A Touch of Tiffany Bridal Shower/Bachelorette Party

"I'll tell you one thing, Fred, darling... I'd marry you for your money in a minute. 

Would you marry me for my money? "
"In a minute."
"I guess it's pretty lucky neither of us is rich, huh?"
"Yeah."

-Breakfast At Tiffany's

A couple of weeks ago, I put together a Bridal Shower on a last-minute's notice.  I had to act fast, so I just went with a few things I knew about the bride-to-be...

1. She loves vintage.
2. She loves Audrey Hepburn.
3. I love Paris...oh, wait.  This wasn't about me?  Ooops.

So, I just started throwing things together.  Stop #1, my go-to bakery for some truffles and petite fours.  I knew I had to get this order in first!  I decided to go with petite fours in white with black Os (initial of Groom's last name) and chocolate with white Os...white cake with lemon filling and chocolate cake with raspberry filling, in case you want to know the finer details...or something to drool over. 

My Stop #2 was Etsy.  It's my go-to place for DIY original party supplies.  I found just what I was looking for and everyone was so helpful in getting me my PDFs in a timely fashion and customizing all of it to my color scheme.  My main purchases were some personalized party games, dessert table labels, tissue paper pom poms, french soaps for favors, and some adorable lips and moustache straw flags! (click on the items for links back to the Etsy shops) 

For the rest of the decor, I just used what I already had...I'm a lover of all things Paris and French, so I had a few Eiffel Towers lying around.  I picked up some damask black and white ribbon and some Tiffany blue ribbon at Michael's to use on the dessert table...and wherever else needed some ribbon. To add a little "Audrey Hepburn" into the shower, I printed off some quotes and put them in black and white frames and set them around the dessert table and food area.

I usually ALWAYS use fresh flowers, but like I said, time was short, so I used some large artificial white peonies in some little Eiffel Tower vases.  They looked cute and matched the "feel" of things.


For the favors, I ordered some FABULOUS VINTAGE-Y French Soaps from The French Market on Etsy!  They were a hit.  Each one came in a stamped glassine bag with seam binding wrapping.  So so cute...so so French and vintage.  

(photo courtesy of FrenchMarket on Etsy)

My favorite little touch was the French Sparkling Lemonade I ordered from Amazon.  It was DELICIOUS and paired wonderfully with our lasagna, salad, and bread sticks from Olive Garden (I know, not French, but Bride's request).

I also did the wedding last weekend, so I'll do a post on that next week!  It's all black and white and vintage...turned out really cute!


List of links:
Damask/Tiffany Blue Table Tents/Labels - Posh Pixels
Personalized Bridal Shower Games in Tiffany Blue - Duecuori
French Soaps - FrenchMarket
Lips and Moustache Flags - HeSawSparks
Tissue Paper Pom Poms - The Whimsical Pom
Grey Striped Paper Straws - Amazon.com
Lorina French Sparkling Lemonade (FROM FRANCE!!) - Amazon.com


If you see anything else in the pics and want to know where I got it, just ask me in the comments or shoot me an email!


Hope you all are having a fabulous week!♥

Hunger Games Swag Bags

Raise your hand if you've been to see the Hunger Games!  Raise your other hand if you loved it like a fat kid loves cake...or like Peeta loves Katniss!  Now, hop on one foot if you think Gale is cuter than Peeta.  Say your ABC's backwards.  Kidding.

I did like any good fangirl would do and I went to the 12:01 showing of Hunger Games last Thursday night/Friday "morning"...and it was AH-mazing!!  I cried like a baby.  Ask Impulsive Addict.  She was there.  So, was Kiss, the girl without a blog.  She sure can kiss though. *sigh* ;)

If you know me AT ALL, you know that I can have a Twilight or Hunger Games "event" without some swag...or a party...or something!  These things must be celebrated appropriately.

So, I decided to throw a little last-minute Hunger Games Swag Bag together for my girlz, Skillz (aka Impulsive) and Kiss.  Here's what they looked like...

