Earlier this month, I realized that the beach trip we were
hoping to do wasn’t going to be able to happen.
We hadn’t gone to the pool as much as I had planned…
and summer was coming to an end!!
So, I decided to make a play date extra
special and do a Backyard Beach Bash!
So, I decided to make a play date extra
special and do a Backyard Beach Bash!
I decided to do it the next day…
texted some girlfriends who were up for a last minute get together to
let our kids run wild in the backyard…
and I was off to do a quick trip to Walmart.
I had an hour. At this point we only had one car…
so I had to make my trip out count before I was carless! ;)
EVERYTHING I needed…I found at Walmart. (it’s a grocery and store combo.)
Which was perfect because I was busy and on a budget!
EVERYTHING I needed…I found at Walmart. (it’s a grocery and store combo.)
Which was perfect because I was busy and on a budget!
The girls were so excited to have their friends over…
and show them the fun treats they helped me make!
They were REALLY excited to get wet(on their own terms)…
and show off their tutu bathing suits. ;)
I drew up a sign to stick on our front porch to
let our friends know to come on back!
I drew up a sign to stick on our front porch to
let our friends know to come on back!
Really easy DIY details can make an ordinary day extra special!
My girls were good helpers and snack testers…
the cheetos were very well taste tested before friends arrived. ;)
To easily make a Play Date “Themed”…
you can have a fun display for the food & treats!
you can have a fun display for the food & treats!
I grabbed up a couple things at walmart to help me in my beach party table!
A yellow and white beach towel($3.97 walmart) became my table runner.
Balloons I already had from my IKEA Ohio Valley Blogger Event
I hosted were still blown up and we put them to use!
I bought 3 buckets($1 walmart) to hold cheetos and goldfish.
A pineapple was a fun centerpiece on my cake stand!
then put some store bought cookies around it. the blue frosting was perfect!
I filled some glass dishes I already had(marshalls)
with swedish fish and gummy rings(swim floatties;)
And then I put some canned pineapple and mandarin
oranges together for a fruit salad! my girls LOVE fruit salad.
I plated bread already cut into triangles andcrescents..to have with either chicken salad or ham/cheese.
The girls were ALL excited about the cupcakes! I grabbed up 2 dozen from walmart.
(I couldn’t pass up on the blue frosting already done for me!)
I topped them with gummy rings(inner tubes!) and teddy grahams…
and then some with a “beach towel” made from fruit by the foot, with
a sunbathing teddy graham. If I have to do it again…
I would ONLY do the teddy grahams floating in the inner tubes….
because the fruit by the foot was a sticky pain to cut into beach towels…..
I mean c’mon. lol.
BUT… they LOVED them. all worth it. ;)
Sneaky cupcake eater.
that’s why I got the mini ones…… ;)
Can’t have a beach party without some water games!
I had seen a REALLY FUN Bubble idea on Pinterest… and thought I would give it a try.
Totally was thinking it wouldn’t work…but wanted to try anyways!
Our friends brought over their bigger pool…
so we had that, the bubble pool and the sprinkler going!
lots of happy wet kids.
The Bubble pool turned out great!
I found the recipe on Pinterest HERE.
It’s just a cup of dish soap(not the antibacterial kind) +
10 gallons of distilled water. super cheap.($0.97 walmart)
You’ll feel a little silly buying that much…
and having your husband help carry it in the house…
Saying “I saw this idea on
pinterest..” will not help your case. lol.
but it’s worth it!! ;)
Put it in a baby pool with a hula hoop..and you’ll have tons of bubble fun!
I had a bunch of buckets from the girls’ circus birthday party,
So I made up some sponge balls for the kids to use with them!
Here’s a tutorial I found on Pinterest. super easy.
All you need are Sponges($3.47 walmart) and Pipe Cleaners($0.88 walmart)
The little ones loved them as they eased into the whole getting wet thing…
and then the bigger kids used them to wash the girls’ car. ;)
If you are wanting to have mom friends over and host a play date…go for it!
Sometimes it’s fun to make them extra special and do a theme..
You don’t always have too, but it can be a great creative outlet for you,
and your kids will love these memories you make with them!
