Happy Birthday Eliana

My sweet Eliana is TEN years old today. How time flies by! Last night we had a "Cookie Lee" jewelry party for Miss Eliana. My friend Michelle is a consultant and we put together a party to benefit Eli. We a friends come with their moms and they purchased things either for themselves or for Eliana and the hostess credit went toward anything "birthday girl" wanted. We had so much fun playing in the insane amount of jewelry. There was so much to choose from--cute things, amazing things, beautiful things...one or two things one would need to be brave or funky to wear, but everything fun and wonderful.

Each of the five big girls got a necklace from me: Ashlynn has a tiara pendant on a ribbon; the two "K"s--Karlie and Kaylee--have a cupcake necklace each (they just have to match); Catelynn got a gorgeous gold and pink cluster necklace that looks AMAZING on her beautiful carmel color skin; and Eliana got rubyish cherries--plus the several things she received from friends and the plumeria necklace the hostess credit allowed her to earn.

It was so fun having a "girlie" night! We sent the boys camping with Daddy Mark and stayed home to party. We set up a canopy-tent in the front yard, wrapped it with an ocean scene, placed a table inside with food; chips and dip, fruit, veggies, and punch, and we turned on the bubble machine for the little ones to play in bubbles.

We tried on lots of different styles and colors--remember how fun it was to dress up in mommy's clothes and make-up or grandma's jewelry?--it was like that, only better!

I got some great deal!!! I think I'll be doing something like this for other birthdays, it really worked out well; Eliana got things she really wanted, I saved money, we all had a great time.

After the party wrapped up and everyone left, the girls and I played some games upstairs, ate some spring rolls and chips, and then watched a movie.

I bought a birthday cake from Costco that we'll cut tonight since today is Eliana's actual birthday and we'll have some punch with Sprite and do some games with the family if the boys get back early enough.

All in all, I think everything worked out well. Eliana felt special--maybe even a little too much so at some points, but it was the general feeling I was going for.

Thanks Michelle for bringing a wonderful selection of things!

We'll see what the rest of the day brings for Eliana...she hasn't received everything yet! ;o)