Jane Austen Birthday Party

It is a truth universally acknowledged that... 

.... some of the best parties are birthday parties!

At the end of August we celebrated our oldest daughter's 14th birthday with a Jane Austen themed birthday, focusing on the birthday girl's two favorite Austen books: Pride & Prejudice and Emma!

This brand new high schooler of ours decided to join the local high school's soccer team and ended up having daily doubles every day the week of her birthday - Run like Mr. Collins just proposed! ;)

In between her first practice and her second I took her to town for a birthday coffee and to stop at the store for some party food. While she was at her second practice we all worked together quickly at home to bake a cake, decorate, and pull together some party appetizers for a movie night. We started with the BBC version of Pride & Prejudice and then watched Hallmark's modern day spin off Unleashing Mr. Darcy. Even with very little preparation ahead of time it all came together!

.: Pride & Prejudice Inspired Birthday Banner :. 

The night before the birthday party I was up late with the baby, as usual, and ended up making a last minute birthday banner. You can download and print my document here if you'd like to use it too. 

During her morning soccer practice I cut it out and hung it up. Everything takes at least ten times longer than it did before this cute little baby arrived, but the party decorations came together!

Rose Teapot • Letter Board

While I baked the cake our 12 year old helped decorate and update the letter board.

Jane Austen Birthday Book • Peacock Teapot

.: Emma Inspired Birthday Cake :.

My bundt pans have saved me so many times lately when I don't have the time or energy to be very creative but still want to pull together something special... 

I've used them for Chronicles of Narnia, Snow White & Rose Red, When Calls the Heart, and Ranger's Apprentice Birthday Cakes. 

For this birthday I used my Nordic Ware Cathedral Cake Bundt Pan and placed it on top of 2 - 9" Round Cakes, decorating it with fresh flowers, some frosting, powdered sugar sprinkles, and grapes. 

It was inspired by this cake from the BBC version of Emma. What do you think? 

.: Pride & Prejudice Movie Night Party Appetizers :. 

Longbourn Layered Dip

The Ladies of Longbourn are diverse in their character. 
Some are lighter in substance while others are more complex, 
just like the layers of this dip.

Mr. Collins Cheese-ball

While its namesake is cheesy you may find this savory treat a little more sensible. Served with crackers.

Recipe here.

Lady Catherine Kabobs

Her ladyship has been known to pierce through sweetness much like bamboo skewers pierced through fruit and cake.

Pemberley Salad

Almost as delightful as the grounds at Pemberley are the greens of Pemberley, especially when paired with pasta, chicken, and a creamy balsamic dressing.

Darcy's Decadence

A warm, rich, and chocolatey dessert fit for a man of good fortune.
Served with ice cream and caramel sauce.

Lydia's Lemony Libation

A sparkling lemonade and white wine punch.
Like Lydia it’s sweet but a little tart.

(Update: We made our punch with lemonade concentrate, 7-up, and vanilla ice cream. No wine included!)
The original inspiration for many of our menu items was found here. 

.: Party Time :. 

"I love you most ardently" 💕 

#littlemissausten #prideandprejudice #allreadyforhersistersparty #hurryhomedaddy

I ordered the onsies here. Isn't it perfect?! 

Here's the link for our favorite heart swaddle and Baby Lit Board Book too. 

I shared a video of her squeaks and squeals over on Instagram. 

I love how our seven year old is always on her tip toes! 

I often don't even notice until I look at the picture later...

I love having teens!

.: Birthday Gifts:.

I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library... 

The birthday girls gifts were basically a mix of (much needed) clothing and books:

American Eagle Flannel Shirts • Nike Fleece Skirt (like her sisters) 

Jean Skirt • Pride & Prejudice Graphic T-Shirt • Twist Gray Knit Infinity Scarf

White Lace Dress (for her upcoming Confirmation) and Green Dress from Macy's

Lizzie and Emma Prints from Sleightholm Folk Art

Jane Austen Doll Dress (I won it in a giveaway a couple years ago!)

Pride & Prejudice Notebook • Just Bloom Planner

Marrying Mr. Darcy Card Game (I want to get her the Emma Extension for Christmas!) 

Pride & Prejudice Coloring Book • Be Yourself!: A Journal for Catholic Girls

Some of her gifts doubled as party decorations, including her new set of Jane Austen books. I've had quite a few of the Austen themed gifts stashed in my closet for years waiting for one of the girls to have a Pride & Prejudice Birthday. So glad to finally pull them out! 

I love that all my girls still love to play with paper dolls. This Pride & Prejudice set is the newest addition to their collection. 

This loving big brother is the reason I was able to finish the birthday cake and be able to take any pictures of the party! He is one of the few people she allows to hold her when she's upset. 

.: Fourteen Candles :.

Completely, and perfectly, and incandescently happy...

Happy Birthday! 

Glasses

 

I mentioned the other day that we ordered glasses (including an extra pair at a discount) for our 11 year old daughter this past Wednesday. We were told that they would take about 7-10 days, but on Friday they called to say the glasses had already arrived. Sean took her to pick them up after Hockey yesterday morning. She is still getting used to wearing them but I think she looks adorable… and so grown up! 

Summer Fun :: Paint By Number

A few years ago the girls were each given a Paint-by-Number Craft Kit for Christmas from one of their uncles. They were a little young for them at the time, but inspired by our most recent Meet-the-Masters lesson on Claude Monet (a favorite from Tract A which I still need to blog about!) they asked if they could try painting the pictures. After a couple late nights and extra early mornings, the girls were able to complete their paintings before their Daddy and older brothers arrived home from summer camp on July 19th.  I had no idea that a paint-by-number could turn out so nicely, or that our little artists would enjoy them so much!

