Josselyn’s Candyland: Samantha Harris Celebrates Her Daughter’s First Birthday

Samantha Harris celebrated her daughter Josselyn Sydney Hess’s first birthday on Sunday, October 5 with a party sponsored by Jayneoni Moore’s Sugar, Sprinkles and Banana Split at Spa Di Da in Los Angeles. The Dancing With the Stars host was thrilled with the party and told us, “Josselyn’s party was magical! What an adorable venuewith superb party decoration for all the kids to enjoy — with wonderfultoys to play with and yummy treats to indulge in! Jayneoni really knowshow to put on a marvelous, dream of a birthday party that we willremember forever. She made our little girl’s first birthday so special!”

We asked Jayneoni for her tips for throwing your child a special and memorable first birthday party.

Sugar, Sprinkles and Banana Split/Tim Goodwin

Click More for her tips and exclusive images of Josselyn’s party.

Sugar, Sprinkles and Banana Split/Tim Goodwin

Sugar, Sprinkles and Banana Split/Tim Goodwin

Sugar, Sprinkles and Banana Split/Tim Goodwin

Choose a theme that is familiar to your child. If yourlittle one is turning one there is no need to have a Power Ranger-themed party, so go with something your child enjoys. Inspired bySamantha’s Dancing With the Stars experience, she and Jayneoni planned a dancing and Candyland-theme. The space was transformed into a mini-Candyland, with life-sizedcandy canes and lollipops, faux gumdrop cupcakes, white picket fences,and mason jars filled with candy.

Sugar, Sprinkles and Banana Split/Tim Goodwin

Remember the party is for and about the baby. “So manyparents plan the party for themselves or friends,” explained Jayneoni.”They forget to include what the baby really wants– to just play so wehad blankets and pads down for the kids to crawlaround and play on.” Older kids played in the Candyland game area whileyounger kids colored in the Crayola area with TaDoodles and Color Explosion markers. The pint size dancers boogied and watched themselves on Playskool’s Dance Cam.

Keep it short and sweet. Young children have short attentionspans and limited patience. Also keep nap time in mind for kids under2. Samantha and Jayneoni wisely scheduled the party for 3-5 PM, thesweet spot between naptime and dinner.

Sugar, Sprinkles and Banana Split/Tim Goodwin

Sugar, Sprinkles and Banana Split/Tim Goodwin

For simplicity, food should focus on the cake. Samantha provided snacks for her guests like Goldfish and fruit . Dessert was the true centerpiece, however, with three options- a vanilla with strawberry Candyland cake by Cake Divas, a three-tiered pink and purple fudge crunch Baskin-Robbins ice cream cake, and a Baskin Robbins sundae bar with twelve toppings. Moms sipped Vitamin Water while their babes sucked down juice in Playtex trainer cups.

Sugar, Sprinkles and Banana Split/Tim Goodwin

It’s never too early to learn about charity. Jayneoni suggests that insteadof gifts, ask guests to make a donation to a charity, or ask them tobring a second gift or something small for achild in need. Josselyn’s party benefited children living in fostercare through The Jayneoni Moore Children’s Fund. Throughgenerous donations from party sponsors like Playskool, Robeez, Happy Heinys, and Baskin-Robbins, Samantha was able topresent the nonprofit with over $5,000 worth of toys, books andclothes. Toys that guests played with were all donated to foster homesafterward. And for every gift bag that was given to Josselyn’s 35 guests, one was given to a foster mom in Los Angeles.

The Sugar, Sprinkles and Banana Split gift bag included Playskool Tooth Juniors, Busy Lil Garden Friends, and Clipo Vehicle Set, Robeez Booties, Build-A-Bear bear, Crayola New Beginings Crayons, Chicco products, a Moncalin blanket, Baskin-Robbins and Edible Arrangements gift certificates, Playtex Trainer Cups, Western Chief rain gear, Mustela skin care, Paper Shouts stationery, Hair Clips by No Slippy Hair Clippy, Happy Heinys trainer pants, Ballerina in A Box by Danskin, Nursery Rhyme Tease t-shirts, Wall Candy Arts wall decor, Cute As Buttons bloomers, Your Baby Can Read DVD, Kane Miller books, Boogie Wipes, 3 Marthas party bib, Bumkins Cat In The Hat gift set, and Smartwater.

Please note that Samantha and her husband Michael did not wish to have Josselyn photographed, hence the one photo from the back.

Make sure you come back on Monday when we’ll be giving away this fabulous bag, valued at $1,000.

How did you celebrate your child’s first birthday? What tips can you share?