Dr. Seuss’s Thing 1 and Thing 2 was the theme. I had a planning notebook, Dr. Seuss quotes printed and mounted on cardstock, booked a Jumphouse for Twin 1 year olds with no friends, maybe 2 other kids in the Fam, and a bunch of adults. I Handmade name signs out of red and blue felt to hang on their high chairs that we dragged from our condo to the park up the street where we had the party (shout-out to Daddio for helping trace the felt letters). Planned out the menu and desserts ; 2 smash cakes with RED frosting and the numbers 1 and 2 which was the most horrific idea because there little faces were stained red for 2 days. The cupcakes also had red frosting and blue cotton candy as the “hair” that I bought online for like $20 because I couldn’t find it locally. OH- and it was July in San Diego, so the $20 blue cotton candy hair melted in just minutes of arriving.
The morning of the party when Dad went to get the balloons, I was informed that there was a helium shortage and there was none. After tears, demanding, and if I remember correctly, 3 or so stops and another $20-$30 later he found a place with helium and order was restored. How could I ever throw my children their first birthday without balloons!!
I could go on, but when I look back I can see how tremendously stressful that was. Although what I just described above sounds as if their first birthday was an absolute disaster, it was so far from it, that it was just what I wanted to be – perfect! No one ever knew that there was almost no balloons. The 2 kids jumped on that darn jumpy until the guy came to tear it down. Their chubby little red frosting dyed faces did eventually fade back to their smooth pink natural tone. The high chairs squeezed into the 5th and final trip from the park back home, and the Cotton Candy? What Cotton Candy, I didn’t know the cupcakes were supposed to have that on top?
We are all just Moms (and Dads and grammas) just trying to do the absolute best we can. We are busy, and we’re tired, and usually working on a budget. I’ve have always loved planning and organizing, and if you ask anyone who knows me I may have a bit of an obsessive personality so when I get into something I engulf myself until I’m bored and the next thing comes along. I have learned so much from that first party and I want to share it with all the Moms out there that are in tears because the cake you ordered for your daughters birthday has Magenta colored fondant flowers and you asked for Fuschia!
I said year after year that I was going to take it easy the next one, and do a simple Chucky Cheese or bowling. Here I am 8 years later, just wrapped up their 8th YouTube themed bday complete with its own Hashtag, #JustMaddSeason8, YouTube Video Invitations, and handmade Photo Prop Booth to name just a few things. Why do I do it you ask? Because I love it. And I want to help you make the most memorable occasions for your loved ones as well. With my simple party ideas and inspiration, tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way, event planning how-to’s (and how to nots), recipes, and hands on DIY crafting and planning services for people just like me who are busy and on a budget and just trying to do our best.
My nickname my dad would call me when I was little was MandaPanda. I say now I’m the Pandicorn of Party Planners. Everything I create is unique and makes for a Magical affair!
~Amanda DiNovo
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