What was in the bag:

• Some tissues...for when you're "weeping at the reaping".  I decided to be clever and I made up some little squares using Avery Postcards (#3381) that I had left over from Isaiah's birthday.  I wrapped them around some personal size Puffs tissues and tied them up with some raffia.
• I wrapped up some cookies in parchment paper...ya know, 'cause Peeta is the "bread boy"...it didn't seem very appealing to wrap up bread, so cookies it was!  The cute little "Mellark Bakery" label came from Party Scribbles on Etsy!
• I had some grey and white striped paper straws left from a Bridal Shower I did last weekend, so I found these really cute FREE printable Hunger Games Straw Flags on Living Locurto! (Awesome website for free printables!)
• I bought some "tiny bottles" (Barefoot Moscato - YUM, Sky Vodka, and Coconut Rum) and wrapped them in some more labels I bought from Etsy that said "Sleep Syrup", also from Party Scribbles!
• I also included some cinnamon gum to represent Katniss, the Girl on Fire!

I forgot to take a picture of the swag all put together, but I just put all the goodies in a white craft sack and added some red tissue paper and a little raffia.  Using red and orange tissue paper together would have been cute too, but I was just using stuff I already had.

There ya go!  My Hunger Games Swag Bag!

I posted some links on my Hunger Games post from last week, if you're looking for more Hunger Games party ideas!

Happy Hunger Games Day!

Wow.  So, it's finally here!  The Hunger Games movie will be in theaters tonight/tomorrow at 12:01am.  I've got my District 12 Tribute shirt on, my Mockingjay earrings, tickets, and swag bags for mah girlz...I'm ready!

I've been waiting so long.  I can't believe it's here.  I've been a huge fan of this trilogy since I read the first book in 2008...waited (im)patiently for Catching Fire and even more (im)patiently for Mockingjay.  I have high expectations for the movie and I'm willing to bet that it doesn't disappoint.  The cinematography looks amazing and it's filled with talented actors/actresses.  I get major goosebumps every time I see a trailer.  You would think after a while I'd become immune to the same 2 minutes of footage, but nope.  Impulsive and Kiss are going with me tonight.  I'm sure we will be the picture of perfect line waiters...except for the "provisions" in the form of tiny bottles I've purchased.

As a "Happy Hunger Games Day" surprise, I got an email from a guy who works with The Daily Beast and he asked my permission to include my Mockingjay tattoo into an article they posted today titled '10 Die-Hard 'Hunger Games' Fans and Tattoos'...it uses the terms "fanatical" and "extreme" to describe the 10 fans' tattoos that are in the gallery.  (Mine is #5, in case you wanna take a peak)  I am SO NOT "fanatical" or "extreme"

Bazinga.

To wrap up this HG post, I'll leave you with some links...party ideas, free printables, and past posts about The Hunger Games.  If you haven't read the books yet, DO IT!  NOW.  You could have the whole trilogy read over the weekend.  No excuses.

Party ideas - Living Locurto
Free Printables - Living Locurto
Printables on Etsy - ClickableParty and Party Scribbles (both will customize for small fee)
Amazing Cupcake Ideas - Sweet Tooth (recipe and instructions)
My Catching Fire Review
Mockingjay Tattoo Pic
Mockingjay Post
Mockingjay Review
What to read after The Hunger Games?

Happy Hunger Games!!  May the odds be ever in your favor.

Staying On The Wagon: JK's Weight Loss Story

We all know how hard it is to hang on sometimes…feel ourselves slipping off the proverbial edge.  Some days are harder than others…and sometimes, desperate times call for desperate measures.  So, here are a few of my personal tips and tricks for staying on track:

