Mae's Garden Themed First Birthday Party

I already feel emotional writing this post. I LOVE planning my children’s first birthday parties. Like, I’ve-considered-planning-parties-as-my-job level love it. I enjoy the challenge of choosing a unique theme and finding a way to tell a story to create a world of wonder and joy where we can celebrate with our nearest and dearest.

Note: Mae’s party was in November 2019, it’s just being shared a year later!

I start the planning process months in advance because I enjoy it and because it helps me emotionally and mentally prepare for the milestone. Every Momma is different, this is just part of how I’m wired to do it.

Developing a Theme

Early on, a garden party idea inspired me for Mae, all sprouting (see what I did there?) from the classic rhyme I personalized for her: April showers bring Mae flowers, Join us as we celebrate Twelve Months of Mae.” (insert my giddy smile here). I loved it.

My first iteration was a very colorful and classic take on a garden including clay pots and white picket fences. But as I got further into the process, I was drawn to a whimsical, fairytale approach. Once I landed here, the floodgates opened and I was off to the races.

I knew I wanted to work with an illustrator to create an invitation and a few printable pieces for the party to make the theme really shine. My friend Kayla, who also did Fox’s first birthday invitation, created the sweetest “Twelve Months of Mae” design for the special day. It featured happy flowers, a pretty pink bow, and a few sweet little butterflies!

In addition to the invitation (which is still hanging in Mae’s room because I love it so much) she designed a display for me to share Mae’s monthly photos. Since the party theme was based on the twelve months of her life, I wanted to give it a grand display!

Party Decor

I enjoy setting the tone for a party and creating a special experience for guests as soon as possible. This starts with the invitation, and at Mae’s party guests were welcomed with a heart-shaped balloon-lined walkway and paper lantern porch. I loved how special and celebratory it felt. And most of all, Mae was a fan, which is enough for me!

Fox helped Woody secure the balloons along the walkway. He was such a happy helper, and I love this sweet photo of him.

The runner on this table was from our wedding reception! I love reusing pieces that are beautiful and meaningful.

The inside felt like walking into a colorful, oversized garden, and I was pretty touched when one friend got misty-eyed upon entering! For me, a celebration is an opportunity to transport guests to a memorable place that we share together. By breaking up our everyday life, a party gives us a moment in time to experience and remember collectively.

I started creating paper flowers in the summer, and I was captivated by the art of it. Before I knew it, I was special ordering tissue paper from Etsy and clearing out space in our small historic home to store all my creations! I followed a video tutorial, and made my own tweaks as I learned the technique. Friends and family jumped in on the fun when they could, and Mae’s garden really started to take shape!

I have a thing for making birthday hats, and these were surprisingly easy to do! I used a mix of white, ivory, and blush cardstock paper and painted them with watercolors. Then, I rolled them, hot glued the edges, and later added the elastic band. They were a darling touch!

A “Mae”mosa bar? I couldn’t resist.

I saw the idea on Pinterest to add butterflies to a paper lantern, and I knew I had to incorporate it. I love the light and airy, fanciful touch they give to the dining room. I found two floral garlands on major sale at Michael’s (I guess that’s one perk of buying springy florals for a party happening in a fall month!) and ended up winding them around our chandelier, which turned out really pretty. I was also thrilled to find two Land of Nod butterflies at a clothing consignment sale. The colors were perfect and added a nice three-dimensional element!

the cake + Treats

I used my favorite local baker, Bec’s Cakes, for the cake, and since we were doing such a springy party in the middle of fall, I decided to give a slight nod to the actual season we were in and do a pumpkin flavored cake. It was DIVINE. I chose to do a cupcake for Mae instead of a larger smash cake, and I’m so glad I did. She enjoyed it, and I didn’t have to stop her from eating the whole thing—which she did quite happily! I also splurged on some gorgeous cookies by Rea Bakes, and she did a stunning job using the invitation as inspiration for these sweet treats!

I’ve seen so many cute high chair banners like this, and while I was feeling crafty, I decided to try my hand at it! Turned out really sweet!

Mae sharing her cupcake with Daddy melts my heart every time.

The Experience

My friend Rachel is a pro at thinking through the practical ways people experience a party. Things like, “does everyone have a seat?” and “is the food easy for children to eat?” and so on. I often stop at “is it pretty?” and go from there! ha! But she has taught be that an event can (and should!) be pretty and functional. So for Mae’s celebration, I cleared out some of our living room furniture and added bistro tables to accommodate more guests. I also put the food on a long folding table in the kitchen (I usually display it in the dining room) to allow guests to sit at our dining table. Additionally, I had a ball pit for the kids to play in as well as the most precious picnic basket lunches for the children, which were inspired by an adorable party I found online!

Sentimental Touches

I am about as sentimental as they come, and there are a few extra-special details from Mae’s party that still make my heart pitter-patter! First of all—Y’all. She wore the same dress I wore to my first birthday party! I cannot even get over this! Props to my Mom who thought to save it and who preserved it so well (wonder where I get my sentimental side from?!). Mae looked absolutely precious in it, and it just happened to fit her party theme to perfection.

One of my favorite elements from Mae’s nursery is her custom curtains from Fireflies & Fairytales. When I chose the garden theme for her party, I soon decided to incorporate the same fabric from her curtains into the decor. I worked with the precious team of Fireflies & Fairytales to have a runner made, and it even had the same pink-check ruffles as the curtains. It’s a beautiful keepsake, and I love that it’s connected to her nursery, where we spent so much time her first year.

As I did for Fox, I created a birthday plate for Mae with her hand print on the back and thumbprints as part of the design. I plan to use their birthday plates to serve them a special birthday meal every year, and I just love it!

Photography

As with any party, it’s the people you get to share it with that make it mean the most. I’m so thankful for our family and friends that love us well and celebrate these special milestones with us. As I look at the photos and see the happy faces and moments of conversation and interaction, my heart lights up.

