What I really want to be doing......

This season of my life is filled with lots of pressure. Timelines and stress. All good, well mostly good, things going on in my life. This is my last semester of college, WooHoo! It is something I have been working to complete since Sebastian was 3 months old. Nothing like taking 15 hrs and completing an internship in one semester.

Then there are the usual mom duties with 4 children. To-From school pickups, homework- theirs and mine, meal planning & dinnertime, bathtime & bedtime, stories & prayers, lunches to be packed and laundry to be completed. In my spare time, (ha), I like to schedule CPR classes and plan our annual booth arrangement at our local Home & Family Expo. Well, that and SLEEP. I love sleep. Trying to be better about doing that on a regular schedule too.

All of this said not to brag on what I am "busy" with but really to reflect on what my heart longs to do more of. Those things that are painted on sign like "I'd rather be" fishing".  Today, I'd rather be reading books to my littles like How I Became a Pirate or using my extra thoughts to think up healthier "fun" lunches   packing them in cool lunch boxes, instead of the boring sandwiches, carrot sticks/apple slices, & water bottle combs that are occurring almost daily right now.  I would also rather blog more. I have lots of thought and happenings in my life that i would really like to get archived somewhere. I'm sure some of it is interesting ;).

 And I want to plan more parties. I LOVE planning parties, mostly kids parties. Although any party will do. I love the theme planning, all the little details, the cupcakes, the favors....Ahhh just everything. I would spend my time throwing my kids and their friends and mine parties, play dates, etc. I love celebrating the moments of everyday life.  Now in my life there is ALWAYS celebrating, don't get me wrong, but there would certainly be more of it.

 

In a few more months, 2.5 to be exact, this is what I will be doing. When people ask me " So what are you going to do after you graduate?' My answer will be " I'm gong to read more books with my kids, make funny shapes out of food, blog more, and throw more parties. & take a family vacation to Disney"  Oh yea, I also want to go to Disney World. I'm going to do that after I graduate too. Seems normal right?

Until next time friends :)

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!