• My #1 go-to is DRINK LOTS OF WATER…and when you think you’ve drank enough, drink some more.  I try; try being the key word, to drink 3 liters a day.  It helps me keep that full feeling, curbs cravings and is just overall good for you.  Bonus is that it helps your skin look nice and healthy too.
• I like to keep gum handy.  It’s on my desk, in my purse, and on my kitchen counter.  An Altoids helps too…they’re curiously strong.  Just anything to keep my mouth busy when I feel like eating.  I remember my old WW leader telling us that BLTs add calories to your day that you don’t count…not bacon lettuce and tomato sandwiches (although that sounds really yummy minus the T)…but Bites, Licks, and Tastes.  When you’re cooking and you taste a little sauce or soup…nibble a bite of the pasta…lick the spoon from the cupcakes…those all add up.  So, keeping something in your mouth will help cut down on the BLTs.
• Distraction.  Sometimes when I’m sitting at my desk working, I get this overwhelming urge to head to the break room for a snack.  I’m pretty sure it’s just out of habit (and those little voices in my head).  So, instead of eating, I distract myself with something else…like open up a book on my Kindle, or hop on Twitter, browse Blogger…15 minutes of one of those activities and I’m back to work without caving into the snack monster.  I know it might sound delusional, but it works for me.  Plus, I feel like I’m rewarding myself for not caving by doing something I enjoy.
• Fill up on veggies.  I try to eat at least 2-3 servings of vegetables at lunch.  It helps me get in my goal of 5 servings (optimal would be 7-8) and fills me up on something low-calorie.
• I read somewhere that you’re supposed to eat like a king for breakfast, a queen for lunch and a pauper for dinner.  I don’t do this on weekdays, but I do try to apply that analogy to my weekend meals…make a big breakfast, have a medium sized lunch, and a small dinner.
• Add as many steps to my day as possible…take the stairs, park at the back of the parking lot, make an extra lap around Hell-Mart pushing my basket full of groceries…etc.

What are some of your tips and tricks for staying on the wagon?

  

*weight loss update: I’m no longer in the 200s and it feels good.  As of yesterday morning, I weighed 199 even.  WOOHOO.  Officially the least I’ve weighed in 8 years.

It Was SERIOUSLY Impulsive...Seriously.

I participated in Impulsive Addict's and Seriously Shawn's Seriously Impulsive Swap.


It is my goal to use the words impulsive and/or serious as many times as it takes to seriously annoy you with my impulsive use of terminology...seriously.


I was paired up with the SERIOUSLY adorable, Aly from Analyze This.  I love her, so this impulsive serious shopping was a breeze.  I didn't freak out one time.  Nor did I call Impulsive Addict and have her talk me down from the ledge.  Nope, not me.


Ok.  Maybe I did.  I was taking this swap biz serious, yo.  I usually have mad shopping mojo, but I lost it for a few days.  All my impulsive shopping trips turned out to be serious disappointments.


I'm kind of a last-minute person.  I tend to work well under pressure; and when it comes to Aly's seriously impulsive swap package, I think I can sum it up with "oops, I did it again."

My impulsive and serious swap package from Aly arrived on Friday!  

*three squeeees for happy mail*

She included this seriously funny card...

and LOTS of impulsive goodies...

AMAZING lip gloss...

and some cute thank you cards and post-its...

We bought each other the EXACT same earrings from Target...seriously.  She had also mentioned her love for these yummy Strawberry fruit strips from Target, and she was VERY specific that they HAD to be Archer Farms Target brand.  I put some in her package and she returned the favor...

and I'm hooked!  Sooooooo SO yummy!

She also sent me an adorable scarf!  I seriously love it.

THANK YOU so much, Aly!!  I love it all!!

Go take a peak at Aly's swap package - click HERE

Check out all the other swap packages on Impulsive Addict's and Seriously Shawn's Talk To Us Tuesday!

You’ve Got Some ‘Splainin To Do…

In the words of R. Kelly, there is something I must connnnnnnnnfeeeeeeesssssss… I don’t see nothing wrong with a little bump and grind.

   

Ok, so that’s R. Kelly’s confession. I jacked it. What’s it to ya? I’m ok with a little bump and grind too. 

