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!

Dragon Trainer Party

All four of my boys have a summer birthday and they are all only weeks apart so I decided that this year I was going to have one big party for all three of my little ones. {My oldest turned 14 so he opted out of the party :)} Sounds like a great idea in theory, however, there were a few hurdles along the way. For example my two year old wanted a pirate party, which if you read an early post, he some how managed to get as a bonus party. And then there are my four year old twins, one wanted a monster truck party and the other wanted rainbows and ponies. {Yes, I said four boys, and yes I just said rainbows and ponies. :)} So needless to say it was no small task to get them all on the same page. After much discussion, and a little bribing, they all agreed on dragons because How to Train your Dragon is their current favorite movie.
With the theme picked, I started planning. I was inspired by a contest where designers were given a $100 budget to create their parties {and the lack of funds in my bank account} and decided I was going to try to do it too.

So I pulled my resources and here is how it turned out!

A moss covered wreath with a burlap ribbon greeted guests as they arrived.

 At Hiccup's workshop I hung shields on the fence for the kids to grab and decorate.

I used the 14" cake circles from my local craft store and cut out glitter circles for the center.

Then I went to the Dollar Store and loaded up on glitter glue and various foam stickers decorating!

The kiddos decorating their shields.

Grammy bought the boys dragon Happy Nappers that double as decor!

I went with a primitive viking tablescape.

Each place setting had a pie tin for a plate

and a faux leather "Astrid" skirt or a fur "Hiccup" cape.

I used candles and vases with rocks, moss and a birthday flag.

Modeling their new viking duds.

 I converted my lemonade stand into a forest setting.

I used my Christmas trees, rocks from the backyard

and old shoe boxes covered with moss to create my forest.

 The treats included dragon cake pops, magic bars

 cupcakes, apples, berry candies, cherry fish and trail mix.

 The "Toothless" cake pops

and dragon cookies were the hands down favorites!!!

My birthday boys Hayden{top} & Ethan enjoying some birthday treats!

 I just LOVE paper straws and flags!!

 No dragon party would be complete without a dragon pond.

 My little birthday boy Riley having a blast with is partner in crime Abby!

Now are you ready for the grand total?

 I spent $91!!!

Here is the break down:

The Banner, Drink Flags, Signs, Posters and Centerpiece Flags-

I used a roll of shipping paper from the dollar store to make all of them for only $1!!!

The Shields-

I used 12 14" cake circles. I already had 6 from a previous project so I bought one package for $6 and the glitter and foam stickers came from the dollar store for a total of $5. I used a couple of scraps of glitter paper to make the center circles.

The Skirts and Capes-

The fur capes didn't cost me a penny! My mother-in-law had a couple of yards of fur in her stash from a project she never got around to so she gave it to me! For the faux leather skirts a bought a yard of brown vinyl for $6. I used two gold bead necklaces that were leftover party favors and cut the beads apart to use on the skirts.

The Wreath-

I purchased a straw wreath for $3 and a package of moss also from the dollar store for, you guessed it, $1. I used a scrap of burlap to complete the project.

Plates-

The disposable pie tins I used came in 3 packs. I bought 4 pack for $14.

Cupcake Liners & Paper Straws-

These items came from The Cupcake Social for a total of $11.

Dragon Pops-

My AMAZING "toothless" cake pops were made by my dear friends Susan and Jennifer for only $24! 

Dragon Cookies-

I have to confess I am using a bit of a technicality on this one. My INCREDIBLE cookies came from Lori's Place. I had some money already in my pay pal account so my out of pocket expense was only $20.

I loved the challenge of trying to think of ways to use items that I already had and calling on friends and family for helping out. I absolutely LOVE the way this party turned out and most importantly my little guys had a great time celebrating their birthdays with their friends and family. :)