Baby Shower Hostess: Can This Just Be My Job?

I seriously wish I could host showers for a living. I love it! Don't get me wrong-I still love teaching. But I had such a great time throwing my sister-in-law's baby shower that if somebody actually paid me to do this stuff, it would be amazing!

A few weeks ago my friend Brooke asked me what the theme for the shower was, and honestly, I hadn't given that much thought. So after a few moments of silence I told her that the theme was 'Classy'. In fact, aside from the baby decoration on the cake, it couldn't have looked less like a baby shower! It's not that I'm anti-baby or anything. I just wanted the shower to reflect the poised and sophisticated woman that Kate is. 

Of course I could not have done it without the help of my fellow co-hostesses, my sister Jill, my mom, and my aunt Terry! 

Terry suggested we hold the shower at her place of employment, Persimmon Ridge Golf Club, which is beautiful and spacious. Having it at Persimmon Ridge also meant we didn't have to worry about making the food, which was a huge relief.

Jill and I visited many stores before we came upon these adorable pink and green gingham invitations from Staples. Jill designed and printed the invitations and then together we tied the little ribbons with the monogrammed tags to them.

My mom is the most talented woman I know so we left the table decorations to her. Kate's favorite flowers are hydrangeas, peonies, and gerber daisies, so Mom found silk versions of each these in shades of pink. She put pink crystals at the bottom and tied pink tulle around each glass vase.

Mom also had the idea to print baby pictures of Micah and Kate on parchment paper and place them inside larger vases. Persimmon Ridge had the octagon mirrors that we placed under the vases to create the simple, whimsical center pieces.

I have to give a shout out to Pinterest, without which I would not have found such adorable ideas for decorations and activities. Kate loves pennants and I wanted to make one that had my McNugget's initials on it. I searched "pennants" on Pinterest and found these perfect (and free) printable pennant letters!

They looked great on the mantle, along with the flower arrangement my mom made and the baby pictures of Micah and Kate, if I do say so myself!

Pinterest also led me to these precious "Wishes for Baby" cards by lauren makes, which were also free to download and print!

Our friends and family members wrote the sweetest wishes, and I'm going to bind them into a book for my little niece!

Once I had collected all of the cards, Kate drew one out for a prize. We did the same thing with the thank you card envelopes that I had everyone write their addresses on (to save Kate time).

I'm not big on shower games, mostly because I just don't think they're necessary. But I found the game "Name That Baby Tune" online, and I knew most of our family would have fun with it. I created a mix of 15 songs that each had the word 'Baby' in the title, and played snippets of each. Players got a point for having the title correct and a point for naming the artist correctly as well. Songs ranged from The Supremes' "Baby Love" to "Baby Got Back" by Sir-Mix-A-Lot.

The winners of the game and the drawings were awarded Target gift cards because, like my cousin Angie would say, no one needs any more candles!

Of course the teacher in me wants my McNugget to have books aplenty so I included a blurb at the bottom of the invitations that went like this: Help us build our little lady a library and sign your name to a book instead of a card if you like! I'm happy to say that many people participated and that my niece now has a plethora of reading materials for her nursery!

I got her one of my favorite books, Goodnight Moon, and found the matching bunny rabbit. I also found the idea on Pinterest to wrap the gift in a receiving blanket instead of paper. It turned out great!

The shower was a huge success, mostly because Kate got many of the items she needs to welcome baby EEM to the world in July!

...like these pink and white polka dot shades from Aunt Jackie.

Now that the shower is over, all we have to do is wait. It was a lot of work, but so much fun and totally worth it! I can't wait to meet the precious baby girl in that sonogram picture. 

The Thirty Things Every Woman Should Have And Should Know By The Time She's 30

I came across this list the other day, which was originally written by Pamela Redmond Satran for Glamour magazine in 1997. 
I definitely didn't have or know all 30 things when I turned the big 3-0 in August, but I do think they are worth working for in the near future. 

By 30, you should have ...

