Despite the work (to the third cube), I take great pride in putting my event planning skills to work when it comes to my daughter, Ms. Madeline Ainsley Dixon a.k.a. Maddie. Ahh...Maddie. So full of life, a dreamer, an actress, a dancer, a philosopher, a negotiator, a bossy bear, a snuggler, a fashionista, an artist, a lover, and a living live large extraordinaire (to name a few). She is a mini-me (which is scary) but with all the beautiful qualities her dad possesses too. I am one lucky girl (pass the bottle of hair dye, STAT)!
But I digress. Maddie loves to attend a party as much as I love to plan a party. A match made in heaven. Today's blog takes us back in time (she is now five) to showcase the events we have planned in her honor.
I do this after much prodding (encouragement) and nagging (support) from friends and loved ones alike.
The First Birthday
Inspiration: Mother GooseLocation: Chateau Madeline in Madison, Wisconsin (a.k.a our house)
Total planning time: Hellloooooo, I told you I was OCD so I will NOT admit that or you will judge me.
Mother Goose is a classic and a favorite of mine. I spent many years reading the "Charles Addams" version of Mother Goose classics with "dark" (yet hilarious) illustrations to match what is really a very dark storytelling (do we really realize what we are reading to our kids)? In fact, everyone should own one of these and here is the link: http://www.amazon.com/The-Charles-Addams-Mother-Goose/dp/0689848749.
A copy was given to my grandfather, Charles Ezra Bowman on his birthday in 1970 by his sister, Aunt Chris! In 1981 it was given to me. I memorized it (and can still recite the entire book to this day) and I passed it down to my daughter when she turned two (with a copy of one of my 2nd or 3rd grade spelling test inside). She loves it!
Considering she was just turning one there was no way I could take the dark Mother Goose approach (maybe when she is an awkward teenager) so we went with pastels and tradition galore.
The Invitation.
I adore Tiny Prints (always have) and I am sure there are a million places online you can buy an invitation. I happen to really favor Tiny Prints.
It simply reads: "Hey Diddle Diddle, with a smile and a giggle we invite you to join the fun. We'll laugh and we'll play and all shout hooray! Sweet Madeline is turning one!
Naturally, things must be cohesive so I used the same color scheme to decorate and the invitation inspired the cake design, the give away cookies, and more!
The Cake.
The cake was made at one of the best bakers in Madison! The Rolling Pin bakery took my drawing (yes, I sketched my vision of the cake) and turned it into reality. Not only did they design a nice cake but it isn't about the design - it is about the flavor. I can still taste it to this very moment five years later.
I had a large cake made for our guests and a personal cake for Maddie to dive into.
The cake was designed to look like an open book! Various Mother Goose characters were showcased and on the right was a "book plate" that read, "This Book Belongs to Maddie on her 1st Birthday."
The personal cake had the same design concept with a cow jumping over the moon!
The Food. We are foodies!
I don't know how to throw a party without providing food for the adults (and kids alike). My buffet spreads are always a highlight (according to my guests)! So, here are some pictures to showcase that effort.
The Menu.
Humpty Dumpty Deviled Eggs (morbid, I know)
Peter Peter Pasta Eater (pasta salad)
Little Piggies in a Blanket (croissant sausages)
Three Blind Mice Cheese Dip (to die for dip with cheese, bacon and Captain Rodney's glaze. H.E.A.V.E.N)
Jack and Jill Punch
The Extras.
We had a few extra details to complete the experience for our guests.
The Summary.
Needless to say, everyone had an amazing time. We were surrounded by family and friends and she enjoyed every second!
Keep in mind this is one of my more "simple" parties since she was only turning one (does she really need a big "sha-bang?" And, I didn't want to be one of "those moms" ..... okay....you caught me...I am totally one of "those moms!"
End result? One happy little girl!
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