How I Put Together A Girly Paw Patrol Birthday Party

Disclaimer: I was not compensated by any of these shops. All opinions are my own entirely.

My daughter is obsessed with Paw Patrol. Therefore, there was little question as to what theme her 4th birthday party would be. I love planning her birthday parties. I take great pride in how they turn out. It's a definitely labor of love, but I won't pretend that I don't enjoy every minute of it.

I made a good deal of the decorations for her birthday party using my Cricut Explore (you can buy yourself one here.) I would also like to include a shout out to all of the other vendors that helped make this party PAW-tastic!

Planning a Paw Patrol party of your own? Then, you are in the right place. I would love to hear your ideas as well, who knows, I might be able to use them for her next party!

Birthday Banner

I have made birthday banners for my daughter's last 3 birthday parties, and the one I made this year is my favorite by far. It was very intricate and time consuming, but that made it more rewarding to hang up in the end.

As mentioned above, I use my Cricut Explore for all my paper projects. I get most of my cut files off of Etsy. I LOVE ETSY! Like--I really love it. If you are looking for cute Paw Patrol cut files simply search Paw Patrol SVG files on etsy and you will have all that you ever dreamed you could find.

I got the Paw Patrol font here.

I got the "pup tag" shape for the banner here.

I got the paw patrol faces here.

The faces are the most challenging to create. There are layers upon layers of paper. I took the files above and actually merged a ton of the layers...and it was still quite a process to assemble them. Imagine a tiny jigsaw puzzle. That is what it was like--but in the end it looks so good and you just can't buy anything like this without breaking the bank. To tie it all together I just used a roll of jute and a hole puncher. Simple as that. I think the jute makes it look a little vintage.

If you would like for me to do a tutorial on how to use the Cricut Explore to create images like above, then leave me some comments.

Centerpieces

These centerpieces were made from the same pup faces and pup tag files linked above. I secured them to dowels with a hot glue gun and placed them in painted mason jars filled with craft paper shreds. The end result is too cute for words. The little chalkboards were placed randomly on the mason jars as well.

Entertainment

When kids first entered the party they were directed to make their own pup tag. I took the same pup tag cut file from above and cut several on white cardstock. I punched two holes at the top and created a necklace with jute. The kids colored their own "pup tags" and wore them around their necks for the rest of the party. BUT I did not get a good picture of them--drat! BUT in the picture above, my daughter is wearing her creation!

I also printed Paw Patrol coloring sheets from this site. and had them on the tables with crayons for kids to color before/after/during cake.

What really made the party entertaining was the fact that we hired a performer to dress up as Skye and Chase. The performer made balloon animals and did face painting. It was a hit! I highly recommend it.

Cake

All of my daughter's birthday cakes were made by Shakeata. She is my mother's friend, and she outdoes herself each a every year. I highly recommend her. She is in the Atlanta area. You can contact her here.

Food Labels 

I made the food labels using Picmonkey. I love this site! On Picmonkey you can create your own printables in your own colors. My daughter wanted a girl birthday party, but she loves Chase. With Picmonkey I was able to make my own invitations in girly colors and with a girly style. I was unable to find anything at a store that would work. The dog bowls was an idea I got on Pinterest. I found these bowls on Amazon!

For the Paw Patrol images I searched google images for Paw Patrol transparent background. I found the ones that I liked, and saved them to my computer. Then you can just upload them as your own overlay in Picmonkey and voila!

Birthday Outfit

The adorable birthday outfit I found on Etsy. You can visit the shop here. They did such a great job, and I thought my girl looked so cute. Everyone at the party commented on her outfit and bow! It was a hit--even if she didn't like it!

There you have it! I enjoyed creating this party almost as much as my little P did. Are you planning a little one's birthday party in the near future? I would love to see what you come up with! If you would be interested in an in depth tutorial on how anything was made, then say so in the comments!

Caroline

Tyme Iron Tutorial and Review

This is the first beauty tutorial I have done on the blog. I am so excited to make this a weekly thing! Disclaimer--I have not been compensated by the Tyme people. All opinions are my own completely!

So let's talk about the Tyme iron. It has been all over Facebook. It was haunting me daily. So I put it on my Christmas list last year, and I got it! It took me a good 3 practicing sessions before I had it down, but now it is the only hair product I ever use on myself. No more curling irons, and no more straightening irons. I just use the Tyme iron and I am set for both waves and straight! How cool is that?

