Birthday party invites and cupcakes

When I was growing up, I remember having family birthday parties and enjoyed spending every moment with my family. Our parties never had themes but nowadays everybody has a theme for their parties. I have always enjoyed putting ideas together whether it is for scrapbooks, parties, holidays or anything where I get to be creative. When my sister had her kids -- my triplet niece and nephews -- I knew early on that I would be planning their birthday parties. I don't even think I gave my sister a choice of letting her plan their first birthday party. I just said this is what I'm going to do and I'm going to pay for all the decorations or whatever it takes to put together my theme so she couldn't say no.

For past birthday parties we have had a carnival theme, Blues Clues, Princess/Spiderman/Incredible Hulk, tea party, and movie party themes (I will dig up some photos and post them soon). They have all been fun to plan. As the kids have gotten older, they've gotten to the point where they want to have their parties at arcades or someplace where they can just play games. This puts a damper on my theme party planning.

This year the kids all had separate parties and I tried to make each of their parties have a little bit of homemade touch to it by making cupcakes and their invites all match what they picked for their cakes.

Sydni had a Harry Potter themed party at the movie theatre. We watched the first movie in the series while the girls had some of Sydni's favorite foods: homemade mini-pizzas (made by Sydni herself), curly fries, chocolate covered stawberries (made by Sydni), cupcakes and cake. We also had a candy shop set up like they have in the movies complete with Bertie Botts Every Flavored Jelly Beans, chocolate covered frogs (homemade), lemon drops, licorice wands, and lots more. The girs loved being able to pick out candy to take home with them. In addition to the candy, they had Harry Potter glasses and silly bandz in their gift bags. I made the cupcake wrappers and toppers for the party - but as you can see in the pictures I forgot to use the wrappers! Way too much going on.

The cupcakes were delicious. They were vanilla and chocolate and scrumptious. For past parties I have always made a movie poster that incorporates their picture into the poster. The manager of the theater then puts the poster up outside as if it was for real. I think I get a kick out of that more than the kids do.









Jacob's party was at Chuck E. Cheese. Since they do all of the work for the party there is not really anything you can add to personalize it, but I made cupcakes to try and add a little something extra to the party. The cupcake wrappers and toppers were both used successfully for this party! I added gumballs on some of the cupcakes to resemble the ball pit. The goodie bags were the standard CEC ones so I went ahead and upgraded everyone's cup as a little treat. Jacob wanted his party here just so he could have a turn in the Ticket Blaster. He also was generous and let his brother and sister do it as well since it was also their birthday.






Caleb wanted a Dale Earnhardt Jr. NASCAR theme at his party that he had at the Park and Pizza place. This was another party that they took care of everything for us. I wasn't able to take time off work to make cupcakes so I bought them from a cupcake delivery service. Unfortunately the cupcakes were horrid. The worst cupcakes I've ever had. Thank goodness the wrappers and toppers were cute! And to top it off, the cake melted on the drive to the party but as Caleb said, "at least we have cupcakes". Well the cake was delicious but ugly. The cupcakes were cute but awful tasting. And the gift bags each had a Dale Jr. diecast car per Caleb's request.





No matter the size, theme or mishaps of a party, kids are just thrilled that they have something that celebrates them!

Allergic Reaction

There is nothing worse than spending money on pricey skin care products...and then being allergic to one of them. I have four new products and one of them is giving me an allergic reaction.


I've used Estee Lauder products on and off since my Aunt Eleanor first took me to buy makeup many many years ago. I've always loved their products but whenever I run out I usually use whatever Wal-Mart has on hand until I get really dry skin and then say screw it and spend the money to replenish my stash. Several months ago I noticed I had a dry skin patch on my eye lid so I proceeded to google it and self-diagnosed myself with an allergic reaction to a skin care product. But which one? I ran out of all my Estee Lauder stuff at the same time and didn't even think anything of it when my eye lids cleared up. It wasn't until I got in my products this week that I wondered if I would get a reaction. And sure enough I did. I'm going to have to eliminate products one at a time for a while to see what it is.


