Book Club: October Edition

I hosted book club this month and it was a blast. This month we read The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. If you haven't read it I highly suggest it. Although sad, it was a great read. I read it in a day {which doesn't happen often around these parts!}. Since I hosted I got to pick our next book. I chose The Great Gatsby because I read it 15+ years ago and hardly remember a thing. Plus the movie is coming out and it looks amazing. So once it comes out we can take a BCB field trip and all go see it together. 

I know I say it every month, but I LOVE book club. This group of ladies is amazing. We always have a great time and this month was no exception. Good food, a good book, great friends, a {kindergarden} craft, great music, and exceptional dancing! That's right DANCING! It was book club turned dance party. 

Thanks ladies for a wonderful night! And a special thanks to: Justin Bieber, Chris Brown, Lil John, Lil Wayne, Yelle, Robyn & Karmen for the fantastic music. I'm sure my neighbors thought we were crazy. A bunch of girls standing around a TV picking out YouTube videos and Totally. Busting. A. Move. 

Are you in a Book Club? Have you read any great books lately? I'd love some suggestions. 

WIWW: Wendover Edition

This past weekend it was one of my besties birthday. She always goes all out for her Birthday. And this year, especially since it was her Dirty Thirty, was no exception. We all loaded the Party Bus and headed to Wendover, NV.

Blazer, Pants & Boots: Ross, Blouse & Bracelet: Target, Necklace: Lucky via Macy's, Watch: Fossil

I have never been on the Party Bus before and it was quite the experience. Our group made up for 75% of the people onboard so that was awesome. And there was a proposal! {No one we knew} But a lady proposed to her boyfriend on our way out to Wendover. Epic.

We only spent a couple hours there. The group all kinda went their separate ways once we got there, but Whitney and I stuck together. We hit up the buffet, yelled out numbers for {other} people to bet on at the roulette tables, danced a bit, lost $2 on the penny slots and people watched. I'm sure we were the biggest party animals there. Ha. But it was a great time.

Thanks for being born Nicole, so we have a reason to celebrate like this every October. I love you like crazy. Happy Dirty Thirty! {You still pass for 21!}

A day in {iPhone} pictures...

Thursday, October 18, 2012

6:42am - First stop of the day. Diet Coke. I run errands alot either late at night or early in the morning (when the husband is home and I can go without the kids), but usually I'm in yoga pants and hoping to see no one. But today I was showered, fully dressed, hair done and make up done. Craziness. 

7:00am - Listening to Radio From Hell. 

7:15am - Grocery shopping

7:45am - Dropped the grocery's off and headed right back out. 

8:00am - Quick trip to the Dollar store for safety pins. And breakfast. I'm a sucker for Crunch 'n Munch

8:45am - Well I thought it was going to be a quick trip. Got out to the car and the battery was dead. Luckily the husband was home and came to my rescue. 

9:00am - Dropped off some product at our booth at Battlecreek Boutique.

10:00am - Then over to Bella Bazaar to drop off some product to our booth there. 

Wish I had time {& money} to stay and shop...

11:00am - Back home. Hubby off to work. The kids found some treats one of our neighbors left for them on the porch.

 

11:03am - Enjoying said treats. 

11:30am - Helping momma get the house clean. They are awesome helpers.  

12:30am - Lunch time.

1:30pm - Watching Super Why in Momma's bed before naptime. 

1:45pm - I should be cleaning, or folding laundry or a million other things, but instead its a bit of Netflix and a nap myself. 

4:00pm - Craft/Art time for the kids. 

And for me...

5:45pm Dinner time

6:30pm - Heading to a neighbors house for a baby shower. 

7:15pm - Goofing off at said shower. 

8:15pm - Bath time. 

8:50pm - Finally out of the bath and ready to begin our bedtime routine.

9:00pm - Reading time.

One of my favorite times of the day. 

10:00pm - Kids finally quite and actually staying in their room. Back to reading for me.

12:45am - Hubby finally got home from work. I was passed out. Book in hands.

