Church Hill Shower

I never posted pics from my first shower.  It was fun because a lot of Dave's relatives had not met my mom and sister yet.  It was fun.  We don't have church wedding showers at my parent's church so it was fun to see how its done! Its a lot of fun because all the women in the church show up so you get to see a lot of people.

It was also a fun shower because these were people that have loved Dave his whole life, longer than I've loved him and longer than I've known him.  He is from a closeknit small community where people are family or "family" (when he calls someone aunt X, I say, "is that a real aunt ?") Lots of people love Dave (I can't blame them!) and lots of people showed up to celebrate with us!

Of course, really I just celebrated with them because Dave was fishing :)

Dave's Cousin's wife is quite talented and made this gorgeous cake!  Look at those handmade flowers!

My mom and sister and me!

Dave's sister (Beth), his niece Kate and his mom (oh, and baby Ryan in utero!)

Kate would help be open gifts -- she particularly liked the various mixing cups and spoons I received!

My mom, future mother in law and me!

2 of my favorite Church Hill ladies -- Melissa and Kittye

Mom, Me and Ansley-- I don't look like my family but I think the three of us look a lot alike in this pic!

This weekend I have a shower and engagement party - and I have a few friends from out of town in town to celebrate (we purposefully scheduled the party on the same day as the shower for that reason!)  I can't wait to celebrate and see sweet friends. I also get to celebrate my soon to arrive niece in Church Hill on Sunday...

all while trying to pack to move in 2 weeks...Oh well, sleep doesnt matter if you're having fun right ?? :)

Jungle Fever

Last weekend, I helped host a jungle themed lingerie shower for a sweet friend at our house.  She LOVES animal print, so we had a lot of fun coming up with the decorations! As you all know by now, I am a cheeseball who loves themed parties...so I love coming up with fun decorations....

I ordered these zebra lingerie cookies from Janie's Bakery...

We had a wine and champagne punch bar set up on the buffet....

I made an animal print rag garland for our mantle...

Sweet Sarah made a jungle vine to hang over the dining room and hung a monkey!

Lots of yummy treats....

Another tiny garland...

Dave was sweet and made this bunting for me! I was busy getting ready and he jumped in and helped.  Who knew he was so artsy??

Prior to the party we all went to dinner at Bravo's.  Here are some pictures of the bride to be and some of our friends! Several of us wore animal print in honor of our animal print loving bride!

Preview Party

Mistletoe Marketplace is a Christmas Shopping event with 100's of vendors from all over the nation.  The 4 day shopping event is a tradition here in Mississippi. It is put on by the Jr. League of Jackson and is used to raise money for their many charity projects. Along with the shopping, there are several fun events like cocktail hours and parties that you can purchase tickets too....the biggest party being the Preview Party on Wednesday night...with a band, dancing, silent auction, shopping, food, drinks, etc.  This is my 4th year to attend and as always, we had a blast.

I love Mistletoe for many reasons...my mom was one of the steering committe members one year so we all lived and breathed Mistletoe in our household.  That was the first year I got to go to the preview party. I was a Junior in high school and too young to go, but mom let Marley and Me go to the big party because she had worked so hard on Mistletoe.  I felt like such a big deal, ha!  I also love Mistletoe because it officially kicks off the Holiday Season....soon there will be Thanksgiving, Singing Christmas Tree, Tacky Christmas, Mistletoga, Dirty Santa Swap, etc etc.  I love the holidays so I love when it finally begins. Particularly this year....its been a long fall with lots of hard times to friends and family close to me, and it ended with the election Tuesday night (ughh)...I feel like a happy holiday season is much needed...enjoying family and celebrations, remembering our Savior's birth, focusing on blessings.  So WELCOME HOLIDAY SEASON...you are very needed!

Here are some pics from last night!

Me, Lane, Claire, Marianna and the Peachtree House while getting ready

My sweet Dave

Brittany and I at the party

Spence and I were carpool buddies...this is Spence, Dorothy (his better half) and me in the shopping area

Me with Claire and Martha Grace

Marianna, Lane, and Me

My favorite guy and me on the dance floor.

I love love love the Holidays.  And I am so glad to have family and friends nearby this year -- Marley Bech and Jack are back south and nearby and I now have sweet Dave in my life.  Not to mention all my sweet friends to celebrate with.  Many good times to come as we celebrate our Savior and enjoy the holiday spirit!

SUYL: Grownup Birthday Party Ideas!!

I am linking up with Kelly's Korner to share some birthday party ideas for adults (Show Us Your Life Fridays!). At our age, there aren't games, clowns and favors- and most birthdays are dinners out with friends....but occasionally we throw a fun birthday party!!

