Spa Themed Bridal Shower

Because I secretly wish I was a party planner...from time to time, I plan to blog about events I've thrown or helped plan. First up...a bridal shower with a spa theme.

A friend of mine was recently tasked with planning a bridal shower. The bride to be decided that she really wanted a theme for her shower, and my friend wasn't sure where to start. Because she knew how much I love to plan a good party, (and because she's awesome!) she asked me to help her come up with a theme and decorations.

Excited by the prospect of planning a party (especially one I didn't have to pay for), I quickly brainstormed different ideas for the shower. My friend was torn between 2 of the ideas, but eventually decided on the spa theme.

The Breakdown:

The Decor

When it came time to discuss centerpieces, my friend mentioned that she really didn't want to use flowers since she figured they were expensive and they eventually die. Instead, she wanted a centerpiece that either could be reused at a later date, or was otherwise functional. So the centerpieces consisted of candles and stones (no flowers, inexpensive, and reusable--all three goals met--and to boot, the bride to be liked them so much that they are going to reuse them at the rehearsal dinner):

To add to the theme, small spa themed baskets were placed on the bar and on the food table:

Games

The bride wanted to make sure there were plenty of fun games at her shower. My friend had decided she wanted to do a quiz where you had to match up famous couples throughout time, but she wasn't sure what other games to use. I enjoy interactive games, so I suggested a game (affectionately referred to as the paddle game for now, but I will come up with a better name at some point) that I often use at showers.

The game tests how well the bride to be knows her future groom, while allowing guests to participate. Basically, you ask the groom a bunch of questions before the shower. At the shower, each guest receives a green paddle and a red paddle. The hostess reads the question she asked the groom, and then the guests raise a green paddle if they think the bride to be will get it right, and a red paddle if they think she will get it wrong. The bride then answers. Of course, the fun is intensified by the hostess who cracks jokes at both the guests' and the bride to be's expense (e.g., "no pressure" if all guests raise green...etc.). Usually the game works on a point system, where the guest with the most right wins, but in this case, the hostess decided to play the game in an elimination style, which also worked well (if you guessed wrong, you were out)!

I made the paddles by cutting red and green construction paper in wide strips and then gluing them around a plastic red/green knife. They have traveled to many a shower...and somehow have managed not to fall apart yet.

All of the prizes were spa themed (bags full of lotions, nail files, etc., and the grand prize for one game was a plush robe).

The Splurge

Since the party had a spa theme, guests were able to get hand and foot massages during the party. The massage table was placed under a tree in the backyard, and there were wind chimes hung from the branches of the tree. It was a huge hit that everyone enjoyed! As a special treat the hostess treated the bride to be to a full hour massage before the party as a shower gift.

The Food

To go with the spa theme, a light spread, included Chinese Chicken Salad, Strawberry Summer Salad and a Cranberry Salad (and of course there were plenty of mimosas too!):

The Favors

Personalized bath salts and a loofah were given away as favors to go with the spa theme (they also doubled as part of the settings for the tables). (The white blobs are me censoring for privacy)

Make My Day!

My husband thinks that the only reason I want children is so that I can throw parties for them. He might be right. I enjoy having a challenging intellectual career...but there is nothing like planning (and throwing) a party! So though I am a lawyer by trade, I pretend I am a party planner on the side.

I have recently been given the exciting task of helping my sister-in-law plan my niece's Bat-Mitzvah. I am not sure if my sister-in-law realizes the monster she is about to unleash (though I will try to keep myself under control), but I cannot wait to help her plan this big event. I've only had the assignment for a couple days, and already, I have helped my niece choose a theme she is excited about, sketched sample centerpiece choices, and sketched ideas for the room design, seating cards, cocktail decor and more! My niece's Bat-Mitzvah isn't until fall 2009...but I am almost done with all the details.

Stay tuned for developments.

Weekend Getaways and Day Trips - My Saviors

Once in a while, I feel the urge to get away. Perhaps I am a natural born traveler (although I somehow doubt that given my fear of planes), but no matter the source, a quick daytrip or weekend getaway is the best medicine when I feel overwhelmed.

Unfortunately, I don't quite have the capital (or the vacation days) to constantly travel. But, my husband and I made a deal that we would try to leave the city at least once every other month (or every month if we could be so lucky), even for a day trip. As we are in the process of looking for a house (and anticipating the house poor days ahead of us), we decided to tour our own state of California.

