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After taking a break from all things wedding and all projects on Knotty Cakes Ranch, we are back in action! Even started working on the thank you notes for the gifts from the at home reception. We'll be honest, it's been a very slow start on those. Thankfully we have a year from our wedding date to get them all done.

Because of putting everything on hold we have a ton to share with all of you. But, where do we start? That's where you come in. We'd like to know what you've been waiting to see more of. Is it the wedding related DIY projects, wedding and PDX reception recaps and reveals, Knotty Cakes Ranch projects or other fun happenings that have been going during our happily married bliss? Take the poll below and let us know!

Tikis in Paradise: On Hold

Don't worry, there's still lots more from our Tiki Wedding Extravaganza coming soon to you! We've just needed a little time off from all things wedding created. Especially after our big Portland celebration. We'll be posting more photographs, DIY projects and recaps as soon as we've had a little rest. Until then, hang loose!

April Showers Bring...

July weddings! Or something like that.

As you may remember, Saturday was our coed bridal shower with my family. I had a few things I'd learned from my bridal shower with friends that I wanted to carry over to my second shower in hopes of getting more pictures. Well, let me tell you that was a big fat FAIL. The one thing I learned from our second shower was no matter how much you try to be prepared things can always come up that you have no control over. That being, Drew got sick during the shower.

We had grabbed a bite to eat the night before since we'd been doing so much to get ready to go out of town and once we stopped to eat it was almost 9. To make things a little easier on ourselves we ran over to one of our favorite cheap places to eat. We ordered one of our usuals, but when it came it wasn't exactly what we ordered. This one had different meat in it. We weren't that concerned with it since everything else was the same so we just kept what was brought to us. There were so meats in it that we wouldn't normally eat. I'm not one to eat things like tripe, so I passed, but Drew gave some of it a try. The rest we brought home for ChiChi. She also ended up getting sick, the next day.

Shortly after dinner, Drew started saying he didn't feel the best. However he also had a phone call that affected the count of our at home reception and meant us having to come up with even more funds for it. I thought maybe the phone call had upset him and made him not feel well. We weren't sure what it was, at that time.

The next morning Drew still didn't feel the best. As the day went by and we drove up to Seattle, he started feeling worse and worse. He felt like he just couldn't stay awake. As soon as everyone arrived and he'd said his hellos, he went into the back room to lay down for a bit. he pretty much passed out and we didn't see him again until I woke him up to open presents. Poor guy.

With my fiance sick in the next room, I barely thought about taking pictures. The ones I did take were all taken before everyone got there. Yes, of the cupcakes. Would you expect anything less?

My one request for the shower was to have Trophy Cupcakes. They are my favorite shop in Seattle and even do a Hawaiian themed cupcake. Mom was nice enough to fulfill my request and not only got Hawaiian themed cupcakes but, also red velvet and vanilla minis. I didn't even know that Trophy Cupcakes did minis. She also made some bunny sugar cookies since it was Easter the next day and put "diamond rings" on the hands of some of the bunnies. Super cute!

Red Velvet mini cupcakes with Easter candies. 

Showered with Aloha: The Favors

Remember when I mentioned that Nicki made super yummy Pineapple Macadamia Nut Shortbread cookies as a favor for the shower? If you don't, you sure are lucky that you came across this post because I have the recipe for those super yummy cookies. If you do, you are also lucky. I mean these cookies are so damn tasty. After loving them and having more than one person ask me for the recipe I asked Nicki to send it my way and hooray for all of us, she did.

Seahorse shaped Pineapple Macadamia Nut Shortbread Cookies!
{photo by Nicki}

Showered with Aloha- The Party Continues!

The staff at Trader Vic's Portland were so great going above and beyond that when our time was up in the Kon Tiki room and the shower was coming to an end, they saved a bunch of tables for us in the lounge. This is something they don't usually do since the lounge is first come first serve, but for some wonderful reason they did it for us. We moved the party into the lounge and continued with the fabulous time we were all having. 

With Honey while she  grabs a Fog Cutter at the bar. 

Having a yummy Coffee Grog. 

