So are you ready for my party rant? :)

Sunday morning, party day, Ronnie and I prepped the food sides and dessert (my first time making cake pops and they actually came out SO GOOD!) All was good and running smoothly until right before we had to leave. Let me break it down for you...

• 1:15 - Shit. V is still napping  (and you know you never wake a sleeping child).
• 1:30 - V decides to finally wake up and I still need to get her dressed.
• 1:35 Ronnie leaves to the park to take my boxes of décor, food, etc.
• Did I mention we were supposed to be at the park to set up the party at 1:30?
• 1:40 I get V loaded up and ready to leave. HOLYEFFSHIT! My keys are in my purse. In Ronnie's car. Immediately call Ronnie and he races back.
• 1:45 Ronnie shows up, literally throws the keys to me and races back to the park.
• 1:55 We finally arrive to set up for our 2:00 party!! Fun times made even more awesome when 10 of your 30 guests are already there!! AGH!!!

(And in case you were wondering why we didn't set up much earlier, it's because we only had the pavilion from 1:30-5:30. Thirty minutes to set up would've been plenty - had we been on time.)

Then. THEN. None of my decorations would stay put. The weather was great but it was windy and even windier under the pavilion. So...

• More than half of the décor had to stay in the bins, including my adorable favor bags.
• My cake pops wouldn't even stand up (And more than half were eaten within the first half hour. WTF.)
• My picture frames had to be taped down (classy)
• The kids were gone at the play area most of the time so the piñata never got hit.
• I took oh, about 5 pictures (Still waiting on some from family) 
• V had to wear a jacket covering her adorable shirt, for almost the entire party (oh and in the mad rush I'd misplaced the special headband I had ordered just for that day!! agh)

That's all fine though. The part that upsets me the most is that *I* didn't take more pictures. It's hard when you're running the shindig and even harder when the whole afternoon felt so rushed ya know? So no pictures of the little details, favor bags, none of the food table and hardly any of me WITH Violet. It was just a crazy time and I'm curious to see what pictures my family actually captured! The few I have are ones that I took with my phone and some that my friend took, mostly from across the room because she didn't want to butt in while we were with family or other friends. (SILLY.)

womp womp. Not the dessert table I'd planned on but it did the trick.

the party // love this one of her // Checking out the piñata that never got hit

Girl never wanted to be put down. See?

She finally wanted down when she saw a "big kid" playing. She's loving big kids lately.

So my party didn't end up Pinterest worthy like I'd hoped and nothing went as planned BUT we had a good time, our guests had a good time, Violet got a lot of love and gifts and it was fun for what it was.

But let me just say - I'm glad it's over.

I'm grateful we did it for her 1st because it's a big birthday and a fun one to celebrate but from now on, NO PARTIES. At least not until she starts asking for them. Birthdays will be just a day spent with her and maybe some friends and any celebrating we do will be at our house with just immediate families. I think the fun (and stress) of this party was enough to hold us over for a while ;)

I feel guilty for bitching so much! Please tell me I'm not the only mom who feels this way about parties?!

the weekend.

Oh, y'all. The week I've been dreading is here. Thursday, V will be a ONE YEAR OLD. To get all mopey and sad about it, this past weekend was the last with our under 1 "baby". I'm in denial. And not like I'm biased or anything but she really is the coolest kid ever. She may not sleep for shit but she's hilarious and so much fun - what more could you ask for? (Oh yeah. Sleep.)

So the weekend. Saturday, we ran errands for the party and bought a billion things and somehow I still need to pick up a few billion more. I'm excited for her party but dude, I'm ready for it to be over too so I can move on in my life.

Also have to share that we had lunch at RUDY'S. Y'all. We are lucky to have such good BBQ in our area. Oooh and the cream corn. This is why I can't have nice things. (Such as a nice body.) Violet got her first taste of that and it's safe to say she's hooked. Whoops.

While we were there, V was "talking" to a boy around her age at the next table so we got to talking to his parents and the mom and I exchanged info so we can get the babes together. Ever tried making friends as an adult? Shit's hard! So it's nice to have baby matchmakers that way.

1. Morning hair // 2. BBQ! // 3. Violet ready for BBQ!
4. Trying to love the curls // 5. Save the date happiness // 6. Just dragging my kid around
7. V doesn't leave poor Niles alone // 8. Weiner outfit! // 9. Nap time sillies

Sunday we did a whole lot of nothing (those last two pictures above) but nap and play while Ronnie was gone doing volunteer work. He's getting in hours every Sunday as part of his dietetics program and though we miss him, it's nice to get in some time alone with V.

 

In the afternoon we went to a birthday party for my friend's "Irish Twins" that just turned 2 and 3. (How any mom does the one baby after the other thing is beyond me. Those moms are my heroes.) I was bummed for V that she can't walk yet and join in with the big kids but she had a good time watching and crawling around in the wood chips. At least we know girl's not afraid of getting dirty.

I'd never been to the park where the party was held and it was so pretty! Definitely a place I'd like to go back to with Ronnie. It's about 40 miles NW of San Antonio so it was a trek and then when we got there it was like 10 degrees cooler than SA and got so windy that we couldn't stay long. (It was like 60 degrees but you know us Texans. Bad asses about everything but cold weather ;)

 

I'm linking up with the cool kids even though my weekend was far from cool.

Be Productive. B-E Productive!

I'd say Happy Monday but that would just be a lie, right? :)

Did you know I've NEVER had a job that gave us President's Day off? I'm pretty sure my bosses should be making a much bigger deal out of this day than they are.

Did you know that today's not only President's Day but NATIONAL WINE DAY too? Holla! Tonight's plans is made.

Did you know today also marks 10 days until my darling-precious-child-who-refuses-to-sleep-in-her-crib turns 1? Of course you did because this crazy mom won't just drop it already!

