Chocolate is Divine...and So is Alanna! (This post is for YOU!)

I love my calling! I love being able to serve in the Relief Society. The sisters are awesome and we all know I love to throw a party! One of the perks of moving across the country is that you get to reuse some ideas on a new crowd. I've been so anxious to put together the Chocolate is Divine...and So Are You program and I finally was able to this month. And I must say, I think it turned out even better than before. (Alanna, it was really, really good!) Oh how I wish that I had recorded a video of it. My narrators used very convincing British accents, so when they said words like scrumptious and delectable tortes it really added a new dimension that wasn't there before. (This was their idea and I admit I was very, very worried. But it totally worked!) The singers did just as awesome at getting into character. There was chorography and props and even chocolate smeared on faces! It was such a fun night! Thank you Alanna and Delcia! You are some talented ladies!

I think I did all right on the decorations this go around too...

I tried using long tables for the first time and I love how it turned out!

(The music stands were even decorated again!)

Little banners

Programs

Cupcake liner topiaries!

 

 Tissue paper pom poms

Tiny banner for atop the piano.

 Chocolate buffet table!

 

 Pretty plates

 

 More tissue paper pom poms for above the chocolate table.

 

 I made little place cards for everyone to fill out what they brought.

 

 Buffet table filled with Chocolate goodness! I forget to get a close up pic of my milk jugs this time, but they were cute! I even made my friend's husband make a special trip to Costco just to get the special jugs the sell there!

 

 Delicious little paper cake! had one on top of the piano.

Just 3 Reasons Why I Love FELT!

#1 Felt is very manipulable. It understands what I expect of it. It does what I want without hesitation.

Example:

Felt Peacock Feathers

#2 Felt conforms to my time restraints. When I come up with a GREAT costume idea just three days before I would need it complete I don't worry because Felt's got my back!

Example:

Felt Mr. & Mrs. Potato Head

#3 Felt doesn't get jealous. If I decide, on occasion, that the main material of a project needs to be something else, Felt doesn't mind taking a backseat. Felt plays with with others!

Example:

Octopus and Furry Monster with lovely FELT accents

Like Mother, Like Daughters

Apparently the need to be immortalized on YouTube is genetic. So when my girls were asked to be included in my friend, Jessica Frech's new music video they jumped at the chance. (Or perhaps I jumped, even missing a session of General Conference to do so--I know, shame, shame--but those are just details!) Anywho, check out my adorable girls (and as it turns out, ALOT of my felt creations!) in this cute music video:

You will need to click and watch this video right on You Tube in order to view without portions of the shots cut off.

Emmy Turns 6!

For Your Information: I seriously tried to go theme-less for this party. I was going for simple, stress-free. What I found was that it is much MORE stressful for me to go theme-less, to be minimal. So four days before the party I did my normal "thing" and went all out. And I was much happier and calm once I started planning. I realize how this makes me look...Yes, I'm aware that I could have actual mental problems. SO, without further ado, I present:

Emmy's Clown Party

You will need:

A birthday girl and a cake.

Some festive decorations.

Party favor bags that include these cute felt barrettes:

A party hat for Mr. Owl.

Themed food of Corndogs and Popcorn!

Fun Games

Such as Pin the Nose AND the Flower on the Clown

and a high-spirited game of balloon pop!

And of course, a talented friend who provides party guests with clown faces.

And a SUPER cool mom & dad who will dress like a fool for you!


Happy Birthday, Emily!

It's Great To Be Eight!

It's HARD to believe that just a little over a month ago this little girl turned EIGHT!

Seriously! I have an 8-yr-old. I mean I am 30 (gasp) now, so I suppose it's not too surprising. But really, I remember when she was born. I remember leaving work on Friday afternoon still pregnant. Going to church on Sunday (her due date) and being completely miserable and having person after person ask me when I was going to have that baby! It was SO annoying! I had no idea that in the wee hours of the next morning I would go into labor and would be calling my boss to tell her that I wouldn't be coming into work that day. After just 4.5 hours of labor , "all natural"-style, this little cutie was be born.

She has been such a joy and such a challenge in my life! This little girl made me a mother and has endured my many mistakes as a first-time parent and STILL loves me unconditionaly! She is a needed member of our family and she is an amazing big sister. She constently makes me proud to be a mom.

I was never so proud as I was one this most special of days

Direct from my Inbox

Hello, Lisa!

Welcome to the second trimester! This week's big developments: Your baby can now squint, frown, grimace, pee, and possibly suck his thumb. Thanks to brain impulses, his facial muscles are getting a workout as his tiny features form one expression after another. His kidneys are producing urine, which he releases into the amniotic fluid around him -- a process he'll keep up until birth. He can grasp, too, and if you're having an ultrasound now, you may even catch him sucking his thumb. In other news: Your baby's stretching out. From head to bottom, he measures 3 1/2 inches -- about the size of a lemon -- and he weighs 1 1/2 ounces.

YES! I'm having a baby and it can now PEE! lol

My Little Artists

The girl's school had an art fair back in May...

My little Emily won 2nd place in the Kindergarten Mixed Media category for her fabulous castle.

This qualified her to go to the Robertson County Art Fair.

My dear Annbelle won 1st place in the 2nd grade Sculpture category for her paper mache Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker.

She went on to place 1st at the County Fair as well!

Way to go girls!

Class of 2023

Seriously, I missed a couple breathes when I walked into the auditorium for Emily's Kindergarten Graduation and saw the sign that said, "Class of 2023." I mean really? 2023? I can't even think that far ahead.

Emily's teacher taught the children a Bob Marley song. It was kinda their class song/motto for the year. Earl found it a little disturbing. I found it absolutely adorable to hear Emily practicing it. Too bad you can't hear her in this video. She is simple precious!

And her name is called...

Our little graduate.

WHOO, WHOO

WHOO turned 3?
(way back in May)

This little cutie!

WHOO thinks I went a little overboard on this cake?

WHOO thinks it was totally worth all the work to see how much she loved it?

My YouTube Debut

I happen to have some seriously talented people in my ward. I guess that's what you get when you live in Nashville. So many people looking for their "big break."

My friends and I got together to reenact our talent show performance of Cyndi Lauper's Time After Time to support this young talented gal in finding her's.

Jessica Frech, you have a wonderful voice. I'm happy to help. (Besides, I think secretly I've always wanted to be immortalized on YouTube.)