tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65882121824680403462024-03-05T00:19:19.195-05:00Eleven Twenty Five ElevenWelcome Family and Friends! Thanks for dropping by Kyle and Ashley's wedding website and Ashley's blog. Follow as we prepare to tie the knot and use the tabs below for information about the wedding! We can't wait to see you November 25th!Jemima Kickypantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328947320496238665noreply@blogger.comBlogger263125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588212182468040346.post-88510238785131684352013-06-20T14:40:00.001-04:002013-06-20T14:40:20.994-04:00The things that fall by the waysideHello Anybody!<br />
<br />
If it's not crazily apparent, I've been a bit preoccupied being a new Mama.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3JFRz0knwGRyj8QcfA0wvrRM8NnCWZLBQ7Ay8EIIuyosPBubYkSUFgvLea7xfw_FBw3TbUgKMPfmmPXk2oDfp2bnKfSHl1nZ86ixnvchor_GNzZ6pGxFAJQDQGw7rKwWAO19rRT3SmHw/s1600/IMAG0092.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3JFRz0knwGRyj8QcfA0wvrRM8NnCWZLBQ7Ay8EIIuyosPBubYkSUFgvLea7xfw_FBw3TbUgKMPfmmPXk2oDfp2bnKfSHl1nZ86ixnvchor_GNzZ6pGxFAJQDQGw7rKwWAO19rRT3SmHw/s400/IMAG0092.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Wynne Bennet (that's right, after the Bennet sisters from <i>Pride and Prejudice</i>!) was born a day before her Daddy's birthday (!) at about 7 AM, she weighed in at 7 lbs 7 oz and a little over 20 inches long.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7DdXaGP5KnktEgNAHw0zOTH6Vzj3C6v58Ys2PUAjOVKepVsGXprFsTFzuFjbJIbVZ7vtB5LGuNhvmuhZGs28UBHswM7elzPL8heuU7UcG6mOGCI9Che9WZLdaWZs6DQwUDaK_oeZsKFn/s1600/2012-12-20+13.05.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7DdXaGP5KnktEgNAHw0zOTH6Vzj3C6v58Ys2PUAjOVKepVsGXprFsTFzuFjbJIbVZ7vtB5LGuNhvmuhZGs28UBHswM7elzPL8heuU7UcG6mOGCI9Che9WZLdaWZs6DQwUDaK_oeZsKFn/s400/2012-12-20+13.05.13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
As a result, this blog is one of those things that has been allowed to gather dust, along with the dust bunnies that have accumulated around the house.<br />
<br />
Lemme interrupt myself right there and say the hubbster has stepped up like I never imagined cleaning and doing everything that I would just have let go to pot (clean bathrooms? who needs 'em?!) along with being an amazing and sweet father. Thanks to loving, wonderful family, food was never a problem, and my Mama even helped me get some sleep in the first few nights when I just wasn't used to getting that little sleep (I <i>cannot</i> sleep during the day, I'm sorry! That whole "sleep when baby sleeps" <i>neeeeeever</i> worked for me!)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PPWH0GwkaXq6J0mEBEODiywq7F2DoyimGGrmLkdZTBEl6GEUfqWca67DKNo6Oblucg9AVxe6YTkH59adp1TjW1YTebZ_NEEBC1phDad4r1jQFEncBtF534CWTe3Jk8IznMxrY9cxiivY/s1600/2012-12-19+20.01.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PPWH0GwkaXq6J0mEBEODiywq7F2DoyimGGrmLkdZTBEl6GEUfqWca67DKNo6Oblucg9AVxe6YTkH59adp1TjW1YTebZ_NEEBC1phDad4r1jQFEncBtF534CWTe3Jk8IznMxrY9cxiivY/s320/2012-12-19+20.01.23.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Anyway, I just wanted to say that I considered still making blogging a priority and then realized that I just didn't want to talk about a lot of that stuff (labor and delivery, hormones, chronic lack of sleep, etc...) and didn't think anyone who was here to see a wedding blog would want to read it anyway.<br />
<br />
But it's clear that I won't be blogging about weddings anymore, so with much bittersweetness, it's time to retire Eleven Twenty Five Eleven, and dedicate my very limited free time to more appropriate topics. But you know what? I picked the right one! The Man has smoothly transitioned to The Dad and still looks sexy as hell doing it! This blog was not just about budget and DIY and the stupid dress ;) It was about marrying my other half, and I'm so glad I took that step with him, and even more glad we took the next step!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxB-rJ7lz-4tE8aTz_bKFehRcoY78VwhZX2lwzt7NSR61ZowDstBqRHzxAINpWksteyFgHIexKLI_ZA-metmkqMAmsxKKXjvSiS5csK8NSOjOY5MxpKnoygW_yCvX5EAZSooHf6-FhpN-/s1600/IMG959371-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzxB-rJ7lz-4tE8aTz_bKFehRcoY78VwhZX2lwzt7NSR61ZowDstBqRHzxAINpWksteyFgHIexKLI_ZA-metmkqMAmsxKKXjvSiS5csK8NSOjOY5MxpKnoygW_yCvX5EAZSooHf6-FhpN-/s400/IMG959371-1.jpg" width="371" /></a></div>
<br />
I WILL be creating a new blog as soon as the dust really settles, and it will be dedicated to all things baby.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://kyleashleywynne.blogspot.com/">My New Baby Blog!!</a></b> (coming soon)</div>
<br />
Thank you all so much for following me on the crazy wedding ride, the Mama roller coaster is ten million times crazier but 100 million quantities of AWESOME!! So continue on with me... if you dare. In the meantime, while I won't bombard you all, for those who don't mind seeing baby pictures, here's a representation of the past six months of my life:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2JG_qQQ5Nnt6Hi-ZHWCVEWccIj1ukLlMESD_jbXz1oFP25bblNhIL55o-NmAwCa2Vx6cItmvOXgrnH3XpJltMrfMl7JCoQ0pPTUHmGtA91y0EkqfCm_cgBb_WCMvj8CjttSTbfCSs1La6/s1600/100_2055_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2JG_qQQ5Nnt6Hi-ZHWCVEWccIj1ukLlMESD_jbXz1oFP25bblNhIL55o-NmAwCa2Vx6cItmvOXgrnH3XpJltMrfMl7JCoQ0pPTUHmGtA91y0EkqfCm_cgBb_WCMvj8CjttSTbfCSs1La6/s400/100_2055_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzgAJqZ8NQyqSw0dV5tiYzuxx1S6Os1VGlbdIoVYI3bCWTNpPwTD7KxaAD0mWFhd-NNs9HX8ZNozYQ23Pw_8YYAEFrjLzFwJC7wfTykUbzHT2q4PlCCVQc2VMp-VBhRTIys3M8N7VDsFh/s1600/100_2091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPzgAJqZ8NQyqSw0dV5tiYzuxx1S6Os1VGlbdIoVYI3bCWTNpPwTD7KxaAD0mWFhd-NNs9HX8ZNozYQ23Pw_8YYAEFrjLzFwJC7wfTykUbzHT2q4PlCCVQc2VMp-VBhRTIys3M8N7VDsFh/s400/100_2091.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAo2kqwiseiNVVjdoVonwG5eLw_VSLIOxwZkUQn7iV6Z1_8YeVrcSog5kmic2Jy3u2xSpRrCXa2rgsQMy1ZKH-plglAr3DieSlNhoKhpttxvAmUJRvoI5RURMZz5dCzS0npHa-qBeyadr/s1600/100_2095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaAo2kqwiseiNVVjdoVonwG5eLw_VSLIOxwZkUQn7iV6Z1_8YeVrcSog5kmic2Jy3u2xSpRrCXa2rgsQMy1ZKH-plglAr3DieSlNhoKhpttxvAmUJRvoI5RURMZz5dCzS0npHa-qBeyadr/s400/100_2095.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAis3cxI7a2Ky79tbeg4gY-D0cEfhwYDGA2ZV8_Hrndja8iy3rQ8MVPQbnklhc9SfCe2a_iGuIU77FOLHzzbTdMqFentF0FWsBe3xRVSCW74bXFXFqQ1Kjyf0rirsO8evLxto6wJEZL3h/s1600/100_2111.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAis3cxI7a2Ky79tbeg4gY-D0cEfhwYDGA2ZV8_Hrndja8iy3rQ8MVPQbnklhc9SfCe2a_iGuIU77FOLHzzbTdMqFentF0FWsBe3xRVSCW74bXFXFqQ1Kjyf0rirsO8evLxto6wJEZL3h/s640/100_2111.2.jpg" width="640" /> </a>Her first photoshoot! I did it myself!! She was an amazingly cooperative 2 month old :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Y9VLxamMyGmLTrfbVXx4kbwtv0YtRs4e6h-tS5O9JlOTMqrdvByB-K3V8sSGEufKDZWgg-6pKP77NJCht4XDGMLaGwK0GV3FhMOon-vC7kXmfQs3AcYAGOfk-2974aHT6I_voepZY05K/s1600/100_2116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Y9VLxamMyGmLTrfbVXx4kbwtv0YtRs4e6h-tS5O9JlOTMqrdvByB-K3V8sSGEufKDZWgg-6pKP77NJCht4XDGMLaGwK0GV3FhMOon-vC7kXmfQs3AcYAGOfk-2974aHT6I_voepZY05K/s640/100_2116.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKklXSa6dn3UdbvF0sy7biYZOo3DtsYeDIOP7dxPXQBh_GLE7SAeTGpl8wzk6vpRnKhBwjpEWkdybrFgYEuCZvsO60paSW_S9wDrCZLWt3UM4sQ574y9BVpVpsQ_kcJIUDtWyje9HSpBEb/s1600/100_2141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKklXSa6dn3UdbvF0sy7biYZOo3DtsYeDIOP7dxPXQBh_GLE7SAeTGpl8wzk6vpRnKhBwjpEWkdybrFgYEuCZvsO60paSW_S9wDrCZLWt3UM4sQ574y9BVpVpsQ_kcJIUDtWyje9HSpBEb/s320/100_2141.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Besties!!!<br />
<br />
(Actually, Bailey is terrified of Wynne, but it gets a little better everyday)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4OQGQ5d-43u6sLgF17j0uhL-QDhnixNxXq9lnuObFzy9ztJUKNEUkWhOGhIKL6zARikGJ5XM6H2sMUZ7AquD7jFiYKldFKlr8hpQMiW2D0-AKKFznSrw9rENq-hk9GB6zUbEfsDkv2vD/s1600/2013-02-09+12.21.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS4OQGQ5d-43u6sLgF17j0uhL-QDhnixNxXq9lnuObFzy9ztJUKNEUkWhOGhIKL6zARikGJ5XM6H2sMUZ7AquD7jFiYKldFKlr8hpQMiW2D0-AKKFznSrw9rENq-hk9GB6zUbEfsDkv2vD/s320/2013-02-09+12.21.05.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOMAZnI3Qqua2wu33ixY1qjNmNE5qAZL_qEvgJOvdLOW0FOmcdKYc9hJbL8NtDhKQaJFNZ0LqM0MOs8CxcASd3_-32SadhpLgbIwRjMs7oQNFOx3n45dmgJQLCZ5POvhx1S8tQJvz6CUS/s1600/2013-02-09+13.58.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHOMAZnI3Qqua2wu33ixY1qjNmNE5qAZL_qEvgJOvdLOW0FOmcdKYc9hJbL8NtDhKQaJFNZ0LqM0MOs8CxcASd3_-32SadhpLgbIwRjMs7oQNFOx3n45dmgJQLCZ5POvhx1S8tQJvz6CUS/s320/2013-02-09+13.58.33.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
