Custom Inspiration Board: 70th Birthday Party Inspiration Created by Birthday Girl

Birthday Girl is a daily read of mine and I have always loved seeing the inspiration boards that Becca creates. So, I was thrilled to learn that she now offers custom inspiration boards! I knew I had to order one. Here is the board Becca designed for my Dad's upcoming SURPRISE party. If you know him....shhh!!!

I am so pleased with the outcome! Be sure to read below for the party ideas that she came up with. We chose a color scheme of olive green and sienna and this is her take.

Photo Credits

Row 1: table setting via elisabeth anne designs; bar via ariella chezar; antipasto; candy jars via rebecca thuss

Row 2: place card holders via the green bride; cake table via the cupcake company

Row 3: dessert buffet via amy atlas; olive wreath via the dirty shirt ; menu via style me pretty; olive oil via stonehouse

Row 4: wine table number via snippet & ink; centerpiece via style me pretty; chair garlands; mini olive trees via sur la table

Party Ideas

Colors: Olive green & sienna

Setting: Evening surprise party. Seated Italian dinner for 130.

Decorations: Incorporate olive branches and greenery into centerpieces of green, white, yellow lush flowers. Consider adding lemons to centerpieces or line in clear glass vases as they compliment nicely with olive green. Use wine bottles with labels as table numbers and insert seating cards into corks. I agree that a blackboard style menu would be perfect for this setting too.

Dessert: Set apart the cake table by using the cake as a centerpiece and have a few other desserts surrounding it. Drape the table with olive branch garland or add height by adding a few olive bushes or Meyer lemon trees at the back of the table.

Favors: Small bottles of olive oil, wine for each couple or create a take home dessert buffet in greens, browns and whites.

Other: Hang small copies of b/w family pictures from the branches of an olive wreath or olive tree, either at the cake table or in a separate area. Instead of a guestbook, have a glass wine carafe at the gift area with a sign instructing guests to drop notes and well wishes.

Here are two other great boards Becca designed...a classic carnival birthday and a fairy garden party for Kim at The Tomkat Studio.

Real Parties: A Christening & Adoption Celebration

I have a very special party to share with you. I know you will LOVE the gorgeous, girly details which will hopefully serve as inspiration. This particular event was held to celebrate the Christening and adoption finalization of a sweet baby girl whose parents went through a long journey to get her here.

Angel wings were found throughout the party since that is what they call their daughter.

As an adopted child myself, my friend's story and this party touches my heart. What a blessed little girl to be brought into this world and put into the hands of two loving and deserving parents! I feel the same way about my parents.

On the invitation, was a poem which read...

Today I kissed an angel. I knew it from the start.

The first time my angel smiled at me, I gave away my heart.

Today I kissed an angel, this angel child of mine.

Though not of my creation, my child by God's design.

Today I kissed an angel, my heart is dancing wild.

A family, by a miracle, blessed by this angel child.

~ author unknown ~

A few event details you might be interested in...

The photography was done by my immensely talented friend, Leslie, of Goodlight Photography.

* The party was held at The Manor House at The Houstonian Hotel.

* Events in Bloom created the gorgeous flowers and decor.

* The cake came from Who Made the Cake.

The proud mommy, Christine, coordinated our wedding and for whom I worked for. She also planned these amazing parties, here and here, for her little girl over the past few years. They just welcomed home their second baby girl!

Real Parties: Pancakes & Pearls

The Pancakes & Pearls birthday party pictures are here! As usual, my friend, Julianna, put together an adorable party for her daughter!

On the menu were heart shaped pancakes, mini fruit parfaits, fruit kabobs and mini muffins.

Pearl Punch! Too cute!

The little girls enjoyed manis and pedis!

Besides being pampered, the girls decorated flip flops and frames, strung necklaces and had a style show! It was a busy morning!

Favors were monogrammed spa towels.

This was such a unique theme for a girls birthday party, but it can easily be turned into a Valentine's party. It's not too late to plan!

A few party details you might be interested in...

* Invitations, napkins, food cards and melamine plate came from Hayley Hardcastle.

* The tiered cakes was from Tart in Dallas

* Simply Pretend was her source for the pink nets, spa chairs, kid tables and chairs.

* La Madeleine made the mini parfaits and the muffins were from JD's Chippery (my absolute favorite cookie place in Dallas!).

* The heart pillows on the mani/pedi chairs came from Target.

* The cute spa towels were ordered from Cotton Fruit and were monogrammed in Dallas.

Real Parties: Nick's Sing-a-Long

Here are pictures from Nicklaus sing-a-long party! A good friend of mine, who teaches preschool choir and music classes, came over and led the kids in silly songs and games.

The door sign that greeted Nick's party guests. The party colors were navy and kelly green which I carried throughout the party along with his monogram.

Snack boxes for the kids upon arrival!

My sweet mom sewed the table runner for the two tables!

I put monogram stickers on all of the white plates to give the simple paper good some style.

Part of the snacks were kelly green macarons and Smashies (squeezable applesauce)...and of course the applesauce packaging matched the colors!!

Assorted sandwiches wrapped in coordinating paper.

For the cupcake display, I stacked white boxes to create a stand.

Microphones for the kids!

My friend, Kara, entertaining the kids!

The birthday boy loving parachute time!

My other little man, Conrad, who was a bit overwhelmed.

Nicklaus enjoying his macaron. The kids loved this sweet treat which pleasantly surprised me.

All photography by the very talented, Angela, of Bella Smile.

A few party details you might be interested in:

* Invitation, door sign, birthday boy chair sign, plate stickers, water bottle labels, "3" stickers, sandwich wraps & favor tags were all designed by my friend, Hayley Hardcastle.

* Navy table linens came from Distinctive Details.

* Tables and kid chairs were rented from A Finer Event.

* I ordered the cupcakes from Etsy via Orange1 who was WONDERFUL to work with! She has so many great papers to choose from.

* Cupcakes and flowers came from from Central Market.

* Maison Burdisso made the kelly green macarons. They were DELICIOUS and she has so many colors to work with!

* Custom tie shirts for my boys to match the party colors were handmade by my friend Amanda and her Etsy shop, Tiny Bit More!