French Fashionista Birthday Party

Happy 10th Birthday to Grace!  This birthday was a little different than our past birthdays.  First, we had two parties on two different days - one for friends and one for family.  Second, the friend party was held mostly "off site," not at our house.  And third, both parties were VERY scaled back - VERY.  No one believed me that I could do it.  I love a challenge.

 

Grace wanted to have a "fashion shoot" for her girlfriends.  We needed a big space for it and our house just would not work.  My good friend Kimberly allowed us to use part of a space at a local store she owns (Green Baybeez - check it out!)  It worked out perfectly. 

 

The day could not have been more perfect.  Every tween girl deserves to feel like a super model - regardless of body type.  Our photographer - Andrea Westein did just that.  She was amazing and made the girls feel beautiful and special.  What a valuable lesson to teach these girls.  I am so glad Grace chose this theme!

 

This was not my typical birthday extravaganza.  I reused a lot of previously purchased decorations and items I had for prior parties.  No fancy sweets tables.  No over the top table backdrops.  What it taught me was that even on a small scale, birthdays can be special and memorable.  The girls who attended Grace's friend party have been to most of her previous parties.  They all said this was the most fun one yet.  Great lesson - high end designed sweets tables, perfectly symmetrical favor tables and high end decorations do not make a party memorable.  Laughter, friendship and family does!

Favors

Decorations

Small Treat Table for the Super Models

 

 

 

Super Models!

(Photographs by Andrea Lynn.  Copyright Andrea Lynn Photography)

 

 

 

 

I even had a chance to get a pic with my sweet little lady.

 

Treats for the Family Party

Decorations

Thanks for looking.  I hope this party inspires you to make a party meaningful for your child and not simply about great pictures for a photo spread.

Sources:
Printables - Lora Lang Designs
Tissue Garland - homemadexojules

Tween Girl Bedroom Makeover - Paris Glam

My daughter Grace turns 10 soon.  Where has the time gone??  I still look at her and see my baby.  And her room reflected it.  Gone was the crib, but still in place was the baby/toddler bedding and a hodge podge of decorations that had accumulated in the room over the past 10 years. 

 

As her birthday present from us, we decided to redo her room to reflect her entry into double digits.  She definitely has acquired her own style over the past 10 years and I wanted her room to reflect that without breaking the bank.  We had some ground rules - no furniture changes.  No crazy paint on the walls and the choices had to be within our budget.  In the end, she did a great job and the room now reflects my grown up little lady.

 

Here are some before pictures:

 

 Here is the finished product:

 

 

 

 

Product list:

Bedding
Chair - Pottery Barn Teen
DIY Message Board - see here.
Chandelier canvas art - DIY, Chandelier vinyl from Hobby Lobby
Pom Pom Curtains - white curtains on clearance from JC Penney, I added the pom pom fringe (with hot glue!)