Handsome.

Handsome.  That's all there is to it.

Design Your Dream Costume Contest: The Finals

Ok, folks.  Voting is up for the final three.  My design doesn't look quite like I designed it, but I honestly do like it better than the other two final designs...so I think that I should win : )

As of this posting, I'm firmly in the middle of the voting.

Please vote for me so that this:

is not the winner (I just don't even understand it....)

Vote here on facebook.

Retro Style

Ok, you all know that I love having excuses to dress in costumes and/or dress my kids in costumes/coordinating outfits.  I'm sure you can imagine my elation when I was invited to my future niece-in-law's bridal shower and it was

50's Retro Themed!!  Costumes encouraged!

Well, I immediately started putting costumes together, of course!

Chick was the poodleskirt teeny-bopper.

Monkey was the 50's glamour girl.

I was the 50's housewife.

Chick's costume:

ponytail with ribbon tied on it, white t-shirt & socks, chiffon fabric tied as neck scarf, cats eye sunglasses (thrift store, $2), Pink Ladies jacket (thrift store, $4?  I don't remember the price....), Poodleskirt (thrift store, Grandma found it and bought it).

Monkey's costume:

clip-on earrings & necklace (thrift store, $2), vintage hat - gloves - purse (from my costume trunk), dress: refashioned from a women's skirt (thrift store, $1) with chiffon fabric as a sash.  Pettiskirts underneath.

My costume:

hairnet and ribbon, pearl earrings & necklace, gloves, 3/4 sleeve sweater, crinoline (all of which I had already), skirt (thrifted, $1), apron (homemade).  I made up my own pattern for the apron, but it didn't turn out quite the way that I'd hoped, so I'll have to make another...someday. 

My friend, Tamie, is a theater gal, and helped me know how to style my hair and makeup. 

I think it was a success.

Anyhow, it was fun to see how other people dressed, and it was fun to play themed games!  Some showers don't do games, and sometimes that's fun, but I love me a well-planned theme. 

(I also love the circles on the doors, windows, & fireplace.  Great job, Maren!)



(Maren, the Hostess)



My girls really liked the mother of the bride-to-be, and hung out with her most of the evening.

The bride-to-be, Emily, with her friend who made the ribbon hat.



Mother of the groom-to-be, my sister.



In keeping with the theme, the prize bags were vintage as well. 

My Mom did a great job of putting these together.

 

SO FUN.

And it provided us a photo op with the soda bottles : )

Branching Out

Last month's Relief Society monthly meeting was "Branching Out: A Garden Party"

It was held in a sister's yard, and we reused some of my decor items from the party that I threw for my sister a few months ago.  Plus we added some new items...cards with quotes on them, burlap table runners, and cute little twig pencils with little notecards as a take-home gift.

I think it turned out beautifully, and provided a good opportunity for sisters to get together and get to know each other better. 





The presidency: Me, Erin, Tamie, and Megan.

I am lucky to get to serve with such fantastic women!

 

Emily (on the left) spoke to us about her experiences with other cultures and the concept of branching out.

We had cream cheese chicken with rice as the main course, and everyone was invited to bring a salad, fruit, or veggie.  For dessert we had Whole Wheat Chocolate Blueberry cake and apple crisp.

This time I used REAL moss from the greenbelt behind our fence. 

Gorgeous and lush, and afterwards I was able to put it back, so I can use it again next time I have a mossy table.

{These fabulous ladies worked tirelessly getting the desserts out}

{This close-up of the choc blueberry cake is from the first time that I made it --for a self-reliance class about cooking with wheat.  mmmm.  It makes my mouth water just thinking of it!}

{As a side note, I made this little cake stand out of a thrifted candlestick and an old plate.

I like how it turned out.}

Family Fun (from July)

The end of July was jam-packed full of fun with family!

First we went camping (at Cascade Park, of course) with some of HH's family.  It was a great time, until we locked our keys in the car and had to pay a tow truck to come break into the car for us.  Boo.  But we loved seeing some of the Arizona family, as well as the locals that we (shamefully) get together with too infrequently.

 Seven cousins went camping with us...all boys.

 Uncle K is finishing his studies to become an architect. 

Glad he could put all of that schooling to good use ; )

 My favorite part of hammock camping?  The view when I first wake up.

Then the next week we got to do several fun things with HH's sister Katie, who was visiting from Hong Kong (as well as with the locals again).  We went to a bouncy house, the beach, a family picnic, and a Kangaroo farm.

 The kids all got to feed the kangaroo, as well as several other animals

 This one had a joey...see it peeking out?

 We went with my ward's playgroup, so there were a TON of people in our group
(which I wouldn't advise--it took so long for us to get to get close enough to see the animals,

and then the tour director was yelling at us to hurry up because it was time to move on. 

In small groups I bet it would be more fun.  As it was, still a very cool outing)

but anyhow, here is a picture of our family members that went

(minus one boy cousin who wasn't cooperating).

 They had Lemurs, which were very entertaining.

 They also had a cool gnarly old tree with moss, so I took some pictures of the rascals.

 the days of taking normal pictures of this one might be over....

And they had this awesome swing that was attached sooooo high in the tree that you could really swing big...

though Monkey didn't want to go very high.

Luckily, the Kangaroo farm was just down the road from my friend Nikko's parent's house, and she was up visiting from Texas!  So we got to see her and her cute boys! 

Lots of little blondies!  Her older two were in playing video games.

Lastly, to finish up a super busy week, we went to a housewarming party at my sister's new place, where we also celebrated my Dad's birthday.

 Almost everyone.  This was just after we sang to my Dad. 

Isn't that an awesome table?  It's the biggest round table I've ever seen in a private residence. 
Of course, it looked better before someone spilled a drink and messed up the tablecloth....

 I had to be sneaky-sneak to get this picture of HH with an honest-to-goodness smile.

He sure is a stinker, but I do really love that man.

The next week, which was actually August (hope you will indulge my lax blogging), the girls had an overnight at Grandma & Grandpa's while I was doing layout.  The girls had a great time, and though I think Moose missed them, he certainly hid his grief well : )

No one to fight over toys with....