Catching Up with the Cady's

As you know, Eliot and I have been really busy the past month.  One month ago today was my birthday, and I haven't posted any updates about it since!  I think it's time for a quick post on what we've been up to lately!

Eliot and my Dad took me to see Mockingjay November 19th, the night before my birthday.  The show started at 10:00 so I was actually watching the final installment of the Hunger Games when the clock struck midnight and it was officially my birthday!  I really enjoyed the movie and was happy with how it ended.

The next day, my Mom, Dad and Nana came over to Eliot's and my new house to visit and give me my birthday presents while Eliot was at work.  We tried to set the house up with some birthday stuff amid the chaos.  Of course, Winnie the Pooh made an appearance.  Mom and Dad used Disney Princess wrapping paper that I loved.  I almost didn't want to rip it, but I'm really glad I did!  

First, they got me the Disney castle chalkboard that I really wanted.  It's going to go in our new kitchen or living room!  They also got me the Frozen Fever ornaments that match my Frozen ornament set!  I can't wait to display them in my new office.  Finally, I opened Cogsworth!  Eliot and I don't have Lumiere yet, but our plan is to put them on display together in our new dining room!

I got a ton of birthday wishes from friends on Facebook.  A few friends also sent photos!  These were some of my favorite birthday wishes!  (Image sources unknown.)

I had a great birthday visiting with my family.  After Eliot got out of work, we all went out to dinner at Chili's.  I absolutely love their Mex Bowls!  Yum!

A few days later, we traveled up to Bar Harbor to have Thanksgiving with my Mom's family.  It was hard celebrating our first Thanksgiving without Papa.  It was a smaller than usual gathering, but it was really good to get together with everyone.  Eliot and I enjoyed spending a few quiet days at my parents' house before returning home to finish cleaning out the old house.

Eliot and I were wiped out after an extremely busy Sunday and Monday finalizing things at the old house.  (Boy, am I glad that's over with!)  We rested up the remainder of the first week of December because the following weekend, we were off on another adventure.  Saturday afternoon, Mom, Dad and Nana picked Eliot and I up to go to New Hampshire to visit my brother.  We hung out at the mall that evening and went out to Uno's for dinner.  We stayed at a local hotel that night and Mom gave me a few packages that had come in the mail.  One of them was my Cakeworthy order!

The next day, we met Jeremy for breakfast at Friendly's before we were off to IKEA to get a few furniture pieces for the new house.  Thankfully, the weather was cooperating and it was perfect to transport furniture home in.  We got some great deals and we're already planning another trip down to IKEA once we're more settled in.

Since then, our lives have been a whirlwind of unpacking and organizing at our new house.  Although, we did sneak a quick getaway to Chicago in.  (Read more about Chicago here.)  Eliot and I are feeling at home in our house.  We've started receiving packages here including these Disney Snuggle Snappers from Eliot's family.  (They're sold at Disneyland and Walt Disney World.)  When we were there in October, I saw them and I had a great idea to incorporate them into our new house!

We also got a fun filled Walt Disney World holiday package from the same person on Facebook Eliot found to buy us our Flower and Garden Festival merchandise this past spring.  Eliot asked him to get us a few items from the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights since this is the last year.  Eliot knew I loved the light up ears and the ornament.  We also got two of the light bulb glow cubes.  Eliot asked for the Christmas Party pin for his collection and the guy was nice enough to include a map for us too!

Which of course brings us to the holidays!  Eliot and I have both been really busy getting ready for the holidays.  We decided not to put up any decorations since our house is still a construction zone.  But we have been busy spreading the Christmas cheer in other ways.  I've participated in a few holiday swaps.  We have also been busy shopping for Christmas gifts for our family!

Yesterday, we had a family Christmas party with my Mom's side of the family.  It was originally supposed to be my aunt's immediate family, but she invited Eliot, me and my cousin Greg to join them!  We had a blast!  I got all of the kids their own little stockings with a few goodies inside.  They went over really well so that makes me happy!

We also received thoughtful gifts from my family.  My aunt and uncle spoiled us with delicious chocolate treats and Starbucks gift cards.  I told them I can't wait to use them at Disney!  My cousin Luke and his wife Rachel gave us a new Mickey Mouse cookbook!  It's from 1986 and I'm so excited to add it to my collection!

But the fun didn't end there, upon our return home last night, Eliot and I were greeted with a special surprise on our front porch!  Our new neighbors brought us over some Christmas treats to welcome us to the neighborhood!  It was such a sweet surprise and I'm very touched.  I can't wait to go over and introduce ourselves sometime!

Which brings us to today.  It was an uneventful, yet productive day.  Eliot and one of his friends from work put our new shed together this morning.  While they worked outside, I put more stuff away inside the house.  Eliot and I watched the Pats game in the afternoon and then went to Wal-Mart to pick up a few items.  We were pleasantly surprised to see the Coca Cola Holiday Caravan there!  You could take a picture with the Polar Bear and "share a Coke" with Santa.  My Dad loves Coca Cola and the Santa stuff, so we took a few pictures for him to see!

