* This post is sponsored by Superbalist. It's the beginning of a new school year and the start of all kinds of extra-murals and sports for our crew... That means shoe shopping. More specifically, sneaker shopping! Growing feet need new trainers for netball, hockey,...
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New Balance Sneakers for the entire family!
* This post is sponsored by Superbalist. It's the beginning of a new school year and the start of all kinds of extra-murals and sports for our crew... That means shoe shopping. More specifically, sneaker shopping! Growing feet need new trainers for netball, hockey,...
“TWO” cool for school 2nd birthday bash!
We’ve celebrated more than one 2nd birthday, and coming up with original themes is a bit more challenging every time… This year for Ava’s party, we decided to go with something completely different. Hinting to the fact that she’s still at home, and such a “mama’s girl”. A “TWO cool for School” theme seemed perfect!
I made a quick invite on CANVA.com (every mama’s best friend when it comes to designing your own stationary) and sent it to our nearest and dearest with an added note, this party was dress-up.
Now to make things pretty!
The colour scheme was inspired by our beautiful Migi Designs picnic blanket and the rest was easy…
Apples (affordable and edible decor for the win), brown paper lunch bags filled with fun bits and pieces, a few check tablecloths cut from a piece of fabric I found at a local fabric store, chalkboards, alphabet cards and good old school stationary that can be put away after the party, and used as needed by Eliana at school. It was kind of like buying school supplies in advance.
I grabbed up a beautiful photo display stand from Clever Little Monkey and added a personalised Ava’s ABC’s written on craft wrapping paper. The guests loved looking back on Ava’s past year, giggling at all the things we love about her. You’ll definitely be seeing us use it again and again for future celebrations.
Add a few strings of paper tassel bunting (recycled from a friend’s birthday party, just a few weeks before) and our backyard was set!
Food!
When planning our parties we always focus on the food. If people eat well, everyone is sure to have a good time.
We keep sweets to the minimum, for as long as we can. Still an easy task seeing as Ava is home with me most of the time, next year, we’ll have some more treats.
“Party food” included:
- Bran muffin balls
- Mini Toffee apples
- Popcorn
- PB & J Macarons from Sweetly Detailed
- School themed sugar Cookies by Artful Biscuit Co.
- Homemade Giant Choc Chip Cookies
- Dried Fruit
- Oh My Goodness Fruity Hoops Cereal (The Gordon Ramsay brand Checkers sell.)
- Nuts
Lunch needed to be kid- and adults-friendly so, gourmet sandwiches! Choose what you like from a variety of breads, cold meats, toppings and sauces. Fournos Bakery always has an incredible selection of freshly baked loaves, buns and bagels.
The spread at our sandwich bar included:
- Low GI, Gluten-free, Wholewheat, French baguettes, Ciabatta, bagels, plain white and even charcoal loaves.
- Cold meats: salami, pastrami, chicken, ham and everything else on offer at the deli.
- Cheese – grated and sliced.
- Fresh Guacamole
- Tomato slices
- Lettuce
- Gherkins
- Fresh chillies
- Tomato sauce
- Mayonaise
- Chutney
- Mustard
- and don’t forget the butter.
We borrowed my mom’s panini press for the foodies wanting to make a toasty and had good old Peanut Butter and Jam handy for anyone wanting to keep things simple.
What about the cake?
Birthday cakes are expensive and as a non-baking mama, I understand why. Baking something delicious and making it look magical is an art. That’s why I’m grateful to have a sister-in-law that knows how to bake the tastiest cakes. Every time she bakes a cake, our friends notice and if you aren’t quick you won’t get a bite.
She baked a red velvet and dark chocolate layered cake covered in black fondant. What a surprise cutting into the cake.
The night before I used food gels and my best steady “teacher hand” to decorate the sides. Dusting here and there with a sprinkle of cornstarch. Artful Biscuit Co.‘s gorgeous sugar cookies and a number 2 cake topper (recycled from a previous birthday) was the perfect finishing touches to Ava’s cake.
Drinks
Being winter this was an easy choice – a self-serve coffee and hot chocolate stand.
All we needed was an urn, our trusty glass beverage dispensers filled with milk. A few hot drink sachets, Milo, sugar, sweeteners, tea, honey, spoons and disposable coffee cups. These days you can find great compostable ones, so be sure to read the packaging. We also put out tiny porcelain cups for the kids to use, as well as glass drink jars with reusable straws (we use these for all our parties) and a huge water dispenser for a cool alternative.
Now for the “FUN”
Having the guest dress according to the theme already provided a good laugh whether you went all out or simply grabbed your old school pullover. Wanting to stick to our colour scheme, I borrowed a uniform from a teacher friend, she hooked up a few of us – just look closely.
Mr. Perfect simply added a tie. Lia and Eliana played around with pleated skirts they had in their closet and the birthday girl stood out in a Mika & Cebo Kids set.
