food and parties

What do you get when you put together an event planner mama (Angel Swanson of Love & Splendor), the Korean tradition of a Dol (an over-the-top first birthday celebration), and a whimsical under-the-sea party theme? Party perfection! This party, thrown for little Olive, has something for everyone: a baby lounge, kid-friendly entertainment, including an amazing bubble show, plenty of sweet treats, and gorgeous decor in shades of mint and pink. "Our original venue was by the sea, so we had adopted an ocean-inspired palette," Angel says. "We later moved the party to an inland location, but we kept the soothing hues of aqua, pool, and mint with hints of blush, peach, and gold accents. It was a feminine, Spring-y color scheme that felt perfect for the celebration." You have to check out all the details, beautifully photographed by Erin Hearts Court, of this dreamy party!

Memorial Day is right around the corner, and whatever your weekend plans entail, we can't think of a better way to celebrate than with a special sweet treat. Whether you prefer a classic patriotic theme or want to get inventive with cupcakes that look like they just came off the grill, stock up on some sugar, heat up the oven, and get baking!

School is wrapping up (have you picked up your teacher appreciation gift yet?), Summer is unofficially starting, and the time for cool Popsicles is near! Whether you're set to stock your freezer with store-bought pops or want to make your own — check back soon for our awesome and easy kid-friendly recipes — you can prep for Popsicle season with the following nine printables, party extras, and kid-friendly goods, all featuring Summer's favorite frozen treat!

Have a little chef in your kitchen? We've rounded up nine of what moms say are their kids' favorite foods to cook. These recipes are easy, fun, and tasty! From a simple avocado on toast to crockpot lasagna and yummy brownies, we're sharing recipes for kids of all ages to test in the kitchen. Click through to find your family's new favorite.

Suzie Boluarte of Project: Party Perfect knew just what the theme for her son Caiden's second birthday should be. "We live near a small airport, and he loves going to the observation deck," Suzie says. "It's on the tarmac, and he gets an up-close experience seeing small planes and private jets take off and land."

Suzie took that love of planes and created an inventive party full of high-flying clouds, crafts, and cute treats. "Because it was homemade and not a commercially licensed, themed party, it was a lot easier on the wallet," Suzie says. "I got to mix and match products and choose my own color theme with a budget." Budget-friendly, DIY, and adorable? Sounds like a party we can get on board with!

Graduating from breast milk and formula to solids is a major milestone in a baby's first year. If your little one is ready to make the leap, throw away your preconceived notions that baby's first foods have to be monotonous and dull. These 15 recipes incorporate unexpected flavors and ingredients to make the early days of eating a whole lot more fun!

Regardless of whether you're a Hello Kitty fan or not, we're betting you're going to love this second birthday party, thrown by wedding and event planner Gloria Wong for her daughter Taylor's second birthday. "Taylor is a big Hello Kitty fan (as am I), so we decided to use Hello Kitty as our inspiration for the party," Gloria says.

Although the famed cat features heavily in this party on top of the cake, on cookies, and through the use of her iconic bows (guests were each given one to wear as a headband or bow tie; can you say "adorable?"), Gloria's stylish take on the theme feels totally modern — think of it as kiddie minimalism. While we definitely give this soiree's decor two thumbs up, the day's most important critic, 2-year-old Taylor, had one favorite party element. "She loves singing 'Happy Birthday' to herself on a daily basis," Gloria says. "So, to have a captive audience that sang along with her just sent her over the moon." Keep clicking for more sweet details.

Summer may not officially start until June, but we're already in the mood for some sweet, frosty treats. For a change from your usual store-bought desserts, try making one of these kid-favorite frozen treats recommended by real moms. From mini ice cream sandwiches doused in sprinkles to a creative "monkey" concoction, these are desserts your whole family will want again and again.

"For my little guy's birthday, there was never any question about the theme: fossils!" says Gretchen Brittain, mom of three and the creator of adorable party printables shop Three Little Monkeys. "Zach is obsessed with dinosaurs. Obsessed. But not the cartoon variety. He digs real fossils, and we've watched so many documentaries I can identify just about every fossil. OK, not quite every fossil. But close."

Gretchen used Zach's love of fossils and her own addiction to all things vintage to create one of the coolest little-boy parties ever, styled to feel like an old fossil excavation site with a vintage map backdrop, replica fossils, and old books, trunks, and camping gear. Add in activities including fossil identification and a dino dig and yummy treats like homemade "rock" cupcakes, fossilized dino egg cupcakes, and cretaceous cake pops, and you have one dino-rific party!

Source: Three Little Monkeys Studio