Laundry Room

I love these colorful & cute bags for sorting laundry and dry cleaning. There's a bag for every color. If I have to do the laundry, I might as well have an organized and colorful laundry room that I don't dread going into.

TheCompanyStore.com

July 3rd "Dive In"

It's an annual tradition at our house on the eve of the 4th to have a Dive In!!! We start early in the day with a swim and cook out. When the sun goes down we set up the big screen and watch Independence Day from the pool. We always end the night with smores around the fire pit. The 4th of July weekend is always the official start of the summer for our family.

Organizing My Family's Schedule

I love to get organized. I am a happy girl when I have a schedule and a plan. When the schedule is in a day planner with a beautiful cover and the plan is on pretty paper, I am in heaven. Every year when I start shopping for a new planner, I take weeks even months before I make a choice. In fact I have already begun my search for 2011. After all, this is something that I will be spending my time with every day, taking with me everywhere I go, this is a very important decision. It has to have every detail that I need, like month at a glance, week at a glance, cute notepaper, a place for a pretty pen.

I have two sites that I want to share with you that I love! The planners are functional & beautiful! And, they have amazing stationary too! Check out www.trulymom.com and www.momagenda.com

xoxo,
Mama Almighty

Coco's Candy Party

What do you do for a teenager's birthday party when they have already had every theme imaginable?

When the girls were little every party included a Disney Princess, one year, live Dalmation dogs Pongo & Perdita attended. We always had a bounce house to go with the theme, special party favors and an elaborate cake. They have had some great parties! I wish I had better photos of all those parties.

This year Coco wanted a Candy/Pool party for her 15th birthday. I purchased about 10 different types of candy plus cookies & brownies to fill the candy bar. Smart n Final & Costco had everything I needed. I found the best price on the glass jars at Costplus, the square ones with chalkboard labels were less than $5. They were twice as much at the store next door. I purchased clear cellophane bags and bright ribbon in different colors and printed labels that said "Coco's Candy Factory". Scoops were available for them to fill their own candy bags.

I found different size round cake boards at a party store and bright colored cellophane to cover them. I bought round dowels at the hardware store and a can of white spray paint. I attached the white dowels to the round covered cellophane to make giant lollipops. The lollipops lined the walkway to the front door. I cut out large letters from fluorescent poster board that read "OH Sugar" and hung them on the front door. I believe the party starts before the guests arrive and you want to give them a fun entrance. The minute they receive the invitation in the mail they will have a first impression of the party and decide if they want to attend.

Coco's Candy Factory was a success!

Photos by cocosphotography

Welcome

Hi Friends,

I'm honored that you have stopped by to check out my blog! I am new to this so please be kind in your critiques. I am not a writer nor was I an English major. I'm not an expert on anything in particular. I'm just a mom who is raising teenagers through trial & tribulation while trying to navigate home and family. In the midst of it all I try to find time to express my own design & entertaining style. I love organizing my home and family for fun and great memories.  I love producing a great birthday party, a musical or a Rock Concert! My husband and I have produced musicals for the past ten years and have now recently moved onto producing the OC School of Rock. 

I know that I cannot get through my day without The Almighty One at my side and most days carrying me through. I try and spend time every day in prayer and studying the Word of God. This belief and faith in Jesus Christ is the foundation for everything in my life.  I have read and studied many inspirational authors that have helped me navigate parenting and my marriage. 

I will strive to encourage you the way I was encouraged as a young wife and mother. I will try to bring a positive word, hopefully at just the right time. I will also share fun ideas for kid's birthday parties, grown up entertaining and ways I get organized.

Hope you enjoy,

xoxo,

Mama Almighty

 aka Susan :)