31 weeks and we've been showered with LOVE!

31 weeks- me and my O'douls, ready for Tessa's Super Bowl Party!

The 3rd trimester is definitely upon us! 

 I am needing to slow down whether I like it or not. 

We've had 3 amazing baby showers and feel so very loved and fortunate.

Little one's nursery is coming along and I can't wait to post when it's finished.

Our 1st Baby Shower was in Nor Cal at Shane's Dad's house. 

Hosted by Shane's mom (G'Ma), Susie and Dad (D3).

The weather and day were perfect!

Shane and Dad Q-ing it up!

Shane's all ready with his Diaper Dude Bag!

Our youngest guest, Baby Lucia and mommy Amy.

Reading our card from G'Ma... the entire box is filled with outfits for baby!

Wonderful friends both old and new! 

Our next shower was in LA and hosted by my amazing girlfriends and Mom!

We couldn't be more blessed with a more loving group of women in our lives.

They went above and beyond.

Here's some photos shot by another dear friend Jillian Rose of Jillian Rose Photography.

Kelly did a beautiful job on the flowers.

She's got such a green thumb.

Delicious cake!

Banner By friend Rachel Golden at *Golden* Sew Cute

Awesome guest book idea- everyone wrote a little note on a heart and they will be framed along with hearts made of vintage books.  PERFECT to hang as a keepsake in the nursery.

Buy here

<3 this handmade pillow gift from Megan!

Buy here

Grandma Bon Bon knitted almost all the items strung on the darling clothesline.

Yummy food from Layla's Mediterranean Restaurant where the shower took place.

My friend Amy sent this darling shower gift/activity down, since she couldn't be there. 

It's a scrap book that everyone fills out a page of wishes for the baby.

Last, but not least the hubby showed up with a beautiful bouquet of flowers and a necklace that has our baby's name engraved on it.

Can't wait to wear it once she's born!

Such an incredible day with friends from all different times in our lives. 

To top it all off, my mom, her sisters and childhood girlfriends hosted another lovely shower this past weekend at Emilio's.

I don't have the pictures from this one yet, but here are a couple instagram photos I took of the sweet decor.

Onsie Cupcake

Mini Diaper Cake

Party favors. 

Now it's time to write A LOT of thank you notes and finish up the nursery.

My last business trip to Florida is this week, then I'll be working from home and getting ready for BABY!

Count down is on.

Cannot wait to hold our baby girl.

XO,

S

More Babies...

This past weekend, I made the journey to Santa Rosa to celebrate my beautiful friend Amy and sweet Baby Lucia on the way.  After an 8 hour drive on Friday, we went to a favorite winery- Mazzocco, where we got to see the Seaton and Cromie families, listen to live music, enjoy some eats and tasty wine!  

Saturday we had Amy's shower at her dear high school friend Lindsay's parent's house. Gotta love Nor Cal, where peoples families live close and have homes and wineries to host special events!  It was a gorgeous day and things couldn't have gone more perfect.  

Here are some photos and details from the shower. 

 Glowing Momma to Be

I'm tellin you, a little bit of ribbon on a Classico or capers jar makes the cutest flower vase!

My amazing mother slaved away making chocolate covered caramel pretzels for the favors.

(I helped with 6 out of 45 and they were a lot tougher than you would think)

Thanks Mo Mo, you are the best!

 Always a fan of the clothes line.

Knitted items by my momma!

Can't ever have enough CHEESE!

Perfect weather in a beautiful backyard. 

Couldn't have been more perfect!

Gifts galore.

-Diaper game-

We wrote messages on diapers for Amy and Luke to enjoy while they are changing sweet Lucia.

The food. 

Grammy's chicken salad croissant sandwiches

(I will try to get this recipe from the one of the hosts, as it's too yummy not to share)

Yummy green salad

Fruit salad

LA LA Love You framed print for baby Lucia's room made perfect decor. 

(Lucia Arizona- initials LA)

Get yours here.

The infamous fingerprint tree guestbook.

Always a hit, buy a variety here.

The hostesses and momma to be.

 

Let the countdown for baby Lucia's arrival begin!
She's going to be a little Scorpio like her Auntie Sam, yippee. 

XO,
S

Mason Turns 1 - Jamaican Style

One year ago, little Mason was born and has since then brought so much JOY to so many!

This past weekend we celebrated his BIG 1st Birthday- Jamaican Style.

Only hip parents, like Ashun and Taylor would come up with such a fun/unique theme.

Rasta Mon Cupcake Tower by Cupcake Couture

 BEST Cupcakes I've had (must try their cake pops, as well)

 Mason's smash cake

As soon as I heard the party details, I came up with the idea for a rasta man hat with some blond dreadlocks.

Bon Bon (aka. Mom) knitted the hat and I braided and stitched together the dreads. 

 

(looks more like a reggae octopus in this shot)

 It was quite the hit and Mason wore it like a champ. 

