Monday, July 23, 2007

Baby Shower




After a lot of planning and hard work, the baby shower for Shannon went off without any major problems. It is a tad early for a shower since the baby isn't due until December but this was the only time that she was coming home to visit before the little guy gets here and it was a must that we throw her a shower. Personally, I love planning events, especially for people close to me. As soon as I mentioned to Carrie that I wanted to throw Shan a shower, she pitched right in and together we got it done. I couldn't have done it without her. I wish she could have come into town for the party, it isn't the same without her but we did have a good time.
The day started as usual for me. My alarm went off at 5:30 am and I was up out of bed, getting ready for work. I figured I should get there a little early since I was leaving at noon to finish getting all the items for the shower later that night. We were holding the shower on Friday night, at first we were not sure how this would work, but it turned out it was perfect. I had to pick up the favors from Fowlers Chocolate, pick up the balloon order from Balloon Masters ( the balloon rattles), the balloons from Party City (for a game), put the favors together and get all the decorations and balloons to the restaurant before 5:30pm. The party started at 6:30 but I needed some time to get the room in appropriate baby shower motif. I enlisted my younger cousin Brett to help me transport all the balloons and decorations to the restaurant. Thank goodness he was around, he saved me about an hour of driving from my house to the location multiple times.

Balloon Masters - Rattles



When I got to Frank's (the restaurant), I was not happy at all with the way the room was set up for the party. They had tables put together so they formed one long table for 30 seats. How does that makes sense? It looked more like the Last Super than a baby shower. I found the waitress and waiter that greeted me when I came in and asked them to adjust the seating. They were very helpful and broke up the tables as I asked. I started to get some of the balloons untangled when Shan walked in with grandma and Becky. Right behind them came Betty (David's mom), and his aunts. I was happy to have some help arrive but felt a little rushed. I was hoping to have the room all decorated and babyish before Shan came in. Betty finished untangling the balloons while the rest of us finished all the details. Our friend Linda came early and really helped keeping me on track of the tasks and always making me laugh. AHH the room was finally done, the cake (provided by Betty) was in place and people started to arrive.



Final Product for the Favors


(buggy, bottle, foot and carriage cookie cutters filled with chocolate and "It's a boy" chocolate cigars)



Shannon was glowing and everyone was excited to be able to see her in her pregnant glory. Everyone was chatting, socializing and really enjoying themselves. Carrie and I decided that we were not going to play any games at the shower. I am sure at some time in your life, if you are female, you have gone to a baby or wedding shower and were forced to play the same lame games over and over again. We did get enough balloons filled with pieces of paper that had words printed on them that were related to newborn babies (Rattle, booties, bottles etc..) to tie on each guest seat. After dinner was over, Linda and I passed out thumb tacks and asked everyone to pop the balloon on their chair. The lady that had "baby Acosta" tag in their balloon won the first prize. (all prizes came from Bath & Body Works). Kelli was the winner if that game and picked the travel bag filled with a few items. We had more prizes to give out so we had everyone fill out their name and address on an envelope (for Shan's thank you cards) and put them in a box. Shannon then picked out of the box one envelope at a time and who's ever name was on the envelope, got to pick a prize.


Shannon (left) and Linda


After everyone was finished with dinner, we cut the cake and served it to the guest. The cake was so good!! Half was chocolate with strawberry filing (mommy-to-be request) and the other half was yellow with custard filling. It was time for Mommy to sit down and open the gifts her guests brought her. Everyone was really good at getting her items that can easily travel back home with her and the people who got her bigger items shipped them to her house. It was great watching Shan open all the baby items, she was so excited about each item. Betty's gift was so thoughtful and adorable. She made a diaper wreath that had items pinned to it (wipes, pacifier, toys, etc) and a poem went along with it. I wish I could share the poem, but I can't remember all of it. Anyway the diaper wreath is a great unique gift.

The shower lasted for about 2 1/2 hours (usually they are 4 hours long on a Sunday afternoon) and I was exhausted by the time I got home. Linda, Shan, Betty and family stayed and helped me clean up a little and transport the left over balloons. Betty took the balloons home with her and used them the next day for her b-day party. They stayed full over night and looked great the next day.

I really enjoyed planning and throwing this shower for one of my best friends. She smiled from the moment she arrived to the moment she left the restaurant, which made it worth all the work. Shannon--I hope you enjoyed your party. You have a good start on the items you will need when the little guy comes.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

I AM NOT Weird!!

