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Sanae Ishida

A crafty little atelier in a grey city

Happy Friday + Randomness

August 14, 2015

2015-kbday-goodiebags1

Happy Friday! Now that I’ve had a couple of days of staring off into space with little in the way of brain activity, I’m in industrious mode and am preparing for K’s upcoming sleepover birthday party that’s happening tomorrow. Her actual birthday was at the end of July, but due to the unfortunate scheduling of book stuff, I’d promised her that I would organize a fetê to remember after I completed my big deadlines. I think it’s telling that she said, “Well, even if everything goes wrong, we’ll have a good story to tell.” That should give you an idea of how my party-planning efforts tend to end up.

I’m sewing up some goody bags from this luscious metallic knit fabric (purchased from Drygoods many, many moons ago) that I originally meant to use for the book. It turned out to be too blingy for the look I was going for, so now I can make little glam pouches that K’s friends will be sure to love. In the coming months, you’ll start to see all the fabrics that I intended for the book that never made it. To say I went a little crazy fabric shopping is an understatement.

The theme of the birthday party: Hotel Extravaganza. But not just any hotel, friends. We’re modeling the event after The Comfort Inn, that economical and wholly nondescript chain of accommodations in the vein of Holiday Inn (Express), Quality Inn and Best Western. It’s K’s all-time favorite lodging, and thank goodness she hasn’t experienced the Four Seasons, because it’s already proving to be more than I bargained for to transform our house into a lower-to-mid-level hotel for five girls.

2015-kbday-goodiebags2

There will be a lobby for check-in (complete with a plate of cookies at the counter, just like The Comfort Inn), keycards to the “suites”, and room service. We’re taking some creative liberties with the theme and throwing in a little spa pampering with mani/pedis and a “media + party room” for movies and karaoke — M will resurrect his college DJ days and get a dance fiesta going (I heard him mutter something about getting a disco ball for the living room; maybe I should just drape this fabric over a rotating fan for a similar effect).

So I’m off to assemble goody bags (with miniature bottles of shampoo and conditioner, soaps, etc.) and to bake and clean and pump up the air mattresses. Perhaps I’ll be able to show you the fruits of my labor next week — but no guarantees since I’ll probably be running around like a madwoman. Have a wonderful weekend, all!

When our guests arrive
Saturday evening en masse
They’ll see: “K’s Hotel”

 

Filed in: life • by sanae • 6 Comments

Comments

  1. gretaclark

    August 14, 2015 at 5:13 am

    You are on such a creative streak. please, please don’t get a job at the burger shop, unless you need to rest. This is an amazing idea.And, I know it will be fun!!

    Reply
    • sanae

      August 16, 2015 at 5:42 pm

      Haha! The burger shop can wait for a little longer (though my husband would beg to differ). The party was epic — updates to follow soon! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Melissa

    August 14, 2015 at 8:07 am

    Wow, I’m so impressed. And so will the guests! It will be an awesome party I can tell. Have a lovely weekend, Sanae!

    Reply
    • sanae

      August 16, 2015 at 5:43 pm

      Thanks, Melissa! So so so fun, and so so so wiped out from it (the girls did NOT sleep — so much for a sleepover party). Hope you had a great weekend!

      Reply
  3. Lucinds Poel

    August 14, 2015 at 1:32 pm

    What a creative bday party theme! I can honestly say ive never heard of a Comfort Inn sleepover before:) Leave it to you and K to think of something so creative! Those gift bags are sure to be a hit; perfect fabric choice for your glam crowd:) Hope it all goes well!

    Reply
    • sanae

      August 16, 2015 at 5:44 pm

      We deviated quite a bit from the Comfort Inn replication, but we did have a lot of “hotel” elements and the girls loved it! More updates soon, thanks Lucinda! 🙂

      Reply

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Thinking of all the Mama Bear-ish wonders out ther Thinking of all the Mama Bear-ish wonders out there, giving so much to surrounding creatures big and small. I often feel like that little prickly hedgehog inadequately but heartily offering up a single stem of gratitude. So much love for mothers and maternal figures everywhere! 💕💕💕💕#happymothersday
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