{Party Planning} C {&} J Engagement

Have I mentioned how much I love party planning {I LOVE PARTY PLANNING}!! So when I heard Jessica said yes to Jake's brother Cary, I knew it was time to plan an engagement party!! {Yes Jake mentioned the idea first, but I am rubbing off on him, so....yeah!}  I had a couple months to plan a party for around forty people and make it special.  I worked around a few ideas and finally set the plans in action.  I got the guest list, colors for the wedding, and away I went. 

I saved some coin by making all my own decorations and party favors.  I made centerpieces for the three round tables and the favor table.  I did purchase table cover and worked with it to make a layered look on tables with the larger center pieces. {I should have invested in a staple gun for the table cover}  The wind was not friendly and we had some challenges on items staying, but all in all it worked out. 

The guests began to arrive as we finished up the kitchen events.  With the help of Jake's family we served up a nice meal.  Pasta, veggies, salad, and I made some amazing cupcakes.  I did put the wrong noodles in the pasta, but no one seemed to notice.  It was a big oops on my part, but it made the cooking experience fun with Jake's Mom.  Dinner was served and everyone seemed to enjoy the eats and especially the dessert!  CUPCAKES!!

After dinner, we had some games for the guests to play and just social time for the adults.  Can't forget about the kids though, so I got some paint and jewelry sets for the young ones to enjoy.  While the men played washers, the women folk made jewelry.  You can see my earrings I made above, most of them made bracelets though. Everyone had a great time. 

You can't have a party without party favors so I put my craft skills together and made mustache mugs for the men and the women had their fine jewelry to take home.  We toasted the night and said congrats.

Welcome to the family Jessica!

{Family Feature} Another Country Days in the Books!!

Despite my two large cake orders, we made time to visit historic downtown Farmington and enjoy Country Days.  I have so many memories as a child going to the parade and running around the town with all my family and friends. {Seems so much smaller now, I think I grew. :)}  We joined the Carrs and watched the parade Saturday morning {And a car tow...oops!}, then headed to the food stands {nothing beats carnie food}.  I was starving due to a late start and no breakfast, not to mention I was ready for my lemon shake up!! {my favorite!!!!!} We walked through the craft vendors and found some neat items for my aunt and grandma.  We even found a wizard wand for the Mrs. Fox.{Harry Potter FREAK!!}  It was about nap time, so we headed home and planned on joining the Carrs that evening for the Country Day Carnie Rides!!  {Time Passes..and passes....and passes} We didn't want to get up..lol!! I finally got up and talked the hubby into taking us back.  We loaded up and headed back down town to let Zeke ride all the wonderful put together in one day rides. {gritting teeth}  The Carrs were unable to join us, but there was always tomorrow.
Tomorrow came and the hubby had to work. {BOO} I finished up on my last cake order and then we headed back to finish the tickets we had.  The Carrs joined us and we had a great time.  Edwin and Zeke rode 6 rides together with all smiles.  I was so proud of my little man for riding his first roller coaster and no fear. {he actually rode it twice in a roll, Six Flags trip in the future I think}
So that was Country Days 2012 and about $200 later! {OUCH}

{Family Feature} Camping Moyers Style equals ALOT of people!!

