A day in the life... (posted by Tara)

I have been going to do this post for a LONG TIME!  I took the photos and started the post and just never finished it!!!  And it was almost 12 months ago!!! So here it is ~ late, but here ~ a day in the life of me, Tara Sarnelli*

6.30am Alarm goes off (and I groan)

7.00am Coffee time - even tho its decaf I still need to have it every morning! Husband leaves for work and I put a load of washing on, pick up the few toys still out from the night before and quickly check emails and facebook on my iPhone.  

7.30am The garbage man comes by and Mr 2 loves to watch him out the front window.

 

8.00am Everybody is up and its time to get lunches packed and everyone dressed and ready for school.

8.45am Time for the school run to drop the oldest boys off.

9.00am Back home and it's free play time for Mr 2 whilst mummy packs up the orders to be shipped and answers emails.

10.30am Decide to make macarons for the first time ever!

12.30pm Nap time for bubby (on mummy and daddy's bed). Mummy catches up on some housework and does some dessert bar quotes and answers some emails.

2.00pm Party printables - have some time before school pick up to cut some of the printables from Style Me Gorgeous that we will be using for a party.

3.00pm School pick up time.  Hear all about their day on the way home and every afternoon we have 'what was your good thing at school today'? and 'what was a not so good thing today'?  (and nothing is not an answer).  Today they both liked that they got to go to the canteen, but Mr 6 didn’t like that he forgot his hat and couldn’t play in the sun, and Mr 11 didn’t like that he had a hard maths question.

3.15pm Call in at the supermarket to pick up supplies for dinner - tacos tonight 

4.00pm Afternoon snack then homework time for the big boys

5.00pm Mr 6 goes to Joeys and I cook dinner.

6.30pm I go to Personal Training with Mikele from Trainwithmikele, while daddy serves dinner 

7.45pm Home from training and pack some products ready to take to a photo shoot in the morning.

8.15pm Finish the macarons - put the frosting in the middle and join them - they will go to work with hubby for his colleagues to enjoy (they get to sample all my trial runs).

8.30pm Bedtime for the boys, and I catch up on some paperwork before heading to bed at about 10.30pm

 

*Tara is a mum to 3 boys, a wife and the owner of www.sweetlittlebirdy.com.au, an online store packed with gorgeous party items, gifts and homewares... As well as their online store they also offer a dessert and candy bar service, as well as a party styling service, to customers in the Hunter Valley, Newcastle and Central Coast regions.  

Feather boas, cocktails and strawberries... a hen's night to remember

Last month Tara from Sweet Little Birdy hosted a very special hen's night and we had to share the details with you. The pictures are fun and flirty and the night looks like it was a huge success!

So Tara, what was the celebration for? It was a Hen's night for my sister-in-law, Meryem, who's wedding was on March 23rd.  We held the party 3 weeks before the wedding and it was a fantastic evening.

Table Decorations by Sweet Little Birdy

What was the theme? We had Red and Black Burlesque cocktail party, followed by luxury transport in a stretch chrysler to dinner and dancing. 

Why did you choose this theme? It was the bride-to-be's choice, she loves the style that originated from the 1920s and it was the only theme she suggested when we started originally planning her night.

Pretty Bride-to-Be Meryem

What was your favourite thing about the party? Sourcing all the props and seeing all the girls in costume.  We also ended up with some interesting cocktails!  Oh and the vodka soaked gummy bears were lethal!

Invite by Imaginate

The girls had a professional photographer come to the party (Peta Eyeington photography) and take boudoir styled photos with a collection of props (feather boas, feather fans, hair pieces and necklaces) which as you can see look like they were heaps of fun! What a great keepsake for the bride-to-be and her close friends!

Peta Eyeington Photography

 What food was served? We had a combination of sweet and savoury snacks, including a cheese and  dip platter. The dessert bar styled by Sweet Little Birdy had a delicious selection of cheesecake pots, strawberries with white chocolate dip as well as a range of chocolates. And what would a Hen's night be without cocktails... there were a few to choose from :-)

I love the centrepiece of black and white feathers, we often see cakes and so it's nice to see something creative that ties the theme in so well. How gorgeous are those over sized martini glasses (available to hire from Sweet Little Birdy or you can find them at most discount shops) - so girly and fun with strawberries and Jaffa lollies in them with the cutest heart stick toppers!



The labels by Paper Party Passion fit the theme so perfectly!

What games/lolly bags were there? We played some fun ‘adult’ games including ‘chink and drink’, parcel the parcel, playdough modelling, lucky door and some others. Every guest also received a little noodle box filled with chocolates that I had decorated with lace and a handmade paper red rose, filled with some 'naughty and nice' treats.

Custom party boxes by Sweet Little Birdy

Oh Tara - I just love those paper roses with lace - it can be adapted to suit so many party themes... vintage with ivory lace and a rose? Ruffles? Parisian theme? Endless ideas!

Do you have any planning tips that might help others planning a party? Research your theme and find inspiration in unlikely places, and have fun! Google took me back to an era of smoky clubs and sexy entertainers in minutes!

Oh she is so clever! And the photography by Peta Eyeington is fantastic isn't it?

Where did you get your products?
 

All styling and products by Sweet Little Birdy

Labels by http://www.etsy.com/shop/paperpartypassion

Photography by Peta Eyeington

I hope you enjoyed the photos as much as I did. (I'm also wishing I could have my hen's night all over again)!! Are you planning a similar theme? We hope you got lots of inspiration from Tara's sensational Burlesque cocktail party.

Yours in blogging

Val

Ps I'm getting very excited to see all your entries for the Sweet Little Birdy Party table competition (the prizes are amazing!!). My tip when planning dessert tables is to start early and get those sales! Closing date is 31st August 2012. xox