2020 recap

 Testing to see if thing thing still works!

Brown Bear/Eric Carle baby shower

 I had a great time planning and organizing Kaitlyn's shower, it was so much fun to see everything come together and play around with several craft ideas that I'd wanted to try for a while. All of my inspiration came from baby showers that I'd seen on the internet, and I loved the idea of pennant banners, using mason jars, and having a variety of textures, patterns together.
Of course, I could have gone WAY overboard, and there were definitely crafts that either failed, or didn't happen. I loved the Eric Carle flashcards (via Amazon); great quality, wonderful colors, and a nice keepsake for the baby. In addition to the color, I loved how the flashcards incorporated all the different Eric Carle animals, which made it more general and easy to pull in different books, rather than just one title, like Brown Bear, or A Very Hungry Caterpillar.
I checked out ALL the Eric Carle books from our school library, and ordered a mini set as part of my entry way decorations. It was a really easy way to add color, and add to the theme.

I would have loved to add Eric Carle cupcake toppers, and matching stickers for tableware, but that didn't happen (at least for this shower). However, I did use the animals from Brown Bear for my menu:

Brown Bear Brownies
Yellow Duck Cupcakes
Red Bird Salsa and Chips
Green Frog Salad
Purple Cat (I planned on Purple Cat fruit salad, but didn't end up making it)
Blue Horse Blueberry trifle (again, planned on blueberry, but ended up make a tiramasu trifle because its what I had on hand.)

My craft fail was the chalkboards. I really wanted a cute menu sign in chalk, but the temperature had dropped here in Dayton on Thursday night, and it was rainy all day Friday, and both attempts to spray paint my items were a mess.

Winners: using small Mason jars for drinks (very easy, and I had them all on hand), easy pennant banners from my 1000000 million Trader Joe's bags, wildflowers (again, from Trader Joe's) in larger Mason jars, checkered runners (from the $1 section at Target).

I personally despise shower games, so one of my friends from church gave a great "charge" to Kaitlyn about parenting, etc...

I also recruited several junior high girls from school and church to help me with the set up/clean up. It was a HUGE help to have the girls greeting our guests, taking care of the gifts, and helping with clearing away dishes. The girls were also a huge help when it came time for Kaitlyn to open gifts; they organized things and folded all the tissue paper and gift bags.

Another HUGE relief was arranging for friends to help with the food. I couldn't have done both (organizing/decorating AND food) well, or without wanting to shoot myself. I highly recommend picking one area of the party planning and arranging for help in other areas. To keep things simple, I emailed a group of girls who had mentioned wanting to help, and gave them a list of menu items and/or, the recipe itself. It was great to finish setting up, and just be able to arrange the food once it arrived.

I also have a deep, deep love for beverage containers. They make party planning/entertaining SO much easier. I have a beverage container (from Sam's) that holds 3.5 gallons worth of a cold drink, and borrowed another one from a co-worker. Between both containers (one with lemonade, one with water), I didn't need to refill the containers throughout the 2.5 hours (and 25 guests). These beverage containers have an insert to fill with ice, so the drinks stay cold, without getting watered down.

Long story short; incredibly time consuming, but so worth it!

I love Dayton!

When I relocated to Dayton, Ohio, I received the following question (probably about a million times); "Dayton, OHIO??? Why?"

I'll tell you why. There is ALWAYS something to do in Dayton. Part of my new blogging commitment will be reviewing some of my favorite local spots in the Gem City. Dayton has some fantastic restaurants, museums and a terrific MetroPark system.

On a related note, I'm "hosting" Flat Stanley for one of my cousins girls. For those of you who haven't hung out with 2nd graders, Flat Stanley is a children's book about a little boy (Stanley) who is flattened to the width of a piece of paper, and is then mailed around the United States in an envelope to visit friends. I've done the Flat Stanley project many times with my 2nd graders. It's such a fun way to learn about the 50 states, and see other parts of the country.

Back to my "Dayton Favorites"...Cobblestone Cafe in Waynesville. I was introduced to this adorable cafe and gift shop by my friend Sheela, from Dayton Christian. They have a great seasonal menu and feature their own garden-grown herbs and produce. I'm excited to come back in the spring when I can eat on their patio!

Fabulous ambiance. I love the exposed beams, punched mental lighting, country chairs. It's incredibly warm and inviting.

Grilled Asparagus sandwich and French Onion Soup. Delightful!

March committment

I'm home sick today, I've caught the sinus yuck that was bound to hit me. It's cold in Dayton, and I'm a little cranky that someone else is living in my Las Cruces condo, enjoying 70* and the pool by Sonoma Springs Golf Course. 

However, I have a brother who made a Kleenex run, I'm drinking tea, watching The West Wing, and was able to catch up with one of my best friends, Sara. (Who, by the way, is an incredible woman and who's friendship is so dear to me. More on that another day).

One of our topics included blogging, so I'm motivated to document more of what I'm cooking, creating, and planning. And just for fun, a little blast from the past:

 

 

One of those once-in-a-lifetime trips

Precious friends

Sara's wedding

Sweet times

3 decades

One of my dearest friends turned thirty this weekend and although I couldn't celebrate it with her, I sent a video message and some photos from the past decade. It's hard to believe that we're both thirty and in two years, we'll have been friends for 20 years!  

6th grade, in all our glory!!

Easter 2011, on the train to Center City in Philadelphia

Easter 2011, shopping in NJ

July 2012, Myrtle Beach, SC

July 2012, Myrtle Beach, SC

Katie's favorites, February edition

Valentine's flower's from Brandon.

Valentine's meal with the boys, grilled, while it was snowing outside!

Some of the most beautiful sunrises!

Preparing for Lent

Eating one of my favorite meals that Nate makes; homemade marinara and angel hair pasta

Nate's Valentine's

Getting my DIY on!

Running in wool socks, and freezing temps!

Pre-run, with more layers!

Reasons why I'm ready for February

1. I love Valentine's Day. The hearts, the crafts, the chocolate that I always throw away, balloons, flowers. I have always had terrific a Valentine's Day. My parents used to make it really special, and in later years when I was teaching, my dad would send me flowers and a really sweet note. My brother flew me out to Dayton a few times (prior to moving here in 2011) because Presidents Day weekend also landed on Valentine's 2 years in a row (or close by). Such fun memories, and such a fun holiday.
2. February is a short month.
3. Presidents Day = another day off school. I'm a history nerd, so I used to enjoy pulling out some of my favorite classroom biographies about Washington and Lincoln and reading aloud to my class. 
4. This year, Lent begins on February 13. I have an awesome Lenten calendar/countdown that I'll post pictures of ASAP. I love the historical framework of Easter and looking back at the original Passover story. It is packed full of references to our Savior, and provides a beautiful picture of the final sacrifice.
5. February means one month closer to warm weather. I'm finding out that I'm a total LOSER about winter. This is the first real winter that I've experienced in over a DECADE! Give me a break. My first year in Ohio was unseasonably warm and everyone told me that it was a fluke. Sure enough, this year has been pretty cold and snowy. 
6. Season Premiere of Smash. Don't judge.