birthday

Most Memorable Birthday

September 5, 2016 by Michelle Filed Under: Events, Life Leave a Comment

I am officially four days late to the 2016 Blogtember Challenge this year! Although, I’m late, I think I came in on the best day!

Today’s post-prompt is “Most Memorable Birthday” and mine was definitely my 30th.

2010 overall was a very good year.

I got braces…for the second time.

I had my 30th birthday, for which Andrew threw a surprise party for me.

Andrew proposed in April.

And we got married in November.

So 2010 as a whole was completely amazing…save the brace-face part. But I had no idea three of the four things above were going to happen…

My most memorable birthday…Andrew had planned this whole thing out, and with a little help from Dana and other friends, he pulled it off greatly!

He rented out a space at Jillian’s for all of us to gather. Somebody had a cake and cupcakes there for us all. And the biggest surprise was that Andrew called in my college roommates – Ann and Allison, whom I love immensely.

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I’m pretty sure this ↑ is the picture of my face when I saw my Berry girls Ann and Allison. They made the trek from 3 & 5 hours away to surprise me that night.

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I really don’t know why we crouched down next to a pool table for this photo…

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My sweet friend Jennifer…who takes way too many pictures of me and my family.

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More friends!!!

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Because I have no idea where this hat came from or to whom it belonged…but everyone needs a #duckface photo on their 30th birthday.

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I love these dear friends.

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I do remember that this chocolate cake was amazing.

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The man who pulled it off without a hitch and told me I was going on a double-date with Dana and DJ…

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There are few times in your life when you feel completely and utterly like the.most.special.person. And this was certainly one of them.

Which birthday has been your most favorite?

Eliza Jane’s 2nd Birthday

August 30, 2016 by Michelle Filed Under: Being a Mom, Decorating/Remodeling, Party Ideas Leave a Comment

Today we celebrate our sweet Eliza Jane’s 2nd birthday!! I literally can remember her birth like it was yesterday {read her birth story here!} and can barely believe this is her 2nd birthday.

Over the weekend we celebrated with friends and family by hosting a little “Oh Two-dles” Minnie party!

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I borrowed the yard signs from a friend who did the same themed party for her daughter earlier this summer {thanks Nicole!}.

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The wreath idea is a total Pinterest-find and was super easy to make!

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I downloaded the “Disney” font and used it for her invitations as well as all the print-outs for the party. Ears and favors are Party-City finds.

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We have sweet friends who do vinyl, embroidery, etc. and they made this sign for me – just like one I found on Pinterest. I got the fabric for the bow from Hobby Lobby and traced it out, and used Velcro pieces for attachment {see below photo of Eliza Jane pinning the bow!}.

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A sweet friend who makes cookies on the side let me borrow her mouse cookie cutter so I made the cookies Friday night and then had all kinds of fun sprinkles for the kids to be able to decorate {more pics below!}.

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My amazing friend Aimee made these delicious “Minnie” cupcakes for us. We set several on a sweet little pink dessert plate I picked up from Anthropologie, stuck two candles in one and that was Eliza Jane’s cake for when we sang to her.
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This is the sign of a really successful cookie decorating party!! Sprinkles everywhere!!!

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Sweet baby girl!! We love you and hope you’ve had a fun birthday!
A special thanks to all those who celebrated with us on Saturday and today!

Big Brother’s Birthday

February 18, 2016 by Michelle Filed Under: Life Leave a Comment

Today is my big brother’s birthday…YAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYY

If I could throw confetti all over him, I would!!! But then he would probably punch me in the gut. I’m sort of kidding. 😉

My brother and I are a whopping 51 weeks apart. So here’s how that works out: He was born on February 18th. The following year, not quite to his first birthday, I was born, on February 11th. You might could say that I stole his first birthday thunder…

For one whole week, my parents had 2 kids, not twins, both under 1. Bless their hearts.

Someone once said that we were siamese twins…but I think those are actually conjoined twins…

Anyway, so back to the deal. For one week every year we are the same age. It was quite the mystery to us as kids. How exactly does this work, we would wonder. That he’s the “big” brother…but then we were the same age…and then he was the big brother again??

I didn’t really care about the logistics of HOW it worked…what mattered to me as the smaller, younger sister, was that this was the only week, every year, in my life that he didn’t try to beat me up, sit on my head or otherwise try to pummel me to the ground. {All other little sisters to big brothers TOTALLY get what I’m saying here!}

{Wesley, I really do love you and have lots of very fond memories of our childhood together!!!}

That one week though. It was like some sort of miracle. It was as if I had this magic bubble that surrounded me for one whole week. He didn’t even want to touch me…not a finga!

Bless.

These are two favorite pictures I have of us together…the one of us as babes – he was 18 months, I was 6. And then at my wedding…you can tell his personality is just as wild and crazy as mine 🙂

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So happy birthday to my big brother…who punched a kid in the face for knocking me off my bicycle on the way home from school one day….who almost shot me in the head with a BB gun…and who blamed me for a lot of things as kids… He also loved me like a big brother would…he let me tag along with all of his friends, even though I was one big cootie to them all… He even let me drive his Mustang one night…

Wesley, I hope you’ve had an amazing birthday.

