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Dumpster Drama

As you may know, I am planning a 50th birthday party for my friend Suzanne.

Last week, Suzanne came came by to show me her wedding album so I could scan the pictures and put them in a DVD for the party. She reminised about her wedding day and told me the picture of Bill and herself heading off to their honeymoon (in their travel clothes) was her FAVORITE picture of the 2 of them. We also went over her guest list and talked about our boys being in the same Boy Scout troop.

Today, I finally had the computer and house to myself so I could scan the pictures into the computer. I had some loose pictures that I had from Suzanne's childhood but I could not find her wedding album! I remember thinking to myself, Suzanne shouldn't have put her album in the plastic bag. Some one might think it is trash.

I tore my house apart trying desperately to recall my actions of our meeting. I finally decided that when I was saying goodbye to Suzanne, I went to the mailbox to pick up the mail. When I came inside the house, I dropped off the mail on the kitchen table. I must have put the bag on the kitchen chair. Then one of the kids must have moved it off the chair and onto the floor. The kitchen table is next to the recycle pile by the back door and someone must have put it in the recycling bin.

But wait, the recycling truck just picked up the trash an hour ago!

I started FLIPPING OUT! I threw away my friend's precious wedding photos!!!!

I called my husband and he told me to call Suzanne right away and tell her what happened. Her answering machine picked up. I tried to sound calm after sobbing for 10 minutes and left a message for her to call me. Next, I called the trash company. They told me the truck hadn't come in yet but I was welcome to sift through the tons of trash to find the book.

I started calling my girlfriends and we quickly arranged a plan to meet at the dump site. I got my grubby clothes on and I was headed out the door when the phone rang. It was Suzanne. Oh no! Should I pick up the phone? Should I look for the book first and then tell her the horrific story? "Hey Donna, what's wrong" Suzanne said in her sweet Southern drawl. I started to cry. "Oh Suzanne, I threw away your wedding album!" She told me to stop crying and she thought I was a true friend for getting so upset about losing her book. Why is she being so calm and nice and trying to cheer me up? I just told this woman her precious memories were lost forever!

"Donna, sweetie! You didn't lose it! The book is right here. I found it in my car this morning. I forgot to give it to you!"

"WHAT!? Are you sure? You are looking at them right now?"

Yes, she assured me. Oh, thank GOD! She told me that she would try to get them to me in the next couple of days.

Still in a state of shock, I called off the posse. They were very relieved. My friend Marina said that if ever there was an occasion to start drinking in the afternnon, this was it! Amen!

UPDATE: Suzanne just dropped off the album! She gave me several hugs and told me what a great friend I was! She is so sweet! Here is her favorite picture. I told her I would guard the album with my life!

Pink Spa Saturday

For the last few weeks, I have been quite stressed. Spring baseball has started and my son has practice 4 times a week at 4 different places. Chasen had to have an eye exam before we got him a new pair of sport glasses. He is a Weblos Cub Scout and is bridging to Boy Scouts in a few weeks, so we have visited 3 different troops in one week. My son decided to join the last troop we visited, Troop 2. Sheridan has ballet class and everyone needs help with homework. Matt went to the orthodontist and I had to get my taxes together for Party Wishes. I have delivered a Fairy party, I'm setting up a French Poodle party on Saturday and I hosted a High School Musical party last weekend for 13 -6 year olds. I would like a trip to the spa!
Before I make my appointment for a massage, I thought I would share my Spa Girlz party that I host for girls aged 7-16. The facial table has Maribou covered mirrors, faux aromatherapy candles and custom labeled water bottles. The guests wear pink fluffy robes as they make their own custom lip gloss and body lotion. I have a foot massage machine and plenty of "girl" magazines. I love teaching girls about taking care of themselves.

I show the girls how to clean their skin; I have them apply a Mint Julep mask and as it dries, they wear a cool eye mask and I lead them through some deep breathing and relaxation techniques. I also go over the importance of wearing sunscreen.

After the facial, we have a quiz about the birthday girl and have a scavenger hunt or play Musical Toe Nail Polish. The girls sit in a circle with their feet in the center. They each get a bottle of nail polish. I start the music and they pass the bottles of polish. When the music stops, they have to paint only one toe nail with the color.

We do this 10 times until the have technicolor toes!

This is my most popular party...I wonder why!

Go and pamper yourself...you deserve it!

One way to do that is to check out all of the other fun pinkness at Beverly's.

"Breakfast at Tiffany's" Birthday

I met Suzanne about 10 years ago when we attended MOPS together. One of my first acts of being coordinator was to award Suzanne the "MOPS Angel" award. I made up the award just for Suzanne because she was a MOPS table leader and a brand new member, who had just moved to our city, started to miscarry her 2nd child and Suzanne was the only "friend" she knew. It was the middle of the night and Suzanne agreed to stay with the woman's 2 year old sleeping son as her husband drove her to the hospital. This is typical Suzanne. She is from North Carolina and as sweet as can be! Always willing to give a helping hand and is a wonderful cook and hostess. Her Southern biscuits are amazing and she claims there is no recipe, she just dumps stuff in a bowl!

