I think it’s safe to say every mother wants her child’s 1st birthday party to be memorable and a bit extravagant. And I was no different! I wanted to throw a bash for Isabella’s first birthday. We decided on the Fed (The Fed Community), venue in Clarkston, Michigan that chic and trendy. Because the interior is so gorgeous—imagine being in an Anthropologie—we kept it classic and decorated with balloons and flowers. BARELYON, a cover band, jammed out, their folky, Bohemian sound fitting nicely with the Fed’s vibe. Delicious food was served: mini tacos, flatbread pizza, truffle fries, salmon. We had cupcakes from the Townsend Hotel Bakery. Everything was perfect. And yet, our little birthday girl was in a mood. Let’s just say the event didn’t start out as I dreamed it would! Crying and screaming, she and I spent the first hour of her party in the parking lot, driving in circles in the back alley, undressing her to cool off, then re-dressing her, then driving in more circles. Our friends and family were all inside, and here I was, frantically trying to appease this 1-one-year who was being, well, a 1-year-old: unpredictable and temperamental. It wasn’t pretty but it was real!

Then, suddenly, Isabella calmed down and was ready to enjoy herself. The rest of the party went off just as I hoped. My girl was dancing to the music, in high spirits, playing. Yes, she won’t remember the day but she will see the photos and movie from the day and that to me is worth the effort to throw her a nice bash!