New Year... New Last Name!

It's 2015!

So much has happened this year! Now, I'm not the type that subscribes to the idea that a new year has to mean "new beginnings" or a "new you". I think new beginnings can happen whenever you want them to! But... it is still nice to reflect on all that has happened over the lat 365 days.

The year started with my fiancé (now husband) moving in the first of the year. He joined me and my roommate Stefana for a very "Three's Company"-esque living situation. It was a good way for all of us to save a little money (splitting bill three ways is a lot better than splitting them two ways). And it was a good way to make sure Sam and I could stand living with each other. Haha.

Also in January I noticed my dog acting funny. He had been putting on a lot of weight quickly and just seemed lethargic. I took him to the vet and they didn't seem to be too concerned. Then, one morning a couple weeks later I went to give him his usual "bye bye treat" that I give to him when I go to work and it was like he couldn't see the treat right in front of his face, he just sniffed around for it. Something was definitely wrong. I took him back into the vet and they confirmed what I had suspected. He was blind. Not just a little blind, completely blind. Basically overnight. The research that I did all pointed to SARDS (Sudden Acquired Retinal Degeneration). Beamer fell right into most of the categories of the classic SARDS cases. We took him to a specialist and they told me there was really nothing I can do. The truth is that I took him going blind a lot harder than he did. He's a resilient little guy and it really didn't' seem to affect him too much. After noticing a few other changes in his behavior we decided to also get him tested for Cushing's Disease which shares a lot of the same characteristics of SARDS. Turns out, he also has Cushing's Disease which is an increase in cortisone due to a benign tumor in the pituitary gland and has to be on lifelong medication to combat it. Along with the medication, he has to have constant testing and monitoring of his levels to make sure he is being properly medicated so, that has been a struggle but it has become our "normal".

I turned another (undisclosed) year old and had a little shin-dig to celebrate, complete with a DIY photobooth of course. 

 I also spent the weekend at the Riot LA comedy festival with some girl friends for my birthday. 

In February my mom and I had our first ever girls trip and we went up to Seattle for a cousins wedding. It was such a fun weekend. 

In March Sam and I relived our youth and saw The Used along with Taking Back Sunday at the Palladium. 

 I also found my wedding dress :)

In April we celebrated Sams birthday by spending a weekend in a cabin in Idyllwild (where we also took our engagement photos). 

We also spent another year at Stagecoach (and his mom and her best friend joined us!)

I attended the wedding of one of my oldest friends, Andy. 

 Watched my little cousin graduate high school and helped her move into her college dorm!

My mom and I had another mother daughter trip, this time to Denver for my aunts wedding!

Had a wonderful bachelorette party. 

Attended yet another wedding (thats four if you're keeping track) for our friends Ashley and Andrew. 

My wonderful Mother in Law threw me the most perfect bridal shower. 

Followed by an equally perfect shower thrown by my best friend and maid of honor Danica. 

And in the midst of wedding planning, Danica and I also planned our 10 year high school reunion. I know what you're thinking, we aren't nearly old enough to have graduated high school ten years ago, and you would be right ;) (Or so I'd like to think.)

And then... the event of the year (at least for me)... I got married!

And then I finished the year by celebrating the holidays with the ones I care about most. 

All in all it was a wonderful year, full of crazy highs and some lows but I feel that it's the lows that really make you appreciate the highs. Looking forward to a new year with a new last name and a husband! :)

Merry ChrismAugust!!

I have party planning in my blood. I swear. I get it from my grandma. She always loved hosting parties and loved getting everything just right, down to the very last detail. That couldn't be more me. I'll use any excuse to throw a party, so much so that last weekend I INVENTED a reason to! Haha. 

It's always so hard to throw a successful holiday party, regardless of what holiday it may be, simply because there are generally so many other parties being had. Like take Christmas, Fourth of July, or Halloween for example. There are only so many weekends in every month and so the possible party dates fill up fast. So, that's where my idea of "ChristmAugust" was born. "Christmas in July" parties have become increasingly more popular, however, I had a very busy July and thus "ChristmAugust" came to fruition (Plus, I even like the name better).

The first thing that I knew was that I HAD to have a photo backdrop. It's just what I do as you can see here...

Danica's 21st Birthday Party

And here:

Danica's Bachelorette Party

Lucky for me the red and white striped tablecloth that I used for Danica'a "Boats N Hoes" themed Bachelorette party was perfect for a Christmas themed party also! I made a "Merry ChristmAugust" banner, got the ole artificial tree out of the garage and viola! The perfect ChristmAugust photo backdrop!

