Showering Kristina!

Yesterday, I co-hosted a bridal shower for my dear friend, Kristina, who is getting married next month. Although Kristina and I were in 7th grade girls' choir and sang a duet together and sat by each other in Algebra class in 8th grade, we didn't really become true friends til 9th grade. We owe it all to Home Economics class and a baking assignment gone bad. We were cooking partners for the quarter and absolutely massacred a buttermilk biscuit recipe by confusing the baking soda with the baking powder (or was it the reverse?!). As a result, our biscuits came out as hard and as flat as hockey pucks. Although Ms. Frazier was furious, this experience bonded us for life and, twenty years later, we are still palling around to tell the story! I am absolutely thrilled for her pending nuptials and loved planning and throwing her shower with Jessica, another one of Kristina's good high school buddies, who also doubles as a bridesmaid. Here is a run-down of the shower:

Jessica graciously offered to host the shower at her house which was okay by me! Together, we came up with a delicious lunch spread of all homemade goodies since Kristina deserved nothing less! On this table, we served orzo salad, frog eyed fruit salad, chocolate truffles in Kristina's wedding colors, chocolate chip cookies, and my mother's world renown orange rolls.

The other line-up included chicken salad sandwiches, veggies with hummus, nuts and pita chips, and delicious white cake with raspberry and lemon filling.

One of Kristina's and Jessica's good friends is a professional baker and brought this divine cake to add to the desserts. Here it is up close before it disappeared a few hours later.


Some of the darling decorations Jess made for the festivities and Kristina's loot piling up in the living room!

The bride-to-be with her three bridesmaids: her matron of honor and cousin, Anna, on the left and Jess and I on the right. Since Kristina has been a bridesmaid TEN TIMES and has kept all of her dresses, she decided that she wanted this shower to have a "wear it again" theme. It was rather hilarious to see the gowns that walked through the door. Anna, Kristina, and I all wore previous bridesmaid dresses and Jess wore one that she attended a wedding in. I actually got a kick out of wearing the "purple beast" eight years later. Too bad Lindsay wasn't there to match me! :-)

After eating, we gathered in the living room for a game and gift opening. I had prepared a "Getting to Know Their Story" crossword puzzle for the ladies to play. Since the top prize was a $10 gift card to Starbucks, the stakes were high and the players were serious. Here they are hard at work.

We finished off the affair with cake and endless gift opening. The glowing bride was spoiled rotten which was so great to see as she has been such a loyal friend to so many other brides (myself included)! Here she is sporting some new dishware!

Can't wait for the 5-15-10 affair on Whidbey Island! Stayed tuned for next month's report!