Jungle Safari Themed 1st Birthday {Eats}

Today I'm sharing all the details behind the food and desserts we had at the little Man's jungle safari themed first birthday.  If you haven't already done so, you can enter to win an Etsy prize pack featuring all our designers over at The Wise Baby.

The dessert bar featured a safari cake, which sat on top of a vintage suitcase, with the most adorable gold elephant candle holder, thanks to Gnome Sweet Gnome Shop.  The goodies on the dessert table included: rice krispy treats, cake pops, jello cups, ants on a log (with animal crackers), and delicious personalized safari hat cookies from Rollin’ in Dough.  The  backdrop consisted of zebra print fabric, the happy birthday banner, which hung from a bamboo frame, and animal prints from Lisa Kay Designs.  Green moss, large leaf prints, and a raffia table shirt, polished off the dessert table.

We kept things simple for food and served salad & pizzas, and it's the easiest way to feed a crowd of nearly 75 people.  In addition to the usual appetizers we had a cheese plate and a fruit tray with a double pineapple tree. In case you are wondering, I cut the top and the bottom off the the bottom pineapple and hallowed it out, and used skewers to secure the two pineapples together. At the beverage station, or the watering hole, we served jungle juice, water, juice pouches, Izzes, and of course milk.  I created custom water bottle labels, and used the same stickers on the cups.  And for added fun, I made drink flags with the little Man's favorite jungle animal sound, the roaring of a lion.

Zebra fabric: Joann Fabrics

Pizza paddles & bamboo fencing: Amazon

Raffia tree skirt & green leaves: Party City

Photos by Niraj Gandhi Photography.

Jungle Safari Themed First Birthday {Decor}

Today I'm sharing the detail behind the decor from the little Man's safari themed 1st birthday.  Don't forget to enter to win a fabulous Etsy prize pack giveaway featuring all of our Etsy designers over at The Wise Baby. 

Starting with one of my favorite details from the little Man’s first birthday were the amazing invitations created by one of my incredibly talented friends at PS Paper Couture.  She pulled together beautiful details to create a passport style invitation, including the customs stamp from our most recent trip.  And the boarding passes are amazing, check out all that detail. 

As the little guests entered their jungle safari adventure, their first stop was base camp.  Here they gathered their supplies like binoculars, safari hats, and picked up their safari passes.  The back of the safari passes had a fun safari adventure itinerary that included: a photo in the safari jeep, searching for a herd of zebra, a romp in the quicksand pit.  For slightly older safari adventurers, I created a custom activity book.  

Safari supplies for our little adventurers.  Safari hats, binoculars, & their safari passes.

I wrapped a few cardboard boxes in contact paper, and stenciled in a few stats about the little man, and included the usual shipping terms.  I also created a cargo manifest and altered it for 'live cargo' and added washi tape in the par avion pattern to finish it off.

The guest book, a copy of Disney’s Jungle Book, and favors were also featured at “base camp”.  I know guest books aren’t typical for first birthday parties, but I love the idea of the little Man reading his signed copy in years to come, and it’s another wonderful addition to his library.  The favors, stuffed animals from the Kohl’s Cares collection, were housed in a vintage crate.  I love that they doubled as favors and were a great way to give back.

The centerpieces consisted of a safari animals that I spray painted gold, and a framed picture of the little Man throughout his first year.  To add some texture and add a more safari feel, I added burlap runners to each table.

One of my favorite details from the party was the favorite things poster by Moulage Collection is one of my favorite party details.  I love how it turned out, and we received so many compliments on it.  I can’t wait to frame it for his nursery; it’s the perfect way to capture his first year.

We created several play areas for the little ones, which included a 'quicksand pit', a safari jeep photo booth, and a floating zebra herd. The  safari rides photo booth came to life with several yards of burlap, the safari jeep, and a few jungle friends from the little Man’s nursery.  The Mister built the safari jeep using a cardboard box, and after several coats of spray paint and some quick glue gunning, we had ourselves a fun photo prop.  Using an inflatable pool filled with plastic balls, we created the “quicksand pit”, which was by far the most popular play area at the party.   The “zebra herd” consisted of several inflated mylar zebra balloons, the inspiration behind the zebra herd was  this Land of Nod design photo.  With several floating zebras around the party, our little guests could spot them with their binoculars, or take them for a walk.

Inflatable pool, balls, safari hats, binoculars, zebra balloons, & mosquito netting: Amazon

Safari animals & burlap: Joann Fabrics

Photos by Niraj Gandhi Photography.

Jungle Safari Themed 1st Birthday

We are sharing the little Man's jungle safari themed first birthday on The Wise Baby today.  And you can enter to win a fabulous giveaway featuring all the Etsy designers we used.  The giveaway includes a $10 gift certificate to Lisa Kay Designs, a $10 gift certificate to PS Paper Couture, an animal candle holder from Gnome Sweet Gnome Shop, and a dozen delicious mini Easter egg cookies from Rollin' in Dough!  Enter over at http://www.thewisebaby.com/safari-themed-first-birthday/ to win.  Also for all you parents or soon-to-be parents out there, our photographer, Niraj Gandhi, is offering 55% off a newborn or family photo shoot if you mention 'The Wise Baby' and book by March 31st. 

