Showered with love...

This past weekend, my mom and my sister threw me the most amazing baby shower. It was an owl and children's books theme, which was perfect since my husband and I are big readers and own a business selling rare books. I thought I would share some fun photos and inspirations in case you also want to throw a similar party.

There were books, pictures of books, and stuffed animals characters from books placed around the rooms.

All the foods had a children's book to go with them and a little fold-over card with the picture of the book. I will include them here in case anyone would like to use them in the future. There was "Green Eggs and Ham Quiche" made by my wonderful dad, "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Cake", the "Vegetable Alphabet Book platter", "Humpty Dumpty Egg Salad" and Cookies brought by awesome mother-in-law, "Say Cheesecake!" made by a friend, Annelie, "Hop on Pop-corn" and "Owl and the Pussycat cupcakes" made by my extremely creative sister, and "Moose on the Loose Mousse", "Pinkalicious Punch", and "Blueberries for Sal Cake" made by my incredible mom. There was also "Peanuts", "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish Crackers", "Pretzel's Chocolate-covered Pretzels", "Chronicles of Narnia Turkish Delight", "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs", "Jellybeans" and so much more!

Favors...

Gifts for game winners...

Advice cards and pencils/pens for games...

Name tags...

And now for the most important part... the people! It was a very snowy day (who would have thought in mid-January in New England?? :) ), so unfortunately many people could not make it, but I was so blessed by those who were able to come even though the snow!



My mom and sister...


My sister-in-law... who came all the way from Virginia!

I received so many wonderful gifts! Our little girl already has a larger wardrobe than I do... and lots of books. I am so blessed to have such a tremendous family and loving friends!

Showered with a Whole Lotta Love,

Adrienne

Favorite Foto Friday - Sisters

Tomorrow is my sister's 30th birthday! Its hard to believe. She's in India right now and travelling the world for the next 11 months, so I won't get to see her until next November, which is definitely the longest period of time that we've ever gone without seeing one another. It was just the two of us girls growing up and we are only 20 months apart, so it was great to have a sister like her who was a friend as well. We were always playing together - imagination games, dances and musicals, dress up, and scavenger hunts. Of course, we did have our little fights at times, but then we always made up. She is one of the most hilarious people I know. She can do pretty much any accent in the world and tells the greatest stories... and I'm sure she'll come home with many more accents and many more stories from this trip. She really should be a comedian or an actress. Anyway, here are some photos of us through the years.

You can see she's a comedian from this pic... wearing Mr. Potato Head glasses :)

Aren't we sweet?

Yikes. This one is a bit embarrassing, but I think its funny in our pink snow suits.

Playing with dolls

In the garden

A few years later... at the lake.

At my graduation

My wedding - and my maid of honor!

Still playing dress up even as adults

My 'little' sister shot up to be taller than me :)

On my 'ski-lift to no-where' on our property

Still playing around

Never quite serious

We are sisters for life

And here's a fun little video of the Sisters song from White Christmas :)

I love you!

A Whole Lotta Love,

Adrienne

Born To Be Wild... Wild about my Dad!

This morning I went for a motorcycle ride with the best dad in the world (you may think that is your dad.. but that title actually belongs to mine... well that's my opinion anyway). On the radio as I drove to my parents (a few minutes away) was the song Born to Be Wild, which as you might know is the theme song from the movie Easy Rider. Anyway, I thought that was just perfect... just like my dad :)  

He took me on an awesome drive on some back roads to Shelburne Falls, MA, where we had breakfast. We randomly ran into one of my dad's best friends and his daughter (also out for a motorcycle ride) and we all went to the bridge of flowers together. Then we all drove a bit together and we headed back home. 

Yesterday we also went for a drive together.. my husband and I in the car and my parents on the bike. We drove up towards Queechee, VT where they were having a balloon festival, and we also went to Woodstock and some other lovely towns. 

I love spending time with my dad. I really couldn't have wished for a better father. He's the kind of dad who will randomly call my name and when I answer he just says "Have I told you that I love you today?" He's always given me so much love... and I know that's why I now have so much to give :)

high school graduation

in Rockport, MA during my college days

college graduation

my wedding

grad school graduation

Christmas a few years ago, with my sister

I love you dad!! Happy Father's Day!

Thank you mom!

On this mother's day, I just want to take a moment to let my mom know how much I love and appreciate her. As a child, its very easy to express that love and gratitude because our moms and our homes are our whole world. As I've gotten older though, I have to admit that even though I have a whole lotta love for many things and people, I don't often express my appreciation for my mother as much as I should, mostly because I feel that I need my adult 'space', as I live only a few miles away. I want to be 'me' and 'have my own life'. But when I think about who 'me' is and what my life is, it is inextricably linked to my mother. Who would I have been without a mother like her? Obviously I wouldn't even be here if she hadn't taken care of her body during her pregnancy, labored, given birth to me and nursed me... given me the physical healthy life that I have. But also who would I be as a person if it were not for her long hours of caring, instilling values and spiritual understanding in me. Who would I be without her teaching me a love of learning, nature, and all things beautiful? What would my life consist of if she hadn't protected me from the negative influences that exist in this world or sacrificed so much to give me the life that I now have? I have so much to be grateful for because of the path choices that my parents were able to provide for me. Those that believe in reincarnation say that we choose our parents before we are born. That's not something I was brought up believing, but its an interesting thought. Anyway, I'm so thankful for you mom and I'm so glad you're my mother.

Thank you for always playing with me...

throwing great birthday parties...

bringing me to my favorite parks

skip ahead a few years ( I still need to digitize more pictures)...

visiting me during college

college graduation (my grandmother and sister are on the left)

my wedding

my graduation from grad school

.

on a trip to Greece last fall, my husband and I brought our moms...

my mother-in-law, who I'm also very thankful for, as she is such a wonderful person

(and raised a wonderful son I might add)

 Thank you!

Lastly, I had to throw in this video because it is just too hilarious!! Skip over the little kids fighting intro if you want and watch the rest.