Entertaining Ideas
Wingit
member
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
My Pumpkin's 1st bday
I'm starting to plan her first bday for November. I do not plan on having a big bash because it would just be too much...we have a lot of family and friends in town. Instead, I plan on doing to small celebrations. One on a Sat with our closest friends that have kids in her age range and the second on Sun with just grandparents. Let me start running ideas by you girls. For both, the theme will by "Our Little Pumpkin is turning One"
Sat:
Have an outing at the Zoo, Children's museum or pumpkin patch & pack a picnic for all.
Wraps & sandwiches, fruit, cheese cut in the shape of a "1", crackers & pumpkin decorated cupcakes. I'm sure I can find a cute pumpkin container to use as goody bags for the kiddos.
Sun:
Lunch or early dinner at our house with Grandparents.
Appetizer: baked pumpkin brie w/ crackers and bruschetta
Meal: grilled or roasted porkloin, green salad, pumpkin mac n cheese, roasted eggplant & asparagus (her fav veggies so far)
dessert: pumpkin cupcakes and a smash cake for baby
Decor: Hot pink gerbera daisies, birthday banner on her high chair, mini pumpkin place settings, & a big pumpkin carved with a "1".
How does that sound? I want it to be special but not go overboard. Any other decoration ideas?
Thanks!
Sat:
Have an outing at the Zoo, Children's museum or pumpkin patch & pack a picnic for all.
Wraps & sandwiches, fruit, cheese cut in the shape of a "1", crackers & pumpkin decorated cupcakes. I'm sure I can find a cute pumpkin container to use as goody bags for the kiddos.
Sun:
Lunch or early dinner at our house with Grandparents.
Appetizer: baked pumpkin brie w/ crackers and bruschetta
Meal: grilled or roasted porkloin, green salad, pumpkin mac n cheese, roasted eggplant & asparagus (her fav veggies so far)
dessert: pumpkin cupcakes and a smash cake for baby
Decor: Hot pink gerbera daisies, birthday banner on her high chair, mini pumpkin place settings, & a big pumpkin carved with a "1".
How does that sound? I want it to be special but not go overboard. Any other decoration ideas?
Thanks!
Re: My Pumpkin's 1st bday
I love the idea of having different parties for the different audiences. Everything sounds wonderful. My only thought is that you have 3 pumpkin dishes at the grandparent dinner: pumpkin brie, pumpkin mac & cheese, pumpkin cupcakes. I'd skip the pumpkin in the mac & cheese because that seems like messing with a good thing :P
Hot pink gerberas seem like a strange choice for November, but I figure you have reasons. Be prepared to accept a substitute: depending on where you get your flowers, they may not be available in Nov. There might be some ideas on my Pinterest board for other fall decor.
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Agreed with what Tarheels said. I will add some thoughts on the outing too. Have you done anything like this with friends before? How many people? I've met one friend and 2 kids at the zoo on a weekday and it's gone poorly. The kids spend most of the day in the stroller or running in opposite directions. Saturday could be even more busy. With the zoo and the pumpkin patch you'll have weather to contend with so at least have a back up plan. Our kid's museum isn't really geared for 1 yos, so you'll have to just know what your museum is like.
With each of these places you'll also have to think aboout who will pay for entrance/parking/pumpkins etc.
I'm not trying to be a downer about the outing, I'm just saying they have some logistical implications. You might really think about the location. We have some local places that do parties at their location with age appropriate stuff. You may need to look at that sort of place.
Oh, I don't think I'll do pumpkin flavored cupcakes, just pumpkin decorated cupcakes. I must keep that pumpkin mac n cheese. It's amazing and one of DH's favorite dishes. Think 2 pumpkin flavored things is too much? I could pass on the brie.
I just love hot pink w/ orange so I'm just hoping I find them. If not, i sometimes find my grocery store dyes mums hot pink even in November. I just think that hot pink would be a fun girly twist to an otherwise very Fall looking decor.
Good point. I'll definitely need to consider the logistics. I planned on paying for their entrance but hadn't thought of how much that adds up to. I'll look into the Children's Museum prices but I think they do a have enough for a 1 year old. The other kiddos are a good 6 months to 2 years older than her but still all Toddlers. I'll ask my group of moms of other alternatives for an outing. I think I'll nix the zoo & pumpkin patch due to unpredictable weather.
Oh yeah, then, 2 pumpkin things is fine. And if the pumpkin mac & cheese is a tried and true recipe, run with it.
I was going to suggest hot pink food color in the water of white flowers, but I didn't want to be responsible for the failure of your daughter's bday decor :P
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Hi! I think your menus look beautiful.
Re: I must keep that pumpkin mac n cheese. It's amazing and one of DH's favorite dishes.
Can you please post the recipe for this? It sounds awesome.
Thank you~
"W".
PS. I still think a zoo/pumpkin patch thing could work with your friends - but I agree with 6 that you have to think it out and communicate it well. Good Luck!
Because you asked so nicely I will type it up for ya
Pumpkin Mac & cheese taken from a BHG magazine clipping who knows how long ago:
2 c macaroni
2Tbsp butter
2Tbsp flour
1c whipping cream
1c whole milk
4 oz fontina cheese shredded
15oz can pumpkin puree
1Tbsp fresh sage or 1/2 tsp dried sage
1/2 soft bread crumbs
1/2c grated parm
1/3 cup chopped walnuts (i've always omitted this)
1 Tsp olive oil
preheat oven to 350. Cook pasta, drain. in a medium saucepan melt butter stir in flower, 1/2 tsp salt & 1/2 tsp pepper. Add cream & milk at once. C ooker until thickened & bubbly. Stir in fontina, pumpkin & sage until cheese is melted. stir sauce into pasta. trnsfer to ungreased baking dish. In abowl, combine breadcrumbs, parm, nuts & oil; sprinkle over pasta. bake, uncovered 30 min or until bubbly and top is golden. let stand 10 min before serving and garnish with extra sage (optional).
Something about the fontina & pumpkin that makes it very creamy, not curdly and not too pumpkiny. Hope you love it!
Thank you very much! It looks awesome.