Don't they look great as grandparents!!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64Q7FQXd_LWQiNEAQCzLmbaGIJyW95vzqHorzUXFWL1B39-hv35FCzKg15jy2O07yxYQmpJ_KtyKltuoSvCv5KKMVamCTsSrAvgpilBRg8yUNsf7hdrMjyAel-DuQSPcx11BDukduy8Ma/s1600/2013-03-01+20.40.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg64Q7FQXd_LWQiNEAQCzLmbaGIJyW95vzqHorzUXFWL1B39-hv35FCzKg15jy2O07yxYQmpJ_KtyKltuoSvCv5KKMVamCTsSrAvgpilBRg8yUNsf7hdrMjyAel-DuQSPcx11BDukduy8Ma/s320/2013-03-01+20.40.34.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn99ezIQzbuD9KM7BEi_NFQPRsBzIwZ4fvJXIfiV2qNByrcgLZhUxB-su_TNPAYoEvkqbd3Y_kUM0Z23-GM7WltpP_Yqfddzh3_biCw3i0FlXFwSgsoBmqUCMvRTqv9ZmPapOBIbxWeoTG/s1600/2013-03-02+08.35.47-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn99ezIQzbuD9KM7BEi_NFQPRsBzIwZ4fvJXIfiV2qNByrcgLZhUxB-su_TNPAYoEvkqbd3Y_kUM0Z23-GM7WltpP_Yqfddzh3_biCw3i0FlXFwSgsoBmqUCMvRTqv9ZmPapOBIbxWeoTG/s320/2013-03-02+08.35.47-1.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
We call her Monkey, Wynnie Bear, and Bear-Bear, she's got the brightest, bluest, biggest, beautifullest eyes a Mama could ever want to look at everyday!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCdYH9BTKbYSufok56ZdHd35P26ULrpLjNQ2u0uD47qqhJVmVnZk1vA_R79viq8z89CspVeeAg1wRC9plN702-vbfNthn7gy1gfONXbVGkZ7cP7PNfOaEGMgB3FG4iFLSRjpvILxBwK4D/s1600/904636_624046640942068_235323059_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQCdYH9BTKbYSufok56ZdHd35P26ULrpLjNQ2u0uD47qqhJVmVnZk1vA_R79viq8z89CspVeeAg1wRC9plN702-vbfNthn7gy1gfONXbVGkZ7cP7PNfOaEGMgB3FG4iFLSRjpvILxBwK4D/s400/904636_624046640942068_235323059_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Rae Rae, her paternal grandma, is the best at getting her to smile for pictures! Boppi, her maternal grandpa, is best at making her laugh!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5br4bLE3cPTef2B3Qv99jfd9IrcaH71ytnrAVrZpEgVtxPJxHzJHfy5ixPCV_X2AcDHLkxiUW-4KLyww8zemTAewmWbb3LNsKeCgfAhyUy4W5b_ybrSFUumM4yxhbUF9dS0UJ9BP0t5P/s1600/946548_10100336165104383_726173730_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5br4bLE3cPTef2B3Qv99jfd9IrcaH71ytnrAVrZpEgVtxPJxHzJHfy5ixPCV_X2AcDHLkxiUW-4KLyww8zemTAewmWbb3LNsKeCgfAhyUy4W5b_ybrSFUumM4yxhbUF9dS0UJ9BP0t5P/s400/946548_10100336165104383_726173730_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Her first food was avocado and she absolutely loooooooves it! Since then, she's graduated to pears, sweet potatoes, carrots, peas, bananas and peaches!<br />
<br />
I've succeeded so far in making all her baby food from scratch... SO FAR! It's no picnic and I have no idea if there would be any bit of difference from Gerber, but she's a fantastic eater, and I think (based on no scientific evidence) that homemade baby food has something to do with it.<br />
<br />
Besides, no baby food company makes avocado puree, we don't know what we'd do without the mighty avocado!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9oN-G7omDkpa8bN5UGULJ0_4OhmU6Tf-MG1CADWjS-1gRKXvAIKjagCnvX8B2hHqBDsQknZK4a_1TyjivkGUVLjZhTZaeqejWKaWVtM5WChgxpXtwGAegYdHBAjCOpxkqmZ3S5bJRpMob/s1600/2013-04-07+21.34.41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9oN-G7omDkpa8bN5UGULJ0_4OhmU6Tf-MG1CADWjS-1gRKXvAIKjagCnvX8B2hHqBDsQknZK4a_1TyjivkGUVLjZhTZaeqejWKaWVtM5WChgxpXtwGAegYdHBAjCOpxkqmZ3S5bJRpMob/s320/2013-04-07+21.34.41.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAG9eVMPRWBjcUcwuZaQb9oqFZe56V1IVqaooc1N2S1Cs4HtFO1Aikmx6qFRS7B9rqizGVFWOIzVsptqm64Cx6iE5bIbQsMjMhUqrwW2tUheDGenNclcASkzjHFE9ACtTQSt5XkWSjJeU/s1600/2013-04-12+16.52.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAG9eVMPRWBjcUcwuZaQb9oqFZe56V1IVqaooc1N2S1Cs4HtFO1Aikmx6qFRS7B9rqizGVFWOIzVsptqm64Cx6iE5bIbQsMjMhUqrwW2tUheDGenNclcASkzjHFE9ACtTQSt5XkWSjJeU/s320/2013-04-12+16.52.59.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Sitting up and rolling over at 5 months, and she loves the bouncy gyms!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZL2tPUad05HGVdwYI91snkXD2iHUPPVrczO4ZNbS1wVP0cA_XGZrpZJE1BliIavaciWNRsHDjORwNOA8NhEDdHRfLByZgRxvUUloW_5tOENfXGcEA6dPRHbiYfmk6FG_oPVIUHnnHmV_/s1600/2013-05-31+18.18.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijZL2tPUad05HGVdwYI91snkXD2iHUPPVrczO4ZNbS1wVP0cA_XGZrpZJE1BliIavaciWNRsHDjORwNOA8NhEDdHRfLByZgRxvUUloW_5tOENfXGcEA6dPRHbiYfmk6FG_oPVIUHnnHmV_/s400/2013-05-31+18.18.58.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvn4gef83nh6ozxWwR7BxjD268liTIbh2TOc1TuflR-8mIBgmYK2WzooiWbghMtVX7wJ2oUFK4kocHP1SC-caMQIlgl9DDLakxRIB-DavSlEJLTIGKBF8SKupyP3pKb3bxTo5dRBmck-jE/s1600/IMG_0888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvn4gef83nh6ozxWwR7BxjD268liTIbh2TOc1TuflR-8mIBgmYK2WzooiWbghMtVX7wJ2oUFK4kocHP1SC-caMQIlgl9DDLakxRIB-DavSlEJLTIGKBF8SKupyP3pKb3bxTo5dRBmck-jE/s400/IMG_0888.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7b9ENn5eNUZmwmr5u1aOIP-ZVQ1UYeVaGNsdU87JVoUGx_inj9O4cYgiS-fh54-NsC9vMZ6AB-5ioyPv_Z01M-1n9UBoruj8gVFxsJ2cYz2GtGt02OLiSIrCIys7KMHIDH72RuQCU0Wyv/s1600/IMAG0113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7b9ENn5eNUZmwmr5u1aOIP-ZVQ1UYeVaGNsdU87JVoUGx_inj9O4cYgiS-fh54-NsC9vMZ6AB-5ioyPv_Z01M-1n9UBoruj8gVFxsJ2cYz2GtGt02OLiSIrCIys7KMHIDH72RuQCU0Wyv/s400/IMAG0113.jpg" width="238" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zwC8SnF9mECrxExJqE0TP8aPUhqCmt1XjzGvh8glalMsvVq0Gyar6OKfWok1U6xp3wSardBBcngluSmfo1dLX07MKwddOO4ljSZZUnfmJGtGMFWdxpnumi9RdzeX_t_CX3eDvh0DUV7r/s1600/2013-06-18+19.37.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zwC8SnF9mECrxExJqE0TP8aPUhqCmt1XjzGvh8glalMsvVq0Gyar6OKfWok1U6xp3wSardBBcngluSmfo1dLX07MKwddOO4ljSZZUnfmJGtGMFWdxpnumi9RdzeX_t_CX3eDvh0DUV7r/s400/2013-06-18+19.37.51.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhiG-pKBshvmknW_lbN1mRIx9qxZL5jx4eB72BSJ8ws6RuethcZvec457Hs4_iOZXaPYLGZpQHTgllULzSMVDt9FMbVqhVDQXcO_TKFZiVRYTDLiECxzeA-GdCyq6_WeEPYVqnEEX5ZjB/s1600/2013-06-20+06.05.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhiG-pKBshvmknW_lbN1mRIx9qxZL5jx4eB72BSJ8ws6RuethcZvec457Hs4_iOZXaPYLGZpQHTgllULzSMVDt9FMbVqhVDQXcO_TKFZiVRYTDLiECxzeA-GdCyq6_WeEPYVqnEEX5ZjB/s400/2013-06-20+06.05.45.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
My little six month old munchkin, checkin' her e-mails! So big!! Well, that was just this morning, so that's all I've got (I mean, you know, as an overview). Again, thanks for trekking along with me, I hope to still see everyone as the journey continues!!Jemima Kickypantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328947320496238665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588212182468040346.post-16960516805311053982012-11-28T19:22:00.000-05:002012-11-28T19:22:34.744-05:00Restaurant Review!!! For Anniversary Time!!!!It's been so long, in so many ways, and I have a meeting in a half hour, so this will be short, I just want to relay our newest awesome restaurant find!!<br />
<br />
See, this past weekend was our <u style="font-size: x-large; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">FIRST WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!!!</u> Can you believe it?! Because I can't. Granted, so much has happened in a year that it's flown by. New house, PhD, baby, and even with the pregnancy, all the other new stuff, improvements to the house, new job, etc... have made even the pregnancy fly by! So I guess what I'm trying to say is, in general, time is flying.<br />
<br />
So, we like to step back and reflect. The Friday before our anniversary (because we are old farts, our anniversary is on a Sunday and we didn't want to go out late on a week night!) we tried out <a href="http://sbraga.com/">Sbraga</a>:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskEgIGXWC2PpZieRGzl2fU6Rt8MxL22OCj1VoiCL8i_o-p8GekWcTmfLqPbLz72HBsSL0XFNShYZFL7ntKNx99NeBJWElRouPLLPmo7L4blIjTPry0f_FHvRTYjsOQra0evW-WjEsEUX1/s1600/sbraga-comp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjskEgIGXWC2PpZieRGzl2fU6Rt8MxL22OCj1VoiCL8i_o-p8GekWcTmfLqPbLz72HBsSL0XFNShYZFL7ntKNx99NeBJWElRouPLLPmo7L4blIjTPry0f_FHvRTYjsOQra0evW-WjEsEUX1/s400/sbraga-comp.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
If you watch Top Chef on Bravo, you'll recognize that cuddly bear! He won Top Chef Washington, D.C. a few years ago. He's from Jersey, so naturally, he opened a restaurant in Philly, because, let's rise above New Jersey ;) Just kidding New Jerseyans!<br />
<br />
Anyway, this was my first time ever getting to eat in a restaurant (other than a crappy diner) where the kitchen was open:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSIxVbvci-jsXHTZdGpsf5uIGieETczB3nlJM8BVPMU2WLVeBgvMbI16caXTAN-V8NNofDGtz6viiIguPVPATtisozWlhO9vSvPIlMvA_VqeIlPcNoJ9L6WiEOt4Tsb7VLV5G6PFdXBmv/s1600/sbraga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoSIxVbvci-jsXHTZdGpsf5uIGieETczB3nlJM8BVPMU2WLVeBgvMbI16caXTAN-V8NNofDGtz6viiIguPVPATtisozWlhO9vSvPIlMvA_VqeIlPcNoJ9L6WiEOt4Tsb7VLV5G6PFdXBmv/s400/sbraga.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
This isn't a great picture of the kitchen, and of course it's not a picture of the chefs actually cooking, but they cook behind that bar on the right. See those chairs lined up in front of the bar?? Guess where we decided to sit!! Dinner and a show, baby!! It was so much fun, getting to watch a famous chef prepare our dishes (oh yes, he was there, cooking our meal!) and interacting with him and his line chefs as they did it.<br />
<br />
I forgot to mention, we got there early and sat at the bar where the nicest bartender I've ever encountered told me that his wife just had a baby and so he was experienced at making non-alcoholic cocktails and proceeded to blow me away with a Fall-tastic, apple cider and pear fizzy drink that I will remember for the rest of my life!<br />