Love,

Your little sister.

{Columbia friends! Don’t forget about the Muppets this Sunday!}

Birthday Festivities!

February 11, 2016 by Michelle Filed Under: Life 2 Comments

Today IS my birthday, but this post is not really about me.

It’s more about celebrating all the wonderful people that made this day so incredibly special!!!

I have to start with yesterday, then move into today.

Yesterday, I felt like I needed toothpicks to keep my eyes open. One sweet employee texted me as I drove the kids to daycare. “What can I get you from Starbucks this morning?” I told her she was a dream come true. HA!

Then I took another employee out to lunch because tomorrow is her birthday {Happy Birthday, Kristin!!!}. And she doesn’t work on her birthday, just like I don’t work on my birthday! As we walked back into our office area I was met with almost all of my employees and several others from different departments, popping balloons {filled with confetti!} yelling “Surprise! Happy Birthday!!” and then they sang! It was pretty much the greatest!! 20160210_130707

THEN, I walked to the back of the room and saw flowers, treats of all kinds and and a beautifully made cake by my sweet friend Aimée {→who does have her own baking business!!←}.

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Balloons were everywhere, y’all! Even one in my seat! 20160210_131959

I got some pretty great gifts from some pretty amazing people too. A gift card to one of my favorite plant nurseries in town…another to Magnolia Market {hey Chip and Joanna Gaines!!}. I was overwhelmed by sweet and kind words from many who signed a birthday card for me.

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Then today…the best day.

Don’t you think birthdays are the best?!

I don’t work on my birthday. Like, ever. My dad didn’t work on his birthday when I was growing up and so it’s a thing for me now…to take my birthday off and enjoy doing things I like to do.

I slept in til 6:45 this morning! Our kids were so sweet…Reynolds brought me my present and exclaimed, “Mommy! This is yours!!”

He’s been telling me happy birthday all week.

Andrew and the kids left @ 7:30 this morning. I got on the treadmill, read my bible study on SRT, checked the great book of faces, where I saw so many sweet wishes from all kinds of friends!

At 10 I left our house and went to Starbucks, where I got my “birthday reward” drink! I ordered a grande and the young man said “Hey, it’s your birthday. Why not make it a venti?!” Well, why not?! So I did!

So with my venti in my hand I went to World Market and Target. I picked up a few necessities and then a few sursies and Valentine’s gifts.

Lunch with the hubs at a great spot called Blue Marlin…yum. When we pulled into our parking spot, we had a 30-minute meter. I put my birthday party hat on the dashboard and said, “Maybe they’ll see this and know today is my birthday {smiley face}”. We didn’t get a ticket!! 20160211_133302

After lunch, I had an eye doctor appointment! Ha! Someone asked me why on earth I would do that on my birthday. I’m not really sure, but I did and it actually went really well. I request that they not dialate my eyes…

When I got home this afternoon there was a box on the porch. My husband is amazing. He orders flowers from Pro Flowers and I’m telling y’all…they are the BEST flowers you will ever get anywhere. They are packaged with love and care and they look amazing for DAYS. 20160211_164939

My precious neighbor surprised me this afternoon with a beautiful bouquet of calla lilies {favorite flower} and a sweet gift.
20160211_181056 Supper was nothing special {we’re going out this weekend with friends!} but I got a very sweet treat from my favorites. image (1)

This heart-breaker is also known as a cupcake monster. Reynolds BLEW OUT my birthday candle, y’all! I looked at him like he must be crazy and said, “YOU stole my wish!!!” He did not understand. Andrew re-lit the candle and the second time, we counted to three before we blew it out together. The kid has to learn he can’t steal other people’s wishes on THEIR birthday!!

Tonight I am one humbled, blessed and thankful girl for all the friends who have messaged, texted, written on any wall I have {Instagram/Facebook!}, called, etc. and celebrated this day with me.

It’s been a ton of fun. I just hope I can return the favor when it’s everyone else’s birthday!!

From the depths of my heart I thank you all. Can’t wait until next year!

Much love – m

She Bakes Cakes

December 11, 2015 by Michelle Filed Under: Being a Mom, Cooking, Life Leave a Comment

Happy Friday Night, Y’all! I have a few hundred pics to go thru from our trip to NYC this week…but as sure as I do, I will share them, I promise! No later than Monday! I will tell you that it was Spectacular!! We were only there for three short nights, but it was perfect for us and what we wanted to do while we were there.

Tonight though…tonight we are snuggling with our babies and spending time with my parents. Today is my mom’s birthday {Happy Birthday, MOM!!!}!!

When I asked her what she wanted to do this afternoon, she simply stated that she needed to bake a cake.

NOT for your own birthday! I thought.

But no, it’s for a Christmas party they are going to tomorrow night. So I suggested that the cake could wait until AFTER dinner and that we, all six of us, were going “out!”.

So we went out…to Bass Pro Shops where the kiddos were entertained by giant fish, race car games and huge four-wheelers. After some time there we took my parents to dinner.

