Anay's Brown Bear in the City First Birthday Celebration

My son, Anay turned ONE on June 13, 2012. It was a real journey to bring him into this world, from conception to delivery. My husband and I wanted a very, unique celebration for his First.

The theme was inspired from Anay's favorite book, Brown bear, Brown bear, What do you see? illustrated by Eric Carle. I incorporated a different twist to it by adding elements of my husband & I's favorite city, New York City! So, the theme transformed to Anay's Brown Bear in the City Celebration!

There was a market stand and newsstand each with corresponding items for the kids. The market stand had snacks based on the book; the newsstand had a 1 page "newspaper" telling everyone what happened in the world on Anay's actual birthday.

Party favors were decorated sugar cookies of a brown bear and a yellow taxi cab. Dinner for the children was the ever famous NYC style cheese and pepperoni pizza! Food for the adults included a spread of hot dogs, curried chicken and lamb, mac-cheese balls and vodka sauce, and many other apps. Dinner was a catered enchilada dinner with rice and refried beans. There was an elaborate cake and dessert table which ranged from cake pops, to Brooklyn Bridge rice krispsie treats, candy coated pretzel rods, cocnut-covered marshamallow pops, sixlets in theme colors, taxicab cupcakes, mini cakes, flavored rock candy sticks in theme color, and an edible Empire State Building covered with marshmallows! The birthday cake was a 3-tiered whimiscal cake with a top foam layer, a middle layer of chocolate cake and choc-mousse filling and a bottom layer consisting of an almond cake with a mango creme filling. The cake was designed by Mom based on the invite, also designed by Mom.

Big kids were entertained by GAMETRUCK, and the younger children enjoyed facepainting, ballonmaking, and a bubble show. The younger children also participated in story time with a reading of Brown bear, Brown bear What do you see?, Goldilocks and the 3 Bears and a puppet show of Goldilocks and the 3 Bears. It was truly an eventful evening!

VENDOR CREDITS

IKEA - MARKET STAND, NEWSTAND

INVITES created by Rupal Dolly Patel with many Etsy vendors

INVITE VENDORS (DIE CUTS)

BEARS: Creating Your Memories

All other parts of invite were created by Rupal Dolly Patel (Mom) using MS Word

Bella Bargains : Favor Boxes, Sub sandwich wraps, Hot Dog wraps

Oriental Trading : Top hats, cardboard Empire State Building Standee

Party Cheap : Plastic, vinyl Cityscape background

Hobby Lobby : Colorful Cityscape Screen for Photos

Cake: Exclusive Cake Shop, San Antonio, TX

• What People Ate

  NYC appetizers - Sub sandwiches, roasted nuts, lamb kabobs, & pizza

• What People Drank

  Capri suns and water for the kids Sodas for adults

• Desserts

  Dessert table had taxi cab cupcakes, candy coated pretzel rods, Empire State Building covered with marshmallows, mini cakes, cake pops, Rock candy on a stick, sixlets, birthday cake(tiered), & Brooklyn Bridge shaped Rice Krispie treats.

• Party Favors

  Taxicab & Brown Bear decorated sugar cookies

• Activities / Games

  Gametruck for kids 5 & older; costume characters who did facepainting, balloon-making, storytelling, puppet show and a bubbles presentation for children 4 & younger

• Best Moment

  Puppet show and bubbles

• Budget

  $2000

• Exclusive Cake Shop

  Cake designer

• Amazing Texas Twisters

  Balloons

  Did storytelling, puppet show, bubbles, balloon making and facepainting.