My Camp Theme Wedding - Camp Nutenbeier 13 Years Ago Today

Just Married - Heading out of the Forest and Off to Camp Nutenbeier

Lucky 13, that's what I'm calling this anniversary! I'm so lucky to be married to my best friend, confident, right-hand guy, travel companion and partner in crime. We had a non-traditional courtship of being friends for a long time before we got engaged. (Yes, we practically skipped dating.) The engagement was not that much of a surprise though, since all our friends suspected we were already more than just friends!

The true test of the relationship, though, came when I proposed we'd have a camp-themed wedding. I didn't just want the rustic look, and setting (Lake Tahoe, California), but I truly wanted the full camp experience! My husband-to-be put up with a summer of being my production intern cranking out Boy Scout-like badges, camp passports, how to tie know games, lanyards and more. Little did he know that 7 years later, I'd give up the corporate world, and start my party business (in 2007)! I guess our wedding was fore-shadowing. Lucky for him now, I have not employed him again as intern!

My Wedding Camp  in Full Swing: Guitar Lessons, Knot Tying, Campfire Books and More

I couldn't have asked for a better day. Incredible Sierra weather and lots of happy campers doing their activities and filling out their camper passports!

Wedding Cake Was Not My Thing: S'mores Fit the Bill Perfectly!

To end the camp, we had a rousing competition of rochambo to determine the winning cabin group and get the prize t-shirts. The s'mores were served to much delight and surprise. I had many guests in shock to learn, that no, I was not serving wedding cake. (I must say, 13 years ago, s'mores were not that popular in the wedding scene!)

Although Camp Nutenbeier seems like a long time ago, I'm still so lucky to be in love with my favorite camp buddy. I hope someday when we are old and gray we can head off to Camp Nutenbeier again and relive our youth!

Girl Scouts Day

Yesterday was Girl Scouts Day, a day that commemorates when the first troop was registered. I was never a girl scout, but my daughter has just started Daisy's (the first level of Girl Scouts this year.) I'm really excited for her. It seems, so far, like it will be a good experience.

So, when I was in a local antique bookstore the other day, and I saw the above book, I just had to get it. Not only do I love old books, but I also have a number of old books that fall into the scouting/camping/craft genre. The ideas in the book are usually great-- just some ol'fashion fun... some, though I must admit can seem a little strange for this day and age, but that makes the book even more charming.

The handshake... do you know it?

I Love this homemaking illustration. Aren't they all having so much fun?!

I also couldn't resist this craft-- honest to goodness BASKET WEAVING!

This image seems so "campy" to me... and being an ex-camp counselor from long ago, I love all-things "campy"! Right now, our town is in the throws of summer-camp-sign-up frenzy... it always seems so scary to me to lock down my summer plans when it's only March. I like having plans, but I also want that "summer freedom" feeling, that on a whim, I could pack the kids in the car, and we could head out on a road trip... As I get older, I'm learning it's all about finding the balance. Some planning and some spontenaity work very well for me.

So, in honor of Girl Scouts Day (March 12), break open that newly purchased box of cookies or do a Girl Scout craft... either way, be sure to enjoy the day and the weekend ahead!

(All images in this post are from the book "Brownie Scout Handbook" pictured above.)