Bellas Annual Birthday PhotoSession with Kris Lane Photography!!!

So Because I have been planning a lot of Things in the Damask and Hot Pink, I of course wanted and needed my daughters 2nd birthday shots to revolve around this theme! So first thing was first, Calling My Fave Photographer Kristina Whitson and asking if getting a Backdrop of the Damask print was possible! She of course said yes because she is FABULOUS!!! Now I knew Bella was going to have a Custom Backdrop that she would be the first to use along with the standard Black, White and Pink(also ordered specifically for this shoot!) Backdrops. It was time to get my props together, you see most people think you just show up at a photo shoot and the photographer gives you everything you need and thinks up all the ideas, not technically true, yes they can help, but come on one person can't have a million ORIGINAL ideas, its your job to get creative and do the foot work if you want your pictures to be truly personal! KRIS IS AMAZING, but as she will admit and I know for a fact, a shoot runs smoother when you have clear and organized ideas already set in motion!

So I got together most of our Tutus, The Black, Hot Pink, Soft Pink, and White, brought along the silver and black sparkle ones just in case but knew these weren't as important to me (ps I have never spent more than $7.00 on a Tutu, of coarse one Day I plan on splurging on some truly amazing ones for specific shoots and events, but the ones I have are more amazing than a lot of expensive ones I have seen). I then purchased a Tiara, since anyone who knows Bella knows she is the original Tutu Princess, it was the perfect touch for these photos! Then Borrowed 3 different Pearl Necklaces from My girlfriend Salina, and bought the other pearl Bracelets (I bought a 3 pack that had 1 large pearl, 1 small pearl and 1 diamond bracelet for $3.00 for toddler size) The other 2 Bracelets were handmade by me for part of her Birthday present! I also Brought along several headbands and Changeable Large Bows!!! Some Handmade others bought (again no more than $5.00). I had bought a piece of pink fabric for $2.00 that I also brought along just in case! We then Borrowed a black ottoman from Salinas Day Spa Skintique. And the Final Wonderful touch came in the form of a Christmas present from the Gunns, Salina knew of my plans for the Hot Pink and Damask and ordered me an adorable Pillowcase Dress and Bloomers to match.... IT WAS PERFECT!!! So we boxed it all up and Salina and I headed over, this was a key part to the success of the Day, 2 Mommies to focus on 1 Toddler and a Photographer that has a toddler herself, we could not be defeated!!!

So Here is the Result of My OCD Planning, Creative Ideas, an Awesome Girlfriend, An AMAZING PHOTOGRAPHER and The Most Beautiful Toddler I have ever seen (yes I am her mom so I can say that!)

THANK YOU KRIS LANE PHOTOGRAPHY!!!!

http://www.krislanephotography.com

 

  

   

  

  

  

  

   

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

This set wasn't a planned part of the day, but it went so smoothly with the outfit changes and backdrop changes that we had time and she was still in an upbeat mood, so Salina suggested the light pink, which inspired me to do the side ponytail and demure headband to do a total Pretty in Pink 80's vibe and I am so HAPPY we did, because I absolutely LOVE this set!!! Just goes to show you what Organization can lead to! 

  

  

Yes Its The STINK EYE!!! haha

  

The Girls said Show your Teeth!!!

  

Isabellas 2nd Birthday Celebration!!!

My First big event of 2010 was my Daughters 2nd birthday, although it was always planned on being a small event since her 1st almost 50 people attended, I always knew it would still be amazing, elegant and fun! So as I started the planning I knew I wanted my 2 Favorite designs right now, Black and White Damask and Hot Pink which I had done as her 2 year photo shoot theme! I knew I wanted it to be the details that stood out not the all over vibe, so I kept it minimal! My friend Salina suggested since we were not doing food to make it a Champagne and Cake Day, which of course was a Fabulous idea!!! For the cake my mind had already been swirling, I always knew that was going to be the focal point besides Isabella of course! So the googling began! As in everything I do, I find about 8 - 10 ideas I like and collaborate my own from that, and there a cake design was born, I knew because it was a small event I wanted to keep costs down, so I called my friend Candy who has worked for the Raleys Bakery for years and asked her if I could get together to share my cake ideas with her and to see if this was a possibility, she said she could do it and the process of ordering and picking flowers began! I decided on the inside to be Chocolate Cake with Custard and Fresh strawberry filling, since that is Chris and Mines Fave!!! I went to Several stores the night before to get the right shade of flower, they ended up being carnations and I am so happy with the choice I made there cause they turned out gorgeous and filling!!! The total cost of this cake was 30 Dollars plus the 6 I spent on the flowers (FABULOUS) Not to mention about 20 of that was the shipping cost on the damask print for the bottom tier! haha! So the party was set for Monday February 8th, my daughters Actual Birthday!!! And the cake was to be delivered Sunday Night! 

