We are having this at an upcoming event.  Along with old bottles of coke, Moon Pies, Nabs (don’t worry you don’t get it unless you grew up with it) and a bottle of Moonshine.  It’s a Southern theme for sure.

We cover are kids invited?
Are you having kids in the wedding?
Are you having pets in the wedding?
How many grandparents?
Parents still married?  What’s that situation when we are told that both sets of parents are divorced, remarried and sometimes there are restraining orders.  But, that is another etiquette topic for another day.

Are you a guest?  Or are you a wedding party member?  Just a few things to remember when it comes to the wedding day of your friends and family.

Did the invite come addressed to you and your family?  Or did it say your children’s names?  If it didn’t then they are not invited.  It doesn’t matter if you are traveling with kids.  More than likely the bride and groom have had to limit their guest count for any number of reasons. Sometimes kids are not included because the space is limited that has been chosen for the reception venue.  Maybe the childrens meals were going to be just as pricey as an adult meal.  Or I hate to say it but maybe they just don’t want kids!  It happens.

When I got married I asked my friends that had kids if they wanted to bring them.  I could have gone either way.  All of them said a unanimous NO.  They wanted a weekend away and to enjoy spending time with friends.  They knew we were having a fun band and they wanted to enjoy it without having to leave early to put kids down to bed.

My cousin had just had a baby.  I called her and said I would do whatever she wanted.  Did she need a babysitter? Did she want the baby there?  I didn’t care.  I wanted my cousin to be there and I was going to do whatever she needed.

But, with that said I have plenty of weddings where the bride and groom are not willing to budge on this issue.  If you as the bride and groom say no kids then say it and don’t apologize.

And don’t go back on it.  I always say that if a friend is pressing it that they bring their kids then when the wedding is over chances are the friendship is not going to be the same.  I have seen brides and grooms being pressed by family on the topic of kids.

There was a bride getting married a few years ago, and she had all the nieces and nephews from both sides of the families in the wedding.  Only the older kids were extended the invitation of the reception.  The parents of the bride and bride had decided the kids that were five or older could come to the reception.  So that left a toddler on her side (and her sisters child no less) and toddler on the grooms side out in need of a sitter for the evening.

The brides soon to be father in law called her up and ripped into her.  It was not a nice conversation.  The father of the groom actually had no right in getting involved.  He should have talked to his son.  The parents of the bride were paying for a lavish wedding.  He should have called them if he had a problem.  They had decided they didn’t want kids at the wedding.  The only kids there were family and they had to be five or older.  End of story.  A toddler isn’t going to know they missed out on a reception.

If you are in the wedding and your a good friend or a family member and the bride and groom have said no to kids.  Then abide by it.  Don’t be the member of the bridal part that decides to bring their kids anyway.  I’ve had that happen too.  And you can literally feel the friendship ending as the marriage is beginning.

One bride made an adult only wedding.  She was in her 20s.  They had absolutely one of the best bridal parties and group of friends ever for making the reception a complete party!  It was awesome.  Except for the one friend who had a baby that had arranged for a sitter.  But, the baby cried and the sitter apparently wasn’t good enough to keep the baby in the suite that they had rented.  I should say the suite was only one floor up.  And the babysitter was a grandmother.  The friend brought her baby and later I knew the bride was going to be furious, because the photographer spent way too much time taking photos of the sleeping baby on the floor.  The baby next to the wedding cake.  The parents and the baby dancing.  The parents and the baby having a cocktail.

The bride was upset because here she had forced no kid policy on all her friends (and none of her friends had a problem with that either.)  None of them had the luxury to have a sitter that was a grandparent at the hotel either.

It’s been a few years and sadly, the bride is not close to that friend now.  As the bride says all she was asking was not to be placed in an awkward situation on her wedding day.  I should mention the bridesmaid called her as she was getting make-up done and told her that she was bringing her baby.  Not a good idea.  At least pretend to ask.