One of the best decisions I’ve made for both my children’s first birthday parties is to invest in photography. My dear friend Mary Margaret is the QUEEN of capturing the details of an environment, and she helps preserve the sights and memories of a party with excellence. I can’t sing her praises loud enough!

These three babies were all born just weeks apart! We shared our pregnancies and their first year together, and it’s really special to see them all together here.

Toward the end of the party, we made the impromptu decision to let Mae open gifts on a quilt outside. The day was ideal with the warm sunshine and cool fall temps. As she opened, it was also the perfect spot to tell our guests goodbye as they began to depart (nap time was calling for many!). Mae was delighted and the kids loved playing outside. It’s one of my favorite memories from the day.

Thanks for sharing in these special memories! Whether large or small, I hope you gained some sort of idea or inspiration to help you enjoy your next celebration to the fullest. I love getting to share party fun, and I’m happy to answer any questions I may not have covered in the post!

xoxo!

12.31.19 at 11:31pm

I’m sitting downstairs in our basement. It’s the last day of the year—the last day of the decade even—and I’m by myself. Fox is almost three, Mae just turned 14 months yesterday, Woody is 40, and they’re all sick. Coughs, runny noses, and headaches.

A decade ago, if you’d described this night to me—in my pjs ringing in a new decade “alone,” I probably would’ve felt like it wasn’t enough—not exciting enough, not special enough, not meaningful enough. And if I’m honest, I was tempted to feel that way tonight when Woody started to feel so badly he had to just go to sleep.

But as I heard the word “alone” ring in my mind and felt sadness in it, I realized I’m not alone at all. My home is full of the three people who make my life unendingly rich, meaningful, and full of love. I may be the only one awake, but I am in no way alone on this New Years Eve.

And sitting here now, with the clock close to midnight, I’m content, peaceful, and happy—letting me know this decade has brought me exactly to a place I want to be, and it is more than enough.

Happy New Year and New Decade, friends.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

I really do believe Christmas is one of the most wonderful times of the year. But, what I’ve learned in my 34 years is this: the wonderful doesn’t just happen. You must look for it, create it, and slow down enough to savor it.

As a child I did this innately. As I’ve grown, it has come less naturally. There have been years I’ve done it well and years I’ve missed the mark, with the hardest Christmases being ones where my expectations went unmet without warning, and the magic of childhood Christmases felt like a distant memory.

In my adult life, I’ve assumed if I had to work for the magic—by looking for it or trying to create it—then it wasn’t really magic. But this year, I’ve embraced my role in finding the wonder wholeheartedly, and it’s been nothing short of magical.

Influenced by my own feelings and things I was hearing others talk about, I adopted a motto for this holiday season:

You get to choose.

It was barely December 1 when I started feeling like the holidays were slipping through my fingers like sand held too tightly. I was overwhelmed by all the things I wanted to do or thought I should do or that other people were doing. I felt like I was missing the season before it had even started, until my newly-embraced mantra, “you get to choose,” set me free.

I don’t have to do anything. I don’t have to do what other people do, and I don’t have to hit some imaginary quota of cups of hot cocoa drank, Christmas movies watched, lights viewed, or local activities accomplished. I get to decide what is right and what is magical for my family this season, and that’s exactly what I’ve done.

The whole point of this conversation is that it’s going to look different for everyone, but sometimes sharing our own stories helps each other along. So here are the few things I’ve done that are tailored to what’s important to us to make this holiday the right kind of wonderful for the Woodcock family:

1. I picked out the local holiday activities that were most appealing for us right now. In order to allow room for each one to be special, I tried not to crowd in too many. This year, our activities are taking Fox to see his first movie in a theater, The Polar Express in IMAX (which required a babysitter for Mae), and taking both kids to Christmas on the Farm at Pursell Farms. These events both seemed like they’d be special and memorable, and I’ve been looking forward to them so much. I think I’ve had room to anticipate and savor them because I haven’t overcrowded our schedule. With two young kids, it can get exhausting fast, so margin is imperative in this season of our family.

2. I didn’t use all my Christmas decorations! In the past, I’ve almost felt obligated to use everything I have. This year I just focused on making our home look beautiful and special, and once I reached that point, I stopped, and I’ve been thrilled with the results. It feels intentional and unique to Christmas 2019, and I love that.

3. I made space for two of the things I love most at Christmas time: wrapping presents and sending Christmas cards. I have an unquenchable love for both of these things, and I intentionally worked ahead of schedule to give myself time to savor them this year. For me, this meant buying my wrapping paper in November and not spending weeks searching for the perfect look. It has also included making a “wrapping basket” with all my supplies so it’s easy to wrap when I want and easy to clean up. And of course it meant shopping somewhat early so I had things to wrap! With just a little forethought I’ve been able to stay on top of this process this year, and I’ve really enjoyed it. The same goes for Christmas cards. I worked ahead as much as possible (not quite as early as I wanted, but I still got them out several days before Christmas unlike some years!) and they should be hitting mailboxes as we speak! While I’ve wrapped presents and stuffed Christmas cards I’ve been extra festive indulging in a few Christmas movies on Netflix. The Princess Switch, A Christmas Prince, and A Christmas Prince Royal Wedding being repeat favorites, and The Holiday Calendar and Christmas with a View being new favorites. Also, disclaimer: if you don’t do cheesy, predictable movies just for fun, no need to bother with a single one of these.

4. I’ve continued traditions that are important to us like hosting our annual Cookie Swap and hosting our dear friends, the Coffeys, for brunch and gift exchange a couple days before Christmas. I’ve also added a new tradition of making gingerbread men with Fox (which will grow into baking with Fox and Mae when she gets a little older!).

5. We’ve prioritized communication with family about plans so everyone knows what we’re doing and when we get to see each other, and that puts me at ease! We’re also spending our first Christmas Day in our home this year, which might be the thing I’m most excited for. As our children grow, making our home the place where they experience their own Christmas magic is really important to us, and with Fox about to turn three, this feels like the perfect year to start.

