Harry Potter Baby Shower D.I.Y Ideas

I was tasked with hosting a baby shower for Najwa last week. So the first thing I did was to choose a theme as it will be easier to coordinate decorations that way. A few theme choices come to mind but since the mummy-to-be and a few of the attendees are avid Harry Potter fans, I decided to go in that direction.

Before I started working on the gifts and deco, I went to several arts and craft shops to scout for potential ideas and to work out my budget. The pros of choosing a theme like Harry Potter is its novelty. I think it is a fresh and quirky theme to work with. The only problem is there are not many ready made items, which can easily be bought of the shelves, which means plenty of D.I.Y projects *yeay*.

Project 1: e-Invite

The invitation is the easiest project of all. After I've finalized the date and venue, I went straight to Microsoft Paint to work on the template for the invitation. With some inspiration taken from Pinterest and google *lo and behold* an Owlgram for the invitees.

Project 2: Diaper Cake

I think I've shared the method of constructing a diaper cake in my previous post "How to Make a Diaper Cake". This time around I've decided to create a 3 tier cake, with a baby blanket acting as a base for the top tier. I choose an owl to represent Hedwig (Harry's Owl) and made her wizard hat from black construction paper. To further complement the cake, I bought quill ribbons, owl toys, round glasses and printed the Hogwarts crest. Of all the diaper cakes that I've made so far, I would say this is one my favorite :)

Project 3: Personalized Rompers 

This was not a planned project, I first ordered the rompers from an online shop, but the seller backed out at the very last minute (horrible experience didn't even inform me until I send in messages to ask). I had to think of a back up plan real fast. Since there is no RTW Harry Potter rompers available in Malaysia, I bought some plains rompers in Mothercare and Sharpie "Stained" (for use on fabric) and started "staining" the fabric. 

My designs are usually freehand, but to be safe I drew the design with pencil first and trace it back with marker. It is a time consuming process as you're not working on a smooth surface, so make sure you're not in a rush while doing this. Once you're done, just leave the rompers for about an hour to dry before pressing on the design with hot iron for the colors to set in. After that, you wash the rompers in cold water and leave it to dry to ensure that the colors will not run. I made 3 different design, 2 of which with iron-on Owl embellishments. The rompers was roll over and is a part of the diaper cake "ingredients". 

Project 4: Potter Decos

Customized Decos

• Harry Potter inspired cupcakes from The Baking Fairies
• Owlgram personalized brown bags for each attendees to bring their goodies home.
• Magic Potions (Amortentia - Red, Felix Felixis- Yellow, Veritaserum-Blue and Dragon Blood- Green) as customized favors for everyone. I've you're wondering, the gourmet soda is from the Jelly Bean brand that I purchased from Candylicious OU.

Decorations D.I.Y which are not clearly captured in the photo above

• Bertie Botts Every Flavored Candy in a Martini Glass (I bought Jelly Bean in tropical flavors, to get the rainbow colors. FYI, they have one which offers similar flavors to the ones in the book (earwax, grass etc) but I don't think my friends and I are that adventurous)  
• Gringots Gold Chocolate Coin 
• Charm Chocolate in House Colors (Hershey Kisses in Red, Blue, Yellow and Green Foils)

I had so much fun planning for this shower. Alhamdulliah everyone had fun and the mummy to be loved the concept. OMG now I'm itching to throw another party, maybe I should start planning for the kiddies birthday in December :p

Press on the link for more ideas on Harry Potter Party DIY

Happy D.I.Y-ing everyone

Reebok is getting married....

Another "member" of Ferum 7 will be joining "alam perkahwinan" soon :) As a part of our tradition, we decided to throw the bride to be - Reebok (bukan nama sebenar haha) a Geisha Hen Party. This is the group 4th birthday shower, so we were literally scrambling for ideas to find a different theme, suitable to the bride's personality and preference. Hope she enjoyed herself...Anyway my task was deco's and party favors.I forgot to take the final deco pic but I think it turn out pretty cute even if I say so myself :p

What is a geisha party without the headgear huh? As always with most of my DIY project, I visualize the end product in my head. I don't plan everything to a T so this is a results of leftovers felts, headband, glue, glitter, origami papers and flowers :)

Next in line -> Photobooth props. You can buy ready made ones from those shops available online but I say why waste money?  esp since you can make all these using Microsoft words. Print it out, get some sticks (lidi sate) and it is all ready for major cam-ho session. Anyway my efforts was totally worth it since the bride decided to recycle it and use it during her wedding day...

