The Healthy Ph.D: Kallie's wedding festivities!

The moment I got back from vacation, I was sidelined with a nasty head cold. Obviously I need to get back to work, so all I'm doing is sleeping, working, and sleeping again until this passes. Not too exciting. Until I become a more interesting blogger, I'll catch up on my half-written post archive! Hope to have more fun posts by the end of the week!

Over the summer, I've been busy preparing for a friend's wedding in my hometown. In July, I ventured home for a weekend to spend some time with her at her bridal shower (hosted by matron-of-honor Celine). Then, I came home in August for a week to celebrate with her at her bachelorette party and, the next weekend, her wedding. SO here are our shenanigans as we prepared for and eventually celebrated her wedding day with her!

Bridal Shower:
This happened about a month ago when I went home the first time. There was fruit...

Cute little tartlettes:

And tea sandwiches...turkey and cucumber or BLT:

Games....you know that mean game where we ask her questions about her fiance when she gets them wrong, she has to shove gumballs in her mouth?

Oh yeah!

TP bridal gowns!

And there were presents and such. The bride had a great time and left well-prepared for married life!

Bachelorette Party:
Ok, we played nice last time, so it was time to get naughty. Since this is a family show (namely, my family: Hi Dad! Hi Mom! Hi Brothers!), I'm choosing to edit the actual events of the night, but here is the setup.

Assorted snackage care of Lindsey....
Buffalo chicken dip:

Homemade salsa (both consumed with chips):

And penis shaped cookies, handmade of course:

I drove all that day to get up to my hometown, so I was in charge of drinks. I meant to make them look all pretty and then take a picture, but I forgot in all the fun. So, here are my two healthy-yet-amazing cocktail recipes...sans pictures.

Paradise Punch

8 oz mango puree
~20 oz pineapple juice (half a large bottle of juice)
325 mL Malibu coconut rum
500 mL soda water

Gingerade

1/2 can frozen lemonade concentrate
~750 mL vodka
4 cans diet gingerale
Ice

Once we got our food and drink on, we got ready to go out. Here is the bride before we made her look obnoxious:

And after....before the addition of the candy bra...

Lindsey and I came prepared to catch cash for our bride...and we all went out with bandanas and cowgirl wear:

Building up to the wedding:
In the days leading up to the wedding, we were busy girls. We got our nails done -

We frosted mini-cakes, we decorated things, we pinned xmas lights to tulle fabric, we folded programs. We were good girls! Then, we rehearsed in Kallie's mom's beautiful backyard garden:

And ate some rehearsal food:

(watermelon, salad, beans, chicken drummie, and 2 slices brisket. I went back for 2 more chicken drummies)

Then it was the big day! We were all up early to do our hairs and makeup!