Party On!

Last year, while pregnant with Margo, I craved all things avocado.

I was addicted to that delicious green fruit mashed with a little salt, pepper, onion powder, & garlic powder that I was seriously worried she would be born with a green hue. It was during the end of my pregnancy when I won a House Party sponsored by Avocados from Mexico. We had a fabulous play date, children running around as the grown ups gorged themselves on various guacamole, sandwiches, and other avocado filled foods.

I didn't think things could get any better!

When nearly a year to the date, I was rewarded yet again with another House Party selection. This time Maeve & Moira are the benefactors as House Party chose us to host a Lego Duplo Party.



I began by finding inspiration and creating a Duplo Lego Party board on  Pinterest. This site combined with our own love of Disney's Planes & Jake and the Neverland Pirates, helped to set the tone for our Lego Duplo Playdate.

Numerous friends, both young and old, joined us on Thursday, November 14 for a lunchtime play date.

 Planes Posters & Goody Bags 

So Many Ways to Play Napkins made an adorable banner

Mo's depiction of Planes & Jake and the Neverland Pirates

The children bedecked in party crowns, began the event by coloring pages of their favorites from Planes & Jake and the Neverland Pirates.

After finishing  lunch, it was time to open the boxes. Dilligently, one group worked to create the airport hangar & flight decks associated with the Planes set, while another group of children were swept away to Neverland as they made the Jolly Roger and searched for gold with Cubby, Izzy, Jake, and Captain Hook.

Surprisingly, there was little friction, as more then 10 children played together with the various Lego Duplo sets for close to an hour.

The Last Two Standing

As the time wore on, popcorn was popped as the children found comfortable spots in the living room for a viewing of the Jake & the Neverland Pirates.

The ending of the movie made for a natural ending for our fun filled play date.


As for the details, House Party & Lego Duplo provided us with six kits:

Three from the Planes collection and three from the Jake & the Neverland Pirates Collections

Each box contained very visually appealing photos, provided easy to understand directions, and were simple for a parent and a child to create together. While fans of the series would enjoy finding their favorite characters in Lego Duplo form, it is not a prerequisite for play. These sets did not discriminate, as both boys and girls enjoyed creating and playing. Furthermore, the set provided equal entertainment value to our younger guests under age two, as well as those older ones closer to six years old.

As I understand is the norm with legos, having multiple sets out at the same time lead to a great deal of confusion and frustration among the children and parents alike as we attempted to take apart and put back together the sets. Pieces were mistaken and taken from set to set. The side of each box does illustrate and gives numbers for each amount, however in the midst of play this is becomes difficult to maintain.

Overall, these sets were a hit for our guests, and some ten days later, are still in heavy play rotation in our household.

Are you interested in hosting a House Party? Check out the site here.

While these products were received complimentary through House Party, my review was not compensated or sponsored by Lego Duplo or Disney.  

Almost time to Parrrrrty!

Did someone ask for a Pirate Party?

The only evidence thus far is as follows:  

1. A woman is running around the house maniacally decorating 

2. The same woman is covered in flour as she attempts to do her all of own baking

3. Two children are scurrying around aimlessly, almost unsupervised, including one incident with the bathroom sink. 

 4. Amazon left an abnormally large box on the front steps yesterday after same crazy woman discovered it would be more economical to purchase a bounce house than rent one

5. Upon arrival home each night, the man continues to shake his head in disbelief of what said woman has thus far accomplished. 

6. This is what happens when the woman dedicates an entire Pinterest board for Pirate Party Planning:

Shiver me timbers, T-Minus two days until our Pirate Parrrrrty! 

Gifts

They say everyone has a gift.

That special something that makes them stand out from a crowd.
For myself, I assume my writing and patience (with other people's children). While Bryan has near photographic memory and excellent navigational skills.

