A Jennifer Juniper Day

Shower Snapshots

The shower was a raving success! And the deck made the perfect setting for the celebration! Even the weather cooperated--warm with just enough cloud cover so that we didn't fry! This is the Reception Table in the corner of the deck.


Jennifer and Jose's Engagement photo along with a picture of my mom (who passed away this past April)on the beach when she was just 27, one year older than Jennifer.


The only flowers I purchased was a $6.99 bouquet of yellow and white daisies from Shaws that I broke up into smaller bunches and single bud vases.

Instead of a big floral bouquet, I just stuck my two silk dragonflies in the sparse vase of artificial white tulips already in place on my dining room table. I think it made the perfect centerpiece; it really showcased the dragonflies and kept them from getting lost in a bunch of flowers.

Door Prizes I wrapped in brown paper, stamped with a chocolate dragonfly stamp, and tied with a yellow ribbon. We drew names from the wish bowl at the end of gift opening.

My behind-the-scenes angels: son Nathan, niece Katharine and daughter, Bethany.

Me! In the kitchen prepping the chicken-pineapple skewers trying not to panic about the time!

The table with the appetizers waiting for the guests to arrive!

I had a separate table set up in the corner near the sliders for beverages.

Jake the dog wondering what all the fuss is about!

Somehow, jello shots made it into my classy bridal shower! O well, at least they stuck with the green color scheme. . .

My Jenni arrives and I turn to mush!

Jose pinning on Jenni's corsage--getting nervous yet?

The happy couple with their moms.

Lunch was a huge hit! The only left overs: cole slaw and a few dragonfly sugar cookies.



Jenni with Amanda, Katharine, Bethany and cousin Amanda.

The amazing dragonfly cake!

Jenni and Jose before cutting the cake.

After a little surprise Newlywed Game (we had to have some surprises . . .)where we had Jenni answer questions we asked Jose in advance, the gifts! Incidentally, they were a perfect match on the questions--must be made in heaven!




David and the Groom, Jose, looking on.

There wasn't a dry eye when Jenni opened a gift from her grandmother who passed away just two months ago.

Jenni with a birdhouse David made and I hand-painted with dragonflies and white apple blossoms to match her shower invitations. It also has this "Jenni + Jose" heart painted on the back--how cute!

The Bride and her fam.

The Groom and his fam.

A Lovely Day

I can't believe the shower has come and gone! Everything was wonderful, from the food, to the weather, to the cake, the gifts, the guests and Jenni's glowing face. The best part of the day was just seeing Jennifer so happy that she shined! Right now I am exhausted, but pleased. I could never have made it happen without my key kitchen helpers, Bethany and Katharine, and of course, my behind-the-scene guys, Nathan and David. Thanks guys! You helped the shower I dreamed up for Jenni become a reality. Now, I might just go to sleep tonight and not wake up for a week--but when I do, I promise to post lots of great photos of the happy time we had! Until then, bonne nuit!

Making My Own Kind of Music!

I'm a little bit of a music nut! I love all kinds of music so I had a lot of fun creating this Bridal Shower Sounds Playlist for Jenni's shower THIS Saturday!!!!!

Make Your Own Kind of Music-Cass Elliot
Come Away With Me-Norah Jones
My Love-Paul McCartney and Wings
I've Got You Under My Skin -Michael Buble
Blackbird-Sarah McLachlan
A Love That Will Last-Renee Olstead
Butterfly-Corinne Bailey Rae
The Way I Am - Ingrid Michaelson
Close to you - Carpenters
Magic - Colbie Caillat
Banana Pancakes- Jack Johnson
How Lucky We Are - Meiko
You Make It Real - James Morrison
Turn Me On - Norah Jones
California Dreamin'- Jann Arden
Maybe I'm Amazed - Paul & Linda McCartney
Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries - Lisa Loeb
Summer Wind - Michael Buble
Like a Star - Corinne Bailey Rae
Holding You - Gretchen Wilson
One Sweet Love - Sara Bareilles
One Love - Bob Marley
I Feel The Earth Move Under My Feet - Carole King
Oxygen - Colbie Caillat
Baby Love - Diana Ross & The Supremes
Summer Breeze - Jason Mraz
Son Of A Preacher Man - jann arden
Put Your Records On - Corinne Bailey Rae
Those Sweet Words - Norah Jones
Syrup & Honey - Duffy
How Sweet it is- Michael Buble
Shine on Me-Rascal Flatts
Give a Little Love - Rilo Kiley
Dream a Little Dream of Me - The Mamas and the Papas
Summertime - Renee Olstead
What Am I to You - Norah Jones
Bubbly - Colbie Caillat
Jennifer Juniper - Donovan
California Stars - Billy Bragg & Wilco
Blue Skies - Ella Fitzgerald
1234 - Feist
Love Story - Taylor Swift
Going to the Chapel of Love - Shirelles
Breathless - Corinne Bailey Rae
Better Together - Jack Johnson
Paradise - Ana Serrano
Gotta Have You - The Weepies
The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of - Carly Simon
It's A Love Thing - Keith Urban
I'm feeling you - Santana Feat Michelle Branch
There's A Kind Of Hush All Over - Herman's Hermits
Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) - George Harrison
Ain't We Got Fun - Renee Olstead
Our House - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
Dragonfly Eyes-Hayley Sales
You are the Sunshine of my Life-Stevie Wonder
Long Slow Beautiful Dance-Rascal Flatts
Beautiful Girl-Michael Jackson

Above is a photo board her and I worked on last week--don't ya just love it?!

