Productive weekend

Well, at least I have made some wedding progress, although not as much as I need to. This weekend I managed to:
1. Pick up both the wedding dress and my dress from the alterations lady. She did a terrific job with the bustle-made hand done beaded flowers to hide the buttons when the train is down. I still have to hold my breath, but is much better than it was prior to letting mine out about 3/4 of an inch which is all the material she had to work with.

2. Made a White Chocolate/Raspberry Cheesecake for the birthday party that was a hit-so now will make another for the wedding.

3. Completed bouquets for-myself, the maid of honor, the best person who is standing up with the groom, and the toss bouquet. Didn't want to risk throwing Princess's real one as she has decided on a long arm bouquet with only a few stems. They turned out pretty well. Threw together a couple of mixed centerpieces with the left over. Lots more to make.

4. Filled the tulle circles with the hot pink confetti. Used a mix of white/pink/brown circles but now wish had stuck to the brown. The light pink circle looks more dirty white against the others but oh well. Bought this crazy Eco friendly, biodegradable confetti- looks more like flakes of hot pink Styrofoam and doesn't throw real great (had to give it a try in the kitchen). I got it because it is supposed to dissolve in water so after we aren't picking up tiny confetti for years in the yard. Here's the kicker-it really does dissolve! Although the small amount I tried left kind of a slick film in the glass-note to self-don't wet down anywhere you want to walk while the stuff is still wet!

5. Decided we are going with the chairs and table mismatched mess we can borrow and use from here rather than rent. The money has flown out the window and it has to stop somewhere. Will it look tacky, yes. At this point I frankly don't care.

6. Bought another cake pan and did some research for some cake recipes. Now have to get the time to get the darn things made and frozen asap.

7. Bought a nice western suit jacket, new brown jeans, hot pink shirt, and brown silk tie with tiny silver horseshoes on it for Prince Charming to wear walking her down the aisle. He will look so handsome I can hardly wait. She will freak if she sees the horseshoes, so saving it for the last second of-oh by the way kind of deal.

8. My son says he is coming now, will hold my breath til I see the whites of his eyes but gotta trust that he will.

So, now that I look, OMG-I have to get a move on here people. We are struggling with the blue part of the equation. Any brillian ideas out there? She is wearing a new dress, borrowing my mom's diamond earrings, will tie the antque locket my mother had her photo and my dad in to her bouquet. We are stumped on the blue. She doesn't want a blue garter or underwear. Her hair is going to be spotlight with the veil and tiara but no way to affix anything to them anyway. I am running out of creative ideas here folks.

all a blur....and in need of creative assistance-soon

Has a seriously been over a month since last writing here? Yeah, well no surprise given it was all a blur here. Daily wedding plans changing daily, massive snow to shovel, mud to track in, leaking washing machine, dresses to alter....endless list.

So, I have to get on the stick and get this entire wedding ordeal wrapped up before the 6Th. Still have all the baking, cooking, flower arranging, well basically everything to do between now and then. Never fear, I still peak in on everyone as often as I can as I find so much inspiration in your lives that I hope will spark a fire in me here very soon.

On that note, if anyone knows some terrific cheap, fast, easy appetizers, a white chocolate/raspberry cheesecake, wedding cake, or killer punch recipe please send them to me a quick as you can. I need all the help I can get.

Other questions I am pondering:
1. How the heck do I make an empty garden (now dirt IE mud and sticks) a lovely backdrop for a wedding ceremony? I have the arch deal, but what else can I do to camo the ugly mess that will be a garden if spring ever arrives? Cheap here people, I have essentially no money for this ordeal.
2. How to make the fabric runner a bit easier to walk on in heels over the grass leading to the arch? Too long a section to lay plywood or I would as already using what we have to get a semi clean path from the front to back yard so she has a grand entrance.
3. Creative ideas for the old, new, borrowed, blue routine? Her dress is new (white with pink/white flowers and scattered sequins and beads), shoes are red with rhinestones, has a veil and tiara (yeah, princess remember?) She is allergic to metals except white gold so the jewelry route is kind of out of the price range now....
4. Suggestions for songs to walk down the isle aside from the old standby?
5.A poem to place in a frame with photos of our 4 family members who have passed away as a tribute to remember?
6. Fun bridal shower themes, games, ideas?
7. Decor for the event-I have some silk flowers and glass fish bowls and plan on candles, white lights, a few hanging lanterns. Have a feeling we can expect wind and some rather cool temps given the date. I have a fire pit and hope to find a outdoor heater to use somewhere. I can't afford a tent rental, so pray to every spirit you know it doesn't rain or snow because my house is too small for 25 plus people.
8. Ideas for where I can buy a unique garter and perhaps find some cheap hankies? Would like to set a few in a basket for guests who decide to cry-or just for me when I start bawling my eyes out.
9. Card box ideas?
10. Guest book ideas? Expecting about 25 or so people so the standard ones are a bit big for so few people.

