Baby Lifestyles Summer 2013 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 What little lady wouldn’t want to grow up in a room this pretty Check out the rest of Lexi’s nursery on page 30.
CONTENTS June-July 2013
PAGE 110
PAGE 124
PAGE 144
Gender Reveal Central!
PAGE 57
PAGE 45
PAGE 48
PAGE 8
PAGE 135
PAGE 40
We Heart Contributors
Lauren Kapeluck We’ve featured several of Lauren’s parties before. This time we’re showing off her owl themed gender reveal party for twins.
Marci Gerlach
Amanda Howard
The Art of Making a Baby
Elena shows off all things Amanda takes us out to the ball game with this baseball themed wonderful about her daughter Alexis on her blog and was baby shower, which matched her fun-filled maternity photography. awesome enough to share Lexi’s purple princess nursery with us.
Serena Swan
Kansas Pitts
Marci knows a thing or two about It isn’t often we get to celebrate Kansas brought us a newborn photography shoot set on the flowers and how to mix and baby’s biggets religious beach as the sun was lighting up match much more than roses for milestones. Serena lets us the sky with colors. It’s the a floral dispaly that dazzles. experience Jackson’s christening perfect set of photographs to Check out this tea party she as if we were there. start the summer season. decorated for her assistant Jen on page 144.
Amber Sublett
Kylee Ann
Jessica Veltri
Nautical parties are always in vogue for the summer. Amber gives us a glimpse of nautical maternity photography with a mom and dad who are ready to sail away with happiness for baby.
Ava is a source of inspiration for her parents. This beautiful little girl was photographed smiling and adding sunshine in the wake of family strife.
What’s cuter than a little man turning two? How about a little guy playing with little animals? Jessica shot a fun-filled petting zoo, farm-themed birthday party. Check it out on page 135.
Heaven Sent Baby Boy Styled by Lauren Halperin and Kristina Olsen Photography by Lauren Halperin
Where the Prince Sleeps By Christi Johnson
Christi Johnson designed her son Nicholas’ blue and white baby nursery with a classic little prince in mind. The baby nursery from the Steve Martin movie Father of the Bride II also provided a magical moment. “When Franc opens the door and says, “Welcome to Baby Land,” that’s exactly what I wanted when I opened the door to my nursery.” Choosing the paint was the most difficult part of decorating this room. “To get the perfect shade of light blue, the paint chip must look gray. It took ten paint samples to find the right color before deciding on Sherwin Williams North Star 6246.”
The two Tiffany & Co. baby rattles are some of Christi’s favorite keepsakes. “The barbell my husband gave me when we decided to have our first child and the Man in the Moon rattle my husband gave me when our first son was born. The Air Force Build-A-Bear is also very special as it is always a reminder of my baby brother who serves our country in the United States Air Force and was deployed most of last year to Afghanistan - he is now home and safe!” Christi also has a baseball bat with hooks that she hangs baby clothes on which was in her brother’s nursery. “I also have some of my brother’s baby shoes and some of my baby clothes used as decoration in the nursery. My grandmother has passed away and she collected little ceramic bears and I also have a few of those in the nursery.”
Finding the bedding was a bit of a challenge. Christi ordered it from Etsy and picked the fabrics from small samples, which was difficult to do. She knew she wanted minky dot for the sheet and inner part of the bumper and is glad it worked out! “I love that his name is monogrammed on the bumpers.” Her favorite part of the nursery is a letter that Christi’s little boy gave her to give to his new little brother. “It is so special because I never asked him to write a letter to his little brother; he came up with this idea all on his own. The letter is now framed and hung in the nursery. I love his 1st grade handwriting, spelling of words and his important thoughts from big brother to little brother – so very special.”
