A Fire Truck 3rd Birthday Party

To a 3-year-old boy, I’m not sure anything is better than a fire truck birthday party!   This party over delivered all the magic and joy of childhood as 20 little firefighters (and even some adult ones) had the opportunity to be the real heroes they look up to. 

The party was designed to transform guests into fire fighters from the moment they arrived.  They were greeted at Nate’s Fire Station where they each found their personalized fire gear.   Once outfitted, they were ready to begin their fire fighter training.  With a few props, carefully designed games and a lot of creativity, each little fire fighter took on the tough jobs of driving emergency vehicles through the streets (toy fire trucks, police cars and ambulances on a cityscape rug, putting out fires (card board buildings and fire hydrants) and rescuing kitties from a tree.  

Upon graduating from this “Fire Academy”, it was time for the REAL action to begin.  If you would like to put a smile on your face right now, just imagine the joy the birthday boy felt as he heard a real fire truck siren driving up and pulling up right to his party!  It was a magical moment to watch as real fire fighters got out of the truck to wish Nate a happy birthday.  

Even the adults got to dress up!

The kids were treated to a tour of the truck, had the opportunity to spray water and go on a ride through the neighborhood on the truck.   The only way this party could have gotten better was by bringing out a Fire Truck cake featuring working sirens and lights … and well, we don’t disappoint.

Happy Birthday Nate!  It was a true pleasure to plan and design your party.  And your excitement and joy made it all worth it.  

Favors were fire truck glycerin soaps. https://www.etsy.com/shop/AbFabAffairs

A Magical Winter Wonderland Birthday Party

This was truly a magical Winter Wonderland 6^th birthday party – so much so, that the first snow of the season started falling only minutes before the party. 

A themed birthday party during the month of December in New England can be tough.  Too cold to be held outside and inside, Christmas decorations can get in the way.  So when my little client and her mom asked for a party at their home, the solution was to build a Winter Wonderland bash that took advantage of all that is great about December – including the frightful weather outside. 

The party featured a Magical outdoor treasure hunt that was left behind by the Winter Fairies, Gingerbread House decorating, games, a sweet table and of course an amazing cake designed by the birthday girl herself.  The home’s Christmas decorations were planned to tie into the winter and color theme and were left behind to be enjoyed for the rest of the season.  We kept to the theme, by using snowmen and snowflakes throughout the house and brightened it up by using bright aqua blue, red with splashes of pink to tie in all the details. 

Once all the girls had arrived, we gathered to start the hunt, which began with…  “Twas’ the day of Callie’s party and all of her friends have gathered to celebrate her 6^th birthday.  In this here Winter Wonderland, the mischievous fairies have used their magic to hide secret surprises for all that call Callie a friend….” 

Stops along the magical adventure included ensuring there was enough snowflakes outside by placing snowflake tattoos on the girls’ faces, finding treasure keeping bags, candy cane cone ornaments filled with chocolate kisses hanging at the edge of the woods, decorating the existing fairy house to thank the fairies for their hard work, following the sound of jingle bells to find winter inspired glycerin soaps, finding the candy cane garden to see if some of the candy canes were ready for picking, finding a box filled with winter wonderland head bands, performing a winter song for the fairies to hear, a hot chocolate station and finally finding their personalized apron to decorate a gingerbread house. 

A sweet table was designed to highlight the beautiful cake and add further visual appeal to the main room. The home’s mantel was the backdrop for the kids’ table, which also featured the hand-painted and personalized aprons for each girl.  The birthday girl designed the cake and we implemented her vision to create a true masterpiece. 

The invitations were designed to match the color scheme, but to add a little extra something right from the start, we included a wrapped hot chocolate packet in a sleeve that said, “I hope you can join me that day, until then, enjoy this cocoa to kee; the cold away. Love, Callie”

Days after the party we are still receiving notes from the guests about how MAGICAL this party was.  One girl reported that it was her most favorite party she had ever been too.  The birthday girl mentioned that it was the most wonderful day  EVER… and that is why I LOVE doing what I do, creating life long magical memories.  

Vendor Credits:

Party Planning and Styling by Absolutely Fabulous Affairs

Winter Wonderland Chalkboard Sign by My Little Midge (https://www.etsy.com/shop/mylittlemidge)

Invitations, Thank you notes and Hot Chocolate Sleeves by Party Invites and More (https://www.etsy.com/shop/PartyInvitesAndMore)

Cake by Absolutely Fabulous Affairs

Aprons and Headbands by Absolutely Fabulous Affairs

Sweet Table by Absolutely Fabulous Affairs

Sign by My Little Midge on Etsy

Invitation Design by Party Invites and More on Etsy

The Most Hip Hop and Pop Fresh Beat Band Party Ever

I guess it isn't unusual that a little girl who lives for parties and her party planner mom started talking about her December birthday party last summer.  Together we settled on a Mermaid theme and we BOTH bubbled over with excitement.  Oh, the perfectly planned details I would style – the mermaid tails each girl would get, how I could convert the family room into an underwater kingdom and OH, the sweet table I would put together – chocolate shells and candy pearls…  It would be a 5 year old girl's (and mom’s) dream. 