<br />
Anyway, I didn't want to take pictures because I didn't want to seem like "that person" even though my motives were pure, I just wish I could show you how awesome it was being right in front of the kitchen, watching them prepare the food. The place was like a well-oiled machine, and everyone was super duper nice. I mean, not like I haven't had nice service before, but seriously, I was kind of dumb-struck at how nice everyone was.<br />
<br />
In the same vein, I don't like taking pictures of my food, because I don't like looking like a tourist, but there was stuff like this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuKck_mhQpXxXGRKaDBk-ALs9cgxVSLgTvTHq3K4hmnk2XuNVul-t0EeQ5BttNoAiNgQsKtM_W79rIfrlEhBc2okF-DrRfWasFLdjaDElfDNOStorOyHFmGxTmU1z1Zbs0EG24uI43dUD/s1600/sbraga-foie-gras-soup-400x238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuKck_mhQpXxXGRKaDBk-ALs9cgxVSLgTvTHq3K4hmnk2XuNVul-t0EeQ5BttNoAiNgQsKtM_W79rIfrlEhBc2okF-DrRfWasFLdjaDElfDNOStorOyHFmGxTmU1z1Zbs0EG24uI43dUD/s400/sbraga-foie-gras-soup-400x238.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Shrimp bisque where you pour the soup on at the table, the chefs plated with tweezers to get the perfect presentation, the food was RIIIIICH!! Pregnant bellies get upset easily, but I would do it again in a heartbeat!! Kyle got churros for dessert... Dude, they were the best churros I've ever had!! Kyle also got the beverage pairing with his menu, so he was good and toasty by the end of the night, and said that every drink complimented every dish perfectly... to which I replied 'I bet it did!' ;)<br />
<br />
Anyway, the point is, I highly highly recommend it, it's now tied for first on our favorite Philly restaurant list, along with Sonata... which has unfortunately closed... as my favorite find in Philly, I was really really upset by this, but now can be a little less upset because we've found a new favorite spot.<br />
<br />
Afterwards, the love of my life and I went home and passed out in food comas... BUT the next day...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26HB-znMQQl2iPB70Xc7U0zWNRoP_5IFZTKgNLotXIoLB_5UnKUGQu6yWES6aeJ85PJ7ZynSBBswxTevdNeYLxC2QQNRcKef9xniu4BQ-2bWceZyblAKihyphenhyphenICFiwOuPApu6zcgqyuSyPC/s1600/anniversary+cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26HB-znMQQl2iPB70Xc7U0zWNRoP_5IFZTKgNLotXIoLB_5UnKUGQu6yWES6aeJ85PJ7ZynSBBswxTevdNeYLxC2QQNRcKef9xniu4BQ-2bWceZyblAKihyphenhyphenICFiwOuPApu6zcgqyuSyPC/s400/anniversary+cake.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
WE ATE CAKE!!! I thawed our anniversary cake and it was surprisingly and wonderfully and reminiscently delicious... even more so than a year ago I think because you don't really taste your wedding cake on your wedding day... Seriously. So I won't go into all the nitty gritty details about how lovey dovey it was and all, but it's been a pretty awesome year, and as anniversaries go, I think this was was just right for us; pretty low-key, fun, full of love... and cake :)<br />
<br />
I hope everyone else is doing well and had an awesome Thanksgiving. And for the married ladies, I'd love to hear how you spent your first anniversary and gift ideas, et cetera!Jemima Kickypantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328947320496238665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588212182468040346.post-12273117529811731822012-11-08T11:51:00.000-05:002012-11-08T11:51:15.062-05:00When you love something too muchI was musing recently about why I still haven't even attempted to put an album together (no one else, by the way, seems to think this is a big deal, not the man, not my parents, not his parents, no one), and it struck me last night while I was ordering some photos from <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/">Shutterfly</a>, because I got another one of those awesome 101 free prints e-mails, for no reason, other than that Shutterfly is awesome, that it's because most albums contain about... 80-160 images or so.<br />
<br />
Our photographer gave us over 1,000... I cannot narrow down my favorites past 300-some! I mean come on!! How do you do it?? So here I am blogging about albums again because all this time I thought I was holding back because of price when in reality it's because I don't WANT to narrow down my favorites anymore.<br />
<br />
At the end of the day, I know I have all 1,000+ images from our wedding day on a DVD, all hi res, that is ours forever. However, like so many other brides out there, I know that I still want a hard copy album that we break out every anniversary and giggle at, that my daughter(s) may someday fantasize over (and point out how skinny Mommy used to be! And Daddy used to have brown hair?!)<br />
<br />
So, my newest scheme/solution is this:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Order prints every time Shutterfly sends me these awesome deals, 101 or 50 or however many at a time, until I have ordered all my favorites!</li>
<li>Spread them out on the table by category; details, formals, portraits, ceremony, reception, cake cutting, etc...</li>
<li>Now that they're all spread out in front of me, finally conceptualize that I don't need five shots of my dress, even though Ben put the dress in so many beautiful spots and there are so many awesome shots to be favorites!</li>
<li>Narrow down my favorites to no more than 180 or so, I'm sure I can find an album that will let me squeeze that many in, and finally put together an album</li>
<li>DAMN THE EXPENSE!! and finally get my hard copy that I can hold and touch and see whenever I want, and get parent albums even though they never asked for them, because that's what a good daughter does; says 'Look how pretty, Mama!! Just what you needed, more pictures of me!'</li>
</ol>
<div>
The end, that's my five step program to finally be able to stop talking about albums. Can I talk to you about some other stuff???</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We're slowly putting our house together, we have lots of hand-me-down furniture which was all chilling in the basement, well, now our guest rooms are arranged! The baby's room is getting set up, which has me super excited:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4CoGyRW0NLlF3BMd-5FGLSPsK9KI2rQfK6S8GLFp7V34XMSJNzJM1ZhtCDx5aYNdf_Zhulj1xVA7qirbm45kCrbscFZiOklgd1MeEB8DwuVK1U3ygm6BCtRAmD59QKV6NjnncSfKszoe/s1600/2012-10-28+14.44.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4CoGyRW0NLlF3BMd-5FGLSPsK9KI2rQfK6S8GLFp7V34XMSJNzJM1ZhtCDx5aYNdf_Zhulj1xVA7qirbm45kCrbscFZiOklgd1MeEB8DwuVK1U3ygm6BCtRAmD59QKV6NjnncSfKszoe/s400/2012-10-28+14.44.55.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The ceiling is burnt orange, the walls are pickle juice green. Say what you will, it looks awesome in person. This is the first time I got to pick a room color and no one try to talk me out of it, and they actually go really well together, add our awesome new crib, and it's officially a baby's room! Freaky, right?!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It might seem jarring, but picking our color scheme; orange, green, and brown, was similar to picking out wedding colors. His favorite color is green, mine is orange, we didn't know if it was going to work, but when then when you add brown, it makes everything else mesh. Trust me.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Since this picture was taken, we added a few dressers and a lamp, and a freaking awesome rug:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iruXuemZF05m5FfQ2JAkBkdRZihrOEaTqqzFhRhaYrsbTJwT0kPkUWB0QB11AZe5z10dnuhsRMzh_Cp5R3b-bUXdJMyGWsMUbQbrDTrwks9x3kxrE2tprssTWlPWjYCnVewqdIFcc9gP/s1600/200ACR123A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7iruXuemZF05m5FfQ2JAkBkdRZihrOEaTqqzFhRhaYrsbTJwT0kPkUWB0QB11AZe5z10dnuhsRMzh_Cp5R3b-bUXdJMyGWsMUbQbrDTrwks9x3kxrE2tprssTWlPWjYCnVewqdIFcc9gP/s400/200ACR123A.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It's my new favorite room in the house, that rug is 7.5' by 9.5', so it covers almost the entire floor, and it's super soft and super awesome.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This kid is going to be the coolest in town. I always wanted to be different, but our tiny human has no choice :)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In other news, anniversary/birthdays/Christmas is coming up. First anniversary is supposed to be paper, and I once ruined a copy of the Lord of the Rings that I borrowed from Kyle (I put it in a bag with a coffee mug that I thought was empty... it wasn't). It was never a real collector's item anyway, so it was no biggie to him, but it's one of our favorite books and so not only do I want to replace that copy, I also want to have a really nice copy for our library.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>For the record, Kyle doesn't read my blog but I know there are those out there that do that are friends with him, PLEASE DON'T MENTION A WORD OF THIS!!</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After extensive searching, I found a whole bunch of this:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1ehTIkonB3rSANkk4DolIX5YMAEG8QSd-wXqGJQ-VeKofXhd0cPSNndhV6cdsZ4XKwyxzJ3fB1t277Jh0_QIfhk0jmdMsB0M2VBDzCs_uk7tfukqFc_uYt55awU_nkY8qBicARwT6BuW/s1600/five+volumes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin1ehTIkonB3rSANkk4DolIX5YMAEG8QSd-wXqGJQ-VeKofXhd0cPSNndhV6cdsZ4XKwyxzJ3fB1t277Jh0_QIfhk0jmdMsB0M2VBDzCs_uk7tfukqFc_uYt55awU_nkY8qBicARwT6BuW/s1600/five+volumes.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnk0NEtq34sn-KqILnvSngpmt7kFEUxiKH-bc9pAT1qWsQwdqQpSkOW7JKgiYvh8pEGPADXyYY0oPFIeocCcnvSWUwwiCQVoQu8MgdWzTueyB4noHziaVRQs445jPUihPfeZwvxExV04C/s1600/return+of+the+king.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnk0NEtq34sn-KqILnvSngpmt7kFEUxiKH-bc9pAT1qWsQwdqQpSkOW7JKgiYvh8pEGPADXyYY0oPFIeocCcnvSWUwwiCQVoQu8MgdWzTueyB4noHziaVRQs445jPUihPfeZwvxExV04C/s1600/return+of+the+king.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div>