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The Pioneer Woman

I. Am. Obsessed. With. The. Pioneer. Woman. Website.

There I've said it. I've known about her site for a while but never really looked at it. Sure I clicked on links to a recipe or photo tutorial but that was the extent of it. I'm the type of person who shuns popular things so the more I heard about her the more I avoided going to her site.

Examples of my shunning:

Harry Potter? Never read the books and only saw the first movie a month ago.

Twilight Saga? Never read the books and thought everyone camping out for the movies were nuts. Finally saw the first one about six months ago. Ehh.

Bachelor/Bahelorette? No thanks.

Top Chef? No thanks. But I'll watch Food Network 24/7.

Ok, I think you get the picture. So anyway, I'm on her site via another blog link and see this cute western pic and it says Love Story or something like that so of course my antennae perk up.



I proceed to read the first post of "Black Heels to Tractor Wheels" and absolutely fall in love with the story. I read it in two days (I had to get some sleep and it was 40+ chapters) and then was looking around for the rest of their story. I was close to asking her if she was going to write a book because I'd definitely buy it but I restrained myself because I didn't want to scare her.

So I stayed up until 1:30 am this morning reading stuff on her site. Then when I got home what did I do? The work I brought home with me you ask? Not exactly. I went back to her site and am making my way from the present all the way through her old blog posts. It will probably take me a couple of years but I'm determined!

Did I mention she also has a cookbook out so, of course, I immediately go to Amazon and have them ship it to me 2-day service so I can have something to read this weekend. Never mind the 300+ books in my "To Be Read" pile. I'll get to those after I finish reading her entire website.

And yes she did turn her love story into a book and possibly a movie too!

Now I need to find a way to have her invite me to her lodge for a cooking class. And while I'm at it, I'm going to find me my own cattlerancher who looks good in chaps. She makes it look so fun!!

Giddyup.


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Bad weather

I hate rain. I really hate rain. And I especially hate driving in it. Once I cancelled plans to go see the Dallas Cowboys play football because it was raining. But the game went on without me.




That was my view last night leaving work around 8pm. I kept saying oh crap! the whole way home. It was ugly. The photo doesn't do it justice. It was pitch black on one part of the sky and red hue mixed in. And every once in a while you'd see lightening. Very spooky.

But luckily, for us, it never hit my area and I only had to drive in a bit of rain.



(picture courtesy of NASA)

Now the folks who had to deal with Hurricane Earl -- God bless. I'd have packed up and headed for higher grounds. And to think I want to live in one of the Carolinas. Maybe not so much anymore.


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Hot Finish - Erin McCarthy Fast Track Series

If you have never read Erin McCarthy books and like romance novels, you should give her a try. I love her books. Let me repeat that. Absolutely. Love. Her. Books. And I love even more that she responds to reader emails and tweets.

Anyways, back to the books. I read her first NASCAR romance book, Flat Out Sexy, on the plane ride on my way to NYC. When I finished I knew I had to see if the next one was out because I was hooked. Luckily for me it was and before I left to return home, I asked the driver to make a stop on his way to the airport so I could pick it up. Hard and Fast was even better, in my opinion, than the first one and had me laughing out loud on the plane ride home. After finishing it I couldn't wait for the next one but alas I had several months to wait until its release.


Finally earlier this month Hot Finish was released and it was all that I've come to expect from Erin's books. It was sweet, zany, steamy and addicting. Now we get word that the series will continue with the next book out next March. Plenty of time to re-read the whole series.

Side note: some of the scenes are a little steamy so be forewarned. ;-)

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Dale Jr. k'nex

My nephew Caleb knows how much I love Dale Earnhardt Jr. so when he saw this k'nex set while he was out school shopping he bought it for me. With. His. Own. Money!!

