Baby Lifestyles magazine
Baby Lifestyles Magazine
Baby Lifestyles LAUREN HALPERIN Publisher, Creative Director
TARA STEINLE Managing Editor
ELLEN FELDMAN, BETH MERAN Contributing Editors
LOLA STEEVENS Sales Director
AUSTIN “Mr. Z” RAPPAPORT Website Architect
MICHAEL GUSTMAN S.E.O. Management Visit Baby Lifestyles online at www.BabyLifestyles.com for inspiration, real baby showers, birthday parties, nursery reveals, hot products, news, updats, contests, giveaways, and more Would you like to contribute to Baby Lifestyles? Email our editorial staff at Editor@BabyLifestyles.com Submit your baby shower, birthday party or nursery to Baby Lifestyles at www.BabyLifestyles.com For information about advertising in Baby Lifestyles Magazine and online, contact Lola Steevens at advertise@babylifestyles.com Follow us on Twitter: @BabyLifestyles1 Baby Lifestyles is published bi-monthly by Baby Lifestyles, LLC. All contents ©2012 Baby Lifestyles, LLC. All rights reserved.
Baby Lifestyles
On the Cover There’s so much great love this Halloween season, we couldn’t pick just one cover! Check out these fantastic fantasy photography shoots on pages 71 and 90.
Baby Lifestyles
CONTENTS October/ November 2012
PAGE 50
PAGE 99
PAGE 17
PAGE 81
PAGE 109
PAGE 35
STUFF WE LOVE
HALLOWEEN HAPPINESS
13 RUFFLE CAKE TUTORIAL 26 PARTY STYLING TIPS
71 COSTUMED CUTENESS 90 HAPPY HAUNTINGS 109 MUMMY’S FIRST HALLOWEEN 134 SUPER HERO FANTASY
AROUND THE WORLD 10 PARTYING IN PORTUGAL
PHOTOGRAPHY 23 COVERED IN CUTENESS 30 SISTERLY LOVE 57 PHOTOGRPAHY SHOWCASE 99 DOWN ON THE FARM
NURSERY REVEALS 35 COLOR CREATES THE FEEL 43 PETER RABBIT INSPIRED 50 GENDER REVEAL NURSERY
AUTUMN IN THE AIR 17 GOLDEN BOOK THEME SHOWER 81 FEELING NATURE’S CHANGE 122 FOLIAGE FANTASY
CELEBRATION CONTEST WINNERS 143 BEST ROOM SHOT 151 BEST USE OF BLACK AND WHITE 161 MOST COLORFUL PARTY 167 EMOTIONAL PHOTO 173 HAPPIES SMASH CAKE 183 STYLISH DESSERT TABLE
Jennifer Callahan
Sarah Crowder
Jess Cumbie
You’ve seen Jess’s pictures Jenna sent us this beautiful There aren’t many parents that shoot of two sisters enjoying the haven’t read their children the regularly on our site. In this issue she showcases quite an outdoors in the afternoon. Look Golden Books series. Sarah sent amazing dessert table display, at how cute the cheeks are on us these fun baby shower winning our photography that baby on page 30. pictures with the famous books contest category. as the theme.
Kristi Sutton Elias
Julie Khuu
Michelle Knox
Kristi gets us into the mood for You’re going to want Julie to plan Michelle is the talent behind I Do Invitations and shares with us Halloween with her spectacular your next bash! Check out this her latest collection for photo shoot of little ones nature-inspired baby shower she Halloween, giving daughter enjoying their time with dress up! planned for her girlfriend on Cami a reason to get spooky! page 81.
Danielle Klebanow
Jena Liebig
Erin McElhaney
Think of Autumn and there’s a Batman, Spider-man, Iron Man... If you’re in need of a serious good chance you’ll see beautiful all little boys want to be dose of cuteness, you have to foliage colors. Danielle superheroes. Jena sent us check out Three Green Leaves showcases these in a this fun shoot on page 134 photography shoot of this gorgeous baby shower she where one little boy lived out newborn on page 23. photographed on page 122. his fantasy.
