S Reception

I haven't even posted pictures from my own brother's reception in June yet, I'm awesome! I've actually been having issues with the computer all those photos are on and haven't gotten to transfer them yet. But someday soon I will post them, I promise!

Last Saturday I got to be in charge of a childhood friend's reception (open house shingdig). I've known the Pratt family my entire life and they're such amazing people. So generous and helpful and kind, and just awesome (plus they're my bosses!). So when they found out Haley was getting married in August they asked if I would be willing to help them. Summers are crazy busy for them and I knew with everything else in life right now, trying to plan a reception would be really fun for me, and not as much fun for them. Of course, I said YES! haha

I believe it was mid-June that we started the planning. Now I'll be the first to admit, I'm bossy and like to get things done my own way, which I think can be good, sometimes....but not all the time. So once I got the OK, I was off! Her parents took care of the food, cupcakes, chair/tent/tablecloth rentals and I got to do the rest. I seriously LOVE this stuff ok.

It was so fun looking around for ideas and inspiration and I had a really good time pulling it all together. It's hard to know someone else's taste (even if you have known them your entire life:)) but I did know she wouldn't like diamonds dripping from the tree branches and peacocks wandering around so I crossed those off my list (I kid, I kid).

It was a backyard reception and I think it went wonderfully! Everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves and lots of people came out to congratulate the happy couple. I was so glad to have the chance to help them out.

Here are some pictures (all from my phone-high fives for attending a reception that I didn't have to take pictures at! I can count on one hand the # of receptions I've been to that I haven't taken pics at since I was 17).

Others have better photos but I only have access to my own for now.

I made several of these planters for succulents! I also made this chandelier out of wax paper for the gazebo.

Some silly details. Water bottle labels and wrapped silverware...intriguing! (These types of pics are mostly for myself so I can refer back.)

Tree branch bubbles! Some of my ideas are a little over the top to some (cough, mother, cough) and it's probably true but if it's something that I WANT to do and LIKE to do then it's all good.

Amazing HEIDI and her amazing aunt did the flowers! Heidi and I ordered flowers online about a month ago and they arrived two days before the wedding. So they were hard at work all day Friday and half of Saturday working on the beautiful flowers. They made 10 table centerpieces, 6+ ball jar arrangements, lots of corsages for moms/grandmas, 3 or 4 mini bouquets for the sisters, two head crown things for the flower girls (nieces), lots of boot-in-ears (never can spell that word)

for groom/brothers/dads/grandpas. Seriously so amazed. We had lots of flowers left over so just before everyone got back from the temple, I put some baby's breath into a couple bird cages to put around.

 This was the gate where people walked in. There was a guestbook table....

 A birdcage card table, a favor table.....

The favors were mini succulents that I made mini cement pots for. Kind of fun, kind of a pain, but it was fun to make the pots!

 I made 500 paper cranes to hang from the trees but it was a pain to hang them and I didn't have time to worry about it so only some of them got hung up. But it was ok.

 More centerpieces (and BBQ sauce)

 I had some amazing help the day of to get ready for this. I would still be sitting huddled in a corner if they hadn't come to help cut fruit/veggies and make trays, help decorate, set up, take down, etc....

 This is the buffet table. Bare Bones BBQ catered the dinner. Really we just went that day to pick up all the food from them and handled the rest ourselves.

 The drinks! We had a little mishap with the lemonade dispenser just before the family got back to eat dinner....the seal was broken and juice went evvverywhere! 

 The flowers were just so pretty!

 The tent where we put all the food stuff was really cool and handy. This is the dessert table.

Some more flowers Heidi made

 As the party was winding down.....

The end of the night. I loved the gazebo in the dark! The chandelier is now hanging in my room :)

 The cutest flower girl I've ever seen!

 And the last pics of flowers.

Wow I congratulate you if you actually made it through that mess of words/pictures! Yikes.

Overall it was so great and while it's a lot of work trying to prepare for it, seeing everyone come and enjoy themselves was awesome.

Promise to post Ty's reception pics sometime hopefully soon.

Chyla's wedding this Saturday! Literally 15 wedding invites in the mail in the last two months...cray cray.

1,000 for HOPE

Today I was sitting in church, listening to people's testimonies, well I am a pretty good listener but I have to have something to do with my hands (perhaps that's why I knit/crochet?!). So I grabbed the piece of paper that had the stake announcements on it and folded it into a paper crane. After I made it, I got to thinking of the lore behind cranes. In Japanese culture, it is said that if a bride folds 1,000 paper cranes before she marries, it will give her luck and a long life. It is allowed for others to help her fold them and the more people who help, the more good fortune she will have in her life. It doesn't have to just be a bride, anyone who folds 1,000 paper cranes, can make a wish and will have luck.

Then I started thinking about making that many cranes. That would take a LONG time, but you start with just one crane. One crane isn't very intimidating is it? Then one more after that, then another..and so on. Then my mind translates cranes to real life. We can accomplish a lot that seems impossible if we start with ONE thing.

Then my "If you Give a Mouse a Cookie" brain started thinking about the place the 1,000 crane folklore came from, Japan. I can't even imagine the devastation that Japan is going through right now, the loss and the heartache, everyday I think of the people suffering over there and I pray for them everyday. My dad spent time over there when he served a mission for our church and we've had many exchange students stay with our family so I feel a little connected in a very small way, but connected nonetheless. I don't know what I can do to help them then I thought what their spirits need most is hope and courage to face the long road ahead of them. What if I made 1,000 cranes to send to them? To give them some light and hope, so they'll know someone is thinking of them.

I googled paper cranes hoping to find a kit or some way to buy origami paper in bulk and I found another lady who had written an article about her project of making 1,000 paper cranes. She had never made them before but her and her 13 year old daughter set out and have made over 500, and have gotten many many donations from around the country of others' cranes. She says with each crane she makes, she says a little prayer. How cool is that? One Thousand prayers from one little family for Japan. Her husband questioned her and asked why she doesn't just fold $1 bills. Some can't afford to send large amounts of money so what a cool way to still give back. Later on she found that an organization would donate $2 for every crane sent to Japan, so her project which started out as a way to give hope to the people of Japan, will earn them money as well.

My first. Only 999 to go!

SO, do I think I can make 1,000 cranes? Maybe but it will take awhile by myself but I can start, with ONE, then another. If anyone is interested in helping, leave a comment or email me and we can talk! If you only have time to make ONE, one makes a difference. YOU can make a difference.

EDIT: So I had a friend give me a good idea to go to a grocery store or some place that I could set up a table and sell the cranes for either a dollar or two or whatever people are willing to give then donate the money to the Red Cross to make sure the money really gets there. If you would like directions to make your own cranes go here.