Aidan turned 16 on March 29th and we hosted her Sweet 16 Party last weekend.
Before you have any images of "My Sweet 16" and gold-plated Mercedes convertibles or Apple stock options or diamond-encrusted tiaras (I have never seen that show, so I'm totally stabbing in the dark here), you need to keep in mind that Aidan Zielske is of the practical, creative kind. All she wants to do? Host a theme party of her choosing, year in and year out.
This year's theme? Come As Your Favorite Decade.
Perfection.
I present the Zielske family, in all their decaded glory. First up, Coleman Zielske in the 1940s.
Cole was off school the day of the party, so he pleaded with me for a trip to Goodwill and AxMan Surplus. For under $25, we scored the hat, the jacket (and the pants you don't see.) He even went so far as to request a haircut for added authenticity. He is nothing, if not authentic.
Next up, Dan Zielske, coming to you directly from the early 1960s.
The funny thing about this shot? This could be Dan heading to church on any given Sunday. This isn't some ancient sweater that never gets used. I truly believe my husband is living in the wrong decade from a fashion standpoint.
Next up, me, which you've seen in the shot above and as if there were any question as to what decade I would choose. Duh. I was so goth in 1984 for roughly 3 months.
As I was questioning the grey hair and the goth culture and the potential incongruency, Dan told me that grey hair would only make me more goth. Touché.
And last up, the winner of the night, Aidan Zielske, party planner extraordinaire and 60s tartlet, courtesy of web tips for creating sixties-styled hair and the Lula vintage store.
I mean, seriously. Get out, you little Barbarella you.
Be still my heart.
And come hell or high water, this will be our Christmas card photo for 2012:
And yes, I created a digital layout to commemorate this special night in the Zielske family history, because it truly was one of the Best Days Ever.
SUPPLIES:
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dawn says
WOW how super cool this theme is!! It’s so fun to read about your kids and their amazing ideas, hhmmm where do they get that from.
LOVE LOVE all the photos and how well they fit each of you!!
Would love to see or hear about the other kids outfits.
I’m sure one day her kids will make her as happy as she makes you.
Sarah says
all my kids get is laser tag and junk food….
Petra from NL says
LOVE those pictures of Aidan, the 60’s suit her!
Jennifer Larson says
That is a fabulous layout! And great photos. Hope the party was fun.
Kendra B says
Very cool! Awesome pics!!
katie squires says
Seriously the coolest family EVER! you guys are so fun 🙂
JulieP says
I am sooooo swiping this idea for my next party!!!! You all look fabulous!!!
Debby Riendeau says
Awesome! You guys are so cool; my family would NEVER do that. We are so lame.
Jan says
Aiden looks like she could easily fit in on the set of Mad Men. And Cole’s 1940’s soldier look is spot on. It is so much fun to dress up but we always have at least one who won’t participate.
Sue S says
How do i get on your Xmas card list? Because that pic is epic.
Your son’s caption made me laugh so hard I cried.
Jenny in Wellington, New Zealand says
Ok: how’d she get her hair like that, is she truly as tall as Dan or was she wearing heels (wanna see the shoes!!!!), and how dang cute can the Zielske family BE in one go? Dang, girl…..
Theresa says
ADORE!!! OMG! I only home my girl is that cool in thirteen years!
Toni from says
It’s decided. I’M. MOVING. IN. Coolest family ever! You really need to do a post later in the year of all of your 2012 ” Christmas cards.”
Becky T. says
I totally LOVE it!! I think I would have had to do the Brady Bunch 1970’s look even though I’m really a 1980’s girl. How fun!!! 🙂
Marsaille Knight says
I want my kids to hang with yours. They are little, we could call it babysitting and I would pay them handsomely. Seriously, I want cool, well-adjusted, creative, intelligent, conscientious kids. Our family is taking up the whole talent pool around here, we are moving to MN.
cathy says
Oh, shes as tall as Dan. : )
mary says
Today is a sad day for me. It’s finally become official. Your family is TOO COOL for me. You’re so far out of my league, I can’t even see the bleachers…
Seriously, I hear reality show beckoning on the horizon.
