Party Planning = stress!

The title pretty much explains it all. I am so stressed out with planning cupcakes birthday party next month. She is turning one and I really didn't want to have a party for her, but of course her father has to have something. I didn't want to argue so I pretty much just gave in. The first thing we started with was the list of people we are planning on inviting. Mind you, I was thinking max 60 people but once we started naming people our list grew to 150 people. Say waaaaah!...Yup, you should have seen my face. I told him we couldn't have that many people. It's a kiddie party not some social event. The problem here is that his family is huge...yes 120 people huge. I am not talking about distant relatives because they aren't even included in this list. All the people listed are actually close to him and the cupcake. I guess I just never noticed how many of them they were. So here is where all the stress comes in.

Our budget. I was thinking no more than $400 but now with the amount of people coming we were looking at close to $1000. Yikes! Of course we fought about cutting down the list but it wasn't happening, we still had about 120 people who actually will come to the party. Our original plan was to hire a taco man. We love tacos and so do our family so we thought it would be a lot easier to do that. But it was like $600 for just food. That was bananas! So we were freaking out trying to figure out the menu til my mom gave us a good idea.She suggested fried chicken and we thought perfect. for about 200 pieces its about $150 so we are thinking of getting $200 worth of chicken. A lot of family members offered to bring side dishes and the drinks so we are pretty much set in the food department. This weekend we are off to Downtown L.A. to see what we can snatch for decorations and centerpieces. I am just glad that we most likely going to stay well within our budget. I am still stressing because I haven't gotten the invites made which my goal is to start and finish them next week. And since we are also baptizing her that day, we have these meetings we have to attend with the Deacon at the church we are going to be doing it at. So much to do and so little time and so little money. My job sucks because they don't pay vacation or holidays so I have the smallest check coming my way next week. So paying bills and now a party is really making me want to pull my hair out.

We will manage to make it work like we always do, I just hate having to deal with stress. I can't wait for March since all this bday stuff will be a thing of the past then.

Wine anyone.

2011 Recap

Let's start with this years recap...

January: I was still pregnant and I had a baby shower at my friends house. It was really nice and I had a good time.

February: I became a mommy to the star of this blog. She has really changed my whole life.

March: One month in to mommyhood and it was bittersweet.

April: Started this blog. I went back to work..such a sad day. I loved being at home with the squishy baby. She was still such a sleepy baby, napping all the time.

May: I got Cupcakes ears pierced. I experienced my first mother's day. Finally bought Cupcake a swing.

June: Finally got an A/C in the house. Cut my hair. Started on weight loss (big fail). First time out at a restaurant.

July: Playdates and doctor visits.

August: First solids. Pool parties. Birthday parties. Good times with friends.

September: Got back together with Marc (more towards the end of the month). Visited the fair. More family outings.

October: 1st Halloween. And honestly I can't remember what else.

November: My birthday this month. Black friday crazy shopping. Last dinner for now with an old friend. It's finally cold up in here.

December: 1st Disneyland trip. Christmas card picture shoot. Family time. The stomach flu. Puffy quilts. Gingerbread house fail. Lots-o-presents.

Can't say it enough Happy New Year!