Avery's Pink & Gold 1st Birthday

Avery's first birthday party came and went in the blink of an eye. My infant is gone, and in her place is a walking, bubbly new toddler who brings more joy to my life than I ever thought possible. I knew that I wanted to do a pink and glitter gold theme for Avery's birthday. I figure it's one of the last parties I'll be able to plan before she wants to have Disney themed parties. We had a dessert bar and invited our closest friends and family over to watch her "smash" her cake. Although she didn't really smash it at all. Her dad did. The day before her party he called to tell me that he dropped. the. cake I had ordered six weeks earlier. After a lot of shed tears (more than I'd like to admit) my mom and I drove around from bakery to bakery trying to find another one last minute. My mom saved the day and ordered Avery a gorgeous cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes. DELICIOUS. So delicious that we later decided to save it for the adults to eat. Meanwhile, Brandon was at home frantically baking another one and trying to make amends. His cake couldn't have turned out cuter. Especially with the gold glitter candle we made placed on top. Buuuuuuut, he used cheapy frosting and we didn't think it tasted very good so we actually gave Avery her original cake to smash. It's hard to tell from pictures, but the back of the cake was already smashed from when Brandon dropped it. Avery was actually so delicate with it. She looked grossed out at first to have to use her hands to touch it (in the picture above she is looking at us like what am I supposed to do with this?) She would take tiny dabs and eat the smallest amount at a time. Eventually she got the hang of it and shoveled a few big pieces in her mouth.

Brandon's cake

Marble cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes

My bestfriend Kandi made Avery this chalkboard which was one of my favorite parts of the dessert table!

I ordered the cupcakes from my friend Sarah who use tiny little glitter heart sprinkles on top. My mom and I made the dipped marshmallows.

Gumballs and cookies my mom ordered from a local french bakery.

The kids that came to Avery's party were older so I knew we'd need something to keep them occupied. I made little goody boxes with trinkets, crafts, and candy.

I ordered Avery's One Onesie from Olive and Birdie; Her chevron glitter headband came from Little Winter Shop.

Her original cake from Crimson Cake

We forgave the cake dropper.

Happy 1st Birthday Avery Monroe!

Stella & Wilbur Baby Scarves

So I know that most places in the country are experiencing one of the coldest winters right now. And while the coldest it gets for us here in sunny California is in the 40s (at night) we're huge wimps about it and like to bundle up against it. Cue one of the cutest accessories Avery owns. Baby scarves kill me but so often they are pretty thin and flimsy. Our Stella and Wilbur scarf is full and cozy and incredibly well made. I thought Avery might dislike having something on her neck touching her face, but it's such soft material that she doesn't mind at all. In fact, she gives it hugs when she isn't wearing it. I just love how stylish and "wintery" she looks. 
There really is nothing cuter than a baby scarf.

Stella & Wilbur are offering my readers 50% off (yes, FIFTY PERCENT off) any of their baby scarves. Use promo code 'scarf' through Sunday. Take advantage while you can and go on and snag yourself one! 

Gray Family Christmas

I can't believe Christmas has come and gone! My whole pregnancy I dreamed about Avery's first Christmas -- and I have to say it was slightly anti-climactic, ha. She had zero interest in opening presents (even though my mom wrapped hers in tissue paper to make it easier and more enticing). She was far more interested in the Christmas decorations (snow globes, candles, ornaments, etc.) We knew she really wouldn't be old enough to understand how magical Christmas is, but we're hoping next year she will! She got SO many beautiful gifts and we feel so lucky and so grateful.

We spent Christmas Eve at my parent's house, and the next morning had Christmas breakfast at my aunt's house, and then we drove back to Carlsbad and spent Christmas afternoon and evening with Brandon's family. It was EIGHTY degrees. I was so bummed that the cute Christmas sweater I had planned for Avery wasn't going to work. T-shirts and tutus it is!

I hope everyone had a magical Christmas! I can't believe that it's 2014!

Sugarplum Lane Baby Leggings

aka the cutest baby leggings in the entire world. 

I'm sure you've heard of Sugarplum Lane Boutique, and if you haven't then welcome. Their leggings are all organic cotton and made of the highest quality materials. And the patterns that she offers are g o r g e o u s. A lot of her leggings are unisex and would work perfectly for boys or girls...like these adorable, trendy fox leggings that Avery is sporting. Sugarplum Lane has quickly become our favorite place to get our leggings.

Head on over to their shop to swoon over all of her gorgeous handmade baby clothes. 

Feathers, deers, arrows, chevron, tribal, gold, mint.

The most stylish of the stylish.

The best news of all is that Sugarplum Lane is giving away a free pair of baby leggings of your choice!!! 

Simply follow them on Instagram and leave a comment on my original instagram post letting me know that you are doing so. You can find me @amira143. 

For two extra entry options: 

-you can pin your favorite pair of Sugarplum Lane leggings on pinterest and leave a comment below letting me know that you did so.

And for five extra entries:

-repost my original instagram giveaway photo and hashtag #sugarplumlanelove

 I'll choose a winner at random on Sunday evening.

Good luck!