i have no execution
Every year, as Maya’s birthday approaches, I tell myself that this is the year I’m going to go all out for her party.
And then timeline goes something like this:
5 weeks until the event: I’m fired up and I have a million ideas of cool things I want to do to make the event special. I start discussing themes and games and revisit all the articles and pictures that I’ve kept aside throughout the year.
4 weeks until the event: I start perusing the Internet to see how to make my ideas come to fruition. I strategize. I make lists. I think about reaching for my credit card to order some stuff but then I realize I have a ton of time before Maya’s birthday. So I get on Facebook instead.
3 weeks until the event: I look at the calendar and my lists and think, “Wow, I should totally start shopping for some of this stuff.” Instead, I start complaining to Ali about how I have 100 things to do and how I feel overwhelmed. He tells me we both need a break. We turn off our computers and turn on House Hunters International instead.
2 weeks until the event: I start thinking that I shouldn’t have smirked when Ali offered up Chuck E. Cheese as a venue.
1 week until the event: I tell my mom that none of my cool ideas are going to happen because I didn’t plan very well and now there isn’t enough time. We both pretend that my mom taking over comes as a big surprise.
7:45 am on the day of the event: I spend a ridiculous amount of time doing the one thing my mom gave me to do.
The event: The party turns out great because of my mom, my MIL, and an army of caterers and servers who step in to take care of things. I spend the entire afternoon taking credit for the vision of the party and I point out (to anyone who will listen) the one thing I actually executed.
My sign is pretty impressive huh?
While I'm not going to win Mother/Wife of the Year Award anytime soon, I haven't killed anyone yet or shot myself in the head. And that, my friends, is how I calculate success these days. 
FANCY THAT FANCY THIS 
And the reason this happens is because you have some amazing people around you. It also gives them a chance to do something special.
I love the photo of all three of you together, gorgeous family you have.
Sign looks great, you are very artistic!! 😉
Thank you Laila! I do have some amazing people around me.
Beautiful picture of you guys. An that sign is gorgeous. It look like a sign borne from blood, sweat and tears. It clearly says, “Someone toiled long and hard over this.” And don’t think I didn’t notice the beautiful shoes on the table. I am guessing they are yours unless you have Desi diva moms, which could be possible based on how stylish you are.
Also, leadership is about “creating” the vision. And then having other people pull it off for you. I think Harry Truman or someone else important like that had a sign like that. I don’t think the sign was as cute as yours though.
Kiran
The shoes belong to my MIL…she is a super stylish, very awesome lady who didn’t mind me putting her shoes on display. 🙂
And Kiran…to be able to quote Harry Truman? Impressive.
The photo of the three of you is beautiful!! And the cute sign – that is no small job!!
Thank you Fab!
Hey, if you didn’t make that sign, little kids would be without their favor boxes. And we all know those are the best part of going to a birthday party!
And I love the family pic! Beautiful!
Thank you Parita!
The photo of you, Ali and Maya is just beautiful! It looks like you had a wonderful time. Of course, you sign is beautiful! Shoes? You gave shoes for favors? I’m sure I’m not seeing that correctly. I couldn’t wear them any way…I’d be twelve feet tall! 😉
No…we gave candy and brownies and popcorn for favors. The shoes are my MIL’s and they were just for decoration (shoe-themed party).
you remind me of another aquarian friend of mine after this post. 😛 way to go.
Oddly enough, I have lots of Aquarian friends! I guess we all think alike.
I like the theme… is it wrong that I would enjoy the same one for my 27th birthday this summer?
I think it’s a theme that knows no age! You should go for it.
Ummmm do you really think that Oprah does everything herself?
Nope.
She has a vision…
and lots of people to carry it through.
You win in my eyes 😉
Well said Kimberly…I feel better about my lack of execution already!
happy birthday to the luckiest (and prettiest!) kid in the blogosphere.
On behalf of Maya…thank you!
I love the family picture! So envy of both your and Maya’s hair. Beautiful, as always.
Can I please come to Maya’s birthday party too? All those shoes? Gorgeous!
I’m the opposite, I usually drive other people crazy by over planning everything like 3 months prior to the event… 🙂
Thank you Lydia!
