First Birthday

A few weeks ago we celebrated my daughter's first birthday. It was a great celebration! My little girl is growing up way too fast so I got my friend to capture some shots of the things I created to make her day special. I found some clever ideas on Pinterest(of course!) and I went to town.

 I hung pink balloons upside down so I didn't have to pay for helium

 I tried ONLY ONE flower the night before and no time to do the 6 others I planned. You can see the instructions I found through pinterest here. It's a lot easier than you think. I will do a post on it soon.

 I loved decorated these cupcakes. Made me feel like I was a Chef! Minus the curlers in my hair, no makeup on, using my $10 cake decorating kit, and ripping my hair out. Moving on!

 The painted Mason Jars were a huge hit. It was interesting great seeing the men drinking from them, too. :)

 I used my Mom's extra polka dot fabric she found at Joann's as a tablecloth

 Box cupcakes with homemade buttercream icing that was to die for. Recipe here

 Bacon wrapped BBQ Chicken

 Found some branches in the woods, lightly sprayed them with the leftover spray paint from the jars, and hung christmas ornaments and spray painted plastic eggs on them. It turned out better than expected!

 Mom's special crescent rolls.

 Cut up some tulle, bunched it together, glued it to the back of velcro strip, the attached some ribbon to the front. I glued the other strip of velcro to the highchair so they stick together and VOILA! Originally found the post here, but apparently that woman is supermom cause I only used the tulle I had laying around so mine doesn't look as stunning

 Another Pinterest idea! I'll be doing a post on this, as well.

 The Birthday Girl!

 What a HOOT!

 Her bestie, Cora(Left) and her cousin, Faith(Right)

So sweet!


->Ashley

Mom-Approved:Cobalt & Jewels

Jewelry and colorful shorts are great pieces that distract from the dowdy sandals if you don't feel like wearing added height that day.

Top{Forever 21, similar} | Shorts:{Banana Republic, similar} | Sandals:{Rainbows} | Bag:{H&M, similar} | Necklace:{Express} | Bracelet:{J. Crew} | Green Ring:{Forever21, similar} | Striped Ring:{MyHabit, similar}

->Ashley

Mom-Approved: Skinnies & Wedges

Orange Striped Top{Anthropologie}| Skinny Jeggings{Forever 21, similar}| Wedges{BCBG}| Bag{Mom's vintage from Greece}| Watch{Relic(Ross)}| Neckalce{Kenneth Cole}

Shift Dress: Two Looks

Shift Dress: Two Looks by ashleynnicks featuring ASOS clutches

Cheap Monday dress, $45
ASOS shoes, $39
Zara shoes, $50
Oasis shoulder bag, $36
ASOS clutch, $36
J Crew bracelet, $118
Miss Selfridge bracelet, $16
J Crew bracelet, $40
BCBG Max Azria earrings, $18
AK Anne Klein watch, $65

Shut the front door!

I have always admired creative ways to enhance you exterior front door. I think it gives a feeling for what to expect inside, no?


Several months ago, I discovered Interior Designer Lizzie Carney's home......Okay, let's just stop right there!

                                                   Pics via Country Living

Enough said, right? It's beyond beyond gorgeous and exactly my cup of tea. I will be doing a lot of posts featuring her house, I'm sure, but for today I wanted to show you how I decorated my front door. There's not an actual picture of hers but you can see her door in the beginning of this home tour video shown on Nate Berkus Show. I did this a couple months back so forgive me for not getting before pictures.This is what the end result is

 I love how it's fun and quirky, but it's also practical, in the sense that my UPS man can always find my address and give me my oh so delicious shoes and clothes and jewelry and nail polish and furniture and diapers!(my daughter's, not mine :)) After thinking and thinking and thinking of how I could get a pretty font on my door(with no drawing skills whatsoever) I figured out I could use Carbon paper. So I picked some up from Office Max for under 10 bucks.

 I chose a font I had previously saved from using on my sister's shower invite. It's called 'Little Lord Fontleroy' and you can download it here. I printed the letters and numbers individually in the size I wanted.
 Then I placed the carbon paper(black side down) under the paper and taped it in the position I wanted on the door.

I took the closest pencil I could find.....my son's Winnie the Pooh jumbo pencil. It's always more fun when using a jumbo pencil ;)

Simply trace the letters and numbers then remove the paper. FYI, it's gonna look scribbly(yes I made that word up) and messy, but don't worry, It'll be covered up.

 Originally, I planned on using this metallic paint I had leftover from my daughter's room

But it got way to messy and out of the lines, so I found this pen

I love it!!!! It gives the same look and is sooooo much cleaner. Hold your breath, though, cause this tiny puppy gives off some serious fumage.(Another one of my intellectual words)

Finish it off and voila!

 I'm really happy with the way it turned out, but now I'm kind of thinking of painting the door black. I painted the inside of the door black and feel it gives an elegant look. I'll be doing a post on my foyer very soon. For now, I'm totally content with it! So what do you think? You like?


->Ashley