A Blue & Brown Baptism/1st Birthday!

Last week, I had the privilege of putting together a baptism/birthday party for an adorable baby boy named James! It was my very first gig. I think it went exceptionally well, but there was one minor hiccup, and a few small things I would have changed.
The party was given by the God parents, and they gave me full reign over the decor. I had no idea what I wanted to do until I saw the invite. It was very simple, perfect for a baptism, and was blue & brown. So, I decided to do a color themed party. Colors were white with blue & brown accents. I also didn't want it to be too first birthday cheesy so I used his name throughout, and I wanted to keep the purity of the baptism with white.
The candy table was made up of candies in blue and brown with matching cupcakes and an adorable yummy cake to match. I was in charge of picking those out too.
I had a lot of fun doing this party and it was so easy since I was given the opportunity to pick what I thought would work. And since it was a success, I already have second gig lined up. Yay! A baby shower.

Isabella's in preschool!

This week Isabella started school at the same school Jacob attends. However, Isabella is only going 2 days a week, and only half day, just like her brother. At the end of her first day, I'd asked the teachers how she did, and to my surprise, they said she did fine. Such a relief. I thought my crazy girl would go nuts, but she didn't. Then again, it was only her first day. We'll see how she does this year!

Jacob's in PreK!

This week Jacob started prek, and this year he'll be going every day. Last year he only went 3 days a week. He also went to summer school so the transition back into prek was super easy. Almost like a regular day except now he's in a new class, and we're getting him ready for kindergarten next year! I can't believe he'll be in elementary school this time next year :( He's growing up so fast. This year I'll also be volunteering on a regular basis at his school. I'll be able to watch him grow and learn on the sidelines but at least I'll be there. So, we'll see where this school year takes us.

Jacob is 4!

Last Monday we celebrated Jacob's 4th birthday. We went to Disneyland and he went on Space Mountain for the very first time. He's been tall enough to ride for about 6 months but I wanted to be sure he was emotionally ready to handle it. And he was! He loved it! And because it was his birthday he got to sit in the front! I was a little worried about that, but he did fine.

We went on a few rides after that but the day was getting hot so we left around lunch time. We then headed to Farrell's ice cream parlor to continue the celebration. They sang a birthday song for him and Jacob's face throughout the song was priceless. No smile just a raised eyebrow. It was funny. We all had a good time, and Jacob especially had a great day!

Jacob also had his 4 year check-up. He's now 41.75 inches tall and weighs about 42 pounds. He did really well at his appointment. He got one shot and didn't cry. That's a big deal since he's usually a cry baby. My sensitive sweet boy. Right now Jacob is into anything and everything Star Wars. He loves to play the Star Wars Lego video game. It's kind of a difficult game but he can't get enough. He would play it 24/7. He still occasionally goes back to his favorite Cars and Captain Hook but Star Wars is #1. Jacob knows his colors, letters, and basic shapes. Next is teaching him to write and read basic words. Getting him ready for Kindergarten next year! He can also put on his shoes and goes to the bathroom 100% by himself. My baby boy is now a little boy who's becoming more independent each day, and I couldn't be prouder :)

A Star Wars & Minnie Mouse Party

Last weekend we had a double celebration for Jacob's 4th birthday and Isabella's 2nd birthday. Jacob was insistent on having a Star Wars party, and Isabella is into Mickey & Minnie Mouse. I really tried to get Jacob to do the Mickey & Minnie theme but he was not having it! But it's okay, I think the combo worked out perfectly. And it was great having only ONE party. The party was smallish with a crowd of about 50 including the kids. We served up Italian food, and tons of goodies. I made marshmallow pops, and sugar cookies using a Mickey Mouse cookie cutter and sprinkled them with chocolate. Those cookies were yum! Too bad I only made a dozen. We also served up two different cakes along with cookie and cream cupcakes and red velvet cupcakes. The red velvet cupcakes were sooo good. Yum! Oh, and ice cream too. I also made Mickey shaped cookies for each goody bag. I only made ears on those cookies. I also put together baby food jars filled with M & Ms, and included those with the goody bags. The bags also had sidewalk chalk, Star Wars fruit snacks and stickers, Mickey & Friends stickers, a water ball, and candy. And I can't forget the lightsabers I made out of pool noodles for each kid. Those were a MAJOR hit!

And I can't forget the special guest of the day...Darth Vader! This was a last minute guest, and I mean LAST. MINUTE. I decided to go with him just a few days before, and I'm glad I did. Jacob loved him! He totally knew that it wasn't really Darth Vader, but he could care less. I say that was the best money spent out of the entire party. Well, that and the Star Wars jumper we had! Jacob had a really good time. So good, in fact, that he asked for another Star Wars party. And Isabella enjoyed her party too. She still asks for the jumper :( Makes me want to go out and buy one for her. I also must add that Isabella likes Star Wars too. She hums the theme song along with Jacob but I'm sure she does not love it as much as him.

WARNING: Lots of pictures!

Star Wars & Minnie Mouse Party

The invitation I designed.