After a while many of my friends' husbands started to arrive to pick them up from the shower. Since the party was still going, they sat down to join in the fun and have a few drinks with us. We ordered a Tiki Bowl and hung out until Drew showed up. 

Showered with Aloha- Present Time!

After everyone was stuffed on tidbits, pupus, cupcakes and tropical drinks, the opening of presents began! I've opened birthday presents in recent years at my birthday, but it wasn't like this. This was like fifth birthday present opening status and it rocked! Thanks wahines for all of the great gifts! You all made me feel so loved.

Drew, you shouldn't go in further in this post. There are gifts you should wait to see later. Like on the wedding night, if you get what I'm saying....

The start of the present table!

Showered with Aloha- Tidbits, Pupus & Tropical Bowls

Now you can't have a great party without fabulous food and drinks and a bridal shower is just the same. Fortunately, we had both of those with a shower at Trader Vic's Portland. Maid of Honor, Nicki, ordered a selection of tidbits and pupus for all of the guests to enjoy. There was crab rangoon (originally created by Trader Vic's), kalua pork sliders and seaweed salad with smoked tofu on top of won tons. Everything was really tasting and went very quickly. 

Kalua pork sliders and crab rangoon.

Seaweed salad with smoked tofu on top of crispy won tons.

Showered with Aloha- Let's Get This Party Started!

Now the fun really started once guests started showing up and ordering all of the delicious drinks that Trader Vic's is so famous for. Oh, nomnomnom. 

If you've never been to a Trader Vic's before, make sure to get your butt there and order a 1944 Mai Tai. Trader Vic is the original creator of the Mai Tai and its one of the few places in our area that makes it correctly. I also love the Singapore Symphony and the Kama'aina. But, I digress. Back to the shower.

Guests started showing up as soon as the clock struck 3pm. Drinks were ordered and socializing began. Everyone was introduced to each other and the conservation quickly became about how each person had met me. Honey met me during our freshmen year of high school in Mr. DelCavo's World Civ class. Susie Q met me over sushi with mutual friends. Teresa met me doing vintage fashion shows at Tony Starlight's. While Nicki met me in 6th grade in Mr. Kane's class. The stories went on and on. 

My neighbor, Deb, who did our hair, enjoying a Mai Tai Wave. A sampling of 3 different kinds of Mai Tais. 

Finally 2 of my 3 Suzie friends got to meet. Unfortunately, the third one didn't make it to the shower. 

Showered with Aloha- Getting Lei'd

One of the great details that Maid of Honor, Nicki, surprised me with for my bridal shower was a beautiful double orchid lei. Oh, yes. I got lei'd! Now that's the way to start off a bridal shower!

What's in the box, Nicki?
{photo by Honey}

My beautiful double orchid lei and tropical flower arrangement. 

When we were all done setting up, Nicki decided it was time for me to get lei'd. That way it didn't get messed up while getting everything ready, but was on before any of the guests got there. I of course loved it. Having that lei to wear for the shower made me feel extra showered with aloha. Mahalo, Nicki!

Showered with Aloha- Set Up

Once we were beautiful from head to toe we set off to the best bridal shower location EV-A to get everything set up. Where did we go, you ask? Trader Vic's Portland, of course!

My super awesomesauce, Maid of Honor, Nicki, arranged for my bridal shower to take place at Trader Vic's Portland in their private Kon Tiki room. She also arranged for all kinds of other great things, but more on that later. Now, Trader Vic's may not be for everyone for their bridal shower. However, it was the perfect place for me! With someone getting married on Maui who loves vintage Hawaiiana, how could it not be perfect?

Since Drew drove us downtown so we could drink freely and none of us would have to drive home, I went ahead and helped with setting everything up. Yeah, I could have gone into the bar and had a drink instead. I just figured it was better to make sure that everything was set up on time and then we could all start enjoying the party.

Trader Vic's Portland Kon Tiki Room

Showerd with Aloha- Recap Kick-Off

Remember how I mentioned on Friday that my shower was the next day? Well, that shower happened! It was amazingly awesome. It rocked my world and kicked my butt! hehe. It also got me SUPER excited about our wedding!

Since my first shower has now officially passed, how about a picture of the invitation without any deleting?

Don't you just love it?