Weekend plans . . .

I have big plans this weekend – HUGE plans. Krista – a bestie – is getting married! And this is probably the last wedding I’ll be in {unless a friend decides to do it again!}

Our dresses are phenomenal! I would love to tell you that I look hot in my dress, but I’m afraid that 4 kids later and this body will never equal “hot,” unless “flashes” come after the word “hot.” But it is soooo comfortable! AND let’s face it – that is what matters!

{photo lifted from the J Helm site.}

Our dresses are not black, but robin’s egg blue. And I’m not that skinny. And fortunately, we will not be laying on anything during the wedding. So, although this is the dress, it really isn’t the best representation. But I’m sure you get the picture.

Now, the shoes have been the biggest headache for me. Silver seemed to be the color that was agreed upon because a few of the girls’ had some already. Notice I said “some” – this home-girl did not. First off I don’t wear silver anything except 2 of my wedding bands are white gold so I change up my gold ones if I feel like it. I’ve been searching for weeks. Prom around the corner, I really thought it would be easy.

I did find a ton, but none that screamed to me  . . . . .  until last night.

The heavens parted as these came into view

I seriously smile every time I look at these. Quite possibly because I’m cracking up when I next see this

I think she loves them more than me.

This is not an easy feat – especially for these small feet in my 6 1/2 shoe.

This will probably be the shoes I keep forever because she loves them so much.

As for me – I don’t know if I will wear these again. And I’m sure my love for them will quickly turn into hate on Saturday when I have to wear them all day – in the grass. I hope I’ll have some pictures for you guys next week of the big day. I really want to do another post on “my favorite things” but about favorite wedding things. If I can get my hand on some pictures of those, I’ll definitely do that post next week!

Coming off the Party High . . .

Another fun party is now over {time to start thinking about Hudson’s now!} After every party, I crash. I’m barely moving this morning – and I started off this morning with a freakin’ cupcake {and when you see the picture of the cupcake, you’re going to wonder how the heck I’m not bouncing off the walls!}

We love balloons – so we try to buy a bunch {like 40+} and just turn them loose in the house. They decorate the room and it really is fun to walk through all the strings dangling. Then we send the kids home with them. Much easier than treat bags. Much easier.

I also gave suckers. I found the lollipops in the wedding section at Michael’s Craft Store. They came with the stickers that were easily stuck on. I did add the ribbon. I found the flower pots {half off} at Hobby Lobby. I finally got to buy that 12×12 {or so} square of crazy grass {half off} from Hobby Lobby that they have every year in the Easter section! Every year I try desperately to think of some how to use that crazy piece of grass and this year I did!!!! And then I have a piece of floral foam underneath that made the lollipops stand so pretty.

The house was full of people. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t cooperating and we were all stuck in the house. But no one complained. Most of the kids disappeared upstairs and us adults stayed down – really it worked out great!

As you know, Em wanted a “Pink Party.” I asked her about the balloons, “Pink balloons and what other color because the boys might not want to take home a pink balloon?!?”

Dark pink. The boys would want dark pink.

Okie dokie. I can sorta see the logic behind that . . . although they are still pink. {Sorry Boys.}

And obviously – Krista was a guest! So you have real pictures to look at! Which reminds me that there are more pictures on my camera that I’ve not even looked at – because you know . . . I’ve been in a sugar coma because I’ve eaten these JOKERS . . . . . . .

I probably should apologize to all the parents – but I’m not going to. HA! It was totally worth it! There is a story about these {Sorry Rachel!} My friend Rachel makes all our cakes! Well, there was a year ago that she didn’t because she had a baby – and I wouldn’t let her! But she always does a fabulous job. Remember this one? Or this one? Or my favorite one ever – because Hudson totally designed this – she read his mind! He seriously wanted a “Universal Cake!” And yes that was our Seuss party. That is always what you see at the beginning of all the Seuss movies – so that is Seussical to him. And Rachel has made so many other fabulous cakes for us!!!

I normally just tell her to make whatever she wants too – I give her some kind of theme {except for the Universal one – we were very specific on that one.} But this party I said just whatever just make it PINK!