1. One old boyfriend you can imagine going back to and one who reminds you of how far you’ve come.
I've got plenty of 'em who remind me how far I've come. They'll all be in the book I'm writing.

2. A decent piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in your family.

Check.

3. Something perfect to wear if the employer or man of your dreams wants to see you in an hour.
The man of my dreams would love to see me in my sweatpants, and so would the employer of my dreams for that matter. So, check.

4. A purse, a suitcase, and an umbrella you’re not ashamed to be seen carrying.

5. A youth you’re content to move beyond.

6. A past juicy enough that you’re looking forward to retelling it in your old age.
Like when I was a junior in college and I missed a week of school to go to Daytona with my friend Matt so that I could meet a boy with whom I'd been talking on the phone for months? Yeah, that should probably be in the book, too.

7. The realization that you are actually going to have an old age -- and some money set aside to help fund it.
Gulp.

8. An email address, a voice mailbox, and a bank account -- all of which nobody has access to but you.
Duh.

9. A résumé that is not even the slightest bit padded.
Proud to say "check."

10. One friend who always makes you laugh and one who lets you cry.
I feel blessed to have many friends that make me laugh and let me cry, and who make me laugh so hard that I cry.

11. A set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra.
I do not have a cordless drill...I think we're all safer that way.

12. Something ridiculously expensive that you bought for yourself, just because you deserve it.

Merry Christmas, to me.

13. The belief that you deserve it.

14. A skin-care regimen, an exercise routine, and a plan for dealing with those few other facets of life that don’t get better after 30.
I've got the skin-care regimen down but let's be honest: the others are works in progress...

15. A solid start on a satisfying career, a satisfying relationship, and all those other facets of life that do get better.
I love my job, I love my family and friends, and I look forward to what the next thirty years have in store.


By 30, you should know ...

1. How to fall in love without losing yourself.
True that.

2. How you feel about having kids.
I am not interested in being a mother unless I am in a stable, loving marriage. I really feel that it is God's will. In the meantime, I am a godmother, an honorary aunt to my friends' children, and I am anxiously awaiting the birth of my first niece in July.

3. How to quit a job, break up with a man, and confront a friend without ruining the friendship.
Check. Check. Check.

4. When to try harder and when to walk away.

5. How to kiss in a way that communicates perfectly what you would and wouldn’t like to happen next.
Wink.

6. The names of the secretary of state, your great-grandmothers, and the best tailor in town.
Is it sad that I know Hilary Clinton is our Secretary of State, but can only name one of my great-grandmothers? You don't need to answer that, I already know. Gotta remedy that ASAP.

7. How to live alone, even if you don’t like to.
Me = The Champ 

8. Where to go -- be it your best friend’s kitchen table or a yoga mat -- when your soul needs soothing.
Seneca Park, my parents' pool, my couch.

9. That you can’t change the length of your legs, the width of your hips, or the nature of your parents.
I'm actually okay with all of these.

10. That your childhood may not have been perfect, but it’s over.
My childhood was great. It's high school that I'm glad to have in the books.

11. What you would and wouldn’t do for money or love.
Can't say that I've ever really given this much thought.

12. That nobody gets away with smoking, drinking, doing drugs, or not flossing for very long.

13. Who you can trust, who you can’t, and why you shouldn’t take it personally.
Yep.

14. Not to apologize for something that isn’t your fault.

15. Why they say life begins at 30.
Still learning...

So what do you think? I know that many of you reading this are like me, and have already celebrated 30 years of life. How many items were you able to check off the list before your 30th birthday?

Trash Talk is Trashy

I blogged on Wednesday, March 7 the following: I love filling out a "dream bracket" on which all the underdogs that I like advance and my Cardinals manage to meet & beat UK along the way to their Championship. True to my word, here's this year's bracket in all its glory:

Most people laughed at me when they heard who I had picked for my Final Four. Well guess what? 2012 has turned my dream into a reality. 


Who's laughing now? 


Me. The answer is me. I'm the one laughing, as I sing along to "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus on repeat. By the way, I've changed the lyrics to "It's a party in the Ville today". Don't hate.


