For as long as I can remember, I have loved birthdays, specifically my birthday! There were years that I proclaimed it a National Holiday, and not only would I have a birthday DAY, but there would be a birthday week, and a birthday month. Celebrations of all kinds, with food, present, balloons and most importantly cake. CAKE is the focal point for the big day, much like it is for a wedding! Well as you can imagine, after leaving my 30’s and reaching the BIG 40, I conceded to just having my birthday DAY celebration. However; lucky for me, I have two children and now I get to be obsessed over their birthday celebrations instead and frankly I must admit that it is so much more fun to plan a wonderful party for them.

For me the party must focus around a theme! Last year for my daughter’s 4^th birthday it was a Princess and Pirate theme.

Pirates of course because she has a little brother and her 2 best friends are boys!

Invitations, napkins, plates, and decorations were combination of princess pink and pirate theme. All of her guests came dressed up in princess or pirate wear.

A bonus is that the Cinderella costume she for her party was also put to good use on Halloween, yes she was Cinderella!

The kids decorated small wooden treasure boxes that I had spray painted antique gold and added their names. They went on a backyard treasure hunt with a homemade map with visual clues that led them to a huge treasure chest full of goodies to stuff in their own wooden boxes. Guests were treated to gummy worms and fish, pretzel stick rods, cupcakes and the Treasure Chest cake. I had so much fun creating this cake, you can find anything on the internet these days and I found a DIY video of how to make a treasure chest cake!

I am now planning for her 5^th birthday and our theme?

Cowgirls and Cowboys

Yes, because of her little brother and her 2 best friends are still boys!

I used the same printer for her invitations; they turned out super cute as she was able to make the cowgirl on the front have blond hair to match my daughter!

Goodie bags will be a deck of cards, toy horses, and western themed shaped candy all wrapped up in either a pink or a navy blue bandana tied with some rope and attached with a thank you tag.

I have gone a bit overboard with the dress up outfit for my daughter. I had a pink t-shirt made with the number 5 sewn on in a brownish cow print fabric and her name in bling! I also ordered a custom made tutu in pink and brown toile and of course she will wear her cowboy boots!

Snacks will be a cowgirl trail mix served in handmade treat cones and homemade s’more pops. Guest will be served pink lemonade and cupcakes made in pink bandana cupcake liners with cupcake picks that have a horseshoe and a number 5.  I am trying something different this year and will attempt to make a “personal sized cake” just for my daughter to blow out her candles. I have been researching pictures of cakes on the internet and have found a few as my inspiration, but so far no DIY video this year!

Stay tuned for pictures of the 5^th birthday party event!