The New Generation of the Crazy Birthday Party Mom

When I was a kid, there wasn't a high chair banner for a first birthday, or themed-centered favors, or even fondant cake. The invitation came in the mail {but mostly by hand} on fill in the blank invites that did not coincide with the party, whatsoever {unless Lisa Frank counts, which it totally should}.

Or maybe that was just my house.

My parties growing up consisted of just telling friend's at school to come over on Sunday, playing Bozo's Grand Prize Game with old pots and pans, and my mom pocketing any birthday money that I received in cards because I "had to pay her back for my party."

This is probably why I go balls to the wall as a parent.

1. I love a good invitation... no fill in the blanks or facebook invites here.
2. I always serve lunch... even when I am cussing myself the day of the party because I forgot 7 things at the store.
3. My babies get homemade birthday cake... Fondant cake looks awesome, but I have to draw my budget line somewhere. And I love the idea that they know their mom will always make them a birthday cake from scratch.

Clearly not the best looking cakes from scratch...

Anyway, Olive's first birthday is in a few weeks. Girlfriend is always going to get the shit end of the stick with a December birthday. Her birthday is the same month as Christmas and our personal property taxes on our vehicles being due (damn you, Missouri).  Haven on the other hand? He is in February and his birthday always falls on the same week we get our company bonus. Lucky turd.

With her party being a few weeks away, I gotta start planning.

Who am I kidding? It's already been planned since I found out she was a girl.

I think back over the summer, I commented on one of Kristen's post, like "Hey! I know it's Flag Day, but start thinking about Gingerbread Girl invites now." And I am only kind of kidding about that.

I've been wanting Kristen's Little Laws Prints to make Olive Gingerbread Girl invites for months. And when it finally didn't feel like a creepy time frame to ask {like Flag Day and Canadian Thanksgiving}, I took the plunge.

"I want it all!!!"

Invites on a nice card stock, matching thank you notes, a Happy Birthday banner for the food table, a highchair banner, cupcake toppers, and themed favor tags.

And look what arrived...

{not my real address or email}

I plan on having pre-made gingerbread houses for the kids to decorate with candy... and baking the cutest gingerbread girl cake for Olive. I have a gingerbread themed tree already, so I don't think I will buy much decor.

If you need any kind of party stationery, please talk to Kristen at Little Laws Prints. I just poorly described the vision in my head... and Bam! She delivered. I just prefer to go through real people... I always have a better experience and there is no way I would have received this kind of quality without paying out the whazoo.

And if you are in love with kid birthday parties, then please hop on over to Amy's blog today. She hosted a 1st birthday party for her son over the weekend... and it was, hands down, the greatest birthday party I have been to, ever.

Happy Tuesday!!