2 Worlds, One Family....

I know that many who know me, or any member of my family, may think that our love for Disney World is a little much...or strange...or whatever. But, it truly is like a second home to us. We've been going for so many years that the second we drive through that big ol' sign, we know that we have arrived. The only thing that could possibly make it feel a little more like home would be the presence of "family."

Surprisingly, my mom seemed to find that "family" on a trip earlier this past year. My mother rarely encounters a stranger and would talk to a wall if it would talk back....especially about Disney. Fortunately, she picked the right person to chat-it-up with, Dennis, an intern from Botswana working as a Savannah guide at The Animal Kingdom Lodge resort. As someone who is very far away from his natural family, the Lord saw fit to make him an "American Family." After a Facebook friend request and couple trips to Disney later, we had the pleasure of hosting him and 3 of his fellow Disney Cast Members just before Christmas.

We were very excited to have our new friends visit us before they return home to their respective African countries in February. We were so excited to show them Atlanta and what we believe to be the greatest state in the USA. We were eager to ask them questions and learn more about them, their countries, their cultures....and that's exactly what we did. We learned a lot. We learned just how ignorant Americans can be...not all are, but many.

 You see, we as Americans have everything we need right here. We have no need to look outward and what we know about other countries and cultures we have learned from, dare I say it? The tube, the tellie, TV...maybe a news paper...maybe. While there are many poverty stricken and oppressed African nations with so much civil unrest and disease, there are also places that are modern, healthy, thriving....and BEAUTIFUL. Unfortunately, many Americans (read: me and my family) assume that the prior picture is the whole truth, and while there is most definitely truth to it (I know it because I know people who have seen it first hand), it's not the whole truth. As Americans we see commercials of the starving children in gutters swatting flies and we assume that's the whole picture. We haven't even been taught the basics in geography to know where these real life problems are going on and where things are starkly different. Maybe we've been taught, but I think as a majority we don't care enough to actually learn it.

 So here we are at a kitchen table with 4 Africans and we start asking questions like, "What's your favorite thing to eat?" expecting to hear answers like "porridge" or "beans" only be told "Chinese food." and I am so embarrassed to even admit this, but I was actually surprised that they had Chinese food in Africa. Dennis was so sweet and so patient and said " well, of course! We have Chinese people in Africa too." DOH|!!!!!!! Looking back, we all asked questions like that. We were so curious about their lives back home, but all I'm afraid it really did was expose just how egocentric we really are. It wasn't until we asked one of our visitors what the most surprising thing they have learned about Americans was and she answered "The silly questions they ask" Double DOH! They have been asked if they can see stars in Africa, if they have ever seen butterflies, if they can call the giraffes over to the guests. I felt a little better about my "Chinese Food" debacle, but then worse again when I realized I brought traditional African drums for them to play for us, thinking they enjoy it since they play at Disney all the time....only to find out that they've never touched a drum until they stepped foot on American soil. At this point, my whole family is smacking our dang heads.

I say all of this to say, that while we were thinking that they are so fortunate to be here in America, we are the ones who have been blessed. These sweet people taught us to look "out" a little more. They truly taught us that we are more alike than different. This may seem like such a simple lesson to some who are reading, and I get that. I love the USofA, with all my heart, but I think we all learned that there is just so much more.

Our sweet African friends are ending their time here in the states and will be on airplanes this weekend. 

 By this time next week, they'll be hugging the necks of their families. We are all so glad that we have had the pleasure of meeting such wonderful people, and bringing our friend, Dennis, into our hearts and family. 

 We are so sad to say goodbye, knowing that we will likely never meet again, but are thankful to have known him at all. Our trips "home" will never be the same.

Photo Credit: My Momma

The Big ONE!! An "I Love Lucy" Birthday Bash!

 I have loved "I Love Lucy" for as long as I can remember. It is comedic genius that brings together young and old alike, with it's simple and innocent humor that has stood the test of time. It may also be that I feel like I'm watching myself with every eye-roll or sticky situation she finds herself in. I just love Lucy.

When I found out that I was having a girl it took about a week for me to break my husband down and convince him of the name "Lucy" for our girl. I think we're both glad we did. She is our "Lucy" and goodness, do we love her.

 I think almost every momma thinks long and hard about their babies very first birthday party and I am no different. Some days I'm all about having a party, and some days I'm like "no thanks!!" But guilt usually sets in, and then I just give into the creative juices and let the rhythm move me. I'm actually embarrassed to admit that an "I Love Lucy" party wasn't even on my radar for a very long time. I just didn't think of it. I was going to have a "sugarplum fairy" party and boy, am I glad I came to my senses and something in my pea brain "clicked." This party has been my very favorite event that I've ever planned.

Of course, Mr. Clean gave me a budget to stick to and I think I actually kept it, but I did save a few of my pennies from photography to offset some of the cost...like for the little number she wore! I found this onesie from an Esty shop called Whittle Whimsey. And the bloomers and headband I found at a consignment shop. 

 

With the help of my mom, I really tried to think of little sayings from the show to incorporate in different ways throughout the house...

And it's not a party unless the bottled coke is there. It's ALWAYS a hit! This time I found "I Love Lucy" bottle wrappers on Etsy and they added a cute little touch, along with the paper straws I picked up from Hobby Lobby

I also raided the Valentine's Day section of Hobby Lobby, which was super convenient! And I found all of my old "Lucy" pictures that hung in my room when I lived at home and  put them to use wherever I could. This was the dinner table that I used for my buffet. I took the easy way out with dinner and ordered pizza, salad and rolls from an amazing Pizzaria from up the street, I put out a couple of appetizers and "Buon Appetito!"

A side note about yours truly, I am NOT computer savvy. At all. I know just enough to write this blog and edit some photos. I have no idea how and no patience for typing up cute things and printing them out, and even if I could, I know that my printer wouldn't work....it never does when I want to use it. I just assume hand-write everything, so scrapbook paper, markers and scissors are my friends. I even outsourced her little invitation to my good friend because that was above my pay grade.

The Chocolate Factory was my pride and joy of the party. I was determined to make it happen and I am so happy with how it turned out! I used a cheap, black, plastic table cloth for the conveyor belt, wrapping paper and butchers paper for the sign and I dipped chocolate covered strawberries and lined them up with the cake and a couple of dips for my "dessert" table. It was very easy but really provided a "wow" factor for this shindig.

Along with a lot of scrapbook paper, I utilized a lot of tissue paper as well for pom poms and flowers.

I am so happy with how this party turned out. We had a full house to celebrate "Our Lucy!" I know that this theme was a tad self serving, but I guess most first birthdays are! Here are a few photos of the actual "Big Day." I don't have any parties up my sleeve at the moment, and I am really ok with that!

Thanks for stopping by to read about "The Big One." I know the "Lucy" theme isn't one that could be used for everyone, but I really do think it would be just as cute if any name was substituted in! And heck, I think every party could benefit from a chocolate factory!