Favorite Things / Pottery with Grandpa

I was invited to a "favorite things" party last Saturday hosted by my friends Carolyn, "Prissy," and Alicia. They invited me last year, but I was in Utah for a family reunion. I was so sad to miss it. They are such creative party planners, and it sounded like so much fun. So this year, I was really excited to be able to go. I decided to do a handmade project as part of my favorites.

I made a journal. It encompassed several favorites of mine. I like to make handmade gifts when I have time/ideas to do it. I also like to do embroidery, which was included by the stitching on the front. I also have kept some type of journal off and on since 4th grade, whether actually in a journal or through blogging (though I still have kept a journal since starting a blog. I just don't write in it quite as much). Here's how it turned out:

I took a few pictures of the spine before I put the cover on. I love how neat the spine looks all stitched together.

Here's the cover. I stitched lemon/lime on the front since that was the theme of the party.

Title page.

What the text pages look like.

Front and back end papers.

Back cover.

Ribbon ties. I also attached a ribbon bookmark.

This is everything I gave as my favorites.

• A water bottle because I always have to have water with me everywhere I go.
• The journal
• A mix CD of some of my favorite songs. I couldn't leave music out. I listen to music every time I clean, ride in the car, work on a project, etc. I just have to have music, and I love finding new songs I enjoy.
• I included Taco Bell hot sauce. Taco Bell food is okay, but the hot sauce is what is my favorite. I'm such a major picky eater that I like salsa, but not the chunks-- just the juice. Taco Bell hot sauce is great because it's just the liquid, so I load up on it every time I go there.
• Trident gum, cinnamon flavor. One of my biggest pet peeves/paranoias is bad breath. I take gum with me almost everywhere I go. Trident has always been a favorite of mine.
• Rook cards. My family has always been a big card-playing family. It's one of our favorite pastimes. Rook cards have been central to all this. We could play all sorts of games with Rook cards. Back in the day, they made them in all different varieties, so you could mix the decks and still know which cards were yours. Rook is a great game also; we've played it many times.
• A dish scrubber. Doing dishes is NOT my favorite thing to do, but these little soap dispensing dish scrubbers sure make it easier.
• I also included a Caramello bar. It's been my favorite candy bar during this pregnancy. It's not in the picture because I stopped at the store for it on the way to the party. I would have included a Whatchamacallit, my usual all time favorite candy bar, but that store didn't have any. If you haven't tried one, you should.

Oh, and I didn't take a picture of it, but here's what I received that was someone else's favorites:

• A Tide to Go pen
• A DVD of Fools Rush In
• A hand-held back massager
• Lindor chocolates-- yum!
• A wallflowers air freshener from Bath and Body Works in Warm Vanilla Sugar scent
• Burt's Bees lip balm

Here's a picture of the whole group. There I am with my big belly right in the middle. Almost everyone dressed in lemon or lime colors. Three of us were pregnant (and showing), so it was lucky we didn't all show up in the same maternity clothes. I knew a few of the ladies besides the hostesses, but there were many with whom I needed to catch up/get acquainted. The conversation was great, and seeing everyone's favorites was fun. The decorating and the food was amazing. You can see more pictures of it on Carolyn's or "Prissy's" blogs by clicking on their names. I am so glad I got to go this year!

After the party, we hung around Grant's parents' house for a while. Eleanor convinced Grandpa to help her throw a pot on the wheel. I was feeling too hot/tired/pregnant to go out and watch, but Grant got pictures. Now I'm sad I missed it, but oh well.

Her grandpa is so good to her.

See how she had to wear a ribbon in her hair just like Mommy?

And here's a little video of her working on the bowl with Grandpa. Grant took it, so of course, it's sideways. If anyone has a good program to turn quick time videos, please tell me about it. I'll certainly be needing it. I just can't teach him to hold the camera upright!