Charley's 1st Birthday Party

Charley turned 1 on March 23rd. That day marked one year of motherhood bliss. I never imagined that I could be so passionate about something, make that someone. She has been such a blessing to Josh and I. I can't count how many times I've said she is everything that I prayed for! On Monday night I made her Elmo cupcakes so we could celebrate her actual birthday. So on Tuesday Josh, Charley, and I headed down to my parents house for dinner and cupcakes. It was so great. Then on Wednesday, I started decorating for the party on Saturday.

When it comes to her birthday party, what I call passion others may interpret as insane, obsessive, or out of control. What they may not understand is that I loved throwing parties before Charley arrived! So my own little girls birthday was the pentacle of party planning for me. I started dreaming up what the theme would be when she was about 3 months old. I searched websites, blogs, etsy, and more looking for inspiration. The theme changed about 3 times before I was set on the sweet shoppe theme. I began making and buying things for the party right after Christmas to try to save money. I found some precious inspiration on Kara's party ideas @blogspot, hostesswiththemostess blog, and a few others linked to those two sites ( which I visit on a regular basis party planning or not). I made pretty much everything and almost all of the activities were Charley's favorite things. Josh called me crazy several times on my nights of cutting, gluing, and making lollipops, but I loved every second of it. In fact, I really don't know what to do with my little bit of free time now. Maybe I'll start making tutus for next year. J/K Here are some pictures.

The lollipops were pink paper plates glued to a spray painted dowel, wrapped in cellophane and tied with a pink tool and grosgrain ribbon.

On the door I made this dumdum decoration that I found on one of the blogs I visited. I just covered the Styrofoam dome with the lollipops and tied the ribbon around it to hang it on the door. On the other door were two signs I made that said "Welcome to Charley's Sweet Shoppe" hanging on the same ribbon.This is the pink tree I got for free from Big Lots during Christmas. I was so excited to use it again. My friend Kacey was so nice to let me use her precious Christmas decorations to decorate Charley's sweet shoppe tree. They were perfect!

This was the skeleton of the sweet shoppe from the night before. I tried to make my life as easy as possible for the day of the party. I purchased the little boxes at Hobby Lobby and the tissue in the dollar bin at Target. The table cloth is a curtain from Wal-Mart given to me from a host of a party I recently attended.

I love the over sized lollipop (if I do say so myself.) I had made 3 Huge gumdrops with the big white lanterns that were used in my wedding 4 years ago before I came up with the lollipop. I wrapped all of the lanterns with the cutest cellophane I found in all of the Easter stuff at Hobby Lobby and tied the ends with ribbon. For the lollipop, I placed the lantern around the cardboard spool (from the inside of the roll of cellophane) and tied the cellophane at the bottom with tool and ribbon. One of my favorite projects. I also made the mirror in the background into a matching candy.

I made labels for all to the treats on some cute paper I found in like January at Marshall's.

More treats and one of the gumdrops. I purchased candy and treats from Valentine's day to Easter. I put Yogurt and Yogurt burst Cheerios for the youngest guests.

I decorated the mantel with the cellophane I used for the over sized lollipop and gumdrops and a few small paper plates wrapped in clear cellophane and ribbon.

I found this paper at Hobby Lobby and used it to show everyone what and where the activities were. Sweet Fun... Sweet Smiles Photo Booth (turned into a playhouse:))...Charley's Chocolate Factory... and Sugar Bubbles.

I picked up this recliner box from my aunt's furniture store spray painted it, cut a hole, and put this cupcake border up that I found at the Dollar tree.

Bubble wands from the same "tree" and a $5 pool from Target filled with bubbles.

Charley and I playing with the bubbles!!

The tiny tots area.

The favor table: The bunny was an Easter decoration that my mom handed down to me. I thought she was a perfect fit. I purchased the ice cream cone bubbles from Micheal's for 1 dollar and the toothbrushes from the dollar tree for 5 for a dollar. I was super pumped about both!! I got the toothbrush idea from a blog. I wish I could remember all of the blogs I visited to give them credit!! :(All in all, it was a lot of work but I honestly loved doing it. I have to add that her reaction to everyone singing Happy Birthday was priceless and made everything worthwhile! Many people said she's only one and she won't even remember it, but I will. I can only hope that when I show her all of the pictures of her first birthday she will see how much fun she and her guests had and most importantly how much I loved her even when she was "only one ".

I really want to thank my cousin Noelle for all of her help I will repay you when your little babushka turns one. And my sisters the clean up crew! Love you guys!!

