Ahoy Mateys!

Last weekend was a special one for the Rugrat...we had his first ever birthday party that included friends (before that, it was all sweet family parties).  I idiotically invited all of his classmates because normally about half respond, right?  We ended up with 15 three/four/five/six year olds in our home!  Oy vey!  Still, it went off without a hitch & the Rugrat had a blast so that's all that matters!

Rugrat requested a pirate party (to which I may or may not have squealed at...you decide) + I set to work.  I decided on a red, white + black colour scheme + it was super easy (with a birthday around Halloween) to find pirate stuff, skulls & more for decor.  Perfect!  The menu consisted of pizza, cannonballs (meatballs), goldfish crackers, veggie cups + fruit skewers.  Dessert was cake + chocolate pops...both made by me!

As part of the loot, when guests arrived they received a pirate sash + then we headed out to the backyard.  In the yard, we had set up three games...walk the plank (self explanatory), crocodile lake (a bucket with a crocodile head on top + you had to throw balls into the croc's "mouth") + treasure hunt (a bucket filled with rice + coins where guests were blindfolded + hand to hunt for "treasure" for 30 seconds).  At the end of each game, guests received another "piece" of their pirate outfit...hat, sword + eye patch...so at the end, every guest was dressed as a pirate + they got to take their costumes home!  After the games, we came inside to eat.  Once the guests had their plates, they were sent into our basement where we set up an episode of "Jake + The Neverland Pirates" to watch.  I'll admit that they were quiet for the first 10 minutes + then they destroyed the basement playing with toys!!!  After the show, they were called upstairs for the cake presentation + Rugrat opened his (fantastic) gifts.

As requested (or was that in my head?) here are some of deets:

The dessert table...cakes baked & decorated by hubster & I

The lootbags...gold choclate doubloons...that's pirate speak for money

The food tent cards

An (awful) shot of the beverages...actually grape juice & fruit punch

Vegetables + dip

Straw flags

The full tablescape...disregard the mop handle in the back right corner

Homemade pirate chocolate pops for the dessert table

The attendees dressed in their garb after the games...Rugrat is right corner front...doesn't he look like he's having so much fun?!?

A (rare) picture of the host + hostess...hubby (who went all out to the joy of the Rugrat...such a great Daddy!) + I dressed in our pirate finery

We had an absolute blast!  Another pic of the invite to follow soon.

So tell me friends...do you have any fabulous parties to share?!?

I participate in the link parties found HERE

Thank you & a {tutorial}

Hiya!  How the heck are you all doing?  I'd like to share this wee video with you all...please take a moment to listen to the lyrics:

I have been gone for a while super long time + I appreciate those faithful followers that kept coming to see if I had posted + generally checking out the blog.  Things were crazy for a while...back to school + work + liffe + no passion for blogging.  But I'm thinking that I may have my bloggin' mojo back!  I do want to share with you that I was away on a little trip...here are some clues:

Nope!  Not Paris!

Venice?  No!

Does the roller coaster in the background give it away?!?

Yes!  I was in the city that never sleeps...Las Vegas peeps!

I was there for a conference on dance...yes, they actually have a highland dance convention!  I was privileged to meet + listen to a fabulous conference from this lady:

Stacey Tookey (from So You Think You Can Dance) is as gracious, beautiful, funny + talented as you imagine her to be from the show.  My favourite part of the conference!

And, since I've been back, we've been planning a certain someone's 4th birthday parrrrrrrty!  (That should give you a clue as to the theme!)  And you know that I'll share the 100's of pictures I take!

In the meantime, I wanted to share an easy peasy tutorial for getting a hold on those school papers + projects that the kids bring home.  This year I have double with both kiddos now being formally educated + it was quickly drowning my dining room table!

1.  We have one of those "School Memories" books that you can buy at your local department store.  The organizational freak person that I am was bothered by the small pockets + it was not easy to go through.

2.  I bought a large binder + some tabs.  Each tab was labeled from Preschool to Grade 6.  I then hole punched the items that I wanted to keep + put them behind the appropriate tab.

3.  I also used some clear page protectors to save pictures, awards + other items that just don't fit neatly in the binder.

Love it!  The binders fit my bookcase perfectly + it's easy for the kids to leaf through their memories!  I must also say that I didn't keep everything...you have to be diligent in going through all the papers, notebooks + paintings + only keep the most treasured items.

Well, I better run + do some more prep for the big party this weekend!  And again, thank you for being a friend...this little blog + most importantly, I appreciate it!

I participate in the link parties found HERE