Gift Guide :: 1st Birthday Gifts

There's something so special about a child's first birthday.  Just like anyother milestone, a first birthday usually brings lots of fanfare and of course the pressure to find that perfect gift.  Although, the child in question would probably be just as happy with a cardboard box, it certainly is more everyday and not 1st birthday special.   Choosing the perfect gift for a first birthday can be a little challenging.  I find myself asking is the gift right for the child developmentally, or does it fit their growing needs?  Having gifted several first birthday gifts, I rounded up some of our favorites, including some that we received for our now 15 month old.  While some are decidedly boyish or girly, the majority are gender neutral.

In case you were wondering, the Little Man can't get enough of his tool set, basketball hoop, and his personalized name puzzle stool.  Of course all the wrapping paper, boxes, and bags that everything came in was the most exciting at the time.  My personal favorite, and go-to 1st birthday gift for all our friend's kids, is the PB Anywhere chair. 

Other great gift ideas include:

- Cute outfits

- Books are another great gift, story time is a nightly ritual in our household, and reading helps expand a child's vocabulary. 

- Museum or zoo memberships, and or classes (ie. swimming, music) 

Shop the Post:

PBKids Anywhere Chair | Baby Einstein Discovering Music Activity Table | Personalized Name Puzzle Stool | Cool Tools Activity Set | Teepee | Tiffany Mini Heart Earrings | Whisper Ride Buggy | Twilight Constellation Night Light Turtle | Easy Rider | Water Activity Table | Basketball Hoop | Shopping Cart | Melissa & Doug Farm Puzzle | Stacking Blocks 

Modern & Girly Birthday Party

Playing off of a 'favorite things' theme, this lucky toddler had all her friends over for a lavish modern yet girly 2nd birthday party.  How adorable is that dress up station!  Details I love: each child had their own place card, Storey's favorite things were written out in calligraphy on canvases throughout the space, and the table that featured 36' balloons with tassels.  And that dessert table is to die for! 

{photos via Hostess Blog}

Winter Wonderland Birthday Party

Given the weather this past week, this winter wonderland birthday party is the perfect excuse to stay indoors.  I love all the pastel colors, the soft ambiance, the delicious treats and the festiveness of the party.  The goodies included: chocolate covered pretzels, Oreo pops, sugar cookies, marshmallow flakes, choclate mini balls, wonderland cake, and of course hot cocoa and milk.  So festive and perfect for a girly winter birthday party.

{photos via Kara's Party Ideas}

WALL-E Birthday Party

How adorable is this Pixar inspired WALL-E birthday party?  I loved the story of WALL-E, the robot who fell in love with another robot EVE, and went on an adventure that changed the world.  This adorable birthday party captures all of the WALL-E's charm.  Love the geometric backdrop, the WALL-E inspired desserts, and the plant sample, party favors are perfect!

{photos via Hostess Blog}

Guest Post: Party Planning Tips

Hi there rivernorthLovers! I’m Mindy and I blog about photography, party planning, DIY projects and recipes over at a {day} with lil mama stuart. Just like Praveen, I’m a lover of every beautiful little detail that goes into events. Today I’m sharing 10 party planning tips (and details from my daughter's 2nd birthday party) to get your event looking fabulous without breaking the bank or running around like a crazy person.

1. Start early! Give yourself plenty of time to come up with a plan, shop and craft. If you spread your tasks out over a good amount of time, you will be less stressed throughout the process.
2. Find some inspiration that gets you really excited and carry the element(s) throughout the party. If you find something you really love, (an invitation, activity, character, colors, fabric, quote, etc) the ideas will start flowing.

{I liked this design from Social Butterfly Ink and Mia loves her stuffed animals! So that's what we based the invite, cake and party off of.}

3. Paper/printable designs easily tie events together (starting with the invite) because they can be scattered throughout (food, desserts, drinks, giveaways, signs, etc). You could make your own with basic programs like MS Word, MS Powerpoint, Photoshop, etc. Or surf etsy/the web. There’s a TON of printables for free or for purchase (Sprik Space, Chickabug, Hostess with the Mostess, The TomKat Studio, etc)      

{I used the same striped pattern for the juice box covers, soda bottle labels, water bottle labels, food tents, popcorn cones, thank you tags and centerpieces.}

 

4. Visit the venue beforehand. Take measurements of walls, windows, doorways, tables, etc so you can make decorations without guessing dimensions. Ask questions about what restrictions you have when setting up (What can’t you use? Can you hang from the ceiling? What time can you come to set up? What adhesives can you use on the walls? Etc.) 
5. Before going to buy things, shop around your house (and your friends/family!) for plates, vases, trays, glasses, containers, decorations, etc that you can use for the party. Think outside of the box (you can use things for a purpose other than what it's meant for, or something you forgot you had, etc). You'll be surprised at what you come up with!

{I wrapped phone books to add height to my sweets/food table and a bed sheet as a table cloth.}

6. Shop at stores/online weeks before your event and use a coupon! Michael’s, Joann’s and Hobby Lobby all have similar 40% coupons every week (in the paper or on their websites). Don’t forget to hit up Target (especially the dollar bins!), the Dollar Store, Home Goods, Marshalls/TJ Maxx, IKEA, Party City, etc. You might need party supplies online that you can’t get at stores, so account for shipping time. Try Shop Sweet Lulu, Polka-dot Market, Bake It Pretty, Save on Crafts and etsy!  
7. You WILL make multiple trips to stores. You often get the best deals that way.  Always keep your eyes open and don’t overlook the clearance section! You won’t magically find all the right things the first time around. Some of my best party finds are by accident. And you WILL return items that you didn’t end up using – not until AFTER the party though. You might change your mind and use something you thought you wouldn’t.
8.  A week or two before the event, stick to your plan! Don't brainstorm ideas up to the last minute when there is no more time to execute! Stop browsing/shopping and spend more time DOING.
9. Make  detailed checklists of what to-do and what to pack. All shopping, calling vendors, and crafting that needs to be done and what to pack the night before (not the day of!). I’ve had a mom forget a memory card before. Make your lists detailed!
10. Enlist help. If you are limited on time to setup right before the event, accept all the help you can get from friends and family. You can easily direct them on where to place items.

Ok three more quick tips!

1. Showoff your pictures! I’m sure we’re all guilty of having pictures trapped on our computers. Now’s your chance to show them off with all your friends and family together! Mount them on foam core, make a banner, or frame them and place throughout the venue.
2. Bring flat shoes to prep and clean up.
3. Get some rest the night before the party. You don’t want the party to look great but you look like crap!

And there you have it! With these basic tips, I think you can pull off any event full of special details.

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}

A Hawaiian Themed Birthday

Love this Aloha themed birthday from Hostess with the Mostess.  Love the rainbow cake with cascading hibiscus flowers, and the dessert table with it's paisley backdrop, grass skirt, and huge paper flowers.  Guests were greeted with grass skirts and lies, and they had a hula dancer on hand to give lessons.  Everything from the vibrant colors, beautiful paper goods, adorable dessert table, and fun treats all have me wishing I was at this kids birthday party!

{photos via Hostess Blog}