The thought of planning your child's birthday party can be quite daunting. Where to have it? When to have it? Who to invite? I remember asking myself all of these questions on repeat when planning Indiana's party last year. And even though your child might not remember every detail (or be too worried about it), that doesn’t mean you want it to be any less special.

The planning and preparing doesn't need to stressful or crazy though. As long as you have your child's best interests at heart, you can plan the perfect party with whatever budget or plans you have! In this post I'm going to be sharing some top tips and ideas on how to plan a child's birthday party - whether they are 5, 10, or 15.

The Entertainment

Hiring an entertainer can often be a worthwhile means of keeping children engaged and active at a birthday party. It can also be quite entertaining for the adults too. We all know that clowns can often create a lifelong fear of said performers, so this could be a risky move. But what about a magician, a children's entertainer, or even character performers that fit your party theme? We had Elsa and a pirate at Indiana's pirate and princess party, and they were fab! You could even hire a photo booth to capture the fun at the party too.

If you're not having a full class party in a hall, then why not think about attending something that is entertainment in itself. For example, if your child’s birthday is there in the lead up to Christmas, bringing them to a pantomime could be a great idea! The cinema, bowling or even soft play are great ideas for a party - especially if you don't want to invite a large number of guests.

A party at your home can often be one of the easiest yet also most freeing parties to plan. It can help you avoid the worries of taking a large group of children out, and make it feel a bit more personal too. Booking a bouncy castle, purchasing a large paddling pool or simply playing some fun party games could be all you need. You needn’t spend over the odds to enjoy a successful birthday party for your child, as long as they are having fun!

Who to Invite

Invite lists for parties change a lot depending on the age of your child. Most reception classes have a whole 'class party', so everyone is invited and able to join in the fun. However, once your child moves up the school and creates close friendships, it's probably easier to get them to pick a smaller number of guests to celebrate with.

If your child hopes to spend their birthday with a particular friend from school, but you have yet to speak to them or their parents, try to befriend them in the playground. This not only helps with future get togethers, but will maybe create a new friendship for you too! And if your child has requested a sleepover party, it would be a good idea to invite the chosen friends over for a play date first, just to make sure they're all going to get on okay. No one wants an unsuccessful sleepover!

The Small Details

If you invite more than three children to the birthday party, it is a fantastic idea to enlist the help of other parents or friends. Most parents will want to attend a birthday party with their child, but some may not. It can be handy to have an extra hand to keep an eye on everyone, and can also help you offload some of the stress too. It can of course be nice to invite family and friends along if your party venue is big enough, so everyone can celebrate with your child together!

If the parents decide not to stay with their child it's a great idea to keep them in the loop anyway. Give them the address and contact numbers of at least two adults at the party, and contact details for the venue if it's not at your home. Ask for the child’s dietary requirements or medical needs and any emergency numbers you can ring too - it's always better to be safe than sorry.

And finally, make sure you consider the time and length of the party. A short but sweet birthday party can sometimes be better (especially for younger children), then an all day event. Then once you know the venue, guest list and times you can plan the final details such as food, drink and the party decorations!

This is a collaborative post.

Indiana's Unicorn Themed Fourth Birthday

With soo much going on with Christmas, preparing for baby and two little ones to look after, I'm so late sharing this post. But as this blog all started because of Indiana, I thought it was better late than never!

Our biggest girl celebrated her fourth birthday on the 26th November, in a full on pink and girly celebration. She was absolutely adamant she wanted a unicorn birthday this year, so that's exactly what we gave her! Her birthday tee this year was from Rocket and Rose, and I found her adorable unicorn horn on Etsy, from a seller called Little Lapins. Complete with her pink sparkly tutu, she made the perfect unicorn princess.

We started the day with snuggles in bed, and then it was downstairs for presents and balloons. After searching far and wide, Indie got her wish of a Fingerling (you can see her other gifts here), and I think she was over the moon. We headed to Frankie and Bennys for birthday pancakes, and then to Scotney Castle to search for princesses.

The rest of the day was lovely and relaxed, as we spent time at home so she could play with all of her gifts. Family then joined us in the afternoon for birthday cake (unicorn shaped of course), and more gifts. Her absolute favourite one by far being her unicorn pillow pet - she's carried it around with her every day ever since!

At the end of the day, it was so lovely to hear Indie tell us how much she loved her birthday. Birthdays have always been special, but this one just seemed even more so as she was so excited by the whole thing. She was even kind enough to let Parker help her with her presents, which was an unexpected surprise!

