Sawyer's Wild One - Part One

A few weeks ago, my son turned 1! I still can't believe that my tiny baby is now a toddler who is walking everywhere and getting into everything. I used to laugh at people who said it would fly by, mostly because those first few months seemed like an eternity at the time. But now I'm a believer that is does go by so quickly. Planning his first birthday celebrations snuck up on me pretty quickly, because I kept telling myself that I had a lot of time. Luckily, I already had an idea in my head for both his photos and the party, so it wasn't too hard to get everything together.

I knew that for his one year photos I wanted to have him wear the same costume Max wears in the book. We purchased his from Amazon. It's no longer listed as available, but you can find the same one here. Since we own a nice camera, we decided that we would attempt to take the photos ourselves in order to save a little money. We went to a nearby beach to take the photos, and the scenery couldn't have been more perfect.

Seriously, could he be any cuter?

He wasn't extremely cooperative, but we were still able to get some great photos.

Shout out to my Stitch Fix stylist, Rebecca, for choosing this awesome ensemble. Interested in trying Stitch Fix for yourself? Use this link to sign up now!

Since we already knew that we would be ordering a smash cake from a local bakery for his party, I chose to make the cake we used for his photos myself. I went with chocolate cake and fluffy white icing. I wasn't too concerned with making it look perfect. I made the banner using skewers, twine, mini clothes pins, and mini banner triangles all from Hobby Lobby. I made more trips to Hobby Lobby during the planning of his photos and party than I had in years combined!

Snacking on a teething wafer before digging in to his cake

Once his photos were done it was time to start planning his party. My next post will go into detail on the planning, decorating and event!

Glam VoxBox from Influenster

As a mother, it's always nice to receive free products. It's even better when these products are something that you use on a daily basis. Influenster allows anyone with a social media presence to sign up and have the opportunity to participate in campaigns. If you are selected for a campaign, you'll be sent a VoxBox full of products to use and review. The best part? These products are completely free of charge.

I received an e-mail at the end of February that I should check my mailbox soon because I had been selected to receive the Glam VoxBox! I was so excited when I received the box today and saw what was included, because these are already some of my favorite items, with a few new brands thrown in.

Disclaimer: The following products were sent to me complimentary for reviewing purposes from Influenster. All opinions are my own. If you're interested in signing up, you may do so by visiting their site.

Now, let's get to the reviews!

Gillette Venus Embrace Disposable Razors 

Gillette Venus with a touch of Olay Shave Gel in Violet Swirl

I was thrilled to see these products included! Gillette Venus razors are the absolute only razors that I will use. Anything else irritates my skin. I don't regularly use shave gel, but will say that this particular gel is worth purchasing. 

Cutex Advanced Revival Nail Polish Remover Pads

I love the idea of these nail polish remover pads. Not only are they a great on-the-go product, they are meant to help strengthen and nourish your nails with Botanical Oils. My nails could always use the help. Being that these remover pads are travel friendly - hello, no more bottles of remover spilling in your bag - I know that I'll get a great deal of use out of them!

Not Your Mother's Clean Freak Refreshing Dry Shampoo

I am a dry shampoo hoarder. I'm not exaggerating, I have at least 8 different brands on rotation at the moment. I love that this particular shampoo is unscented. In the past I've used dry shampoos that are so heavily scented I can't smell anything else, and a lot of the time the scents aren't that great. The first time I used this I was actually blown away - my hair still feels smooth and soft afterwards, and there's really no residue left behind! I will definitely be repurchasing this over some of the pricier brands I own at the moment.

Q-tips Cotton Swabs

Q-tips are always a staple. These come in a convenient travel pack and immediately got tossed into my purse. I use these for so many things - and love that I no longer have to find a separate bag to put them in, or even worse, just throw them into the bottom of my bag. 

SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Facial Skin Care Collection 

(One time use packets)

I'm all about using natural products, and have always wanted to try these! They smell delicious!

Every single product included in the Glam VoxBox was useful for me, and I've enjoyed testing them out. Like I said, ANYONE can sign up for Influenster and participate in campaigns. The more active you are on the site, the more likely you'll be selected to receive items. And if you don't have a great experience with an item you're sent? That's fine! Be honest, and review the product. Luckily, each of these products was great for me! There's also an app available, so you can access Influenster from anywhere at anytime!