DIY: Ice Cream (Sundae) Place Card Holders

Squeeze a rock hard enough and a gem pops out. A day before Mandarin's birthday party, I was still in need of place card holders. I found it to be one of those decorative details that mattered when it came to the overall design of her party. And since my husband and I were unwilling to spend a ridiculous amount for the boring set of hearts and spheres sold at craft stores, we juiced our thoughts for something more exciting. 

It started with popsicle sticks. A grueling twenty minutes. Wood glue. Maybe a wood saw and a large question mark on how to make it all work together. Finally I ended up in the plant section of our craft store, picked out an adorable glass pot which I initially thought I'd fill with sand to hold the stick upright. 

Mister (Hubby ♥) grabbed a small styrofoam ball and checked if it was a good fit. It sat perfectly on the lip of the pot and we both thought - ice cream!  I figured the leftover japanese tissue paper I had left would cover the ball perfectly.

A small glass cup, craft sticks, styrofoam ball, pastel tissue paper, crinkled paper  (can be found at craft stores - used as fillers for gift bags etc.) 

Carefully round out the tissue paper around the styrofoam ball. Be gentle, they tear easily. Fill the small cup with the filler paper - just about halfway.

And just like that. You've gotten crafty!

Vintage Ice Cream Parlor Printouts
Thank you very much! 

Place card holders - in less than 10 minutes! 

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DIY: Sundae Bowls (Party Giveaways)

Yes. I am aware that it's no longer summer and that Mandarin's birthday was a month ago, but an excellent DIY project I made for her party turned out so simple to do and good enough to eat and good enough to share. However late it may be.

Pastel colored Ice Cream bowls. Fill with candy, toys and all things sweet and nice.

Pastel colored tissue paper. Fold it into itself ( keeping the top smooth) until you make a small "scoop " of ice cream. 

Medium sized "cherry" red pompoms (from your local craft store) 

Glue!

It's all coming along nicely. 

Good enough to eat!

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Happy Birthday, Baby!

I Scream! You Scream..we all know how that one goes. As far as ice cream parties are concerned, our little vintage parlor for Mandarin’s birthday turned out better than I expected. 

Homemade ice cream cake pops! Whaaat?

We drove to our party place as early as they’d let us in to set up what seemed to be an army of details that needed attention to a tee. Paper pompoms. Check. Jars. Candy. Cookies. Chocolate. Sprinkles. Check!  

After months and months of planning, the ice cream parlor I had created in my mind was now spread out in all its sweet glory. The Neapolitan balloons I had ( partially ) designed turned out so good and looked perfect for each guest table.  The details that I had slaved over for months, weeks, and days, paid off in the three hours we had in our ice cream place.  

Mandarin was running on adrenaline, nap-less, and (I would imagine) hungry - because she didn’t want to eat, in fact too excited and distracted to eat except for a bottle of milk and that one marshmallow ice cream cone we gave her as a treat for her birthday, which as I would have expected she thoroughly enjoyed with sugary and sticky gusto. 

It was bittersweet; the party. It seemed like the culmination of a full year marked by infinite beginnings and endings that move you forward into better and brighter adventures. The fine line that some parents say mark the point where babies turn into toddlers. 

But she'll always be our baby. 

Much of the sweetness of the day was a taste beyond our little toppings spread and rainbow sprinkles and more from a family full of love.

and loving friends

and laughter 

and cake

and the best cousins 

and aunties who love her dearly 

A mama who would do anything and everything for you - including getting crafty for your party (and bake which she's NEVER done before. Ever.)

A Dada who would pull the moon closer to your window just so you can see it better

and girlfriends 

(We would also like to introduce: The "Wow" face)

and (assisted) jumping photos!

The day you were born...silly girl!

And that smile. She makes us all so incredibly happy. That smile lingers in you like a flurry of butterflies that tickles and giggles and flutters about - like being in love. 

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One and Overwhelmed

When my family is here (visiting), I allow my heart to expand to its fullest capacity to make sure that all needs are met, all requests are granted and all days are happily spent. And while it is extremely rewarding it is also just as exhausting - with a one year old nonetheless that has the sugar rush energy of a candy bar.  

MY ONE YEAR OLD!
I'm so proud of her! ♥

Amidst the joy of having Mandarin turn one so many things go into a day with her that I need to remind myself to be present. 

Which now, as I write the word present I am brought into this moment of being with her and realize it is the next best gift (after a mother's love) I can give her. To simply be with her without having to split my mind into a thousand multi-tasking drones. 

Because when days feel like a routine-heavy program with no override command and thus cannot be disabled, I can easily lose a day in schedules. Wake. Play. Puree fruit for baby.  Breakfast. Feed. Dishes. Laundry. Bath time. Nap. Prepare Lunch. Eat. Dishes. Diapers. Head out with visiting family. Play. Coffee. Diapers. Milk. Dinner. Diapers. Sleep??

Never mind if you’re tired or have a headache or that you’re not getting enough sleep at night because for some odd reason Mandarin wants to climb and lie on top of me in the middle of the night  or deflate Daddy’s left lung  with high kick, mid-snore at 4am. 

Be present.

Such, is the joy of co-sleeping. I do constantly get to smell her, which I LOVE (because i’ve been addicted to her baby scent since birth). And I do love waking next to her.

That's right. Be present. 

Still, in spite of it all, off day or not there are priceless rewards. In the way Mandarin responds to my parents, how she loves them and the quiet and loud moments they share together. And in the way she makes them laugh. That’s priceless. There goes my heartstrings. Pulled past sappy sentimentalism. 

Then there is THE party. Today at 1pm! The birthday party which I am terrified no one will show up in because no one rsvp’s anymore and even if I’ve estimated an X amount of guests and ordered an X amount of food I somehow feel I’m in for a surprise. I am lost in the rambling details of party trays, decorations, japanese tissue paper, tape and glue. 

Thank you, Vintage Ice Cream Parlor idea for driving me waaay past the delineation of crazy. I have a few hours to execute my daughter’s first birthday party. I’m excited to celebrate with friends and family and a little anxious because I’ve never held a party with so many details before - and not as important and meaningful as my daughter’s.  

The small calm oasis in me tells me that it should all be good. Keep calm and carry on. On the flip side and as an offshoot of this party I do have two DIY posts lined up! Coming up soon  when if  sanity settles back into the household. 

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