Graduation Party-time!!!

CLASS OF 2014

One of Alexa's Senior Photos

There is a reflection because I could NOT get the darn picture out of the frame today...either I was weak from exhaustion or the frame was having fun with me...grrrrrr!

I know, I know....its been over a week since I've posted...I apologize.

We have had a whirlwind of activities around our house gearing up for graduation and the

graduation party for Alexa that happened this weekend!

PHEW.......

It's all over with...it was an emotional roller coaster, physically exhausting but lots of memories were made and a good time had by all.  Today I'm sharing pics of our Graduation Party that we had on Saturday.  Then this week I will share graduation photos....and project pics for other things I've been working on!

So lots of pictures in this post....but enjoy!!

This was a table I set up in our foyer for the party.  A few pics of Alexa, a place to put gifts/cards, balloons and flowers for the graduation girl.  Also my "KEYS TO SUCCESS".....

I had ordered bulk bags of silver skeleton keys on Amazon and cut tags for them on my Silhouette Cameo.  I used black cardstock because I wanted it to have a chalkboard feel and I had white-gel pens for people to use to write with.  She won't get the jar of keys and tags until we drop her off at college...I wanted her to have something long after the party ended to reminisce on and laugh/cry at.  Some of the tags are silly I'm sure, some are great pieces of advice and some are some tips she may need at some point.  The large jar I got on Amazon too...I liked the lid and size.

I had a lot of food for this party...and I was stressed I wouldn't have enough for the 65+ people.  But I always have too much food....we donated all the leftovers from catering to the local homeless shelter because I didn't want it going to waste.  I had Red Hot & Blue cater pulled pork, baked beans and potato salad....sandwiches from Which Wich...party platters and cake from Wegmans. I made lemonade, fruit salad and desserts.  My mom made 2 platters of Texas Brownies...mmm yum!

This was the beverage station I set up....I made homemade strawberry lemonade and wrapped water bottles with custom wrappers I made.  We had wine and beer and sodas in coolers outside.

I had bought 50 blue mason jars and striped straws for the lemonade...blue was one of the theme colors since Alexa's school colors are blue, white and black.

I had a white cake made by Wegmans and inside was stuffed with fresh strawberries and cream....it was really, really good.  I decorated it myself...hahahaha...the black icing kinda melted a bit but I used a Gamecock decal and some footballs from the Party Store along with sprinkles...it worked.

I didn't get the best pictures of this because I was rushed for time....but I had bulk-ordered small white take-out boxes and made stickers for the front of each.  Then used striped tissue paper to line them and fill half with Kettle Corn and half with Cheddar Popcorn. Then everyone could grab a box and chow down.  Those are my mom's Texas Brownies to the right...mmmm ;)

I had bouquets of white roses and daisies around the house including that lovely centerpiece I had my dad make me.  I keep fresh flowers in it every week.

This is our backyard patio and cabana all decked out for the party.  The coolers were a necessity to hold all the drinks we needed iced down :)  I love my patio because of all the different seating areas and places to be depending on the weather and activity.

My hubs and son helping get ready!  That's my mom's dog Snickers surveying the scene in most pictures LOL (no I didn't get a new dog)!

This is one of my fave little sitting areas as it sits behind the main seating area/fireplace...the butterfly bush and grasses are at edge of patio so there are always hummingbirds and butterflies flitting around. Its kind of hidden and a great place to read and get away.

Alexa with a group of her friends.  The bar to the left is one of two bars..I love the round bar addition because its another great place for seating or food buffet.

My niece, my mom and my sister-in-law.

Alexa and her friends using the photo booth props I ordered and some I had made.

Alexa's BFF Mya came up from Georgia for the party and to see her friends graduate. She grew up with them all but moved at the end of her junior year...was nice she could see everyone!

Alexa opening some of her graduation gifts...the girl made out well...thank you to everyone that sent or gave a gift, we are so happy you were able to come and join us to celebrate her successes and future!

Annnnnddddd...this is what happens at the end of a great day when you are slap-happy and tired!

Alexa and the hubs show their goofy sides ;)
James kept asking Alexa all day if she wanted to "take a selfie" hahahaha and singing "It's the Final Countdown" song to her.  So they had to take a selfie together hahaha!

I will be back on Thursday with Grad Pictures to share......


Entering In The Following Linky Parties:

Family Fun Friday

WOW Us Wednesdays

Summer Celebration Link Party

DIY Showoff/ Fun In The Sun Party

The DIY Dreamer

Ivy & Elephants

Happy Easter!!!