If you are interested in getting a Tyme iron. You can purchase one here.

Here's the thing--we as humans to do not have a long attention span--so a product, no matter how great, that has a learning curve often gets shoved in the back of our cabinets in the bathroom and forgotten! That is why I wanted to do a video tutorial and post here about my experience with the Tyme iron. View my tutorial below if you already have the iron--or if you're just curious, or thinking about purchasing.

And now for my review!

1. Price
The Tyme iron is $189. That is a little bit pricey, but as someone who has bought Chi irons for years, it really is not that much more.  Many curling wand systems are in the same price point. I guess when you consider that the iron is supposed to take the position of both a straightening iron and a curling iron, then it would warrant that higher price. BUT I will admit that I used my Chi iron to curl my hair too, and the results were not much different.

2. Packaging and Quality
the Tyme iron comes in really sturdy and nice packaging. It arrived unharmed and in a timely manner. I have been using this iron consistently for over a year, and it still works just like it did the first day. It is well made.

3. Performance
The Tyme iron makes beautiful smooth curls and can straighten just as good as any other straightening iron I have ever used (and I have curly hair so I have used a lot). It has sucessfully replaced my other irons completely.

My one issue is that you cannot control the heat setting on the iron. It comes in one setting (F******* HOT). So if you are one who worries about heat damage--this might not be the iron for you.

4. Overall
Overall I love this iron. I use it weekly and I even use it on clients. While it does take time to learn how to use, I do think that it has superior performance.

Do you have a Tyme iron? If you don't, then maybe you will consider investing the next time you are in the market for a new tool.

Till Wednesday!
Caroline

Words for My Daughter

Over the last few months I have been slowly piecing together ideas for Piper's new "Big Girl" room in my mind. For the last year she has been sleeping in a toddler bed, but I am well aware that she is ready to graduate to a "forever bed." As silly as that sounds. We are preparing to get her room ready and appropriate for a young lady. Something that will be appropriate for a little girl, but that can grow with her into her teenage years. I can't believe that I just typed those words.

I have picked out some furniture in my mind, and the paint color I want to use. It will be elegant and sophisticated, yet appropriate for this beautiful Princess that it will hold.

During this process I have become obsessed with wood framed art pieces. I know that I want a pretty large piece to go over her new bed. But I couldn't find the right phrase to put on it. I wanted something that would again grow with her into young adulthood.

While scouring Pinterest, I had a hunch to search for quotes from one of my favorite authors, F. Scott Fitzgerald. Anyone that has read The Great Gatsby knows that his work is very romantic and whimsical, yet thought provoking and quite sad at times. While reading through the multitudes of famous quotes from his work, I came across this portion from The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and I just stopped searching further. As I read it, my eyes welled up with tears. I knew that this was exactly the wish that I had for my daughter's life each day.

These words truly express the type of individual that I want to raise. One that is strong, kind, friendly, caring, and intelligent enough to be true to herself first and foremost. They will be the words that will hang over her sweet head each night as she sleeps. I pray that they will stay inspirational and relevant to her all of her life.

I wanted to take the time to share them with all of you, because this is also the wish that I have for all of my friends and family. May these words ring as true to you as they have for me.

Happy Hump Day,

Caroline

Shopping Guide For Her

One of my most read posts each year is my Christmas List. Just yesterday, I overheard two teachers in the hall struggling with what to get their wives for Christmas. While, I didn't volunteer any ideas at the time, I am more than willing to share them with you. Ladies, if you see something you like here--don't shy away from posting the link to this post on your husband's Facebook wall. Being subtle has gotten us all less appealing gifts in the past. Afterall, your husband really wants to make you happy and doesn't really want to waste money on something that will go unused. TRUST ME!

1. Boots!
I love getting boots for Christmas because I wear the crap out of them all winter long, and am always in need of a new pair by the next year. A good pair of brown riding boots like these...they would never be a disappointment.

2. Alex and Ani Bangles
If you know me, then you know I love these bangles. They are a great way to give a personlized gift without having to go through Etsy. Which is good because husbands do tend to procrastinate! I have a bangle with a P for my daughter's name. I also have one with her birthstone. Now, each time we go to a new place I get a bangle for that destination as well as a souvenir. Last year I added a Las Vegas, and a Disney 2016 bangle to my arm. This is a great way to show that you care and put thought into the gift. I am eyeing this particular bangle which is the zodiac sign for my daughter. I also like this one and this one for my husband and myself.

