Party Planning

Is your May as busy as mine? We have birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, end-of-year concerts, baby showers, and teacher appreciation to name a few! If I can streamline a few events (or decorate for multiple events), it helps with me with party planning prep time. I also try to keep the lawn in good shape and house picked up for the whole month so it never gets too bad. (Nothing worse than a last minute panic attack..)

If I have more than one event within a few days, I look for ways to plan for both. I find a color scheme that matches both, and sometimes even multiply or replicate the menu (only the guests invited to both events would know…haha!)! Helium balloons with hi-float will last over a week, and I use lots of clear glass and white dishes to keep it easy. (I’ve found baby blue and white match nearly everything in spring, and I can always add pink or navy to change it up!)

So, this week is my daughter’s birthday! I asked for her colors and theme (hot pink, pale pink, baby blue, maybe mint green, light purple, smiley faces, hearts, rainbows… think Stoney Clover!). Then I preordered the cake (Italian Cream Cake with pink writing, and sprinkles coating the sides) since the bakeries fill up fast this close to graduation! She already picked out the cutest leopard print pink and white napkins and confetti plates.

Today, I cleaned and power washed all of the outside furniture and cushions. I always try to have everything done by Mary Claire’s birthday—it’s my deadline each spring! By now, it’s usually warm enough to sit outside/swim, and I seriously hate sitting on pollen! I do the power washing early so everything will be dry by the end of the week.

Then I took pictures of all my planters so I can remember what I need when I go to the nursery. My next goal is to have all the pots replanted by this weekend (my husband will help out with this! He doesn’t like to keep ferns or palms in the garage over the winter..so I buy new and he replants them!).

Next will be a meal plan, a grocery order for everything I need, and then start decor. I totally don’t mind having decorations up for a few days in advance! I love having it done, so I can check it off my to-do list. She requested pulled pork (sandwiches), I’ll see if I can add that recipe for you…it’s sooo good, and makes so much! The pork is slow-cooked in the crockpot, so it’s easy! Add some buns or Hawaiian bread, fresh fruit, a veggie tray, chips, and the birthday cake is our dessert!

Almost done… I try to make sure I’ve secured any gifts she’s requested, and have them wrapped asap. If she comes home early, I don’t want her to find them!

If I have time, I’ll add fresh flowers-hydrangeas always fill out a vase really well! I have some peony bushes that are almost ready to burst with color…the buds are starting to open! And they opened and are perfect!

My sweet girl will have a great birthday and know she is loved. I found the perfect fabric for a tablecloth that fit the Stoney Clover Lane theme (and I could potentially use it again)! But..it wasn’t wide enough. Since I bought over five yards, I had enough to make a pleated ruffle that extended it enough to cover the entire table width. It took almost two yards to make the ruffle and a couple hours, but I wouldn’t change it at all, and I’m glad I invested the time!

Let me know if you’d like the pulled pork recipe. It made 6 pounds, and there are leftovers for days, haha! I looked at it, but I’m not typing it out. It’s a clipping from a magazine from 1998, and it is well…loved. It looks a little rough to post, but I’ll be glad to send it if needed! : )

Hope you have great birthdays ahead!

love, mom