Tag Archives: party

Social Distance Slam Dunk

July 18, 2020 Aubrey Leave a comment

We’ve been living in Sacramento for almost a year now, and the one thing my younger son has been asking for and looking forward to since the move, was celebrating his birthday at home and having his friends come over. Well, enter COVID-19 and the age of “social distancing,” and there went that idea.

At first, I tried to wait it out thinking, maybe things will get better and open up, so I reserved a bounce house with a water slide thinking we’d keep the gathering small to less than 10 people. Of course, I realize everyone has different situations and comfort levels, so I didn’t expect too much. However, as the date crept closer, I started to feel like it was irresponsible to proceed as planned.

That’s when his Dad came up with a great idea! We could rent a dunk tank and his friends could just stop by and keep the distance, but still celebrate in person. It was easy enough to switch my reservation with the bounce house company and rather than a birthday parade with honking and drive by guests, they could come to the house to try and “slam dunk” the birthday boy!

It really worked out well and everyone was pretty impressed by such a creative idea. Plus, it was lots of fun as everyone took turns trying to hit the arm and dunk him…which isn’t as easy as it looks, but unlike a carnival where you have to pay for tickets for a throw…at our slam dunk part, everyone’s a winner!

The way I phrased the invite, I gave a time window for guests to come by and say hi. We set everything up on the front driveway and we gave out pre-packaged birthday cupcakes and other snacks for guests. Also, it turned out our guests came in waves, so while people did stay for a little bit, there was never too many hanging out…and did I mention the high this day was 107 degrees! It was hot!

And, of course we had to have a piñata, which technically promotes social distancing, because you always have to stand back, so you don’t get hit! Now thinking about that day, it was totally worth it to rent the dunk tank, and we wouldn’t hesitate to do it again.

If you’re trying to think of ways to social distance and still “party” with the young ones, I have a few more ideas. Sidewalk chalk greetings and drawing in front of your home are fun, freeze dance or a hula hoop contest could also work. Another idea I gave to a friend was setting up an obstacle course on the front lawn and having guests do the course when they stop by.

Mommy 101, Video

Virtual Birthday Party

July 18, 2020 Aubrey Leave a comment

This year we had to adjust the birthday party to fit the times aka Coronavirus social distancing and living life on Zoom! My older son turned 8, and since his favorite pastime during the stay at home orders has been playing Roblox with his friends online, it made perfect sense to center the celebration on his favorite game.

I actually did an interview for work with Roblox and so I got some tips about hosting a virtual shin dig on their platform, things like signing up for a private VIP server and carry out that theme for the online party.

If you’re a parent to an elementary aged or middle school aged child, chances are you know all about Roblox. For those of you who are unfamiliar, the best way for me to explain it is that it’s the YouTube of online games. Just like how YouTube is a world filled with millions of user-generated videos, Roblox is filled with countless user generated games, and in my son’s case, his favorite is called Jailbreak.

Once the theme was in place, I created an invite to let all our friends know to save the date. Then, I doubled checked on securing the private VIP server, so that for the “party,” he would be able to play with just his friends. The other thing the kids love to do is also be on some type of video chat while they play the game so they can keep talking and find each other and strategize, while they play. So, I decided to use Google Meet (no time limit), as the link where we would gather to say hello and have cake. Then, I sent out his username for Roblox, asked the guests who would participate for their usernames and also sent the link to the private server!

One thing I wish I would’ve thought more out prior to the virtual party, was some group activities we could’ve done before he blew out his candles. We have now attended a few other birthdays online and the kids love some organized activities like scavenger hunts, trivia and games like pictionary or bingo! Also, if all your guests live nearby, you could put together goodie bags and distribute with “materials” for the virtual call – like balloons + decor, game pieces and cupcakes, etc… so everyone has what they need ready to go. One family dropped off a personal pizza for my son to enjoy for a virtual party! However, I do believe I scored by collecting short video greetings from our family and friends to edit together and show during the call.

All in all, it turned out great. Do be sure to decorate at home, it adds to the atmosphere and makes it more festive. I grabbed so items from the dollar store and it made for a great birthday backdrop. When it came to party time, he was all smiles and it was very heartwarming to see the greta turnout. It was super chaotic with all those kids on the virtual call, but it was all love, and I think it bothers me as an adult more than it does the kids…they are so unbothered! Hopefully next year we can get back to “normal” gatherings.

