Mia in ONEderland: Mia's First Birthday Party

Oh hi! How many pictures of my daughter's first birthday party were you hoping to see today? Oh a million okay cool! 

(PSA: No babies were put at risk for this photo, you can just barely make out that Jeff and my mom were both behind the table holding her!)

We threw a Mia in ONEderland theme party for Mia's first birthday party, and it was so, so fun to put together. If you're looking for some party inspiration, or maybe just some cute photos of a baby tasting frosting for the first time, then this is the post for you! 

I've been putting off writing this post because I knew how much work was going to go into it. But, since I waited, it's already incredible to look back. The party was on March 1st, and I didn't think twice about having thirty people over to our house. I'm so glad we were able to have the party before the pandemic hit the US and we started social distancing. I know it's such a little thing when there are so many more sacrifices being made in the world right now, but the party brought me (and hopefully Mia!) so much joy. 

I first started really thinking about Mia's first birthday party the week after Christmas when we were staying at my in-law's house. I was up with Mia waaaaaay before everyone else, so I hit up Pinterest to start looking for ideas. I wasn't actually setting out to have a true theme, I was really planning on just doing some pretty pink whimsical decorations and calling it a day. But the idea of an "Alice in ONE-derland" theme party was so fun it just stuck with me! Alice in Wonderland is such a fun theme because there is SO much content from the book and movies that you can really take it in a lot of directions and incorporate little touches everywhere. 

I started with the idea for the greenery backdrop. One thing that always bothers me when I host parties is that I don't have a great staging area. My photos always end up with my giant bookcase in the background, which I usually love but ends up taking away from things. My initial thought was to just take everything off the bookshelf and decorate it with Alice in Wonderland themed items, but then I realized I could just cover everything up! I bought this green topiary backdrop, which is basically just a super-lightweight sheet, and draped it over the bookcase. (It was literally attached with packing tape after I kept neglecting to buy zip ties, whoops!) 

The "Mia in ONEderland" words are just cut from cardstock on my Cricut. You can find them here if you want to download. Sorry, it isn't editable for you to be able to pop in another name - I don't own the font or I would! I'm happy to quickly edit the file for you if you shoot me an email. 

For the display table, I mostly just shopped my house to find things that would work on top of this moss table runner. Some ideas of things you could use would be pretty jars and containers, cake stands, tea pots/cups (I bought this toy set on Amazon and planned for it to be one of Mia's presents), keys, anything rabbit-related, clocks, watches, top hats, etc. I added some "eat me" signs that were made with removable vinyl on my Cricut, the file to download is here. I added Easter candy (timing worked out pretty well for me!) but you could also order pastel candy online, as well as frozen macaroons from Trader Joe's. Yes, that is a thing, and yes, they were delicious!! 

The cakes were by my friend Laura at Butter Cream Flour. (Cakes because yes, I did get a separate smash cake. I figured, if I was going to go for it, I should really go for it.) I wanted something that looked like the cake in the Disney movie, and she delivered! Laura is actually just starting doing custom bakery here in Chicago and is incredible, everyone was raving that it was the best cake they'd ever had. If you're looking for a custom cake or other dessert (her Reese's cheesecake was honestly one of the best things I've ever had and I don't usually even like cheesecake) be sure to hit her up! 

The one thing I really knew about planning a first birthday party ahead of time (besides letting the baby eat some cake!) was that it was your chance to put all of those month-by-month photos on display! 

I took photos in Mia's crib every month using the same sheet and similar outfits (all with some pink!) so they'd feel consistent. If I were to do it over again, I might also try to figure out how to get consistent lighting, as I just used natural lighting which was dramatically different in every picture and took some (pretty poor) Photoshop editing to attempt to correct. 

Anyway, I got all of the photos printed as 4x6 prints, used a hole punch on the top corners, and then mod-podged month numbers on them. I used this gold glitter paper, and cut them out using my Cricut. You can download the month numbers file here. 