The trick to a good adult birthday party is a theme, preferably one where everyone can dress up and you. An make matching snacks. Otherwise it's just dinner or drinks with friends which isn't bad, just nothing special.

My tips:
-pick a theme and add a few touches from that theme thought the party!
- add costumes but Make the theme easy so everyone will dress up (IE, 80s, mustache, fiesta, orange for auburn, etc)
- email invites- but make them fun! (paperless post is a step above evite)
- provide one drink option
-alternate who is in charge for the party. The same person should not host everyone's birthdays!

Celebrating birthdays is a great way to love on your friends, particularly your single pals. And you don't even have to throw a party to celebrate! If you don't take her to lunch or bring her a cupcake, who will? It's nice to feel important on your birthday so show your friends how much you love them!

Here are some of our parties...... (sorry I don't have many pictures of decorations)

1. A Mustache Party!!!! (you could bring your own or there were some there to put on - buy them at your local party store!!!)

2. My National Championship Birthday! (sweet friends threw this party for me because my birthday was the week after AUBURN won the NC.  Everyone wore orange (or blue!)

3. a WIG birthday party!! (we all put on wigs and went our for dinner and drinks, so fun!)

*** Wehave also thrown a shark week birthday party (everyone wore blue or gray and TONS of cute decorations!!), an 80s party, numerous wine nights, a cinco de mayo birthday party, etc. BE creative and have fun! Just because we are older doesn't mean we can't act a little crazy :)

1000 things: 176-185 (edited)

Today I am thankful for:

176: Wonderful Roomies -- This was last night at our going away party for Constance (Mary Marg, Constance, Me, Claire)  Lucky to live with sweet girls.

177. I am thankful for a successful going away party! (It was hard to throw together quickly with one roomie moving in and another moving out but we did it and it turned out to be cute! You may recognize decorations from the Bachelorette Fiesta, I was recycling!)

178. Thankful for our new roomie, Mary Catherine.  God provided another sweet girl to move in, we didn't even have to look for her!

179.  Thankful for a fun weekend in the country with Dave's family.  I have dated boys from awful family situations before that caused issues for them or even us! So I am glad that Dave's parents and siblings are kind loving people!

180. Grateful that the Hurricane did not do as much damage as some feared. Please keep praying for MS and LA as these states recover.

181. Grateful for football season! (despite our opening loss)

182. I am thankful for my aunt and uncle who are sharing their home in Starkville this weekend (as well as two tickets!) with Dave and me so that we can attend the MSU- Auburn game.

183. I am thankful for Mums....these are certainly not the most beautiful flowers, but they represent my favorite time of year! I love when I see them at the grocery store, it signifies football, fall, pumpkins, holidays, sweater weather and cider are all nearby!

184. I am thankful Dave's school is so near my home.. He has to study a lot and spend many hours in the studio. It helps that he can stop by for dinner (or yesterday, lunch!)  I don't mind making him supper if it means dinner time with me can be his study break.

185. I am thankful my sister has taken her comps. She is so close to having her masters degree, I know its a good feeling to see your hard work almost done! (EDIT: Apparently marley has 2 more comps to take - they are taken in stages so this will be moved to a thankful thought on a further date!!)

SOOO.....

185 (edited): I am thankful for breakfast for dinner.  Admit it, this little treat makes you happy too!!

Bachelorette Fiesta!!

My sweet friend Sarah is getting married in a few weeks...this weekend we had a mexican themed bachelorette fiesta for her....starting with dinner at SOMBRA and ending with margs, gifts, games, and mexican snacks at my house.

Some tips on throwing a good bachelorette party:

1. Pick a theme and carry it through

2. Keep it classy (no need to be filthy like some parties are)....

3. but also add a couple "sexy" elements....but just a couple will go a long way.

4. Drinks -  its a bachelorette party, after all! but one cocktails if fine, not several options...

5.  Do a portion of the event out and a portion at your house.  (AKA, don't make the poor girl open up gifts in a restaurant!)

Here are some pics from our evening!

Sarah examining the decorations.

The Bride to Be and me

Sarah wearing her sombrero veil at the restaurant.

The drinks table.

We named all the foods...edible underwear....

and Passion Fruit

Flowers in the living room.

MUY CALIENTE banner

Favors....based on the popular country song.

Sarah swinging at the pinata

Decorations and gifts

Bra and Panties cookies from JANIES bakery

The hostesses with the bride to be

The food Table

The pinata

The wreath on my door -- with Sarah's new initial!

Katie wearing the pinata as a costume