Thanking the PPC

(source)

Yesterday, my coworkers "surprised" me with a wedding shower. My supervisor had asked me last week to block off Wednesday at 4:00 p.m. for a meeting, and was extremely evasive when I inquired about specifics. So I was already suspicious as he led me down the (uncharacteristically quiet) hall. When he started pushing open the conference room door, I heard giggles and shushing...and realized I was dreading this little party!

In the almost two years I've worked in this office, the unofficial party planning committee has pulled together nearly a dozen baby showers -- but not a single wedding-related soiree, as I was the only engaged employee.

I didn't quite know what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised with several gifts...

(All images from Bed Bath & Beyond.)

...as well as a very cute recipe book (of which I forgot to take a picture, sorry!) filled with my coworkers' favorite dishes. There was also a very impressive spread, and many of my associates had whipped up the recipe they also were sharing as part of the joint shower gift. Again, I lack pictures, because none of my colleagues know about my blogging, and I would've felt even more uncomfortable whipping out my camera to grab a shot of the goodies.

Anyway, I'm wondering now what the proper way is to thank this large group -- there are 45+ people in my office. (I noticed, as I was finishing this post, that Weddingbee reader hellopanda posted a thread on the boards pondering how to express her gratitude for a similar work party. Great minds, huh?) I'm also on a bit of a time crunch, as our entire office will be participating in a retreat from Monday afternoon through all day Tuesday -- which will be my last two days at work before the wedding.

I've already sent out an email to everyone in the office, but am wondering what else -- if anything -- I should do to thank my colleagues for their time and generosity? Did your coworkers plan any pre-wedding festivities for you?

Tanks A Lot!

My bachelorette party* is tonight!

We're meeting up for drinks and dinner in Philly -- and then a surprise that no one's revealed yet. Yesterday, Sister Bruschetta (my MOH) surprised me with a few cute options to make my evening attire a bit more "bridal." (She previously revealed that I'll also be donning a veil and tiara.) The problem is...now I'm unsure which one to select!

(Please excuse my "concentrating on getting good pictures so I end up looking grumpy" face.)

Looser with fun frills?





Or form-fitting and sparkly?





Whatcha think? Thanks for sharing your opinions!

*I adore my bridesmaids, but I do have one gripe: They're all just too darn smart! Two of the four ladies are in medical school -- and the other two are educators! -- so we had some scheduling conflicts getting everyone free for the festivities. Good thing I'm super loved, and already had a mini bachelorette(ish) party right after our surprise wedding shower

Viva Italia!

I often get most of my best thinking done in the car. So, naturally, I was having a heated internal debate a couple weeks ago as I drove to Sister and BIL Bruschetta's house. Was I really showing up early for their annual BBQ/pool party? My sister had asked me to arrive with the mister around 1:30, so I could help her cook and he could assist with setup. Or would I find the backyard teeming with family and friends, all there to celebrate our shower?

Nope, this couldn't be our shower. That's why I'd packed a bathing suit, towel and change of clothes. It was why Mr. Bruschetta -- who'd have to leave their house early for work -- was driving separately.

Then again, it was the most perfect Saturday for a Christmas in July celebration. (What a cute theme that would be!)

But no...it just couldn't be! We'd had a leisurely morning, with a lengthy visit to the gym -- which ended with Mr. Bruschetta's offer to stretch my tight muscles (ouch!) for a quarter hour. He seemed not at all in a rush, and so nonchalant.

Well, except for that question he asked when I was getting changed right before we left. As I was selecting an outfit, Mr. Bruschetta uncharacteristically butted in: "You're not getting dressed up, are you?" No, wasn't planning on it. But what if I did want to wear a cute skirt?

My secret-detecting radar was picking up some signals, but overall, it seemed like an ordinary day. So I pulled into Sister and BIL Bruschetta's driveway and headed toward the front door.

"No," interjected Mr. Bruschetta. "Let's go in through the backyard. We can say 'hi' to BIL Bruschetta -- he's probably grilling now."

Well, okay, fine. No complaints from me, as I followed the mister into the backyard. My eyes fell first on the grill, which clearly wasn't working yet. So I looked beyond the barbecue, and saw...



