The Horton House Daily: Week 29

Day 196:  Left him with his grandparents for the afternoon.  Got there to pick him up and he was asleep at 6:30.  Then they hand him a baggy with two cupcakes in it and he opens it a eats one on the way home before dinner.
Day 197:  Barrett got to hang out with his friends and BB for the morning.  He had the best time with his buds.  They were having a dance party.
Day 198:  Another Saturday lunch with Jackson at the Moore swimming hole.
Day 199:  Sunday night cuddles.
Day 200:  Love that sweet smile.

Day 201:  He got a new flash light and was putting on a light show before bed one night.
Day 202:  Playing with a sweet puppy at the office.

Nurture VoxBox

About a month ago the Nurture Vox Box from Influenster.  I was excited to try out a whole bunch on new stuff.  This box was so much fun!

I quickly dug into the red vines candy.  They were the perfect afternoon snack.

Next up was the Blue Lizard sunscreen.  This was perfect for our faces.  We use spray for the rest of our bodies because it's so quick and easy but I really like this for our faces.  I also love that the cap turns blue in UV light so you know when to cover up.

This one was a big surprise to me.  I love french fries.  I was very skeptical that fries out of the microwave would be any good.  These were delicious.  I was shocked.  My only complaint was there weren't a lot in the package but for a quick snack it worked.

I needed a quick side one night so I cooked the Uncle Bens Brown Rice Medley.  I wasn't all that impressed with this but we don't really eat a lot of rice as a side.

This might have been my favorite thing in the whole box.  I'm turning 30 this month so I need all the anti-aging I can get.   I never used this as a shampoo but I liked it as a body wash.  I'm not too big on scented stuff right now and this has a nice fresh scent.  It doesn't really have an overpowering scent.   These are all the products that I had a chance to test.  I just love Influenster and the opportunity to try new things. I was given the products to test at no cost to me to test.  All opinions are my own.

The Horton House Daily: Week 28

Week 28

Day 190:  This was Patrick's last night out of town so we snuggled in bed watching Mickey Mouse.  We were both so ready for him to come home! Day 191:  A fun little girls night at the beautiful Alabama Theatre.  They show old movies year round and it's so much fun.  We've been several times during this Christmas movies but this was the first time to go to the Summer series.  We saw Steel Magnolias and it was so much fun.  It's such a beautiful place.  I can't wait to go back.  They're doing a "Throwback Thursday" kids series and this week is Toy Story.  I hope I can get me work dome so I can take Barrett. Day 192:  This was one of my favorite days of the year.  I've been begging for a surprise 30th birthday party for a year or more and my friends totally pulled it off.  I was shocked to say the least.  I was so surprised that I was convinced that Patrick had nothing to do with it.  I thought for sure he would never be able to keep a surprise!  And it was a murder mystery party which was the icing on the cake!  I had the best time and felt so loved! Day 193:  Still reliving the night before!  I love these gold 30 balloons.  I hope they make it to my pure day on the 27th.
Day 194:  Monday was a struggle.  But we all survived and I got some sweet snuggles.  (I hope this boy never outgrows the snuggles)
Day 195:  They were watching Carter work.  Carter is some summer help at the office and Barrett is obsessed with him.  He thinks he's the coolest thing ever and he just sits in the window and watches him work. Day 196:  Popsicles on the porch!  He would stay outside all day everyday if I let him.  But it's been 100 degrees here.  I'm not sitting outside.
We're having the best summer.  It's flying by.  I've already had people wanting Back to School shirts and it makes me sad.  Even though Barrett has been going to MDO all summer, we've still enjoyed pool days and movies and fun stuff.  I just love summer.  (I'd be lying though if I hadn't been itching for a bowl of chili, I blame that on the college football hype.  I'm excited for Fall this year.  But I'm trying not to wish the time away. It's had when it's so dang hot though)

Murder in Margaritaland: A Surprise 30th Birthday Party

First of all, I have the best husband, friends and family.  I've been saying for probably over a year now that I wanted a surprise 30th birthday party.  I knew there was no way anyone would pull it off because I'd been talking about it for so long and why would they even bother.  Boy was I wrong!  Not only did they pull it off, but it was absolutely perfect.  It's exactly what I wanted and I felt so loved all night long that so many people would go to so much trouble for me.  I was literally speechless when I realized what was going on.

To top it off it was a murder mystery party.  I've been wanting to throw another one of these since we did one for my sisters 21st birthday.  They are so much fun and a great way for guests to mingle.  I'll start at the beginning.  Earlier in the year Jessica's husband won a party catered by Hamburger Heaven.  We've been calling it the "Hamburger party" and decided we would have it this summer by the pool and it'd be a blast.  Well about 3 weeks ago Jessica called me and said Jeremy called and booked the hamburger party for July 11th and he wanted it to be adults only so we could relax and hang out and not have to cook.  We hadn't talked about it much but somewhere in the mean time I started planning my own birthday party at the lake the weekend before my actual birthday.  Everyone played along.  I started sending inspiration photos to Jessica and Brittany and they immediately said they would help.  So I kind of turned it over to them.  Fast forward to Saturday night, we're getting ready and Patrick keeps asking what I'm wearing.  Again I should have thought this was kind of odd.  And when I asked if I looked okay like I always do before we leave he actually looked before he said yes you look beautiful.  Most of the time he just says that without looking.  We were dropping Barrett off at his parents house and Patrick packed his bag and got him ready.  Also another red flag, I should have been more suspicious of Patrick being so aware of what time it was and what time we were supposed to be there.  He's usually a "we'll get there when we get there type person".  We dropped Barrett off and headed to Jessica and Jeremy's house for the "hamburger party".  Patrick said Jeremy called and said we need to go through the front door because he's treated his sidewalk with something and we can't walk on it.  (I'm an idiot.)  We pull in the drive way and I start fussing at how Patrick parked because no one else is going to be able to park in the driveway.  So we go to the front door and ring the doorbell.  Jessica answers and says "there's so much food, you're going to love it."  Which looking back is hilarious and I thought nothing of it. 

