Holiday

We had so much fun celebrating our sweet bot turning ONE! This was one of my favorite themes I have done! We had his first party at my aunt’s house and invited our closest friends and family.

I have linked everything that I can below!

Invitation: Etsy

Backdrop: Amazon

Balloons: Amazon

Chalkboard sign: Etsy

Outfit: Etsy

Animal crackers: Amazon

Popcorn boxes: Amazon

Popcorn and white tablecloth: Walmart

Cakes: Target

Table skirt: Amazon

Cake stand: Target

Hat, cake topper, highchair banner: Amazon (I took the center part off of the highchair banner and I added more ribbon + my own letters)

Monthly banner: Amazon

Plates and napkins: Amazon

My sister and brother dressed up as clowns and we had face painting and balloon animals. It was just such a fun time celebrating Harrison with all of our favorite people!

Harrison’s one-year-old photos

Venue: The Lumen Room

Banner: Busy Bees Smocks

Cake: Target

Bib and hat: Amazon

I recommend The Lumen room 10000% for any and all photoshoots! It’s our fav photo venue and it’s so easy and convenient.

Thank you for stopping by and reading! I hope this gives you some inspo for your next party!

xoxo, Alyssa

This post is coming way later than I had anticipated but without further ado…here is Finley’s First time in 4-ever birthday party post!

We had her party at Play Street Museum which is our fav party venue! It is so fun for the kids and once you set-up then you just let the kids run and play! You can sit back and enjoy the party! I dont feel rushed or frantic. Plus, its super cute!

Play Street offers packages where they decorate for you based on ceratin themes! However, I like the DIY package so I can do it myself! I have linked everything below. Most is from Amazon!

Balloons and banner come together in a set (with the snowflakes): Amazon

Table runner: Swoozies

Both banners: I made them

Treat bags: hobby lobby

Ribbon: Hobby Lobby

Invitations and thank you tags: Etsy

Goody bag supplies: Here and Here

Crown: Amazon

Frozen Dress: Dressie Jessie

Cake topper: Etsy

Cake stand: Target

Plates: Target

Cake: Moosie made it!

Plates and straws: Ellie Piper and Co

Hats: Party City

Cups, napkins, and forks: Target

I also rented Anna and Elsa from FW Princess Parties and it was the highlight of the whole party! Finley still talks about them! She keeps brainstorming about the princesses she wants to come to her next birthday party…that’s 9 months away!

We had the best time celebrating our sweet 4-year old! I definitely recommend PSM for your next birthday party! Also, check out their party packages if you just want to show up and not have to worry about anything!

xoxo, Alyssa

We had Finley’s birthday party at Play Street Museum and I 100000% recommend! It was so easy to set up and tear down! I was able to enjoy the party instead of entertaining everyone. The kids’ entertained themselves! Win-win!

Invitations: Etsy

Balloon garland: Amazon

Tea for Three Balloons: Etsy

Crown: Etsy

Dress: Poppy Kids Co

Runner: Nebraska Furniture Mart

Banner: Homemade

Cake stand, Cake, and candles: Target

Three-tiered stands: Amazon

Plates: Target

Cups and saucers: Ellie and Piper

Teapot: Amazon

Goodie bags: everything is from Hobby Lobby

Friends and Family

It was such a fun day celebrating Finley!

xoxo, Alyssa

This Easter will look a little different so I am still keeping the traditions alive with fun Easter activities. Below are some activities we have done and some that we have on our list for the next few weeks.

Easter Crafts

Easter-themed food

Other Easter activities

Egg hunt

Dye eggs

Visit the Easter bunny (off the table this year but on the list for next year)

Decorate a fun Easter table

Easter photoshoot

Make Easter cookies

Resurrection Eggs

Bluebonnet Photos

Easter scavenger hunt

Make bunny bait for the Easter bunny

Egg toss

Add to your Easter book collection

Happy Easter and happy crafting!

xoxo, Alyssa

Finley’s birthday was the most fun! I can not believe we almost have a 2-year old! I have linked everything below!

Invitation

Balloons | Banner: I made it on my Cricut | Cake: made by a family friend |donut plates | Cake stand |

Plates | napkins: similar | straws: Hobby Lobby | cups: plastic cups from Target with donut stickers from Hobby Lobby | Finley’s dress + Bitty Baby dress | Bitty Baby chair | birthday crown | Party favor labels

Venue

Friends and Family 

It was seriously perfect. My advice: have your party at a venue other than your house or some else’s. It was so easy! I kept is simple with decorations this year. It took about 2o minutes to put everything on up and I had about 10 minutes to take photos before guests starting arriving. I get flustered easily when I feel like I am in a hurry and then I don’t enjoy myself. However,  I never once felt rushed! The kids had the best time playing and I was able to talk to all of our friends and family. Finley had the best time and did not want to leave! She was in Heaven having all of our friends and family in one place!

xoxo, Alyssa

I was going to do a gift guide this year, however, I decided to post on ways to give instead. Finley’s birthday is 5 days before Christmas, so it is gift galore in December! I want her to know the true meaning of Christmas and to give more then she receives. Even though she is [almost] two, I have started these traditions with her so she can learn early on.

Donate

Donate all toys and clothes. We went through all of Finley’s old toys and clothes and donated them all to an organization called Young Lives. It is an organization that helps teen moms. They give away all donations for FREE! Finley helped my bag them up and then told them all “bye” as I explained where they were going.