BEAUTIFUL!!!!

 

  

  

  

When Candy Arrived with the Cake she had a Surprise for us too, a mini personal cupcake for Bell, that she stated was wearing a Tutu Too! WE LOVED IT!!!!

Bella Loved Eating it Too!!!!

So Now Moving On to the other Details, the plan was to keep it to a designated area! Fewew designs close together keeps the flow going rather than trying to spread them out! Trust me I am all for decorating a Huge place, but if you can't decorate it all to the nines, choose a smaller section of your location and make that the Focal point! So My dining room table and Bar in the Kitchen got covered with 2 Dollar Tree Black Tablecloths and I used the dining table as the Cake display surrounding it with glam pieces, such as Large Diamonds($3.00 for a whole bag), Artificial Rose Petals ($2.00 for a Box), and tealights in Crystal holders, ($2.00 for 50 tealights, and the holders were $.50 cents s piece) Then that was done! Moving on to the Bar, I bought one Grande Bottle of Champagne, a bottle of Pink Lemonade for a champagne mixer and splash of pink, Apple cider and apple juice for the teens and Toddlers! Then a bowl of Rasberries for Color! I used some of the wine glasses I already had and borrowed the rest from my momma! Also borrowed her Free standing Champagne holder (again details make the event) Then it was off to Claypools a local home store in town to buy the pink paper dessert plates and Pink utensils (which were of course held in a wine glass) Always Keep your Theme!!! While there I picked up 2 Bouquets of Balloons, Mixture of Pink, Hot Pink, Black and White! it took me all of 15 minutes for set up!

 

 

Then it was time to get my daughter ready, She is known for her Tutus, so of course on her big day she would be wearing one, last year she wore a pastel pink one with a white shirt, but this year it was a white one with a Hot pink t shirt, under she had her Damask Bloomers (Christmas present from our Buddies The Gunns)! Since I am always going on about details it was only fitting that her New Bows Bling matched the Bling on the cake!!!! Then, once the Tutu came off so did the headband and on went the crown, did I mention shes a Princess (she wears it well)!!! And thats when the Candle Blowout time happened, She Loved us singing and took out the tealights as well! haha.

 

  

  

  

 

  

  

  

So Then it was Present Time, She Did so good, She read along to all the cards with Me and opened all the presents herself! Now the one thing I will say, from the parties I have attended, always keep a steady pace going, although this is thee most important person in your life there is only so much friends and family can tolerate with a smile, without looking like they are bored out of there minds!!! So from the time they walk in the door without rushing move from event to event without a standstill, they are there to celebrate with you, but should not be bored for any moment of time! So here she is opening her presents... PURE EXCITEMENT!

Reading along!!! Its the thought that counts, let your guests know their presence matters more than their gifts!

 

The Bracelets Mommy Made Her!!!!

 

My Friend Shawn From School (fellow Cosmo) Dropped off this present the evening before, so fitting a pink salon chair for Bells Dolls!!!! LOVE IT!!!!

 

 

Our Guests.... Family and Closest Friends! 

Uncle Dannyboy was of course missing due to being Deployed! Auntie Chantal due to being Sickie!!! and Nemo and Miss Megan Due to Work!!!

Cousin Rachel, with Cousins Lilli, and Dom!

Nana(nonna), Rena,  Nana(nanny), and Auntie Salina!!!

Auntie Salina and TOBBY!!!!

Uncle Matt and Nana!

 

The Gunns (missing Tommy here)

Daddy and Uncle Matt!

 

Our Family Missing Christopher!!!

Just Having Fun!!!!

 

 

Then it was off to Papas house we went for more Birthday Fun!!!! Yes there is only One way to take a kid out of the house in Bloomers Style it up with some Pink Rain Boots! haha

 

Hanging at Papas and Cindy's. When Your a style Diva such as Miss Bella is, it is customary to change your head wear at least 3 times in the day in her case 4!!!! haha

This is why a multiple tier cake is Fabulous besides the fact that it is elegant and Classy!!!! When having to celebrate in more than 1 place in a day (such as we do, Divorced parents) you take the top tier off and box it up, serve your guests the bottom tiers and then you still have a cake to take along to the next gathering!

She Was Still Digging the singing!!!!

And Got Another Wish!!!!

 

Papa Got her her very own Easel to take home!

So All in All it was such a great day!!! I am so Happy I stuck with the small party plan, it was more than I could have hoped for! A BIG THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO MADE HER DAY SPECIAL!!!!