What I Learned in August

It was such a busy month, I'm surprised I had time to pause and learn ANYTHING! But I managed to soak in a few life lessons. And they are....

1. I am too old for all-nighters.

We pulled an all-nighter to drive 850 miles to my sister's house to surprise her before my niece's wedding. Even the pure adrenaline of surprising the family wasn't enough to overtake the truth that I am too old to pull all-nighters. It took me a few days to recover!


2. I really can't dance.

I love to slow dance with Ryan at weddings, but that's all we ever do, because that's all the skill this girl has. {And truth be told, I don't even have REAL skill there. I just turn in circles.} But at Cassie's wedding, one of the groomsmen asked Ryan if he could dance with me, and it wasn't a slow song. Ryan said we looked like were in fast forward out there on the dance floor, and I assured him it also FELT like we were in fast forward. Matt, the groomsman, was kind to explain every move, but I had to hear it, comprehend it, and then do it, and by that time, we'd crashed into another couple and were on to something else. Bottom line? I can't dance. {But I still had fun!}


3. I should not read suspense novels on the road.

I took advantage of a 13 hour car ride to read a novel, and it was pure genius to use that time to do it, but I learned that reading a particularly tense section while in heavy traffic creates way more anxiety than I should absorb. LOL!! Every time Ryan braked hard, I screamed. He found it most amusing. I kept trying to put the book down, but I just couldn't!!!

4. I need routine.

We went to the lake for a long weekend, and as soon as we got home, we turned around and drove to Kansas for Cassie's wedding, and as soon as we got home from that, I worked at the Global Leadership Summit at our church for three days. By the end of that, I realized how desperately I wanted time at home to write, read blogs, play on Pinterest, and eat vegetables. Wait. WHAT?!?!? It's true. I crave routine {of work, eating habits, and exercise} and while I knew that, I don't think I really knew that...know what I mean?

5. Borrowing clothes truly rocks.

For the last year, I've been paring down my wardrobe and eliminating excess. My work {even when I'm speaking} doesn't demand excessively dressy clothing, so when I prepared for the big wedding weekend, I found myself wanting something new to wear, but not wanting to spend money on clothing I didn't need to keep. Enter Ryan's co-worker with a generous heart! I borrowed two dresses from her and jewelry from my friend Marie...and the only thing I purchased were my shoes, which I needed anyway. I'm thankful they allowed me to borrow from them so we could save money and room in the closet!

6. 20/20 vision can look blurry to someone with even better vision.

I had my second-ever-in-life eye doctor appointment this month, and tests showed I have 20/15 vision. {If you don't know this, 20/15 is better than great. 20/20 is the goal, and anytime that second number gets lower, it's even better.} In fact, I read 3 of the 6 letters on the 20/10 test line. Anyway. The eye doctor told me I can thank good genetics for that vision, so at this time, I will send my apologies to my sisters, who both had glasses in elementary school. But the doctor also told me that whenever my eyes do slack off to "perfect" 20/20 vision, I will really notice it and be frustrated with the quality of my vision. Who knew!?!?!

7. 80 candles don't fit neatly on a bundt cake.

 Self-explanatory. Happy birthday, Mom! Glad we didn't burn down our house - or you!

8. 20 years changes a whole lot of perspective.

I haven't blogged about it yet, but last weekend was my 20th high school reunion. And while I didn't have a horrible high school experience, high school also wasn't my favorite season of the soul. I didn't fit in {who DOES, really?} and that brought its own brand of hard and hurt. I graduated with the firm belief that I resided near the bottom of the totem pole. Twenty years later, I told Ryan it hardly matters anymore. I looked forward to going and seeing people I hadn't seen for many years, but I didn't stress. If they liked me, fine. If they didn't, fine. I wanted to look my best, but I didn't stress over what I wore or the humidity growing my hair. I'm me. They can like me or not like me. Praise. The. Lord.  

Mom's Surprise Cookie and Canvas Party...The Heart of the Party!

Before we talk party fun again...well...we're actually talking party fun on the podcast today, too! Here you go! I present the 41st episode!

Click here to listen.

