We celebrated my husband's birthday last month. We were blessed by some beautiful October weather and were able to have one last backyard hoorah before winter. The only thing I did not realize was how dark it got early into the evening...barbecuing hamburgers in the dark is a little tricky!
I hung up my new beautiful burlap banner from Emilie M. Paper. We also tried hanging up our outdoor movie equipment in a different location which added some background John Mayer in concert enjoyment.
Since I tend to naturally lean towards feminine things, I tried to add some fun details that were a bit more masculine...like eating off of our cafeteria tray plates {from Target which we bought for the Super Bowl one year}. And layering some Ikea runners in red and blue...as compared to the usual pink.
We ate fairly simple but still delicious...hamburgers, baked beans, coleslaw, fruit, and strawberry lemonade...thanks to a husband who doesn't care for much fuss...he felt special just having a party.
And our outdoor lights provided perfect ambiance for the night...it was such a treat to eat in such a romantic setting!
I really love putting our tables together to make one large table...provides much more intimate conversation that everyone gets to be a part of...
We are so blessed by wonderful friends.
My sweet birthday boy...
And because what great birthday party does not have party favors?
One of you lucky lucky's is going to win your own custom burlap banner...yes, I said custom. You pick out the word {up to 12 letters}!
Comment below sharing what your favorite birthday traditions are. And be sure to check out Emily M. Paper's Etsy shop...lots of burlap love and other handmade paper goodies.
Our tradition here at the Lynn house is to put out the sweetest ceramic birthday cake candle burner. We put it out for the persons birthday week.
ReplyDeleteI always love your outdoor parties. They are so fun and look like they belong in a magazine.
ReplyDeleteMy fav birthday traditions are the birthday dinner with the whole fam. Its an excuse to get everyone together and have cake :) I love cake!
Ours is very simple, but my daughters look forward to it every year! A Carvel ice cream cake, the mini ones. Nothing fancy, but they love it.
ReplyDeleteYanira
Another backyard party!? I'm so jealous.. I want my own yard lol :D
ReplyDeleteI just love the whole "getting together" with my family for our birthdays.. that's something I really miss since I moved to Canada, away from everyone in California.
When my kids were still at home I would decorate their dining room chair the night before so it was all festive when they woke the next morning. It was something simple that only took a few minutes but made for such fun the next day.
ReplyDeleteOur birthday traditions include the banner you made us years ago, a You Are Special Today plate and for the kiddos a small present for every meal! :)
ReplyDeleteI love her banners!!! They are all adorable! We try to make the actual birthday really special. We open gifts on the actual birthday and celebrate all day long with the birthday boy or girl choosing meals, etc.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun giveaway! I love making the birthday cake myself. These days it is so easy to pick a up a great cake, but I still enjoy making it and decorating it myself!!
ReplyDeleteI'm joining the jealousy ban, I love your parties, they look so beautiful and cozy. I have backyard envy! LOL
ReplyDeleteTraditions?
uhm...right now the only one we have is family dinner. Who ever birthday it is chooses what I make or where to go.
So fun! I love the banner, and I love me some John Mayer!
ReplyDeleteI'd say our newest birthday tradition is going to our favorite sushi restaurant!
Boring I know but such a treat :)
xo
It is always fun to see your backyard parties. Our family birthday tradition is simple, hanging a big sign with the birthday person's name on it along with Happy Birthday. Love that banner!
ReplyDeleteYou all look like you had a blast! Love fun parties :) Birthday Tradition, hmmm...guess mine would be celebrating at PF Changs...yummy!
ReplyDeleteOur Doodlebug is only 1, so we don't have a lot of traditions, but for her 1st bday we had a private family day on her actual birthday. She opened her presents & we had a special meal, but it was just family. It was really nice to have those intimate moments before the HUGE party the next day.
ReplyDeleteI love when my mom makes me birthday waffles. My favorite meal of hers.
ReplyDelete~Erin
creativityuncorked(at)gmail(dot)com
What a party! The space is gorgeous, the lighting wonderful, but it looks like everyone is happy and enjoying each other...the best part!
ReplyDeleteBirthday traditions? My kids can have any kind of birthday cake they want. I have done a Krispy Kreme cake, a Creme Brulee "cake", even an animal cracker and frosting cake. Always fun though!
Oh I just love the lights!! So fun! I wanted Scott's birthday to be fun like that when I had his party and the rain was just horrible.
ReplyDeleteIn our house we usually have dinner the night of your birthday, you get to pick where or what :)
I love the welcome banner so much! This is our first year with a little one and we didn't have any set traditions up to this point. We are so looking forward to starting new traditions when our baby girl turns one in December.
ReplyDeleteI think the tradition I always enjoyed was the day was all about me. From the beginning of the day till the night fall. I got to eat what I wanted for breakfast, Pick out dinner and spend the day I wanted to. I tried to do the same for my kids and give them the cake of their choice or whatever other dessert they wanted.. usually an Ice Cream Cake.. not big frosting lovers. I love holding on to tradition, but creating a new one every year is fun and keeps things interesting. Love the banner.. Hope I win!
ReplyDeleteI can't let a year go by without celebrating my birthday. My tradition is to always invite people. Either making a cake and having some friends for tea, or going to a restaurant, or organizing a dance at home, I always have to be around my beloved ones!
ReplyDeleteI just checked the other web page and even pinned a couple of stuff!
ReplyDeleteMy birthday is the day after Christmas and my mom {and now husband!} always did an amazing job of separating the two holidays. oh and a donut cake in the morning is a must! my husband loves it, my almost 3 year old loves it and I know eventually the new bebe will too!!
ReplyDeleteYour Backyard always looks so inviting. Love all your personal touches.All birthdays are Celebrated with family and friends. Usually a few gatherings. To make sure we Included everyone. Birthdays have always been so important to me. I've been thinking of a banner for a while but have not bought one yet. This one looks very Fun, I hope to win it and added it to our festive Birthdays.thanks for the chance.Ryane
ReplyDeleteYou throw the best parties ever, I wish I had that talent.
ReplyDeleteWe don't have many traditions but we're in the middle of starting to make some. It's going to be fun to decide which ones we want to create.
limes.sweet@gmail.com
One of our birthday traditions is simple, but fun. The birthday child (or grown-up) gets to pick their meal. We usually do this for dinner on the actual birthday and not necessarily for the party - which could be a couple days away.
ReplyDeleteI love the banners! How wonderful!
I love all of the fun ideas I get from your site :) Your outdoor parties are spectacular and keep my wheels turning all winter long.
ReplyDeleteOur Birthday traditions include everyone singing the birthday person awake, and telling them one thing that they loved most about the last year and what they are most looking forward to in the next year. It always fun to hear what each person in the family enjoyed most about the birthdayee's last year :)
We also have a “get a gift give a gift” policy. So, for every gift the birthday person gets they get to in turn go through their things and find something for someone else (family, friend, stranger) to enjoy. This helps us so much with 7 people in a very small home we need all the space we can get; and besides what better gift than the gift of service?
Thanks for the chance at such a great prize that banner is amazing.
That banner is fabulous! Love the paper lanterns across w/ the lights....hhhmmm...I might have some of those cafeteria trays in my garage--vintage. You are a fabulous hostess!
ReplyDeleteEvery year my parents bake a funfetti cake with 'pink' (strawberry) icing for my birthday... I absolutely love it & it always makes me feel special & I'm 25!
ReplyDelete