Etiquette is merely rules.  People don’t like rules, I find the older I get.  They don’t like boundaries and they don’t like to be told what to do.  I find that there are a lot of people that don’t believe the rules apply to them, but to everyone else.  What can I say?  It’s the way our world is becoming.  We live where people would rather text the person next to them than talk to them sometimes.

I think that if everyone became familiar with even basic rules of etiquette we all would live a more peaceful life.  We could all get along better probably.  We may not have hurt feelings as much.  We perhaps wouldn’t feel as vulnerable either.

Having kids at a wedding can make it festive.  Who doesn’t love to watch children laughing, dancing and having a good time.  At the same time who doesn’t stress out watching kids run laps around wedding cakes (I can’t even count how many times I have witnessed that as a guest.)  Or who hasn’t seen a mom dressed up and stressed out because a newborn isn’t sleeping thru dinner and is now screaming bloody murder thru toasts.

It’s the privilege of the host and hostess (bride, groom and whoever is paying for the wedding) to decide who they want as a guest.  Guests may not like it.  But, it’s only one party.  There will be others!  If you have to go to a wedding without your kids, make the best of it.  Eat, drink, dance, have an adult conversation.  Treat the wedding like a really good date night for you and your spouse.  You might just find that you all had a fabulous time doing your own thing that night (kids included if they had a kid night with a sitter!)

Why drinking in the afternoon……

We have champagne Sunday at our house every Sunday.  On our deck is usually the spot where we enjoy the bubbles.  But, when weather doesn’t permit you’ll find us inside while our children nap on a snowy cold day.  Or if we have to go some place that evening we will skip it and wait until the evening.

We don’t choose the same bottle week after week.  We can’t afford to always have a bottle of White Star or Veuve each week. We would never appreciate it as much if we did.  We will pop a bottle of Mumm rose or lately we have gotten into a few proseccos.  Technically we are not drinking true champagne.  But, it’s more about the ritual for us.

It’s that time where once a week we stop.  Sit down.  Spend time together.  Reflect on the weekend.  And talk about what is coming up.  We talk about plans for travel.  We talk about plans for our future as a family.  We talk about everything, anything and nothing.

My husband and I have always been able to just have fun together.  We are just as happy at home as we are on vacation.  I never quite get why there are those that always end a weekend with a story of “we went on a bike ride, then a hike, then a run, then grocery shopped, then ran to a meeting, then went for a walk to the park, then saw a concert after we had lunch.”  Usually all I have done is drink coffee on the deck and had a good dinner that we cooked at home.  I am sure it sounds to dull to some.  But, for us it’s life and we love it.

I love the afternoon drink.  Because you slow down.  And you are in essence enjoying your life.  I am always thankful that we’ve gotten thru another week and that we have been given the gift of another Sunday together.  Champagne Sunday…..it’s the best!

I don’t know why but I never paid attention to Jennifer Anistons.  Did you?

It’s interesting with that band added.  It was estimated to be $500,000.00  YIKES.

This is what they are showing for the Gelina so far.

You know I do have to hand it to Brad.  He really did clean her up.  Didn’t he?  I mean she was all goth and grassy earthy when he started fooling around with her.  She had a cover shot with that new baby she had just adopted with Billy Bob.  But, then didn’t?  Anyway, she was laying on a bed in riding clothes.  At the time I thought she had finally gotten it together and gotten a stylist.  She did look pretty good.

Unfortunately Brad has kind of let himself go while playing the role of his life Professor Henry Higgins in my Fair Lady.  Rex Harrison did it so much better though.

Brad was always a big influence on Jennifer’s clothes and style when they were together.  He likes simple.  Clean.  Sophisticated.  Kind of funny that he ended up with Gelina.  That girl does not strike me as a subscriber to the magazine Real Simple

Robert Procop is the designer of this ring.  He has a whole line called the Style of Jolie based on Gelina.  I wish he would have called it Gelina.  We were this close to being BFFs Mr. Procop.

You know his work well if you read my blog:

Remember the earrings?  By the way I had on my earrings like this for the spectacular baby shower I hosted (if I do say so myself) and a few of the guests immediately knew they were the earrings that Gelina wore on the red carpet.  LOVED IT!

