Hello Again...

First off...

In this hard time, I had every single one of my loyal followers stick with me and allow me to take some time off to get my bearings right again... I have never been a "follower counter" so I don't know the exact number, but I'm pretty sure not a single person unfollowed me while I took some much needed time off. So, thank you. Thank you for the flood of encouraging e-mails, messages, texts, etc to let me know my blog posts are missed {who knew anyone read this??!}

I will work on an update post later but for now... let's think of happy things. Things like:

Or did you already forget?! Yep, in all of the craziness of Bandit being gone {yes, the boy is still missing}, and all the other chaos- I kind of put the joy of the engagement on the back burner- well, not anymore. I finally put my big girl pants {don't like the other word, haha} and planned a pretty stinking fun engagement party! I can't wait to share some details with you!

I did the invites myself- they were a play on some I found online but couldn't have shipped in time- so, I created it in PowerPoint all by myself and they turned out GREAT {in my humble opinion}! I absolutely love the limited edition garden stamps. I wanted to buy a ton for the wedding but none of the post offices had enough!

The whole party was DIY. I wouldn't have it any other way since I'm so picky! Here are some of the projects:

Mason Jars + Burlap + Flowers

Tea Stained Doilies 

Moss Letters {just like Kat's}

Doily Banner

14 ft Burlap Ruffled Runner

Enough words... here is how it all came together!!

My step-mom sewed these chair covers and I made the burlap bows

The dessert stations (before dessert!) 

Our cups for the night! 

The food table before the food arrived

the menu!!! Delicious BBQ catered from Cue BBQ

the chalkboard propped up by the drink station 

I loved this idea on Pinterest and did my own- we each wrote lists of things we like about the other. "She" = his list about me, "he" = my list about him :) 

the adorable mason jars with tags

since everyone had a mason jar- the tags made sure they didn't pick up the wrong one! 

Party Favors: Banana Pudding & Strawberry Shortcake w/ our pictures on top

A little detail :) 

the spoons were tied on with a spoon

Strawberry shortcake

the 3 different pictures to choose from 

I don't won't to bog down this one post with pictures but be prepared for more details to come! I was too busy being a "host", so these are all the pictures from my sister's camera- Ordy's mom has the rest and I can't wait to upload those! 

Emily, Me, Leslie

The ONE picture I got of my groom! 

 

Big Top Weekend

It's been a busy weekend preparing for Kian's Circus/Carnival {what's the difference anyway??} 3rd Birthday Party!!! My sister Sher had the idea for a while, and i'm not gonna lie- she would send me loads of pics and i would think 'great! but we can't do that...' well, I WAS WRONG. we can. we did.

It was awesome to see her ideas executed so well! i was seriously worrying all weekend as she ran around metro atlanta looking for gold fish and cotton candy... this could be a potential flop... i was crossing my fingers {and toes} that she wouldn't have a mental breakdown at 3 am the morning of and call everyone invited canceling. she's kind of crazy like that... {love you Sher, but ya are}

It's just cuz she wants everything PERFECT. well, guess what? Today, everything was perfect. it really was. I don't have time to upload all the pics, but i'll upload a few of my favorite. I had so much fun watching all of Kian's little friends. I'm jealous, all his friends are ADORABLE and have cute names!!! what a fun bunch... it was great to meet everyone that i've only heard so much of!

I made the cupcakes for the party:

popcorn looking cupcakes

these are some of my favorite random shots (there's a TON more but it's late...)

Dad was SUCH a good sport and hilarious. he was cracking us up. he was the first to break the ice with the face painter for all the kids to feel comfortable, and he was the first to show the kids how to use the photobooth. I think deep down he was really having a blast :)

And finally, some of the birthday boy:

Kian, 


I love you so so so so {x a milli} much! you are the cutest, sweetest 3 year old anyone could ever dream to have as a nephew. i'm not good at gushy sweet words, but you know you mean the world to me! you're my favorite nephew ever and that will never change! you are so full of adventure and love. you're all things boyish and i love how inquisitive you are! I love your million, "but why?"s and i hope you never ever stop asking! you bring so much joy to this world i can't imagine a life without you. i get sad at nights when i'm all the way at home and can't hear your voice or play with your amazing hair and have to wait until sunday til i see you again... i love your goofiness, i love your shy embarrassed look when you stare at the ceiling from the corner of your eyes... you are the best and i'm so happy and blessed to be your aunt! everyone that meets you loves you--- Happy Birthday!!!

and last but NOT least... the amazing, wonderful, gorgeous, talented PARTY PLANNER!!!

a true mommy...workin' overtime

Sher,

i'm so jealous i'm your sister and not your daughter! you are the BEST MOM in the whole entire world! i thought you were the best sister until you had your first born on October 17, 2007- then you became the best mom ever. you are so attentive to your kids. when you think no one is watching you- we are. we see how patient you are, treating both of your kids like humans and never yelling at them. you are so compassionate and caring. your full time job of juggling two kids under 2 (now 3!) is harder than ANY 9-5 out there. i can't imagine how hard it is to have a 24/7 job, and you do it so gracefully. I've been around you for 24 years and i'm still amazed at how second nature this whole mommy thing is to you- i mean, am i really surprised??? you raised me! (good thing you ditched the bossy act tho... jk). i can't wait to have kids and let you raise them! hahah jk (only slightly...) please have more of your adorable children- the world needs more {adorable} well behaved children! thank you for all you do! you're the best!!!!


P.s. for all you moms reading this- sher has her own amazing blog 
and if you like it as much as i do you will vote for her!