Yesterday, my mom and sister put on their ‘Martha Stewart’ hats. They threw a little birthday lunch in honor of my son’s and niece’s birthdays; both turn nine this month.

My mom made homemade chicken noodle soup, which I also enjoy making once the cooler weather sets in. She, however, made the noodles for the soup from scratch! She also baked muffins and cider donuts from scratch. Wow.

My sister came with her 13 month old in tow and a gorgeous chocolate birthday cake she baked, from scratch of course, decorated with mini M&Ms. She used to have her own baking/cake business. At some point during the lunch, she took out the pouch of animal finger puppets she sewed by hand, for her son to play with. She is truly domestically gifted.

Before my sis had a child of her own, she made an unbelievable birthday cake each year for her nieces and nephews (my boys included, of course). I took photos of every single one over the years, as some of them blew me away. One year, she made a three-dimensional train cake for our little train-lover. Photos of our family’s faces were somehow superimposed onto the cake; it looked like the birthday boy was the conductor and his brother, dad and mom (me) were passengers. This is just one of my sister’s many baked creations that have made my jaw drop.

She also sewed each and every Halloween costume for her nieces and nephews over the years. The green dragon costume she created for my middle son was unbelievable, with an extremely long tail spiked with scales. We received compliments each and every year about our boys? hand sewn costumes.

Now, I’m not totally inept; I’m crafty, you could say. I created a Crabby Patty for a Sponge Bob costume one year, made from Styrofoam balls, pieces of felt, an exacto knife and my handy-dandy hot glue gun.

My Crabby Patty, however, pales in comparison to my mom’s and sister’s domestic accomplishments. This Halloween, I will be creative about costume ideas and get out my glue gun if I need to but I won’t be sewing up any award-winning homemade costumes.

I can’t wait to see the costume my sister will make for her son’s first Halloween (last Halloween, he was only one month old, so that didn’t count). His ‘down on the farm’ – themed first birthday cake was unbelievable.

Will your kids be wearing homemade or store-bought costumes this Halloween? Do your homemade cakes look like they came from a bakery, like my sister’s? I hope I’m not the only domestically-challenged mom on the planet!

I’m planning a big birthday bash for my soon-to-be 1 yr. old. I embrace simple parties, but this is a combo party that will be celebrating her christening as well so I decided to make it a big one. I told myself, she’s only going to be 1 once, she’s my first daughter and I’m allowed to indulge.

As I booked a venue, ordered the invitations, inquired about catering, favors, and on and on and on, I slowly started to get a sinking feeling in my stomach. I added up the total and had startling moment. What have I gotten myself into?!

Planning a party is hard, but the logistics of a big party, plus the added expense is even harder. I’m almost to the finish line of her party. If I were to do it again, I probably would still have a big party but I’ve learned my lesson. I’d do several things differently.

I’d buy cheap software like Hallmark Card Studio which is only $9.99 and make my own invitations. Or even better, send an e-vite (electronic invitation). I would have bought a second-hand christening dress. I wouldn’t have bought her a birthday outfit but have dressed her in one of her pricey outfit gifted by doting grandmas and grand-aunts that have yet to be worn. I would stick to a simpler menu, and maybe held the big party at a relative’s place. One thing I did do was gratefully accept my parent’s help in the planning process and their offer to cover some of the expenses (thanks Mama and Papa!).

I’m still looking forward to the event though, even if we still have to contend with cake and other odds and ends. We’ve got family and friends flying in for the occasion and that at least, you can’t put a price on. My baby is about to turn one, oh boy.