Pirate and Princess Party

I admit it. I have a problem.  I say after each party..."next year something nice and small"...and then I get excited about party planning and that theory goes out the window.  Maybe next year.  I think maybe it's the fact that I know in the near future I won't get to dictate the party theme...so I am having my fun while it lasts.

Pinterest also fuels the fire.  We have such a love hate relationship...me and Pinterest.  Inevitably I never have enough time, money, or talent to pull off a true Pinterest accomplishment...but we have fun trying and sometimes I surprise myself at how cute some of the things turn out.

I started with selecting these cute Pirate and Princess shirts from Polka Dots and Stripes.  You can find her on FB.  I came across her site on accident and think she has the cutest applique designs and fonts out there.  I have used Polka Dots and Stripes for a few different occasions and I have never been disappointed.

Playing the parts well.

I had the best of intentions of just having the kids play outside in my parents fantastic backyard, but Mother Nature decided on rain.  Bummer.  So we crammed it all inside.

See that "treasure chest" styrofoam cooler?  It totally could have been one of those epic Pinterest fails.  Apparently spray paint and styrofoam don't really like each other too much...as in the spray paint ate away at the poor cooler and put holes all in that sucker.  So...it became decor instead of holding our drinks. I really wish I had an up close picture for laughs.

I really didn't intend on having "themed" food...but again...I just get carried away.  So here is what we came up with:

Pirate Fare:
Seaweed Stew (Spinach Dip)
Fish n Chips n Dip (Chips with Goldfish crackers mixed in)
Cannon Balls (chocolate donut holes)
Polly's Cheese and Crackers
Treasure Taco Dip (the toppings looked like jewels...right? Right.)

Pirate Side

Princess Fare:
Princess Popcorn (Popcorn drizzled with pink candy melts...delicious.)
Glittered Grapes (grapes rolled in jello powder) and Strawberries
Purple Princess Fruit Dip
Princess Pizza Dip (should have made double)
Pink Sugar Wafers

Princess Side

Cupcakes were again a team effort...Gigi makes the best chocolate icing and I must say my icing can hold its own!

Pirate Ships on the Open Sea

Princess Poufs?

So many of my supplies came from Hobby Lobby (love that place)...like pirate and pouf cupcake toppers.  The ocean wave cupcake wrappers I found here.

Every guest received either a pirate and sword or a princess hat and wand.  I'm not sure why princesses have wands...but they do.  Pirate hats and swords were ordered from Amazon...and will be reused again at Halloween (I scored $4 Halloween costumes at Gymboree during Christmas).  Princess hats were made of simple pink party hats with tulle threaded through the top.  Simple and cute.  For the wands I used this tutorial...and I must say turned out super cute!

Pirate Andy with his Paci

 We sang Happy Birthday...twice.

And blew out candles...

twice.

We opened gifts and passed out loot bags.  I found some burlap ribbon at Hobby Lobby and hot glued them into sacks.  I used red craft paint and a sponge brush to paint on the "Xs". It was much easier than expected. {I love it when ideas in my head actually come to fruition!}

They were stuffed with pirate tattoos (on 75% clearance at Target after Valentine's Day), "silver" Hershey's nuggets, and "gold" Rolos.  And yes...I was crazy enough to tie twine around the bottle water...why I don't know...but I think it turned out cute and kind of fit the pirate theme.

Despite the rain, we had an enjoyable Pirate and Princess Party...how is it these {mostly} sweet little babies are now three?!?

Birthday Banner graciously made by Aunt Katie

{This post has been a work in progress since April...how sad is that?}