Several months back I downloaded "Pocketbooth", a photobooth app on my iPad but never really got the chance to use it. This party was the perfect setting! It's great because it takes the photostrip (3 or 4 photos, whichever you decide) and once you're done it give you the option to post it to your facebook, your twitter, or to e-mail it. I don't think there is a person alive that doesn't like photobooths and if there is, I feel really sad for that person. It takes the photos with the front facing camera so that you get the chance to see yourself, however, I think the front facing camera (like the one on the iPhone as well) isn't the greatest quality and makes the photos look a little grainy. Nonetheless, the photobooth was a hit as you can see. 

(most of the photobooth props bought at Alin Party Supply) 

I had two "signature cocktails" for the event. I wanted a red drink and a green drink, obviously to keep with the Christmas theme. The two drinks were:

"Rudolph’s Shiny Red Cocktail" 

(which I found (and adapted from) here)

·     2 oz Vodka

·     1/2 cup Cranberry Juice

·     1/2 cup Sparkling White Grape Juice

·     “Cranberries” for garnish.

and my own invention, the

 "Pine Tree Punch"

·     1 oz Vodka

·     1 oz Midori melon liqueur

·     Fill with chilled Sprite

·     “Cranberries” for garnish. 

Obviously cranberries aren't in season so I made due with champagne grapes which are a smaller version of grapes and actually look kiiiiiind of like cranberries. Close enough.

Of course, I forgot to take some good "before photos" so I snapped a few the day after the party to get the gist of the decor.
I adore making my front table festive because it's the first thing people see when they walk in. 

Stockings are from a tutorial I posted here

Pretty much everything in my house is from one of four places: Target, Home Goods, Marshalls or Ikea in case you were wondering.

We had a fun white elephant gift exchange and I gave out an award for the person who dressed the most festive. I think that everyone had a great time and I can't wait until the 2nd annual ChristmAugust party!

Twenty Twelve!

January is already half way over and I haven't even posted! I thought I would be better about this in 2012 and I'm already off to a bad start. Well... Lets get the ball rolling and hope that this leads to more posts!


Unfotunatly the beau had to work on New Years Eve and got off around 10pm. We made the most of it tho and we took off and headed for my parents vacation home in the desert after he got off work. We did our own coutdown in the car on the ride and got to the house a little after midnight. It was so beautiful out there. We spent a couple days with my parents, my brother and his girlfriend. It was a nice relaxing weekend with perfect weather.

After new years I went into panic mode. Usually I have my birthday (which is the 13th) all planned out by New Years but I just had so much going on, I hadn't planned anything! Luckily one of my very best girlfriends helped me put a night out in a duffy together.

Thanks girl!

So I got a group of ten girls together and took the duffy to a wonderful dinner at my usual birthday spot (Tantalum in Long Beach).

(excuse my akward stance, I didn't know whether to stand or kneel. haha.)

Drinks and wonderful people, a perfect birthday.

My best girls <3

The infamous "Sister Wife" Haha.

It was such a wonderful night. I have such great friends and I'm glad they all could make it. I am quite a lucky girl :)

Friday morning the beau and I took off for the happiest place on earth, Disneyland :)

 He was my favorite part of my birthday :) 

We had a great time (as always) I even ran into some old co-workers and my cousin while we were there! It's fun wearing the birthday pin and having everyone tell you "Happy Birthday" :)

We headed home and got ready for dinner.

We had ANOTHER dinner at Tantalum (I told you it was my favorite birthday spot haha) with my parents, my brother, his girlfriend, Danica, Stefana and my sweetie of course :)

 And lastly, we ended up at my go-to Tracy's Bar & Grill where the beau and I took this ever-so-romantic pic. Haha.

It was a great way to spend my birthday festivities. I got to spend time with all of my favorite people BUT... the weekend wasn't over!

On Sunday Danica's episode of "My Fair Wedding" with David Tutera aired!

Here are a couple of sneak peeks if you missed them.

http://www.wetv.com/my-fair-wedding/videos/my-fair-wedding-danica-bryan

http://www.wetv.com/my-fair-wedding/videos/my-fair-wedding-surprising-the-bride

We all watched at Danica and Bryan's house. It was a lot of fun. Such a fun group. It really is SO bizarre to see yourself on TV. We have been waiting for the episode since her wedding in JULY!

An experience that I will truly never forget.

(Dont forget to check out her blog here to see all of her personal experience.)

THERE! Now we're all caught up on 2012! Haha. Hopefully I don't let as much time go by between posts :)

Happy (belated) New Year! :)

xoxo,

shea