Last updated on July 31st, 2023 at 01:10 pm
My baby turned one this summer, so I chose a seasonal and crowd-pleasing favorite as the theme for her birthday party: ice cream!
This was a real winner of an idea to me, because the theme could also be the food and decorations. The ice cream, while delicious, would also be versatile and multipurpose!
Before I detail many of our DIY approaches to this party, please know that I had to remind myself repeatedly that this party was for a baby who probably didn’t know what a party was. At a pinnacle of party preparing stress, in a particularly vulnerable moment in which I felt swallowed up in a squeaky pit of pastel-colored balloons, I may have uttered the words “This is the biggest day of my– er– her, life!“
Husbands are God’s gift to remind you that none of those things are true.
So it was okay to take the pressure off of myself to have everything looking and tasting perfect. I release these same words of wisdom to you, if you happen to be planning a one-year-old’s party.
Birthday party food and drinks
Our party took place during the suppertime hours, so supped we did. I have been to a few baby birthday parties with my little one, and I always appreciate any morsels of food available, to give me energy for attending a party with my little one. As the hostess, I wanted to be sure our guests, big and small, had enough to eat.
Menu: Pulled pork sliders, macaroni and cheese, baked beans, fruit, veggies, ice cream bar and cake, pink lemonade and various sodas.
To accomplish this delicious spread, I recruited help from my family. (This was crucial!) Relatives provided or helped assemble the pulled pork sliders, baked beans, potato salad, fruit salad and cut vegetables with dip. That left me to handle the macaroni and cheese, ice cream bar, and cake.
I wrote a post detailing how I made these party favorites, including how I was able to bring a Pinterest inspiration photo to life.
I used a tried-and-true recipe for baked mac’n’cheese, and this tribute to luscious, creamy dairy products was a true crowdpleaser. The 1.5 portion was more than enough to feed 25 guests.
Using a neverfail white cake recipe, I split the batter to create the smash cake for the birthday baby and a three-layer, 8-inch cake for the adults. The cake was designed to look like a melted ice cream cone splattered upside down onto the top. Though it wasn’t as perfect as my Pinterest model, I think I accomplished the look:
The bit of cake batter I had portioned into mini pans became baby’s smash cake. I baked two 4-inch layers, but they were tall enough to cut in half, resulting in four layers. The cake was actually quite tall once I frosted in between each layer with fresh vanilla buttercream. We all enjoyed watching baby dig into the cake and squish the frosting all over.
We all scream for ice cream
Along with the cake, we set out four flavors of Tillamook ice cream I had scored on sale at Publix: Chocolate, Vanilla Bean, Peaches & Cream, and Cookies & Cream. The toppings were kept simple. We set out a selection of sugar and waffle cones or bowls and miniature chocolate chips, sprinkles, and canned whipped cream.
Party decorations
A pretty pastel balloon garland
I’ve seen beautiful balloon arches and garlands all over the Internet, so I had to try it myself. We didn’t buy a kit or anything, though that might make it more simple. We already had a bag of ballons from another project, so we used those.
I watched one YouTube video to give me the essential knowledge for this undertaking, and it proved sufficient, I’d say. I guess you can be the judge of that. We also had to purchase balloon tape and sticky dots to give structure to the garland.
My husband and his brother set to blowing the balloons into various sizes. They were able to inflate 25 pastel balloons that were small and large and everything in between. Then, we stretched out a length of balloon tape between two chair backs and inserted balloons into the holes. My husband hung the string of balloons, now fixed into their respective holes, to a wall. At this point, it looked like a line of balloons. But here is where the glue dots come in. We had reserved 10 balloons for filling the ensemble in. To create a good-looking bunch, I placed three glue dots on the bottom of a small balloon, and affixed the balloon right on top of other balloons. I did this several times until it created an attractive clump. It was passably cute, reasonably easy, and relatively cheap. 10/10 would recommend this strategy.
A simple birthday banner
Out of a sheet of pink felt, I cut four same-size triangles and placed them in equal distances apart (about 1.25 inches). Then I pinned a white ribbon to the tops of the pennants, connecting them and holding them in place. I hand sewed the ribbon onto the felt pennants, but this could also be done by machine. This little craft wasn’t totally necessary, but it didn’t take me long, and it added some festivity as we hung it on baby’s highchair.
Thrifty flower arrangements
It’s very hard for me to throw any party without flowers. I love them, so using them for the dual purpose of party decorations and beautiful buds to fill a vase later on seems worth it to me. I was inspired by Pinterest (again!) to create dainty pink-and-white bouquets in ice cream cone vases, held up in clear plastic cups. I assembled three small arrangements of Baby’s Breath and roses to go on the food table. It was an easy and cost-effective way to add some extra beauty.
Making birthday memories
It was a beautiful and fun event, even if it wasn’t perfect. It was so fun seeing baby and her little baby friends scooting, toddling and exploring the intricacies of our living room. Even if baby doesn’t necessarily remember the party, we have pictures and videos to show her all of the people who showed up to celebrate her. Though I acknowledge (at least theoretically) that these parties aren’t technically for the parents, I get why parents (we) put so much effort into them. Our baby turned one. We wanted to celebrate all we got through this year, all of the difficulties and joys and discoveries and growing pains.
That is a big reason to gather family and friends around some great food and to celebrate.
What about you? Throwing any awesome baby birthday parties? Let me know in the comments!