Looking at as many nursery photos as possible is what really helped Christi and her mother decide on the theme of the nursery. “It is much easier to have a good idea of what you really like and want and then you are able to begin the fun process of decorating the nursery of your dreams.” And if that doesn’t help, rent a good movie! Crib – Pottery Barn Larkin Crib Bedding - Etsy Dresser- Craigslist find Chair – Home-goods
Chandelier – Pottery Barn Mia Chandelier Lamps – Kirklands Giraffe – Amazon, Melissa & Doug
Baby Ava Marie was born five weeks premature. Shortly after she was born her 11-year-old sister was diagnosed with cancer. Between the trips to hospitals and doctors offices for her older sister, the first six months of Ava's life were not a typical newborn’s life. Despite the trials and tribulations that Ava's family is currently facing, Ava brings light and joy into their lives. This shoot was put together to remember the beauty in such a tragic time. Photography by Kylee Maughan
Vintage Glamour Nursery By Bobbi Petersen
The Purple Prin By Elena of The Art
ncess Palace of Making a Baby
The room Elena designed for daughter Alexis is the smallest in the house and because of the size, she was concerned that she wouldn’t be able to decorate it the way she wanted. "I am not great with styling or design, I am not crafty and we didn’t have a huge budget. But I feel that we were able to do exactly what I had envisioned with only a few minor concessions."
While the chair is the only item in Alexi's nursery Elena feels doesn’t completely match, it was the result of the scales tipping to sacrifice comfort over price. “This was a good middle of the road rocker/recliner that is insanely comfortable.” The beautiful striped purple crib skirt and bows were made by Elena's sister who lives in Russia. "She did an amazing job, considering she’s not a seamstress and went off of our measurements. We opted for no bumpers, even though I had a very cute one in mind, and an organic muslin crib sheet along with a Naturepedic mattress."
Elena debated buying children’s canvas art for the room or framing her own photography. She went with the frames and is happy about it because it allwos her to switch out photos when she gets an itch for a chance, or when Alexis grows and she takes more photographs of her. The dresser was a old craigslist dresser that Elena had refinished. "Yes, I am aware the handles are upside down. No, it wasn’t on purpose. But since the dresser is old, the only crafty thing I managed to accomplish was lining the drawers with pretty purple and white fabric that I ordered online."
It took nearly to her due date For Elena to find a chandelier that both she and her husband liked. She didn’t want it to look cheap with plastic crystals and anything with real crystals was either too big or over the top. This one came in black and was exactly what she needed after a spray paint makeover. There are two mobiles over the crib. One is a wispy soft and cute one for looks and for when Alexis is a bit older to be interested in delicate things, and another developmental crib mobile made out of black, white and red plastic shapes that encourage baby’s visual development. Needless to say, Alexis loves it as much as she does her black and white board. Paint: Zero VOC Olympic Paint in Iris Isle Mirror: Rooms To Go Disney Princess Mirror Lamp: Shade from Layla Grace, base from Ebay painted white. Owl: Red Envelope Flower vase: vase and flowers from Michael’s, cut and arranged by me. Frame: a gift from ex-neighbors. Dresser: an old craigslist dresser and night stand refinished. (bought for $150, refinished for $500) Drawer Liners: Made using foam board from Michael’s, cut to size. Fabric ordered online. Chandalier: Overstock.com
Butterly mobile over the changing table: Amazon Owl & Bird Mobile: Magical Whimsy Etsy shop Black and White Mobile: Manhattan Toy Black and White Board: Amazon from Manhattan Toy Canvas: Easy Canvas Print Crown: HomeDecorators.com Sparkle statue: Zulily Framed Photos: Frames from Michael’s, photos taken by me printed at Bay Photo Lab Recliner/Rocker: Matter Brothers Rug: Target Shades: JCPenney (super cheap solution, but not cordless) Shelves: HomeDecorators.com
Take Her Out to the Ball Game Baby Shower Photography by Amanda Howard
Photography by Kevin Neilson-Hall
Guess Who is Having Two Gender Reveal Styling by Lauren Kapeluck
Elegant Reveal Photography by Tessa Rice
It’s a boy!
