KACHOW: Disney Car's Party!

I printed 2 card driving masks, put Blake's face inside, laminated and added a ribbon as they are in a similar shape as a balloon! They  and paired it with a Cars themed Happy Birthday banner as a great backdrop to the table!

After yesterday's Paw Patrol PAWty Post in celebration of my son's 4th birthday, today I wanted to share the DIY details of his high octane, Disney CARS themed 5th birthday party! 

It all starts with a custom created Invitation!

WARDROBE 

Being a wardrobe stylist by day and a frustrated costumer by night wardrobe is always my first consideration when I select a them for a party. My kids birthday parties are certainly no exception. All of the grown up guests (close friends and family) were asked to wear black and white. As the announcer of the race track I converted a child's prop headset into a wearable one for an adult, paired it with pearls, a red lip and a vintage inspired black and white checkered flag dress! I even used a Lightening McQueen decal and created a belt for my look!

 The Birthday Boy was decked out in a Lightening McQueen Pit Crew Jumpsuit! his sisters of course in the themed black and white.

FOOD

As with every other aspect of the party I always try and serve food as themed as possible!

Crispy "Cone" Chips

I created Veggie "cars" to serve as edible containers for displaying fresh veggies. I also used Blake's actual CARS as part of my counterscape (like a tablescape but better and more practical for a 5 year old birthday!)

 The little Guido character has a stack of cucumbers in place of tires like he does in the film. I paired this plating with some Race Track popcorn! 

My son if Gluten Free and I plated GF brownies in the shape of a 5 and had Tow Mater, with licorice towing part of the 5 off the  plate.

I served Apple Juice in a juice dispenser as Fillmore's Organic Fuel ... it has the color of Gas/fuel and is perfect for a Cars party!

DECOR

With the decor I got to creatively utilize toys as photo props and set them out to play for the party.

I love a themed photo backdrop so I created a "winners corner" for guest big and small to enjoy.

I reused the ball put and tunnel from the previous party and brought out his car and Cars Mat with all of the dye cast cars that were not part of the counterscape with the food inside.

This blinking traffic light was a perfect edition to our cars party. Shop it HERE. It would also be amazing in a Cars themed room or man cave!

A giant box of checkered flags were in order for decor and some went home in the gift bags!

The Cars mat was a sweet prop tht the kids could crawl and play on. A rug replica of Radiator Springs!

As part of my drink table I re-created oil and fuel cans from the film by cleaning and wrapping various cans/jars from around the house. I printed the logs and did a quick DIY prop.

I converted Blake's outdoor playhouse into our version of the Cozy Cone Motel by using real car cones and a laminated sign from the fictional hotel. The kids loved paying inside.

GUEST GIFTS

I carefully curate guest gift bags at all of my themed parties, usually stuffed full of themed items, minimal or no candy but items the guest can use.

This party I create custom place mats for each of the kids attending, Vanity California licence plates dates May 2016, Custom California Drivers Licences, Disney Cars Spoon/Fork set, themed Cars tissues and a checkered flag.

Turning 5 at the Racetrack was a real gas! Tomorrow I will share the details of his 6th Birthday ... another mode of transportation. 

KACHOW! 

DIY: Paw Patrol PAWty!

I love a good theme party and am so happy that I could share this love with my children, family and friends over the years. As we all know time flies by at lightening speed and my son will turn 7 in 2 weeks! 

When I was thinking about embarking on our 7th year it left me contemplating how far we have come and where we have been.

I want to look back on all of the themed parties that I have thrown and have not shared. First up is Blake's 4th Birthday PAWty that I designed with a Paw Patrol Theme.

WARDROBE

The wardrobe is always as themed as the decor. We each chose a pup and I styled looks for everyone in our family! Each character has their own badge corresponding to their look.

 We also made custom collars for our themed looks (Dog collars $1/ea the tags are DIY)

I DIY'ed a little Badge for Blake's vest and dressed him up in a faux tux top and grey trousers.

FOOD 

I presented 5 dog bone shaped letter cookies along with some PAWty cupcakes to guests.

The cookie cutters come in all sizes. Click to shop

For the paw pup cakes I used mini Oreo cookies for the large bottom pad and chocolate ships for the smaller pads.

 Besides the obvious themed purchased paper plates I also purchased Paw Patrol stickers to decorate the plastic dog bowls I picked up at the dollar store! This takes a dog themed PAWty to the next level very inexpensively. Simple snacks were served, great for little paws!

A symbolic piece of doggie decor is the cupcake stand in the shape of a fire hydrant. Available here.

I used the bone cookie cutters to cut out watermelon bone shapes for my fruit skewers. I serve them at every party that I host. I never serve ice cream but fruit instead. If the kids are going to get the sugar let it be from a natural source. It's also refreshing with cake.

DOGGIE DECOR

Outside I set up play stations for the kids to rotate around and keep busy. I ordered a mesh ball pit and connected the tunnel we had to a themed Paw Patrol tent (note: You literally need several hundred balls for this pit! Start with these - 400 and go from there!). I liked the idea of them crawling through the pit, tunnel and tent like little pups!

 I had a themed Paw Patrol bubble machine! My little guy loves bubbles! Shop it HERE. Be sure to have lots of bubble solution on hand and extra batteries!

 I also set up a water/sand station and jumbo coloring books and crayons set up an an outdoor table!

Part of the doggie decor was the DIY Paw Patrol Badges!