Unfortunately, 5 minutes from the house, someone decided to run a redlight. Thankfully she wasn’t in a wreck – but the cake was! I couldn’t stop laughing after she called me. All I kept thinking was how she had to slam on her brakes and the cake went flying! Haha!! God Bless Rachel! She turned around and found the closest bakery and bought a ton of these. The funny part is when she walked in with what was left of her cake - in a bag! hahah!! Poor Rachel. I owe her big.

I know you all want to know about the food – I kept it simple. I served Drip Beef again – I combined both of PW’s recipes. I did this last year and had several people request it this year. I also made my Potato Salad That Is So Good That if You Were to Put It on Top of Your Head, Your Tongue Would Smack Your Face Silly to Get to It, Potato Salad. We had chips, a dip, PB & J {for the kids} and other sweets. And that really sums up the foods. {Such a slacker!}

But if I left it up to Em, she only wanted to serve Popsicles and ice water. When I told her that I didn’t think the guests would really like only popsicles and ice water, she responded with the classic line, “It’s my party.

Even the decorations were kept simple. Where Lonnie was out of town till the night before, I just didn’t have the energy to really go crazy.

She really wanted “real alive flowers.” Thankfully Rachel brought these ’cause I forgot!

I had so many people asking about the invitations – I actually bought these a few years ago from Hobby Lobby! AND they still have them! I bought several from this Anna Griffin line. So you will see more of them in the future. They easily went through my printer and tied up easily. They only thing is they are more expensive to mail because of the knot that the ribbon makes. And the envelopes are really thin. For the type of invite, they should have splurged and used a more expensive envelope – I would have paid the extra money. But overall, they were so cute.

And let’s just take a walk down memory lane . . . .

Birthday 2008

First Birthday 2009- and fav-O-rite photo evah!

Second Birthday 2010

Third Birthday 2011 {Moments before her hair caught on fire and after our 3rd shirt change due to food/drips} ha!

Lilly Grace . . .

Well, this is it – the final “order.” And it feels so good! teehee.

I do have a few more gifts to spit out. aaannnddd unfortunately, I didn’t get quite as much as I was hoping to this week! I didn’t tell you, but Lonnie was gone for some time. He had another military school. He seems to spend alot of time in Little Rock. So much so, we ought to just move to Little Rock! I’ve told him so many of my readers live in that direction – he asks every single time he leaves if any of you will cook him some food. He will come and pick it up! ha!

Enough about him!

I don’t know how many of you think about this {I really didn’t till painting,} but some letters are hard to paint! Not that they are difficult, but that they are hard to paint without looking like something ‘familiar.’

You know what I mean??

Okay, take for instance an “L” – basically because that is what I just painted. I’m sooo concerned someone out there is going to think it looks like it belongs on a shirt!! Does Laverne mean anything to you?

I’m saying this to say, I would die if it did! And frankly, almost every single letter in the alphabet reminds me of something! So much so that when I go to paint any capital letter, I always pull up a picture reminder to make sure I stay as far-far-far away as possible!!! This would be the EXACT reason why when I started painting all names were in lower case ONLY!

Now that I’ve got everyone thinking I’m a total freak {and I am about this kind of stuff,} let’s move on to this painting {and the proof it is indeed for Lilly and NOT Laverne!}

Yes, this is a variation of the “Stella” {not last post Stella, another one from quite some time ago!}

Yes, that “L” is my favorite letter on this canvas! Definitely something about the curl. It just sucked me in!

I realized it had been some time since I painted the outer edge a different pattern as the face of the canvas. Fun to go back and do this again {nice surprise on the edge.}

I usually add beads or something extra to this design. But I was specifically asked for no beads due to a picker in the room! I totally understand – I have one of those, too. But it just felt so empty without a little extra on the painting – so I added something that was pick proof! I know this because I asked my picker to pick – and she couldn’t!!!!!

So, see – I gave it test run {free of charge!} and it passed the test. I’m confident the ‘extras’ are safe!

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So, I have a plan for the new orders – let me get through all the festivities tomorrow and I’ll start working on the post. Just know that I’m doing this the most fairest way possible! And I’ll explain why I think it is the fairest way.

{photo credit – the most awesome photographer ever!}

I hate cutting this short, but I’ve got a little girl constantly saying, “We need to go ahead and get this party started.” So, I gotsta go! I got a party to get ready for.