March 28, 2011

A French Fete...for a Five Year Old.

Well Jade's party went very well...with the birthday girl exclaiming to Steve "this is the best birthday party ever."  I got plenty of pictures of the spread right before guests started arriving...and then I sat the camera down and we didn't pick it back up until Jade was blowing out the candles.  Somehow a house full of kids and their parents keeps one very busy - lol.  I hope you enjoy our Madeline in Paris themed birthday party...





Anyone over five ate off of fine china...yup for realz...and it made some parents flinch a bit until I explained that I none of the pieces cost over $1...thrift stores rock. 



I hadn't taken off the plastic wrap off the pastries yet when I took these...but we ate croissants, chocolate sables, palmiers (called orejas locally), lemon cupcakes, chocolate cake, Brie, grapes and baguettes.  The only food left at the end of the party were croissants, half a baguette and cake.  


The cake was topped with a Eiffel Tower souvenir picked up for me from one of my BFFs in 1998...the senior Paris trip I wasn't allowed to go on...note the slight hint of bitterness in my type? ha.


Moving on...I wish I had gotten a better picture of this little shelf...but alas all the rest came out blurry - sigh.  The dispenser held lemonade for the kids.  We had water and soda available for the adults as well (there was also beer in a cooler outside...shh...). The flowers on the top of the cabinet are real miniature roses but the rest of the flowers here and on the table are all silk...largely because they are relatively cheap.  The lemons are real though. ;)

There are a couple photos that didn't come out that have me bummed...one is Jade in her yellow Madeline dress...it was too, too perfect but getting her to sit still on her birthday so she is in frame...or not a giant blur is next to impossible.  She also changed into a little dress her Grandmother got her for her birthday. 



It was fine...she went outside and played her heart out...ignore the Thomas the Train sticker on her chest - no idea...lol.  She could barely contain herself as everyone sang to her. :)  I had a blast...and she did too...and secretly I am thinking that I might have my own Madeline party for my next birthday.

In an old house in "Paris" covered in vines 
Twelve women sat in two straight lines
All of them drinking wines.

Has a nice ring to it, no? 

Anyway my fellow Anthropologie obsessed friends might notice the table runner looks a bit familiar.  I had purchased a couple checked scarves for this party...and then Anthro came out with these:


I liked the way it looked so I copied it...with an old pillow case.  My version cost $2.40 for the scarf, pillowcase and embroidery floss. I like it as a table runner better. :)


It will definitely find a home on our table again and another thing I got for the party that I am totally digging and is likely going to become more permanent is the striped curtain...


What do you think...keep?  Please let me know.

I hope you enjoyed our Madeline in Paris party...I sure did. :)

Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch!




12 comments:

  1. How absolutely adorable!! I'm here from Marty's party and I'm so glad I stopped by. I'm your newest follower. Sweet blog.
    xoxo,
    Kim

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  2. I think you did a wonderful job on the party, and the proof is in the proverbial pudding... all of that food and almost nothing left! And your attention to details here is great... I love how you used real china for children. They need to appreciate it, too. So my hat is off to you on that. The curtain is SO cute and the runner and all of the French touches. You can just see how excited that cutie pie Jade is in the photo.

    Thanks for sharing. I enjoyed going to Jade's party and wish her many happy returns!

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  3. What a darling idea for a little girl's birthday party! My daughter and granddaughter adored Madeline, too. You really did a great job carrying out the theme, and your daughter just looked delighted!

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  4. What a wonderful fun party and I am sure they won't forget eating off the china. What a great idea. That chocolate cake with the Eiffel tower is fabulous too.

    Hop on over and pay me a visit!

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  5. I think it sounds just WONDERFUL. The minute I saw Madeline, you had me hooked and reeled in. That was a very favorite around here.

    I love everything you did for this party, and I'll be she never forgets it.

    And btw, I like your runner just as much if not more than the anthro one. I think I even have that very pillow case around here. Really, I do!

    Great job.

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  6. Lovely party for a very cute young lady. Loved the whole theme you put together. It totally rocks. Your runner is really nicely done. I certainly like it! thanks for dropping in with your very kind comments.

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  7. What do I think? I give it an A! I love your party ideas, and M. is a fave of mine to read to my gkids. I taught the older kids, so I never got to enjoy it with them. And your runner is pure genius!

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  8. Cute, cute party and the birthday girl is adorable Ü

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  9. Just darling! I love the cake. YUMMY! Thanks for your comment on my clean freak post:)

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  10. Oh my gosh! This is the best party theme EVER! You did a fabulous job!

    (Saw you on Top Mommy Blogs, by the way!)

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  11. Just adorable...and I LOVE the Madeline books. My mother used to read those to us when were kids (VERY long ago...)

    Your granddaughter looks very happy and it is so nice to know that kids are still enjoying the books. The party table looks delicious-especially that chocolat Eiffel Tower cake!!

    Great idea (and adult version) of a big girl Madeline Party!!

    Thank you for sharing!

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  12. You outdid yourself on this party! I wish I had even an iota of your creativity! The kids (and parents!) had a blast. Love ya.

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