As you all know, Operation Shower, is near and dear to my heart. Throwing a baby shower for these deserving military moms is such an honor. Thoughts of how to make them feel special and appreciated are always at the forefront of what we do. So when it comes time for the actual showers themselves, we are now working hard to pump up the party and not just fill the boxes with amazing gifts. We want the entire experience to be amazing!

What do you notice when you are the guest? What makes one party stand out over another? Simple. It’s all in the details. Need some simple ideas on ways you can make your next event the talk of the neighborhood? Operation Shower Chief Event Planner, Amy Belle Isle, is borderline obsessive about the details. Just look at the mosaic above to get an idea of what I’m talking about and then visit her blog, Stem Parties, for much, much more.

Posted under Uncategorized

We are in Love with a new book in our house, The Big Black Dog and the Big Blue Sea.

I have to first confess that I know the subject of the book, the beautiful dog, Zeta.   Zeta was our friends’ dog and she is perfectly captured in this book.  You can learn more about the story-behind-the-story on The Big Black Dog and the Big Blue Sea’s Facebook page or website.

So part of the reason we love the book is because of the story behind it. My son loves seeing that someone has written a book based on a day — one simply glorious day. This has inspired him to write about his own days and perhaps view them as story-worthy.

But most of all, we love this book because it is beautifully written in rhyming prose that captures the spirit of the day.  And, the illustrations are so lovely and perfect for the book !

It is a book we have read over and over and which I will purchase for my friends and their children.

However, a word of warning:   if you do not yet have a dog, this will make your kids ache for one.

But maybe the book will be enough for awhile.

Posted under Uncategorized