Mommy 101

Dub Nation Birthday Celebration

July 17, 2018 Aubrey Leave a comment

This year my boys turned 5 and 6…and for the past year they have been ALL about basketball, specifically our hometown Golden State Warriors who just happened to prevail as back to back champions in June. So, their birthday party these was a no brainer…a Dub Nation Birthday Celebration! My boys have been spoiled when it comes to (NBA) basketball. Not only did both of their births coincide with NBA Championships (in Miami), but in both of their lifetime’s, they have only known living in places with NBA Champions! We are clearly a basketball family, so this year I got the wheels turning to play up a blue and gold theme fit for my basketball kings! I made a custom “ticket” invitation via Paperless Post to announce the event, you can see those details here.

I created a dessert table using a backdrop of alternating blue and gold streamers, and I stuck a warriors sign from Party City in the middle. I covered the table with a coordinating yellow table cover and added Warriors logo plates and napkins. We already had a couple Warriors basketballs, so I propped them up on clear glass cylinders stuffed with matching tissue paper. I got the Warriors themed sheet cake from Safeway and ordered blue and yellow frosted cupcakes. I topped the cupcakes with their age (5 & 6) numbers, along with team logos, that I sized and printed out myself, then glued onto toothpicks. I found mini blue popcorn boxes which I filled with Boom Chicka Pop Kettle Corn, and filled the small candy jars with basketball wrapped butter mints.

The other desserts I added were rice krispy treats and chocolate dipped marshmallows, both made by me and both decorated with blue and yellow cake sprinkles. I also had a tray of (Costco) chocolate chip cookies, because cookies make everyone smile!

Over the years we’ve collected and saved various Warriors signs, so I thought, why no string them up and use them for decorations. That was really easy since we had several signs. I just punched holes in the corners and used twine to string them up.

Since it was an outdoor party at the park, I just made a couple centerpieces (you never know how the wind will factor in). I took a couple metal pails and filled with rocks for weight – found these at Dollar Tree. I then placed (free) foam fingers and clap sticks we’ve gotten from games, added tissue paper and stuck a “5” and “6” balloon to finish the look.

We played with water balloons….

Destroyed a basketball pinata, which I personalized with a Warriors logo print out…

You know it was a GREAT party when there was lots of laughter and smiles all around!

I also found the perfect thank you gift to give our guests, a Dubble Bubble “Slam Dunk” dispenser and I custom created a thank you tag to stick on them.

Thanks to all our friends and family who celebrated our boys with us and made it a very memorable occasion!

Mommy 101

Party Invites ONLINE!

June 26, 2018 Aubrey Leave a comment

I am a fan of online (event) invitations. The ease of creating an event invite, tracking responses and even updating/changing event details as needed, makes it very easy. Plus, I don’t have to worry about printing anything, envelopes, postage and getting to the post office, etc… That being said, I do also like setting the “tone” if you will for my event. I’m big on presentation and playing up a theme, and when I can flex my novice design skills + have the time, I like to see what I can whip up.

Well, it’s now the time of year when my boys will be celebrating another birthday milestone, and since they are such big basketball fans, I wanted to create an invitation that captures their enthusiasm for their favorite basketball team. I found some inspiration online and made a custom invite that looks like a ticket to a basketball game. I pondered printing them out and using snail mail, but that’s when I discovered Paperless Post has an “Upload Your Own” feature. BINGO!

The only issue was that my custom ticket design didn’t quite fit the preferred dimensions on the upload your own tool, so I thought the idea would be awash…But lo and behold, I reached out to their customer service to see if they could give me an “assist” (pun intended), and within 24 hours, they adjusted the dimensions to accommodate my design. A total SLAM DUNK!

Mommy 101

Kindergarten School Days

September 15, 2017 Aubrey Leave a comment

Time flies! We’re just about 4 weeks into the school year and my older son’s foray into Kindergarten. Overall, he’s enjoying it and things are going pretty well. Here’s a look back into our first 4 weeks…

First day of school went very smooth, Raef was excited to see some friends he already knew from ARPD Tiny Tots as well as TBall and day care programs. He lined up first by his classroom too!

A post shared by Aubrey Aquino (@fifty3weeks) on Aug 28, 2017 at 8:15am PDT

This year we didn’t do any official back to school shopping, but we did purchase a new backpack (TMNT) and his one request was to have his name on it, so we got it embroidered..and it was well worth it!

