Back To School Breakfast

School starts tomorrow here in Portland.

Even though it is later than most of the country I am still not ready.

I am not ready for my baby to start her last first day of school!

I decided that this momentous occasion called for a special celebration, a special back to school breakfast.

I knew how unrealistic it was to expect Tessa to be up and ready in time to enjoy a specially prepared breakfast on the first day of school – especially since school starts at 7:30 a.m.!

We decided that we would celebrate a day early so Tessa invited two of her sweet friends to join her for our special Back to School Breakfast.

I made a quick trip to the Dollar Store and to my closet for the decor for the table.

This summer I had purchased these great chalkboard signs from the clearance table at a little gift shop in the Multnomah Village area of Portland.  I got both of them for $7.77.  It was at that time that the idea for some type of back to school breakfast began to formulate in my head.  I mean, how perfect is a chalkboard sign for a back to school breakfast!?  I added a little piece of red ribbon to finish it off.

I love having the menu for any event or party displayed for people.  I don’t know about you but I really like to know what I’m eating!

I carried the chalkboard theme over to the placecards.  I bought some inexpensive ($1.00) frames at Craft Warehouse.  I took out the inside piece that you are suppose to put the picture in front of and sprayed it with black chalkboard paint to turn it into a little chalkboard.  Each girl knew exactly where they were suppose to sit!  Some little stands I found at the dollar store and have used for various other parties were the perfect thing to hold the chalkboards.

I bought a three pack of the little, tiny composition notebooks from the Dollar Store too to put at each place setting along with a crayon in case they felt like coloring.

Two packs of crayons from the Dollar Store worked perfect to fill an small apothecary jar I have for part of the table decor.

I also used a domed cake stand I already owned and filled it with a few red apples.  What’s a back to school breakfast without apples?!

The red cake stand holding the blueberry muffins added color and interest to the table too.

I am loving my new bottle from Ikea (about $2.00.) It that looks great on the table filled with orange juice.  I have been noticing these bottles at a lot of local restaurants lately filled with water and placed on each table.

For recipes from our back to school breakfast be sure and visit me over at Your Homebased Mom.

The girls had a great time eating, visiting and laughing together.  Ready to start their first day of their senior year together!

Do you do anything special for your kid’s first day of school?

Party Guest – Frog Prince Party

One of the things I look forward to doing here on Your Homebased Party is welcoming and introducing to you my Party Guests!

To be a Party Guest all you need to do is share one of your homebased parties!  Just email me the information/details about your party along with some photos and you and your homebased party can be featured right here on the blog! 

Today I am excited to introduce my very first Party Guest – Mary Beth and the Frog Prince Party she did for her son’s first birthday!

Mary Beth’s party was  a special time to celebrate her son’s first year with family, old friends and new friends after a year of trials with moving and job changes.  I agree with Mary Beth that there is nothing better than a homebased party to bring family and friends together and to celebrate!

Party Theme: Frog Prince

So like any good party planner Mary Beth started with a theme for her party. Since Mary Beth has three son’s her party themes usually include bugs, cowboys or construction.  Since her son was only one, and couldn’t object,  this was Mary Beth’s chance to do what she wanted and something a little “cuter.”  She chose a Frog Prince theme for the party.

Mary Beth purchased a frog prince image over at ClipArtOf.com.  She used the image to order invites, thank you notes and business cards (all free with a promo!)   The business cards were used to identify food on the table.  The color scheme for her party was also taken from the image -  green, orange and blue.

The theme was also carried through with a darling little  jumper made by grandma and embroidered with the same frog prince design that was used on the invite and other party items.

 

Party Decor:

Mary Beth made no-sew fabric banners with clearance sale fabric, ribbon, pinking shears and double sided stitch witchery tape.  They were hung one on the front door and throughout the house.  Fun and they can be used again!

  

Using tissue paper from the Dollar Store she created green, orange and blue tissue paper poofs!

 

Mary Beth also repurposed glass jars and made votives and lanterns for outside.  They used wire to suspend some lanterns from the fence in the yard and lined the front yard with others.  This project was simple as can be by using blue Staz-On stamp ink and a stamp that  just “rolled” on the jars.  Ribbon in the theme colors was the finishing touch 

 Party Activities:

Pin the Crown on the Crown Prince:  Her father painted a quick frog on a stretched canvas (she’ll use it in the kids room later!) and cut out crowns from foam.  The kids loved this!

 

 

Limbo:  She purchased a large dowel at the home improvement store, spray painted it and then did a little hand painting.  Mary Beth also painted wooden spools, put ribbon in them for streamers and then glued them on the ends.  Super fun and it can be used again for school parties, etc

 

 Coloring and Crafts:  Two kiddie tables were set  up with Frog coloring pages (one of her kid’s favorite  party activities and cheap favors!), crayons, glue and foam crowns from the dollar store kept the kids who didn’t want to play outside very happy and busy

Glow Sticks:  Great for relay races and just running once the sun set.  Again, the dollar store made it budget friendly.  The night ended with a fire in their fire pit and marshmallows thanks to the dads at the last minute.

Party Food:

I am proud to say that several Homebased Mom recipes were used at the party!

Mary Beth served:

Cranberry Brie Pizza, hummus, olives and pita bread

Penne Rustica, bread and salad. 

There was also a kiddie table complete with Chick Fil A nuggets, grapes and pretzels so they could do their own thing – great idea!

Dessert was my personal favorite – cupcakes!

There was a selection of cupcakes -  lemon cupcakes, double chocolate, pumpkin spice and a simple cake mix with jimmies that the kids loved.  (Cake boxes from the craft store make storing the cupcakes so easy!)

 

 

 
Party Favors:

Favors were white chocolate popcorn with Halloween peanut M&Ms tied up in cellophane bags with the frog business card tags.  It was called ”Frog Munch”.

Here is what Mary Beth had to say about the party:

  “Tons of fun with a little effort, not much money and lots of things we can use again.  It was a time of fun and fellowship that, judging by the faces and smiles, was great for the little ones and the big guys too!”

Thank Mary Beth for sharing your wonderful Frog Prince Party.  I look forward to introducing you to many more Party Guests!!