For realz, though. Here are a few things I need to get off my chest… 

1. I got up at 1:07 yesterday morning and made me a peanut butter-blueberry-cream-cheese-low-carb-tortilla-wrap. Ate it and went back to bed. 
2. I’m not pregnant. 
3. I know this for a 100% fact because Aunt Flo is visiting this week and she’s been telling me to do bad things. 
4. I had something VERRRRRAH inappropriate sent to myself at work. Let’s just call it “note cards”. 
5. I might have had a slight panic attack while out at lunch yesterday worrying about “WHAT IF…what if IT came and Jill, the receptionist, decided to be nosey?” “WHAT IF, one of the drafting guys thought it was for them??” How WOULD I explain myself. Then, I came up with the perfect solution. I bought it for Skillz. Fortunately, I didn’t have to lie. We all know where you go for that shiz. 
6. I’ve been trying to curtail my potty mouth and any time I try to attempt that I come up with a new catch phrase/fake cuss word/phrase. This weeks’ faux bad word is “MUTHER LOVIN’” Try it out. It feels good rolling off the tongue. Mix that in with a little “sofa king” and “shiz” and I got most of the cuss word groups covered. 
7. Here’s a fun little game: Any time you feel like letting one fly (cuss word that is), think of a name of someone in the Bible, NOT God or Jesus because that’s blasphemous and we don’t use the Lord’s name in vain…but like Noah or Moses or if you really know your stuff, you could pull out one of those old testament guys that not many people know about, like Haggai…and you put their name with an object that starts with the same letter. Example: “Noah on the Nile!” or “Moses in the Mohave!”…and for bonus points use a name like Haggai…”Haggai in a hammock!”…”Jezebel in a jalopy!” 

 It’s fun. I swear. 

Well, hope everyone has had a supah fab week.

I Love You Like A Back-Alley Hooker Loves Crack

I love you like a Kardashian loves publicity.

I love you like a pimp loves hos.

I love you like LiLo loves getting kicked out of rehab.

I love you like Snoop Dogg loves gin...and juice.

I love you like Ryan Gosling loves saying "hey, girl."

Yep, I love you guys that much.

Just wanted to say "thank you" for all of your sweet compliments and encouragement to my Weight Loss post last week!  You guys are awesome!!  It definitely gave me some much needed motivation.  I haven't had a weight loss since the day before I posted that and felt discouraged all last week, but every time I did, I just looked back at some of your comments and kept going.  So, THANK YOU!!!

So, it's V-Day!  Do you have any sugary romantic adventures planned?  I think it's a hyped-up-over-commercialized holiday.  BUT I'm not opposed to a little romance.  I just think it's important to tell those that you love that you love them every day.  We shouldn't reserve it for one day out of the year. 

Side note: Just for the record (Michael, this is where you should really pay attention), if there is not at least a card waiting for me when I get home, do not and I mean, do NOT, ask me "how you doin'" and look at me like you're going to rock my world...'cause it's not happening. 

WHAT?!  I'm still a girl.  I have needs and feelings.

Be sure to tell someone you love them today!

Happy Valentine's Day!  Hope you all have a love-filled day!

Stop by and link up with my girls, Impulsive and Shawn for TTUT!

Up and Down and Around and Around: JK's Weight Story

I can't believe I'm getting ready to out myself like this.  I NEVER and I mean NEVER tell anyone how much I weigh...EVER.  Not my mom.  Not Michael.  Not my BFF.  Not my imaginary friend. 

*deep breaths, JK*

So, here's the deal.  I've struggled with weight my WHOLE life.  Even when I was active in high school, cheering every day and working out all the time.  My weight was still a struggle.  I had to consciously think about what I was eating. 

One time, when I was a Junior in HS, I got down to about 140 pounds.  THEN came college and the "Freshman 15" that I managed to turn into the Freshman 50.  What can I say?  I'm an overachiever. 

I remember when I got married, in 1998, that I had managed to starve myself long enough to get into a 12/14 and I probably weighed about 175lbs. 

We all know that when you get married you gain weight, right?  You're comfortable.  You've "won the prize", so to speak.  In 2002, I weighed about 205lbs and I was so sick of being fat...AGAIN.  I started Weight Watchers that time and it worked like a charm.  I didn't have many distractions.  I was secure in my job.  Michael and I had been married for 4 years.  We didn't have any kids.  So, I spent my time getting skinny.  It was kind of my favorite pastime.  My WW Points were like a game and exercising as much as I could was what I did for fun.  Nine months later, I was down to 132lbs.  The smallest I had EVER been...ya know, after getting boobs and my period and all that fun stuff. 

I managed to keep most of that off, but couldn't quite maintain the 132.  I don't think I'm meant to be that skinny.  I slowly went back up to a comfortable 150.  I felt fine at that weight and it was easy for me to maintain.  I didn't have to work very hard at it and I felt healthy.

