As I was lighting the 16 candles on my daughter’s Sweet 16 birthday cupcakes, I made what was apparently a lame reference to the movie of the same name.
I knew it was lame by the collective blank looks staring back at me from around the table. That’s right, none of the gathered 16 or 17-old girls had ever heard of the movie, painting me immediately as an old woman.
Which I am.
Because that movie hit the big screen WHEN I WAS 16.
Geez.
Let’s touch briefly about that time, shall we.
For starters, if I had hosted or attended a party, it did not involve sitting around sipping softdrink and having a dinner party. It most probably involved sipping but something chronically awful like Stones Green Ginger Wine mixed with Ginger Ale (yep, classy). It would have involved boys (yep, classy, once again).
Somewhere on this journey they call parenting, I ended up with a beautiful teenage girl who has way more class than I ever did at her age.
This still surprises me as this the girl who tortured me for months from two weeks of age with undiagnosed reflux. I can still spot the scream of a reflux baby from across a busy street. Blood curdling.
This was also the girl who took those reflux screams and channeled them into the terrible twos. Except she started from 18months … and continued up until the age of 5 and a half.
Now that girl. That three-year-old who screamed all the way from Myer to Target at our local shopping centre because I wouldn’t buy her the dress she had taken a fancy to … she’s all grown up.
Seven more weeks of school holidays and a Christmas casual job at Country Road are all that stand between her and her final year of school. She’s been voted in as one of the school leaders for 2013 and already that leadership team has sprung into action, helping with the Daniel Morcombe funeral at their school tomorrow.
But yesterday. Yesterday was her day.
We love birthdays around these parts. Her vision was to have a dinner party for her closest friends. To start in our courtyard, come inside for dinner (make your own rice paper rolls followed by chocolate salad*) then out again for dancing.
She wanted a vintagey, girly theme. So I channelled my inner Beverley (If you haven’t downloaded the first edition of my blogger mate Baby Mac’s first magazine, get the app here) and set to the task at hand.
Here’s how it all came together.
The outside part of the inside-outside theme. Bunting a necessary addition.
And looking inside. Flowers in little vases and jars (peonies, carnations, roses … divine from A Sculpted Leaf). Our chalkboard bunting bought for my birthday last year from Willow & Bird and made over for this party. As it is for every party.
And a lightbox, kindly borrowed from Willow & Bird. I do love it. Need to work on Mr Styling You as to whether he could possibly love it too … on a full-time basis … preferably sometime in the near future.
Thought you might like a closer look at that those flowers.
We swapped around some of the things normally found on our living room wall with things more fitting the theme. This one is from Willow & Bird and the print below from Typo (do you love the vignette of the garden hose in the blow photo? So NOT Beverley).
Back outside … and more bunting. You can never have too much, can you really? This one from Willow & Bird (yes, I do visit and shop there a lot. I have a problem … ).
Every party needs a welcome drink. The only think spiking this one were frozen berries. And cute straws? Yep, compulsory.
The party bags were a fill-your-own scenario. One less job for me.
And then the girls arrived …
Veggie Baby Version 1 stopped by with her mum too. We shared a celebratory champers while Mr 7 introduced VB1 to the chips and dip platter. She called him Dad-a. I hope they marry 😉
Parties and present opening go hand in hand. The girl was spoilt. I tell you. That dress she’s wearing? This one here at Country Road. She chose it on Saturday during our little shopping in the Big Smoke treat. Doubles as part of her work uniform this summer. Winning.
There’s those 16 candles I was talking about earlier … shoved into chocolate cupcakes whipped up my moi. How adorable are the Babushka cupcake holders?
Yes, my Barbs, you are sweet and you’re 16. I may have given birth to you and become practised at the art of tantrum ignoring because of your strong-mindedness … but, I’m sorry, I’ve failed you. I’ll rectify this failing, though. This weekend I’m tracking down a copy of Sixteen Candles. VHS anyone? Beta?
Ok, so over to you. Cast your mind back to when you were 16. Did you have a party? What’s the one thing you wish you could now tell your 16 year-old-self?
* Chocolate salad is a family tradition around these parts. Trotted out every birthday party, it involves mixing our fave chocolate lollies in a fancy schmancy salad bowl. We throw in eggs as well at Easter and at Christmas there are bound to be Lindt balls. But no candy canes. The rules are chocolate only. But Chicos are ok.
PS. I bought all the table cloths, napkins, table runners, plates, paper chains, cupcake holders, bag tags, straws and plastic-coated bunting from this gem on an online party supplies store.
Comments 67
Hi Nikki, gorgeous cupcakes, could you tell me what the little balls are on top?
They are pink chocolate wafer balls – bought them at cooking specialist shop, How to Cook – http://www.howtocook.com.au/
What a lovely post! That is a party she won’t be cringing about in 20 years!