How sweet is that! He wanted to put it together right away and didn't like it too much when I wanted to help. I think he may have really wanted it for himself.

Dale had a visor that could go up or down and a baseball cap.


....and the finished product.


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Jersey Boys

The Jersey Boys has finally made it's way to Austin. Yeah!!!! I went with my mom and sister Diane to see the show. Since we had matinee tickets we made a girls day of it and had lunch at Hyde Park Bar and Grill first then on to the show. Sydni did not understand why she couldn't come with us since she, too, is a girl. I had to tell her that the show wouldn't let her in because of the language so that was fine with her.


I saw the original cast in New York years ago and absolutely loved the show.



The songs, the story, the actors, everything was amazing. I was worried the show wouldn't live up to my praise of it but I shouldn't have because my sister and mom LOVED it. I could watch it every day. You don't realize how many songs they sang or the back story of their rise and fall and it is all laid out for you. Very moving and everyone should see it.

After the show we fought traffic and went to get massages. Oh the hot stone massage I had was devine. A very nice way to end the day.




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Great Wolf Lodge

My sister and I took her kids to Great Wolf Lodge once again this year.  They love this place -- although it can get a bit overwhelming.  This year they only spent one day in the actual water areas.  The other two days were spent playing the MagiQuest games and the spa (for Sydni) and arcade games.  Caleb hurt his toe in the lazy river -- got an ugly cut -- and he wasn't in the mood to swim any more after that and neither were the other two so we ended up cutting our trip short and heading home.  We'll do it again next year.  Or maybe later this year.

NASCAR in Charlotte

We had the opportunity to put our nonprofit name and logo on a NASCAR for the Nationwide race in Charlotte in May and since I set it up, I was able to go to the race to represent the organization and record it.  This was quite an experience.  I've been to races before and even in the pits but never in the garage area and not sitting on a frickin pit box for the race!  It was a once in a lifetime experience and one I cherish. 

The week started with my going to the Hendrick tweet-up.  I didn't even realize how serious everyone took Speed Weeks leading up to the Charlotte race and was pleasantly surprised by all the activities taking place in the area. 

On Thursday I went to watch them practice and was able to take lots of pictures in the garage area.  I saw so many drivers and tried to get as many of their pictures as possible.  Of course, the one person I wanted to take a picture of, Dale Jr., was the only driver whose picture turned out blurry.

Friday I was able to drive to Mooresville and go to Dale Earnhardt Sr.'s shop as well as Jr.'s and Kasey Kahne's shops.  The small town of Mooresville was so darn cute!

Saturday was the race and we got to stand on pit row and stand with Kenny Wallace and his family for the singing of the national anthem.  That was surreal -- you see it on tv all the time but I never in my wildest dreams thought I would ever be able to stand there and act like I was part of the team. 

We then went to the pit area and got to sit on the pit box with his wife Kim and listen in on the radio.  SO. MUCH. FUN!!!

Sunday I didn't go to the race because I just could not handle the crowd -- and my boss/friend bailed on me so I also didn't want to go alone.  But, I was able to go to the NASCAR Hall of Fame and was absolutely thrilled with everything they had there.  I can't wait to take my dad and the kids to see it next year.  Amazing.

All in all it was a great trip.

Boston and NYC

I was supposed to go to Washington DC, Boston and them NYC the week of May 17. I ended up getting a severe stomach bug which sidelined me for a few days. I met up with my co-workers in Boston and then on to NYC for a board meeting. Nothing too exciting this trip.



I did get a purse for mom. I didn't find anything that I loved so no new one for me.



Getting to the airport was an adventure. It took two hours -- the cabbie GOT LOST!! How does a NYC cabbie get lost going to the airport? And he hit another car on the way. They both rolled down their windows and said "you ok" "yea" and took off. Unbelievable.


