Dude...

WHY cannot I not get my butt on the 'puter to blog?  Like everything else in life, it is a total chore right now.  Going to the bathroom is a chore.  The 3rd trimester slowdown has come on with a vengeance.  I'm not fatigued like I was during the 1st trimester, but Sam is so mushed up in there that it's hard to breathe.  So the littlest thing, like talking, gets me out of breath.  My sweet husband suggested I just stop speaking.  Hahaha...

My Braxton Hicks contractions did get the better of me last night...  we missed the neighborhood Christmas party because of them!  I've had them on and off throughout the day the last few weeks, but the doctor said not to worry about calling unless we had more than 6 an hour.  Well, first I'm supposed to get horizontal and drink a glass of water if I have six.  And if they don't slow down, then we call.  So last night I was having them like every 10 minutes for over two hours, so we did call.  Only for them to tell me that there's not much to do since I'm past 34 weeks.  Baby is super viable at that point, so if labor were to start, they're not going to interfere too much at this point.  OK whatever... I felt better after hearing that, although I do want this little booger to stay in there and bake as long as he can.  We go for another OB visit on Tuesday so I will ask again if there's any different protocol for my situation since my doctors don't want me going into labor period... I failed to think to ask that last night, but I'm not worried.  These definitely aren't true labor contractions.  But hopefully we can get some more assurance on Tuesday.

We were supposed to hit the mall after church today to finish up the last bit of Christmas shopping we had, but decided to play it safe and lay low.  Shopping (well, standing up or walking for long at all) has gotten super difficult.  I've only been able to do quick trips.  I did do a BRU-Kohl's-Target run Friday afternoon with my mom and I think that did me in.  From now on it's either Amazon or a motorized scooter.  The hub is taking good care of me... whether it's a 4am poptart or an emergency backrub, he comes running.  The other day he said he can't wait to sit in our rocker and doze off with Sam in his arms.... wow, melt my heart!  He's going to be such a great daddy.

So, all is good... the nursery is really, really coming together!  As I type, the hub and my dad are upstairs finishing up the beadboard in the bathroom.  The cornice board for the nursery has been assembled, but for the fabric - it is going to look SO great!  Still waiting on some other little odds and ends - various fabric projects/accessories and also lighting fixtures... but the major projects are all but done.  Can't wait to see it all come together!

And lastly, for now, here are some pics from one of my last showers.  This one was hosted by my wonderful godmother.  We had a fabulous turnout - lots of great friends of my mother's came all the way from Alabama to help us celebrate.  And a lot of my sweet friends came from all over as well - many who I hadn't seen in forever!  It was a great afternoon...

Sam's own little Christmas tree!

The sweet hostess with the mostess!

Eating for two... nom nom nom!

One of my favorite gifts!  A sweet name plaque for Sam from my friend, Jill.

I think I'm trying to explain to my mom what Baby Legs are...

One of my dear friends gave us this awesome wagon!

Uh, yeah...

This is what I wore... Gap dress with my Target shoes and grey tights.  Dress was cute on - if I didn't move.  But I had horrid static cling that day, no matter what I tried... so it did not hang so well at the shower.  Oh well...

Baby Shower - Nov 6th

We had a double header that first weekend in November!  This second shower was put on by my best high school girlfriends and another one of my sweet girlfriends that I used to work with.  This one was a lot more intimate and girly... all the details were so sweet!  What a fun weekend, huh?!

The lovely food table with all kinds of sweet goodies - including a bike-shaped diaper cake!

Delicous cake pops made by one of my girlfriends

A watermelon baby carriage - too cute!

Sam's going to one dapper little dude!

More great gifts... Sam is really loading up!

Couples Shower - Nov 5th

Finally, some pics for you!  This incredible shower was put on by some of our very good friends.  Every detail was fabulous and we had an absolute ball.  It could not have been more perfect!  We are truly grateful to be blessed with such amazing friends and family that were so excited to celebrate with us.