Below is a growing list of our trips with links to the recaps of each trip (hopefully I will remember to update it):

Weekend Getaways:

Laguna Beach, CA

Los Olivos, CA

Newport Beach, CA

Pismo Beach, California
Santa Ynez, CA

Solvang, CA

Day Trips:

Antelope Valley, CA
Malibu, CA
Montecito, CA
San Diego, CA
Santa Ynez, California
Temecula, CA
Tehachipi, CA
Venice, CA
Santa Monica, CA

Security?

Before we headed on our South American adventure, I tried to brush up on my Spanish skills. To that end, I found a free podcast on itunes for Coffee Break Spanish by the Radio Lingua Network. To my surprise, after a fun introductory song, Mark and Kara began the lesson with thick Scottish accents. It is true, I learned how to say "I am from Scotland" in Spanish, but they also address their US base with their lessons.

When I reached the Lima airport, I realized my Spanish was not as good as I thought it was. While we were only in Lima for a layover, we had to pass through security before we could reach our gate. After my bag went through the conveyor belt, I was stumped when they kept asking me if I had a "sombrilla" in my bag. This word was not covered by my Coffee Break lessons.

The security guards started making several gestures so as to explain what a sombrilla was, but apparently there is no good universal hand signal for an umbrella. Eventually after 10 minutes or so, I figured it out, and let the security officer know, that yes, I had an umbrella in my bag. They took my word for it, and let me move on toward the gate. I started to question whether the security in the airports in South America were as strict as North America, I mean not only did they take my word for it when I clearly didn't understand the question, but our shoes stayed on our feet and no liquids were confiscated - we almost felt human when we traveled. But then, I saw this. . .

Quite the collection!

Do My Fish Know We're Leaving on Vacation?

I may not be blessed with adorable children yet, but my husband currently fills that void in my life. Thus, from time to time he may inspire an "I-have-to-share-this-adorable-moment-post."

Today, our fish were being a bit aggressive with each other (and the rocks at the bottom of the tank), and they seemed to be going a bit crazy. My husband thinks they are anxious because they know we are going on vacation. Adorable, no?

Almost 100 Things About Me...and Growing

OK . . . more like a little more than 1/3 of 100, but if you count all my run-ons and tangents, there might just be 100 things yet (then again, if you subtract for repetitiveness. . . I may be worse off then I started):

1. I am a mommy
2. I work full time as an attorney
3. I do not think that makes be a bad person (or mommy)
4. I am starting to learn that the secret of the woman who does it all (the woman I always strive to be), is that she delegates!
5. I also found out the woman who does it all shops online, so that she doesn't have to run errands on her days off
6. I do not know how to ride a bike (yes, it's true: http://stilettolawyer.blogspot.com/2008/06/fear-and-pride-consequence-and-benefits.html)
7. I have never broken a bone (knock on wood)
8. I am superstitious
9. I am a horrible speller (and am very grateful for spell check)
10. I've been proven psychic in a laboratory (as part of a class I took in college)
11. I am not judgmental, or at least, not most of the time
12. I am naturally a pessimist, but have grown into an optimist
13. I believe that killing with kindness is always the way to go, but I admit that can sometimes be exhausting
14. I was a vegetarian for 10 years
15. I love to cook and find it therapeutic
16. I try to plan our meals for each month ahead of time, so that there is no guesswork to dinner each night
17. My favorite activity is throwing any type of party
18. I also love taking pictures, and scrapbooking
19. I have no artistic skills, and am not even capable of coloring between the lines
20. I am scared to fly, but I love to travel, and try not to let my fears interfere with enjoying life (if you need proof of this fact: I flew on 14 different planes in 2008)
21. I have been south of the equator
22. I am scared of needles (but, as you can see, I apparently I won't let that stop me from seeing the world either)
23. I am married to my soulmate
24. I am cheesy, but happy
25. I am sometimes naive
26. I am often indecisive
27. I am overly analytical, and must do extensive research before making any decision (which means I am also a lawyer)
28. Sometimes I flip a coin, just to see how I react; then I know what I really want to do
29. The idea of writing 100 things about me, was an idea that was stolen frominspired by other bloggers
30. I enjoy reading, but rarely find the time to read anymore (unless other people's blogs count)
31. I failed my driver's license eye exam
32. I write a lot of blog entries that I end up not posting
33. Which is silly because I think I am the only one who reads my blog
34. Well, at the very least, I am pretty sure that I am the only one who read this far without skipping
35. But, if you've made it this far, you are my new favorite friend
36. I am easy to please

You Can Call Me Four Eyes--My License Now Does

It's official, I need glasses. Sure, I've worn them since law school first stole my vision, but now, there is a special line on my license that boldly says "RESTRICTION." It's true, I failed the driver's license eye test (which I am told is a feat in and of itself).

Ah...the joys of aging.