Recently, Larkspur sat down with our copy of Naturally Fun Parties for Kids and started flipping through the pages. I asked Lark to look closely, and see if she might recognize anything in the pictures.
I contributed to the Egg Dyeing Spring Garden Party, and it didn’t take Larkspur long to find my pictures there, including one of her!
When I asked her how she felt, seeing her little mouth above a basketful of eggs that we dyed, she replied with a shy grin, “embarrassed!”
But as she studied the photos some more, I like to think that she was aware that this is really special.
I am honored that a few of my photos made their way into this lovely book that Anni Daulter and Heather Fontenot created.
We think that it’s kind of hilarious that my need to organize and categorize (and Seth’s- he drew the little lines to create places for the green eggs!) is evident in some of the photos!
What about the book itself, beyond the fun of seeing our photos in it?
The truth is, I’ve never thrown a proper party. The mere thought has always overwhelmed me. But, as I read through the different party ideas, I found myself getting inspired. I started thinking that I could do this, and reading through these great party ideas makes me want to! Anni has a way of being that mom who actually makes fairy houses for all the kids coming to her daughter’s birthday party, without making me feel inadequate for not doing that sort of thing. Instead, she breaks down the components of throwing a good party into bite sized pieces, pieces that even “often overwhelmed me” could handle.
You can use the themes as guides to help you give a party exactly as described, or find inspiration to create your own celebration, letting the ideas be a springboard for your own creation. Each party is described in detail, from the title and theme to a supply list for projects, materials and food. The lists encourage using items you already have, or can be found secondhand. The theme of reduce and reuse is prominent throughout the book, and I love that. The supply list is even broken down into easy to read categories. For instance in the egg dyeing party the categories are: printed paper invitations, outside decor, table decor, games, and recipes. Then right next to that is a timeline (This feature really struck me as important. I would need the timeline.) There are tips for getting ready 2 weeks prior to the event, 1 week prior, the day before, and the day of the party. Seriously, with that kind of help, I think I could do this.
Each party theme is supported by instructions for making handmade invites, great recipes, crafts, and activities. Everything you need is included, but presented in a way that you can pick and choose what works for you. But if you really need a no brainer, it’s all there for you. Most of the parties encourage outdoor locations, which I think really cuts the stress level down and lets you use nature to help decorate!
The bottom line is that I am truly loving Naturally Fun Parties for Kids. Thank you Anni and Heather!
Anni is generously offering two of my readers a copy of Naturally Fun Parties for Kids. For your chance to win, leave a comment on this post. Be sure to hop over and “like” the the Naturally Fun Parties for Kids Facebook page for extra inspiration! Comments will close on Monday. Two winners will be chosen randomly and announced within this post.
Comments are closed. The winners are:
Open Roads Mama Amber: “Yes, please! The book sounds amazing, I always need inspiration in the party for kids department!”
and Brittany: “I would love to have a copy of this book! Thanks for the chance to win one :)”
Thanks Anni and Heather!
The book looks wonderful and inspiring!
I would love a copy of this book . It sounds wonderful!
this book looks great!
I would like it! Noeh
Oh my gosh, what an awesome giveaway! I haven’t done much in the way of parties either, as the thought has overwhelmed me, too, but I bet this book would get my wheels turning. 😉 Thanks a bunch!!
I love this! Would love to win!
Crossing my fingers. Thanks for a great giveaway.
This looks like an awesome source of inspiration – love your egg photos!!!!!
I’d Love this book! We just had a “Little House” birthday party for my 3 girls whose birthdays are within a week of each other. It was so FUN!
i’d love to win!
I am contemplating three kids’ parties in my very near future so this post was fun to read! I have party stuff mulling through my head all the time now, but I am not sure it will be feasible, etc. Oh, well!
Not that my party-loving children need to find more reason to celebrate things like “We Found a Bug Day” or “Baking Day”(which happens every Tuesday…), but they would LOVE this book! Thank you for the chance to win!
what a fabulous looking book!! it’d be so fun to have!