Today my girls were playing “beach party” together for a good 15 minutes..(victory!)..
they had toilet paper “Sea shells” all over the rug (not a victory! lol)
But it just made my heart so happy seeing them play together quietly by themselves pretending like they were cooking yummy food for their friends..and setting up decorations and games..Obviously, they loved their beach party ;)
My creative fun of planning little details for the play date helped them
to be creative on their own days after!
Kids soak up everything… why not impact them in way that help
them to be creative and use their imagination!
But also….planning a get together with other mamas is good for your soul!
We need to sometimes have conversations during the day
with people above the age of 5. ;)
My sophia starts Kindergarten MONDAY! ahhh!!
::sobbing on the inside:: lol.
I hope that my excitement seeing her excited
overweighs my heart gut wrenching emotional roller
coaster of emotions I’ll be feeling the morning I drop her off. ;)
I can’t believe we are already, hereee.
But I know that it’s going to be so fun seeing her learn and grow!
Goodbye summer!
Want to plan a themed play date? it doesn’t have to cost a lot…
or take up a lot of time to throw together!
You can be as creative or simple as you want..
The idea is to set aside a time to do something extra
special and fun and enjoy the people you love!
I could have put gold fish out and the girls would have been like woohoo beach party!
But It was fun for me to get creative and add some fun details.
I want my girls to remember there mama as full of joy, creative
and always wanting to celebrate them + celebrate life!
Sometimes it’s fun to get out of the norm of our busy routine.
Join me in celebrating motherhood mamas!
In the moment update: Right now we are making “cookies”….
they have puffs(stolen from micah)..a cookie sheet..and my cookie scooper.
I wanted to be like ahh noo mess..but then decided to just go with it.
I can always vacuum……. right? ;)
Mama Tully
August 21, 2013 at 2:09 pmHa! Love your “In the moment update”…..I often have to remind myself to hold my tongue and just let the kids be KIDS. You are right…we can always vacuum :)
I always go a little “above and beyond” for playdates and simple holidays to, but it’s fun, right?! For the kids AND grownups! And I even though my kids don’t need much to have fun, I think they appreciate all the extra special things we do for them :) We never need much of an excuse to have a party around here!
Megan C
August 21, 2013 at 4:34 pmLooks like so much fun! You have the best party ideas!
Blue-Eyed Bride
August 21, 2013 at 6:06 pmTotally agree that it’s just more fun to celebrate motherhood and life in a fun way! It doesn’t always have to be big, but if exercising our creativity keeps us happy, then it’s a win/win for everyone! :) Love this. Can’t wait to try the bubble idea.
CG
August 21, 2013 at 7:08 pmHow fun! I just came across your blog and love it! Love that you share so many ideas and help future bloggers. I just started mine and it’s a bit time consuming, especially with my little one, but it’s so much fun putting stuff together. My LO doesn’t have as much friends in the area, since we just moved, so hopefully we get to have fun parties like yours!!
http://www.mitchelladventures.wordpress.com
Tonya @ Love of Family And Home
August 21, 2013 at 10:08 pmThis turned out so cute! I love the beach towel table runner & the teddy grahams inside of the gummy ring inner tubes is pure genius!! So creative my friend! Looks like y’all had a wonderful day!
Abby Lawson
August 21, 2013 at 10:58 pmWhat a fun day that was! I can’t believe you threw that all together the day before! I now officially dub you the creative playdate genius! ;) Hope you are doing well, friend! Have a great week!
~Abby =)
Jenny
August 22, 2013 at 1:33 pmThis is such a cute cute party! I cannot wait to “borrow” some of your ideas for our next play date!
Chloe Dunkley
August 22, 2013 at 3:56 pmThis was such a good idea – the photos you take are so beautiful!x
chloedunkley.blogspot.co.uk
Ima
September 25, 2013 at 12:36 amThis is awesome!
Jelli
May 28, 2014 at 10:42 pmLove this idea! I’m planning a bubble birthday party for my little girl in a few months. The hula hoop pool idea is great. Thanks so much. It looks like you all had a fabulous time!