As you can tell, it's definitely been a busy few months around here, but I'm incredibly grateful to be surrounded by so many wonderful people.  °o°

A Tangled Party

A few weekends ago, Eliot and I hosted my 30th birthday party.  It was a blast!!!  I invited a few of my girlfriends over to celebrate.  Last year, we celebrated my birthday by having a small gathering at our house and by going to see Catching Fire.  We had such a good time, that we decided to do it again this year!  (You can read more about my birthday party last year here.)

This year, I insisted on having a themed party.  Since it was my 30th, I wanted to make it special.  I've tossed around ideas for a while, but I finally settled on a Tangled theme. I thought it was appropriate since Rapunzel celebrates her birthday by having the "best day ever" when she leaves her tower.

I went shopping with my parents a few weekends ago to get party supplies.  I didn't realize the party store didn't sell Tangled themed items, but luckily I'd found some cups this summer at Toys R Us and I had those.  We did find a Tangled tablecloth.  After that, we went with  pink and lavender plates, napkins and silverware.  I had a few other ideas for decorations that I'd been hoarding away until it was time for the party.

I wanted something fun to give my friends as party favors.  I asked Eliot to make me pink and lavender Mickey soaps! He used sweet pea scent and they smell amazing! Then, I sent him the logo for my 30th birthday that I designed and he used it for the toppers!  Unfortunately, we forgot to hand them out at the end of the day.  (Don't worry- we're going to make sure they get them!)

I got up early to prepare the food and start with the decorations.  I made the cupcakes and then Katie helped me by frosting them.  I prepared the veggie platter, cheese, pepperonis and crackers and my aunt's shrimp dip.  The dip is addictive!

After the food was done, I started in on the decorating.  I got the supplies out and then prepared the grass mats we'd bought for the centerpiece, the lanterns I've had for a few months now and our LED tea lights.  I hung a few of the lanterns from the chandelier.  I decorated with the other lanterns on the sideboard.  Pascal hung out by the lights.  I arranged the centerpiece and the place settings.  Then, I added the glitter candles to the grass since they were too glittery for the cupcakes.  I added a few "magical" sun flowers to the grass mats.  Finally, I put a few pink and lavender streamers over the chandelier.

My friends are amazing and they all got me wonderful gifts.  I love all of them!  My friends know me so well!  I even got a few Disney birthday cards!  (Bonus points!)  I may or may not have squealed like a little girl when I opened the Tangled themed Rapunzel birthday card from Kathleen that had some Anna and Elsa stickers in it. (Double bonus points!!!)  In my defense, they were stickers I've never seen before and I was really excited!  After catching up, the six of us girls headed over to the movie theater.  I was so pumped up; I think I skipped into the theater.

Mockingjay was amazing.  It didn't disappoint.  In fact, the movie was better than I pictured it, and I had high hopes.  The acting was fantastic and it was really moving.  I absolutely love the Hunger Games books and I've devoured the series a few times over the past year and a half.  Mockingjay Part 1 was hauntingly beautiful.  The girls and I loved it, although we were a little depressed leaving the theater.  It's certainly not a happy, uplifting movie, but if you've read the books you already know that.  I'm sad we have to wait a year to see Part 2; but, I know it'll be worth it!  Plus, now we know what we're doing for my birthday next year!  In the meantime, I'm sure we'll all continue to have "The Hanging Tree" stuck in our heads on repeat.

After leaving the movie theater, we came home to meet up with Eliot and BJ.  The boys had "bromance" time and played video games like last year.  We finally dragged them away from their Mario game so we could all go out to dinner at Ruby Tuesday's.  We had a great time catching up and enjoying each other's company.  Later, we returned to our house to enjoy the cupcakes I'd made.  We had another round of laughter before everyone headed home.  I went to bed shortly after, and fell asleep immediately.

All in all, it was a fun celebration and I had a great time going out with our friends. I'm excited to see what 30 has in store for me!  °o°

Hanging In

Hi Friends.  Well, this has certainly been quite the week.  

I mentioned last week that the office of my new job was destroyed in a fire the night before I was supposed to start.  Thankfully, we've been able to save our paper client files which has been a miracle.  Everything else has basically been destroyed.  I've been over to my boss' house a few times to help clean up the client files. Tomorrow we're looking at new office spaces.  My new co-workers are really great and I already feel like I belong. Things are coming together, looking up and we're making the best of it.

In another turn of events, Eliot and I have also been really sick.  I've been fighting a sinus infection since last weekend, and today I'm finally feeling like myself again.  I'm coughing here and there, but the sinus pressure, runny nose and watery eyes are all gone.  

