Final Paper

I am seriously procrastinating!

I have a paper due tomorrow, grant it, it is ONLY 10 pages long

but...

I am only 3 pages in.

Geez!  I just can't seem to get inspired.



FINALLY, the Baby Shower

I am finally getting around to posting pictures of the baby shower!

I have been away for a month now.  Wow...I have been SO busy with work, school, and the kiddos

that I haven't had time.  Sorry.  Life sometimes takes over.

I am 2 papers shy from finishing the semester and being

OFFICIALLY

half way through my Master's degree. Yay me!

Now for the baby shower.  Let  me just say I LOVE babies!

And I LOVE hosting parties!

I put a lot of time and effort into the baby shower.  The day started with lots of tears, read why here.

I had to call in the grandma to be to help.  I just couldn't seem to get myself together.

Once at the location, I was behind!  I was stressed. I had a ton of last minute details.

I was not so nice to everyone who was trying to help. :(  But it turned out beautiful!

I am very grateful to Thomas, my girls, my cousin, and the Grandma to Be!

Sweet Treats Baby Shower

Food Menu:

Mississippi Mud Pie (not a pie but acutally a cheese dip that is absolutely YUM)

Mini Chocolate Eclairs and Cream Puffs

Mixed nuts with chocolate chips

Veggie tray, cheese & pepperoni tray

Mixed fruit (strawberry, mango, pineapple, peaches)

cookies (cut in the shape of baby feet)

Cheesecake pops

Peanut M&M's

Starbursts, Skittles, Mints

Lollipops

Cake and cupcakes

Cupcake tier was chocolate

Middle tier was strawberry

Lower tier was yellow cake

Mini cupcakes in all three flavors

Strawberry marshmallows, lemon marshmallows,

Almond Candies

Sugar free candies (some people were diabetic)

The table cloths were not as thick as I liked.  I bought them online and in bulk & at a spectualr price.

But they worked.

Look to the left of the cake.  The cheesecake pops.  The stand was supposed to be decorated.

One of the last minute details that didn't get finished.

The platform that the cake is on, I made with scraps of plywood and painted.  I bought chalkboard paint.

Love that stuff!  The writing, if I had more time would have looked much better.



I found the chalkboard signs at Michael's on clearance for $2.  What a steal.  I painted the bases pink and yellow.  The smaller chalkboard signs (one next to the cupcakes) were to display the foods. Those particular cupcakes were sugar free.

Centerpieces.  I painted small flower pots (bought at Michaels) with the chalkboard paint and the rims in pink and yellow.  Lollipops were purchased in bulk at Oriental Trading Co.  The pots were supposed to have cute sayings written in chalk.  Another small detail that did not get finished.

The rattles had little candy pacifiers in them and were the party favors.  All bought at Michaels.

The flower balls I made using styrofoam balls and flowers bought at the dollar store.

The prize table. You can also see the Over the Moon Scentsy warmer.  I had Newborn Nursery as the scent.

The gift table.  You can also see the Diaper Cake I made.  It matched the baby bedding I bought as well.

The beverage table.  Sherbet punch, sweet tea (sweetened with splenda), and water.

Behind the cups was the Scentsy Cupcake warmer, you can purchase that here.

Tissue Pom Poms I made hanging from the ceiling.

Games and mommy photos.



Despite the unfinished touches it turned out beautiful.  Everybody had a good time, Mommy to be got some nice gifts and the food was delicious!



With love,

Michelle

Bounce Dryer Bar

So have you heard of it?

Well I have been using it for several months and let me tell you.

Best thing Ever.

Stick it in your dryer and forget it.

No more dryer sheets.

No more trying to remember putting in fabric softner.

And it last for MONTHS!

Awesome right?

Well head on over to Stillettos and Diapers for her review

and win

a Free Bounce Dryer Bar

and

a $50 visa gift card!

How awesome is that?!?



Tribute to Chloe

This is Chloe.

On the morning of the baby shower (I was throwing)

my beautiful, fun-loving pup went missing.

But not for long.

My oldest daughter, Alyssa, found

her next to our driveway.

When she came back crying that Chloe was dead,

my heart stopped.  Thomas and I headed out the door.

I ran.

There she was. Lifeless.  My heart immediatly broke.

My spirit shattered. My desire to do anything gone.

All I wanted to do was hold my Chloe.

Alyssa and I sat at the road, next to the driveway and just cried.

It had just happened.  Her body was still warm.

Chloe was so young and still a pup.

She loved to chase squirrels (never would know what to do with one if she ever caught one)

so I am guessing that is what happened.  

It has only been a week.  And I still can't believe she is gone.

Her brother Lil Man followed Chloe where ever she went.

He came back to the house and was acting strange.  My guess is he saw it happen.  He has been whining ever since.  I am sure his heart is broken too, he now has a permanent place in my bed at night.  I take full responsibility for her death.

I live in the country, away from the main road, and not close to the road at my house.

