Getting back to it....

I've been quite the blog slacker lately....sheesh...never thought I'd say that, huh? And it's not like I don't have anything to talk about...I uploaded pictures for all my different posts I want to do and there are like 5 waiting now! I better get busy Ü.

Busy is the word of the hour....These past 2-3 weeks have been jam-packed, which I'm totally cool with. Every day has been planned out in order to get everything in that I wanted to get in. I've basically gotten myself to the point that if I don't step inside a Target (GASP) for a month, I think I'll be ok! (James has probably fallen on the floor in shock at this statement) Mainly, it's the whole money thing...tomorrow night is my last night of work until the end of June, and even with a little bit of short term disability, it's gonna be a bit of a lifestyle change for us eater-outers...so I guess I'm just trying to build myself up for that!

ANYWAYS...

One of the totally cool things that has happened in the last 2 weeks was a baby shower thrown by my good friends Ashley, Lois and Cheree. They threw a movie-themed shower....they know me all too well!! Complete with popcorn and movie-theater style food...I was in heaven!!

The pictures are slightly fuzzy...blogger doesn't like to enlarge pictures I download from other people (bleh)...but I absolutely loved this clothesline...the onesie on the far right says "Im the next Edward Cullen" OH MY GOSH...just too cute!

Ashley came up with some fantastic non-baby-shower-esque games, but still baby-themed! One was matching the celebrity babies with the celebrity families. Am I the only person who didn't know that the Dugar's named all their kids with a 'J'?? lol. Another game was unscrambling the movie title...each had to do with babies. So much fun, and so not the regular type of game Ü!

It was so nice to be able to sit and chat with the ladies that came! Most of these ladies I keep in contact mainly thru blogging or facebook...so it's always nice to see them face to face for a little chitchat catchup.

I got some fantastic handmade goods! A few weeks ago, Cheree stopped by our house and brought me some applique onesies and burpcloths. This boy is going to be stylin' Ü. Thank goodness for onesie's, too...after today's jump in temperature just to the mid-80s, I remember now how hot and icky Texas summers are!

I also received some cute hand-knitted baby hats from Julie, she sells her good in her Etsy shop. I can't wait to take pictures of this boy in his very own bear hat. She also made me a hand-knitted rattle...which I have never even heard of before, but it's too cool!!

Shannon, who also happens to have an Etsy shop (can you see how I am shamelessly putting these plugs in for these uber-talented ladies?? Check out Shannon's Activity Mats...too cute!). She made baby boy the cutest play mat...I'm so excited to see him rolling around on it! She also included a cute tie onesie with matching shorts.

Handmade gifts make me smile!!!

My work ladies...well, Shannon doesn't work with us anymore...she's the lucky one ;). Kim keeps me sane on most nights...letting me countdown to the end of work to her...41 minutes...15 minutes....THREE MINUTES!

And of course there are these ladies...supportive and loving and they accept me for who I am! I've been very blessed in the friend department here in Texas. I've had my ups and downs, but I know there are ladies out there that I can count on for anything! I appreciate them so much!

Lois and Julie's sweet baby...I got to hold him for a bit and was in love! He's a sweet little thing. I can't wait to meet my sweet baby in just a few short days!

Thank you ladies!!! It was a fantastic party and I appreciate the effort and love that went into it. I love spending time with you all and consider myself lucky to call you friends!!

My Magical Baby Shower Ü

I consider myself a lucky girl with this pregnancy...it's been relatively easy, all I really have to do is fight some fatigue here and there...and I am getting two baby showers! Party time. Ü My sisters-in-law and mother-in-law came into town Valentines weekend to throw me a "Magical" shower for my ward family (later in March, a couple of friends are throwing a shower for my bloggity and work friends). It was so fun to have them all in town! The weekend was snowy, cold and filled with people losing power. We were lucky enough to keep our power and have a generous friend give us a ton of wood to keep us warm, which was such a blessing since we keep our house pretty cold due to our defunct heater.

My family did such a great job on the shower...it was a "Magical" theme...since we are using Merlin for his middle name!

They had the cutest idea of having pixi stick "wands" as the favor.

I took Bella with me...she is the sort that would sit and chill and not have to be entertained (unlike her younger counter-part)....it was nice to have her there to enjoy the {CAKE} fun.

My "Sword in the Stone" diaper cake. Very cute idea.

They put some fun games together to play. One being helping James and I come up with names that spelled something with the initials...these ladies were very creative with that...of course, as it ends up, the name we chose doesn't spell a thing! (Or I think we've chosen it...I dunno...picking a name is way too hard!)

My favorite game was this race to drink a bottle of orange juice. Talk about hilarious and DIFFICULT. I was mean and 'somehow' Bella ended up with a bottle to drink...I thought she'd win since she was probably the one in the room who had most recently used a bottle! But she got way embarassed and I ended up trying to win...and ummm...I have no idea how babies suck out of those things...it's HARD! Poor kid.

Another good thing about having Bella there...she helped me open presents. I love to open presents, but you have to admit...its a little hard being in the lime-light like that, and for some reason my face turns BRIGHT RED very quickly with this pregnancy. So, Bella being there took some of that attention off me, thank goodness. We got some really cute gifts for this Baby Boy...I was excited to get the pack-n-play I'd registered for. A friend of mine got it awhile back for her new baby and I'd been drooling over the cute brown and blue owls ever since!

I had such a blast with these ladies! Good food, good friends, good fun, Costco cake....can't get any better than that!!

a {Wild Child} baby shower

Saturday, I had the privilege of helping throw a baby shower for my friend, Ashley. Her sister, Kelli and I found this cute idea from Tip Junkie, on Stem's website....and ran with it...

I was so happy with the way it all turned out....decorations, food, the people....and especially the fact that Ashley enjoyed herself and felt loved! I was quite nervous to throw it, I wanted everything to be absolutely perfect.
Planning was a bit last minute...so I spent ALL week last week trying to find zebra print and blue...can you believe that Hobby Lobby, Joann's AND Michael's were all out of zebra print paper?! So disappointed was I...but thankfully found zebra felt on sale, so I could make some lovely banners...you know I love my banners!

The food was so yum...we had croissants with chicken salad, veggies, fruit and fruit dip, chips, salsa and guacamole...palmier cookies (my new fave sweet treat)...cupcakes....simple, yet so good.

This boa was a treasure to find in the right color! Bella was esctatic when she found out we were keeping it...

Cute baby boy sonogram pictures...I am so in love with the 3D option!

Sign in book...and bright blue flowers...can you believe it? And did you notice the green ones in the first photo?! Yes....fresh flowers are a must at a baby shower.

Ashley and her cute daughter, Chloe...(thanks Chloe for the smile!)

I love this...just love it.

For the favors, I finally made good use of the lot of 25 wooden bracelets I bought off Ebay like 100 years ago. Shannon whipped up these lovely little bags, that are just too cute!!

I embellished it with WILD, with a blue star on the opposite side...and a bit of wild fur to remember the occasion!I love doing stuff like this....throwing parties, whether it be birthdays or a going-away party or a baby shower...I love to decorate and create and pamper others. Its such {expensive} fun!! Thank you to all those who came and participated and helped me pamper Ashley with love!