Blue & Yellow Bridal Shower

Welcome to my yellow and blue inspired Bridal shower I hosted for my best friend Jasmin in her backyard. The shower was at her St. Augustine home on a sunny May day.

The ladies invited were asked to be dressed like going to the Kentucky Derby (since it was the actual day of the Derby) cute sundresses and big hats :)

I rented white garden chairs for $3 a piece that I decorated with white and yellow paper with each guests name on the back of the chair (for their seat cards). From each chair hung the guests favor cones. I handmade each cone making everyones different and filled them with an assortment of candies.

The table setting included silverware, mason jars decorated with blue ribbon, blue napkin wrapped with yellow tulle and a handmade MENU for each guest. I decorated the table with a light yellow polka dot tableclothe (bought from the fabric store) and a white runner down the center of the table. I bought dark blue pails that were filled with lemons and yellow pails filled with green and white flowers.

On the patio I had our game "Guess the Price", Thank You cards for Jasmin to send out to her guests who attended, Sandal Guest book and everyones Letter to Jasmin about their friendship and love advise on getting married.

One of the games I had everyone participate in was "Guess the price". I bought an arrangement of different spices, chocolate and sauces that the bride-to-be guessed how much the basket was worth and everyone else had to guess what the bride guessed the basked was worth.

The cocktail for the shower was Jasmin's mother in law's Mojitos and my southern sweet tea lemonade (spiked)

When I sent out the invitations I also sent out this "Fill in Letter - to the Bride to be". Each guest brought this with a picture of the bride and themselves on the back.

Which says:

Dear _______,

It's been ____ Years that we've known eachother and if I remember correctly, the first time we met was _________________________________. We've shared so many ____ times together. But my favorite memory of you has got to be __________________________________. I think you and ___ are perfect for eachother because ____________________________________________________. If I could give you one peice of advice on marriage it would have to be _______________________
_____________________________________________. I am so happy for you and wish you much love and happiness as Mrs. _______ _______.

With Love,

Your name


A special and unique touch for Jasmin's guestbook was to buy her some cute sandals in which each guested signed the bottom of the shoe.

Our lunch was simple and beautiful

Spinach Salad (recipe below)

Mini Cornbread muffins (Jiffy recipe off of box)

-added cream corn and glass of pimentos for color.

Zuchinni wrapped pork tenderloin

-zuchinni was sliced thinly (on mandalyn), pork tenderloin was bought marinated in italian flavors and cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces and wrapped in the zuchinni and baked til ready.

Creamy Macaroni and Cheese (recipe below)

Homemade Macaroni and Cheese

8 ounces uncooked elbow macaroni
2 cups shredded Italian shredded cheese mix
3 cups milk
1/4 cup butter
2 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 pinch paprika

Cook macaroni according to the package directions. Drain.
In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in enough flour to make a roux. Add milk to roux slowly, stirring constantly. Stir in cheeses, and cook over low heat until cheese is melted and the sauce is a little thick. (for a little surprise I added a little dijon mustard) Put macaroni in large casserole dish, and pour sauce over macaroni. Stir well.
Sprinkle with a little paprika.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes. Serve.

Spinach Salad

6 slices crumbled crispy bacon

2 hard boiled eggs chopped
1 pound fresh spinach

Dressing: ( Make this in the blender )

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup vinegar
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 Tablespoon chopped green onion
2 Tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
2 Tablespoon chives

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon prepared Mustard
Fresh ground black pepper to taste
1 ice cube or a little water

Mix the salad dressing ingredients in a container, shake well and chill. ( I use the blender and refrigerate it -- it is best to make a least several hours before serving or a day ahead if you can so the flavors can develop more fully. ) Pour dressing over the spinach, bacon, and eggs just before serving, seasoning to taste with salt and pepper if desired. Toss well and serve. The dressing keeps well for several days in the refrigerator. Serves 6 to 8.

The bride to be was smiling and enjoying every minute of the shower :) I'm so glad you loved everything!

And dessert.....

My mom came up with the best idea for dessert, she made by hand German individual berry fruit cakes (Frucht Kuchen) with hand whipped sweet whipped cream.

To finalize the shower I had everyone take memorable pictures in the backyard with this frame

The End!

The music playing at the shower was Melanie Fiona's album

"The Bridge".

A moment of your time

It means so much when one takes the time to send a quick email, thank you card, and/or write a testimonial when one is pleased with the service or product ordered. Today, spend a few moments browsing the webstores’ testimonials that you support.



Testimonials help businesses improve their service as well as their products. Testimonials also help new, browsing customers decide that based on prior customers’ experiences, they can count on an excellent online shopping experience.

So, start a new habit and share your thoughts!

How to Facebook your wedding!

You’re young, getting married and want the world to know. You’re incredibly busy. And you really love Facebook.

Sound familiar?

It should. There are lots of brides-to-be in your position. At first it sounds like a hoot: picking out that first song, tasting cakes, choosing a venue. But add in endless seating arrangements, organizing who wants chicken and who wants fish, and the stress of hoping everyone remembers to RSVP? And the fact that you are still working a full-time job and going out for Friday night cosmos with the girls? Makes you wish you could just do just about everything on Facebook, doesn’t it?

Now you can!

Facebook is great. All the news you want to share zipping out into the internet so everyone is up-to-date with what’s going on. And now this very same dissemination of information is possible for your wedding.

Imagine asking your guests what songs they want to hear on the dance floor or talking to your bridal party all at once.

