Things to Make You Go Awwww...

This past weekend was the weekend of the much talked about baby shower. My cousin Jim's wife Janine is quite possibly the sweetest person on the planet so I really, really wanted to host a shower for her...

 Unfortunately it was supposed to be in late June or early July sometime, but for many reasons that did not happen... Sparky and I had already picked out the color theme then started back in May planning and purchasing for this "outdoor summer garden party baby shower." Fast forward to late September... The baby has arrived, the "shower" becomes a "welcoming" party... As for the theme... Well, take a look at the weather here on Saturday...

I don't know if you can tell, but it was rainy, gray and overall nasty... So much for outdoor... But having this shower inside our super tiny home required a lot of heavy lifting and planning...

Friday night after the girlies and their guys got back from the football game, I put them to work rearranging all the living room and kitchen furniture... We shifted what we could and moving into Sparky's bedroom what we couldn't shift... It was total mayhem... I was up until about 3:30 in the morning finishing the general set up. and preparing chicken salad... I was dog tired in the morning, but there was much to be done before our guests arrived at noon...

I didn't have room for a "welcome" table, so I just added the frame with the invite in it to the entertainment center... The girlies said they thought I'd put the invite in that frame crooked on purpose... We'll go with that..

 I had planned my summer decor for the top of the entertainment center around this party, so I had to leave it up until after it... I was itching from the first of the month for a change... I am so impatient.

Here is a look at the tables we set up in the middle of the kitchen...

These tables really filled the room up, but I do love the color combo Sparky chose.

Here are the little water bottles I did up for the party...

I did think they turned out pretty cute...

I put sparky in charge of decorating the table because by the time it was time to do this I had lost all ambition and a good deal of my will to live... (I am not cut out for only 2 1/2 hours sleep anymore.) To be truthful I am not a big fan of tables with stuff scattered all over them... I'd have left off the votive candles or clustered then closer to the center vase, put the candy in dishes and the starfish on each napkin as a take home... (Nobody realised they could take these so now I guess I am set for our next party.) Also we had found the little orange and turquoise shot glasses at Homegoods last summer for 4.99 a package and I had planned to put candy in each one at each place... We did this but Sparky believed they needed the tissue paper in them to look "festive"... Nobody knew there was candy in them, so we had plenty of snacks for the youth group kids who came by later...

I didn't say (nor will I ever) any of this to Sparky... Look how happy and proud she looks... Besides, it wouldn't have been done in time if she hadn't stepped up... And who cares if it wasn't how I'd have done it... It was pretty stinkin' cute either way...

Here (in the middle of the adjacent living room in our aforementioned tiny house) is the buffet table... This is before I put most of the food out, but I knew by that time I'd have little time for photos...

I did the little paper straws in the jelly/mason jars that you see all over the blog world for punch cups again... I just love this look and plan to do it again and again! I have a collection of bigger jars starting to build up in prep for our upcoming wedding season!

I needed to get at least one picture of the little peanut in here... I don't feel I can post one of the whole group since I didn't ask everyone if they would be willing to be on my blog, but the lady in white is my Aunt and the lady with baby Nathan is a relative by marriage and is in fact holding the baby, so they have no choice...

Janine (the mommy) is the second one in... Doesn't she even look sweet? Here she is with a friend from work and the girlies after the party... This was just before I kicked everyone out strongly hinted it was time to leave since several members of the youth group would be showing up soon... (Hey, three hours is one hour more then I allotted for this party... and I was dead tired... Besides the youth kiddos don't expect much... If I throw them a bag of chips they are happy, but ladies at a shower are high maintenance man...)

Here is a look at the whole set up... I think 12 is our indoor hosting capacity...

And in two weeks I am hosting approximately 30 here for an engagement party...

Yes, I have lost my mind...

 Speaking of adorable peanuts...

Meet David Ethan, born just yesterday to my best friend Beth (who lives in TN) and her husband Tom...

Here she is... I love this woman... She is a blessing in my life beyond measure... Her and her husband are amazing people and Paul and I miss them terribly. We are very glad they will be here for Cate's wedding (their daughter will be a flower girl) in June...

I really, really, really wanted to throw her a shower, but alas time, money and distance got in the way... I do have a little something up my sleeve, but since she reads my blog I will have to wait to tell you about it... But I am excited about it...

Finally, yesterday I was able to start my fall decorating...

I only brought one tote up, so I started with the top of the entertainment center... I need to go procure some pumpkins and gourds, but over all I feel I am off to a good start.

I do need something to go on that wall up there...

I have a mirror downstairs I think I'll try today...

Here is another angle...

And below are some close ups... Since you didn't ask...

Sparky bought me the flowers yesterday... I admired them in the store and she insisted on getting them for me... She says I do everything for everyone else, the least she could do is get me a $15 grocery store bouquet... Sweet girl, someone should let her know that the least a person can do is nothing, she did something, and for that I am blessed yet again.

(By the way you should have seen Jackson's face when he found out when I decorate with candy it's for looks only until the end of the season... He was so confused...)

 Thanks for listening,