Seriously, any ideas, suggestions, thoughts. They are a unique couple, so it kind of makes me a bit stumped here. My original ideas were all fall based and now here we are with spring. He loves firefighter deals, movies, and is rather picky with food. She is a tomboy princess who loves Asian inspired ideas, simple things, but goes for the sparkly things too. The colors are hot pink, chocolate brown, and teal. I get to be the matron of honor and am wearing a prom dress I found that is a cross between pink and coral? let's hope my spanx can suck me in a bit more as the dress I got was about an inch around too small for comfort and the most material they can let out is about a 3/4 at best. It was only $30 and I frankly couldn't pass it up! My best friend is her bridesmaid and is wearing chocolate brown. The Prince is walking her down as her father has been 'uninvited" and is a cowboy who will wind up in jeans and a pink shirt. The favors for guests will be fortune cookies in little take out boxes. Dinner was changed to appetizers.

So, any and all ideas are greatly appreciated. I need all the help I can get!

Monday again?

Is it really Monday again? Seriously, wasn't it just Friday? A whirlwind weekend blew thru here and now I don't know where it went. I have vague memories of:
1. a pile of laundry that somehow morphs into a larger pile despite the continuous splash of agitation on my washer, and the inevitable ping of coins revolving in the dryer
2. the sudden realization at 3am on Saturday morning that the old married couple were still awake and upright in the living room after a marathon viewing of Brothers and Sisters on DVD
3. somewhere in the blurred images my Christmas decorations found their way to the appropriate storage bins now hiberating in the garage (yes, you heard it here first, the dumb blonde FINALLY took down the Christmas tree).
4. Fast forward to 2 straight days of cooking and cleaning and decorating to prepare for the annual Superbowl feast, I mean party.
5. hours of manual labor to clean up the scraps of remaing food, decor, noisemakers, empty bottles, cans, glasses, scrubbing rock hard baking sheets of remnants of scorched hot wing sauce
6. numbly searching for eye drops around 3 am Monday after another marathon run to devour back to back episodes of House on USA Network.

So, where did that weekend go again? Just sat around doin' good old nothing. How bout you?

Do I hear bells or was that a gong in the background?

While it is pathetic to admit, my only coping mechanism right now is denial and avoidance. Period. Life around here is just too busy, work is making me out of my mind, and I spent a week of horrid stomach flu that just about did me in. Now I am just downright exhausted and can't face anything. Pretty pathetic but its the truth.

Once again the wedding is back on for the Princess. Yah, don't go there. I even sat her down and had the good old "I am only saying this once and then I'll tell you I told you so...." conversation with her yet again. See, I have a BAD feeling that he is once again going to string her along and bail out on this at the last minute just like last time. Or worse, he will go thru with it an walk away a short time later. Just too many obvious signs that even she admits are there, but none the less, it is still on. Then, we had 3 weeks of fighting over the new date. She wants one, he wants another and they go back and forth. And yes, again she picked a Monday, in April. Hello, MOM WORKS FOR A LIVING TO SUPPORT THIS MESS and HELLO, we are liable to still have snow/sleet/hail/and drifts in April around here. So, I am avoiding thinking and doing anything about this. Oh, and she tried on the dress again, she has now lost so much weight we have to find someone competent to take it in at least 1-2 inches!!!! She has agreed to use the napkins imprinted with the October date on them out of spite and finance, ha! See, I am just going to pretend I hear bells and not a big old gong banging in my head!

