happy super tuesday.

heres hoping the yummiest candidate wins.

trip to scottsdale for my mom's 50th

i got back late last nite from a great trip to arizona to celebrate my mom's 50th birthday. we stayed at this amazing resort. i was pinching myself the entire time.

the perk of having an aunt with the name "brooke shields"? having everyone think that the reeeeaaal brooke shields is coming. we got the royal treatment. the free loot and amazing hookups were ALMOST worth the disappointed faces on the staff when they realized we were just normal humans.

the view from our suite.

there is nothing quite like a girls trip.

that evening, we took a golf cart ride (wouldnt DARE burn some calories...) around the grounds to see the beautiful landscaping.

the next morning we enjoyed some righteous room service.

then we relaxed by the pool for the afternoon (just ask my mom how that worked out for her).

after the pool, brooke showed us her favorite treat: a bahama bucks. its a delicious shave ice treat with cream poured on top!

but that wasnt quite enough..... we had to make a stop by in n out.

the next day, we walked around a nearby resort.

they had a gorgeous little orange grove. and i was obsessed with all the stunning bougainvillea. it would almost make living in those odd adobe houses worth it.

that night, we enjoyed one of the best meals (i know i always say that. but THIS time its true!) i have ever had. it was seriously such great mexican food.

i had a wonderful time with my mom and aunts in scottsdale. cant wait to do it again.

my mom's 50th birthday party.

my mom turned 50 today! and i was so proud of my dad when he came to me with his amazing idea for her birthday party.

so her party was last saturday nite and it was a blast. everyone met at the fun center to enjoy "drinks", cupcakes and watch a great slideshow of my mom's life that my uncle had put together.

then we all had to BRAVE the cold and go outside to play a round of mini golf.

after freezing our faces off, we came back inside so my mom could open her gifts. i finished this quilt a couple weeks ago (with the help of my grandma) and was counting down the days until she could open it! when present time was over, my dad announced why everyone HAD to participate in the mini golf game.... the winning couple was going to INDOOR SKYDIVE after dinner.

while everyone fought over who officially won (not sure we run with the most honest of crowds.....) we went over to outback for dinner. cute picture of megan and david. she must have been excited for her kiiiiiiiing crab legs.

holly and my mom at dinner.

so, yup. somehow megan and i fudged the books so we could do it. but once i was all geared up and about to go in the wind tunnel, i was second guessing all the cheating i did to make it there....

me.

megan.

it was a wonderful nite (good job, dad). i hope we made my mom feel loved. she really is my best friend.

my very first masquerade

at first, i was leery about attending a fancy masquerade my friend was hosting. i dont do costumes. but my mom, megan and i decided we would all go together and enjoy the once in a lifetime event.

we are SO glad we went. it was amazing. amazing people watching (people got REEEEEALLY into it)....

amazing entertainment (please notice the sweet pair on the right)....

more amazing entertainment....

followed by amazing dancing. we had such a fabulous night.

stasia's bridal shower

last nite, my mom and i threw a little bridal shower for a great family friend, stasia. stasia is the little sister of my best friend from high school, marissa. we were so excited to celebrate stasia's upcoming wedding to mike.

i decided to go with dark gray, silver and hot pink for the colors of the invitations (they werent quite that bare but i erased some info for privacy) and party. homemade confetti was also sprinkled through out.

we served our favorite appetizers and mini treats for the ladies to snack on.

megan and i are on a chocolate dipping binge so we made strawberries for the shower. i might have snuck waaaay more than my fair share.

janice (mother of the bride), stasia (bride-to-be!) and my mom enjoying the spread.

i requested janice's infamous mushroom caps. (she catered them at my wedding seven years ago!) they are so good.

during the evening, we also put the ladies to work. :) they helped tie up the gorgeous fabric ropes that will decorate the reception venue.

then we played "he says, she says". i found this great idea on.... wait for it.... pinterest and knew it would be perfect for the shower. i asked mike and stasia questions about their relationship and then quizzed the ladies at the shower as to who said what. it was all fun and games until megan ripped her quiz into shreds. now i know where i get my sore-loser-ness.

megan, me, janice, my mom and stasia.

the ladies took home diamond ring sugar cookies.

it was a great night (wish marissa could have been there!) and i am happy we could help honor stasia and let her know how incredibly happy we are for her.

sully's first day in nursery!

sully turned 18 months so he went to nursery for the first time yesterday. i have been dreading this transition because it took tagg at least 8 months to go to nursery without a fight. and sully is.... well to put it nicely..... much more attached to me. (THE BIGGEST MAMA'S BOY EVER)

but guess who went to nursery for the ENTIRE two hours and didnt even pout (his new trick)? and got rave reviews from his teachers? sully did. with his cute little tie and his first official lds clipart coloring page. so proud of my baby.

birthday dinner with the girls

on thursday night, my friends took me out for my birthday dinner. it was almost everyone's first time at lunchbox and i was so excited for them to taste the goodness. we had a great time (as always, i had a little too great of a time. i need to learn to zip my lip.) with delicious food and fun conversation. and i think that about rounds out my birthday celebration. on to my mom's........