Well, I can hardly wait to see the actual ring.  I think so far it looks pretty promising.   It is big…….so I may have to love it.

Happy Friday!

We were at a friends house over the weekend and she had lilacs in a vase off to the side.  I say off to the side because when I smelled them it brought such memories of growing up that I wanted the vase of lilacs smack dab in the middle of all the craziness.  It was like it was parsley.  Just added color.  Instead I wanted it to be the show piece!

We had a wonderful Easter weekend!  I hope y’all did.  We ate good food.  Spent time with our sweet family.  And even wrestled the Bubba into his first real Easter get up.  We spent time with friends all weekend.  It was just one of the best weekends.  My husband keeps raving about it.  It was one of those weekends filled with tons of laughter, interesting people which made for interesting conversations.  And the best it was just stress free.  Drama free.  And we were able to celebrate what the day meant.  I love that our little one even sits down to meals now and grasps his hands and waits for prayer.

Sunday night we attended our first ever Seder.  It was so interesting.  Of course the Catholic girl in me made me want to cross myself and say amen after each prayer.  Priss really did well for the dinner too.  It was late by the time we left.  She had wanted to wear her Easter hat (because of course she insisted on her Easter dress.)  I told her probably to skip the hat.  It was a good call in the end.  The food was so yummy.  The wine was extra delightful since I had given it up for Lent.

I told our friend that I want her to do the dinner each year!  Her group of guests were so fabulous.

The funny thing is that during the dinner I actually was getting ideas for events from it.  Like the pouring of wine into the glass of the person on your left.  I like that!  I think that would be something great to use for a corporate event actually.  And I so will be doing that.  Nothing over the top but a good ice breaker for something I have coming up.

Yesterday I felt like we are officially in spring because of the Rockies season opener.  But, could they have at least scored a run?  I mean come on.  But, the weather was beautiful.  The people watching was the best.  We usually do this huge party on opening day.  This year we didn’t and neither of us missed it.  It was interesting to see how many people have taken a cue from us over the years and actually kind of started doing the same parties.  So I am going to step it up next year.  We will be back and better.  So take that all you tailgaters that were there to promote some lame business.  Like drywall.

I didn’t wear purple yesterday.  Since a.  I hate that color of clothing.  b.  I figured it would draw too much sun and who needed to be over heated?  Glad I packed the sunblock!

We went with our friends so there were only four of us yesterday.  It was such a fun time.  Not being responsible for a group of 30 or so and worrying about catering, a bar and if a tent is going to blow away or not was liberating!

Did you all see the food trucks on Blake though?  About time!  I thought that was wonderful.  I did however miss seeing a cupcake truck.  We were looking for one.

And with that said I think on opening day the city should allow travelers.  It’s silly that they don’t.  There needs to be solo cups in full action on the streets of downtown.  Just like New Orleans or Vegas.  Just for the day.  I know the bars wouldn’t agree with me on this.  But, I think being able to walk around with a cute monogrammed cup in purples and whites would be a better accessory than some of those jerseys.  I saw some bad fashion yesterday at the game.  I’m thinking that could be my next blog series.  I can do like they do in the back of Glamour with the bars over the eyes.  Unfortunately there would be way more don’ts than dos.

OHHHH but with that said I was super excited yesterday that I pulled a Gap bag out that I have had for at least 15 years and used.  I almost tossed it a few months ago.  But, it’s leather, black and in great condition.  I pulled out last minute yesterday and was so thrilled I kept it.  I think I paid like thirty bucks for it at the time.  Of course when paired with my Theodora & Callum Scarf (greatest purchase of my life in the last two years) scarf it was the perfect clothing day for me.  I wore flip flops…..so that is why I loved the day the most.

Happy Week!

I have in my mind how it’s supposed to look.  But, apparently there are dozens of variations.  Here’s a few:

The first image is closer to what I am thinking.

