Toddler Easter Basket

I know, I know - it's not even St. Patrick's Day yet, but since filling up an adorable Easter basket takes a little preparation (and time for shipping) - I thought I would share what Avery will be finding in her Easter basket this year.  I didn't plan on a theme and just picked out a random bunch of stuff that I knew she would love - but apparently the theme is P-I-N-K!  Good thing it's the color choice in this house ... for now!  What is the Easter bunny bringing your kids this year?   

Play Oven Mit - LilKingdom on Etsy
Swimsuit - Baby Gap
Bubble Wand - available at Michaels
Nightgown - Carter's
Jellybeans, Go Go Squeez Applesauce, Chocolate bunny - available virtually everywhere!
Ball - Christmas collection from Old Navy
Hot Wheels School Bus - available at Walmart, Target
A Child's Bible - Amazon

Pinned This, Made That: Pink Ombre + Glitter Vase

Welcome to "PINNED THIS, MADE THAT".  My new series is pretty self-explanatory - I pin something(s) I like and I make my own version!  If you are one of those people who pin like crazy, but never put them to use, then I hope these posts inspire to actually start crafting!  

What do you get when you cross a glitter vase... (found here)

 

 with pink crepe paper streamers? (found here)

You get THESE BEAUTIES!

PINK OMBRE + GOLD GLITTER VASES
Supplies:  
* Vase (new or old will do as long as it is clean & dry!)
* Small foam brush
* Modge Podge
* Loose glitter (I used Martha Stewart gold glitter)
* Crepe Paper Streamers (I used 3 shades of pink streamers)
*Scissors
* Invisible Tape or stickers (I used a white round label that resembled a button)

1. Tape off where you want to glitter on your vase with painters/masking tape
2.  Brush on Modge Podge
3.  Immediately cover Modge Podge with glitter (I recommend Martha Stewart)
4. Tap off extra glitter & let dry
5. Use Modge Podge finishing spray to help glitter stick permanently. 
6. When complete dry, wrap streamers around vase and secure with invisible tape or a sticker.

Add flowers & voila! You're done!

Metamorphosis

When I got pregnant with my daughter back in June 2010, I decide to put together a little blog (first post here) to update family and friends on our progess on the baby bump, nursery, etc and if I was ambitious enough, continue it after Avery was born to journal milestones, vacations, weekly pictures, holidays - you name it.

Naming the blog was much easier than setting it up - I wanted something with a little more pizazz than 'The Johnsons Blog' or 'Baby Blog', so one night I came up with "First Comes Love."  First came love for me & husband Nick (2003), then came marriage (November 8, 2008 - our 5 year anniversary!) & then came the most beautiful and sweetest baby in a baby carriage (Avery - February 27, 2011).  Not only am I amazed that I am still keeping it up regularly, but that through the wonders of Facebook, Pinterest and that big, big world we call the Internet, our little blog has been viewed almost 25,400 times (and counting!)

Until recently, this blog has geared towards family and friends and I have only been writing Avery-related posts, but since we have developed some new readers outside of our circle, I have decided to kick this blog up a notch and tie in some more of me and what I like to do when I'm not playing with baby dolls & checking Facebook. ;)  So like my friend Emeril would say, "BAM!" I am happy to announce some new features and additional columns coming to your computer screen!

For those who don't know me personally, my name is Jessica and twenty-something wife, mommy and wedding planner turned stay-at-home mommy with a love of holiday decorating, parties, weddings, craft projects, Pinterest and my beautiful 2 year old daughter!  I hope you check back often to get to know me even better! While I will continue to blog all of Avery's milestones, adventures and hilarious things that are starting to come out of her mouth, I will also be adding party themes, decorations and party favor ideas, recipes (never my own creation, but I love to try everyone else's!), holiday ideas, Pinterest creations, and much, much more!  And don't worry, I'm pretty thrifty, so anything that I make/create/do will never break your bank! 

I can't wait to share more with you - please visit me often!
xo,
Jess

Starting the Book...

There is not one day that goes by that I don't thank Pinterest for a new idea... whether it was a recipe, a party idea, or a fun DIY tutorial - I find something new everyday on that site!

When I stumbled across this picture, I knew I had to do something like that for Avery! 

I do not have Photoshop, but I do have Picasa and discovered I can accomplish the same kind of thing using that program.  Take a photo every year with enough blank background space to include age, height/weight & what they loved that year - looks easy enough right?!

2 Year Update!

Wow! We have a two year old ... and an awesome two year old at that! Since she just had her 2 year check-up, this is the perfect time for her yearly update including Avery's favorite things!

Weight - 26 lbs. 7 oz.
Height - 35.25 inches (.75 of an inch shy of a YARDSTICK! Dr. has predicted 5'9" for her adult height ... guess we'll find out in 16 years!)
Wears 2T shirts/dresses, 18-24 pants, size 6 shoes
Wears size 5 diapers, but we have slowly started potty training - will pee on her potty every night before bed
Too many teeth to count! (just looked back and she only had 2 teeth on her 1st birthday - those gums had a very busy year!)