Then, the young Prince finally proposed to the girl-I-LOVE-and-his-father-hates on New Years Eve. Now they tell me they set a date (he wanted August this year). It is June 2010. Ok, less pressure. WRONG. Then she tells me it will be in WY. NO WAY NO HOW!! Three days of slamming, crying, cussing etc. See, his Dad is mean, spiteful, vindictive, rude, pigheaded, egotistical, and plain mean. If they do this anywhere remotely near him, despite not inviting him or alledged makeup before then, I GUARANTEE he will ruin it in one shape or form. That's the way he rolls. THAT is why he is my ex you see. If it isn't about him, it doesn't matter. Period. Now, selfish old mom would love them to do it here out of pure convenience. I mean hey, we are doing it this year already and will have it down to a science then. Right? But seriously, I would fly them to the moon to get them away from dear old Dad on this day. Anywhere but near him. Plus, this wedding is more "up my alley" so to speak. See, she wants the dress, frills, flowers etc, but is a cowgirl at heart-born and raised. Young Prince, well, he lives, breathes, sleeps, and eats cars and hunting/fishing. Future Ms. Prince LOVES the ideas of quilts on the tables, flowers in pitchers, arch made of horns, truck seat for reception, model cars on the tables, hubcaps for trays. Baby, I told you I can rock this wedding!!!! Princess, she is all glitter and party. I can do that too, but it isn't half as much fun as the creative genious it will take to make it work for the young Prince. So, again, I am ignoring those bells/gong sounds in my head for now.

I am ignoring it all.

PS, my tree is STILL up, I think I need serious meds or something.........

One word-WOW!

I just had to mark the occasion of great change our country has just seen with one simple word, and all that can come to mind is WOW!!!!

Our country is full of diversity that now has come together as a nation, ready to meet the challenges head on. While many are skeptic, others are hopeful. I for one am ready for a change. Realistic enough to know it won't be instant, all encompassing or miraculous. But change, no less is long over due. I want to believe in this great nation and it's ability to allow us all the freedom we too often take for granted. Our nation gives us the freedom to blog, rant, cry, laugh, and express our selves each and every day in ways that will never be tolerated in other places. I want to believe our nation is strong enough to pull together and continue to foster those ideals that make us Americans. I want to believe that anything is possible and can be accomplished.

I do believe this day does mark the beginning of a change that will offer a even better way of life for my children, their children, and millions more who are only a mere imaginative thought in a mind. I do believe we can work together to make any dream a reality for our selves, our nation, and our world. I do believe this is a fine day indeed to say, "I am proud to be a citizen of the United States of America!"

Oh so pretty

I stumbled upon some pretties that made me smile. Now how could I NOT show you a gazing ball, I mean really. First, what a unique gazing ball this is! Metal leaves and flower petals interlocking, raised detail, color, shine, depth. Now, for a sugar daddy to shell out the cash for it and we would be in business. This place has the most incredible ones, some are twisted metal that look like vines, twigs, yummy. But, as with most this equals EXPENSIVE! I think this beauty is around $70! Now, in fairness, my current ball in the header was a much heftier price than I normally pay for garden items. The weather here is just too extreme and I'm too lazy to bring things in. The one I currently have was about $45, but after my children SHATTERING a minimum of 15 plus of the cheaper ones, I bit the bullet and got one that is guaranteed not to break. So far, I have had it over 5 years, out in 108 degree desert full sun and minus 15 degree winter snow and ice. No cracks even when hit by the run away croquet ball, tumbled down the stairs and hit concrete during a wind storm. Yep, it was worth every penny as never had one last a full season let alone a calendar year. Mine is only having a slight issue with whatever the clear coat is peeling off and a bit of the color. Next time it will be a plain color stainless one then it won't matter. If I were rich instead of so darn good lookin' (HA HA HA), I would have one of ALL of them scattered everywhere. I love the new glass with the special powder embedded that makes them glow, but already had one bird bath made of this glowing goodness. First nip of frost and the thing busted in million pieces. So, not sure the gazing ball is my kind of deal.

(I apologize for during my wondering in space, I simply collected photos of things that appealed to me over several days. I did not think to write down where most were from, mostly to prevent my return to the same place to subject myself to more wanting that I can't afford. Safer this way, but not fair to those peddling the wares in case someone else wants one) The next one is just plain cute. Seriously bird cages with practical hooks? With all the bird lovers out there who can resist? Besides, I remember where this was, a delightful and pocket friendly place called Terry's Village. Think it was like under $5 for the pair.

Along the same theme (and place) I found this one. Again, birds, cute, and practical with around a $5 price tag. How annoying is it to set out your perfect picnic only to lose those napkins to the pesky breeze? Yeah, I know a rock is cheaper, or in my case the pickle jar or whatever is close. But I think it would even be cute on the counter to hold those receipts or notes that pile up. Please tell me I'm not the only one with the piles, HA!

