first birthday

cakes

Smash Cakes: Messy Way to Celebrate First Birthday

First birthdays may be more about the adults in attendance than the actual birthday child, but when cake time arrives, the attention quickly shifts to the guest of honor.

First birthdays may be more about the adults in attendance than the actual birthday child, but when cake time arrives, the attention quickly shifts to the guest of honor. As the candles are lit and the cake makes its way to the celebrant, cameras are raised and everyone stops to see baby's reaction to her first bite of the confection.

To create the perfect photo of a lil one's first taste, many mamas create special cakes for their birthday babies. These mini cakes, often called smash cakes, have become increasingly more intricate over the years, with many of today's cakes matching the party theme. After the candles are blown out, the tot can dig right in – smearing, smashing, and drooling all over their special cake as a bevy of flashes capture her every move. Adults can then indulge in a larger version of the cake that has not been touched by lil hands.

Take a look at some of the creative smash cakes we found and tell us, did you indulge your first birthday celebrant with a cake of her own?

Source: Kallie Brynn Buckmaster

To check out more edible options, read more

Birthday

Kiddie Soiree: Birthday Toppers Just For You

I have been dying to tell you about these adorable custom made birthday hats, but thought I'd wait until Hat Day to showcase the special lil personalized party toppers ($34).

I have been dying to tell you about these adorable custom made birthday hats, but thought I'd wait until Hat Day to showcase the special lil personalized party toppers ($34).

Perfect for your tot's first birthday, these wildly cute hats are custom embroidered with your child's name and decorated on canvas using fabric, pompoms and ribbon.

Available in lime green and baby blue, ducky yellow and pretty pink, one is sure to suit the guest of honor's birthday suit. And, when it gets worn out after wearing it from year to year, you can put it away as a keepsake for baby's lil treasures.

cake

Kiddie Soiree: My Baby's First Cake

My lil girl turned one this past weekend.

My lil girl turned one this past weekend. I have been to a few parties and witnessed all the hullabaloo that was supposedly for baby. The expectations and excitement were high, but my budget was low. I couldn't stomach spending a month's paycheck for a party my darling won't even remember.

At one party I attended, the little girl was presented with a fondant cake. I didn't even order a fondant cake for my wedding. Don't get me wrong — they are beautiful, but, what happened to the good old days of making your own or buying a sheet cake from the local grocer?

Sheet cakes are my favorite because you can get creative with them. I bought a white cake and had my daughter's picture printed on the white icing. I only had to give the baker a 4x6 photo and one day notice.

Like most one-year-olds, my daughter loves seeing her own reflection so it was literally the icing on the cake. She dove into it and giggled. That's what birthdays are about. Sorry expensive fondant cake, you lose.