Kate Spade Inspired Bridal Shower Luncheon

We recently hosted a bridal shower luncheon for my awesome nephew, Renn and his beautiful fiancée, Deepa. They are both on their way to becoming medical doctors. He is currently in Med school and she is in residency, both at UT Medical School in Memphis. I’m incredibly proud of both of them.

Aren’t they the cutest couple?

We used a Kate Spade Inspired theme of black and white with accents of pink. It was so fun putting it together. The focal point was the paper flower backdrop.

It’s constructed out of a foam insulation board that was purchased at Lowe’s. The board came in an 8 foot piece, but the kind salesman cut it into two 4 foot segments for me (but funny thing, it was still too big to get into my Nissan Rogue, so my Dad came to the rescue in his pick-up truck). It was painted white then striped with black paint. The flowers were from several different patterns that were found on YouTube and on Pinterest.

We served chicken salad croissants and mini ham and turkey sandwiches with pasta salads.

We also served vegetable cups with Ranch dressing and fruit kebabs.

Beverages served were fruit tea, pink lemonade Sprite; and lemon water.

The tables were pretty cute; using the stripes and polka dots that define Kate Spade.

The napkins were folded in a bow tie pattern.

It was so fun and the food was delicious!

 

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Honoring a Mama Bear

Last night we had the opportunity to honor one of our nurses that is pregnant and due next month.  As  Labor and Delivery Nurses we love to honor our mothers.

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We selected a woodsy bear theme and utilized red and black buffalo plaid.  It was so fun planning.

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We used lumberjack printable from papertraildesign.com.

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It was so easy with the printables to make this swag banner using burlap and simply hot gluing to some twine.

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Our food table included a buffalo plaid tablecloth across a black tablecloth.  We utilized red lanterns, pine trees, and wood logs, and slabs.  

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Our food included ham and cheese sliders, lil smokies and meatballs, with cupcakes, pretzels, and Nutter Butter acorns.

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The cupcakes were adorable and made by one of our nurses.  We are blessed with talent in our little group.  

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Another one of our talented nurses made these “acorns” made with Tiny Nutter Butter cookies and Hersey’s Kisses.  So cute!

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To complete the theme we had “timber” of pretzels with white and milk chocolate.  

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Our “watering hole” included bottles of water using those cute bottle printables and our old standby,  fruit tea (in a honeycomb decanter).

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We scoured Pinterest and came up with several ideas including these cute little bears made out of washcloths, so cute and so easy.  

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And here’s our “Mother Bear” herself.   

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It 


was a fun evening and pretty cute too.  And yes it was held at the hospital in one of our labor rooms. 

Continue reading Honoring a Mama Bear

Deck the Halls

Decking the halls is a walk down Memory Lane each year.  The ornaments, the Nativity Sets, and the many decorations that evoke emotions of the memories they hold.

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This tree stands on the landing overlooking our sunroom, where we spend much of our time.  It is adorned with ornaments that hold the most memories.  Those “Baby’s 1st Christmas”, the many sports ornaments that my two sons collected, the nurse themed ones given to me as gifts, and the many others that hold stories of Christmas’ past.

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Memories of the wonderful friends that gave me these Nativity Sets..

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including this one from a very sweet wood artisan that is no longer with us…

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a gift  from a complete stranger…

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one from my sweet mother…

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and a a few that I purchased.

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Every piece, whether old or new stirs many emotions.  This year we added a new stocking to our mantel.  

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Our mantel now has eleven stockings with the edition of our newest granddaughter, Vera Grace’s stocking.  

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This tobacco basket given to me by my husband’s grandfather many years ago gets a holiday embellishment but hangs as a reminder of my husband’s heritage of the many farmers in his family.

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Antique ornaments that once hung on my grandmother’s tree have found a place in my vintage jar…

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…surrounded by many pictures from holidays gone by.

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My house is full of memories.  Merry Christmas!!!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.  And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  

-Isaiah 9:6

Pepsi

In the endless world of beverages, it is my humble opinion that Pepsi is perhaps the greatest soda ever made, with Mt. Dew coming in a close second.  My grocery cart usually always includes cans or bottles of this delightful beverage.

With that being said, my purchases usually revolve around which dispensary is on sale, whether it be my favorite; the 12 ounce cans or those 16 ounce bottles that come in those extremely frustrating packages of plastic bondage.

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My frustration level gets incredibly high when I attempt to get a bottle out of that packaging.  My only saving grace with the amount of frustrations that occur is that once that beautiful beverage is over ice, I know that it’ll be a grand sensation to my palate.

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Life’s little struggles.

(In the background are some very adorable pictures of my grand babies.❤️)

Fear thou not; for I am with thee; be not dismayed; for I am thy God:  I will strengthen  thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.      Isaiah 41:10

Baseball and Buc-ee’s

The time of the year when baseball fans dress like football fans; the time of year when you hope your favorite team is one of a few still playing; and it’s that time of year when  your favorite colors are orange, brown, and black (or anything fall looking).

So this year I’m wearing my St Louis Cardinal hoodie all decked out in red but unfortunately my team, the Cardinals, aren’t one of the few still playing.  So what does a baseball fan do?  Well, I’m not sure if this is cool with the other fans out there, but my approach is to adopt another team (limited time only) and temporarily get on the proverbial bandwagon.  That’s where the orange and black colors come in (bet you thought they were mentioned because of Halloween).

Its a pretty long drought from the time a baseball season ends to Opening Day comes the next year, especially when your team isn’t still playing in October.  So the adoption takes place and my endorsed team for the past two playoff seasons has been the defending World Series Champs, the Houston Astros (the orange and black team).

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While attending a very dear friend’s daughter’s wedding last year outside of Houston, in Waller Texas, I began to foster the ‘Stros team.  It was easy to “like” this team and it has continued again this year.

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In fact it became very easy for this Kentucky girl to embrace not only the Astros but the entire state of Texas.  In fact have you ever heard of Buc-ee’s?   Buc-ee’s is much more than your typical truck stop,  it’s nothing less than an experience.  It was such a majestic encounter that during my 3-day stay in the area, I made the sojourn to the area mega-store no less than 4 times.  Check it out.  www.buc-ees.com

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So to my adoptive state of Texas, I say, “thank you,” for giving me a little more baseball, “thank you” for some sweet memories of friends and fun times, and “thank you” for Buc-ee’s.

 

In every thing give thanks:  for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  1 Thessalonians 5:18

Welcome to Sunflowers and Baseballs!

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Welcome to Sunflowers and Baseballs and to my very first post.  Sunflowers and Baseballs,  why the name?  I’m so proud you asked.

Sunflowers and Baseballs received its name, well basically because I love sunflowers and baseballs.  Sorry that’s not an earth shattering revelation but that’s exactly how it came to be.

My hope for Sunflowers and Baseballs (S&B) is that it becomes an informative and FUN blog about my passions (which by the way are my FAMILY; my HOME; sports, especially BASEBALL; and my love of MUSIC).

My dream is that S&B will become a “go to” for ideas, inspiration, entertainment, and at times maybe a laugh or two.

I must, in full disclosure, let my readers be aware that I am professionally a registered nurse and not a writer.  With that in mind I truly hope I don’t butcher grammar or for that matter any of the English language.

I would find it an honor for you to check in on me frequently and see how this adventure is coming along and which path it is taking.

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.  James 4:10

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