When I found out I was giving birth less than a month before Mazzy’s third birthday, I figured we would skip the festivites this year. I didn’t see how I could possibly pull off a birthday party while taking care of a newborn. Mazzy wouldn’t notice, right?
Riiiight… as soon as we started fielding birthday invitations from her classmates and friends, the questions started.
“When is MY birthday?”
“December 9th.”
“Am I going to have a party???”
“Of course you are, sweetie!”
Oops. Who just said that? Damn, I think it was ME.
Then it was Mike’s turn to weigh in.
“Let’s just have Mazzy’s closest friends.”
“Okay.”
“And we’ll have it at home.”
“Uh-huh, sure.”
Then I made the shortlist of Mazzy’s friends. Turns out, once you account for friends, their parents, and family, it comes out to a SHIT TON of people.
I decided to put off any decision making. After all, I had a newborn to keep alive. Flash forward to a week and a half ago. I’m talking to my new friend Seri (aka Little Miss Party) and she says…
“You know, if you want to throw Mazzy a birthday party, I would totally do it for you.”
“Really?”
“Yep.”
“No, that’s crazy.”
“Let me send you a mood board with some ideas and then you can make a decision.”
“Did you say— MOOD BOARD??? OKAY!!!!!!”
I’m a sucker for a good mood board.
Seri, a NYC party planner who specializes in throwing kids’ parties in small spaces, proceeded to send me the most adorable mood board ever. Her idea was to create “Mazzy’s Milk Bar” with a variety of cookies and treats. She suggested having the party from 2pm-4pm so people wouldn’t expect lunch. Then she threw out the idea of having a puppet show to keep the kids entertained and seated.
“That all sounds brilliant! But can you really pull that off in less than two weeks?”
“Yep. Just give me the go-ahead and you won’t have to do a thing.”
Did I tell you how awesome it is to have a friend who happens to be a party planner? I swear— I didn’t become friends with Seri with the intent of using and exploiting her talents. Our kids are in the same preschool class and they became friends first. (Good work, Mazzy!)
Anyway, I gave Seri the green light, she contacted Penny & the Puppettes (a Manhattan based traveling puppet show) and got to work.
Honest to god, neither Mike nor I lifted a finger (besides sending out last minute invites online— perfect for narrowing down the guest list since many people will already have plans) and come last Sunday, this went down at our place…
Unbelievable, right? Check out the details…
It was truly BEYOND anything I ever imagined and I don’t even have pictures of the HOT CHOCOLATE BAR. All desserts were made by the fabulous Kristan of Kreated By K and yes, those are cow finger puppets adorning the cake pops. The whole set-up even outdid the mood board, which never happens.
Mazzy, of course, was THRILLED.
The party was awesome (I’ll call it comfortably crowded), Mazzy had a blast (she singlehandedly ate about 3/4 of the cake pops), there were no major spills or tantrums (except a pink sprinkle incident that was thwarted quickly) and everyone LOVED the puppet show. So much so that I need to give Merissa, the very talented and funny woman behind Penny & the Puppettes a big shout-out…
Penny & the Puppettes is an interactive musical customized for your occasion for kids 2-8. Merissa sings original songs using puppets, props, instruments and continuous audience participation to keep the kids fully engaged while also teaching age appropriate lessons about things like feelings, respect and peer pressure. Plus, Mazzy got to hug all the puppets, so that’s what really counts.
Honestly, I couldn’t believe how well Merissa commanded a room of so many three-year-olds. If it wasn’t for her, I’m sure someone would have tackled the dessert table and toppled the cake before we ever got to sing “Happy Birthday”.
After the party was over, Seri and her partner, Michelle cleaned up the whole damn thing and it was like nothing ever happened. (FYI- Seri now holds the title of “My Favorite Person on Earth”.)
Well, nothing happened except we inherited a SHIT TON of gifts.
I promptly stole a bunch and hid them to use for Hanukah.
That’s legal, right?
OMG cow balloons!
What a great party, yay for party planner friends!
Note to self: Find a party planner, befriend her.
(Monkey’s birthday is in 17 days and yes, I haven’t planned a thing. I am however, Pinning birthday cakes. That’s something, yes?)
What an awesome party, and even more awesome friend!
Wow… I need to move to NYC!!! That is an amazing party, theme, set-up, and tear-down! Lucky you and Mazzy and guests!
wow, i need better friends.