And I'll be sharing all the details behind the little Man's first birthday this week on the blog.  But first, I give you the smash cake success as it was beautifully captured by Niraj Gandhi.  Since the little Man is a replica of Mowgli, from the Jungle Book, we found this orange diaper cover to complete his 'Mowgli' inspired look.

Fall Harvest

Happy Monday!  Fall is officially here, but in the off chance you're enjoying an extended Indian Summer, I put together a fall harvest inspiration board, perfect for warmer fall weather.  Love the warmth of early fall colors, and the natural textures from burlap to jute to hay and linen.  Here's to Fall!

{photo credits: Top Row: Bouquet, Chairs; Acorn Place Setting, Pumpkin Centerpiece; Boutonnieres, Couple}



Harvest Orange

It's that time of year again, when the temperature dips, the leaves start to fall, cardigans and boots make their annual reappearance, and everything turns that wonderful shade of harvest orange.  Imagine crispy fall leaves, golden pumpkins, and rust colored flowers.  There are so many things I love about a fall color and nothing brings them together quite like harvest orange.


{Aisle floral arrangement | Champagne glasses | Calla lily bouquet | Tie | Place card | Twirling couple}  

Vintage & Rustic Rehearsal Dinner

So the BIL (brother-in-law) and soon to be sister-in-law are hosting a welcome dinner this Friday before their wedding ceremonies.  Their welcome dinner is being hosted by extended family, and they have a beautiful outdoor space, which is perfect for the couple's rustic and vintage theme.  Imagine hay bales as seating around a bonfire, old whiskey barrels as high boys or the base for a smores bar, and drinks stations with mason jars for friends and family to toast the happy couple.  With any vintage and rustic theme natural elements play a big role.  Raw wood (barrels, and directional signage); jute, burlap, and twine (as table runners, or wrapped around tins or mason jars); cotton balls (as decor); vintage glass bottles (as decor or centerpieces).  Classic treats like spiked lemonade, iced tea, smore, and pies add the vintage element, and we love the idea of relabeling beer bottles your own brand of moonshine.  Create an interactive drink station using the beer bottles as a ring toss, where guests get a chance to wine a prize (or a drink) if they get a ring around a bottle.  This is a great alternative to corn holes, and adds the element of old school traveling carnivals.  Finally, add modern conveniences like an outdoor station with cool towels, shawls, sunscreen, and mosquito repellent for guests to stay comfortable.  

{Photo Credits: Top Row: Wood Signs, Drink Station; Second Row: Favor Jars, Bonfire, Barrel Table; Last Row: Baby's Breathe Centerpiece, Pie Bar, Glass Bottles, Cotton}

Wedding Inspiration: Thin Mints

This weekend,I made this version of my favorite girl scout cookie: the thin mint.  Which served as the inspiration behind today's wedding inspiration board.  With bright mint grounded by warm chocolate hues, it's perfect for any springtime wedding.  Happy Monday!

{Photo Credits: Top Row: Smores Oak Tree Favors, Southern Belle, Place Setting; Second Row: Table, Cake, Mint Juleps: Third Row: Bridesmaids, Invitation}

Traditional Christmas Inspiration

Inspired by one of my favorite holiday movies, Little Women, I love the warmth and ambiance of a traditional holiday decor.  A traditional Christmas: where stockings were hung by the hearth, oranges were stuffed with cloves, carols were sung by the fire, and Christmas decor mostly involved bringing the outdoors in.  Some traditional Christmas inspiration for your holidays, enjoy!

{photos via: Gift, Holiday Prep, Stocking, Wreath Chandelier, Tree, Acorn Hurricanes, Christmas Crackers}

Hunger Games Wedding Inspiration

With the release of the movie topping all box office charts, we are in full Hunger Games fever.  The movie has inspired these styled wedding shoots from Green Wedding Shoes and The Wedding Chicks, loving the different interpretations of a Hunger Games Wedding.  Here's our take on Katniss and Peeta's nuptials.  With rustic elements, a braided bride, and plenty of Hunger Games references.  To us the love story of Katniss and Peeta is all about finding beauty and hope in a dark world, Some Hunger Games wedding inspiration for your I Do's, enjoy!

{Photos via: Top Row: Alter, Invitation; Second Row: Table, Love Cake Topper, Place Setting; Third Row: Boutonniere, Braid, Hunger Games Symbol, Bows, Candle Centerpiece}

Little Lamb Birthday

Love this darling little lamb birthday party.  Designed around the birthday girl's favorite toy, this lush neutral color palette included white, cream, carmel and chocolate brown with different textures including fleece, yarn, wool, and burlap to tie it all together.  The beautiful dessert spread included: custom puffy sheep sugar cookies, fluffy white cotton candy, cinnamon pinwheel cookies, white cheddar popcorn cones, caramel apples, powdered sugar and cinnamon donut holes and caramel apple cake shooters!  Our favorite details include the lamb poster, the yarn pom garland, the incorporation of wool (wool balls and wool wrapped letters) and the very grown up color palette.

{photos via Hostess Blog}