​I don’t know if it is my age or something in the water, but I think I’ve attended at least one baby shower a month since September, which provides the perfect excuse to start a baby shower post series! The first in this fun saga of celebrations is a rustic take on an early-fall shower for my dear friend Laura that two friends and I teamed up to throw to celebrate her upcoming baby boy. 

The most important decision in this endeavor was choosing a venue. While I always love hosting in my home, this particular foursome had decided a while back that once we all started having babies, we were going to host each other’s showers on location somewhere to both add an extra element to the party but also to cut down on the work for the hostesses! True to our word, we went with a locally owned Arcadian café in Westfield, Indiana called Rail Epicurean Market for this first one and we were not disappointed!

​Once we chose this charming eatery, everything else quickly fell into place. I ordered some simple yet playful invitations from Paperlesspost.com that pulled in a part of the baby's nursery theme and picked up some matching paper from one of my favorite places, Paper Source, to make envelope liners and a banner. IMHO, envelope liners step it up a notch on class but also on cost, so I invested in a DIY liner kit a while ago so I can stay classy without breaking the bank by making them myself. 

​When the big day arrived, the accommodating staff created a personalized menu from which each guest ordered a specialty hot beverage. One of the 3 hostesses created heavenly smelling lavender body scrubs for favors, and the remaining hostess and I threw together the table décor on a whim and a prayer! We still aren’t quite sure how it happened, but somehow it all came together in the 15 minutes before guests started arriving with the finishing touch of a blue pashmina I grabbed from my closet as I was running out the door.

The guest count was about 15 and we all gathered around a large wooden table, passed around charcuterie boards and pumpkin bars, and showered this special mama with love, gifts, and advice. I can’t praise the staff and venue enough: the food was delicious, the service timely, and the atmosphere warm and picturesque.

​Invitations are one of my favorite parts of planning an event. As Oscar Wilde put it, “You never have a second chance to make a first impression.” The invitation is the first contact you make with your guests before a party, and it sets the tone for the whole occasion. Invitations also provide all kinds of important information for attendees. In addition to the essentials, guests may look to the invitation for attire hints, such as formality and color schemes for weddings, or gift ideas for showers, and may even partially base their attendance decision on how appealing they find the invite. That is a lot of pressure for one piece of paper! Here are 2 examples of Pinterest-worthy invites that no one would dream of turning down!

​Will you be my bridesmaid?
Did I say one piece of paper? Scratch that, because this bride said, “I’ll take your paper invitations and raise you a bottle of champagne!” One of my dearest friends just chose Trump winery in Charlottesville, Virginia, as her wedding venue and presented me with a truly jaw-dropping invitation to join her bridal party. Her fiancé is a whiz with design and printing, and he put those skills to work in a big way. He created personalized champagne bottle labels for each bridesmaid, wrapped them around a bottle of champagne from Trump Winery, and his wife-to-be presented me with this fabulous invitation. The front looks like a normal bottle of champagne, but the back includes not only my name, but also a short poem ending with a very special question. Not only was this classy and creative, it cleverly played on the theme of the venue and gave a personal salute to her favorite adult beverage, champagne. Needless to say, I accepted with pleasure and I can’t wait until next year when I can drink this fabulous invite! 

​Do I get a plus one?
One major problem a bride can run into is adequately communicating whether or not guests can bring a date or children. When a date or kids are invited, this can sometimes be indicated by including “and guest” or “and family” on the front of the interior envelope. However, this can get tricky because an invitation may not have an interior envelope, or some may feel it is rude to not know the name of everyone in the party. Furthermore, when a bride doesn’t want her guest to bring a date or children, it is even harder to communicate. Most of the time, there is simply a lack of indication that anyone but you is invited, which can often cause confusion. I recently received an invitation from my cousin with a brilliant solution to this conundrum. His wife included a line on the RSVP card for us to fill in stating that ___ of 2 will be attending. In my opinion, this was a perfectly classy yet completely clear way to communicate the number of guests invited. Granted, I ended up bringing 2.5, but I believe they forgave me on account of Baby O&O still being in the womb! However, if Baby O&O were already born, I would have known from the filled-in 2 that we would have needed to get a sitter. Way to go, Amy!

