A Few Festive Finds

Thought I'd share a few more festive finds with you before I'm off to Kansas City for the long overdue The Sweetest Thing baby shower for the Trips. The wee ones are 2 months old now and each over 8 lbs. of pure cuteness. I'll have fun pictures to share with you when I get back and/or wake up from my sugar coma.

Until then, I bring you some things that make me ridiculously full of joy.

I already love Whimsy Press because they kill it in the gift wrap department. It's double-sided for the love of Carson Daly. Does it get any better?



As much I as I love their gift wrap, and onesies, and totes, etc., this card is what really gets me. I either A) need to stop saying this all the time or B) need to cut back on watching What Not To Wear, because this cards speaks to me way too much.



You know what else is fun? Shoe sales. Not that they tie in to this contest at all, but I still think they are fun. You have one more day to get over to Blue Orchid Designs blog and enter in this great giveaway from Minted. Hurry, get over to both sites and stick around when you are done entering the contest. There is a host of goodies on each site. Enjoy!

Something Old. Something New. Both Fabulous.

Nope, this is not a wedding post. And, despite the fact that I'm in the thick of planning three baby showers to be held in the next four weeks, it is shockingly not even a baby shower post.

It is however a nudge to get you over to these to fabulous sites.

Check out Jenn's post on Hostess With The Mostess blog on her very exciting event she is helping plan for Trista and Ryan Sutter's adorable son, Max. Follow the link and cast your vote for your favorite invitation to Max's 1st Birthday Party.

Then, head on over to Head of the Table.



I just found her today, and she's right here in my backyard in St. Louis. I don't want to rush things, but is too soon to tell her I love her? I mean come ON, she used astroturf, people. Astroturf. I have two words for that - KEY OOT.

Thanks for hanging in there with me as I work on these baby showers and a gorgeous wedding I'm working on right now. I can't wait to share pictures of all of the above soon!

Sweet Everythings

I'm so excited to be doing a shower in the Kansas City area this weekend because it gives me the chance to use one of the most adorable little bakeries around, 3 Women and an Oven. Okay, that and it gives me a chance to get my hands on some of their Pink Champagne cake. As my good friend, Natasha, would say, "Bring it to my mouf."





Really, isn't the fact they call these harmless little morsels of heaven on a plate "Baby Cakes" reason enough to say "What gas prices? I'm on my way!" and head out?

If you are in the Kansas City area and haven't been here then I will need your excuse form turned in tomorrow in triplicate.

Get thee to CB2.com

I could do a CB2 post that would last days on end, but for now, you have to run and grab these while they last. It's CB2 - Dollar Fifty Style.

Hello, adorable butterfly plates on sale at CB2 right now for $1.50 each. Would you like to come live with me and be used from everything to little girl birthdays to outdoor parties with the grown up girls? I thought so.




And if these little bud vases aren't a fantastic $1.50 item to place at each place setting to both dress up your table AND serve as a favor for your guests, then I don't know what is. Time to stock up and grab a nice little bunch of summer blooms!

Whose idea was it to have dates on the posts?

I mean surely if there wasn't a glaring MAY 11th beneath this I could pretend that I've updated recently.

I have a good reason though. Honest. I don't suppose you came here to see "What I Did On My Spring Vacation to the U.K. with my Husband" photos, did you? Don't worry - I realize that looking at other people's vacation photos is about as interesting as watching shows about auto repair. And, to those two of you that love to plan parties AND work on cars that are reading this...look at yooooou all well rounded and stuff!

Now that we're back and have a few weeks before we travel again, I'll be back to our regulary, okay, semi-regularly, scheduled programming soon.

In the meantime - this acrylic tray has nothing to do with anything above, but I think it's pretty darn fantastic with its endless amounts of versatility. I need this in my life. Thanks again, Plum Party. Sometimes the simplest things are the best.

As are the briefly worded posts. I'll learn that someday...



Hang with me. I've got three baby showers coming up and can't wait to share pictures with you.

I'll be back. You've been warned.

Spring Garden Party Brunch

Yesterday my girlfriends and I got together for our occasional Saturday morning coffee and started planning our next Girl's Day. Got me to thinking...wouldn't hosting a brunch be a great way to start the day before we hit the spas and the shops?



So in honor of spring, grab your closest girlfriends and celebrate with a little garden party inspired brunch of your own.

Chic it up a little by taking the basic idea of the iris arrangement I did above and putting it into a mod low floral dish. Hang the butterfly garland or loose butterflies from your local craft store from your chandelier (and string across and attach to the nearest wall if you can reach!) and voila...instant charm!

Loving this graphic green dinnerware to amp up the hip factor. Add in the simple placecards for a pop of color. And don't forget to give your best gals a little favor for a reminder of the day. These great little Tea Forte trays with some Tea Forte tea make an adorable table decor and favor all in one.

A menu of savory Deep Dish Ham Quiche, fresh Roasted Asparagus Bundles, some assorted fruit , delicate Lime Tea Cookies and Green Tea Champagne is definitely a step above your local bagel shop. Although my friends and I have had lots of interesting chats over bagels! At least at your own home no one else will look at you funny when you are laughing one minute and crying the next*.

* Hey, I'm emotional. Sue me.

That's A Wrap!

They say presentation is everything.



A) Who are "they" and how do "they" know everything?
B) I agree.

Okay, while I won't say it's evvvvverything, I will say that it counts a LOT in my book. And by "lot", I mean, yeah, almost everything.

Doesn't a gift seem even more special when it's wrapped with attention to detail? Unless it's chocolate. Then just hand it over and no one will get hurt.

And while I don't recommend anyone obsess as much as I do over wrapping gifts or start planning their holiday wrap in September (I mean who would do that??? Ahem), I do suggest taking a little extra time to put thought into the presentation. Fab wrap is just that extra nod that lets your recipient know you think they are worth it.

Who knows? You may just be the next Wrap Star! Hey, at least I didn't entitle this one "Wrapper's Delight."