So, you see, it’s not rocket science, and it’s certainly specific to each person and family and season of life. But, the overall moral of the story for me has been to focus on what is important to us and think ahead with some planning and intention so that we can savor those things. Also, to remember that sometimes less is more, and we’re better able to see the magic and the wonder when we leave some space to breathe and experience the season on our own terms.

I’m writing this so that I can return to it in future holiday seasons, and I hope it’s a helpful thought for you, too. Merry Christmas, friends!

A Bunny Themed Baby Shower

One of my favorite parts of hosting a party is developing the theme. I love thinking about components such as who we’re celebrating, what the occasion is, what time of year it is, and what would make it memorable to help me decide the right direction to take. I usually toss around a few ideas until the right one just sticks. And when that happens, it’s one of my favorite moments because then I can start fine-tuning the vision and bringing it to life!

When it came to planning Katherine’s Baby Shower with my friend Rachel, we knew we wanted to really get the details right. Katherine is someone who appreciates sweet touches, beauty, and design, so we knew putting our energy into these areas would mean a lot to her.

As Katherine was designing her nursery, bunnies emerged as a subtle theme. It wasn’t over-the-top or even that intentional, I don’t think. She was just drawn to a few bunny elements and it started to develop from there. So, this is where we ended up landing for the shower theme, and I just love it!

As with any theme, we wanted to steer clear from a cheesy or overdone approach. We wanted it to feel classic and “baby” as well as special and attractive. Also, Katherine was planning to incorporate a surprise gender reveal at the shower so we couldn’t be too gender specific in our decor. But, I do feel like there is always a little room to have feminine touches at a baby shower because after all, the Momma is a girl!

The sweet little bunnies, greenery, and linens made for a perfectly charming and meaningful day. I’ll share a few details as we go, too, in case you want to replicate anything you see! Enjoy!

Photos by Mary Margaret Smith

We found these adorable little bunnies at Michael’s, and they were a subtle surprise in our flower arrangements.

Rachel found inspiration for the greenery bunny online, and we used floral wire wrapped in paper, floral tape, and fresh greenery from Trader Joe’s to create our own! Then, we accented it by using floral hoops in different sizes with ribbons hot glued and greenery wrapped with floral tape. It was whimsical and sweet.

Y’all. This cake! I can’t even. I loved it so much! It was delicious for one, but also so perfectly lovely I could squeal. Our favorite local baker, Bec’s Cakes, created this wonder and took the bunny ears we made to finish it off! We saw the idea online and shaped these bunny ears out of the same paper-wrapped floral wire we used for the large greenery bunny.

The bunny cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches were as tasty as they are cute! A perfect touch for our mid-afternoon celebration.

Katherine loves to read, so when we found this antique bunny made to rest on books, we knew we had to get it for her. It doubled as shower decor and a gift, which is always fun!

Sweet Katherine. This image just gets me. We were all so excited to celebrate her and Baby Stone, and to see the look on her face when she walked into her shower was the best. There’s nothing like putting your heart into a celebration for someone and them receiving all the love you hoped they would through every detail.

surprise gender reveal

Katherine and Scottie had been keeping the gender of their baby a secret for her whole pregnancy. Then came the idea to reveal it at her baby shower. I love gender reveals and baby showers so this was so exciting to me! We gathered everyone outside for a group photo. After the photographer took a couple “test shots” she said, “Alright on the count of three everybody say…” and at that moment Katherine yelled out,

“IT’S A GIRL!!!”

You can see the delight and surprise on everyone’s faces as they heard this exciting news! It was such a special moment and such a special shower for such a special friend.

A Bunny Themed Baby Shower

mattyewoodcock.com

Amy's Summer Themed Baby Shower

I got to host a baby shower for Amy's first baby a few years ago, and it was such a delight to get to celebrate her again as she expects baby boy #2!

Her shower was planned for June, and we landed on a bright, fun, summer theme. We wanted the shower to feel appropriate for the baby boy on the way, yet still feminine for the momma-to-be! Seeing her happy face as she arrived was all I needed to know it was a success!

I got to co-host the shower with a dear friend of Amy's (and friend of mine!), Ashley. The three of us are all expecting this year, and we're loving getting to walk through pregnancy together. The three of us also share similar style, which made it easy and natural for Ashley and I to plan for Amy. Ashley also offered her beautiful home for the shower, and it was truly the perfect backdrop for this special event. I've jokingly told her I want to rent out her home for Fox's second birthday party! (let's be real, we all know I'm being totally serious. Keep scrolling and you'll see why!)

decor

Fruit and bright colors were our inspiration, and I loved incorporating fresh flowers with real fruit pieces in the decor. Ashley found this pineapple slicer and dicer which made is super easy to core the pineapples to use as vases and then of course serve the delicious fruit inside!

Just as she did for Fox's birthday, my sweet Momma made custom runners for this event with fabrics I selected. They added a beautiful pop of color, and we used the spare fabric to make fabric banners that I kinda fell in love with.

Amy is expecting her second boy, and she had shared this cute t-shirt with us, so we decided to use the phrase from the shirt, "Raising Boys," in the shower decor. It was a simple and meaningful way to personalize the decor for Amy.

food

I feel like in planning this event, I learned a valuable trade secret that I will use going forward for creating menus at parties. If you can make from scratch one to two items, it will add a real wow factor to the entire spread. As I shared in my party planning guidelines, you can't do it all and do it well, and its helpful to find things to outsource. For me, this is often food simply because I do not love to cook, and it's the thing that usually causes me the most overwhelm when party planning. So for Amy's shower, Ashley and I both made one homemade item, a breakfast casserole and mini pancakes respectively. The other items were store bought and tasted delicious, but it was the two homemade items that got the most compliments from guests at the shower. I feel like the quality of the homemade items elevated the entire spread, and my mouth is watering just thinking about it!

Another quick and easy decor tip is to select ribbon that coordinates with your theme and tie it around serving dishes. This is so simple, but the extra touch makes it feel more meaningful and intentional, which I just love!

It ended up being such a special day, and everyone seemed to have a great time. I love the beauty of flowers and good food and sweet details, but at the end of the day, when people come to an event and feel special, that is the best part of all. 

