Jet turned 1 a few weeks ago and we celebrated with a Pow Wow party last weekend! Throwing a first birthday party can be a bit overwhelming, but I learned with a few DIY projects that it doesn’t have to be. I made these fun little head dresses that kids could play dress up with and then take home with them. They were easy and added a fun element to the party. I also wanted to make sure I knew the ingredients in the desserts (to control the sugar and dye intake) so I made these cupcakes that were seriously AMAZING! Making these ahead of time saved a ton of time the morning of the party. Here are a few more tips on throwing a first birthday party…

1. Plan around nap time.
2. Serve lunch for kids and parents. We threw the party at 11 AM so parents could feed their kids lunch before heading home for nap time.
3. Keep it short and sweet. Kids are bound to get cranky, so keep the flow of the party steady to keep their attention.
4. You don’t necessarily have to open the gifts at the party. I found the gift unwrapping process to be a bit overwhelming for Jet and will probably spread that process out overtime in the future so he can gradually open his presents at his own rate.
5. Set up the night before. If you are having the party in your home, like I did, setting up the decorations and staging the room the night before will save a ton of time the morning of.
6. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You don’t have to be supermom and do it all. Incorporate family members or close friends into the process. I had my mother-n-law and sister come a little early to help with the last minute prep.