Ashley's Baby Shower!

January 29, 2011 ~ Well it was finally time to get ready to welcome Baby Adams with a baby shower! It was a lot of fun planning my sister's shower and trying to come up with non-traditional things to do. She only has about 2 weeks until my nephew is born!

She has decorated his room in a construction theme so I had cakes and "boulder" cupcakes made by the Sugar Loft at Osage Beach. They turned out adorable! This is the dozer cake...

and this is the dump truck cake. They turned out so cute! We sprinkled crushed up Oreo cookies and chocolate candies that looked like rocks to help with the theme.

We had a "candy bar" which was a huge hit.

With all of the gifts she should be set for a year!

This is the Crews girls! Grandma Marsue Crews, Ashley and me!

She had a wonderful turn out and it's so wonderful to see important people in her life come to be a part of this special day!

Everyone signed this picture so that they can hang it in his room.... to show him how much he was loved before he even got here!

This is Grandma Crews, Daddy, Mommy and Grandma Adams! This will be the first grandchild for both sides... can you imagine how super excited they are!?! Well now that the shower is over we wait patiently for his arrival!

Pampering my sister.....

Well in about 2 1/2 weeks my nephew will be here so I decided to pamper my sister and we had pedicures and manicures this afternoon to prepare for her baby shower this weekend. (Can't you tell she's my sister... we are both silly!)

I have been so busy that I haven't had time to get a much needed spa day and it's always more fun with someone else! Ashley brought Sonic slushies for us to drink and the girls at Natural Nail Care rocked! Thank you Tracey & Amanda!

See... she ain't right! That's my sister!

A perfect ending to a great day!

Frost

As I looked out our office window this morning this is what I saw..... so I grabbed my camera and snapped a few pictures! This morning we had a fog/frost and the bushes/trees were outlined perfectly! These pictures couldn't capture the beauty but I had fun trying!

Although this is pretty.... I sure am ready for Spring!

I'm an Chamber ROI Graduate!

I love our Chamber of Commerce! We have a very unique thing in Columbia, MO and that our Chamber is 1,137 members strong and we get 500+ people that show up to our QMB's (Quarterly Membership Breakfast) which is fabulous! Our chamber is very active and such a great resource to help your business grow! This morning was our 3rd Annual ROI Graduation. ROI stands for Return On Investment which was a great program designed by the Chamber to encourage seasoned and new members to get involved to see everything the Chamber has to offer. It's really fun because it forces you to get outside of your comfort zone and try something new! There was 25 graduates today and 18 of us "walked" and received our diplomas which was a lot of fun! If you live in Columbia, MO and your business or the business you work for is not a Chamber of Commerce member then please beg them to let you get involved! You will thank me once you see the personal and professional growth opportunities that our Chamber has to offer. Congrats to our ROI class.... will you be next?

My Town!

"Yeah, where I was born, where I was raised. Where I keep all my yesterdays. Where I ran off 'cos I got mad,  An' it came to blows with my old man. Where I came back to settle down,  It's where they'll put me in the ground: This is my town" (My Town by Montgomery Gentry)

Well I wasn't born here but I've been in Midway since I was 3 years old and this will be where they put me in the ground 'cause this is my town! Midway is full of life, memories and love! It's so funny to talk to people and they think that Midway is so far away. They'll say "Oh you are all the way out there?" or "You don't have to drive all the way into town" which cracks me up because we are only 10 minutes or less from the Columbia Mall... a hop, skip and a jump!

Our shop is where my Grandma & Grandpa Crews' barn was located. (They rented the barn from Lance Henderson) As a kid we always had hogs or cows that we would raise and butcher and I spent a lot of time in that old barn. I have been looking for many years for a picture or drawing of that barn (back in the 1980's there were several college and non-college students that sat for hours and would draw this barn).

We have Boone County Firestation # 9 which is quick to respond to any need. There is something nice knowing that we have this service so close to us and that people are always there.

This is our elementary school where I attended from 1981-1988. Midway Heights Elementary School, I think, is the best elementary school! I love it so much that in 2008 we decided to become a Partner In Education with it. I love being able to give back to our community and something I am very passionate about. The teachers and staff are amazing and always go the extra mile to make sure that each child is given the best care possible.

 This is one of the 2 churches out here.... Midway Locust Grove Church. I wanted to get married at this church but they couldn't accomodate 300+ people. My Grandma & Grandpa Crews are buried here and this is where I want to be when it's my time. It's just a part of our town and where many gather on Sunday. My Grandma & Grandpa's garden was right next to this church so I spent a lot of time playing here while they worked.

This is one of my favorite little stores and it's located right here in Midway! Larry's Boots is a store I frequently visit. If you like western wear including cowboy boots then this place is a must! I love the Cruel Girl brand of shirts and have several pair of boots.... I've got my eye on a couple more pair but I am trying to be really good and not spend on things I don't really need.... which is really tough to do!

The last stop for today on our tour is a Midway tradition.... sledding on the big hill! This is a big hill at the Midway Truck Stop and for as long as I can remember all the kids gather here to sled during the winter. It's always fun to drive by and watch them go zipping down the hill and you can't help but remember when you were a kid and did the same thing! It was fun going down the hill and not so fun walking back up the hill.

Well I thought you might enjoy a small tour of "My Town" and don't be a stranger.... come see us anytime!

More blankets!

Well I have been a busy little bee trying to get a nice stock pile of baby rag blankets for our upcoming (April) flea market! I have been cutting all the fabric so that when I get a chance to sit down and sew I can whip out one or two blankets at a time! I purchased over 400 yards of fabric which is enough for approximately 100-125 blankets!

They are really fun putting the colors together and unfortantly I have more girl fabric then boy fabric. Oh well I will get creative i'm sure! I love the feeling when I get one compeltely done and wash and dry it.... they are so soft! I had given many of them away as baby gifts and I don't take special orders so I thought this would be a great way for those wanting one to get one at a reasonable price. They are roughly 35" x 35" finished. I have tried to make some matching lovey's but only if I have left over material that isn't enough to make another blanket.

Here's a few of the little lovey's..... Made just like the rag blankets only smaller.

Beer Tops & Wine Corks, Oh My!

Well, I love my mother in law, Francie! She is saving me the beer tops and wine corks from her work! I have a few projects in mind and need lots of both and she has helped in a big way! (I have some awesome friends who have saved their stuff and given to me too... thanks guys!) I have to wash each of the beer tops as they had a little moisture in the bag and have a little rust on them.... and have about this many more that need to be washed!

It's fun to look at the different beer tops (since I don't drink) and come up with ideas of things to make! She is going to keep saving but I also need different / rare beer tops too! So if you have any please save them for me and I will make arrangements to get them from you.

I really love the wine corks! I can't wait to try different projects incorporating them in it. If you drink wine and don't save the corks for yourself please save them for me! I guess I don't have enough to do as I always find something new to try my hand at. I'll post of some my crafts once I figure out what I am doing! :)