Behind the scenes...

I've been taking photos of all the steps along the way...I'm cheesy like that! I get so blasted excited for this party every year! I love any excuse to decorate and clean my house! If you want to make sure your house stays clean...host a party every other month or so! (I'm not even close to being that ambitious...but it would be fun!) I promised my sisters, that I would blog it all...once the party had finished. So here are some of my very fun, pre-party preparations...

I first sent out the "save the dates"...to ensure full "RSVP action!"

Then came the invitations...which I always have so much fun trying to create! I went to Hobby Lobby this year and tried to find the most 80's looking paper possible! The glitter page won! This was the character description page...where everyone got to see who was playing which character. Some of the descriptions were pretty funny!

Then came the actual invitations...we dropped these babies off about a month in advance to try and get them excited for the 80's! I tried to make them look seriously top secret...and this was the best I could do. I even melted red wax on the back...next year I'll look for a better sealing mold!

Now with the date set, R.S.V.P's confirmed, next came the party favors...Thanks to Elena (who texted me that Martha Stewart was doing a Halloween Special) I recorded the show...and saw these awesome coffins! If I wouldn't have seen how easy it was for her to make these...and how much candy they fit...I wouldn't have even thought twice! These things are pretty awesome! I just printed the pattern off her website, glued and folded some cardstock, filled it with some candy, and tied them shut with some twine! The finished product was pretty "sweet!"

The frames were a bit different then years in the past. I couldn't think of anything "80's"...I seriously lack vision...so I found this "totally" orange feather boa that I thought might frame their faces nicely! They turned out more like 70's shag...but who's comparing?

My sister Shavonne was also doing a Murder Mystery 80's party in Utah on the same night...so it was fun bouncing ideas off of eachother all month. I don't think we did anything the same...and I really want to see some pictures of her party now! My mom wanted to see all the "pre-party" things we were doing...but we didn't want to blog it all and give it away! I know, I know, cheesy but I wanted it all to be a surprise!

I get a little party fever around this time of year...so Phil, Sandy, Shavonne, Sarah, and my mom have had to hear tons about it...sorry...but you all were so great in helping me out with all the details!! Thanks for all your help! My mom flew in on Tuesday...which was such a HUGE help! She was great! She helped me come up with a few impromptu table decorations...

She told me that next year...she'll plan a little in advance! I think she did great on a few hours notice!

I decided I would take a few pictures of the place pre-party...so you could get a general idea.

Our "italian soda bar"!My attempt at an 80's background for the couple pictures.

This is where the murder victim was placed...post murder! I had a cool sign that said "Autopsy" but forgot to put it up...classic!

Okay...so that sums up the pre-party details! Now for the real fun! Stay tuned for the sweet party pics!

I Won!

My mom has this very wonderful and talented friend, Teresa, who has an awesome blog with such inspiring thoughts, pictures, and ideas! She recently had a contest for those who commented on her blog and I won! My mom flew it out when she came with her! It's the cutest RL tote that contained the "cozyiest" of items...keeping with the theme "Cozy Comfort"!

I recommend you all take a second of every day and glance at her blog! She has so many great ideas! She's like Martha Stewart...but better! No offense to Martha...but I think Teresa's ideas would make a better show!

Thanks Teresa for the great tote and for all your great ideas and pictures!

You can find her at...

http://andersenseven.typepad.com/

The not so "Super" part about Saturday...

Don't get me wrong, Saturday was a blast! Great food, great company...awesomely huge menus and like I said...a great dessert! However; my world always tends to even out the good with the bad. We were seated in a waiting area outside, while we patiently waited our turn to be seated. We weren't in a rush and a waiter came outside to take our drink orders. I had been chewing some neon green EXTRA, so naturally that had to go before my water came back. I quietly looked in my purse, pockets, and my surrounding area to look for either a trash can, or a piece of paper to wrap my gum in so that I could properly dispose of it. Of course, I couldn't find anything. My back was towards the dining area on the patio, so it was easier for my mind to think no one would notice if I tossed my gum into the planted area about 3 feet to my left. Not only was the neon green piece of gum totally noticeable flying through the air at night (it was glowing), it didn't land in the dirt! I didn't notice a plastic patio chair sitting amongst the plants...much like a time out chair in a home! Of course it landed right on the edge of the seat! Great. No one in our party noticed my little stunt, and I was too embarrassed to go and pick it off, so I just left it and hoped someone would notice the neon wad before it was ever used again.

