This One's for you....Chel and Dan

Saturday we took the long trip across Alligator Alley to Ft. Myers. We got to our destination, the downtown Ft. Myers area at around 4pm. We decided to walk and take photos of the historic buildings and cool alley ways in between the restaurants and downtown shops. We were in the area to help my Best Friend and her Beau celebrate their recent (Saturday March 1st, 2014) engagement. YAY!!

 

The story where a princess has to kiss a thousand frogs before finally unveiling her prince is most true in my friends case. Not that every frog she dated in between was awful.....just not quite right. They didn't fit into her life puzzle. One Day......she met her Prince charming....FINALLY!!!!
Their story began to unfold and with each passing day continues to do so. Saturday her significant other, Dan, decided it fitting to pop the biggest question of a couple's relationship. Well, one of the biggest questions.

Will You Marry Me?

How did he do this. Uh, in only the most romantic way possible. As I nudge my hubster....Lovingly of course.

The Idea: Chel loves books and Dan, (great considering what he was about to do!) So what better place to propose than a new Library close to their home that Chel had been wanting to visit.

The Ring: Having Family in the jewelry business (Chel's Uncle) helped when designing her ring, but Dan did not use this as an easy way out. He still put a lot of thought and heart into his selection, hand picking each gorgeous diamond that went into this delicate ring.

The Accomplices: One of Dan's sisters and the library staff

The Proposal: Dan told Chel that they were going to dinner with his family to celebrate an award his sister received. (Sorry...Not sure for what..eh..) On the way to dinner, he stopped at the Library. When they got to the library he directed her over to one of the benches that was in front of a window. Sitting on that bench was a Snapfish photo book designed by Dan himself. (Heart melt ladies..I know!) In it were photos of all of their adventures together thus far. The last page read something along the lines of, Help me fill a library of our adventures will you Marry me? AWE!!! He then got on his knee with the ring and asked the biggest question of their life....Will you Marry Me? Of course she said..............YES!!!! Really, if she said NO, that would have sucked because the engagement party directly followed his proposal.

ENGAGED!!!

There was someone taking video of the whole process inside the Library and Dan's sister was recording on her phone behind them. Chel was completely unaware of these accomplices. From what we all heard later Chel had cried and shot some snot rockets at the Library window.

Okay the latter is a lie but would have been interesting. However she did cry. So Sweet!!

The Engagement "Surprise" Party: Dan had arranged for his family, Chel's family and some of her closest friends to meet at a restaurant for dinner. The restaurant he chose was where the two of them had their first date!!! R.O.M.A.N.T.I.C.

The gift we gave them!

Dan put energy, heart, thought and Love into making this proposal one that Chel will ALWAYS remember and NEVER Forget! It was truly the sweetest proposal I have ever been witness to and we were so touched to be a part of their special day. I am so happy to be a part of their lives and watch their journey unfold.

CHEEESE!!

Chel has finally ended her frog kissing streak and will happily be kissing her prince for the remainder of their lives. Dan is a compassionate, kind, loving, funny, intelligent, considerate, generous, and tender hearted man who is a fitting piece to her Life puzzle. Chel can finally have her cake and eat it too with her perfect match by her side, baby on the way, and a lifetime of memories and adventures to fill her own personal Library.

We wish you both Happiness that makes your cheeks hurt. ALL the LOVE that you could possibly endure, and A LIFETIME of creating memories and adventures.

Random couple walking thru the Alley Way

Another Weekend Come and GONE Stationery CardView the entire collection of cards.

First and Foremost ---8 Days and counting--- Happy Holidays! Our photos were taken by Lindsay @ You Are The Roots... a Young Woman with many talents, and a welcomed new friend! The cards were by Shutterfly, which I use every year and for everything, mugs, photo books, invites, etc. because I really like their product.

Weekend whirled past us faster than a Tornado took Dorothy to OZ!

Friday afternoon G-Man had his Holiday show at school which was promising because he came into the room with his bell and hat all smiles. He saw Mommy and bolted toward me. I gave a warm reassuring hug and told him to follow his teacher. As soon as he reached the stage he cried. No songs from him. Although, he wasn't the only child in his class to not sing, he was the only one who cried and had to be removed from the stage. Though I am not disappointed or sad, unlike some who may have been just that or even angry. I am fortunate and blessed that he is in tune with his own feelings and will not tolerate or adjust to a situation that he may not be comfortable with. At least that is how I choose to perceive his actions that afternoon. I have hopes that he never will mold himself for a situation or others to fit in or make them happy. My hopes are that he stays in tune with who he is and if he doesn't feel comfortable he gets out of the situation or makes it known he isn't comfortable. I am perfectly happy having a son who is in tuned to his feelings!

