On the Boardwalk

When I was in sixth grade, there was a cute little girl with glasses and blonde, perfect hair who was funny and nice and friendly.  Not only was she someone we all wanted to be around, she also had a very cool mom.  At least she must have had a very cool mom, because she always had potato chips in her lunch!  Despite the fact that there was a potato chip factory right in our very town, those greasy, crispy little delicacies were strictly taboo at the King household.  So I can't honestly say whether it was Michelle's fun personality or the potato chips she willingly shared with me that cemented our friendship.  All I know is, I benefited from it in 6th grade, and I'm still reaping the benefits.

Namely, Shelter Lunch.  It's a little group of age-old friends who love to set a table and then spend a couple of hours sitting around it drinking Coke and sneaking Hershey's Kisses to the kids who wander by.  Each of us has our own strengths.  Michelle likes to say that together, we are the perfect woman.  I think that we are each, individually, the perfect women, too.  But here's an example of the synergy of a group of women.  Jen's daughter got a part in a play as Snow White.  She needed a Snow White costume of the fly.  Two days later, Michelle showed up at Shelter with a magnificent, handmade costume that she "just happened to have all the fabric for anyhow." 

Actually, I'm not sure if that's an example of synergy, or if it's just another way Michelle is an amazing friend.  Beware, if you're a 5th grader who is sharing your lunch with your friends, you're probably going to end up, 30 years later, organizing their lunches, compiling their recipes into books, sewing their children's Halloween and play costumes, bringing them cinnamon rolls when their husbands are injured and notifying them when things go on sale at Hobby Lobby.

Are you sure you're up for that?  Before you offer those potato chips, make sure you know where you want to be thirty years from now.  Or forty.  Or sixty.  Because, Michelle, my dear, we ain't goin' anywhere.  Oh, and, save me some shade under your umbrella at Cherry Hill.

Scott made us another Summer Mix Tape.  Last year's that Scott and Ryan made were a hit!

Al fresco.  The theme was "On the Boardwalk."  I was going for a Coney Island vibe.

Ari designed the pretty vases of snowballs from Coco's yard.

Carney food to go with our banh mi that I couldn't resist driving to SLC to pick up.

Gift bags included the CD and some fun summer trinkets.

Dessert was an idea I stole from my amazing SIL Nikki.  She hosted Jersey's first birthday party last week and every detail was perfect.  She lent me the jars and the idea for trifle.  The quote was from Blaise Pascal: "A trifle consoles us, for a trifle distresses us."  It is a good reminder to me that most things that upset us in life are quite small compared to the big picture, and can usually be cured with a trifle.  Of course, some sorrows and challenges can't be chocolated away.  That's when friends who share their potato chips come in.