2008 Cocoa Party

I was looking through my past parties recently remembering how much fun they were to plan and throw. I've realized I'm in great need of throwing my own party but alas it's just not in the cards at the moment. So while I was reliving these wonderful parties it occured to me that I was missing a very important one. Our very first Cocoa Party. I couldn't find where I'd posted anywhere. So I'm posting it now for future reference. We actually won second place in a holiday party contest where we won some super fun stuff from Crate & Barrel. From this party came an annual event. I'm so excited to begin this years!!!

Cowgirl Carnival

This last weekend I was able to help my sister with my nieces 4th birthday party. The cowgirl carnival theme came about when my niece told my sister she wanted a Buzz Lightyear party. Now my niece is not a girly girl and my sister misses some of the girly things you get to do with a girly girl, not that we would change my niece for anything because she is hilarious! So she talked to her and they decided to do a cowgirl theme because Woody and Jesse were cowboys/cowgirls.

The whole thing turned out soooo cute! The only bummer was the weather decided it would be a good day to be one of the windiest days ever! But we managed to make it work.

I did a banner for her, in the Pink, Yellow, and Red theme we decided on. There were going to be both boys and girls attending the party so we had to make it work for both.

She decided to do a candy buffet for the kids and it was a huge hit.

I helped with the labels, pin wheels, horse shoe banner, and pennents.

She also had cowboy hats that we added a sheriff's stars to and bandanna's for everyone.
(notice the Buzz paper goods in the background, she had to add a little just for her)

There was also popcorn on the table for the kids while they waited their turn for the horse ride she had.

Here's the whole gang decked out in their cowgirl/boy gear.

We also had each child take their picture behind a wanted poster that I'm making into Thank you card, I'll post one as soon as I get them done.

It as all so fun to do. Unfortunately because of the wind we weren't able to set up the carnival games she had like we planned. I had made some cute signs for them but it was just not going to work. She had them play: shoot the can off the railing with water guns, pin the tail on the donkey, and a cowboy ring toss, as well as a ride on a real horses.

This is what the game signs looked like, bummer we couldn't use them. I'll have to use them for something else.

birthday invitations

I am helping my sister with my nieces birthday this weekend and I'm so excited about it! My niece wanted a Toy Story birthday but my sister just could bring herself to do it and instead decided to focus on the fact that Jesse and Woody were cowgirls/boys. So she's doing a Cowgirl Carnival for her theme. I got the invitations done and thought I'd share.

address labels

There will also be pennants, pinwheels, and pony's, so excited!!

Food/decorations

So I have a question for the general party public, what do you do with all the left over candy from the amazing candy buffets that I see? Do people really clean you out when they fill up their take home boxes? Anyway, I just have been wondering for ever especially since I always have food left over after my parties.

So here is the food table. I was pleased with the way it all came together. I think I maybe have to much going on on the table~thoughts? Like I said in the previous post we had great weather, maybe too great. It got to be a little warm and things started melting so it didn't look pretty the whole party because I had to bring things in.

Napkin rings

I ordered colored bread from our local bakery to match the party for the chicken and egg salad sandwiches. I think i should have said pale pink and pale orange because I got bright on both accounts. But it did match really well.

Always have to have cupcakes!

Water bottle labels. I can't believe I didn't get a shot of the other two designs I had, oh well.

So glad there was some salsa left over, this is one of my all time favorites.

Kate (guest of honor) brought a yummy berry trifle.

I spyed these dipped Oreo's on How Does She a while back and put them in my "must try folder". They turned out super cute, then I brought them outside and they melted in minutes.

My original idea was to do the dessert shots in shot glasses but I couldn't find the right shot glasses or substitute for that matter. So I used what I had, wine glasses. I did two different desserts in them. One was chocolate mousse on a brownie with whip cream the other lemon curd on angel food cake with whip cream. Both yummy!

Fun way to add a little more color and some birds as well.

Kate was such a huge help for her own Sprinkle. She and I got together to make the favors for the guests to take home. We made these cute felt birds in the coordinating colors of the Sprinkle.

So glad you stopped by to see the party. Hope you enjoyed it and will come again.

(More in the post below)