October 13th is International Plain Language Day and to celebrate, the editors at my work threw a plain language party! 

Using plain language in your writing helps explain complex information in a simple, easy-to-understand way. Plain language is especially applicable to anyone working with federal agencies. In 2010, President Obama signed the Plain Writing Act, which says that federal agencies should promote “clear Government communication that the public can understand and use.” The act goes on to define “plain writing” as “clear, concise, well-organized, and follows other best practices appropriate to the subject.”

In true overdressed editor fashion, we themed this open-house plain throughout from the outfits to the snacks. Dressed in plain white tees (or blouses) and black pants, the editors supplied plain snacks, including plain M&Ms, saltines, and Nilla wafers, to name a few. Attendees received a passport to plain language upon arrival and traveled around the room to 5 different stations dealing with various areas of plain language: jargon, active voice, tone, word choice, and simplicity. After completing each station, travelers received a stamped letter on their passport to eventually spell out PLAIN. Once they had all 5 letters, they enjoyed a thick slice of “Plain Cake” while listening to the Plain White T’s and Weird Al’s “Word Crimes.”

​Busy busy busy! This has been the tune I’ve been singing lately, due largely in part to a new member of the family that is happily growing his way into Mr. O&O’s and my hearts (as well as my belly)! We are expecting our first little one, whom we have recently learned is a sweet baby boy! We are over the moon about our son, and I have been savoring all the exciting celebrations that come with a new baby. One of these jubilant occasions was learning the gender of this little guy! Mr. O&O and I had several decisions to make surrounding this one piece of information, though. Our first choice was whether we wanted to find out at all, which we easily agreed on a big YES! The next choice, however, was more complicated. How do we reveal to family and friends? Do we find out before and tell them ourselves, or keep it a secret and find out all together? And who to invite to this “gender reveal,” or should we have one at all? It turns out there are many opinions surrounding these gender-related decisions that boil down to two main sides: private and public.

​Keep it private.
Many people believe that finding out the gender of your baby is a private moment best spent as just a couple. Some think that creating a big occasion out of an often-emotional moment can belittle the specialness of it. Additionally, with all the showers, gifts, and attention that already surround a new baby, attending yet another party to reveal the gender may be seen as an imposition, especially because the denouement is only three words that could be communicated via phone, email, or social media. The etiquette of a gender reveal party is also typically unclear – do you bring a gift? (I say no, but I’ve seen it done.) And what if the parents didn’t get the gender they wanted? Their emotions are on display for everyone to see, and if disappointment is one of them, things could get awkward. 

​Any excuse for a party is a good one!
On the other hand, some families and friends are just as excited to learn the gender as the parents-to-be and desperately want to be included in any and all celebrations for the new little one. A party also gives the parents a chance to get creative with their reveal and make some fabulous memories. Cakes, balloons, mustaches/lips, and even squirt guns are some amazing ideas I’ve seen executed to reveal a baby’s gender to anxious guests and parents. 

Compromise?
After weighing our options, Mr. O&O and I aimed for a compromise. We went out to Virginia for a shower thrown by Mama O&O (post to come!), and the timing worked out that our 20-week ultrasound was a few days before we left, so we decided to do it that weekend. We considered revealing to all of the guests at the end of the shower, which we thought wouldn’t be an imposition because they would already be there, but then realized that a few key people wouldn’t be there (Papa O&O, for one) and also that it may be a little overwhelming with so many people watching. In retrospect, I’m glad we didn’t because I was so nervous I couldn’t stand it, and I wouldn’t have wanted to feel that way during my whole shower! Instead, we waited until Papa O&O got home later that night. We opted for a Russian roulette-style cupcake reveal (courtesy of Richmond, VA's Shortcake Bake Shoppe) with just my immediate family and Mr. O&O’s immediate family (FaceTime), plus Bestie O&O as the photographer. We did wait ourselves and find out at the same time as the families. In my opinion, that is the only way to do it party-style because it makes all the lead-up worth it. If we had found out beforehand privately, I would just do a cute announcement on social media. I would feel bad already knowing and putting my family through an entire waiting-game party just for show. This way, the moment was still incredibly special and intimate, but also fun, celebratory, and inclusive. We then put a blue balloon on the mailbox for inquiring neighbors and posted a fun shot to social media to let everyone else know.

