Les Puces

We've barely started winding down from the birthday week celebrations and my insatiable self is already looking toward the next big event... We are going to Europe! My mother-in-law is teaching economics in Florence this semester and we miss her so much we will be joining her for a couple weeks next month. And we decided we might as well throw in a few days in Paris for good measure, and possibly also a weekend in Rome and some other side trips around Tuscany. We've been planning the trip for a while now, but with everything else going on in life, I can't believe it's already crept up on us. So next month! I'm starting to do some blogging research and pinning in search of what to wear, what to do, what to see, what to photograph, what to eat, where to eat, where to start...

The flea market (“Les Puces”) and “brocantes” in Paris are an absolute crafter's delight.

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A Birthday Valentine Photo Shoot

We decided to extend the celebration and leave Ava's birthday decorations up all week since Valentine's day was so soon after and also because it seems like a waste to take them down after just one day. Plus they make us happy. And of course I had to make sure I took full advantage of the photo ops.

This little birthday Valentine can hardly contain her excitement.

A Valentine's cake from Gramps... with the birthday cake decorations.

The tissue paper bunting on the cake matches the fabric pennant banner hanging above.

Valentine's Day Tea

My mom and I took Ava to celebrate heart day at one of our favorite local tea houses, The French Bakery, in Lafayette, CA. Ava was very well-mannered and showed her appreciation with kisses on demand.

Little did the darling know that we would be taking her for her 12 month shots after the celebration, but as always, she handled it like a champ.

Hot and Steamy Products I Love

No, not the adult store variety. Get your mind out of the gutter! I'm referring to three new household products I recently purchased and am now in.love.with.

The SteamFast SF-407 1500-Watt Fabric Steamer means you'll never have to iron another piece of clothing ever again.... Now that's hot!

If you're concerned about harsh chemicals where your family treads, try this little love muffin.

This sexy little devil will save you from so much heartbreak. (You know, the kind you get from stains on your light-colored upholstery.)

Happy V-Day!

Cirque du Bebe

We have been making pennant banners and tissue paper pom-poms for weeks but it's hard to believe a whole year has flown by since we met our little angel for the very first time.

The theme of the party was Cirque du Bébé. We tried to keep it soft with a light pink and yellow color palette with splashes of lime green.

Below are a few of the party highlights:

The Foyer: pennant banner, framed invitation, tea cup flower pot full of mums.

The Dessert Table: apothecary jars, vases, and martini glasses filled with sweet treats, plus cupcakes, caramel apples, and cake pops (which unfortunately are not visible in this pic).

I hung alternating pink and white streamers from the chandelier over the dining room table to give it a circus tent vibe.

I printed the candy labels using the "Romantiques" font (available for download here), cut out using scrolled-edge scissors, then taped to the same backing design used for the invitations.

Beverages: strawberry lemonade with fresh strawberries, lemon slices, and mint leaves; wine glasses and mason jars on this tray with these gray stripey straws.

Lunch: buffet of corn dogs, soft pretzels, and popcorn. (Plus several apps such as veggie sticks with dip, spinach dip and sourdough, crackers and brie and gouda cheeses, and other finger foods.) I wrapped the ketchup and mustard in color-coordinating handkerchiefs.

The photo booth was a big hit with cutouts painted on cardboard by Ava's talented grandma and props such as wax lips, mustaches on sticks, Mardis Gras masks, glasses, and clown noses. More pics to come later this week.

Ava, the Daring Young Girl on the Flying Trapeze, right, in her Danskin leotard from Target, and her adorable bud Violet (who you may remember from here), left, in the brown zebra striped dress from Baby Gap.

I could not for the life of me keep the headband or the shoes on long enough to take a single picture of my little acrobat in full costume.

Ava thoroughly enjoyed opening and playing with each and every gift she received.

Gramps planted Ava a rose garden for her birthday, which is the most amazing gift. I hope she inherits his green thumb.

Look Who's Walking Now!

I know, you're probably thinking this is another lame attempt at using a double entendre in the title of this post, but I'm not crying wolf this time. (Well, maybe she's "toddling" more than walking, but I say it counts!)

I rarely have to leave the house for work, but I happened to today. Sure enough, I returned home in the afternoon for my mom to report that Ava had taken her first three steps all on her own. And she took five more for me then to prove Grandma wasn't lying.

She's nearly a year old and she's been cruising and standing without support for months so we were expecting it any day now, which is why I'm a little surprised by my excitement about this milestone. I feel like the other milestones (scooting, crawling, cruising, etc.) have all been leading up to this and there are no longer any other skills separating her from being a "little girl" vs. a "baby," just the continued development and perfection of the skills she already possesses, and she's going to be my little girl in this phase for quite some time now. (Of course, she'll also still always be my baby too.)

Time to Shake Things Up

Just before I was impregnated with the most delicious little cupcake who has made me the happiest I've ever been, I was feeling pretty good about my bod. I was in the absolute best shape of my life. And I owe it all to my bun, Katie, who prompted me to join her in a Fitness Challenge. We had been motivating each other by adding a little friendly competition to our workouts on-and-off for the past couple years and having someone to cheer you on and hold you accountable makes all the difference.

But then we both somehow magically became pregnant within a couple months of each other, and I've found myself almost a year after giving birth (much, much later than I intended) without really having started my crazy workout routine back up.

I had been walking all along and that with breastfeeding melted most of my pregnancy weight right off. And I even joined Baby Boot Camp a few weeks ago and love the Saturday morning mommy-and-me stroller-based workouts. Plus I bought a great Groupon deal for 20 classes at a local gym. One would think I was in it to win it. But since the weather's been cold and wet I've been letting myself slide far too much. I mean, we have our very own private gym with an elliptical, treadmill, and Bowflex all dusted off out of the garage and ready for us to get back into the groove. But I still needed that extra kick to hold myself accountable... enter Katie and Fitness Challenge 2012.

We'll be using this new site, stickK, that Katie discovered to help track the realization of our personal fitness goals (much easier than the insane spreadsheets we crafted for previous fitness challenges but we'll see if it holds up as well). So February is my month. Ava will turn one in a couple weeks and I'm ready to be one hot mama.

P.S. My lovely Jennifer just sent me this hilarious video that cinched the deal...

Please tell me this video doesn't make you want to shake your money-maker.