And yep. Dan’s right. The grey hair “made” your outfit.
Wow.
Aliza says
Yes, totally cool. You all look great,and your layout does too.
Leanne W. says
Best post! Made me smile;)
Jessica says
Seriously love this post. And I’m snagging this idea for my 30th b-day party bash in August. Happy 16th, Aidan!
audrey says
omg, this is awesome! you guys rock! Would love to see more decades photos of the guests, without compromising their privacy.
Lexi says
You all look fantastic and the birthday girl is completely gorgeous! Such a beautiful family! Love it all! Happy Sweet 16, Aiden! Hope it’s entirely too sweet for you!
Ilona says
So cool! Aiden looks beautiful!! Great photos, great memories! Love it!!!
Dina says
You guys all look great, but especially Aidan – tell her she’s gorgeous!
kelli says
totally stealing this for my next halloween party….love.
Elizabeth says
This is in the running for my favorite blog post on the internet for 2012. : )
Kristen says
Where did you get the black “speech bubble” – or did someone in your dang family make it?
Awesome party idea – hope my daughter likes it, so I can gently suggest that she try this theme…
Kristie says
Honest to goodness, you might be the most fun family on the planet. And I’m even including MY OWN!! 🙂
Lee says
You are an EXTREMELY cool family!
In his pic Cole looks like he’s old enough for college.
Aidan looks beautiful – and has an echo of Annette Funicello about her.
Thanks for sharing so much of your family and your life with us.
;o)
– Lee
Myra says
Great party idea! Aidan looks stunning.
Jules says
Much to my chagrin, I HAVE seen (several) episodes of My Super Sweet 16 and the parties. Aidan’s was better. WAY better.
Kudos on such a cool and creative idea, Aidan. I hope you know scores of CZ blog-reading mamas are now planning decade-themed parties for their kids…
Jodene says
What an awesome theme for a sweet 16 party! You all looked fantastic, and I can’t believe how grown up (and gorgeous) Aidan is! It happens all too fast, my own daughter is 16 in August and I am still in shock as to how quickly the years have flown by.
I remember seeing your kiddo’s in layouts in the early scrapbooking magazines when they were only little, and it has been wonderful watching them grow through your layouts and your blog entries. You and Dan must be so proud of the young adults you have raised, they both seem to be such great people.
cathy says
From Photojojo.com! : )http://photojojo.com/store/awesomeness/chalkboard-bubble/
Jenell says
Happy Birthday Aiden. You would look great no matter what era you were from!!! And the family photo should definitely be the Christmas Card shot this year. LOVE IT!
Jenell says
I should probably spell Aidan correctly. Oops – sorry about that.
christina rayevich says
This is beyond awesome!!! such a fun idea.
I want to take Cole’s sign & hang it in my house. the 40’s are my 2nd fav era, the 60’s being the first =)
xo
AnnieB says
Aidan…so Jackie O. uh, before the O
Alicia says
Great idea! Cute family photo! And your daughter gets more beautiful each year! I mean seriously, if she keeps aging better and better, she’s going to have every man in the universe wrapped around her finger when she’s 60. 🙂
Judy Sanza says
She looks like Annette! Very pretty!
Judi says
OMG she looks like Jackie Kennedy – love your kookie family
Pam Lowe says
The three of them remind me of a “Mad Men” commercial! Great idea for a party, and my baby girl will 20 this year, we may try this!
Jennifer Weierke says
Such a cute idea! Love all of the photos.
Pedroza says
Everyone looks great, wonderful idea!
Kelli says
What an awesome theme! We had a birthday party “Turning Seven 70’s Style” for my shall we say “quirky” daughter who LOVES the Brady Bunch. We actually had to show an episode to her friends who had NO IDEA. We did everything Brady. Super fun! I can totally see this as a great theme when she gets older. Awesome photos!
