The first Birthday of the year

In about a week and a half my youngest will turn 11.  We went this morning and looked at cake ideas and she picked out a beautiful teal and white design with polka dot and chevron accents in black.  It was completely and totally different from anything she's ever picked before.  She's been all about blue since the day she was born.  Blue shoes, blue shirts, blue candy, blue, blue, blue...and often with a wild streak thrown in.  She has attitude.
I had planned on designing her invitations with a winter theme, but I chose to base them off her choice for her cake instead and I am so glad I did.  When I called her in to look at them, I got a smile and the highly sought after, but rarely attained "cool".  I feel like I've hit a home run.
My older 2 girls where 3 and 4 when I began dabbling in photography and design, but the youngest has been saturated in it her entire life and after a decade is decidedly no longer happy to pose or have mom design things for her.  Getting that small grin and one word made my day.  It meant more for me to have done something she approved of than for 1000 people to say they loved what I created for them.  It's been a good day.
Here is a peak at the invite that won such praise from my reserved {almost} 11 year old.