The table set-up for a delicious BBQ dinner

Adorable centerpieces with baby books and rubber duckies

Favors with one of my faves... white chocolate covered pretzels!

Monogrammed petit fours

The petit fours and some delicious red velvet cupcakes

And you gotta have some chocolate!

Sam's loot!

Me and the hub... and check out the cute mason jars with tags and paper straws!

Yes, folks, there really is a baby in there!

Showered with Love

Wow, what a weekend!  And thank goodness we have an empty room downstairs... or had I should say.  The "empty" room has now become storage for all of Sam's loot!  And the boy racked up this weekend.  We had two lovely showers thrown by sweet friends of ours.  My dad played photographer (in addition to grandpa-to-be) at the couples' shower Saturday night and he got a lot of great shots.  And one of my sweet hostesses from Sunday got some great pics as well.  I'll be back soon with more deets and pics (still waiting on some to get sent to me), but check out these adorable cake pops that one of my girls made for Sunday's shower...

And how stinkin' cute are these monogrammed petit fours from Saturday?  I'm a sucker for a monogram... especially with sugar.

Lots of love for little Sam this weekend...  so grateful.

Shower Outfits for this Weekend

Can't believe my first showers are HERE!  I'm so, so excited.  And of course all the goodies for Sam are totally fun, but I'm also thrilled to get a lot of our friends and family together that we don't see all that often.  So fun to celebrate this special time with all of them!

Tomorrow's couples' shower is hosted by some great friends of ours.  I'm glad the hub and the grandpas get to participate in some fun!  I'm going a little more casual for this one - but fabulous nonetheless, right?!

I actually changed up this outfit last minute.... I had something entirely different in mind, but I threw this together Wednesday night to go out for our anniversary dinner and decided it was WAY cuter than my shower ensemble.  So the old outfit got the boot!  The blouse and jeans are from Old Navy.  I got the shoes off Amazon to go with the original shower outfit, but they look great with this new one!  And I'll finish it off with some chunky gold bangles.  Super cute!


Sunday's shower is hosted my several of my sweet girlfriends and will surely be a bit more "girly" so I'm of course going with a dress for that one...

I tell ya... finding cute fall and winter maternity dresses is quite the challenge.  Summer is EASY.  Fall and winter?  Not so much.  But Gap has been my savior here.  The dress is from Gap - and that necklace in the pic is not part of the dress, FYI.  It's such a flattering cut and easy to wear.  I'm pairing it with some burgundy tights and metallic pewter shoes from Target.  The tights are not maternity - just some basic ones from Target that I may have to slice the waistband on to be comfy.  But hey, for $7 tights, I don't mind breaking out the scissors.  The shoes were a mere $19.99 and look much nicer in person.  They look pretty cheap in this pic.  Well, cuz they are.  But they really do look better in real life.  The only shoe options in my closet were flats, which would make me look frumpy, or 3.5 heels, which would surely send me to the hospital in my extra-clumsy state. 

Excited!  Can't wait to tell y'all all about the showers on the other side.  TGIF and hope you all have fabulous weekends!

More Shower Fun!

Are you ready for all this attention, Sam?

Outside

Inside

Another one!

This is getting fun...

Eeks!  Sam is gonna be so spoiled.

TGIF by the way... it has been a looooooong week.  Very glad to see today.  Looking to get some painting done in the nursery this weekend.  More on that later!

First Shower Invitation!

Another one of those "is this really happening?" moments...

Back later with more updates.  I'm buried in work for the time being!  Hope you all are having a great week!

2010!

May this new year bring you all many, many blessings! We had a fun night last night. We went out to dinner with some friends and went roller skating. Haven't been in YEARS. I used to kick ass 20 years ago, but um... not so much now. It was fun though - we wore ridiculous costumes and had a good laugh. We actually toasted to the new year back at our house with Dick Clark and a bottle of champagne.

And the hub and I are certainly full of hope for this coming year! Goal planning session on tap today during our trip to Athens for Lucky's wedding. (We do our best thinking in the car, for some reason.) More on that later!