Angel Tree

The Angel Tree is over this year, however, you should add it to your list for next year! It is so sweet picking out a child from the tree and shopping for something special just for them! It was even sweeter this year doing it with Finley. I loved talking with her about WHY we do it!

Salvation Army Bucket

I am guilty about just walking by the buckets and not thinking twice. However, I stopped the other day to let Finley put a coin in and it changed my mind. I overheard the bell-ringer tell a woman how much the Salvation Army had helped him. When Finley put her money in, he thanked her with the most sincerity. I will keep change with me from now on specifically for the red buckets.

Treat box for delivery drivers

I saw this last year and I loved it! Put a box of treats on your doorstep for when delivery drivers drop off packages this holiday season! This is the first year Ryan and I have had a house so I finally get to do it! I got a box at the dollar tree for $1 and filled it with some snacks and drinks! So easy and a great way to bless people working this holiday season!

Where to donate:

Fort Worth Pregnancy center:

What they take: Baby and toddler clothes up to 2T

Where do drop off: 3221 Cleburne Rd. Fort Worth, TX 76110

Presbyterian Night Shelter:

What they take: women’s, mens, and kids clothing, and toys.

Where to drop off: 2400 Cypress St, Fort Worth, TX 76102

Young lives:

What they take: Children’s clothes and toys

Where to drop off: 3750 S. University Dr. Fort Worth, TX 76109

Pregnancy Lifeline:

What they take: Women’s & Kid’s clothing and toys

Where to drop off: 4747 Hulen Street Fort Worth, Texas 76132

xoxo, Alyssa

It is no secret that I love the holidays so I wanted to share some of my favorite traditions with you! Some of these are events for locals in DFW and some are things to do in your own home!

Santa Clause at Clearfork

Let me just say…Best. Santa. Ever. $10 donation to the FW Zoo

Here are the dates:

November 23: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
November 24: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
November 25: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
November 30: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
December 1: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
December 2: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
December 7: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
December 8: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
December 9: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
December 14: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
December 15: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
December 16: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
December 17: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
December 18: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
December 19: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
December 20: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
December 21: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
December 22: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
December 23: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
December 24: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Gateway Christmas musical:

 

 

 Click here for dates and tickets

Other ideas:

Bake cookies for Santa, make gingerbread houses, hot cocoa while looking at Christmas lights (my fav hot cocoa is from QT-no lie), Christmas photos, elf on the shelf, Christmas eve box ( open one gift on Christmas eve that includes pajamas, movie, and a treat)

I hope this gives you some family-friendly Christmas ideas!

xoxo, Alyssa

We have been having a blast this Fall season so I have compiled a list of all things fun in DFW!

Halls Pumpkin Farm

Mainstay Farm

Dallas Arboretum

Calloways Nursery

State Fair of Texas

Flowermound pumpkin patch 

Carve Pumpkins

Matching Pajamas

Fall Family photos

I hope this list gives you some ideas for this fall season!

xoxo, Alyssa

Happy New Year friends! I hope you are all having a wonderful 2019 so far! I am kicking off the New Year with a post all about Finley’s first birthday!

I feel like I just planned my wedding all over again. All joking aside, I had so much fun planning her party. I have never used so much glitter, glue, and scissors so much in one month. Her invites turned out better than I could have ever imagined. I ordered them off Etsy, printed them at FedEx, and cut them myself.

We had the party at my Aunt Jens house (we have many parties here). We set up the night before because I wanted to make sure that I did not forget anything. So by setting up early, I could make a list of things I still needed to bring.

(We left the cake on the silver base because we were afraid to take it off)

Hot Cocoa Bar and Waffle Bar

We used the Belgian waffles from Eggo and they are the best waffles I have ever had. They were a hit at the party, as well!

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Smash Cake and Presents

She cried the whole time we sang Happy Birthday and refused to eat the cake. Thank goodness, we did a smash cake photo shoot previously!

Friends and Family

Smash Cake Photoshoot

Photographer: Littlefield Productions

Studio: The Lumen Room

Banner, bib, and hat: Mudpie

Garland and smash cake: Target

Cake topper: Berry Pom & James

Finley’s dress: Ivy City Co

My Dress: Amazon

Party Decor:

Invitations: PartyInvitesandMore on Etsy

Snowglobe craft: Hobby Lobby

Guestbook frame: Hobby Lobby

Hot cocoa bar and waffle bar signs: Hobby Lobby (I made the words on Cricut)

Three tiered waffle holder: Hobby Lobby

White ramekins and bowl: Target

Coffee sleeves: The sleeves came with the cups and I cut the snowflakes on my Cricut

Coffee cups and lids: Walmart

Plates and Napkins: Berry Pom & James

Silverware and regular cups: Target

ONE letters: I bought the supplies at Hobby Lobby and made them myself

Fake snow on Mantel: Walmart

Mini Christmas trees on Mantel: Target dollar spot

Monthly Banner: I made it

Chalkboard sign: A local girl in Fort Worth made it.

Pinwheels: Berry Pom & James

Christmas trees on dessert table: Hobby Lobby

Cake: Sugar Biscuit bakery

highchair banner: I made it

Plates for sweets: I borrowed them from my sister

Cake stand: Target

Cake topper for cake: I made it

Cake topper for smash cake: LittleLinDesigns on Etsy

Party hat: LittleBlueOlive from Etsy

Cluster of balloons: ChrissyBPartyShop from Etsy

Rose gold 1 balloon: FancyCelebration from Etsy

Finley’s dress: Target