Another idea for place mats... I bought a few mini bottle, put the attendees name on it and printed some friendship quotes for the inside... walla..my own message in the bottle...

what are parties without favors, right? I used a bunch of old envelopes as the wrapper. Knowing the girls, most of them are not exactly the sentimental type that will keep wrapping paper :p  so why waste??

Cath helped me hunt for these cuties. A fan in honour of the theme (and to be used on hot days) and a mirror because my friends love mirrors and it is one gift I know all of them would appreciate (hahaha) I totally caught Tinie using this minutes after she unwrapped the packaging...

THE PARTY

We had an awesome lunch in Minori Royale Bintang, Damansara. The food was good and price was reasonable. The best of all we had our own private room, which was real cool since we had plan for some wedding shower games, which would be totally awkward to be done in public

Task 1
Design a wedding gown using a tissue paper. We used Nia as a model. She's one of the most fashion forward 5 year old I know (a bit bossy too, I think she takes after the mum haha) Anyway we won, because we're awesome like that.

We also won the Wedding Charades 100,000,000 to 3 
(I'm exaggerating of course or maybe not. Yes I'm kiasu and I LOVE WINNING hehe)

The Ferum 7 girlies... 
We went through a lot together. 
The good and the bad : 
first love, first heartbreak, breakup, major fights, 
hair pulling (at least 2 of them did haha), weddings, babies etc

We're all grown ups now...
No longer teenagers with teenagers problems...
We've gone through so much individually and as a group
Some events pushed us closer, some pushed us apart
There are months that went by without so much as a simple Hello..
There are periods where we see each other every week..
I think we have all accepted the fact that our friendship has grown pass what it was 12 years ago.
Hopefully we'll stay connected and this friendship will last till Jannah
In Sha Allah

Vain and loving it :)

My first 2 friends in UiTM :p

I rarely take selfies now that I have children. 

I'm still vain ( I'll admit that) but I think I've managed to tone it down quite a bit

My IG and FB accounts are now filled with pics of my children :p

I guess that is why Allah blessed with the lil munchkins, so that I can take away the self obsession and shower the abundance of love and attention to someone else other than myself hahaha

To Reebok who secretly reads my blog 

Though I'm not sure if she still does but what the heck....

 

 Dik... 

Congratulations and good luck with the wedding and more importantly the married life

Remember there would be times when you may not like Iwan and his lil annoying ticks (if any) but love is taking care of each other even when you're angry. Protect your marriage and remember this is the person you have chosen to spend the rest of your life with and till Jannah so cherish and love each other, ok!!! May Allah bless you always and will miss you bunches when you moved back to Kelantan... Dulu kaula satu2 geng aku kat flat7 lepas aku baru kawin dengan tennis... now semua dah besar kan? dah takleh toga toga dah...

Love you bokkie...

Keep calm coz it was an awesome weekend :)

Since it is the week before Ramadhan, we tried to cram in as many activities that we could. Alhamdullilah, it was one of those tiring weekend that leave you fulfilled rather than just plain exhausted :) 

 SATURDAY:060713

After Ryan's morning class, Ryan and I sped off to Coffee Societe, Publika for Reebok's 30th Birthday and Bridal shower Instagram theme celebration :p

Saturday morning was well spent with my lovely ladies :
My "kakak" Tini, our fave dentist Dr. Aimee, Party organizer/yellow minion Kelwa and Hanis.
Food was not bad and I enjoyed the settings and party deco :)

With my BFF and bodyguard : Ryan Daniel who patiently played and waited for mummy while she ate and gossiped. Of course he conveniently "pau" mummy for an army tanker and a book before we met up with my girlfriends..

Had dinner with the girls at one of our fave food stalls because I felt guilty leaving them at nenek's house in the morning.

-----------------------------------------------------------

  SUNDAY: 070713

We started our Sunday with a simple pancake breakfast while our gardener mows the lawn (ahhh the smell of freshly cut grass is awesome). After tidying up, we had lunch at my mum's place and moved the party to my in laws place :p 

The girls doing their fave past time activity : CLIMBING. Terkenan Abang Ryan minat Spiderman kot when I was pregnant with them :p

Late evening and after much coaxing from Ryan, we stopped by Aeon Bukit Tinggi for Pizza. Once the kids is filled to the brim with soup, garlic bread and pizza, we dragged them to the play gym (can't remember the name) where they spent an hour climbing, running, rocking and bouncing of bouncy castles :) 

Iman Khadeeja : The resident spidergirl, even her girly princessy dress can't deter her climbing activities :)

Ranya Fatimah: Dedek yg loud and manja. She love singing and humming softly to herself. I should really take a picture of her doing that one of these days :)

