG!!!!).

So to keep with the theme, I'm going to get these Thank You stickers for the favors.  I'm going to do little goodie bags for the kids, and have cupcake boxes for adults if they want to take any home:

They say "Thanks for making my party sweet! Kali"  I'm pretty excited about these little gems too! :)

Last, are the CUPCAKES! I have a friend on Facebook (well not really a "friend", he's a friend of a friend that makes cupcakes) who is trying to start his own cupcake shop and is making them out of his home right now.  He puts pictures of his cupcakes up all the time and I LOVE them!
 - Oreo Cupcakes.  Ummm... Yea! I could eat 100 of these suckers!
 - Half/Half cupcakes.  Half Chocolate/Half Vanilla! These are what I picked! Who can go wrong with BOTH! (I ordered some regular choc and vanilla ones for those crazy folks who don't want the Fun one).  And then I'm going to have him do a strawberry icing and candy sprinkles. Like this:
 - Nom Nom Nom!!!

He's not that expensive, and is going to spell out "Happy 1st Birthday Kali" on the cupcakes.  And the "Kali" one is going to be bigger and that's the one she'll eat.  I'm super excited about this.

I hope everything comes together nicely. :-)

And in my pinterest browsing, I found a "cupcake making station" where you give the guests/kids their own naked cupcake and have stations with different frosting and candies, etc.  That way each kid can make their own. I was really thinking about doing this (although haven't ruled it out since I still have time to think about it and haven't paid Big Daddys Cup Cakes, so I could still have him make some naked ones.).  But I might hold off on that one and do it when she's older and can make her own or something.  Another one to put in the thought box for a later date.

It's been so fun planning her party.  I could definitely go all out for it, but I'm having to reel myself in since it's only her first birthday and she's not going to remember it (other than pictures - which there will be lots of).  So I might do more of the fun things when she's older and can enjoy them herself.  We'll see.

I can't believe my little lovie is going to be 1, and I'm planning her party. Man, time flies when you're having fun!! :)