It was an honor to get to celebrate this sweet friend and hard-working Momma, and I can't wait to meet Baby Boy Helzer in just a few more weeks!

Sources

Photography //  Ashley Bowers 
Invitations // Minted
Flowers // Trader Joes (arranged by us)
Fabric for runners and banners // Hobby Lobby (yellow stripe, green leaf, floral) and WalMart
Lemon plates // Harris Teeter (similar)
Straws, Napkins, White plates, forks // WalMart
Ribbon // Hobby Lobby (green and yellow plaid and green pattern)
Summer Letter Banner // Amazon
Confetti Balloons // WalMart
OH BABY gold balloons // WalMart (I couldn't find the exact link, but I found them at my local WalMart for only $5!)

Fox's Blueberry themed First Birthday party

I started thinking about Fox' first birthday months in advance. I love planning thoughtful celebrations, and I was extra excited to celebrate our little boy. 

Looking back, I think focusing on planning his first birthday also helped me process my baby turning one. It's a wonderful thing to see your baby grow, but I'm especially sentimental, and so having fun planning this event was a great way for me to slowly take in this milestone.

I have also loved arts and crafts since childhood, but I don't do it as much now, so the chance to get my hands into some creative projects was really fun.

Also, it's worth mentioning, I realize some might consider this "over-the-top" for a first birthday. Fox may not remember it, but I will. He'll also have the photos to enjoy. A first birthday is about the baby, but it's also about celebrating your family reaching one year of raising your child. That is a big deal to me, and I wanted to celebrate! A celebration should reflect what's important to you, and this party did just that for our family. 

I hope that you'll enjoy the details and find a couple ideas that make your next party even more fun and meaningful for you and your guests.

Theme & invitations

A theme is always the starting point for me, and I began dreaming of this long before Fox was near 12 months. Knowing he probably wouldn't have many specific interests at one, I felt free to select a theme that fit him and that I loved. Somehow, the idea of a blueberry themed party came to me. Next, I thought of the rhyme for the invitation and from there it was a done deal.

I LOVE paper invitations and working with my friend Kayla on this resulted in one of my favorite invitations ever! 

I used a local printer to create poster-sized version of the invitation as a focal point for the party! Then, I framed it in a frame I already had. I love how it turned out.

venue

Fox's birthday is in early February, and while I loved the idea of an outdoor party, I knew indoor was the best choice for the time of year. I chose our home because it cost nothing, and I could start decorating days in advance if I wanted. It was also really special and intimate to celebrate such a special occassion where we live. 

One of the ideas I was most proud of was how we made our home extra kid-friendly that day. We have built in bookshelves in our living room that are normally filled with beautiful and breakable items. For the party, I completely cleared out the bookshelves and loaded them with toys and books. I wanted the kids to come in and feel instantly at home, and from seeing how they all quickly gravitated toward the collection of toys, I think it worked well!

Fox and Ruth are buddies. Ruth's Mom, Rachel, is one of my dearest friends, and I prayed that we would be pregnant at the same time. Long story short, these two nuggets were born two weeks apart to the day. Seeing them grow together makes my heart so full.

Decor

This was the most fun! I quickly discovered that our blueberry theme was very versatile and easy to work with. I decided to use shades of blue with lots of navy and royal blue (with a few bright pops of color here and there) and incorporated gingham, stripes, and a beautiful vintage blueberry runner I found on Etsy (for under $20!). I also found some items that were fun and simple DIYs like party hats, hanging blueberries, and a photo mobile that thankfully turned out really cute! DIY was good for both our budget and my creative side.

I learned a new DIY party trick, too. I had never heard of a "Pom Pom Maker," but they are quite a handy tool. I picked one up at Michael's and used yarn to create pom poms that I turned into garland, party hat toppers, and toothpick toppers for an extra pop of blue on the food table.

I also added some color to the space with inexpensive, easy-to-make paper chains and crepe paper streamers. These make a big impact and are so easy to do! 

I personally think every party looks better with a little fresh greenery. I spent less than $25 on some flowers from the supermarket, clipped a few greens from my own yard, and made arrangements to add life to the decor.

The photo mobile was a DIY project almost gone wrong, but thankfully it came together! I bought three wooden embroidery hoops and some decorative trim and ribbon with hopes of a cute decor piece. After playing around with a few options, I used some Artifact Uprising prints I ordered and some paper blueberries I made to create a mobile for above the kids table. It turned out to be a cute way to share some of our favorite memories from Fox's first year.

I had so much fun making party hats! They were a little more time-consuming than I expected, but they turned out so cute, it was worth it. I looked for some solid color hats to start with, but I couldn't find any so I downloaded a template on Pinterest. I used an acrylic craft paint and pencil eraser to embellish them with dots and stripes. I added the pom poms to the top with hot glue and did elastic chin straps for the kids hats and yarn ties for the adults (to accommodate different sizes). Everyone looked so festive in them!

Food

This is not my specialty, but I really wanted the food to be delicious, kid and adult friendly, and to include some GF options because we had a few GF guests coming. The blueberry themed leant itself to a picnic style lunch, so I decided on a sandwich station for the main item. I got specialty bread at Whole Foods, fresh sliced deli meats and cheeses, and fresh toppings. I must say, it turned out to be so delicious! 

I also had some themed food like "blue potato chips," "blueberry and friends" mixed fruit, chocolate blueberry clusters, and blueberry muffins. I made some specialty items in advance and froze them until the day of the party like the "Fox is One" cookies. It was a good way for me to do something special and sweet that would take no effort on party day.

cake

I originally planned to make the cake and Fox's smash cake, but as the party got closer, I reasoned with myself. I enjoy a lot of party planning elements, but a cake makes me nervous! Outsourcing this was a GREAT decision. I worked with a local baker that specializes in small celebrations, and this cake was AMAZING. Everyone agreed, especially the birthday boy!

