So its ALMOST Benjamin's little birthday party and I am SO excited. I am still not very good at doing parties - I figure I'll be better at it as they get older and hopefully by the time their long term memory kicks in.
Planning parties can be quite stressful for me - especially since the arrival of Pinterest, right? They can also be really expensive and competitive (weird I know) but you can't help it. When your friend has thrown THE most amazing party for their kid, and you can't afford to hire a petting zoo or race track, you know? Also, I don't put too much stress on these things (anymore) - this year I was adamant that we'd just have a little get together at Spur as the boys LOVE it and its their party, not mine. This year, all Benjamin wants is a SPIDER-MAN everything, and clever daddy designed the pretty invitation too.
![]()
I have had bad experiences with parties where I freaked out at being quoted around R1450 for a kiddies birthday cake. A cake? I was all - this is for a four year old, not a wedding? I don't really know how much time goes in to making those extravagant bakery cakes, but more than anything I was annoyed at the system. The system where parents really are spending those monies on parties, and where sometimes the whole celebration goes out the window and it's all about the show... and I don't like that. Obviously not ALL parents, but you've been to those parties where there is just no love in anything. As a kid, my parties meant a lob-sided home made marble cake (I love you mom and I loved those cakes!) covered in smarties, a jumping castle, cheese curls and friends. My mom would make us do silly games like biting apples out of buckets of water and there would be prizes and it was really fun. Water balloon fights. Pool parties - all either at home or at Spur. This one year I had an ice cream cake and it was like the best day of my life because someone had stuck a Barbie in it.
Some of these parties really are like little weddings. For a while I wanted to do those beautiful, perfectly styled parties but I'm not really good at it. It's really expensive sometimes. I wish we still had a huge garden where I could just hire a jumping castle and put out nik-naks and fizz pops and be done with it. I am NOT being negative about beautiful parties - I LOVE them, and being at them, and being friends with those super talented and amazing moms that genuinely love party planning and making things beautiful. They are sooooo good at it and I love all of it and I love them, I really do. I am just not that creative and not that good at planning. I couldn't even get the table seating right at my own wedding and organized the flowers the day before - really, don't ask me to do anything. Just invite me and I'll have lots of fun and tell you a thousand times how wonderful everything is because it really really is. Look how talented and creative my friend Vanessa is. Nina's party was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen and you can tell that she loved and appreciated every second. See all the pictures here.
![]()
![]()
So THIS year - I'm planning the most fun little party for little Benjamin. The lovely folks over at Octopus' Garden (one of our favourite restaurants in Cape Town) is letting us party in their garden - bring our own cakes, ice cream cones etc. Their garden is beautiful and right next to the St James train station with an ocean view. The theme of the restaurant is very Alice in Wonderland meets Under the Sea and the garden is huge. It's gorgeous! They're going to do some delicious snacks, jugs of juice and wines for us.
![]()
I'm going to make some party packs and guys - I AM BAKING THE CAKE MYSELF. This usually doesn't end up very well. Last year I hadn't even had the cake iced by the time the guests arrived and there would have been no cake at all if Granny didn't step in and ice it while I was running after kids.
A few weeks ago I went to the product launch of the NoMU Baking Kits and my mind was BLOWN. I tasted everything on the treat tables and everything was delicious. The problem with buying a R1000 cake covered in marzipan and iced figurines is that they just don't taste good. They look beautiful, but then I go home with half a cake and discarded slices on paper plates after everyone has left. I know you know what I'm talking about. The cool thing about NoMU's kits is that you can alter recipes - add cherries, nuts, raisins, choc chips - alter it to your taste and it can't be easier. Their chocolate brownies are ridiculously easy to make - just add eggs and something else, mix and put in oven. Not even I can screw that up and my family was VERY impressed. Obviously the pre-mix box was shoved to the bottom of the dustbin, but everyone thought I was amazing and that's all that mattered. I also highly recommend the Oatmeal Cookie mix. The boys loved making those with me. The NoMU baking kit portions are really generous and right up there with what you'd expect from their quality and passion for all things food, flavour and luxury. You can read more about their new baking kits on their blog here.
Anyway, so after tasting the delicious NoMU fool-proof, rich and moist dark chocolate cake - I have definitely gained some baking confidence here. I'm going to take the chocolate and vanilla mix and layer those to make a rainbow cake of sorts. Then I'm going to ice them and draw a little icing web all over it, something like this below. Then I'm going to buy a little Spider-Man figurine somewhere and stick that little guy on top. Benjamin is going to LOVE it. And all made by me. Because I can be wonderful too!
Then I'll buy lots of silly string (webs) and toy spiders and find a game or two online, and there you go - happy party vibes for everyone. I am SO excited about this party. A friend recommended this online party site: PartyNet that stocks party supplies for all your typical Disney, Pixar and Marvel party themes. And then I'll be getting the rest of the goodies from my FAVOURITE In Good Company which also has an online store and has all your beautiful party themes like Peter Rabbit, The Gruffalo, Fairies, Knights, Vintage, Dinosaur, Nautical, Cowboy etc. Really, the most beautiful party supplies delivered to your door, stress-free.
If you're really stuck for a killer party with limited time, and you live in Joburg then you must, must get hold of Pretty Things For You. They plan, source and create THE most gorgeous parties. I do stalk them - often. Find them on Facebook here and their website here. If you don't have time to plan or if you STILL don't know where to go or who to call - then they're you're best bet in the Joburg area. Look at THIS party they did. Omg.
So this year I'm taking this party and planning in to my own hands and I am completely excited. Bunny LOVES Spider-Man and friends and cake and his family and its going to be super loads of fun. Party planning shouldn't be stressful, cost a fortune or take all the celebration out of the fact that your gorgeous child has survived your parenting skills for another full year! To many, many more little Bunny Ben!