FEATURED: SWEET BIRDIE BIRTHDAY PARTY

We adore DIY parties- that's our fav for our own kids, so we're always on the lookout for new creative yet achievable ideas. That's why we're so thrilled to feature this Sweet Birdie Dessert Birthday Party by Shauna Younge! You'll love her pastel and wood grain color palette, pretty dessert table, and simple touches that made this party memorable!

 

SHAUNA:

After I designed the hexagon and faux bois invites and found a great cake recipe, I planned a bash that was full of bright, spring-y colors offset by lots of white and gold accents. I created DIY faux bois color block placemats to bring color and warmth to my white desk for the girls to dine in style. 

Along with sliders, powdered donuts, and popcorn, the girls devoured vanilla ice cream and my strawberry cake. I customized labels with each girl's name to decorate the paper ice cream cups from Sweet Party Shop. I also designed faux bois labels for the milk bottles to add a natural element to the all-white room. Land of Nod's birdie garland and cupcake kit added a bit of whimsy to the dessert table that really kicked up the color a notch. 

CREDITS
Party concept, styling, and dessert table: Shauna Younge
Images: Sydnee Bickett
Birdie garland and cupcake kit: Land of Nod
Ice cream cups: Sweet Party Shop
DIY projects: DIY starburst birthday crown and DIY faux bois color block placemats

Check out more of Shauna's ideas on her blog, Sweet Tooth, and contributor to Momtastic. Also do NOT miss her dessert table portfolio HERE!

RYAN AND CHRISTY'S RUSTIC WEDDING : PART TWO

After the beautiful ( super emotional .... I am a crier) ceremony ended, we headed to the reception space. It was held in an absolutely gorgeous barn. Guests enjoyed a little cocktail hour which also included a nacho bar. The bride loves her nachos! Great way to keep those tummies full while they get their drink on, haha!  

There was a taco buffet set up on the bottom level of the barn. DEEEEELICIOUS, and so festive! 

I had so much fun doing these tables. I had two men ( wedding guests who offered to help set up that morning) channeling their inner florist. It was amazing, and I was so grateful! Christy wanted 3-4 brass candle sticks on each table and beautiful greenery intertwined throughout them. Super simple and elegant. We topped each table off with a few light pink and cream roses to accommodate their color story. I used live moss to add a little something extra to the bridal party/family tables. My favorite touch by far. I didn't get a picture of it, but I also filled window boxes along the side of the barn with the moss as well. It is such an inexpensive way to make such an impact. So classy and so natural, which is exactly what we were going for.

Our sweet friend, Lori (aaaand her dear hubby), spent the ENTIRE morning assembling these napkins with a letters to their guests with cream ribbon. She worked her little heart out you guys!! These were placed on each place setting. Since the catering was done buffet style, Christy opted for these to make the impact of "plates" if you will. Such a beautiful letter written to share their hearts and express gratitude to their guests.

The dessert table was filled with mostly homemade goods and then some yummy treats from Whole Foods. The dessert table was devoured in no time!! We used custom made tree trunk cake stands, brass pieces and glass to make all of the treats look pretty.

Homemade cobbler and "strawberry shortcakes"..... oh my gawwwwwsh!

A friend of the couple made this stunning gluten - free cake for the big day! Look at those brass pinwheel cake toppers!!! Love! We simple wrapped the cake in live moss and a few roses.

While the reception was going on upstairs, guests were encouraged to come downstairs and take photos in the photo booth. The props were so fun, and you also were able to leave a video for the happy couple before your little photo session started. Then, the photo booth operator printed out photo strips for each guest..... one for them to keep, and the other to place into a book for the newlyweds.

These people can dance..... alllllll night long!

The lovely sparkler goodbye. Never gets old to me. Then, they rode off into the night on their motorcycle. (yes, I say "their" because it is no longer JUST Ryan's bike, right?) hehe.

I am sorry, but I have to add some more photos (just because). You don't mind, right?

Thanks for reading!! Ryan and Christy..... I was so honored to be a part of this day ( both as help and as a guest). You are both such special, giving, serving, genuine and loving people..... and oh so much fun! Wishing you all the happiness this world could possibly give you!

-J

You can see part ONE of Ryan and Christy's wedding HERE

Photos by: Kristin Sweeting Photography

JENNI'S PINK POM POM BABY SHOWER

I've been waiting (impatiently) to share one of my favorite events... Jenni's baby shower! Almost three years ago I co-hosted this charming fete for my bestie along with two incredible and important women in Jenni's life, Lori and Amanda. Although it was a couple's shower, we decided on a pink pom pom / chevron theme to match Amara's nursery (scroll down to see) and just told the boys to get over it! Plus I guarantee 99% of the guys never noticed the girly theme when there was plenty of drinks, great food, and lots of late-night dancing going on! And Jenni and Gabe's friends can DANCE, people. Actually the dance floor was my favorite area strung with tons and tons of pom poms!

The dessert table laden with all pink desserts and a garland of little tissue paper squares.

Gabe and Jenni! Youngin's...

I found this pink box in the office section at Walmart!! and filled it with teeny treat bags full of Gabe's favorite candies, Reeses Pieces. Gotta give the dad one thing, right?

Lori made the BEST oreo truffles...omg 

We wrapped the vases and tables with ribbon - simple!

Late night s'mores around the fire pit were the perfect way to end the night!

My favorite thing to make for baby showers- a diaper cake! To fit with the pom pom theme, I just made tiny ones and stuck them in with floral wire.

To give the cake an ombre look, use matching tissue paper and ribbon: two fuschia tiers, one light pink tier, and two white tiers. Normally I use Pamper Swaddlers diapers since they're all white... but honestly I had these on hand and didn't mind the touch of green.

More of our diaper cakes HERE and HERE.

We asked Jenni and Gabe's parents to send us pictures of them when they were little for the centerpieces, so we could imagine what Amara will look like! (Spoiler: exactly like Gabe).

We even anchored some poms in the pool to carry the theme throughout the yard. Amanda's home is stunning, right??

I made this chevron photo booth backdrop with just squares of pink and white tissue paper. Just layer the squares- no cutting! I used double stick tape on two large pieces of foam core and Lori's insanely handy hubby hung them with fishing line. 

Photo booth props: empty barnwood frames from Hobby Lobby, and a baby bump pillow were favorites. We also left a blank scrap book out for guests to write their best advice and wishes!

Here's the gorgeous Jenni in Amara's nursery- the inspiration for the whole shower! She and Lori hand painted this wall! To see Amara's white and modern big girl room, click HERE, though after all that hard work painting, I can't believe Jenni switched the look!

The invite! Inspired by the pink chevron wall above. By Rock Paper Scissors.

What a joyful night! We celebrated the crap out of these two. Deserving people who created the most special little lady, Amara. Let's do it again, Jenni! (She's reading this going, noooo way!)

-L