July 5, 2016

Luau Party

Luau Party. You know how sometimes you get an idea in your head and you just cannot let it go? Well, I decided I wanted to have a luau party last year, and I didn’t have time or a good reason to host one…and this summer, I had the same need to have a luau, so I just did it!

Most of the decorations I had on hand already from previous parties. But, almost all of it can still be purchased from Oriental Trading Company, eBay, and Target. I knew I wanted to have a vintage style vibe to our party, with pops of tropical colors. Laura from LAURA’S little PARTY offered to create some adorable printables for me to use, and I got to work!

The focal pieces for the party were two old tiki heads I borrowed from my mom, and a few wooden surf board chairs. I covered the table with paper leaves I cut using my Cricut. Then, I placed a tiki on each side of the table. Behind the table, I hung a tan tropical style sheet, and I attached the LUAU banner to some tiki string lights. (I got mine from Oriental Trading Co a few years ago, but these are the same or very similar) The front of the table was decorated with tissue tassels from The Flair Exchange to mimic a grass skirt.

A store bought cake was placed on my white cake from TomKat Studios. I simply wrapped a few leis (also from OTC a few years ago) around the base. We served lots of fresh fruit. I wanted to try watermelon carving again, so I carved a sea turtle, I used a pen to mark the lines, and traced them with a small flat head screw driver. I also used my pineapples to hold more fruit, and some homemade pineapple whipped cream for the fruit and crackers. I even carved a small bird with one of the pineapples! Store bought cupcakes were topped with cute little party circles from LAURA’S little PARTY too. The main course was Hawaiian BBQ chicken and fresh pineapple kabobs over a bed of rice.

The kids played games outside in the rain, so I wasn’t able to snap any pictures. Limbo and the Tiki Toss were their favorites. When they were inside, they loved strumming the ukulele I found for the party (and my oldest son)!

Each little guest took home a favor bucket filled with leis, a Stitch Tsum Tsum, and mini bubbles, candies and lollipops, and rubber ducks from Oriental Trading Company. A lei was wrapped around the top of the bucket and a sweet little Mahalo tag was added too!