Ok I have to take a moment and vent. I usually keep my posts upbeat and informative but I have to get this off my chest.

I AM NOT Weird ( or whatever people seem to think) that I am not married, do not have kids and I will be 30 this year. I have had enough of other women ( usually) asking me when I am going to have kids or get married. This happens to me more often then I have ever imagined. Especially now that my best friend is having a baby. Whenever I mention S having a baby or used to talk about my friends getting married, I'd get the same reaction from most women "When are you getting married" or " when are you having kids" or my favorite "Don't you want a family?" Of course I do you idiots!! I just didn't know that all had to happen before 30. Now I understand the biological clock thing but I am assuming if science can clone a sheep or a 60 year old woman can give birth, I can still have a family after I turn 30. I almost feel like the people who ask me this think I am weird or something. When this first happened to me ( 3 years ago when S got married), I would say something sarcastic like "I don't see a reason to get married", just so the person asking me wouldn't ask me again. Actually one time I told my supervisor that I couldn't have kids after the 100th time she mentioned having kids to me. I know that is really mean and maybe unlucky to say something like that but I get offended when anyone ( outside my my dearest and closest friends) ask me that. Now when people ask me about kids and marriage, I get angry. I mean lets logically think about this, one it's the guys job to ask me ( no J, this isn't a hint, just a fact) to get married, two in my world, school, career, husband and house comes before starting a family. So forgive me world that those things haven't happened to me yet. It seems to bother other people more than it bothers me. I am happy with my life for now and I don't think its weird or unusual that I am not married or have kids. If you know me, those are events I look forward to but I don't stress about them at all. Well until the 5th woman in one day asks me why I don't have kids etc...

Sorry for the venting but I have had enough. Come to think about it, I would never ask anyone besides my closest friends anything personal like that so I don't understand why I get the questions.

On a much happier note, I saw S today for the first time since she announced she is prego and she looks beautiful!! She is 5 mths along and looks like a glowing healthy, pregnant woman. Tomorrow is her baby shower.. more to come on that :)

Monday, July 16, 2007

Happy 30th Birthday Linda!!


Today is my friend's 30th birthday, the first one out of our group of girls to leave our 20's. As expected, she is not too happy about it and has even told me she was wearing head-to-toe black to work today to "mourn" her 20's. Instead of having a party she wanted a few of her closest friends to enjoy a very nice dinner at Harry's Harbour this past Saturday. I had only been to this location once for a work lunch but I heard dinner was excellent here. We met everyone at 7:30 at the bar and because I was running late ( as usual), once we got there, we were seated right away. It was unusually dead in the restaurant that night, probably because it rained all day and the restaurant is best utilized when you can enjoy the outside deck right on the water. Our waitress, Lisa was very friendly and provided great service to our table. For appetizers, J ordered a Caprese Insalada ( tomato and mozzarella slices with EVOO) and I ordered Grilled Asparagus with goat cheese on the side. Both options were delicious. Then it came time for me to pick what I was going to have as an entree. This is where I usually have problems, especially when there are so many good options on the menu. My eyes searched for just the right item to have but my stomach couldn't decide. I finally after many changes, settled on my original first choice, Mignon with prawn shrimp, scallops, mashed potatoes and applewood bacon cream spinach. It was very good but the steak was perfect, the best item on the plate. J ordered grilled salmon with flavored mashed potatoes and veggies, which was also very good. Neither one of us could eat all of our dinner so J enjoyed them the next day too :) It is so nice to get dressed up and go out to a nice dinner with friends.




J is the next to turn 30 in my group of friends and he too has told me that he does not want anything that involves a lot a people to celebrate his b-day. I don't feel so bad now, I stated at my last b-day that I would not like to acknowledge my 30th in any way. I am sure that isn't going to happen since my mom's fiancee has already told me he was throwing me a party. I have asked J to take me out of the country for my b-day so I can avoid all attempts of a party. I know 30 isn't old but my 20's were amazing, fun and where my all my happy memories come from. I can't imagine ever feeling the way I felt through my 20's again. So I will, as Linda is doing today, "mourn" my 20's on my 30th b-day.


Balloons sent to Linda's work by her best friends :) hahaha


Linda- I hope you had fun and I will be joining you soon in the 30's :)

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

It's a BOY!!!!

