Wednesday, July 15, 2009
The Invite
alohab @ 11:53 PM
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And now for the party pics!
Since there were SO many pictures, I decided to post them smaller. Click on any photo to get the larger, "full," effect :)!Sign hung on the entrance to the halau (thanks Alex!!)Receiving table - each child received a personalized blank notebook with a cupcake fabric crayon roll (made by aunty jo. i made 1/2 of the boy rolls which were not cupcakes...too girly we decided). They also received a snack bag with snacks and a juice box (in large basket to the left of photo)Pupu (appetizer) tableMore arrangements for the pupu table and bar (thanks yvonne!!)Cupcake balloons hung on both sides of the stage which featured a great 5 piece Hawaiian band, hired at the last minute since our original plan fell through. Thanks so much to Jared for helping us out!Carnation cupcake centerpieces!The small fuchsia cups had the cupcake pops in them. Thanks to Kamalei there was lots and lots and lots of cupcake confetti that she punched out for me.Cupcake Tower - I started it and Kamalei fixed it up and made all the cupcake covers for me. I found them on etsy, but didn't want to buy them. I felt sure I could make them but ran out of time. K took the lead and made them all the night before the party. She actually made the cupcakes for me too since I was bound to be up all night baking along with everything else I had to do. I made homemade buttercream frosting the next morning and she frosted them on site. My mom made the great lime green and white polka dot table cloth (with a fuchsia border!) with fabric that I had bought. Another thing I had intended to do, but would have run out of time. Thanks mom!
We hired the best Balloon shape company for the kids. Balloon Monsoon can make anything. When I asked for a cupcake, I expected a 1 dimensional cupcake. Instead they made this great 3 dimensional balloon cupcake. Fabulous!The only pics I have of the girls before my battery died. Makena had a great headband from Kamalei, and Nanea had a matching flower clip complete with crystals. Note Makena's pink tutu that we put on her later with her cupcake onesie. I'm hoping that SOMEONE has a photo of that! If I get one, I'll be sure to post it.It was a fun party and went by too quickly. Food was excellent, fabulous friends and family. Couldn't ask for a better baby luau!...and that's all folks :)!
alohab @ 11:04 PM
5 comments
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
The details...
So, because I am nuts, I started thinking about this party before Makena was born. Yes, I did say BEFORE. I knew I wanted to have a cupcake theme. Initially I had thought I would do hot pink/fuchsia and turquoise, but then I saw this fabric, and immediately decided on lime green instead. This fabric is from one of our linen wholesalers, Wildflower Linen who has gorgeous linens.
Wildflower Linen's citron and fuchsia ribbbon taffeta
Napkin wrapped forks and spoons in a fuchsia basket for the buffet line
Delectable key lime cookies from Cookie Corner Hawaii, with my fuchsia paper wrap and cupcake sticker (that said "Makena's Baby Luau" and the date on it). Eventually all of the cookies were wrapped and then placed on all of the tables.
Chili Pepper Water! Ingredients: hawaiian chili peppers, garlic, vinegar and water. All ingredients are pureed and then brought to a gentle boil. This is a very common condiment at luaus.
Close up of the chili pepper water labels
Tags I made to stick into the centerpieces. The balloons were tied to these to attach them to the centerpiece
Cupcake Pops by Sarandipity Sweets. No, I did not make these. I did attempt it, and it was a disaster. I will try again one of these days!Credits:Napkin and cookie wrapper workers: Tiff, Celia and Tutu (& me!)Labels: Print Your Party (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6663668)Cupcake pops: Sarandipity Sweets (http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7458768)PYP designs your labels and sends you the pdf so you can print them yourself. I found water resistant 8.5x11 sticker sheets for inkjet printers, so was able to print the chili pepper water labels and cookie labels safely, without having to worry about them running (since they had to be refrigerated). I also printed the round labels on card stock to make the centerpiece tags. A 1.5" round hold punch and 2" scallop punch, and I was in business!Stay tuned for the party pics :)!
alohab @ 9:29 PM
4 comments
Monday, July 13, 2009
Luau prep
The day of the luau started off early with prepping, cooking and warming. We started before 8am so that everything would be ready to load up in the cars to head to Bishop Museum by 3pm to start setting up. The party was short (4pm-8pm), since it was a Sunday and many people had to work the next day. We estimate that we had well over 200 people come, and even had some food left over. Noa did a great job figuring out the correct quantities of everything.
Wai waiting for the next task...
Top Chef Espinosa hard at work stirring something
Liko stirring the Kalua Pig...
...and washing the rice pot
Miss Sharyl making the edamame (they were EXCELLENT!)
I was the official poi mixer this year. My wrist and thumb hurt after mixing 50lbs., and filling up 200 bowls (along with Ali`i). We filled and everyone else covered the bowls with the covers, or lids, or whatever they ended up deciding the name was, and stacking them in boxes.It was a true team effort. Thank you to the Espinosas, Victorinos, Bernards, Masuyamas, Tiff, Benedicts, Kamalei and Allens for being at the house bright and early and helping to cook and prepare all day long!
alohab @ 11:13 PM
2 comments
Friday, July 10, 2009
Happy 1st Birthday Makena!
checking out her organic, made-from-scratch carrot cake
There is supposed to be frosting, and 2 layers, however I spent the day crazily running errands for the luau and got home super late. By the time I make the cake, she was past bed time (Noa said that she was falling asleep as he was putting her jammies on) and so we had to sing happy birthday with the cake just out of the oven and still warm. In spite of this, she quite enjoyed the singing and candle, and even the little bit of cake she had. Tomorrow she can have the real thing, frosting and all.
Happy Birthday baby girl! We cannot believe that you are already 1! Where on earth did this past year go?
alohab @ 10:53 PM
1 comments
Sunday, July 5, 2009
A favored play/sitting spot
Makena loves to climb onto Nalu's bed and hang out
And yes, that is a dog toy in her mouth. Don't worry, we didn't let her keep chewing on it!
alohab @ 9:23 PM
3 comments
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Still popular in our house
Aunty Mo bought this zebra for Nanea's 1st birthday, and we recently brought it back out for Makena. She loves it, Nanea still loves it. Overall, a big winner!
alohab @ 9:17 PM
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Thursday, July 2, 2009
Luau Prep
A couple of weeks ago the big luau prep began. We cooked the pig in an imu (see big rock pile/fire/pit below), and cleaned and cooked taro leaves for the squid luau. We are having the "traditional" food that you would see at a modern day Hawaiian luau. After everything was cooked, it was bagged up and frozen until the party next week. Everything else will be cooked/prepared that morning. No caterers for us! Noa and Papa would never hear of it. We have amazing friends that all came out to help us (and continue to help us!). Thanks everyone!
fire starting...a little bigger...there it is! once fire burns down and rocks are flat, the pig goes in! layered with banana leaf and wet burlap to keep the moisture in and cook the pig. 12 hours later, kalua pig!
Celia and Mamama cleaning, cleaning, cleaning. 80 lbs of taro leaves. Thanks Kalawas too! The men tending to the cooking of the taro leaves under the tent. I wasn't much help because of....a slightly high-maintenance almost 1 year old!
alohab @ 9:36 AM
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Me and Makena
Since I have very few pictures of either girl with me, thought I'd post this one that Holly took at the soccer game. Love the Ergo baby carrier!
alohab @ 9:00 AM
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