Birthday Party Preparations

I've been getting ready for Mia's birthday party, which is in 2 weeks. The theme is Dogs. Just dogs, not "licensed character dogs" like Blue of Blue's Clues or Scooby Doo or even Clifford the Big Red Dog. Mia is too young to have real friends yet, but last week, I sent e-mail invitations to a few of our friends who have toddlers. (e-mail invitations. Remember the days when I used to make handmade cards? Let's just say this is yet another area where I've lowered my standards.) This weekend I've been making the party favors. (Making the party favors. Perhaps there is hope for me after all.) It all started when I had this great idea that we'd have the party at our house. Instead of renting some inflatable moon castle or a petting zoo, we would feature a craft activity. Most people give out little goodie bags for party favors, wouldn't it be cool if the guests decorated T-shirts with fabric paint? (2-year-olds with fabric paint. I know, it sounds ridiculous now that I've put it in writing.) Pretty quickly I concluded that was a bit ambitious for 2-year-olds. Instead, we're going to have some physical play time in Mia's backyard (playroom if raining) followed by lunch. I've been making the party favors myself. Last night, I showed Jeff the prototype. It wasn't quite perfect, but Jeff assured me that is part of the charm. He even took a picture of me working on the party favors, saying it will make Mia happy to see the effort I put into her 2nd birthday party. Now, that's my idea of a supportive husband!
Oh, and the cake. After discovering that the local bakeries can't make a cake with a plain old dog on it, only licensed character cakes with features like mandatory blue frosting (eeeuuw), I went on the web and got a pattern for making a dog cake. For about a day, I decided that was a super idea, then I realized it would take 3-4 hours and would look quite amateurish because while I am a competent baker I am an untested cake decorator. I think I'll save that pattern for another day. Like when Mia is old enough to appreciate it and/or at least help me. It's off to the grocery store to put in an order for a sheet cake that has "Happy Birthday, Mia" written on it.
I'm beginning to see why people opt for the "write a check to the kid-friendly entertainment restaurant" theme party.