Today I did something for the first time by myself – I went to the gym. I know, I know, many people go to the gym alone, but I had never done it, so it was kind of a big deal. I was fine though. I walked on the treadmill for an hour and then came home.

This afternoon, Ashley and I attended the bridal shower that I mentioned in yesterdays post. It was held at a house in the country and it looked like something that would be in Better Homes & Gardens magazine. The house itself and the moldings looked very colonial and the floorboards were wood and seemed to be about eight inches wide. The kitchen ceiling was wood as well. It was an open-living concept with large windows at the front and back of the house letting in a lot of natural light. Sitting around the fireplace were two big, brown leather chairs and Ashley and I sat on the most cushy, comfortable couch ever. The fabric seemed to be a soft, velvety texture.

On the kitchen table were ham and cheese sliders, turkey and cheese sliders, lots of various fruits, chips and dip, brown beans and a potato dish. They had desserts as well which included cookies, cake and chocolate covered strawberries.

After we ate, the bride-to-be opened her gifts. Kevin & I gave her money as did Ashley. I was pleased that many other people also gave her money. It may not be traditional; however, she owns her own home and already has everything that she would need. By giving her money, she will be able to buy something she truly wants.

They had a Jenga game set up. Each person took a piece of wood and wrote their best advice on it to the bride and signed their name. This way, every time the couple plays, they can read the messages. They also had a clear vase filled with Hershey’s Kisses. We all tried to guess how many kisses were in the vase. A few people told funny stories about their own weddings and honeymoons.

One woman told a story about how she and her husband had rented a cabin in the woods for their honeymoon. She said when they went to bed that night, there were coffee grounds in the bed. She thought that was very odd since they had just arrived at the cabin. The next morning, there were more coffee grounds in the bed. Finally, they looked up at the ceiling and the whole ceiling was infested with ants and the coffee grounds were little particles from the cabin ceiling!

We were there for about two hours which was the perfect amount of time. We took pictures with the bride-to-be before we left. It was a very lovely bridal shower.