I opened the back door to 30 of my closest friends and family and was so confused at first.  I couldn't figure out why all these people were at the "hamburger party".  Then they were all dressed up in character for the murder mystery.  I quickly realized what was going on and was speechless.  I just couldn't believe they surprised me.  I was so surprised that I thought Patrick had no idea either.  I can't believe he kept quiet. 

Everyone was sweaty and hot and amazing for hanging out in the heat.  I'm still just blown away.
They had all my favorite foods.  Like this french fry bar.   With John and Hope!  I've got to gather all the pictures everyone took.   And if you've never been to a murder mystery party you should throw one because they are so much fun!  They're a lot of work.  It takes a lot of pre planning and there's paper work that goes with each character but it's so worth it.  It's just something fun and different.  They have several different versions & themes.  They have teen versions and all girl versions too. 
I am so thankful for everyone that took time out of their busy schedules to help and celebrate with me.  It was so special and it meant the world to me. 

The Horton House Daily: Week 27

Day 183:  We introduced Barrett to the joy of Taco Casa.  He's a fan.

Day 184:  Got my pinterest on making a dessert for Fourth of July.  
Day 185:  Celebrating the 4th at the lake with the family.  We were so excited Patrick got to join us this year.  Its the first time in years he's been able to be there. Day 186:  I got this mask in my latest voxbox and I loved it.  I've got a whole post coming for the Nurture Vox Box but I loved it. (I was given the mask to try and review)
Day 187:  Patrick was out of town working so I got take out but this is what Barrett chose to eat.   Day 188:  We had a really long day at the office and Barrett was a trooper.  I got him a blizzard for a reward but he fell asleep so I ate it.
Day 189:  Jessica and Jackson came over to swim and play and eat lasagna.  It was fun.  The boys had a blast in their little pool!

The Horton House Daily: Week 26

It's week 26!  We're on the downhill slope to Christmas (I can't believe I just said that!). 

Day 176:  Dad took Barrett to the Gardendale Farmers Market to see the petting zoo.  He met up with the Bailey boys and had a blast!

Day 177:  Our favorite things party was so much fun!  Can't wait to do it again.

Day 178:  We went to dinner with Aunt Elizabeth at Melt and then walked over to Avondale and let Barrett run around.  It was a lot of fun.  We taught her the perks of eating dinner at 5:30 such as happy hour and not waiting for a table.  She taught there are some bars that are kid friendly in the afternoons.  Barrett loved people watching and playing with dogs.

Day 179:  I didn't take any pictures.  I was reading in bed and cuddling with Ally by 8:30. 

Day 180:  Another day I didn't take any pictures.  Barrett took this one.  I call it Blanket.

Day 181:  Patrick had to shave his face for work.  It's been 16 years since he's been clean shaven.  He looks so different. 

Day 182:  Barrett was scare of the thunder.  I enjoyed the extra snuggles.

Favorite Things Party

Brittany and I have seen this idea on a few blogs and we'd been waiting for the perfect time to host a Favorite Things party.  We started planning it back in April and we were so excited when it was finally time for the party.  Brittany hosted it in her new place and it was perfect.  We laughed because the party started at 6:30 but several of the Mom's started calling around 5:30 asking if it was ok if they came early.  Everyone needed a night away.

The way the party works is everyone chooses a favorite thing and brings 5 of that item.  (We chose 5 so it wouldn't be too expensive we also set the price limit around $5.  You can choose any numbers you'd like.)  When each guest arrives they put their name in a bowl 5 times.  Then each guest goes around and tells what they brought and they choose 5 names out of the bowl and those people get their item.  I think the hardest part for me was narrowing down what to bring.  Each guest also brought their favorite appetizer.

The favors.  

Signs of Sophie made coffee mugs for each guest with the party logo on one side and their name on the other.  Several people sent pictures the next morning of them having their coffee in their new mugs.  I loved it!

The food table.  Brittany's apartment is so stinking cute.
Everyone's favorite things.   You can barely see the glass bowl, this is where everyone put their names. This is the group of girls we had.  It was a really fun group. I'm going to list the things people brought for ideas in case you host a party.  I think $5 was a good price point if you're on a budget and $25 kind of seems like a lot to spend but if we'd gone to dinner and a movie we would have spent the same amount of money and you bring home 5 new things. Lilly for Target nail file and Essie polish (from TJ Maxx it's only $4 there) Bastite dry shampoo (TJ Maxx is the only place I've seen this) Walmart earrings and AquaNet Babylips with SPF Sea Salt Spray for you hair (Not Your Mothers brand) Bath & Body Works aromatherapy Bubble bath Salted Caramel hazelnut spread with small pack of vanilla wafers Babylips with color and elf eyeshadow brush Bath & Body Works foaming hand soap Clorox kitchen cleaner that you pump onto your rag (I think this one was my favorite) Our group brought really great stuff.  I wanted to go to the store when it was over and get the things I didn't get.   If you're looking for something different and fun for your next girls night this was so much fun.  Everyone really enjoyed it.  I think we're going to try to do it again in the fall.