The Wise Baby :: Gold & White Nursery Decor

We are over at The Wise Baby today with our gold & white nursery design inspiration.  We found out that the newest member of our baby pack is going to be a girl, and a gold & white nursery is the perfect place to lay her head down at night.  Get all the design inspiration and links over at The Wise Baby.

Jungle Safari Themed 1st Birthday {Eats}

Today I'm sharing all the details behind the food and desserts we had at the little Man's jungle safari themed first birthday.  If you haven't already done so, you can enter to win an Etsy prize pack featuring all our designers over at The Wise Baby.

The dessert bar featured a safari cake, which sat on top of a vintage suitcase, with the most adorable gold elephant candle holder, thanks to Gnome Sweet Gnome Shop.  The goodies on the dessert table included: rice krispy treats, cake pops, jello cups, ants on a log (with animal crackers), and delicious personalized safari hat cookies from Rollin’ in Dough.  The  backdrop consisted of zebra print fabric, the happy birthday banner, which hung from a bamboo frame, and animal prints from Lisa Kay Designs.  Green moss, large leaf prints, and a raffia table shirt, polished off the dessert table.

We kept things simple for food and served salad & pizzas, and it's the easiest way to feed a crowd of nearly 75 people.  In addition to the usual appetizers we had a cheese plate and a fruit tray with a double pineapple tree. In case you are wondering, I cut the top and the bottom off the the bottom pineapple and hallowed it out, and used skewers to secure the two pineapples together. At the beverage station, or the watering hole, we served jungle juice, water, juice pouches, Izzes, and of course milk.  I created custom water bottle labels, and used the same stickers on the cups.  And for added fun, I made drink flags with the little Man's favorite jungle animal sound, the roaring of a lion.

Zebra fabric: Joann Fabrics

Pizza paddles & bamboo fencing: Amazon

Raffia tree skirt & green leaves: Party City

Photos by Niraj Gandhi Photography.

Jungle Safari Themed First Birthday {Decor}

Today I'm sharing the detail behind the decor from the little Man's safari themed 1st birthday.  Don't forget to enter to win a fabulous Etsy prize pack giveaway featuring all of our Etsy designers over at The Wise Baby. 

Starting with one of my favorite details from the little Man’s first birthday were the amazing invitations created by one of my incredibly talented friends at PS Paper Couture.  She pulled together beautiful details to create a passport style invitation, including the customs stamp from our most recent trip.  And the boarding passes are amazing, check out all that detail. 

As the little guests entered their jungle safari adventure, their first stop was base camp.  Here they gathered their supplies like binoculars, safari hats, and picked up their safari passes.  The back of the safari passes had a fun safari adventure itinerary that included: a photo in the safari jeep, searching for a herd of zebra, a romp in the quicksand pit.  For slightly older safari adventurers, I created a custom activity book.  

Safari supplies for our little adventurers.  Safari hats, binoculars, & their safari passes.

I wrapped a few cardboard boxes in contact paper, and stenciled in a few stats about the little man, and included the usual shipping terms.  I also created a cargo manifest and altered it for 'live cargo' and added washi tape in the par avion pattern to finish it off.

The guest book, a copy of Disney’s Jungle Book, and favors were also featured at “base camp”.  I know guest books aren’t typical for first birthday parties, but I love the idea of the little Man reading his signed copy in years to come, and it’s another wonderful addition to his library.  The favors, stuffed animals from the Kohl’s Cares collection, were housed in a vintage crate.  I love that they doubled as favors and were a great way to give back.

The centerpieces consisted of a safari animals that I spray painted gold, and a framed picture of the little Man throughout his first year.  To add some texture and add a more safari feel, I added burlap runners to each table.

One of my favorite details from the party was the favorite things poster by Moulage Collection is one of my favorite party details.  I love how it turned out, and we received so many compliments on it.  I can’t wait to frame it for his nursery; it’s the perfect way to capture his first year.

We created several play areas for the little ones, which included a 'quicksand pit', a safari jeep photo booth, and a floating zebra herd. The  safari rides photo booth came to life with several yards of burlap, the safari jeep, and a few jungle friends from the little Man’s nursery.  The Mister built the safari jeep using a cardboard box, and after several coats of spray paint and some quick glue gunning, we had ourselves a fun photo prop.  Using an inflatable pool filled with plastic balls, we created the “quicksand pit”, which was by far the most popular play area at the party.   The “zebra herd” consisted of several inflated mylar zebra balloons, the inspiration behind the zebra herd was  this Land of Nod design photo.  With several floating zebras around the party, our little guests could spot them with their binoculars, or take them for a walk.