The hanging flowers on the fireplace were an impulse buy from Michael's, they're just faux-floral garlands (not available online but here is something similar). I had Jeff hang them using little command hooks. They're so pretty, they're actually still up. Don't judge me, I swear I took down the rest of the decorations! 

Another fun idea I had was to print out a bunch of photos of Mia from throughout the year, trying to get as many extended family members in with her as possible. I hung them on our little display board, and added an extra floral garland around the frame with more Command hooks. 

For Mia's outfit, I wanted to find something that resembled Alice's outfit from the movie but wasn't a costume. This dress is so cute and easy (and the cake washed right out too!!) and could work for a number of occasions, but with the black hair ribbon, white tights, and black shoes, it was definitely a nod to Alice. 

For beverages, I used a big drink dispenser with a "drink me" sign that was more removable vinyl that I printed with my Cricut - get the file here. I used this punch recipe, but since there were a bunch of kids on the invite list I left the alcohol on the side. 

I made a couple of other things on the Cricut too, including This Way/That Way signs (vinyl stickers on construction paper) that I had lining the staircase as you enter our unit, "Recycle Me" and "Toss Me" removable vinyl on our trash and recycling bins, tea cup cutouts on one of the walls, little Cheshire Cat window clings around the room, a Cheshire Cat smile on the bathroom mirror to freak people out, and the "every adventure requires a first step" window cling on the mirror in our entryway. Here is a zip file with all of the free SVG files you can print yourself! 

I designed the invites too, but ended up sending out a Paperless Post so the one in the pictures is one I printed at the last minute before the party. 

Sources

Party Supplies 

Topiary backdrop 

Gold glass box

Rabbit cake plate 

Tea set 

Gold birthday candle 

Moss table runner

Cricut Supplies

All of the free Cricut SVG files

Gold Glitter Paper

White removable vinyl 

White window cling 

Rainbow cardstock 

General Furniture / Home Goods 

High chair 

Purple chair 

Gold lamp 

ABC Floor Mat 

Gold circle mirror 

Mia's Outfit

Dress 

Hair bow

Tights 

Shoes

And now, in case you're here for the photos, here are approximately one thousand more:

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Bloglovin!

Friday Finds

Happy Friday!! This one is especially sweet because I'm taking a mental health day from work. Now, with no daycare it's really a mental health four hour break, but you know, better than nothing! I don't know about y'all, but this whole parenting and working full time thing is hard. There are basically no breaks in the day, and it gets to be a lot. So I'm definitely relishing in my little break today.

I spent the morning with Mia and went for a loooooong walk, and now I'm planning on spending my four hours off laying in bed watching the new season of Nailed It and reading The Blue Bistro, which is my current no-thinking needed read. Anyone else having a hard time concentrating on harder books right now?

I also FINALLY managed to put together a post about Mia's birthday party that was only, you know, a month ago now. I have it scheduled for Monday, so be sure to come back then!!

In case you're in a shopping mood, here are my finds for the week. I actually ordered the jeans from Madewell yesterday, they currently have a ton of their jeans on sale for $75!

one / two / three / four / five

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Bloglovin!

March Budget

I share my clothing budget here every month. My budget per month is $350, which may seem like a lot to some people or a little to others, but for me feels just right. I include all of my clothes, coats, shoes, and accessories in that budget, but not athletic gear, pajamas, or intimates.

So about that March budget. Yikes. Things have really fallen off the rails! Between all the sales but also not being able to go to stores to return stuff, I'm kind of at a loss here! Usually I'm really good at tracking my purchases and have a private Pinterest board with all of my purchases for the month all lined up all nice and neat with what I spent on each item. Yeah, I really have no idea now. Were there more things than this? Probably yes. Will I be keeping all of this? Guessing no, I'll definitely change my mind about something (and probably decide to keep something else that's currently in my "to return" pile).

