I’m the first to admit I’m not a good party planner. Themes are impossible to come up with for me and then I feel like it’s just haphazardly thrown together. They always seem to turn out and everybody has a good time, but I think this is the first themed party I’ve thrown. It was for E’s first birthday and it was a “Breakfast and Pajamas” theme.
I was highly inspired by Charlotte’s first birthday party. I emailed our friends to make sure it was okay if I went with the theme and did the invitation (which I made in photoshop) very similarly. Instead of gifts (you’ll see below we have enough “stuff” we asked everybody to bring $1-2 for a donation to Make-A-Wish (in memory of our guardian angel). This seemed to go over very well. We only had one non-donation gift. I wish I would have done this sooner with other parties!
I knew I wanted to display pictures of her from her first year, so I turned to my instagram friends and found Printstagram and printed out 48 little square instagram prints. Once they arrived, I had to decide what to do with them. I looked around and found people had spelled out O-N-E with the pictures, but I didn’t have enough, so I went with the number 1. I used double sided tape and stuck it straight on the wall. Everybody checked it out and it also made a nice backdrop from some pictures. I think now I’ll take the pictures and put them in a frame or make an E with them and put them in her room.
I went very easy on the decorations. We were going to have kids at our house, they don’t really care! So, I did the birthday banner (which, I cut out by hand! Yes, I’m crazy). It received a lot of compliments. Since the theme was breakfast, I decided that the food should be the bulk of everything. With kids ages 0-9 I knew that structured games or activities were out, so we let them eat and have a free for all with the toys.
People arrived before everything was on the table, so I forgot a final picture, so you’ll have to use your imagination.
I made everything homemade and everything was delicious:
- juice boxes and mimosas for the adults.
- make your own yogurt parfaits (which were much more of a hit then expected); diced strawberries, blueberries, granola and chocolate chips. I scooped out vanilla yogurt into little cups and placed them in a container with ice.
- homemade cinnamon rolls (using the Pioneer Woman recipe) but with cream cheese icing
- homemade egg-bacon-cheese muffin cups (I’ll have to make them again and take pictures. They were delicious and all gone.)
- pigs-in-a-blanket (the girls rolled these the night before so they just had to be cooked in the morning).
- fruit skewers (strawberries, blueberries, grapes, pineapple and cantaloupe). In hindsight, skewers weren’t the best for kids, but I was trying to keep it finger friendly.
- cupcakes. It’s a birthday. We had to have them. This was the only thing I “out-sourced”.
Y’all, either people came hungry, or everything was really really good, because almost everything was gone. Like crumbs only left in the bowl. We went through two 9×11 pans of cinnamon rolls, too. (I managed to remember to take a picture of those).
Our birthday girl was totally unimpressed with me taking her picture while eating. (You can see the breakfast muffin cup on the front of her tray, but she sort of destroyed it).
And everybody eating and playing at the same time. Yep, it was crowded, but I think everybody enjoyed it.
E’s smash cake. Which she didn’t smash. But, I requested it with no color. Mean? Maybe. But those food colors are brutal and nasty and don’t come out, so I didn’t take the risk.
It’s important that the siblings still feel important on the big day, too (especially since they practically share their birthday). I caught N licking E’s icing right off her fingers right after this!
I had to include this one because it captured the crazy so well.
As a party favor, a friend suggested cereal. I wanted the boxes, but we went shopping the day before the party and could only find these giant containers. We made them work. My mother-in-law tied the ribbon on them with a plastic spoon and they were our gifts to our party guests. And, it cost a $1 for each of them.
We had to stop and get a sibling picture with the girls and the birthday balloon (E went crazy over this ballon…she was squealing and yelling with delight).
Just in case you missed it Monday, we got a family shot, too. I almost always forget to snap one, so I’m glad we had our father-in-law to stop and snap a picture for us! And yes, we did wear our jammies, too.
There was a lot of prep work the day before the party, but it made the morning much less chaotic. Thus we were able to mingle with guests and enjoy their company, too.
amanda says
love love love friend!!
seriously everything looks perfect!!
especially those party favors – wink wink!!
Terra Heck says
I’ve never heard of a pajamas and breakfast themed party but I’m totally diggin’ the idea. I’m going to have to give it a try for one of my kids’ birthday parties this summer. Happy 1st birthday to your daughter!
Krystyn says
Thank you! And, yes, totally use it. It was more work in the morning, but we had a ton of day left over:)
Ann at Mundane Magic says
One of the cutest birthday themes I’ve seen! Love this for a sweet first birthday. I may steal the idea for a back to school party. Happy Birthday E!
Krystyn says
Thank you so much, Ann! Steal away, I imagine it would be great for kids of all ages. Even grown ups, too..maybe add bloody mary’s:)
MommaE says
Looks like so much fun! The food and decorations were great. Glad everyone, especially E, had a great time. I like your theme…wish adults could get away with that for our birthday parties!
Krystyn says
I think they could…just a little different menu, but not much:)
Dee says
What a fun idea!!!! Happy Birthday, sweet girl!!
Krystyn says
Thanks, Dee. Kallie Jane is up next:)
laura says
what a super cute idea! may have to copy it for one of our birthdays in the future. nothing beats partying in your jammies! happy, happy #1 to sweet e!
Krystyn says
Copy away….jammies and yummy splurgy breakfast food. Totally a win.