We built a cardboard “Tuck Shop“. This doubled as a really cool photo prop and play area for all the kids. Everyone took turns buying and selling “treats” to each other.
Each “pupil” received a mini chalkboard and party pack filled with chalk, play dough, star stickers, crayons and a “homework book” to use at the “homework corner”.
The “Homework Corner” was a craft station. More stickers, glue, colouring pages and paper crafts to enjoy.
On the “Playground” we had bean bag toss – another easy to make cardboard game. The dads had some fun with this one too. And of course our home jungle gym and swings.
Saying “Thank You”
We alway enjoy getting input from our friends and followers on social media and when Terri Row from Choose a Row recommended including books in our party I knew exactly what to do.
Mr. Perfect’s handyman abilities were once again put to the test as I asked him to build a cute, corner bookshelf out of cardboard boxes. I headed over to our local Bargain Books. They always have great books on sale. There were so many to choose from. I decided on a variety but also included a few of the same titles. Books I thought Ava’s friends would enjoy the most, with more than one friend wanting to take the same story home.
I made a library card / thank you note on CANVA and included it with every book. Just a tiny detail, coz I’m a sucker for details.
* If you like, download and use our Library Card HERE.
The library was a hit with little ones and their parents reading together, choosing a favourite story to take home and keep forever.
This party gets an A+ from all the guests.
Seeing everyone have fun, dressing up and celebrating with us was the best! Everything you want a birthday to be.
Looking back at Ava’s 2nd birthday party, we treasure the photos and video the most!
That’s why we’ve teamed up with Poppit & Finch.
GIVEAWAY CLOSED – CONGRATULATIONS Mia van der Linde (Instagram winner)!
WIN a 2-hour birthday celebration photo package to the value of R2500 for your little one’s next birthday party! This package includes 2 hours of coverage with 150 images delivered to you via an online gallery. AMAZING, right?
How to enter:
- Leave a comment below telling us what your next party theme might be!
- Follow Just a Mamma and Poppit & Finch on Instagram AND / OR
Liking Just a Mamma and Poppit & Finch on Facebook. (I’ll be checking so PLEASE make sure you complete this step).
You can also gain extra entries on our Facebook Page and Instagram Account.
Be sure to have a look at the T&C below and good luck!
COMPETITION RULES:
- Competition only open to families residing in Pretoria and Johannesburg, South Africa.
- Prize must be used with 12 months and date of party photoshoot is subject to availability.
- Please enter a valid email and contact info. If we can not get hold of you within 48 hours a new winner will be picked.
- This prize is not exchangeable or refundable.
- You need to complete all the compulsory steps as stated above. Failure to do so will result in you being disqualified.
- Instagram and Facebook is in no way responsible or associated with this giveaway.
- Winner must be 18+ years old.
- Competition closes on the 2nd of October 2019.
Quick list of suppliers for Ava’s 2nd birthday party:
Birthday cake: Baked by my incredible sister-in-law, decorated by me. Sugar cookies added for WOW!
Sugar cookies: Artful Biscuit Co.
Giant choc chip cookies: Recipe available HERE on the Cookpad APP.
Macarons: Sweetly Detailed
Birthday Milestone board: Nectar & Ink
Birthday girls outfit: Mika & Cebo Kids and shoes from Shoo Shoos.
Photo feature wall: Clever Little Monkey
Letterboard: Fable Lifestyle
Photos and video: Poppit & Finch
Checkout our CELEBRATION PAGE for more party inspo.
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Our next party theme is a paint party. It might change if my daughter changes her mind before then
A Mermaid party for my little girl Aranya. She’ll be 3 in January
Motorbikes!! Out boy is a born biker!! Looooved your party!!
In January my boy will turn 3. He requested a dinosaur party so we are doing T(hree) Rex. We are all very excited!
My Elliana is turning 1 in November! I was thinking pin wheels and teepees with a picnic vibe!!! This would be such an awesome prize to win!!!
Our next theme would most likely be a Fireman Sam theme as my boys love him.
My little baby girl birthday is on the 6tg of December, im thinking a minnie mouse theme as she loves minnie mouse, she wasn’t breathing when she was born and was in NICU when she was born, I take my hat of to every NICU parent it is the worst experience, I want her Gordy birthday to be something special cause she is alive after the most horrible experience for our family
Hawaiian, tropical party
Would be amazing for my granddaughters 3rd birthday party 🥥🏝️🌺
My sons will only be 2 next year August but we did a ferdinand the bull for his first birthday. Next year I’m thinking if badanamu as a theme as he loves their songs soooo much. 😊 I love choosing the themes that Noone really knows about. I strive to be different and to push my creativity to the max.
This will be our first birthday for my littlw princess and we all know princesses love 🦄 unicorns so that will be our birthday theme
We are having a Minnie mouse theme for my little princess in 2020 on the 1st of February.