Here's what I bought in March:

Sam Edelman Elva Mules - originally $130, on sale $110.50 (on way better sale now!!). I realized Sam Edelman shoes are my favorites (every pair is so comfortable!!) so I seek them out now when Shopbop and Nordstrom have big sales. I'm definitely pairing these with cutoffs and jeans as soon as the weather improves!
J.Crew camisole - originally $49.50, on sale $29.70. Whenever I get dressed up to go out (or heck, even try to find something to wear with a blazer or cardigan!) I always wish I had more camisoles in my closet. I never want to buy spaghetti straps since they'll show my bra straps (no waaaaaay I'm strapping these girls into a strapless bra if I don't have to anymore!!) but I finally realized that if I'm wearing the tank under something, spaghetti straps are fine! Definitely size up in this if you have a larger chest to get the right drape. Wore this for our at-home date night on Saturday!
LOFT Pointelle Sweater (purchased in black AND white cause I'm cray ;) - $59.50, on sale $35.70 x2 = $71.40 (currently 50% off though!). I got these at the end of February and they are my new favorite things, I've been wearing them back to back to back. You'll need a nude cami to go underneath as they are completely see through. But I really love them, with the balloon sleeves and mockneck they feel very chic and now. I wore it here.
Steve Madden Sandals - originally $99.95, on sale $74.96. I saw these and HAD to have them. It looks like they're selling out so I'd snag them fast if they're on your wishlist. The heel is a tinge higher than I like these days, but I'm currently in the process of getting rid of all of my old super high heeled sandals that I literally can't walk in anymore so these could fill a nice hole in my closet. They definitely wouldn't be for everyday chasing a toddler, but more for date nights and hanging with my girlfriends. I got the camel color, which is a pretty good match for my skin tone (nude / disappearing sandals are super in right now) but they come in five colors.
Gorjana Evil Eye Bracelet - originally $65, on sale $55.25, used gift card $0 (on better sale now!). This was a birthday gift to myself! I never buy myself "expensive" jewelry (which for me is anything over $30) but decided to treat myself with this cute little bracelet. I'm loving that evil eyes are all over jewelry right now! I've been putting this when I work from home and it brings me so much joy! You can sort of see it here.
Sam Edelman Danee Sandals - originally $150, on sale $127.50 (also on better sale now!). Another pair of Sam Edelman shoes that are oh so cute and will hopefully fill another hole in my closet! These are definitely date night / wedding shoes.
Old Navy Quarter Zip Sweatshirt - originally $29.99, on sale + used rewards $12.99. I literally am not sure what possessed me to buy this. The brown color is not so cute (why didn't I just get black?!) and I definitely wouldn't keep it if we weren't in quarantine. The tall size isn't quite long enough in the sleeves for me either. But, with all of the sweatshirts I've been wearing lately I felt like I needed another in the rotation. So I put it on, pulled off the tag, and here we are.
Old Navy Braided Mules - originally $29.99, on sale + used rewards $12.99. Another budget buy I'm not sure I would recommend. As far as comfort goes, these don't hold a candle to the (quite similar) Sam Edelman pair I bought above. They're fine, so if you're feet aren't so picky I think they'll work for you. I haven't worn these out of the house yet because #socialdistancing so I can't really judge them too harshly yet, and they are pretty cute (especially for the price). But if it were normal times, I probably would have returned them.
Caslon Boyfriend Shorts - originally $58.00, on sale $43.50. These are super comfy (go a size up for a slouchier fit!) and will be perfect for this momma who likes to go on lots of long summer walks but doesn't particularly want to deal with chub rub anymore.

Total spent: $483.54

That actually wasn't as bad as I was thinking!! I mean, it's bad, but I was worried things were going to top out closer to $600 with all of those shoes. Luckily I didn't spend much in January or February so things will balance out.

I'm currently on the hunt for jeans in a more interesting shape than skinny (I have these on the brain, but I'm worried the 9.5" inseam on the tall sizes will be too much on me) plus some fun warm weather clothes. If you saw my Loft sale post from the weekend, I did already order this dress, this sweater, and this kimono. I'm going to try to be a little more intentional in April though, and (hopefully) spend a little less.