​And now it’s on to suspenders and bow ties for this growing family! Note: All photos except the squirt gun reveal are courtesy of Destin, FL photographer Kelsey Dodson Photography. 

Over the past few months, I have had the privilege of getting to know a vibrant and faithful couple from Nairobi, Kenya, who joined my small group during the short time they stayed in the United States. As my friendship developed with this impassioned couple, especially the fashion designer wife, Shiru, I learned several cultural differences between the U.S. and Kenya, including their take on hospitality. Most of this learning occurred when Shiru and her husband hosted a traditional Kenyan dinner for our small group.

Upon arriving, I learned that Shiru had spent the entire day cooking, starting with soaking beans the previous night. She presented us with a gorgeous spread of fresh githeri, a traditional Kenyan dish of corn, beans, vegetables, and bacon, served with jasmine rice and cooked kale.

She allowed only 2 contributions to her meal, one of which I quickly jumped at the honor of bringing: a bag of avocados. Shiru had purchased only one avocado her entire time in the U.S. (and had prayed over it for days to ensure its ripeness!) because she just couldn’t bring herself to pay $2.50 for a fruit she only pays pennies for in her home town. I didn’t blame her one bit!

After her husband blessed the meal, we served ourselves and sat together around their living room. As everyone went back for seconds and exclaimed over how much food (and how delicious) it was, Shiru explained, “My mother taught me that if the food runs out, I was a bad hostess. That means I let someone go hungry.”

I loved gaining this particular insight into her background. I, on the other hand, grew up with the notion that if there are no leftovers, your event was a success because it meant that everyone loved the food. I realize that both philosophies are equally acceptable, but in fact, leftovers can be an additional bonus for both the hosts and guests, which proved true that very night: she sent Mr. O&O home with leftovers for his lunch the next day, which he greatly appreciated, and she still had leftovers for her own lunch!

I recently tried this notion at my own dinner party by grilling several extra pieces of meat, sending some home with the guests, and eating the rest for lunch the next day. It worked beautifully; no one went hungry, yet I knew they liked the food because they accepted the leftovers. Thanks for the Kenyan hospitality tip, Shiru!

Did you know that drinking water is excellent for your health? Water is great for weight loss, organ function, skin and hair, digestion, and so much more! However, plain old water can get a little boring. Here are a few tips on spicing up your water without adding any unhealthy sugar or calories:

Whenever I indulge in a slice of doughy pizza or a turkey burger hot off the grill, I crave a soda to go with it. However, sodas are full of sugar and calories, and, even worse, diet sodas are full of cancer-linked artificial sweeteners like aspartame and saccharin. To fulfill this craving without all of the sugary repercussions, I swap out soda for sparkling water. I still feel fulfilled because I get the carbonation I am craving, but I am simultaneously hydrating and keeping any extra sugar and empty calories out of my body. La Croix, Perrier, San Pellegrino, and even Kroger-brand sparkling water are available at your local grocery store, and they come in different natural flavors. But beware: Always check the label to ensure that the water has 0 calories, 0 fat, and 0 sugar, and that there are only 2 (or fewer) ingredients: carbonated water and natural flavor.

Adding natural flavors to my water makes the difference between only drinking when I’m thirsty and drinking water throughout the whole day. A great way to do this at home is to add fruits or vegetables to a whole pitcher and let it sit throughout the day, refilling your glass as needed. My favorite things to add are sliced cucumbers and lemon (try this Sassy Water) or strawberry pieces and lime. Just remember to throw away what you don’t drink at the end of the day; if you leave it overnight, mold will grow quickly!

