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Friends

Party details

My friend Kristin turned the big 3-0 this fall. So… her husband and I created a party planning committee between ourselves back in July and set off to create the party of her dreams.

First I must disclose that I am NOT a party planner, whatsoever. But I attempted to be. Kristin’s requests were simple: champagne, pink & gold decor, and her friends & family. It was easy to get her friends & family there, but the details required some planning!

When I first started planning with Jack, I wanted to rent out an art gallery for her party. So I did some research and the costs involved were outside our budget. So… I resorted to my option 2 – a big house somewhere new! Fortunately I knew someone in Montana Ranch in north Scottsdale and we were able to rent out the community clubhouse. It was perfect! It had a great space for dancing, a fun entry way, a large patio for outdoor seating and a full kitchen.

I owe everything to our joint Pinterest board. It truly empowered me!

These Metallic Silver Foil Fringe Curtains were only $5 each from Designed2BSweet.

Learn how to make this tassle garland here, via the Knotty Bride.

Of all the things we pinned, I was drawn most to the sweets, so I made a sweets table as guests came in. It included gluten-free, pink gumballs, gold swirl lolli-pops, pink cotton candy, Almond Roca and cake-pops.

I hate my handwriting. Should have printed these!

These silver and gold cake pops from Mind Over Batter were AMAZING. I highly recommend!

I used raw and white sugar for the rims :)

Took this from Facebook so you could see the “CELEBRATE” die cuts I made! Unfortunately I didn’t get a good pic with camera.

Lots of balloons!

The birthday girl!

Another detail I wanted to share that isn’t pictured above are these awesome sparkler number candles from Amazon I used for the cake:

We danced the night away, drank champagne and lit sparklers… it felt like her wedding all over again!

December 2, 2011 by cherjoy

Friends

Finally

I just had a very needed conversation with a good friend and my heart is finally at peace. I love this feeling, but I HATE the crying that came with it. Our tears were much needed, but it was still sad. It just reminds me how important communication is between friends. Sometimes I would rather hide my feelings than say anything that might hurt someone else’s feelings. But I think it was time to really get it all out, because ultimately you’ll find how similar you really are. How their challenges and faults are the same as yours.

I hope that if any of you are feeling conflicted with a friendship that you speak from the heart instead of holding it all in, like I did with this friend. I learned my lesson and think things could have been resolved a lot sooner if I had just scheduled a lunch to talk. Silly me. I’m a little ashamed actually for avoiding her and swallowing my feelings. For not being more honest.

I can now go to sleep tonight knowing that our friendship is still intact and that we both still care so much. That our friendship lives on as strong as ever.

November 22, 2011 by cherjoy

Friends, Life

Fall blogging party

My best friend Kristin and I LOVE to read blogs. We’d do it all day if we could. But there is just NOT enough time in the day and night to do so!

So… I came up with the idea of a Fall Blogging Party, where we could read blogs all night, watch Halloween movies and make some headway on our own blogs – all without being interrupted by our hubbies.

It was awesome.

Our Friday night started with take-out from Wildflower Bread Co., then Practical Magic, wine, Teen Witch, more wine, blogging and cookies!

I spent most of the night on these blogs:

Urban Grace Interiors blog

We literally spent 6 hrs blogging! If you ever want an excuse to hang out with a girlfriend, make up a theme and formally invite her. It was silly to name our little get-together but we might make it a monthly/seasonal party! Let me know if you want to be invited to the next one!

November 17, 2011 by cherjoy

Friends, Life

Another year

I just want to say that I think I had the best birthday EVER this year. Turning 28 was a lot more fun than I thought it’d be. Our night started with a little pre-show VIP gathering at Jack & Kristin’s for root beer float, whipped cream vodka martinis and mingling. Doesn’t Kristin have the best hand-writing?

My sweet Sarah made it out before her flight to New Jersey in the morning (yay!).

The boys and their scotch.

(Thanks Kristin for the pics!)

After we headed to B.A.D. (Bingo After Dark) Bingo at the Lone Butte Casino in Chandler. My friend Kristin stocked us with glow bands, and me with a tiara, lei and flashing rings. We had front-row seating to the bingo fun and dance floor and I’m pretty sure I danced more than I daubed my Bingo sheets. We all got pretty into it. Bingo was $7, the dauber $1 and the music was FREE (and non-stop)!! Pretty cheap outing if you ask me! Don’t mind these iPhone, no-flash pics, please:

I’m so thankful to have such amazing friends. They’re really the best.

A week later I was able to really dive into my birthday money. I’m very proud of how I spent it, too. Four pairs of shoes sounds about right ;)

But my favorite birthday gift of all may have been our new old-school dryer – given to us free from a friend’s neighbor. No more crispy towels! No more hanging clothes out on the line! We can do laundry in one night if we need to. It was the perfect birthday gift.

I’m in love with my friends!

October 15, 2011 by cherjoy

Friends, Joy

Fun at the Lake

A few weeks back we went with our friends Kim & Mac to their family’s lake house in… I can never remember the city so I’m going to say it was north of Phoenix. We’ve been up to this house quite a few times and always have so much fun. I really love these weekends with Kim especially. We’ll just float in the water and catch up on life. We’ll sip on drinks and giggle about anything and everything. I’ll watch her ski and hide from the sun; she’ll watch me wake board and bask in the sun. Instead of getting all crazy on the boat, I decided this time to just lounge around, swim, and take pictures.

Speaking of pictures, here were some I took!