However, you have to be willing to pay the price for this kind of thing... and we're talking the $600 variety. Cheaper on eBay, but harder to find a complete set in great condition. SO, then I reflected on the fact that J.R.R. Tolkien himself wanted the three books of the Lord of the Rings to be one volume, but at the time it was written, this was going to cost too much paper, so I'm also considering getting a one volume edition, but those are much cheaper and so they make me feel like I'm cheating... which sounds stupid, but I don't know whether to go with separate volumes for the cool, leather-bound look, or one volume for the author-intended look. Any ideas???? Suggestions????</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We're also movie buffs, and one of The Man's favorite movies is The Big Lebowski:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-C9Y1M84qCNlf62XRlwqehGs3IE3IGQMab4wy9HbO5XNNCtm01_828Hia4cnEburdHaYuU65J1hoj-Nt55ToomiwRixG6plp2L9I9HvL8M6rlHrMjFX_VbHPlp4lKio7vU7K_plSYjr-/s1600/big+lebowski.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-C9Y1M84qCNlf62XRlwqehGs3IE3IGQMab4wy9HbO5XNNCtm01_828Hia4cnEburdHaYuU65J1hoj-Nt55ToomiwRixG6plp2L9I9HvL8M6rlHrMjFX_VbHPlp4lKio7vU7K_plSYjr-/s400/big+lebowski.jpg" width="280" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For anyone who's been living under a rock since 1998 or has no sense of humor, it's a very silly movie about a guy who does nothing but bowl and drink white russians. That's The Dude, and his last name happens to be Lebowski but everyone calls him The Dude (either that or His Dudeness or Duder or el Duderino, if you're not into the whole brevity thing).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There does exist, however, an older, much richer, much more accomplished man named Lebowski and there's a classic case of mistaken identity. Rugs go missing, toes get chopped off, and The Dude finds his zen-like world thrown for a loop as he has to run around trying to make shady deals and ransom trophy wives. Also John Turturro wears purple and refers to himself as The Jesus.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Anyway, Jeff Bridges, The Dude, rocks this sweater for the majority of the movie:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrlaCFRNoBYn7dg7H5-uHUSboAlNlqdoo9iHbk5R-5SzDrEw5YI0O6WJkUxa0p2Ab7iZwK9oFxlfQhguveNKmbSdGEJKy7zYNPFAsndCxfhKqgvhuhPTTH_-Hm3nhkm-Hcf41SNBVbnpo/s1600/lebowski-fest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCrlaCFRNoBYn7dg7H5-uHUSboAlNlqdoo9iHbk5R-5SzDrEw5YI0O6WJkUxa0p2Ab7iZwK9oFxlfQhguveNKmbSdGEJKy7zYNPFAsndCxfhKqgvhuhPTTH_-Hm3nhkm-Hcf41SNBVbnpo/s400/lebowski-fest.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
And unfortunately, the company that makes this sweater is no longer in business. Kyle and I consider it the essence of The Dude and I found the pattern online to knit this sweater!!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I couldn't keep this one a secret because I knit it right in front of him, but the point is, this is his birthday/Christmas present, and I'm telling you because I'm super excited about it!!!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Last Christmas/birthday time was chaotic and sort of dismissed because of the wedding but he's been so awesome and worked so hard for the past year and done so much for me, and now we've got a baby coming and I don't want to act once again like this is just another unimportant birthday/Christmas/anniversary because 'too much is going on.' (Also I never know what I want, I never really want anything in particular, so I always just say, 'Oh, let's just go to dinner and a movie.' and he ends up paying for everything and then we call it "birthday/Christmas" but it's always one-sided and it always feels like a cop-out). It might be one of the last times I can afford (time AND money) to do some really nice things for him.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Lastly, my baby shower is next weekend!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21Z8LyJHCoNvDhkttiltlHixmjt-YM2jE0871SM3TJD_gq3rnNHoZsS0CnAc3FPzvnWREy-L5D5bRwBWeTffaJjWnrRHoDtQa6xkymHlRyC22F-llbB2JCTfarBosrK1LtNRdYXTab1Jv/s1600/baby+shower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21Z8LyJHCoNvDhkttiltlHixmjt-YM2jE0871SM3TJD_gq3rnNHoZsS0CnAc3FPzvnWREy-L5D5bRwBWeTffaJjWnrRHoDtQa6xkymHlRyC22F-llbB2JCTfarBosrK1LtNRdYXTab1Jv/s400/baby+shower.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My invitations!!! They're so cute!! And how funny is it that we found ones in our color scheme?! See, I told you it works!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, I'm super excited about everything that's going on, it's a good time right now, work is slow but it will pick up. And although there's a lot to do around the house and Kyle stresses non-stop about getting everything done AND getting all his work done, we're doing awesome.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Life is good, I am thankful. I hope everyone else has a super awesome day!!</div>
Jemima Kickypantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328947320496238665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588212182468040346.post-13200889730860351152012-10-18T15:29:00.000-04:002012-10-18T15:29:05.757-04:00Regrets, I've had a few, but then again...Too few to mention, right? Amiright?! This post has been a loong loooong time coming. It's almost not worth spending time on. And yet, it struck me today that Kyle and I are slowly approaching our one year anniversary and this is not a post I would reserve for a one year anniversary post, so I decided to make it an almost one year anniversary post.<br />
<br />
Moreover, I've had a lot of time to think, to talk to other brides, to discuss stuff with my photographer, who we still keep in touch with (Remember?! He just had a baby!!!). I cleared out my Google reader today and unsubscribed to a few of the wedding blogs that I was STILL READING and not surprisingly, I'm getting a little tired of wasting time on wedding blogs.<br />
<br />
What? Oh you're not surprised either? Oh, you're surprised it took me this long?<br />
<br />
Well the answer, my friends, to why it's taken me this long to let go is... Regret.<br />
<br />
Finally not looking at wedding dresses any longer has made me realize I'm letting go of it, and talking candidly with my photographer has made me realize I'm letting go of it, and all that made me realize I could finally post about it.<br />
<br />
Instead of being even more long-winded, here are my reflections in pictures (all courtesy of <a href="http://weldonweddings.com/index2.php#!/HOME">Ben Weldon</a>):<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUhjPs6GiUctjGoBzhVwc_l0h18hgVLZxsc_mf3av9WNMM1NHYEbxXqkSZaAna3MPps4z32aOHZCJqxkc5XgVVWq7owcIzkl6rEzu9QKPoNBcENnUdfm4ncjuM3qDyQohxWDYvAfJvkW8/s1600/ww2011004_0181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZUhjPs6GiUctjGoBzhVwc_l0h18hgVLZxsc_mf3av9WNMM1NHYEbxXqkSZaAna3MPps4z32aOHZCJqxkc5XgVVWq7owcIzkl6rEzu9QKPoNBcENnUdfm4ncjuM3qDyQohxWDYvAfJvkW8/s640/ww2011004_0181.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Ohhhh if only I could go back and not let that crazy-slow chick touch my face!!! Although I've let it go... mostly, one of my biggest regrets is not doing my own makeup. Not only would I have appreciated the shots better; my funny makeup faces, my huge brushes, but she took about 45 minutes to do my makeup! It ate up half of my getting-ready time!! As a result, eeeeeeeeverything after that was rushed and I wasn't able to get a lot of the other shots that I wanted to get.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qPW82MdOZKBNZPgcAjJWlDsYniSW76rTp68ffI2VOKdVq6peG34MVHWdUYGjz1_Ps6bC78IqhPATu3Q-WHZTB0mYDNwxe5zfSfekXBTBSeOBUI5NHwSntIqDWwwVOzljBwyXPgjWOWRB/s1600/ww2011004_0469.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qPW82MdOZKBNZPgcAjJWlDsYniSW76rTp68ffI2VOKdVq6peG34MVHWdUYGjz1_Ps6bC78IqhPATu3Q-WHZTB0mYDNwxe5zfSfekXBTBSeOBUI5NHwSntIqDWwwVOzljBwyXPgjWOWRB/s400/ww2011004_0469.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRmLGhgZr9U2g_t0IRV-JTVnO4XfdyI0FhdIqgQ5-WvxhTTZD6Yj9EdpzWAqlKE3GqwJr4tyUr8CqGUSlwlA1S3nc6xECaGiAUN7y-a0dr3jq2K4EUw_2HB4icxRhtw_V1OdWJIp9boWU/s1600/ww2011004_0473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGRmLGhgZr9U2g_t0IRV-JTVnO4XfdyI0FhdIqgQ5-WvxhTTZD6Yj9EdpzWAqlKE3GqwJr4tyUr8CqGUSlwlA1S3nc6xECaGiAUN7y-a0dr3jq2K4EUw_2HB4icxRhtw_V1OdWJIp9boWU/s400/ww2011004_0473.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
