peek-a-boo!

the big first birthday recap: part 2: FOOD!

If there's one thing Jews do right, it's food at a party. Gabe and I knew from the start we'd have to live up to our wedding (greatest meal EVER) so we went straight to the pros. Obviously, some of the best food in town is Postino's. Bruschetta, charcuterie, salads, paninis. Done.

And then there was cake. I literally cried when Alyssa from Cuteology brought the cakes through the front door. Besides being totally stunning in design, both the cake and the smash cake tasted outrageously good. Literally the yummiest cake EVER-well, besides our wedding cake. Beautiful and perfect for our little girl's first birthday.

The dessert table also included clearly the most delicious cookies in town-Barb's! These were the same exactly style the aunties served at my Phoenix baby shower, and I now plan to have them every year! I made the tablecloth and backdrop. That's downplaying it a little. That freaking backdrop took me hours to conceive, craft and install. And I loved every second of it! #craftastrophe My cousin Hannah made the marshmallow pops! I added a little bit of candy, a lot of MacKenzie-Childs and was ready get all Amy Atlas up in here.

around the house.

one year ago.

i am feeling nostalgic, grateful, and reminiscent. one year ago, i gave my notice to work that i would not be returning from maternity leave. not every day is good, but there is good in every day. forever thankful to gabe for supporting me, especially when i say "today was not good." the long and the short of it- yes, i love being a stay at home mom and yes, i miss working and and yes, some days i feel unfulfilled and yes, most days i feel like i'm the luckiest girl in the world and yes, i will work again in some capacity at some point in the near future and yes, i'm not using my degree and yes, this is the most important work i have ever, will ever, and could ever do. and yes, this was very very difficult to write so i'm throwing in a video of baby Sloane both to mark the anniversary & for good measure in hopes of non-judgement.

Gesundheit. from jenny martin on Vimeo.

the big first birthday recap: part 1: decorations

now that i've had a few months to recover from my baby girl's first birthday extravaganza, i thought it was high time i share a few details. i spent many hours making sure every detail was just right for her. here are some of my very favorites of all the little decorations we had. from balloon filled windows to a life-sized fringed "1", it was every blog obsessed girl's dream. all for our little girl to have the most special day, surrounded by family and the best of friends.

SLOANE white

SLOANE white: Halloween 2013. dress -Little Wellies // headband - handmade by me // necklace - PixysPretties // shoes - TOMS.

year after year.

halloween GOODIES.

This year I AM SO EXCITED because Sloane actually has some halloween parties to attend! Perfect excuse for some craftastrophe if you ask me. Since almost all of her little friends are babies, we opted against the sugar and will treat them with little toys-stickers-stamps, etc. I went with some Halloween-themed rubber duckies.

I threw a couple of ducks in these "GOODIES" bags, which can be found at Melrose Vintage. Using a Halloween stamp and orange ink, I juiced them up a bit. Then I added some adorable SNOW WHITE tags I made with a Disney stamp and ink stain, used a hole punch and tied with ribbon. Some may say over the top for her little friends; I say a little extra packing makes the whole gift!!

As you can see, not just any ribbon-but a custom printed satin ribbon that reads "xoxo, Sloane." Seriously! Works just like a label maker and is great quality. It's my absolute favorite purchase recently and has made gift giving so much more special. Find it here. Happy Halloween week!!!