Today is my Dad's birthday.  He's 30 plus 38 :-) Happy Birthday Daddy!
I can't believe November is almost over.  I'm already feeling the December rush.  Family pictures 
on Wednesday,  shopping, baking, planning, decorating... all needing to be done.   YIKES!  With all the holiday stress on the horizon, I'm glad I have  great memories of the last two weeks in November to look back on.
We  just got back from our "Wedding Week" in Florida.  I was so fortunate  to be asked to be a bridesmaid in my friend Mandy's wedding.  It was  beautiful.  There were seven bridesmaids and we were lucky our bride was  no 
Bridezilla.  We  were allowed to pick from any black, long gown we wanted. We were all  thrilled with the dresses we got and we were able to pick dresses that  looked best on us.  What a bonus!  Now, if I can just find somewhere to  wear my beautiful gown to again.
Mandy's wedding was in 
Melbourne,  FL.  
Melbourne is south of 
Cocoa Beach and 
Cape Canaveral  on the east coast of Florida. We stayed right on the beach.  It was a  little cool to splash in the waves (even though I saw a few brave souls  doing so), but a morning walk on the beach was perfect!  Mandy had a  block of rooms, reserved, at the hotel, for her wedding guests.  She had  baskets for each room.  The baskets contained a map of Melbourne,  bottled water, crackers, muffins, 
fruit snacks, trail mix, and my favorite... CHOCOLATE!  There was a little note from the 
bride and groom attached to each basket.  What a great welcome for guests!
Mandy chose to have her wedding on a 
Sunday afternoon.   I've been told many venues offer great rates for Sunday weddings.  What  a great way to stretch a wedding budget!  Because she had her wedding  on a Sunday, one of her wedding favors was a red or black 
paper bag filled with goodies and a note.  (see pictures) What a great economical 
wedding favor!
She also had her favorite, 
rock candy,  at each place setting. This worked wonderfully to help sustain the  kids, while waiting for the buffet line to open.  The only thing I would  change is the color of the rock candy.  She chose red, an accent color  to her black and 
white wedding.   Although it was very pretty, my youngest daughter got some on  her  dress and as hard as I tried, I just couldn't get the stains out.  I  would suggest a clear rock candy wrapped in colored cellophane or with a  ribbon in a coordinating wedding color.
Mandy also had the BRILLIANT idea of having a basket full of new flip flops on the edge of the 
dance floor.   My feet were miserable before these lifesavers came along.  I know Old  Navy offers flip flops for $1/pair at least once a year.  If you're  planning a wedding, I'd say stock up when this amazing sale comes  around!
There were many wonderful things about this wedding.  The  bride and groom wrote their own, very personal vows.  So special. They  played their favorite music while the wedding party walked down the  aisle. So personal.  They broke out into a phenomenal dance routine at  the end of their traditional 
first dance.   So fun.  This wedding was their wedding. It was so personal and  unforgettable. I am honored that I was asked to be a part of it.