<br />
The left picture is me RUSHING through opening Kyle's gift to me, which was a really really nice strand of pearls that I would have liked to have had more than one picture of... with Mia doing God knows what in the background... And on the right is one of only three pictures "bridal shoot" style that Ben squeezed in before we had to go to the ceremony. Side note: all the while, I thought to myself... ummm, good thing we weren't planning on a first look, I barely had time to get ready myself!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqHuXfxy76xiwpc1N7VABvprg7MeOnxzWz8v6I6P01quwM96VHz1NO5aykRALzrnD2HRiTMZOznrxz2lLaZOwZg40-pwzRyleQEtiETi0Lz3TX50hp22Jaoh-jBnQ7GqLD8uU0G8Q-zAT/s1600/ww2011004_0481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqHuXfxy76xiwpc1N7VABvprg7MeOnxzWz8v6I6P01quwM96VHz1NO5aykRALzrnD2HRiTMZOznrxz2lLaZOwZg40-pwzRyleQEtiETi0Lz3TX50hp22Jaoh-jBnQ7GqLD8uU0G8Q-zAT/s640/ww2011004_0481.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
This left us time for one shot of wine that I didn't even taste. And that face that suggests I'm not enjoying this? That's because I know that I didn't get any shots with my girls, I didn't get any shots on the balcony, I didn't get but a couple sexy shots of myself... all because of that stupid makeup chick taking 45 minutes on my makeup!! Oh, and remember how Kyle got to have <i>plenty </i>of sexy glamour shots by himself because <i>he </i>didn't waste 45 minutes on <i>his </i>makeup?!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hv-pHRSDUwH4fbe1_b93rOiZXfMg8WL31AQUmhSbGd1uSxbOnuSEHKFEDWaTgIR7JdEZO9dJ6g1kINMK6tFxQbBcwyAM5uk9Uxgi5iE4DoI7lyYirtYDp0CB_665nED93XrfWUZYV0Nh/s1600/ww2011004_0407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hv-pHRSDUwH4fbe1_b93rOiZXfMg8WL31AQUmhSbGd1uSxbOnuSEHKFEDWaTgIR7JdEZO9dJ6g1kINMK6tFxQbBcwyAM5uk9Uxgi5iE4DoI7lyYirtYDp0CB_665nED93XrfWUZYV0Nh/s640/ww2011004_0407.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I'm not bitter anymore though because he's so damn handsome and everyone always wants to see the bride and here he got his own couple moments. Go grooms!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaUqTJkDMMZj9sYXR2i6MuyWs2wagxXRhuKjU-WCO9lhwfgfaoWDELSA1ykSqYEheHnzSU7pWDw0xupoFRUnqCWaYtf_y4K8ZtRopwkq4AfwuH7D81ax_8kuJNXj8vbQvTaJfttlFcZku/s1600/ww2011004_1403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRaUqTJkDMMZj9sYXR2i6MuyWs2wagxXRhuKjU-WCO9lhwfgfaoWDELSA1ykSqYEheHnzSU7pWDw0xupoFRUnqCWaYtf_y4K8ZtRopwkq4AfwuH7D81ax_8kuJNXj8vbQvTaJfttlFcZku/s400/ww2011004_1403.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I had planned on another walk-through of the reception space because I had left other people to set it up and... you know me. It wasn't till after the ceremony I realized how stark our cake table looked and how the banner wasn't placed right. Silly little thing to be angry about right?! Of course!! THE POINT IS if I had done my own makeup it would have taken me 15 minutes max with another half hour to check on the setup of the reception space and say "Oh hey, could you put some moss around the cake stand?" and "Oh hey, the banner is supposed to be stacked so you can actually read 'Love Is Sweet' not wrapped around the table so it looks like one bizarre word."<br />
<br />
Again, you and everyone else might say I'm being a bit too bitter, but like I said, it would have taken five minutes for me to look at this and fix it, but I didn't have five minutes to spare anywhere.<br />
<br />
Moving on!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UXgWOnlLStnW5-qM_IkeOYzgTDUlGAD1B0hWEMJynhdfhvLTUngSRdWRSiehnRQElNHozeoS-HYjj1k4-qkNX5J5cc8_BMLNmC7yUAvNxyI2aQRBsj_tOhAp43h33Vs9Bh6xRG2aJJPW/s1600/ww2011004_0610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UXgWOnlLStnW5-qM_IkeOYzgTDUlGAD1B0hWEMJynhdfhvLTUngSRdWRSiehnRQElNHozeoS-HYjj1k4-qkNX5J5cc8_BMLNmC7yUAvNxyI2aQRBsj_tOhAp43h33Vs9Bh6xRG2aJJPW/s640/ww2011004_0610.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Can you guess what I hate about this picture?? I'll tell you, it's those stupid pavilion plastic flaps!! I was so mad that I couldn't get those to come up. The venue had a very strict rule that the flaps go down if it's below 65 degrees out and do ya' wanna' know what the high that day was?? Sixty-frickin'-three!! Two degrees separated me from a gorgeous, rustling breeze and natural sunlight. Let me just say I was more than comfortable in my strapless gown and I know for a fact that Kyle was sweating profusely AND had plastic-warped sunlight hitting him in the face. I KNOW there is nothing I can do about it and I need to let it go, but if there is one other thing I'm still having trouble getting over it's <a href="http://www.riverdalemanor.com/">Riverdale Manor</a> and their intransigent staff. EVERYONE WAS HOT!! IT WAS GORGEOUS OUTSIDE!!! But hey, they got an extra $250 out of me for having to run the heater because it's an automatic charge if it's below 65 degrees. Gotta' love those Riverdale coordinators!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCfKjZGXRVBAfcTKgtjdir3WUwNYtLIWOz0rb-R-_4nwZyOcr96CZ__-PAAji3-XsQxoGgamc-ZClJA3YLX4tdkoqh1StX69j3e3b98uZwAsBpDsrO7bgJADr4JVZJKpyXzgvknAVwjqf/s1600/ww2011004_0094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrCfKjZGXRVBAfcTKgtjdir3WUwNYtLIWOz0rb-R-_4nwZyOcr96CZ__-PAAji3-XsQxoGgamc-ZClJA3YLX4tdkoqh1StX69j3e3b98uZwAsBpDsrO7bgJADr4JVZJKpyXzgvknAVwjqf/s640/ww2011004_0094.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Oh yeah... no one even knew these were here. I had meant to tell my parents, his parents, our grandparents, my girls and guys to blow bubbles when the ceremony was over so everyone else would follow suit, but I forgot, so no one blew bubbles, and so we had no send off, we had no bubbles... just a small regret, more funny than angering; the bubbles were just completely forgotten! Sorry bubbles!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFo9G4iy_gea-3TgBL2qTAmU74edrxlxDemeQsKq5xlqMNz1hE_4l68C5ZKSPnzClTORkdLg3DAfQljLVBN2WpWEP_jpQZqadERbURV1SdB0zWd4pK5HgIrwO9P6FX2ALHL7xZ2lLnZs-x/s1600/ww2011004_0760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFo9G4iy_gea-3TgBL2qTAmU74edrxlxDemeQsKq5xlqMNz1hE_4l68C5ZKSPnzClTORkdLg3DAfQljLVBN2WpWEP_jpQZqadERbURV1SdB0zWd4pK5HgIrwO9P6FX2ALHL7xZ2lLnZs-x/s640/ww2011004_0760.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Another small, really small regret: Ben suggested we do formals after portraits; we had better chance of catching the light for the money shots- me and the man- and then we would do family formal shots right after. Well no thank you, I said, I will not be the one in charge of trying to find everyone at the cocktail hour after Kyle and I get done with our portraits. Everyone was there, so I thought, no, we should just get this done and over with. Lo and Behold, I find out only after the pictures come in, that all the magical sunset light was used up on the family formals. Ben said there was no way to know because of the tree line, but there it is, that beautiful burst of light. Not that it was gone to waste! But it would have been better placed here:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZMpaz1f7KE0YEhjX5nlUY6AAu-OY58LPD4eDTldASkrQIjSgwbdx66FW0OIjehTZGRUBKjk3Q37NKnFUdI6Gj7y2TRjdtYS3V05EHzJ6VZKoOfIPI3CtoRfBi3O6kygFkTxWayojtI5Y/s1600/ww2011004_0943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrZMpaz1f7KE0YEhjX5nlUY6AAu-OY58LPD4eDTldASkrQIjSgwbdx66FW0OIjehTZGRUBKjk3Q37NKnFUdI6Gj7y2TRjdtYS3V05EHzJ6VZKoOfIPI3CtoRfBi3O6kygFkTxWayojtI5Y/s640/ww2011004_0943.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Or here:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkmxPYfcYvCTo8SBWCFJaCOiqUDAKjmJ6CQLmUB6Vi7brmsjUDHeVoZoQZhpqqMGqNfzBKWOsxmoK6VaDZsb6s5q3UJ5kNYBaIPfg6nQXW6br4XapRnZ4d6uMwxqxxDn8-yDragGHwcDh/s1600/ww2011004_0967-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkmxPYfcYvCTo8SBWCFJaCOiqUDAKjmJ6CQLmUB6Vi7brmsjUDHeVoZoQZhpqqMGqNfzBKWOsxmoK6VaDZsb6s5q3UJ5kNYBaIPfg6nQXW6br4XapRnZ4d6uMwxqxxDn8-yDragGHwcDh/s640/ww2011004_0967-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Or somewhere here or here:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpUsd_zw7MItjEEfTBhtUJgUIU4gj0JfisszW_wXUjUD2pujjD0pblX9NrL8-a7uSAPTCbNdfzVXh62mCuiABUDJnh1orZKxwHQ__lQwBeKZl1tTizdS-GVGBnNU9lp_YMyxL0nM4Wb9a/s1600/ww2011004_1007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpUsd_zw7MItjEEfTBhtUJgUIU4gj0JfisszW_wXUjUD2pujjD0pblX9NrL8-a7uSAPTCbNdfzVXh62mCuiABUDJnh1orZKxwHQ__lQwBeKZl1tTizdS-GVGBnNU9lp_YMyxL0nM4Wb9a/s400/ww2011004_1007.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKQ4m9F_c1jDPUN5uyn_L6iZ_QU98vY408UCFCV-1q_ovNj5uR05zSnfPni9rYN6gsoUa39mPOCwZKSSTXUha2S8CXcyVBVGiTzfXaDBdQijz8nsY6ZzNB-z4iufhQwRi_ICPWm7M94eD/s1600/ww2011004_1176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKQ4m9F_c1jDPUN5uyn_L6iZ_QU98vY408UCFCV-1q_ovNj5uR05zSnfPni9rYN6gsoUa39mPOCwZKSSTXUha2S8CXcyVBVGiTzfXaDBdQijz8nsY6ZzNB-z4iufhQwRi_ICPWm7M94eD/s400/ww2011004_1176.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
