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How It All Got Started - I'm the miscellaneous momma and I just wanted to tell you how this all got started... last night, my husband and I were talking.  I had just read to him a few paragraphs that I randomly starting writing in my head on the drive home and continued writing in the notes on my phone while standing in my laundry room, mid-load.  This is how I live my life these days... Random, Spur of the moment, Squeezing in what I can, when I can.  I've always wanted to write, especially books (I almost pursued journalism in college).  Anyway, I have a million ideas in my head (for all kinds of things, really) and I love to write, and suddenly as we were talking, it hit me: Start a blog.  So, I told him out of nowhere, "I think I'll start a blog." and so here I am, the next day, starting a blog.  if i don't do it now, it will just remain an idea in my head, floating around with all the rest.  I sat in my car when I first got home this afternoon and created
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J.A.M.'s Gymnastics Party

Party Planning Time!

This year, our oldest, our sweet Jurnee Girl turned 11.  We tried to keep her party a little more lowkey than usual since she had a big 10th birthday party.  What she really wanted for her birthday was dinner at Hibachi, but that didn't work out. We ended up going to eat at a random fancy Mexican restaurant after her meet in Naples the Saturday before her birthday, and it wasn't the best, but there was a harpist and this photo-op, so that was cool.  

Senorita Jurnee 

We did our usual birthday traditions of balloons and streamer on the bedroom door for when they wake up and birthday pancakes.  Click here for a great and really easy birthday pancakes recipe.  We started these traditions when they were toddlers, and they look forward to them every year.




We also got to take her to Seaworld on her actual birthday, which was pretty special.  We hadn't been since Canyon was born, so the big kids didn't remember much about it.  It was also her first day riding real rollercoasters, other than Disney and Legoland ones.  She's brave like her daddy and brave like I used to be.  Also, if you didn't know this already, teachers in Florida get in FREE to Seaworld, and you can get a preschool pass for 3-5-year-olds if you time it right.  We were all 5 able to go and only had to buy tickets for Cavel and Jurnee.  We got one of them the Funcard, which is good through 2023, and we got the other one a pass for the year so we could get free parking and discounts.  It ended up being a great deal!  (By the way, Legoland has a lot of the same perks, if you weren't aware.)

Our birthday girl on her actual birthday :)
 Also, this is the shirt I made her last year (with a plain tee I found at the Dollar Tree!), and we lucked out since it still fit.



Party Food

Anyway, we're party people, so she had to have a party too.  For her party, we went with a gymnastics theme and used these adorable invitations to invite all her friends (no girl left behind!), and more of a dinner theme than the usual party food.  She loves spaghetti, so we went with an Italian theme.  We had a busy weekend, so we had to have her party after church on Sunday (and her Daddy had to work that morning), so I went with Million Dollar Spaghetti so I could make it ahead of time, and to be sure we had enough, I also made a crockpot chicken alfredo.  It's now a keeper around here now.  I wish I could say it was my original recipe, but it's not.  I found it here on Pinterest and tweaked it a tiny bit.  I used Rigatoni pasta and added some extra garlic and Italian seasoning.  I did make up my own Million Dollar Spaghetti Recipe after searching through tons and never finding one I really loved.  This is it.  We had Caesar salad and copycat Olive Garden salad.  I found really great fresh garlic bread at Walmart in the bakery section.  It was only $4 for 2 loaves (16 slices!!).  Sadly, I did not get a picture of all the main food, but it was delicious!

And, because I'm extra and can't let anyone be hungry and hate not having a snack for people while the food is cooking, I threw together a charcuterie board, which is French and not Italian, I know.

I'm not a professional, but it was yummy and got 
us by until the food was ready!

Also, it's not a party without punch.  My go-to recipe is: 1 container of Hawaiian punch (color/flavor of choice), 1 bottle of ginger ale, 1 cup of pineapple juice, and 1 small container of sherbet (preferably rainbow).  For this party, I wanted the color to match, but I didn't want grape, so I bought a blue and a red and mixed them to attempt to make purple.  The color wasn't perfect, but it was really good!
Party Punch



Desserts

I also tried to think of an Italian dessert, but nothing stood out to me.  Eventually, instead of a cake, I decided macarons would be a nice touch, even though they are technically French too.  One of my student's moms make them, and we happened to go to school together, so thankfully she worked with me to get them made in short notice.  

Aren't these so pretty!  They were just as tasty as they were beautiful!

Since we didn't do a cake (and because I am terrible at cake decorating), I made some simple cupcakes and made my own cupcake toppers just using my Cricut and cardstock and toothpicks.  

I bought this cupcake stand at a yard sale years ago for like $3.  
It's my go-to when I can't find one that matches the theme.




I also LOVE making Cake Mix cookies.  This time, we made tiny ones to make them a little fancy.  We used Funfetti Cake Mix and just bought matching sprinkles.  I'll add the recipe for that soon. 

i get the most compliments on these simple cookies, and you can make them for 
virtually any theme.  More details coming soon!



Party Deco

And, since her party was rather last minute, most of the party deco was Amazon and what I could find locally between Dollar Tree and Walmart.  I also tried to keep it simpler than usual.  We found this really cute gymnastics stuff on Amazon and just added turquoise and purple and pink basics to it from Walmart and the Dollar Tree.  I think it turned out super cute. The dessert table backdrop also doubled as a photo booth 💗 


 I made this shirt for Jurnee when I first got my Cricut, 
and it was a perfect match for her party, so that saved me from
needing to buy a shirt. I love when that happens!








Pinata

Jurnee BEGGED for a pinata, and I didn't want to give in, but how many more times will she ask for one?  She only had one for her first birthday, and she obviously doesn't remember it, so I caved.  We used a bat... Big mistake.  It broke on like the 2nd swing... BUT... It was cute while it lasted, and her pinata dream came true 😁

10/10 DO NOT recommend using a real metal bat 😂




Party Favors

I didn't want to spend a fortune on party favors since we were doing a pinata, but I also didn't want to send her friends home empty handed.  We came up with this using cheap jump ropes from Amazon and a tag I made and printed myself.  I would definitely have splurged on $1 jump ropes from Walmart if I'd had more time and/or known how cheapie these would be.  Oh well, they were cute.





Party Fun

Other than eating, cake, opening presents, and the pinata, we didn't really plan anything specific for this party.  The kids had a blast just hanging out, both inside and outside.  They piled in Jurnee's room for some girl time, and then they swung on the swings and played on the zipline and had an unplanned boys v. girls tug-of-war match.  Sometimes less planning is more fun.  

 












And with that, another party is in the books... I hope this inspired you in your party planning ventures in some way.  Happy Party Planning, friends!
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Hi and welcome to my miscellaneous world! My name is Micah Myers, and I am a wife, momma of three, culinary teacher, and prek volunteer at our church. I love a good book, a cup of coffee, a beautiful garden, a cozy bed, a delicious meal, a warm shower, a creative spark, late nights, and fun memories with the family.

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