So this dear friend is also in my tea group and about to celebrate her 50th birthday on February 8th. The tea group decided to throw a big bash in Suzanne's honor on Feb 22 so her mother will be able to attend. Of course, I went a little nutty and started planning it. :) I chose "Breakfast at Tiffany's" because her favorite color is blue and the novel (1958) and movie (1961)came out right around her birthday year (1959).

The invitations are Tiffany Blue and I went to http://www.stamps.com/ to make the custom Tiffany box b-day cake stamp. I couldn't have Audrey on it, no celebrities or look-alikes. I bought mini blue boxes to fill with blue M&Ms and tie with white ribbon. We will serve Blue Martinis and blue punch with blue sugar rimmed glasses. Flower arrangements will be in Mint Juleps cups to give a nod to Suzanne's southern heritage. The tablecloths are white with blue runners and diamonds scattered about. We invited 85 friends and church members.

The tea group girls are dressing in black dresses, pearls, long black gloves and wearing our hair up with a tiara as we pass hors d'Ourves. I got some pictures from Suzanne and I will be making a DVD slideshow to play at the party.

I will also be making a crystal tree dripping with Swarvski crystals. Suzanne loves Magnolia flowers so I may attach a few silk ones to the tree.

She knows we are throwing her a party but she doesn't know the theme. I just told her "blue" and she responded in her Southern drawl, "That's my favorite color". Yeah, I know!

Pink Baking Saturday

I enjoy cooking. When I was single, I would throw dinner parties to highlight my cooking skills. I had subscriptions to Bon Appetit and Gourmet magazines. I would make homemade tomato sauce with pancetta, rosemary and porcini mushrooms and simmer it all day. I would make the ravioli and run it through my gourmet pasta machine. My pear sorbet with pear compote was famous in my circle of friends. But, I must say, I would much rather BAKE than COOK.

A few months ago , I discovered this blog, Bakerella, who shares my same passion. I made her cake lollipops for my birthday a few weeks ago. Recently, she posted a recipe of brownies with chocolate chip cookie dough baked inside and covered in chocolate ganache....ooohhhh baby!

She makes the most artful cupcakes. She claims she is not a professional, but just look at these beauties! How cute are these for Easter?

Here is one of her famous cake lollipops
with a bikini-clad Teddy Graham.

Are you kidding me? It just makes me want to throw
a pool party just so I can make these!



Wondering what to do with pink stuffed Oreos?
Make a pink panda bear cupcake of course!

Cake smothered in Reese's Peanutbutter Cups...oh my!

This will be Matthew's birthday cake in September!



Is your mouth watering yet?

What do you like to bake?

Go and bake something for someone you love today!

Of course after you check out more fun pink stuff at Beverly's.

Happy Pink Saturday!

Purple Makeover

When my daughter was 2 we moved to a bigger home. I decorated her room in Shabby Chic- Pink & Green. I'm a lover of pink, as you know, but my daughter, not so much. Well, maybe the pink but NOT the green. She is a purple girl. I recently re-did her brothers rooms and now it is her turn. She wanted purple with pink accents. I was a bit hesitant at first but I must say the color is growing on me!

The color on the left is from Lowe's and it's called Sassy Lilac. It was the first color I chose and Sheridan loved it. Not quite convinced, I ordered some samples through the Pottery Barn website. They are Benjamin Moore paints...the middle is Lily Lavender and the one on the right is Lavender Lipstick.

The Sassy Lilac is on the wall the Lily Lavender on her bed. At first, I was going to paint the bed white with white bookcases on either side of the bed. But with the bedding being mostly white, I decided to paint the bed Lilac Lavender. The pink on there is French Pink from Home Depot.

I want to paint the ceiling a soft grey. It's a lot harder to pick than the purple!I had a portrait of Sheridan done a few years ago in a fairy outfit.

It just happens to be purple, so it will be hung over her bed.

Doesn't it look great on the purple wall?

Should I paint the frame silver?

Here is the bedding I got from Layla Grayce website.

The brand is Pine Cone Hill.

It has Sheridan's purple and my cottage style.

I thought it was a good comprimise.

The bed skirt and one of the Euro shams is in the stripe and the quilt, curtains and other Euro sham is in the toile. The curtains are a bit sheer, so I will be adding a black out fabric to give them a little more weight. I might also make another set of panels in eyelet to go with these.


Here is a bookcase I got off of ebay. The seller just happens to be 25 minutes from my house so I can pick them up and save on shipping costs.

We will be cleaning everthing out of her room this weekend and hopefully painting next weekend. I'll keep you posted on the progress!