A holiday reprieve for you today!  As we celebrate the 11th birthday of my middle daughter today, I am reminded of this fun party we had a few years ago.  She loves to read and loves mysteries so a Nancy Drew Party was her request.

Yellow, Pink and Green are her favorite colors and were our color guides for everything from invite to decor and cake.

We did a fun invite based on a few I’d seen on Pinterest.  It was a letter from Nancy Drew (aka my daughter) with a copy of the ransom note about our dog being missing.  Swoozie’s created all the pieces for me. (Sorry for the poor image quality here!  Ugly old granite doesn’t help!)

At the party we hid clues around the house, inside and out, that the girls had to figure out.  Some were written in code, backwards and had to be read in the mirror and other’s were riddles hidden balloons!

They were given notebooks to record their clues.  The first was in code:

In code:

Gsv urihg xofv rh vzhb

Blf’oo pmld dsviv gl ollp

Rg’h hlnvgsrmt blf ivzw

Dsvm blf rm z xlab mllp

Answer:

The first clue  is easy

you’ll know where to look

it’s something you read

when you’re in a cozy nook

The next was hidden in four books given to the girls as favors (volume 9 for her 9th birthday of course!) and written so small that they had to be read with a magnifying glass.

You’ll find the next clue

In a bright sunny spot

Search high and low

X Marks the Spot

(hidden in a yellow balloon)

The final clue (there were about 7 total)

She’s where you have sweet dreams

And want her to be

but she probably won’t join you

until she is three!

(her bedroom)

Our dog was supposed to be missing and needing to be found but she had a mishap and was in the hospital, so this adorable pup filled in.

This was the first gluten free cake I baked.  I used my baking secret weapon, 123 Gluten Free.

I just love birthday parties.  Tonight we are working a Glow-in-the-dark theme.  Happy Birthday, sweet girl!  We love you!