Labor Day weekend: a shower, running, and baking

It was great to have another long weekend this weekend. Though it's the unofficial last weekend of summer, I know there will still be plenty of summer left in South Florida.

Saturday mom and I went to my cousin, Giselle's, baby shower. It was a cute Popeye theme. I even managed to win one of the games. It had been so sunny, I planned on hitting the pool when I got home, but then on our way home the torrential downpour began. No pool for me.

Sunday is run day, and my half marathon training plan had me doing 8 miles this weekend. I did it and it was all good, until my foot starting hurting a day later. A day later? What is up with that! It also rained in the afternoon, which totally derailed my pool plans, yet again. Luckily, in the evening it cleared up, so after dinner I just chilled in the pool and read while I enjoyed the last bit of sun for the evening.

Labor Day was about working though! It was a day for baking. I made some of my mojito cupcakes. And, I finally got to use all of my Williams Sonoma goodies from my prize pack. I have to say that my new microplane zester is amazing. I don't know how I zested before I had this. Mom, Pop and the boys came over for dinner, and Mom brought her strawberry margarita cupcakes. They were so good. I might have to try my hand at making those soon.

I hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend. Did you make it to the pool or beach or did the rain try to keep you inside?

Summer Cousins Pool Party

Last Saturday night was the cousins get-together I was hosting at my house. I'm so happy to say it was success, even though there were a few bumps along the way.

The day started out great, the sun was out and shining. I cleaned up the pool area and then came inside to chill a bit before the cousins started arriving. My brother, Richard, came over a bit early to help me set up the new canopy we had for the pool. We started to pull out the new pop up canopy and the rain began. At first it wasn't that bad, but then it really started coming down. We went back inside with the canopy only half up. When the rain subsided a bit, we went back outside to finish putting up the canopy. I didn't want it to get broken due to all the water accumulating in the half up canopy. So we were able to get it up, but the rain kept coming.

The cousins started arriving, and the rain kept coming down, so we gathered in the kitchen and talked while munching on the snacks everyone brought. A little while later, Angel, my other brother, let us know that the rain had stopped, so we moved the party outside. We all grabbed the snacks and everyone got their bathing suits on and we were able to enjoy the pool. And I even got to pull out the cute lanterns I had bought to decorate the canopy with.

It was so much fun and really the first time my generation of the cousins had a party just for us. I spent all day receiving calls from moms and grandmas asking if this party was really going on (somehow they doubted us... LOL), but it did and it was great. We totally need to do another cousins party soon!

It's been a month?

I can't believe it's been a month! I'm sorry to my very few readers. But I've been crazy busy. And the heat. I have to blame the heat, it is the middle of summer after all.

I can now officially say that my fab group Handmade Miami is putting on its very first craft show. It's called the Craft Carnival! It will feature some of the most awesome indie crafters in South Florida, along with food, games, raffles and even a DIY table so you can make and take your own crafts! It's being held on November 5th at the Miami Elks Lodge from noon to 5pm. I'll be posting tons more when the date gets closer.

It seems like the Craft Carnival is taking up so much time, but I'm also juggling planning a new party. I'm hosting a baby shower for one of my best friends, Kristina. She's having her second baby, a little girl, so we're getting ready for her by showering her with gifts. As usual I'm doing a LOT of DIY for this shower, but having so much fun doing it. I can't wait to post all the pics when I'm done.

And tonight I'm hosting a little pool party/get-together for me and my cousins. I wasn't gonna do any decorating, but now I'm thinking up some simple decorations to make and put out by the pool. I'll definitely post these when they're done.

I hope everyone is staying cool this summer!