3. Old Navy Rockstar Colored Jeans
I love these jeans because I can get away with wearing them to work. They are stretchy and comfortable and I love them so so much. I want them in each and every color! They are the cutest way to add a pop of color to your wardrobe.

4. Mia Fit Cleansing Gift Set
The newest trend in skincare is the facial cleansing brush. I have yet to dive into this because they are pretty pricey. For that reason I think that it would be an awesome gift. I traditionally would not spend this much on myself in any one sitting, but I would get a ton of use out of it if I were to have it in my bathroom.

5. Sigma Brush Set
I am a girly girl who loves makeup. One thing I have learned through becoming a makeup artist is that makeup brushes make a big difference. You need quality stuff. I love this Sigma eye set because it is not too pricey, yet it is packed with useful tools. Sigma has a 2 year guarantee on all of their brushes. They are some the best quality out there, and therefore a great gift for any fashionista.

O Hanukkah

My husband and I come from different faiths, and while it doesn't seem to make a difference to either one of us--it does confuse and astound some people in our community. Since I came back into the classroom--I have had a few questions here and there about how we navigate the whole religion thing. I always change the subject quickly, but I understand where the questions come from. Especially around the holidays. People want to know if we are celebrating Hanukkah or Christmas.

The answer to that question is that we celebrate both. When I say that we celebrate them--I do mean it very loosely. Neither J or I go to church or synagogue frequently. Therefore, our celebration of the holidays is more focused on family tradition and celebrating eachother and spending time together than it is about religion. 

This year it has been a bit more pronounced because it is the first holiday season that P can really interact well. She loves our Christmas tree, and claps as we light the menorah. She loves singing O Christmas Tree, but would probably prefer the Hanukkah, O Hanukkah or Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel. She gets a few gifts for Hanukkah, and has a big haul for Christmas. 

When people ask me if I care which religion she chooses I always say, she can choose one or none at all. That is not what it is about to me. I am going to do things the way that I have always done them. I am going to give her the same type of holiday memories that I had growing up, and I hope that my husband can do the same for her. I definitely don't think she will be worse off for knowing both sets of traditions. I actually think she will be better off for it. 

One day, I hope she looks back on her childhood and appreciates that we didn't make a choice for her, but that we embraced what we love about each religion and taught her tolerance and love through each. 

Have a GREAT Weekend!

Friday Favorite Christmas List for Her

This year I had a hard time thinking about items that I wanted to place on my Christmas list. After a lot of research and looking at what I need in my closet and makeup bag. I decided on the items above. I think they would be great additions that most women would love.

1. Buxom Mascara
This is by far my favorite higher end mascara around. I love the blackest black. The applicator is awesome. I would always be happy with a tube of this stuff in my stocking!

2. JCrew Factory Lexi Pants
These are my  number 1 go to pants for work, so I am always looking for fun new colors to add to my closet.

3. Sam Edelman Boots
My cousin wore a pair of these babies to our Thanksgiving celebration, and I have been dying for a pair ever since.

4. Tyme Iron
This thing is ridiculously expensive, but it is really cool. Anything to save your wrist while you are making those perfect curls with the straightening iron.

5. Pandora Brillant Legacy Clear Earrings
I don't often wear earrings, but maybe I would if I had these babies. I think they are pretty without breaking the bank.

Happy Friday, y'all!

Piper's X-Mas List

This year I was having a really hard time figuring out what my P would want for Christmas/ Hanukkah. She is still in that stage where she can show interest in toys, but cannot really tell you what she wants in so many words. So--The best way to determine what she might like is to actually take her to Toys-r-us and actually observe her in her own environment. Then there were things that as I walked through--I just thought would be good for her development. Here's what we came up with. Hopefully it can help you shop for the baby love in your life. Or for P if you are family :)

1. Just Like Home Deluxe Housekeeping Set
P is always the happy helper around the house. She loves to help us do the laundry and wipe up messes on the floors. I know that she would love getting this set for the holidays!

2. LeapFrog My own Laptop
J loves educational toys and specifically felt that we needed to buy this laptop for P for Christmas. It is already purchased and read to place under our tree. It will help P learn her letters and numbers as well as learn how to spell. I think she will love it.

