T-Party Baby Shower for Baby #2

Posted on October 25, 2016 by sara

I wasn’t sure I was going to have a baby shower for my second baby, coming this November. But then I saw an adorable T-Rex tea party that just stole my heart. I had to do it, even if it were much more simple and streamlined than the baby shower for East. Between a toddler, being pregnant, moving apartments, our nanny being out of town, and a busy time at work, I needed it to be easy.

I found out one of my favorite lunch spots had a rooftop terrace, so it worked out pretty well. We had 2 typhoons that week, so I was sweating over the weather that week (the inside option was definitely not as good). We lucked out that the typhoons had passed, so we just sweated outside. It did cool down a bit at the end of the party, but I drank a lot of water that evening!

We sent out the invites via What’s App and Facebook, to make life easier. Although that did create an interesting challenge, as it was hard to make clear who was invited (I was looking for a ladies only tea party). It was tough for mamas with babies but most made it work, which meant the world to me.

I didn’t get a ton of pictures– and hardly of any guests– but hopefully you can get an idea of the fun we had.

Since most of the seating was bench seating, I asked the staff to bring up a couple of chairs for myself and the other pregnant ladies that we attending.

I found two large T-Rexs (it was surprisingly hard to find specifically Tyrannosaurus Rex), and gave them one of my daughter’s tea cups, and added flowers, to make them less scary.

Food menu, of yummy Lebanese food (and interestingly some of the best chocolate chip cookies in town!). No pictures of the food- what’s wrong with me?!

Drink menu– cold drinks only for this overheated mama!

If you remember, last time we had iron-on onesies. This time we had draw on blocks, which turned out really cute!

And these were the guest take- aways from the party. The bags were from etsy (always sweating if they will make it to Hong Kong in time!), filled with a tea sampler and a cookie.

These pretty ladies were amazing guests and even helped us get into a taxi.

Overall, it was a great event, and I’m so glad I decided to do it. The company was amazing, and I felt so loved. I’m getting excited for this baby!

Let’s Taco ‘Bout It!

Posted on April 3, 2016 by sara

This is the first birthday party that almost didn’t happen.

We planned really well, ordering fun items from the US in time to be hand carried by my Mother-in-Law who came to visit for East’s first birthday. She arrived the end of February. Not 2 days later, East started coughing and came down with a cold, so bad her chest was rattling. Then my Mother in Law fell ill. By the weekend, a week before the party, I succumbed. My husband held out, making me a short time believer in the flu shot. But we forged ahead planning, thinking we’d be better in a week.

We weren’t. My glands were still swollen a week later and I had no voice. East was probably the best, but she still had a cough. My Mother in Law was ill, and my husband was starting cough. But the real kicker was Friday afternoon, the day before the party, the cat got sick too. With running all over town, going to vet and the pediatrician, still not full recovered, we decided to postpone the party a week.

I’m glad we did– we ended up with more babies able to come in the end. We lost some people, gained some, and fun was had by all. My sweet MIL made 2 pinatas and supervised the food, I had a voice and could talk to guests and give instructions, my husband managed the drinks and the non-baby friends, and East was able to play and have fun. Some people may have thought it was a bit odd to have a taco and margarita party for a 1 year old– but I think it was just perfect for us.

I dreamed of having a park party– a common US kids’ party location– but the weather in Hong Kong is too variable. You don’t know when it might rain, or be cold or crazy hot. So we settled on the common rooms of our building (our apartment– and most apartments– are much too small). Thankfully this offered us flexibility in terms of the date– although not much of the decor. It’s what I call medieval Vegas– but there is a kids playroom, a kitchen, a bar, and a couple of sitting areas. We made it as festive as possible, with tons of papel picado, balloons, flowers, and pinatas.

When guests walked in:

You can just see the sitting area to the right, with the baby food (veggies and no salt food) to the right. And you may be able to make out the taco pillow! (These quesadillas were popular!)