For now, it's all about Lucky and her big wedding weekend! I'm finishing up some last minute placecards and whatnot for her right now. Then I've got to pack. Here's what I'll be wearing to the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner tonight...

I've had this J. Crew number for a while and it's still one of my all-time favorites. It's easy and fun. I'm wearing it with a taupe-colored cardi, oversized gold pearls, opaque navy tights, and bronze Mary Janes. Wish I had pics of all that, because it's ferosh.

And if y'all remember, this is the bridesmaid dress (in black)!

The picture doesn't do much for it - it actually looks a bit of a snooze on the dress form. But it is quite the little party dress - very young and flirty. It hits just above the knee.

My camera will be in tow, so I hope to have some fun pictures to share on the other side! Enjoy today and have a fabulous first weekend in 2010!

Razzle Dazzle

Are y'all having great weekends? Hope so! Today is get-caught-up-on-laundry-and-reorganize-our-closets day. But tonight we're going to a snazzy wedding in Buckhead and I'll be wearing this...

I snagged the green dress and ring from J. Crew, thanks to my birthday giftcard from MIL! The shoes are old... I got those to wear in kuntry bride's wedding two years ago. And I also have a fab gold quilted clutch that I'll carry. So excited to get dolled up and go out! I mean our idea of a date night lately is a $1.50 hot dog combo at Costco and a movie. So yeah, it's pretty thrilling. And a lot of our friends will be there, so it should be a fun night!

Tomorrow I'll be breaking out the Christmas decorations and getting a start on that. And hopefully finishing up my wrapping. And oh yeah, I also plan to FINALLY get part 2 of my story up tomorrow. Sorry I've been a slow poke, but it's been a very busy few weeks. Back soon!

Wrapped Up.

Hope you all had fab weekends! Among other things, I started wrapping Christmas gifts. Because did I tell you? I'm DONE with all my Christmas shopping. I have a few odds and ends left but all my main gifts are done. And wrapping is my FAVORITE part...

My goal every year is to have everything bought and wrapped before December ever arrives, and girls, I think this is the first year I will actually do it! Our December calendar is always packed, so it's nice to have all of that out of the way so we can just enjoy all the parties and whatnot.

Hope you all are having a good week. I promise I'll be back shortly with part 2 of my story - it's almost done!

Happy July!

So the year's officially half over - wow! I hope y'all have some exciting July 4th plans. We'll be running trying to survive the Peachtree on Saturday morning and then hitting a couple of parties later that day. We're doing suburban style fireworks that night at a neighborhood party, but if you're in Atlanta, the best fireworks are always at Lenox - hands down. So head down there (early) if you're up for that. Sunday morning (way early) we're heading down to the beach for a much needed vaca! Cannot wait! We're heading to St. George Island in Florida and we'll be in a house right on the beach. Heaven!

So if you didn't catch my tweet yesterday, my firm announced that we are getting Fridays off in July TOO! I'm soooooooo totally stoked. That made my summer. So awesome! I mean those two months of Fridays off is like 2 weeks of vacation! So yeah, super excited about that.

What else... oh I posted over here about these fab new bib and burpee jar sets Javis Davis introduced this past week. They are to die for and super affordable! Perfect shower gifts - only $20 for the set and YOU get to choose the fabrics! I've already sold a bunch, so contact me if you're interested in snagging a few! Free shipping on orders over $99 and no sales tax outside of Alabama, girls!

And lastly, don't forget to enter my Vera Bradley giveaway! Deadline is Friday, so hop to it, girls!

Happy Memorial Day, y'all!