<br />
These shots still make me swoon, and I can't praise Ben's handy work enough, they just would have been that much more amazing with amazing sunlight. Anyway, not at all angry, just moving right along.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFVvUBDC66k-wx0_5eLB-Br2GSm0MsoPzX8MElBr16XH0RLSqX6ilf4DpYCK9WPlvMBKw0uMgRD0iZcgXkEO0vgEpF3N8PfVGX2xTQ4TQfjWLygrdKbDOJT9wjw7p4Gu4txvrNtnQCcAI/s1600/ww2011004_0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFVvUBDC66k-wx0_5eLB-Br2GSm0MsoPzX8MElBr16XH0RLSqX6ilf4DpYCK9WPlvMBKw0uMgRD0iZcgXkEO0vgEpF3N8PfVGX2xTQ4TQfjWLygrdKbDOJT9wjw7p4Gu4txvrNtnQCcAI/s640/ww2011004_0012.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
I have almost completely let go of my dress drama! Whoo hoo!! I still never had THAT MOMENT every bride thinks she needs to have found the one, but this dress was awesome. There, I said it. So why am I even bringing it up??<br />
<br />
<i><b>I had to buy three dresses to find 'the one' ya'll!</b></i> And I still can't get rid of the third (Priscilla of Boston), so I'm still super mega pissed I wasted my money on it! <b>Second</b>, I still wish I had been bold enough to throw some ombre in there somewhere; I said I was going to get a blush underskirt (off-white dress, blush underskirt, plum shoes... ombre!) or a nice deep burgundy sash to go across the middle, and I never did, and to this day, the whole ensemble is just a little too white for my liking. Once again, not a huge deal, just being real.<br />
<br />
Finally, <b>third</b>, it. still. didn't. fit!! I was too worried about being thought a bitch to press the seamstress to pull it in more. I had a good inch around my waist that it could have been taken in, and I selfishly thought that I could have looked a little slimmer if it had fit me properly. I was kind of opposed to corset tops and was happy initially that this one was a zipper gown, but when it came to fit, if I could go back, a corset top would have made sure it fit no matter how poorly the seamstress listened to me. Yet another small thing that I should never have been bitter about at all, but hello, you're lying if you tell me you don't want to look sexy on your wedding day when you picked a relatively fitted gown!<br />
<br />
Anyway, I never meant to be this long-winded about any of these things and here I am, super-justifying everything! You can tell who I'm really trying to convince ;) Just a few more things, promise!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU79x8IhqyW0Zx5lUy_pxuuKojnvHMV0FeiqZwS62cuhmzBoWi6yW0swlGwRamY7y4cUwIAZ-E2xtu642z225WA0efXPG-sWF3zAkDw6S3Dwr5PyXOcDot0AKrrOdJ9O37PSEqqT8Ed81Y/s1600/ww2011004_0044-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU79x8IhqyW0Zx5lUy_pxuuKojnvHMV0FeiqZwS62cuhmzBoWi6yW0swlGwRamY7y4cUwIAZ-E2xtu642z225WA0efXPG-sWF3zAkDw6S3Dwr5PyXOcDot0AKrrOdJ9O37PSEqqT8Ed81Y/s400/ww2011004_0044-2.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_3vzQ0teUYgu8csOPq73GpvLJwHofpCUzhqKBkuCw9qD8J5hZ9aneAwDAUm40l_TcaOMNFQFJnZJiygbGTbTSPCbd1K7uYxOBhpaxesRvVvQz36YozpGGDgo76azjZivXD4PBABUhHbk/s1600/ww2011004_0093+crop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_3vzQ0teUYgu8csOPq73GpvLJwHofpCUzhqKBkuCw9qD8J5hZ9aneAwDAUm40l_TcaOMNFQFJnZJiygbGTbTSPCbd1K7uYxOBhpaxesRvVvQz36YozpGGDgo76azjZivXD4PBABUhHbk/s320/ww2011004_0093+crop.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
These shots are the only ones that captured some of the stuff (junk?) that I collected to get the whole primitive (that's Amish speak) feel in our venue. Anyone who's been following knows how much I love stacked crates, and I collected quite a few to decorate the reception area, and I have no photos of them. The other pictures is the only shot that captures any of the pitchers I collected and that my Mama lovingly stuffed with wheat stalks. Did you know that those bowls had river rocks and flowers and candles floating in them? Neither will anyone else, because there's no picture of them besides this one. Remember how I also made chair ribbons for the bride and groom's chairs that match the altar? No? That's because there's no picture of them. Now, as I've said, I've talked candidly with my photographer about these things. He made fun of me at the time for having such a long list of photos I wanted taken and that made me feel embarrassed that I was being a bridezilla. When he finally had a bride who had a longer list than me, I was finally able to admit to him that if I had not felt so self-conscious, he would have gotten a much longer list :)<br />
<br />
And hey, if it hadn't taken 45 minutes to do my makeup, then I would have had him follow me around the reception area before the ceremony and said "Oh, and take pictures of this, and this, and that over there!" Stupid slow makeup chick!<br />
<br />
There's no hard feelings between Ben and me though, especially given the other simply amazing detail shots that he captured:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPyWno7RwLtOZw9_LSI9KrqGRkRgB1jIz-FYfTRTj8iFk-I9sACwnf10CLFmxPhHg1ppn6gjeYKCJiHeVlpdWdy0fpnqKHHEOgi720Qrv0rUjHMBCAQJU6a_a7iE6vlFra3ST4ewQ9DTk/s1600/ww2011004_0146-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPyWno7RwLtOZw9_LSI9KrqGRkRgB1jIz-FYfTRTj8iFk-I9sACwnf10CLFmxPhHg1ppn6gjeYKCJiHeVlpdWdy0fpnqKHHEOgi720Qrv0rUjHMBCAQJU6a_a7iE6vlFra3ST4ewQ9DTk/s320/ww2011004_0146-2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CvyL1zubLN6oPH-KwwmUcYXhgWz1APnS54OSJLy4Bb8ENdZRd3bxIXDR4WhlndTRToFI3mtES2ONJdrJsx4dWmXhQIbgkONUVEyiV5vOarztN5wGkKiSevz8WHpc7BRkloiH3qxQU1Fe/s1600/ww2011004_0152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0CvyL1zubLN6oPH-KwwmUcYXhgWz1APnS54OSJLy4Bb8ENdZRd3bxIXDR4WhlndTRToFI3mtES2ONJdrJsx4dWmXhQIbgkONUVEyiV5vOarztN5wGkKiSevz8WHpc7BRkloiH3qxQU1Fe/s320/ww2011004_0152.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0DG5NUmKcF3tbDAaF8M0mQ9H3E77XPwq-AqmBbudpD66ybwH6zr_7MLZapqloc_XLwCZyD1lSC4p_ECEZRisXQMqjgzNxl6-ciPNK1vIxapz6jOSjop4nHJSx0Cyd0b0-7otXJmSZbx2/s1600/ww2011004_0061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0DG5NUmKcF3tbDAaF8M0mQ9H3E77XPwq-AqmBbudpD66ybwH6zr_7MLZapqloc_XLwCZyD1lSC4p_ECEZRisXQMqjgzNxl6-ciPNK1vIxapz6jOSjop4nHJSx0Cyd0b0-7otXJmSZbx2/s320/ww2011004_0061.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLbdplncYTuvSG0ZyfZl2CB80NqtKHZjUP_xGopziXJlkHAjFMZ288KMZjJucrsfdPjPfkZbEeTk85utA_hWLCySPk11L9i9i659c5CBhbtsz99NWgxWFBwsezWBDyBe4B1JdxIX3ZAOP/s1600/ww2011004_0069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJLbdplncYTuvSG0ZyfZl2CB80NqtKHZjUP_xGopziXJlkHAjFMZ288KMZjJucrsfdPjPfkZbEeTk85utA_hWLCySPk11L9i9i659c5CBhbtsz99NWgxWFBwsezWBDyBe4B1JdxIX3ZAOP/s320/ww2011004_0069.jpg" width="213" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTOhd9d4wOcbzdlqfZdupKw9bRfWAatK2t30SHFI2icb3trz-Eu0zvDZ4hCnwfzpyoWsCjZtgpR8WPwq-O9rPPKam0I-NLtaRtZBfqNt3d2-Hdo-ptmWRZ4DHnE1R5g9ujhZE_ys3CGiY/s1600/ww2011004_0082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTOhd9d4wOcbzdlqfZdupKw9bRfWAatK2t30SHFI2icb3trz-Eu0zvDZ4hCnwfzpyoWsCjZtgpR8WPwq-O9rPPKam0I-NLtaRtZBfqNt3d2-Hdo-ptmWRZ4DHnE1R5g9ujhZE_ys3CGiY/s400/ww2011004_0082.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZf_XmCc6D8ly299sNg5cqXBdAdaQlbkQpFPDq1jcQ82tVc0DzlZJqeecLAXVFY8UPlrNv-XlmHgELM5hMtBPKeFFpkbXTeFMS6DC0Y30P6kkIrPRWiqK2i59LzGiCgKm5g7HNVgX8clUg/s1600/ww2011004_0091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZf_XmCc6D8ly299sNg5cqXBdAdaQlbkQpFPDq1jcQ82tVc0DzlZJqeecLAXVFY8UPlrNv-XlmHgELM5hMtBPKeFFpkbXTeFMS6DC0Y30P6kkIrPRWiqK2i59LzGiCgKm5g7HNVgX8clUg/s400/ww2011004_0091.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCiemDZqQVXNmHFRBvG-ZsxDOKZ3gywO3Xer3uI5b5L7h3_qtawtRteGcCvoFIiO21DjYZud727CaGltwiR8EM8Y2AJowLRbbSwWUAP-R6riOb4TCr3HLT5MUz7fNE6LnQprWrTSd0aXGO/s1600/ww2011004_1203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCiemDZqQVXNmHFRBvG-ZsxDOKZ3gywO3Xer3uI5b5L7h3_qtawtRteGcCvoFIiO21DjYZud727CaGltwiR8EM8Y2AJowLRbbSwWUAP-R6riOb4TCr3HLT5MUz7fNE6LnQprWrTSd0aXGO/s320/ww2011004_1203.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSBrsZ3A_lKsPmFNe3qa-ZOsw2qtxoarRF1Sq1yQKKVx2fK4dIAndPS6-nO554Ygcm8R32P3uT9Q8ueozyXxqKFHA9DF6Ig4cBl5QzOZwz-E2tg-WYvmnF0xOjrpasEuv1KwoYVa_g4LA/s1600/ww2011004_1215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZSBrsZ3A_lKsPmFNe3qa-ZOsw2qtxoarRF1Sq1yQKKVx2fK4dIAndPS6-nO554Ygcm8R32P3uT9Q8ueozyXxqKFHA9DF6Ig4cBl5QzOZwz-E2tg-WYvmnF0xOjrpasEuv1KwoYVa_g4LA/s320/ww2011004_1215.jpg" width="213" /></a><br />
Sigh. He gave me more than I could have asked for, and in the end, life is way too short to dwell on little missed opportunities. I still have all the crates and wine bottles and I'm in the process of decorating my house with them! Because it's like living in my wedding fantasy world everyday!! This weekend I should have time to do some arranging, look out for pictures then!<br />
<br />
