PHOENIX BRINGS COACHELLA TO TEXAS FOR 2ND BIRTHDAY
Last weekend we celebrated Phoenix’s second birthday, “P-Chella”. When deciding on themes for his parties, we like to do the unexpected for a kids party. Last year, the theme for his birthday was a DIY kickback, which was in the evening (because Texas summers are blazing.) But it was a hit ! Phoenix only has about 4 baby cousins/friends, so I like to produce themes and an atmosphere thats fun for the adults too. Phoenix and his dads birthday fall 6 days apart, so we generally celebrate them both at the same time.
I don’t like to spend a lot of money on parties, so creativity is a must to execute a nice function. The most expensive thing was probably the Airbnb we rented, which was perfect for the theme. The space was a really laid back guest home in The Heights area of Houston. Lots of tree shade, style, and eclectic decor. I searched for an Airbnb with a pool, because Phoenix loves the water. All of the cool Coachella stays have a nice pool set up. This pool also had a slide, which was a nice feature. When we arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by the pool area which gave us tons of space to transform. The pool was chlorine free, with natural salt water which was refreshing. Most Airbnb hosts don’t allow parties, so I had to do a little finessing to make this happen.
His party started at 4pm, all of our friends and family trickled in and we ate, drank and swam. We listened to music and really just enjoyed each others company. I am still looking back at the pictures and videos wishing I could rewind. Giving my son awesome birthday parties is something I take pride in. I love birthdays ! Everyone doesn’t get to always see the next age, or progress to a new year. Life is a celebration and I want him to look back when he’s older and see how much he’s celebrated. I will always go hard for my babies birthday !
If you are thinking of throwing a party for your kid soon here are some mom hacks :
Buy a helium tank and blow up your own balloons. This is cheaper than ordering balloons from Party City by the dozen, and you can pick your own cool custom balloons. Last year we used two helium tanks, this year we only needed one because we had a smaller space.
DIY a party banner. This will save you money on unnecessary decor and add personalization. We had two banners this year, one inside and one outside, The P-Chella sign really brought the aesthetic together. Get some paint and buy a roll of wrapping paper. I made both of these signs in less than 15 minutes.
Put cool stuff in party bags, don’t waste money on tiny plastic dinosaurs or noisemakers because they will disappear before the kids even get home. This year, instead of pre-making party bags we had empty bags that kids put their piñata candy in. We also put out play-doe, sunglasses, lollipops and bubbles. This way parents can select what they want their child to have. You also avoid food allergies. Its fun for kids to pick the specific items to add to their bags on the way out. This also eliminates meltdowns from having to leave.
Don’t be afraid of the dollar store ! - I got streamers and other nicnacs from Dollar Tree. Go to dollar stores first, get what you need or what grabs your eye and then go to Target and Party stores last. I am a sucker for target, but I refuse to get everything from there.
SPLURGE ON FOOD, ALCOHOL AND YOUR OUTFIT - If you look good, you feel good. This goes for you and your child. You can more confidently entertain if you look good. Any party my family has is a nice turn up, so make sure the drinks are flowing. Lastly food, make sure you have enough. This year I bought a lot of groceries and things that could be made in the oven. I think every party should have a fruit tray, cheese and crackers tray, a colorful salad and vegan options. We went for a compilation of pizza, tamales, wings, chicken strips. Troy loves the vegan Oreo cake at Whole Foods, so I picked that up and my mom brought cupcakes.
WAKE UP EARLY - Make sure you give yourself enough time to prepare for the party so you aren’t scrambling around before it starts. Honestly, you could have the best decorations and expensive venue, but if the vibes aren’t right then it means nothing.
Most importantly - Have fun, so much preparation goes into parties, have fun and let loose. After all, you’ve succeeded at another year of parenthood.
Two is such a special age, we’ve been singing happy birthday to Phoenix for the past 6 months. We wanted him to have somewhat of an understanding of what was going on. I am so excited for next year, because he will KNOW it’s his day. I hand-made his invitations with so much love in my heart. I thought it was so cute to see a lot of people dressed for the Coachella theme.
At the end of the night once everyone left, we just relaxed and a couple friends stayed and hung out. We watched tv with the Roku stick and I opened Phoenixs gifts and snacked. The whole day was beautiful and we were TIRED.
Thank you for reading ! Comment below if you have anymore tips to add to the mom hack list. Also, what are some traditions you have in your family for birthdays ?