Portugal resident Francisca Neves studied management at college and worked years in a bank as a commercial. But she wasn´t happy. “I always liked to work with my hands, I love to sew, embroider, bake and entertain… When my first child was born and I was looking for the perfect cake for his Christening and I couldn´t found anyone that could create it just like I wanted to.” Discovering a market niche, she began her own cupcake company, Cupcake, and shares with us the trends in baby parties in Portugal.
Where do you find your party inspiration? I find inspiration everywhere! On the latest fashion trends, travelling, the theme, purpose and style intended, magazines, favorite color palette,etc. How much influence should an invitation have for a party? They are the first glimpse of the party for the guests, so it should have the same essence and style of the rest of the decorations. What are some of your favorite ways to add spice to party décor? I think the first thing you should do is to choose a theme, and afterwards decide every single detail thinking of it, like the choice of the place, the table, the favors. Every little detail makes all the difference. For instance, if I would chose “Angels” for my baby´s Christening: the color white is perfect for the lace and ribbon too. And also
using exquisite cake stands and tableware, perhaps an old family table cloth… The backdrop is very important too because it should add some height and complete the whole set -- in every decision you make for your table you have to think if it all works together.
What are the DIY trends in Portugal? I love DIY projects! My latest cake was sitting in a cake stand that I made‌ I think that most of the times, and Portugal more than other countries, is very difficult to find the perfect piece for assembling your sweets so I do it all the time! For the cake pops, the cookies, even pretty pedestals for giving some height to your cake, to assemble lots of cupcakes (tower)‌. And when you do it yourself you can per-
sonalize all the details like the fabric, ribbon, colors, the images used in the rest of the decorations. In Portugal, people are very enthusiastic of all kinds of DIY projects: from just using some custom printables to create a bunting banner, or other kind of eye-popping backdrop, personalized tags, cake pedestals, etc. What are some of your favorite parties or tables you have done? I created this beautiful gold and Tiffany blue dessert table
display to showcase my products to clients. I created a gold, bird and flowers dessert table for a wedding and I was inspired only by the invitation, that defined all my decisions for the whole set. Are dessert tables becoming popular in Portugal? Yes, but we are just in the beginning because there is not a lot of people here that bakes and decorate all kinds
of sweets as well as makes DIY projects and gives you creative direction for your event. How do you incorporate dessert tables into the theme of the party? Sometimes with all! If you are planning a dessert table in the fall, the use of pumpkin and spices in the food , and the orange and brown colors, aside with tree leaves and
branches in the décor are almost expected! What trends do you see emerging in baby showers? In children’s parties in Portugal? Here in Portugal we don´t have baby showers (unfortunately because I love the theme). But people are starting to prefer clean and precise cakes, in a pale color palette instead of using classic Disney
or similar characters… What’s the best party planning advice you ever received? My mother is the perfect hostess and since I was a little girl we were always planning “the next” party… And she always started choosing the theme or style of the event and then decided everything else on that basis.
Golden Books Baby Shower Photography by Sarah Crowder Photography
When Little Golden Books launched in 1942 at 25 cents each, they changed publishing history. Little Golden Books have been part of so many children's lives through the generations and their stories are timeless and included in the Smithsonian Institution. The clothes line detail with a little onesie and socks reminds you of the joy that is yet to come when mom-to-be Christi's story is complete. Little details like "B is for boy", and an invitation that reminds all the guests of the little boy who is on his way, come together to make a truly unique and lovely celebration for this new mom.
Snug as a Bug Newborn Session Photography by Three Green Leaves Pho
otography
Love in the Afternoon Photography by Captured by JennaLynn
A Vintage Moder By Lauren
rn Girl’s Paradise n Halperin
Baby Reese Elizabeth’s colorful nursery room is a space where mom Jill has created a balance of vintage and modern, sentimental and new, DIY and store bought items. As she was working on all the decorative pieces, Jill began to worry that she had packed too many colors into the vintage, modern space, and worse, that the shades were too bright. Light color, red, vivid green and soft turquoise filled the room with colors, but the pale blue walls brought all the hues together and kept a peaceful feeling in the room. After she found her color inspiration, she found a fabric line she loved and worked with the colors. “Everything else was built around that fabric, and I was able to make the room coordinated instead of matching thanks to a set of fabrics that already worked together. I love how the pale blue walls create a serene environment and keep it peaceful despite all the bright colors. The room feels so bright and light.”
