Flap Jacks and Lumberjacks

Party planning its something that brings me so much joy, especailly when the boys see what mommy and daddy have accomplished.  My second sons birthday was about 10 months away.  Yes I know what your going to say, really ten months?  Come on that's way to early.  But really there's a method to my madness.  It turned out to be the best party that I have ever planned, partly because I planned it an entire 10 months in advance.  As a working mom of two boys, I hardly have time for myself let alone to plan a party.  I ended up just starting right after new year's.  Since the holiday season was over and my son was born early December I decided to do a Christmas theme, and the best part was that I could get all the supplies on sale.  I Googled Christmas birthday party themes (gotta love Google) and landed on Lumber Jack theme after reviewing all the options.  

Learning from my past with other parties I knew that I didn't want to cook at all. So I Hired an amazing Caterer who helped me come up with a menu with a lumber jack theme.  Together we came up with the idea for brunch food.  Flap Jacks, Sausage, Bacon, fruits, orange juice and coffee, and maybe the occasional mimosa when the kids weren't watching for the adults.  I made bear masks and ordered small milk jugs that we filled with apple cider.  I found someone on Esty that created a personalized label for the milk jugs that read "Tallon's: Crisp, Refreshing, Delicious Lumberjack Cider  Thanks for coming, so Plaid you came!"  I made the bunting sign from jute and buffalo plaid fabric that my Cricket machine cut.  I grabbed buffalo plaid fabric from Wal-Mart and used it for his high chair to cover the high chair fabric.  I ordered some little lumberjack stuffed animals from Oriental Trading which is my go to for lots of our party needs.  I also ordered some blow up axes and lanterns. From Amazon I ordered Old School red lights and a variety of little Christmas trees.  I actually had a real life lumber jack (my brother in law aka uncle Micheal) cut rounds to use to build up depth on the kids table and on the pallet stands.   I made a banner that said Photos on it and made photo signs to take a picture in our pallet stand that my husband made.  He made two one for the photos and one for the cake.  I hand painted larger logs to make them look like birch and I make signs that said "favors" "Be Brave".  I purchased hallow letters that I wrapped in buffalo plaid wrapping paper.  I got lucky and stumbled upon a Christmas tree that was thrown away and still worked so I used that for décor outside.  I also had a new Teepee cover made for my sons Teepee in buffalo plaid.  I had someone also make the banner in a PDF form and had it printed at office max for only $12!  Easy way to make use of space and have an elevated look.

The cake was really the piece of resistance.  I ordered it from Sweet Arts which is my go to for all my cake needs.  We made a lumber jack two tier cake, and a flap jack smash cake that was so yummy.  The frosting was actually bacon maple flavor.  

I had a blast planning and it came out so beautifully.  I hope you enjoy the photos.  Let me know if you have any other questions.