I hope not!! x
What an amazing 16 year old! 16 year old Nikki, sounds too much like 16 year old Louisa *cringe. I hope Little Miss Notable gathers her class, like your beauty. Happy Birthday beautiful Mis SY!
We can all cringe together!
She’s as beautiful as your gorgeous decos, Nikki. Love it all to bits. x
Thanks Maxabella – was a lot of fun pulling together. We can do Christmas now!
NIkki what I lovely post.
Beautiful words about your daughter and what a special day you made for her.
Love and light to you both.
PJxx
Oh thanks so much Paula. It’s been such a big week for her – loved being a part of it x
This party is GORGEOUS! I bet it will be something all the girls at school talk about.
I had a 16th. Kareoke, family, friends….it wasn’t a looker but it was alright.
Sounds perfect to me!!
Happy birthday for yesterday Alex! And wishing you so many more good ones to come!!!
Ps I have an Alexandra too, but she goes by her middle name Georgia- I love the name, and that she has a choice, One day I hope she will use her First name!!!!
oh yeah Nikki, I don’t even want to think of what to tell my 16 yr old self!! She wouldn’t listen anyway!! I just hope and pray that my daughter goes no where near my level of naughtiness!!
Hee Hee … can we call it a generational thing?
Snap! Well, mine goes by Alex but has never used her full name. I loved the kids’ show Alex Mac back in the day on ABC … that’s kind of how it came about. I actually wanted to call her Chloe but her dad didn’t.
It all looks beautiful! What a special way to celebrate a 16th birthday. I watched 16 Candles on TV – I think it was last night?? X
It was apparently! We didn’t have the TV on of course.
Everything about this is gorgeous, Nikki! Your daughter especially… 🙂 My Alex is 12 and I’m hoping will turn out as lovely. If I could tell my 16 year-old self anything, it would be to LIGHTEN UP! Plenty of time for serious later on. 🙂
Yep, and even now we need that reminder, don’t we?!
Oh Nikki I got all emotional reading this! I can’t imagine my Miss8 (nearly 9) turning sweet 16 but it’s going to happen before I know it. What a lovely way to celebrate.
I would tell my 16year old self to start using better moisturiser and sunscreen. These here wrinkles will not go away no matter which potions and lotions I invest in 😉
It sure will Kim. So quick. And good advice. The girls today really do know more about that and have access to the product more than we did!
I did this almost 6 months ago now when my only daughter turned 16. We had a mystery dinner where the kids had to order their dinner and utensils and the order they got it in using cryptic clues. It was soo much fun for both parents and guests and there were boys but no boyfriends and definitely no alcohol.
My daughter had a pool party yesterday with her friends for the end of exams and left today for year 12 prefect training camp. When she returns she starts her first real after school job on Saturday.
Our stories sound soo familiar. I find it such an exciting time this transition from childhood to adulthood.
Oh wow Andrea … what an amazing idea! And yes, agree, this is such an exciting time.
You are a wonderful mum. Gawd I hope my little girl desires such a classy event like that when she turns 16 in 12 years time. xoxo
Fun, hey? There’s been a few girly ones over the years – sprinkled between beach parties because of the time of year. x
Your daughter is just gorgeous! And I love her dress.
Chocolate salad is a great idea…might have to introduce that one here!
And I want Toddler C to marry a Veggie Baby!
Good thing there are two of them!
Looks like a wonderful party…happy birthday!
Chocolate salad is never refused in this house. The girls last night through I might have coated lettuce leaves or something 😉 And yep, ok, you win with Toddler C. He’s pretty damn cute. Would make a wonderful pair!
Seriously Nikki you are the coolest Mum! I know that we are almost the same age, but can you adopt me?? Great party and it looks like they had a great time.
My advice to any 16 year old is pretty much the same and I have been trotting this out to a few friends kids lately. 1. Always trust your instincts – you know what’s right. 2. Respect yourself because you deserve it. 3. It will all work out in the end.
Hope the clean-up is not to bad today!
Hahaha. We can adopt each other! Great advice there. That’s for sure!
As a Mum of a very wilful blonde miss who is now 5 and has just stopped tantrums (although she still does a brilliant bottom lip quiver) you give me hope! Your daughter looks so beautiful. I hope she had a wonderful birthday. And the party looked fabulous.
Take the hope and hold on to it! I may blog one day about her final tantrum. It was literally the tantrum to end all tantrums!!!
Goodness, 16 year olds are well put together these days, she looks just gorgeous! I love the dress, I saw it in CR the other day and loved it but there was no way this 40+ yr old body would have pulled it off and now seeing it on your daughter, I am so glad I didn’t buy it! I did buy the tee in the same colour way though! Happy birthday to your miss 16, she looks very grown up….and well done to you, she looks much loved. Cheers 🙂
Hahaha … I know, I won’t be trying it on. I need all sorts of sucker-inner-er stuff going on!
