It's all over !!!

I absolutely love planning parties, from the invites to the presents and the decorations but when everyone has gone home at the end of the day I love the fact that it is all over for another year !!! This year is no exception, I was really happy with how our party went for Flynn this year, we kept it really small and that worked really well.

I got a few party bags ideas from different websites and books and thought I would share a few..

I used mini glad bags and buy lollies in bulk and then split them up between the bags and make a topper for the bags from scrapbook paper and a scallop border punch. It is a great way to keep the lollies fresh and you can put anything in the bags. I was going to do shaped cookies as well put ran out of time!! I got the idea from a party book to do home made playdough as well and it seemed to be a hit with the kids and the parents as it is useful gift for the kids to take home and play with. On the party bags I put animal clips on the bags which I bought from a market and they have magnets on the back for the kids to hang their artwork on the fridge.

I wanted to make sure this year that the lolly bags were useful and thoughful as I hate coming home with a bag of little crappy toys that break and the kids are not interested in.

Link for the menu Planner

A few people have asked for the download for the menu planner system so here it is

http://www.beckyhiggins.com/blog/uploaded_images/meals-720110.jpg

It should print as an A4 page which you can then cut in half. I made myself the little clipboard to hold it all together.

Have a look at this blog http://www.beckyhiggins.com/blog/ while you are there, it is my absolute favourite blog I read it every day. Becky is super creative and has so many fabulous ideas and systems which she often shares. Enjoy : )

5 1/2 Hours in the kitchen will get you.....

I spent a lot of time in my kitchen today cooking for the party tomorrow. We went to the Aquarium this morning and Flynn fell asleep as soon as we got home. Then my gorgeous mum came over to help me cook up a storm for tomorrow.

And of the Menu-
Ham and cheese scrolls
Mini quiche- with puff pastry no 2's cut out on the top!
Home made sausages rolls
Beef pasties in the shape of cows- see below...

Sweet stuff of course is one the menu as well and we made a coconut and rasberry slice, Oreo Cupcakes, M&M cookies, mini pikelets for the little kids, chocolate crackles and a fruit platter.

Whenever we have a party and I choose the theme I always try and make all of the food themed to the party, I get cookie cutter and cut out whatever I can, pastry, cookies, pikelets, whatever !!! It is such a great effect for a very little cost and adds something special to the party. I will post pictures tomorrow of it all plated up for the party. Hope this gives you some ideas for your next kids party!!

We also did a few unique things for the party bags, I will post photos of these tomorrow.

The presents

And here is the photo I took this morning of all of the presents wrapped up : )

This is the way we wrap !!

It is Flynn's second birthday today and I cannot believe it, time has flown by so fast and my little baby that I held in my arm 2 years ago is now all grown up todling around with a mind and voice of his own.

And so to reminisce-

This time 2 years ago I was in labour this was taken the next day but you get the general idea.

And taken today with his special birthday breakfast-

And so the wrapping, I admit to being one of those extremely anal parents who love to match everything and wrapping is no exception. I plan out what colour scheme I am going to use, but all of the bits and bobs and then wrap and lay it all out the night before. Another tip I read somewhere was to undo all the fisher price style packaging the night before and make sure the toys all have batteries and work. This saves you trying to do it on the day and the kids can just open their toys and start playing straight away.

Project 365

So I am doing an awesome project this year called Project 365 and the concept behind the project is that you take a photo every day and then document/ journal about the photo. I am loving the concept but I am quick to admit I am about 2 weeks behind on the journaling but thats ok. The project has helped me to change my perspective about photography and also my everyday life and how blessed I am.

I will share some of my photos each week to give you an idea of the kind of stuff I am documenting. So for todays photo-

I was driving home from picking up Flynn from my mums and I went past this gorgeous farmers stall, and I just had to stop, the lady there was just devine, she made my day and what stunning flowers !!

I am blogging : )

I am finally on the blogging bandwaon : ) I have been wanting to take the leap for awhile as I read a lot of blogs and today I just thought why not!!

So first a little about me: I am a wife and mum to a gorgeous 2 year old boy named Flynn. I juggle being a housewife, working, running our household, home cooking and scrapbooking. I am also an avid organizer, it is one of my lifes passions and I love to find new and creative ways to organize my scrap, work and house space.

I will be sharing loads of photos, ideas and systems I use in my everyday life to stay organized and sane!!

So for my first organized life idea/ photo-

I saw this menu planner system on another website and absoltely loved it !!! I had been looking for a solution for ages and when I saw it I knew it was perfect for me. It gives you room to put not only the meals but just underneath what is happening on that particular day. We cook a lot of meals in bulk so this works great for us as I look in the freezer as what meals we have in the freezer and put them in on our busy days then fill in the other days with meal ideas.

I keep it in the car with me as if I have bits to get throughout the day I can remember to buy them. There is a great little to do list at the top as well.