Yesterday I told you some of the background of our surprise party for Mom! Today I thought I'd show you the heart of the party! After we got Mom all calmed down from her DOUBLE surprise, we had her change into her official party shirt:

We started out by playing the purse game, hosted by our very own Hosty McHosterson:

If you're not familiar...the purse game allows guests to rummage through their purses to look for items on the list, and they receive a certain amount of points for each item. Since we had a cookie theme going on, we had giant frosted sugar cookies {made by my sister}, and we put M and M's on each cookie for the guests who had the appropriate items. Each color candy was assigned a point value, and at the end, they tallied up their points to see who won! The winner received a "cookie in a jar" kit.  Everyone got to keep their cookies. I kept the host.

And by the way, why yes! That is his high school show choir vest, a photo prop bowtie on a stick and a wig from I'm not even sure where. And the shirt he wore to our wedding. It had no idea of its future. LOL!!!!!

After that, we worked on Mom's cake. A little PSA for you...bundt cakes don't hold 80 candles very well.

She had to help light her own candles because Ryan and I couldn't light them fast enough. There was a nice waxy film on the frosting by the time we were done.

And then she blew out the candles - after making 80 wishes, I'm sure.

HELP!!!! BEFORE THE SMOKE ALARMS GO OFF!!

He's a jack of all trades, really. Valet, game host, candle extinguisher...all of it.

It was a chocolate bundt cake with chocolate chips and chocolate buttercream frosting. And it was absolutely delicious. {Whew. It was an experiment. Why do I always insist on trying out new recipes in pivotal moments??????}

Quick group photo:

And then it was time to paint! Let me tell you about this part.

My friend Sarah, who has been my 21 Day Fix Coach, is also an art teacher, and she's recently started teaching these canvas classes. We hired her to come teach us, and she was amazing and delightful. She came early to help set up the "art studio" in our garage, she took the videos of Mom at the beginning of the party, and she taught us so well. And then she cleaned up! Rock star!!!

My sisters and I chose a Christmas painting, so people could just get them out at Christmas, in case paintings weren't really part of their decorating style year-round. And I tried to go with something fairly neutral, since we all have different color schemes. Sarah was a GREAT teacher, and here are some shots of our work!

{Ryan also played my second shooter for photography.}

We took a break in the middle of the painting portion to let Mom open her gifts and cards, and then we finished up. I though the ladies did GREAT with their paintings, even though several were pretty nervous about it!!

Another group shot!

And the party was a success!!!!!!!

Would ABSOLUTELY do this kind of party again. It was a blast! We had great feedback from the guests; they enjoyed the games and activities and the food. I think maybe the food most of all!!

Mom's Surprise Cookies and Canvas Party...The Surprise

Well, we did it!!

After months of planning, my sisters {and Ryan!} and I successfully surprised my mother with an 80th birthday party.

What in the WORLD!?!?!!? I truly never thought we'd get all the way to party day without her figuring it out.

My mom is quite the hostess and is all about doing doing doing for everyone else, but she never wants anyone else to do for HER. So several months ago, I created a secret little Pinterest board and started coming up with ideas for a fun party for her 80th. I wanted to do something a little different...something beyond just getting friends together for cake and presents {though there's nothing wrong with that}. Since she loves cookies, I thought a cookies and canvas party might be the way to go!

So over the course of the last several months, there have been many trips to Hobby Lobby, many test batches of cookies, many hours on Pinterest, and many consultations with Ryan and my sisters about how to pull off the surprise of the century!

My sisters and I found a date that worked for all of us, and before Lori booked her flight, I sneaked a call in to Dad to have him check the calendar to make sure Mom didn't have anything already scheduled. She didn't, so Lori booked her flight, and we made plans for an early birthday party. {We hoped by going early, she wouldn't be expecting it.}

We decided to host it at our house {so we didn't have to pay to rent a venue} and planned a decoy of a housewarming party to get her to show up. {It was also helpful in case I slipped and said something about the party, she would think I just meant the housewarming party.} Since we just moved and hadn't yet had a housewarming party, this all worked out very nicely.

Dad sneaked me a few addresses and I broke into her phone a few times when she wasn't looking to get a few other contacts I needed, and I mailed out invitations!

I was pleasantly surprised that almost everyone we invited was able to come! {Some even switched work schedules just to be there. So sweet!}

The last week before the party, I worked hard to get all the decorations in place. A peek at some of them:

Party shirt:

We incorporated cookies into our games, too, and this was the "standing game" that ran throughout the whole party. Our guests could guess how many cookies were in the jar, and the one who came closest would win the cookies and the jar!

