Baby Shower for a Princess

It was a labor of love. Many years ago, I said I would throw Michelle (pictured in the center) a beautiful baby shower, as a celebration for her because she had endured two difficult miscarriages...and then finally, she was pregnant for a third time, and got through her first trimester. Well, God continues to be faithful as she's in her 35th week with a baby girl.

So, as you know me well, it was all about the creativity and the details. I recently got into sewing, baking, and crafts - so watch out Adrianna, a website may be coming soon. Check out all the fun I had in creating this baby shower:

I found these on Craigslist for $10 -
your usual brass standard builder chandelier.

Then, I was tickled pink with a can of spray paint for $3.44.

Add some fun embellishments from AC Moore,
with a handy glue gun.


And voila! You can have yourself a room just like this.


Yes.... each of the seat covers were handmade.
(For a DIY lesson on how to make these, see my friend Jen.)
Total cost of fabric for 15 chairs - a whopping $10 dollars.

And I found all my tea china at local thrift stores.
I added Michelle's favorite flowers in a pale pink,
and created a beautiful tablescape.

The tea menu was carefully selected,

and it was DELICIOUS!

The cranberry scones with Devonshire cream and jam, the perfectly pink cupcakes, Russian tea cakes and I went a little nuts (is this any surprise?) and handcrafted the perfect sugar cookies with pearl crystals! But I didn't do it alone, I had a great helper.

Sadly, all that hard work, and no one ate the cookies because they said it was too pretty. Well, I went out of my way to make things as pretty as possible. My new name is O-T-T. As in Over-The-Top. Some might take it as derogatory, but I took it as a compliment. Why would you do anything in life any other way? For you blog followers, I even sewed my own pillows. (Can't see them that well, they are on the white couches. As a side note, if you buy them at the store, it's $19.99 each. My price - 3 pillows for $11.00 - I'm a sewing convert!)

Oh, and the tablecloth below was $5.00 (I got 5 and 1/2 yards on sale!) I'm totally giddy with JoAnn Fabrics and the endless possibilities with fabric. If I had bought table cloths at the store, I would have needed two for $15-20 each.

Everyone had a really nice time. But mostly, I hope Michelle felt cherished, because it was truly given by me and Michelle Grande, with love. Can't wait to meet the princess!

Crack 'N Me Up Time

As Daddy is teaching Micah the letter B.
Daddy: Micah, say these B words. Buh-Buh Bee.
Micah: Buh Boy. Baby. Ball. Bottle. Bucket. Camana.
Daddy: No Micah, Banana.
Micah: Okay. Buh. Buh-camana.

*******

When Micah changed from one short sleeve shirt to an identical one, in a different color.
Me: Micah, why did you change shirts?
Micah: Because mom.... (looks at me like I should know the answer) the other shirt was too hot.

*******

When Daddy had ENOUGH of Micah and Caelan crying in the backseat.
Caelan: (Shrieking scream)
Micah: But Daddy, he's not sharing!
Daddy: Don't make me pull this car over! I will be REALLY mad because this is something my dad would say.

Ever heard of a Clothes Swap?

My friend, Jessel, and I co-partnered to host a fabulous event called the "It's New to You Party" where you bring clothes in your own closet you are tired of, and swap it out! Someone's else's trash is someone else's treasure. Can I tell you how giddy I was getting these amazingly cute and new-to-me clothes? I probably got nine complete outfits from jacket, shirt, pants, shoes, bracelet, purses-- including this adorable Victoria's Secret purple plush sweat outfit. And the never worn JCREW flip flops too!

Lina made out like a bandit.
Her whole ensemble (except jeans) she got from the Swap!
She left with several big bags.

It was so fun to open my home and have a lot of GIRL FUN!


My basement was transformed to a free
nighttime clothes bazaar.


If the shoes fits, wear it!
(oh my gosh, as a side note--
I got the CUTEST shoes, ever.)

I couldn't sleep that night thinking about all the new clothes I had scored for FREE! Yes, I know we're not supposed to be material, but WHATEVER, I had hit the jackpot. And Patrick was so happy I didn't spend ANY money! Yay, God. Mostly, I met some FABULOUS new gals that I hope to get to know better. We're doing another swap in April at Jaci's house, a new friend....oh... can my heart leap any higher from sheer joy??

Stuck Inside

When we had snowstorm after snowstorm, it felt a little like cabin fever for me. But not for Micah and Caelan, they had a great time playing inside! They went camping....

And who needs a park playground
when you have an amazing slide?

Kick back, read a good novel...

Or get cozy and snuggle.

And here Caelan is proving just how warm it is to be inside!
Definitely his father's child...

