It was my twins’ first birthday that inspired me to start this blog and open my shop. The girls are about to turn three, so I’m feeling a bit nostalgic and wanted to share a look into the “little birdies” party that ultimately launched Sprinkles Studio.For my husband and me, the twins’ first birthday was a celebration of survival. First-time parenthood is hard enough as it is, but we had the added challenge of a high-risk pregnancy that landed me in the hospital for two months of monitoring. The girls were delivered at 34 weeks and spent the next two months in the NICU. When we finally came home, we had two babies who were generally healthy, but extremely fussy. They refused to nap longer than 20 minutes, and they didn’t sleep through the night until they were about 11 months old.
Through all of this, we were blessed by the overwhelming support of family and friends. They said lots of prayers, made lots of meals, and welcomed our crying babies with open arms whenever we needed a break. So, with the first birthday came a sense of accomplishment for us as parents, but we owed so very much to the “village” that came alongside us. That’s why I wanted to host a big birthday bash and invite everyone who touched our lives during those first 12 months. We weren’t just celebrating our miracle babies — we were honoring the people who had seen us through our most challenging year ever.
The twins were born in early March, so the “little birdies” theme was a fun way to usher in spring. Like every party I’ve hosted since, the planning process started with the invitation design (find it here, in my shop). By pure luck, I stumbled upon a value-priced scrapbook stack with birds and birdcages in the pink and aqua colors I chose for the invite. I used these papers to create a banner, buffet cards and other embellishments.
Spring decor is readily available (and on sale!) this time of year, so it’s easy to find cute, inexpensive items that enhance the little birdies theme. I picked up a ceramic egg crate from TJ Maxx, a set of ceramic birds from Hobby Lobby and a white birdcage from Michael’s, which served as a card holder. With a quick coat of paint, cheap wood birdhouses turn into adorable centerpieces. The best part is, you can repurpose all of these items to decorate your home for Easter.
Speaking of Easter, you’ll find plenty of seasonal candy to adorn your dessert table in precious pinks and blues. From Marshmallow Peeps to chocolate eggs, there are lots of options that work well with this theme. These charming no-bake birds nests are sure to catch the attention of your guests, and they’re easy to make, too. Plastic eggs can be filled with sweets for guests to take home.
As a thank-you to everyone who attended, I made birdseed ornaments, which were displayed on tree branches in a vase. A framed poem accompanied the favors, encouraging guests to take one for the little birdies in their own backyard. On the same table, I provided note cards with instructions to leave a “tweet” message for the girls, which would be placed in a time capsule to be read on their 18th birthday.
We ended up with a full house — to the point that people had to sit on the floor to eat because we ran out of tables, chairs and couches. To be honest, it was a bit chaotic. Kids were running around like crazy, and I was too, in my attempt to keep the party flowing smoothly.
It was exhilarating.
The atmosphere was one of joy and laughter, and as I looked around the overcrowded room, I was reminded just how much our little family of four was loved. My heart was full.