 Rather than doing a guest book, we found this little banner and had our guests sign using a word that made them think of Mom, and then we let her take the banner home with her. It was fun!

I also spent the whole week baking cookies. The buffet had 8 kinds of cookies...one for each decade of her life. They were delicious! {PS...my sister Lori baked 2 of the kinds and shipped them out to me!}

We provided little goodie bags for everyone to load up on cookies before they went home. {And they could snack on them at the party, too!}

We told all of our guests to park down the road so Mom wouldn't see their cars, and Ryan shuttled them back and forth to our house. Then he stood outside and watched for Mom and Dad's car. Remember, she thought she was attending a housewarming party. So we told her we needed her to come early so Ryan could work on something on her phone. She insisted on bringing food, so we assigned her the veggie tray. Yes. She brought food to her own party. 

When Ryan spotted their car, he texted me, "THE EAGLE HAS LANDED. I REPEAT. THE EAGLE HAS LANDED." I gathered everyone around the front door and sat down to take pictures. My friend Sarah had my phone and took video. The reaction was 100% priceless.

I think it was good Ryan carried the veggie tray. 

We got her. She had no idea. Not one little bit. {I had started panicking that morning that she had somehow figured it out.}

I had also panicked that everyone would forget, since the invitations had gone out so long ago, and that everyone would hate the party. I did a lot of panicking that day. 

We brought her inside, to her "throne of honor," {a wheelchair we borrowed and decorated}.

And that's when we brought out the second surprise. My sister, Lori, had flown home from Kansas, and Julie had driven up from Indianapolis, and they'd been hiding in the back when Mom came in. Once we had her safely seated, we brought them out. 

BOOM. A double surprise!!!!!!! And it worked!!!

Isn't that so cool!?!?!!?!

We got her all changed into her party shirt, and then we were ready to begin!

The Shafferland Shuffle

The week in which I FINALLY get to tell you about all the sneaking around we've been doing over here! {Full recap to come. I promise.}

* Last Sunday, after church, I made scrambled eggs and French toast {the clean eating versions} for us. They were delicious! I love breakfast for lunch. And dinner. And breakfast. Ha! And then I started working on our big surprise for the week...a party for my mom. I have been planning and prepping this thing for MONTHS...and I haven't been able to tell you about it! Sunday I started baking cookies, and I also separated an entire bag of M and Ms by color for a game we were playing. That was fun for my OCD! We wrapped up our night by going to visit Grandpa in the hospital. Ran out of chairs so Ryan took the wheelchair.

* Monday I trekked to the hospital to watch Grandpa's first therapy session with his regular therapist. He rocked the walking! Amazing to see the improvement from one week earlier when he was prepping for surgery! Back to cookie baking I went...making a batch of lemon cookies that day. We went for  walk that evening and enjoyed a stunning sunset!

* Tuesday, I spent the entire day working on a book project that I'm excited to tell you more about soon, and surprisingly, I made more cookies! Snickerdoodle!!!! And because we live in a house with an abundance of cookies, we had to start a new {and hard core!} workout program. Hammer and Chisel is no joke.

* You already read about our Wednesday...the day of the tornadoes. I was baking chocolate chip cookies when the storms showed up, and I took shelter at the hospital for the first round. Came home and hid in our bathroom for round two, while Ryan watched the thing go right by. That boy. What am I gonna do with him???

* We had been warned there would be more storms on Thursday, but it was a bright, sunshiny day! {Although I did find Braeya curled up on the still-packed-for-storms suitcase, just in case, I guess.} I made prizes for party games {cookies in a jar}, made oatmeal cookies, baked a cake, and took a break from party prep to hang out with Ryan while he mowed his aunt and uncle's yard. Isn't he the cutest lawn boy ever?

* Friday was my 20th high school reunion, which I'll tell you more about next week! We went just to the first part, which was a tailgate party before the football game at our school. Had a great time seeing old friends. Even though I see a lot of them on Facebook often, it was still fun to see them in person!

* Yesterday was the big day!!! Mom's surprise party!! You guys!!!!!!!!! It went so perfectly. I can't wait to tell you all about it. She was shocked {actually I don't think the English language has a word to capture her reaction} and she loved the whole day. Such fun and so worth all the months of planning!!