Maybe you and I can meet somewhere between over-planning and lack of execution?? 🙂
So all I can think of is “Oh my God are those shoes on the table??”
In my house growing up putting new shoes on a table was considered bad luck. Now if I ever see shoes on a table, I get uneasy and uncomfortable
The shoes were brand new so I could justify putting them on the table. 🙂 Otherwise I am totally with you!
Best sign I’ve ever seen! And the shoe drawing is just fantabulous, haha 🙂
Thank you Brooklyn!
Happy birthday Maya!
So does this mean you aren’t up for planning my birthday party in April? I was so looking forward to it…I thought for sure you could ditch your current career and break out as a party planning professional, all on your own.
Sigh.
Trust me…you do NOT want me as your party planner. I have zero skills in that arena!
Was that Maya’s party? Seriously, I want a party like that!!! But if I had a kid it would definitely be Chuck E Cheese….Boomers if they are lucky!! I’m just not that creative and the idea of all those messy kids running around my house makes me anxious. I had a hard enough time planning my wedding.
Messy kids running around my house makes me anxious too…that’s why the party was at my in-laws! 🙂
I was figuring you arranged the shoes. 🙂 You do really have an amazing pair of grandmothers that obviously love their grand daughter beyond distraction to pull off a party like that with so little time. Will you please let them know that Dudette’s birthday is in June?
I did arrange the shoes! So I guess I did two things and not just one?
I’ll be sure to let them know that another little girl needs a party arranged for June!
you guys are such a beautiful family. Omg.. when I saw that sign you made, i was totally thinking of the shoe as a party favor.. lol. glad people like me weren’t at the party. This gives me some great ideas for my unborn kids – hopefully girls. I love pink girly parties – bags and shoes and cupcakes!
GREAT!
oh btw.. Thanks for mentioning Alice’s Tea Cup to me, mentioned you!! :-)))
So you liked Alice’s Tea Cup? It’s such a cute place. Great for when you have your little girl.
And thank you for the compliment!
Love the apothecary jars! Treats look and taste so much better in big glass jars. Oh and don’t think I didnt notice those Loubotins on the table. And you all look gorgeous as always!
PS: Can I borrow your mom and MIL for little man’s first birthday? Oh and the jars 🙂
Is it already time for his first birthday? Really? I can’t believe it!
And thank you for the compliment my friend!
Ha! I love it! And, yes, that is a fantastic sign. Kudos to a great family photo!
Thank you! And my sign thanks you! 🙂
all’s well that ends well, right? happy birthday to Maya! You guys look so cute :0
Thank you Sana!
well done! i am honed in on some fancy designer duds on that table. signed, the self proclaimed shoe whore. oh yeah, happy bday to maya!
Dear Self-Proclaimed Shoe Whore: The designer duds aren’t mine…Hopefully that makes you feel better? 🙂
The fact that I get up every day and put together a cohesive outfit still astounds me, so you should be very proud that you executed even a sign for that party.
I struggle with the cohesive outfit most days…somehow making the sign seems easier?
are you kidding? the sign is the best!!!!!!! i want a shoe themed party with diors & loubs on display 😛
Thank you Piya! And the shoes were on loan from my MIL who has a fantastic selection to choose from. 🙂
oh ameena…if i know you you did a little bit more than make that sign.
Lynn – I appreciate your faith in me but really, that’s about all I managed to take care of this time!
Wow, what a bash! Seriously, go ahead and let the grandmothers plan. I think they live for that stuff. Plus they have they have experienced more child parties and can work through all the trouble-shooting!
You make a killer sign ; )
Thank you Susan! And yes…they have way more experience with parties in general – an area in which I seriously lack skills!
“We both pretend that my mom taking over comes as a big surprise.”
That made my day. I’m so useless at planning things, I always need someone to just take it over.
Your sign looks wonderful though. It obviously made all the difference. 🙂
Leah – if we lived closer I know we’d be fabulous friends…
Sounds like a perfect plan to me!
🙂
What a cool mom you are! You had a vision and excellent leadership skills, don’t you think so? I mean delegating it to others (even if they signed up for it) is a skill in itself. And looks like it was perfectly executed!
