Showering My Salsa

My sister is my salsa, and she is getting married! That's right: the same girl who played with Hot Wheels, chopped off Barbie hair, handcuffed me to the playroom chairs, won science fairs, and asked for sports equipment for every holiday is getting married. Wonders never cease :-) j/k salsa.

I am the matron of honor and though I don't like that term, I was happy to be able to work with Julia's maid of honor, Laura, to plan two super fun showers in Dallas this past weekend. The first shower was a luncheon for all of Julia's high school friends and their moms. All of our family also attended including aunts, grandmother, and cousin.

Then, later that day, we headed out to Grapevine to the Gaylord Texan to throw Julia a bachelorette party with all of her Texas bridesmaids and college friends. It was a whirlwind weekend, but Julia woke up on Sunday morning and told me, "That was so much fun" which made all the planning worth it.

I knew February was going to get busy, so I started working on the details of the parties back at Christmastime when I had a break. I'm glad I did! It all came together beautifully, and I had a blast with my mom and family doing last minute preparations. Julia, you're a wonderful sister and a wonderful friend, and you will make a beautiful bride in less than a month! Here are the pictures of both of last weekend's events.

(Warning: Picture overload! But isn't that why you look at blogs, anyway??)

I got into Dallas early and spent the night decorating with my mom, Grammy, and Aunt Robyn. We had the best time. Here is mom & I hanging the banner I posted about here.

Here I am cutting ribbon for a vase. My Aunt Robyn said I looked like I was sixteen, so I figure that's reason enough to post this one. :-)

Next we worked on making Martha Stewart tissue paper pom-poms for decorations. I've seen these pom-poms at every single baby shower ever blogged about, so I decided to snag them for our shower too. They were super easy to put together. Grammy was the pom-pom fluffer on the assembly line.

Here are the finished products!

They looked super cute on the mantle, in doorways, and hanging from light fixtures.

While we were decorating, here's what Grampy was doing. He was in his own little happy place with the women fussing over everything all around him!

Loved the flowers my dad picked out from Central Market! Nice job!

As guests left the shower, they got a little party favor in the entryway. We set up a candy bar using the shower's colors - orange, green, & purple.

They scooped their candy selections into a mini-paper bag.

And sealed it with these cute stickers I made.

Julia & I with our cousin Melissa

Set-up at the lunch buffet - wrapped silverware & Julia's wedding invitation

Dining room with pom-poms and cupcake stand

The gift table and blessing branch

Close up of the sweet blessings guests wrote

The bride getting her lunch

Melissa & I were the third wheels - we didn't fit with the moms or Julia's friends. So we had our own little corner. Some of Julia's friends at the shower

We were only staying one night at the Gaylord... but you wouldn't know by looking at us :-)

Here is Laura crowning Julia with her royal, plastic, blinking light bachelorette crown.

Sassy bride comes out to play

We went to a wine tasting at a vineyard in Grapevine... so fun!

The wine was just OK. They make it by the highway... haha. But we'll take what we can get for $10.

Cheers to the bride

Here's the bachelorette crowd on the way to dinner outside the fake Alamo backdrop at the Gaylord. Whatever works.

And that's where we stopped taking pictures... sorry! After wine, champagne, and dinner, I played the "matron" card and retired to the suite early. Juila & friends, on the other hand, went out to a club and danced the night away. Oh to be young...

All in all, it was an amazing weekend, and my sister deserves all the attention, gifts, and fun she had. Love you Julia!

February = 1, Katie = 0

Wow.

February,

You got me. You win.

You've made me

exhausted and unmotivated.

February, you have:

asked me to work long hours,

made me drive 8 hours to Dallas and back,

scheduled me to work for TFA all weekend,

taken up every "free" Saturday with tutorials,

made me crave vegetables after eating so much junk,

caused my schedule to consist of

work, eating (sometimes), and sleeping (sometimes),

piled up the laundry,

made me go to the grocery store late at night

just so I can have something to eat for lunch,

helped me throw lots of pity parties,

given me a few chest pains and a knot in my shoulders,

caused me to cry over a copier at Kinkos,

made my workout calendar ridiculously bare,

and

nearly made me want to quit this blog

{and everything else, for that matter}.

Oh, February. You think you're so great. But you're not.

You've made me very tired and a little depressed.

But, you're almost over.

Hooray!

For now, I will combat you with large quantities of

Shane & Shane and Brandon Heath.

It's the only thing that will drown you out.

Believe me... I know.

Good thing God is greater than February.

With one word the storm will be gone.

With one word the war will be won.

With one word I know I can overcome.

...Jesus.

{Shane & Shane, "With One Word"}

You are good, you are good, when there's nothing good in me.

You are love, you are love, on display for all to see.

You are light, you are light, when the darkness closes in.

You are hope, you are hope, you have covered all my sin.

You are peace, you are peace, when my fear is crippling.

You are true, you are true, even in my wandering.

You are joy, you are joy, you're the reason that I sing.

You are life, you are life, in you death has lost its sting.

{Shane & Shane, "Forever Reign"}

The only thing that matters is your love.

...It's all I have to give.

Your love is enough to light up the darkness

It's your love. All I ever needed is your love.

{Brandon Heath, "Your Love"}