My best friend Ashley is a fantastic photographer, however her other skill only comes to play on special occasions. I assume there are others who have this gift. I do believe they are a limited breed. Some try to replicate this unsuccessfully or with limited success. My sister, for example, tries but has yet to duplicate.

What is this gift, you ask?

Why, dear Ashley has the super human ability to choose the most original and fascinating presents!

While this does not seem too big of deal at first, take a moment to think back to the last function you attended.

Were there any gifts received that stood out for originality or function?

Did the recipient seem to favor one gift over all the rest?

Chances are, if Ashley is at a function, it will be her gift that takes the cake!

For example, this past Christmas, Mo and Maeve received personalized pillowcases.
Not just their names, THEIR FACES on the pillows!

Mo with Mo

For our wedding, Ashley found a print of our reception site and had it framed. Not soon after Moira's birth, a framed sketch of a newborn Mo arrived courtesy of Ashley.

To say, I enjoy being the recipient of these gifts is an understatement. 

The gift that seemed to get the biggest reaction was at my baby shower. 

The collective swoon of the room was audible from the outside as I unwrapped her gifts. 12 items from bibs to Easter basket, frames to sleepers, for the 12 months of the year.

Perfection!

Bry, my enormous belly & boobs, and me opening presents.

It has been four years since that shower, and I will admit, that gift made quite the impression on me. I kept that idea deep in the recesses of my brain, hoping to copy it for someone myself.

They say imitation is the highest form of flattery, so Ash remember that!

Our good friends Lynsay & Steve are expecting their first baby, a little boy, the end of April. 

They are a fun couple, as evident by the photos below. 

As I searched her registry, Ashley's gift to me slowly crept its way into my conscious.


Do it Jackie! Just do it!

My brain seemed to say.


She'll appreciate that you liked her idea. 


Lynsay will love it! 


The other guests will love it too!


You'll be that one that gives the gift that people talk about. 


Yes, that was part of the motivation for this gift.
Other guests will talk about it, perhaps even copy it themselves.

Remember how I'm a bit of party planning nut?
Apparently something rubbed off onto me as with this shower I went a bit overboard! My enthusiasm for party planning was somehow transferred into this gift. 

In the end, fourteen books and various gifts were collected as I started at birth and ended with first birthday.

The Books for the Year

April: Birth
May: Mother's Day
June: Father's Day

July:  Fourth of July
August: Beach
September: Phillies

October: Halloween
November: Thanksgiving
December: Christmas

January: Eagles/Snow
February: Valentine's Day
March: St. Patrick's Day

April: Easter
First Birthday

To package it all, I purchased a tub at Five Below. Wrapping each gift, and adding a numbered card to the front, I ensured she unwrapped them in the correct order. 

I could have left well enough alone. It was adorable. The colors coordinated with the baby's nursery. 

But no, 

I had to keep going. 

I had to write something.

Okay, I had to write fourteen somethings. 

For each gift I wrote a little rhyme, and at the shower made her read each aloud. 

Yes,

I'm that crazy, neurotic person, spending way too much time and putting forth way too much energy towards a baby shower gift. 

And as a result the gift was appreciated. 

Who am I kidding? 

It was a huge hit and most definitely "The Gift" of the shower. 

Sorry ladies, I did love those Polo onesies Sarah and the monkey hamper was adorable!

As Lynsay was unwrapping, I fielded a few questions.

"Is that from pinterest?"

Nope.

"Did you find it on a blog"

No.

"What a fabulous idea!"

Thanks (under my breath Ashley!).

"You should totally pin it!" 

Plan to!

"I think you should blog about it!"

If only you saw me in my dining room taking pictures a few hours ago as I wrapped this sucker, you'd have realized that a blog post was under way.  

"I totally am going to steal this idea!"

Feel free, I already did! 

For a list of the books and rhymes click HERE!

And if a function comes up and you find yourself unsure what to give. Drop me and email and I'll ask Ash. I bet she has a great idea!!

Ash & Jac
March 2008