Hi Reader - Before you send your next round of party invitations, there's one detail worth double-checking: Do your guests' parents know whether to stay or go? If it's not clearly spelled out whether or not your party is a drop-off, you may end up with a party full of kids and no adults to help. Maybe that's fine because your guests are older or your party is small and low key. But if your guests are younger and you're doing something like swimming or gymnastics, you'll want parents nearby....
9 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader - I used to watch those balloon garland videos — you know, the ones where someone twists four balloons together in about three seconds — and my brain would just go blank. There was no way I could make that. After more trial and error than I'd like to admit (including one garland that wilted in the afternoon sun at a bake sale — I'll tell you the story), I finally figured out what actually makes the difference between a balloon garland that looks professionally done and one that just...
14 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader - Baby B has been on a mission lately — and this time, her mission was a shark cookie cake. We always make an American flag fruit pizza for Memorial Day and the 4th of July. She decided that the same idea — sugar cookie base, cream cheese frosting, fresh fruit — would work perfectly with a shark theme. She was right, and she did most of the work to prove it. The result? Honestly adorable. Brown sugar sand, blue wave-peak frosting, gummy sharks surrounding a very dramatic Swedish...
23 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader - One of my twins was so into purple it was basically her whole personality. Head-to-toe purple outfits. A beloved purple blanket she'd named, simply, "Purple." If she hadn't been a twin sharing a birthday party, I would have thrown her the most joyful purple party you've ever seen — purple paper chain decorations, purple crafts, and one perfect party favor: a copy of Harold and the Purple Crayon. I never threw that party (twins complicate things), but I always knew exactly what...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader - Easter is just around the corner, and if you're anything like me, you're ready for warmer weather, cute dresses, and an excuse to bring out all the pastel décor. I pulled together my favorite Easter ideas from the blog — tablescapes, treats, and one budget-friendly decorating trick I'm really excited about. Easter tables & centerpieces: Green & white Easter tablescape — fresh, modern, and not overly pastel if that's more your style Green & white ombre floral centerpieces — These...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Hi Reader - I bought two metallic curtain streamers for my daughters' Dolly Parton/Weather party (you had to be there) — two different colors, two different brands. One came out of the package completely falling apart. I had to scramble to make it look decent, and it was not my finest party planning moment. That's the thing about party supplies — you really don't know what you're getting until you're standing there the day before the party, hoping for the best. I started working on a party...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader - There's a pattern I've noticed after years of teaching party planning — and after making plenty of my own party planning mistakes along the way. Most parents start planning a party the same way: they open Pinterest (or Instagram or TikTok), fall into a scroll spiral, save a hundred ideas that don't quite go together, and then feel completely stuck. Sound familiar? The good news is that this is 100% fixable — and it doesn't require more inspiration. It requires a simple framework...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader - Party printables are one of my favorite ways to create a custom look without spending a fortune. But I know the DIY assembly part can feel a little intimidating if you've never worked with them before. Trimming and assembling party printables isn't hard, but there are definitely some tricks that make the process faster and the results more professional-looking. So I finally put together the tutorial I wish I'd had when I started working with printables. It covers everything from...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader - Can we talk about something that's been driving parents absolutely crazy lately? The birthday party no-show epidemic. You send out adorable invitations. You plan activities. You order the perfect cake. And then... crickets. Or worse—half the kids you planned for don't show up, and you're left with way too much food and a disappointed birthday kid. It's not you. And it's not even really the other parents (well, not entirely). The whole party invitation and RSVP system is broken,...
4 months ago • 1 min read