DIY The Big One Birthday Party

I  knew since I was pregnant with my second son that I wanted to do an ocean/beach theme for him. He wore an ocean outfit for all of his monthly photos during his first year. When the time came to start planning his first birthday, I knew it would be an ocean “The Big One” wave theme. This is ultimately what I did to make the theme come to life.

Photo Backdrop

Supplies You’ll Need:

• Balloon arch
• White & different blue shade balloons
• Blue paper
• Letter stencils
• Blue marker
• Scissors 
• Hole puncher
• String
• Tape

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Blow up white and 3 different shades of blue balloons.
2. Attach the balloons to the balloon arch.
3. Secure the balloon arch into place in the shape of a big wave on the wall, using tape and/or string. I used string to tie it around the corners of the wall.
4. Using the letter stencils, spell out/color the words “The Big One” with a blue marker onto the blue construction paper.
5. Cut all the letters out individually. I cut the pieces into circle shapes.
6. Using a hole puncher (a pen or scissors also work if you don’t have a hole puncher), punch a small hole at the top of each letter shape.
7. Cut your string into three pieces. Make sure each is long enough for the letters you’ll use on them. I put “The” on the first string, “Big” on the second, and “One” on the third. I used twine for the string.
8. String each letter onto their respective string through the punched hole.
9. Hang and tape each string to the wall under the balloon wave.

High Chair Decoration

Supplies You’ll Need:

• Streamer string
• Tape

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Attach the streamer string to the front of the high chair. I taped it in place. I got mine at Walmart super cheap, and it matched the colors of our Birthday sign. It’s lightweight, like plastic tablecloths.

Birthday Outfit

Supplies You’ll Need:

• White onesie
• Blue, teal/green, and white fabric paint 
• Paint brush

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Paint a blue ocean wave in place of the O. Let it dry.
2. Paint a blue letter N and E after the ocean wave O. Let it dry.
3. Paint some teal/green splotches randomly on the ocean wave. Let it dry.
4. Paint some white splotches randomly on the ocean wave. Let it dry.
5. Do any paint touch-ups to darken the colors and let it dry.

Cake

Supplies You’ll Need:

• Cake mix
• Colored icing
• Candle

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. For my son’s cake, we bought one at a local grocery store, but you can easily make your own.
2. Mix the cake mix.
3. Bake the cake.
4. Cover the cake with white icing.
5. Use blue icing to draw an ocean wave on the top of the cake.
6. Use blue icing on the sides to create an ombre look like the ocean water.
7. Optional: You can add a birthday message for your child if you wish on the cake or platter.
8. Add a birthday candle on top.

Plates & Napkins

To add to our ocean theme, I included blue paper plates with a wave along the edges and some napkins that looked like they had ocean waves on them.

I hope that these ideas help inspire you to throw your own ocean-themed birthday party and have fun with it. Happy celebrating and creating!

Autumn in Review: The Best New Fall Movies of 2023

I’m kicking off the Christmas movie season by recapping the Autumn movie season. When it comes to movies, no one does holidays and seasons better than the classic family-friendly rom-coms.

It has been a tradition of mine to review the best Christmas rom-com movies for the last few years. With so many fun fall-themed movies this year, I thought I’d add fall reviews for the first time as well. These movies are full of romance, autumn season themes, and mystery.

So without further ado, here are my top favorites from across Hallmark with their Fall Into Love 2023 movie slate and Great American Family with their Great American Autumn 2023 movie slate.

Top 5 New Hallmark Fall Movies

Hallmark had a total of 13 new premieres during their fall lineup. As you can tell, I really thought Hallmark hit it out of the park with their mysteries this fall. I liked a majority of the mysteries over the regular rom-coms.

5. Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Murder in G Major

“Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Murder in G Major” is a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries movie starring Tamera Mowry-Housley, Marco Grazzini, Adam Fergus, Risteard Cooper, and Julie Lamberton. A new teacher at an Irish prep school is shocked to find a ghost haunting her house. She decides to help solve his murder in the hopes that it will allow him to move on.

I was so excited to see this mystery as the lead actress is one of my favorites! It was set in Ireland, which was fun to see, and had a ghost element that added another layer to it. It was funny, with comedic scenes (thanks to the ghost that no one can see other than the lead). There were multiple options for a future potential love interest. It was a bit predictable for me as to who the killer was, but I enjoyed the journey of getting there and learning the why.

