So just a few days after my own birthday party, it was my little girl’s turn… I promised myself that as she grows older, her parties will become smaller and smaller. As we mummies know, the cost of children’s parties get higher and higher too every year.  I simply don’t want her (and her friends) to expect extravagant parties from me on a yearly basis!

So for her 4th birthday party last December, I put on my “practical mummy hat” once again.

If you have been following me on Instagram for quite a while now, you would remember how this day happened…

There was a typhoon slated to come in on that day, with heavy landfall expected to happen in the afternoon on the exact time of my little girl’s party. Being a mother who panics at the slightest things that go off course, I stormed the gates of heavens with prayers to grant us a good day —  yes, even for just a couple of hours while the party goes on.

As any parent would understand, I didn’t want my daughter to remember her special day with sadness — should the day be filled with heavy rains or if no one amongst her friends would come.

So I went on and continued with the party preps as planned…

I wanted a pretty but still simple party, which made me decide to buy and do things on my own. I didn’t want to spend on the unnecessary things such as buying too many things or hiring a stylist to do such a small party for me.

So I called Party Starters and just ordered their Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Kit a few days in advance. They were able to personalize the supplies according to my party’s theme and colors.

Theme : Christmas Picnic in the Garden

Venue : Our own garden at home

Red polka dot paper plates, wooden utensils, red polka dot paper napkins, personalized water bottle labels, blue mason jars, white picket fence centerpiece : Ordered from Party Starters

Red mums and white baby’s breath fresh flowers : From Market Market

Red and white gingham ribbon : From my own supplies at home

Wooden picnic benches : Rented from Windsor Crystal Chairs

Simple but beautiful flower arrangement from Market Market that cost me only P150 a bundle!

Party food platters : Ordered from Gourmet Garage Catering. 

Since my daughter is obsessed with Disney’s Frozen, I got Olaf  to dance for her and her friends! (Party Starters helped me get the mascot.)

Clear mason jars with personalized sticker labels : From Party Starters 

Red and blue striped candy bag holder and personalized labels : From Party Starters 

Red and white checkered picnic table cloth : Given by a friend, recycled from my daughter’s 3rd birthday party last year (click here)

Wooden clothespin : a gift I received two Christmases ago, from friends Kitty and Mia of Craftsmith Living

Red and silver polkadot paper envelopes containing chocolates : a gift sent by my sis-in-law from New York. (Bought from Party City)

Red and blue rock candy, also from my sis : From Party City

Santa’s chocolate chip cookies : From Flour Jar

White rainbow cake with snowflake toppers – From Coco Cakes

Fruit Picnic Cupcakes – From Coco Cakes

The dessert table — small and simple but still pretty, I think 🙂

Her Blue Garden Handkerchief Dress by Sophie Catalou : From Chi Chi Mary Boutique.

The most important thing about this day was that my daughter and her small group of friends enjoyed the party! Who would have thought that the course of the typhoon would change?! It was storm signal no. 3 that morning and the skies were really dark and grey, so we were surprised to see the sun come out just when the party was about to start! And all throughout, the winds gently blew which gave us all a nice, cool breeze in the garden.

Her simple birthday wish of having a “Picnic Birthday Party”  — without a single drop of rain, just came true!

To my little girl (who is very much my mini me ) : I love you more than words can say. May you see more of your dreams come to life!

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Photography

JR Torres – 0923 516 5154

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I first wrote about this DIY party in this article here, as part of my December’s Fave Things.

To read more of my children’s parties, click here.