I’ve been stumped on what to do for my sons second birthday – trains and planes were one idea – but now I’m loving the “two cool for school theme”!!
We just had a gorgeous donut theme for my 3 year old, but my one year old will have either a bunny/bubble or hot air balloon theme ♥️
Our beautiful Isabella will be 1 on the 4th Feb 2020.
Haven’t confirmed a theme as of yet but I’m thinking a Donut 🍩 theme – playing around with Donut Grow Up ….
For my son’s birthday party, I am thinking of going according to the “Under the sea” theme.
I’m hoping to do ‘party like a panda’ theme for my baby’s 2nd bday – working on making her love pandas!
My son is turning 4 in November and only wants a Super Hero party! He’s been telling everyone about it and is super excited!
My grand baby is turning 3 🍍🌞🌴
Polynesian themed
Ons sal vir Annebelle se 3de verjaarsdag n Wild and Three doen. Woodlands tema
Kan nie wag nir
My little lady will be turning one next year and we are still getting to know her but she is so wild and wonderful that we are thinking a Woodlands critter “Wild One” party.
My son is having a Paw Patrol theme in November for his 3rd birthday. My younger son will be having a space themed party next year for his 1st birthday. Would love to have photos taken at these events!
I know it has been done a thousand times over the last year but I am thinking unicorn party for our little one’s first birthday as the outfits she can wear are SO cute 🙂
My twin girls first birthday party is approaching (Feb 2020) and we have chosen PANDAS as the theme!
Our twin girls have their 1/2 birthday (6months old) they are our IVF miracles, our rainbow babies, so we will be doing a rainbow theme, with personalised biscuits, special baby onesies etc. They will be turning 1 in March and I would LOVE help on a creative and original idea to celebrate this amazing milestone of our babies, babies we never thought we would have 🙏🏻
Theme is always a hot topic in our household .. it changes and changes . Earlier in the year the child wanted a paint party as she thinks she is an artist. Now she has decided on a unicorn party (so not going to happen, mama doesn’t like conventional themes) so we might end up going with a unicorn painting party . We still have two months till she turns 6 and enough time to change minds
Our little one will have a 3rd birthday in Feb next year.He us obsessed with planets so maybe a space theme will be something to consider xxxx
We are having a princess superhero party, my daughter says she is sparkly like a princess and strong like a superhero, and can’t decide between the 2 so we having both.
My sons 4th birthday around the corner and our theme is “Under the sea” as he absolutely loves sea animals! We recently took a family trip down to Durban just for him to experience Ushaka Marine World and what a hit it was, to see his face light up the way it did, winning this will light up our faces to have these memories forever
We’ve just had a 3-Rex party this week ! The next one will be for my baby & will either do “ONEderland” or “ONEderful” party!
We are having a 2nd Ice cream party in October. 🥰
We will also be having a 2nd birthday party in October. The theme will be Ice cream. 🍦🍨🍧
My baby girls 1st Birthday party theme would be Flamingos! Just love Flamingos!! Such beautiful birds!
Into the wild (child) 😋
My daughter’s second birthday theme will be fancy nancy! She just love the show. Cries everytime it’s over
We will have a handyman themed party for our soms third birthday part. He LOVES tinkering with his Dad.
Moana themed❤️ for my little girls 3rd birthday ❤️🌺🌺🌺🌺🌺🐟🐚🐚🐚🏝️🍍🥥
Ek en my bestie se seuntjies verjaar 11 dae uitmekaar uit! Ons hou in November vir hulle n Dinosaur partydjie 🦕 🦖🎈 @danelle_kat
We did rainbows and unicorns for her first, you are my sunshine for her second and next will be Dr Seuss for her third
Aaah wow! Ek steel sommer die theme 😂👌
10 year old wants an outdoor movie night and the 2 year old we’ll do a piggy / peppe theme x #pickme!
Aaah wow! Ek steel sommer die theme 😂👌
10 year old wants an outdoor movie night and the 2 year old we’ll do a piggy / peppa theme x #pickme!
Ice cream party for my twin girls!!
Our LG turns 1 end of October… they call her a little busy bee at daycare, so why not al little BEE party!
I have two boys, they are both obsessed with dinosaurs. Thinking of a modern dino theme for either 6th or 2nd birthday parties with digging up fossils as a game as my eldest wants to be a Paleontologist!
Zoe-Jane will be turning one in January!! For her first birthday we will be having a Unicorn party as she absolutely loves her unicorn teddy and cant sleep without it
Its my first child’s 1st birthday next Feb and Im thinking of either doing a Beatrix Potter theme or ‘Wild One’ theme😊
Absolutely loved this party and theme my friend – too adorable! And I love all the school details x
VERSEKER ‘n llama partytjie 🦙