Daddy's Girl...

My daughter is a daddy's girl. There... I said it! She will do back flips and dive from my arms to get to her daddy. Apart of me thinks because I am the one that does all the dirty work. I make her take naps, change her diaper, and punish her while he is at work. So I think she sees him and knows she can have her way. He think everything she does is amazingly cute... I mean everything, food throwing and the dramatic tantrums included.  How is it a little girl of 14 months has a grown man (a police sergeant none the less) wrapped around her little finger!

I always thought that my husband would only want boys, however he loves that little girl like crazy. It is pretty sweet to see! I think his favorite time of the day is morning bottle because he gets to snuggle and sneak in a cartoon. Apparently Doc McStuffens or Dinosaur Train are the top favorites.

I wanted to do something special for him for father's day this year but had no idea what to do. The man will literally buy what he wants when he wants! So I thought we would have a friend of mine and photographer Jake Pakosta take some shots of her during her 1st birthday shoot with my husbands police hat. I think they are awesome. However, most importantly is that they were loved by my husband and he was surprised!

Pink Lemonade 1st Birthday Photos

Once again I cannot say enough about our friend and photographer Jake Pakosta. He always does such an amazing job! Not only are his pictures beautiful, but he puts up with me and all of my crazy ideas! 

 I think this picture above and the one below capture her personality so much! She is always making that face or throwing up her arms like "mom I do not know what you are talking about!"

Dress Gap Kids - Hat Etsy

 The ribbons that are hanging are actually the high chair decoration that I made for her party. It was a last minute decision to pin it to the fence but I am glad we did! The letters are cardboard letters that I bought from Jo Ann Fabrics and just painted with acrylic paint.

shoes -freshly picked

necklace -Etsy

I think that this last picture sums up what my daughter actually thinks about getting her picture taken over and over again! Over all she was pretty good about the whole process!

The 1st birthday party

Have you ever looked at pictures you have taken after an event and wanted to kick yourself?!? Well that is where I am right now. In all the craziness that was the party, I did not taken very good pictures to show what the party actually looked like. Seriously ... Epic fail.

This is what some of the decor looked like. I took plastic tablecloths and decorated the side of the garage so it was a good backdrop for the smash cake and presents. However this is the best picture I can get and it looks not so great. Note to self: take pictures! 

I also made this high chair decoration from ribbons. It matched the ribbon topiary that I had as center pieces on some of the tables.

 I did manage to take some pictures of the sweet table. It was also all pink and yellow. Thankfully right before the party was Easter and they had all kinds of pastel colored candy from the major candy companies. However, it did mean that I had to separate each bag. It then lead to the issue of major overload of blue, purple and green candy, which I brought to work and gave to my students. I got the treat bags and other candy that I couldn't get from Easter at Party City or the Ferrera Pan outlet store. I was surprised on how reasonable the prices were!

In addition to candy, we had lots of baked goods, I made pink lemonade cupcake in both regular and miniature size. Tons of other goodies like chocolate covered pretzels of course with pink or yellow sprinkles. We also made Rice Krispie treats and dipped it in yellow or pink candy melts.

I also made a small smash cake... Chocolate of course.

The napkins and plate are from   Target. I saw them at the store and loved them immediately! I am waiting for a friend to send me the pictures that he took and hopefully there will be better ones of the decor!

Sweet Baby Girl Turned 1!

Our sweet little girl, Violet Grace turned one on May 31. I cannot tell you how bittersweet it was! I am so sad that she is no longer a baby  but excited to see all the new things she is learning and can do!

If you already read my blog you know my obsession with a themed party. In that case, for her 1st birthday it had to be great. I started planning in January. I do not know if it was because it was so cold in Chicago, polar vertex and all,  but nothing sounded better than sunshine and lemonade.

The first thing that I did was go to pinterest to be inspired and that I was. I began pinning a million things to my board. Then it was to the craft stores I went. Thankfully I had something to do to keep me entertained after the holidays while being locked up in the house all winter!

