Pinkalicious Party Planning Part 2

After deciding on our theme, the first decision was, where to hold our pinkalicious party? Home is too small (and did I mention I will have returned to teaching full-time that week?) So, we are going with cucina bambini -- a local children's cooking school. While checking it out, the owner and I roughed out a plan a little different than their normal format, as I'm hoping to really do up the cupcake theme.

Here's our schedule: kids arrive - do a craft, Pinkalicious story is read, kids make cupkcakes, while they bake, kids make frosting, then kids sing on karaoke machine and do limbo dance, finally kids decorate cupcakes and eat. As kids leave, they take with them a green apple wrapped up with a little message that says something like, 'remember to eat me and other green foods!' Or, 'To keep from turning pink, eat me!'

This stuff was basically accomplished Monday afternoon/evening. Tuesday morning I hit the ground running to shop for the perfect craft, since it is not supplied by Cucina (they typically cook a whole meal instead of just cupcakes). The drama began once we hit (the first) Micheal's. My requirements: craft had to somehow fit with our theme, work for boys and girls between the ages of three and five, and not be too messy and cumbersome. Quite a list. After searching the aisles and racking my brains (tiaras cute, but what will the boys do?), I finally asked the store manager politely if she had ideas for a simple craft for five year old girls and boys that might work for a cupcake themed birthday party. Her response (paraphrasing): 'I'm not actually very crafty. I'm truly baffled by your request' (said in unfriendly tone.) Note: Micheal's good for its prices (if there is one near you, GO for their huge dollar clearance deals right now!), notsomuch for customer service.

Anyway, after much searching, while P was saying 'are you kidding me, let's get anything, by the way, watch me play wind-up toys', I finally struck gold. In the 'wooden craft' section were crafty kit necklaces of varying themes, like frogs, hula girls, etc. I let out a little scream as I found .....cupcakes! (Pictured at top). I was able to score 5 sets there at the Westgate location, drove later to the Coop location - nada. Finally found 4 more sets at the SJ Coleman location. Not sure how many I'll need for girls, since attendees are not yet known, however I did get plenty of the 'masculine' : ) monkey necklaces for the boys. By the way, the kits were $1 each. Not bad.

Later at home I decided on doing the cost friendly 'Evite.' However, in my loopy state, I opted to forego the regular styles, and create my own 'pinkalicious' evite. Did you know you could create custom evites? What fun! It is still a work in progress.

Now it might sound like I'm going a little overboard, but do you know what I could have done??! As I did my online research, I learned that pinkalicious is not only a book, but also a musical (think 'legally blond,' I guess?) And, that tons of other little girls have had these parties. I could have purchased a special pinkalicious dress for Miss P and ordered one of many custom invitations I saw. One thing, I really did want to do was order a book for each guest - but that sadly looks too pricey.

Anyway, P is looking forward to her party and is enjoying telling people about it. However, I know that I am the one who cares about the little details. I love to do themes and be creative and go big for all three of our birthdays (since we don't do a lot of entertaining the rest of the year).

Oh, ha - one of the best parts. Cucina Bambina has kind of a grown up lounge, for the parents to chill in and have snacks and watch while the kids play at the party. I know I'll be in the thick of things, taking pictures and such, but I'm glad (some of) my grown-up friends can relax!

Do you like to plan parties for your kids?