Hmm...Don't know whose camera I was looking at!

Friday night was my husbands Holiday Party for work. It was at the Hyatt Pier 66, BUT not in the much anticipated top Spinning Tower part of the hotel because his company is larger than that room could accommodate. Instead the party was held at the Panorama Ballroom, which was very large and had a nice outdoor balcony area where Bartenders and starters happily awaited guests.  With 2 drinks complimentary per guest, I was, well let's just say...my husband saw me and then I was gone. The sweet warm lovely feeling of a buzz filled me faster than an "Exotic Dancer" gets filled with ...uh...hmm....dollar bills...??!

My husband was ever so kind to give me his tokens and happily I trotted over to the same bartender reminding him sweetly that, "I am a Mother of two." "A very stressed Mother of Two."
I like to think my statement helped in receiving just a wee little bit more Cabernet in my glass but by my second glass I wasn't keeping track! Having a babysitter was such a relief, and by the end of the night, just 2 1/2 large glasses of Cabernet.....I was warm and giggly and ready to hit the town. Reality of the situation was the only town I was hitting that late evening/early AM was Mom Town!

Overall, despite an ankle blister AND almost breaking my neck tripping twice in my heels! The evening was a nice break from Mommy hood. The dinner was good. Starters were bread with a iceberg wedge salad. Main dish,  my choice, Filet, but was a little rare for my liking, served with a yummy rice pilaf...?  Yummy Alfredo rice concoction and broccoli. David had the Mahi with some type of rice alternative..little balls, and carrots. His Mahi was delish. Dessert was best, a trio sampler with chocolate mousse cake, cheesecake with some unidentifiable topping, (passion fruit or grapefruit was my bet...? I ate it anyway) and an amazing banana topped Crème brûlée!

Here is what I wore:

Dress, animal print stockings (to hide my pasty bruised legs and add a little spunk) and shoes were all bought at Kohl's

Yummy Dessert

Centerpieces

Grooving to the beat

Night Out = Happy Wife! Happy Wife = Happy Life!

Saturday morning we met a friend for brunch, before heading over to Bass Pro Shop to see Santa. We went last year also and seems this will be our traditional go to for a few reasons: 1) Santa looks authentic 2) Photo is Free and 3) we get a photo in Santa's sleigh with reindeer and huge Tree as back drop...Bonus!

****Side Note*** (Santa's came up underlined for spell check and no word Santa in Spell check list but Satan and Satan's was.........CREEPY!!!)

After a cat nap Saturday...well my husband and Grayson cat napped; we headed out to the Park for a Movie in the park......which got cancelled! Bummer as it was our first time attending. However, that did not stop Grayson and his buddy Ethan from playing and making the most of the open field!
We ended our night taking a drive to a house in Parkland with Christmas lights that out shined neighbors to the extreme! The kids admired and ran around the magical lighted display taking in Santa's workshop, equipped with Ferris wheel, ginger bread men jumping, a choo choo train, nativity set, Santa in hot air balloon, candy canes, and music etc. It really brings out the spirit of Christmas. That is until you have to chase your little one whose pants are filled with quite the aromatic poopy diaper and owner of home pulls into driveway with not so Joly look on face. So what is expected when you practically Magic Kingdom your house Christmas light style???? Do you not want anyone to stop and look? Do you not want little dream filled eyes wondering around your driveway in pure amazement and excitement? Maybe, you just had a bad day? Either which way I'd like to say from my Family, especially my little G-Man, to yours..Thank You for such a beautiful Holiday Light Display!

Grayson and Ethan playing in the field

Christmas Lights

Sunday crept up so quick I barely had time to think of what was on the agenda. First was cleaning our apartment. Though very very small, still quite the task as I haven't cleaned in weeks! After the kids napped we FINALLY went to get our Tree! With only 8 days left until Christmas it is better late than never! We ended our evening last night by going to Re-visit Bethlehem. It was a live reenactment of Bethlehem City. There were the three Wise Men, Mary , King David, Roman Guards, peasants, different shops inside the city, and finale was the messiah, baby Jesus surrounded by Angels. It will be the beginning of yet another Holiday Tradition for us. Along with making Ornaments, Bass pro Shop Santa photos, Cookies and fruit snacks for Santa, Christmas PJ's and a Birthday cake for Jesus! (requested by Grayson)

Our Tree!!!!!