3. Fisher-Price Bright Beats Dance & Move Beatbo
While walking through the store I saw this little guy, and although I didn't purchase him, I know my girl would love him as she loves anything musical.

4. Little Tikes 3 ft. Trampoline
When I was looking through different blogs and parent websites for gifts for 2 year olds. A lot of them said a small trampoline to work on jumping with both feet. P is still having a hard time mastering this skill, so I think that this trampoline will be great for her development. Thanks, Glammy!

5. Baby Amaze Learn To Talk and Read Babydoll

I saw this babydoll when we were walking through Toys r us and just knew that it would be a great pick up for baby P. We opted to get one of her accessories, but not the doll itself. It may be a great pick up for later on, or for another family member to get her. I can just see P reading along with the baby as she has a real passion for books lately. It is one of the things I really love about her!

6. Yvolution Y Velo Jr. Double Wheel Balance Bike

As someone who didn't learn to ride a bike until much later in life--I was fascinated when I saw the whole section of balance bikes in the stores this year. What a cool idea for a little one's development! I like this one because it is for two year olds and the double wheel helps them learn balance but is a little bit more stable. There are no pedals so it is just about learning to balance and move on the bike frame. This gift has already been claimed for baby P, but you should get your little one one of these pronto! I kinda want one for myself, not going to lie. Just make sure you get your little one a helmet too. Safety first Friends!

So that is it. There is my list of things that I think any two year old would want. You could always add Play-doh, coloring books with stickers, board books, and cute outfits. Those things are also always winners in my house. 

Happy shopping, and have a Happy Holiday Season, Y'all.

To Those Who Wait...

Apparently good things come.

Two and a half years ago my husband and I made a decision that forever changed our life. Since we had gotten married we had talked about moving out of the south Atlanta suburbs to the north Atlanta suburbs. We were seeking better schools for D and who ever else came along... eventually. One day my husband noticed that there was an opening in one of the best schools in the country. One that was an hour away from our then residence. It was the holy grail of jobs in the best public school district in the state. Upon mentioning it to me--I encouraged him to apply. I mean--why not? They probably will fill it in house with someone that knows someone. A few days later he got an interview. Not long after that he had a job offer, and then we were struck with a very tough decision of what to do now.

We made the decision to move our entire lives to North Georgia. The next day after my husband accepted the job--I found out I was pregnant. AND the stress just compounded from there. We had a very quick turnaround selling my home and finding a place to rent (since we weren't sure which area we wanted to live in yet). At the time it felt like we didn't know what the hell we were doing--and looking back we definitely didn't know what the hell we were doing. So while we were happy--we started hoping for a time when we could find our forever "right now" home.

Well--I am happy to announce that I am writing this blog from that home. AHHHH! I can't even contain my excitement.

SOOOO..... I know you are all mad at my absence. Most of you didn't even know that I was missing, probably, but I noticed. I missed you and I missed sharing my life with all of you. I just couldn't write a bunch of posts while secretly hiding all of these amazing changes in my life that I just wasn't ready to share with the world. I believe in jinxes. And I didn't want to talk about the house until it was mine--completely!

Also, in news--I have entered the classroom again! YIPEE. This is something that I had been aching for over the last six months. It was a very hard transition that encompassed many tears by me (and many more by P). Nevertheless, I have made peace with the guilt of making by girl go to baby school so that I can work. I am so thankful for my time teaching from home. It gave me the ability to spend every waking moment with P. Those are moment most mothers do not get, and I will and would do it again--if I have another.

I am also coaching cheerleading again! This is something that I really enjoyed 6 years ago when I first started teaching. I am learning, however, that it is a totally different thing when you have a toddler that you already feel like you never see. It takes up a lot of time. BUT--I have a great group of girls and guys (we are COED).

So good things come to those who wait and those who wish, and hope, and pray for them. I always believed that we would get to this place. While it took a lot of discipline, hard work, and even some tears. My husband and I built a house that we can be proud of and that P will hopefully spend the majority of her childhood. It is a good time in our lives.

So stay tuned as we journey into making this house a home. I promise not to keep any more big secrets for awhile, and to try to communicate with you a little more. As long as you keep on reading.

I love you all today!

