Pimp My Ride

Growing up I not only just loved books -- but I simply adored Dr. Suess books.  His wildly funny, wickedly imaginative words & stories that I would read again and again as a little Sweet Cream.  One of my favorites (is there such a word when talking about Dr. Suess??) is "Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now."

via Etsy's ArtandBookShop

For those of you unfamiliar with the story, some man from above tries kicking poor Marvin out and lists all of the crazy ways that he can leave... by broomstick, by Bumble-Boat, by Crunk Car, by a Zike Bike... If you know Dr. Suess, like I am sure you do... you get the picture.

via Etsy's ArtandBookShop

I am sure that you are thinking "Sweet Cream! What the hay does Dr. Suess have to do with all this!!"  

Well... I'll tell you what...  I think that thoughts of Marvin's modes of possibilities in transportation somehow made it into my bridal brain disguised -- and for some reason, I just couldn't let go of the fact that I didn't want just-a-limo to carry me -- or our wedding party -- around on the big day.

There were plenty of other cool ways to get to and from the church.

Like a bus from the UK! / via Wendy Home

Or a trolley / Ever Lovely / via Trolley Kannapolis Tours

This bus rocks! / via Wilsonberry Wedding

I really really wanted a VW bus /  Distinct Occasions / via Kuste Kombis

Maybe even a really cool desert rover/ via California Overland

 A SCHOOL BUS! enough said! / via Bride.net

Until you say "boat!" / via My Wedding

For us, transportation is not a high priority on the list -- I do admit that our budget money wasn't riding on something as cool as a Zike Bike. I tried reaching out to the local VW club to find a VW bus -- with no such luck (although I did mysteriously begin to see them parked around everywhere after I started the hunt! Never with a driver though!).

So after brainstorming and thinkforming...googling and doodling... (Whoa! Getting all Suessy on the hive, huh?)... We arrived on this...

....Wait for it...

via Avis

That's right, my friends.  A Chevy Van that seats 12.  

Well you can't win 'em all.  The clock is ticking and my creative juices are getting used elsewhere.  And with a basket of goodies, some window markers and perhaps a Martha Flower here and there, I think it will be perfection.  And it's a whopping $112 for 24 hours.  Done & done!

Please tell me your super cool ideas that got your wedding party from Point A to Point B, whether they be wicked, unique or thrifty!  I need to live vicariously through you since all we are getting is a Chevy van!!! But know, I do have a little somethin' somethin' up my sleeve for me & Mr. Sweets...

The Super Sweet Invite Suite...Revealed!

I know that I talked about all sorts of aspects of the invitations.  But now it's time for the big reveal!

Before we get to that... I will tell you that Mr. Sweets helped me oh-so-very-much!  Maybe other Mr.'s get into every aspect of planning.  But Mr. Sweet Cream really only likes the parts that involve tools, food & men's attire...and of course the honeymoon!

If it wasn't for him, we would be left without adorable little wooden hearts that I could wood burn our initials into.  Boy, I love that boy!

And if I wasn't for these hearts, how could a girl explain spending hours watching guilty pleasures from the DVR like MTV's Teen Mom or home improvement shows that make a few tears come out?  

Those hearts not only made the invite -- but they gave me an excuse for these sorts of things... but enough with the delay... As they say before the "big reveal..."

via catholic youth ministry

So here they are hive!

Want a closer look?  After carefully opening (or ripping open) the envelope, guests were treated to a fabric-banded, baker's twine-tied, heart-adorned package.

After getting off the band, I know that a few tears were dropped from this beyond gorgeous Bob Marley quote.

Then they got the deets:

And then they got to mail it back to "The Soon-To-Be Mr. & Mrs. Sweets."  :)

I mixed in part Etsy designer with my own design of the quote, map & packaging and think that it turned out perfect.  Especially for the vibe of our laid back, BBQ reception.

Although I couldn't wait to finish these bad boys... I do admit that I was kind of sad to see them go!

But almost immediately the RSVPs began appearing in my mailbox and I didn't miss them so much anymore.  But I sure do love them!

Did you DIY your invites?  Did you buy invites from somewhere & add your own touches just because you couldn't resist yourself?

Shower Me With Love: The Books

So I've told you about the shower, the invite that I just had to craft myself & what a super marvelous, incredibly amazing experience that my bridal shower was.

But I haven't shared the deets on these little pretties.

I am a crazy fool who absolutely loves to cook.  Not only do I love to cook, but I love the story of recipes.  I love the way a recipe can be shared across the country and made and enjoyed and will bring the love & soul of that person straight to your kitchen table with you.  When I made Cuz Sweet Cream's Pinot burger (made with Pinot Noir & stuffed with blue cheese) it was like she was with me.  And when I make Gmom Sweet's pierogies or Texas sheet cake, memories of all our family functions as a kid come flooding back.