Photo Source: Hunger Games Explorer

I spent most of last week in bed, re-reading the Hunger Games series, re-watching the movies and taking naps.  (The official trailer for Mockingjay Part 1 is being released tomorrow!!!) The past few days, Eliot's had the stomach virus that I also had earlier last week.  Ugh. We can't seem to catch a break!

I've got some good news: my MagicBand and Magical Express documents came in the mail yesterday!  Only 25 more days until I leave for Walt Disney World!  I'm so excited. Now it really is starting to feel real!

Anyways, I should probably go get back to work.  I have a ton of hat orders to work on! I've gotten behind since I was sick but I wanted to let you all know that I'm hanging in. Thank you to everyone for your thoughts and well wishes!  °o°

My Birthday Celebration Continued

As I mentioned in my birthday post, I was able to celebrate my birthday multiple times over the past week since we had a late Thanksgiving this year.  It's always fun to spread the birthday cheer over a few days!

Image Source: It's a Disney Thing.

This year, the one thing that I really wanted to do for my birthday was to get together with my some of my girlfriends.  I haven't been able to see them all at once in a long time!  In fact, the last time the Fab Five (Eliot, Katie, Katie, BJ and I) were together, was this past New Years Day.  It was definitely time to correct that.

I really wanted to go see the Hunger Games: Catching Fire with the girls.  Eliot and I had seen the first one when it came on Netflix.  After devouring the three books within 48 hours, I was completely hooked!  My friends also loved the books and first movie, so we've been planning to go see the new one together for a few months now.

Image Source: Mae Uy Society 6.

Note: I know that Hunger Games isn't Disney, so if you're not a fan, feel free to stop reading from this point forward!  This particular birthday was mostly Hunger Games themed.  If you are a fan of both, please continue reading!  I went on Pinterest to find a few Hunger Games and Disney related pictures to add here and there.  As I've mentioned before: Disney, Harry Potter and Hunger Games are all my weaknesses. Disney is definitely the predominant one.  Anyways... you get the picture.  Now back to the story!

Image Source: Pinterest Pin.

We decided that we'd get together last Saturday.  Before the movie, we gathered at Eliot's and my house.  My friends gave me my birthday gifts.  Kathleen got me an awesome pair of Mockingjay earrings to wear to the movie.  They are so small and cute!  

Katie and BJ got me a Christmas Pascal who is adorable.  He is so cute with his red stripes and Santa hat.  I love him!  They also got me a Hunger Games lanyard with Peeta and a District 12 Tribute bracelet to wear to the movie.  

Image Source: Pinterest Pin.

My best friend Katie got me two beautiful pairs of earrings from the jewelry store she works at.  She also got me a pink dream box and a stone elephant made of Adventurine. She knows all about my job hunt and my self-employment dreams.  The Adventurine helps to bring career success, creativity and imagination.  My dream box and I definitely have a date to add my career dreams to it!

Image Source: Pinterest Pin.

After opening presents, the ladies went to the local IMAX movie theater.  (Eliot and BJ stayed at our house and played video games.)  The movie was great!  Catching Fire is my favorite book in the series, and I was not disappointed.  It's so hard when you make a book into a movie, but I felt like they did a great job with it.

Katie, me, Kathleen, Jenn and Katie at Catching Fire!!!

Once we returned from the movie, we met up with the boys and went to Longhorn for dinner.  Katie and I got our favorite: the watermelon margarita!  Yum!!!  After that, we said goodnight to Jenn and Kathleen and BJ, Katie and Katie spent the night at our house.  We had Tim Horton's for breakfast the next day, and then everyone left.  Eliot and I had a quiet afternoon at home; but after taking a short nap, I was restless.

Image Source: Pinterest Pin.

I basically begged Eliot to go see the movie again with me Sunday night.  And then I saw it again on Tuesday with my cousin Karen who was unable to attend on Saturday.  

Me at Catching Fire Sunday Night with Eliot.

Ok, I'll admit it.  I'm typing this post while "watching" The Hunger Games with my Dad. Eliot and I told him that we'd go see Catching Fire with him over Thanksgiving weekend. (In my own defense, that was before I realized that I'd have already seen it 2 more times...)  So now, after tomorrow night, I'll have seen it 4 times in 8 days.  Oie!  At this rate, I'll singlehandedly help fund Mockingjay Part 1... and maybe even Part 2.

Image Source: Pinterest Pin.

I did get one more mini birthday celebration.  My cousin Kaitlin and my cousin Matt's wife, Samara, also have November birthdays.  Each year we have a small gift exchange for us girls.  This year, my Aunt Sherrie and Uncle Moe gave me this awesome Disney mug!  It looks like it's a vintage one!  I love all of the characters on it, and it reminds me of when I first went to Walt Disney World as a kid.  I'm thinking that I might put it in my office on display with some of my other Disney items.

I had an awesome 29th birthday celebration!  Here's to a great last year of my 20's!  °o°

Note: I had to source these photos with their Pinterest pins because I couldn't find all of the original sources!  But I did try!