Oh, do I love me a 3-day weekend, or WHAT?! I think they should be standard. Four-day work weeks, three-day weekends. I'd work 10-hr days to get that done - no question. So anyway, we've got like cookout-palooza this weekend. We are totally party hopping today starting at 2pm. Cookout at one friend's house... then we're hopping over to the hub's boss' house for a luau, then stopping by a graduation party for the hub's old boss' daughter... then finally a neighborhood luau after that. (What's with the luau theme?) Anyway... I expect to be FULLY exhausted come 10pm. Then we've got another cookout at another friend's house on Sunday afternoon. We are gonna be cooked out.

I hope you all have fabu holidays... a special heartfelt thanks to all of the men and women who lost their lives defending our fab country. I hope everyone takes a minute between BBQ's this weekend to toast to them!

And now I'm just trying to figure out what the heck to wear today... can one outfit make it through FOUR parties? Especially outdoor ones? I'm thinking a refresh might be necessary before the neighborhood luau. Plus I feel like a beached whale because I'm pretty bloated from that damn shot I had to take last week. It gives you early pregnancy symptoms - which is rather cruel, really. So my sore boobs and fat belly are a total tease. The drugs should be outta my system in the next couple of days, so if these little symptoms stick around, I'll really start to wonder. But right now I'm not putting much stock in them.

OK off to get ready for our gazillion parties! Have a great one!!! xoxoxo

Prom night.

The hub was so totally last minute, but he asked me to the prom! OMG. Hahaha... Yes, this is where we'll be heading tonight...



The Buford Business Alliance is putting this event on and we've known about it and thought it'd be fun (I totally love any chance to dress up, you know), but the tickets were like $70/couple. No thanks... Dave said, hell no! But Wednesday one of our good friends called us to tell us she scored a second pair of FREE tickets and did we want them? Hellz yeah! We loves free, you know.

But getting ready for prom in two days is no easy task. Thank goodness it's black tie optional... the hub's just going to don a nice dark suit. And sadly, I have given away most of my occasion dresses. So I have very little options in that department. Most of my cocktail dresses are wintery because I usually get them for holiday parties... so I'm resorting to just a plain black dress. I'll play it up with some fab shoes and fun accessories to make it a little more fun. Gosh, the old me would have run out and dropped some dollas on a new frock as soon as I found out I was going. I'm just too gosh darn sensible now. So once again, we're shopping in my closet. It should be a really fun night though - I'm excited. And a little birdie told me I might be getting a wrist corsage... hehehehehe!

Other exciting things today? Auntie Flo arrived late last night. She's a bitch, but I was glad to see her. Because that means it's time to get this Buford Baby show on the road! I'm calling my RE this morning as soon as the office opens to see when I need to come in. I'm guessing they'll either have me go ahead and come in today or Monday at the latest to do an ultrasound and bloodwork and get my Clomid fix. And no worries... I'm not going to take you through every grueling detail of this process and the next, but I'll let y'all know where I am.

Hope you all have a fantabulous Friday! Time to get my hairs dried and out the door... xoxoxo

Today's Forecast: A Drop in Temperature with a Chance of Showers

So I have to say this basal body temp thing totally fascinates me. Why I brushed it off before, I have no idea. I guess the thought of having to remember to take my temp every morning didn't appeal to me. But hello, it's free, and of course... my chart is the freaking poster child for how it works. Of course! But really, that's a good thing because I can toss those expensive ovulation predicter kits. Anyway, so I completed my first cycle with success recording my temps everyday (translation: I started today, so forgive my foul mood). I knew it was coming as I noticed my temp starting to drop. And when I saw a bunch of my facebook friends filling out the "mommy survey" and I wanted to throw cement blocks at the computer screen, I really knew it was coming. I especially love the first question: "Was your first pregnancy planned?" Vomit.