It is not typical for my pups to go far from the house.  Usually they are pooping in the neighbors yard (bad, I know) or digging in the cow pasture next to my house. I never rarely leave them outside unattended.  This particular day I was getting things together for the baby shower.  I checked on her twice in the 1 1/2 hours she had been outside.  Once she was in the neighbor's yard taking her poop and the other time she was digging in my front yard (stupid voles).  Then Thomas noticed her missing, then Alyssa found her.  Usually, we are outside with them because of one of my other stupid neighbors.

Our home has not been the same since she has been gone.  We are still grieving.  My other pups are still grieving.  This is the first pet my children have lost.  This is the first one for me in a VERY long time.

Now the household is a little incomplete.  See I would do ANYTHING for my pups.  I LOVE them like I LOVE my children.  Those 4 legged, furry creatures are the most loyal and loving

creatures a person could ever have. They will be your best friend till the end. I have had three pups.  And let me tell you, three pups is a lot.  I, ashamedly, admit that sometimes I wish I just had my Kasey, the pups mommy, because the pups would drive me crazy!  They would play ALL the time.  Crave attention ALL the time.  Eat each other's food ALL the time.  See they had to be babysat like toddlers.  I had to make Chloe stop eating her brother's food.  I had to make sure her brother didn't take her favorite toy.  I had to love on ALL three of them at the same time.  But in the end I could NEVER get rid of one of them.  See pets are not disposable.  They have feelings.  They know when they are loved.  My pups are loved.  They are a part of my family.  Even though I know Chloe felt loved and was loved, I know my guilt comes from mere thoughts because NOW she is gone.  Not by my choice.  and I love her and I miss her. 

I have been asked if I am going to get another dog to replace her.  You can't replace a pet, no more than you can replace your own child.  Chloe was my child.  I watched her be born.  I loved her the moment she was born and I taught her to be a good girl. (a lil mischevious at times).  So no, I will not replace her.

There may come a day when I decide to get another pup but not for a long time.  We are still mourning Chloe.  I still have the momma, Kasey, and her brother, Lil Man.  Right now I am dedicated to making sure they know they are loved.  I hold Lil Man when he cries and walks around confused and whining.

I give him lots of treats (because he is a man and loves food :)

I am currently trying to help him mend his heart at the loss of his sister.  She took care of him (he was the runt).  They always slept together, took baths together, played together, and did not know life without each other.  Now he is a little lost. 

Birthday's and Baby Showers!

WARNING: POST CONTAINS ALOT of PHOTOS :)

So for months I have been planning my dear friend's Sweet Treats baby shower

and my daughter's Ice Cream Party.

Oh how I love party planning!

I came up with a few good GREAT ideas!

First my daughter.

Alyssa turned 14 this year.  Yes, my baby is growing up & fast!

Looking through the Oriental Trading website

she discovered an Ice Cream party theme.

I thought, how CUTE and FUN!

It fits her personality so well.  She is such a friendly, happy go lucky type of gal.

I just thought about all the goodies we could have as toppings for ice cream and

bright colors for decorating.  We decided pink and green (partly because I already had stuff in pink & green ;)





I loved all the bright colors!  The balloons were just kinda hanging around

(not for long though...kids love popping balloons)

Notice in the far left corner...tissue pom poms (can't decorate w/o tissue pom poms)

The ice cream banner in the center of the room, the ice cream piñata, and the ice cream dangling from the ceiling all came from Oriental Trading.

The polka dot balloons I found at Wal-mart.

The table cloths and skirts came from Cap't Party in Roanoke.

The flower balls I made.

Hellium tank I bought at Factory Card & Party Outlet in Lynchburg.

Here is a few miscellanous photo shots:



Some of the balloons tied next to the table had her name on it...
also found at Cap't Party.  (loved it)




Had to get creative with table cloth/skirt for the beverage
table.  It is two table cloths laid horizontal and vertical :)




Yummy cupcakes!




A very big cupcake and some with cute/fun designs.
Alyssa is a fan of Cookie Monster
so at her request I made cookie monster cupcakes!



The flame was the same color as the candle...how cool!




Meet Peyton, this is my friend Donna's (baby shower lady :) step-son.
Alyssa's birthdy party was on his actual birthday!
So we put some candles on cookie monster (which he loved)
and sang Happy Brithday to him!
He had a ball!!!




My beau and I with my cousins (week old) twins.
Just makes my heart melt (love me some babies)!





Strawberry, pineapple, m&m's, sprinkles, reeces pieces, walnuts,pecans
reece's peanut butter, (and shell), caramel, fudge, chocolate, cherries, banana's, butterscotch
oreo, nutter butter, chocolate chip cookies, and I am sure I am missing some toppings!





A giant cookie with a cookie monster face :)




Ice Cream shaped bowls (and came with spoons)




Yummy sherbet punch, kool-aid, and sweet tea!
(bright colored plastic cups, Sam's Club)




Had to throw in a little scentsy. (cutie pie cupcake scent was used)
Check out my cupcake scentsy warmer here.





Alyssa with some of her awesome friends!







My very good (& preggo) friend Amber telling me I was NOT allowed to post
pics of her...haha!  Love you, Amber!



So I was going to also post on the baby shower in this post as well but....

I will do that one separate.  Too many pictures :) and I don't want to take the shine from my daughter

or from the baby shower.  Each was special and distinct.

With love,

Michelle