Jax's Stomp & Chomp 1st Birthday Party!

I can not believe that this party has come and gone in a blink of an eye! The best part, Jaxon had a freaking blast! He was a trooper and should have laid down for nap about the time that we served the food, but he stuck through that, the cake and pool time before he passed out. We kept it small, close friends and family and hosted in our home, which was amazing because the heat index that day was like 107. Having it at home also helped with decorating because I could start a couple days earlier to make the day of less stressful. If you have been a friend/parent of mine that has helped me set up for a party, you know that I have a tendency to host them outside on days that the elements do not work in my favor, not my fault! It just almost always happens that way. Having this party indoors was a game changer.

I wanted to share some of the decorations and brands we used and links for you to get them yourself!

One of my favorite party trends right now is the balloon arch! It is the new and improved photo backdrop -- a party staple, especially for a little one's birthday or baby/bridal shower -- and it is SO EASY and inexpensive.

Balloon Arch

Again, if you saw my post for Iliana's Dreamtopia Birthday Party you will notice that the making of the arch was EASY; however, the "keeping the arch up" was not so easy, so having this one inside that I could attach to a wall was awesome! For this arch I ordered a Dinosaur Party Supplies Set on Amazon that came with a few different party supplies that I used in different places. The balloons it came with were perfect! There were different shades of green, polka dot ones and tie-dye! I did add in my own white ones that I had extra of from Ili's party (hoarding party supplies is NOT bad thing people! if you will actually use them. This pack I linked is a 100 pack for less than $10!) The leaf vine is actually something I purchased for a Jungle-themed baby shower I helped with for my SIL and have re-used multiple times since! Find the ivy leaves here! The big tropical leaves I also bought for the same shower and have also re-used for multiple purposes for multiple parties! You'll see them in a few places for Jax's party! These come in 3 sizes and can be used for SO many things! Find the tropical leaves here!

I have gotten a ton of questions about this super cool inflatable dinosaur! I was so excited to find it and you there are so many others that I wish I could have gotten but a T-Rex was necessary! There was also a Brachiasaurus and Triceratops to choose from!

Food

I also kept it simple. My dad grilled hotdogs in the backyard while the kids played in the pools and jumped on the trampoline! I got my mother-in-law to send some sides from the local restaurant she works at in Fayetteville, Bruce & Mickey's - potato salad, macaroni salad and baked beans. Toppings for the hotdogs were your expected ketchup and mustard plus Bruce & Mickey's cole slaw and my mom's amazing chili! I made a "Herbivore" veggie plate with celery, broccoli, cucumber and green grapes, followed by Jaxon's favorite, Cheeto Puffs.

Cake

I made the smash cake and cupcakes to save some extra money, you know, for inflatable dinosaurs and stuff! For the actual cake part, I used chocolate box mix. I have ALWAYS done this but added flair with a yummy filling and / or my homemade Easy Peasy Buttercream Icing . The Dinosaur Cake Bunting Topper and Dinosaur Cupcake Toppers I received from one my favorite party stores I found on Etsy, Bells N Berries! They did the toppers for Iliana's party and I have been hooked ever since. They seriously add so much to a simple cake and make it look professional!