…in brilliant birthday parties that you wish you had had….

This absolutely perfect party (that I plan to shamelessly copy for my own wee son one day), was featured over at Black Eiffel.

Look how simple, and yet utterly magical.

I do believe, I do believe….

I’ll return on Sunday, after Lila’s Birthday festivities! xoxo

My niece is celebrating her 2nd birthday this weekend – though she’s two going on seven….

When Lila wakes up on her birthday, a handmade “Happy Birthday”, banner that I bought from Etsy will greet her.  But I think that some children may want everyday to be a banner day – which is why these festive flags from The Baby Gardener, are such delights.

The Baby Gardner  also has these perfectly perky party hats that look like something your parents (if you are my age), may have worn back when smoking didn’t kill you and pregnant women were told to cut back to two martinis a night…

and…

And though not organic, The Baby Gardner also makes gorgeous handmade mobiles, that are not likely to end up in Baby’s mouth -

“When Pigs Fly” is perfect for your glamourpuss friend who swore NEVER to have children – and is now preggos with twins.  Poor dear.

Don’t buy her the hats though.  That may be a bit much.

Happy Birthday Lila!

Soon my niece is having a very “green” very pink, ballet birthday party, complete with a real, live ballerina to give the girls lessons, eco corn made plates, cups and utensils, a vegan cake and an all organic menu. It’s a new day….

If you cringe as silly Made in China cartoon paper plates are dumped into the rubbish bin one, by wasteful one, as sugar filled children show you exactly how quickly a small persons  glycemic index can spike before the cranky crash as the whining hits a feverish crescendo worthy of Callas -

this is for you -

I must give credit where it is due: my sister actually found this green party supply store called, enigmatically, Green Party Supplies. It honestly has all the basics and extras that you will need for a child or adult fete.

Another great party supply place is Paper Mart.  I have been going to them for favour bags for at least a decade.  For my wedding I used their burlap bags for coffee beans (Cuban and Panamanian coffee, with a small bottle of Irish whiskey, was our favour). And just this past weekend, I used their velvet bags for another favour.  Though the velvet bags aren’t technically “green” – they are something that any girl would keep forever for jewelry. 

Lucky Crow also makes lovely, organic (more for girl’s, methinks), favor bags:

Though I don’t like to see children drink from straws – I know that there are few birthday parties that don’t have those toxic plastic garbage dump fillers by the hand full -

These straws, available from Plum Party, are 100% biodegradable and non-toxic, as they are made of corn. Yup. Corn.

And for my two British readers – how lucky are you to be able to order pre-filled eco-favour bags from Little Cherry?

Not a party without balloons? Get Jr. biodegradable ones, and explain how the other kinds can hurt wildlife.  (Seriously, I lived in Florida, and saw first hand how insidious a seemingly benign birthday balloon can be. Poor birds and turtles.)

And what sort of gifts to place in the “green” favor bags? I’m a massive fan of art supplies.  They are perfect for boy’s and girl’s, and they aren’t tossed aside, usually in pieces, like cheap, plastic Made in China things.  A great source for green art supplies is Stubby Pencil Studio.  I LOVE their soy crayon rocks, and can’t think of a theme they couldn’t be worked into.

Green birthday parties are the perfect opportunity to teach your child about the less toxic and more responsible life you have chosen to live as a family.  And honestly, aren’t you making all these changes so that his every birthday is in a world that is better for him, not worse? 

I almost forgot the most important thing! Candles!  Soy birthday candles can be had for a mere $2.95.

Make a wish!

My beautiful nieces birthday is in a few weeks, and I am in charge of the birthday cake. What sort of cake does a gluten, corn syrup, dye, refined sugar free auntie bring to a party for 2 year olds? A surprisingly delicious vegan one from Karyns, here, in Chicago.  (My husband is from Sheboygan, Wisconsin, and even he loves their cake after a life of Betty Crocker smothered in Pillsbury icing.  Don’t knock it….)

But.  As scrumptious as Karyn’s 100% organic and raw cakes are – they do not come covered in ballerina’s and pink icing. 

That’s where www.fancyflours.com comes in.  A bakers dream, fancy flours has all the baubles, toppers, stands, embellishments and magical finishing touches that a child will gasp over.  I won’t tell all, but I will reveal that the above stand will be what my nieces pink, ballerina cake will sit atop.

And what is “green” about all of this? (Aside from the vegan cake?)  Fancy Flours has natural, unbleached cupcake wraps for the most natural of mums. Some children are, in all fairness, terribly allergic to dyes – so these are perfect for them.

But I say sod it.  This company carries cupcake wrappers as beautiful as anything in La Perla – bleached or not.

And if you were 16, would you not just DIE over these won’t but could, edible “jewels”?

My niece is having a healthy birthday cake – but it will rival the most preservative, chemical, dye, refined sugar laden confections you have ever tasted.

It will truly be Pretty in Pink.