Pink and Green Cake Smash

 Photographs by Karen Morneau Photography

Cake, anyone? When I first saw these 1st birthday cake smash sessions I knew we had to do it! Karen made it so easy... we just had to show up to her studio and the cake and balloons were waiting for us. I love that the cake is personalized... it saved me the rush of getting something monogrammed. We based the color scheme around her pink and green romper from Janie and Jack. I can't get enough of these photos, they always make me smile.

Eyes on Eyelet

Eyelet Blouse: Madewell (also available at Nordstrom). Jeans: Madewell (also available at Nordstrom). Jacket: Forever 21 (old, similar). Bracelets: David Yurman 1,2.
Moccasins: Freshly Picked. Bow: Etsy.

White eyelet... right there with plaid, gingham and stripes on my hard to resist list. My top is on sale now and has been one of my favorites this spring. It has 3/4 sleeves and is a basic style so I know I'll wear it next year. I have also been wearing it with this oversized cardigan.

I buy most of Lexi's clothes from Gap online. There is always, always a sale going on. I constantly look at the new arrivals because the best things go fast, like this floral sweatshirt and pants. So cute!

Anyway... my weekend was pretty relaxing. We had friends over on Friday night for tacos and margaritas (I had been craving one all week) and I went to a baby shower on Sunday. I didn't get as far as I would have liked to with my photo organization project I mentioned on Friday... it's just never ending. Finally, I got a little shopping in. I bought a few new things to try from Sephora, including this hairspray that I already love. We also accompanied Ted to Bass Pro Shop. I swear I can find something to buy at most stores and this is one I have a very hard time...  but I had to laugh on the way out when I spotted these knock off Jack Rogers for $20.

Here are a few other tops and dresses that caught my eye.

Thanks for stopping by... I've been staying up pretty late to blog again (the only chance I have) and appreciate that you all are still coming back to read it!

TGIF

Photographs by Karen Morneau Photography

Happy Friday! These are a few of Lexi's photos from her one year shoot a few weeks ago. Her sweet dress is from the Beaufort Bonnet Company. I'll be sharing her pink and green themed cake smash next week.

This weekend I'll be attempting to organize my photos... digital spring cleaning. I left off  in November so have several months to catch up on. I upload my camera and iPhone photos into folders on an external hard drive by month. It's been my goal to keep up with it at least every 6 months, print copies and make albums. This round will be just in time for Mother's Day... albums always make a great gift. I go back and forth with sites that I should backup my photos on. I currently use Shutterfly for albums, but open to other options. Would love some feedback!

Have a great weekend!

Blue and White Obsessed: Champagne Bucket

AERIN Ginger Jar Champagne Bucket

PSA for the blue and white obsessed like me... you need this champagne bucket! When I spotted it in the new AERIN collection at Williams Sonoma I had to have it. I figure that most promotions are going to exclude this collection, so no use in waiting to order. So much for the cutting board I was going to get (and why I was on the site in the first place) ...

I was even more excited when I saw it featured on Waiting on Martha and could see the size. Love that it can fit more than one bottle. Eeee! I can't wait to use it. I also saw some other posts where people use it as a vase.

Blue and white obsessed... hmmm this could be a weekly series. What do you think?

Cheers!

Easter

We had the best Easter weekend with Lexi! She had 3 baskets of goodies that I have attempted to keep out of her reach for a couple weeks. I had fun picking things out over the past few months for it (sadly she wasn't having it when I put on her Beaufort Bonnet... let's hope her feelings change at the beach this summer). The green bunny is a Japanese toy called Jabber Ball... when you squeeze it the tongue sticks out and it makes the funniest sound. I found it at the cutest kids store in Westport, Pink Lemon Blue Lime. I think I will play with it as much as she does.

After we opened her baskets we went out to enjoy the beautiful day. We haven't spent much time outside since she started walking. She loved running around and exploring... can't wait for the summer with her!

 Lexi's Dress: Gap. Sunglasses: Janie & Jack. Bow: Etsy.

My Dress: Free People (also available here). Bag: Gucci.

Happy Easter!

Lexi's First Birthday

Lexi's Dress: Beaufort Bonnet Company. Bib: Etsy. Bow: Etsy (4").  My Shirt: Madewell.

My sweet Lexi turned ONE last week! She was such a doll at her birthday party...  smiling while we sang to her and digging into her Funfetti cake. We kept the celebration small at home and it turned out perfectly.