“I love that everything in the room has a story behind it.” The crib was a $50 find on Craigslist originally bought for her son and was repainted by her husband. The dresser was a labor of love, as Jill’s husband did a major overhaul on what was a $5-as-is item she found at a thrift store. “I love that the room is coordinated instead of matchy-matchy. That way it is unique without looking like it came out of one big package. Many hands have helped make this space a reality, and I love all the special touches that are throughout it.” Jill’s DIY projects are all over the room, including a recovered lamp shade, the large button ‘dipped’ R, and the fabric birdies and birdhouses.
“Don't feel the need to match everything,” Jill advises. “Think of making it coordinated instead. Find one piece or fabric that you can use in the space that can help pull everything together. In the case of Reese's nursery, the fabric used throughout the space is what pulled it all together.” Depending on which way she faces in the room, her favorite element changes. “Her room became a space that I can’t help but go back to over and over just to sit and enjoy myself.” More than simply repurposing furniture, Reese’s room is a place where family heirlooms are being passed down. The rocker was originally bought for her oldest nephew and was also used for two of his siblings. It was later passed down to her when her brother and his wife were finished having kids. She recovered the cushions with home décor fabric from Joann’s.
“The daybed was in the guest room at my grandparents' house when I was growing up and that room was my dream room as a child. When they downsized, it was passed down to me. I've held onto it and used it as our guest bed, hoping I'd have a daughter someday who could use it. When Reese is ready for a big girl bed it's waiting for her.” “I love that I was able to use pieces from Jace’s nursery and upcycle them into girly items for Reese. My sweet baby girl will spend her first few months resting in the bassinet that was also shared by her brother and cousins. Like the rocking chair that has lulled all the babies on my side of the family to sleep, and the daybed that used to be in the guest at my grandparents’.”
Gender Neutral Nursery with a Peter R Photography by Sweet Poppy Studios
Rabbit Theme s
Royal Prince Gender Reveal Nursery Room By Sherri Blum
This fit for royalty nursery was a Gender Surprise Nursery and was one of designer Sherri Blum’s most memorable designs to date. The client was having her second baby and didn't want to know the baby's gender, yet wanted to have an over-the-top, elegant royal nursery completed to her liking before she had the baby.
To prepare for the unknown Sherri designed two complete nurseries down to every detail: one for a boy and one for a girl, selecting every tiny little detail from the bedding and furniture to the artwork and accessories. Then when the mom-to-be went for her ultrasound, the doctor sealed up a picture in an envelope and mailed it to her design studio. “I couldn't wait for the secret to be revealed and was so tickled to be the only person besides the doctor to know the gender of the baby! I opened the envelope and saw an obvious BOY in the image and got right to work ordering up all of the appropriate boy nursery furniture, bedding, wall art, lighting and decor.�
Most of the nursery's decor was selected from Jack and Jill Boutique and was staged in her studio. When it was set to arrive, Sherri drove to NJ, the family left the house, and preparations kicked into high gear in secrecy. Sherri arranged the nursery furniture, installed the crib and set the bedding, wall art, rug, and accessories down to the tiniest little detail. “We completed the decorative mural around the room and when finished, locked the door behind us! We even taped paper over the windows to keep neighbors from peeking and taped around the outside of the door so no "glow" might show through the door crack at night!� The nursery would wait for Mommy and baby to arrive home from the hospital. Luke Conner was born on June 12 weighing in at 7 lbs. 14 oz and 21" long, and he is quite the little prince.
