Birthday Party Perfect

It's Monday!

Time for the Listicle train to leave the station.  Since it's Robbie’s turn to choose the topic, she took inspiration from her daughter's ninth birthday and hence: Birthdays became our inspiration. 

I have disclosed time and time again, that I am a bit insane with regards to birthdays. Take note that I do have a label dedicated to party perfect. 


I will confess that my party planning neurosis for Maeve and Moira's birthdays in January and April respectively has already started to take form. Check out my pinterest boards here and here. 

And, yes, I have let my mind wander a bit to brainstorm potential first birthday party ideas for a child born around Christmas. (Yes, this child has not left utero, and I am already considering first birthday options.)


I am crazy about these party plans, so crazy that I figure this list should be dedicated to my ten most crazy birthday related memories in photo form- in no particular order.

1. Moira's Fourth Birthday Pirate Parrrrrty!

The purchase of a moon bounce, pirate hats and spy glasses, and random costumed Pirates circulating, made for quite the memorable fourth birthday extravaganza. 

2. Maeve's Sunshiny Second Birthday

Yellow, pink, and orange took over the first floor, as we celebrated our "little Sunshine" with a Sunshiny Second birthday party. Between the sunshine cake and our always bright and shiny Miss Marcia playing along, the party was quite the happy day!

3. Jeanna's Surprise 30th Birthday

Planning a surprise party is quite the feat, especially when the guest list includes more people you don't know than you do! Luckily, with the inception of evite, I was able to keep the guest list under control and in turn pulled out a memorable surprise birthday for my little sis!

4. Moira's First Birthday

I kept it calm that first birthday. Being that we had very few friends with kids, we decided to keep it relatively low key. Instead of the heavy themes and over the top decorations I later would adopt as norm, her first birthday instead centered on fabulous food, oh...and the birthday girl!

5. Maeve's Winter "One"derland

Not as crazy as her second birthday, I embraced the cold of January as we celebrated Maeve's first birthday with a Winter "one"derland. An adorable snowman smash cake combined with pin the carrot on the snowman were the highlights of this icy fete. So out of character, Maeve wanted nothing to do with her cake. 

6. Bryan's 30th Birthday

Atlantic City, NJ

. 

Best friends who live three hours away from each getting together for the weekend as they each celebrate their 30th birthdays. 

Drunken debauchery,

High rolls at the craps tables,

VIP club access, 

and oh yeah, 

I'm 32 weeks pregnant with Moira.

Imagine that picture, because there are none taken to memorialize that night. 

A very pregnant Jackie weaving her way through the drunken bodies at the dance floor of a club trying to make it to the bathroom. Exactly how I never thought I'd be celebrating Bry turning 30. 

The end of freedom, he likes to say, because less than seven weeks later, Moira arrived. 

 At least I got a fabulous prenatal massage and dinner at Sea Blue out of it. 

Ask Bry what he remembers....

7. Moira's Second Birthday Musical Jamboree

Our favorite music teacher Miss Marcia took center stage as we hosted Mo's Second birthday with a fabulous musical jamboree in our living room. Maracas, shakers, and ribbon wands galore, as the kiddos sang, danced, and got their groove on. Of course, no birthday would be complete without cupcakes. And instead of baking, we had the fabulous Trendy Sweets bake for us. 

 8. Jackie's Surprise 30th Birthday

I'm guessing Bryan felt the need to make up for the craziness that was his 30th, by helping me celebrate with a party he planned at my speed. A tasting menu with 10 of our closest friends at our favorite local restaurant. Pitchers of sangria and some of the best food we've had greeted us as we shared in the celebration outside. That is until the rain started, and poured down! The party wasn't over however, complimentary t-shirts helped to dry us off. 

What a fun surprise and how nice to have not had to plan or clean up!

I don't have photos from that evening either. 

9. Moira's Over the Rainbow Third Birthday

It all started with her first viewing of Wizard of Oz. She was hooked. Everything became Dorothy and the flying monkeys. With that, a perfect party theme emerged. We played pin the heart on the tin man, used our courage to cover our eyes, and used our brain to create rainbow cereal necklaces. I do believe Dorothy had quite the happy birthday that year, plus the costume did double work coming back out for Halloween. 

10. The Tale of The Tastykake 

Read about it here.

No birthday in our house is complete without a breakfast serenade of "happy birthday" while blowing out the  candle on their favorite Tastykake. 

Maeve wanted nothing to do with hers. 

Moira couldn't get enough!

What comes to mind when you hear "birthdays"? Join in the fun!