Happy (belated?) Birthday to Maya! A very lovely picture of you guys!
Thank you Ashwini for thinking I am a cool mom. I wonder if Maya thinks the same way? 🙂
And thank you for the compliment. 🙂
–Ameena,
You are sooooooooooooo Hip.
I love love love coming over here.
I am NEVER disappointed. :))) The shoes Rock.
I’m never disappointed that you come here! Thank you for that!
Aww Happy Birthday to the little Princess. She looks gorgeous. The cake looks wow. I am sure it your effort through and through without which the party wouldn’t have been so much fun.
Thank you Anita! And on behalf of Maya thank you again!
Hehehe 😀
Even I make big plans, do all the shopping, invite guests, prepare food, arrange everything for a party – only to realize it was all just in the head 😛
And then settle for something simple, reasonable & more practical on the day of the event 😀
Very happy birthday & best wishes to your doll!
By the way, what’s that favor box & shoes on table about?
The favor boxes were for the guests to take home the brownies, popcorn, madelines, and candy that were in the glass jars. We figured that instead of making favor bags this would be a nice change!
Ameena, I love her cake. Happy birthday to Maya, the sweet girl. I like your sign, and your mom is great. Although I don’t believe just the sign was your doing. You are a modest woman and I love that about you. Hopefully you’re comfortable with me saying I love something about you…. 🙂
I can relate to this. I like the comment above me, because I get grand ideas and then end up making cup cakes and take a request for their favorite dinner meal and voila-la! I call it their birthday party. Maya is lucky to have you. Glad everything turned out well,
Shauna
You are too sweet to say something so nice about me – thank you!
And yes…I really did just make the sign…I didn’t even make Maya dinner on her actual birthday. We went out! So you have me beat there Shauna. 🙂
Haha love that you found a way to throw in those Louboutins ;)…I think the sign is the best part – after all kids look most forward to party favors right! That picture of the 3 of you is great, and I have to say I love your party planning style: delegation is where it’s at!
Thank you Khushboo! And I am great at delegating! Especially when I know people that have amazing follow through. Like my mom/MIL. 🙂
Happy birthday to Maya 😀 Enjoyed reading the birthday party planning and its execution !
Thank you Sayra for reading and for the birthday wish!
I’d say it’s the thought that counts!
Actually I’m sort of amazed, when I was young I never had fancy birthdays unless I planned them(and “fancy” entailed a trip to the pool-clearly I was an extravagant child)so I’d say she’s super lucky I have such a family of party throwers:)
I never had fancy birthdays either…but when you are the only granddaughter (as Maya is) things are VERY different for you. 🙂
Outsourcing at its best. So you have not 1 but 2 gradparents willing to get involved? Best present of all. LOVE the candy display (and your sign too). Hate it when I forget to give people party favors. My boys are both doing sleepovers this year. Less planning but less sleep too.
Sleepovers must be a lot of work…especially considering how much boys eat! It might be easier to do a party for a few hours!
That sign is just so great. I think you could be a party planner actually.
Now for the rest of us who have well-meaning MILs and Moms but who don’t really know what to do … the rest of us have to work. And it’s Young Lady’s birthday comin up too.
(PS (sob) I can no longer use my log in details – gravatar doesn’t recognize it. I’m reduced to anonymity.
I’m so sorry you have to work…especially seeing as you have more than one birthday to throw each year!
And I’m not sure if I can help with the log in situation? I see your name – it didn’t come through as anonymous – but if there is something I can do please let me know!
Caterers? My goodness, could you come handle my parties? That sounds like it was amazing! Oh, and I love your sign. This is pretty much how my parties run, except without the mom to step in and take over. You can imagine the end results. Thank God they’re still too little to care. lol
I’ve seen your cooking skills and your attention to detail so I KNOW your parties are fantastic. You are just being humble to make me feel better! 🙂
I’m now beginning to be nervous about a happy hour/post-baby shower that I’m supposed to be planning. It’s 2 weeks from tomorrow and I’ll I’ve done is tell people about it.
Fortunately, it is baby #2 and all my friend wants is to drink with adults.
But, let’s just say that my party organization skills are LAME!