Aw, what an incredible day! xo
Wow – completely blown away at that party and also completely envious over the luck of having someone else to do all the work.
Wow, Amazing! I have a house, but I couldn’t fathom having everyone come over. We’re doing Rebecca’s party at a kiddie ice cream parlor. They’ll play games, decorate their own sundaes, and I don’t even have to buy a cake 🙂 That’s a win for me 😛
amazing! I wish I lived anywhere close to NYC to hire both of them…. I could fly them to Texas right? 😉
Wow I need a Seri in my life. I actually do but she wouldn’t volunteer herself like that. Love this whole post you are so entertaining!!! Happy birthday Mazzy.
This is amazing! Sod the kids, I want this party! PS. You apartment looks fabulous – esp considering you have newborn!
Wow. What an extravagant party. Mazzy is a very lucky little girl.
I held Lil’ Bit’s 3rd birthday party at a bouncy house last weekend. My plans for a cute Curious George-themed celebration fell by the wayside when I got too busy with work and other commitments, and so the only thing “Curious George” ended up being the cupcake toppers. Which looked a little strange, even if the kids didn’t give a crap (which is what I kept telling myself). The party was well-run but the place was crazy on a Saturday afternoon and by the time it was over I felt frazzled and so exhausted my head was actually swimming. Basically, it was not my proudest mommy moment, even if Lil’ Bit and her friends had fun, which is really all that mattered. But still… in this era of crazy-elaborate Pinterest parties, I felt like a giant mom fail. Clearly I need a friend like Seri. I think every mom could use a friend like Seri.
Happy Birthday to Mazzy.
Totally have done that – except hid in my stash to give away at other kids birthdays. Am I bad?
Wow, what a great party idea. I always try to hold my son’s birthday parties at “between meal” times so I can get away with serving munchies and beverages and it works well. I, too, am expecting about a month before my son’s birthday this year, so maybe I should start planning as soon as the Holidays are over. Or maybe I need to find a party-planning friend of my own…
Holy crap, what a party! Happy 3rd Mazzy
That is SO awesome! The cow balloons are the BEST!!!
Awesome!
Hahaha great idea about hiding presents for hannukah! I guess thats an advantage of mazzy’s bday being near hannukah/xmas!!
Lol, me too! That was amazing! Wish my party planner friend would step in for my soon to be 3YO’s bday party, but she’s even busier than I am.
Great event!!! Mazzy is just the cutest thing EVER!!! Sorry I’m ruining that perfect family portrait in the last photo! 🙁
I am in awe. Greatest theme and decorations ever!! I wish i could have been there! 🙂
Loved it!!! 😀
Lucky you to have such a wonderful friend and party planner. All my friends have boring jobs ;). This party looked so sophisticated yet totally appropriate for a 3 year old! Love those black and white flowers and moo-balloons! A milk party must be heaven for a 3 yr old. Maybe I’ll steal this idea for my son’s birthday in the summer ;). And go ahead and use those presents for Hanukkah. I mean, you should introduce new toys one by one anyways, so why not? Gotta stretch out the “toy honeymoon” period as long as possible, in my opinion :). Happy 3rd birthday Mazzy. You’re growing up lovely!
WOW! Will she come to Louisiana to plan K’s next party? Happy Birthday again to Miss Mazzy!! 😀
[…] Okay. Now, before everyone starts saying things like, “I would never make that much fuss over a one-year-old’s birthday!”, please remember one of my best friends is Seri Kertzner from Little Miss Party and this has been her gift to me for two years running (see Mazzy’s third birthday extravaganza last year). […]
I have three little monsters at home.
Joseph, 5 is quiet but works hard to complete every task.
Allie, 3 is a bit on the eccentric side. She doesn’t get as much attention as her siblings, so she enjoys being on the wilde side.
Brooke, 1 recently had a birthday. We had the P.J theme like Harlow did.
Mazzy is getting so darn big! She and Monkey (Joesphine) are both three now! They share the same birthdate.
Monkey’s little sis, Mira-Rose was born on the same day as Harlow, so I asked my sister (Our Seri) to plan Monkey’s party.
Monkey had a “Pajama Brunch” including all eight of her friends and almost every kid’s parents. (One girl who is a year and a half older than Monkey, didn’t have her parents come because apparently she was “too old” to have her parents come with her)
Pancakes, syrup, and three and four and and four year olds. What could go wrong?