4. Curious Caterer: Fatal Vows

“Curious Caterer: Fatal Vows” is a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries movie starring Andrew Walker and Nikki DeLoach. A caterer and amateur detective is recruited to provide food for a sizable wedding. Jessamyn Cole, the bride, is the ex-wife of Goldy’s current love interest, detective Tom Schultz.

The 3rd installment of the Curious Caterer series, this was quite possibly my favorite! I loved how the detective was a suspect and was now working on the outside with the amateur to solve the mystery and clear his name. It was a fun, different take and gave a different perspective. The leads worked great together as a team and, as always, absolutely loved watching them on screen together!

3. Notes of Autumn

“Notes of Autumn” is a Hallmark movie starring Ashley Williams, Luke Macfarlane, Marcus Rosner, and Peter Porte. Ellie (Williams) is a fun-loving, classically trained pianist living in the city who gave up on her passion long ago. Her best friend Leo (Macfarlane) lives in the rustic outskirts of British Columbia. Realizing they both need a change of scenery, they decide to swap places, only to find themselves completely lost in new surroundings. Ellie gets tangled up in helping Sam (Rosner), Leo’s neighbor, put together a musical performance for a local fundraiser. Leo strikes up a friendship with Ellie’s good friend Matt (Porte) and opens himself up to writing something different that really inspires him.

I initially didn’t think much of this movie going into it, but boy, did it surprise me in so many good ways! It was cute and quirky. I loved the special friendship between the leads. The banter between the characters was quirky and fun. It was a really enjoyable watch with something for everyone.

2. 3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Ghost

“3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Ghost” is a Hallmark movie starring Julie Gonzalo and Chris McNally. A ghost from the 1920s refuses to leave the home just listed by Anna, a new real estate agent. Worse, the spirit is convinced she cannot “pass over” until she gets Anna back together with her ex.

I initially thought this was going to be a mystery because of the ghost element, but it wasn’t. It was so good! I loved having the ghost aspect and the push and pull between the ghost and the lead. Also loved how the ghost worked as a matchmaker of sorts. It was funny, quirky, and just all around fun. The blast from the 20s was a fun little side thing too!

1. Mystery Island

“Mystery Island” is a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries movie starring Elizabeth Henstridge and Charlie Weber. London Police psychiatrist Dr. Emilia Priestly needs to take a relaxing break from her stressful job, so her wealthy friend invites her to Mystery Island, an immersive murder-mystery-themed resort hosting a special retreat for the original investors. As the mystery game begins, tragedy strikes when the resort’s reclusive founder is murdered. Emilia “partners” with local detective Jason Trent to investigate.

This one takes the cake for my top favorite out of all Hallmark movies this fall. It was so fun and different from their typical cozy mysteries. I liked how the lead female wasn’t an amateur sleuth; she actually had knowledge and experience. Her friend still had the fun amateur sleuth vibes, which was fun. The chemistry between the leads was so fun to watch. It even had a twist at the end I didn’t see coming, and I didn’t guess the killer for once!

Top 5 Great American Family Fall Movies

Great American Family had an impressive 7-movie lineup for the newer network as part of their Great American Autumn fall movie slate.

5. Love Can Surprise You

“Love Can Surprise You” is a Great American Family movie starring Camilla Belle & David Lafontaine. Carina (Belle) is a relationship column writer who is unlucky in her own love life. She must team up with a man (Lafontaine) to work on her articles.

This was another acquired movie for Great American Family. I really liked how the leads were both reinventing themselves, how they had to work together (even though they don’t always want to), and how they ultimately help each other professionally and personally. Their relationship was fun to watch unfold.

4. A Harvest Homecoming

“A Harvest Homecoming” is a Great American Family movie starring Jessica Lowndes & Trevor Donovan. Drew (Donovan) takes a sub teaching job in his hometown and begins to rethink his stance on the town and his family's orchard when he meets their newest employee, Lainie (Lowndes).

Two of my favorites paired together were so fun! They worked great together and looked good together. Loved their dynamic and how they butted heads for a while. It was funny without being over the top. Love how the male lead bonded with the son of the female lead. So many different elements and layers to family dynamics, and it was so fun to watch it all unfold with each individual relationship. Plus there is singing, which is just one more thing to love!

3. One Perfect Match

“One Perfect Match” is a Great American Family movie starring Merritt Patterson & Joshua Sasse. Matchmaker Lucy (Patterson) meets a businessman (Sasse) and instantly feels a spark. She is shocked to learn the same businessman is her newest client.

