Two at the Zoo | Second Birthday Celebration

Okay, so I didn't intend to fall off the grid for as long as I have, but it's been a busy month my friends.  My daughter turned two and we've had back to back celebrations, including a trip to Disneyland and this little party I put together for her (lucky girl, isn't she?).

We have a family membership to the Oakland zoo and my daughter just loves all the animals, so it was the perfect place to host a small birthday picnic.  'Two at the Zoo' was the theme and I have to say I'm digging the new invite design.  Here's the link if you're interested in purchasing one on Etsy and yes, it can definitely be customized for a boy too. 

As usual, I enlisted the help of Michele of Cakewalk Baking to make the cupcakes, and (...as usual) they were over the top amazing. This time I had her do chocolate with a cream cheese frosting and rainbow sprinkles, and I found some little zoo animals on ebay to use as toppers.  Simple, delicious and super cute. 

I kept the picnic pretty basic with labeled sandwiches, chips, strawberries & juice boxes.  I couldn't resist doing a favor, so I found these cute animal masks and designed a tag for them... the kids had fun playing with them at the zoo and I figure they'll make for a good playdate activity down the road.  The pictures aren't much but you get the idea... it was easy and fun and the food was good, which is just about the best you can ask for when you don't have a lot of time to plan.

 

My little hostess passing out the cupcakes...

photos © cake. 2012

Credits
Graphic Design + Party Styling: CAKE.
Cupcakes: Cakewalk Baking
Animal Toppers: Ebay
Masks: Oriental Trading Co.

Polka Dot Zoo Birthday with Vintage Details

I love the creativity behind this vintage zoo party from Annelise of Aesthetic Nest.  She took her daughter's 5th birthday inspiration from the zoos of a century ago, and incorporated polka dots and rick rack to add more of a lighthearted, vintage feel.  She also designed these charming printables herself... check them out in her etsy shop and read on below for more party details.

photos © aesthetic nest

From Annelise: I wanted to share with you my daughter’s fifth birthday party—a vintage polka dot zoo party in coral, yellow and grey with some rickrack thrown in. I wanted to evoke the awe and naiveté of the zoos of yesteryear: parks and wrought iron and nearly-domesticated, exotic wild animals! My children love the zoo, not just for the animals but the cotton candy and carousel too!  I hosted a luncheon in my backyard on tables set with tablecloths I made—grey and white polka dots and stripes trimmed in rickrack and used rickrack placemats and napkins too. I served kid friendly food: PB&J, jello cut in animal shapes, fruit, fiddle faddle, and of course, birthday cake. Favors were zoo pails filled with train whistles (for our zoo train ride), snacks and water bottles.  And after lunch was a trip to the zoo!  The fabrics are my favorite thing about this party—a darling Michael Miller “Kid Zoo” and polka dot. It was fun using them on outfits for my girl as well as table dressings. I also had fun with the printables including pennants for bunting, patterned papers, accordion invitations and cupcake toppers.