30th Birthday Party Pics

Here are the pics of my birthday party! It was the best party EVER and the photos don't even go half way to show the fun and atmosphere of the night but you'll get the drift I think.

I used black and white with hints of silver as the colour theme. You might remember I was going to do B&W and turquoise but I couldn't find any turquoise things that I liked so I just stuck with B&W. The kebab sticks in the glass were for the chocolate fountain.

I had a DIY cocktail bar set up at one end of the deck and a dessert table at the other. Above is a pic of the Cocktail Menu I made and my Mum laminated. It was really fun as everyone could make their own cocktails and there were different juices in clear jugs.

I bought one of those white metal trays from Spotlight to hold all the alcohol which kept the 'bar' nice and tidy.

Here is the party dress I wore which I bought for the occasion, I was really happy with it. You know when you feel comfortable in something but you still feel 'special'? hehehe.


Here is the dessert table with the chocolate fountain.... ahhhhhhh.... my mouth is watering. We had strawberries, bananas and marsh mellows that people could skewer and dip, it was a big hit!

Another view of the dessert table. I put licorice Allsorts in cocktail glasses. And I used the black and white stripped cupcake cases as tea light holders. They looked so pretty glowing away. I bought the cupcake cases from Suzanna of Mon Tresor you may already read Suzanna's blog, but her shop is fantastic!

Here I am just before the party started, I think I'm about to put the wrap on (I look like I'm being a bull tamer or something) standing in front of the dessert table. I used black and white damask wrapping paper as a table runner and also used it as 'wallpaper' behind the table.

Hanging from the roof of the deck I had about 18 white paper lanterns with little tea lights inside which gave off a beautiful subtle glow. I also had black sheer fabric draped across the roof between the lanterns.

My sister in law made my birthday cake which was my favourite Black Forest and was YUUUUUMMMMO!

Here I am with my girls...


And that's my Sister in law on the left and my friend Tania who travelled down from Forster for my party.

And here is my Dad and Glen trying to get the fire grate thingy we hired started. It was great for keeping people warm on the pavers and we also had our gas heater on the deck so I didn't even need my wrap for most of the night.

I have a really nice photo of me and my Mum which I WISH I could share with you because I have the prettiest Mum in the world but she would kill me if I posted it :(

And thank you all for your tips and tricks when I was preparing for the party... I hired a pie warmer like (I think it was Simone) suggested which was soooo good for keeping the food warm and we had those lantern stick things in the front and back garden with citronella in them which looked cool as well as serving a purpose.

So it was such a fantastic night, I wish you could have all been there.

It's been nice writing this post this afternoon as it has cheered me up... as I've got some very sad news - my Granny passed away yesterday :'(

I wont really write anything more because otherwise I'll cry but it's been a sad two days.

I hope you all have a great weekend,

30 is looking pretty good so far!!!

Ok so it's only been 24hrs but being 30 has been pretty fun so far!!!

My party on Saturday night which was titled 'Come help celebrate the last night of my 20's' was soooo much fun. It was the best party I've ever had and I enjoyed every minute!

I can't wait to share the photos with you when I get them. I'll post about it, probably later this week but all I can say is that it was my most perfect party night EVER!

I was overwhelmed to receive so many lovely things, cards, gifts, flowers and I can't tell you how much my Mum, Dad, Sister, Glen, sister-in-law, best friend, helped me out before and during the party and made it such a nice night for me - I feel so lucky.

Then last night Glen took me out for dinner - Sans Bubba, to Harbourside Indian at Lavender Bay. It was soooo nice, the food was yummo and the views.... well, the camera on my phone does not do it justice and you can see the reflection of the restaurant in the picture but I think you get the idea...


So yes, 30 is looking pretty good so far!

Have a great day everyone,

I need to get my party mojo back..... HELP!

You know how it is, you get all excited about something then after a while the excitement dies down.... that's how I'm feeling about my 30th Birthday party which is just over a month away and I've done nothing about it!!!

No invites, no guest list, nothing bought..... the only thing I've done is decide on the theme and venue. It's going to be the above cocktail party theme at home.

So I googled a few party images to get me back in the party mood...


I might go dress shopping for a cute little cocktail dress...

(If someone could just order me legs like those that would be great too...)

So please help! If you have any great party tips, advice, it would be much appreciated.

Have a lovely day ladies!

Party theme ideas

Thank you so much ladies for all your expert advice yesterday on my birthday party plans.

I'd love to say that I've come to a decision but I think I'm even more torn now :)

I put together a very quick moodboard of the theme ideas I have for each option.

Sit down dinner at the Sailing Club, would be natural earthy/beachy tones and textures.
I'm thinking a hessian table running over white table cloth with white river pebbles and tea light candles sprinkled down the tables and interspersed with green and white flowers. A few white paper lanterns hanging and the invitations and wooden fans by Illume Design.


Cocktail party at home, would be an elegant black, white and turquoise theme (well it is the Pantone colour of the year). I would have lace accents from the cupcake cases, lanterns and star bursts, lace doily bunting, lace wrapped vases and candle holders to the invitations and thank you present boxes, again by Illume Design. (Many of you know my wonderful friend of 25yrs Louise of Illume Design, but if you don't, then take a look at her gorgeous online shop and equally gorgeous blog )

I've had some great ideas on how I would cater the cocktail party without too much fuss and hastle and I think I would do Engracia's great suggestions of getting the teenage wait staff to help with the clean up and Lisa's suggestions of the cocktail machine (or I'd just do glass jugs of help yourself cocktails) so I'm not as daunted by the cocktail party anymore.

So that's how far I've gotten...
What do you think, which theme do you prefer???

Thanks so much again ladies, I love blogging, it's like getting all your girlfriends together in one room to help brainstorm without the logistics of babysitting, setting a date three weeks in advance, and you can do it in your PJ's :)

Have a great Friday,

What's the best party you've ever had?

I'd love to know, what's the best party you've ever had???
You see I'm turning the big 3-0 in a few months and figured I better start thinking about what I'd like to do to celebrate.

I'm tossing up between two ideas at the moment:

1st idea is to have a cocktail party style shin-dig at home out on the deck.

Positives of this idea:
I can decorate to my hearts content, have control over the evening, it will be held on the deck and should be lovely spring weather. Could get some teens from down the road to wait and serve.

Negatives of this idea:
It's a bit of work for me, I don't want to be in the kitchen for half the night and I'd love to just chill out and chat and enjoy myself but I just know it will be like 'Oh Janette, where's the ___', 'Oh Janette, where's the bathroom', 'Oh Janette, someone's just spilled something everywhere, where can we get something to clean it up'... etc etc. :)

Images via here

2nd idea is to have a dinner at a little known sailing club in Manly. People would just turn up and order their meal from the bistro and we would put a few hundred on a bar tab.

Positives of this option:
No fuss, no clean up, no running around, no cooking, beautiful location.

Negatives of this option:
Wouldn't be able to decorate or minimal decorating, not as much control over the evening.

What do you think??? What would you do? Any other suggestions?

Thanks for your help ladies!