My superhero Ryan Daniel : The twins looked up to him and copy his every move. This is good because they pick up new skills set fast, but also bad because they will also pick up on some of his negative habits :p oh well you win some you lose some :P

The girls playing peekaboo. My lil babies are now speaking, running and jumping toddlers. I do miss the times when they were tiny wriggling newborns in my arms. We're currently sorting out their baby stuff and giving away, selling and donating mana yang patut. Feeling a bit bittersweet because my babies are all growing up so fast and even more so now that Ryan is not only diaper free but also bottle free :) Alhamdullilah we managed to wean him off right on our target date which is when he turned 3 years and 6 months :) Apart from having a bit of a problem sleeping for the first week, tossing and turning before bedtime, there was no tantrums or fall out. Good job, Ryan!!!

The siblings during their "bff" moments. I wish I can freeze time and keep them happy and protected from the cruel world and even crueler people in it. That won't happen but I always pray that Allah will bless all my children with the very best. In Sha Allah :)

Alhamdullilah, Allah has given us the opportunity to "enjoy" another Ramadan, so let's make full use of it and strive to be better Muslims at the end of the month (forever). Let's curb all of our vices (esp extreme shopaholic tendency on my part) and spend more time doing good for others and be thankful for our blessings. I'm desperately trying to remind myself that as a middle class, university educated, mother of 3 beautiful children, wife of a loving man and daughter of doting parents have nothing to be sad and ungrateful about when our brothers and sisters in Palestine, Syria, Egypt and Myanmar will be spending their Ramadan in fear and poverty. How's that for putting things in perspective? 

Ryan's Sunway Adventure...

Last 2 weeks was my company's family day. It was held in Sunway Lagoon so I decided to bring Ryan. We left the twins with atuk and nenek as it would be too hot for them and our movements with be limited. 

 

Glad to say Ryan had loadsa fun swimming, looking at animal @ Sunway Wildlife and going on the baby friendly rides. It was awesome because he wasn't afraid to try :) I can foresee planning similar trip for him soon...

 

 The look alike :p

 

 @ Surf pool

 

 @Sunway Wildlife

 

 "eee mummy snake.. geyiii"

 

 "mummy dinochoo fly"

 

After close to 5 hours, we went home as it was starting to rain heavily. This little boy was so exhausted that once he got his bottle he immediately fell asleep in his stroller :)

 

All in all a great day...



Our Syawal : In a glance...

Photo compilation from my Tab

(p/s: do not give up on me, I may still upload the pictures in my camera before next raya :p)

 First day of Syawal: Peachy Theme family @my parents house

 Beraya with nenek and atuk Jalan Kebun later in the noon

Same old same old

Second day of Raya: On our way to balik kampung hubby.

Yes we got our hands FULL :)

My little fairies in their green floral gown gifted by MIL colleague on 3rd Raya

 The siblings on the 5th day of Raya

After house visiting Wan Su, Wan Ngah and Wan Chik, Lan and I brought the kids to "ONE" Utama for a treat at Chilli's :p by this time dah muak makan ketupat

hehehehe

 Our FIRST ever open house to "raikan" my aunts from Malacca :)

It was a bit of a last minute but my sis, Lan and I managed to whipped up a BBQ themed makan-makan. We marinated chicken, corn and lamb shoulders and made side dishes of nasi goreng, pasta and coleslaw. For dessert we had loads and loads of ice-cream.

Ryan had fun playing with his little "aunts and uncles" - sempatla main pop-pop and bunga api

 Loving my "rose dress"

 The girls getting ready to go to Atuk Chek open house in Sungai Buloh.

Check out the cool t-shirt :)

Ryan playing ball with Nidal at Tok Chek's house

 My Company's Open House : Theme railway station + merdeka. Yes, I don't get it either :p

 2nd Raya weekend we went back to Malacca for a day to attend my cousin's wedding

First trip back to kampung since nenek passed away *sigh*

but we had fun meeting everyone.

 The next day Lan and I hosted another Open House for friends and family. It is just a small family gathering but since I have a HUGE extended family memang end up 50-60 people datang. Alhamdullilah all went well..

I (yes I) made soto, tauhu sumbat ikan, longan jelly, and oreo lime cheese tart. My sis supplied the choc cake and mum made nasi impit and kuah kacang

Awesome kan saya sempat masak all these food with babies keliling pinggang (hahaha)

As mentioned before :) Had fun coordinating the girls outfits, from baju kurung to dresses and other outfits. Crazy ok. The best part is 3/4 of it is gifted from people, which works real well coz I'm not a fan of buying identical clothes.

So that is all for Hari Raya 2012 photos (at least for the time being)

See ya later, alligator :)