Even though the Polar Vortex was happening outside, inside we were having a cozy pajama-themed toddler birthday party.
My parents are from the South and instilled in me an appreciation for quality hospitality. The number one goal of any of gathering is to make guests feel comfortable. When guests feel comfortable at a party, they are more themselves and have more fun – which is the number two goal. Fun!
I wanted my son’s 2nd birthday party to be as relaxed as possible, so I decided to have a Pajama Party themed birthday party. A dress code can be a powerful way to set the tone for a party. All of the kids came dressed in their cutest pajamas, and knowing that we would spend most of the party chasing and playing with our kids on the floor, I invited the adults to wear loungewear too.
The Pajama Party started around 10:00am, so we provided a mix of breakfast foods – including, croissants, Nutella, fresh jam, a yogurt parfait bar and banana muffins. Then around 11:30am, we also offered guests a variety of homemade frittatas since we knew that most parents had been up early and would be ready for lunch. I shared the tiered menu with guests ahead of time, so they could plan accordingly.
A key to party menu planning – especially for toddlers – is that it allows for some level of customization. Then, people can pick and choose what they like best. For example, we offered guests the option to build-their-own parfait as they wished, or they could just eat the fruit on its own.
Another key to party planning is to not stress yourself out. I decided to stick with what has become my go-to kid party decorations – fresh flowers, balloons, streamers (from Land of Nod) and showing some favorite photos from my son’s past year on our AppleTV throughout the party. These are all easy yet impactful ways to make the gathering feel like a celebration.
As favors for our Kids Pajama Party, my son handed out a kid-sized pillow and a bedtime storybook to each of his friends. My mom made the pillowcases and the kid-size pillows came from Jo-Ann Fabrics.
And then, hopefully, every kid fell asleep on their way home…or at least they were dressed and ready for their nap.
Jessica Mefford is a Chicago mom who shares tips and stories on how to blend style with a busy, demanding life on her blog StyleMeetLife.com and through personal styling sessions for moms and professionals. Jessica is also a qualitative marketing research consultant and moderator who helps Fortune 500 companies transform consumer insights into brand building ideas. Facebook │ Instagram │ Twitter │Pinterest
Love the idea and looks like H had a wonderful party. Jessica always has such helpful and practical ideas. Look forward to seeing more of her !