We went with a blueberry cake (think blueberry muffin with icing!). It was gorgeous and delicious and all the things. Also, one of my favorite aspects of working with local vendors is the special touch you get. Rebecca of Bec's Cakes had some leftover cake from leveling out the cake layers, and knowing our party theme, she turned them into the most adorable blueberry cake pops ever! Y'all, she did this for us as a gift. I was blown away. Also, everyone who ate them was obsessed with how delicious they were. She also told me that she prayed for our family as she baked for us, and well, that just had this Momma in a puddle. 

Party favors

I just love a good party favor. I had the idea to do some sort of oversized stuffed blueberry, and my talented friend Mary and her insane knitting skills quickly came to mind. She knit the most precious collection of blueberries for the kiddos to take home. I bought little berry baskets at Michaels and set up a station for the kids to "Go Berry Picking." It was simple and sweet and the kids really liked it!

sentimental details

One of the elements I knew I wanted to incorporate into Fox's first birthday celebration (probably since before he was born), was a photo garland of his monthly photos. I always enjoy seeing the progression of children growing, and these photos and the memory of taking them, are some of my most special treasures from his first year.

We were also gifted a Kid's Legacy Prayer Journal for Christmas, and I thought this was the perfect place for guests to write a note to Fox.

I've mentioned that I'm sentimental, and you're about to see what I mean. I had the idea to create an item for the party that could be a usable keepsake in our family. I went to our local pottery painting studio, and with the blueberry theme in mind, I decided to do a fruit bowl. We kept the design simple with blueberry clusters on the outside and a simple blue check pattern inside. And, the best part? The blueberries are made of Fox's thumbprints (insert cry face here). It's the sweetest thing, and it turned out better than I could've hoped. The employees at the shop were SO helpful in getting Fox to cooperate with the fingerprinting! It did take a couple trips, but it was totally worth it.

I also got the idea from my friend Emily to create a birthday tradition that returns year after year. I decided to make a special birthday plate at the pottery studio, too, that I imagine him eating pancakes or cake from every year. The polka dots inside the party hat are Fox's thumbprints, and they're just so cute. We also did his full handprint on the back of the plate and on the bottom of the bowl and wrote "Fox's first birthday February 2018."

When I first picked up the pottery, I was so pleased with it, and I still am! I kept looking at Fox saying, "look at the art you and Mommy made together!"

I mentioned earlier I love creating things, but if you're thinking, "I can't draw a thing," not to worry! The employees at DIY pottery studios can be very helpful in bringing your vision to life. At our local studio, they'll hand letter pieces for you with your kids handprints. It's a great option even if you don't feel artistic!

I also selected a "Happy Birthday Banner" made of a good quality felt as an item that can return for Fox's birthday every year. It may not always fit the party theme, but I love the idea of hanging it in our dining room on his birthday morning every year as we prepare to eat pancakes on his birthday plate!

photography

Excuse me while I step up on my soapbox for this one. 

I just can't say enough about the gift of photography. It's an extra investment, but it's so, so worth it to me. When I look back at the photos of Fox's first birthday party, I feel transported back to that day with all our special people. I even get to experience little moments of the party that I wasn't part of that day.

Our friend Mary Margaret took photos at the hospital the day Fox was born, did his newborn photos, his six month/family photos, and his first birthday photos. We love having her with us for these special moments, and she captures our family so perfectly. My mom has even joked at Christmas and other family gatherings, "When is Mary Margaret arriving?" It's an added luxury, I know, but in my opinion, photography is worth saving for, friends! 

This moment with these two is too precious for words.

The birthday boy eating a blueberry. I cannot handle the cuteness!

Thanks for sharing in our boy's first birthday fun! I hope you take away an idea or two that you can use at your next party. 

sources

Photography: Mary Margaret Smith Photography / Food: Whole Foods, Publix, Trader Joe's, and homemade / Cakes: Bec's Cakes / Invitations: illustrated by Kayla Nortune, printed by Printswell / Linens: blueberry runner on Etsy and striped tablecloth and runner handmade by Fox's Grand B / Happy Birthday banner: Amazon / Paper plates, napkins, cups, straws, and metallic "1" balloon: Gygi / Blueberry tissue balls: Amazon (green leaves added were DIY) / Pom Pom Garland: DIY / Party hats: DIY / Berry baskets: Michael's / Knitted blueberries: You Me Serendipity / Fox's overalls: Osh Kosh from Kohls (similar)

First Birthday Party Inspiration

It helped me to view other blogs as I was deciding what was most important for Fox's birthday, and I wanted to share them with you. You'll see from these that there are many different ways to plan a meaningful party, it's all up to what matters most to you and your family and what works for the season you're in.

Nancy Ray- Milly's first birthday
Rhiannon Bosse- Lachlan's first and second birthday
Emily Thomas- June's first birthday
Emily Ley- Brady's first birthday
Lisa Kirk- Charlie's first birthday 

My 30th Birthday Party

People have different perspectives of what they experience on their wedding day. For some, it is a dream come true, for others, a rite of passage, and still for others it feels like a means to an end (you want to be married, so you have a wedding). When it comes down to it, I think some people’s personalities are simply more naturally suited for the pomp and circumstance and attention that wedding days tend to bring. 

I happen to be one of those people.

I was the bride that loved almost everything about my wedding. I enjoyed pouring over every detail planning the “perfect” day. I all but took on “bride” as my full time occupation during our nearly eight month engagement. While no day is ever "perfect," our wedding day was most definitely one of my favorite days EVER. Being surrounded by the people Woody and I love and who love us back, wearing the most beautiful dress ever made, and getting to become family with my true love all felt pretty perfect to me.

You may be wondering why I am talking about my wedding in a post about my 30th birthday. Well, it's because my wedding is where the dream for my birthday party started. 

There were so many moments during our wedding reception when I took in all that was happening—the life and love being expressed through dancing, eating, and celebrating with so many special people—and I wanted to savor it forever. This left me thinking, “when can I do this again?” It was shortly following our wedding that my 27-year-old self determined my 30th birthday would be the perfect occasion. Thirty is a milestone birthday, and with about three years between our wedding and my entry into this new decade, it seemed just the right amount of time to be ready for another special celebration!