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Bloglovin!

LOFT New Arrivals

It's kind of a tricky time we're in. Are you shopping, or no?

I'm still on the shopping train, but I'm being much more particular than usual, knowing that I may not be able to return things or that charges will sit on my credit cards for a while until I am able to make returns. I just can't help myself really, the sales have been insane.

At Loft right now, it's 50% off everything with free shipping, including Sneak Peak items that NEVER go on sale. I had to hold myself back because all of the spring stuff is so cute. I ended up ordering the floral Lilly-lookalike dress (the cut is so flattering, I have a similar one from 2017 here. Size down, I'm in a medium!), the striped sweater, the knit kimono, and the wide leg sweats. These things are SO freaking soft, like the softest things ever (I also have their sweatshirts) and I'm really looking forward to having a pair of lounge pants where it doesn't matter that they're too short for me. I also was just laughing with Jeff that apparently the gaucho pants that were so popular in like 2006/2007 are back, just rebranded as wide leg crops now. They were super popular at my college for two years, girls would wear them to the gym, with a sorority tee for class, or dressed up with heels and a tank to go to the bars. I'm clearly v pro their return.

Here are all of my picks:

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Bloglovin!

Friday Finds

Happy Friday! Phew, what a week, am I right?! Definitely looking forward to not trying to work a full day everyday while also taking care of Mia this weekend.

I'm still sharing "finds" here, because hey, we could all use something fun to look at right now! But I wanted to provide a caveat. If you're shopping online right now, make sure you check the return policy in case you're in an area where you can't go to stores or the post office to make returns (especially from places like Amazon!). There's nothing worse than being stuck with an item that isn't quite right for you!

That being said, I'm still doing lots of online shopping from Nordstrom - their return policy is incredible!! Basically you can return anything, anytime, no questions. I right now have an arsenal of dresses I ordered for a friend's wedding so I could try options at home and have no issues with returns.

And here are my finds for the week!

one / two / three / four / five

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Bloglovin!

Weekend Style

Sweater and Jeans (similar) - Old Navy / Jacket - J.Crew / Sneakers (more sizes here) - New Balance

Whew, quite a week! As my sister keeps saying, "Lemon, it's Wednesday." 

Like many of you I'm sure, we had our daycare announce on Friday that they'd be closed through the end of the month. Jeff and I are both working from home, so we're trying to balance watching Mia and staying on top of our jobs. Luckily I work for the best company ever, so instead of focusing on how many hours I'm working, they've been encouraging me to take the time I need with Mia and still take breaks for my mental health. 

I'm also very grateful that Mia is still at an age where we don't have to plan activities or worry about being bored. The only games we need to play are "chase" and "hand things back and forth," and Mia is perfectly happy to walk in circles around the couch for half an hour straight. To stay sane, we've also been going for walks every day for some fresh air and a change in scenery. 

Okay okay, enough rambling about our current situation - I know you've been hearing about it enough!  

Let's talk about the outfit.

The sweater

I had been really wanting to try the whole "cardigan as a sweater" trend (groundbreaking I know) and decided to hop in with this inexpensive version from Old Navy. I've seen a ton of these sweaters around, but a lot of them are super cropped or really low cut, neither of which really flies with my body type. I ordered this twice to get the right size, and ended up in a tall large. It fit perfectly, that is, until I accidentally put it in the dryer. Noooo! Now I would say it fits more like a regular large. So my suggestion would be to get the tall size even if you don't usually wear talls, because it will likely shrink. 

The jeans

I'm back on a light-wash jean kick now that spring is peaking its head out! I bought this pair last year and am still very in on them. They are a slightly higher rise than I usually prefer, so these are definitely not a "comfy lounge" kind of jean, more of a "change into sweatpants as soon as you walk in the door" jean. This pair is obviously old, but here's a similar one. It had bothered me all last year that this pair was a little too wide and long at the ankle, so I actually took some scissors to them and now am much happier with them! If you want to cut the ankles of your jeans, I suggest looking in a mirror and marking the length you want. 