What do your days look like?

Crafting MANIA...

Looking for something to do this weekend? Still have Christmas shopping to do {or in my case, start}? Well if you are local you should check out some of the lovely handmade treasures at these craft shows:

HVDD FLEA MARKET in SF Saturday 10/20

Battlecreek in PG Thursday 10/18-Satruday 10/20

The Bella Bazaar at Thanksgiving Point Thursday 10/18-Satruday 10/20

As you may have noticed there has been a lack of posts over the lack week. And for the I apologize. Things here have been a bit crazy. Between potty training, my daughter being sick and crafting I have been busy. But I am super excited for all 3 of these shows. So go show your support for me our local artists!

I promise that regular posting will resume once all this crafting madness of over! 

Favorite Things Party!

Last week, I threw a Favorite Things Party for my girlfriends. It was SO. MUCH. FUN. I have been seeing them on the blogosphere and knew I had to have one cause they sounded amazing. And boy am I glad that I did.

Basically you think of something that is your 'Favorite Thing' (we did ours between $5-$7) then you bring 5 of that item. That's FIVE of the SAME item. Then you write your name on five pieces of paper and throw all the names in a bowl. You go around sharing what item you brought then drawing out the {winners} names of who gets each thing. So you all go home with 5 new things. 

We had the party in my backyard it was great. You know I love any reason to celebrate so I busted out my silhouette and made a few simple decorations and arranged chairs, vintage TV trays, breakfast trays and blankets on the lawn. I brought candles out all around for some extra light once the sun went down. I was trying to get more pictures while the sun was still out, but it didn't happen. But here's a few that I caught of 

the night:

Brittney, Meagan, Whitney, Me & Jeanette

Swag bags for everyone to take home their treasures in. Tags found here.

Brit and Jeanette loved the purdy straws in the mason jars.

The table for our treasures

Calories galore

We had 'favorite' quotes all around.

Everyone brought their favorite snack to share. And man we had quite the spread: pumpkin dip, spinach dip, hummus, vegetables, chips, queso, chinese chicken salad, fruit truffle, pumpkin muffins, brownies, creme puffs, sugar cookies, red velvet sandwich cookies, chocolate covered strawberries, bread, and an array of beverages. 

Top: Mylee, Marlee, Chanda & Tera
Bottom: Meagan, Whit, Brit & Jeanette

Top: Hadley, Madison, Me & Jeanette
Bottom: April, Julie, Zuleika, Dlayne & Nichole

After mingling  and eating for a bit we started the fun. I was amazed at the good things people brought. Each of us struggled with what to bring and then as we saw what everyone else thought of we were amazed!

When looking at other bloggers posts about their parties I kept searching for more ideas about what to bring. I couldn't find much, so I want to share all the gifts that we had because they were awesome. Here's what everyone brought:

Me: Dry shampoo and lip balm

Whitney: Eyeliner

Zuleika: Mascara

Nichole: Her handmade earrings

Jeanette: Fingerless Gloves

Brittney: Goody Bag! (socks, earrings, Downy wrinkle release)

Chanda: Barnes & Noble giftcard and monster magnet book mark

Tera: Jamba Juice giftcard

Julie: Purse

Hadley: (Taylor Swift) Red Lipstick

Madison: Earrings

Meagan: Kneaders Pumpkin Bread and Autumn hand towel

Mylee: Nail Polish

Marlee: London/Paris/New York notebooks, pen, lip balm, caramel

April: Nail Polish Strips

Dlayne: Kneaders giftcard

Least to say we were all happy ladies at the end of the night. And it's safe to say we all wanted one of everything. Next time we'll have to bring 15 of the same item {start saving $ now ladies!}

A super big thanks to all my friends that came and made it such a wonderful night. I adore EACH of you!

I'll be honest I want to have one of these parties again. Tomorrow. And the day after. Seriously this would be perfect for Christmas. Instead of drawing names like we usually do, we are having a party like this. Who's with me?