Speaking of, CB is preggers. And until she revealed the news to her fam recently, I was the sole person who knew about it (besides her and her husband of course). Now, as I've said many times, I don't want my friends to ever feel like they have to tip-toe around me for fear of hurting me with their own happy news.... but it's still a bit of a punch in the gut, no matter what.  But here's my real dilemma... I'm pretty confident she's expecting me to offer to host a shower for her. So that's where I'm stuck. I feel compelled to offer. Which, all things being equal, I would normally jump at because, hello, I LOVE throwing parties. But in case you don't know, we prego-challenged effing hate baby showers. It's the ultimate celebration of everything you can't have. Baby stuff exploding everywhere followed by "ooohs" and "ahhhs" and the inevitable mommy club discussions comparing labor experiences and breast feeding challenges. Now I won't speak for all prego-challenged because I wasn't always like this. Never thought I'd hate baby showers (I used to LOVE them)... but time wears on you. No matter how positive I generally may be about the whole thing, there are certain things I try to separate myself from and I think that's OK. No matter how at peace I am with where we are when we're in our own little world, baby showers and kids' parties are like flashing billboards reminding me that I've been left behind. I always put on a brave face when I'm forced into these situations, but I do try to avoid them.

So what should I do? I would rather suck it up and host one than hurt her feelings. So I'm guessing, knowing myself, that I'll eventually break down and offer it up. Kuntry bride and Lucky said I should just lay low for a bit and wait it out. Maybe someone else will host one. But how long can I wait? She's right at 3 months. (And keep in mind that I'm a planner... I like to "book" things way in advance.) I thought about offering to host a couple's shower... at least then it would be more of a party mood vs. a traditional baby shower that would be over-the-top oooey goooey. Thoughts?!

Again - sorry for the woe-is-me crap post! Just one of "those" days. I hope y'all have a fabulous Friday! I get to wear jeans today and that always put me in a better mood - why is that?! It totally does though. And sorry I've been so slack catching up on your blogs lately - as I mentioned, my work banned us from blogger, so my bloggy time has been kinda sparse. And after staring at 4 computer screens (yep, 4) for 10+ hours each day, the last thing I wanna do once I get home is get on the 'puter. But I'm still managing to hop on here and there! Well have a wonderful weekend, all! I promise I'll come back with a better 'tude. ;-)

Hello, blogworld?

Is that you? Hi, it's me - Buford Betty! I know, I know... I've been away for SO long! My last post was about turkey day and now we're about to smack right into Christmas! My December has just been so busy - as it always is. The string of holiday parties started last Saturday and well, it's non-stop till Christmas. We literally have a party (at least one) EVERY Saturday and Sunday till Christmas - and even some Fridays. No rest for the weary! I don't know why this surprises me every year... but it happens every December.

Now I DID reach my goal to finish all my Christmas shopping by the end of November. Hallelujah! I did not, however, get all of that loot wrapped yet. I wanted to be bought, wrapped, sealed, tagged, etc. before December ever got here... but, well crap. It's here! Whatever. Anyway, it's not that I haven't had fun things to blog about... I mean I usually jot a little note to myself when something pops in my head that's blogworthy. I have a nice little list brewing here... but my work calendar and social calendar have been busy, so that's leaves you, dear blogworld, to suffer. Hehehe...

Well, we did have a fabulous Thanksgiving. We were over at my godmother's for Thanksgiving dinner. And then the hub and I headed up to Tennessee to visit with his parents for the weekend. It was a great long weekend. Oh and did I mention that I went Santa shopping with my mom the Wednesday before? Yes! That little taste of shopping was a bit dangerous though. Even though Santa was buying, it wasn't good for me to smell those lovely retail smells and see the incredible bargains to be had up close and personal. I'm much better left in the dark. Out of sight, out of mind y'know. But I got some super cute stuff from Santa - well, I don't have it yet, but anyway - yeah. That makes me think of a Santa question... I think I'll add a fun little poll on here (note to self).

Oh and did I mention that we got banned from using Facebook at work? Not that I'm even on it much at work, but just the fact that I *can't* get on it is annoying. Especially when I get an email alert about a message or something and I can't get on there to answer it... that sucks. Because honestly the last thing I want to do when I get home is look at a computer. I sit in front of 4 - yes FOUR - large flat screen monitors every day. It's amazing I still have any vision left. So really, the idea of sitting at the 'puter once at home is no fun. So my facebook time has dwindled. As well as my bloggy time. I'll get it in there somehow though! I have so much to post about - I just need to sit my butt down and make the time. This is the most random post ever. OK so while I don't have time to post everything I wanna right now, I will leave you with a few things and a super simple recipe that I used at Thanksgiving too. Hope y'all are having a great week! I've missed y'all! :-)

OK, my random ramblings...