Not only are my Louisville Cardinals meeting the Kentucky Wildcats, they are meeting in the Final Four. It doesn't get bigger than this for either group of fans. If you're not familiar with the rivalry (or if you just want to get more familiar), here's a great breakdown:Basketball Armageddon


Seconds after it was confirmed that UofL would indeed play UK on college basketball's biggest stage, a Facebook friend had already posted the words: "bring on the trash talk." 
With a roll of my eyes and a heavy sigh, I immediately closed my laptop.


Why? Because I simply cannot stand trash talk. Maybe it's my fear of confrontation. Maybe it's because I make my living teaching children to use kind words. Maybe because I think it's a waste of time. Yeah, that's the one-waste of time.


You like your team, I like mine. The end. 


I for one am proud of the fact that the fine state of Kentucky has not one, but two teams in this year's Final Four. I respect the Wildcats, but I love the Cardinals. It's been that way since birth and it's not going to change. And yes, this Friday I will be wearing this nerdy/fun piece of attire to work:

But that does not mean that I want to get into a war of words with any of my UK fan-coworkers. 


On a side note, I wore this shirt to a store recently and the clerk got rowdy when I walked up to the counter saying, "Aw no! Boo! That shirt is all wrong!" 
I said, "I take it you're a UK fan." 
To which she responded, "You're joking, right?" 
As I wiped the sweat from my forehead that began to seep out of my pores upon her verbal assault, the clerk's coworker informed her that the shirt read "Louisville is greater than Kentucky". 
"Oh, my bad. I thought it was the other way around," apologized the clerk. "Go Cards!"
As I left the store, these were the thoughts swirling around my mind: Is it more sad that this woman couldn't read my shirt, or that she's a Cards fan who couldn't read my shirt? What if I had been a UK fan? How would I have responded then? Is it hot in here? 
The fact that I went into my classroom the next day and reviewed 'greater than/less than' is irrelevant to this blog post, but rest assured my 3rd graders know how to properly read my shirt.


Any who...Although on game day I may be thinking negative things about the other team, and occasionally saying them aloud in the privacy of my own home, I will never write them on Facebook or say them to your face. 'Cause at the end of the day, they are not going to make my team play any better. 


So let's just agree to disagree and enjoy this sweet March Madness miracle. Keep it classy in the Bluegrass, friends. May the best team win. 
GO CARDS!

A Little Laugh

If you aren't familiar with e-cards, you've come to the right blog. I like to think of them as big laughs that come in little packages. I've seen a few of them on Facebook, and have collected the others via Pinterest. There are many, many hilarious e-cards out there for your viewing pleasure. In no particular order, here are some of my laugh-out-loud favorites:

It's funny 'cause it's true.

Thin Mints, to be exact.

I'm looking at you, Jenny. College Part 2?

Duh.

Throw in some Cardinal basketball-watching on TV and you've got my plan for this very Saturday as a matter of fact.

Seriously, stop it.

I bet Juvenile wrote this one.

Could not have said it better myself.

This world would be a much better place if "Sweatpants Monday" was a real thing.

This gets truer with every second that I age.

Thanks, Court. No one understands my friends Bella and Edward like you.

Could I sing this in my classroom at least once a day? Yes. In an opera voice? You bet.

And to find more e-cards.

I hope you had yourself a little laugh. Audrey Hepburn does too: "I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person." 
Not probably, Ms. Hepburn. It IS the most important thing. Find what makes you laugh, people.

The Madness Has Officially Commenced

Happy St. Patrick's Day, y'all!

The Louisville Cardinals & St. Patrick's Day: Two of my favorite things in this wide world, and the most important things about today, all wrapped up into one glorious article of clothing. I don't care how hot it gets today (the high is projected to be 79 degrees), I'm going to be wearing this sweatshirt, and wearing it with more pride than the Irish feel for their beloved patron saint, mind you. The Cards are scheduled to tip off at 9:40 p.m. and until then I will be soaking up all the Celtic celebration and NCAA Tournament action I can handle.