THEN, 2004 rolls around and I get pregnant.  And what do you know...I gained back all 72lbs I had lost on WW in the 9 months I was pregnant.  Damn the luck...and the pastries and peanut butter sandwiches and LARGE glasses of milk...and "eating for two".  I think after having Isaiah and realizing that I had just successfully gained back ALL that weight I had worked SO hard to take off, just made me not want to try anymore.  Plus, I had this little baby to take care of.  Who had time to eat right and exercise and get appropriate amounts of sleep...or wash their hair regularly?  Not me. 

The first time I made a solid attempt at losing weight after that was when Isaiah was about 1 1/2.  I had recently seen my EXTRA LARGE ASS in an Easter picture...and I desperately wanted to go on this new birth control and my OB wouldn't prescribe it to me until I was around 190lbs.  Seemed do-able.  I tried really hard, really I did, but I was working our coffee shop...like 16 hours days, taking care of a little guy...and a house...and a husband...and working where I do now on weekends.  If I remember correctly, I got down to about 199lbs.  I just couldn't manage those last 9 pounds.  SO FRUSTRATING. 

Since then, it's been a freakin' roller coaster.  I've been up and down...and up...and up...and then down a little.  My weight has fluctuated from 255lbs (most I've EVER weighed) to 199lbs.  I FINALLY see the light at the end of the 200lbs tunnel again...it's just a mere 1.4lbs away.  I'll probably do a little happy dance when it finally happens.  You know how good it feels to go from one ten to the next, right?  When you don't have to say (or think) 200 anymore, you can say 190something...or for you skinny people, getting out of the 120's and into the "teens".  I think most of us can relate in one way or another. 

I don't know what this go around means for me.  I don't know if I'll make it to my 145lb goal. 

Sure would be nice for my Driver's License to be correct for once. 

All I do know is that I'm taking it one day at a time...sometimes just one meal at a time.  I'm trying not to over think things...trying not to freak out over small set backs.  I'm TRYING to remember that it's NOT what we do at ONE meal or on ONE day, but what we do at all the rest of the meals and on MOST days.  I'm TRYING to remember that I don't ever have to "start over"...I just have to keep going, even if I gain a pound or eat a cheeseburger. 

So, hopefully one of these days, I won't be embarrassed to tell my weight...or wear shorts...or a cute tank top or sleeveless dress.  And maybe, just MAYBE, my thighs won't attempt to combust into flames from friction when I walk.  And perhaps, there won't be three rolls of back fat...or 2 jelly rolls above my pants.  Maybe. 

UP...way way UP.

Down.

My Granny got sick and I put it ALL back on...except for maybe a few pounds...and back UP.

May 2011

Down a little.

What started this weight loss journey to begin with...trying to fit into a size 16 bridesmaid dress that I ordered on-line and had no way of returning and getting a bigger size in time for my cousin's wedding...just barely, but I did it.

I think that little bit of success and me ACTUALLY accomplishing a something I had set out to do, spurred me on to keep losing.

I've lost about 19 pounds since Christmas.  The only difference I can really tell is that those jeans I was wearing that night are baggy now.  Feels good.

When I started tracking my weightloss on My Fitness Pal back in July, my starting weight was 243.  As of today, I've lost about 42 pounds.

Now you know the ugly truth. Not sure how I feel about pushing "publish"...I'm hoping it will keep me accountable and remind me that I don't want to go back. *fingers crossed*

Are you on a weight loss journey?  What are you doing to lose weight or get in shape?  Share it with me in the comments.  I get major motivation from other people's stories!

"Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels" (nothingtastesasgoodasskinnyfeelsnothingtastesasgoodasskinnyfeelsnothingtastesasgoodassk...wait, how does skinny feel again?)

So, I'm Here. Now What Do I Do?

I'm consciously making an effort to blog.  I even made it around to visit a few people...left some comments, corresponded through email...I'm not back in Good Blogger status, but I'm a work-in-progress.

However, now that I'm here, I'm not sure what to say. 


I told Skillz (Impulsive Addict to you) yesterday that I don't feel like my life is exciting...not very "blog worthy". 

I remember a day when everything felt bloggable.  I would think to myself 3 or 4 times a day "ooooooo, I am SO blogging that" *valley girl JK* or "consider yourself blogged, fool" *gangsta JK*

I guess, if this is what I (we all) say it is...a journal of our lives, reflecting on daily activities, and bringing whatever we can to the proverbial "table"...then, I should just be able to sit down on any given day and spew out whatever is swimming around in my brain and call it a blog, right?