1. How much do I love Costco? More than you know. Our torrid love affair gets hotter and sweatier everyday. So I only recently discovered (or paid attention really) to the fact that you can get movie ticket vouchers there for $7.50. And there are NO exclusions. AND they're good for IMAX movies! Our local theatre has an IMAX screen. So the hub and I budgeted for a date night this month because he wanted to see that alien movie thing with Keanu Reeves - The Day the Earth Stood Still or whatever. Yeah, totally his pick. Anyway... our theatre has it showing on IMAX. So my old non-budgeting self would have gone on Fandango to get tickets - and those would've been $34 for two (after the fees and junk). BUT my shiny new budgeting self got two vouchers from Costco (you just ask for them at checkout) for $15 and went over to the mall yesterday to trade them in for our tickets. So I saved $19 by doing that - hellz yeah! Three cheers for Costco!

2. That leads me into what's on tap for this weekend... Friday night is date night with the hub. Saturday morning we're running the Jingle Jog 5k. Any other peaches running?! Gertie will be running alongside me with some Christmas flair - I promise to take pics! Charlie was supposed to run, but he has managed to injure his knee. The hub was at the vet with him yesterday. He's on some pain meds and we're just watching it for now, but the run is definitely out. Poor Charlie - say some puppy prayers for him! So does Belly get to take his place? Well, I say heck no because she is an absolute pill to run with... but she is daddy's girl and the hub is saying he's taking her. That's fine - he can run with her. Here's bettin' he tosses her into a garbage can before mile 2. Oh and I got some awesome Christmas knee-high socks for the occasion. I will take some pics of those too. Then SaturDAY I'll be in a wrapping frenzie! Frenzy? However you spell it. Saturday night we have a Christmas party at a friend's house... Church Sunday a.m.... A kid's birthday party at noon... and then our small group Christmas party Sunday night. Phew!

3. I'm almost done reading Breaking Dawn. I flew through the first three books, but had to slow down on this last one since we've been so darn busy lately. I don't think I ever mentioned my thoughts on the Twilight movie either... I thought it was good, not great. Liked, not loved. Edward was completely drool-worthy and worth the ticket price alone, but as with most movies based on books, the book is soooooooooo much better. I think, just the way it's written, it's so hard to translate that on film - especially in a 2-hour window of time. I don't think the intensity of Bella and Edward's relationship comes through. Though I have to say, I did find Jasper freaking hilarious. He's like Edward Scissorhands, minus the scissors. So I have a new-found love for Jasper after seeing the film. So overall... if you haven't read the book, I'd skip it. I just don't think I would've "gotten it" if I hadn't read. I mean I love me some vampires (again - tried and true Buffy fan here), but I think the movie was lacking. Oh I'll still totally buy it on DVD so I can look at Edward.... but yeah... I'm hoping they put a little more edge into the second film. Sounds like they're trying to spit that one out by the end of next year.

4. OK lastly (I told you these were random)... here's a recipe for corn casserole that I made for Thanksgiving. It's so stupid easy, but a huge hit. My favorite combo! Plus it's made with stuff most people have on hand - and if not, these ingredients are cheap. This is an old Paula Deen recipe, so you know it's good (terrible for you, but good)...

You'll need:
1 can creamed corn
1 can corn
1 stick butter
1 cup sour cream
1 box Jiffy cornbread mix

Melt the butter and mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. Pour into a baking dish. (I've done this both in a regular 9x13 dish and a square dish (9x9) and I think it comes out better in the 9x9). Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes. Yum-o!!!!!!!!