About a half an hour later, the host told us that he was getting our tables ready. A few seconds after that he went over to the planted dirt corner and grabbed the chair! I was horrified! I thought for sure it was Karma and it would be my seat! I then had to humble myself and tell everyone in our party my embarrassing story and to check their chairs for gum. I apologized and at least felt good that they all had a warning!

After we were seated, everyone checked their chairs and there was no sign of the gum! I thought phew! The waiter must have seen it and had the horrible task of getting it off! I felt like such a kid! Who puts gum on chairs??? Anyway about 2 minutes after we were seated Phil noticed that the table right in front of us also had a large party and was being seated. He spotted the gum, about a half second before this poor unsuspecting woman sat on it!!! I felt sooooo bad! (not bad enough to tell her it was mine...but bad!)

She got up later to go to the bathroom...but I didn't see a neon green blob stuck anywhere...so thought maybe it miraculously didn't stick. But when she came back their conversation turned to how to remove gum from clothing! I guess it did stick! I'm so bad! I think this type of thing could only happen to me!! So please don't judge me! I know I'm a bad person for not just getting up in the beginning and removing it...but believe it or not...I still had a little pride at that point! Thanks to Amy, who brought her trusty, indestructible camera, we have photos to remember the evening by!

I guess I'm just ok knowing that Karma will come back...and I will probably have the worst encounter with gum ever and when it happens...I won't be allowed to get mad because I totally will deserve it!

What would you have done? May you all learn from my horrible example!

It was a Super Saturday!

(apparently Madison didn't get the "Super" part of the Saturday Memo)

Yes...Super Saturday finally arrived. I also think it's safe to say that it really lived up to it's name once again this year! There's something so awesomely classic about hanging out in the Cultural Hall...painting and creating crafts...that almost never get finished because we're too busy talking or hurting ourselves! I think this was my first year not being punished by a commercial strength hot glue gun! (Those things are seriously a hazard not to mention extremely dangerous!) It also helped that none of the "crafts" I signed up for...needed glue! Yay! Unfortunately, some of my friends weren't so lucky. One decided to delve into a craft requiring glue...you know where that ended up...and the other sustained wounds from both a tack and a hammer! I'm telling you...this Super Saturday stuff is SERIOUS!

I signed up for some cute 4th of July Blocks, (which still have yet to be touched) a cute tote bag class, and a Tamale Class. In my defense, the blocks weren't finished because I did not get a copy of the schedule and apparently a few of my classes were overlapping! I'll show you a picture of my sweet tote bag...but the blocks will have to wait until I get in the mood to paint 4th of July stuff. (Probably next July)





As for the Tamale baking class...I'm way excited I went! I have a new found appreciation for this art! Growing up in Patterson, we would either have awesome neighbors, or my dad would have sweet patients that would make our family tamales! I'm not a meat eater...so naturally tamales aren't my thing...but my husband would love it if I could make some of these beauties! The ladies that taught the class were "professionals", making tamales for the past 40 years! Anyway, not only did I score some hands on experience...I got a detailed recipe...and the names of markets with the best "Masa"! (you know you're dying to know!)





As soon as my "Super Saturday" ended...my "Super Sister" Shavonne came to visit! She's moving here to Phoenix in December, so Greg, Haven and her are staying in Peoria with her in-laws for the weekend, and decided to come and visit! It was fun to see how big Haven has gotten! She's so flipping tuute! Shavonne kept up the tradition of keeping my kids busy by bringing them Caramel Apple kits from Cracker Barrel. The kids loved it! (as usual!) Her visit was short and "sweet" but we can wait...since she'll be here long term starting December 1st!