Last beef (and another fabulous detail shot from Ben):<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijd-sbNQ_AkI4ZGE2gdyCPFR9XodYHu990sCtVGaTOHNjAfMZo7ijfTaSOmEzSUJdJJ7O6hEqt3DZWBc9KBsQPB6zoWdXVxlncTFGABtMz2Cwzm8jHMWA6_v_FMS64q7l1mddUFVuVrhkd/s1600/ww2011004_0344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijd-sbNQ_AkI4ZGE2gdyCPFR9XodYHu990sCtVGaTOHNjAfMZo7ijfTaSOmEzSUJdJJ7O6hEqt3DZWBc9KBsQPB6zoWdXVxlncTFGABtMz2Cwzm8jHMWA6_v_FMS64q7l1mddUFVuVrhkd/s640/ww2011004_0344.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I thought I had been very clear with my <a href="http://www.splintsanddaisies.com/">florist </a>that I wanted a bouquet with less structure, more whimsy. And I knew she was capable of such; we talked about how we both were not a fan of the "lollipop" bouquet. Here's some shots from her own portfolio:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWj-QOUyd0jDrTn5dKm85WOACx_ekBQhsELFBOcOwMUW3_vX2gRvmbRX-IPxqPCSuv3cJNyW1Kp4p933poECjNoam2ox3lANq75vvOSQuSDQbxFEnWdhagmGyNjzy8hkl0ZybR0TydgV_/s1600/247_400_csupload_33220099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWj-QOUyd0jDrTn5dKm85WOACx_ekBQhsELFBOcOwMUW3_vX2gRvmbRX-IPxqPCSuv3cJNyW1Kp4p933poECjNoam2ox3lANq75vvOSQuSDQbxFEnWdhagmGyNjzy8hkl0ZybR0TydgV_/s320/247_400_csupload_33220099.jpg" width="197" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNF1UjwoHop7SJdExpyFcW1kwHkN8pPaQYJ57zIrxYaIq7zMAEJtm-STTy9L2eAgjAg61JmWdqC64e2fVT6vRXE_U3krZs6nwRDP8JxO7FGwIfrQ_n96YmSw10aGA3wDk3bUl8qsfyGEt/s1600/266_400_csupload_33220357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNF1UjwoHop7SJdExpyFcW1kwHkN8pPaQYJ57zIrxYaIq7zMAEJtm-STTy9L2eAgjAg61JmWdqC64e2fVT6vRXE_U3krZs6nwRDP8JxO7FGwIfrQ_n96YmSw10aGA3wDk3bUl8qsfyGEt/s320/266_400_csupload_33220357.jpg" width="212" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vY6Ic1jBDNxY2YzQ93_vGIaM_RHNWWOkOSiMm_18yKjQIjTICZ-2Wy_JTvsn2bLze7D6IH9IXfQBO3OFrzqDhDbx-FuNcSLTpiLp41xiooZTueEmz2P19RjMLEYXLWMt6LhRJ-Nv0qyG/s1600/266_400_csupload_33221755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1vY6Ic1jBDNxY2YzQ93_vGIaM_RHNWWOkOSiMm_18yKjQIjTICZ-2Wy_JTvsn2bLze7D6IH9IXfQBO3OFrzqDhDbx-FuNcSLTpiLp41xiooZTueEmz2P19RjMLEYXLWMt6LhRJ-Nv0qyG/s320/266_400_csupload_33221755.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bg2MOrugQD74UjDvQj2REcHgfRzB2Ds4v-3vQQcdMB8DSLYFvxs-QrnT22O5Axy0YcmUOmimf4cr_WojFhLPk6b4n_QoeoPh6WOrhRum5Eu49_3cy2uDBA1DLQUpbvUQpKJdW_WN21qv/s1600/480_334_csupload_33220025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bg2MOrugQD74UjDvQj2REcHgfRzB2Ds4v-3vQQcdMB8DSLYFvxs-QrnT22O5Axy0YcmUOmimf4cr_WojFhLPk6b4n_QoeoPh6WOrhRum5Eu49_3cy2uDBA1DLQUpbvUQpKJdW_WN21qv/s320/480_334_csupload_33220025.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymmLdLWEVrodinmssqIRdF7U7tx1dps44PRediHqgbYjNQ2ylMpcNWsihdC-jfAcsYQWi7Vmt2lI2NlUVLyKkFfEUVdYH3QOoM0fcT4-ibqKK7syMC_WgKstN6fSJYzbElArf5-oIthZi/s1600/480_366_csupload_26470607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymmLdLWEVrodinmssqIRdF7U7tx1dps44PRediHqgbYjNQ2ylMpcNWsihdC-jfAcsYQWi7Vmt2lI2NlUVLyKkFfEUVdYH3QOoM0fcT4-ibqKK7syMC_WgKstN6fSJYzbElArf5-oIthZi/s400/480_366_csupload_26470607.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
So, you see? I knew she was capable of astonishing things and this is why I picked her! I showed her her own photos and said (while trying not to drool) 'yeah yeah, like this!!'<br />
<br />
Did she still make beautiful bouquets?? Absolutely! Were they as cool and out there as I had hoped for? No, sorry, they were one step away from lollipop. Am I being nit-picky? Quite possibly!! But hey, that's what this whole post is about, it's been almost a year and I'm letting go of all these little hurt feelings and it feels good, but I still acknowledge that not everything was perfect. Not everything is going to be perfect.<br />
<br />
To close, let me emphasize the most important point. The MARRIAGE is perfect, and that's all that really counts, the WEDDING was just a day, and it was still pretty freaking awesome. And let's not forget the end result currently kicking me in the bladder right now and giving me mild indigestion, that's totally awesome (not the indigestion).<br />
<br />
So for the sake of the blog, these are my thoughts on what was not perfect, but for the sake of my life and your life and every other happily married woman, this is NOT to be confused with 'oh, well there must be something deeper that's wrong' because that's malarkey! Pure MALARKEY!! <i>Don't not let yourself be a little upset about things that didn't go quite as planned</i>. I am fully aware that relationships take work and raising kids takes work and life takes work, but I plan a party for that party to be perfect, thankyouverymuch! For everyone who's ever heard me talk about the things I regret, and judged me or rolled their eyes, this is my soap box, I no longer feel bad about being a little bitter. Take that.Jemima Kickypantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328947320496238665noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588212182468040346.post-25852395022178123012012-10-16T14:52:00.001-04:002012-10-17T14:54:55.411-04:00Oh I've got the funk!And so, half a month after my last blog post, I've got a job (YAY!!) and have come into a pretty hectic time. Unfortunately, this coincides with a not-so-great period of my awesome pregnancy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmi7LzUosvtoXK6mbrUm_YIHTTRI2LUAPlXnoaYQ2VRxK0dtsBHY9ReiIf5ztU9E6GGuyYKWCSkG9dbtFmWxXSxukVmUK53GQkI7Jc0NxOND-FV3U2hOgYyo4xotwRRjf1iQff-hUhFA3/s1600/pregnancy+(1).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmi7LzUosvtoXK6mbrUm_YIHTTRI2LUAPlXnoaYQ2VRxK0dtsBHY9ReiIf5ztU9E6GGuyYKWCSkG9dbtFmWxXSxukVmUK53GQkI7Jc0NxOND-FV3U2hOgYyo4xotwRRjf1iQff-hUhFA3/s1600/pregnancy+(1).png" /></a></div>
<br />
I still wouldn't trade it for anything, but my lungs are officially in my cheeks and my heart is in my esophagus and my stomach is in my throat. The whole rest of the body is reserved just for Peanut. My heartburn (although I wouldn't trade it for one day of morning sickness... gotta' keep reminding myself of my luck there) is near unbearable. I have a hard time focusing, sitting down, being happy, etc... It's not everyday... damn near, but I didn't have any yesterday... but when it strikes, it strikes long and hard and lasts all day. No food or drink or lack of food or drink helps. I've tried chewing gum, I've tried Tums, of course, I've tried massive quantities of water, no relief. The worst is that it isn't the acid-in-the-back-of-the-throat burpy kind of heartburn, this is hard core deep chest pain that feels like there is a blunt object tumbling around in my esophagus or windpipe or wherever. I don't care where it is, it's in my chest and it feels like 'Damnit if I could just swallow it down into my stomach, this feeling of something lodged in there would go away.' but that is not the case because obviously there is no object lodged there.<br />
<br />
My lungs and heart feel like they're working beaucoup overtime. My blood pressure is fine, but my cholesterol is up (a little known fun fact about pregnancy; your <b>cholesterol </b>can increase by as much as 50% in your third trimester!). So after one flight of steps, I'm winded AND my heart feels like it's beating out of my chest. I would accept this as 'this is just the way it is' but I thought I was in shape, so it's kind of discouraging. Don't you have to work, kind of really hard in the delivery room? Can my squished lungs and overworked heart take it??<br />
<br />
My job keeps me busy all day, which is nice. I haven't even really started working yet, just making research plans and settling in, but ordering supplies and getting all my paperwork filled out has really kept me busy. Add physicals to that, doctor appointments, and running back and forth to Philly to deposit my thesis at UPenn (WHOO HOO!!), and you've got one packed schedule. Unfortunately, Kyle is also super busy at work and when he's at home, he's usually worrying about all the stuff at home and back at work that still needs to be done. It's upsetting because he's very hard to cheer up when he decides to be in a bad mood or when he decides to be pessimistic about this or that getting done. I suppose this goes along with his massive job responsibilities, a new house, and a new baby. Maybe I'm overly optimistic but it can be rough sometimes when you feel like your hubby is slowly slipping into a permanent funk and you're all by yourself on Happy Island. When you're both in a bad mood?? Fugettaboutit! Just stay out of each other's way.<br />
<br />