The jacket

I'm still so excited every year when it warms up enough to put this jacket back in rotation. You may  remember that I specifically classify my jackets by temperature, and I would say this one works from about 50 degrees to 65. J.Crew has been really going in on sales this past year, so definitely don't pay full price. I'd wait until you see it at least 40% off. I got a tall xl in this coat, and it's slightly oversized but in a good way - I love that the sleeves are long enough for me to give a little roll! Touches like rolling your sleeves (or a front tuck on your top) make your outfit look more intentional.

The sneakers

These are, by far, my favorite sneakers that I've owned as an adult. My feet just keep getting pickier and pickier in terms of what they find comfortable, and a lot of sneakers end up rubbing my ankles weird or the tongue is uncomfortable. Not these! The whole shoe is like a sock, with a stretchy, soft piece that goes all around your foot and laces on the outside. No tongue! I also love the little leather details, it makes them look slightly elevated over your average sneaker. 

I hope you have a great Wednesday, enjoy your social distancing and stay healthy!! 

Sweater and Jeans (similar) - Old Navy / Jacket - J.Crew / Sneakers (more sizes here) - New Balance

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Bloglovin!

My Best Tips for Working From Home

My WFH outfit from Thursday - Jacket / Similar Blouse / Similar Jeans / Similar Shoes / Bracelet

I've worked from home exclusively for the past two years for my corporate job, and it honestly took a bit of an adjustment period. With so many people being asked to work from home right now thanks to coronavirus, I thought I'd share my top four tips for working from home:

1. Find a routine to start and end your work days

Working from home can very easily take up your whole day if you let it. It's easy to roll out of bed and start working (or just grab your laptop and start working from bed!), but that isn't healthy for you, mentally or physically. Because of Mia, I have to get up and take her to daycare every day before I start working, and it really helps me separate my leisure time from my working time. If you don't have a kid or a pet, figure out a reason to leave the house, whether it's grabbing coffee or just going out for a quick walk. Head out at the end of your day too when your workday is over to help clear your mind.

2. Work where you want, but take video calls in a professional setting 

I get it, you're at home and you work just as well from your couch as you do from a desk. Heck, I'm writing this while reclined on the couch! But, if your job requires taking video calls, head over to an actual table for the call. It just isn't professional to turn on your video camera if you have your laptop balanced on your lap, and it honestly changes my opinions about coworkers if they appear unprofessional over video chat. Let's not even start about the guy who took a call laying in his bed last week (cringe!). While we're on the subject of video chats, try to choose a location that doesn't have a lot of background noise (you know, so not out on your front porch) and that has decent lighting so people can actually see you.

3. Get fully ready for your day before you sit down to work

I certainly hope you're at least brushing your teeth before you start your work from home day, but my recommendation is to fully get ready before sitting down at your laptop. Take a shower, do your hair, put on makeup, and pick out an outfit you'd wear into the office. I spent a good deal of my pregnancy working from home in my pajamas, or thinking I'd wait until my lunch break to shower. It really did affect my workday, and made me feel less focused and less productive. It's all about getting in the right mindset to work from home.

4. Put blocks on your calendar to eat 

People seem to fall into one of two camps when they work from home. Either they snack on basically everything they can find, or they forget to eat. I usually fall into the forgetting to eat club, which is pretty incredible considering how much I like food. I just will get in a zone and want to finish "just one more thing" and then before I know it, it's 3pm and I'm HANGRY. Whether you're trying to control snacking or need a reminder to step away from your desk, put blocks on your calendar for breakfast, lunch, or a coffee break. That way you'll have boundaries as to when you're allowed to eat, or have that time carved out to step away from your computer.

Follow along with everything Kristina does via Bloglovin!