Since I got so much love from posting yesterday (and since I have the time) I decided I'd write again today.

I received a lot of feedback about the color combo of red and turquoise. I must admit I did not come up with this gem. My friend and co-worker Tobi did. She designs scrapbook layouts so she is creative like that. She briefly mentioned the combo in class to some of our students, one of whom promptly used those two colors to design some geometric shape he was creating for math class. It looked great! And inspiration struck!

I was planning a bridal shower for my friends J & J last month and wasn't sure what colors or theme to use. I had just picked up a set of porcelain stands with red ribbon woven through the edges (seeing the picture below is better than me trying to describe them) over spring break and wanted to use them somehow in the spread. Knowing their wedding color is similar to turquoise (I think it's official name is oasis), I realized I could decorate with the theme of those two colors.

It was super exciting to put together my serving pieces or partyware as I like to call them. Partyware is kind of something I collect I guess you could say. I feel like it's been too long since I've gotten much use out of them, but I know that will change once we have more space to entertain. I kid you not, I finalized the shower menu based on what partyware I wanted to use. Reminds me of the days when I used to plan an outfit based on what purse I wanted to carry that day.

Warning: if you have zero interest in entertaining you might want to skip over the next section. However, I burst at the seams when it comes to this kind of stuff. So, here's what we ended up with (you can view it larger by clicking on the picture:


We set the table with Mom's red tablecloth and added turquoise placemats, which were a wedding gift. From the left we have red plates (sale at Meijer) and turquoise napkins (leftover from our wedding reception, bought them from a great place in Elkhart), a crockpot of meatballs (they tasted as if I actually knew what I was doing when I made the sauce to go with them!), pigs in a blanket (hadn't made these in ages!) on a red platter. Oh, and the spoon rest for the meatballs is turquoise (got it in Broad Ripple in Indy with Charissa a couple years ago)! Next in the back is the new stands that started this whole spread (scroll down for a close-up). I got those at Home Goods (my new favorite store) in Schaumburg over spring break. The fab cheese ball was on sale at Martin's! The fresh strawberries were perfect in my turquoise colander (I think I squealed when I realized I could use that as partyware!) from Maine. To manage water drippage (and make the colander pop) I placed the colander on a platter that contained, among other colors, red and aqua diamonds - one of my very first partyware pieces.

Next is a great square shaped bowl set on a platter with an aqua and white Celtic design; this held a seasoned Chex mix. I didn't want the menu too stuffy or fancy as it was a co-ed shower. In front of that were fresh veggies on a red platter (I got those red platters on clearance after Valentine's Day or Christmas one year) along with a light dill dip in a turquoise bowl (I got a set of these at the fabulous Junk Evolution for our wedding reception dessert and candy buffet). Stay with me; I'm almost done. Finally in back is red cups from Meijer, a spread of sodas, and a turquoise pitcher (wedding gift) with water with lemon. In front is a glass turquoise platter with cream puffs. This platter I normally use for decor, not food. I had a set of votives on it, but I/Josh made sure to wash it real good. I got it at a cute store in St. Joseph, MI and later went back and got a matching square one as well. The rectangular one is on display in our office; the square in our living room. It worked out well that a lot of our home decor and wedding decor is/was aqua.

Here's a close-up of the new stands.

The cake was great too; the couple requested a boston creme style. It looked and tasted fabulous! I have THE best cake lady! (The bride's and groom's nicknames are J-La & J-Stan)
And I just had to throw this in as well. Yes, I wore turquoise to match the decor. And the bride-to-be noticed! :)

We rented the community center at the couple's apartment complex to hold the shower. Had a nice turnout, good visiting, a fun game where the bride tried to guess the groom's answers to questions such as "How much cash are you carrying right now?" and "What brand of deodorant do you use?" and the groom tried to answer questions for the bride such as, "What did you wear on your first date" and "If you could get rid of one of his things, what would it be?" I must say they did quite well! We did cake and gifts and wrapped it up. Easy peazy and fun!

Congratulations, Jen and Jonathan!

I am enjoying a day at home. It's nice to be home after being gone for a few days. It makes you appreciate home even more.

This summer our living arrangements will change, and I couldn't be more thrilled. Almost six years ago I moved into the upstairs apartment of a big old house by the river. Since then I've had three different neighbors in the downstairs apartment and three different roommates with me in the upstairs apartment - the latest being my husband. ;)

We love so many things about our place. The location: we can see the river from our house, and we are right in the middle of so many things, just blocks from restaurants, theatres, cafes and just minutes away from every part of town - south side, northwest side, east side, and Mishawaka. The character: our house is 100 years old and has the architectural details that most newer houses don't have. And the price: we are very fortunate to be in a home we can afford!!

However, with our family growing this fall, we realized space is going to be tight. Therefore, we have made arrangements to rent the entire house instead of just the upstairs half. The downstairs tenant is moving out. We didn't want to leave, but we needed more space. We worked out a deal with the landlord so we don't have to pay two rents, and in a couple months all four stories from basement to attic will be ours. Yippee!

There's just something nice about being up early when you don't have to be. The house is quiet. The neighborhood is quiet. The sunlight is streaming in and bouncing off of unexpected objects around the living room. I sit here with a soft blanket and a cup of chai.

Chai.

If you've never had chai, make it a point to do so. I was hesitant when I tried my first chai back in my college days. I had had quite a few opportunities to partake of it but always declined. At that time I was not a tea drinker so I had no interest in trying chai. However, a friend was certain I would like it. He started describing it, naming some of the spices in it. Some of the details started appealing to me, and I thought "Maybe it's not that bad." He got me a mug of hot homemade chai, I tasted it, and I've never regretted it.

Considering chai is my topic of blogging thus far, you might be able to sense there is nothing urgent to report. It is summer break in our house. The first and probably last summer of being essentially commitment free. Throughout the school year when Husband and I would discuss the upcoming summer, he was turned off by the idea of not working a part-time job. But I was somewhat insistent, stating we never know how many other times we'll have this chance to be so free. Of course this was even before we knew I'd be carrying our child throughout the summer, most definitely solidifying the committed fate of future summers and all other seasons as well.

I don't think I even have a clue how much our lives are going to change come fall. I don't believe there is anything that can truly prepare you for all the aspects of parenting. You can hear tales about it. You can catch glimpses of it. But you just have to personally experience it firsthand to fully understand it.

Kind of like chai.