With our wedding as inspiration, my birthday party ideas started rolling. Initially, I had the genius thought, “could this be my chance to wear my wedding dress again?!” This sent me into further theme development as I determined I could ask girlfriends to wear old bridesmaid dresses still believing the myth that they can have a “second life.” (Let’s face it, after you wear a dress that matches eight other people at the same event, it just loses it’s appeal.) The guys could wear suits and the invitation would read, “Mattye says ‘I Do’ to 30!” I held onto this idea for quite a while until my dad, who is usually on board for extravagant party ideas, told me it was the most ridiculous idea he’d ever heard. "Nonsense," I thought. But, ok, maybe he was right.

My friend and amazing stationer, Jessica of Empress Stationery, worked with me to turn my hand lettering into this beautiful gold foil invitation!

I loved hand lettering each place card. Writing the names of the dear family and friends who would sit around this table was really special to me.

One of the best decisions we made for the party was to invite our FAVORITE restaurant in Birmingham, El Barrio, to cater. Not only was the food incredible (multiple people returned for seconds), but their team served every guest with kindness and excellence. Having their team with us that evening made the party extra special. 

Yes, that is French Toast topped with bacon, blueberries and powdered sugar with mascarpone in between. Yum! Each piece was hand delivered to every guest with a candle glowing. I wanted each guest to feel honored and celebrated, which made this one of my favorite party moments. French Toast by Trattoria Centrale. 

As I moved beyond the wedding theme for my birthday (in mature I’m-soon-to-be 30 fashion, might I add), I began to accept that the party wouldn’t be exactly like our wedding reception. It wasn't that I was trying to recreate the importance and significance of our wedding day—that day stands alone as sacred and special. I simply adored the joy and sweet spirit of celebration the day carried, and I wanted bring that to life again.  

Not wanting to get my hopes up, I tried to let myself down easily that it just wasn’t realistic to think I could recapture the magic I felt that night. So, I decided to go in a different direction altogether. I had read in magazines and blogs about small weddings that are intimate and personal because of their size. Our wedding was quite the opposite of this, so my birthday seemed like the prime opportunity to give this kind of party a try.

Always true to a theme, I based the guest list on the party’s simple focus: 30! I invited thirty people (give or take a few)— 10 family, 10 in-town friends, and 10 out-of-town friends. I sent out a save the date in May hoping everyone would mark their calendar to be there. I knew this small number meant I couldn’t invite all the special people in my life, but I was putting all my eggs in the basket of believing that keeping it small would bring a special kind of spark, and it did.

My beautiful little sister, Lucy, is a talented makeup artist, and her gift to me was doing my makeup and hair for the party. She not only made me feel beautiful, but so very loved.

What birthday girl doesn't want a skirt with a good twirl to it?! Skirt by Anthropologie

I loved that my mom wrapped my gift in my longtime favorite shade, purple. She knows me so well. 

Sweet moment with my Dad before everyone arrived.

I mentioned earlier that I wasn't trying to recreate the significance of our wedding, but simply bring back the spirit of joy and celebration the day carried. While our wedding reception and my birthday party were very different in significance and party style, what unites them is the love and joy experienced when we are gathered to celebrate with the important people in our lives.

The night of my birthday, the gift of community and intentionality swept through the evening in the most natural and special way. Woody and I were surrounded by people we love so dearly at an event we had intentionally planned for everyone in attendance to feel honored and special. And as the birthday girl, much like when I was a bride, I felt simply magnificent. Decked out in a petal-pink skirt any five to eighty year old would feel party-perfect in, I was elated to experience the simple yet meaningful evening with our guests. The love I received as everyone gathered to celebrate was unexplainable. I felt beautiful and special and had the fullest heart. Still, when I look at photos of that evening, I am beaming with gratitude and happiness. 

My gracious husband greeted everyone and said a prayer over the evening. Not only is he dashingly handsome, but I love his kind heart so much.

I love this moment more than words can say. To see so many people I love gathered around one table is the best birthday gift of all.

I learned a very important lesson that night. It turns out it’s not necessarily the type of event or even a grand white dress that makes a celebration special; it’s the people.

I planned my birthday party with a spirit of excitement and intention, much like how we planned our wedding, and that paved the way for the sweetest moments to emerge. Weddings are incredibly special and important. So are birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and everyday moments in between. We simply choose to give some events and moments more focus than others. We have the choice to celebrate what matters most. In turning thirty, I realized life is full of moments, milestones, and people worth celebrating and enjoying, if only we will stop to appreciate and savor them to the fullest.

---

A big thank you to all the people who helped me plan this special day! The people of Birmingham are truly magnificent, and this party reminded me of that in the richest of ways.

• Venue: The Nest
• Dinner: El Barrio
• Dessert: Trattoria Centrale
• Photography: Mary Margaret Smith
• Hair and Makeup: Lucy LaSuer
• Favors: Baking Bandits
• Invitation: Collaboration with Empress Stationery
• Flowers: Whole Foods, Sprouts (arrangements by yours truly)
• Birthday skirt: Anthropologie
• Jewelry: Stella & Dot
• '30' Balloons: Party City

September 2015 Goals

August was a truly special month—I'd say it's one I'll always remember. We bought a house and I turned 30! All 31 days were full of activity, but they were also full of reflecting and savoring the sweet gifts of those days. 

All these wonderful people helped make my 30th birthday so special. Meaningful relationships don't just happen —you have to value and cultivate them. I want to do even more of this in my thirties!
Photo by Mary Margaret Smith Photography

I actually found myself a bit surprised (and so grateful) when I realized I accomplished ALL my goals for August! Now, don't be fooled, this is not because I have wonder-woman-like goal-accomplishing skills, rather I believe it is a testament to the hard work I've been doing to simplify my goals for the past several months. After feeling a little overwhelmed with all the expectations I was putting on myself each month, back in April, I started taking a simpler approach to my monthly goals. It's taken some effort and practice, but I'm starting to get in a good swing!