Nautical Maternity Photography Photography by Amber Sublett
Summer Days Photography by Kansas Pitts
Photography Showcase
Photo by Stella + Chris Poore of Mon Petit Studio
Photo by Amy Williams
Photos by Danielle Vander Leun
Photo by Martha Sachser
Photos by Melody Hood of Innamorata
Photo by Melissa Avey
Photos by Heather Hart
Photo by Julie Boucher
Photo by Rebecca Fournie of Luna B ella Photography
Photo by Renee Boccasile
Photo by Alexandra Wallace
Photo by CMMS Studios
Photo by Cherlyn Wagner
Jackson’s Christening By Serena Swan
Celebrating By Jess
with a Carnival ica Hinson
You are My Angel Photography by Kelly Lewis
Circus Celebration by : Cheryl Nguyen
Getting to Know Ewe While Turning Two! By Jessica Veltri
Tea Time Shower Styling by Entwined Design
Having a baby is a special time to celebrate and a baby shower is a fun way to involve your friends and family in the joy of your new little bundle of joy. Jennifer Evans decided to have an intimate sprinkle for this event because this was her second child. Since she was having a girl this time, she and her mother thought it would be fun to do something super girly and what could be more girly than an all ladies tea party! The invitation was something Jennifer adored and was very proud of since she husband and her designed and created it. “We made it in the shape of a tea pot which opened revealing the details of the date and time of the party inside. It was made out of craft style cardstock. The front had a pink and white pattern, a hand cut bright pink rose and green leaf and an outline in a slightly darker shade of the base pink. The inside had white cardstock with invitation wording printed in pink and green on a pink base. We made the menu as a matching creamer bowl to the tea pot. So it was created out of the same patterned cardstock with a hand cut bright pink rose and green leaf with a slightly darker shade outline. The lid of the creamer pulled up revealing the menu which was on white cardstock and printed in pink and green.” They also created a personalized pennant banner that read Tea Time that was hung above the dessert area. The banner was created from champagne and pink glitter cardstock with champagne lettering and tea cup hung with white ribbon. “We have started a paper goods store on Etsy that we are making hand crafted goods such as these. Being able to create them for something for our own kids makes it even more fun and special to us.”
After deciding on the tea party theme, Jennifer met with Marci from Entwined Design who developed an incredible and creative event design and floral dĂŠcor that incorporated various shades of pink and white turning it into an elegant and high class affair. The floral centerpieces included pink and white roses, ranunculus, tulips, garden roses, stock flowers and were held in white tea cups, saucers and plates to complete the look. The teetering look of the floral centerpieces and the elegant design of the overall event were magnificent and the guests continuously complimented them both.
Along with the exquisite centerpieces, the tables held tea cups and saucers for the guests to drink from for the party which were also used as their personal favor. “When choosing the color palette, we actually based it off of the tea cup favors. They had a plaid pattern on the bottom, which incorporated a light pink, a darker pink and white, and then pink roses on the top part. So using the different shades of pink and white from the plaid seemed like a perfect palette for an extremely girly tea party. Plus we had a little help from the creative Marci in envisioning the way the color palette would look.” All the food was made by Laurie Hocker and Denise Lee, the future grandmas. “My mother has always been a good baker but she wanted to take the classes so that when she had grandkids one day she could make birthday cakes for them which is lucky for me since she is incredibly talented at the decorating part too.” Her mom made all the desserts including cherry cupcakes adorned with fondant flowers, raspberry macaroons and coconut cake pops decorated with crystallized sugar as well as the bacon wrapped dates. Her husband’s mom made three different kinds of finger sandwiches, scones, Waldorf salad and mini quiches. There were various flavors of tea with sugar and cream and a raspberry sorbet punch to drink. “One of my favorite things that happened at the shower was that my father and grandfather who were not attending the girly shindig ended up running a small daycare out of the back room for any mom who had to bring their kids to the shower. It was quite unexpected for them as they were planning on going out for the day and leaving the women to their fun. It made it easier to play the games and enjoy each others' company with them in the other room playing games and eating all the sugar they could get their hands on. The men didn’t even complain saying that the kids behaved very well which I think was helped with the bribery of cookies, cake pops and cupcakes.”