In terms of Maya’s party – think of Hillary Clinton’s book “It takes a village”. See, you have the village working for – I mean ‘with’ – you. Well done!
Baby showers are tricky work. The few times I’ve done them I’ve outsourced the whole event to a venue where they take care of the food and the room!
Good luck my friend! It does take a village, doesn’t it?
My family thinks about birthday parties at the day of the birthday..lol. your doing well Ameena. and Maya is so lucky. The sign looks ver cool!!!!!!
That’s how it was when I was younger! Parties were an after thought. And yet they were totally great.
Thank you for the compliment on my sign!
You are so cute to admit it all, what we all do and slyly take a hundred credit instead…
I looooooooooooouve your subtle sense of humour yaar-seriously 🙂
And here’s wishing all the very best to the little princess who looks more than happy with everything her mama does but generally does not take credit for:-)
Thank you Suruchi! This is one of the nicest comments I’ve received – I so appreciate you reading. And I love that you get my humor. 🙂
Ameena – if its anything like last year’s party, it was AMAZING! Don’t worry. Maya probably loved it and was none the wiser. Happy Birthday! And congrats for making it through another year.
Thanks Deena. I can’t believe it’s already been a year since the last one!!
i feel like every year, i’ve done the same thing for my own birthday. i always throw in the towel, and invite all my friends to my parents’ pool for a day of sangria, barbecuing, and splashing around. and it’s always a great time!
and your sign, my dear, is perfecto. 😉
The simplest parties are the best! And I think it’s great that you plan your own. A BBQ/pool party sounds like the best kind of party!
Sometimes it’s about what you actually do… most of the time it’s about knowing who to hire. Looks like a fabulous party to me! I’d be taking those shoes as my favor.
I was a bit concerned that others might take the shoes as their favor too! 🙂
Oh! I have my son’s birthday in a week and all I can get him to say that he wants is a free lego magazine. I’m doomed!
Legos + a Lego Magazine sounds like a fantastic gift to me. Throw in some of those gummy candies that look like Legos and I think you have a great and easy gift. 🙂
Dearie: All is well that ends well! And lets face you being you gives your Mum something to do – and we all know, Mums like nothing better than taking over!
Brava – you pulled it off 🙂 The birthday party looks superb and btw right there with you on the chuck-e-cheese’s smirking.
chow! DEVAKI @ weavethousandflavors
Thank you Devaki! Moms really do know how to take over…
Hi Ameena,
What a gorgeous family picture! The party looks like it went off well. Belated Happy Birthday to Maya. Love it when the mothers (mom and mil)help out.
Thank you Asmita! For both the birthday wishes and the compliment!
First of all
A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE MOST ADORABLE & BEAUTIFUL ANGEL..
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAYA!!!
The pic of you three; really beautiful!!!
And Trust me you did a great Job!!
Thank you Reem for your very sweet comment! So nice of you. 🙂
Beautiful snaps!
Thank you Ummi!
I live in fear of having to throw my child’s first birthday party. Like legitimate anxious fear for the child that I have not even attempted to have yet. All subsequent birthdays? I can’t even begin to wrap my mind around it.
Because of my extreme non-gift for party planning, I agreed to co-host (at my home) a bridal shower for a dear friend this weekend. You should probably start the prayer circle now.
You are in my prayers Kat. But knowing you and your Type-A personality? The shower is going to be flawless. 🙂
My husband thinks highly of people who can delegate! It is the essence of good management accord. to him,and I suck at it 🙂 Love the sign…very artistic!
I’m sure you are fantastic at delegation…you have enough practice just being married! 🙂
🙂
the sign is very impressive 🙂
also, such a cute family!
Katie
Thanks Katie! 🙂
I heart the sign. Good job. 🙂 The party looks fab overall, really. Happy birthday, Maya!
Happy Birthday to Maya, love the cake 🙂
And wonderful sign too. Your MIL has awesome shoes!
Thank you so much for all the compliments and the birthday wishes!
Happy Birthday to Maya! Wow–you know, the books I sent? They were a random gift. I had no idea it was around her birthday. How crazy is that?
How funny Jeena! I thought that they were for her birthday…Since they are not, I have to say that you just have amazing timing. 🙂