HAPPY EASTER & SPRING FRIENDS!

Two of my favorite pictures from our beach trip to Hilton Head Island, SC.

The first one is just so...US...embracing life and all that it brings to the table no matter what.

Through the rain and storms there is always sun and a rainbow...you just have to keep the faith that you will find both.

And both Alexa & Riley aren't so much in that snotty-teen mode anymore (phew) so I got

pictures of them interacting and SMILING...who knew hahahaha!

I can't believe this Friday will be my daughter's 18th birthday...I still think sometimes she should be in pigtails and going off to pre-school NOT college this fall. The time flies by that's for sure! 

We spent our last night on the island having our "Easter" dinner on Friday instead of Sunday.

Alexander's in Palmetto Dunes is my favorite restaurant, food is always excellent & just a great atmosphere.  I wanted to wear my Easter dress but it was pouring rain & I was too chilled.

I swapped out for my navy silk shirt and navy Michael Kors shoes instead...obviously the chilly air didn't deter my teens though :)

And last picture for today is one of my son and husband.  My son is 16 and is so big that sometimes I shake my head to make sure I'm not dreaming...I still see him as that sweet-smiling 5 year old hugging onto my leg.  Now he's bigger than his dad...ay yi yi!  He's resembles my brother so much both in looks and mannerisms but every now and then I see my husband in him.  

Love them all so much!

I hope your Easter is filled with blessings, love, laughter & time spent with family and friends!

Halloween Bash Recap!!

Halloween Bash Recap

So my daughter sprung the news on Monday night that she wanted to have a Halloween Party...great warning huh? LOL!  Well since I knew this is her last Halloween here <sniff sniff> I couldn't say no since she's off to college next fall.  So in two days time I managed to pull the makings of a fun bash together for 20 teenagers.  I used a few of those Ghoul Decorations that I made HERE for the table..they came in handy Best part?  That they were safely ensconced at our house away from any crazies...having fun and enjoying each other.  I made Caesar Salad, ordered pizzas, got dips and chips and the girls had made cookies, cupcakes & brownies.  And of course candy...lots and lots of candy :)

I spent a good part of the day cleaning the patio...this is something that we have to do regularly.  Blowing off the debris, dirt & leaves and then wiping down furniture and counters really good.  I had to rearrange furniture so we could seat more under the cabana (since they called for rain & it did drizzle).  Some pumpkins, candles and music of course too.  And I stocked the fridge under the bar with sodas and water....that's a case of soda on edge of bar in pic...I forgot to move it before I snapped this LOL!

(real life pics folks)

Some Halloween lights on bushes, strobe light and tombstones in the gardens for added fun!

Alexa was a Hula girl...she came home from school at 4:30 and announced she couldn't find her hula skirt. So that meant mom had to run her to the party store at 5 pm...height of rush hour traffic...on Halloween..to make sure she had her skirt (can you tell I was thrilled...not).  So there is the Hula Girl and her BFF Sophia was "The Basic Mom"...yoga pants, Uggs & Starbucks LOL.

Alexa & her buddy Clay....Hula girl in Mexico?? 

Here's half of the group...some of the others hadn't arrived yet when I snapped this. We have 2 Mexican compadres, Sexy Librarian, Minnie Mouse, Chick Magnet, Hippie and Ghoul-Alien.

The guests enjoying the party and laughing & talking about who knows what those teenagers talk about.  I'm just happy that this group of kids are SERIOUS about school (some left early to finish AP essays unless they were like Alexa & had finished it the day before lol), don't drink, smoke or party and just enjoy the fun in life...without all the drama!  They will do good things in life I know :)

We did old school style games...always fun...and the prizes were iTunes & Restaurant Gift Cards.

So that meant bobbing for apples, Pin-the-Face-On-the-Pumpkin and Best Costume Voting!

The bobbing for apples was hilarious!  I was laughing so hard I barely got any "non-shaky" pictures LOL.  I had labeled each apple with a number from 1-5 with my Sharpie.  They each had 1 minute to get as many as they could and the person with the most points won.  The boys were putting their entire head in there...and the water was COLD...it was a riot!  Good times!!

Alexa & her friend Owen (aka Hippie)!

That's all folks!  Hope you all had a wonderful Halloween or Fall's Night!

Enjoy your weekend!  I'm pretty much a zombie today but plan on finishing some projects tomorrow to share!!