I'm also feeling pretty guilty because I deleted all of my social media, minus pinterest, of course, because that would just be crazy. I'm actually not feeling guilty about the deletion part as much as the I told myself that because I was deleting all of that, I was going to blog more to keep up with family and friends...all of which, I haven't. I actually really LOVE not being part of social media. I talk with a lot of my closest friends about it and we all agree that it can be so addicting. I would catch myself always looking at my phone. Nothing would even change, I would just be refreshing, refreshing, refreshing, waiting for some update or picture from someone that I haven't seen from high school and most likely will never see again. As much as it's fun to keep updated with people with whom you wouldn't otherwise, it's really not worth missing out on my own life for. I still have my accounts, I deactivate my Facebook and I just delete the Instagram app as to not be tempted to scroll through the pictures (if you delete your account, you will lose all the pictures.) It's very liberating to just live without all of that. I will admit that I miss it sometimes, especially when I'm bored and really just want something to occupy myself...but hey, that's what binge-watching Netflix is for, right?
Anyways, March 13th was Fitz's and Fey's first birthday. We had a Mickey and Minnie party for them on Saturday, March 14, at the park in Alta Loma. It was so much fun and we had about 70 people come to celebrate the babies' big day. We did the cake smash photo shoot at the park, which was a little hectic, but so fun for all of our friends and family to be able to watch! Fey pretty much wrote the book on the perfect cake smash demeanor....and well, Fitz, he was scared to death of all the commotion, the camera, the people, and the cake. He screamed bloody murder for at least 20 minutes and refused to sit still for any pictures. As a mom, trying to create the perfect birthday party, the lack of Fitz's cooperation with the cake smash photoshoot was a little disheartening, but I had to get over it and move along...which for most of you, know that's not really how I operate...ever. HA!
Along the lines of creating the party, I went to Pinterest and Etsy for most of my inspiration. I went way over budget, but that's pretty standard when I get obsessed with anything. I had so much fun finding the most perfect decorations. A few of my favorite items were: the personalized banners I had made from women on Etsy; the twins's cake smash outfits; the most adorable party hats (same woman who made the personalized felt banners); the plates (Mickey and Minnie handmade plates); the prepped and wrapped silverware (Etsy); food and drink labels (by two different Etsy sites); the most amazing Mickey and Minnie cakes that I had made by Cucamonga Cakery (same as my wedding), not to mention, they threw in two matching cake-smash cakes, so that we wouldn't have to smash the pretty ones; and lastly, the personalized posters that were made specifically for Fitz and Fey that included all of their stats and favorite things.
A few things that I'm pretty damn proud of that were handmade by family, friends, or myself for the party are...
1. The most phenomenal Mickey and Minnie corn hole boards and bags. I designed the board on paper and sent the design to my 14 year old cousin, who is one of the most amazingly talented people I know, and she got to work. She sent me updates of the painting and taping job she was doing, and let me just say, her work and detail is remarkable. She surprised me with the final product the day of the party, I was speechless. And let me just remind you, people, these were made by my 14 year old cousin. Perfect.
2. The party favors were made by one of our close friends from Alta Loma. She is an amazing wedding/party planner here in California and is so talented. She made these delicious chocolate covered shortbread cookies for my wedding favors, and when I needed something to give out at the twins' party, she was the first on my mind. She made the Mickey Mouse shaped chocolate covered shortbread cookies and surprised me with adding Mickey's red pants, which was just above and beyond what I ever could have imagined. Shelly is so great, and believe it or not, her cookies are just as good. :)
2. The party favors were made by one of our close friends from Alta Loma. She is an amazing wedding/party planner here in California and is so talented. She made these delicious chocolate covered shortbread cookies for my wedding favors, and when I needed something to give out at the twins' party, she was the first on my mind. She made the Mickey Mouse shaped chocolate covered shortbread cookies and surprised me with adding Mickey's red pants, which was just above and beyond what I ever could have imagined. Shelly is so great, and believe it or not, her cookies are just as good. :)
3. The Mickey and Minnie silhouette figures that styled the buffet table were made by my one and only amazing DAD! I showed him a picture that I loved that had this huge Minnie head to go behind the food/dessert table and my dad jumped right on it and not only recreated it, but made a Mickey and Minnie one to go with the theme. As you all know, since my dad retired, however long ago, he has got to woodworking and makes/sell ties all over the world. He is so amazing and talented, you would believe that he has been working with wood since the beginning of time, but no, he is fairly new to it, and just happens to be so amazingly talented, it blows my mind. Anyways, I was lucky enough to be able to have him make these boards for me and they really made the party look amazing.
4. The Mickey and Minnie wrapped boxes centerpieces were designed by yours truly (took from a few ideas off pinterest and threw them together to create what works for me) and the night before the party, I had a lot of family and friends over to help wrap. I am so happy with how they came out! They were really easy to make and just as much fun, especially when you have 5 girls wrapping them up in the wee hours of the night!
5. The twins' party outfits. I'm going to toot my own horn here and say that I did a pretty damn good job, last minute, designing and making the onesies for their party. I originally ordered custom party outfits that they were going to wear but the woman who made them didn't send them on time and when she finally did send them, she wrote down the wrong address...therefore, I made their party onesies in the middle of the night before their party. However, I loved them, and it felt good to get creative!
6. The "MOMMY" and "DADDY" t-shirts I made. I found this idea on Pinterest and I loved it so I went to Target, Purchased matching grey shirts for Ty and I and got to work. Didn't get a great pic at the party because my hair was in the way, but I'll throw in the one I took after I finished making them.
Lastly, I am so so thankful for our photographer, Janelle, for taking such amazing photos at the party. I was crazy busy and never would have had such an amazing account of the details and party-goings-on if she hadn't been there! Check her out at http://www.janellechristinephotographyblog.com
I'm going to stop here considering the large number of pictures that just overtook this whole post.... oopsie. :)
6. The "MOMMY" and "DADDY" t-shirts I made. I found this idea on Pinterest and I loved it so I went to Target, Purchased matching grey shirts for Ty and I and got to work. Didn't get a great pic at the party because my hair was in the way, but I'll throw in the one I took after I finished making them.
Lastly, I am so so thankful for our photographer, Janelle, for taking such amazing photos at the party. I was crazy busy and never would have had such an amazing account of the details and party-goings-on if she hadn't been there! Check her out at http://www.janellechristinephotographyblog.com
I'm going to stop here considering the large number of pictures that just overtook this whole post.... oopsie. :)
