Buckets of New News...

It has been a while since I posted last...and for good reason...  Things have been a changin' here at our house.  Despite all of the awful things that have been happening here in Wisconsin since February, some guardian angel has been watching over us...  I am very fortunate that I was given an opportunity to take my job paying career in a new direction.  I started a new job this week.  As a result, I may not be posting as much but hope to continue to do the things I love, which include party plan and blog...  I truly believe everything in life happens for a reason - we may not like it, but it does.  So, I am embracing this change and challenge and looking forward to the new opportunities.

Speaking of change... As of today, I officially have a 2nd grader!  I've seen all the cute printables out there for back-to-school pics.  They are adorable!!!  However, I had to stick with my traditional blackboard for our back-to-school pictures.  Every year, I take Grace's picture in front of the front door so we can see from the beginning of school to the end of school and from school year to school year just how much she has grown.  The 9 month difference is truly remarkable.

 

1st Grade - 2010-11                                   2nd Grade - 2011-12

Grace insisted on picking out her own back-to-school outfit this year.  I came to terms with my control-freak nature and reconciled not being able to pick out some adorable matchy-matchy outfit from Gymboree and relented.  Sometimes letting them grow up is hard to do.  Grace picked out her own outfit and insisted on her first pair of skinny jeans from Gap.  Little did we know when we bought the outfit in July that it would be 90 degrees in Wisconsin on September 1st.  Despite the hot temps, Grace insisted on wearing those skinny jeans.  I was afraid she'd pass out from the jeans being tight, but add on the heat and I was really worried :)  So, I made her pack a pair of shorts in case she felt like she was going to pass out in the middle of gym class.  She refused to give in though and wore them all day...

Ethan starts pre-school next week, so no fancy outfit for him.  He had to go with his Packer shirt to support a Packer victory tonight.  He'll wear his "handsome" shirt next week he tells me.  So here is to a great school year, new beginnings and new opportunities.  May you all have a great year!

{Exciting News!}

I have been MIA for the past few weeks.  It is crazy busy here - but where isn't it!  Anywho - I am absolutely ecstatic over the reception our Neighborhood Ice Cream Social received!  We were featured on so many fabulous sites I am truly humbled!  Thank you to Chris at Celebrations at Home for featuring our party.  Thank you to Jillian at Catch My Party for making it the party of the day!  And thank you to the Party FAQ blog for the feature.  I was amazed at how many of the great party gals posted a link on their Facebook pages.  Again, so humbling!  And, thank you for all of your kind words and comments. 

What is even more exciting is that Buckets of Grace hit 100 followers (and counting!)  I honestly cannot believe that either.  When I started this blog, I never imagined that 100 people would want to see what little ol' me was up to.  So, I am going to work on some sort of giveaway to thank you!  I'm thinking a printables set for all followers (and new ones!) or one fun giveaway to one lucky follower.  Leaning more towards the printables set...  Now just need to come up with one :)  Any ideas or anyone interested in creating one, let me know.  I'm thinking more Fall/Halloween since we are almost up to Fourth of July and there has been a lot of great sets out there already.

And finally, tomorrow Buckets of Grace makes its television debut :)  Okay - it's a Green Bay market mid-morning life style show, but it's still television!  I will be on Living with Amy on Fox 11 around 9:00 to show our Neighborhood Ice Cream Social.  I don't think there is any live stream, but I'm hoping it will be posted on their website afterwards.  We don't have DVR (or even a VCR!) so I won't be able to see it either.  I'm so nervous and excited!

Again, thank you ALL for your support and kind words.  It means more than you know!

My bucket can't take this :)

So if Saturday was an exciting day for Buckets of Grace, Sunday has been the "bees knees" (to quote Charlotte from Princess and the Frog.)  Not only was Ethan's Cars Party featured on Catch My Party!, but one of the most coveted and notable party blogs also featured the party - Pizzazerie.  Here is a link.  I am absolutely shocked and honored.  Courtney wrote the nicest things about the party:

Finding fabulous boy’s party ideas can be a bit more challenging. When Melissa Thiel Collar submitted this Disney Pixar’s Cars Birthday Party she threw for her son, Ethan, I knew I had to share it with you because I love it.  It can also be challenging to use a commercial party theme, but she did so with lots of unique ideas and PIZZAZZ! Thanks for sharing, Melissa! Such a great job.

The kids made fun race cars out of cardboard boxes and had a blast racing each other. You can see more details and lots of additional pictures on her site, Buckets of Grace.

This isn't like just arguing a case before the Supreme Court, it's like arguing and winning!  Thank you Courtney! 

My bucket runneth over - part deux!

Today is a big day for Buckets of Grace!  Two of my parties (yet to be posted here) were featured on Catch My Party!  If you've never checked out this party blog, it is a must see for anyone needing ideas for any kind of party - not just kids' birthday parties.

They featured Grace's Rock Star/HSM/Hannah Montana 6th Birthday Party as well as Ethan's Cowboy/Western 2nd Birthday.  I have to say I'm truly humbled! 

 

My job (that pays the bills) is an attorney.  When I was in law school, the big "prestige" thing to do was to get an article published in your law school's law review.  I frankly wanted no part of that.  Now that I'm an actual attorney (although some days I think I'm just playing one on T.V.) you've truly "made it" when you've argued a case before the Supreme Court or have been published in a law journal.  While I've won a share of my own cases, I've never "made it" as my cohorts define "making it."

