Annie Opening Night PRE-PARTY!!!

GAH! I get chill bumps when I reminisce on this setup for Lilah.  The day had finally arrived.  It was OPENING NIGHT! And I HAD to do something special for all of my girl's hardwork. This opportunity was the FIRST time I was truly living vicariously through ANY of my children. The movie ANNIE is MY FAVORITE movie. As a child, I literally watched it over 1,000 times.  No lie. The movie was just so well portrayed that sometimes, as a kid, watching it... I felt like I was there, but invisibly there. I always wanted to be in an Annie play.  AND, there would truly be NOTHING better than MY DAUGHTER being in it instead. 

So, I wanted to created a little pre-party FUN to help show her how proud I was of her and to create as much enthusiasm in her as possible for opening night.  

My entire "party" was planned around this ANNIE image. I had to have it. I found it onETSY at a shop called "Sheer Bliss Designs".  It was the PERFECT starting/focal point for all of my other ideas.  I will say... if you choose to go with this idea, keep in mind that finding a company that will print this image for under $125.00 is next to impossible.  Sheer Bliss Designs advertises this purchase for a size 42x72.  That's HUGE.  So, I just settled for an 18x20 size.  I got it at Sams Club.  I think I paid $12.00.  

Our play had a song in it called, "NYC" aka New York City. I think that is wear Daddy Warbuck's also lived in the movie.  I found these beautiful letters at A.C. Moore.  

One of the scenes in both the play and the movie includes a movie scene and/or a song called, "Let's Go To The Movies". I knew I wanted to supply some food for Lilah (after all, this would be presented to her after school and before opening night).  So I created a fun, movie scene on one area of the table. Time was such a factor for me, so I did have to purchase and or "borrow" some things for different bloggers.  I truly made the overall look, of this party, my own though.  I didn't want to just COPY someone's party. I desired to be UNIQUE and DIFFERENT.  The movie sign came from the blogger, "House Of Hargrove".  I already had the popcorn bowls.  The movie theater popcorn came from Sam's Club.

This little cutie pie was BEYOND excited.  You'll be able to see her reaction down below. 

(Above): The Annie dress was actually Lilah's.  When she was 3, she was Annie for Halloween.  I pulled it out of her childhood storage bin and used it for a display. 

(Below): Along with the popcorn served, I thought it would so fun to offer the mini coke, glass bottles. It really was a great addition in the "attention to details" world.

Lilah was casted as "TESSIE" the orphan.  You know, the orphan that all too often says, "Oh My Goodness! Oh My Goodness!" I purchased these water bottle labels, from a company on ETSY called, Bushel And Peck Paper. The only dilemma with this company was that these water bottle labels were made for birthday parties.  So they said, "Happy Birthday".  I was down to the wire before Lilah was about to arrive home and had to QUICKLY work my own magic, using B&P's jpeg to create my own look.  I added Lilah's cast name. B&P was willing to change it, but she wanted another $5.00 and I was unwilling to pay $5.00 more for something that I new I could fix.

 I purchased this adorable, antique coffee cup for Lilah as a gift.  Instead of "gifting" it to her, I decided to use it as a decoration for her party table. I purchased chocolate coins from Big Lots and used some Melissa & Doug Play money to create a fun, rich, Daddy Warbuck's section on the table.  The mini sign also came from House Of Hargrove's Blog.   

When I spotted these red velvet, mini cupcakes at Sam's Club, I thought... why invent the wheel.  Why home make them? I got like 24 of these beauties for $4.96.

I brought in one of my favorite patterns, buffalo plaid, along with some red licorice.  Does anyone go to the movies and NOT eat licorice??  YUM!  And of course... it goes perfect with the color scheme.

Okay, enough with the junk... chocolate, cupcakes, licorice, and popcorn... I needed something healthy.  SO, I provided some fresh fruit: strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries (Lilah's favorite).  I was enamored with these ADORABLE, "Hard Knock Life", mini bucket and brooms. I purchased (10) because I wanted to be able to use them for both this party and possibly a "goodbye" gift for the other orphans. I got these from Festiva Party Design.  The etsy listing was for a set of 10, but I needed 12. The owner of Festiva Party Design was kind enough to throw in two more for FREE, in exchange for me advertising her Etsy Shop on both my Blog, Pinterest account, and Instagram account.  

The powdered sugar donuts were just a little extra.  I used some black and white paper straws and "strung" the powdered donuts onto them.  

I used as many quotes or tag lines from the play that related to the parts of the play that Lilah was in! One of the bigger scenes in the play was to the song, "You're Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile." This was actually the part of the play that Lilah was granted a mini solo dance.

And now... her reaction.  She was so uber excited and I felt all warm and fuzzy inside for being able to make her feel extra special and ramped up for (9) amazing shows.

A Gift For A Thespian!

As you know, Lilah was blessed to be casted for Annie.  The play Annie was performed (9) times. Yes. I repeat (9) times. I was thankful even though it was a little taxing.  Those little thespians worked their tales off and I can't imagine having less than 4 shows after all of those late night practices. I couldn't possibly give Lilah (9) gifts, but I did have a new gift for her EACH OPENING weekend.  

