Musings

Getting Ready for Late Summer Garden Parties

This post is brought to you by Nestle Toll House Birthday Sugar Cookies. Bake some birthday love. I have some good news to report! We’re about four days into the Great Sod-Laying Experiment, and so far, the sod looks to be thriving. Not much yellowing or wilting. I’m so relieved because we have a playhouse…




This post is brought to you by Nestle Toll House Birthday Sugar Cookies. Bake some birthday love.

I have some good news to report! We’re about four days into the Great Sod-Laying Experiment, and so far, the sod looks to be thriving. Not much yellowing or wilting. I’m so relieved because we have a playhouse to install!

It’s much cuter in person, though (and I’m sure you already guessed this) I’ll be painting it. :) The second the sod is ready, we’ll be moving the playhouse to it’s spot in the yard, which is good because we had some plans this weekend!

Before it gets too cold, we thought it would be fun to have some people over. This weekend we’re going to be throwing a very small and pretty simple birthday party for some of our friend’s kids (mostly girls). There will be an equal number of adults at the party, so there needs to be a little bit of something for everyone. I’m still in the planning phase, which is not good considering the party’s in just a couple days. But here’s what I have so far and I’m sure the rest will sort of create itself while we’re in the moment.

My girls have been on a flower crown-making kick this summer, so I thought it would be fun for them to teach their friends how to make crowns at the party. Nothing says garden party like little girls running around in flower crowns!

We’re going with a late summer/early fall-feeling color palate: peach, coral, mustard, burgundy, black and cream. Maybe a little mint for good measure (though that might show up on the playhouse dutch door!). I’m thinking I’ll make a couple strands of garlands to help soften the unfortunate bare wood fence situation. I want to keep the food really simple – just desserts. Probably cookies with homemade ice cream. And maybe some cute milk jars?

Have you seen any really cute, relatively easy party ideas around the web lately? I’ve started a Pinterest board with some of my ideas. I’ll be adding to it this weekend, if you want to follow along. I’m off to go buy more seating!

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37 thoughts on “Getting Ready for Late Summer Garden Parties

  1. Lauren – I LOVED hearing your story!! We had a treehouse at one of the home we lived in as a kid. I know exactly what you mean! We were out there day and night playing house. I can't wait for my girls to have the same experience!

    About the folding chairs – they're from IKEA! $8.99 each! All the links are in the Pinterest board. xoxo

  2. Jenny, do you ever sleep? You are putting me to shame, with your party-throwing, DIY ways! Slow down lady. Have a cocktail for goodness sake! ;)

  3. I would second the Oh Happy Day suggestion, but I know you are friends with her. So you've probably already tapped her for ideas. And I see you put one of her garland ideas in your round up. She's great.

  4. I had a playhouse when I was younger. I got it for Christmas when I was six and I don't think I came out of it but to sleep when I wasn't in school. I made up imaginary friends and animals, made my parents mud pies, wrote in my diary, had tea parties with neighbors. It was magical! It became my little sisters when she came along and she played in it till she was 11 or so. It even survived hurricane Andrew in 1992 (Miami) when we lost half our roof. Your girls will cherish it. I will def. get one for this baby I'm carrying boy or girl. It was such a happy imaginative space for me that I look bak on fondly :) the yard is looking great! Are you planning on getting furniture for the inside? Mine had a liitle fake kitchen set, but the tiny table and chairs were really what made it feel cozy. I had a little rug too. And flower box, just like yours. (I'm 32 and gushing about some wood and nails. How funny!)

  5. Hi Jenny, I love those folding chairs and am looking for a similar style. Can you let us know where you found them, or something like them? Thank you for all your great ideas! Lindsay

  6. Lauren – I LOVED hearing your story!! We had a treehouse at one of the home we lived in as a kid. I know exactly what you mean! We were out there day and night playing house. I can't wait for my girls to have the same experience!

    About the folding chairs – they're from IKEA! $8.99 each! All the links are in the Pinterest board. xoxo

  7. Hi Jenny, I find all my party paper goods at Paper Presentation on 18th and 5th AVe.They have the best paper selection. I have also been OBSESSED with paper flowers. I threw a party a few weeks ago and AT picked it up. ALl of the chevron party bags and chevron spoons are from Party Presentation. Check it http://melandliza.blogspot.com/2012/08/kids-party.html I love throwing an out door party, and I am telling PP is the place to it for a last minute get together.

  8. It's going to be gorgeous! I can't wait to see it all and party pictures. I am currently decorating a playhouse for another family. It's so fun to do a girly playhouse :)

  9. I love lotsa garland ( see https://pinterest.com/rok/its-my-party/ ), particularly loving paper chain and honeycomb garlands. Key is volume…to tiny a gesture looks sad.

    New fav trick is getting plastic table cloths (by the roll, if you can) and using like old-school fabric bunting. Love the scallop, and you can do it ahead of time b/c it is plastic :)

    Don't forget to check Pearl River!

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