*Knows all body parts
*Recites ABCs & can count to 15
*Knows 100+ words and is forming sentences (i.e- went from saying "Mommy shower" to "Mommy take a shower")
*Repeats & copies EVERYTHING (favorite words learned from mommy - "O.M.G." & "Meiko naughty, go potty in the house!")

LOVES...
*buttons (I have never seen someone so obsessed with buttons - any size, any color!)
*the movie Meet Me in St. Louis & can sing the entire soundtrack
*cartoons (especially Jake & the Neverland Pirates, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Princess Sophia, Doc McStuffins, Gaspard & Lisa, JoJo's Circus)
*having her nails painted pink
*jewelry (especially mommy's!), purses, shoes, dresses
*picking out her own clothes in the morning (and does a pretty good job!)
*babies (real & fake!) the girl is more maternal than her mommy - we hope to get her a real baby soon! :)
*going 'buh-bye' in mommy's car & sitting in her car seat
*snacks (favorites- fruit snacks, apple sauce, string cheese, cookies, pretzels, chocolate, ice cream, pickles, tomatoes, grapes)
*favorite meal - noodles
*brushing her teeth
*putting on chapstick
*foxxie & meiko, grandma & grandpa lucas
*balloons & balls
*her kitchen set
*blankets
*playing games on iphones/ipad
*helping mommy/daddy with tasks
*cuddling, giving hugs & kisses
*princesses

LOVES ME NOT...
*hates being dirty or having stuff on her hands/face
*fights nap time & bedtime
*getting things taken away from her (meltdown central!)
*being told 'No'

2 Year Pictures

Turning 2 calls for cake, presents & a big party, but also for having some new pictures taken.  Our last professional shoot was when Avery turned 1, so we are a year overdue!  With a toddler who can't sit still and refuses to look and smile on command, our Iphone pictures weren't going to cut it this time around!  We enlisted the help of my favorite baby photographer, Kelsey with K Photography and Design out of Machesney Park, Illinois and she did a wonderful job .... even with a toddler who can't sit still and refuses to look and smile on command :)  Here are some of my favorites!

Pink Ombre + Gold Glitter + Button Party!

That's a legit theme for a 2nd birthday party right?! Since my child is obsessed with buttons, I decided that would be the perfect decoration for her family party this year.  She also loves pink, so I decided to add in the ombre and gold glitter part ... I just love the look of it - so girly & fun!  Last year I went a little crazy (over $700 crazy!) on Avery's 1st birthday, so I promised the hubby I would tackle this year's party on a budget!!  I knew I needed to feed and have drinks for 22 guests, so I took my $20 decorations budget and ran with it!  Here is what I came up with:

$1 Streamers go a long way!

Don't like those cheap plastic tablecloths?  Me neither!  Use wrapping paper and streamers instead!

 

 

Button mobiles for chandeliers - all you need is scrapbook paper (I used my Cricut to get perfectly round circles) & a needle and thread!

Paper plates + round white labels = the perfect button!  

Add a hole punch & some ribbon into the mix to create a button garland!

I decided to kick my button garland up a notch by adding a curtain of streamers over the windows.  Again, amazing what a few streamers & some tape can do to dress up a room!

 

  

 

TWO button door hanger.  Cut your number out of cardboard (I used an Ikea box).  

Spray paint number and once dry, hot glue your choice of buttons! 

 I love my pink ombre + gold glitter vases!  I used modge podge & Martha Stewart glitter (my favorite craft product I own!) for the bottom of the vases and then just taped streamers right above.  And although the gold glitter is there to stay, the streamers can be easily removed.

 

  Printable Art from on to baby.

 

Banner made from scrapbook paper (found at Michaels) & my Cricut.

 Gold glitter vase made from modge podge & gold glitter. "2" decoration made from gold glitter paper cut with Cricut, striped straw (attached with hot glue), gold fringe & large zig zag pot from Container Store.

We did not get the food out until last minute so I not get any pictures, 

but here is what we served for lunch:

* Beefaroo Roast Beef Sandwiches (for those not from Northern Illinois, Beefaroo is a fast casual restaurant chain in our area that serves a mad roast beef sandwich!)

* Pasta Salad - my dad makes a great one!

* Fresh Fruit (strawberries/blueberries/grapes)

* Mrs. Fisher's Potato Chips (again, heaven in a bag made right here in Rockford!)

We decided to keep it simple with our desserts and had white & marble cupcakes w/ white chocolate buttons and pink ombre button sugar cookies.  Baked goods from By the Dozen Bakery.

I used this button candy mold from Amazon.com, white chocolate & pink food coloring to make the buttons.  (Free!) printable food name cards from one of my favorites - on to baby!

 

Cake topper made with gold glitter scrapbook paper & my trusty Cricut!

 

When we host parties, we always try to offer beer, wine, soda & a signature drink - thankfully there were plenty of pink drinks to pick from, so we went with strawberry lemonade vodkas!  Urn Drink Dispenser from Pier 1.

And last, but certainly not least - the birthday girl!! 

These past two years have truly been the very best years of our lives and we are 

so excited to see what this next year has in store for our favorite little lady!

Metallic gold sweater from Target, ruffle dress from Little Bo-Tique.