Do you want to hear the funniest part of this story thus far?  I found lamb butter at the Jewish deli.  I don’t know why but that cracks me up!  Here Passover is days away where they are getting rid of flour, dairy, etc.,  And they are selling butter to a bunch of last minute Christian mothers.  Actually, more to the point.  A bunch of Catholic mothers.  Since I just found out it’s a Polish Catholic tradition.  Who knew!

Of course y’all know until the age of fifteen I thought my family had Polish on one side of the family.  I said something in passing to my mother and she laughed then said……ummmm no.  Wrong.  Cracks me up to this day.  Glad I found out sooner than later.

Anywho.  For me the lamb symbolizes spring.  I just love the tradition (and y’all know how I like to pass those on year to year.)

Did you know in the midwest people have butter sculpting contests?  Makes sense that it only happens in the midwest because it’s dry for one.  In the South we could never do that.  What a mess that would be.  The humidity would have the butter just melting.  I am finding that most midwesterners have the little butter lamb each year at Easter.  They have the actual mold and make it themselves.  Well, some do.  Those that are perhaps more in tune with their religous roots.  I think for some Easter day is just a day.  They don’t take that religous aspect so far into the meal planning.

Me?  Well, I am a little bit of both.  Just like Donnie and Marie sing…….Little bit country.  Little bit rock n roll.  We are sending our children to a religious school.  So it seems like it would go against what Priss learns weekly (not to mention kind of paying for) by not having a meal talking about the man of the hour.  Jesus.  I am actually pretty darn excited about it this year.  We’ve been doing her little resurrection eggs, and reading a book a day on Easter that covers the celebration of Easter.

What kind of mother would I be if my menu wasn’t planned of course?  I haven’t come up with anything super duper exciting.  I am just excited to have so many veggies to choose from this time of year.

I don’t make ham.  I am not a ham fan.  Never have been.  If someone goes out and buys a honeybaked ham (spiral and thin cut) well I have been known to pick on it for a bit.  But, to go out myself and get one.  I fail.  I also don’t cook lamb.  I’m a Easter failure huh?  I make pork loin.  It’s so yummy.

This year I have decided to join everyone else and focus on cocktails with peeps.

I love this.  It adds color!  And even the kids can have cute drinks with peeps.  My husband hates a peep.  But, I think he can look past it if the drink is good.

As any event planner will tell you, this is the time of year that really gets you excited about decorating your table for a meal.  Easter or Spring.  Whatever you are celebrating.  From the napkin color to the silver pattern. I can’t get enough of it.  After hosting the baby shower last weekend I feel like I don’t need to worry about flowers so much.  I still have a ton of them around the house.

What I am really excited for is the table at breakfast for the kids.  It was bound to happen that Priss would care about things being pretty.  While I was planning and working on the baby shower she kept taking things for herself and her little table.  She had lace and milk glass.  She arranged her flowers.  She decided on what kind of party she is planning this fall.  I couldn’t believe how she knew the elements of what a party consists of.  We have never done big birthday parties for our kids.  Her first birthday we had a big friend party.  Then the next day a family party.  I have a feeling she is going to be planning on bigger get togethers now.

Since she notices flowers and pretty napkins and dishes I am excited to do her little table for breakfast.  It will be more of a surprise for her than the Easter basket.  I love that about her!  The Easter bunny brings baskets and we luckily do not have all that stress of gift giving that day.

The lamb shaped butter will be the biggest hit.  If only I could have gotten tiny ones made.

Hmmmmmmm maybe I do want to attempt to make my own butter molds.

Happy Easter!  Off to dye 4 dozen eggs!

I had a wonderful weekend with my family.  And with many good friends.

I hosted a baby shower for a good friend.  This was the first party I’ve hosted in quite a while.  In fact we have not done much entertaining at all in the last six months.  So I felt like the baby shower was our ‘coming out’ party like a debutante yesterday.

It was perfect weather.  Amazing food.  And the company was just extraordinary.  Pictures to come.

