Delicious' First Birthday Party: Hand-made, Not-too-kiddy for about $100

For Delicious' first birthday, we wanted to do something low-key and easy, but somewhat elegant, relatively speaking. Something not-too-kiddy  and mainly for adults. Because babies and toddlers don't really remember these parties, right? Plus, it was also kind of a housewarming, as so few people have seen the house since it was completed back in August.



I tried to use things I already had on hand, as well as things that weren't too elaborate or fussy to execute-- but still elegant (i.e. frittata, smoked wild sockeye, etc.). I even simplified Martha's fantastic ham and leek frittata recipe by removing the potatoes (I also made a vegetarian version sans ham--but that was the most I went out of my way). My mother brought home fries and my MIL made a fruit salad.

We opted for cupcakes rather than a big, elaborate cake, because a) they're cheaper and b) we didn't want the cake to go to waste since Delicious would probably eat very little of it. And in fact, he preferred squishing it through his fingers.

Easy hypo-allergenic hippie cupcakes

Anyhoo, the cupcakes I made the night before from a mix. With all the allergies kids have, I was sure to use a hypo-allergenic peanut and egg-free brand: Cherrybrook Kitchen, which turned out amazingly moist. I was afraid these hippie cupcakes would come out dry and bland, but people loved them.

The one single candle identified Delicious' cupcake; bonus that there was no blowing all over everyone's cake

I also made it easy on myself and used frosting from a can (i.e. Pillsbury Easy Frost)! Quick, no mess, and actually tastes terrific (it's kind of along the same lines as glazing your holiday ham with Dr. Pepper: trashy, but good). I used the chocolate and cream cheese flavors.

We had Champagne, water, and juice available for everyone. I tried to limit the variety of things to keep it... simple.

A combination baby birthday and adult Champagne brunch

Juice for the kids (and whomever); beautiful pitchers we got from the estate sale for almost nothing.

Speaking of simple, for the decorations, I used scraps of fabric (that I had cut into triangles for another use last year) for the bunting. I just hot glued them to some twine. I like that I'll be able to use the bunting again for other birthdays and occasions.

Bunting of salvaged fabric scraps and rope twine

Simple party decor and stuff we got at the estate sale (the utensil basket, apothecary jars, and party trays=$20)

I also made a happy birthday banner that I just printed on some stationery ,through which I laced some rope twine for hanging.

A "happy birthday" banner I printed using a variety of colorful fonts and through which I looped rope twine

And, of course, I had to make hats and favor packs out of things I had laying around the house. I printed the party hat  from OhHappyDay blog.  For the party favors, I cut up brown paper grocery sacs with pinking sheers and sewed them closed. I wrapped them with twine and made a little sticky label with birthday boy's thank you message.

Homemade party hats

Homemade/upcycled party favors

I made little signs for the food out of cheap school chalkboards that I leaned up against some large apothecary jars that I got at the estate sale I mentioned a couple weeks ago. Filled them (and the favor packs) with Halloween candy (the leftovers that we purchased, that is).  AND last minute, I added a photo of Delicious as a newborn and a print out of the invite (which I had created in Picnik and emailed) inside each jar.

Birthday set up

Food label signs; the grandmothers' contribution made it all the easier 

Last minute additions of candy and photos to the jars

We purchased simple flowers and balloons and we were set. All told, it was about $100 for a party of 20 people. (That's not counting Delicious' birthday gift, the awesome wooden rocking horse Vespa, which was about $60 on Amazon.)

The birthday throne

We really enjoyed ourselves, and we think the birthday boy had a great time. Hopefully we can continue the non-fussy-not-too-kiddy-upcycled theme for as many birthdays as we can!

Vroom, vroom!!! A wooden rocking toy (scooter) we'll keep forever...

♥♥♥♥More scenes from the party below♥♥♥♥

Birthday boy didn't nap at all that day, but was in a good mood almost the whole time

Pre-party

Ham and leek frittatas

Wild sockeye and dill goat cheese

Groovy suit from Eileen

What's everyone looking at?

Cake is better for squishing...

Fastidious dad and uncle clean up sticky fingers. Three handsome men!

Surrounded by pretty ladies!

Adoring cousin M

With Baby M, just one month apart!

Baby E and dad, our awesome new neighbors!

Baby G, another awesome neighbor and first buddy to Delicious

Showing off his skillzzz

Checking out the details/refrigerator

Loves balloons and grandma

G playing bartender

Birthday boys; cousin M's birthay is one day and ten years earlier

Grandparents

Adult brunch/baby birthday underscored.

Friends

Grandmas

Buh bye (he kind of knows how to say it)

We bumped our head before this photo

It was quickly forgotten with paper to tear

G and his dad clean up after the party (as is tradition in his family...and now ours)