Paparazzi, Popcorn, Pillows = Party! {Part 1}

[julie's pov]

I stood eagerly (and nervously) by the front door (a.k.a. L4TL's bedroom door).

I had just put on the finishing touches, and I couldn't wait for everyone to arrive! It was going to be fantabulous!

 

A knock rapped on the door and I quickly opened it.

 

"Welcome!" I exclaimed. Josie and Elly both chimed, "Happy birthday!"
"Your present was too big to wrap, so Light4theLord has to bring it in later." Elly explained. I nodded, but I was super curious now.

Madi was next, carrying an AG shopping bag (now if you're wondering why my sisters weren't already here, it's because I exiled them - half because some of them had to finish up shopping, and half for photo effect).

When Grace stepped through the door, we threw our arms around each other.

"I've missed you," we both said at the same time and then giggled.

"Happy birthday, Jules!"

"Thanks! Elly is over there," I pointed to my sister, knowing that Grace was dying to see Elizabeth.

Katie and Samantha arrived together (as usual - it's nutty, they'll be best of friends one day and then arguing over the most stupid things the next).

"We bought this together," Sam explained, holding up a white box with my initials (JBA) on it. "Where can I put it?"

I directed her to the gift table, and then waited for the last three guests. Amy arrived a minute later, and then I stood impatiently for two more.

"Julie! Happy birthday!" she squealed, embracing me.

"I'm so glad you got to come," I grinned as I gave her a huge hug.

"Me too!"

"Oh, I don't know if you remember or not, but this is my sister Kit." Mia introduced her sister with a flourish.

"Hi!" Kit piped up cheerfully. "I'd wave, but my arms are full. Happy birthday!"

I led them to where the rest of the party guests were milling about, mostly greeting Grace.

When Katie saw Mia, she got so excited I thought she was going to faint or something.

Anyways, I got everyone's attention.
"Hey ya'll," I announced. "We're going to play a little game."

 

I motioned to a hat (my hat, I might add) filled with folded strips of paper and a roll of sparkly pink tape beside it.

"This is the 'Which Actress Am I?' game - with only the star AG actresses!" As I said it, Elly cheered. "Just have a friend tape it to your back, and then you go to each person and ask one yes or no question, which they have to reply to."

"Fun!" Katie exclaimed, darting up to the table. She closed her eyes and reached into the hat.

"La de da de do..." she mused as she rummaged through and then picked one.

"Tape this on me," Katie instructed to Samantha. Sam cocked her head and raised her eyebrows, causing Katie to sigh and add, "Please."

Samantha complied and as I read Katie's I knew it'd be a tricky one. I wasn't a big fan of that movie, actually.

"Oh, that one is going to be tricky," Amy pointed out, speaking to Katie.

"Thanks," she said sarcastically.

Katie pulled out another one and taped it to Sam.

Soon, everyone was taping strips to everyone else and asking questions.

"Oh," I exclaimed. "And I forgot to mention that the person who guesses theirs correctly first gets to choose the first movie tonight!" This became a new incentive.

Madi's would be tricky too. Personally, I would've cast someone else for that very important role *hair flip* but....

Mia taped one to her sister's back, and then Kit turned around and did one for Mia.

Oh, that was a great movie!

Grace had to keep flipping her hair over her shoulder so that people could read hers. I started to laugh at this, until I had to start doing it.

 

Madi had lent her player and phone to play some music as we all started asking each other... not that anyone could hear it over the hubbub anyways!

"Hey Josie," Samantha approached her older sis. "Am I a Girl of the Year?"

"Turn around," Josie instructed, and then tilted her head to read Sam's. "No, you're not."

"Do I have blonde hair?" Elly asked.

Madi brushed El's hair to the side and then laughed her evil laugh.

"Mwahahaha," she grinned. "No....." she started giggling mischievously again.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Elly retorted.

"It's a trick question with a trick answer," Madi (the movie know-it-all) replied. Elly sighed before walking away.

"Oh, Katie," Madi called. "Am I a historical character?"

"Yup," was all Katie said before running off to meet Kit.

"Okaaayy..." Madi mused.

"Hey Elly, do I have brown hair?" Grace asked, pulling her hair over her shoulder.

"Uh huh," Elly nodded. "You do."

Ah, the wonderful Molly movie. I liked that one.

I approached Mia.

"Am I a Girl of the Year?" I asked. The two most common first questions were starting to be either 'Am I a historical/GOTY' or 'Do I have brown/blonde/red hair'.

"Yes, you are," Mia replied sweetly. Okay, well... that narrowed it down to.. uh.... one, two, three....Chrissa, McKenna, Saige, Isabelle, Grace, and Lea - six.

"Oh, am I a GOTY?" Mia asked, turning around.
"Yes, you are!" I grinned.

 

Everyone was asking everyone else... it was quite fun!

Sometimes, a question would launch into a full fledged conversation about a certain movie or actress.

"Oh, did you know that Hannah Nordberg and Alyvia Alyn Lind acted together?" Mia exclaimed.

"No, I didn't!" I replied, storing this fun fact in my mind.

"Who did they play again?" Kit asked.

"Julie and Maryellen," Mia and I answered at the same time, and then laughed.

"Okay, everyone," I stood beside the table again (which L4TL had already cleared off from her perch on her bed). "Listen up!" My friends grew quiet.

"Everyone has a large black and white photo of themselves - sign it like a celeb!" I passed each of the pictures around with pens and pencils.

Mia, evidently, is left-handed!

Kit eyed her carefully before writing.

Elly had two..

And so did Grace.