...and then I noticed everyone standing beneath a white tent, snapping pictures* while the Italian national anthem streamed into the yard.



I remember sort of freezing when I realized exactly what was happening. And you know what they say about karma. Yup, I walked right into our wedding shower with a makeup-less face, ready for an afternoon of cooking and party prep.



Sister Bruschetta, clearly delighted that I'd been fooled -- how else could you explain my arriving with ten un-shucked ears of corn, the main ingredient for one of our favorite summer salads? -- guided me inside, and together we "shopped" her closet for a shower-appropriate outfit.**

Left to right: Bridal attendant Tiff, MOH Sister Bruschetta, me, Bruschetta 'maids Steph, Carey and Kris

Back outside, my nearests and dearests quickly ensured I had a drink in hand, and helped me fill my plate with delicious Italian cuisine. Halfway through my baked ziti and salad, I started to notice all the cute details -- compliments of Mama, Daddy and Sister Bruschetta, with props for help from the Bruschetta 'maids and BIL Bruschetta. With its checkered tablecloths and colored Christmas lights, the otherwise plain tent felt more like al fresco dining at a mom-and-pop restaurant. And check out the napkins! Sister Bruschetta folded each into a pocket to hold the silverware.







The favors? Mini merlot bottles with adorable DIY embellishments: a tag including one of our engagement pictures, featuring our wedding colors, and attached to the bottle with gold yarn looped through a heart-shaped hole, the handiwork of Bruschetta 'maid Kris. And see the bowl brimming with little green, white and red goodies? Mama Bruschetta found mints -- individually wrapped to look like tiny Italian flags, each stamped with "Grazie" on the front -- and ordered them from Florida (yeah for Google!).



Mama Bruschetta had laminated a copy of our engagement announcement, and posted it by the back door, along with a copy of the shower invitation, so everyone saw both whenever they went into the house. (Pictured below, on top of a number of our gifts, is the copy Sister Bruschetta gave me after the shower [duh]. Each guest received an invitation in a bright red hand-addressed envelope.)

How cute is this? Sister Bruschetta went through several drafts, and nixed a number of graphics before pairing my "Miss Bruschetta" icon with a Mrs. Pinot Noir inspired picture.

Bruschetta 'maid Carey led everyone through several games, including quizzes to determine who knows the bride and groom best, and a fill-in-the-blank sheet of famous couples. Then, the mister and I tackled our mountain of gifts together. The first one we unwrapped? The coveted KitchenAid, from BruschettAunt Cino, who proudly reminded me that she reads our wedding blog, and knew I was smitten with the mixer for quite some time now.

My girls were hard at work, with Bruschetta 'maid Kris keeping a list of gift-givers and gifts, and Bruschetta 'maid Carey constructing an, um, interesting bow bonnet. With the mister by my side, and Sister Bruschetta and Bruschetta 'maid Steph working seamlessly behind the scenes, this part of the shower passed by smoothly -- and, pretty enjoyably, too, if you check out the photo evidence!





We added an impressive number of new tools to our culinary arsenal (thanks, everyone!), including several Wusthof knives from Mama, Daddy, Sister and BIL Bruschetta. (Um, wow, so excited to start cooking with these after the wedding!)



After the presents -- and the requisite bow bonnet pictures -- our wonderful hosts served dessert: vanilla and chocolate Italian-themed cupcakes, and a huge fruit salad (which Bruschetta 'maid Steph prepared to be served inside a hollowed out watermelon!).





As the shower was wrapping up, I learned Mr. Bruschetta would be having his bachelor party that night -- but that my big night out with the girls wouldn't take place for a few more weeks. Sister Bruschetta -- and the Bruschetta 'maids -- insisted that we all go into the city for a bit, so I wouldn't be sitting at home thinking (read: worrying) about my mister.***

We had drinks on the rooftop bar at Continental Midtown, followed by tapas downstairs -- a little too much fun with the two-way mirror in the bathroom -- and a gelato run to Capogiro for dessert.







