Wrapping for Joy

I love myself some wrapping paper! I get so excited about all the different prints and possibilities! When I think about what color ribbon I could add to the wrapping paper or what size the present might be and the impact it may have on the recipient of that particular present- I become elated! It really is an addiction! A fun, crazy, "Do It Yourself" addiction! 

As you can see I went a little wrapping paper wild! I was seeing all these great wrap jobs online and on Instagram and it got me thinking, I need to go on a wrapping paper shopping spree! And that's just what I did. I bought way too much wrapping paper for one human being to possibly gift to any amount of people for one christmas, but hey, theres always next christmas and birthdays, and baby showers, and anniversaries, and.......you know the drill! haha 

I got all of these gorgeous beauties at Homegoods (one of my all time favorite places to shop at). You really can't beat the prices and it was so much fun going from one wrapping paper bin to the next. I was taking my wrapping paper duties very seriously- taking one out of my pile if I saw a better one; adding another if it was just too good to pass on; smiling knowing I had gotten the one I had actually gone there for. That is my kind of happiness right there! Pure wrap joy!!

Does anyone else get as excited as I do when it comes to picking out wrapping paper?? It's just too much fun! If you haven't done it yet, head over to Homegoods and get yourself some pretty prints! I promise you, you'll love taking pictures of the gorgeous presents sitting under your christmas tree! 

The only sad part? When you have to eventually rip into that wrapping paper and toss it...but thats also a great thing because it means new prints and new possibilities for next year! 

Where do you go to get your wrapping paper purchasing on at? Hope you're all having fun celebrating the holiday season. I can't believe Christmas is almost one week away! xo

Surfer Themed 1st Birthday

The Smash Cake from Suzie Cakes. 

The table top center piece or as I like to call it the Candy Bouquet, made with tons and tons of lollipops! 

This is the Birthday Boys Throne! I had seen these kind of throne creations on Etsy and loved them so I decided to make one myself! The best part is that it went perfectly with the theme and also the extra ribbons were used for presents and to tie on other various items! 

Each guest took a lei at the beginning of the party. Helped set the surfer/aloha mood!

We brought some sand home from Carmel and used it in various places. The forks, spoons and knives were not sticking out of the jars like I had wanted, so I added some sand and that did just the trick! I also got these really cool vintage Hawaiian print fabrics from Joannes Fabrics and made table cloths and banners.

Candy galore! I bought tons of M&M's that guests could snack on or bring home in little plastic baggies! 

I got driftwood while on vacation in Lake Tahoe and painted them with fun surf lingo! I also ended up buying a couple signs on Easy as well! 

 I made a chalkboard sign that gave some fun facts about the birthday boy! 

At the cocktail station we made Mai Tai's for the adults. Along with pineapple infused water for everyone else. We served the drinks in mason jars with fun straws we found on Etsy! 

My sweet Birthday Boy! He had just woken from a nap and didn't understand why everyone was looking at him! haha 

The birthday cake from Suzie Cakes. It's an ombre blue tone with surfboards on top; perfect for the surfer theme. The cake was so scrumptious!!

For the Thank You's I made Surfboard Sugar Cookies for the guests! I wrapped them in clear baggies tied with a tag with a vintage VW van and surfboard on the front and Mahalo! written on the back. I think when you can make something it shows you're putting in effort and really care which I love! 

Luca is wearing: 

Shirt: Happy Family

Shorts: Janie & Jack

Shoes: Polo Ralph Lauren

I'm wearing: 

Dress: Soft Joie

Shirt around Waist: Rails

I still can't believe it-my (not so) little baby just turned one! I still remember taking him home from the hospital like it was yesterday. My hubby and I couldn't wait for him to smile, wave, walk. And now he's doing all these things and we can't believe how quickly time is going by!

We celebrated Luca's birthday the other weekend and I wanted to share a few pics from the soiree we threw for him! It was so much fun throwing him a Surfer 1st Birthday party! I did as much research as I could on Etsy and Pinterest and also came up with some fun stuff to do on my own. I think making a lot of stuff by hand and from scratch really added that special touch and unique quality.

I was a nervous wreck getting all the finishing touches to line up, hoping it would all come together like I had hoped, and thank God it did! From the Leis that everyone wore when they arrived to the yummy dessert from Suzie Cakes- the party was beyond anything I could've imagined! I just hope I can top this for Luca's 2nd birthday! (Thankfully that's a year away, so plenty of time to begin planning!) What are some of your favorite baby/child birthday themes you've thrown or been to? Would love to hear! xo