THEN Callie was introduced to The Fresh Beat Band, a show about four “teenage” friends (Kiki, Twist, Marina and Shout) that can sing and dance themselves out of any conundrum.  Now, I admit, I kinda like the music and I have been known to start a Fresh Beat Band dance party in our kitchen, but when Callie announced she wanted to trade her perfectly girly and sweet mermaid party for a Fresh Beat Band party, I’m quite sure I shed a little tear.

My disappointment was easy to put aside once I saw how Callie lit up and jumped for joy as she talked about her ideas for her party.  It was, after all HER party and she is my most precious little client, so it would be the BEST Fresh Beat Band party ever.  A little research, a little creativity, lots of color and voila it WAS an awesome party that Callie, her friends and I really LOVED.   At the end of the day, Callie said:  “Mom, that was an amazing party.  I knew it was going to be fun, but that was the MOST fun ever.”  Music to my ears I tell you.   Since then I have also received comments and emails from other parents who say their kids can’t stop talking about it and doing THE dance.  

I will add that this party was done on a budget.  Lots of work and creativity went into each detail, but the bottom line was reasonable and for the results, very well worth it.  I hope you enjoy the details and pictures below.

Invitations:  They had to be Hip Hop and Pop Cool Invitations.  I also wanted to make sure that all the girls knew the Fresh Beat Band songs so that when they heard them at the party, they would get excited about them and would want to sing and dance along.  The results was a "Fresh Beat Band VIP Ticket to the party which was created by Fancy Invites and a Music CD to set the mood for a "Kickin'" good time.  Since then, I've heard from parents that their child loves the CD and listen to it all the time.  I apologize to the parents, but love that the kids are still using the invitation well after the party is over.  

 

The House was converted into Fresh Beat Band central and featured "Reed's Instrument Shop", the "Groovy Smoothie Stand" and "Ms. Piccolo's Dance and Music School." 















As the girls arrived they headed into "Reed's Instrument Shop" where they designed and decorated their own kickin' guitar and/or Cool Beans tambourine. 

They then headed into"Ms Piccolo's Dance and Music School" to learn the dance moves for their very own Fresh Beat Band concert that would be performed for the parents at pick up time.  I got the help of one of our AWESOME gymnastics teachers who among other attributes, knows how to reign in 18 five year-old kids.  First Sarah got them in the dancing mood with a game of Freeze dance,

then some stretching and then they got to work on an age appropriate, adorable and COOL dance that Sarah took the time to make up before hand. 

After a few games of Duck, Duck, Goose and Limbo it was time to hit the Groovy Smoothie Stand, Pizza and Cake. 

The CAKE - It was completely designed by Callie - right down to where the candles should go.  I just implemented her vision and it came out GREAT.  One of her requirements was that she wanted the pictures of Kiki, Marina, Shout and Twist on the cake.  I turned to Sugar Mama's Prints to create the edible pictures and then got to work on this masterpiece.  The girls oohed and awed over the cake and promptly called out which picture or fondant instrument of the cake they wanted.  This cake was meant to serve 35 people - it was polished off by the end of the party!

After opening presents it was time for the BIG CONCERT!  The girls were so excited to perform their Fresh Beat Band dance for their parents.  The concert took place on the Fresh Beat Band "stage" that we created simply by adding a colorful rug we had in the basement, colorful streamers, paper lanterns and colorful drink coasters.  

The girls did a great job and most importantly they all did it with great enthusiasm and pride .  Parents beamed with pride and video taped the concert.  It was a show to remember and one that will definitely provide us with wonderful memories of Callie's 5th Birthday celebration.  

The favor bags included the following:

Kiki's Kickin' Guitar (Sugar Cookie) 

Marina's Hip Hop and Pop Drum Sticks (Pixie Sticks)

Shout's Cool Bean Keys (Tootsie Rolls)

Twist's Sweet Discs (Gummy Rings) 

Bottle cap necklace personalized with each girl's first name initial   
Cordless Microphone 

"It was a great day, it was a super way to spend some time together" - so goes the tune that closes each Fresh Beat Band episode and I couldn't agree more.  

Vendor Credits:
Callie's Kiki Costume:  Handmade By Catira
Invitations: Fancy Invites
Edible Wafers for Cake: Sugar Mamas Prints
Cake: Absolutely Fabulous Affairs
Graphics: Absolutely Fabulous Affairs
Favors: Absolutely Fabulous Affairs
Inflatable Guitars and Tambourines: Oriental Trading Company
Customizable Cups: Oriental Trading Company