Her lovely signatures ^^^

And of course, Amy's was in her curly cursive.

The activity didn't take too long, but everyone had fun and talked while doing it, coming up with the movies they had 'starred' in, complete with hair flips and waves... and bursts of giggles.

The collage of pictures was spread over the table.

Mia's was the most unique,

Kit's looked a lot like mine,

Elly, of course, did her loopy writing...

I smiled at the sight of all of my friends.

There were a LOT of pictures. :D

***************************************

Next up, gift time!

I was super excited. I didn't know what any of my presents were, and I was excited to find out - I couldn't even guess!

Everyone was seated in a half circle around me, and I loved having all of my friends here.

I said a few words (that I will not repeat here because it was probably pretty lame)...

"Open ours first!" Samantha requested.

I took the white box off the table.

"Open it!" Katie demanded excitedly.

I popped off the lid and inside...

... several makeup brushes and two bottles of nail polish - in exactly the colors and brand I wanted!

"Thank you guys so much! It's just what I had been needing," I grinned. Katie piped up, "We know, you've been talking about it for the past two weeks!" I laughed. "I guess I'll finally get to do the French manicure! Hey, maybe Grace can help me!"

Grace laughed.

"Sure!" she grinned. "I've only done it once though.."

"Will you please open mine next?" Amy asked pleasantly. I loved her accent.

"I'd love to," I smiled and lifted a sweet XD package from the gift table.

I tossed the paper to the side when I saw what was inside.

"Oh wow, Amy! It's gorgeous!"

The cover was beautiful - all elegant and sparkly...

I flipped through the bordered pages, each one with a little butterfly in the corner.

I turned to Amy. "I love it! Thank you!"

Grace's was closest to me now. I was curious what was inside the gray, velvety box.

I slowly opened the lid of the classy case.

"These are so pretty!" I praised, lifting first the 'royalty' set of charms (with a Fleur de Lis, a crown, and a cross) and then a 'travel' set (with an airplane charm, a passport charm, and a suitcase charm with 'Paris' on it).

"You know how I went to Europe on spring break?" she prompted.

"I didn't know that!" I scolded. Elly gave a nervous laugh from the other side of the half circle.

"I must have forgotten to tell you," she said sheepishly.

"Well, anyways, I went to several different countries, and I first got the travel set in Paris for you, since I knew it'd be perfect and your birthday was soon - can you believe my delight when I found the royalty set in England and it was the same kind!"

"That's so cool!" I crowed. "Thank you so much!"

"The polka-dot one is from us," Mia pointed to the box that Kit had been carrying earlier.

I pulled it into my lap and started to open it.

"Oh, and as a warning," Kit grinned. "We made it together."

"That makes it all the more unique," I declared.

"Oh, wow!" I gaped as I unfolded the tissue paper.

"Wow, wow, wow!" I couldn't stop staring at the incredible piece of artwork.

Tucked gently and safely inside the tissue paper was an oval piece with a bonsai tree silhouetted, covered in beautiful, shiny buttons with the word 'inspire' on it.

I held it up for everyone to see. Several of the button leaves were placed at the bottom, as though they had fallen and were laying stacked up.

 

"I love it!" I announced. "It's beautiful! I'm going to hang it up ASAP! Thank you so very much!"

"Will you open mine next, please?" Madi begged.

I had to admit I was curious and excited. Was it an AG item, or just wrapped in an AG bag? I read the tag quickly.

It read, I won this in a giveaway from Lu @ The Redhead's Blog and I knew it was perfect for you! I hope you like it!

I laid the tag on the box from Grace to keep it safe for my journal.

I untied the white ribbons...

... started pulling the tissue paper out...

"What is it?" I was dreadfully curious and dug it out of the bag.

I unfolded the tissue paper and gasped.

Laying on the sparkly paper was a complete AG outfit.

"It's gorgeous!" I was so giddy with excitement. I lifted the headband, the bracelet, and the dress separately and excitedly.

"I can't wait to try it on! Thank you so, so much!" I loved all of these presents - each one was different and unique!

"Okay," Elizabeth stood up. "This is your last present, from Josie and me."

Josie pushed a large item covered in a... towel?

Elizabeth explained. "Uh, we didn't feel like wrapping it because I was almost positive I'd ruin it. And it's big. But we tied a bow around it!" Josie, from the sidelines, laughed.

"I'm super curious! Is this what you guys have been working on in secret all this time?" They both nodded furiously.

"Oh. my. goodness!" I shrieked. "Wow!"

It was a dress form - I'd been wanting one for-EVER!

"Oh, wow," I repeated, running my hands over the stylish and lovely fabric.

"It's so awesome!" I squealed. Oh, and the bow was perfect. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

************************************

Our next activity was going to be a fun one. I was excited!

Everyone stayed seated for this one, spreading out across the floor.

Katie was still in the splits. Evidently, she was stretching while she watched and participated. I grinned.

"Okay everyone," I started giving instructions. "Everyone gets one of these poster sheets to decorate - as a movie poster! We've got tons of AG catalogs in the middle, so just cut and paste however you want. All the supplies are right there," I pointed to the middle, where L4TL had stacked several catalogs, glue sticks, pens, and scissors.

"This is going to so much fun!" Grace exclaimed, waving her cardstock piece around.

Madi was pondering hers thoughtfully. :D

Soon, pieces and scraps and words were cut out...

... backgrounds and photos...

...printed pieces..

... titles...

... trash....

*********************************

Coming up in the next part...

 

{sneak peek ^ Madi's incredibly amazing poster}

- Stars on the Runway -