So that was why I thought a cookbook would be the perfect touch to a great shower favor.

So on the invites I requested that favorite recipes be sent to BM Sweets before the shower.  The insert  said:

Email the bridesmaids your very favorite recipe. It could be your grandmom’s famous cheese pie that she made every time youcame over. Maybe it’s the chocolate chip pancakes that your mom created for you every birthday. Or perhaps it was something that you know people die over even though it only takes 3 ingredients. Whatever it is, send the recipe, along with the backstory to BM Sweets (BMSweets@me.com) by August 1st.

And the recipes came pouring in.  Things like Irish potatoes from the 1920s that my aunt's great grandmom made (with a potato(!) & 10x sugar), a pie recipe that my friend's mom messed up in her middle school home ec class that became a favorite and recipes that people were simply famous for bringing to parties or BBQs!!

I included a quote from the Great Julia Child, pic from our engagement sesh & a thank you note as the second page: 

And created an index in the front of all of the recipes:

And I am in love with the results.  Treasured recipes from all of those near & dear to me.

Everyone loved their copies!  And for all of the time it took, it certainly was worth it! It's funny because Aunt Sweet Cream gushed to me about Mr. Sweet's aunt's BBQ chicken recipe & Gmom Sweet's 24 pickles have been made by many since the shower.  Guests are now seriously using those treasures that I crafted with my own heart & soul.

And all it took was a word doc, some time & the handy dandy binder my office manager let me borrow from work one night.

Lovely ladies enjoying parusing through their copies!

 This is one thing that I would do again & again (& again), despite the frustration at times.  And I can just imagine Baby Sweet Cream (who doesn't even exist yet) making something from it one day.

Do you have a labor of love that you were over the moon by how it turned out?  Even the reaction and appreciation of your guests?

PS - Special thanks to BM Sweet Cream for pulling through and helping me with the laborious cutting of those 50+ recipe books!  I still do owe you a dinner feasting on several things from that labor of love! :)

BM Sweet Cream helping with the choppin' of the books... 1 down... 50+ to go!! :)

*NOTE: All pics are from me!

Shower Me With Love: The Grub

So I started telling you about my oh-so-lovely shower, where I wasn't only showered with gifts -- but certainly with the care & affection of family & friends...


But I didn't share the deets with you!  Shame on me for teasing you and then falling off the planet.  Although it certainly is by no means an excuse, my day job has got me bouncing around the country non-stop -- on top of a wedding that is almost here!!


So let me get back to business bees!


Just for a refresher of the invites were my (yes my) labor of love...

Source for the Uhh-dorable milk and cookies graphic: Jess Fink

So besides telling you about the menu in the "Mr. Sweet Cream & Mrs. Sweet Cream Go Together Like..." themed shower... Let me show you!!!

 The scene of the beautiful presents!

 Appetizers that made everyone's lips smack!

 Aunt Sweets made little cut outs of me & Mr. Sweets to adorn the bar...

with wine, beer, punch & homemade lemonade (with vodka to add yourself, of course!)

 A "Cheese & Cracker" bar... Because like the sigh says...

Me & Mr. Sweets...we go together!

 A sandwich bar... with little signs like "Mr. Sweets & Miss Sweets Go Together Like...

Ham & Cheese...BBQ Pulled Pork & Apple Slaw..." You name it - it was there!

 The deviled eggs with bacon was not only perfect for "Bacon & Eggs,"

but I don't think I can have deviled eggs sans bacon ever again!

Look how sweet those signs are! BM Sweets wanted the font 

to go perfect with the invites!

 And the cherished cookie bar! The crew had vintage milk bottles filled with milk

and they thought nobody would drink it... And had to keep refilling them(!)

• Cold veggies & dip
• Cheese & cracker bar
• Chips & salsa
• An AMAZING salad bar (with a bread & butter bar -- yes...all different breads AND spreads!)

Sandwiches like: Pork chops & apple slaw sliders, chicken salad with grapes & walnuts, turkey & cranberry sandwiches with a mayo spread, apple & cheese open faced sandwiches,

And the cookie bar!! The cookies! Snickerdoodles, chocolate chip, oatmeal, sugar cookies & PB&J cookies all were devoured.  And for those that weren't?  The left over take home boxes that will be used for the wedding served as the perfect container for a take home treat!

My mouth is now drooling looking back on all of this.

What was your favorite thing to feast on at your shower? Did your crew go above and beyond your wildest dreams???