Thursday, February 19, 2009

Five Tips for a Fabulous & Affordable Dress-up Tea Party

There's nothing I love more than planning a party, and one of the most fun (and also most affordable) parties I've ever planned was Chicky's 3rd birthday dress-up tea party. Here are five tips for planning your own outrageously fun and adorable dress-up tea party, without breaking the bank:

1. Make or order custom invitations.

I am anti-store-bought-write-in invites. I like the invitation to show how special and unique the party is going to be, and to offer a glimpse of the fun to come. I almost always order custom invites or make them myself.

My two favorite sites for good deals on custom invites are http://www.ebay.com/ and http://www.etsy.com/.

Here is an example of a cute invite I found on ebay (similar to the invite I used for Chicky's party): Click to view Suit Me to a Tea found on ebay for $1.25/invite.


Here's a link with cute ideas for homemade tea party invites that look like this:

TIP: Use scraps from old birthday, Easter, and Valentine's Day cards to cut the tea pots!

2. Keep the food simple and pretty.


Instead of cucumber tea sandwiches and scones, I opted for these kid friendly alternatives:

  • Heart-shaped peanut butter and jelly, fluffernutter, and jelly sandwiches.
    TIP: Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter, or order a Love Bites sandwich cutter/sealer at http://www.mominventors.com/.
  • Sugar cookies (we made dairy-free frosted butterfly cookies)
  • Fruit salad (yummy, yummy!)
  • In lieu of tea, serve apple juice, grape juice, or punch

3. Use household items to create a beautiful decor.

A fancy table is all that is needed for a tea party. I used a hand-me-down pink floral table cloth. If you don't have one laying around, check e-bay or thrift shops for something in a girly color or lace. A $2 pack of paper doilies can also add to the look. To further decorate the table buy or cut some fresh flowers to place in the center or to scatter in mini vases or other fun containers. Rather than spend $50 on party store paper goods, use stuff from around the house to achieve a fancy feel and save a lot of money. Then, just add the food and a tea set (toy or real) and the look is complete.

4. Add some girly fun with crafts and dress-up activities.


  • Put out a bin of dress-up clothes that can be either your own child's princess costumes, fairy wings, tiaras, and feather boas, or your own old high heels, costume jewelry, scarves, etc. In the wording of the invite suggest that the guests wear their favorite dress-up clothes.
  • Serve the tea! The "tea party" itself was the biggest hit at Chicky's party. The girls loved sipping tea and passing each other cookies and sandwiches.
  • Paint wooden jewelry boxes--I found small wooden boxes with a heart cut-out frame at Michael's for $1. I set up a low table with sponges and various pastel-colored paints.
  • Make beaded necklaces and bracelets.

5. Make a tea bag-shaped party favor bag.
Buy white paper bags (lunch bag size) and fold the sides over and the top down and staple. Add a piece of yarn or string, and a tag to hang off the end. Write each child's name on the tag. Pre-assemble the craft kits and place in the bag as their favors.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Dear Mommy Fashionista

Dear Mommy Fashionista,

I am getting married next month, and in my wedding are going to be two of the cutest flower girls a bride could ever wish for. I had an easy time picking out their dresses (made by US Angels):



However, we are struggling to find the perfect shoes. One of the flower girls is 4 and the other is 6. They need a matching pair that runs in both toddler and girls' sizes. I am hoping to find an ivory shoe that is priced within reason (under $40), and a simple yet elegant style. I tend to prefer ballerina flats and Mary Janes. Can you help?

Signed,

St. Paddy’s Day Bride
***********************************************************************

Dear St. Paddy's Day Bride,

Are you sure they are two of *the* cutest flower girls, ever? Well, then, you must be talking about my niece, Peanut, and my daughter, Chicky! :) I would be glad to help you find shoes for our girls.

After scouring the internet, here are some options I came up with:


Pazitos Ivory Ballerina Flats
Price: Average around $70, but available on http://www.snapdragonsbaby.com/ for $39.
Classic, elegant, and a great bargain for a luxury shoe brand:

Bear Feet Shoes Pearlized Ivory Cream Ballet Slippers
Price: $44 and up (depending on the size), available at http://www.bestdressedchild.com/
Slightly over the price limit, but too cute to leave off the list!
Similar, but different (both of these pairs can be worn with or without the ankle ribbons):

Kamara Ivory Ballet Shoes

Stride Rite Valerie Junior Ivory with Pearl Accent
Price: $40, available at http://www.striderite.com/ or on many other websites (I recommend extensive searching of the style name to find the best price, as you can usually find Stride Rite sales).

Okay, so this isn't a Mary Jane or a ballet flat, but I thought I would throw it in the mix since it comes in ivory and has the pearl accent that matches the sash on the dress.
Stride Rite Felicia Ivory Pearlized Mary Jane
Price
: $38, again, available at http://www.striderite.com/ or on many other websites (don't forget to search for sales!).

