A Wedding in Photographs

well.. two photographs.

I have been working like crazy for two days straight on these pinwheels...

 

and buying make up under the influence of my makeup expert Stephanie...

Camera photos are just the bestest. Hahah. 

I should receive two boxes in the mail today... one from Stephanie full of more makeup! (Photo to come) And one from the artist that made Chase's wedding band (no photo to come-- not yet!)

Off to my daily trip to Micheal's at nine o'clock for purple paper , a flower girl basket, and some other do-dads.Then going to sit with a family friends grandma while they have a night out -- which means do more crafts at someone else's house instead of mine! :) Gotta love those coupons from the website.

23 days... and 23 hot glue burns

I was supposed to nanny this morning but sick kids kept their Mom home - so I have the morning free.

Yesterday I spent the ENTIRE day working on a project that will be my own twist on this:

Of course, as perfectionist I some times become, the pinwheels look perfectly uniform just in lots of different sizes. But Lordy, Hot Glue guns could be used as a form of torture.. I guess thats kinda like being tarred and feathered...anyway. But its worth it.


I have a feeling that today is going to be an emotional day. I'm kind of tired already and I need to spend the day going through my "keepsakes" that are stored in my closet. Lots of old cards and little tokens that hold memories. I am really going to have to evaluate if I need to keep things to "keep the memory" or if I have the memory with out the material item. Can you tell I'm a devoted fan of Hoarders?

Okay, so I think the new facebook formatting will break me of my facebook habit.

26 days...

We made our way to Omaha yesterday around noon central time. We were both really tired and honestly I was a little silly because I was pretty sad to leave and didn't know how to react otherwise. The Omaha airport is actually pretty little. But its not bad or anything. I thought I was going to get bumped and a voucher for 200 bucks. Not so lucky. But I did get an exit row seat and was seated next to a gentleman who's wife and daughter live in Yemen. He was kind and not annoying. That is a nice thing. Once I arrived in Houston I walked to my next gate and it was already boarding. Another nice thing. The woman at the desk was very funny and make the whole process kind of fun- believe it or not. She wished everyone safe flights in the language of their last name's origin. She didn't assume anything- she would ask if she didn't know. But anyway it was just yet another nice thing.

Then-- I actually boarded the plane.

It was a six-seats-across-er. And I was in the VERY last row, in front of the bathroom, in the very middle of two people. But I was excited because there were on-board TV's and there was an NCIS marathon on USA! Very pleased. So pleased that I even texted my parents, emily, and Chase. But then right as we were taking off a message popped up saying it would cost me to continue watching. Nothankyou. I returned to my book. The Diary of Dora Damage -- it wasn't that bad. A bit racy at times, but over all its pretty good. I mean I did read almost 200 pages :)

So after a kind of miserable - hot sweaty and cramped - two and a half hours I made it to RDU and started working my way back to the park and ride. With out much difficulty I actually found Sadie rather quickly, and was prepared to drive back to Jvegas. But mom and dad asked me to not drive and to instead stay with my aunt. So I did. Michelle is very gracious. I walked into her house and saw a wall decal that I really wanted.  This is a copy of it:

I don't think we'll be able to get the actual decal but I am trying to think of something so we can have a portable version. Maybe I'll get a little one and place it on a canvas or something.

Early this morning I drove back to babysit and was welcomed by an explosive diaper. Thats all I am going to say about that. I really hate it when Mommy bloggers give too many details. If you are a mommy blogger and this offends you-- I'm sorry, I'm sure you're a great person and I like knowing things about your kids, just not all things :)

After babysitting I did some errands, visited Michelle M., and came home and started working on resume's and looking for jobs in DSM. Anyone have any leads? Something theatre-y? Something artsy? Something a girl with a master's in theatre might be good at? I have some good leads already but I am always welcome to more!

Mom and I sat down to do the wedding to-craft list.
It
is
quite
long.
Yikes.

But tonight I'm going to watch NCIS and be lazy. Tomorrow I'll babysit then head to Micheal's. Lots of crafting ahead!

1 Month Till McCool-dom

I am sitting in the guest room in Chase's parents' house and just relaxing. I've watched lots of TV. Taken a lot of naps, and gone shopping. Wonderful! Since I turned in my second draft of my thesis to my advisor and he gets two weeks to read and get revisions back to me. Hopefully after this next set of revisions I am going to be on my way to defending my thesis!