Let's take a look at what's she's been up to, shall we?

All this in one weekend, too. The fact that her mom stayed in pj's most of the weekend and went outside not once, but twice, without a bra, can only mean that she gets her productivity from her dad.

 

Having said that, I still have a shit ton left to do for V's birthday party. I have discovered that while Pinning birthday party ideas for months ahead of time feels productive, it is in fact quite the opposite. You have to actually make the stuff. Fascinating.

 

I am happy to say though that at the very least, the party invitations been mailed out, with just 2 weeks to spare.

 

And drumroll please...Here's the fancy invitation I got to send out!

 

Isn't it the PRETTIEST?!

 

Please go tell Brittany that she's the greatest designer who ever lived and then have her do the invitations for your next party. I could not have asked for anything more perfect. Thanks again, lady - Violet is lucky to have you as her future MIL ;)

 

Now I'm off to make a to-do list of stuff that has GOT to get done this week. Sorry, job duties, you'll have to wait until some other time.

 

Oh and to those who are off work today, I'll stop talking smack. Enjoy your day. Because I just remembered that I get two weeks off this coming Christmas. So that > President's Day. Boom.

1st Birthday Party Planning

Some of you have asked what I'm planning for Violet's 1st Birthday Party so I thought I'd share just a few details! I don't have much prepared even just a month away - just a whole lotta ideas that I need to get done ASAP. (I don't think I'll stop being a procrastinator!) I've also never hosted a big party like this on my own before so I'm pretty clueless but hoping that working in the event management biz for 5 years has rubbed off on me a bit. One can hope!

Theme:
When I found out Violet was a girl (and named Violet! :) I decided that we would have a Willy Wonka themed party. I pinned ideas like crazy but just about 2 weeks ago, I got over it. Just like that. So a new theme was born: Confetti + Glitter! (Said just like Flo the Progressive girl says "Unicorns and Glitter!". Am I the only one who remembers these things?) It's a simple and easy idea but still very girly. So the Pinterest board was updated and I finally got going and started everything off by asking my amah-zing friend Brittany to design the invitations. (Please go visit her blog and Etsy shop, she's the best!)

These are just a few ideas that really got the ball rolling. 

You can see more on my Violet's Party Pinterest board.

When:

Saturday, March 9th, two weekends after Violet's February 28th birthday.

Where:

Our house just isn't laid out for a party like this so we decided on a park right down the street from our house. I was nervous at first because of our wishy washy weather at that time of year but considering we're already about to hit 80 degrees, I'm hoping we'll be ok on that day. I was also worried about how we'd make an outdoor pavilion feel girly and sparkly but I'm up for the challenge! We'll be in this small pavilion right near one of the park's playgrounds so at least it's not a lot of space to have to decorate.

Who's Invited:

Violet gets nervous with huge crowds of strangers in her face so we decided to keep the guest list small. But that's easier said than done when I have close to 80 people on each side of my parent's families. Ronnie's family is much smaller but add in our friends and it's been tough making the list. We finally narrowed it down to immediate family + friends and family with little ones (plus just a few people who don't have kids but they're important to us and we would like them there). I'm dreading the guilt trips from those we didn't invite! 

To Do:

I have all kinds of DIY projects planned: banners, confetti to add to little pockets on the back of the invitation, serving trays I'd like to personalize, a couple cupcake stands I want to make and creating + adding glitter to treat bags, food labels, etc. There will be so much glitter I'm sure I'm gonna find it in Violet's diapers at some point. ha!

I also need to sit down with Ronnie to finalize the guest list (oy.), decide on what activities/games we'll have, finalize the menu and then get with my friends who have volunteered to help me with cooking, baking, DIY'ing. So the next few weekends are about to get ca-razy!

And because I'm such a tease (hey, I love surprises myself!), here's a sneak peek of the invitation that Brittany has put together. She's working on the final proof but what she already put together is PERFECT!

So what do you think? Any ideas/tips for me? 

Any wine recommendations? (I'm looking into becoming a heavy drinker starting NOW.)

my thursday thoughts

 

Thursday, you tease.

I thought it was you yesterday but I was sorely mistaken. Forgive me as my days run together lately due to a certain little girl. I won't mention any names.

 

--So have I told y'all how bad teething SUCKS? Because it does. Not just for the baby for the parents too. I'm running on fumes, y'all.

 

--This Maybooks planner I keep hearing about has me confused! I wanted another EC planner for next year that I can personalize with the Fall family pictures we're having taken...but Maybooks are so.damn.cute! Plus they're way cheaper than EC and not at all bulky.. #toughlifedecisions

 

--You may have seen this on Lauren's blog today but I am now obsessed with Ashley Goldberg's patterns too. I spent a full hour this morning looking through them and finally chose this one as the background on my phone. Yay pretty things!

 

--Also pretty? This big, colorful tote from Etsy. Mama needs!

 

--I've had the theme for Violet's 1st birthday chosen since I was pregnant but after talking to Melia on Twitter yesterday about her son's 1st, I had to copy her super organized self and make a Pinterest board for Violet's party too. Because her birthday may be 6 months away but in between now and then are the holidays. Holy freak out. SO LITTLE TIME TO PLAN. 

 

--Oh yeah, Violet turns 6 MONTHS OLD next Tuesday. Break my heart, why don't you.

 

--Have you heard about the Starbuck's Pumpkin Spice Challenge? Be the first city to get it this Fall? Well, at last check the city that's in the lead is Langhorne, PA with 30,168 points. Know how many points San Antonio has? 280. Way to be lame, San Antonio.

 

--aaand finally, remember THIS from last Fall?? Well hang on to your scarves, little ladies because we will be back with a fun annoucement in two weeks!