I crashed at Sister and BIL Bruschetta's house, and the mister returned the next day for a lazy, impromptu pool party. Why not make a weekend out of it?



Was your shower a surprise? Anyone else have a coed shower -- or, as BIL Bruschetta termed it, a "bridal/groomal party"?

*Special thanks to Mama and Sister Bruschetta for sharing theses pictures with me! BIL Bruschetta also captured most of the shower on video, but I haven't had time to check out his footage!

**My mister had tried to grab a few clothing options without my noticing, but the pieces he picked either don't fit me well anymore (yea/boo for effective wedding workouts and diets) or would have required a strapless bra, which he didn't realize -- and therefore didn't pack!

***Mr. Bruschetta had been very clear about his bachelor party not including any strippers, so I wasn't fretting about this aspect of his guys' night. But with a big group of guys leading my fiance from bar to bar, I was admittedly fearful he'd end up drinking much more than he intended. And I was so relieved my girls kept my mind occupied -- and my tummy full -- that night!

Secrets

Sure, I have my share of wedding-related secrets. Mr. Bruschetta's made it clear I should conceal every aspect of my wedding day look from him, and I'm happy to comply. Daddy Bruschetta and I will be the only two, prior to the father-daughter dance, who know the song to which we'll spin around the dance floor. And I'm definitely planning a few surprises for the Bruschetta 'maids and bridal attendants.

So I suppose it's only fair to expect some secrecy directed my way. See, recently, I haven't been able to shake the feeling that my gals -- and even my mister -- have been working to keep something from me. I'm intrigued. I'm nosy. I'm wondering when they're going to let the cat out of the bag.

(source)

And I'm speculating exactly what they've got in the works. I've been replaying conversations in my head, looking for clues. Yes, I did tell the girls Mr. Bruschetta and I wanted a co-ed shower; no, I didn't give too many specifics about bachelorette party preferences. I'm also paying attention to telling behaviors, like the night Mr. Bruschetta was muttering, obviously irritated at his computer, but repeatedly saying he couldn't 't let me know what issue he was having with it.

I don't want to be presumptuous by assuming there even is anything being planned in my honor. But until I know definitively, I'm also fighting off bouts of bridal guilt. Because I know firsthand how challenging it can be to organize a surprise shower, having hosted Sister Bruschetta's the summer before her autumn wedding. At the time, Mama Bruschetta and I struggled to find the time to discuss the soiree, and Sister Bruschetta seemed to pop up at the most inconvenient times. (Although hilarious in retrospect, this really did get to be extremely frustrating; when the phone would ring, we'd check the caller I.D., see it was Sister Bruschetta, and actually moan aloud.) And you know what they say about karma. Sister Bruschetta walked into her bridal shower wearing a bathing suit under her shorts and tank top, so clearly expecting an afternoon in the hot tub with friends.* Will I be similarly hookwinked?

Is anyone else in the same position as me, theorizing that your nearests and dearests are planning surprise pre-wedding festivities?

*Don't worry, though, we'd planned ahead and had a cute new dress at the ready for her to change into!

Hanky Panty

FSIL Bruschetta's bridal shower was last weekend, and along with the routine games, her bridemaids had a cute surprise activity for the bride-to-be.

The girls had selected special gifts -- loungewear, sleepwear or underwear -- and upon unwrapping each, FSIL Bruschetta had to guess who had purchased it. Incorrect answers meant she had to model the lingerie (but with family in attendance, everyone agreed to keep it modest!). By the end of the game, FSIL Bruschetta had several negligee over her clothes, and a pair of frilly pink panties on her head -- and the room was full of giggles and camera flashes.

(source)

Flirty new underthings, and an inventive "guess who?" game? I loved this idea! (And a little good-natured embarrassment for the bride-to-be also added to the fun.)

Share your favorite bridal/wedding shower game or activity!

It May Sound Corny: Part III

It May Sound Corny: Part I

It May Sound Corny: Part II

Unable to resist the chance for a food pun and homemade treat, I created yummy vanilla sugar favors.

However, we most certainly didn’t host our countdown celebration with the goal of receiving any gifts from our guests. But, we’re loved. ::shrugs shoulders:: It’s as simple as that.