And here he is posing in the nude,
however his favorite froggy is saving him
from embarrassment and harbored resentment,
which will occur in fifteen years
when he sees what his mother has done. :)

Hey, I can sew!

Who knew? I took a sewing class in Home Economics once, and I sewed a heart pillow and got an A. Since then, I've probably sewn several buttons. I also attempted straight lines on curtains in my living room. But I don't own a machine, nor have I had any desire to really learn sewing. Because until now, I've always thought that this hobby requires time and money. Why spend all that time making something that you can buy a whole lot cheaper and you can spend the time doing something else? For all you sewers out there who I'm making angry - just wait, I have been enlightened!

My small group recently did a sewing project together and to my surprise, it was so much fun! I'm actually pretty good at sewing. I started late, and finished first! Also, the project we made took very little time, and it was made from scrap fabrics. A lot of friends have sewing machines I can borrow, so I am inspired to start sewing!

So, I made the little thing below. Looks rather simple, but it's somewhat complicated. I'm sure you have no idea what it is. It's supposed to be a little snack bag for the kids. The top velcros together and the inside is even lined! I love the pattern. TADA!!

Just a funny thing to add: When I said to my friend Jen, Sewer Extraordinaire, that this project seemed easier if we used fabric glue, she looked horror-stricken, and said, "Saying fabric glue is like cussing to me. " You had to be there. It was classic. Here are some of the gals in my moms group, sewing the same thing as Jen teaches us how.

I'm going to start on something simple like pillows. And maybe one day, I'll have a sewing & crafts blog like my friend Adrianna. Yeah, right. She's amazing. For now, I'll just be happy that I don't reach for the fabric glue.

I kinda hate Valentines Day

Our eighth Valentines Day together came and went, and I'm just not sure whether I love it or love to hate it. I am your hopeless romantic, but lately I think I'm just becoming too practical. I mean what girl doesn't like chocolate, or flowers, or gifts? But geez, the pressure to always do something fun as a couple is burdensome. And how practical is it to overpay for a cutesy themed pre-fixed meal and $15 per hour childcare to consume it? And who said that Hallmark and Russell Stover has to tell us how to show love every year?

Poor Patrick scours the websites looking for the perfect overpriced red roses to send me because it's mandated that all husbands get their wives flowers and they can't just come home with it, they have to have it delivered publicly so everyone knows how much they are loved---and when they finally are delivered, IF they are delivered--they wind up being a much less red, smaller version, bouquet of what he imagined!

So, this year - no chocolate, no roses, no pre-fixed menus, no dressing up. We decided that there's no pressure. After we got free childcare (thank you mom & dad), we went to see the all-star cast movie, Valentines Day (you can't get away without doing something cheesy) and met our friends, the Lauers, for a double date dinner at a fabulous Thai restaurant within 10 yards of the theatre. I was in jeans and sneakers. It was perfect. Patrick actually shed a tear in the movie, and we had a few cocktails, spicy thai food, and great conversation. So, instead of commiserate, I celebrate Valentines Day! Until 2011 comes and I will need to go through this exercise all over again....

Snowpocalyse of 2010

No, no, not this much snow! This snowstorm has been called "historic" as the area's fourth largest snowstorm--ever. Some parts of the greater Washington area reported 40 inches of snowfall. This is our front yard, and you can't see it---but there was a bench in the middle that has completely been buried in snow!

It's been insane around here. Even before the first snowflake hit the ground, Virginia had declared a state of emergency. Schools were closed. Flights were canceled. Grocery stores emptied. Poor Patrick was never more frustrated in his life at Wegmans. It was like everyone had gone insane, and purchased enough toilet paper and bread for weeks. I was a bit of skeptic myself with the forecasts, refusing to believe the hype about the "Snowpocalypse", but I have to admit -- there is a lot of snow out there.

About 30 inches in our backyard. Although our streets are plowed, the rest of the area is suspended. There were major power outages last night. Churches were closed today. Metro was suspended for all above ground trains. Schools have closed again until Tuesday. Government offices closed.

I've never seen a city so paralyzed!
Well, The Rings refused to be paralyzed. We were moving!

Ruth, our wonderful neighbor below, loaned us a sled!

...and Caelan cried for half a block when we took him off it....yikes...

He was comforted though.
It was a treat to have grandma
snowed in with us for the long weekend.


And then Micah and Daddy were
climbing up snow covered mountains.


...And reached the summit!

They are calling for more snow on Tuesday - six more inches.
When will this end? Just days ago, it had
snowed 2-3 inches, and our next door neighbor,
Nancy, made the boys a wonderful snowman.
Thank you Nancy!

Looks like more fun for the boys for the next week or so.
Until then, Daddy and Caelan are headed in
for the fireplace and some warm milk!