Eagle Eye!! At his school they award “eagle eye” recognition for children who are seen following directions, listening attentively, being kind, etc… Raef was the first one in his kindergarten class to receive this award and he was also recognized in front of the entire school during the Wednesday morning meeting.

Back to School Night was nice, I made sure to ask his teacher what supplies and/or extras she would like to make this year easier. We got lots of info about all-day kindergarten and what types of curriculum that will be taught. It was also fun to see Raef’s self portrait hanging up on the wall in his class. *Note – We are still learning ways to manage with the after school “emotions” and meltdowns, as well as trying to implement an earlier bedtime.

A trip to the dentist was also on the agenda. Both my boys had their semi-annual teeth cleanings, and while Raef doesn’t have any cavities, we need to stay on top of it so he doesn’t get any! One plus of his teacher is that she doesn’t allow any sweets, no candy, cookies, chips, etc… Unhealthy snacks get sent home, so that helps me keep his sugar to a minimum.

Finally, with this week came picture day. I can totally remember “picture day” being such a big deal, what to wear, how to fix my hair…but for a 5-year old boy maybe not such a big thing, right? Well, mine actually wanted a certain haircut and proceeded to carry his comb around with him, even as we attended the birthday party of one of his classmates the evening before…lol! His Dad attended his first PTA meeting and we may’ve also lost our first jacket. At any rate, we’re enjoying the start of the school-age ride and can’t wait to see what comes next!

Mommy 101

Spiderman Birthday Party

July 13, 2017 Aubrey Leave a comment

Two parties in six days, that was my life this past week. We started with TMNT for my 5-year old, and finished the birthday week with SPIDERMAN for my now 4-year old.

We chose to have this party at a complex near us, called Bladium. The nice thing about Bladium is that you can choose what activities the kids can do during your party. We chose Rock Climbing as our main activity the first hour, then for the second hour they moved us into another area where the kid’s had use of the basketball court and a giant inflatable slide!

At this venue, all the parties are done in 2 hour blocks and they include pizza and drinks for the kids. I liked that they allowed us to bring additional food (aside from pizza) to serve to our guests. They assign you a party host who stays with you and watches all the kids during your event.

When it came to the cake, I got ours at Safeway and elected for the cupcake cake! We had both white and chocolate cake and what I like about these cakes is that you don’t need a knife, just pull it apart!

I didn’t go all out on decor for this party, I had a themed tablecloth, plates and napkins…but I did make the “happy birthday” banner that I found at this website.

What I did do though is get a pinata, which was hung from the basketball hoop and it was a big hit with all the kids!

We also sent pour guests home with their own “Spidey Web.” I picked up Goofy String from Dollar Tree and transformed the cans with this printable. It was super easy and a big it with the kids..I just had to politely ask them to wait until they got home to start spraying!

So, now I’m birthday party planned out…until next year, I’ll have two very happy super heroes!

Mommy 101

TMNT Birthday Party

July 6, 2017 Aubrey Leave a comment

Cowabunga dude! The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are BIG in my house…and TMNT was the chosen theme for my older son who just turned 5! When it came to choosing a venue for the party, I chose the East Oakland Sports Center. They have an amazing indoor aquatic area and a roomy party room just off the pool. Since his birthday is in the summer, I figured a swim party would be the perfect way to celebrate…and it truly was a big hit!

We picked the perfect day to host the party, and while there was a public swim session, it wasn’t too packed and very comfortable for our guests. The pool and swim areas were very same and since the majority of our swimmers being about 5 years old, the depth at their height was perfect. Also, they have a great staff that’s very accommodating and lifeguards who kept a watchful eye on all the kids on the pool deck.

When it came to decor, I used a lot of these well-designed party printables, like the welcome sign, cupcake toppers, favor tags and pizza banner!

I created a long table for the kids to sit at and covered them with plastic green table cloths and a store bought ninja turtle table decor set, and I used the ninja turtle face plates, party blowouts and coordinating napkins to liven up the decor!

As far as food for the party, I kept it simple with pizza – of course ninja turtles and kids (grownups too), love a cheesy pie. I did an easy fruit salad, veggie platter, chips, crackers and some chicken and swiss cheese rollers to complete the spread. It was just the right amount for that post swim hunger.

I also purchased a TMNT themed “scene setter” to serve as a backdrop for photos..kids love the life size characters, and it helps brighten up empty wall space.

I ordered the cake at Food Maxx, where they printed out an edible ninja turtle print.