“This was such a fun project and so full of excitement and anticipation. When Mom and baby Luke arrived home from the hospital and she saw her nursery for the first time, she contacted me and said ‘the nursery is breath taking and made me cry!’” As a special gift, Sherri added the framed sonogram photo that revealed baby's gender, starting the whole process and finishing this royal nursery room. Custom artwork by Dish and Spoon Productions All furniture, bedding and accessories can be purchased at Jack and Jill Interiors Boutique
Photography Showcase Photo by Ashley Marshall Photography
Photos by Erin Kroll Photography
Photo by Jordan Brittley Photography
Photo by Lasting Memories Photography
Photo by Mandy Leonards Photography
Photo by Michael Kormos Photography
Photo by 7Angela Tappen Photography
Photo by Elizabeth Ann Photography
Photo by Ilene Squires Photography
Photo by Jacqueline Photography
Photo by Heather Sanderson
Photo by J. Harper Photography
Photo by Samantha Smith Photography
Photos by Melinda Bartnik Photography & Mosaics
Costume Cuteness
Photography by Amber Wallace
Scenes from a Nature Inspired Baby Shower By Julie Khuu
Having been trained in hospitality design all these years, Julie Khuu has grown quite accustomed to months upon months of developing interior spaces to meet their fullest potential. It often takes years to complete an entire project, so when opportunities arise to design mini-events like birthday parties and baby showers for her girlfriends, she often delights at the chance to dream big! When one of her best friends, Mary was having a baby girl, she welcomed baby Blake into the world with a nature-inspired fĂŞte fit for a blossoming bun in the oven!
Buds of moss and succulent terrariums filled the baby shower space with garden adventures and gifts from Mother Nature. Dangling DIY-yarn spheres and wicker balls blend with the tablescape to create an earthy environment grounded with sweets and treats.
Guests were entertained with food, photo booths, and face-painting fun. “I like to make sure they'll never have a minute with nothing to do!� Potted pint-sized plant gardens to take home and relive the memory of this magical celebration! Photos: Sutando Events, Ethan Bui Cake: Taylor Cake Creations
Baby’s First Boo Photography by Kristi Sutton Elias Photography
A Day on the Farm
Photography by Xiomara Gard of Imago Dei Photography
A Haunted Happening By Michelle Knox I Do Invitations by Michelle
For her festive Halloween party, Michelle selected the bright colors of orange, Kelly green, hot pink and classic black. “I seriously love these colors together.� Michelle and her daughter Cami bought a craft pack of poms and pipe cleaners from Hobby Lobby to make fun little spiders. For less than $6, they made 30 spiders! She also made the fun "boo", "eek" and "I want my mummy" little flags for some added wicked fun. The little broomsticks are also from Hobby Lobby.
When Michelle spotted that cute mummy and the cupcake tower at Home Goods, she couldn't pass them up. To complete her party backdrop, she tied tissue fringe from in criss-cross patterns on the wall and added DIY fabric garlands to her wall. “Cami and I had fun making the cupcakes and used black decorating gel to make the spider web toppers. Making cupcakes is her most favorite thing in the world.� She ordered deliriously delicious cookies, a chevron patterened cake and yummy mummy and ghoul cake pops to round out the sweets.
Styling + Paper Designs + Fabric Garland: I DO invitations by michelle Printable collection: etsy.com/shop/camrynjolee Photography: Ellie Piper of Photography Studio 37 Hair Accessories: AMK's Boutique Pumpkin Tee: *golden* Chevron Maxi Dresses: Sew Cute By Tiffany Cookies: Cookie Crumbs Cake Pops: Lillycakes Cake: Polka Dot Bakery "Boo" Plates: Aedriel Originals Balloons/Gumball Tubes/Tissue Fringe: Polka Dot Market
Autumn Sunshine Shower Photography By Danielle Klebanow
Pictures should show who you are in your heart, and in the heart of little Kohl, he’s a superhero! Photographer Jena Liebig from My Pretty Little Pictures wants photos to be real, preparing her clients to play, laugh and in Kohl’s case, enjoy his
superhero adventures!
Over the summer, Baby Lifestyles held a baby party photography contest. After seeing so many pictures of baby showers, birthday parties, sip and sees and other baby events, we’ve selected the winners of the following categories: Best Black and White Photography Use Best Dessert Table Set Up Best Overall Room Photo Best Smash Cake Photography Session Most Colorful Party Most Emotional Photo
Best Dessert Table Party Photo - Jessica Cumbie
Best Party Room Pho
oto - Rebecca Dwyer
Best Black and White Pho
oto Winner - Jenny Collier
Most Colorful Children’s Par
rty Photography - Thy Lebui
Most Emotional Baby Party P
Photography - Jahaira Diaz
Best Smash Cake - Melissa McCann
“The smile that flickers on baby's lips when he sleeps -does anybody know where it was born? There is a rumor that a young pale beam of a crescent moon touched the edge of a vanishing autumn cloud, and there the smile was first born . . .� Rabindranath Tagore