Diner en Blanc Themed Baby Shower

A few weeks ago it was my sister in law's baby shower. She doesn't have any sisters, so my sister and I took it upon ourselves to plan her baby shower for her.

A few months prior we were thinking about what theme the baby shower would be, then it dawned on me ... "Why does it have to be all cutesy and all about the baby already?" When you become a parent, everything you from that point forward is about your children. Once the baby arrives there will be so many years of upcoming cutesy parties to throw, this should be a celebration of her. Her last hurrah! before her life completely changes, so cutesy was out the door and chic and celebration was in.

A remember seeing a photo from Blake Lively's baby shower. Words that sprung to my mind when I saw it were; celebration, love, sisterhood, rustic and life. I thought that's the kind of vibe my sister in law's baby shower should have. Roughly at the same time the annual Dine en Blanc dinner was held, and I was drawn to the all white theme the party is renown for. So I merged these two ideas together and an All White baby shower theme was set in motion.

The day was as beautiful as I imaged, and was one of the easiest parties I've organised to date. I think its all got to do with the people who helped me on the day. There's my sister who knows I'm particular, especially when it comes to how I do things, and I've been lucky to have a few friends who always offer to help, and knows how I operate too, so we all work so well now. I also lured some unexpectant friends of the mother to be to help on the day.

All the women wore white, except the mother to be - she can wear what she wants. There was white everywhere from the table clothes, serving trays, flowers, balloons, even the marquee was white.

Note: Apologies about the photo quality. I think someone must've changed the camera settings.

Vendor and party information:

• Communicakeit : custom 'Baby Johns' cake topper. 
• Cake'n'Pop : Snickers flavoured cake.
• Balloon Elegance : 3 mega balloons with tassel decorations.
• Pretty Up! : 10 floral mason jar centre pieces. 
• Loomas: array of sweets and baguettes  
• Other food: pasta, rocket and quinoa salads that various people made, father in laws famous deep fried lemon chicken, chicken skewers purchased from Coles, antipasto platter, arancini balls, and many guests decided to bring a plate of food on the day too.
• I asked all my girlfriends to keep any glass jars they may come across several weeks in advance. I collected them and used as drinking cups on the day and used some to keep fresh flowers.
• Drink dispenser : for fresh home made lemonaid and ice tea which, I borrowed from a friend.
• Marquee : belonged to my in laws and proven to come handy over the years. 
• Tables: we borrowed from people but I also purchased two bi-fold tables from Bunnings. 
• Invitation : was created by my sister, copying an invite we liked on Pinterest and printing them onto 6x4 photo prints through Kmart's printing services.
• White table covers: Kmart
• Straws: local novelty party shop 
• Tags: local novelty party shop 

If you would like to share and submit a past party you've hosted get in contact! Email me on gen.y.mum@gmail.com would love to feature your event on here! 

Minnie Mouse Theme Birthday Party

Minnie Mouse was the theme for Baby A's 1st birthday party. The theme came about because she was gifted a Minnie Mouse toy and it seems to be one of her favourites.

Miss A's parents also decided on the Minnie Mouse theme because they drew similarities to the character. Miss A loved the colour red, shoes, cheeky and a pocket rocket.

Miss A's party was held at Paddington Gates Playground, one of the beautiful spots at Centennial Park. Her parents also set up play areas for all of Miss A's friends to explore and play in.  

Her parents had organised a little picnic with an array of sandwiches, pastries, sweets and of course cake. Her cake was a beautiful and yummy three tier cake, comprising of choc ganache, marble, red velvet flavours.  

Miss A's day wouldn't have been a success without the many hands that helped on the day. 

Party details and vendors:

Minnie Cake and cookies: Sweet Designs
Sansrival macarons: NW Food Cakes and Catering
Food: Bourke St Bakery, palabok and lumpiang shanghai (traditional Filipino food)
Balloons: Party Warehouse
Candy cart: Livi's Candy Cart
Photographer: Corral Photography 

If you would like to share and submit a past party you've hosted get in contact! Email me on gen.y.mum@gmail.com would love to feature your event on here! 