One of my favorite elements for the party were our favors! I found these foam “nun chucks” at Dollar Tree, added a thank you label, and it was the perfect compliment to our party theme.

Needless to say, we all had an awesome time… Thanks to all our friends who joined in the fun and celebrated with us!

Mommy 101

Party Time + Invitation Options

May 10, 2017 Aubrey 2 Comments

My boy’s’ birthday’s are in T-2 months and it’s time to get the ball rolling on the party planning…or at least having a “plan.” I am definitely a “planner,” especially when it comes to things I can control, like the birthday festivities and knowing what we want to do makes it much easier on me, because as we all know…time flies and these yearly milestones happen so fast!

When it comes to a venue, you’ll probably need to reserve your space with much notice…most of these places that regularly host kid’s parties book up months in advance. If you use a local park, those reservations can book up quick too, especially when it comes to weekends and warm weather. There are many advantages to having it at home, but that’s an individual decision. Things to consider when booking are cost, convenience and the number of guests…availability can sometimes be a factor too if the date and times you wanted is already booked, so get on it early.

In the past, I’ve created fun invitations using templates I’ve found online, that fit the theme and then we personalize with all our details. I’ve done both printing it out and using snail mail, but also emailing all our guests and attaching the “invitation.” Last year, we used an online invitation website, which is also very easy, there are different designs you can select and then all you need to do is enter the details. What I like about online invitation services is that they keep track of all your guests, who has opened aka viewed it, guests can add comments AND you can easily make any changes to the invitation and/or send out updates if there are any last minute changes or special instructions.

Earlier this year, when hosting my sister’s baby shower, she suggested we use an online service called Paperless Post. Paperless Post has both online invitations, as well as cards for every occasion. Their designs look more like beautiful stationary than computer graphics. You can add photos and envelopes as well, so basically you save the tree, but still offer the “thrill” of getting something in the mail and opening it up! You can also opt to print hard copies and send them out the more traditional way too.

Whichever method you choose to get the word out about your fiesta, be sure to check it (at least) twice. Make sure you have all the important info date, time and place – I recently had a friend who ordered beautiful invitations for her son’s 1st birthday, but she left off the date, so she sent out a second invite with the date…that’s double the stamps. Also be sure to make sure the contact info is included. I think its great to use email, but sometimes a phone number is super helpful for kid’s parties because well, when you’re a parent…things happen!

Mommy 101

Dino Dig Party Theme

July 11, 2016 Aubrey 2 Comments

Rawr! This past weekend we celebrated the 3rd and 4th birthdays of my (53 weeks apart) baby boys..except I’m realizing they really aren’t “babies” anymore. For their joint celebration this year I chose to do a “Dino Dig” aka dinosaur themed backyard soiree, and I’m really pleased with how it turned out. We got lots of compliments on a “fun” party…and that’s the most important component to any event, right!?!? FUN!!

I probably get a little obsessive in my planning process trying to make everything theme related and scouring the internet for ideas and decor to pull off a great event. I had multiple banners and even re-named my boys to give them dino-riffic names! I found a free printable HBD dinosaur banner, and dinosaur print letters that I used for the banners with their dinosaur names.

I purchased a nice dinosaur centerpiece with cone holders which I filled with kid-friendly Veggie Sticks and Pretzels.

In the backyard, we had a bounce house with a dinosaur panel in front, the kids LOVE to bounce!

A bubble station was also set up, where we had a bubble machine going and an assortment of bubble wands.

We created a “Dino Dig” site, using an inflatable kiddie pool, filled with sand and hidden “dino eggs” that I purchased online. We wrapped the area with dino dig “caution” tape. I also purchased mini buckets and tools for them to excavate the eggs, and I got enough so that they could take those home too.

Inside I set up a “photo booth,” using a couple big, jointed, dinosaurs on the wall and a HUGE blow up T-Rex too – the kids loved it, they were all over it..I can’t believe it survived the party! I also got an assortment of dinosaur masks for them to wear for the photo opp!

When it came to the sweets and dessert, I went with cupcakes (store bought), but I used my own sprinkles that were actually mini-dinosaurs. We also created Dino Dig dessert cups that were made up of chocolate pudding, crushed oreos and gummy dinosaurs on top! Dinosaur lollipops and a plate full of mini-dino cookies I ordered on Etsy, helped make the table look extra festive!