 Mason with his hat and the reggae singer.

Happy Birthday Mase Face!

We love you so much and look forward to celebrating year after year with you.

XO,
Auntie Sam & Uncle Shane

Back from a blogging hiatus...

Life has been busy as usual, but I finally have something FUN to blog about!

Sunday, I helped host a baby shower for one of my oldest and dearest friends, Cyndi Horwitz. 
As some of you may know, I LOVE being creative and putting together events and this one was no different.

My love and excitement for Cyndi and her soon to be baby boy was perfect inspiration for a story book themed shower at Sonoma Wine Garden in Santa Monica. 

Here are a few shots by the talented Jillian of Jillian Rose Photography

 Farmer's market fresh flowers in mason jars.
Who knew spaghetti sauce jars were so cute once you soak off the labels and put them in the dishwasher?
Add a little ribbon and wa-la!

It was too much fun collecting books with items to match.
And the best part, the centerpieces made a great gift for Cyndi and baby from the hostesses.

One of my favorite party items is this guest book idea.
It's a fingerprint tree from an artist on Etsy.
I ordered the PDF and printed it myself at Staples (money saver).
And bought a frame to match Cyndi's baby furniture at Michael's (don't forget your 40% off coupon).
It's great decor for the baby's room and a memory from her special day.

 

Chocolate covered caramel pretzels for party favors. 

Delicious.

 Clothesline of baby items and baby pics of Cyndi and Brett.

Turned out even cuter than I imagined.

 A wonderful variety of food.

 Little signs for the food.
Used the corks from my wedding.

Lastly, homemade cupcakes by one of the mother's of a hostess.

Now to await the arrival of Baby H in August and finally learn his name! 

P.S. I'm starting a little side biz, Havin' a Ball Events by Yours Truly.  If you have a small event and need some creativity, you can hire me! 

XO,

S

Planning Vegas NOW (at 31) vs. In My 20s

What a difference a few years make!  It seems like just yesterday my Vegas trips were mostly last minute, filled with spontaneity and involved little to no plans other than where we are staying (and sometimes not even that).  With no plans, we ended up at the hottest clubs at someones table, playing kissy face, drinking out of the Stanley Cup, watching Jamiroquai because we met a bookie with extra tickets to the sold out show on NYE Y2Kand the list goes on.  Oh don't forget the time 8 or 9 of us planned a girls trip and Daddy D called Wednesday the week of and said tell your girls they're all coming to my wedding Saturday night at the Monte Carlo! Oh, the stories and memories to last a lifetime.

A shot from one of my favorite trips!

Rehab 2006

Now trips are planned months in advance and include digging out old contact's phone numbers in hopes they can still hook us up at the clubs.  We go for bachelorettes and work, instead of wild pool parties and hook ups.  We can't depend on our teeny tiny bikini to meet boys or insure our entrance into a club or a seat at the best table in the house because chances are, majority of the group going is now married or even have children.  So those once cheap trips, now cost a bundle because you have to spring for a table and the days of not eating have gone and dining in fine restaurants is what we fancy. 

It's not that today's trips aren't fun and don't create just as many memories, I just found planning a recent trip so entertaining and caught myself realizing, wow times have changed. 

Vegas in my 20's
Drive or Fly
Stay up all night
Head straight to a pool party
Drink ALL day, meet boys, hang at their cabanas
Find something to do that night
Stay at pool till it's dark
Head up to the room with just enough time to change for the evening
Dinner, what dinner?
Meet at a mellow lounge for more drinks and then head to a club
Club closes, who cares, head to an after hours club
Sleep or make out all night
Next day, repeat
2 day maximum

Vegas in my 30s
Definitely Fly
Arrive in the afternoon, check in and unpack
Relax in a much nicer room, maybe have a cocktail
Get ready for a nice dinner, maybe even a show
Head to a club with a table that we pay for
Next day, leisurely wake up, head to a more mellow pool
Relax by the pool, maybe have breakfast
Afternoon hits, exhaustion and heat stroke sets in and it's time to go back to the room for a nap
Repeat night 1
Hungover for an entire week.

Not too sure about this whole getting older thing!  What goes on in Vegas stays in Vegas definitely doesn't apply anymore. 

Blog post inspired by my dear friend Olga's Bachelorette in Vegas in May.  Looking forward to a very adult and different kind of crazy girls weekend to celebrate our bride to be!

Happy Saturday!

XO, 

S

I think I've recovered...

Hosting is one of my favorite things, but man can it be exhausting.  Sunday was our Third Annual Super Bowl Party.  I think we officially hit maximum capacity in the Ball House, even with our brilliant outdoor living room (thanks to my smart hubby, who saved me from having a panic attack when he came up with this idea), the place was packed.

Our patio converted...

Can you say standing room only? 

Fun was had by all, even our youngest and cutest guest!

Time to relax and have complete control of the TV until next football season!

xo, 

S