I always enlist the help of my girls to execute my DIY visions!

We hand made all of the characters symbols for party decor.

 And I always create themed, amazing to-go doggie gift bags for our guests!

Blake had a blast turning 4 in such a PUPtacular way! 

Reference This: 1968 x 2018

On a daily basis I am commenting, educating and sharing the merits and benefits of shopping from fashions past and re-styling it in a new and contemporary way. You wouldn't believe how many fashionable women will turn their nose up at a Vintage dress, passing it over for something high end or fast fashion because it is "new" yet it distinctly resembles a piece from the past. When this happens I love to pull from my fashion reference library to illustrate my point. Nothing is ever "identical" but it is certainly referenced time and time again in fashion.

I do not advocate completely against consumption of what is new but I do strongly advocate and promote using the creative re-styling of items that have had a previous life because it is a sustainable alternative to our fast fashion, throw away culture.

Part of what I do is constantly study fashion history, the history of costume of film and theatre and textiles.

I enjoy referencing fashions past as seen in our fashion present. The most current reference comes from across the pond. The gorgeous Dutchess of Cambridge welcomed her son this week and presented him to the world in the Royal tradition wearing a red dress with a white lace peter pan collar from designer Jenny Packham.

I can't help but think of the 1968 film, Rosemary's Baby with Mia Farrow in a similar look of a red dress and lace peter pan collar. 

Never forget, fashions past is ALWAYS present!

Letter to the EditorS

After seeing another Kardashian cover coming to a news stand near you I had to sit down and offer my digital two cents to the cyber space goddesses. I wanted to reach out to the Editor's of the top Fashion publications for answers or some kind of clarity.

Dear Fashion Magazine Editors,

I am writing to request that you broaden your scope for cover stars and ask why they have become so limited. You have left behind the supermodel (or any model) for more than a decades faux-love affair with people whom our homogenized society refer to as "celebrities". I understand that they are selling magazines because of societies fascination with them and lives everyone wished they had until they really had them. I also understand fashion is about fantasy, which is what many of the cover starts offer and project.

To me, fashion magazines are about breaking rules, innovation, evolving forward and what I have seen is the same scenario, same people, same stories, recycled over and over again.

Kim and Kanye on the cover of VOGUE?

The Weekend on an anniversary issue of HARPERS BAZAAR?

I don't understand.

What about a revolutionary idea? What about casting cover models who have a real story, who have contributed to our society and the progress of humanity in a positive, real and forward manner? those who have various body types/sizes? with no restriction or limit on age?

Where are the women my daughter is supposed to look up to? to aspire to? to connect with?

In the midst of the #MeToo Movement, I am confused by a crop top (no disrespect to Jeremy Scott - I adore his work) and leather leggings being a high fashion magazine cover worthy look? I understand the subjectivity of fashion as an art form and I adore it, but really? 

I don't understand.

What if your magazines became places women could go to become inspired about social justice, activism, female community AND beauty, style, and fashion all at the same time? This is why I subscribe and read them. This is also why I am letting my subscriptions lapse. If I would have seen this cover last week when I renewed ELLE I would have passed on renewing. It is nothing personal against Kim, I don't know her but it is what she represents from a cultural perspective. People being held in high regard for nothing, literally. The endless quest for money, fame, 'power' when at the end of the day when one does not use it for good or for service to others it also means nothing. The herd mentality that our society appears to be operating from.

Why can't women who are accomplished; scientists, activist, advocates for marginalized communities, social justice warriors, environmentalists, writers, business owners, hard working mothers, champions for change, women fighting for equality, survivors of violence, those who have beat breast cancer, etc be given couture or high fashion, styled looks, a glam squad and a PLATFORM to share their stories, inspire your readers and look good doing it. I would applaud a ground breaking cover like that.

You could still sell advertising in a magazine that doesn't have a celebrity on the cover every month. It would be refreshing to see a face that I did not know on the cover so to inspire me to purchase the magazine to learn more. It could be a stylish vehicle to promote change and forward progress not just consumerism by putting educated, accomplished, brave women on a pedestal and show young girls that aspiring to a meaningful career they are passionate about, participating in service to others or standing up for what you believe in never goes out of style! 

My peace sign (L) &

My daughter and I walking in the Women's March - Jan 2017

Some "celebrities" are doing a lot of good for women and social justice causes like Angelina Jolie, Oprah, and Michelle Obama. What gorgeous cover stars they are, with substance and a story behind them. It is something that readers can really be inspired by.

I think of the pioneering editors like Diana Vreeland who I would imagine would be rolling in her grave to see how boring and generic everything has become. The endless parade of celebrities, more advertisements in magazines than articles or artistic editorials. No one taking risks, pushing the proverbial envelope, trying something NEW or re-inventing the past in a new and fresh way. She chose models who looked different, she highlighted and accentuated those differences, she started conversations, she invested in artistic editorials and moved the industry forward.

What I seem to be continually asking myself as I let each subscription run its course without renewing them ...

Shouldn't fashion magazines become part of the larger global female conversation? become a tool to also educate and inspire women on more than what to wear? Could advocating and change making in style become a trend? Why can't 'ordinary' women doing 'extraordinary' things be celebrated on Magazine covers? are we forever stuck in an over air brushed, celebrity, one dimensional culture?

Please help me understand.

Sincerely,

Lisa

X

Speaking at the Women's March Voices of Resistance Rally about Disability Rights, January 2018