Lily's "Puppy Up" Birthday Party

We are a dog family! My daughter, in particular, is obsessed with dogs of all shapes and sizes. We are actively involved in a local rescue organization and have three dogs of our own. I'm a teacher who loves to work with my daughter to plan her birthday party every summer. We have so much fun gathering all the materials, planning, and making everything ourselves. No professional party planners, no professional photographers, no bakeries--just us! My daughter had a big part to play in the majority of the planning and shopping--from choosing the theme and color scheme to making all of the homemade foods for her party herself--while I worked on the graphics, invitations, labels, craft table ideas, goodie bags, and signs. Everyone had a blast at the party, and the best part is that my daughter and I had the most fun working together! We're already hard at work on this year's party, which will have a Glamping theme!

• What People Ate

  Kids enjoyed a candy bar, homemade candies, cookies, cupcakes, popcorn, and candy kabobs!

• What People Drank

  For the kids: water and fruit punch. Delicious homemade Very Berry Sangria for the grown ups.

• Desserts

  Cupcakes/candy bar

• Party Favors

  Puppy themed items: Doggie baseball caps, bracelets, necklaces, stickers, pencils.

• Activities / Games

  Decorating dog houses for a stuffed animal puppy the kids could take home, Cellophane candy game (wrap candies in LOTS and LOTS of cellophane). Kids sit in a circle. One begins to try to unwrap the candy while the next rolls two dice trying to get doubles. As soon as he/she gets doubles, the other child must pass the ball on. WAY better than a piñata and so much fun! The party was outdoors, so children also jumped on trampoline.

• Jennifer Kitzmiller

  Friend/Party Goods and Decor

  My friend, Jennifer, owns Pretti Mini Party Goods at https://www.etsy.com/shop/prettimini. She made the backdrop, Lily banner, and pom poms you see in the pictures.

• Lily

  My daughter

  My 10 year old wants to major in business administration in college and open her own bakery and party planning business with me when she grows up! She came up with the party idea, color scheme, craft idea, and baked all of the homemade goodies by herself!