5. Wait, one more... Back to my thoughts on a poll re: Santa... So when I was growing up (and I guess I still am because Santa still comes if we're spending Christmas at my parents' house), Santa would lay out my gifts - all across the floor, all along the couch, whatever the case may be. He didn't wrap. Now Mom and Dad's gifts to me were wrapped and under the tree, but Santa came and left everything out unwrapped. I realize this is a heated debate... much like real vs. fake Christmas trees, or which way the toilet paper is supposed to hang, but I must ask, What does Santa do (or what did he do) at your house? Wrap or not?

Speaking of Fashion Week...

Atlanta gals, be sure to get down to the Biltmore tonight for Shecky's Girls Night Out! Tonight is the final night of this "shopping party." I would've been there last night, but we had a date with NKOTB. Tickets are still available online or you can purchase at the door while they last. In fact, you can get in free tonight with proof that you're a registered voter. I may do a little Christmas shopping if something catches my eye, but I'm gonna be a good girl. I'm in it for the cocktails and goodie bag! And to see what these "emerging designers" have up their sleeves... I'll have a full report tomorrow!

A funny for your Friday.

This was just too funny not to share. Especially after my recent party posts, let's not forget how *stressful* planning a party can be sometimes. My dear girl, Lucky, is co-hosting a baby shower for one of her best friends tomorrow and she's about to shit a brick. I just now asked her how things were coming along and this is the email response I got...

"Yeah, the effing shower. That Amy just backed out of….and she was bringing the ribbon with diaper pins. Effin eff. Where do I get diaper pins? Effin’ eff. I effin hate this effin shower."

:: One year ago today ::

Reader Question: Budget Friendly Party Favors

I got a sweet comment from Some Like it Southern on my party-on-a-budget post along with a great question...

"I am hosting a Sip & See next weekend and since it's in the afternoon we are doing all deserts (and fruits) and I will definitely be using both of those recipes! Thank you so much for sharing!!! Oh and can I ask you if you have any suggestions for budget friendly favors?"

SLS, I think I read on your blog that this is a Sip & See for a new mommy, correct? I love the idea of doing all sweets - I've done that before and it's so fun. A good and really budget-friendly favor that I love to do for baby showers are chocolate-dipped baby spoons. They are so easy to make, and will go perfectly along with your dessert theme! If you're serving coffee, you can set a few unwrapped ones out for guests to use at the party. And then have spoons individually wrapped in cello bags with a cute favor tag attached for guests to take home.

It's stupid cheap... I usually get the First Years Take & Toss spoons. You can get a pack of 20 for less than $4. And just like my dipping how-to for chocolate-covered strawberries, use the same method for the spoons. You can also get creative with flavors if you want. Super easy, super cute, and best of all - super cheap!

And now I can breathe!

Ahhh... too big major exhales! The shower on Saturday went off without a hitch, and I also finished this really big project at work I've been hammering out the last several days. I had to come in to the office yesterday to crank through it and I wrapped it all up in a nice bow early this morning. Now that I'm over those two humps, I feel much more relaxed. Work is still crazy busy - our last two major deadlines of the year are approaching, but I got that one big monkey off my back now, so I'm feeling purty good.

Did y'all have fabu weekends? We didn't make it to the game of course since we were in shower mode all day Saturday. We just had Larry Munson on the radio while we got la casa in tip-top shape. Belly and Charlie got shipped off to grandma and grandpa's for the day and Gertie stayed for the festivities. She is a spaz around her brother, Charlie, but when she's alone she is totally chill. And she's the only one of our three that doesn't try to jump on people. So she was the lucky girl who got to stay and hang out for the party.

I was actually rather calm all day Saturday, despite my long-ass to-do list. I usually have to down glass of wine about two hours prior to any hosting duties to prevent freaking out, but I was pretty darn relaxed for whatever reason. No wine required. MIL and FIL came in town for the shower (the groom is a childhood friend of the hub's, so they were on the guest list). It was great to visit with them even though it was less than 24 hours. Here are a few pics of the setup...