BusyWorkingMama says
What a wonderful party! I like the 1 with photos – and the family shot!! Breakfast is a great idea!
Krystyn says
Thank you! It’s a treat to have special breakfast food for the occasion.
And I was quite proud of the 1…which is still up:)
Jen E @ mommablogsalot says
What a fun party theme! I might have to steal this idea at some point, love it!
Krystyn says
Yes, steal away. Why reinvent the wheel?
grandma pat says
i am so glad your party turned out nice. Yes you do throw some good ones. Can’t believe E is 1 already. Time is passing way too quickly.
Emily says
It turned out so cute!!! Looks like such a fun party! Happy Birthday E!
Krystyn says
Thanks so much for sharing your ideas and the theme! I couldn’t have done it without your help.
Xmasdolly says
What a wonderful party! I love how you made your No. 1! What a fabulous idea. Your Birthday Baby’s cake is too cute! Thanks for sharing such wonderful memorable pics with us. You have a gorgeous family.
Krystyn says
Thank you! I’m glad everybody can tell it’s a 1, because I was worried.
Jen says
What a great first birthday party! LOVE the breakfast idea.
Krystyn says
Thanks! And it was nice to have so much day left when it was over..and splurge on all of the tasty breakfast treats!
Naturally Caffeinated Family says
What a fun theme! Great job! And the pics are so cute! The last sister and family shots are so great!! Happy birthday to your baby girl!
Krystyn says
Thanks, D! And you are the party extraordinare:) They are growing up way too fast, aren’t they?
noelle says
love this idea!!!!
If we are in a house next year, this is totally going to be done!!!!
SO FUN!!!!
Krystyn says
It really was fun and it seemed like all of the parents enjoyed it, too (sometimes first birthday parties are torture!)
angie says
Looks like it was PERFECT! Happy Birthday Evelyn!
Krystyn says
Thanks, Angie! No comparison to some of your awesome bashes, though:)
Meghan @JaMonkey says
We had a blast! Oh and I made it into one of the pictures go me!
Krystyn says
Aren’t you lucky:) So glad you guys made it.
Meghan @JaMonkey says
Are you kidding we had a blast! Thanks for inviting us!
Bridgett Zaidi says
This is such a cute theme!! My twins are turning one in May and I’m already overwhelmed with theme ideas. I may just do a breakfast party!! Look cheap and so fun
Krystyn says
It was relatively inexpensive in comparison…and I think the parents really loved it, which is nice because sometimes those first birthdays are snooze-ville!
Sandy VanHoey says
You did a fantastic job on this birthday party! I loved how you made the #1 with those pictures. Too cute!
Krystyn says
Thank you! I’m pretty proud of that 1!
Janet W. says
I love the smash cake! Food coloring isn’t really good for you anyways!
Krystyn says
Exactly…I’m not a big fan, either:)
Chelsea r says
I really like the picture collage what a great idea, I may have to borrow it!
Krystyn says
Thank you! Borrow away. I couldn’t find anything like it on pinterest, so I had to make the 1 template.
Elena says
What a fun party! Happy Birthday!
Lindsay @ Bytes of Memory says
So fun!! I love that you guys wore your jammies! I also love the at home birthdays.. creating wonderful memories in your home!
Krystyn says
Win-win..jammies and at home. Can’t beat it!
Kat says
That looks like an AWESOME party! You did a great job! I love the 1 pictures. What a great idea! And I love the family picture too. So good!
Happy Birthday to your darling 1 year old!!!!
Krystyn says
Thanks, Kat!
Why are our babies getting so big? I don’t like it.
Ashley Suzanne says
This is such an adorable idea! Happy Birthday E!
Krystyn says
Thanks! I’m so glad it came together like I envisioned.
stephanie says
wow… you did a good job! happy bday!
Krystyn says
Thank you:)
Jennifer Marie says
that cake looks so good! Can’t believe she is 1!! 🙂
Krystyn says
It was tasty..and I still can’t believe it, either. I’m calling her 12 months still:) It’s not the same, right?
Becca says
Love the pictures in the shape of the one. And that cake is gorgeous!
Krystyn says
Thank you! I’m pretty proud of my creation…the cake I can’t take credit for, though:)
Abbie says
I LOVE themed birthday parties! I also love the pj theme and have thought about doing that. What a great idea to ask people to donate money to a good cause instead of getting more clutter for your house! Super cute!!!
Krystyn says
Honestly, I’m not good at them at all! PJs were nice for me…even though we changed into our jammies:)
Yes, the donation thing worked really well, and since we did it in my cousins’ memory, my aunt got a nice surprise, too (because she got an email when we did the donation). So much better than all of the junk that could be added to our house.
Abby says
There are 2 sizes on Printagram, did you order the mini squares 2.5 x 2.5 or squares 4 x 4? Thanks!
Krystyn says
I ordered the 2.5 x 2.5 but the 4 inch ones would work too!
nicole dziedzic says
How fun! The food is a winner for me, and I love the décor. And the cereal cups with the spoons for guests is a great idea.
Brenda Haines says
What a great idea, I’ll have to share with my best friend. We love new bday ideas!
Julie Wood says
What a cute Birthday party! I think you did a great job and the cake is very pretty. It looks like a fun party that I want to have for my niece.