A matchmaking rom-com that was still fresh and fun! I really enjoyed this one. Love the female lead, and the chemistry between the two leads was so fun. Liked that it was a sweet love story throughout and there wasn’t any dislike between the leads–the struggle was simply the matchmaking job/process. It was such a good one!

2. Craft Me a Romance

“Craft Me a Romance” is a Great American Family movie starring Jodie Sweetin & Brent Bailey. A craft store owner (Sweetin) is faced with an ultimatum when a new chain craft store opens up in town.

This one was acquired and not made directly by Great American Family, but I loved it! Really enjoyed the DIY/crafting themes. It had a very “You’ve Got Mail” vibe without the secret messages. It was so enjoyable and fun to watch from beginning to end.

1. Swing Into Romance

“Swing Into Romance” is a Great American Family original movie starring Danica McKellar, David Haydn-Jones & Gleb Savchenko. When a former dancer (McKellar) returns to her hometown, she discovers her family's general store is in trouble. To help, she teams up with a student's father (Haydn-Jones) to compete for prize money and must also face her ex-boyfriend and ex-dancing partner (Savchenko) at the same time.

This one was just too good! Loved all the characters and dynamics between them. It was cute and fun to watch. It was real and had lots of family values between the adult daughter and her parents and the single dad and his young daughter. Absolutely loved the dancing element and the Dancing with the Stars debut movie. Even the ex character you loved to dislike! Such a good one; I will definitely be re-watching!

Top 4 Fall Mysteries Movies

There were only 4 mystery premieres (all on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries) during the fall season. Only the last one didn’t make my top Hallmark list.

4. A Zest for Death: A Hannah Swensen Mystery

“A Zest for Death: A Hannah Swensen Mystery” is a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries movie starring Alison Sweeney & Cameron Mathison. When Hannah’s (Sweeney) mother finds a dead body during a house showing, she starts investigating.

The 8th installment in this series and the 3rd since they returned after a long break. The characters are so much fun and had me literally laughing out loud often at their shenanigans. However, it was very predictable. I picked the killer not even halfway through the movie. I also wasn’t a fan of the tension between the leads' romance; it seemed very unrealistic and unnecessary. I probably won’t rewatch it, but overall, still a cute movie worth the watch once.

3. Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Murder in G Major

See Hallmark Top 5 list above.

2. Curious Caterer: Fatal Vows

See Hallmark Top 5 list above.

1. Mystery Island

See Hallmark Top 5 list above.

Top 5 Fall Rom Com Movies

This is a combined list of my top 5 favorite rom-coms between both networks.

5. One Perfect Match

See Great American Family Top 5 list above.

4. Craft Me a Romance

See Great American Family Top 5 list above.

3. Notes of Autumn

See Hallmark Top 5 list above.

2. Swing Into Romance

See Great American Family Top 5 list above.

1. 3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Ghost

See Hallmark Top 5 list above.

Top 10 of all Fall Movies

My top 10 favorites from both genres and between both networks.

10. A Harvest Homecoming

See Great American Family Top 5 list above.

9. Field Day

“Field Day” is a Hallmark original movie starring: Rachel Boston, Benjamin Ayres, Shannon Chan-Kent & Carmel Amit. Jen (Boston) joins the parent-teacher organization and must plan field day with two other moms (Chan-Kent & Amit).

I didn’t think I’d be into this one going into it, but was pleasantly surprised. Loved the three-friends aspect focus vs. the romance. It was relatable as a mom and showed the different ways you can get stuck in life. It was funny, serious, and heartfelt. They did a great job of keeping it realistic during the somber moments but also lighthearted so it wasn’t too overpowering. Also loved seeing three women from different walks of life befriend each other and bond. Was a sweet movie.

8. Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Murder in G Major

See Hallmark Top 5 list above.

7. Curious Caterer: Fatal Vows

See Hallmark Top 5 list above.

6. One Perfect Match

See Great American Family Top 5 list above.

5. Craft Me a Romance

See Great American Family Top 5 list above.

4. Notes of Autumn

See Hallmark Top 5 list above.

3. Swing Into Romance

See Great American Family Top 5 list above.

2. 3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 Ghost

See Hallmark Top 5 list above.

1. Mystery Island

See Hallmark Top 5 list above.

There were so many good ones this fall between both networks. Did you have a favorite new fall rom-com premiere? Let me know below!