3rd Annual Halloween Party

The time of year has come and gone again. It's funny that we have been throwing a Halloween party every year since we've been married, because I really don't love the holiday that much. I'm N O T into scary anything and I don't even know where the idea came from. I picture us throwing a Christmas, New Years, Valentines, 4th of July, For No Reason or Favorite Things party before picking a Halloween party. I'm amazed that I have acquired more Halloween decor than any other holiday combined. Nevertheless, every year we throw one, and every year I'm glad because it's totally a blast.

Our favorite part is the people, no doubt about it. We have our favorite and funnest friends all in one room dressed up, playing games and eating yummy treats. What is better than that? This year we put a twist on the ole party. We added a theme..."Common phrases or expressions". Where this came from you ask? The answer is our beat to death brains on the long drive up to Oregon.
[on a trip that I still need to post about-totally slacking]
No better time to party plan than on a road trip, right?

It was a little far fetched, but we couldn't have been more pleased with the commitment and execution that came through the night of the party.

Lastly, LC Photographs was my saving grace. Lexi took charge of the party by taking all the pics! She has great deals on family, wedding, and personal shoots. Check her out HERE.

Here's a peek of the fun night!

-Invitation created AND sent on Pixingo-

The costumes seriously killed it. So much fun seeing everyone's creativity with the theme. 

-Water Under the Bridge/Clean as a Whistle-

-Sour Puss/Son of a B****-

-The Cat's Meow/Two Peas in a Pod-

-Shoot for the Stars/It's Raining Cats and Dogs & Don't Get Your Panties in a Bunch-

-Chip on Your Shoulder/Just Do It-

-Hick Xray/Serial Killer & 50 Shades of Gray-

-Tomato To-Mah-To/Epic Fail-

-Go for the Gold/An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away-

-Like Stealing Candy from a Baby/Holy Cow-

-No Sh** Sherlock/Hook, Line, and Sinker-

-Read Between the Lines/The Cat's Pajamas-

-Get Rich or Die Trying/Sick and Tired-

-Kiss of Death/Bees Knees-

-The winners of the costume contest-

Thank you so much to everyone who came to the party. We feel so blessed to have such awesome friends.

'Til next year!

April Showers

Before we left for Texas, I was scrambling to celebrate my different friends and their upcoming weddings, babies, etc. That is one of the bitter parts of this sweet job we have. One of the greatest friends I have been blessed with, McKenzie Palmer, is pregnant with a baby girl. SO EXCITING! She is going to be such a hot mom. So naturally we had to celebrate and spoil the little babe before the summer separated us.

Kenz and I met as random roommates halfway through my sophomore year of college. Funny thing about that... Before she moved in, we were pretty content with the current roommates that year at Belmont in Provo. When we caught word that we would be gaining a new roomie, we were not thrilled. We plotted a number of terrible things to sabotage this stranger's experience and make it "her choice" to choose an alternative living space...

Then Kenz walked through the door. You can't help but adore her within 10 seconds of knowing her and all plans were aborted without further discussion. From summer adventures, setting her up with her husband via Skype, Belmont living at its finest along side our boyfriends who turned into fiancés, and bridesmaids at each other's weddings...I'd say McKenzie has turned into one my best friends.

{so excited for you to start your cute family girlfriend, love you dearly}

With the help of Shelby Tracy (her blog is awesome, check it out HERE), we put on a fun shower to pamper baby Palmer. 

We had a baby food testing game, not everyone's favorite, but I thought it was a hoot! Shelby brought the most darling memory matching game filled with baby words and a corresponding candy price for each match. Definitely a crowd fav! 

Once again, the invitation was made on Pixingo. I don't know how I would do these things without it. I create my card/invite online, they print, they address, they send it. Saves me so much time. I'm a big fan! 

- C E L E B R A T E -

DIY or DIE

Great news, I joined a craft group! My sweet friend from high school, Kate Gallacher put together a monthly craft possy to help us meet new friends and finally execute our forever pins of cute crafts on Pinterest. I've been so excited for this to start and this month was my turn!

To explain how this is all going down, just in case you would like to start your own, here are the deets:

-Our group consists of 12 girls (1 girl per month)

-Every 2nd Wednesday of the month we meet up at 7pm to craft it up

-Each month a different girl will host the craft

(hosting consists of having everyone over, picking the project, getting the supplies, and of course providing snacks)

- Every girl pays $15/month to participate. 

-We have a craft bin holding all the extra supplies from past crafts (so they can be recycled in a different project) that gets passed from host to host at each activity. 

I created this little calendar and sent it out to everyone in the mail via Pixingo (which makes it easy) trying to prove my domesticity.  (ignore the red squiggles, those didn't get printed)

My efforts in proving my domestic self were to no avail. I couldn't hide my lack of crafty talent for long. I saw this darling idea on Pinterest that seems simple enough. All you need is a plain white mug and a sharpie, what could go wrong? The girls would soon see right through me! I had high hopes that craftiness would just spring out of me when I needed it most and DIY would become a suffix to my name.

Lets just say I'm learning it takes practice and patience. Although my DIY skills are in the making, I do love to throw a P A R T Y. Here's how it turned out!

Disregard the limited space in our condo, presentation was a little smushed. 

Everyone else's mugs turned out DARLING. I wish so bad I would've taken pictures of all of them. All you need is a blank mug and a gold sharpie. Design as you wish and bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. *Let the mugs cool COMPLETELY. (or learn the hard way)

DISCLAIMER: I had someone message me who tried the mugs... guess you shouldn't put them in the dishwasher! I hand-washed mine, so they have stayed decorated. Some dishwashers may erase all your hard work.

The drink in the giant mason jar was a hit:

Simply Limeade 

Diet 7Up

Mint Leaves

Lime

Love

Food served was different, easy, and great for parties:

Sliced apples from Costco on lollypop sticks

Caramel and Chocolate fondue 

+ toppings 

(heath bar bits, oreo bits, coconut, & peanuts)

We also munched on a yummy salad and rolls. It was a delicious and domestic evening. 

Let me know how yours turns out! 

DIY or DIE