Of course I went nuts! I think I may of went over board but it was all worth it in the end!

 Here are the envelopes that I addressed for the party. Nothing is more fun that getting pretty mail! I do not know if it is just me but I love it!

The centerpiece that I made where either these topiary made from ribbon or the picture cubes. I think the cubes took the longest to make because I had to assemble all the boxes, scrapbook the top of them and then add the pictures. I think I may of spent more time on looking at the pictures because I cannot believe a whole year went by!

These are one of the two treat boxes that we had at the party.  I am pretty sure the adults liked them as much or more so than the kids. The boxes where from Oriental Trading and the sticks my father printed for us!

More on the actual party later!

The perfect shoe...

Like any girl, I have been on the search for the perfect shoe for my daughter. I already posted on my obsession with baby shoes, however, as excited as I am about them, Violet was not. She HATES shoes. How can my daughter hate shoes, but she does! She rips them off her feet the second they get on, after I fought for a while to get them in the first place. But I found them. I found the perfect pair!

They are Freshly Picked Moccasins and let me tell you that I am in love (and Violet does not seem to mind them either)! I had my reservations buying such expensive footwear for a 1 year old but since she ripped everything else off her feet I was desperate. They came in this adorably cute bag and I am happy to say she has yet to get them off! She does not even try. I wonder if it is because of how soft they are! We have had them for over 2 months and I still am in love. I even tried to buy more during their giant sale but I was to slow! Complete Failure!

Baby Shoes

What is it about baby shoes? I love them! I maybe slightly obsessed with them. There is just something about little miniature shoes, especially when they are similar to adult styles. That being said, I am guilty of purchasing a few to many.

Little Girl's shoe collection

However, after buying these, I come across some issues...  The biggest one is getting them on my daughter's feet. She hates shoes! Putting them on it a fight. She curls her toes and the second they are on, she rubs her feet together. She rubs, rubs, rubs and the they come flying  off. With the success of getting the shoes off she flashes the biggest smile!  She does the same with socks. Although, I have a preference to be barefoot as well, I do love my shoes! I am hoping she also begins this love affair as well!

Although keeping them on is a challenge in it is own, I have an issue with buying them. I know what you are thinking and looking at all those shoes I think you are about to call bullsh*t on that one but it is true. I have an issue because Miss Violet Grace has the smallest feet ever! They are tiny! This is funny because I have very large feet. I think she wore newborn size shoes until she was 3 months old. Now at 9 1/2 months she finally moved into baby size 2! I know she doesn't need shoes but they do make ever outfit that much cuter. As she begin to walk, she will need shoes and I hope I can find some with normal bottoms so she doesn't slip!

- Rebecca

The never ending bathroom project

I swore I would never be that person. You know, that person that would let a project go on in her home for an extended period of time. Well, I was wrong! Dead wrong!

Tiny Old Bathroom

Let's go back in time to October of 2009... when my then fiance was demoing the kitchen in our newly purchased home. He and his brother decided it was a great idea to demo the basement as well. It made sense they told me. It would get done right after then kitchen they said. Well here we are almost 5 years later, two floods, countless deadline, a few ultimatums and a baby and it is finally done! Well the bathroom part of the basement at least... I am hoping/demanding for the rest to be as well real soon!

I know what you are thinking... that is what happens when you say never. However, despite it taking 5 years, I love the completed project. It is very modern, which is out of my comfort zone but that is right up my husband's alley. Since, I am making this his bathroom for the most part, I thought it should be more masculine and modern.

Finished Product

It has the largest shower I have ever seen and am hoping our hot water take will be up to the test! It has multiple body sprayers and an over head rain shower. It  also has a niche and a very large bench.

work in progress

Niche and Bench

There are still a few things that have to be done. Decorating for one! Which I will be doing very soon. But also, my husband is insisting  that there will be a t.v. in there. He has already has the outlet and cable line installed! Men!