It's hard to imagine today's teams being able to top the magic we all witnessed yesterday. And by that I mean two 2-seeded teams losing to 15 seeds. Sorry, Duke and Missouri fans. But that. Was. Awesome! Thank you, Lehigh and Norfolk State for busting my bracket. No, I mean it. Who cares about the $5 I donated to my coworkers? It was worth every penny to experience the excitement that last night's games afforded. The Madness is officially upon us, people!

Speaking of madness, there's this:

A friend shared this on Facebook today, and ordinarily I would just scroll on by and shake my head. But I mean, WOW. If you haven't seen the UPS commercial depicting the "logistics" it took for Grant Hill to pass the ball to Christian Laettner in the 1992 Duke victory over Kentucky, crawl out from the rock you've been living under and join the rest of us, please.

I'm sorry, UK fans-I know this moment is one that you would prefer to forget ever happened. I get it. Believe it or not, my 10 year-old self was cheering for your Wildcats in that East Region final game. I remember the shock that was written all over the faces of my family members watching along with me that night. It hurt. Real bad. I dislike Duke as much as you do, trust me.

But the backlash this commercial has caused the Big Blue Nation is laughable. I love to see people get fired up about things that, in the grand scheme of things, seriously do not matter. I haven't talked to anyone from UPS' marketing department or anything, but I'm pretty sure they did not intend to upset UK fans with their ad. Here's a little taste of the madness to which I eluded: 

UPS blog

Crazy Kentucky Fan

Thanks to Card Chronicle for bringing these to my attention. To my friends that are UK fans, please try not to take this commercial (or blog post) personally. There are bigger fish to fry in this world. For you, today that fish is Iowa State. Like you, I hope the Wildcats pull off the victory, too. Let's face it: my bracket needs all the help it can get.

Yes, I'm giggling right now.

I could say that WVU, UConn, and Notre Dame have shamed the Big East, but I won't 'cause I don't really care. Syracuse, you and Marquette can go ahead and lose too if you want. I tasted the sweetness of upsets last night, and I'm hungry for more today. Go Murray State! Go on, VCU! Get it, Colorado!

But most importantly, GO CARDS (men and women)!

Be safe and have fun today, friends! Let the madness continue.

I Told Ya So

I'm not gonna say, "I told ya so," but... Only 4 days ago I posted that March was the best month, and this epic week did nothing but prove me right.
Let's back it up to last Saturday when one Mr. Jimmy Buffet graced the state of Kentucky with his presence for the first time since 1990. I was among the lucky 17,000 Parrotheads to witness the 27-song set that lasted over two hours! 

I know what you're thinking, and the answer is yes, I did have good seats. Mr. Buffet said that he and the Coral Reefer Band loved their trip to Louisville so much, that they'd be back again next year! So if you weren't as fortunate as I was last Saturday, maybe you can catch the Fin Land tour in 2013.

Y'all are already familiar with my love for March Madness, and this week did much to strengthen that love. On Tuesday, the Big East conference kicked off in NYC. By Saturday, the 16 teams involved had dwindled to 2, one of those being my beloved Cardinals. At approximately 11:15 PM, tears of joy were streaming down my face as I watched those Cardinals celebrate their victory over Cincinnasty (no, that's not a typo) as the 2012 Big East Champions. 

To end a season that has been, in one word, frustrating, on a note like this, just further justifies my adoration for the mystique that is March Madness.


Just hours prior to watching this glorious moment, I was privileged enough to witness Bellarmine's first round victory over Lewis. It's hard to put into words just how proud I am to see Knights Hall so alive with spirit. 9 years ago (yikes, 9-really?) as a Bellarmine student, I never could have imagined cheering for this team as it tries to defend its Division II National Championship. 

Check out the monster dunk by Chris Dowe (at about the 1:05 mark) that was the exclamation point of the evening: http://www.wlky.com/video/30655089/detail.html
Tonight I will head back to Knights Hall for round 2. I have a fever, people. And the only cure is more basketball.


All I'm saying is, March is what it's all about. Do yourself a favor and be a part of it.