Party details | #penelopes1st

I absolutely LOVE decorating! My wedding was my first endeavor with this and ever since, I've loved it more and more, with each approaching event! 

 I started planning for Penelope's party when she was 6 months old - call me crazy, but those 6 months flew by so I knew the next 6 wouldn't be any different. I started deciding on a theme back in November and everything that I saw, never compared to the theme of PINK. I'm sure at some point, maybe even her 2nd birthday, she'll be dead-set on a specific theme, so I'm getting my faves out of the way in the mean time ;)

I am so excited to share a few pictures and all of the details with y'all! It was such a beautiful day, spent with all of our friends and family.... I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend her actual first birthday!! Really a dream come true as I'm lucky enough to have a beautiful daughter and an amazing husband! So thankful :)


First things first:  I ended up on Tom Kat Studio and they had all of the specific party decorations I had been looking for that I couldn't seem to find anywhere else! I purchased the wooden forks and spoons, along with the straws, striped condiment cups and the plastic cups with the lids for the tiny guests that needed it ;) I also found some great balloons that we used on there as well!

I DID go to Party City for the plain white paper plates, white paper cups, faux rose petals and balloons.

I ended up making the flower arrangements, and although I didn't make the cake (we got ours custom-made HERE from Shockley's Sweet Shoppe) I did add the flowers on the top :) I used Hydrangeas, some greenery, pink Gerber Daisies and carnations. These flowers last a long time and I swear they can make anything super gorgeous!

The white dishes and cake stand were bought at non other than Home Goods! I also bought the napkins from there as well. They are always my go-to for anything that goes in my house!


Here's a few things that I made myself :
I made the gold mason jars that are pictured by simply buying a few mason jars and milk bottles from Michaels, a can of gold spray paint from there as well and spraying them in the garage. I made the glittered O-N-E letters by spray painting plain wooden letters that I bought at Michaels and then drenching them in Mod Podge and sprinkling glitter all over them and sealing it with Acrylic based clear spray paint. They turned out amazing! And were literally half the price of the ones that you'll find shops making them off of Etsy!
The gold-framed chalk board was also made by me before I was pregnant by simply buying a picture frame that I liked and rolling on some black chalkboard paint directly on to the glass that comes in the frame. SO EASY and it has lasted almost 2 years at this point and is still one of my favorite things to use around the house for any photo-op moment :) 

Picture taken after the cleanup 

Custom made banner, all items purchased @ Michaels

So sad because I didn't take a picture of the krispy cream donuts we had on the table OR the chocolate donuts and M&Ms!! But they were there and a HUGE hit! One can never go wrong with donuts!

Heres a picture that was taken yesterday by my aunt of the whole setup :)

Cake, Krispy cream donuts, chocolate donuts and M&Ms.

 I hope I helped some of y'all with a little planning of your own! It's so amazing seeing it all come together, just the way you envisioned! Please email me with any/all questions you may have, I'm more than willing to help you make your vision come to life as well!  XO

instagram @taylorpilk

One day 'til ONE!! | Late night moments

      I was on an adrenaline rush... I would lay awake for hours just watching Penelope sleep so peacefully in her cot and Devon gently holding her tiny little hand while they both slept. Pure joy bursting through my heart. WE DID IT! We were parents to the most beautiful baby on the planet. Our perfect masterpiece... What an amazing accomplishment. All the way from the first positive pregnancy test that we had waited so long for, to now holding our sweetness in our arms... Planting kisses on the chunky cheeks we had waited so long to see in-person. 

It felt like the hospital stay ended as quickly as it began and we were on our way HOME! The first two weeks, Penelope slept so peacefully, only waking to eat. We even joked that we would never know what her eyes looked like because she would keep them closed, even when she was awake. It was a grab-your-phone-QUICK-and-take-a-picture moment when her eyes would open for a brief minute or two. Those quiet moments quickly turned into a 6 month old crawling around, getting into e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. You have kept us on our toes, my love! But despite your curiosity, your hardest part of this year has been getting those pesky teeth in... A small feat for such a strong little girl :) 

 

     Before I was a mom and I would hear people say "time flies when you have a child", I couldn't wrap my head around the thought. I didn't understand. Now, I do. I completely get it. Time flies when you're having fun and this year has been the most fun of our lives. We have done more, felt more, experienced more than we could have ever done if it were just Devon and me. I used to think that when Devon and I were able to travel the world for his racing, that we had "done it all". Amazing how wrong I was... In the best way to be wrong that's possible.

I couldn't imagine life any other way. We've been able to expand our team... We've been blessed to start a family.... Doing and experiencing life together. I am so thankful for all of it and thank you to my husband for picking up my emotional-self this entire week as we've prepared for P's big day. I couldn't keep it together without you. Of course I want our baby to stay little but thank you for letting me see the glass half-full and reminding me how thankful I should be that we have a happy baby girl that's growing up healthy and loved.

      So, as I lay here in bed, finishing up this blog, I can't believe that's it been a year... And it's really sinking in how crazy it is that a single year can change your life. 

Dream big my baby girl! This world is YOURS!! We love you, Penelope Elaine. Always have, always will. xo