Seaside Garden by Twinkle Toes (age 10) 

Chickadees and Lilacs by Chiquita (age 9)

“He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.” ~ St. Francis of Assisi

Happy Birthday, Caroline! :: An American Girl Party

At the end of last month we celebrated Twinkle Toes 10th birthday!   Last Christmas she had received Caroline along with a matching dress and had been looking forward to a "Caroline" themed birthday party all year!  Even though I wasn't feeling well that day (which seems to be a theme for birthdays this year!), and had an appointment with my dentist, we still managed to pull off a fun-filled day for our oldest daughter.   I had a few activities planned and Sean took all of the older children on an afternoon outing while my mom came over to help me make dinner.  It wasn't as elaborate as some of the past birthday parties we have had (at least I didn't think so until I started to compile all the pictures in this blog post!) but the birthday girl absolutely loved her special day!

.: Meet Caroline - 1812 :.

a daring, self reliant girl who learns to steer a steady course
 amid the challenges of war

 The first thing Twinkle Toes did when she woke up was put on her Caroline outfit, I curled her hair, and then she came out to the kitchen to see her cake and enjoy and eat breakfast! 

She had requested "Old Fashioned Oatmeal" with cream, brown sugar, and raisins, in addition to mugs of hot cocoa to drink! 

"When Caroline woke, sun was sreaming through the window.  The scent of frying bacon drifted into the bedroom. She tossed the quilt aside and jumped to her feet.  If she didn't hurry, she'd be late for breakfast." 

~ Changes for Caroline

.: Caroline's Color and Crafts :. 

"Embroidery was considered an important skill for girls. Some girls, like Caroline, enjoyed this work." 
~ Meet Caroline: An American Girl

Even though this Embroidered Pillow Kit was made for Felicity it ties in nicely for Caroline too!  The girls had received these kits last Christmas as well and still hadn't started making them yet.  They got started on the embroidery, but are still working on completing the project.

I had also ordered a copy of Caroline Color & Craft which kept all the kids busy while I ran to town.

.: Racing Hoops :.

"I like racing hoops too," Caroline said.  She blew out the lamp and slid into bed.  "Last year we had hoop races in the village on Independence Day."  It had been great fun to roll big wooden hoops over the grass, while little children practiced nearby." 
~ A Surprise for Caroline

Large hoops are set into motion and the person runs along side it, keeping it rolling with a stick. Hoop-rolling contests can be held to see who can roll their hoop for the longest amount of time or who can roll it the farthest.

.: Inkpot Cookies :.

"Inkpot, her black cat, must have found the carpet comforting, too. He was curled into a ball in a patch of sunlight, fast asleep. Caroline scooped him up and nestled one cheek against his soft fur.  Papa had brought Inkpot home when he was no more than a scruffy stray kitten.  "sailors believe black cats are good luck," he'd told Caroline." 
~ Meet Caroline: An American Girl

After Racing Hoops the girls came inside and helped bake "Inkpot" Sugar Cookies!  We kept it quick and simple by just using a package of refrigerated Sugar Cookie dough with a cat shaped cookie cutter.

I thought the Wilton Cookie Cutter made a perfect version of Inkpot! 

.: Birthday Feast :.

"Mama and Grandmother had prepared a feast: stuffed whitefish, lima beans, cabbage and apples, carrot pudding, and two desserts - an apple pie and a burnt-sugar cake."
~ Caroline's Secret Message

It worked out perfectly that my mom (grandmother!) stopped by to help me pull together dinner while Sean was out with all the big kids! When everyone arrived home the Apple Cider was simmering on the stove and we have Sailboat Eggs, whitefish, lima baked beans, cabbage and apples and two desserts all ready! 

"Caroline Abbot leaned over the rail and laughed with delight.  "Isn't this wonderful?" she asked her cousin Lydia. Sailing on Lake Ontario was fun anytime, but being permitted to come aboard the sloop White Gull on its very first voyage was an extra-special treat." 
~ Meet Caroline: An American Girl

.: Birthday Gifts :.

"After the plates had been cleared away, Caroline received several gifts." 
~ Caroline's Secret Message

"Caroline jumped up so fast, her chair almost fell over.  She ran around the table and hugged Mr. Tate.  "What a wonderful gift," she said.  "Thank you.""

~ Caroline's Secret Message

Twinkle Toes received such a fun variety of gifts including Caroline's Birthday Dress and a couple other American girl items from Sean and I, a miniature Saige doll from Grandma & Grandpa for our horse loving freckled girl, a super sweet card and gift from her other grandparents, a couple new pajamas, a bunk bed (to go along with their own new bunk bed!) for her Calico Critters from Chiquita.  

I also gave her a couple books I loved when I was her age - The Secret Garden (she received the version illustrated by Tasha Tudor) and Eight Cousins by Louisa May Alcott.  I also gave her a copy of Caddie Woodlawn!  (I loved that a couple of them matched the cover of A Surprise for Caroline, and tied in Ice Skating to the party, since our original plans to go ice skating were changed when we found out that the rink was closed for their annual deep cleaning.  I'm sure she will loves these as much as I did!

.: Caroline's Bonnet Birthday Cake :. 

I already posted about Caroline' Bonnet Birthday Cake here. 

And I had to share the following four pictures... I didn't notice what Snuggles and Rose were up to until I uploaded the pictures! Too funny! 

"Caroline heard the murmur of conversation from the next room, where people she loved had gathered to honor her birthday.  She reached for her grandmother's hand.  "Come along," she said.  "Let's go back to the party."

 Happy 10th Birthday Twinkle Toes!