(Shavonne was not a fan of this picture...but I think she looks so cute!)

Then as it began to get dark...we decided to have a "Super Date Night" with some "Super" fun friends last minute! (Do you notice the cheesy theme I've got going??) We decided to try Oregano's! It was really delicious! They have the greatest appetizer...The"Boom" dip, the Pizza was yummy, and the dessert was crazy good! It was a cookie baked in a deep dish pizza pan, but still doughy, served hot with vanilla ice cream on top!! Worth every calorie! Nights in Phoenix, make Phoenix worth living in! We dined out on the patio and the weather was PERFECT! Oh, I mean "SUPER"! Okay, last "super" reference! Anyway, you get the idea...it was a fun, busy, yummy, and very informative day!! (told you that would be the last one!)

What happened to Halloween?

So it's been a really busy week. Emphasis on the busy! Not like it usually isn't...but wow, not even time to blog! Lately I've been feeling bad for my kids. I feel sad that Halloween is no where close to what it was years ago when we used to go Trick or Treating! My own friends have even stooped to admitting they're not going to give out candy this year and just take their kids somewhere else! (you know who you are;)Not only do our kids have to put up with "Fall Carnivals" after school hours in lieu of the "old school" Halloween Parades we used to have during school, they also have to deal with walking a whole street to only score about 4 houses that actually give out candy!

Another thing...what happened to good 'ol Halloween Etiquette? If you're not going to be home...or if you don't want to give out candy for whatever reason...TURN OFF YOUR PORCH LIGHT! Isn't that just common knowledge?? As a parent, you start teaching your kids that the houses with their lights off aren't giving out candy...then to throw them for a loop you find a whole bunch with their lights on!! Talk about confusing! Every time my kids go to a door...they talk about "if" their going to get candy this time. It's totally sad to see your little "creature, angel, character, or princess" disappointed that no one's coming to the door to give them candy!

Am I just crazy, or is it totally sad? I could go on for hours about all the subtle changes that have happened over the years, slowly turning Halloween into an "evil", dangerous, and unhealthy holiday, but I personally loved it as a kid, and hope that it sticks around long enough for my kids to all experience the holiday as it was meant to be...FUN!!! It's the one day you can be what ever you want to be and go knocking on strangers doors to get FREE candy!!*

*I do understand that there are real dangers to Halloween. I'm just as protective of my 5 kids as the next parent. We always walk with them and stand at the edge of the sidewalk to ensure the "candy exchange stage" goes smoothly for all parties involved, and as soon as we get home, we check all their candy...some times they even require a special "taste" test, (we usually put the "questionable" ones in a pile for mommy and daddy to "inspect;")! That's good... right?

I hope whatever your traditions are that they're Sweet and Memorable this year!!

Fall Break!

A peek at our week!

When I was growing up we had 2 major vacations from school. Christmas Vacation and Easter Vacation aka Winter break and Spring break (to be politically correct). Now that my kids are in school, I find that a new week long break has been added to the mix. Fall Break. It's not near Halloween, it's not near the "official start of fall", it's just randomly placed in the second week of October. The kids love it...I'm sure the teachers love it...but for parents who just got used to their kids being gone for the majority of the day...it stinks! No, it's really not that bad, but I do think it's a really weird break!

Since they have the entire week off, and my kids all seem to have Master's Degrees in Room Destruction, I needed some things to keep us all busy and limit the destruction to just a few rooms at a time! (I'm totally out numbered! 5 little destroyers...vs 1 easily distracted mom!)

To sum up the week so far...I've used my new workout obsession as a great excuse to drop the kids off at the child care center at Lifetime for a couple hours. They got to play and have fun...and I got the much needed benefit of cardio! As if playtime at the gym wasn't enough...we've also gone to Burger King for lunch and they played it up in the "playland!" (Whoo Hoo! It doesn't ever seem to get old for them!)

