"They will never, EVER forget this shower!"

I haven't stopped ranting exclaiming that statement since Andrea hosted a most magically magnificent spa bridal shower - a SPASHER!  For me.  Me, me, me, me, me, meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee.  Honestly, I always thought I'd feel super awkward, selfish, and too "center of attention-ish" <in a negative way> to be the shower recipient but after this experience, well, I'll be transparent here again and admit - that treatment ain't half bad!  Even in the midst of semi-silence while I was in between gifts and many pairs of eyes were awaiting, I felt zero awkwardness.  Zilch.  Zip.  Nada.  Maybe I'm not as selfless as I thought.  Snort.

Now, onto the highlight of the shower:  the spa.  My friends are still raving about Andrea's creativity and generosity.  What gal doesn't love a spa day?  The massages, the pedicures, the manicures, the steam rooms, the saunas, the refreshing beverages...oh my!  It was, hands down, one of the single BEST and most enjoyable days of my life.  I am so fortunate to have friends and family that gathered around, "showering" me with fun and love.

Andrea, you knocked this out of the park, over the bay, along the street, and down the rabbit hole.  In line with several of my friends having asked, "Where can I find an Andrea," I'm incredibly blessed with a best friend connection that's spanned many years, many miles, an international date line, and more bottles of 'cham-pan-YA' than we care to tally. My cup runneth over. I'm just so, so, so spectacularly grateful and appreciative for her friendship.

Andrea also surprised me with my first "grown up" handbag, and here it is, pictured with one of the other top shower gifts of the day, compliments of Alexis, my precious, the megahorn***:

Speaking of top shower gifts and surprises, my Mudda blew me away with my first "grown up" camera that I never suspected I'd actually own.  I've thirsted for an SLR camera for years, YEARS I tell you, but I'm entirely too frugal to invest in one and I tossed it onto the wedding registry merely for kicks.  Photography class, here I come!

"They will never, EVER forget this shower!"

After the spasher, we enjoyed a long, late lunch at a nearby cafe.  Grace and Emileigh (my niece, 2.0) entertained themselves, while the adults dined and chatted, by taking many dozens of selfies and posed shots in the restaurant, in front of the restaurant, and near the restaurant.  The novice junior photographers would then reveal each photograph taken by trotting back to our table, touring the perimeter, while showing each pic, to each gal in our party.  Good stuff.

Photos of the day:  http://piangenti.shutterfly.com/pictures/139

***Alexis hijacked and coveted my precious megahorn so frequently immediately after I fired it up with batteries, that I was left with no choice but to purchase one for her as well.  I could falsely claim it as a selfless act on my part, but it was 100%, sheer self-preservation.