I've had a few people ask me about her high chair that we got when she was around 6 months... it's from Ikea and only $20. A friend suggested it and I also saw it on Pink Peonies and took note. It would be a really good option for a summer house, grandparents, etc. not only because of the price tag but you can remove the legs and easily store it. There is also a pillow insert that goes along with it.

I originally wanted to do a pink rose theme (this party was my inspiration) .... but after finding a colorful Kate Spade table runner at Home Goods I decided to work around it and everything just came together. The napkins are from Target. 

Menu

Sandwiches - Pimento Cheese/Chicken salad/Salmon, Cucumber, Cream Cheese

Pasta Salad - Orzo, Cucumber, Roasted Red Peppers, Kalamata Olives, Artichokes, Sundried Tomatoes, Feta, Red Onion, Lemon, Parsley

Sangria - Pinot Grigio, Polar Tart Cherry Lime Seltzer, Orange Juice, Strawberries, Blueberries, Lime

Champagne

Funfetti Cake, Chocolate Truffles and Vanilla Ice Cream

I got the ideas for the sandwiches from this list.

My friend Kate is amazing in the kitchen and executed everything. (I joke with her that I invite her to the party... then put her to work! Thankfully she is happy to help.) To save time, we bought the chicken salad and pimento cheese premade. She further chopped the chicken salad up, adding fresh parsley and lettuce for some color. The pasta salad is a staple for her entertaining and always a hit. She also looked in the fridge and suggested the sangria since I had all the ingredients.

Miraculously there was no cake on her dress!

One of her favorite gifts was this Fisher Price Purse. She loves taking everything out and putting it back (along with other random things)... just like me. 

She came crashing down from that sugar high. We timed her celebration perfectly between naps, ha.

Happy Birthday, Lexi! xx

Lately

This peanut will be turning ONE tomorrow! To kick of her first birthday celebration we had a cake smash photo shoot yesterday... I can't wait to see the pictures. We'll have round two with her grand and god parents at our place later this weekend. 

I had a few days off from work this week (rollover vacation from 2016 to take or lose) and it was bad timing that she came down with an ear infection. You would never know from the picture that she was having a rough week... she had her ups and down. We didn't get out to do most of the things I had planned, but I'm not complaining about our naps on the couch together. It took me back to maternity leave... except I wasn't chasing after her. Sadly we'll be heading back to the doctor today... hope she feels better for her birthday.

Top: Madewell. Jeans: Madewell. Trench: Gap. Scarf & Shoes: J. Crew (old). Ring: David Yurman.

We did luck out with a couple of nice afternoons weather wise so I took Lexi for a stroll down Greenwich Ave for some fresh air (and get some shopping in during my vaca). Madewell is having a sale on most regular price items (20% off $100 or 30% off $200) so I took advantage - I got the cold shoulder top I'm wearing above, this eyelet top and this dress in rose.

I spent some time this week looking up Trader Joe's picks and recipes for some easy dinner ideas. I found this Carne Asada Tacos recipe on one of my favorite blogs, Lunchpails and Lipstick, and it is a winner. I will also be trying these hacks from A Cup of Jo.

By request from a loyal follower (and bestie), here are my picks for the Bloomingdales Friends & Family sale. Don't get me wrong, I can always find something to buy but everything on the top of my want list is excluded from the sale... go figure. (I swear each year more and more is excluded, wah!) The way I usually tackle these types of sales are by brand.

AG, Frame, J Brand, rag & bone  - I hate paying full price for anything... but especially designer jeans. The #1 thing to get!

Dolce Vita- So many good sandals!

Free People  - The dress you've seen on every blogger...for good reason.

Joie, Milly - Shower and wedding guest dresses. But only if it's already on sale... plus f&f.

Juliska - These champagne flutes are a perfect engagement gift. 

Nanette Leopore,  Vitamin A, ViX, - Because Victoria's Secret no longer sells swimsuits (just the PINK line). Wish I knew my size in this one.

NEST, Volupsa - Expensive candles are always a good gift idea. Or treat yourself.
Soludos - I have these in blue for the summer. Also loving the platform espadrilles.

Splendid - This basic tee is still overpriced with the discount... but you won't feel so bad.

Skip Hop -  One year using this changing pad. I have a few of their products and found them all to be well made and durable.

S'well - Admittedly I didn't understand the craze until I was gifted one.

And since my friend lives in Cali... I had to point out this pillow. ha.

Have a great weekend!