Pin*spiration: 1st Birthday Party

Is it ever too early to plan a birthday party?

I think not.

With a little over three months to plan, I'm already pinning away at idea's for my little Lyla Lu Lu's big beautiful birthday bash.

Here's some of my top pin*spirations:

Vintage Circus

Once Upon A Time

Vintage Sugar and Spice

Cute as a Button

Alice in Wonderland

Looking at these themes, I was set on doing a vintage circus party.   I just kept finding more and more fun things to do with that theme.  But as I pinned away, I started realizing that this theme might be a touch more fun if Lyla was a little older and could play some of the awesome game ideas that would be oh-so-cute at the party.

Then, I was at Michaels two weeks ago and found the mother-load.  I found all these ADORABLE button theme items on mega clearance. 

I knew in that moment what our theme would be.

Then, to my surprise, as I kept shopping at JoAnn fabrics and Target I started collecting even more items ON SALE!  

My birthday collection has grown a great deal and it makes me giddy to think about how little money I have spent so far.

This is why it's never too early to pick a theme for a party.

I still have 3 more months to collect more super cute sale items! 

Would a vintage circus 1st Birthday theme still be adorable?  Y-E-S!

{Will it be Lyla's 2nd birthday theme?  A HUGE PROBABLY!}

But the way I see it is- you really only have one year (possibly two) to get away with a super-cute, low fuss theme.  

{And then soon after that your babies will start requesting some crazy purple ninja ballerinas as their theme and then you'll really be in for it!}

I really am excited to put this all together.

Incase you want to run out to the stores and scoop up some of these adorable items (if you're in Anchorage-- good luck... I've pretty much cleared the shelves) then check out some more inspirational "cute as a button" pictures:

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Tuesday Ten: Joyful

Today's Tuesday Ten is a focus on the things in my life right now that make me feel joy...

1) A New Flowerbed:  My husband and I are constantly trying to find little ways to improve our property.  My husband bought this fixer-upper duplex here in Anchorage 6 years ago and he complete renovated the 2 bedroom side before we met and married.  Once we found out we were pregnant, we moved into the 3 bedroom side and are working hard at getting this side up to par before we eventually rent it out and move into a house.  Our newest project is making these cute little flower beds in the front!  So excited to see how it turns out.

2) Target Cupholder: Did you know you can grab one of these to hook to the side of your cart?!  I didn't!  I don't know how I've survived this long without this little trick.

3) Little Bitty:  I found this picture the other day of our little girl when she was only a month old.  This is seriously one of my top 10 favorite pictures of our beauty!

4) Sweet Summertime: Little Lyla and I enjoying some quality time outside in the sunshine.  Gotta love the Alaskan summers!

5) Gender Reveal Party: I was talking to one of my girlfriends the other day about how much fun we had at our gender reveal party.  I will never forget how shocked I was when I saw pink!

6) Avocado Face:  Anything cuter?!  I think now.

7) Thiry-One Giveaway: I love spoiling my Thirty-One customers.  They are what keeps my business going and helps make me staying at home right now easier.  I had a little giveaway at my facebook group for them and I'm tickled pink that my sweet little cousin won the prize! Wanna see the cute products we sell?  Check them out here.

8) A Babe and Her Dog:  Lyla loving on her Ernie Dog.  So Sweet.

9) 2 Year Anniversary: I cannot believe we are coming up on two years!  It's time to start planning what we'll do to celebrate this year.  Our Wedding was such a special day and I am so thankful to be celebrating another year with my amazing husband.

10) 6 Month Pictures: We finally got some of our little cuties pictures developed.  I'm in the process up finishing hanging them up in her nursery.  Absolutely Adorbs.

Naptime is Craft Time: DIY Pincushion

Want to know how to make a super easy but oh-so-cute pincushion?

I'll show you!

But seriously, don't blink or you might miss this...

It's that fast.

What you need

-A cute coffee mug or teacup 

{mine is from Anthropology forever ago but they still have adorable ones here}

-A scrap piece of fabric

-A rubberband

-Stuffing 

{I've been stealing stuffing from an old pillow to make my recent projects!}

Step 1

Take a handful of stuffing and put it in the center of your scrap fabric

Step 2

Tie the rubber band around the end of your fabric

Step 3

Put the fabric ball in the mug

TA-DA!

Easiest craft in the world.

Throw a bow on this baby and she could also be an adorable gift!

What 2 minute naptime crafts have you made lately?