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Tx Motor Speedway

I had to go to the Texas Motor Speedway to tape a PSA with a driver for my work. We got to watch them tape Speed TV's NASCAR Race Day and I always get a kick out of stuff like that.

The weather was bad so the race was cancelled but we got our taping in so everything worked out. We ended up driving home because the weather was so bad. And I don't do well flying in bad weather.



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Blackhawks in Dallas

Before heading to Atlanta I went to the Blackhawks v. Stars hockey game. We had seats close to the ice and a great parking pass. There were a couple of guys in front of us and one of them kept teasing me because I was vocal in my regard for Patrick Sharp. He kept it all fun so it was all good -- not like the hoedoggie I had to sit next to the last time I went to the game. And my boys won!!!

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Atlanta

I had to go to Atlanta for a social media conference. You know me -- I worked in some play time too. First fun thing to do was go to an Atlanta Braves v. Chicago Cubs game. They have a nice stadium. And Chick-Fil-A in the place!! I had a great seat behind home plate and sat next to Braves fans who relentlessly teased me for liking Chicago.

The next three days were spent at the conference. Very long days but productive. I signed up for pretty much every contest they had for a free ipad. Caleb has been asking for one for a while so I was on the hunt. I did win tickets to a Braves game but I was so exhausted I gave them away - especially since I had already been to a game. But, when I got home I got word that I won an ipad!!!

I kept up with the hashtag for the conference and one guy kept talking about eating chicken and waffles. It peaked my interest so my co-worker and I went to Gladys Knight's Chicken and Waffles restaurant. Oh. My. Goodness! Pure heaven. I would never have thought chicken and waffles together would be good but it was divine. I also had black eyed peas and yams with it. Yummy!!

The last night of the conference I went to the Atlanta Thrashers v. Pittsburgh Penguins hockey game. Those fans are brutal but I always enjoy a hockey game.

After the conference it was off to Savannah for a few days. It was about a four hour drive - and an hour wait to pick up the rental car. Caleb had been texting me and calling me asking me to come home so I felt very guilty about taking a couple of days for myself but then said I deserve it so I went. I appeased Caleb by going to the Atlanta Aquarium and getting him a stuffed animal shark. It was one of the nicest aquariums I have been to as well and a nice way to start my mini vacation.

My main reason for going to Savannah was to eat at Paula Deen's The Lady and Son's. I took the guided Paula Deen tour so I would be assured a spot to eat at her restaurant. It was worth the money for the tour. We had a great tour guide and went to eat lunch at Paula's brother's restaurant, Bubba's Oyster House (or something like that). I had a low country boil for the first time ever and it was delicious.

After the tour I headed to Tybee Island and laid out at the beach for a couple of hours. Nothing fancy but I always enjoy spending time at the beach. Before heading back to Savannah I ate at a local place and had -- wait for it -- low country boil again. This place had alligators in the entrance. The kids would have loved it.

So the next day my only item on the agenda was to eat at Paula's place. It was so good. I had the buffet and had a bit of everything. It was all good and I was pleased. They start out your meal with hoe cakes and garlic and butter biscuits. Oh yummy.

I liked Savannah and would definitely visit again. The historic district was especially nice and quaint.


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Mother's Day

We had a nice Mother's Day weekend. Saturday we had lunch with some Aunts and Cousins and had a blast just laughing and chatting. We are going to try and do it once a month.




Those who were there were me, mom, Diane, Colleen, Yo-yo, Janie, Courtney, Yolanda, Amy, Rosalyn, Jovita, Eleanor, Jessi, Paula, Tina, Lindsey, Ashley, Rita, Valerie, Mandy and Avery.

My work had their annual Honoring Women luncheon and I filled a table with my family. I'm so glad they were able to come and enjoy a nice afternoon and a good program.










And on Mother's Day we had a nice relaxing day and showered Granny Gran with flowers. Diane had to work so that was a bummer but she got to spend time with the kids in the morning. Sydni made her own flowers from pulling from GG's and her mom's.



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