jammin' to boyz II men

Yesterday was a busy day! We had our Back to School night from 5:30 to 6:30 and I was so worried we wouldn't get to La County Fair in time for the 7:30 show. Google maps showed that it would take us 56 minutes from the South Bay to get to Pomona, so I knew we had to haul ass! John drove like a maniac and we got to the fair grounds at around 8:00, just in time to run into the baby sister in line, buy a ginormous hot dog, and see Babyface perform.

 The Turin family was there with us and we were all jammin' together like it was 1990! We missed EnVogue, but saw Babyface, who has aged BIG TIME but still is an amazing performer. Then, finally, after a prolonged intermission, Boyz II Men came out in their adorable matching outfits. We sang along to all their songs and we were so disappointed that they were only on stage for 40 minutes!

 John and I had fun but we were soooo tired we could not wait to get home. I woke up this morning with a splitting heading, throbbing ears and had to call in sick today. I'm sure it was just too much excitement for one day, but I'm convinced that it's because I didn't get to buy a churro after the show. I WANTED A FLIPPIN' CHURRO!
 

I still can't find my camera, so I couldn't take any pictures. The Turin family was nice enough to take one for me. Ha. This is the only one we got. Hopefully we'll be at the fair again next year to hear Babyface & Boyz II Men again!

cuteness overload

These cuties were born just a few days apart and I was lucky enough to be there to see them meet for the first time!

Glow and Senna just chillin'!

Being an Auntie to my best friends' kids makes my heart happy. :)

baby peanut is here!

We've been waiting for baby peanut to come into this world! Everyone was excited for the Turins to have their first child! First we had a sex party to reveal the gender, then a baby shower and then for the last few weeks, everyone was just waiting and waiting with anticipation! Finally, on September 23rd, my dearest friend Ellen gave birth to a beautiful, healthy, baby girl.

Meet baby peanut, Senna Rose Turin. Named by her maternal grandfather, who she shares a birthday with! Senna, meaning free and beautiful as a bird in Korean. And Rose after her paternal great-grandmother.

A very nervous John and Senna....

A relaxed John and Senna...

Ah! So in love! I can't wait to see her hanging out with Glow! I'm so happy my bestest friends are making us Aunties and Uncles. I LOVE OUR NIECES SO MUCH IT FEELS LIKE MY HEART IS GONNA BURST!

waitin' for baby peanut

Ellen and Vitaly are expecting their first child in September and we all can't wait to meet lil peanut (they haven't decided on a name yet)! Not too long ago we had a gender reveal party and just this past weekend I helped put together a baby shower for the parents-to-be. I am not very organized, nor am I good at party planning, so I just volunteered to put together just some of the decorations. It made my house messier than usual and it was like a death trap with tape, hot glue gun materials, dye, string, and paper all sprawled out in the living room. But man, I was having some major fun!

I didn't get very many pictures with my point and shoot but I managed to take a few pictures.

First things first. I was pulled into the new nursery because Ellen wanted to show me that she had saved a gift that I had made her for her 16th birthday. That was only 5 years ago, because... we're only 21! (Yeah, right.) Let's just say, that was many moons ago and she saved it until now! Her family moved away to Virginia when we were in high school so I mailed it to her and she kept it the entire time. I am shocked it now sits in baby peanut's room.

I thought it was only appropriate that we did a "peanut" themed party for lil peanut! The only problem was everything I was thinking up was too brown. I know the Turins like color, so I had to add something other than brown. Thank goodness for pinterest! With some research I came across an amazing doily garland so I started dying the doilies with food coloring. They came out so bright and festive I thought I'd make some fun pom pom balls too.

I made these toothpick flags days before dying the doilies but was pleasantly surprised when all the colors matched! I guess I didn't really "make" anything for this. I just wrapped Japanese washi tape around a toothpick. Easy smeasy, lemon squeezy, as my kiddos would say.

I created simple cards for guests to write notes to the parents-to-be along with an instruction card. As I was uploading the pictures, I realized there was a typo on the instruction card. Ah! So embarrassing. I read it several times before I printed it, and so did John (my editor for all things)... we both missed it. Ugh.*face palm*

Now for some peanut fun!

I bought these cute peanut baggies on etsy as soon as the first baby shower email went out. So cute! I had to have them! For the peanuts, my mom was randomly telling me that some guy comes by my parents store in downtown LA selling peanuts. So perfect! My dad got me a bag and I just plopped the bag right in the vintage crate (borrowed from Rubes) alongside the cute bags. Killing 2 birds with one stone; cute decor and an easy party favor.

Using this no bake recipe I made some peanuty favors. They came out looking way messy but they were quite tastey. If you like peanut butter, you have to try making them! Drooool....

Bagged and beautified by the cakies lady. Her penmanship > my chicken scratch. For sure.

Now for some proper photos. Ellen's friend, Alex Lui took these pictures.

(Ugh. I'm haunted by the typo.)

The gorgeous momma-to-be.

And just for kicks, I'll leave you all with a picture of Ellen and me circa 1996.

Ellen - You like the picture?! You're welcome. HAHA! We look like babies!

boy? or girl?

How crazy is this... My best friends have the same due date! Ruby will be giving birth to her 4th, but for Ellen, this is her first. To celebrate I thought we should have a SEX PARTY! I thought I was super clever, but after doing some research for Saturday's get together, gender reveal parties are all the craze these days!

It was a great time to just hang with friends and have a low key night. I love my dear friends! We've celebrated many many many birthdays, high school graduations, college graduations, weddings, and now BABIES!!!!!

The beautiful momma to be!

The Turins were nice enough to let me bake up some goodies for the big reveal. They're having a ............

a girl! We celebrated with cookies galore! Can you see the pink ball at the bottom right?

I found a great recipe for cake ball stuffed cookies! Just brilliant!

I'm so happy Johnny and I get to be aunties and uncles to another baby! We love you Turins! We can't wait to meet baby girl Turin.