Also some fun hanging elements in this room.

This was outside the kids playroom, with the first pinata.

We put out mats for the little ones to crawl around. I also found taco and burrito felt toys to get the kids in the mood. (The birthday girl trying them out!)

Heading the other way, towards the food, stopping at the bar is mandatory!

And chips, salsa and guacamole, of course. I love those pineapple plates!

The obligatory letter balloon– which is still inflated! East loves playing with it! You can also see the papel picado and the cake in the background.

We had an a regular full sugar cake (lemon with blueberry filling) as well as no sugar banana cupcakes for the babies. East ate a whole cupcake herself.

The taco menu–

Can you believe we didn’t end up with any pictures of the tacos?? What’s wrong with us?! But we do have a pic of the taco pinata!

For activities, we had story time, read by my husband. Appropriately, Dragons Love Tacos. East loved it.

And we made maracas! Using just plastic eggs, beans, wooden spoons and tape, I think the kids (and parents!) had a good time. And it was a good take away.

Lastly, cake time!

And the next day we left for Perth!

Sending Invitations…via What’s App

Posted on February 1, 2016 by sara

East’s first birthday is nearly upon us, and we are deep in planning mode for her party. For as much as I love paper and would have loved to send out (or deliver!) gorgeous invitations, I communicate almost entirely by Whats App these days. Not only to talk to my family back home, but to schedule play dates, learn about events, or share baby stories with other moms. So when it came time to getting out the word for the party, I wanted the fastest, most effective way to get on people’s busy calendars. So via text it went!

Mamas have to be adaptable, even party planner ones!

Update: Motherhood

Posted on July 10, 2015 by sara

Why do pregnant women always think they will get tons done during their maternity leave? I’ll be home, they say, I can organize the kitchen, look for a job, find the perfect table for the living room, all while taking care of the baby! No problem!

Ha! At four months, and with tons of help, I barely have to eat somedays (and I don’t even have to cook it!). My little girl is wonderful– happy, playful, alert, a good sleeper at night (naps we are still working on), really a delight. And even when I just do feedings, that’s still at least 6-7 hours of my day right there. Lovely, sweet time, but time none the less. Time I wouldn’t give up for the world, but will have to when I go back to work.

If you want to see how I’ve spent the last four months, here’s a peek.

I still have plans to post more regularly. Is that a pipe dream?

Baby East’s Modern Nursery

Posted on May 2, 2015 by sara

If you’ve known me for 5 minutes or longer you will know that I don’t like pink. I am the youngest of 4, all boys proceeding me, so the family was pretty excited when a girl finally came along, drowning me in pink. Finally at about 12 I said no more pink and I haven’t looked back. So there was no question my daughter’s room would not be pink.

I wanted to create something peaceful and modern using mint, gold and a touch of coral. {please forgive these iphone photos. I had hope to take some better pictures, but it’s just not happening!}

I ordered the fabric from spoonflower and got it made into a cushion, some bedsheets, pillows and a changing pad cover. I applied the decals on the wall over 2 weekends– it really didn’t take too long, and I’m hoping it comes off easily when we move.

We added a bar to the shelf to create some hanging options {and who doesn’t like to look at cute baby clothes?}. That cute picture on the dresser is her daddy when he was a baby. His mom sent this, along with his childhood bunny.

I love this quote from Kate Spade– I can only hope that she will embody these qualities! I couldn’t find it in print any longer, so I ended up making this. I cut out the letters with my Silhouette, painted them gold, adhered them to painted cardstock, and framed it.

Our little girl was due right around Chinese New Year (a big deal here in Hong Kong) – although she ended up being a bit late. This year on the Chinese zodiac is year of the sheep {or goat, or ram, depending on how you translate it} so when I saw this big fluffy stuffed animal I couldn’t help but get it for my little sheep. The turtle and the rabbit were given by friends.

She’s still sleeping in a bassinet in our room, but I’m hoping she loves the room as much as we do when she moves in.