Listmania!

Lists, lists, lists! I have lists everywhere! For everything! The good news is my shower-to-do lists are getting smaller and smaller. Unfortunately, so is the guest list. I started with 30 people when the invites went out and I'm down to 18! I didn't expect that, but I'll simply adjust my menu accordingly. Maybe I'll cut out the summer squash bake and even some of the sandwiches.

I did the napkins today--a clear plastic fork and knife inside a spring green luncheon napkin, tied just once with the same white polka dot ribbon I used for the favors. I put them all in this glass bowl, pulled up the ribbons and voila!--it looks like a giant flower!

The Bridal Luncheon Menu

For Apps:

Pita Chips & Hummus
Vegetable Platter & Dip
Fresh Cut Melon Slices
Mini Swiss Quiches

Salads & Sides:

Gruyere Potato Au Gratin
Green Bean Almondine
KFC Cole Slaw

Entrees:

Grilled Chicken & Pineapple Skewers
Turkey & Cucumber Croissant Sandwiches
Ham & Swiss Croissant Sandwiches
Lobster Finger Roll Sandwiches

Desserts:

Lemon Cake with Black Raspberry Filling
Plain Dragonfly Sugar Cookies
Chocolate Dipped Sugar Cookie Hearts

Beverages:

Pelligrino Sparkling Water
Iced Tea with Lemon Slices
Chilled Pinot Grigio

And Coffee will of course be served with dessert!--in an assortment of pretty china tea cups like the one in the photo above; my mom gave me these long ago and I never realized how beautiful they were until I took them down from the attic, dusted them off and washed them up.

There may still be a little tweaking with the menu, but this is pretty much final as far as I'm concerned. I think it will be fabulous--I have a couple of good helpers to assist in pulling it off!

Wishes for the Guests!

Here they are! The shower favors! At last!

My first idea didn't turn out so good--it was making chocolate dragonflies-an idea I found online-using dragonfly cookie cutters and those chocolate wafers you melt. It was a dud--I tried 3 times-3 different methods and always, if they came out in one piece, they looked amateurish! I had a few different ideas in between, but ultimately decided to go with this homemade buttercrunch from our local candy store--Tuck's. Who doesn't like chocolate? And this buttery toffee, covered in chocolate and dipped in peanuts is delicious!

So, I love the way these came out--very pretty and chic. And the "wishes" for the bride idea gets carried over to the guests!

I found someone to bake my cake! Jenn has a friend Sarah who has a sister Jenn who bakes cakes! She's fabulous and she had just what I was looking for--lemon with black raspberry filling and buttercream frosting! And she'll make it just like the picture, 2 tier, with white flowers and my cute little yellow dragonfly on top! Perfect! Click here to see Jenn's web site!

I have just about finalized my menu! Look for it soon!

The Dragonfly

I wrote this up to explain the symbolism of the Dragonfly and why we (or I) chose it as the theme for Jenni's shower. Jenni put it on this pretty paper to match her invitations and the frame was purchased from A.C. Moore for under $10. It reads:

The Dragonfly

Dragonflies are both beautiful and mysterious.
They represent Transformation,
Joy and New Light,
Adaptability, Grace, Strength,
Independence and Freedom.

As Jennifer enters into her new life with Jose,
it is our wish for her
that she may maintain her sense of Self,
Grow without limitation,
reflect her true and many Colors,
sparkle with the Joy and the Light from within,
be sustained always by
Grace and Love,
and by her very own wings,
be lifted
beyond where she dreamed she might ever go.

Unity Wreathes

My sister-in-law was kind enough to make two of these pretty unity wreathes that I will hang for the shower and the wedding! Find the creative people in your life that are always offering to help you and let them! Assign them a project! I knew Janine would know exactly what to do when I told her I wanted a couple of simple and pretty, natural wedding wreathes. She was worried about conforming to exactly what I had in my mind, but I gave her complete creative license--I wanted to be surprised! I love them!--the white ribbon to symbolize the wedding; the starfish to match the wedding theme; the apple blossoms to match the shower theme; and the twisted grapevine wreathe gives it that natural summer feel. Thank you Janine!