Y'all, I'm 30!!! 
Photo by Mary Margaret Smith Photography

The thing is, I'm realizing more and more that goals in and of themselves are not the end game (although, for a lover of list-checking like me, it can feel this way sometimes). Rather, it is the big, important purpose each of us are put on this earth to fulfill that matters. Digging down deep to understand your own heart, where you've been and where you're going is key to setting focused, intentional goals that lead you to living a life that matters and makes a difference. 

If you're new to goal setting, don't be intimidated. Start by looking back at where you've been, looking present at where you are, and then looking forward to where you want to go. Once you do this, you will slowly but surely be able to set meaningful goals that aren't just about checking things off a list, but instead are small steps in the journey to living your purpose fully and joyfully.

Happy little homeowners.

You may wonder if a life of purpose and joy is on reserve for only certain people, but I assure you it's not. It's for everyone—you included. It's not about being perfect, it's about making progress for a purpose. If you would like something to give you a jump start to living with purpose, I have just the thing! Lara Casey's PowerSheets have truly changed my life as they have taught me to set goals and make what matters happen! If you want to jump head first into goal setting, order PowerSheets today! Seriously, stop reading this and go order them!  (They are even having a perfectly imperfect sale right now!)

August Goals Progress

• Celebrate my 30th birthday in a meaningful way
• Close on our home! Hooray!!!
• Develop new products for September Pop-up Shop
• Complete groom card for custom order
• Celebrate Dad's birthday
• Focus on home renovation projects with intention and heart
• Continue tidying process with Woody
• Speak on goal setting at The Orchard

Standing monthly goals

• Goals blog post
• Budget party with Woody

September Goals

The numbers beside each monthly goal represent the corresponding yearly goal

Write and send 30th birthday thank you notes (33)
Love Woody well by keeping our marriage as a top priority (3)
Continue home renovation with focus and plan to finish well (2)
Complete product development and printing for The Orchard Pop Up Shop (5, 7, 10)
Attend The Influence Conference (!!!) (18)
Launch 2016 Birthday Card giveaway (6, 38)
Purchase 2016 Simplified Planner (I'm still trying to decide between daily and weekly edition —any recommendations?!) (37)
NYC planning night (9)
Continue tidying with Woody (46)

Standing monthly goals
Goals blog post
Budget party with Woody

What hopes and plans do you have for September? I'd love to hear what you're up to!

July 2015 Goals

Well, hello there, July 13! Woody and I embarked on an impromptu beach vacation at the end of June through the weekend of the Fourth, and that put a kink in my goal setting flow. I'm realizing more and more these days that I simply can't do it all. In this case, a week away with my love won out, so here we are with the first mid-month goals post! 

Sweet moments on the pier in St. Simons captured by our friend and photographer, Sarah DeShaw.

In every year of our marriage so far, Woody and I have saved the majority of our vacation time for our anniversary celebrations in November. Last year, as I watched friends and coworkers head to the beach in June and July, I realized waiting for vacation until November just wasn't cutting it! There is something about a midyear break that is good for the soul, and I wanted in on it.

We began the year intending to take a summer beach trip, but when we got a contract on a house in the spring, June and July turned into home renovation months. Then, that contract fell through (full story to come), and we found ourselves in late May with no house and no beach plans. When June arrived, we decided it wasn't too late to make it happen and planned our summer vacation in about two weeks. As we quickly made plans, I realized it would be our first full week away since our honeymoon two and a half years ago! I couldn't believe it.

These bikes are the best! We rented them and rode around Sea Island even as the rain sprinkled down on us. They were adding more bikes for the weekend of the Fourth, which explains the lovely truck and cardboard boxes behind us! 

Our vacation week was so good for us, and it's safe to say we won't let another year pass without taking off for a full week (or two!). It was refreshing to step away from the flow of daily life and breathe in some different air. We have a lot of great things happening in Birmingham right now, so it was actually a little hard to leave, but it was so important that we did. In addition to giving ourselves time to retreat from life's everyday responsibilities, it was a helpful reminder that things can go on for a week without us (shocker, I know). For our getaway, we chose to return to St. Simons Island, one of our favorite spots in the world. I hope to share more with you about why we love this place soon.

How is your summer going, friends? Have you made time to retreat? Whether it's a day, a week, a month, or some length of time in between, I hope you'll create the opportunity for your soul to rest this summer. In fact, it would make a great summer goal for all of us!

S'mores in the summer! While on vacation, we got to see our dear friends, Sarah and Brent, who live in the St. Simons area. This particular evening, we went to hear the bagpiper play on the golf greens at The Lodge at Sea Island as the ocean waves rolled by. And yes, it was as dreamy as it sounds.

June Goals Progress

• Make vacation plan with Woody Not only did we make our vacation plan for the year, but we also took an impromptu beach trip! Double hooray for accomplishing this goal!
• Clean out my closet in prep for capsule wardrobe This hasn't happened yet, but I did start reading "The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up" which is setting me up for success!
• Write and post three blog posts
• Celebrate Christy's wedding
• Continue triune wellness plan with Woody I'm learning I need a really solid plan to make this happen effectively
• 30th birthday planning
• Celebrate Father's Day with my dad We had a special weekend at the lake, and I prepared all the meals, which is a big step for this cook-in-training!
• Sigma Kappa work group research
• Make prayer list

Standing monthly goals

• Send June birthday cards
• Write Woody a love note
• Goals blog post
• Budget party with Woody

Happy Independence Day! Love this festive flag at the Sea Island Beach Club.

July Goals

The numbers beside each monthly goal indicate the corresponding yearly goal.
Also, I am continuing to work on staying simple, yet very purposeful with my goals.