Friends have come over and we've learned that our bodies aren't so limber and fit as they once were! If you want a humbling experience...try a cartwheel! I really thought this wouldn't be a challenge, but to be honest, a bunch of stuff runs through your head right before you attempt this seemingly easy feat! 10 years later...you begin to look at your arms a completely different way. (Can these little beauties hold me up so I won't break my neck?) Needless to say, we looked like a couple of broken windmills! Amazingly enough, the splits weren't so bad! I'm like 2 inches from the ground! Yay! I haven't completely lost my youth!!! (j/k!)

We've also cooled off at the Goodyear splash park with friends! Luckily, we went in the morning so it was still nice outside...in the shade of course! Madison for some reason would not get in the water...but seemed to be having fun finding all the "dry" areas!

Paris and Nash

Paris...keeping it real!

Almost got soaked!

Boston found a cute girl to hang out with!

When us moms began to get a little hot, we decided to break for lunch and move this party to my house. I don't know why...but I love to make sugar cookies for every season! Of course it's much more fun with friends...and help! We tried a couple of different sugar cookie recipes...both delicious...and then tried out a new frosting recipe (thanks Shavonne!) The kids had a blast...and now we have way too many cookies!!! (perfect for a sweet VT drop off this month!)

Brooklyn and Jake really excited about taking this picture!

Paris frosting away!
Talan and Nash eating their projects!

Drew enjoying her cookie!

Boston is spending the night at a friends house and the girls are sad...because their friends don't have "fall break" (weird, I know), so I let them have a sleep over in the loft! Tonight their plan is to stay up late watching the Disney Channel...and EAT COOKIES! Sounds like a blast...sooo sorry I'm going to be asleep during this fun filled event!

This is only day 2! What will we think of next...

October fun...part 2!

Costume time! Today while the kids were at school, I decided I would pull out the costume bins! This is a dangerous thing to do with the older three home, (peices of costumes end up everywhere) but Madison was in heaven! She pulled out every costume that resembled a "peencess"!

She liked Sleeping Beauty, running through the house yelling "Peety"! Unfortunately, for all of you "Ariel" fans...she let this thing stay on for about 30 seconds before saying..."I don like ah dis one peencess." I have to agree though...this costume just didn't have the same flair as that sleeping beauty one! She got very excited when she saw another "peety" costume. This time it was her turn to be Tinkerbell. She loved the wings on the back until she saw...
"Ciny rella"! I don't know what it is about Cinderella, but all my girls LOVE her! She's holding a picture of her, that for some reason is hanging on the front of the costume...(I always wear dresses with my picture sewn on the front!) I guess it's there so that people won't mix it up with another princess who sports a blue ball gown? =) Next, she tried on a sweet costume that my mom made for me...when I was in Pre-School! I think it's supposed to be a color crayon...sticking out of a box of crayons??!! I remember trick or treating in this beauty in Fremont, CA going from room to room in the "Walnut Building!" It was pretty sweet because all the white parts are "glow in the dark!"

I know it's halloween and all and it gives us a great excuse to leave up the webs...but I draw the line at webs and eggs near my front door! EWWW! Maybe Garett can I.D. this one Amy!

A few seconds, a whole lot of talking to myself, a shoe, and a stick later...sorry this thing had to go! It was trespassing as far as I'm concerned and needed to die! I'm not a spider fan...babies...or no babies!
When we got home from picking up the kids from school, we had a package waiting from Nana on our porch! The kids were super excited, (ditched Madison, Seattle, and I) ran inside and began to tear into the box!
Halloween Package from Nana!
We love our "goody" boxes that she sends! Everyone scored here...including Seattle! She had her first "gold fish" and mini M&M's today! What happened next was finger licking good!





I think it's safe to say...they were a hit! I think she kept licking each finger...hoping that she would find the source again!