We had a dinosaur pinata and played Pin the Head on the Dinosaur…

As our thank you gift I put together goodie bags with dino stickers, tattoos, a dino ring pop, bubbles, dino plane and a puzzle. Lots of fun stuff!

All in all, we couldn’t be happier with the party and how it all came together! It was so much fun and at the end of the day, I had 2 very happy dinosaurs!

Mommy 101

10 Tips for Celebrating When Your Baby Turns ONE!

April 1, 2016 Aubrey 3 Comments

A guest post written for 53 Weeks.

Your baby is turning 1!!! It’s time to enjoy and celebrate this major milestone! Here are 10 tips that helped this mama out!

Pick a theme

Picking a theme can be fun and it helps you stay focused and helps organize the direction of the party.

We decided to go with an “Alice in Wonderland” theme. My daughter has an adventurous spirit and is full on wonder so it was a natural choice for us!

Ready, set, shop!

Now that you have your theme, it’s time to set a budget. Remembering that in the end it isn’t how expensive your party is but how memorable and fun it was for everyone.

The first place to start for me was shopping online at party supply sites. They have great deals and so much to choose from! From there check out your local dollar store. It’s amazing what you can find for a $1! I headed to a local wholesale lantern store to purchase all the colorful lanterns that we hung from the ceiling. I ordered most party supplies on Black Friday and took advantage of the discounts. If there is a holiday coming up take advantage of the savings!

Guest list

Make a list and check it twice! You’ll need to know how many people you want to invite in order to plan successfully. This will help you decide on location, budget and overall work. Surround that little one with loved ones who have made the year so special! It takes a village, right?

We decided to invite about 75 people. Below is our group shot (blurred to respect privacy).

Location, location, location

Now where to have the bday bash? Keep weather in mind – not so fun having a jumpy house outside if it’s raining. Can you accommodate all guests in your home? Is a restaurant more your style and letting staff handle the set up & clean up?

We decided on a recreation center. The blank space allowed us to decorate freely and there were no time restraints which allowed us to enjoy the party without watching the clock.

What’s on the menu?

Try to be creative and work with your theme. Also, keep in mind how convenient it will all be. No one wants to be stuck in the kitchen during their child’s party.

We decided on sandwiches which were individually wrapped with salads as sides. This made it easy for all and allowed many variations and choices. Best of all – no one is heating anything up or running around. For the cake, I decided on going with cupcakes which are very convenient. No cutting, no passing out, no mess. I purchased a cupcake stand on amazon for presentation. Our daughter, of course, had her individual smash cake. I was able to find a cute cake topper on Etsy.

Planning ahead will help you stay sane (kinda).

A first birthday is a big deal and one may feel the pressure to have it all be great. But now that you’re a mom, who has the time to be Martha Stewart? I started planning about two months prior. The time also allows for extra creativity and DIY projects. I shopped online, made calls and completed projects all during my daughter’s naps.

Dress the part!

Get your guests involved and make everyone feel like they are part of the fun! Children love to see fantasy come to life.

We offered our guests their pick of hats as they walked into the party. Hats were purchased from a party supply store. Some of us wore costumes and had a blast! Our mini Alice looked adorable in her light blue tutu!

Gotta entertain the littles.

Try estimating how many children will be coming to the party and their ages. Kids want to enjoy themselves and be a part of the theme via games and activities.

I purchased a corn hole game and covered it with green fabric and glued some flowers on it. My husband printed out posters at work. We also printed out some coloring pages for the younger kids. We also hired someone to face paint and hand out balloons.

DIY with Love.

Crafty? Time to put your skills to work. Not crafty? Recruit friends and fam who are. Or now will be the time to become great friends with Pinterest and DIY tutorials on YouTube. Why DIY? Because sometimes you just can’t find what you want or need in a store. It can also be great way to save money.

For me, I enjoy DIY projects because I’m taking the time to do something out of love. Some DIYs I made were garland made out of dollar store playing cards, Queen’s guardsman which were made from dollar store poster board and construction paper and our table runners were also made by simply purchasing some fabric and sewing the sides. I also had some items which included pictures of her first year.

Have fun!

When all is said and done…ENJOY this special day! In the end it isn’t about the décor, it’s about celebrating their sweet life. A year has gone by and it probably all happened in the blink of an eye (despite the sleepless nights). So take it all in, these moments go by way too fast. Remember to take lots of pictures so your little one can look back on the celebration! Congrats you made it! Happy Birthday little one!

…and 2 babies later