So, despite the lack of my "professional" accomplishments, my making it is being featured on this fabulous website!  I may never argue a case before the Supreme Court, but I'm satisfied to know my parties were featured on a notable party blog!  I truly am so honored (and shocked!) 

I hope to have these two parties posted here sometime in the near future.

Grace's DWTS Commentary

When I had the idea of doing this blog, not only did I want to share my party ideas, but I also wanted to be able to blog about my children.  I use Facebook to share some of the comical things they say and do, but there is only so much you can write in the 425 characters they give you. 

Like many of the kids that I know, Grace and Ethan LOVE Dancing with the Stars.  In addition to their other favorite shows, Wipeout and The Middle, it is the highlight of their television watching week.  They anxiously anticipate when the new season will start as much as they anticipate the coming of Santa.  So Monday night was a big night at our house.

For those of you that don't know my Grace, it is hard to put into words the girl that is Grace.  She really is wise beyond her years, but still a 6 year old girl, articulate but sassy, funny yet sarcastic, sympathetic but blunt.  There are days when I want to put her on the curb with a "Free" sign and in the same day I want to bottle her up and keep her a 6 year old girl forever.  So the dichotomy that is Grace results in lots of insightful, interesting and often hilarious comments.

For example, one day while I was getting ready for work in my bathroom Grace happened to stumble across my feminine products.  Like any other 6 year old girl would, she wanted to know what those funny things were.  So, in the best way I could explain puberty to a 6 year old, I told her about how when she gets older, her body will go through changes, etc.  At the end of my very sincere, thoughtful explanation she asked, "So when I go through puberty then I'll get a car and a cell phone?"  I could have just died!

Grace is also quite the girly girl.  She loves anything sparkly, shiny, "blingy," (if that's a word) and pretty.  And for Grace, the more the better.  There are days when she would make Zsa Zsa Gabor look like a plain Jane.  Her birthstone is diamond and she embraces that as her moniker.  She loves high heels (watch out Suri Cruise), make up and accessories.  I struggle with letting her have her own style and keeping her from looking like a trailer park princess.  And on some mornings I let her walk out of the house wearing an outfit that I never would have thought I'd ever let her put together much less appear in public at school.  On those days, I'd like to write a note to her teacher with the simple FYI telling her "It wasn't worth the battle today."  But her teacher is pretty wise and I'm sure she already knows that.

She is quite her own fashionista.  She loves to watch What Not To Wear with me as well as Say Yes to the Dress.  She certainly has her own opinions on others' style or lack thereof.  One day she came home from school to tell me that her girlfriends' mom should really be on What Not To Wear.  And honestly, she was right.  But at the same time she told me that, she also said "But that's not something we tell her, right momma?"  And oh by the way, she's 6 and still calls me "momma" and that melts my heart.

So the little fashionista loves watching DWTS not just for the dance and music but also for the fashion.  Some nights we'll be watching and she'll tell me (particularly with reference to Lacey Schwimmer), "I would not wear that momma."  And for some of the navel bearing, cleavage showing outfits, I'm glad she makes that assessment.

She also loves watching DWTS for her long lost love, Derek.  I'd like to put in a request to the producers to have him dance BEFORE 8:00 Central/Standard Time.  Holding him out until last does not work with our bedtimes! 

This week while watching, Grace had an inquiry about Margaret Cho.  She asked Chris whether "She was from Indian."  (not India, Indian.)  This from the girl who at 3 as we were getting off the elevator in a hospital and seeing an African American woman for the first time in her young life in person (that she could remember) exclaimed, "She's black momma."  Now mind you, we had never talked about race at our house, never use the word "black" to describe African American people and consider ourselves pretty liberal.  I was SO embarrassed.  Fortunately for me the nurse was so nice about it and said that if everyone was as sweet and innocent as Grace the world would be a better place.

So after Grace asked her question Monday night about Margaret, I was curious to hear Chris' response.  I'm not sure what was funnier, her comment or Chris' response.  He told her that no, she wasn't from Indian, but she was Asian.  Grace asked what that meant - because now I'm sure she was really confused.  Chris made it even more simpler for her - telling her that meant that was her heritage :)  Here I had to explain puberty and now he was trying to explain heritage??? 

Her assessment of Kurt Warner was also too funny.  My kids have seen their share of Disney shows, including all the shows I swore my kids would never watch - Hannah Montana, Suite Life, Wizard of Waverly Place, etc.  When Kurt Warner came on she was very proud of herself that she recognized him.  She informed Chris and I that he was a "Star" because he was on Suite Life on Deck.  I'm sure that he'd be happy to know that's what he's famous for - not the Super Bowl rings or the records he set as an NFL quarterback.

Last night she saw "The Hoff''s" dance for the first time as he danced way past her bedtime on Monday.  As he was dancing, she asked me if he was a Grandpa.  Apparently the plastic surgery didn't hide his age too well for her.  This morning she asked me who got "kicked off."  I told her the Grandpa and she knew immediately who I was talking about.  Ethan then asked me if he cried.  He too is full of funnies.  But this post is getting really long so I'll end it at that.  I'm glad I finally got to share my Grace with you.  I'm still waiting on those pictures...  Hopefully tomorrow.