Spring… the season symbolic of growth and youth and a time for all things FRESH and NEW! Why not host a party based on a combination of all of those things!? This “Celebrate Me. Spring Party” hosted by Theresa of Lauren McKinsey manages to to do just that…

Theresa’s FRESH inspiration came from wanting to host a party for children to celebrate their individuality, creativity, and inquisitiveness. This NEW party theme was designed to provide children with an afternoon of creative fun and laughter, while also reinforcing self-confidence and self-worth. I really love the strategic use of positive affirmations found on the custom party accessories that Theresa designed. My favorite party element was the clever “Creative Me Station” designed to inspire the imagination!

Read on for the rest of the adorable party details, all dedicated to celebrating the unique qualities and creative talents of children. {I wish every child could enjoy a magical afternoon like this!}

PARTY DETAILS as told by Theresa…

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Inspiration

Each year my best friend and I celebrate our birthdays with an annual girl’s weekend away.  No husbands. No kids.  Just us.  This year we made Savannah, Georgia our destination. I was excited as our trip approached, and I knew that I wanted to return not only refreshed, but also filled with inspiration. From the second you arrive in the city you are surrounded by beauty.  Each block is more breath taking than the one before.

As the days went by I found my self more and more inspired with one word continually running through my head: CELEBRATE! It wasn’t long before we discovered the most amazing little boutique.  It was in The Paris Market that the true inspiration for my Celebrate Me party was born.  In the corner of the store something caught my eye.  Amongst the other sheets of gorgeous papers was the inspiration I was looking for.   The colors were perfect.  The pattern spoke volumes to me, and right there I began to plan my very first Lauren McKinsey party.  I knew that I wanted the party to celebrate children. To honor those little ones full of excitement, wonder and creativity!

Invitation

Celebrate You and Celebrate Me! In keeping with the theme of celebrating children I designed a tree to symbolize growth and then continued this theme throughout the entire party. Also, loving inspirational sayings, I incorporated the words “I am special. Unique. One of a kind.” into the invitation.

Venue

Weeks prior to the party I attended an event held at a historic renovated home in the downtown area of the city I live.  I knew instantly that it was the perfect location for my party.  I could not have been more delighted when the owner agreed to let me use the house for the day.  I loved the big windows, the natural lighting, the gorgeous wood floors, the antique buffet tables and the enormous wooden table in the dining room.  I could just imagine all my little guests sitting in those oversized chairs!

Dessert Table

Without hesitation I called Dream Day Cakes to work with me in creating the perfect cakes for this celebration.  I had envisioned miniature cakes just perfect in size and using the invitation for the party we began to sketch what the cakes would look like. My dream was quickly becoming a reality on paper, and I could hardly wait to see the final results.  The cakes were perfect.  So much more than I could have ever imagined.  Homemade chocolate chip cookies became delicious sandwiches filled with cream cheese frosting and rolled in silver sprinkles giving them a hint of shimmer.  Oversized marshmallows on popsicle sticks were dipped in pink chocolate and sprinkled in white.  Mini white donuts and fluffy pink marshmallows completed the dessert table.

” Creative Me” Station

I fell in love with the idea of a “Creative Me” station. The table, filled with homemade play dough, crayons, chalk and coloring sheets welcomed the children as they walked through the door.  They could hardly wait to begin exploring their creative side.  I couldn’t resist using my metal sign reading IMAGINE as a focal point on the table since creativity and imagination go hand in hand.

THE LAUREN MCKINSEY DETAILS
I love creating the little details that turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.  It is truly one of my greatest passions and what I love doing the most.   The little details included the following:

• Sidewalk chalks tied in sets of three using polka dot ribbon.
• Custom ¾ inch confetti sprinkled on the table, using the design elements of the invitation.
• Nametags creatively displayed on milk glasses filled with delicious strawberry milk, holding pink and blue polka dot straws.
• 3 x 3 inch keepsake Celebrate Me Fractures for each child to take home and display in their room.

I burst into joyous tears when as I looked back through the photos of this special day. Happy faces filled with wonder and excitement made this day exactly what I had dreamed of!