Baby Shower, July 18th

Hi, all! Here are some photos from the baby shower we traveled 12 hours to attend in Minnesota. The trip was well worth it! We saw friends and family we haven’t seen in a while (some since the wedding–4 years ago!), and we had a great time. The cake was delicious (I was so excited for cake), and the company was awesome. Just for consistency’s sake, I was 25 weeks, 5 days at the shower. Enjoy!

Such pretty decorations; my mother-in-law coordinated this part of the party (it was a combo party with both families--the hubby's and mine).

Centerpiece from Mom and Rachel's table.

This one's for my cousin Jennifer, courtesy of Rachel and my mom! Gotta show off that smiling face and the baby belly.

Lots of family and friends from both sides attended.

Though the men were uncertain of this unisex baby shower, they were good sports, took part in the games, and kept each other company . . . in the corner they somehow designated as their own.

It was such a comfy chair that I didn't even mind it was front and center.

We received so many awesome gifts during the shower. This particular one is from my mom and dad. They packed the baby bathtub full of goodies for Baby Girl!

Just one more present-opening picture. We received a lot of pink that day (thank goodness I love pink! The hubby is still getting used to it all), but this little bath towel was so cute and the perfect gift from our friends, Kari and Dale. It's bright and happy like they are!

She’s two, and I’m sending presents. ‘Cause that’s what aunties who live 12 hours away do.

So, my little niece turns two tomorrow. While I can’t be there, I can still send a piece of me through my sewing! I finished this bag in record time tonight–about an hour and a half. And I really like how it turned out. I even spoke with my sister (my niece’s mom) tonight while making it. Though it won’t make it in time for her birthday, it should be there by this weekend, which is when my mom, dad, sister, and bro-in-law will be there to party hardy in celebration of the lil’ tike’s b-day. Here are some pics of the gift bag and her present:

It's all pretty with butterflies and dragonflies!

Close-up

Ribbon

Gingham interior

And what's inside? Squirrels! Handmade (not be me, of course).

I also made a card for her, so it’s a completely handmade present. Yay! I’m going to try to do this for Christmas this year, too, so maybe this is the first step. Right?

Regeneration

My cousin, Jennifer, posts when she catches some awesome finds when out thrifting. I love seeing the cool stuff she finds, and I thought I would post some myself because I went to Regeneration, a thrift/resale store that is within walking distance to my house (I walked there today! It was only about 20 degrees outside, but there was no wind, so it was perfect! Man, do I love winter.). These are the fun things I got today:

Nikita top

J. Crew sweater

Ann Taylor slacks

Regina purse

And the coup de grâce…

Rocket Dog shoes

Rocket Dog shoes II

Rocket Dog shoes III

And all of this for only $62.00. The J. Crew sweater alone would’ve been $90.00. And I’m supporting an awesome local shop.

There are so many thrift/resale shops in the area. In downtown Ferndale there’s one called Mother Fletchers, and I guess it’s really popular. The owner works hard to get vintage clothing into the store, though it’s also a little on the pricier side as a result. I’ll be checking that one out sometime this week.

In Royal Oak, there are so many that I haven’t been able to track them all down. I’ll find the time in the future to look for them, but for right now, I’m starting to love this new city of ours more and more.

I know this is a little late coming, but I thought you might like to see these. Everyone loves photos.

Here’s a couple of photos from the Cellar Roots Benefit Comedy Show that we hosted early in March. Bill Barr a.k.a. Jimmy Rascal was our superb comedian, and he made us laugh for over two hours. It was a great night!

Myself and my managing editor and friend, Laura.

Jamie (right), a copyeditor and now my replacement at Cellar Roots and the JNT, and her roommate, Rachel.

Jimmy Rascal

Jimmy, the comic

You all need to go watch Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog. If you’re a Joss Whedon fan (“Serenity,” “Firefly,” “Buffy, the Vampire Slayer”) or a Neil Patrick Harris fan or a Nathan Fillion fan, or just a fan of funny stuff that’s FREE (until July 20th), check it out immediately. The third installment will be available on the 19th (which is probably when you’re going to read this), and all three will be available for free viewing until the 20th. After the 20th, you will have to pay a nominal fee to view them, so go now and see them for FREE! So worth the time. Seriously. Go now. You won’t be sorry.

Well, I’m back from my trip, and now I’m going through all the photos I took during those super fun three weeks. I thought I would put a few of them up here, just for fun.

Playing Animal Tracks Memory. We got this, and two other games, from here. They’re simply wonderful, and we loved playing it over and over again!

Off to North Dakota for a week! I love it in this state. Everything’s just so laid-back, and I love the small towns and the people there. And there are so many animals! I had so much fun watching the ducks and the pocket gophers the Canadian geese and the wild turkeys, and hearing all about the moose and deer. It was great.

We drove all the way to Chicago for my little sister’s second bridal shower, which was being thrown by her fiance’s family. It was fun to celebrate her upcoming nuptials (early August). She received lots of cool stuff, and I got to meet her soon-to-be inlaws. It was a good time.

We then went and celebrated the boys’ birthdays at Benihana in Schaumberg. The next day, I headed home with the hubby.

Good times. Good times. Much love to you all!

I watched one of the best female bowlers (actually, bowlers across both genders) in the United States bowl a perfect 300 game last night…on the first night of league.

They’re crazy for bowling here in MI.

Magic Bowling Shoes

These are my brand-new bowling shoes the hubby and I purchased for me at the pro shop in the bowling alley we frequent:

Yes, those are white and pink flames. They rock.

And why are they magical, you ask? After putting them on for the first time, I bowled a 144 and then a 145. For a chick who used to barely break 60 back in the day, that’s pretty good. I did bowl over 100 (between 102 and 112) last week, but this is considered a serious improvement. Or a fluke. I’ll keep you updated.

Up next on the purchasing horizon: A bowling ball and bag. Both need to be sparkly and shiny and pretty. I know. I’m such a girl.

Have to get second season of Veronica Mars. We (heart) Veronica Mars. Must know who was at her door. Must know what happened to Logan. Must go to Blockbuster tomorrow and get first disc of second season.

I am freak for Veronica Mars.

You may all laugh at me, but I don’t care. I love that freakin’ show.

Playing Kübes

After Katie’s graduation party, we (meaning me, my sisters Katie and Rachel, my bro-in-law, Reid, and my friends Mike and Adam) decided to duke it out over a game of Kübes (a Swedish lawn game). Boys vs. girls, naturally. I’m sorry to say the boys beat us. Twice. *Sob*

Reid is freakishly good at this game. Seriously. He should go pro. Then again, he is almost full Swedish. Is being good at Kübes genetic?

It was Adam’s first time playing, but he sure picked up on it fast!

Rachel’s good at this game. So is Katie.

I suck. But look at that form! At least I look good doing it.

Mike’s played before, but he says it’s been too long. I told him he was making excuses for being so bad. But he wasn’t that bad. Well, he wasn’t terrible. He was better than me, though that’s not saying much. Not much at all.