My New Hobby

As you may have read--I am a creative person. I think that it is important to have something outside of the regular mom stuff in my life to keep my sanity. Crafting and creating is one way that I like to do this. For the past year I have been doing makeup here and there, and that has been a blessing in my life my multiple reasons. But my new favorite thing is creating fun things for P and myself with my new Cricut Explore that I got for my birthday from my Mom.

My only regret is I wish I had this machine before P was born. I would have had every onesie personalized. Which--as a southern girl is a must!

So is it easy to use? It's definitely idiot resistant in my opinion. The Cricut has online software that is pretty self explanatory and I have been able to find and convert images online into cutting files without having to spend any money. I know eventually for any intricate designs I will probably need to purchase files (but you can find them on etsy for like $3).

I can't wait to make P's second birthday banner and her other party decorations myself. It should cut down on the cost of her party and give me the satisfaction of having done it all by myself

If you are someone who likes to craft and create--I would definitely suggest getting one of these machines for yourself. There are so many things that I haven't even attempted to create yet. It seems like the options are endless. This was in the inspiration I was craving before.

Happy Wednesday, Y'all!

Creativity Calls

Since maybe forever, I have been a fairly creative person. I have always loved to learn, read, write, sing, dance, create, and teach. What many people don't realize about teachers is that it is definitely a job that can stimulate your creativity. You are not in a cubicle or sitting in front of a computer (unless you work online like me). You are able to perform, create, and hopefully--if you haven't lost yourself along the journey toward retirement--inspire others. I think we often lose sight of that fact, and many people become disillusioned with teaching because of this. However, I love that side of teaching. I love being able to create something and then use it to inform my students.

When I was in the classroom I used to pretend to be a tour guide at the Hoover Dam. I would give them an interactive tour of the dam--complete with many dam jokes. They would crack up, and that made my week. This is something that I miss about being face to face with the kiddos. I miss that instant gratification that you get from standing in front of a room full of teenagers. Yes, it is a live or die thing--and I can think of more times that I died than lived, but that's ok in my book.

6 years ago I was a first year teacher and a competition cheerleading coach. My days were overstimulated with designing lessons and tweaking choreography. Though at the time I was super stressed--I look back on that time and smile. Those girls that I coached became my family. We spent our whole summer together. We laughed and shed a few tears. It was a lot of hard work, but I have so much respect for what they were able to do. In the end we walked away with a region championship. Although, I don't talk to them a lot (or some of them at all) I would do whatever I could to help them.

Watch their routine from that year here.

Last year, I got a text from one of my former cheerleaders--she was taking the time to thank me for believing in her and pushing her to the next level. She has taken her talents on to the college level and won a championship there as well. I am so proud of her.

If you have that creative bug--which I totally do--you often feel the need to find a new outlet. That is where I am now. Today, I answer the creative call through blogging, and most recently, through my new Cricut--which allows me to monogram everything for P. She may never have a plain t-shirt ever again. I eventually want to learn how to sew as well. That is on my list for sure. When that itch appears, it is hard to deny. I don't ever want to become complacent in my life. I want to continue to learn and grow.

What types of things do you do to stimulate your creativity?

Happy Blog-iversary

Yesterday was the one year anniversary of my first post on the blog! Wow! How amazing is that? I cannot tell you all how much I have enjoyed sharing the last year with all of you. I have learned so much about life, love, friendship, and myself over the last year. I doubt I would have done that if I would not have embarked upon this journey.

I have always loved to write, but I had really fallen away from it over the last five years or so. The birth of Baby P give me a new reason to chronicle my life as I went through the amazing change of becoming a mother. My hope is that one day she will sit down and read a lot of these posts that are about her, and she will get a really good glimpse into the magnitude of my love for her. Maybe I will let her read it when she is a snotty teenager who thinks I only exist to make her miserable...

I am working on a giveaway for you faithful readers next week--so stay tuned for that! Meanwhile here are a list of my favorite posts over the last year in case you are in the mood for a stroll down memory lane!

1. P's Birth Story

2. To Breastfeed or Not

3. Pumping My Brains Out 

4. Fighting the Darkness

5. First Steps

6. P's First Birthday Letter

Happy Friday!
Caroline

Fifty Shades

Yesterday I read a number of posts from several different bloggers about why they would not go see Fifty Shades of Grey. A lot of their points were valid (to them, at least). A lot of said bloggers are religious, and therefore they object to the books and movie because of religious reasons.

