sochi style

We're showing off our Sochi style today. We love the Olympics in this house, and it's the one time I don't feel guilty having the tv on all day.

There weren't any of my beloved matryoshkas in the opening ceremonies, but did you catch the massive one on the slopestyle course? So cool!

Trying to get pictures of this girl is quite the feat. Things like this happen... ; )

She's fine, by the way. Crazy girl.

Sweatshirt: H&M
Skirt: Thai hilltribe
Boots: Carter's

matryoshka party - decor and a feature!

Today, Jaina's party is being featured on Hostess with the Mostess! They've graciously agreed to feature it in one of their weekly Party of Five posts. Pretty psyched about this! It's always nice to be recognized for your hard work. 

Click here to check it out!

I know it's been a while (over a month, whew!), but let's check out these party details.

The main decor inspiration came from all of Mom and Mimi’s vintage linens. These set that folksy tone I was after. 

I also used vintage cake stands for the desserts and these cute, old children’s chairs I have to set the drink dispensers on. 

I used lots of ribbon and ric-rac; from the drink tags around the jars to the ribbon tassel bunting I created for the pavilion and Jaina’s highchair. 

The cupcake toppers, favor bags, and invitations were made with kraft paper, rubber stamps, and black embossing powder. 

I also made matryoshka doll banners using black and white printouts of Jaina’s face and patterned paper. I got the idea from this adorable face banner on Pinterest. (My friend, Holly, from Curious Sprinkles, also made one way back for her son's first birthday. Super handsome.) 

I used several sets of matryoshka dolls as decoration. The boys especially liked the set of sailors and pirates. Jaina’s special present this year was a stuffed doll that I made. She was the star of the dessert table!

 Everyone loved the painted matryoshka cut-outs.

And the kiddos had fun hunting for these adorable matryoshka eggs.

There is no one photo that can adequately sum up how hilarious it is to try to get seven children five-and-under, holding bubbles, to pose for a picture, so here's a little montage. I should make a flip book of these.

The boys all got "Russian hats" (newsboy caps from Hobby Lobby), and the girls got babushkas (plain bandanas). I also found bubbles at the Dollar Store that looked an awful lot like nesting dolls.

The grown-ups got Russian Tea Cakes.

I put them in cellophane bags and stapled cute paper to the top. Totally my go-to wrapping choice from now on.

And you wanna know the coolest thing about this party? Not counting the items that I'll be using over and over for years to come (like the drink dispensers and jars), the decor and favors for this party only cost me $35. I'm not kidding. I used so much of what I already have that I only needed a few special items to bring it all together.

Check out more of the decor and Jaina's cute matryoshka outfit!

And check out my feature on Hostess with the Mostess! Woohoo!


Vendor Credits

Party Styling: Kara of Kara’s Domestic Life

Photography: Faith Scheuerman

Cheesecakes: Carol Scheuerman

Linens: vintage

Fonts for invites and signs: Free Fonts for KevinandAmanda.com

Drink dispensers: Target

Stamps: Hero Arts from A.C. Moore

Candy melts and lollipop sticks: A.C. Moore

Kerchiefs, newsboy caps, patterned paper, cellophane bags: Hobby Lobby

Fabric for matryoshka outfit and invites: Joann Fabrics

Mason jars: Walmart

Matryoshka doll pattern: Sew Daily Shop on Interweave Store

Bubbles, plates, napkins: The Dollar Store

 

jaina's matryoshka party!

We did it! It was quite the weekend, but we successfully pulled off our first birthday party. It was a bigger-than-normal deal to me since I'm interested in planning parties for others. You know, for money. I wanted to do a good job and get a lot of killer pictures. Oh, and celebrate the anniversary of my daughter's birthday, of course. ; )

Well, we got LOTS of pictures, and I'm sure I'll be putting a lot of them up here. Enjoy the first round!

Thanks so much to everyone who helped out! We couldn't have done it without you.

I plan to do a breakdown of the decorations, treats, and activities. Stay tuned!


Vendor Credits

Party Styling: Kara of Kara’s Domestic Life

Photography: Faith Scheuerman

Cheesecakes: Carol Scheuerman

Linens: vintage

Fonts for invites and signs: Free Fonts for KevinandAmanda.com

Drink dispensers: Target

Stamps: Hero Arts from A.C. Moore

Candy melts and lollipop sticks: A.C. Moore

Kerchiefs, newsboy caps, patterned paper, cellophane bags: Hobby Lobby

Fabric for matryoshka outfit and invites: Joann Fabrics

Mason jars: Walmart

Matryoshka doll pattern: Sew Daily Shop on Interweave Store

Bubbles, plates, napkins: The Dollar Store

Click here for how I made Jaina's Matryoshka Costume.
And click on over here to read all about the decor.

dream tree #2

~Merry Matryoshkas!~

komarovart via Etsy

I am so loving matryoshka dolls right now. They're just so cute and happy. I found the cutest matryoshka print for my nursing cover, and I get compliments on it all the time.

If I did a matryoshka tree it wouldn't be a Russian themed tree necessarily. It would just have that fun vibe that matryoskas give me with their bright colors and folksiness. I debated between a pink or a white tree on this one. I LOVE pink trees. They can be so happy when done right.

image via Making it Lovely

image via Thompson Family (this girl's house is insane!)

However, I really think a white tree would set off all of the bright colors better.

 So much fun! I would want a fluffier one, though. Image via houzz

Alright, my matryoshka tree would be all about the garland. I'd do a bunch of ribbon in pink, yellow, and green, but also some lace ribbon and some of that Eastern European embroidered ribbon. I'd also use that really fat ric-rac and strings of wooden beads wrapped all over. Ooh, and those pom-pom strings, and maybe even yarn. I mean, let's just take it all the way. I could yarn-bomb the trunk! Ok, this is getting out of hand. (If you don't know what yarn-bombing is, check it out.)

Then, of course some bright wooden matryoshka ornaments and maybe some regular sized dolls just stuck in the tree. Then some of those Russian painted eggs. I'd fill in with a bunch of bright vintage ornaments to get some bling in there.

See, isn't that happy? It would fit so nicely in my girly's room.

Beads from Hemp Beadery via Etsy

Afghan for tree skirt - unless I yarn-bombed the trunk ;) - pattern at Stitch Nation
Vintage ornaments from Cherry Shop and Project Sarafan via Etsy
Pysanka eggs from Ukrainian Easter Eggs via Etsy
Matryoshka ornaments from artmatryoshka and Friends of Socktopus via Etsy