As I mentioned this weekend, I graduated from college after trying for 8 years. I’m not saying I went full time or even at all during each of those 8 years but I finally finished! This of course meant that my family and friends would be in town so I had to throw a fabulous party; many of them had never seen my home or the state I lived in.
DD Momma and I went shopping a few weeks before the party and we found a beautiful dress for me and decided NOT to get this dress for either of us.
My good friend Annie who I’ve known since I was in 8th grade made me a gorgeous invitation/announcement that went out to 250 of my closest friends and family. Her web site is: www.poppylanedesigns.blogspot.com and she designs baby announcements and more!
A cake artist by the name of Jill was hired to create a lovely lopsided 
cake and 80 cupcakes (when do you cut a cake at an open house?) and they turned out lovely! She has a website also, www.indycakes.com
A keg of beer and tons of wine were ordered. Oh yeah, and a bunch of BBQ beef briscuit and BBQ chopped chicken were ordered from Dicks Bodacious BBQ.
Late Thursday night my mom, dad and sister flew in and spent the night at our house. On Friday morning my sister and husband and a few friends joined me for local wine tasting.
By Friday evening, almost everyone had arrived and we threw a mini party with 25 guests. We ate lasagna, bread, salad and drank gallons of beer, wine and tea.
After the party, my Hetero Life Partner, Kyleen arrived from California. My guest list was complete: Mom, Dad, Sis, Kyleen, Malia, her parents and Sean (the “Male of honor” from my wedding).
On Saturday I had my hair styled and my make up done first thing in the morning.
I hired a woman named Amanda who arrived early to the party and prepared and organized any food that needed to be prepared.
Friends and family helped set up tents and tables and assembled centerpieces that matched the theme “Oh the Places She’ll Go” and then my guests began arriving.
It was so great to see everyone!
The party continued on into the night and then we finally went to bed the next morning.
On Sunday we got up and drove up to where I work so I could show my friends and family around. We got there (45 minute drive) and then I realized I forgot my keys, so we turned around and went home. Yes, I cried.
In the early afternoon we assembled into several vehicles and made our way downtown. A really good friend of mine, one of my only friends from my last 3 years of college, had this super great idea that we put a funny movie theme on our hat. My hat said “Dude” and her hat said “Sweet”. Name that movie ya’ll.
We were a hit. The first graduation was interesting and during the second one I wanted to hurt someone. Badly.
After said boringness, we all ended up at dinner downtown at this amazing restaurant called, Greek Islands. We ate delicious food and drank more wine. Sadly, my husband Jay missed out on the festivities because he had to catch a plane to San Francisco. Opa!
This ended my dream graduation weekend.