Pajama Glam 7th Birthday Party- The Details.

First off, I have to say I typically swoon over details. I tend to believe it truly IS the little things that matter. All those things that don't cost a lot but added up can make a huge impact. Those little things that make the everyday seem magical, i.e. the kiss before leaving the house, a thank you note in the mailbox, jazz music playing while you clean, and flowers in the kitchen just because "its Tuesday". That being said when planning Kaitlyn's 7th birthday Pajama Glam party we were paying attention to every detail!   Kaitlyn had seen her older sister have sleepover after sleepover this past fall and desperately wanted a sleepover of her own. I was afraid the girls may still be a bit to young for an "all-nighter" away from home so we decided to host a mock slumber party instead. We planned all the things you would normally do at a girls slumber party just minus the slumber part. The girls arrived early wearing their pajamas,  a wonderful friend of mine (who was a former Libby Lou party artist) did fancy hair for each of the girls, manicures & pedicures all around. We served a fancy spread of breakfast for dinner. Then we had cake and presents, played princess games, and snuggled down with our sleeping bags and bowls of popcorn for a movie before the party girls parents arrived  for late night pick up.  

It all started with this thrift store chandelier.

 I had originally purchased it to install in the girls closet. Instead, it soon became the inspiration for our party.  

Voila! Some beautiful black and white fabric from Hobby Lobby provided our backdrop.  Upon inspiration from a blog post my sweet friend Heather did at AtoZebra Celebrations, I created the awesome table skirt or "table tutu" as I've been calling it. It was super easy and well worth it for the setting!    

Our cake was an 8" white cream cake with coconut icing. We topped it with a "K" monogram ( I LOVE monograms!!) and a few jewels. We then added a ribbon to match. And presented it on a gorgeous black cake stand I found at the last minute. (I love cake stands too!)

THE Snowballs. These silly things were at the request of the birthday girl. She had Oooh-ed over them in the store for weeks.  I offered to make some fancy cupcakes but my offer was no match for the pink "snowball". It was her party after all so I topped them with a cupcake topper anyway and served on  matching platter they looked great and the girls Oohed over them the same way Kaitlyn had!  


Did I mention I love monograms?!

The dinner table was set with bright pink flowers, a satin table runner,  black and white plates, pink napkins with big diamond rings as napkin holders.  For dinner the girls were served mini breakfast quiches, silver dollar pancakes,  blueberry muffins, and strawberry lemonade.

All that was left to do was was wait for the guests  to arrive. Kaitlyn greeted each guest at the door, so excited for her first "sleepover". The sound of giggles when each girl arrives and presents were opened was unmistakable,and the unforgettable laughter of all the girls was SO FUN! It is bittersweet watching each one of our children grow up more and more but I am enjoying celebrating every moment and milestone in their lives. I am so grateful to have them in my life- Happy Birthday Sweet Kaitlyn!   

The days are long but the years are short

"The days are long but the years are short." This is my favorite quote by Gretchin Rubin, author of the Happiness project. It is the sum of all my emotions concerning motherhood. From their infancy you think you'll never outlive the sleepless nights, the hours they wont stop crying, the endless days of potty training, the incessant whining, and chronically messy house. But then comes kindergarten, little voices reading the nighttime stories to you, and not nearly as many nighttime cuddle sessions because the dark just isn't as scary as it used to be.  The weeks fly by and you turn around to say something and you are eye to eye with a teenager. Although we are long past infancy, we have children at almost every stage now. I am learning to cherish every day even the ones I think I'll never outlive.

That being said yesterday was a very special day for me. My little girl, Kaitlyn's 7th birthday was yesterday, April 1st.  We threw her and her friends a mock"sleepover". I'll post another blog with all the party details because it really was an adorable party!! And the girls were fantastic. We really had a great time.
I was reflecting the other day as I realized that next year Randy & I will have been married for 10 years. A whole decade! I thought back on all the days in a year. And then all the days in a decade. I was overwhelmed by all the happy days we've had together. Randy is the fairytale of my life. Our family is so precious to me- not perfect but precious. Perspective is important. The happy days far outweigh the bad ones. And before you know it all those days have turned into years.  