On weekend 2, I made my baby girl a bouquet of CANDY! Flowers are great and beautiful, but kids like candy way better than flowers.  I did this for her during Snow White and not only did she enjoy it, but her cast-mates were in total awe.  

I tried to design this particular candy bouquet with gold, red, and silver candy!

My Annie "edition", of this candy bouquet, was transforming a Russell Stover's Chocolate bar, adding a photo of Daddy Warbuck's to the front of the $1,000,000,000, instead of Santa Claus.  

It's hard coming up with unique gifts for those special occasions, so while I had already given Lilah something similar, for another show, the candy choses was entirely different as were the color schemes and sweet details! Lilah LOVED it.  In fact, she still has a few pieces of candy left in her bouquet  because she just can't bring herself to eating it all. Eating is all makes her feel like she's saying goodbye to the Annie production and her cast.  

WOW! Life Has Been INSANE!

Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness! I just went to "Blogger" to see when I last posted and I am so sad to SEE that it has been ALMOST a FULL 2 MONTHS! This has absolutely NEVER happened before.  My back log is so long, I'd have to be bed ridden for two months or longer to get caught up.  I have been very diligent to post on Instagram because it is so quick and easy.  BUT my BLOG is truly my baby and where my passion began, so I will NEVER give this up. I just had to let blogging take a back seat for these last two months.  What has been keeping me so busy aside from NORMAL life responsibilities that we all have?

Well... Lilah was casted to be an orphan, in ANNIE, as you may have previously read.  This required her and I to drive (3) nights, per week, to Fincastle. Most nights we were not getting home until close to 10:45 pm.  And she wasn't just in theater.  She is a competitive dancer, at Divine Dance Center, taking (4) classes and practicing for (1) duo, plus cheerleading, which has since ended, and NOW basketball.  Here are a few sneak peaks of her Annie memories.  Clearly, I will be posting them all very sooon! Lilah had (9) shows, three weekends back to back.  Again, our drive to Fincastle is 34 minutes, there and back, on a GOOD day.

Tyson was injured back in September.  He tore his tendon in his ring finger.  Otherwise known as "Jersey Finger".  It sounds like nothing, but it was actually very intense.  He had to go through hand surgery and (12) full weeks of occupational therapy.  The therapy required him to get out of class early, 2-3 days per week, and we had to drive a good 32 minutes away to his therapy appointments AND back.  Round trip, with the appointment time included, we were tied up for a good 2 hours, again 2-3 per week for 12 weeks.

We never thought that basketball would be an option this year.  However, he tried out with one hand, made the team, and was granted the captain of his team. Not only did he get released, to play during before the middle school season was over, but the JV coach called me and asked if Ty would be able to move up to JV after his middle school season was over.  God is so good! Ty was the only one chosen to move up.

Our Jax was in football and is now on not one, but TWO basketball teams.  One local youth program and one traveling, AAU team.  He keeps us equally as busy as we cart him back and forth to practices, games, and film sessions.  

My LipSense business hit an entirely NEW level over the last two months.  I had my absolute best month, since being in business, in November. It was truly unprecedented both financially and personally.  I feel so empowered and beyond grateful and blessed to be a part of such a fabulous company.  I thoroughly enjoy meeting so many new women and being able to share my love of SeneGence with them. I currently have (37) ladies under me. 

I ranked (3) different times in only two months. I know that seems impossible right? I ranked two times in my outter circles and once in my inner circles.  I received a ruby ring, a ruby pin, and my sapphire pin is on it's way! I am now ranked "LADY" within the company.

I got ONE foot of hair cut off and donated it to Pantene's donating program.  I feel lighter, haha.

My mom and dad moved here in July.  Life has been filled with trying to help them get settled into a new place.  I was able to celebrate their birthdays with them. in October and then in November.  I redid parts of their bedrooms and that took a ton of back and forth to their home and to stores trying to get it all color coordinated and looking beautiful/gorgeous.  

And our elves have arrived.  This task alone, because of the way I do it, is enough to be a TRUE full time job! They have really gotten themselves into a ton of fun, messy, and eventful situations.  It's a wonderful memory and tradition, but it is very time consuming.  You can catch all of our elf shenanigans on my Instagram account @BollingWith5 AND/OR look up hashtag, "ElfOnTheShelfBW5".

These are just a FEW of the things that we have had going on, but rest assured there were 1,000 other things in between, like my sisters came to visit, a LipSense party, Thanksgiving, Christmas Shopping, banquets, a cast party, doctor appointments, dentist appointments, haircuts, Christmas decorating, birthdays, and so much more.  I appreciate your patience as we try to do life. I know my faithful followers will stay put regardless of the quantities of times I am able to post, but it is my intention to get back into the grove.  I love you all.  AND from our family to yours, 

WE wish you a very Merry Christmas and a HAPPY New Year!