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Owl Baby Shower

Owl Themed Baby Shower

Last Saturday I helped throw a baby shower for an awesome momma-to-be. This first-time mom has nothing to worry about because she is surrounded by an amazing group of friends and family. I had so much fun planning and being a part of this great party! I got the inspiration for this shower from these awesome napkins (found at HomeGoods). I knew they’d be just perfect for a baby shower. The fun, bright colors led me to all the special details for Kathy’s owl themed shower. (This girl loves owls, and turtles, and any cute, little, round shaped animals. Oh, and Snoop Dog. But, more on that below.) DIY tutorials for the flowerless pomanders, pendants, ribbon chandelier (sadly not pictured below), bubbly bar wall, cupcake toppers, and bird’s nest favors coming soon! I wish I had a chance to get some better pictures, but everyone was having so much fun I completely forgot. As a special treat for Kathy and Baby Maxwell, guests were encouraged to write a special message or wish for Baby M on sheets of origami paper. They could opt to fold the paper into a crane (which is much harder than it looks) or leave it flat for

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Adiós, Army! Military Retirement Party!

My brother-in-law, Tim, served in the Army for more than ten years. During his service he was sent overseas on short assignments more times than I can count and was deployed for up to a year and a half multiple times. Meanwhile, my sister (and her four children) served the country too. The entire family, like all military families, made countless sacrifices for our freedom. So I was THRILLED when my sister asked me to help her plan a “freedom party” for my brother-in-law and the family when they were finally done with the Army. I started brainstorming ideas immediately and came up with quite the list. When I went to do a quick search to see how other people celebrate this momentum occasion I came up with nothing. I couldn’t believe it. So here it is folks. Spread the word! EVERY FORMER SOLDIER DESERVES A CELEBRATION LIKE THIS! End of Military Service Retirement, Discharge, Who Cares, We’re OUT Party! Important note: My dear brother-in-law has a very hard time moving his lips into a full-fledged smile. It’s like he’s the tin man in need of oil. So just trust me on this, he’s having a good time. It’s taken

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Army Party Games

Army Themed Party Games

What’s a party without a few games? I came up with these ideas for my brother-in-law’s Adiós, Army party, but decided to do a separate post because these would be great for a child’s army themed birthday party, too! Sargeant Darts  My sister stumbled across this toilet tattoo at the party store. (What, you’ve never tattooed your toilet????) It looked like the perfect target for darts! The family loved it. And, it can easily be recreated by printing out a sergeant cartoon. Or, have the kiddos draw one. Discharge/Stop-Loss When I was a kid, one of my favorite games was something my mom called “Cockroaches.” It involved tieing corks to strings, rolling dice, and catching the corks with a handled strainer. (Doesn’t that sound like fun??? No, really. It is. I promise!) This game is a twist on that one. Supplies: Poker chips Toy army men tied to equal length strings (enough for each player to have one) 2 dice “Catcher”- either a long-handled strainer or a funnel or something else that will do the trick Each player gets a toy soldier attached to a long string and 10 poker chips. Determine who gets to be the “General” by having each player roll the dice. Highest roll

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Eleven Rosy Things to Do in November: Romance!

Forgive me, I’m feeling especially romantic this month. Perhaps it’s the warm and fuzzy holiday season. Or maybe it’s because the Hubs and I got married in November. Either way, my mushy feelings are your partner’s lucky day. This month’s Rosy Things List is all about romance! 11 Rosy Things to do in November: (Mostly Simple) Romantic Gestures Surprise your partner with a special note. Hide it in his work bag, lunch, or shoe. Or, write it on the bathroom mirror for a morning surprise. Check out these other adorable, creative ways to make fun and thrifty love notes from The Frugal Girls.  Plan an extra special date. Give in. Is there a constant battle over the TV remote? Are there activities your partner loves that you work hard to avoid? Give a little this month and let him win. You may end up getting something out of it yourself. 🙂 Be an early bird. Wake up your partner early, coffee thermos in hand, and catch the sunrise together. Revel in the peacefulness of the early morning hours. Not a delight in the morning? Be a late bird and catch the sunset instead. Brag about your partner. Make a conscious effort to tell anyone who will listen about

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Halloween Brunch

Halloween Brunch Ideas: Just Another Excuse to Celebrate

It’s the last day in October and I have a confession to make. Halloween is not my favorite holiday. There, I said it. In part, I just don’t understand what it is we’re celebrating. I do enjoy a good costume, but really? You expect me to traipse all over the neighborhood in this: So, I was delighted when a fellow grocery shopper (spotted shoving a case of booze and six bottles of champagne into her car at 8am on a Saturday) let me in on the smart way to do Halloween. Host a Halloween Brunch! I’ve been thinking a lot about brunches lately. Maybe it’s my intense love for quiche and bloody marys. Regardless, what a unique way to celebrate a holiday traditionally done at night. And so, I give you: The Benefits of Hosting a Halloween Brunch It’s family friendly. And since it’s during the daytime, you can absolutely tell all the kids to go outside and play some fun Halloween games. There are the classics like bobbing for apples and donuts on a string. Or, make an adorable “squash bowling” set and let them go to town.  Brunch makes it perfectly acceptable to have a drink in the morning. After getting Johnny and

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