Bachelorette Party

For those of you who know me well, know that I LOVE to host parties.  Recently, my best friend, Bailey got married.  I held her Bachelorette Party at my parents house.  Planning, decorating, and cleaning were all on my to-do list.  We planned the party for a Friday night in November.  I knew that I would be busy with finals during that time, so I planned quite a bit of it during the summer.  I'm very glad I did this.  I didn't have to worry about last minute games and decorations.

Together, Bailey and I made the plans and the guest list.  We decided to stick around home and go bar hopping to the local bars.  I found it was easiest to make an excel spreadsheet for EVERYTHING.  From the guest list to the items I needed to get.  Everything was color coded and strategically placed.  (I love excel).

After we made the guest list and the plans I started on the theme and invites.  With help from my friend, Kailee we decided on the theme, "Get out your Boots & Pearls."  Which fits Bailey so well.  I had another friend help with the invites, she's an AMAZING graphic designer.  See her work {here}.  She made two per page, therefore I could print out both on one piece of off white 8.5 x 11 paper. {purchased at Walmart}

LOVE her work!!

While Allie was working on the invites, I made a board that I wanted to have by the doorway.  I found this on pinterest {of course} 

I loved this, so I decided to make my own!

In the process....

 Bailey & I next to her sign!

After buying all of the supplies {bachelorette decorations, food, napkins, plates, table cloths etc} I needed to make a MILLION jello and pudding shots.  If you need the recipe for jello shots check out this {website}.  I found it extremely helpful, considering I don't like jello-shots.  Once those were made, it was time to start the decorating... here are a few pics of the decor and the party!

Since the house was decorated nice, I decided the bus would be full of condoms, balloons, streamers, and undies!  I wish I would have gotten a picture of it all, but the night FLEW by and I had no time to take a picture.

All of us girls who helped Bailey celebrate her last night as a single woman.  {I love the undies behind us!}

This was taken at Kegger's, singing Karaoke.  {I HATE KARAOKE}

I could not have gotten through any of this without the help of my dear friends Kailee & Meghan.  I'm so thankful that Kailee was there for me through it all, the phone calls, planning, games and decorating.  Meghan was an amazing helper with all the last minute decisions (choosing which underwear to buy for the games) and for helping me clean, make jell-o shots, and decorate!! I couldn't imagine what this party would have consisted of if it weren't for them!  Thanks girls!!

 ooh...sorry Meg finger slipped ;)

You two are sooo AMAZING!

Overall, it was a great night and I couldn't have asked for a better night and group of girls to spend it with.  Bailey has an amazing support system.  She is one lucky lady! I'm soooo happy for her and her new married life! Stay tuned for pics from her BIG day and my first time being a Maid of Honor!

I also need to thank my WONDERFUL parents.  They were there to help with all of the planning, cooking, and cleaning.  Thank-you for opening up your house to us girls for the night.  We all appreciate it.  You both are so amazing and I can not thank-you enough for everything that you do for me.  Love you!!!

-M

road trip to Pennsylvania

Hey all--
As many of you know, I have been preparing to go to Graduate School for Audiology for quite some time now.  There aren't too many schools in the U.S. with Audiology programs, so I've been doing lots of research on schools in the country.  I LOVE Pennsylvania!  I always wanted to live on the East Coast, so I've decided to apply to schools in Pennsylvania.  Recently, Geoff and I took a road trip out there to look at three of the schools there.
I've never taken a road trip before so I tried thinking of different ways to save money throughout the trip and fun things to see along the way.  I packed a TON of food for the care {too much food} and also sandwiches so we wouldn't have to stop and eat along the way.  We also traded off drivers every 5 hours.  It worked perfectly.  I have to say though, the best thing I thought of for the trip was to pack plastic bags, for laundry, garbage, wet swimsuits, etc.  We used sooo many of them!  I'm sooo glad I thought to pack them!

We drove straight through from Mankato {leaving at about 8pm Friday} to Pennsylvania. With only one little mishap! {my car stalled in Wisconsin, but started up again and we took off!}  We arrived in Pennsylvania around 11am Saturday morning.  Our first stop was our hotel in Philadelphia.

I was so excited to see this sign.

I thought this bridge was gorgeous.

After getting settled in at the hotel and cleaned up, Geoff and I went to Salus University.  I was really looking forward to this.  It was a beautiful site, however was not the University I had in mind.  There were only 3 buildings, and it was located next to a bad area in Philly.  Needless to say, I will not be applying to Salus, but I'm so glad I got to see it.

Sunday morning we woke up and left our hotel, to see Philly and make our way back West to Bloomsburg, PA.  Geoff wanted to get a Philly Cheesesteak, so we went to Geno's.  Little did we know that driving in that area of Philly was CRAZY.  {I'm so thankful Geoff was driving}

The roads are one ways, with very little room to get through on each side.  We had to park about 4 blocks away, and then needed to eat in the car due to limited space at Geno's.

 People were waiting inline on the street.  They had the BEST cheese fries!

Our next stop was to see the Liberty Bel.  I LOVE history {was a history major for awhile} so I was really excited to see such a historical city.

                     

After the Liberty Bell, we went to see the National Park and Independence Hall.

                   

Front and Back of Independence Hall.

Inside Independence Hall.

On a bench at the National Park.

A Beautiful Sunday afternoon in Philly.

Not sure what building this is, but I thought it was worth taking a picture of!

After we left Philly, we headed Northwest to Bloomsburg.  I had an appointment to look at Bloomsburg University Monday morning.  After my tour, we left for Easton to watch our favorite D1 basketball player hoop it up.

Here we are waiting for the game to start. Go Lafayette Leopards!!

 GO SETH!

After our night out at the game, we headed back to the hotel, to pack up and get ready for the morning. Tuesday morning we headed to Pittsburgh for another tour at the University of Pitt.  I LOVED it there. I had the best tour and pray that I get accepted into their amazing program.  {I guess we will wait and see!} After my tour Geoff and I went out to eat for his 26th birthday and headed back to Minnesota. 

Overall, we had a wonderful trip.  Lots of bonding time and we learned so much more about each other.  I'm so thankful to have gotten these opportunities.  I know many do not.  

Well, I'm off to work on grad school apps!! Hope everyone has a great rest of the week!

-M

cork board part 3

Hello my friends!  Well, it is now TWO days into the new year! How is everyone's resolutions coming?  Mine have been okay, I'm still working everything out! I plan to really kick it into gear once Christmas break is over, and I'm back down in Mankato!!

Most of you know that I've been working on my cork board for quite some time now.  I thought that I had saved enough corks to FINSIH the board.  But, turns out I only had enough for 2 1/2 rows...  I guess I'm just trying to figure out how many "parts" I'm going to have to blog about :) for this board!!

Heres an update of my 2 1/2 rows!!

I'll be collecting more corks to update you all someday soon!! Hope everyone has a wonderful rest of the week!  Look for my "words to live by" post on Friday!!!

-M