Essential oils are natural, concentrated oils distilled from plants that people have used for thousands of years to improve their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. This is my favorite way to enhance the taste of water with very little effort! The most common oils to add to your daily intake of water include lemon, grapefruit, lime, and orange. You only need 1-2 drops of oil to flavor 16 ounces of water. There are two caveats to this:

• You can only add essential oils to water that is in a glass container — not plastic, polystyrene, or anything else. The oils are so concentrated that they can eat away at any non-glass container.

• Some essential oils are not 100% pure therapeutic grade, so they are not safe to consume. Read the labels carefully. I use only Young Living brand essential oils, which you can order online (use Sponsor and Enroller ID: 185491). If you are new to essential oils and want to learn more, email me!

I don’t know about your office, but I know mine can reach near-arctic temperatures, which many times necessitates the need for a hot beverage, even in summer! To stay warm and hydrated, swap out that coffee for a naturally decaffeinated herbal tea or an only slightly caffeinated green tea. The healthiest way to drink tea is plain, but if you really need a sweetener, try all-natural honey, or Truvia or Stevia, naturally calorie-free sugars.

I love celebrating love, and what better day to do so than February 14th? It is typically cold and miserable out, so it is the perfect time of year to snuggle up with your hunny and celebrate your relationship. That is why I chose this time of year to embark on a surprise journey of loving Mr. O&O above and beyond the norm. I call this journey Love31. The idea is to create a list of actions based on Proverbs 31 to love your husband well and complete it over 31 consecutive days. The catch is to do it without telling your spouse! 

Not only was this a fun way to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but it was also an excellent reminder of the benefits of intentionally nurturing your marriage, and you don’t need a holiday to work on that! We all grew in our ability to love and respect our husbands unconditionally, particularly because many of the actions we took weren’t reciprocated or even acknowledged until last night! But in spite of that, many of the women (and even some of the men!) realized and admitted they got along extraordinarily well with their spouses and deepened their relationships over the past 31 days. One of the husbands actually picked up on the timeframe, which happened to coincide with them getting a new puppy, and had been (erroneously) attributing his wife’s loving actions to her newfound puppy-motherhood!

So, does Love31 sound like a fun experiment? Get together with a few girlfriends and try it out yourself, or just try it on your own if you aren’t the gregarious type. If you have any questions about it or need any encouragement, leave me a note and I’d be happy to chat more about it with you!

I know it’s February, but it’s not too late to make resolutions if you haven’t done so yet, or to start over if you didn’t exactly hit the ground running with your January ones. Plus, lent is just around the corner! I posted last month about physical resolutions and how to make them more fun. As a follow up, I want to discuss a character-resolution activity my dear friend, Liz, started with our small group a few years ago that Mr. O&O and I adopted this year with our new bible study.

The idea is similar to typical New Year’s resolutions in that you are resolving to improve yourself, but super simplified. Instead of coming up with a list of all the things you want to change about yourself (e.g. quit smoking; read the Bible; take up yoga; volunteer; get out of debt), pick one word that embodies the kind of person you want to be and apply that word to all areas of your life all year (e.g.. discipline; contentment; compassion; responsible; learn). If you want to learn more about this, there is a whole movement dedicated to helping you choose your word: My One Word. According to their website, the top 10 most popular words are:

1. Trust
   
2. Patience
   
3. Love
   
4. Discipline
   
5. Focus
   
6. Faith
   
7. Surrender
   
8. Peace
   
9. Listen
   
10. Joy

Not only is this less overwhelming than a long list of resolutions (and more attainable), it also establishes a positive look forward instead of a regretful look back. However, reflection is still a worthy endeavor, which is why we pair this word-choosing for the upcoming year with a reflection on the previous year as we answer the question, “What dream did you let die last year?” This exercise helps shed light on changing expectations, circumstances, and how God has worked doors that closed for good. It also presents an opportunity to revive the dream, if applicable.