Last weekend we celebrated Anya’s 5th birthday with a small party at home.  It was a very girly do with lots of paper pompoms, pink tissue and 5 giggling girls.  Last year we had a big party where I hired a venue and invited loads more kids but this year we wanted a more intimate do at home.  Anya loves lady bugs so that’s what we chose for the cake: lady bug cupcakes in pale pastels.  I wanted to keep it simple with a home-made feel so we chose cupcakes instead of a big cake.  I wish I could take credit for making them but they were made by my talented friend and cake maker Mirna.  For the food we chose Anya’s favourites and very kid friendly things like pizza, chicken goujons and crisps all home made.  I thought the food would look pretty served in little cardboard boxes lined with pink and white striped tissue. Having the party at home meant space was limited and there was no room for an extra table for the girls to eat on.  So I lay a white sheet down on the floor at one end of the living room and scattered the sheet with little gold stars and some honeycomb balls and this is where the girls ate.  The kids loved the honeycomb balls and started playing catch with them!With a December birthday you have to have the party indoors as it’s way too cold.  So that usually means a venue but I so loved having the party at home and keeping it really small and simple.  I think Anya enjoyed it more too.  All in all the sun shone, the food went down well, the decorations were destroyed and the girls giggled and screamed while my husband and I watched and celebrated our baby turning 5! 

{Anya wears technical dress,  cupcakes by Mirna Cakes,  decorations bought from deco pompoms and petra boase.}