I am so excited to enjoy this next year with Indie, and to experience the wonders that a four year old brings. I just cannot believe my biggest baby if four... where have those years gone?!

Third Birthday Gift Ideas for Girls

I still cannot believe that I'm almost a mama to a three year old. When did that happen?! The jump between 2 and 3 has seen a huge shift in the types of toys Indiana plays with. She's not as interested in the 'baby' toys, and now prefers to prefer with more grown up things - small figures, role playing, actual games, etc.

I've put together a list of things we've bought for her this year. You may notice a lot of pink girly things, but that's not because I'm stereotyping. Indiana has just been very vocal in demanding a pink scooter - and I wasn't going to say no!

I first came across Orchard Toys games through my sister, as she bought them for my nephews. Every product is the perfect balance between education and fun, and I know that Jack and I are going to enjoy playing them just as much as Indie.

Like I mentioned above, Indiana was very clear when it came to what present she wanted this year. "A pink scooter with a helmet and a bell" - so we've got her just that! We opted for the Deluxe Mini Micro Scooter as I preferred that the handle was height adjustable, and it is designed to last longer.

We've asked aunties and uncles to provide the accessories, as she can't scoot safely without them. Helmet, tassels and a bell. She's going to be sooo happy when she wakes up!

Indiana's current favourite TV show is Paw Patrol, so we have got her some smaller bits from the toy range. These action pups feature their special backpacks which I think she's going to love. Her favourite is Marshall so of course we've got him - she's going to be so excited!

Despite loving Paw Patrol, Indie still has a huge soft spot for princesses. She already has the Rapunzel toddler princess doll, so we've got her the Elsa as well. She loves role playing with dolls - brushing their hair and singing and dancing with them - so I think this is going to be another hit!

We haven't gone overboard this year, and where her birthday falls at the end of November we've managed to get most presents in the toy sales! I think she's going to be over the moon with her gifts though.

What does your three year old love to play with?

Parker, You are One...

To my beautiful baby boy, 

Happy Birthday!

Today you turn one. A whole year since you came into our lives, after the most perfect labour (I'll let you off the horrendous pain and second degree tear, you were worth it). You didn't sleep for 8 months, you cried a lot and you went through milk like it was going out of fashion. But those moments were nothing compared to all the wonderful days we've had with you. 

You love snuggles, and whether you are upset / poorly / just fancy a cuddle, you're happiest in my arms. Just like your big sister, you LOVE food. You're still on 3 bottles a day as well as meals and snacks, and even if you've just been fed you'll want whatever food daddy or I have.

You're dark mop of hair has turned to the most gorgeous golden colour, and those huge black eyes are now a beautiful shade of blue. Everyday you look more and more like your daddy, much to my disappointment, but it seems right as you're like him in most other ways too.

You reached your milestones just as quickly as your sister, so you weren't really a little baby for long. We couldn't be prouder though - even when you're climbing and giving me a heart attack! Watching you walk along, giggling with pride and chasing your sister makes me so so happy.

I cannot wait to see what you will achieve this next year, and have the most wonderful birthday (even if your big sister opens all your presents for you).

I love you my little monster, 

Mama xxx 

52 Weeks & 1 Day. The last day as a 0 year old..

Parker's DIY Cake Smash!

With Parker turning ONE on Thursday, I thought it was time to share his cake smash photos with you. We did it at home, just like with Indiana's and it was so much fun! I couldn't pick just a few, so this is going to be a very picture heavy post.

I found his crown and badge on Instagram and instantly knew I needed them. They're from Teddy Bobbins and were so reasonably priced, as well as being fab quality. The cake topper is from another Instagram seller called Confetti Day and completed the cake perfectly. We did cheat this time and bought the cake from Asda, but it did the job and Parker found it pretty tasty. We also used our Messy Me Splashmat to protect the floor - vital for a cake smash!

It was Parker's very first taste of a proper cake, and despite never trying it before he dived straight it. I love the little facial expressions and cheeky looks we captured - I think he thought he was being naughty eating the cake, and kept looking for reassurance that it was okay.

I love so many of these pictures, and I'm so glad we decided to do a cake smash again. I know they're not for everyone, but we think they're so much fun! You don't have to go to a studio, and it doesn't have to be pricey (the cake was £3 and I spent about £10 on the crown and badge). So if you've got a special birthday coming up, give it a go!