But during this two weeks I have a jam packed schedule. I have been nannying/babysitting/kid watching like crazy and I plan to keep that going. It has been a blessing for me because it has let me "have a job" with out "having a job."  That makes sense right?

Emily, one of my bestest friends/female soul mate, will arrive on October 8 and I am soooo thankful. I have so much wedding stuff to do. So much wedding stuff. Most of it is the "details," the little bits and pieces that go into making the wedding a masterpiece. Lots of paper to be folded, welcome booklets to be created, photographs to be framed, and wedding party gifts to be put together. But I'm very excited. It will be great to have Emily to talk to and be with while making this magic happen.

One other thing I really would like to make are pillows influenced by this Etsy seller: lovecalifornia

I am planning to put my own spin on them but I really love their quarkiness and how happy they are. Hopefully with the help of sewing extraordinaire Emily I can make ones for NC, VA, OH, IA that will fit onto standard size decorative pillows that you can get a craft supply stores. You know the boring white kind that fit inside of a much cooler pillow case. Anyway.

Speaking of Craftiness my Dad, who blogs here, started a new Kickstarter project today. It is centered around this awesome dogs he makes out of metal. If you've ever been to our house you've seen the prototypes for many years just chilling on our front porch. Well now you can have Rusty and the Crew come hang with you and your family. Trust me, he's easy to get along with and hangs out with the coolest people. You want to be a part of his gang. Check out Rusty's blog (everyone has blogs these days) and consider sponsoring his trip to stardom on Kickstarter.

Today, Chase was sworn in as a Lawyer in the State of Iowa. I'm so blessed by him as a friend and as a partner in this crazy time in our lives. He is working on finding his perfect niche here in Iowa. I really believe in him and his talents. We are looking for clubs to join and groups to get involved with here in DSM. Got any suggestions? I don't want to say too much, but I am hopefully going to start blogging for a DSM entertainment website doing theatre and culture reviews. Wonderfullllly excited. I hope that even my non Des Moines readers on this blogs will also take the time to click on over to that weekly blog too.

Life here over the next month is going to radically change. And I cannot wait to chronicle it here on this blog. One month from now I'll be based in the midwest and Lordy, yall are going to have to support me through that one. They don't have Bojangles here. They have weird named grocery stores (Hy-vee? Wha?) and the city doesn't shut down when it snows. It will take some getting used to.

Are ya ready? This next month is going to be a whirlwind. I hope to blog a lot more than I usually do... keep reading and keep checking in daily. And Comments are always welcome.

Me and my Eqsuire

--edit--- please note that I spelled Esquire incorrectly... blame it on the headache.


Chase passed the BAR! Wooo hooo. I am so proud of him - not surprised at all - but very excited.

We also found a great apartment. Its a great price. Its a great location. Its a great size. Its small but not tiny. Its got character but isn't awkward. Here is a little hint of what it looks like... I'll take better before photos before we actually start moving stuff in to the space...

Hehe. Not a very good photo eh?
Yeah the apartment people didn't think when they were taking photos...
But trust me its great.

We are 25 households away from having in all of our RSVP's. People are still on my good side. Mostly because I'm so stinking excited to get married.

I have the worst headache. The worst. I have had one two days in a row and nothing is helping. Last time I had a headache this bad I was in Iowa and Chase made me a big ol' bowl of Kraft Mac and Cheese. And it helped. Well I just finished my m'c and well. The headache is still with me. I want to sit in a dark room and listen to a book on tape and do nothing. I think my Emily is sending me her migraines. I love me some Emily. But she can keep her migraines.

I am one chapter away from being done with my thesis revisions. I want to work faster but I am really worn out from my head hurting. So I am just trying to be reasonable with myself. Difficult.

Tomorrow -because I am crazy- I am going to Durham to have lunch with Martha, do a little shopping, and deliver to her the massive amount of clothes I have collected for Freedom 4/24's Frocks for Freedom.  If you are any where near Lynchburg you should go this upcoming weekend- I think its going to be a great time! Here is the Facebook Event page.

Okay I have to stop. My heads killing me.

It feels like Noon

I have been awake - on purpose - since 2:00am.

Yep, you read that correctly. When I was at BGSU I realized that I work best in the middle of the night. Way late at night. So I went to bed early and set two alarms to wake me up during prime working hours.