Everything but the kitchen sink...well, at least everything under it.

Boy, have I been busy with some of the YUCKY tasks this week. No, not the toilets thankfully. Its like Toni (over at A bowl full of lemons) is taunting me with my most avoided chores of all time through this challenge. My husband on the other hand is lovin' it. Get ready for some quick photo blogging peeps- I've got more organizing and cleaning to do!


Here's what I was up to on Day #5 of  the "Getting Organized Challenge": Under the Kitchen Sink  


I have been avoiding this spot since we moved in due to some water damage that has since been "repaired". It is still needing a bit more attention that won't happen until we begin refinishing the cabinets. Also, well, because its just UGLY.  My expectations are just on this side of not UGLY for the after results but at least it will not be on the "Throw it in there with your eyes closed and close the cabinet -QUICK!" list
BEFORE:(still can't believe I am showing you all this)

After a good scrubbing, some organizing, and some shelf liner- It's better. It's still not pretty but at least I am not avoiding it anymore.And....it is just under the kitchen sink right?!
AFTER:

 

Now what about you? C'mon you can do it too!

The Dreaded Desk Blog

Although my posts the next few days won't be as "thrilling" as my creative side would like, or as thought provoking as my intellectual side would prefer, they are EXTREMELY helpful to the practical/don't-go-crazy-over-little-things-that-don't-matter-as-much-as-the-people-I-love side of me. Thanks for sticking with us:)

Challenge #2 was to conquer the desktop clutter a.k.a my arch-nemesis.  Important note: Paper clutter is overwhelming to me. I run from it, intentionally avoiding it every time. Its the old "friend" that I avoid eye contact with across a crowed room OR if we are the only two in the room. You get the picture. 

I spend a lot of time at my desk studying, writing, blogging, face-booking, etc *usually*. This Christmas break I tried to be intentional with the time I spent with my husband and kiddos while they were home. Cuddling, watching movies, just watching them grow and growing us together as a family too. So my home sweet desk didn't get much attention other than to dump stacks of mail and a brief check of the calender now and again and RUN!

It was time to face my fear. Mission Accomplished!*with an addendum  to clean the monitor after :)

 

Junk in the Trunk (er, I mean drawer)

I have been challenged by a fellow blogger to a 21 day "Get Organized" Challenge.  I love being organized. Well, I love the IDEA of being organized. Almost as much as I love the IDEA of being on time everywhere we go. It's just the making it happen consistently with 6 people living in 1 space. Not to mention my ongoing "projects".......and I did say not to mention them so.....we won't ;)

Basically the challenge goes like this: Every day for the next 21 days (with the exception of Sunday's) she posts a new challenge to complete within the next 24 hours (or longer if necessary). I then take a before pic to post(Eeeek!), complete the task and then post the after pic of my results. If nothing else I will have started the 2011 with 21 organized spaces in my home. Honestly, I don't like the idea of showing "my mess" but I don't back down from a challenge well either. So here it goes....

Day 1 a.k.a Junk in the Trunk  Drawer
Eeeek!
This is my before.  This is the one drawer that we ALL drop our misc stuff in. It. is. scary. We're talking monsters in the bed, don't really know how long it's been since I've seen the back of the drawer scary. I may have been known to do an arm sweep of the counter into this drawer in panic over the ring of an unexpected doorbell kind of s.c.a.r.y. I will never admit to it ...but it may have happened (more than once) I will not back down from a challenge.... so I dumped it all in a basket and sat myself down to sort said "junk" and most of it was just that.


And the After.........

...............(insert *angels singing* here)

Much prettier now.
I think I'm going to enjoy the next 20 days!

  

Feeling inspired??? You can take the challenge too!!Just follow the daily challenges over at A bowl full of lemons 21 day challenge for more details!!