I had so much fun planning my friend's Bridal Shower. Since there are three extra ladies in the wedding party (the Maid of Honor, and two brides maids-- one of which is me!), we each decided to plan one event. Wedding Shower, Bridal Shower, and the Bachelorette Party. Since the last two weddings I was a part of I didn't do enough, I was so excited to plan the Bridal Shower this time around. Luckily I had a few vets and a lot of sympathetic ears to bend in order to get everything put together.

Here are the pictures!














Did I have enough pictures of the cake for you? It was made by Bailey Family Bakery. I sent Allison a copy of the invitations and she painted the exact flowers on to the cake! How amazing is that? By the way, the cake was Vanilla with fresh-chopped strawberries in the middle (a twist on strawberry shortcake-- Jessica's favorite!). DELICIOUS!

The banner and invitations were purchased from thinkRSVP. They were actually supposed to be yellow, but for whatever reason my printer made them pink (tested this theory on someone else's computer-- and my computer/printer is definitely to blame). Though I must confess I ended up loving the pink.

For the food we kept it simple.
- Sweet Chicken Salad on croissants (similar recipe here).
- Fruit Salad, Veggies and dip.
- Ham, Turkey, Cheese, and Cracker plate.
- Sweet tea and water bottles.
- Tropical Lemonade Punch (similar recipe here).

We did Bridal Advice and "Tacky Luau" pictures, as well as one other game.

I have to confess I was a bit proud at how pretty everything looked. Hope you think it was pretty, too!

I had my mom do some digging to find a "real" #TBT to share with you today. And she sent me two that I couldn't decide between... so I'm sharing both of them. After all... it's my birthday. So I can do that!

My third birthday. I love the face I'm making. Who has to open their mouth like that to blow out candles? I look more like I'm about to inhale them. And those Beauty and the Beast figurines? I remember them so perfectly! Belle's arm used to ALWAYS fall off (once it broke the first time) and every single time I'd have my mom hot-glue it back on until it was beyond repair. My fourth birthday I even insisted having Beauty and the Beast again just so I could get a new Belle figurine. This I remember.

My sixth birthday. Let's face it. The dress is priceless. An abundance of polka dots and bows. I realized that if I could find a "grown up" version of this dress (altered here and there), I would probably still wear it. I loved (and still do) dressing up from head to toe. Note the white tights and shoes? Also, remember me mentioning my life-long friend Serena? She is the second to my right (looking at the picture). We're the only ones holding something. We had a multitude of texts and couldn't decide if we were holding Polly Pockets (the old-school-real-teeny-tiny-ones) or Little Kiddles (we couldn't remember the name of these-- luckily Serena's mom came to our rescue). Either way, I'm pretty sure this is the last birthday we celebrated together. Boy do we need to fix that next year!

Perhaps you have a holiday party or two to attend this season, Newfangled readers?

I love helping plan outfits, and Emily asked me to virtually lend a hand for an "in-between" holiday look. Something to help you make it from Thanksgiving to Christmas with ease.

So let's build a fab ensemble meant for sipping and mingling the night away, shall we? Just not too late! Michael has a bedtime to keep. ;)

ON MAMA

TOP // MODCLOTH
The tunic top is a staple now! This easy shape is perfect for pairing with a statement necklace (which I'll get to in a minute), and for not worrying about that extra lovin' all the holiday goodies can add to the midsection. I don't know about you, but I have a permanent "food baby" this time of year! Navy looks clean and chic, and I love it as an alternative to black.

NECKLACES & BRACELET // http://www.etsy.com/shop/mintlilly
These agate necklaces make a statement, simply. A sweet icy blue bracelet brings something unexpected and earthy.

LEGGINGS // OLD NAVY
On to the bottoms ... At just $10 a pop, you can't afford to not have these babies in your closet. I think they make this look breezy, as opposed to structured, which is easy to fall into with a basic black trouser. Because I know that Emily and hubby Clark like to keep it casual, I say let the top be dressy, and allow total comfort on bottom! And yes, I'm asking you to trust me on pairing navy and black. When done correctly, it works. I promise!

FLATS // SOLE SOCIETY
If you'll be standing around while you chat, it's best to select a shoe that adds both glamour and comfort. I'm not a huge fan of boots at holiday parties, myself, but I think these embellished flats are just right.

FOR MICHAEL

SWEATER // OLD NAVY
Keep Baby Boy cute and cozy, in colors to complement Mama. I also love that this sweater is heavyweight cotton. I never put my babe in a fabric I wouldn't wear myself. (Wool? No, thank you!)

CORDUROYS // SHAUN WHITE FOR TARGET
I always like an alternative to denim or cargoes for little boys; I think these on-trend, fine wale corduroys are just the ticket.

BOOTS // TARGET
I love these boots so much that I wish they made them in my size, and I definitely want to snag a pair for my daughter Maile, even though they're made for boys. These beauties feature faux fur lining, and a thick, textured rubber sole. They look like Dr. Martens or Red Wings, without the hefty price tag.

BEAR // MEILINGER ZITA
Emily told me that Michael hasn't gotten attached to a "lovey" yet, and I thought this bear was so cute, I had to include him. Zita makes beautiful one-of-a-kind handmade rag dolls and bears, all from natural fabrics and felts.

Happy Holidays!


ANNNNND...

Congratulations to Kasey Conn, winner of the Simply Modern Designs giveaway! Contact Sara through her Facebook page to receive your fabulous prize.

Congratulations to Donna Earl, winner of the Team Fearless: Relay For Life giveaway. You donated a wonderful $10 towards an amazing cause, and it definitely helped you win the great giveaway! Serena will be contacting you to get your information!