Our little Emerson is one TODAY! Happy Birthday to you little man. If you’d like to take a journey back in time and read all about his birth, click here.
Here’s a look at how we celebrated Emerson’s birthday this past weekend.
I always hate it when my babies get older. I think first birthdays are always hard on mamas.
Thankfully, I’ve been thinking about Emerson’s birthday for awhile. You may recall the post I did with his inspiration board. I’ve been bookmarking any ideas using Delicious . (If you haven’t heard of Delicious, it’s an awesome tool to store your bookmarks. Delicious is a free service that allows you to login and access your bookmarks from any computer. You can also organize, search, and share your bookmarks. I encourage you to try it out. NOTE: This was not a paid advertisement. Your current programming will continue now).
I knew I wanted to do a vintage style first birthday party. Since Emerson is our third son, I feel like I have to be a bit more creative. We’ve already done many of the “traditional” party themes. Emerson’s birthday invite was the first piece that set the ton for the card. I created a vintage heavily distressed book invitation complete with a removable book slip cover. Courtney, from Courtney Jade Photography took the amazing photos of Emerson and was kind enough to blog about his invitations. If you’d like to see more photos of his invites visit Courtney’s post.
I booked the party at Gymboree Play and Music. It was so fun and the staff was amazing. We had help from Lauren and Sarah (staff at Gymboreee) running the party and cleaning up. They both really helped to ease my mind and were willing to pitch in when and where ever I needed them! Thank you guys! (Check out my fashionable pink cast too!)
I literally brought in my whole house for Emerson’s party. I had a ton of help though. My Mom and sisters, Kellie and Jamie, came early to help me set up the dessert table. Thank you guys for supporting me and putting up with my craziness. Since I broke my arm in early November, I really took it easy. I “made” many things that just required some extra chocolate or assembly. I got a ton of ideas from the Hostess Blog. It continues to be a place I visit for inspiration. One of the items that was a huge hit was the Candy Cane Mint Milanos. They were so easy to make. Emphasis on easy! Hostess Blog has great decorating ideas too. I love these picture frames that were used as signs at one of the parties that was featured.
Okay, so without further ado, here is Emerson’s Dessert Table.
A few of my favorite things were these adorable polka dot suitcases. I purchased them all the way from Australia from Retro Bird Designs. I also loved the little picture frames I saw on Hostess Blog that I purchased at Ikea for only $0.99 each. I used them all throughout the party. Aren’t they cute?
I went with a “Milk and Cookies” theme for the dessert table. I created an assortment of cookies, most of which I didn’t even have to bake. It was so easy and quick. Who knew if you just added chocolate to pre-made cookies it made them taste better and look prettier?
Do you remember the business veture I was getting into with my sisters, Lovedrunk Designs? Let’s just say we haven’t had any time to work on our new business very much. I did some practice screen printing for the party though. I gave each of the kids their own screen printed muslin bag with their name on it. I also made some extra bags with the words “thank you” on it.
Continuing on with the cookie theme I made Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies and sewed them in glassine bags that I purchased from Garnish. I also bought these super cute wooden forks there too.
One of my favorite items were the mini glass bottles and retro stripe straws! We filled them with chocolate milk and they were just the perfect size for little ones. These really added that little something “extra.” Don’t even ask me what lengths I had to go to to track these bottles down. Oh well, it was all worth it and I will have them forever.
I am planning on doing a quick tutorial on the little cupcake stands that I made for each kid. For now, you will just have to check out the photos. These were super easy to make too and I am in LOVE with how cute they are. Check back tomorrow for a diy tutorial.
Don’t you love them? If you know me at all, you know I love cupcakes. I always make cupcakes. My favorite flavor is banana. For Emerson’s party, I made both banana and coconut. I’m still partial to banana though!
I didn’t want the kids to have to carry all of their goodies so I purchased little polka dot gable boxes to put all of the party favors in. I made little “library cards” to clip on the boxes so each kid had a label on their own box. With so many kids, I think over labeling their items is the best way to go.
Here are some additional photos you may enjoy.
I will do a follow up post on the little cupcake stands with instructions and a list of supplies you will need. If you have any questions, let me know. I’d be happy to share all of my secrets with you for a price 🙂 Just kidding. Ask away!
Happy Birthday Emerson!
**I’d like to give a special thank you to my husband for putting up with me through all of this party planning. He spray painted the cute cupcake stands for me too. Thank you honey! I’d also like to thank my dear friend, Laura for being there to bounce ideas off of and to helping me design the dessert table. Though she couldn’t be at the party she helped me assemble Emerson’s invites and she also helped me set a “dry-run” of the table. You’ll never know how much I appreciate your constant support! Thank you!**
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Jessica –
It is amazing!!! Okay, and yes, where did you get those adoreable mini-milk bottles? And cute straws?
Soooo incredibly cute.
Teresa =)
OMG, you are amazing. Seriously, I’m speechless!
It of course was wonderful it all flowed and looked super adorable!!! We were thrilled to spend the day with him to celebrate being 1!!! the bags were great idea too, plus I used the polka dot box for my girlfriends gift that night. she loves red.. so thanks!! >just being “green” ohh and I love that name, Deegan, what a cute name some cool mom picked for her son!!! ;0)Great job!!! glad you “took it easy” on this party ;0) you silly girl!!!