Laurie says
What a fun idea. And I must say, Cathy, your outfit is super slenderizing-you look tiny in it!
cathy says
aw, she will indeed!
cathy says
that sounds fun! : )
Kropster says
I love a good, home-crafted theme party.
You all look terrific. Love the Christmas card photo.
thepellerins@msn.com says
OMG!!! Fabulous!!!
JillT says
Awesome and very creative family!!! Absolutely HAS to be your card this year. Now can you (safely) share the other outfits????
Anna says
Love it!!!!
Barbara says
I seriously want to come and live with your family. Really. I apparently need some Zielske in my life. Desperately…
cathy says
I would, but I feel like I would have to get permission from all of her friends. : ) You understand.
Leslie B says
Looks like a blast and I love the layout. The only problem is now I can’t get Eddie Murphy’s song out of my head!
alexa says
Superb layout, with lovely people – and Cole looks as if he could have stepped out of a scene from one of our most loved BBC comedy shows “Dad’s Army” … I can’t believe Aidan is so grown-up!
Kate says
Dan’s pose face is fierce. As a Brit, I have never used this word for this meaning before! Your girlie looks like the Avon lady from Edward Scissor hands, really super! You all look fab, hope I can be such a fun Mum to my kids in the future!
nicole prather says
what a wonderful idea 🙂 happy late birthday pretty girl !!
jacquie d says
Aidan is a total knockout, very likely in any era! Your blog totally cements my idea of a beautiful family. Thankyou for sharing.
RobynS says
Very, very cool. Might have to do that next year when our kids are 30,18 and 13. All big biscuit years. Also if you are watching American Idol tonight one of the songs is GOTYE – Somebody I used to know.
borcherding says
ROFL!!!!! oh. my. god….. this post was HILARIOUS!! And using the photo as your Christmas card is absolutely priceless. Seriously – I am STILL laughing!!
Melinda T says
How cool and fun! Looked like it was a blast!
leslie says
just ordered my own photo bubble for my 10th annual girls’ trip…this could get interesting! 🙂
kerry.shumway@gmail.com says
How absolutely FUN. – and I agree, that has to be your Christmas card photo.
Susan C says
Now that looks like fun, thanks for sharing. Aidan reminds me of a cross between Audrey Hepburn and Jackie Kennedy. I am sure a good time was had by all.
Julie says
LOVE, LoVE and Love some more.
Heather H. says
What an awesome party idea! You all look smashing! And I’m pretty sure I have Dan’s sweater in blue, which was my grandfather’s and is probably from the 60’s. It reminds me of him and Mr. Rogers.
Lynda says
This is so cool & hell to the yeah it’s your family Xmas card 2012!
Bauhaus lives
Lynda in calif!
Busygirl says
Rofl!!, your whole family is hilarious and great actors lol!
louise fortune says
Looks like it was an amazing day – you guys ALL looked great . I love theme parties but haven’t been to one in absolutely years – got a major birthday coming up in 2 years 364 days so I may have to pinch the “come as a decade idea”
Thanks for Sharing.
Kathy says
Completely fabulous…and I would definately go with the christmas card photo for 2012….quirky and very Zielske!!!! The birthday girl looks gorgeous!!!! Happy Sweet 16… Regards Kathy A, Brisbane, Australia
cathy says
Oh, totally Edward Scissorhands style!
cathy says
Robyn, I saw that tonight. Part of me cringed a bit, because I think they really missed the nuance of the song. But there I go, sounding like an old fogey again! LOL!
cathy says
Aidan LOVES hers!
cathy says
Bauhaus lives indeed!
Regina White says
OMGosh I totally love this. I want to do this for my 40th birthday this summer. I love it all. Your family is super cute. Aiden is super beautiful your truly blessed Chica!
Lyn Meeker says
Awesome theme… and Aidan ..looks like a young Annette Funicello! When they do a movie of the actresses life… Aidan should audition!
elly says
you needed way more eyeliner! 😉
goths ftw!
cathy says
I tried. I swear. I lost my touch.
Jo says
Wow, that is just fabulous!