I've been itching to entertain. Since Josh and I had yet to throw a party at our place, when conversations about Alyssa's birthday started coming up, my mind started racing. We quickly decided that we would go all-out, to simultaneously satisfy my entertaining itch, and to give her an 8th birthday to remember. Or hopefully remember. Try as I might, I can remember my 7th and 10th birthdays, but 8 and 9 are for some reason lost forever. Good thing we're in the age of the digital camera!
Alyssa made up her mind while I decorated Andrea's birthday cake back in April that she wanted a heart-shaped, pink strawberry cake for her birthday, much like the one we made for her last year...
...which was monstrous. Rich, crazy decadent, and tipping the scales at 10 pounds of sweet birthday evil. Or goodness, depending on the circumference of your waist.
So we designed the whole party around the cake. I did my best to channel my inner Amy Atlas, found leftover Valentine's decorations at various dollar stores (I was surprised but giddy to find them in June), created a dessert table, and did the place up in pink, red and white.
I'm pretty proud to say I did this all myself...cooking, baking, decorating. It's nice to remind myself from time to time that my degree in Event Management didn't go completely to waste. Josh told me "I don't want you to stress about this." So I started everything on Tuesday, and listed out what to do and when to do it throughout the rest of the week.
I'm a chronic list maker. They make me feel in-control.
The heart/pink/red theme was also carried over into some of the food:
533 pink and white marshmallows, counted by hand...the winner took them all home (thank God)
Pink Party Punch (Simply Raspberry lemonade, Sprite and frozen raspberries)
Muddy Buddies with red M&Ms
Candied pecans
Strawberry Whoppers
Chocolate covered strawberries
White sangria...for the grownups only, of course
Cookies, dyed with red food coloring and decorated with royal icing
Maui onion dip
And of course, the birthday cake!
The turnout was great. We came up with some great games, Josh surprised me with a hidden talent:
And everyone enjoyed themselves - especially the birthday girl!
Happy birthday, Alyssa! I hope it was everything you wanted and more than you expected. 
Lovely birthday bash! Heard a lot about event halls for rent at the outskirts of our city. Planning to book one for wedding party of my sister in a couple of months. Also hunting for quality caterers and bakers. Dj and decorations will be exquisite. Designer emporiums are being visited by our beautiful bride to be for her trousseau collection.
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