November Recap!

Real thought: Thank goodness there is no such thing as Blog Protective Services! Or I would be in trouble!

My November was memorable... but rather than organize a million different posts in the matter of days, I think it would be easier to give you my favorite photos of the month! I worked hard, played hard and made some really fabulous memories! :)

We kicked off Parade season with some fabulous successful fall events...

Preview Party - iWish4Detroit Compuware Elves

VIP Pancake Breakfast - Detroit Lions Roary

Then (a big portion) of my fabulous fam came for a tour of The Parade Company studio in early November! It was a blast having them see where I work & what I do and a much needed break for me to see familiar smiling faces!



Unfortunately I don't have a photo for this next wonderful moment that happened... but it's too good not to share. The day before Hob Nobble, I was standing at the office copy machine and in walked my Uncle Dave, my mother's only sibling, whom I hadn't seen in years! My emotions had been running wild this month and there were definitely (and still are now) days when all I really wanted was to talk, hug or get a smile from my mother! Seeing him was like getting the biggest hug from my mom! I know she is watching over me... although I think I might of scared my Uncle by bursting into tears :) but they were happy & welcomed!

Hob Nobble Gobble was a huge success ... Woo Woo!! However the event went by so quickly... I was almost in shock for days that it had happened!!

Hair & Make-Up (I can only credit myself w my hair)

The whole look :) Loved this ABS dress even though it left a glitter trail everywhere!!

Top view of the party!

It was great to see my favs as well!!

Tequila, Amelia & I w St. Nick!

Cocktails & Smooches

Oh and here is the cutest video I captured of the Detroit Academy of Arts & Sciences singing at the entrance of Hob Nobble Gobble... The little boy at the 2 minute mark reminds me of Phil when he was little :)


The week leading up to the Parade was relaxed and fun! Filled with TV book meetings, dance rehearsals and well wishes for my fabulous Facebook family... like this one from my brother!! Melted my heart :)


Detroit showed up in hundreds of thousands on Thanksgiving morning! The weather was perfect! We kicked off the Parade with our new "Celebrate America Celebrate Detroit" song (which is available on iTunes!) and Detroit shined! :) This was my 7th Parade and definitely one of the biggest & best to date!

Our mascot Clownie flying high!

One of my favs... the Budweiser Clydesdales

Detroit All City Marching Band & Kermit

My new fav photo... the details on the floats are amazing!

Where's Waldo CarolAnn?!
Keeping the 138 members of the Distinguished Clown Corps in line!

Post Parade... w the TV Zone regulators!

Thanks to my amazing friends who volunteered their Thanksgiving morning to help me wrangle the clowns!

This year, after the Parade I made plans to take my dad to the Lions vs Packers Game!! We were both super pumped... this was my first Thanksgiving game as a fan in a seat (in HS our cheer team danced in the halftime with Boyz II Men)!! 

Me & My Dad!!

Nickelback performed "When We Stand Together" during halftime!

The Lions did not win, but it was great time spent with my dad!! :) After we went to my Aunties for Thanksgiving dinner! I stayed until midnight catching up, eating, talking in accents with my little cousins, and eating some more! By the time I got home I was still wired, but by 2am I finally fell asleep!!

Friday morning came entirely too quickly. I went to Target & picked up a couple DVD's that my collection was lacking (Vampire Diaries Season 2 {I'm such a girl}, Burlesque and The Back Up Plan) and then headed into work for a few hours.

Friday night I slept some more, obviously :) Saturday I was back at work for A Day In Paradeland, the Parade Queen & Court were making free princess crafts with kids... A great end to a fabulous Parade season!!

OR WAS IT?!!

Come Monday morning we received a call from Detroit Public Schools, asking us to produce a Parade for the Cass Tech High School Football, which over the weekend became the first DPS school to win a Division 1 State Championship!! Woo Woo!!

So a week later (and just a few days ago) there we were... back on Woodward Avenue producing our LAST Parade of 2011!! :) My favorite moment of the Parade was watching the football team dance to Boom Shack-A-Lack by Apache Indian from the Scooby Doo 2 Soundtrack :) {I guess this is a good time to mention my addiction to the Scooby Doo movies, I own both on DVD and love the music} ... they were so happy, even in the rain, to dance & celebrate their victory! It was contagious!


AND Yesterday was our annual staff Christmas photo!!

Hoppy Holidays from The Parade Company

WHEW! So there it is, a November recap for the books!! :) I feel much better getting that all out because I have so many FUN things going on in December that I will need a clear blogging head for!!

Lions vs Vikings Game

28th Birthday !!

Holiday Party with Favs

Christmas with the Fam

The Little Caesar Bowl - DZ Reunion

xoxox

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

Today my grandpa Zack would of been 97 years old! He passed away on the day I graduated 5th grade in 1995.

Thought I would share this awesome newspaper clipping I found last summer from his campaigning days. Phil and I get a kick out of the selling points:

"I'll work against any type of pornography & pollution"

Happy Birthday Grandpa!

xoxox

Happy Halloween!!

The truth. I have never passed out Halloween candy since owning my home! I know, total lameness.

Typically I go up north to visit my parents for my last calm weekend before the Parade, but this year I was too excited to make my costume & show it off around town, so I stayed home.

When Monday rolled around, I realized a) I didn't have anything to pass out and b) I didn't even know how many treats to buy?! Polling a few knowledgeable ladies (my step mom and the mother daughter duo who own the tanning salon I frequent) I determined I needed about 200 pieces of something... off to Meijer I went!

