Winter One-derland 1st Birthday Party: Inspiration Board

Mia’s first birthday party was this weekend and we are EXHAUSTED.  I can’t wait to go to bed at 9pm every night this week and get a massage on Saturday.  It was a long month of shopping at Michael’s/Joann and crafting, but everything turned out just how I wanted and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat! I’m actually thinking about next year’s party already J

My vision -  

When I was 38 weeks pregnant, Doug and I watched the weather as usual, and Jerry Taft said there was a big snow storm headed our way. So Doug told Mia (in my belly) to wait until the storm passes before coming.  Sure enough, the one day that we get 10 inches of snow, Mia arrived!  So for her 1^st birthday party, I thought it’d be perfectly fitting to have a Winter One-derland. And, since her birthday is after the holidays, I knew I’d score awesome wintery deals. J Also, since Mia isn’t in love with any one thing in particular yet, I figure now’s my chance to do a party how I want J Come next year, I’m sure she’ll have a full blown personality with clear likes and dislikes.

When I told my sister in law (the gracious hostess) the Winter One-derland idea, she asked if there were going to be snowflakes plastered all over her house. Nope! I wanted to create a cozy wintery atmosphere without a single sign of a snowflake.  I also wanted to stem away from the traditional girly pink and envisioned a white, silvery and lavender color scheme. 

A few weeks prior, I walked Doug through the house with papers, lists and drawings in hand.  I explained what I was going to do with each room and he said “Wow, you look like a real party planner.” I squealed with excitement! What a compliment J Maybe I can do this!

It’ll take some time to go through my pictures and pick out the ones I want to show you.  So in the mean time have a second sneak peek by checking out my inspiration board of just a few ideas that were furiously running around in my head all month. I’ll try to give credit to the sources the best I can recall. Check back later this week for full party details.

{click to enlarge}

Invitations: PaperCulture

*LOVED. You can customize. They email you proofs. You can edit the proof. You can  add personalized messages on each card. They mail them out for you. The turn around is fast. The cardstock is heavy. And they plant a tree J

Dress and cardigan: Baby Gap/Gap Kids

Wafer cups & Highchair : Hostess with the Mostess  

Napkin flowers: House of Smiths

Doljabi Table: Rebecca’s dol at Korean First Birthday

Headband: etsy shop MiaCouture

Ice wreath: How Does She

Faux fireplace: Sara's Party Perfect
Sweater pillows: Brassy Apple

Dot strings: Grant’s dol at Korean First Birthday

“Snow” tablescape: Joyful Weddings and Events
Fabric leaves: etsy shop JaneJoss as seen on Design*Sponge

03 Then and Now

This was an easy one. Not particularly inspiring photography wise, but definitely shows how she's changed from 1 week and 51 weeks old. Even if you don't want to upload and share or even do the prompt every day, you should consider signing up for the Joy of Love if you want quick daily photography tips.    

1 week old - before I took MishaMedia 101 {1/25s, f/4.8, auto, ISO 3200}

51 weeks old - {1/50s, f/3.2, cloudy, ISO 400}

linked up at the willette blog



Blizzard of the Century!

We just accumulated the third largest snowfall in Chicago history, checking in at 20 inches between yesterday and today. The blizzard came with lightning, thunder and 60 mph winds. It was unreal! But I still  love love love all the seasons Chicago has to offer, extremities and all.

1pm - no more car!

9am - car on the right.

And 358 days ago we got half of what we did today, 10 inches.  Doug had to drive to the hospital on unplowed streets, talk to our parents on the phone and coach me through 2 minute contractions all at the same time. So this snowfall came just in time for Mia’s Winter One-derland party! Just kidding, I know this was a nightmare for a lot of people. But I hope you were able to get out there and play before the temperatures drop to below zero.  I love playing in the snow and I had to take Mia out there since this is the "blizzard of the century!" haha the news is silly sometimes.   I remember pictures of me and my brother bundled up when I was 2, so I had to make sure Mia has the same pictures to remember J



Baby Shower Photog

I was asked to be the photog at my sister in law’s baby shower and I said of course, it’d be my pleasure! I will eagerly accept any opportunity to practice shooting. It also gave me the chance to test out the lighting situation before Mia’s party.

After doing the baby shower and christmas cards for my brother and friend, I am realizing that a good photographer requires more skills than getting the shot in your camera. To capture the natural moments, you have to be discreet and fade into the background so people don't notice you pointing your camera at them (once people notice you, the moment is gone!).  Yet at the same time you have to be comfortable enough to coach and give straightforward directions (to make sure you get the posed people shots) without making the subjects feel awkward. Sheeesh, it's tough and there's a lot to think about in those split seconds!

Some party details:

♥ The mommy-to-be’s friends made the tissue paper poms as decoration. There's a bazillion tutorials out there.

♥ I made the edible pacifiers for the Don’t Say “Baby” game and the diaper cake.

♥ The Guess the Baby Poop game was a lot of fun! You guess which chocolate was melted in each diaper. My favorite quote of the day...I was showing a dad a picture I took of a chocolate diaper, and he goes "You took a picture of my daughter's poop??!" lol - he didn't know about the game yet and frreal thought I took a picture of his baby's poo, ewie!

♥ The Chug from a Baby Bottle game is apparently harder than you think.
♥ Always love the Guess Her Belly Size game!

♥ The giveaways were adorable cupcakes from Deerfields.  I’ve had Deerfields cupcakes at two baby showers and I think they’re my fave so far. The icing is soooo good! 

{click photos to enlarge}

I made sure I made it into one picture, out of 300. We can’t wait for the newest addition to the family J  Mia will be so happy to have a cousin nearby!



02 How They Look

Ok I cheated. This picture was taken before I knew what today's prompt was. But it's fitting! And I can already tell that I'll quickly fall behind with this being a daily project.  Although it's hard to hold her hand with one hand, and then take a picture in manual with the other, I think this was decent. SOOC. I am putting off learning how to post process.
{ISO 3200, 1/250s, F2.2, Incandescent}

linked up at the willette blog

01 What They Do

First Joy of Love assignment, what they do.  Mia loves to read and does this more than anything else.  Thanks Uncle JC for the little books! She's also on the move now and loves walking so fast back and forth through her room. This was very tiring for me to keep running ahead of her to get some walking shots!

Today was also her last weekly picture. That's right. I took 51 pictures of this girl with a sign and her horsie who's been with her since the hospital. Thanks Auntie Agatha! There were many times when I wanted to quit with the weekly pictures. It's exhausting and frustrating to try and get a clear shot once they can move!  But I did ALL 51, hooray no more! My baby's almost one!

 

The Joy of Love Photography e-Class

One of my mommy friends (and 1 of my 3 followers, haha please follow me too!) who is learning how to use her new DSLR sent me to Willette Designs for a FREE 28-day photography class. Seems similar to the Food + Foto series I did a few months ago where there's a flickr group (public) to share your photos if you wish. 

For the month of February, participants will receive daily email prompts/photo assignments with some tutorial/instruction built into the daily email lesson. I am always up for learning how to take advantage of my camera while being inspired with what other people shoot. I’ll be posting some submissions throughout the month, so let me know how you think I do. Or you can join too by clicking the button below, it's rolling admission...