GRAY'S FIRST BIRTHDAY

Hi all! Whew! This past year after welcoming Gray to our family has been busy (hence my lack of posting), busy, busy! But, I've enjoyed almost every minute of it and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I can't believe my tiny, little baby is a whole year old now! It's definitely a bittersweet feeling and I love experiencing all the "firsts" with him. It's so refreshing to see him encounter and learn everything for the very first time. 

We had his birthday party a few weeks ago and I wanted to share the special details of the day because it was definitely a labor of love! I designed the invitations and matching decor (of course!) and my sweet friend Lauren took these beautiful pictures to capture the day. I'm so blessed to have such talented friends! Here's the invitation + party hats + bubbles I designed. 

And here's some shots of the big day! It was in our backyard and I was so worried about the weather but luckily it never rained! We just had to endure Alabama's wonderful humidity. I wanted to do something outdoors and in June I knew it needed to entail water but I still wanted to do something creative other than just having a baby pool for the kids. So, I turned it into an outdoor bubble bath with bubbles everywhere! It turned out pretty cute and I think the kids had a blast! 

And here's some super sweet pictures of my baby boy before the party enjoying the bubbles! 

Didn't Lauren do a perfect job of capturing the party!? She is a wonderful photographer if you're looking for anyone in the Birmingham area! 

GIVEAWAY WINNER

GIVEAWAY!!!

As I mentioned earlier this week, the good stuff is hosting its first giveaway today! One lucky reader will receive the QuickZip essential bundle (pictured below) to help make your life so much easier! This awesome starter set includes 1 starter set (zipper base and zipper sheet), an additional zipper sheet for convenient changing, and 1 zipper mattress pad. The QuickZip sheets made our 3-6 month favorite list for its innovative design allowing super easy and quick sheet changes. I'm so glad we were referred to these because they have helped make middle of the night bedding changes sooooo much easier!

*sleep sheep not included*

If you are expecting, all ready have a baby, or have baby showers in your near future, you will want to enter this giveaway! All you need to do is pin your favorite product from the QuickZip website and then post a comment below on why you would love to win the giveaway + the link to your pin! Super easy! I will pick a winner at random on Monday, March 17th. Hope everyone has a great Thursday!

OUR FEEDING FAVORITES

I didn't think this blog would turn into all baby stuff with an occasional design post, but it seems that it has. Taking care of a baby and designing are what I do and that's all I know right now. So, that's what inspires me at the moment! Maybe the tides will change and I will post on a variety of subjects again. I'm still working on Melrose and making changes here and there, but nothing major since Gray's nursery. 

So, on to my post! When Gray was approaching the time to start baby food, I was clueless on the entire topic. I knew I wanted to make my own purees and I needed some feeding essentials. I looked on a few of my favorite baby blogs and I browsed Amazon's top feeding products until I purchased what I needed to start trying food. I know I can be picky about stuff (even silly things like baby utensils and bowls) but I was looking for durability, easy to store, and aesthetically pleasing ... a.k.a. super cute! I made a "baby drawer" inspired by this pin that houses all of my bowls, containers, sippy cups,  etc. so that eventually one day Gray can get what he needs on his own and he can dig through the drawer while I'm making dinner! Here are our top used products to hopefully help you and your baby get started in the right direction -

ONE: Beaba Babycook - I know making baby food isn't for everyone, but I enjoy food so it's been a fun experience making Gray new foods and seeing how he likes them. We received our babycook as a gift and it has been such a breeze to make the purees. It is pretty much a one stop shop - you steam and puree in the same machine. You simply add your diced fruits or veggies to the steamer basket with the right amount of water, steam them, dump them into the processor, and puree! You could also do this with a simple food processor and steam/roast your food beforehand. 

TWO: These are on the pricier side of baby spoons, but I love that they are entirely silicone (BPA free!) and easy to maneuver with a long handle. Gray also loves to chew on them after his meal, ha. 

THREE: I looked at several different types of bowls to serve Gray his food and finally decided on these from Re-Play. They are FDA approved, BPA free, the right size for holding 2-3 purees, and fun colors!  I typically hand wash these, but I have not had any issues with dishwashing them either. Another plus for me was the matching divided plates that we will invest in once Gray is eating more table food. I like everything to match! 

FOUR: OXO Storage Block Set - These have been great for storing our pureed foods. I haven't put any in the freezer yet, but I don't see any issues. I have tossed these in my diaper bag on the go and there have been no leaks or spills so far! They're the perfect portions for his baby food so I know exactly how much he is eating! 

FIVE: Bumkins Bips - I actually "researched" bibs (I know, I'm crazy!) and these had the highest rating. I ordered a 3 pack of these and they have been fantastic. They are easy to rinse or wipe clean and collects any drops of food! Plus, they have lots of super cute patterns to choose from! 

SIX: These look really similar to the Beaba freezer trays, but are 1/2 of the price! I use these to freeze his baby food and pop out a "pod" to defrost when I'm out of fresh purees.

SEVEN: I read that the Nuk sippy cup is a good transition for babies from the bottle so I have been testing this one out. Although, he doesn't seem as interested in this sippy as compared to the Nuby (below). Maybe it is the spout? I think he will eventually use it though so we keep trying it!

EIGHT: Nuby sippy cup - Again, another talked about sippy cup that we are using. Even if he doesn't get much out of it, he loves to chew on it! 

Gray was not too pleased with his first try of peas! 

 Gray loves butternut squash, prunes, sweet potato, apples, and pears ... and really most anything these days!

***AND, STAY TUNED BECAUSE THIS WEEK I AM HOSTING A GIVEAWAY OF ONE OF OUR 3-6 MONTH FAVORITE PRODUCTS!!! YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS OUT!***

shower invitation :: HIS & HER BBQ

Hello! Here is a shower invitation I recently designed for some sweet friends. The party was held outdoors and decorated with red and white checkered table cloths, red zinnias, teal blue mason jars, pennant flags, and local barbeque was catered. It was a lovely night and I think the couple felt very honored. 

To keep with the rustic, outdoor theme, I paired the red, white, and teal invitations with kraft paper envelopes and jazzed them up with his and her kitchen "tools" liners. 

If you are interested in this invitation, or custom design work, please feel free to contact me!