Thank you for the entry in this fabulous giveaway, I would LOVE this book!!!
Jenn 🙂
What a great book idea! I’d love a copy!
That book looks positively delightful. Thanks for sharing it. I will definitely look for it.
Looks so fun, can’t wait to see it!
This looks like a fabulous book! My kids would LOVE it!
What a lovely way to celebrate the little ones we love most!
I have trouble with the whole “party” thing too… it seems so overwhelming! But this looks like a wonderful book.
The book looks fantastic! My son loves doing something different and fun for his birthday.
We might have some time left before we feel like throwing parties, but oh, curiousity is close! Thanks.
Oooooooh, it would be nice!
Wish you a good time…
This book looks great! Keeping my fingers crossed 🙂
What a lovely opportunity for your whole family – it looks like a wonderful book! We aren’t much on parties because I get so tired of walking into our local stores and seeing a gazillion plastic things with cartoon characters on them and feeling like folks think that’s what makes a child’s party “fun”. This would be an amazing resource – thanks for the opportunity!
Congratulations on being in the book! Very exciting! It looks like a very lovely book and I know my children and I would have a great time looking through it and planning our own parties. Thanks for hosting the giveaway. God bless.
My two have their birthdays coming up, and I have been putting off thinking about parties for them. Their birthdays are only a day apart, and they both want completely different things for their parties, so it has been a bit overwhelming to plan for! I will have to check this book out for some ideas, at the moment all their friends are booking local party centres etc and that is so expensive and they are all exactly the same.
My own children are getting too big for parties like that now 🙁 but my god daughter is turning one soon so I’ve got more parties to help organise 🙂 looks like this would be a gorgous book to have.
I’ve just started thinking about my daughter’s birthday this summer and this book sounds great!
this looks amazing! Congratulations on being a part of it!
This book looks lovely! I would love to add it to my library! Thank you for the chance! 🙂 Happy Weekending!
Glad to see I am not the only one who finds throwing a party overwhelming. I’d love a copy of this beautiful book!
Yes, please! The book sounds amazing, I always need inspiration in the party for kids department!
Wow, those eggs look beautiful; I think I may have to try this now even though Easter has passed. 😉
What a fun book! I have never thrown a proper party, just glorified playdates. How I would love to be inspired for my daughter’s 7th birthday (yikes!).
Thank you for the giveaway!
Gah – I strongly dislike birthday parties. I get an ulcer just thinking about one of my kids parties. Maybe that book will like a gentle ant-acid. Take the burn out of it. 🙂
We also don’t do much for “real” parties here but instead often have friends and family come over and lots of kids are always involved. My kids would love a book like this to help plan some activities.
What a lovely book! I’ve never really done a party for my kids like that either because the materialistic craziness of it all overwhelms me. But I know there’s a way to do a party that would be lovely and inspiring for all. Thanks for a chance to win!
What a great resource for inspiration! Congrats on getting your pictures featured. They are beautiful!
The book looks like such fun!!
the book looks lovely, I’d love to win it! Love your photos!
my daughter’s birthday is next month, this would be perfect!
This looks like a lovely book! Congratulations on having your pictures included.
This book looks amazing! My fingers are crossed. Thanks for the opportunity.
Oh, that looks like so much fun! I’ve never thrown a “real” party, either . . . but I’m sure this would be the inspiration I was lacking. Thanks!!
I’ve been looking for ideas for more natural birthday parties! Count me in!!
It would be such fun to win this book! Thanks for the chance.
This looks awesome!
The book looks lovely–and we know a bunch of little girls that are all around Gemma’s age, so there might be an opportunity for a party (although like you, I find even the thought of anything besides a family party overwhelming!)
This sounds like the perfect book for me. My toddler is turning 4 this year and this could give me some good ideas for a party for her. She loves cooking and decorating … this would be a fun activity! Great giveaway!