Mommy Diaries: Stop and Smell the Roses

I had a moment today.

It's actually something I've been thinking about for a while now.

My whole life I've struggled with the thought of, "Am I good enough?"

Am I a good enough daughter?

...Student?

...Sister?

...Friend?

...Christian?

...Teacher?

...Mentor?

...Worker?

...Wife?

So many areas of my life where I've stopped and put weight into the thoughts of my life and the path I'm on.

Lately, I've been thinking about my daughter.  

Thinking about all she's been through.  

All that she's going through...

......Wondering if I'm being a good enough mommy to her

It's crazy how THESE thoughts are the ones that hit me the hardest.

What a great responsibility we are blessed with.

Then today, Lyla followed me into the bathroom. I was busy cleaning and sorting laundry. Next thing I know I saw her pull herself up to the washer door. She starting watching the clothes and water and starting giggling. I thought it was cute then quickly focused back on wiping down our sink. Then my sweet girl started belly laughing.

She was so entertained by what she saw. 
And every once in a while she was turning and looking at me. 
Seeing if I saw her, inviting me to join her.

I realized that it is moments like this that I can choose to be a better mommy.  Not that cleaning is bad, lord knows I probably could spend more time doing that.  It's that sometimes you have to stop whatever your doing and enjoy your child.  

In that moment.  

In their world.  

So I sat on the floor with her... and found joy in the laundry.

Found the joy in the mundane.

And, in that moment, I felt like I was doing something right.

What mundane joy have you found lately?

Mommy Diaries: How to Take a Shower

Let's be honest here.  

Life just got real the moment Lyla learned to crawl and pull herself up all in one week.

Say goodbye to those moments when you could run to the bathroom really quick....

You'll come back to your kid licking your shoes.

How about running to answer your phone in the other room?

They just dumped the basket of toys over their head.

Yup, welcome to the world of keeping one eye peeled on your kids at all times.

{This is the moment when those eyes start growing in the back of your head}

All that said, this was my morning....

I HAD to take a shower and I could not leave my child on the other side of the curtain with a few toys anymore.

She would be licking the toilet water in no time!

So.... Bumbo to the rescue.

Honestly I don't know why I didn't think of this sooner.

It was fun!





What creative mommy moments have you had lately?

8 Months

Man time is flying on by!  
Lyla turned 8 months over two weeks ago and soooo much has changed since then.  
But I will try to stay as true to where she was on that day as much as possible!

Age

8 months

Clothing size

6, 9, and 12 months

Milestones & Firsts

Lyla is officially a crawling girl!
It took her about two weeks to master it from the time she started getting up on her knees.  

Sleep habits

 Lyla was back to sleeping from 8pm-8am and taking two, 2 hour naps BUT when we got home from our Phoenix vacation she started waking up at 6:30am!!!  Whaaat?!  No fun!

New/Favorite Foods
Girl loves her finger foods now

I also did a post all about some of our current feeding favorites here.

Favorite Toys
She is obsessed with books right now.  I wrote all about her favorite ones here.

We pulled out all of our board books for her to play with.
Although, sometimes a new crawler and the corner of a hard book don't really go well together...

New or Favorite Words/Sounds 
Lyla is still a growler.  She espeically gets going if youre not feeding her fast enough.
Her new noises are Ly-Ly-Ly and Da-Da-Da-Da
{Which, of course, makes her Daddy happy}

Favorite Activity 

Lyla loves to ride in the shopping carts with her feet up in the air

She also LOVES to go on bike rides.  We seriously hear squeals as we're peddling down the road.

Mommy of the Month

Sometimes you have to get creative when your baby won't let you finish folding laundry...

Playtime Fun

Ticklish on thighs

Playing "Where's Lyla" with a blanket

Patty-cake gets her laughing every time.

And she loves when I take pictures with the camera turned so she can see herself

Top 5 this month

1) Our first family vacation to Phoenix, Arizona (posted in detail here)

2) Taking Lyla to the park for the first time

3) A little driving lesson...

4) Dancing with Lyla at our friend's wedding.  
She was a giggle machine the whole time!

5) Lyla had a bad diaper rash so we spent an evening doing nakey time in the Pack-n-Play.  It was cleared up the next day but, boy was that an adventure for me!

Lyla is:

Such a beautiful baby full of personality.  It's amazing just how many people comment on how alert/happy/bright-eyed she is when we are out and about.  I know she is going to be a big people-person.  And one silly girl just like her Dad!!