YIKES! I had no idea how expensive candy was! I mean I hate to admit it, but I would much rather go shopping or have a fun night out for myself than spend $50 bucks on some kids who probably wouldn't even say thank you! So while scanning the aisles, I just couldn't bring myself to buy candy... I know that's what the kids want but EVERYONE would be passing out candy... and I'm not everyone!!

So I headed to the juice aisle... kids get thristy right? And thinking back to when I was in school, my favorite surprise was always a CAPRI SUN! We didn't get them often (I don't know why my mother wasn't a fan, probably because poking a straw into flexible plastic isn't the easiest nor fastest way to give a drink to a whining child)... so $24 and 3 cases of Capri Suns later, I felt like my money was well spent!

PS In case you're wondering why I only bought 3 cases (120 juice boxes) and not more to reach my 200 piece goal, I lost my debit card on Saturday night and the only cash I had on me was $30 bucks... and running out of money in the self check out... not a good time! :)

Long story short... I had the best time with a bottle of witches brew, passing out Capri Suns on my porch, listening to children shreik while good old fashion campfire smells filled the neighborhood (my neighbor had the right idea and bought their firepit front & center in the driveway)... and guess what... EVERY kid, big & small, except ONE said THANK YOU!! :)

After a few glasses of the brew, my eyes began to fill with tears... watching the children in front of my neighbors huge Halloween display, running from the kids he hired to dress up & hang out in the yard, screaming with joy... I was reminded of my mom. Halloween was by far her favorite holiday. She spent days making our front yard & porch the envy of every house on the block and for a few minutes I couldn't help but think of her, working on a fish tank with glass inserts separating a moving hand with live crickets from the candy grab, or cutting a hole into a folding table so one of the police officer's son could put his head in and talk to the treaters as they reached past the bodiless teen for a bag of chips.

I'm guessing Halloween 1986, before my mom really got intense with the decorations!

Ready for another truth?

I've haven't really been feeling myself lately, a little too tired, a little less fun... like a robot just going through the motions of life....work, eat, sleep. I think last night, in the cool breeze, my mom was there with me... lending a prespective I've been missing lately :) Today I feel good. Engergized, happy and positive... remembering why I work the long hours, why right now my life is just work, eat, sleep.

It's not because everyone has to work, it's because everyone needs to smile... and last night it became clear to me, that my Thanksgiving was my mom's Halloween. And even though it's just a couple hours and not everyone verbalizes their thank you, the difference a Capri Sun or larger than life Kermit the Frog floating by makes in someone's life... is always worth the money, the time and the sacrifice :)

xoxox

PPS ... ummm doesn't it look like Margie was setting up my Halloween costume for 2011... That looks pretty similar to my Toddler getup :) but with a gypsy stage mom!!

Ultimate Grand Supreme Detroit

Are you ready...

For the BIG reveal of my Halloween costume?!

The one that I made all by myself? ... That started off as 5 yards of organza, 6 yards of tulle, 1lbs of rhinestones, 6 princess necklaces, 1 pair of ruffle socks, 3 bows, 1 pair of $3.60 thrifted shoes, 1 premade hair accessory from Hobby Lobby (which I might add is one of the most fantastic stores in existence), lots of patience from our costume director (on teaching me how to cut out patterns & sew on the machines) and lots of blood (sort of), sweat & tears (of joy) ....

And our 2011 Halloween Ultimate Grand Supreme is....


Here she comes... Miss America :)

Seriously should move South & make a living on pageant hair!

My Momager Katie & I

OVer the primping... give me my sucker!

No costume is complete without glitzy shoes!



Me, James & Lindsay



Al, Marilena & Tequila

Pout face :o



YIKES! Thats what a night of prancing & dancing does...

xoxox



Glue Gun Crazer!

So I may have gotten a little carried away with the pound of rhinestones, supplies and glue gun last weekend while finishing my costume :) BUT the glue gun burns (and there were many) were totally worth it!!

My "Momagers" t-shirt... with me as a tot :)

I don't know what I was thinking, but 4 hours later... blinged out shoes!

xoxox

Sewin' Fool

Ahhh! I spent 4 hours in the costume department last night... It's starting to come together!! Thanks to my Auntie for cutting the tulle and adding a little extra poof to my sleeves :)

Tonight, I am going to glitz out the whole top... and maybe my socks & thrifted ($3.60) gold shoes!!

SOOOO EXCITED!!
xoxox

Yummm!!

One of our new Big Head Corps members brought us Blake's cider & donuts today, just cause! :)

Shhhh don't tell... I've already eaten two :)

xoxox

Little Miss Halloween!

Today, thanks to the amazing Arlene (our Director of Costuming) I sewed the bottom portion of my Toddlers & Tiaras Halloween costume!! I still need to cut the tulle shorter and fix some hems... but I am so excited that I did this all by myself!

Tonight I am going to the thrift store to look for white pumps and tomorrow I am going to attempt to sew the top so I can start blinging it out by Wednesday!

YAYAY Best Halloween Costume EVER!! :)
xoxox

Happy Friday!!

I hope clumsiness is not genetic...

Seriously I am the clumsiest person I know and I don't know why... I am very responsible & organized. It doesn't seem like all these injuries would happen to ME!! :( But they do. Total black cloud of nonsense follows me...

Today I burned my wrist with soup out of the microwave...

Thank goodness my co-workers have taken First Aid... although now I look like I might have tried to purposely injure myself... UGH! And it still burns under there, even with the ice & goo I applied :(

Yi ya yi!! Why are crazy things always happening to me?!!

xoxox