Jennifer's Divas and Diapers Baby Shower

I am so behind on all of this as usual, but I really wanted to share the shower a few friends and I hosted for our friend/family Jennifer. She was having a big traditional shower in her home town, but I wanted to do something here with our friends since it's where her husband ( my cousin) is from. I gathered up our hosts, Noelle, Kacey, Gina, and Laura.

Jennifer is the only woman in Louisiana to hold 3 crowns for the state: Miss Teen Louisiana USA, Miss Louisiana USA, and Miss Louisiana America. All of which she did fantastic in. The best being runner-up in Miss America. Way to go Jen. Anyway, all that being said, I thought it should be glitzy!

From the beginning, I knew I wanted it to be all about diapers because that was one of the most helpful gifts I received when I had my baby shower. The 4-5 months worth of diapers definitely helps new parents. I came up with the invitation first and then with all hostesses on board, we started brain storming about decorations. We knew we wanted white to be our base color since it was all about diapers and naturally we decided on blue since she was having a boy. Easy enough! We didn't do a whole lot of decorating but what we did was precious if I say so myself.

This was the invitation wording: She can show us how to rock a dress or a crown

but soon she'll need our help for when
Hudson comes around.

So let's load her up with diapers galore

to ease her into her "reign" as mommy

forevermore.

"Divas and Diapers" baby shower

honoring Jennifer

any and all things diapers encouraged!!
What "reigning mommy" doesn't have a sash?! Hudson's mommy in blue glitter on a wide white ribbon. The dish towel was the gift for the winner of the celeb baby game we played. Jen won. We had the girls look at pics of celebrity babies labeled with a. - f. and on their card next to the corresponding letter they had to write the name of one of the babies parents. They had alot of fun with it. We had to do 3 sudden death rounds between the mommy-to-be and my sister. The mommy-to-be took home the prize! I usually am not a big fan of games at showers, but I thought this one was cute and fitting.

Did I mention this shower was at night and we served cocktails and mocktails. I found a blue martini recipe online and it was delicious and a hit thanks to bartender Laura.

Noelle did a fabulous job on all the treats she made.
Blue chocolate covered strawberries!! courtesy of Gina

Kacey made yummy and pretty cupcakes.

the decorations were simple. I just bought nuks, bottles, and rattles from a $ store and rolled them in glue then blue glitter. They were just the right amount of glitz.

I decorated the chair with some blue tool to make it a little sassier for her to open presents ,and the mantel is made with circles I cut out of scrapbook paper and letters using a cricuit.

Last but not least the gifts. A bunch of us put in to get her a big bin she could use in the baby's room and filled it with all kinds of our favorite things dealing with diapers and some cute monogrammed things. From cases of different size diapers to disposable changing pads, it was all in there. She got a good bit of diapers and wipes along with some cutsie stuff. We all had a blast and Jennifer was the best preggo guest of honor!

Charley signing

So I have been trying to teach Charley a few signs to communicate a few everyday things with me. Especially the signs for "eat", "more" , and "all done". Tonight she started telling me more! I knoow I can tell she wants more by her fussing, but we'll work on that it's a process. I am so excited and such a nerd. We'll see if she wants to continue to use it tomorrow;)

Going to the Camp

I brought Charley to my dad hunting camp during the Christmas hollidays. My daddy and her daddy were so excited that she was there. Here are a few pics.

The Holidays '09

Charley's Pink Tree






I had so much fun on my recent 2 week break. Charley and I hung out most of the time down the bayou while Josh hunted a few miles down the road with my brother and dad. It was very relaxing. On Christmas Eve, Charley decided she wanted to stay up and try to see this Santa guy. No but she did stay up until midnight for some reason. After she fell asleep, I was able to fulfill one of my longtime dreams of being Santa. I truly enjoyed it. (even though I forgot to bake cookies for myself) Christmas morning was wonderful. Charley played with each and every toy she opened and got visibly excited for a few. It was precious. I look forward to next year when she knows a little more of what's going on! Our New year's was extremely low key. Josh, Charley, and I hung out with my family in Chauvin and brought in the New Year with them. Where's a better place to be?! I am counting down till the next break where I can pretend to be a stay at home mommy!

Oh yea! Charley met Paula Deen y'all

Mommy :the web and Charley the Itsy Bitsy Spider

1st Christmas

Me and Uncle Dusty before I left for my 1st Halloween
8 months old