TMNT Party

What is TMNT? .... Well if you grew up in the 90's like I did you would instantly know what it stands for, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles!!

This was the theme for Master L's 1st birthday party. So fittingly the party menu mostly consistent of pizza!! They hired a pizza caterer who set up a mobile wood fire outside the venue to make fresh pizza's. They made an array of entree, mains and dessert pizzas for guests, and Master L's family made a few side dishes like salads, pasta and fruit to compliment.

Master L's party was definitely a labour of love with family and extended family all pitching in to help make the day a success as it was. Master L's dad designed the invitations, dad's sister made the cake, balloon creator was a brother-in-law and his mum created his costume. 

Party and vendor details:

Venue: Balcombe Heights Estate
Catering: You Pizza
Cake: Cake and Pop Shop
Kids table and chair hire: Celebrating
Jumping Castle hire: VS Kids Australia

Foil balloons, table covers, giveaways: Big W (check to see whether your local Big W has a dedicated party shop department as not all do)
Hired banner stands, give away stickers and Pin the Mask game printed through Cast Graphics
Decorations, cutlery/crockery/cups mainly sourced from Celebrating
Drink dispensers, trays, serving utensils from a local home wear store called House 2 Home at Crows Nest

If you would like to share and submit a past party you've hosted get in contact! Email me on gen.y.mum@gmail.com would love to feature your event on here! 

Link up with Sonia

Little Ray of Sunshine

Was the theme to Miss C's 1st Birthday, with key colours sunshine yellow, peachy pink and chocolate brown.

The theme came about because when Miss C was a newborn her parents would sing "Little Ray of Sunshine" by Axiom and would always seem to calm her down, even though their renditions were a little off-key. To her parents she was her their little ray of sunshine. 

For Miss C's first birthday party her family did almost everything themselves. After googling instructions on how to, her mum sewed her 50m bunting. It was back breaking work she admits. Charlotte's grandma made the balloon flowers and various photos of Miss C were framed and used as table centrepieces. They also bought hessian material to cover the picnic tables and Miss C's dad designed and painted the birthday backdrop, using a large piece of calico and poster paint in the birthday colours. 

Food was supplied by the help of family and friends. There was nibbles, salads, fried chicken, filipino noodles (pancit), various dessert and of course BBQ, taking advantage of the park's facilities.

Miss C's mum made the birthday cake. Neapolitan ice-cream was her inspiration, and baked three layers of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry. 

As party favours, Miss C's mum ordered from ebay plain brown boxes and attached personalised stickers they designed themselves. She stuffed the favours with homemade treats and chocolates. 

Party and vendor details:

Venue: Rouse Hill Regional Park

Photo frame centre pieces: Ikea Tolsby Photo Frames 
Bunting and hessian fabric: Spotlight and Lincraft  
Photographer: Ariane Banaag  
Fingerprint guest book and ink pads: Bleu de Toi on Etsy 
Customised stickers for the giveaway boxes: Vistaprint 

If you would like to share and submit a past party you've hosted get in contact! Email me on gen.y.mum@gmail.com would love to feature your event on here! 

Ain't No Party Like A Gen-Y Party

I like planning parties. I like planning. 

Over the years I've thrown my share of parties (Eli's 1st and Kai's 1st). 

What I love about parties is executing ideas that you have, cause really that's a core component of a party - an idea, a concept. Sometimes we need inspiration, or need to know where or who can help us with our ideas, or just information on how to do things. 

I also love sharing information with people. If you couldn't already tell by this blog, I'm not shy to share my knowledge of things I know or experienced, or my "brain farts". So this blog is going to start, and regularly share past party ideas. 

I've got some amazing friends who have agreed to allow me to share photos and info about parties they've hosted and slowly I'll be sharing them with you. 

I can't wait! 

If you would like to share your party details and photos on this blog, or have any questions about doing so, please email me on gen.y.mum@gmail.com


Linking up with Sonia for this weekend rewind