And it works. It really works. I get so much more done when no one is posting to Facebook, trying to chat with me, or sending me emails that need answering. Plus the phone doesn't ring, Mom doesn't need me to help, and Chase isn't being sweet and distracting me. :)

I got an entire chapter of my thesis revised and planned out down to the articles that I will reference and the passages I will quote. All on my graph paper. Love that graph paper. I hope to get this paper written before the weekend is over and then I'll move on to the next chapter. The next chapter has  significantly less edits to be made and I am hoping to have that one all finished by Tuesday. The last chapter needs about ten pages added to it. Plus I need to finish an intro and conclusion and I think I will be pretty much done by Monday 11 days from now.

Mom made pancakes. Blogging takes second place to pancakes made at home.
More later.

100 YEARS / STYLE / EAST LONDON

Details and Dogs

I haven't blogged in such a long time. I haven't really had anything interesting to share with the world. Friday afternoon I received the first set of edits from my thesis advisor but since I was at my uncle's wedding in Myrtle Beach I just decided to wait until Sunday night to start revising my chapters.  Here's a couple of great photos from the wedding. Good lookin' family if I may say so myself.

Aunt Michelle and Me

I have a lot to do. I expected it. But I have a lot to do. I had to reorder some books I -stupidly- returned to the library before leaving BG. But for the price it would cost me to have someone check them out and send them to me I bought used ones off of Amazon.  As a result I am pretty much broke!  Well not really. I have been babysitting like a pro but I come home from each job and immediately put that money in to our Mattress/Couch/other Furniture fund. This week I am dog sitting and babysitting all day on Thursday and once on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. 

Leo being Super Cute

But its not like I actually have the chance to go out on a spending spree anyway. Not much to do here in J'vegas. I mean I could go to Marshall's every day or two but I just don't really need any clothes. I also keep finding great stuff for the house but not buying it.  I am trying to have as little as possible stuff to cart back to Des Moines. 

Mom was the Matron of Honor

Wedding plans are the other time-taker in my daily routine. The big plans have all been made but there are so man details left to be seen to. Wedding cake toppers, decorations, jewelry, hair styles... on and on and on... Details.  Yesterday I paid the deposit to the guitarist, made hair appointments, mailed some invites (I have bad luck with putting the wrong addresses on things!), and organized the RSVP's. Let me just say three things.

1. You don't just RSVP if you are attending you also RSVP if you are not attending. RSVPs are really important to those planning. We have to give numbers and we have to pay per person. This also goes for you if you are a relative or member of the wedding party. RSVPs are just polite and wonderful and welcomed. Please. Please. Please. Oh and RSVP early. Before the requested day .  /end rant/
2. I am really stinking excited. Crazy Crazy Crazy excited. Every time I receive one of the aforementioned RSVPs I get so excited. 
3. There are so many people that I wish could make the list of "invited." Chase and I have big families so that took a good 2/3 chunk of our available slots. Then the rest were those "close family friends" -- you know the friends of your parents that know all of your business.  Thus the limits of space. It would have been different if we could have gotten married at First Baptist. But No Saturday night weddings at the Church. So no wedding for Lauren at the church.

On the domestic front we are still trying to find the perfect place to live. We've looked at a couple little houses that are up for rent and don't have any concrete answers from the homeowners yet. We have a good apartment complex in our back pocket but we are just keeping our eyes open. One of the houses is adorable and YELLOW! Lord knows I love some yellow... so we'll see. I kind of have the feeling that we will end up at the apartment at first.

Grandma and the Granddaughters!

So um I have a feeling this is a boring blog post. I am just crazy excited to get married and move to Des Moines. Not excited about being so far away from my parents. We'll see.

Silly Parts of the Blog:
I am addicted to NCIS. Cannnnot stop watching.
I want about every single solitary item in the new Boden Catalog.  Gift Cards Welcomed.
I drink a lot of coffee. A lot. Yet could nap at any point. Don't understand.
I would really like to have a cat.
I am crazy excited to decorate our new living situation - love this inspiration.
I would like to finally get my car cleaned - its got to stop raining!
I haven't gotten to read as many books as I would have liked.
I have a recipe for chocolate cobbler that I am dying to make.
I also have a recipe for caramel apple cheese cake that needs to be made. 
I really love that all of these frozen yogurt places are popping up everywhere. Low(er) Cal Blizzard!
I am really excited to have Stephanie and Emily finally meet!
I am - for one of the first times ever - excited to buy makeup (for the wedding).
I am crazy excited for Chase's wedding band to arrive.
I have the darn best looking wedding party. Everyone is so darn good looking!

Um thats all of the randomness for now.