Real Parties: Maverick’s Rookie Year

Guest contributor: Erica A. Thomas of Eating With Erica

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As I planned our son's first birthday, I wanted a theme that was fun but wasn't overdone. So, being that this was Maverick's rookie year with us, this theme was perfect: His Rookie Year. The invitation, featuring a ball with stripes, was easy to edit and was the perfect invitation theme to inform partygoers of what Baby Thomas' first event would entail.

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I have worked with Gimme Cake & Events for the past four years. Tamika, the founder of Gimme Cake & Events, is absolutely amazing and a true trifecta. She provides decor, catering and cakes! It's so much easier working with one person than various vendors. Fun fact: She also designed my wedding cake. When I told her about my vision for the party, she was so excited, and she stated that she knew how to bring this vision to life. I'm going to be honest: I am not a big fan of baseball food, so we decided to opt for a Southern brunch menu, which included the following:

Shrimp and grits

Chicken and waffles

Avocado toast

Mac and cheese

Smoked gouda egg & bacon sandwich

Garden salad

Salmon sliders 

Yogurt parfaits

Pastries 

Assorted fruit

Our guests loved the food, and the bartender made tasty cocktails and mocktails. Let's get into the details, shall we? So, when planning an event, your guests always remember the food, drinks and details. And when hosting a party, the details are my favorite thing to get creative and to have fun with. For my son's party, I really wanted to hone in on baseball. I was able to order personalized Coca-Cola bottles with his name on them and the cups and napkins were created by Sadie Stone Designs. It's no surprise that I wanted this event to feel like an elevated baseball brunch. I mean, what is a party without some entertainment? And I wanted the entertainment to be fun and interactive. My Reptile Guys were perfect. Our guests had an opportunity to interact with a boa constrictor, an iguana, a lizard, a turtle and more. Our guests were amazed and had such a great time. We loved hosting Baby Thomas' first birthday, and we can't wait until year two next year!

Key details

Name of party: Maverick’s Rookie Year

City: Atlanta, GA

Theme: Baseball

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How the party came to life

Evite invitation: Ball and Strikes

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Venue: Our home

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Cake and dessert: Gimme Cake & Events

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Food: Gimme Cake & Events

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Beverages: Three Sisters Mobile Bar 

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Decor: Gimme Cake & Events

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The surprise hit: My Reptile Guys

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Party favors: Custom cups from Sadie Stone Designs, personalized Coca-Cola bottles, cookies, and a choice of a Chick-fil-A or Starbucks gift card.