[MFC] FriendsGIVING 2014!

11/19/2014

Hi Friends,

So I am still exhausted as I write this post now- but on Sunday was my Friendsgiving soirée! It was alot of work and I had A LOT of fun planning + making it all happen! AND the actual event was the best!

I have a tendency to over think things, and friendsgiving was one of those things I started to over think. I was way worried about what the gals were going to do, if it was going to be awkward, if I needed to be the 'entertainment'. Chris kept reassuring me there would be so many ladies present, that the event would just run its course. AND it did. I suppose I'm just used to being an elementary school teacher and having 20+ kids look at me like 'now what?!' every 2 seconds. Luckily though, being that most of the gals are bloggers/entrepreneurs of some sort, everyone was super out going and ready to get their craft on!

Below are some of the pictures from the event that Chris snapped for me. I will be honest and say that I am a little sad that I didn't take more pictures- I took like 2 pictures the whole time, and they were blurry. : ( I was too busy talking my head off with everyone! I wasn't able to set up a little photo booth area or anything either, as we had Friendsgiving in my super tiny loft and it was already a tight fit. Thankfully, it wasn't too cold and we were able to prop the back door open and use the fire pit out back to make s'mores!

I really couldn't be more happy with how Friendsgiving turned out, and DEFINITELY think I will be doing this again next year! Here are some pictures from the event, and later this week I will be sharing with you the swag bags + vendors + how many blankets/boxes of toys we were able to donate, as this event was really about [new] FRIENDS gathering together to GIVE back this holiday season! AND I am SOOO proud of how much we were able to give this year!

The set up : view from my lofted bedroom [See we weren't working with alot of space- it was cozy though!]

Swag bags + area for toys & blankets!

We basically just moved our living room outside [as we just use beach chairs typically, b/c we only have my lemon table out there currently- until we buy patio furniture.]

I just love love love my Tiny Prints pillow- so fun! [You can customize them to say anything you want!]

My sister + my bestfriend helping me put the Operation Christmas Child boxes together!

Getting our craft on! For the few weeks leading up to the event- I collected sticks while walking the dogs. I used/painted some as table decor + saved the rest for the gals to use to make their own wall hangings/dream catcher thingy-ma'bobs! I wasn't sure how everyone was going to feel out stick decorating- BUT it was a hit! Usually the simplest of things are.

I literally used sticks + leaves as my main decorations and then threw some candles + twinkle lights + a few feathers into the mix as well. I once had a professor that told us that a good artist can make great art work- with the best of materials. BUT that a GREAT artist can make GREAT art work with even the worst of materials. AKA be resourceful, everything doesn't have to cost a lot of money to be great!

Making my speech, which- much to my surprise didn't go awful and I didn't black out [hehe- really though]. I don't like talking in front of grown folks typically [actually hate it]. I even hate having to speak in front of everyone at staff meetings. Its so different than teaching. Maybe it was adrenaline from everything, but I really wasn't that nervous. I wasn't sure what I was going to say so I may have stumbled a bit & I did drop the swag bag [awkward] but it was all okay- and will make next time that much easier!

New friends helping each other craft! I LOVE it : )

We each wrote a letter to include in our Operation Christmas Child box using the pens that Sakura of America sent us + our Tiny Prints 'But First, Glitter!' note pads!

Sparklers + s'mores : ) Always a huge hit at parties! [BTW- this is a GAS fire pit. All I have to do is push a button to turn it on/off- HOW great?!]

Group shot- well about half the group. This was at the very end and many girls had already left. Something we will remember to do next year before everyone leaves!

We naturally ended the party by making it rain confetti!!! This literally was so fun/funny. I have never seen soooo much confetti all over the place in my life. I am still finding it e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e! All I can say is, God love Chris for being such a good man and hanging with all us gals all day- with all of our sparkles, confetti and silliness! #Girlsjustwanttohavefun