Tale As Old As Time...

The 1980s and '90s brought us some of the best Disney entertainment of a generation, including The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Lion King and my personal favorite, Beauty and the Beast. So of course when I heard the Broadway show was coming to Seattle I immediately got tickets. I absolutely adore this classic fairy tale and I have the fondest memories of watching it on VHS videocassette as a child.

Sitting in Seattle's Paramount Theatre with Stewart I seriously got chills as the lights dimmed and the orchestra began playing the familiar music. Unfortunately our tickets weren't nearly as good as our seats at the 5th Ave and I could hardly see anything with my poor eyesight from our third mezzanine location, but I really didn't care. The story and the music swept me away just like when I was a seven-year-old wishful princess. Sigh.

It's such a wonderful, exciting, sweet and incredibly romantic story. The stage show was incredibly well casted and the castle inhabitants like Lumière, Cogsworth and Mrs. Potts were just as endearing as ever. Gaston was particularly entertaining and Belle and the Beast were wonderful together, especially in the famous "Beauty & the Beast" dance / love scene.

This show is completely entertaining with it's lovable characters and wonderful message: that beauty is found within. I'd say that it's probably my favorite show we've seen so far, and Stewart agreed he'd rank it right up there with Aladdin. I believe Beauty and the Beast is still currently playing in 3D movie theaters... I must try to get tickets!

Bridal Shower Part Deux

Matching sisters at the shower.

This weekend I had the pleasure of attending yet another bridal shower in my honor. As requested in the invitation, I arrived wearing my favorite pair of cozy pajamas and prepared to satisfy my sweet tooth. My dear friend Crystal had prepared an absolutely adorable party!

So many of my friends showed up to shower me with attention and gifts. I felt incredibly spoiled but had so much fun! Besides stuffing ourselves silly with tons of delicious treats, we played a couple super cute games. My favorite was one where each guest chose a piece of string when they arrived and then had to tell a story about me using the entire length. Most people just ignored the string and told their favorite story about me (or Stewart). It was so much fun to hear everyone's memories about how they met us or funny adventures we've had together. I felt so lucky to have so many amazing women in my life.

The color theme was white and everything was so tastefully done... literally. Even all the delicious treats were all white! My favorite part was the hot chocolate bar which included whipped cream vodka for a fun kick and every topping you can imagine. Yum!

Banner and pictures which I absolutely loved at my first shower.

Haley & Katie - they gave me an incredibly, thoughtful gift.

All the treats for our sweet tooths.

Crystal, Laura and Michelle did such an amazing job planning and organizing everything.

The hot chocolate bar - my favorite!

My fantastic former co-workers Lindsee and Heather.

Amazing marshmallow "mobile."

College oommates reunited!

Adorable little decorations everywhere...

A bunch of gals from our summer camping group!

I think I sampled every single item on this table... it was so pretty!

Jessica & Audrey, my amazing co-workers who have been so
helpful and supportive with all my wedding stuff.

 The entire evening was so much fun and it was so wonderful to see everyone and spend a little quality time with them before the wedding. I can't believe it's coming up so fast!! I'll see everyone again soon!

Winter Lakehouse Vacation

Ever since we started going to Priest Lake in the summers with Stew's family, and especially since they bought their own lake house last year, we've been wondering what it would be like to visit during the winter. The lake has over 400 miles of groomed snowmobile trails, so on Saturday we rented a couple snowmobiles and headed out... it was so much fun! We rode for almost six hours with just a quick stop at an adorable isolated mountain lodge for lunch.

The lake itself is amazingly beautiful in winter. Every time I go to Idaho it always takes my breath away... everything seems so isolated, quiet and serene, and the water and the air just seem so much more crystal clear than anywhere else I've ever visited. We spent almost the entire day on Sunday inside the house playing games, stoking the fire, reading, watching movies, and eating yummy food. It was the perfect break from all the crazy wedding planning that's been consuming our lives lately.

We came back refreshed and ready to tackle these last few weeks before the big day!

Oklahoma!

This week we attended our second play since becoming subscribers to the 5th Avenue Theatre: Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma!

Besides knowing the chorus of this show's famous song, I wasn't familiar with the story line at all, but I always enjoy a good musical production so of course I was excited. Set in Oklahoma Territory in 1906,  it tells the story of cowboy Curly McLain and his romance with farm girl Laurey Williams.

There were some very cute song and dance numbers and a lot of funny little bits, but overall I wouldn't say that Oklahoma! has been our favorite show so far. We didn't dislike the show by any means, but we also didn't walk away twirling and singing (some other shows really jazz me up!) Stew has decided that Rodgers & Hammerstein just might not be his thing. But luckily, next up on our list is a Disney production! More on that soon...

The Bachelorette Party

You didn't think I'd let Stewart go to Vegas and then not go myself, did you?! I spent this past weekend in Sin City making memories with most of my very favorite gals in the entire world. The 12 of us headed down on Friday and let me just say... it was epic. Here are a few of the photos I've received so far from my fabulous friends and family. I feel so lucky that they all came down to spend the weekend with me... one of my last as a single woman!

This is basically one of my dreams come true... A limo
waiting for me at the airport! Courtesy of Auntie Elaine.

With cold champagne waiting and everything!

I really did feel like a celebrity.

No airport shuttle for us!

Ready to hit the town - temps in the 70s!

All dressed up for our first night out.

Yowza, that is one hot Momma!

Me and Crys, ready to party.

I have some good looking ladies in my family...

Hanging out on Crystal's fancy bed.

Apparently I was ready for a dance party.

That's how we roll...

I never got sick of those limo rides!

Italian dinner before the show.

And of course a little gambling...

Yes. We did.

Mom with a beverage for the road...

Now that's a car full of lovely ladies!

When you stay at The Flamingo you
get to see real flamingos!

After a late brunch on Saturday...

...we hit the Sugar Factory to recharge!

Fab Four all dressed up for country night.

Dinner at the Sugar Factory, my new
favorite Las Vegas restaurant.

Sittin' pretty w/ Tara and Rach.

This place is SO MUCH FUN.
I will go back every single time I visit Las Vegas.

My mom bought me that crown.

Of course the bachelorette always
gets pulled up on stage...

With darling Amanda!

And my fantastic, fabulous sister and Maid of Honor, Erin.

The girls planned such an epic weekend for me! I felt like a rock star everywhere we went and we all had so much fun together. My friends and family are so awesome. I'm glad they got to experience my last days as a single woman with me in Vegas!