“(With Free Invitations and Real-Life Magic)”
It all started with a tiara and a very determined little voice that said, “Mommy, I want to be Cinderella for my birthday.” That was it. No hesitation, no room for negotiation. Not a “maybe,” not a “can we think about it?”—just a confident, crystal-clear declaration from my daughter Rebecca, who was about to turn eight and had clearly been planning this royal affair in her head for months. Possibly since Halloween. Or last birthday. Or maybe even birth.
One second I was answering emails in my pajama pants, and the next I was Googling “DIY castle backdrops” and trying to remember how many mice helped sew the original Cinderella dress. I found myself walking through the craft store whispering things like “Does this tulle scream ballroom elegance or more woodland creature cosplay?” and texting my sister things like “Is glitter toxic if accidentally inhaled during a party?”
Credit: Clara’s 4th Birthday Party (Cinderella) by Simon_E_Miller on flickr
Of course, I nodded like I totally had it together, but inside I was spiraling through Pinterest, wondering how I was going to turn our very normal living room into a castle without selling my shoe collection. Spoiler alert: it all worked out. And now, I want to share the whole glitter-filled, frosting-smudged journey with you—because if I can do it, you definitely can, too.
Let’s start with the first and most magical piece of any birthday party puzzle…