This week we have so much going on to get ready for Easter.  We need to dye eggs.  Make Resurrection eggs.   Last year when I tried to make them Priss had little to no interest.  This year that girl is so into Jesus that I doubt I have to worry about her eating the marshmallow that you bake into them as your ‘sweet savior.’

Technically I never have flowers in the house until Easter.  But, with the baby shower and all I have a ton left over.  I just hope they now last until Easter.  It’s been so beautiful let’s just hope we have the same weather for next Sunday when we hunt for eggs, have a eating food fest from sunrise to sunset.  I am loving life right now!  I just feel so fortunate.

I hope everyone has a great week.  I don’t even mind the rumor that we may have a day of snow.  Bring it on!

That my friends was a night that I got to experience a delightful evening where a host made a dinner party on a Tuesday night seem effortless and it was flawless!

It’s funny how you remember some things over others.  Don’t you think?

That host was a very nice man.  He was one of the few dozen men I would categorize as a true Southern gentleman.  Manners, grace, humor, historian.  I can’t even begin to name the many things that he was.  He from what I knew of him made everything he did seem flawless.  From investing in the local education to restoring his old antebellum home.

But, one of my favorite phrases from him was the phrase “we’ll jump that rabbit later.”  It seems fitting given Easter is upon us, don’t you think?

I have so much going on this week that I feel over whelmed for about five seconds.  Then I get so excited!  So much is happening this week.  I can hardly wait!  Company is a comin’.  Meetings are booked back to back to back.  I love being busy.  But, I love being busy with good friends and when I get to visit with those that we (my family) love and adore.

The older I get the more I realize that life is not all that complicated unless you make it that way.  You are busy and frantic….when YOU make yourself that way.  Nobody else does.

I don’t want to look back one day and remember always being in a tizzie over much to do about nothing.  I love spending time with my family.  I love spending time with friends.  I love spending time even by myself.   Some days I really do feel like I can’t do it all.  But, I am getting better.  I mean is it the end of the world if I have a kitchen floor that needs to be swept for the third time that day, and I leave it?

I’ve just had that phrase in my head lately. “We’ll jump that rabbit later.”  I like that thought.  Nothing has to be taken care of so desperately.  Maybe a fire.  But, other than that……Not much.

I am looking forward to the week ahead!    It’s going to be amazingly beautiful outside too!  Can you stand it?  I love flip flop weather.  Who am I kidding?  I wear flip flops when it’s 40 degrees outside.  I am Southern.  That’s how we roll.

Good night!

If you asked my husband what I wanted or didn’t want at my funeral I doubt he even would remember.  So I pray that my friends take over one day if he should out live me.  And some days let’s face it he doesn’t risk out living me when he comes home late.  Or forgets to bring the dirty clothes down.

I am adding a new item though.  Phones and cameras will not be allowed in.  I think I need to add security.  Something to ponder.

http://www.rsvpshindig.com/diary/?p=400

Oldie but a Goodie.

SO I kind of felt like I HAD to drink it.

Oddly I don’t miss wine like I thought I would.  I don’t feel any more spiritual though either.  I continue with my 40 in 40.  Priss helped clean her clothes out the other day.  She saved items for Baby C.  Then she gave items to charity.  Of course the next morning I had to go thru that pile of clothes for charity to find leggings for school.  The uniform will not come soon enough.  Let’s just say that.

Okay so back to the worse haircut in the country since Kate Gosselin.

He was not all that.  Why did these girls fight over him?  Because he may have some earning potential?  I don’t know.  The hair is terrible.  He’s dull.  He is probably the most boring person to be around if you knew the truth of the matter.

Saying to one girl you fell in love with her and didnt pick her is heinous.  Just heinous.

I am also tired of watching girls cry and blame themselves.  Honey you can and would and should do better than getting a guy from reality t.v.

Let’s talk about this dress too while we are at it.

This dress was fine for a night at the opera.  This dress didn’t belong on the side of a mountain (fake snow thrown about.  Did you notice that set design for the final rose?)  And then a green cape.  Um  No.  It didn’t work.  It was bad styling.  Did Katie Holmes dress her?  I have to wonder.