Inflatable pool, balls, safari hats, binoculars, zebra balloons, & mosquito netting: Amazon

Safari animals & burlap: Joann Fabrics

Photos by Niraj Gandhi Photography.

Jungle Safari Themed 1st Birthday

We are sharing the little Man's jungle safari themed first birthday on The Wise Baby today.  And you can enter to win a fabulous giveaway featuring all the Etsy designers we used.  The giveaway includes a $10 gift certificate to Lisa Kay Designs, a $10 gift certificate to PS Paper Couture, an animal candle holder from Gnome Sweet Gnome Shop, and a dozen delicious mini Easter egg cookies from Rollin' in Dough!  Enter over at http://www.thewisebaby.com/safari-themed-first-birthday/ to win.  Also for all you parents or soon-to-be parents out there, our photographer, Niraj Gandhi, is offering 55% off a newborn or family photo shoot if you mention 'The Wise Baby' and book by March 31st. 

And I'll be sharing all the details behind the little Man's first birthday this week on the blog.  But first, I give you the smash cake success as it was beautifully captured by Niraj Gandhi.  Since the little Man is a replica of Mowgli, from the Jungle Book, we found this orange diaper cover to complete his 'Mowgli' inspired look.

Moroccan Nights

I love the teal greens, soft sage, and gold accents of a gorgeous Moroccan Night themed soiree. Imagine the golden ambiance or a sunset in the desert, mirrored in the twinkling lights of hanging lanterns, a billowy tented reception reminiscent of a Bedouin tribe, gilded centerpieces featuring beautiful succulents, and opulent & luxurious fabrics in the form of draping, rugs, and pillows.  Creating an exotic and vibrant backdrop for your next soiree whether that's an intimate dinner party or a wedding reception. 


{Photos Via:  Top Row: Lanterns, Candle Centerpiece; Second Row: Henna on Feet, Trellis Pattern, Succulent Centerpiece, Gold Mercury Votive, Succulent Bouquet; Third Row: Favors, Dress, Tent}



Harvest Orange

It's that time of year again, when the temperature dips, the leaves start to fall, cardigans and boots make their annual reappearance, and everything turns that wonderful shade of harvest orange.  Imagine crispy fall leaves, golden pumpkins, and rust colored flowers.  There are so many things I love about a fall color and nothing brings them together quite like harvest orange.


{Aisle floral arrangement | Champagne glasses | Calla lily bouquet | Tie | Place card | Twirling couple}  

Gold Rush

It's getting to be that time again, when I give our condo the once over and think that it needs a little sprucing up.  I'm still obsessed with gold details, especially gold dots, clearly the Kate Spade Confetti DIY wall art I made last year didn't get it out of my system.   I am currently loving these gold DIY projects for around the house.  A couple of them are the perfect use for my left over gold spray paint from this DIY nursery project.  And those gold staples and Ampersands sign... I need them for the office this instant.

1. Gold confetti bowls

2. Stripped vase

3. Elephant magnet

4. Zebra stripped rug

5. Gold staples

6. Gold ampersands sign

7. Gold avocado seed place cards

Dainty Details: Necklace Obsession

To say that I'm obsessed with these mini initial necklaces from Maya Brenner, is an understatement.  They're so simple and classic and oh, so chic.  They're the perfect accessory to any outfit, gold goes with anything, while adding the perfect feminine touch.  I much prefer this to other loud and huge monogram necklace options out there.

{Images via 1 | 2 | 3}

Great Gatsby

I loved this book, and I'm so excited to see what Baz Luhrmann interpretation of this classic story will look like.  The Mister and I watched Zero Dark Thirty this weekend, and we happen to catch a preview of the Great Gatsby, and all I could think was wow.  I love the glitz and glamour of the 1920's!  And if you haven't caught the preview yet, check it out below.



{via RivernorthLove}



Modern & Girly Birthday Party

Playing off of a 'favorite things' theme, this lucky toddler had all her friends over for a lavish modern yet girly 2nd birthday party.  How adorable is that dress up station!  Details I love: each child had their own place card, Storey's favorite things were written out in calligraphy on canvases throughout the space, and the table that featured 36' balloons with tassels.  And that dessert table is to die for! 

{photos via Hostess Blog}