I am 1 of 3 children.  I’m the oldest, then my sister Kelly & then my brother Joe.

Kelly is crazy!  She is a real firecracker & always the life of the party.  She loves her Bloodhound, she loves to run & dance, she works with my dad & loves her job, too.  Kelly is really into fun facts & trivia…. so here’s a fun fact about Kelly–she’s obsessed with Rik Smits, former Indiana Pacer.  She follows him to all his local celebrity appearances.  Here’s a picture of them together at Marsh:

Kelly and Matt met a few years ago & he popped the question over the summer.  Luckily for Rik Smits, Kelly has been pretty busy planning the wedding & hasn’t been chasing him around town at all his “local celeb” gigs.  We love Matt, so just like Rik, we are lucky that Kelly is getting married.  When it started to feel “odd” to not have the Mooster (aka Matt) at family functions, that’s when I knew he was the guy that I wanted as my sister’s husband & my brother-in-law.

I love throwing parties & I believe that sentimental details are what make the difference between good parties & great parties.  It’s not the menu or the decor.  It truly is the thought that counts.  Keep that in mind when you start stressing out about your next party.  Your guests would rather have a simple food that represents something sentimental than some sort of elaborate dish they have never heard of that costs you a ton of money & takes forever to prepare.  And if they don’t feel this way – you are entertaining the wrong people.

We had a wonderful time yesterday – enjoy some of the pictures:

Mom, Kelly & I – this picture represents a lot of love & faithful friendship.

Party favors – I’m a huge fan of giving a party favor that people will actually use & also one that can double as part of the decor… because I hate decorating. Kelly & Matt: The Perfect Blend

Kelly & some of her wonderful friends!

Each guest was able to take home a small tote of Forelle Pears as a favor.

Kelly wants to win the February Contest – she brought The Produce Mom to the shower!  And yes, that’s Produce Mom on a sock.

Kelly’s Bridal Shower Soundtrack – a collection of songs chosen by the Bridesmaids. Each guest got a copy & we listened to it during the shower, too!

Kelly & I with the autographed bottle of Andretti Winery Cabernet

“He popped the question & soon there will be a wedding celebration”

Guacamole, BBQ, Southwest & Beer flavored Patti’s Popcorn, Kelly’s Popcorn Vendor

Dessert & Popcorn Buffet – a smaller version of what Kelly is offering at her wedding reception

The wine buffet – which I decorated with some fresh grapes

Sea Salt Caramels from The Best Chocolate in Town…. One of my favorite local eats & a sophisticated and delicious addition to the beverage bar