Mia's Sweet As Peach Themed Birthday

Mia turned one on May 17th and we hosted her first birthday party. I decided on a peach theme because our baby girl is as "Sweet As A Peach". She really is, but I was totally inspired by this cute outfit I found for her at TJ Maxx. Isn't it precious? Since we live in Georgia I thought the theme was so fitting! It was a fun party to plan and below I'm sharing all the party details!

Above photo taken by Midnight in Georgia Photography

Decorations:

I went to Hobby Lobby for most of the decor! 

• Peach Hangings: paper lanterns and mint colored card stock
• Picture Frame with clip 
• Various Baskets: for peaches, peach cookies, peach candies and mini peach pies
• Vases: I found some peach sign images online and printed them out. Then, I taped them to square vases. I filled them with baby's breath
• Small cake stand (from Target Dollar Spot)
• Large cake stand (old, from her Mimi)
• Peach Canvas: I painted it myself :)
• Peach Balloon Garland: (ordered through Amazon) and tied with tweed and mint tulle

The Menu:

• Cake: Publix-- I was so impressed with their attention to detail. They accomplished exactly what I wanted with the peach ombre icing. We served the vanilla cake with peach ice cream!  My cousin created the cake toppers. She does calligraphy (@calligraphybylindsey) Go Check her out! 
• Smash Cake: I made this from a box cake mix
• Peach-shaped Sugar Cookies: The Topiary (Calley did a wonderful job! Those cookies were gone in like 10 minutes!)
• Chicken Fingers (Publix)
• Pasta Salad 
• Peach Salsa served with Tortilla Chips
• Blueberry and Peach Summer Salad (I found this recipe on Pinterest and it was so good!) 
• Fruit Salad 
• Lunch was served with Sweet Tea and Moscato Peach Punch 

Everything came together so nicely and our baby girl had a wonderful time! Now, on to the next birthday party! Thankfully, I get a break. Levi's birthday is next and it's not until November! 

It's Friday, I'm in Love!

Happy Friday! I hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! We have plans to visit with Noah's brother and it just so happens there is a tropical storm headed that way too! We are going to make the best of it! 

Today, I'm sharing my Friday favorites! What are you currently loving lately? 

I Got My Eyebrows Microbladed!

I got my eyebrows microbladed, y’all! I have been wanting to try this out since I'm guilty of over plucking the crap out of my brows. I was left with super thin eyebrows that I had to draw in every day. And just like trying to get your cat-eye liner to look good on both eyes, my brows always seemed asymmetrical.  Just in case you’re considering getting your own eyebrows microbladed I thought I would share my experience with you!

I'ts Friday, I'm in Love!

OMG am I glad it's Friday! Trying to party prep while Noah is out of town has been crazy! My house has been a wreck all week and I have zero time without the kids so you can imagine my anxiety level!

Maybe some retail therapy will make me feel better. Why, yes... I think I will! I'm loving all the new arrivals from Anthropologie right now. I seriously need someone to loan me some money so I can buy everything I want!

What are some of your Friday faves?

Mia Claire is One!

It's a happy day! Our Mia Claire is one year old! She's the baby, the one that completes the Cruzan crew. It's so funny that last December we were all super surprised at the news that we were expecting another baby. But I am so grateful for our sweet little blessing. She is as sweet as a peach and that's exactly how we decided on her birthday theme.

A Special Mother's Day

A few weeks ago I worked with Ashley of Midnight in Georgia Photography on something very special. So often I am the one behind the camera taking photos of my kids. But for this Mother's Day, I wanted to be in the photos with my babies. 

We drove to Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island and let the kids play. They had so much fun climbing on the beautiful driftwood, splashing in the water and chasing after one another. It was probably the best photo shoot our family has done. There was no pressure to get the perfect shot. It was more relaxing to just let the kids do their thing. 

Ashley was so wonderful and so natural behind the camera. She captured exactly what I was looking for in this session. 

 

From the moment I open my eyes to the moment I finally get to close them I take care of their needs, big and small.

I get them ready for school and daycare.

I do their hair and change their diapers.

I buckle them into their car seats.

I blow on their food to make sure it’s okay to eat.

I pick them up when they cry for me.

I dance and sing silly songs just to get them to smile.

I cook them dinner and pack their lunches.

I pick up after them constantly.

I pour them drinks and feed them snacks.

I bathe them and brush their hair at night.

I tie their shoes.

I tuck them into bed.

The list is endless. 

I put all of their needs before my own.

They need me so much right now. It is exhausting. It can be draining.

But I know there will be a time they won’t need me like this anymore.

They won’t want to sit next to me or squeeze their little arms around my neck.  They will brush their own hair and run out the door to hang out with their friends.  They will grow up in the blink of an eye.

So I’ll take the exhausting. I’ll take the tired and the not enough sleep. 

I am their mother and I am not perfect. 

But I hope they know how much I love them, always. 

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful moms I know! And if you're lucky enough to still spend mother's day with your mom, be thankful. That is the only gift missing from today.