A “happy birthday” dinner for my mom and a thank you for my parents, and their willingness to keep the kids for us to go on our trip.

Mom {and Dad} opted for Red Lobster for their celebratory meal. My family loves shrimp!

When I asked what dessert they wanted, or Mom wanted, she said that there was ice cream at home….

So without dessert we came back home and put the wild ones to bed.

On the night of her birthday…she is doing what she does so well. She’s making a cake. A cake that she could probably make with her eyes closed…half asleep. A cake that was passed down to her from her mother, and that she passed down to me. A cake that is so beyond delightful, that those that have had it, always want just a bite more. A cake that we, my family, only eats a certain way – cut in cubes. And a cake that is meant for breakfast, lunch, dinner or well after dinner.

I’m thankful for her for a million reasons…but the cake y’all…she bakes a mean cake!

{The men just walked in from a quick trip to the store and said “I smell cake!” almost in unison!}

Happy birthday, Grammy…we love you bunches…and your cake!

From Eliza Jane’s baptism earlier this year…3 generations!

Her Birthday {Almost}

June 30, 2015 by Michelle Filed Under: Being a Mom, Party Ideas 2 Comments

Y’all.

Eliza Jane will be ONE in two months. ONE. One entire year has almost blown fast my wide-open, tired brown eyes!!!

Psalm 47:1b “..shout to God with cries of joy.”

Today she turned 10 months old. And as wild and crazy as she is {it took me 40 minutes to put the nut-case to bed tonight!!}, she is an absolute JOY to me and our little family. I cannot even believe that she’s about to be one. As each month has passed she has grown into her little {feisty!} sweet personality. She laughs and smiles so big that her eyes squint {like mine!} and her whole face squishes!

I love that sweet little baby of love.

Sunday night as Andrew and I were resting from the adventures in Amelia with my family, and the five hour ride back home…and the endless unpacking of things somehow still covered in sand…I looked over at him and said, “Eliza Jane is almost two months away from her one year birthday.”

He fell over on the couch and groaned.

I asked what the matter was and his reply?

{said with his face smushed in a pillow and drawn out like he was in such agony} “Another PARTY!!!”

“We don’t have to celebrate our only daughter’s first year of life, you know. We don’t have to celebrate the fact that she’s made it an entire 12 months of life, that she has survived the craziness that is our family. We can just let the day go by and do nothing.” I said with all the drama and sarcasm that a mother and wife could muster.

We both rolled our eyes at each other and laughed.

Looking back at Reynolds’ first birthday party, it seems like so long ago! He was surrounded by friends and family that love and adore him…I can’t wait for Eliza Jane to experience the same.

So, the planning for Eliza Jane’s first birthday party has begun. I’m looking for invitations. I need to order her shirt {and probably a coordinating one for big brother}. I need to plan a guest list and food. The list goes on and on…and while it might seem daunting, it’s all so worth it.

One thing is for sure. I will hire out a photographer for her birthday party because if we hadn’t done it for Reynolds’, I would probably only have a handful of blurry photos and be really sad about it. {to see the photos of his birthday party, click here}

Does anyone have a favorite place to order invitations? Mine is Tiny Prints, but I’m open to some of your ideas! Any other fun/great suggestions you might have for a child’s {1st!} birthday party are welcome too!! {help! I need HELP!!}

**Edit: I need to let it be known that just as I started looking at the possible dates for Eliza Jane’s party, I asked Andrew about the specific date and his reply {in true southern, SEC football-fan fashion}: “Have you checked the football schedules to be sure that there isn’t a game?”

Bang my head. These crazy football people that live in the South!!!! {Who am I kidding! I’m one of them!! bahahaha}**

Birthday Muse

February 11, 2015 by Michelle Filed Under: Being a Mom, Life Leave a Comment

Today is my birthday. The celebration of my birth. And where I’ve always been a fan of my own birthday {cake! balloons! cards! flowers!}, I’ve become a really big fan of birth-days in general. A celebration of birth. A celebration of a miracle.

If you’ve contemplated, researched or even looked into the face of a newborn, you know that birth is a miracle. Two things, not even visible, coming together, multiplying cells over and over and over again to form a tiny human. It’s pretty amazing. And then to see that human for the first time on his or her “birth-day” is overwhelming. Your heart explodes with joy, love and thankfulness (also a little fear?!).

So on my birthday, I’m thinking about my parents, who brought me into this world. Who loved and nurtured me. Who taught me right from wrong. And who taught me about Jesus.

I also think about my children and their birth-days. Two very special days for Andrew and me. To see Reynolds for the first time (he was huge!!) was beyond incredible. He was our first child and he was completely perfect. Then, on Eliza Jane’s special day, I laughed at the craziness of the day and then to see her in her perfect little body….she was breathtaking.

The world {the FB world at least} explodes when a child is born. Friends, acquaintances and even strangers hear the news and rejoice. The number of “Likes” on an announcement or photo of the new baby are by the hundreds. People who never comment on anything express their excitement for the new addition.

Birthdays are special days.

I hope that each year on your birthday, that you feel as special as I know you are.