Right.

Soooooooo....yeah, I got nothin.

Suppose it might take a while to get back in the groove.

In the mean time, wanna see some iPhonography from the past 4 months.  It'll give you an idea of what I've been up to while I wasn't here.

 Breaking Dawn Part 1 - Midnight showing with Jiff and Impulsive Addict!

I just might have solidified my spot as "Mom of The Year" if I had let those go out in the mail to 21 seven and eight year olds.  Dang it.  What was I thinking going with the store bought invites?

 *end of iPhonography*

Christmas 2011 at ma crib.

 One of my favorite pictures that I took over the holidays.

 A fun day in January just playing around town with my camera, and three of my favorite people...Hannah, Caleb and Isaiah.

In other news...

I'm addicted to Pinterest.  Find me.  We'll pin some crap.  It'll be fun.


I'm trying to lose my FA (that's Spanish for fat ass...say it...out loud..."effay"...sounds Spanish right?).  If you use the My Fitness Pal app, look me up...jennykate77.

"Curly hair, curly thoughts." <---read this in a book and thought it suits me.

Anybody Got a Swiffer? It's Dusty Up In Hur (Here).

*AHHHHHHHHHHH...Ahhhhh...CHOOOOOOOO*  Sorry, dust makes me sneeze.  Ok, and I'm possibly over-dramatic.

I have no idea what I'm doing here...maybe the peer pressure is getting to me, maybe I'm just feeling really rebellious today and feel like "sticking it to the man", maybe I stopped by and felt sad that I haven't been here in so long...IDK? 

I've lost 3 followers in the last few months during my hiatus.  I TOTALLY don't blame them.  I mean, what the hellz are the other 359 of you doing still following my blog??  There is nothing to see here! 

I decided to take a peak at my stats, because let's face it...none of us blog for "us".  That's such a lie to make ourselves feel better when no one comments on a post or no one stops by our blog.  Seriously, people.  You wouldn't keep talking incessantly if no one talked back to you or listened to anything you were saying.  But that's not the point I was making...I'm rambling. *ooooo, shiney penny* <---I have so many of those moments in a day. It's ridiculous.  So, back to what I was saying, I checked my stats, and to my complete and utter dismay, people have been here.  I haven't even been here.  It's kinda weird that even though I have abandoned my little space on the interwebs, other people still stop by.  It's nice.  Makes me think I should come back.  I mean, I do own this place.  It says so...right up there. *points to the top*

So, one of my old (and by that I mean the time we've know each other and not a reference to age) bloggy friends, Mimi @ Living in France, tagged me last week...hoping to bring me out of my Reclusive Blogger status.  I thought, "why not". 

Here's dizzle ma nizzles:

• You must post 11 random things about yourself. (I think I can manage this...everything about me is random.)
• Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post.  (Not sure I have time for this...we'll see.)
• Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.  (This isn't going to happen...deal.)
• Go to their blog and tell them that you’ve tagged them.  (I can do this.)
• Legitimately tag 11 people!! (Don't push your luck.)

11 Random Things About JK...hmmmm...

1. I occasionally speak about myself in third person.
2. I like to turn my hip-hop/rap music up so loud in my car that I feel the bass on my ass in my seat.
3. I also perform every morning on my way to work.  You can catch me from 8:10 to 8:50 on HWY 51, but you'll have to break the law to keep up.  I drive like a Cullen.
4. I'm an interactive TV watcher.  I like to talk to the people and yell at them...occasionally profanities.  What?  I'm a passionate person.  Drives M cray. 
5. I've discovered that while I'm restricting my calories (we don't mention the "d" word), I'm a bigger bitch than usual while Aunt Flo is visiting. 
6. I would have killed a mofo for some chocolate last week. 
7. I finally caved on day 3. 
8. Probably saved a few poor souls. 
9. I like to think of it as caving for the greater good. 
10. I know it was the right thing to do, because deep down, I didn't feel bad about it.
11. I kinda just cheated, but whatevs. 

Since I'm bloggin like a baws (boss) today, I might as well kill two birds with one stone and link up with my hookas Impulsive Addict and Seriously Shawn for their Talk to Us Tuesday!  No rules, just fun!