Helping daddy with the Tree Stand

3 wise Men

Grinding wheat for bread

Petting a Chicken

Fresh Market

Baby Jesus

Last minute shoppers 12-13-13- midnight!

IBurning the midnight oil....or just up sucking snot from my daughter's nose because she sounds like an 60 year old snoring! Yup... The latter!

Tonight is my husbands holiday party and I had to go dress shopping..... Ugh! Most women LOVE to shop...it is a stress reliever for them and most women love to spend money. I really only enjoy shopping when I am buying for other people and I get sick to my stomach when I go shopping because I could always allocate that money, wasted on something for myself, to my children somehow. It is just a mom thing, I guess. Plus..... I hate shopping!

This year my husband watched the kids and we had a friend come with us too! She helped me find a dress and helped with the kiddos, thank you Iris :) I went first this year because........ A little story:

Last year around this time for my husbands Holiday party I was pregnant and in need of something to wear. We decided to go to KOHLS (this year too).

I was with Grayson and my husband was picking out his clothes first. I was helping and Grayson was walking around with me just happy as a clam. Now it's Mommys turn AND...... Not even 10 minutes into my turn, Grayson has the melt down of all melt downs. My husband is holding him while he screams Mama! I am flustered now, trying so hard to look at clothing as quickly as possible and try on most likely something that I wouldn't normally because I am so distracted by his crying and my husband getting increasingly annoyed and embarrassed. 

Why?! Onlookers in the store kept passing their judgemental and/or empathetic glances our way for the 30 minutes we were in the store while Grayson screamed bloody murder. Yes. 30 minutes. I had to find something to wear because my husbands office party was the next evening. (Just as last year. We again wait until last minute this year.)

Finally, my husband has his breaking point. He tosses me his clothes that he wants before storming out of the store with Grayson. Here I am standing in line with nothing for myself... All my husbands clothing he was able to leisurely pick out...stressed to the max, evident all over my pregnant body and face. While in line the cashier, and two men at the front entrance (one with a clip board) keep eye balling me. This makes me nervous because I am thinking they think I shoplifted. 

I had been keeping my hands in my purse probably suspiciously but only because I had a wad of cash inside. 

I am waiting in line and finally reach check out. Then on my way out some man with a clip board stops me and ask if I would like to take a survey. In my head I am screaming...."Are you F$&@ing kidding me!! Did you not see the circus show my family put on for you in your store?!!"

Instead, I reply with a polite,"sure but real quick. My husband is waiting in the car for me."

The man with the clip board proceeds to tell me that I am their daily winner! They bought back my entire purchase. I was so touched that I started tearing up. Sad thing is I really can't say this was due to the pregnancy hormones because on any non pregnant day I would do the same.

It really made my night! That was until I got to the car and realized everything was for my husband and I still needed to find something!!!!! 

During the holiday season KOHLS was randomly selecting one customer a day and paying their bill for them. I honestly NEVER win.... Anything. That night I took a very unshevelled picture with the clip board man and the store manager to document my winnings in their store magazine. I was so happy and touched truly but pissed that of course I won a bag full of clothes ........ FOR MY HUSBAND! I still had nothing to wear.

Back to this year! At KOHLS again last minute but with two kids in tow and extra reinforcement. Guess what?? 

I went first this year!!!!!!!! Happy shopping!

Cute as a Ladybug

This past Saturday came and went with a blink of an eye. I had so much to do in one day and so very little time. I co-hosted a Ladybug themed baby shower with a friend for a friend. With some much needed reinforcements, I think it went off pretty well. My duties were as followed:

Make Diaper Cake, Prepare Games, Get Prizes for Games, Get Cake/Cupcakes (YUM!) , and get the pin, and memorabilia book. Check, check, check, check and check.

