October 26, 2012

It's A Dog's Life ....

Hey Everyone,

If you saw my post last week then you know our little girls first birthday party got rained out. Despite my frustration with the inaccurate forecast that called for severe weather (it didn't rain - not even a drop) we couldn't have asked for a better date to re-schedule!! It was seriously the PERFECT fall day! A little windy, but upper 60's and sunny!

Some people probably think I'm crazy for going "all out" for a dog, but the hubs and I aren't sure if we ever want kids, so this may be the only "1st Birthday" we ever throw. Actually I know I'm totally not crazy. For a while now the market for dog anything has been huge!! I mean, my dogs tutu dress she wore in our wedding cost just as much (if not more) than my bridesmaids dresses! We have several places to choose from in town that make doggie baked goods - the one I went to - that is ALL they do! There are thousands of websites, etsy pages and locals that dedicate their designs - totally to dogs!! Our favorite at the time is Baxter Boo! You can find great coupon codes online and if you sign up for emails you get all kinds of deals sent to you! However, I will say her Pawdicures, like the one she got for her party, are cheaper than mine! Only 5 bucks at Petsmart :)


For the party, I knew I wanted to have an overall "Dog" theme going on.  I was torn between pink and red and sassy or sweet. I ended up going with a little splash of both. I used several shades of pink and mixed some animal print in with princess themed items - it was a huge hit! To keep with the dog theme, we had everything from a "hot DOG bar", to snacks labeled "puppy chow - DIG in"  and a spiked human punch named "Toilet Water!! I tried to think about every detail without being too obsessive and overboard (Yes .. I wanted to do even more).
Here are a few more pictures! I hope you enjoy, steal pin some of these ideas and pamper your pooch on his/her big day too!!

FOOD
Using very simple decor (an 8 foot table draped with a simple plastic table cloth and pink zebra print balloons) I pulled off a cute little "dog themed" food set up. A Hot Dog Bar being the main "food" item, followed by Rawhides & Cheese (Mac & Cheese) and  Puppy Chow (Chips and Dip)! Each food item had a dog theme name and was marked with home made signs. The signs were made using really think glitter paper, pink sticky notes and a pink sharpie. I would recommend using tent cards (or folding card stock), pre-cut labels you can print on and your computer. Unless you  have a steady hand, paper cutter great handwriting and lots of time - it would just be "neater". That is what I wanted to do, but we moved into our new house 3 weeks before this party and didn't have our printer hooked up yet. I did the best I could on several lunch breaks at work!

One end was for the humans and the other for the VIP's (Very Important Pups). The VIP end had a bowl of Stella's Favorite Snacks and special dog friendly pupcakes made at the dog bakery mentioned above. There was one for each guest and one big one for the b-day girl!   To put emphasis on the Stella's cupcake - I put it in a cheap silver dog dish! The display was a cake stand I already owned.












DRINKS AND SWEETS
The adults had their own "pupcakes". I ordered them in pink and white from our local Kroger (by the way everyone said they were better than a certain designer cupcake joint in town). To give them a little something, I then added some little princess themed toppers I found at a craft store and put a baby pic of Stella on pre-made card stock that said ""

Erika & Aaron enjoying cupcakes! 


 

My favorite part about this was the cupcake display! Instead of buying one of those cheap looking cupcake towers for 20 bucks or more - I bought some cute wrapping paper and wrapped one medium shoebox and one printer paper box lid and - - voila! You could add as many layers to this as you want to make it even more grand! All for less than 4 bucks!





We decided to give the human punch a kick and a name! To go with the theme, we named the UV Vodka based punch - "Toilet Water"!



We also served Stella's Speciality Puptini Shots!! We found a great recipe using Pinnacle Cake and actual cake mix!! Since I have to be Gluten Free we used Betty Crocker Gluten Free White Cake Mix. We literally couldn't make them fast enough!!





BIRTHDAY CAKE MARTINI RECIPE (Per Shot):
1 oz PInnacle Cake Vodka
1 tsp. dry vanilla cake mix (we used betty crocker gluten free)
1/2 oz. chocolate liqueur
1/2 oz. half & half

Shake with ice and strain into a shot glass. Top with whipped cream and/or sprinkles







DOGGIE BAGS
Each VIP (Very Important Paw) had a "doggie bag" to take home. Inside was a cute little tennis ball, a rawhide, milk bones and another treat! We used a picture frame from our house and put baby pictures of our dog in it, with a sign thanking Stella's guests for coming to her PAWty :)





HUMANE SOCIETY DONATIONS
Instead of bringing Stella gifts, we asked that everyone bring a donation for our local Humane Society. We found out what their urgent needs were and asked people to bring those specific items. People brought everything from dog or cat food and kitty litter, to peanut butter, treats, collars and even cash!! We can't wait to walk in with all this stuff!!





The dogs ran around our yard like crazy, the humans socialized and played corn hole and aside from a few people stepping in hidden poo from one of the dozen guests  - it was an overall good time!!! I'm not sure who had more fun at this DOG Birthday party ... those with two legs or four?! Here are a few more pics of the Birthday Princess for you to enjoy! I also want to give a HUGE shout out to      for her pink birthday tutu. You will see it in several pictures below! Erica normally only makes tutu's for non furry children and this was her FIRST attempt at a doggie tutu! I think everyone should hit her up with requests! She is so good!! Stella's shirt and "necklace" come from the fave store I mentioned above - Baxter Boo!

XoXo
Mrs Green
**None of these pictures on this blog can be taken from this site without linking my blog as the source**

Stella with her mommy, daddy and yummy pupcake! And JUST LOOK at that tiny little custom tutu from our friend at Tiny Diva Tutu's! Order one for your furry or human baby here:   http://www.facebook.com/TinyDivaTutus
Dad & Daughter - hehe

Uncle Sully, Mrs. Green and Stella

She didn't want anything to do with that hat! 

Trying to hide her bone from all the other guests :)

This picture cracks me up! Playtime with a couple VIP's

This picture is extra special. This is Stella with her birth mom and dad and their human parents :) 
Crystal and Mona

Stella's birth mom & dad 

Aunt Shelly, Molly, Mama & Stella 
Last - but not least - Stella's cousin Tuff sent a picture with a sign from him (and her cat cousins) since they were not able to come to town :) 

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