Preppy Turtle {Real Party}

I can’t believe my little baby girl is three, it still seems like yesterday when we came home from the hospital with this tiny, wrinkly, brand new person. As she has grown, we have come to know her as a sweet and loving little girl, with one of her greatest loves being animals. Several months ago at the Miami Zoo, we were able to watch the tortoises being fed and she was enthralled. Immediately the Lilly Pulitzer Tort Partyware line came to mind, and she and I started planning her pool birthday party. Being a graphic designer, not a party planner, I had to look for a lot of inspiration from some unbelievable party planners {and their blogs} to figure it out.  We all ended up having an wonderful time and she had an incredibly amazing day!

I illustrated her “turtle” graphic first, wanting it to coordinate with the Lilly designs, but making sure it was still original and unique. {All Party Designs available in Paper & Pigtails Shop} Second, I had to decide how to display everything at a clubhouse pool party when I couldn’t use anything breakable!!! Yes, the cake stands, apothecary jars, and lovely glass containers I see in beautiful featured parties were forbidden. Instead, I made my own cupcake stands out of plastic trays and upside down cups, and scoured stores for pretty and modern BPA-free plastic serving pieces! How do you think it turned out?

How cute are these pink and green taffy wands from Kate Landers Events?

The donuts were a HUGE hit! The birthday party started at 10am {good toddler time} so having donuts and Cheerios in cupcake liners and snack cups was essential and greatly appreciated by sugar hungry toddlers.

The sweets table was modern, clean, bright and full of snacks for kids of all ages! The donuts and cherrios for earlier, the Taffy Wands {from Kate Landers Events} and Turtle Suckers {from Melville Candies} were take home treats, along with the gumballs that the kids put in little baggies to take home.

We love these old fashioned paper straws and had fun dressing them up with our DIY straw flags!

My daughter and I made these sweet streamers with extra party material and we had so much fun doing them together! I will post how later this week {easiest project ever!}.

Pinwheels set the stage for fun on the kids table! I made arrangements using the big Lilly Pulitzer Tort pinwheels and custom made amazing white pinwheels from Twirlie Whirlies that were set into the most “kid AND eco-friendly” vases – BlumeBoxes!

Each child had a lunch box customized with a sticker and filled with a sandwich, chips, and a green apple.

Of course, the biggest hit of the party was the pool and splash area, which we filled with these sweet turtle rafts! They were loved by not only the kids at the party, but also the kids enjoying the day at the club pool with their families!

As the cake came out, the kids started gathering around….

Could that fondant turtle be ANY CUTER? Custom made by Two Sugar Babies to match the invite. The birthday girl loved every moment.

{Stunning Photography Courtesy of Courtney Vickers Photography}

Seeing her face full of excitement and pride in front of her table, was my favorite moment of the day. Happy Birthday Baby Girl, I hope your party was everything that made you smile!

One of the best highlights of planning this party, was meeting and working with some truly AMAZING vendors who made this entire experience so much more. Huge thanks to the Amazing Help I had with this party!

Kate Landers Events – Taffy Wands {and party inspiration}

Custom White on White Pinwheels – Twirlie Whirlies

Fondant Cake and Cupcake Toppers – Two Sugar Babies

Sweet Turtle Sugar Cookies {even had a glittery flower}  –  Sugar and Flour

Custom Table Runner and Turtle Plushies – Georgia Grace Designs

Turtle Pops – Melville Candy Company

Lilly Pulitzer Plates, Napkins, and Paper Straws – Modern Lola

White Kids Vases – BlumeBox

Lunch Boxes – Bake it Pretty