Adrienne's Bridal Shower

My best friend Adrienne recently got married. I was one of her Maid of Honors (technically, its a Matron of Honor since I'm married, but no on really cares about that anyway.) Now Adrienne had been with her fiance for awhile and they had already been living together for a long time. And they have everything. But really, everything. The stuff that makes you say "Who owns stuff like this??" You know stuff like a convenient store professional grade hot dog roller, a sand volleyball court, a giant walk-in safe (and a giant walk-in hidden pantry), a deep-fryer (the big kind, the one you use to deep fry your Thanksgiving turkey), beer on tap that is kitty-corner from the popcorn maker, and they have like, 12 dogs. They did not need anything.

How was I supposed to throw my best friend a nice bridal shower? Toasters, gravy boats, butter dishes, and other standard bridal shower gifts were not needed at their house. They had all that stuff, right alongside their dragster race car.

So we decided to throw Adrienne a 'Pamper the Bride Shower'. After all, planning a wedding is incredibly stressful and what Bride doesn't need some pampering?

I sell a line of beauty/make up/skin care products called Beauticontrol. And when I say sell, I really mean I get a discount on products for myself and my friends. This was the basis of our Pamper the Bride shower. If you want to do something similar to this for a friend, you can call me and I will gladly show up at your party with all my spa and make-up products and do an awesome spa party, or you can call a local Beauticontrol consultant in your area (or a consultant from a competing make-up and spa product MLM could work too).

On the invites, we told the guests that they could bring a gift that would pamper the Bride or they could get her something off her wish list at the shower. This is nice for guests because they don't have to shop for a gift, wrap something, or plan ahead. No one really likes to plan ahead or be prepared. And this is nice for the Bride because she gets stuff she actually needs and wants, she just picks out the things she wants ahead of time. This idea can be used for other types of showers too; Pampered Chef, Tupperware, erotic toys, etc.

At the shower I did a spa party. We put on face masks, foot cream and special socks, eye pads, hand treatments, lip treatments, neck wraps and all sorts of other fun things you could only do with a bunch of girls. We pampered the Bride and all the guests too. And its super fun to get pictures of all your friends looking silly.

The party decor was super cute too. (I wish I had more pictures, I really need to get better at documenting my cuteness.) I used the Bride's wedding colors, coral and champagne for everything. I put coral(ish) roses on the tables as centerpieces, coral and champagne tablecloths, napkins and plates. My favorite thing was my party favor table.

This table was set up with cute spa items that the guests could take home. I put nail files, lip gloss, lip balms, bath loofahs, hair ties, nail polishes, and scented candles out on the tables with gift bags to fill up. I had a lot of fun getting this all put together.

We didn't really play any silly shower games. We only did one (sort of) game, and its one of my favorites. While the Bride is opening up gifts, we wrote down everything she said. Then when all the presents are opened, we read the things she said out loud as "Things that will be said on the wedding night" (this also works at baby showers as "Things said on the night of conception").  We got some great ones at Adrienne's shower, some of my favorites were:

"I'll have Terra write you a thank you card for that"
"Can I use this as a pot holder?"
"You'll be so jealous when you all have severe carpal tunnel and I don't" (I think this was in reference to some sort of hand mixer... Yes, she got some random kitchen items too, it wouldn't really be a true bridal shower without at least one.)

I wish I could remember more right now, but it was really funny. And it was cute to see people get creative and really try to find gifts that would Pamper the Bride.

And what other Bride would open all her gifts while wearing a face mask? Such a good sport! I love you Adrienne, and congrats to you and Jeff! I wish nothing but the best to you both!

Husband's Graduation Party

My amazing Husband graduated from college in the Spring. I wanted to throw him a party to celebrate all his hard work. I chose the have a "Preschool/Grade School" Theme for his party. I thought it would be fun and cute to remember our youthful school days now that we're 30ish with jobs and kids and spouses.

I covered all the tables with butcher paper. I used a dark green color because that was the school color of his university. I spread crayons out on all the tables so guests could color, draw, and write Husband congratulatory messages.

Also, to keep with the little kid/preschool theme I had bottles of bubbles all over so people (especially the kids) could blow bubbles and I had sidewalk chalk spread out all over the sidewalk for more drawing and well-wishes.

I had bowls of Smarties candy on all my tables too. Get it, Smarties?? Because it sure takes a real Smartie to graduate form college (yeah, I know, that was pretty lame.)

I used little wipe boards on easel stands with congratulation messages and school themes (ABC's and 123s)  for some centerpieces. And I had balloons all around the party in my husband's school colors and I had a big Congrats Grad sign on my front lawn in the school colors too. I am seriously lacking pictures of a lot of this party's decor. However, I do have pictures of Husband getting awesome gifts though....

For the record, my husband is very interested in women. He has a great group of  friends that are very clever and love gag gifts.

But my favorite thing I did for his graduation party were these cute little graduation hats...

These pictures don't do them justice! They are so freaking cute! And easy to make, since I am generally not a crafty person. All you need to make them are Reese's Miniature Cups, Elmer's Glue, black cardstock, fuzzy yarn (preferably in the school's colors), and a hole punch (optional. I just cut little circles out with scissors since I lost my hole punch).

Cut out 2 inch X 2 inch squares of black cardstock. Glue onto smaller part of Reese's cup. Glue yarn on top in middle. Glue small black circle on top of where you glued the yarn. Let dry. Voila!!

Some other ideas for a Preschool Theme Graduation Party are:

• Serve sack lunches for your party food
• Letter blocks on tables
• "A" is for Apple, "C" is for Cookie, etc. cards to describe your food
• Use chalkboard paint to make some cute centerpieces you can write on

I just want to finish off by saying (again) CONGRATULATIONS HUSBAND ON BEING A COLLEGE GRADUATE!! WOOT-WOOT!!!