The baby shower was a ladybug themed Tea Party...I Know! So cute! The Tea Party is always a hit in my opinion. What better way to celebrate the oncoming arrival of a baby girl?? The ladybugs are a FAV for the guest of honor and not to mention Good Luck. I am so happy to help and contribute to a friend's happiness in any way that I am able to. For these projects though, I would need my reinforcements.
 A diaper cake...Easy Peasy, right? UH.....Nope, not for this not so crafty chick! After watching several you Tube videos with males and females making the most amazing Diaper Cakes I have ever seen, I thought, hey I can do this. After stopping by the store on 3 different occasions to buy the materials I would need, asking employees and strangers in the aisles for advice, I began my eh, masterpiece. I rolled 96 size 3 diapers and rubber banded them accordingly. Then, I began my tiers. I desperately wanted to use all of the diapers I rolled, but after a few attempts realized it just wasn't happening. It was too large to fit on the pretty base I bought, so I had to re-vamp the initial visual I had in mind. I think I ended up with about 60ish. Everything was banded together and my 3 tiers were set to be decorated. Oh crap...I forgot the spindle thingy that goes in the middle of the entire cake to hold the 3 tiers together. Had to improvise and use a paper towel roll I had on hand. It worked, success!
Next was the fun part....decorating, until I came to the realization that tape, although the next best thing to food in my opinion, does not work for everything. I was attempting to wrap my nice diaper tiers with black ribbon but the tape was not holding the ends together. So off to the store..AGAIN. This trip I purchased glue dots, super glue, and double sided adhesive tape of some sort. (suitable for fabric) I enlisted in the help of a friend who helped hold the ribbons for me and helped me affix the rest of the goodies onto the cake. She even sewed the topper and socks onto the cake so that they wouldn't come off. Those who know me KNOW I can not sew. I even got out of that "Betty Crocker", "Susie Homemaker" class in High School. You know, the one where you learn how to cook and sew and carry around a baby doll with a special key to make it stop crying. Well, I somehow managed to elect out of that elective class. The Aftermath...A pretty awesome Diaper Cake ..If I do say so myself. I have just proven to myself that I too can make a "acceptable" version of a diaper cake.

Rolling..Rolling...Rolling

3 tiers

Finally Finished!

On Display and looking pretty good

For the games I did the following:

1) The Price is right...Or close enough

I attached 10 items bought from Walmart onto the Diaper Cake. I told all the guests what the items were. They had to guess the price of each item and total it. Whoever came closest without going over won a prize - I recently attended a baby shower where they did this but put all 10 items into a basket and showed each one. You could always do this as well.

2) Drawing Teapots or Babies...or something like that

Each guest received a paper plate and a pen. They had to place the paper plate on top of their heads. They had 2 minutes to draw either a Teapot or a baby (the ladies actually did pretty darn well) We even had one lady who drew both!

3) Tea Words

Each guest had 2 minutes to write down as many words with the word "Tea" in them as possible

4) Guess that Tea Bag

I placed 6 Tea bags without labels into a bowl. Each of them were numbered 1-6. I told the guest which flavors of tea were in the bowl and they had to sniff the bags and figure out which flavor each tea bag was.
*I, clearly not thinking...went in order 1-6 and told them what flavors were in the bowl in the exact order that i numbered them! Duh Duh...Next time I'll mix it up!

Drawing Teapots

What I did for the prizes:

I purchased 3 coffee mugs from Wally World (WalMart), honey, tea cookies, a bottle of bubbly, and a Lindt chili chocolate bar for prizes. I filled each of the 3 coffee mugs with several assorted Tea Bags, one with honey, and two with the Lemon Tea cookies. The last prize was the bubbly and Lindt Chocolate bar. (I almost kept this one for myself) I took cellophane wrap , black and red tissue paper, red thin ribbon and wrapped and tied each prize. To coincide with the ladybug theme I attached 3 tiny lady bugs to each ribbon.

The last and most exciting part of my duties as co-host was to provide the cake/cupcakes. Of course I chose CUPCAKES. I do not bake..I mean I can follow box directions and even tweak them a little but baking from scratch, real baking..I still have not mastered this skill. I enlisted the help of my friend, Iris Alexander. She made me the cutest chocolate ladybug cupcakes ever! She has made us cupcakes, and some really delicious oatmeal chocolate chip cookies before, so I had to ask for her help. They ended up going home with each guest as a favor.

Iris posing next to her cute little critters

It was Iris's first time working with fondant.

All in all the baby shower was a success. The host, Christina, opened up her home and killed it with the decorations, food and beverages. She was equipped with cucumber sandwiches, scones, petit fours, fruit with whipped cream, Tea (hot and cold) and flavored water choices. The 2 hours flew by and the guest of honor Christine, had a great time. She left feeling loved and with some great new items for her newest edition to come.

When in doubt...You Tube it..You too can make a diaper cake!  

Tea anyone?

Food Fit for a Tea Party

Scones and Preserves..Lemon Curd too!

Christina and Guest of Honor Christine

Little Mini, Christine, & I

The Hostess and Co-Hostess