Just because

 
Just a cute photo of my little turkey. Enjoy your day!

Free books

A couple of weeks ago I hosted an Usborne Book Party at Hancock Manor. I met a consultant for UB at the Avenues Street Fair last September and she convinced me to host one. If you have little kids that love to read or you want them to love to read, you should definitely think about hosting one of these parties. As a result of my sales, I snagged 15 free books for little c and my nephews.
Can you guess which one will probably be Cohen's fave?
If you guessed this one, you're most likely right.

I'd say these are worth far more than costume jewelry or some Pampered Chef pizza stones, although I'd take both of those in a heartbeat too!

And a happy Monday to you

I guess it's been a couple of weeks since I last posted anything. No good reason why I haven't...just need a break every once in awhile.

We had a very lovely fourth of July long weekend last week. Big C and I both realized it was the first relaxing weekend we've had since little c came along. We stayed at a friends cottage in Park City the entire weekend and enjoyed every second of our 3.5 day weekend. We swam every day, played at an amazing playground, went running at 5000', ate really well, slept in, went to Park Silly and had build-your-own Bloody Mary's (Cohen had the virgin kind), and took it easy in between. So great. So needed too.

If that is the only vacation we take as a family all year, it was a good one. A perfect 10 out of 10 in my book.

Here are some highlights from the weekend.
Surveying the property.
Don't look like you're in pain or anything Cohen!
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Wuv loo

I am the proud owner of an 18 month old today. So crazy. The time really does fly by far too quickly.

The kid has far too many words to count (over 50 and growing every day) and likes to repeat everything we say, including the naughty words. Big C has been working with him on saying "Love you" and his hard work finally paid off the other day when Cohey Bear said "wuv loo". My heart skipped a beat and I of course cried. And now he can't stop saying it. He even told Thomas the Tank Engine "wuv loo" tonight right before he kissed him.

For my friends and family in Canada and the US, have a lovely holiday weekend and know that we wuv loo!
 
 
 
 
I love the look on Big C's face. Pure delight. I scored in the husband department!

Howler monkey

I took little c in for his 18 month check-up yesterday. We were hanging out in the waiting room, watching the fish, colouring on the table because who colours on paper, and climbing up on chairs. Little c's name was called and as he innocently rounded the corner to walk through the door to the exam rooms, he spotted Dr. Rachel's nurse, H, and instantly started screaming like one of those monkeys you see that are being ripped from the jungle and sent to some zoo or lab or somewhere equally horrendous (like Hollywood). Not only was he screeching, he was clawing at me to get away from her. You see, H is in a wheelchair and is the one that gives him his shots. I think he remembered the wheelchair and has figured her out.

Needless to say, it was a tough chore getting his weight and there was no chance of getting his height or head size. But I think it's safe to say he's below average on the height and in the 95%ile for head size, based on how he's tracked all along.

All in all we had a great visit with Dr. Rachel and little c is in fine form and hitting all of the milestones.

 

Pretty in pink

Way back in February I helped my friend with her daughter's teacher's bridal shower (here). She hinted that her daughter's fourth birthday was coming in May and she encouraged me to start thinking of how to pull off a tea party for a bunch of four year old girls.

Seeing as I will probably never have the privilege of planning a daughter's party since I'm destined to have another boy down the road, I took this as my chance to try and pull off a party that I would have for a little girl of my own. There would be loads of pink, doilies, and professionally designed printables.

May came very quickly, but as I had solicited the help of my friend B, owner of a gift and candy boutique in town, we had everything planned and accounted for. And I didn't procrastinate nearly as much as I am known for and it made for such an enjoyable experience. Nor did I have to pull an all-nighter like my crazy cake-decorating sister!

Let me tell you something. Paying someone $15 to design the invitations was the way to go. I knew exactly what I wanted for the invite but also knew I wasn't talented enough or experienced enough in Illustrator. And so I turned to etsy and started looking. It didn't take long to find what I was looking for. A couple of tweaks and the invite was finalized, e-mailed to me, and printed off at home. I used the same designer, who happens to be from the land of tea, England, for all of the other printables at the event, save for the Ella signs. It saved me at least 25 hours of design time, which I clearly don't have. Who does really? Leave it to the professionals I say.

B and I collaborated on the food, favours, activities, and decor and got to work and I must say I was really pleased with the end result.

I don't have anymore parties on my calendar right now, but I'm really looking forward to the next one as I feel like I'm learning so much more with each one. You'd think an event planner would kind of have an idea of how to pull off an event, but when it's a birthday party for 12 four year olds and not an event for 8,000 Asians with a budget of $1.2 million, it's a whole new ball game.

I'd love any constructive comments you might have on how to make it better.
I wasn't content with a plain envelope so out came my doilies and my box of ribbon.

The Ella banner was fun to make once I found the die cuts I wanted at a secret location where you can go and use the die cuts for free.
 
I had to knock back a dozen Starbucks frappuccinos to get the containers but it was well worth the calories.
 
I'd never made marshmallow pops before but they were pretty easy and pretty delicious.
Thank you IKEA for making such appropriate containers. And thank you B for finding them!
 
 
 
 
 
The birthday girl checking out the details before her guests arrived. I forgot to mention the party was held at Baby NeeNee in Park City, a children's boutique with some of the coolest boy clothes I've seen that don't break the bank.
Wishing I'd found a way to hang this behind the food table. You live and learn.
One final shot of the delicious cupcakes on the fabulous paper plate I found online.

Event details:

Venue-Baby NeeNee

Paper printables-Paperspice

Flowers-Anna Fulton

Cakepops, cupcakes, and sugar cookies-Two Queen Bees Confisserie

Paper plates-Modernlola

Styling-Two Queen Bees Confisserie & Kristyn Hancock

Happy Birthday

To the woman who gave me life, loves me unconditionally, made me practice the piano, cooked a stuffed onion for me when everyone else in the family was having stuffed peppers,