What a beautiful party Nikki! I can tell how proud you are of your girl & so you should be, she looks delightful! Oh & how adorable us Veggie Baby?!
When I was 16 I’m pretty sure I spent it doing things I shouldn’t have been doing at that age…I wish I could tell myself to not spend so much time doing those things & to not cry over that boy who said he loved you but then cheated on you as soon as you went away on holidays. I’d tell myself to not worry because by the end of that 16th year you would meet a different boy who would change your world & in just 5 short years become the father of your first born baby & your husband! I’d tell that 16 year old me that life will be tough at times but it will also be wonderful & more than you could ever wish for.
VB is the cutest. And those boys who cheated on you when you went on holidays … yep, know them. Grrr. And wow meeting your man at that age, that’s something special x
gosh I wish I had a mum like you 🙂
Ah, same 😉 x
Hi Nikki… here is a link to the 80’s for your daughter – well probably you 😉 – to enjoy. Shane it doesn’t include Pretty in Pink or St Elmo’s Fire
http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=16+candles+DVD&_sacat=0&_from=R40
Oh brilliant, thanks Amanda … Pretty in Pink was my favourite.
What a beautiful story I remember sixteen candles and I too had a beta max first in our street and we thought we were soon cool . Thankyoum for sharing my eldest is 9 and she too was a screamy reflux baby that I used to fireman hold screaming out of the shops shines now a beautiful girl you have given me a glimmer of my future .. This is why I love this blog 🙂
So cool – we were a VHS family – pretty early on too. Oh, the reflux scream. Still have nightmares. And yes, take hope … all will turn out well 😉
I remember when I was 16 too and it is more along the lines of puberty blue’s the things I got up to,yep drinking,boys and being quite naughty I am afraid nothing like your young lady is and i would not have had a dinner party either,no Mum would not have been cool with that ,in the backyard and maybe a BBQ would have been it.I love how our generation of children are wiser and much more classy than we ever were,don’t know if it is our parenting,I do hope so or just things have changed.I love my children more than anything and I can see you do too,your daughter Alex isn’t it,is a credit to you and you gave her a lovely party and she looks like a lovely girl.Beautiful party atmosphere and your house looks stunning
If you are old Nikki I am a dinosoaur having just had my 49th birthday!
LOL Lisa … age is all in the mind! And yes, this generation has Pinterest, doesn’t it?!! Lots of ideas we wouldn’t even have dreamed about.
Yes it is and somedays in the body lol,and yes this genereation has lots of ideas to choose from!!!! x
I love this, mostly because I am in the trenches with a formerly refluxy baby and now very spirited 3 year old daughter, and Iove to think of her being a gracious 16 yo one day in the future!!
Ah, SarahMac, yes, that sprit. I know that well. Keep breathing and yes, they will evolve 😉
What a beautiful party you put on for your daughter. Happy Birthday to her and congrats to you for bringing up such a lovely young lady. xT
Thanks lovely … she is gorgeous x
Happy birthday to a gorgeous girl! The party looked fun and was set up so beautifully. The one thing I’d tell myself is that I was beautiful just as I was, to take the confidence that was lurking in there and just run with it. Oh and yes I had a 16th and like you it involved boys, a sneaky smoke and a little passion pop! And I LOVED 16 Candles as well! You should be one proud Mumma xx
LOL …I would have loved to have come to that party!
Wow, I wish I was like your daugher when I was 16! The party looks beautiful! Happy Birthday to her and well done Nikki!
Yep, me to Al 😉
What a beautiful party you put together for your daughter and her friends! She is very lucky to have such an awesome Mum like you. Hope everyone had fun and happy birthday to the birthday girl!
Thanks Kelly .. she did the cleaning up today too 😉
Most of the John Hughes films are available on DVD. My daughters love them but cannot believe that Molly Ringwald destroys a beautiful vintage dress to create the shapeless mess she wears to the prom in “Pretty in Pink”.
Hahaha! It WAS the ’80s!!!
Spooky, 16 Candles was on telly last night (on one of the DTV channels). Molly was beautiful, but have to say Pretty in Pink is still my fav 🙂 Party styling looked as gorgeous as your daughter. Congrats all round 🙂
Oh, Mish, Ainslie below said the same. If only I’d known!!
What a beautiful party! I’m 34 and I love 16 candles! I have it on DVD!
It’s my mission to find it!
My 16yo constantly blows me away. Like you, the differences between what I was doing at 16, and what she is doing are far apart. I’m so incredibly thankful for that. We must be doing something right hey Nikki 😉
I don’t know what it is but it’s working so will just keep on keeping on 😉
Looks Fab Nikki! Happy Birthday to your big girl – so help me GOD when I have 16 yr old daughters x
I have a feeling they’ll be beautiful, intelligent ladies … much like their mother 😉
Hey Nikki guess what was on TV last night? Yep 16 Candles
You’re kidding?! That’s freaky!!!