The wine station - a rather popular spot. You just never know who's gonna drink what. Especially at a shower because it's really the bride and groom's guest list, not yours. We just did beer and wine. Neither the hub nor I drink beer so I never know what kind or how much to get. I always consult my beer-drinking friends. But this crowd turned out to be wine people, so we have a bunch of Bud Light in our fridge now with nowhere to go. And it'll sit there till someone else takes it because it sure won't get consumed in my household.




My food table turned out nice... I'm so darn picky with the setup. I think I switched it up some more even after taking this pic... I'm extremely anal about how the heighth of everything balances out. I suppose it's the libra in me. That or the crazy.



And my cutie favors were a hit! Most of them were taken, but the good girl that I am saved my Wally World receipt and I'm totally returning the leftover ones. I gotta check their return policy... anyone know if they'll take back candy like that? They're those movie theatre size candy boxes.

I had several other cute little extras I wanted to do but as I mentioned earlier, time just didn't allow. The hub had altered some popular movie DVD covers with the bride and groom's faces. (It was a movie-themed shower, remember.) We were going to print those out and display them, but yeah... didn't happen. I also had planned on displaying some funny movie quotes around the house, giving the food funny names - spoofing titles or actors and whatnot... oh and I was going to do wine tags with movie couples' names (like... Sally Albright and another for Harry Burns). Oh well... mopping the floor was higher on my to-do list.

The funniest thing about the shower though was the mix of people. Don't know if I mentioned it earlier, but the bride's family is huge. She's one of 8 kids, so in a family that big, there are bound to be some freaks. I had met some of her fam back in July at their engagement party, but not all of them. So the eldest (I think) brother came to the shower along with the bride's parents and as SOON as he came in the door I could tell that he was high as a kite. The hub actually answered the door and I was back in the kitchen, but I could see the front door. Well bride's parents do the normal obligatory small talk with the hub at the door, but brother (who I think is 40ish?) immediately darts (and I do mean DARTS) for the kitchen. There are several of us hovering around the kitchen island (the wine station - I told you it was popular), but he just kind of maneuvers his way around us to grab some cheese and crackers and then jumps over to the wine and starts rummaging through it to see which one he wants. Hurriedly pours himself a very full glass and then takes off. Like seriously didn't say a word or make eye contact with any of us in the kitchen. No "pardon me" or "hey, I'm so-and-so" or "oh, this looks good..." Nothing. Never seen this guy in my life. It was beyond weird!

So five minutes into his stay we've already figured out he must be the black sheep. Oh dear... He didn't cause any trouble but it was pretty entertaining, to say the least. I believe he had two entire bottles of wine all to himself over the course of the evening (thank God for 2-buck chuck). And I think he hit on every unrelated female there that moved. I was busy playing hostess, so I really didn't catch any of that - thank goodness. He was apparently very interested in seeing my SIL (who was also there) "later." As in later that night? It was all very odd... and I totally didn't notice this during the shower, but afterwards we were all talking and apparently, black sheep brother, bride's parents, and one of the sisters mysteriously disappeared out the front door for 15 or 20 minutes mid-shower, and then came back in the house in a much more mellowed-out kinda mood! OMG! I find this just hilarious given that my sheltered self has never ever seen an illegal drug in life. And here we have party guests getting lit in my front yard. Too freaking funny... I suppose you've figured out by now that the bride's parents are total hippies. They are perfectly nice and loving people, but yeah - total hippies. And it's even funnier because the groom's parents are ultra-conservative. Oh this wedding is gonna be awesome!

Yeah so entertaining if nothing else... the shower was great. We were all pooped, including Gertie... It is hard work being a party girl, you know!


Alright... there's still work to be done, so I best get to it. I will pop back later with my party menu and my total budget. I stayed on budget and the food was so fab and easy to do, so I will share. Hope your weeks are off to a great start!

:: One year ago today ::