Well the Moyers survived yet another camping trip to Clearwater. Twelve people, five dogs, two tents, four vehicles and a camper spent three days lake side.  The rents left early Friday to get everything set up, while all the kids slaved at work until the whistle blew and we were on the road.  FREEDOM was ours for 3 long days {I wish they were even longer}.  I picked up my nephew on the way home so he could ride with me and Zeke to the lake.  He was very much appreciative to avoid the hour long car ride with my two nieces {screaming little pre-teen girls}.  We stopped at Dog N Suds in Cherokee Pass for dinner.  Who cares they were shut down for a while for un-sanitary practice in the food world, those greasy burgers are amazing.  I mean after all, they were allowed to re-open, so that means they cleaned up their act and scrub daily now....right?!?!  One can hope anyway.
We arrived at the camp ground and began to unload what seemed to be everything from home but the kitchen sink. Who packed all that crap....oh ME!! {Note to self: Start packing lighter!!} After we got settled, we hung out around the camper and told stories about our day and talked about how much we were thankful for the time together at the lake. 
Remember in my "Camping Four Season Style" post, I mentioned we have 12 people and a camper that sleeps eight...?  Well I forgot to mention the five dogs that would be joining us too!!  Max, Murray, Wesley, Abby, and our Tytus became camping buddies for the first time this year.  Now the other fur babies have been on a few camping trips, but Tytus had to learn the ropes.  Lets just say he is allowed to return to the camping scene but I will make sure I have enough room for his kennel. {Yet another reason to pack lighter, I ran out of room for his kennel.}  My nephew being the teen scout he is, slept in a tent, along with my Brother-in-Law and soon to be Sister-in-Law {September}.  I would like to take this opportunity to say... THANK YOU!!!! Now you might think we had a lush time sleeping in the camper, but I will have to inform that you are WRONG!! {Way Wrong}  The rents along with 3 of the fur babies took up the large bed in the front {I can't wait to be the queen of my own camper and have this spot}, my sister-in-law and her boyfriend along with 1 fur baby took up the table bed, and this family of 4 {including our fur baby} took the couch bed.  I'm pretty sure the length of the bed is about 5 foot because I don't think I was ever on the bed 100%.  Zeke slept like a rock {as always}, and Jake slept some.  We went to bed in the wee hours of Saturday, but I was up by 6am {Not that I wanted to be}!! 
COFFEE was calling my name, so my BIL and I went down to the lake side cafe and purchased coffee for all the campers. {Minus the kids of course, they got chocolate milk and juice}  The coffee wasn't as good as my Kuerig, but it was good camping coffee!! {We went back for another cup!}  One coffee cup down and I was ready to get breakfast started for the family.  I made bacon, sausage, biscuits and gravy, and eggs.  I'm pretty sure the Moyers family loves me for my homemade gravy, even the add on boyfriend!! I have to admit, my gravy is pretty awesome!! {and easy}
Breakfast was over and play time began, we rode bikes, walked around the camp site, and just hung out around the camper until the word "swim" was spoken.  That was it, the kids wanted to go swimming and that was the only thing we heard for 2 hours!!!! We held off as long as we could, changed to our swim gear, had lunch and away we went.  The water was nice and the sun was hot! We splashed around for a couple hours and then I took Zeke back to camp for a nice cool nap.  I began preparing dinner for the crew {really wanted to nap too!!}.  The evening was filled with dinner, bike riding, lounging, fish fry, and memory making, then ended with another sleepless night of sleep. {camping couch bed was not built for two full size adults and an almost 3 year old....just saying!!}
We woke up Sunday a bit later that Saturday and had breakfast, the crew went swimming again and our family hung out at camp and began to pack up. The little mini vacation was over. We had a great time and looking forward to the next Moyers camping trip.

{Family Feature} Camping Four Season Style

The Moyers family will be hitting the road this Friday for a weekend of Memorial Day camping, all 12 of us!!  My MIL got lucky in reserving the last camping spot with electric at Piedmont Park on the Clearwater Lake.  Still unsure how the sleeping situation is going to work out with 12 people in a camper that sleeps 8, but we will figure it out....does "shotgun this bed" work in a camper? We shall see!!   I created the menu for the weekend and split all the essential food and snack items between the 4 family's that make up our 12 members.  The hubs and I went to Wal-Mart last night to get the loot....boy did we!!  I always say Wal-Mart has a hundred dollar cover charge, so I guess this bill matches that perfectly!  2 adults and one half pint please...BOOM  $246.56!  We did pick up a few things for the house, but the bill is mainly for camping. So my blog post title was created...Camping Four Season Style!!  We could have maybe stayed one night at the Four Season with a dinner for that amount, but we wouldn't have had the chance to make those wonderful camping memories with the family.  Friday can't come soon enough! 

My eleven hundredth blog and hopefully the last!!

Welcome to my eleven hundredth blog. {Exaggerating a little of course}  First I would like to say, I admire anyone who possesses the structure and self motivation to start blogging and stick with it.   I feel like I have started so many blogs to just find myself lost in the world of blog.  Is it writers block....?  Not enough hours in the day....?  Is my life so boring that I don't have anything to blog about daily, weekly, or heck monthly....?!?!?!  I am going to go with option B, I know I have plenty to blog about!  I struggle with finding the time to blog all my ideas, thoughts, and projects.  I tend to dabble in all kinds of projects from crafts to cooking.   I have been told I am the Martha Stewart of my world.....well without all the money, personal staff, and being honest...criminal record that is!!  Just this week I was told I should wear a super cape. haha  I do hold down a full time job, 3 hour daily commute, my hobbies and carry out my family standards. {Some do need improvement, but the idea is there at least!} I am going to blog as much as possible, I am going to blog as much as possible... {repeat till I blog as much as possible}  I see my future blog as a tool to keep my life on track and record amazing things, and maybe help others with my technique and spin on things.  I do have to warn you though, I have been labeled a vocabularian. {Vocabularian: One who makes up her own words}  I tend to mash words together, add additional syllables, the works. Don't worry, I am totally understandable, just a little more expressive!  I hope you find my blog interesting and please leave comments and or questions about anything.