Now this one I almost stopped my self to ponder even longer and actually buy it. Lucky for me, the practical gal in me slapped myself silly instead and settled for the pix. But it was seriously close for a minute..... Flower frogs! Cute, practical, and cute. Wait, I said cute didn't I? Come on, does this cute thing not just make you smile? I keep eying them on eBay and watching prices go thru the roof for the old ones made of metal. Some day I will have a large collection, just because. They can be used for so much more than flowers, although the purist in me would love to see them set out in a shallow bowl of water with blooms just like this. But then, in the dead of winter, like about, oh yeah, NOW, re purpose as a great photo holder, greeting card holder, recipe holder in the kitchen, business card holder on my desk, post it holder, whatever you want!

After admiring Lynn's new bird eggs over at the Vintage Nest, and subsequent story of their demise during rain storms (serious bummer that maybe a bit of peanut butter in the mix could at least slow the problem), I really like this idea. Reusable bird feeders for various kinds of food. One holds seed, one holds suet, and others for the likes of fruit, peanuts, corn or whatever your feathered friends prefer. You can wash them, hang them anywhere, and they are also rather cheap.

This one made me again pause with the dreaded purchase me NOW feeling. How adorable for a pal who loves to play in the dirt like me? A Wellie planter, twine, copper plant tags, and some girlie cotton gloves to protect those "delicate" hands from the elements. You can use the planter to grow some wonderful seeds, love it with a bit of trailing flowers, or with a saucer you could even use it as a vase during a outdoor party. Or prop your silverware in it at a BBQ, store some garden tools. Yep, again, practical and cheap and cute. Sagey green goodness.

I have also been eyeing these incredible candles for a couple years now. Seems like each catalog has their own version with a vast array of price points, most of which were a bit too steep for a cheap girl like me. This one was a staggering $16.99, yep even old thrifty me can dig up that much change in the bottom of my purse most days. Now, what I was drawn to the first time I saw them was the claim that you put up the amount of candle you want to burn to about level of the little clip deal, light it, then when it burns to that level it goes out. OK, so anybody out there got one of these little devils and is it true? Inquiring minds want to know if this is one of those yippee it works kind of deals, or why the heck did I waste my money kind of deals?

Several places have refills in different colors like red, green, white etc. Then my overactive mind is like, girl, this will not work in the desert. You will do something retarded like take it outside for dinner, have way to much fun, leave it outside, suddenly remember about 3pm when the temp has reached the average 103 degrees and you now have a warped, solid candle snake. Or, another, OH, it is too pretty to use until several years pass and you have a candle with embedded cat hair which is NOT something you want to smell burning-trust me. But I was thinking it would be too cute in my not yet finished bathroom makeover where my new light switch covers are the ONLY bit of goodness to be found, STILL. Sorry Lynn, but at least your product is the shining star, right?

OK, so tell me blog friends. What have you spotted in your travels lately? What has you saying, "man, if I hadn't spent all my money before Christmas I could make a HAUL on this sale"? Stumble across any great Internet or store finds you could not live without? Nabbed up any of those "man, at this price I will find SOMEONE to give this to-gift-drawer-stash" kind of things? Anyone started their list for Santa yet for NEXT year? Come on, you already know my tree is still up. Spill it. Again am I the only one that searches for this stuff then KICKS myself because I didn't buy it, or worse yet because I did?

Seriously lousy confession

OK, that's it. Every day I swear I will write and fill you in on the holidays and it just doesn't get done. Frankly NOTHING gets done. I am totally overwhelmed, exhausted, and don't want to play any more.

So, for momentary distractions, I visit all you wonderful people and see your beautiful homes, appropriately clean and styled. Well, gotta stop that right now. Seriously, it is depressing me. Why you ask? Well, let's just say this. My damn Christmas tree is still up and decorated, the other madness is still laying all over like we are expecting Santa again, and the overall house is just a flat disaster. There you have it. I am a total loser aren't I? But I can't be the ONLY soul in America can I? Yep, you are right, I probably am.

Plus I run to open mail today to be smacked with a lovely thank you card from my aunt, but clueless me just HAS to open the papers enclosed to find the obit and funeral folder from my uncle's service hidden inside. Yeah, NOT what I needed to see today at all.

OK, enough whining, back to work, and NO that does not include time for decorations or cleaning....................