Oh my! This is so adorable! Such a fun and unique idea for a first birthday party! I would love to feature this on my blog in the coming week! I’ll be sure to link back to your blog. In the meantime, feel free to check out my blog.
Great job on such an awesome party!
Cammi
CK Events
https://simplystunningideas.blogspot.com
Hi Teresa,
The bottles I got from Australia. I begged the lady from Retro Bird to buy them and ship them to me. They don’t sell the glass bottles in the US (at least I couldn’t find them anywhere). The straws were from HeyYoYo on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/HeyYoYo?ref=seller_info.
Hi Cammi!
I’d be honored to be featured. Thank you so much. I just glanced at your site and it looks wonderful. Let me know when you post it!! Thank you again!
Thanks Chrissy!!! Great name indeed! Glad you could be “green” and reuse the box! My boys have been toting them around!
Thanks Leslie!!! I really appreciate it!!!
Oh, wow! Jessica, you always are so creative with every single element of your parties!! I’m so in awe!! You are a rock star!
Thanks Mia!!! I really appreciate that! I’m still meaning to do a giveaway! Oh, where does all the time go. If only I could bottle that up?
Nice work honey!
Amazing! Where did you get the glass bottles?
Hi Hannah,
I actually talked the seller from RetroBirdDesigns into finding them for me and including them in the suitcases when she shipped them. I’m so happy that she did. They were perfect.
Ok, seriously….you just kill me. I strive so hard to acheive your level of party greatness, my friend. INCREDIBLE party!!!! I don’t know how you accomplish it at the level you do with 3 kiddos, a business and a hubby. I totally and completely bow down to your endless talent and ALWAYS impeccable taste. BRAVO.
Hi Jessica, you are a SUPER Mom,wife,daughter and Granddaughter. GREAT JOB!!!!!!!! Love you soooo much. Wish we could have been there for the SUPER BIRTHDAY PARTY. We miss bunches. Love and Hugs
I’ve been totally stalking your blog. Your parties are amazing!
Where did you find that cupcake stand?
Jessica, Thanks so much for the Garnish shout out. You threw an absolutely adorable party!! Hope that arm heals quickly 🙂
Oh, I am so grabbing your idea for the little cupcake stands…brilliant!
Garnish + Enjoy,
– Suzanne
Kellie, oh! That’s the same name as my sister and same spelling! Love it! Thanks for blog stalking me. I appreciate it. I got the stands at HomeGoods and they are there almost every time I go in. I think they are pretty reasonable too if I remember correctly, like they start at $12 or so? Good luck. I can’t tell you how many countless times I’ve used them!
Thanks Suzanne! Loved my Garnish items. I will be back for more in the future for sure!
every single detail looks fantastic!! hwtm is such an inspiration. i’ve used the ikea frames a few times now and i love them, as well as the super-cheap price. but i am dying to know where the milk bottles came from!!! i remember somewhere in australia is a drink that shape & size? i’ve been wanting to find them for so long…if you shared i would be so very grateful.
xox ricki
What a lovely party! I’m so glad HWTM featured this party! I am a NEW follower on your fabulous site!
Okay, so the story is. . . if you know someone in Australia, you can get the bottles. Maybe you can barder, plead, beg, I’m not sure. . . I contacted the company that makes the bottles and they don’t sell the glass bottles in the US! I ended up ordering the suitcases from Australia and BEGGED the seller to find them for me. I’m sure she doesn’t want to get into selling them. I wish I could be of more help! I searched high and low looking for something similar. They truly are worth the money and are adorable!!!!
Absolutely adorable!!! :o) Great job!!
This is such a unique and original idea for a party. Having a little boy myself, I love creative boy parties like this! Do you have the name of the Australian company that makes the little glass bottles? I am doing a vintage airplane theme for my sons party and these would be perfect. I have friends in Australia. Thanks!
Hey Chrystal-
Thank you so much! I love to throw different and unique parties!! Please let me know if you ever need any help! Here is all the information on the bottle: https://www.sharneldollardesigns.com.au/store/pc/home.asp
This is seriously one of the cutest parties I’ve ever seen. You thought of every.last.detail!! Can I please share on my blog, too?
Thanks for sharing the information on the Suitcase sets and bottles Jessica. Anyone interested in either the suitcases or the bottles may find them in my shop. Such is the demand for the bottles, I have finally listed them: https://www.retrobirddesigns.etsy.com
I look forward to shipping bottles to whereever they may be needed.
Yay!!, I will do a blog update on this for you! I am so excited!!!
I like your blog,Totally interesting also extraordinary blog.Give more pictures related kids 1st birhtday.Thanks for sharing this wonderful detail.
WOW! Love the glass bottles! I also love the blue and red theme for the dessert table/party! I don’t know how you young moms do it all?!? Amazing!
Seriously AMAZING!!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE this party!
Another cheap alternitive to the milk bottles is to go to your local gracery store and get the Starbucks individual bottles. The sticker comes right off and they great 🙂
Can you please tell me where you found the small glass bottles for the chocolate milk.
Your party was very unique and well put together.
Thank you.
Thanks Angela!
If you check my vendor credits, you will see that I got them from Retro Bird Designs out of Australia (I think I credited her?)! Hope that helps! I think Shop Sweet Lulu has similar ones in her store!