Party Gone Wild

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Girls Gone Wild!

No, we’re not talking about the regrettable exhibitionist franchise, but a party theme. Wild as in jungle wild, and it’s an adorable theme for a kid’s party. Mind you, showers and children’s birthday parties are a joy when the booze is flowing, and a kid’s birthday party is the perfect excuse to go shamelessly, passionately thematic!

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Lilliana Winston turned two, and host Carla Winston saved us all from yet another pink and purple extravaganza. The theme of the party? Two Wild! She repurposed brown shopping bags, twisting them into giant tree trunks for an indoor jungle. Kids and adults alike were encouraged to wear custom fuzzy headbands, all resembling different animals on the savannah; elephants, zebras, monkeys, etc.

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Below are photos to show how fun it was, and how hard she worked. To take your party from interesting to PINTERESTing, follow Winston’s example. Enjoy!

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This is extra.

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Devil in the detail: monstera leaves & homemade treats
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Host Gone Wild: Carla Winston
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Hapy birthday Lilliana!

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Cotton Candy Party!

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For hosts obsessed with themed parties, kid birthdays are an excuse to go over the top. This year Hamilton asked for a cotton candy party.

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To save my house from destruction, I opted for a party in a local playground, and under a patio roof in case of inclement weather.

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For decor, I pulled stuffing from retired outdoor cushions. I wound it into big oval puffs and glue-gunned them into place. I then spray painted them in blue and yellow swirls. You can also dip the stuffing into dyed water to change the color. Once dry, you glue gun cones to the bottom, and paint swirls on for effect. Then, burrow your finger through each puff to draw yarn through and string up!

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Instead of renting,  I bought a mini cotton candy machine – pink and vintage carnival style. Modest in size, we only used it to make on-site cotton candy. So I wouldn’t be preoccupied with making goody bags instead of socializing, I bought pre-packaged party favors from Rainbow Cotton Candy – with a personalized message on them!

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For kids getting antsy in line at the cotton candy machine, we laid out a colorful display on silver platters. We even served cotton candy soda! And so we could even out the inevitable sugar rush, we laid out healthier options, like crudites and sliced oranges. For anyone hungry for a meal, we offered an easy classic: pizza.

As us parents watched the kids burn off energy on the playground, we sat in the shade sipping La Croix, listening to a custom soundtrack I whipped up, and caught up over pizza. The day turned out as sweet as its theme.

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