Call me a Party Planner

Dear Kate,

You may have noticed that it has been a while since I last blogged. Well, that’s because I was recovering. Not like Lindsay Lohan recovery, but more like a Mandy Weiss recovery from too much party planning.

On Saturday we had Sarah's bridal shower. It was a tea for about 43 people (there was a time when we thought it was going to be more, then a time when we thought it was going to be less) and indoors because LA decided to be like the rest of the planet and actually have weather that wasn't 70 degrees and sunny. Boy, putting on a party is a lot of work. And I am only talking about what I was in charge of, not what Lady Di or my Aunt Maria or Lisa, or Claire or AnneMarie or Nonni had. Man, talk about a lot of work.

Lady Di had done a lot of the work before we even left San Carlos. She was polishing silver for weeks and Lisa made some delish cookies that went in the gift bags, so when we got in the car on Thursday at 4:30 to go to Nonni's I thought, meh, we are in pretty good shape. But, boom! Friday morning we running errands like it was nobody's business! Costco! Raplhs! Party City! We did it all. I stayed behind to do some set up in the second half of the day while Mom and Maria went to Pasadena to get some rental goods. Just pulling out champagne flutes and tea cups took forever. Well it could have been that I would pull out 2-3 then get something to eat or drink, chat with Nonni, then go back to a couple more, and the cycle would repeat itself!

Saturday morning, I was a crust cutting machine! When I thought people were stressing a little too much, I decided to take it upon myself and break one of Nonni's new champagne flute, to bring people back down to planet earth. :o) Im such a clumsy giver. Meanwhile Marko was walking against the wall to avoid being asked to help.

Before we knew it people were arriving and we were munching on delicious chicken salad sandwiches, cucumber sandwiches, fruit, salad, and cupcakes! We had some legit games, including toilet paper brides which I am a huge fan of now, and then spent hours opening presents! The rain thank goodness held off until the second to last guest left, but that made us all have to stay inside and do dishes for what felt like an eternity.

All in all it was a great day and a great party! I'm sad to say that it felt like it was over as soon as it began, but I guess that means that time just flew! This was the kick off to the wedding season, YEAH YA!

I have more pics to post, but can't figure out how to copy them over so I'll do it later (maybe). :o)

Kudos and Boos

Dear Kate,

Another day late. Oh well. At least I'm consistently late.

Kudos...the Greenbay Packers! Our boy Aaron Rodgers brought the Vince Lombardi trophy home last night. The Chico native and Cal grad made us proud in Superbown 45. Well, I assume he's going back to Greenbay to drop off the trophy, then hightail it to Disneyland.
Boos...the Superbowl Planning Commission. Whoever thought it was a good idea to pack in extra seats to an already max capacity superdome was not that smart. Not only did it fail fire code, but also pissed a lot of people off who were turned away at the gate.

Kudos...the latest Train CD. I don't know why it took me so long to start listening to it, but it's so good. Fave tracks? Well, "I Got You" and "Half Moon Bay" "This Aint Goodbye" If you aren't listening to it, then you need to get your iTunes in check.
Boos...to Xtina Aguleria. I always thought singers nail the Star Spangled Banner before getting a record deal. But as I learned, lots of people don't know the song. Maybe record labels should start making that a priority. But what do I know, I'm just a girl who likes music and no apparent talent.

Kudos...The presh Darth Vader from yesterday's Superbowl commercial for the VW Passat! This was really the only commercial that I paid attention to, but how could you not! The six year old was the talk of the country this morning. Way too adorable.
Boos...Camp Lilo. Just when you thought she was fading behind other trainwrecked stars, Lindsay Lohan fights her way to the top of the tabloids. This time for "borrowing" (some call it stealing) a necklace and then denying that she had it at all. Once the cops found it, that's when she went with the borrowed story. I feel like maybe someone really should be with her 24/7, but at the same time she is 24 and needs to start taking responsibility.

Is this a sign?

Dear Kate,

Since 2011 was introduced to the planet, or at least to those who are on the Christian calendar, I have had a ridiculously hard time finding parking. The other day it was at the bank, then it was at Starbucks, but most recently, frequently and annoyingly, it has been at the gym. I don't know if it was in 2010 that America, or at least the Redwood City population, got fatter and so they actually are sticking to their New Year's Resolution, or what, but every time I leave work to go straight to the gym, no parking. Even this morning, I went at the dignified hour of 9 am and it was packed and in my second attempt, it was again packed, but at least then I got a spot. What the hell is going on in Redwood City?

So this morning, I got to thinking, maybe it's a sign that I should cut back. Sadly, this wedding is quickly approaching and you had the awesome idea that I should get a driver. Which I supposed we could technically say that Lisa is my driver because she usually drives when we go to the gym. And when that happens, we always find parking. So maybe I just shouldn't drive to the gym and only have Lisa do it. Yes, I think that's a wonderful idea.

Funny and Random Things

Dear Kate,

This week has been taking it's sweet-ass-time. And although I patiently await Friday (which is taking forever!) I found some happiness in some random things...

1. The tall neon blow up thing outside of jiffy lube
2. A super tiny white car with this massive dresser in it's back trunk. Or at least trying to be in the trunk, it was 95% out, being held securely by some twine. I switched lanes as quickly as I possibly could.
3. This guy with rollerblades and parachute pants rolling past my window at work.
4. The ridiculous-ness at the San Carlos Post Office. That's right Postmaster Gary, I'm referring to you and the line that was out the door!
5. Chilly Sam Champion on GMA literally stuck in Chicago. And this morning, I debated wearing flippy floppies to work.
6. That silly text I got from you today hearing that you wave to a random at Target parking lot, thinking it was me!
7. Watching a super old video of Marko and his dad playing catch with a football. Well they were not exactly playing catch, because that would require him to catch it. 10 drops. That's right, we counted. "Bonino's don't play sports"
8. Lady Di getting all bent-out-of-shape talking about yuckie Taylor on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.
9. When I realized that the wedding was 5 months away, I got really sad thinking about my reign of power coming to an end. Then I decided that I would continue my reign through that weekend.
10. I saw a bank of payphones. Really when was the last time you saw that?!

Ok Friday, I think you have made your point. You can show up now.