In keeping with the food theme, I wanted to find a cute, creative way to thank our guests. For this, store-bought notes would not do. No, no, no.

A few more craft supply purchases – and a lot of cutting, punching and gluing – later, I had a pile of these. (Inspired by paper crafting guru Mrs. Eggplant.) The inside message alternated between "a melon thanks!" and "thanks a melon!"

Cute, no?

It May Sound Corny: Part II

It May Sound Corny: Part I

Everything was coming together for our one-year countdown party. We tracked down all our RSVPs, wrote shopping lists and rented the items necessary to make it a proper backyard bash.

Fast-forward to the afternoon of the party. I’m in the kitchen, putting the finishing touches on one of our two desserts, when Daddy Bruschetta calls me outside. He’s already been joined by Mr. Bruschetta and Sister Bruschetta, each of whom is dubiously holding one of the poles that supposedly supports the rented 16-by-16 tent.

I’ll spare you all the boring details – which included one frustrating phone call to the rental company, begging for assistance; four (mine and Sister Bruschetta's) severely bug-bitten legs; 60 minutes of high school mathematics (what’s 16 squared? the square root of 20?) and tape-measure verifying – that eventually led to the festive atmosphere we had hoped to achieve.


Our recipe – one part Mr. Bruschetta's family, one part Miss Bruschetta's family, one part close friends – came out perfectly.

After the fact, we only experienced a few could-a, would-a, should-as.

• We could-a taken a few more pictures (particularly of the food prep and full spread, a troubling thought that came to me in the middle of the party, when it was too late to capture these images). But that’s why we’ve got two great photographers on board for our wedding.


• We would-a liked to have unlimited time to spend with each of our guests, instead of conversation-hopping throughout the evening. But it was great to have a sampling of how we might be managing our time at our wedding reception.


• We should-a offered a toast of sorts, to thank our guests for joining us, supporting us and loving us. But we didn’t want to silence the festive atmosphere at an event that was considerably more casual and informal than our wedding will be.

Of all these concerns, I lingered the longest on the last one.

So, with a blog post as my microphone, and a recipe as my beverage, let me offer a toast. We glimpsed, a few months ago, how wonderful it is when everyone we care about comes together. I’m raising my glass to thank everyone who celebrated with us, and to share my unbridled (::wink wink::) enthusiasm for the day later this year when I’ll marry my best friend, surrounded by our family and friends. Cheers!

Love Passion

Ingredients

1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) gin (go with Bluecoat, if you can find it; local to Philly and absolutely delish!)
1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) Alizé (passion-fruit liqueur)
6 tablespoons chilled dry champagne

Preparation

In a champagne flute, combine gin and liqueur, and top off with champagne.

Garnish drink with raspberries.

It May Sound Corny: Part I

It may sound corny...

...but hosting a one-year countdown party proved to be a great way to

A) introduce our families and friends to each other;
B) share some of our favorite summer recipes; AND
C) try out some new treats for our guests.

We cooked up the idea in the late spring, and it seemed like the perfect idea for a longer engagement like ours (21 months!).

The feel? Casual, backyard celebration. Not an engagement party; rather, a celebration of 365 days until our wedding!

The guests? Both our families and our close friends.

The cuisine? Well, now. Here, we were realistic. We ordered two hoagie trays, but committed to making three (huge!) side dishes, two desserts and one appetizer.

With an event starting to take shape, I turned my focus to the invites. As our first wedding-related outreach, I wanted to start communicating our colors and the (subtle) theme that was starting to take place. (Um...yeah, that'd be food.)

Using Microsoft Word, Paper Source cards, the trusty Cuttlebug and some ribbon, I came up with this.

(Please excuse the poorly blocked out parts -- privacy, you know.)

Mr. Bruschetta even pitched in to help assemble them! (Though, apparently, it was very serious, solemn work.)

I'm dying to recreate one of our side dishes to share with the hive, but all three are super summery (fresh corn, tomatoes, herbs, etc.), so I'll have to take a raincheck for when those ingredients (which I'm craving right now!) become available.

Are you hosting any pre-wedding mixers for your guests?