Hey friends, Courtney here!
I can hardly believe it—my son Forrest is officially one year old. Time has flown since we first introduced him on the blog. We celebrated with a small, cozy birthday party at home with close family and friends. It felt like a warm, wholesome moment to mark his first year, and I wanted to share photos and a few ideas from the celebration.
We kept the party simple and relaxed, focusing on a few meaningful details rather than an elaborate theme. The atmosphere was homey and playful, full of little touches that made the day feel special and memorable.
I also turned a few Pinterest ideas into easy DIYs and will share the recipes I used for his smash cake and sugar cookies in this post.
Rather than a single theme, I focused on things that make Forrest smile—animals, bright little details, and a bit of whimsy. He notices tiny things, so I tried to include elements that would delight him.
Here are twelve one-year birthday ideas and details from our celebration:
1. A Special Party Hat
I bought an adorable birthday hat knowing he might not enjoy wearing it—and he didn’t. Still, it made for sweet photos and will be a keepsake from his first birthday.
2. Stuffed Animals in Party Hats
I saw this on Pinterest and knew it was a must. Seeing his favorite stuffed animals wearing tiny party hats was ridiculous and delightful. I made the hats from craft paper, rolled them into cones, glued on pom-poms, and tied them with baker’s twine. For extra charm I added a few puff-painted dots on the hats.
His little wooden animals wore mini pom-pom hats too—those tiny details made me so happy.
3. DIY Party Picks and Cupcake Embellishments
To personalize store-bought cupcakes, I designed party picks using simple graphics and photos, printed them, and glued them to toothpicks. I also tucked an animal cracker into each cupcake for a playful touch. These small customized details make the snack table feel thoughtful without a lot of fuss.
4. Month Milestone Banner
I printed Forrest’s monthly photos and strung them on baker’s twine to create a banner. Punching small holes in each photo and hanging them made a sweet visual timeline of his first year. If you make one, consider printing on cardstock or getting real photos printed for more durability.
5. Photo and Video Slideshow on the TV
We had hundreds of photos from the year, so we created a slideshow to play on loop. It was an easy way to share more memories with guests without cluttering the walls. A slideshow adds movement and personal storytelling to a party in a simple, effective way.
6. A Festive Smash Cake
I made a healthy smash cake and used Greek yogurt as frosting, then decorated it with a “one” candle, small printouts on skewers, and a pom-pom for fun. Forrest loved it—and I enjoyed a bite too. It tasted surprisingly good for a healthier recipe and kept well for leftovers.
7. “Who Knows the One-Year-Old Best” Sheet
I made a trivia sheet with fun questions about Forrest to spark conversation among guests. It was informal and lighthearted, but could easily be turned into a small game with prizes if you want more structure.
8. Sugar Cookie Party Favors
I made bunny-shaped sugar cookies as favors and packaged them in clear treat bags with ‘from Forrest’ stickers. Royal icing took some time, but the finished treats were a sweet goodbye gift for guests. Baking and decorating cookies can be a labor of love, but they really add a homemade touch to the party.
9. Whimsical Bunting
I used a fabric bunting from his room behind his high chair and added a small pennant we received before he was born. Simple textile details like this make the cake area feel festive without much effort.
10. A Simple Spread of Snacks and Treats
A table of snacks is essential. We leaned on a few favorites and easy-to-assemble options. Having a variety keeps guests happy and makes hosting less stressful.
11. Simple Bouquets
A few small bouquets brightened the kitchen. Fresh flowers add color and a celebratory feel with very little effort.
12. Instant Camera
We used an instant camera to capture candid moments. Polaroids have a special quality that feels nostalgic and tangible—perfect for a milestone like this. I enjoy adding those prints to a baby memory book and will treasure them for years.
My grandma gave us a baby memory book that I’ve enjoyed filling out each month, and adhesive photo corners make it easy to add Polaroids to the pages.
My sister Kylee and her daughter Lila traveled up for the party, which made the day extra special. They wore matching outfits and helped Forrest open a few favorite gifts. Forrest and Lila are only a few months apart, so it will be sweet to celebrate together in the years ahead.
It was a joyful, simple celebration of our boy’s first year—full of small creative touches that made the day feel personal.
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