I’ll give you a second to pick yourself up off the floor…

It’s a Nice Day for a Facebook Wedding

Chances are you have a personal Facebook account already – one you check anywhere between once and 47 times a day. You’ve already updated your Relationship Status to “Engaged,” and it is certainly feasible to use your personal profile to help manage your wedding plans. But with a Facebook Page dedicated entirely to your wedding, you won’t have to perform a major profile overhaul to keep all the wedding info in line. Anyone who “Likes” your wedding will be updated via their News Feed whenever you make changes and add new content. Plus, you can make a Facebook Page really, really cool.

Click here to learn more!

Good luck and Happy Planning!

Bridal Registry - Must Read Tips!

Here are some important tips for completing your Bridal Registry:

Be sure that your registry is listed under both your name and your soon-to-be husband’s name. You will both have family, friends and acquaintances who will not know the other’s last name.

If you do not work from home, put the shipping address as your parents’ home or a close friend who does work from home so your packages don’t sit on the front porch.

There are a couple bulk registry websites that allow you to list items from multiple stores, this really comes in handy when you’re expecting gifts from around the country as not all locations have the same stores.

MyRegistry.com

You are able to add any item from any store into one list. They also offer a iPhone barcode app that lets you scan items into your list when you’re out and about.

Wishpot.com

You are able to add any item from any store into one list.

Wishbin.com

You are able to add any item from any store into one list.

Another Tip: Make sure to remember to put your registry information on your Wedding Website!

Have any other great wedding registry tips, please comment below

Ladybug Inspired Baby Shower

Have you heard the buzz? A little lady is on the way!

Miss Baby Brunk!

Welcome to a ladybug inspired pink and green couples baby shower hosted by my aunt Joy and cousin Jordann. They did a fabulous job for the new parents to be Rachel and Isaac Brunk :)

I have to get the recipe from aunt Joy (still to come) - she made these delish cookies topped with icing and fresh fruit. The longer they sat the yummier they got :)

Marinated cheese bites topped with sundried tomatoes and speared with fresh rosemary. Handmade edible ladybugs were made from cherry tomatoes, olives, chives and black gel icing. How cute!

Can you guess who brought the cupcakes?! Aunt Heidi did :) I made an orange infused vanilla cupcake with cream cheese frosting. Topped with cute lady bug stickers, sticked onto a toothpick.

Jordann did a great job building the diaper cake!

Brunch time

We ate a yummy assortment of marinated cheese, ham sandwiches, shrimp pasta salad, fresh fruit, chicken salad sandwiches, egg casseroles, cheesy grits and sausage and biscuits! Our family knows how to cook :)

Onto all the wonderful gifts the little lady got for her 2010 clothing line and baby room :)

The little lady (with the help from Grandma and Auntie Jordann) made take-home favors for each guest filled with a yummy danish. Too cute!



Onto the Games!

This one is for the gentlemen!

1. untie your shoes

2. blow up your balloon as big as you can!

3. When we say go... stuff your balloon under your shirt

4. tie your shoes as fast... I mean as fast as you can!

5. First to tie their shoes is the winner!

The winner is: Father to Be - Isaac Brunk

It's not that easy now, is it!?

Keepsake photo to show the little lady when she gets older :)



Next game:

This is a timed game. We have a mommy, daddy and baby that needs its diaper changed.

Each parents gives up 1 hand, so this is a process of working together in the fastest time to get the babies diaper changed and clothed. We had 3 different couple battle with the fastest time. Winner was Myself and hubby (with no experience at all, lol)!

My family

Father in law Darryl - Isaac - husband Darren - Myself - Mother to Be Rachel - Mother in Law Kelly

Congratulations Isaac and Rachel! Can't wait to meet the little Lady :)

aka Grace, Lily, Ellen, Jenny, Aubrey, Anne, Bethany, Elle, Carlee or Beyonce (LOL)

Inside joke since the babies name is a secret!

Marine Wedding - Fuschia and Navy

My husband and I went to a beautiful wedding in Camp Blanding, Fl for Acea and Christine Brown on May 29th 2010.

Mr. & Mrs. Brown

The couple exchanged their "I do's" in an adorable white chapel and had a reception following right on the lake with beautiful warm weather.

The Marines bride hand made each bridesmaids bouquet in pinks and fuschias accenting them with blue crystals to bring out the wedding colors.

Christine's bridesmaids choose their own style of dress and coordinated the colors of alternating the navy and fuschia. Chic silver heels to beautiful updos complimented each bridesmaid. The beautiful bride... well you can say nothing more than she was just stunning!

I love Christine's wild side of choosing leopard print garters!

Photos were taken by Anna Weaver Photography

A candy buffet was set up for each guest to make their take home favor or to snack on some yummy sweets at the wedding. An assortment of hard candies to lollipops.

Sign says - "Step right up to the candy buffet - Its a sweet addition to a wonderful day - this is a treat we are offering you on this beautiful day. When we day "I do" use the scoop. Choose what you like - Leave some for others - Be Polite - as you enjoy your bag of treats - Please remember - LOVE IS SWEET -"

If you are doing to much dancing and your feet are sore from your heels... kick them off and go over here.

Compliments of the bride and groom




As a surprise to his new wife and guests - Acea and groomsmen stripped down to boxers and ties running down the dock and jumping into the lake. What a surprise!

Now I didn't think that the bride was going to jump in too.... but she did! So did the flower girl, bridesmaids and many more family members.

The Brown wedding was definently a wedding I won't forget and an inspiration of new ideas to be brought to other brides and myself.

Congrats Acea and Christine! Love you both and wish you many years of Happiness!

The Browns have started their newlywed lives together living in New Bern, NC stationed by the base USMC.