The Bucket List

Sunday was my mom's 65th birthday and I knew I had to do something special for her. I mean 65 is a pretty big birthday and I always celebrate the big birthdays. :) 
Now you need to know that my mom is no sweet little old lady. She is a feisty little thing that works really hard and loves to have a good time. I knew I couldn't go the traditional route because that just doesn't fit her. I needed to come up with something fun, outside the box, and of course I wanted it to be personal. It also needed to be different than any of the other crazy parties that I have done for her over the years.
Let me share a quick recap of a few of her other big birthday parties:
For her 50th birthday we had a tattoo party where she got a pink flamingo tattooed on her ankle. {I actually got a free tattoo because the tattoo artist said he couldn't charge me for my teacher clip art ladybug! LOL} 
On her 55th birthday we took a trip to Napa and danced on a bar. We told the owner that we used to be Coyote Ugly Dancers! {I'm pretty sure he didn't buy it but he was kind enough to play along. LOL}
Then for her 60th birthday I took her to the Paris hotel in Vegas. {I couldn't afford Paris, France} We dressed up in red berets and French attire and had our picture taken at the top of the Eiffel tower. People were so impressed by our appearance they were stopping us and asking us to take pictures with them, they wanted to know where we got our outfits, and we didn't pay for a thing all day! :)

After a conversation with my mom where she mentioned that she was planning a sky diving trip because it was on her bucket list, I knew I had my theme! I had her give me her top ten items on her bucket list and I ran with it.

I had the Amazingly talented Natalie of The Knock Knock Factory create a wreath to welcome the guests and set the tone for the party!

My Aunt found this great sculpture for under $10!

I used paper lanterns and favor boxes to create hot air balloons

that hung over the dessert table.

 

I had to add an extra table at the last minute so my food table had to be relocated and the backdrop had to be ditched.

This was the make shift table that I came up with.

The food was all inspired by places that are on her bucket list. I served Australian Meat Pies, German Potato Salad, New York Hot Dogs, Italian Meatballs and Chips and Salsa from Mexico.

  

The list includes Hot Air Balloon Ride, Zip Line, and World Travel.

I created a zip line for the favor bags that really worked!

What party would be complete without a signature drink?

I called the drink "The Panama Canal"

Finally, the photo booth was the big hit of the party!

Mom's #1 item on her list is Sky Diving so that was my inspiration

for the photo booth. I used a parachute, backpack, streamers and a fan

to create the sky diving effect.

The birthday girl! :)

I was so pleased with how everything turned out. Everyone had a great time and most importantly my mom LOVED the theme and how everything was inspired by her!