Creating a Baseball Wonderland: To set the stage for Dane’s first birthday, we transformed our backyard into a baseball field. Lee spent months preparing the grass, his pride and joy and decided to finish the field off with brand sponsors on the fence that Dane and I have worked with in his rookie year. Brands included Clek, Silvercross, Veer, and more! With vibrant decorations, such as banners and balloons in Blue Jay’s colours, it was turned out really great and gave the feeling of stepping into a miniature ballpark.

Rookie Ball Card: To capture the essence of Dane’s rookie year, I found a beautifully designed rookie ball card on Etsy. It featured an adorable picture of Dane, along with stats from his first year. This personalized touch added a nostalgic element to the celebration and served as a cherished keepsake for our family and friends.

Classic Baseball Treats: No baseball-themed celebration would be complete without classic ballpark treats. We had an array of goodies for our guests, including Big League Chew bubble gum, Cracker Jack popcorn, Gatorade and Baby Ruth chocolate bars. Some of these were hard to track down but I was able to get everything online (good old Amazon) or Dessart. The beautiful custom cake was deigned and made by QC Cakes!

T-Ball Game: One of the highlights of Dane’s first birthday was a friendly T-ball game. We set up a miniature T-ball field where the little ones could take turns swinging the bat and running the bases. It was heartwarming to witness their enthusiasm and watch the joy on their faces as they experienced their first taste of baseball.

Milestone Banner and More: To commemorate Dane’s first year, we created a milestone banner showcasing his growth and accomplishments. Each month was represented by a photograph, capturing his adorable milestones and unforgettable moments. It was a touching tribute to his journey.  It was very emotional to see how much he had overcome in just one year. *and cue to tears.

Dane’s rookie year celebration was a grand slam success. The baseball theme brought out the playful spirit in everyone, while the personalized details added a heartfelt touch. From the rookie ball card to the T-ball game and classic ballpark treats, every aspect of the celebration was designed to create lasting memories. Now I know he won’t remember this party, but we will. It truly was a celebration for all of us. Dane of course as he turns one but Lee and I as we survived our first year of parenthood! Now to finish planning his second birthday party which is happening in 4 days!! I had planned to tone it down a bit more for this year, let’s see if I can contain myself lol!

The post Dane’s 1st Birthday: Rookie Year appeared first on Teach Me Style - A style, beauty and life blog..

It wouldn’t be a TMS birthday celebration if I didn’t have a giveaway planned for you guys! YOU are after all the most important part… the countless comments, likes, emails, snaps, and words of encouragement mean so much to me!

SO, to celebrate and say thank you for following along on this journey I decided to start two years ago I (with the help of some of my favourite brands) have put together a basket full of my favourite things… and let me tell you the basket is full of awesomeness!! Enough chit chatting, let’s get into it!  Here is what one lucky winner will receive: (some not shown in picture as they are online codes!)

Y2quared
Token Heart Necklace, $25 gift certificate!
This company and the ladies behind it hold a very special place in my heart.  They were the FIRST ladies to reach out to me when I first started TMS.  Major love to these ladies and the jewlery they make.  It is rare to see me without one of their pieces on!

All Twerk and No Pray: Custom One Piece Bathing Suit
A custom bathing suit with any saying you want… genius! Not only are these bathing suits ultra cute, the fit and quality are amazing!  Taylor, the beauty behind this company is an absolute gem and has worked around the clock for many of my followers who have requested orders in a tight time frame.  Customer service and quality is what makes this company (and Taylor) one of my favourites!

Sigma Beauty: Mr. Bunny Essential Brush Kit, Mr. Bunny Travel Kit, Palmat Brush Cleaning Mat, Sigmatic Brushampoo  and Warm Neutral Palette
I have been using Sigma brushes long before starting Teach Me Style.  They were and still are my favourites.  The Warm Neutral Palette is gorgeous, you can check out the smoky eye tutorial I did using it, here!

Smash + Tess: The Morning Glow Robe
Although they are well known for their rompers- they specialize in all premium dreamwear.  Their motto “We believe that women should feel confident and beautiful every minute of the day, no matter whether it’s spent in the boardroom, on a school run, or between the sheets after a day spent conquering the world” is one I can stand behind!

BRAVE Leather: Winn Leather Foldover Clutch
GORGEOUS bags with a heartwarming philosophy behind the brand.  BRAVE Leather is art inspired by its process: fine leather goods ethically designed and exclusively manufactured in Canada.  I have several BRAVE Leather bags and belts.  My favourite part is they get better with time!  I use the Catriona Tote every single day for school and it is only getting more beautiful with every knick and scratch.  LOVE!