Courtney intrigued me at the end.  Last week at the women tell all recap they laid into her.  She was crying.  Now we know why even more so.  Because Ben had dropped her.  But, they are together.  They just took a break?  I don’t know.  I don’t care.  She was on the show with the girls because she was trying to make it better with Ben obviously.  I think he deserves her.  Everyone warned him.  He didn’t listen.  So enjoy Ben.

When Ben described how Courtney made him feel so special and good I wanted to shake him.  Um yeah she did.  She is a manipulative hooker!  She doesn’t have any friends.  GUYS listen up.  When a girl comes along that comes WITHOUT any close friends other than maybe one or two she met in the last year (and how close does that really make her to them) and your family is kind of skeptical and your life is starting to take a turn…………RUN.  Just run.  I would like to know what her real relationship with her family is.  The only thing this relationship had going on was ‘free love.’  When a girl goes skinny dipping on t.v. with cameras all around her………..she is just from the wrong side of the street and she is not going to do anything for you in life other than create chaos and misery.

The same goes for girls.  If your family or friends are wondering about a guy that you are dating don’t do it.  Dump him.  I had a boyfriend once that nobody liked.  I tried to make it work.  It was so ridiculous on my part.  I admit it.  I wasted too much time.

If you have to say a person is different with you alone than when around your friends or family it’s not good.  If my family had said they didn’t like my husband then I would not have ended up with my husband.  Luckily they all love him.  Even my husbands parents voiced that they liked/loved me.  I still have this note that my father in law wrote to me once (my in-laws split the card and wrote me a note) and he said he thought I was good for my hubby along with a few other things.  It was super sweet.  I saved it (of course) and read it about once a year.

When Courtney got out of her white cape (which was actually okay and she should have kept it on!) I thought she was something from the Matrix movie on the side of a mountain.    Again.  On the side of a mountain!  I was looking for Keanu.  I mean what was this about?  She wore gloves?  Leather.  It was just too much.

My husband said he thought she was a model slash actress because she certainly seemed to be acting a lot.  HA!

Chris Harrison should take over where Oprah left off with daytime television.  He asked some hard questions.  To the point.  He said “so nobody likes you.”  On and on.  Hello!  He is my interview hero.  Put him on Bobbi Kristina Brown Houston next time.  ”So Bobbi K there is a photo of you snorting white lines up your nose.  You tweeted it wasn’t what it looked like.  So what was it then?”  I am serious.  He is good!  Oprah is a big fat fail.  If that had been Lindsay Lohan she would have gone after her in a second.  The interview she did the other night was so dull.  So one sided.  So licking boots of the Houston family.  I was hoping she was going to say “why didn’t you all hold Whitney accountable?”

They will never make it down the aisle.  Ben and Courtney I give six months tops.

Emily is starting her show in May as the Bachlorette.  You know I will watch that.  I still wish she and Brad would be together though.  She will never end up with someone that would love her as much as he did.  End of story.

Meanwhile did y’all see this hot mess on Ellen?  I didn’t watch. Just saw the buzz.

She was talking about how big her baby is going to be.  Yes, probably when you have carried a baby for 17 months.  It’s going to be big.  She has been pregnant forever.  I am so over this now.

She also weighs at least 180 lbs.  It’s insanity.  I think she is eating for five people.  Only to get a contract after to lose weight with a Weight Watchers spokesman job.  It’s really insane to think that.  But, I do.  Sorry.  I don’t know a single pregnant person that wants to gain that much weight.  She is over the top here.  The heels are not good given the big ole bump.  ANd the leopard?  Her mom needs to take over her wardrobe again.

She called her live in love a “baller” and that is why she will have such a big baby.  It was very tacky actually what she said.  I give that relationship about six months too after the baby arrives.  I think she will be too happy to be a single mom.  Why doesn’t he rush out and get a job doing something?  That would get on my nerves pretty quick.  I can’t imagine having a guy around like him all day.

I can’t wait for this baby to arrive.  It has to be soon.  I would hope because those heels are not going to be able to take much more!