May 1, 2018 – Sincerely Karen Jo

Hi Everyone!!! I thought I’d do a recap of my mom’s birthday party. It’s been two weeks or so and I am still trying to get back into the groove of things. My mom turned 60 on April 4 and had a masquerade birthday party on April 15 which I had been planning since last year. Let me just say that for my wedding ceremony, as much as I want to do a lot of DIYs, I am definitely going to hire a party planner for the day of the event. I was literally running around the venue trying to make sure we were on schedule, taking pictures and videos, and trying to enjoy the night and have some fun. I actually didn’t even eat that much, so it was a good thing I ate during the food tasting. We did end up taking 4 trays of food home (grilled salmon, chicken and beef kabob, veggies, potatoes, Persian rice, and pasta) and 1/4 of the cake, so the next day I ate and savored every bite.

The party planning process was actually kind of fun and I’m quite proud that it turned out really well considering there were last minute changes and issues. Also, it was a good thing that the party wasn’t a surprise since I knew my mom would want certain things and I just didn’t want to risk doing something she might not like. That being said, she was able to give me her input here and there and I had some help from friends and family too. Things seemed to be going great and I was checking stuff off the list, but the next thing I knew… we were 2 months away from the event. Time went by so fast and I still had a lot to do. By March I was busy trying to get everything done and ready. I actually spent my birthday, April 6, running around doing errands and I was actually still working on the centerpieces, program, and the slideshow Saturday night before the party. It was pretty crazy and I didn’t think I was going to get everything finished… BUT, thank goodness I did! Many thanks to EVERYONE who helped out — glueing feathers on the centerpieces, cutting the programs, punching holes on the program, tying ribbons, setting up for the event, taking pictures, and so on. The party was great and I’m really happy everyone enjoyed and had a great time.

Here are some pictures from the event which was held at Legacy Ballrom Glendale California by L.A. Banquets.

(If you are ever planning an event around Los Angeles or Glendale, then definitely check out L.A. Banquets. They are absolutely great and their customer service is incredibly amazing.)

My mom’s outfit for the night. She bought her gown from David’s Bridal, shoes from Macy’s, and masquerade mask from Amazon.

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Those Clear Diamonds in the pictures are actually place card holders. I bought them on Amazon to use for the Candy Station, but it turned out really amazing as props too!! I’m actually planning on purchasing them in gold to use as props for bookstagramming.

Here’s my MOM!!!

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We decided to do this pictorial the day before the event because we knew we would be really busy Sunday. We didn’t hire photographers because it we couldn’t find one within our budget. She said that $2,000 to $3,000 was too much and she wasn’t getting married to spend that kind of money on pictures and videos. For the event, the photographers were my brother’s girlfriend, my boyfriend, family friends and of course me.

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These were all DIY projects. I bought the masks, bird cage, foam flowers, and the crystal flower pins on Amazon. Ordered personalized M&M’s online. Printed the labels at home. Got inspiration on Pinterest for the program booklet. And picked up ribbons, sticker rhinestones and other embellishments from Dollar Stores and Michaels. I honestly don’t know what I would do without Amazon, Dollar Stores, Pinterest and Michaels.

Here’s a close up of my Mommy!!

Here’s us being silly

My mom and big bro

My Grandmommy and Mommy

The Boyfriend

My Brother’s Girlfriend

Mom’s Boyfriend

Champagne Tower inside the venue.

Gorgeous ceilings and lights.

The Dance Floor

The Presidential Table

Candy Station Area

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Some pics of the Appetizers. We had Mediterranean/ Persian food which was so delicious! There were about 25 appetizers and 4 main courses. Grilled Salmon with Vegetables, Alfredo Pasta with Chicken, Beef and Chicken Kabob with potatoes and Beef and Chicken Lule with Persian rice.

Some photobooth pics!!

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That’s all folks! I hope you enjoyed this post. Have a wonderful day everyone!!!

sincerelykarenjo2

Hello Lovely Readers! Welcome to the Cover Reveal for

Cinderella’s Inferno by F.M. Boughan

presented by Month9Books!

Celebrate this reveal by entering the giveaway found at the end of the post!

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Cinderella’s Inferno (Cinderella Necromancer #2)
by F.M. Boughan
Release Date: May 29, 2018
Publisher: Month9Books

Purity cannot abide the darkness.

It’s been two years since Ellison defeated her stepsisters and sent her evil stepmother back into the Abyss.

Though she’s learning to control her dark magic and has spent time traveling with Prince William and bringing peace to the kingdom, one fact remains. She is a necromancer and he is a paladin of light. And so, the king refuses to give his blessing for them to marry.

To appease his father, William has begun to avoid her. But when even her younger brother Edward grows distant, Ellison learns her mother’s spirit has been visiting Edward in secret, threatening to overwhelm him with her own loneliness and longing. When Ellison accidentally touches her mother’s spirit, her tainted touch condemns her mother’s spirit to eternal damnation.

Ellison resolves to descend into hell to save her mother’s soul and bring her physical body back to the world of the living. William hopes this good deed will bring Ellison into favor and finally allow them to be wed.

But the journey through hell is fraught with peril. Temptations abound and the demons Ellison sent back to the Abyss are thirsty for revenge.

Evil cannot be defeated without sacrifice—but when that sacrifice means choosing between the ones Ellison loves and her very own life, how far is she willing to go to make her family whole again?

Available for Pre-order:

Amazon

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F.M. Boughan is a bibliophile, a writer, and an unabashed parrot enthusiast. She can often be found writing in local coffee shops, namely because it’s hard to concentrate with a cat lying on the keyboard and a small, colorful parrot screaming into her ear. Her work is somewhat dark, somewhat violent, somewhat hopeful, and always contains a hint of magic.

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