You can't get more classic than a plain leather Stride Right Mary Jane!
Ivory Leather Ballet Shoes
Price: $25.50 is the average price, but on sale now for $17.50 at http://www.mygirldress.com/
The bow of these shoes compliments the skirt overlay of the dress, as well as the pearl sash:

Happy Picking!
Mommy Fashionista
***********************************************************************
Having trouble finding the perfect outfit, shoes, or accessories for the perfect price? Send an e-mail to Mommy Fashionista and let her help!


Saturday, February 14, 2009

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hope you all have had a wonderful day! Just thought I would pop on quickly and share a couple pictures of the Minis enjoying their prizes.



I made the tutu!


It came out pretty cute, but you can definitely tell it's homemade, and it sort of has a mind of its own. Chicky loved it, regardless.

That is, of course, until she saw Freshy's Batman/Super Man cape. What a big hit that was!

He hasn't taken it off all day.

In true Freshy fashion, he invented his own look with his new accessories. I honestly think he sits and strategizes "hmm, what will look the most ridiculous and get me the most attention." This is what he came up with (and how we brought him out to dinner):

We're so used to Freshy's unique style that we were in our own world, talking, completely oblivious to the fact that we were carrying a bandit-monk-snow-boy into the restaurant. That is, of course, until every woman in the place stopped to flirt with our little Bat guy.
I think it's safe to say the Batman cape was indeed the perfect Valentine's Day gift for Freshy. ;)

Saturday, February 7, 2009

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's...

...an awesome Valentine's Day gift idea for Freshy--a Batman cape!

Like many other little guys out there, Freshy idolizes Batman (or "Baht-Mon" as he says with a Jamaican accent). He is going to go batty for this present. ;)

Unfortunately, I didn't have this idea until yesterday and my sewing machine is in the shop until Thursday. What I was hoping to create was a black cotton cape with a yellow bat appliqué and a Velcro closure. Since I wouldn't have enough time to sew something like that on such short notice, I did some Googling. My results included a bunch of cheesy store-bought costumes that ranged in price from $20-60. The only stand alone Batman capes I found had tie necks (which are just plain scary to moms of rambunctious little boys).

I decided to check on Etsy, the website of all things handmade. LOOK at what I found by the seller Homemadeheroes:




You get to pick which design you want on each side, and there's a long list to choose from (we chose Batman and Superman). Each cape is $18 and comes with a free mask. Shipping is only $2, and if you buy more than one item, it is reduced to $1. Talk about a bargain!

If this product is as cute in person as it is online, I will most definitely be buying a few to put away for gifts.

*******************************************************************************


How did Batman's mother call him to supper?

Dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, dinner, Batman!

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Clearance Rack Deals at Hanna Andersson

If you're not familiar with Hanna Andersson, check them out if you like:

  • soft organic (I know, like we need more things to worry about, right?) fabrics
  • fun patterns
  • clothes that fit and wash well
  • baggier styles that last for multiple seasons

Hanna's full-priced items are expensive and their online sales are not that hot, but you can totally make out like a bandit if you go to the store and stick to the clearance rack.

To get the extreme (more than 50%) discounts, you really have to shop mid-season. It's fun to add a few new items to the mix, and for shirts and dresses you can always roll the sleeves and get two seasons out of them, or just buy a size bigger for next year.


Mimi Fashionista (grandma to the Minis and the queen of bargain hunting) uncovered the most fabulous deals at the Burlington, MA store this week. Mimi reports that there was only one rack of clearance clothes, but it was stuffed with good deals. The entire rack was "take an additional 20% off" and the items were already marked down 20-60%. Here's a sampling of the goods:

  • Sweater Dress: Full Price: $60, Sale Price: $12
  • Funky Knit Tights: Full Prices: $22.50, Sale Price: $4

  • Ultra Soft Moose Fleece: Full Price: $30, Sale Price: $10

Hai-ya! Kungfu Freshy

  • Jersey Dress Top: Full Price $37.50, Sale Price $18
  • Stripey Comfy Pants: Full Price $21.50, Sale Price $8

  • Long Sleeve Golf Shirts: Full Price $29.50, Sale Price $17

  • Best Jeans for Minis, Ever: Full Price (??--missing tag, but around $30-35), Sale Price $16

I am so appreciative that my mother found these jeans for Chicky. They are soft and they have a normal-height waist (no more bumby exposure when she bends over, yeah)!

Speaking of low rise jeans--why do they even make them for little ones? They are not comfortable or flattering, but actually, they're not flattering on many people (including me and my muffin top...but, who wants to wear Mom jeans? And thank GOODNESS the painted on 80's jeans are not back in their original form). That leaves me with one final thought...

Dear God,

Please do not let skinny jeans become the only fashionable option in 2009.

Forever Grateful,

Mommy Fashionista (& anyone who might potentially bear witness to such a horrendous sight)