Write four blog posts (5)
Close on our home! (1) I can't wait to share the full update on our house journey!
Host Sarah and Brent in Birmingham (31)
Send 30th birthday party invitations (12, 33)
Watercolor (10, 11)
Celebrate July 4th with family (25, 33)

Standing monthly goals

Send July birthday cards
Write Woody a love note
Goals blog post
Budget party with Woody

What are you excited to do in July? Even though we're now mid-month, there is absolutely still time to make it count for what matters in your heart. I'd love to hear from you in the comments below or leave a link to your own goals blog post!

Amy's baby shower

First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby carriage! Most of us have sung this little song since childhood, and sometimes it's hard to believe we're now adults living out its rhymes. With The LovingKind being a love and marriage blog, I suppose talking babies is inevitable! 

Last spring, I helped host a baby shower for my dear friend, Amy, and it was a truly special day. It's been a year since the shower, and now spring is on its way again, so I thought I'd share our party with you! If you are planning a shower, decorating a nursery, or just enjoy fun event ideas, I hope you find some useful inspiration here.

Many of the shower elements were created DIY-style by the hostesses, and are things you could do yourself too! If you see something you like that you want more details for doing it yourself, feel free to ask!

Also, big thanks to shower guest and photographer, Ashley, for all these fabulous images of the event!

festive invitation

Being the lover of paper products that I am, I was very excited for the opportunity to create a special invitation for Amy's shower, and the other hostesses graciously obliged. Amy and Todd had announced the name of their baby boy, London, and we decided to incorporate it into our shower theme, and it started with the invitation.

I illustrated the London Bridge (a nod to London's name and the popular nursery rhyme) along with London's name and worked with Amy's husband Todd, a graphic designer and photographer, to complete the piece. 

We kept the invitation a surprise for Amy, and it was such a sweet moment when she called me with such sweet, genuine excitement after receiving it in the mail!

We also framed a copy of the illustration to use at the shower and to give to Amy to display in London's nursery. It turned out to be a wonderful keepsake from the event.

tasty food

Amy's shower was held at brunch time, and we loved picking out delicious brunch items to offer guests. We served fruit kabobs, orange juice, coffee, mini quiche and mini muffins. These items were easy-to-eat finger foods and were just right for a morning event. In addition, as any Southern hostess knows, you can't have a shower without something sweet! We couldn't resist a festive cake being part of the celebration, and one of the hostesses, Lindsey, selected this darling baby blue one from Edgar's, a popular Birmingham bakery.

Also, check out that fabulous doughnut hole tree! In my opinion, there is no better sweet morning delight than a doughnut! The tree was made by Lori, one of the hostesses, and was such a fun and tasty treat for the table! I found a couple great resources to help you make your own: Rachael Ray and Oh Happy Day.

fresh elements

One of the hostesses, Ammie, offered her home for the event, and it truly was the perfect location. From the natural light to the colors of her home decor, it was the ideal backdrop for the shower. 

Ammie also brought in beautiful, fresh elements in the beverages served and the floral touches throughout her home. The orange slices and mint leaves in the water not only looked nice, but tasted fresh too! Notice how she kept the flowers simple by only selecting a few types of blooms; this made a beautiful impact without feeling over the top. The colors were bright and happy, just right for an early spring, boy baby shower. 

personalized decor

One of the first things I always ask parents-to-be is if they are sharing with people the name for their baby. The name parents give their new little one is so special, and I just get so excited! If the parents have announced the name for the baby, personalizing the shower is a really sweet touch. We incorporated this starting with the invitation and continued it throughout the event decor.

The cheery, green monogram was made from floral wire, floral tape, greenery and craspedia (commonly called billy buttons). I used the floral wire and tape to create the letters, making loops at the top where I could tie ribbon for hanging. Once I had a letter shape I was happy with, I used the floral tape to attach the greenery and then the billy buttons to the volume that looked right. The finished product was lively and happy, and I love the statement it made hanging in the window!

Anxious to put my new calligraphy skills to use, I also made these little flags with toothpicks, scrapbook paper, and glue and personalized them with London's name and monogram. They looked adorable in the delicious Magic Muffins mini muffins and mini quiche we served. 

creative guest book

We wanted to provide a memory of all the friends who came to celebrate Amy and Todd and baby London, and decided to take a creative route over the traditional guest book.

We found this great map of the London Underground Transportation at Paper Source  and used spray adhesive to mount it on a foam core board to be used as the guest "book." We loved that we were able to incorporate London's name into so much of the event, and guests enjoyed finding the perfect place to sign their names to create a memory. 

little details

As Amy put together London's nursery, animals became a theme of the decor, so we wanted to incorporate these into the shower as well. One of the hostesses, Mandy, made these fabulous metallic animal figurines, and they looked amazing! She bought plastic toy animal figurines and spray painted them in metallic gold and silver. They looked so special throughout the shower, and we were also able to send them home with Amy to add to the nursery decor if she wanted. 

As another tribute to the animals, we got her two Little Darlings prints from The Animal Print Shop as a gift from the hostesses. Also, we gave her a few of the toy animals (pre-spray painted) for London to play with one day!

As I look back, one of my favorite things we did throughout the planning was to create special items that were personalized to Amy and London, and that Amy could take home with her to remind her of the shower well beyond the actual event!

loving friends

All of the shower hostesses with guests of honor, Amy and London.

At the shower, Amy was surrounded by so many friends who were excited for London's arrival, and we truly celebrated their growing family that day. While all the decor and sweet touches were great, it was the love felt in the room that made the event truly meaningful. 

a year later

It's been a year since the shower, and London is just weeks away from his first birthday! He is one of the happiest little boys, and his parents are beyond smitten with him (I'm sure you can see why!). It has been a joy to be part of his life in this first year, and I can't help but kiss his little cheeks every time I see him. Amy and Todd are great parents and there is so much love in this little family of three.

---

Wherever the baby carriage may find you, as the hostess of a shower or preparing for a little one yourself, may your heart be ever focused on what matters most—the gift of life you are celebrating and the foundation of love you are blessed to be part of laying. 

I know there are so many great shower ideas out there, and I'd love to hear from you! What are your favorite baby shower ideas or tips?

Shower photos by Ashley Bowers Photography
Family photos by Grant Benton