a hot pink, zebra, dress-up birthday party

Jeremy jokingly tells people he gave up his birthday when Emma Grace was born. While we always celebrate BOTH of them, parties have definitely turned to the girly kind. Hot pink? Zebra print? Dress-up? Yes, it’s girly. I realized in the midst of birthday preparations that I never even asked Jeremy what dessert HE would like. His answer was, “I liked what you made. I didn’t have to share my birthday when I was young.” I love this man and his selflessness.

I went with a simple spread…apple juice, cracked black pepper and sea salt chips, popcorn, Granny Smith apples, and a tray of veggies. Emma G’s request was strawberry shortcake (a favorite in our house) and some “zebra” cupcakes. I tried a new cupcake recipe. The title wasn’t lying when it said they were the best cupcakes ever. So good! I doubled the recipe, then split it into two bowls. I added 4 tablespoons of cocoa to one bowl to make the dark part of the swirl.

While I had gathered a few things here and there over the course of a couple of months (hot pink containers for the flowers, zebra candles, hot pink plates, zebra napkins, and zebra cupcake papers), the day before the party, I started freaking out. What are we going to eat? What are we going to do at the party? I’m a planner and I always have a plan. I guess it’s evidence of my season of life that I had no plan. Then it came to me. Let’s do a dress-up photo shoot, I told Emma Grace. She loved the idea.

Jeremy went to buy feather boas and zebra print fabric while I gathered items for party favors. I was also excited to discover I had dark brown felt and bamboo skewers…perfect for mustaches!

Despite my last minute freaking out, the party came together and was a success. Whew!