After "YES," Before "I DO" and Everything In Between

On Saturday our twins, Jonah & Gia, turned 2!  It's unbelievably hard to believe two years have gone by already, but we were sure to celebrate to the max with a "CIRCUS-CIRCUS" party.  Unlike the twins' "Farm Sweet Farm" party last year, my husband held me to a small and strict budget which meant I had to get very creative when planning this little soiree.  I re-purposed a lot, I shopped around a lot, I crafted a lot and I baked a lot.  But, I must admit the DIY approach made the success of the party all the more rewarding.  Everyone had an absolute blast, especially the guests of honor! * * * * * * * * * * INVITATIONS: Instead of purchasing three-dimensional invitations, I decided to send electronic invites which featured the cutest colors and circus graphics.  Family and friends really got a kick out of the animation and were extremely excited to celebrate with "The Greatest Twins On Earth." KID'S TABLE: I rented specialized...

My husband and I celebrated our baby twins, Jonah & Gia's, 1st birthday with a "Farm Sweet Farm" party last weekend.  The party was held at our home (aka The Anderson Farm ) and our closest family and friends excitedly attended.  Honestly it's still difficult for us to believe a full year has gone by since they entered our lives, but one thing was clear from the beginning --- we had a lot to celebrate and we intended to do just that! Everyone had loads of fun; they would've partied until the cows came home if we let them.  And since the guests of honor LOVE animals, the theme proved to be absolutely perfect for them and their guests.  To most, I'm known for planning amazing weddings and bridal celebrations by means of THE BRIDAL PARTY , so it was really a lot of fun to step outside of my comfort zone and show off my versatility and range.  I can't deny, this was FUN!  I'm still quite "giddy" about it all. * * * * * * * * * * INVITA...

... for its Founder & Managing Director, ME.  That's right, THE BRIDAL PARTY certainly does more than just weddings.  So when it came time to throw me a spur-of-the-moment baby shower, since my boy/girl twins arrived early back in September , it all came together ... in the most intimate way, focusing on love and family.  The chosen location was Dolce Hotel & Resort in Basking Ridge, New Jersey.  Of course I could have had a "sip-and-see," being that I'd already given birth ... but we opted for a traditional shower, just minus the big belly!  Another job well done.     The theme was "everything times two ... pink & blue" and included lots of whimsical elements (polka dot balloons, carousel horse centerpieces, miniature foods and a decadent ice-cream sundae bar).     Guests loved the "diaper-folded" napkins, tucked menu cards and Hershey kisses (1 pink, 1 blue) that graced each place setting.  Several attendees revealed t...