A Party, Giveaway Winner And A Blogiversary

So Master P's birthday party was a big success the sun shone, and 'Harry' had a thoroughly enjoyable time with his pals whilst I did my best to play hostess. There was lots of fun and games and the sun shone brightly. Of course a party wouldn't be a party without balloons....

Being a Harry Potter themed party there was this poster to greet everyone as they arrived....
 

And we had all sorts of potions and Harry Potter esque food and drinks....

A Harry Potter party wouldn't be a Harry Potter party without chocolate frogs, broomsticks and owls....

I can't believe my little boy is now 6, where does the time go?

He also picked a winner for my little giveaway and congratulations to Carolyn, whose name was picked out of the hat, your giveaway parcel shall soon be on its way to you. Thanks so much to everyone else for jumping in the hat, I wish you could have all won. We are busy here thinking of ways to entertain ourselves during these summer holidays, and hopefully we shall get an opportunity to get away for a little U.K. break before school starts again. It may just be myself and the children as Mr. P who has had his holiday time with us is back to it and busy working. I think a change of scenery, even if just for a short while is always good for the soul. 

I am also job hunting during these summer months, and with the children at home too it is proving quite a challenge. It is all rather exciting and daunting at the same time. I shall always enjoy making things over at Polka Dots And Posies  and am always flattered that people may want to buy the pretty things I make, but I have found another passion that I would like to pursue so we shall just have to see how it all goes. 

I also seem to have missed my blogiversary on here, gosh I am rubbish aren't I. It shall have been four years since I published that first blog post and goodness me, how the time has flown. I don't know how much longer I shall keep this little olde blog of mine going, but for now I shall keep plodding on. I do kind of see her as my baby, and I don't want to quite give up on her just yet. So many blogs I have seen come and go since I started this blogging journey and in all honesty that makes me a little sad, I miss many people very much....

Anyway I think my belated blogiversary calls for another little giveaway soon. Watch this space ;) 

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It's Party Time!!

Tis party season in the Poppins household and this normally means a little trip to the yellow and blue store. Luckily we have one not too far away from us and so off we all went to choose some party supplies suitable for both the adults and children. I am like a child in a sweet shop when I go to Ikea and there is so much pink shabby chicness in there right now, I couldn't resist many lovely things....

I was so impressed with the lovely sale fabric at just £1.99 a metre. The idea is to use the fabric as tablecloths for the party but I am already envisaging many lovely cushions I could make out of it, and it would make the perfect fabric for covering a little chair or two....

I found many party supplies from Ikea. Take these super little glasses for only 90p for a pack of 6....

And I just loved the glass drink bottles....

Not long ago I had bought some pretty apple decorations from The Lovely Room which sells the prettiest things....

And I thought they would make a very sweet touch on the Ikea carafes. I think the sparkling rosé shall look very pretty in these....

At the weekend in a reclamation centre I saw a lovely garden trolley which had a removable tray and I  knew it would be super for an outdoor garden party. It is really solid, with good quality wood and I was happy to pay the asking price of £10....

The Carafe bottles look so sweet nestled in the bottle spaces....

 I almost squealed when I saw these pretty napkins on the shelves in Ikea....

 I have been searching for a little while for a pretty napkin holder and thought this one just perfect. Good old Ikea....

And I had to have the pretty paper cups at 50p ( sale price ) for a pack of 10....

What is it with Ikea and candle buying? I had to pop a couple of these sale 29p pink ones in the trolley....

 Of course there were children to cater for too....

We have been looking for a long time for a suitable gazebo for the garden, and many we have seen have either been very, very expensive or lacking in quality somewhat. On our visit to Ikea I wanted to see what gazebo's they may have. We all liked the look of the Karlso Gazebo  and I thought it a very reasonable price as many I have seen in various high street department stores have been hundreds of pounds and over our budget. It was very straightforward to put up, and both Mr P and I assembled it reasonably quickly. I love that it has detachable curtains all the way around....

The brand new paper decoration I found at the car boot for 50p....

And of course you can't have a gazebo without bunting....

And if anyone gets lost they just need to look out for this sign....

As for the party day itself, I really, really hope the sun has got his hat on. The weather has been so unpredictable and well, you just never know. Fingers crossed. If he hasn't, well, at least we have a pretty little place to sit and take cover....

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Birthday Party Season....

Well they are barely back at school, and already, we have a pile of birthday party invitations. Party season has well and truly begun in the Poppins household I can tell you. We have a busy couple of months ahead of us, infact I think I may plan ahead and get a party drawer, a drawer packed full of little cards and presents so I am not always running to the toy shops 10 minutes before the party starts.

Not too long until my very special daughter turns 9. Nearly 9 years old! My 51b 110zs baby, and already, she wants to talk party plans. My goodness can a girl not wait. So with forward planning and all that, Miss. Poppins and I have decided for a simple, at home party with her closest friends, and maybe, maybe, if her poor old mum is up to it, a sleepover. The party food has already been decided upon, and yes you guessed it, it is the one and only perfect party sleepover food, a....

Pizza Delivery Service  I shall be calling before the day to see if I can get a special birthday menu or indeed any special discount :0) Am I the only one who cannot just have one piece of pizza, so think we better order plenty.

Every year I say I am going to bake a cake, every year I go out and buy a cake ;0) I have to say, I have been very happy with many shop bought cakes, mind you I am of course a lover of all things cake related.

As for party bags, well I do normally make/sew my own and pop some pretties in. Is 9 too old for a party bag....I don't think so. I am an adult and I still offer out my hand to receive my party bag at the end of grown up parties, of course all I get is a handshake, and maybe a kiss on the cheek. I don't think any of us grow old of party bags :0)

Apparently I am to be in charge of the music. I have no idea what party music 9 year old girls are into these days, I better do my homework methinks on that one ( or you can tell me) . So, if you have some of your own party planning to be getting on with, good luck, have fun, and please save me a piece of cake won't you....

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