Birthday Scavenger Hunt/ Surprise Disney Trip 2015!- Part 1

I am so super excited to share what I have been up to these past few months- well really years- while planning our Disney trip. You might remember the huge scrapbook that I had put together to use from this post here, but then I started thinking about all of the research I had been doing. One thing that stuck out to me was that I did not want to be lugging around such a huge autograph book in the Florida heat- no matter how great it turned out. I started looking at smaller ideas and finally after a few drafts, settled on a simpler version using a Frozen theme, binder rings, and 5x7 scrapbook pages. I had the holes punched at my local Fed Ex. The gentleman behind the counter was so nice and didn't even charge me for punching the holes! I had made a travel journal for my little princess (find the link here) and in that post there was also a smaller autograph book too. Here it is to refresh your memory :)



 But the more that I thought about it (and tried to contort it), it still would not fit in the sling style back pack that I planned on taking (less is more, right?) so I came up with this beauty.

All of the pages have a shimmery look to them and I found all of the products (including the shimmery ribbon that I found in the $1 section) at Michael's. Oh Michael's how I love thee! I totally cannot get out of there without buying something. So, after the construction of all of this, I thought, "How can I give all of this to her? Should I surprise her?" And then in talking to hubby, we figured that her birthday weekend would be a great time to tell her. She loves everything Frozen so I purchased a lot of Frozen items as well that she could use on her trip- bathing suits, flip flops, books, a drawstring back pack to carry her autograph book and travel journal (hey one can dream right?) so that I don't have to.....
I also purchased other Disney theme items such as little tsum tsums- they are precious! So cute and little and squishable- I have one (ahem- four) of my own. 

Upon looking at Pinterest and the internet I came across great ideas such as exploding boxes (no not the dangerous ones) and scavenger hunt ideas and decided to combine both into a Birthday Scavenger Hunt/ Disney Surprise! 

Here is the exploding box. Frozen theme of course!

and here are the little hints and birthday gifts along the way!

The hunt begins with clue number 1 and the first present (Frozen books and tsum tsums!)

Hint number 5

Hint number 6!

Autograph and Travel Journal hiding out with the exploding box

We will be staying at Disney's Beach Club and will do a variety of character meals to help with the meet and greets rather than stand in line at the parks. We were able to save 30% off of our room rates and get a 5th day free at the parks! I booked a travel agent from Mouse Hunter Travels named Katie Covington. She rocks!! Be sure to check her out. She is patient and answered all of my questions. Since I am alot like Sheldon Cooper in the organizational department, I had actually made rough drafts of what I wanted to do and when as well as a planner that I will print out and take with me. She even looked over it and made suggestions to help our trip run smoother! These Disney travel agents are awesome- they will even make your dining and FP+ (Fast Pass) reservations for you if you like! We were able to get some difficult reservations that way!

I will be sure to post additional pictures of the actual scavenger hunt and birthday surprise! I am so excited!

A Very Special First Holy Communion- May 2nd, 2015

An Irish Communion Blessing

May you always feel as close to Jesus as you do today,

May you always count on Him to gently guide your way,

May you always trust in God to answer every prayer,

May you always feel Him blessing you with His loving care.

May God grant you always

A sunbeam to warm you

A moonbeam to charm you

A sheltering angel so nothing can harm you

Laughter to cheer you

Faithful friends near you

And whenever you pray

Heaven to hear you.

This year, my little angel made her First Holy Communion! We were so proud, her Daddy and I, and I started planning her party well in advance of course!  This was my Pinspiration board.

We chose or I should say, K chose a gorgeous dress that was a sleeveless, frilly and flowy floor length creation. It was a $200 dress knocked down to $75 that we found on www.prettyflowergirl.com. See the dress here. We got a dusty pink sash but you can customize the sash to compliment your theme. Then we got a cute little fur cape to cover her shoulders because it can get chilly here come May in New England. After the winter we just had I wasn't expecting to thaw out easily! It can be found here. 

My original plan was to create a tiered cake similar to the one I made for her 7th birthday last year using a white cake mix with white butter cream frosting and fondant ruffles. Then I thought of using marshmallow fondant and covering the layers with that, smoothing it over the top layer and adding the ruffles for the bottom layer. I have a white ceramic cake stand I could use too. I also wanted to make a cupcake cake using the rosette swirled piping tip and form a communion dress with the cupcakes in white butter cream.  I had the rectangular cake board all set and the pattern ready to go. 

Then I also wanted to have angel feathers,white tulle and light pink accents with angels. I found really cute angel wings that I used to accent a tulle wreath I made and created a really cute feather wreath to go on the inside of the side door with pink ribbon. 

I found really cute favors on Etsy. You can find the link here:

I chose the white pearl with the rose gold wings. They are gorgeous! I got them from Ava and Co.  I also purchased these for the God Parents from EternityDesignsDria on Etsy. They are perfect:

I made a tulle table skirt from 10 yards of tulle and elastic. It was very quick to put together and came out great. I glued a 4-5 inch wide ribbon that was a shimmery white all the way around and it all came out beautiful. It will be used on the dessert table for both parties. I can reuse it for K's 8th birthday this year. It will be a Frozen theme but with more of the snow, shimmery white/silver and ice princess accents with some other accents to the Disney movie. Stay tuned for that post!!!

Little angel wings like these:

(but not those- they were on Pinterest), I used to accent the gorgeous wintery branches that I placed in styrofoam and flower pots sprayed with white paint that I put on either side of the dessert table as well as the tulle wreath that I hung on the front door. It went well with the tulle table skirt and both will be reused for K's birthday party. 

I used alot of pink and shimmery white tableware with white platters. I made cross cookies decorated with royal icing and they came out so sweet. The favors I placed in little white organza bags for guests to take home and I found a really pretty white wire birdcage that I used for cards. 

Here are some tablescape photos...

We had little mason jars filled with white and pink tulips that I decorated with lace ribbon and cross stickers for centerpieces. 

It all came together so nicely! Her invitations were color photos of her in her communion wear that we used as a backdrop for the invite information. 

Here are some more photos.....

Bless you my little Angel in all that you do.

Love Mumma
xoxo