IT'S FINALLY HERE!!!

Here it is....the book I've been waiting months for!  I wasn't feeling well today and stayed home sick and got a great surprise! I went out after lunch to get the mail and there it was on my front step!  I am so excited to get started in my kitchen!  I have the perfect event this weekend and I know our friends will LOVE these! Yay!

Kelly M's Bachelorette Party!!!

Bachelorette Parties can get CRAZY!!!!  For Kelly's: it was a guarantee!  When us girls go out it gets a bit wild.  I was sworn to secrecy so this is all I can say.  We went to Villa Maire Winery before dinner for a little relaxation. 

 There were 14 of us at Lucas Park Grille in St. Louis for Dinner. After dinner we went out for the night on The Landing down by the river.  Everyone had so much fun dancing the night away!

Patriot Day

WE WILL NEVER FORGET!

image source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:National_Park_Service_9-11_Statue_of_Liberty_and_WTC_fire.jpg#filehistory

Sorting M&Ms

So, I like to be thrifty.  I had TONS of M&Ms left over from Kelly's Bridal Shower that I helped throw for her over the weekend.  I mean TONS!  So I thought to myself that I'd sort them into their colors to make holiday cookies with! 

Orange, Yellow, Brown: Fall/Thanksgiving/Halloween
Red, Green: Christmas
Blue: hmm....any ideas?

Kelly M's Surprise Lingerie Party

And boy was she surprised! Up until the week of the surprise dinner Kelly was only under the impression that it was just her and me going out to dinner to catch up and talk about wedding stuff.  Of course, my big mouth had to accidentally slip to her in a e-mail the mention of her "surprise dinner". Last night Kelly, my two friends Andrea and Danielle, and I met up for a girls night dinner and drinks.  Kelly suggested TGI Friday's which is definately "Our Place".  We've gone there numerious times and we obviously love the food and atmosphere.  When I dissed the idea she picked up that we would be eating there tonight. 

Her mom, sisters, grammy, to-be-mother-in-law, two friends from our sorority were all waiting there to give her the big surprise.

See, Kelly only new there woudl be a "surprise dinner" at TGI Fridays.  She didn't know there would be guests or gifts.  However these gifts are more for Michael. He-he. 

Jamie, a friend from college, even found, in her mom's stash none the less, naked man wrapping paper from the 80's for all of us to laugh at.  I hope Kelly really enjoyed the low-key event and the gifts that will help keep some spice in their marriage!

The best gift: from her mom.  She dug it out of Kelly's stuff from high school. She needed this for a show one year.

Kelly M's Bridal Shower

I'm not just a bridesmaid in one of my best friend's wedding, I am a friend who will do just about anything to help make everything perfect for her big day.  I did a lot of planning for her shower but could not have pulled it off without her mom and the rest of the wedding party.

With the cake and cupcakes baked and iced, the games ready to get played, the prizes ready to be won, the cookies adorned with beautiful decoration, the tables decorated and teh food prepared; we were ready!  Kelly said she loved everythig!  The guests, varying from family to friends from grade school to sorority sisters, seemed to enjoy themselves.  Kely received some beautiful gifts I could tell she enjoyed chatting with everyone.

Look at all those gifts!

The Apron I made Kelly



ZTA Ladies!



Kelly M's Bridal Shower Cake

Happy Bridal Shower Kelly!  I loved making this cake.  It was SO much fun!

Kelly M's Bridal Shower Cupcakes

My first try at Lemon Cupcakes.  I was not that impressed with the texture and moisture of the cake so next time I'll try a different recipe.  I topped the cupcakes with Rachel Ray's Cupcake Icing for a Crowd but added a bit of lemon extract to get just a hint of lemon flavor.  The icing ended up tasting like the filling of those lemon Girl Scout cookies.  Yum!  I rolled the edges of the cupcakes in sparkling sugar.