The one thing that bothered me about all of these posts is that the bloggers who wrote them had never read a word from the books. Not. One. Word. This was bothersome to me because you are literally judging a book by it's cover and reputation. This, I feel, draws a lot of parallels with things that I do not appreciate about the religious community. If you are reading this mom, you might want to stop here.

Growing up I went to church every single week. I was in the children's choir and I was involved in Wednesday night festivities. I think that my religious education was very valuable. I am grateful for what I learned from that time in my life. I truly believe that a lot of my moral education came from that time.

What I did not like is how a lot of the people in the church seemed to relish in other people's pain while appearing to care about them on the outside. Gossip ran rampant all around the place. It became a source of unwanted and unneeded stress in my life. There are many people within the church who I did not (and still do not) feel that way about. Unfortunately, those who participated out-shadowed those who were using the church for what it should be. I found that many people were judged by their covers within the church setting, and that the focus was often pulled from where it should be--you know, on God.

I am fairly quiet about the fact that I do not participate in any religious lifestyle. I have my beliefs, and I have my trainings, and I choose to keep them private and to myself. What I believe is no one's business and it is not up for discussion. It is as simple as that.

When I read these blogs, I understood their arguments from a religious perspective. I even agreed with certain points. Sure, you could absolutely find a better way to spend your money. Absolutely, you should go with your husband and discuss the premise of these books and movie with him before seeing it. I am sure if you read the books, then you would have discussed them with him at some point anyway. I know I did. Sure, it sends a message about relationships that contradicts those of the Bible. But so does our mainstream media anyway.

What I disagreed with vehemently in most of these blogs was the idea that these books and this movie should not be allowed in theaters and on book shelves. Many are calling for censorship of the franchise entirely. But those who are calling for this haven't even read it. So how do they know what it contains and how bad it is? Once again, judging blindly without knowing. I understand that you feel these books are threatening to your morality. BUT I would be willing to bet that there are some parishioners within your church who practice or have practiced some of the acts that are in the novels. Should they be removed from your pews? I think not. People have a right to choose what they want to read and what they want to watch and they should not feel like God would be angry at them for doing so. Such an argument is likely to push more people away from Him than it is to bring them closer. That is my own personal opinion.

I read each and every line of all three books. Then in the last two weeks I read them all again. That's right, shameful. I wanted to remember what all of the fuss was about. Here is what I think about them:

1. There are definitely things in there that make me cringe
Yeah, they do some pretty crazy things together. The first time I read it I remember thinking, "I'm not old enough to read this." or "you can do that?" and even, "why would you want to do that?" But honestly--this is only one part of the book. You are certainly welcome to not be comfortable with the types of things that they do in their consenting sexual relationship. But, honestly--it is relatively mild in the first book at least. It isn't until the end of the second book and into the third book before the really crazy stuff comes out.

2. It is one of the most beautiful love stories
For a person who loves to read and loves literature (as I do), Fifty Shades of Grey is a beautiful love story. While it is a little unconventional--the characters are certainly endearing and lovable. If you actually read the books--you not doubt fell in love with Ana. She is not unlike many heroines in your classic novels--Tess Durbeyfield comes to mind. She is searching for her place in life. But for most of you (and for me) it's Christian that keeps you reading. You understand that this lifestyle he chose is for a reason, and you want to know what it is. This is a story about abuse and it's effects. He is a broken person in need of a change, and he finds that change with Ana. Even without the sex scenes--I would read it. You really root for him to overcome his horrific childhood and find happiness.

3. They are not much different than what your mom used to read
I don't know about you, but my mom used to read those erotic novels. You know the Danielle Steele ones with Fabio on the cover? I would venture to state that these are not much different--if they are at all.

So my opinion is the same that it has always been. Don't knock it before you try it (or read it in this case). Just like in most situations--there is more to the story. While you might think the book became popular because of all of the BDSM weaved throughout, but in my case--it was the love story that brought me to read that second and third book. By the last book I admittedly skimmed over the sex scenes to get to what really matters--and that is the development of these characters. These people who are not much different than me and you in many cases. They just want to find love in a world that hasn't been that kind to them.

So while the sex scenes are a little much, the author seriously needs a thesaurus (I mean all encounters can't seriously be mindblowing or earth shattering), and surely there are a lot of things that go against the moral background that I have. I still feel that people should be allowed to read anything they wish and go see any movie they wish without judgement. To each their own.