Minnie Mouse Cake

Star Wars Cake

Minnie Mouse Cupcakes

Star Wars Cupcake Toppers

Star Wars MIckey & Friends Goody Bag

Baby Food Jar Favors

Light Saber Pool Noodles

Star Wars Jumper

Minnie Mouse Centerpiece

Front:

Minnie with a bow

Back:

Minnie with a hat

Mickey Mouse Centerpiece

 

Star Wars Centerpieces

Tablecloth Decor

Pinterest

He spotted Darth Vader!

Using the force!

DIY Minnie Mouse shirt for myself.

Isabella's 2 Years Old!!

My Isabella is now 2 years old! Two! I can't believe it. Where does the time go? Didn't we just celebrate her 1st birthday? Well, now that Isabella is 2 she is into Mickey and Minnie Mouse. She loves watching anything with those 2 characters especially Minnie's Bowtique. Isabella's favorite food is the cookie. Anything sweet actually. She's a slightly picky eater, actually very picky, no veggies for her unless they're hidden. She's known as the cookie monster. And no, she does not like Sesame Street.

Her vocabulary now consists of short sentences, and she will definitely let you know when she is happy or mad. I love it when she says the word Figaro (the name of Minnie's cat) cause she says it Fig-eh-yo. She's also heavily into old, and I mean real old, Mickey and friends cartoons. She's still my little firecracker, and definitely keeps me on my toes. But she does have a cautious side. For example, she is very rough and can take a fall without crying, but take her on a Disneyland ride such as Gadget Coaster and she will hold on for dear life with a scared look on her face. LOL! I know this because we took her to Disneyland for her birthday and she went on the little coaster for the first time.

So, as I said, we went to Disneyland for her birthday, and I finally took her to meet Mickey and Minnie. She was a little hesitant at first with Minnie but she was more open with Mickey. And, for her actual birthday, which fell on a Saturday, we celebrated with a small family BBQ. My niece made her a rainbow cake, the kids did some swimming, and Bella opened some presents. I think she had a great birthday. BUT we're still having a bigger birthday party!

Isabella had her 2 year check up, and she's still my big girl. She is measured in at 37" tall! And she weighed 34 pounds! She's still in the 100%tile. But she's completely healthy, and she had 2 shots. Poor babe. She did NOT like those at all. Oh, and an anemia check. She was NOT a happy camper, but she got over it quickly and went on with her day perfectly happy. My beautiful baby girl...

{BOOKS} What have I been reading?

I've been reading a lot lately. Well, more than usual. So, what have I been reading? First, let me preface this by saying I was having 50 Shades withdrawals!

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire - This is what Amazon has to say..."The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby wants—and needs—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match."

So, this book took a bit to get into, but once I started I could not stop. However, I must say that it follows the same formula as Twilight with a damsel in distress and wanting the wrong guy. It was a super easy, entertaining read, and I recommend it. It was only $4 on Amazon Kindle.

Gabriel's Inferno/The University of Edward Masen by Sylvain Reynard - Book description from Amazon - "Gabriel's Inferno" -- semi-finalist for Best Romance in the 2011 Goodreads Choice Awards "This is not only one of the best debut books this year, but Reynard is one of the best new authors this year. 5 stars." - Donna of Offbeat Vagabond "It's not very often that I am left so affected by a book, but this one took me on a roller coaster ride of emotions ... This novel is thought provoking, entertaining and beautiful. 5 stars." - Nix of Scorching Book Reviews "This is one of the most romantic and sensual stories I have read ...the words he writes will sing to you. 5 stars." - JJ of JJ iReads "I was seduced, entranced, and completely satisfied ...The narrator, and its characters were equally charming and sinful. 5 stars." - Tigris Eden's Garden of Books Enigmatic and sexy, Professor Gabriel Emerson is a well respected Dante specialist by day, but by night he devotes himself to an uninhibited life of pleasure. He uses his notorious good looks and sophisticated charm to gratify his every whim, but is secretly tortured by his dark past and consumed by the profound belief that he is beyond all hope of redemption. When the sweet and innocent Julia Mitchell enrolls as his graduate student, his attraction and mysterious connection to her not only jeopardizes his career, but sends him on a journey in which his past and his present collide. An intriguing and sinful exploration of seduction, forbidden love and redemption, "Gabriel's Inferno" is a captivating and wildly passionate tale of one man's escape from his own personal hell as he tries to earn the impossible...forgiveness and love."

I started reading the free excerpt of Gabriel's Inferno from Amazon, and I liked it, so I was about to buy it when I decided to read the fanfiction that it was based on, The University of Edward Masen (U of EM). And once again, the book, based off Twilight, has the same themes running through it. No surprise there but the background story is different. Now, I don't know if it was because I was reading the fanfic, but this book had some serious lulls throughout. I had a hard time getting through them only to be brought back in by some new twist. I also wasn't a fan of all the poetry used throughout out the book. Again, I don't know if it's the same for the actual book. So, I don't know if I'd actually recommend U of EM, but I wouldn't mind reading Gabriel's Inferno to see the difference between the two.

Things worth mentioning, these books are similar, however there is NOT a lot of raunch like 50 Shades, which I liked. Are these books the greatest? No, but they're entertaining and well written. I would totally recommend them for a decent read, you'll definitely know what you're getting with these reads.

Next on my list to read is Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause. I actually found the movie first and decided to DVR it, but read the book before I watch it. We'll see how it goes!

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