Brooklyn Designs: Kaylee Turquoise Swarovski Earrings, Kaylee Purple Swarovski Earrings and Rachel Druzy Long Gold Lariat necklace!
Another Canadian company with major street cred.  Being featured on The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Love It Or List It: Vancouver, How To Get Away With Murder, The Vampire Diaries and more! If it’s good enough for the celebrities then it’s good enough for me!

evo: The Great Hydrator, End Doctor, Mane Attention, Salty Dog, Root Canal, Easy Tiger, Liquid Rollers
If you follow me on Instagram then you will know that I am ultra obsessed with ALL evo hair products.  I use the The Great Hydrator religiously through the winter months to combat staticy/ dry hair.  I also use the Icon Welder spray every single time I curl my hair.  Most likely my favourite hair line of all time.

22Fresh: The Kelly Tee
My absolute favourite grey tee.  I love the crew neck collar, the length, the cut, and it washes like a dream which is hard to come by!  Also, I happen to know Kelly- she’s a mega babe and has the biggest heart… it’s no surprise the shirt lives up to the name.  22Fresh bridges the gap between street and sport–they make products that are styled for the street, and perform in the gym and on the field. 

White Lavender: 3 patterned scrunchies
There is nothing worse than getting a crease in your hair before wash day…scrunchies to the rescue!  Not only do they look cute- they are perfect for throwing your hair up in a topknot without the worry of ruining that fresh wash. The patterns are always changing and are just simply adorable!

DUVAL: Signature Choker Necklace
This company holds a special place in my heart not only because they make some of my favourite handbags and chokers, but also because they donate 10% of their net profit to The Textbook Program.  Learn more about the program here!

Jackson Rowe: Two Scarves.
A company based out of beautiful Vancouver!!  I LOVE their scarves- spring, light, and perfectly delicate!  This jacket is also another favourite! Use the code Holly30 to get 30% off!

Local Barre: Water Bottle and Dad hat
I’m sure you’ve heard me talk about Local Barre! I am a Leader and I love barre fitness and I absolutely adore their merchandise and I know you will too!

Juxta Boutique: $50 gift certificate.
I just recently discovered this little gem of an online boutique and I am LOVING it!  They carry many of my favourite brands like One Teaspoon, Free People, and Jackson Rowe. Use the code HOLLY15 to get 15% off your purchase! Stay tuned… a blog post featuring Juxta is coming very soon…

Okay… GO! The more social actions your perform the more entries you get into the draw!!  GOOD LUCK!!!

The post TMS Turns Two: GIVEAWAY appeared first on Teach Me Style - A style, beauty and life blog..

I often get asked what made me start TMS, so I thought today would be an appropriate time to share…

I’m the type of person who is always looking for a challenge or the next adventure.  Those who know me personally, know that I am a mover and shaker and I crave being busy.  Blogging had always been something I dreamt of doing but never had the confidence to do.  Last April, Brandon (my boyfriend) and I went to Hawaii (read all about it here!) and we saw Julia Engel from Gal Meets Glam in a tiny taco shop.  I was completely star struck.  Julia was sitting there with her boyfriend/photographer casually enjoying some food.  It was at that moment that Brandon and I realized they were just two regular people who decided to go after their dreams and that we could do the same. Brandon’s background in web development and photography made it easy for us to get started.  As soon as I came up with the name, Teach Me Style (right in the middle of reading a story to my class, haha!) he registered the domain and the rest is history. 

Anyways, enough about me… today I am celebrating YOU!! I honestly cannot say thank you enough for the support!  I have had countless emails, comments, and texts from people near and far sharing words of encouragement, which almost always seem to show up when I need it most.  Starting a blog and putting yourself out there can be scary, but you have made it the complete opposite! I feel loved, supported, and empowered with every post.

SOOOO, to say thank you, I have teamed up with my favourite local store and online boutique, Cade Style Lounge to give away a $1000 shopping spree!!!  If you’ve been following along you already know all about Cade! If you’re new, welcome!! and you can read why I am obsessed with this boutique and online store in this post!

Check out my video for a little outfit inspo… who knows you may be spending that $1000 before you know it…

Enter the contest below… good luck, beauties! XOXOXO

Cheers to the next year, I love you all!

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