Laters, Y'all

Piper's First Birthday Party--An Overview

Onesie, Tutu, and Bow by The Paper Duck

On Saturday we had P's first birthday party. It was a big success and I am so excited to share all of the details with all of you! Our theme was Look WHOOs One (owls). As I mentioned in my post last week--I planned this party over five months because I wanted to spread out the money and the stress of the party. I also had a lot of help from family to ease the financial burden just a bit.

Happy Birthday Banner by The Little Red Wagon

First of all let me tell you how amazing my little miss P did at her party. She was very pleasant despite missing her second nap completely. She only cried a little bit when we changed her clothes to do her smash cake. I was terrified of the way that she would react considering she usually does not like strange people talking to her or touching her. She was passed around like a hot potato-- and took it all in stride. Like I always say--I doubt her and she makes me pay for it. I was so very proud of her.

Smash Cake by Shakeata

We learned that P LOVES Chick-Fil-A chicken nuggets at her party. We had a large tray of nuggets, and I fed her a bite from one of my nuggets and she ate the remainder of nuggets on my plate. I know, I shouldn't be surprised since my girl can eat. BUT she is very picky and you just never know what she will like. She doesn't like macaroni and cheese--so I won't put anything past her. What kid doesn't like mac and cheese? Seriously! She did so good with her cake. She didn't cry when everyone was singing to her (like I feared she would). She dug right into her cake and ate very neatly without making much of a mess at all.

We also learned that P doesn't really like to share her toys. What little toddler her age does? She pitched a little mini fit when another baby took one of her toys at the party. After that we pretty much just kept her away from the toy station where the rest of her baby friends spent most of their time.

We had a pretty big crowd at her party and consider ourselves very lucky to have such a large and strong support system. I have always been one to have a small group of quality friends--I am loving the new friendships that P has brought into my life in the form of my mommy friends. I have found them to be an endless source of support, love and knowledge over the last 12 months and I hope that we will continue to grow in our friendship over the next 17 years.

 J and I were also blessed to have both of our families and extended families present at P's party. Real and honorary Aunts, Uncles, and Grandparents were there. It struck me that the last time all of those people were in the same room at the same time was our wedding two years ago. That had me a little teary eyed. I am so very blessed to have all of these people in my life, and I am even more blessed that my baby girl gives us a reason to get together and celebrate once a year. She is so loved by so many.

There is nothing I would rather do than celebrate this life that I have. P is everything I expected she would be and so much more than I hoped for. My heart was very full as I looked around the room. You could just feel the love. I look forward to planning the future birthdays (even though I do think I set the bar way too high with this one).

I want to give credit for each aspect of the party. Below are the credits for the decor at the party. I have included links and contact information as well. I would also love to hear about fun things you did with your little one's party. I am always looking for new fun ideas. 

Picture garland made with twine and mini clothes pins I bought from Hobby Lobby

Credits for the Party:

Birthday, Dot, and Highchair Banner as well as Owls and 1s for centerpieces--Diana from The Little Red Wagon Etsy Shop (future review post coming). Shop her adorable stuff here.

 Dot banner pictured in background Highchair banner pictured below. Invitation and monogram label on centerpiece made by me.

P's Birthday Outfit--Anna from The Paper Duck

Anna and I grew up together--literally she lived right next door. She makes the cutest shirts, bows, tutus, banners, and various other party items. All of her items wear well and are excellent quality. She is local (Atlanta area), she has a VERY quick turnaround, and takes credit cards. She is my go to for all of P's personalized holiday outfits. Check her out here.

Chalkboard food labels, invitation, and birthday print poster and framed signs--Made by yours truly using PicMonkey and GIMP. I have my own etsy shop you can order them at here. I can make lots of designs. Just contact me with ideas.

Smash cake and Cupcakes by Shakeata.

Shakeata is a co-worker of my moms. She is always our person for adorable sweet creations. You can contact her at meringue81@yahoo.com. You can send her pictures of what you are looking for and she can make it happen! She is so talented.

The plain green and turquoise cupcakes are special order from Publix

The table clothes, paper plates, cups, lime green, turquoise, hot pink trays, and silverware were from Party City. The adorable Lime green Burlap table squares were made by my God Mother. The white serving ware is B. Smith brand from Bed Bath and Beyond. 

Thanks for all of your well wishes and virtual love for P's Birthday. We really appreciate it.