We can now call Baby Acosta, baby BOY Acosta!! I just got the call, a few hours ago from S, to tell me her and her husband are expecting a baby boy. I am so excited to know what she is having, I already know what I am getting the new bundle of joy. S and D didn't really have a boy's name in mind so we will have to wait to find that out. I am sure between the parents, grandparents and us friends, we will come up with something fitting for the new little boy. I think S was hoping for a girl to offset the men that already live with her but she sounded really happy when she told me the baby is a boy. Her brother-in- law lives with her and her husband while he gets situated in a new state and both her dogs are males so a little girl would have evened out the house a little bit. Either way, the new addition will be loved and spoiled.

CONGRATS!!!

I can't wait to meet the little guy!!

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

My Brother's Cats need a Home

As you can tell by the title of this post, my brother's two cats need a home. He is finally moving out of my mom's house but can not take the cats to his new place. I would love to take them but I already have two and I can't have four cats and two humans in an apartment. Plus I tried casually mentioning it to J, just to see what he would say, and he to no surprise he said it was a bad idea. Actually come to think of it, he said I would be crazy and may have mumbled " and living by yourself" HAHAHAHA :) So anyway if anyone knows of a good home for these two cats, please let me know. One is male and one is female, both fixed and front de-clawed. Since they have always been a pair, they have to go to the same house.
Poor kittys, if you know me, I would have a house full of kitty's. You can't have enough cuddly, furry little family members :)




Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Happy Birthday America!!

Happy Birthday America!!

Since the holiday falls in the middle of the week, the casino held their fire work celebration last night. This was the best fire work show I have seen in a long time. I enjoyed them with my friend, her boys, her husband and their family. The older boys just loved the big booms and flashes of lights, the younger kids wanted nothing to do with it and were scared. Here are the photos I took with my cell phone ( they turned out good for a camera phone)


Enjoy the holiday!





Monday, July 2, 2007

Apartment Hunting

Over the last two weeks I feel like J and I have looked at all the respectable apartments in our area. The problem with most places were their ridiculous pet policies or their location. One apartment complex wanted $1000 pet fee and then monthly pet rent, for two cats?? I almost laughed when the lady told me that. Another place had a reasonable pet policy but they required that you have a high level of insurance for your pets, and again for cats?? I mean I guess if you had a dog or something that would attack another person, the funds are justifiable but really I have never heard of attack cats. After hearing many pet policies, I just decided that the places rather be over protected for all animals, or use it as a deterrent, then take the time and make policies for different pets. I am still amazed at how much money the complexes know that pet owners will pay for their loved furry family members.

This past Saturday, we saw two different apartments complexes, which we liked both of them. After seeing the first one, we both agreed that was our #1 choice over all the others we have seen. The layout, the surrounding area, and the lady who showed us the apartment were such a step higher then the others. We did see a place on Friday, during our lunch hour that we liked but they couldn't guarantee us an apartment, in the time we needed, since they are almost at full capacity. Then we got to the second place and I knew almost instantly this was my favorite but I didn't want to say anything until we saw the inside of the model home.

When I spoke to the property manager, Jonathan, on the phone to set up the appointment, he seemed to have a very interesting personality. Joking with me right from the moment I answered his call back. I warned J about his almost over the top personality and he got a dose of it as soon as he met Jonathan. Jonathan is a tall, bulky guy who was wearing khakis, white silky button up and alligator dress shoes. He is from Florida which explains the shoes but once he starts talking, you know that they also go with him. J and I introduce ourselves to him and he says "Oh you are looking for Jonathan" we said yeah, and he said with a huge grin, "Yeah that's me" Laughing he asked me if I warned J about his personality. He is a character and a great sales men. He knew a lot about the area for being from out of town and really wants to develop the area that this new complex is in. He gave us a tour of the model home and the grounds. We rode on the back of a golf cart to the next apartment he wanted to show us, an 2nd floor model. We liked that better than the 1st floor model. J like it more because it's on the 2nd floor and I like it more because it has vaulted ceilings. After the hour tour of the complex, we went back into Jonathan's office where he out together a packet for us so we can look it over and let him know if we wanted to live there. Like I said he is a really good sale man and offered us unbelievable move in specials.

J and I both agreed that this place was the best value for it's cost and location. J went home and crunched some numbers comparing our top 3 picks and I had to go to a baby shower. We got together later that day and we and the numbers agree that this was our best choice. I am so excited we decided on a place. We did our research and found a place that fits us and our needs. The next step is figuring out how to take two fully furnished apts and combining them into one. This will be fun :)