So I have to apologize for a long-winded and unorganized post. My brain is muddled and like I said, the heartburn makes it hard to focus. I'm going to get back to work now and try to get more stuff done for another two hours or so before I give up. Hopefully I'll be in a better mood next post, but today I just needed to vent. Thanks for reading.Jemima Kickypantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328947320496238665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588212182468040346.post-69409077885054461242012-09-30T20:16:00.000-04:002012-09-30T20:16:20.555-04:00Being lazy is a full time job!I'm not even going to apologize, you know how awful I am, just picture my sad, repentant face, not being able to look you in the eye:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAer9wliBe1_rbeaVROhgnGX8ZW0FwU-qBF_rlXs9ZvXRRit-fqgm7uzkQQ-v-Uy0IS6DLucffaMs0EkgjEg_QELb21ZRK7r6PiAjf8zHXcFVLcYgxRcjVcomUYE0xJD6Ov3xe63hspDHd/s1600/i-sorry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAer9wliBe1_rbeaVROhgnGX8ZW0FwU-qBF_rlXs9ZvXRRit-fqgm7uzkQQ-v-Uy0IS6DLucffaMs0EkgjEg_QELb21ZRK7r6PiAjf8zHXcFVLcYgxRcjVcomUYE0xJD6Ov3xe63hspDHd/s320/i-sorry.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I can't even lie and say I've been busy. Per my last post, I had defended my thesis, got my PhD, and then went home and chilled basically! I had revisions to make on my written thesis, that sucks because you think you're done and then you have to get back into it. Final product is 127 pages long! Revisions didn't take up all my time though, basically, my time has been spent being a little stir crazy. Some people would blog every day. I, on the other hand, feel like if I have nothing to do, I don't want to do nuthin'! I still don't feel like a doctor, I feel unemployed! That's right, I'm STILL waiting for my official letter of employment from my new job, I've been assured that it's been written, just hasn't been mailed to me yet. I should have a job within a week... which is really really important as I am officially off the payroll at Penn, and for the first time in six years, I didn't get a paycheck at the end of this month... I'm freakin' out a little!<br />
<br />
Did I mention we're pregnant?! Yeah, I did, last post. I'm looking decidedly preggers now:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTysVKodNtoCjM3DNb9Bm7__W1tZXbjewPqzwUhXYknvCAlJprI-nBJoOwqwj7nnAaNMQ71-JPnCJx5eK6-hViBqkOWIDidkM4Od7346XEUsS2pmH_gW6gYPbHdVX5sm5s-xJdML0TBWo/s1600/27+weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTysVKodNtoCjM3DNb9Bm7__W1tZXbjewPqzwUhXYknvCAlJprI-nBJoOwqwj7nnAaNMQ71-JPnCJx5eK6-hViBqkOWIDidkM4Od7346XEUsS2pmH_gW6gYPbHdVX5sm5s-xJdML0TBWo/s400/27+weeks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
And this picture is even two weeks old. I've gained about 2 or 3 more pounds since this was taken... all in the belly, hopefully. Oddly, I've been not freaked out at all about the number on the scale, maybe because I've never really paid much attention to the scale, because I'm lazy. Now, all I have to worry about is that I don't gain too too much weight, about a pound a week, and I'm OK! I still love waffles, every day, but I've also started chugging milk hard core. A gallon lasts about three days now, and Kyle doesn't drink milk.<br />
<br />
Funny story, our besties Mia and Dan came to visit us for Labor day with their little man, who is 10 months old now (!!) and I was drinking milk out of the carton (yeah, whatever, because I'm a slob, get over it!) and Mia gave me a hard time. Apparently bacteria from your mouth make the milk go bad faster. I said 'Mia, this milk is not going to last more than another day.' She asked where I picked up the habit and I said from my dad, there was a pause, and before she could say anything I said 'Milk was lucky to last two days in my house growing up.'<br />
<br />
I think my dad will appreciate that one. So I'm so sorry to say I didn't think to take a single picture of the little man while they were visiting (because it's about the most exciting thing to happen to us since I last posted) but what a cutie he is!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssfn2k9eqAulgCi6gmUrK4Cqx3GmEnktmAcY-MBwc6K6AiGwvJh7QUeACvUAtypfbl9Nmz11oEvaF8vT420KGNlf-q-aGxRPO_j2C7sZmLy-toM3q1ZkT2iJd3XkVWN2eQDoJ4m-Vanvh/s1600/Gabriel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssfn2k9eqAulgCi6gmUrK4Cqx3GmEnktmAcY-MBwc6K6AiGwvJh7QUeACvUAtypfbl9Nmz11oEvaF8vT420KGNlf-q-aGxRPO_j2C7sZmLy-toM3q1ZkT2iJd3XkVWN2eQDoJ4m-Vanvh/s400/Gabriel.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
(via Dan's Facebook) He's a shameless flirt, and he's got this smirk he does that makes you blush, then you remember you're a grown woman and this kid is smooooooth! Ha, just kidding, but he is smooth. He was so happy all weekend, Bailey on the other hand was not. Her whole world was thrown upside down, she and I had to have words, a lot, and she spent a lot of time in time out in Mommy and Daddy's room. She was jealous of who was in my lap and yet constantly worried about Gabriel, following him around and whimpering. So if there's anything I'm nervous about, it's how our baby, which will obviously be a full time live-in, will throw her world into chaos. I love her, but she is no longer the numero uno priority.<br />
<br />
Does anyone else have kids and dogs? And did you have issues? If so, how did you deal with them? Everyone tells me she'll get used to the extra tiny human. We shall see.<br />
<br />
So, I'm getting ready to watch the Eagles hopefully play nice together. I'll post soon about registry (because sure this isn't a baby blog, but everyone loves registries!), nesting and hopefully having a confirmed job. P.S. our lovely wedding photographer Ben Weldon and his wife Rose had their first baby this past week!! Hooray!!! They named him Grey. Cool, no? We're getting old enough now that we value our friends for their potential future playdates :)<br />
<br />
How's everyone else doin'???Jemima Kickypantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328947320496238665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588212182468040346.post-56352806870587575372012-08-09T13:35:00.000-04:002012-08-09T13:35:02.921-04:00A doctor and a babyWhat a jerk I am, I know it's been way way too long. In normal circumstances, I might consider ditching a person who hadn't updated her blog for this long! But as I'm sure we all know, sometimes life happens. This is what's been happening:<br />
<br />
Writing a thesis...<br />
<br />
Writing a thesis...<br />
<br />
Writing a thesis...<br />
<br />
DONE!!<br />
<br />
Preparing for my defense...<br />
<br />
Preparing for my defense...<br />
<br />
.............<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhVw75nIRwzBa6MHys6Yx8B354uF1MtuYxx1u-9pCi7Msw_D6duE4P8_l66AqXHQbCIhIiicxYy1N8FvV6lKTuZ6Z7geDLLyLc1slvrBIHljjl8ZKxojwctLrHGqBlvmMS2KLhcZyS2gi/s1600/defense.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFhVw75nIRwzBa6MHys6Yx8B354uF1MtuYxx1u-9pCi7Msw_D6duE4P8_l66AqXHQbCIhIiicxYy1N8FvV6lKTuZ6Z7geDLLyLc1slvrBIHljjl8ZKxojwctLrHGqBlvmMS2KLhcZyS2gi/s640/defense.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
DEFENDED!!! GOT A PhD!!!!!<br />
<br />
Can't believe it's over, still hasn't sunk in, but I am done reporting to committees and dreading every meeting and feeling inadequate... well, I am sure I will continue to feel inadequate in life, but not in this sense anymore. I'm supposedly the equal to my doctor peers now, so they have to respect my authority!<br />
<br />
Here's how a defense goes: You give a presentation that sums up, in about a half an hour to 45 minutes, five years of intense, spirit-breaking work at a bench or a computer or wherever, and then everyone claps and no one asks you any questions because you had to leave so much out that they never really followed you anyway (and according to Kyle, I spoke too fast). Then everyone leaves and your committee grills you about anything they felt you left out. It's funny, you think, they don't ask you any questions about your presentation or your thesis, which you're prepared for, they ask you all the questions you didn't think about first.<br />
<br />
They asked me a few questions about what I thought was going on; like a model of cell behavior, that I really really had no answer to, and I gave it my best shot but I really didn't think it was going to fly. But I guess they were satisfied enough with the effort. At least I didn't cry :) (that's a joke. I would not have let these people see me get frazzled).<br />
<br />
And then it was over and they switched from this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwumpeZk_axAhzZa8IWOuyFd69dSVmGV8CMIihQuYoehRyvryfvkWz3nuIY0fCYD1L5zf4-wR34FjeS_nuDNICPtGRuvRoVIcUVU9Bn6OVYjDkWIA7oe6oVzqFHEcXKDavNiIESo7qnLvl/s1600/courtroom.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwumpeZk_axAhzZa8IWOuyFd69dSVmGV8CMIihQuYoehRyvryfvkWz3nuIY0fCYD1L5zf4-wR34FjeS_nuDNICPtGRuvRoVIcUVU9Bn6OVYjDkWIA7oe6oVzqFHEcXKDavNiIESo7qnLvl/s400/courtroom.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
To this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsRUifT8wsQypJVsimQgNDjXnnX5mzU95avEbSUbGvQIhXOmlRKAUmfLmdBo2sP9EVtj6LRPCxWJ55t_fLHWXtTj_7H6MebiZV6RV9fx60gt_tBS1Ux-fSILBEKSUG75Xw0CjAHz-Ibya4/s1600/kisses.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsRUifT8wsQypJVsimQgNDjXnnX5mzU95avEbSUbGvQIhXOmlRKAUmfLmdBo2sP9EVtj6LRPCxWJ55t_fLHWXtTj_7H6MebiZV6RV9fx60gt_tBS1Ux-fSILBEKSUG75Xw0CjAHz-Ibya4/s400/kisses.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
It was gross. Just kidding, but it is weird, it's a very bipolar experience.<br />
<br />
Anyway, so that's the PhD process. They call you doctor and you go on your way, it's over, go find something else to do! Hopefully the funding for my new job will be all set and then I can sit back and just relax till the new job starts. I'll hopefully be working at Fox Chase Cancer Center starting late August or early September.<br />
<br />
Buuuuuut, that's not my only news... of course, Kyle and I are also expecting a little bundle of joy!! (or poop, depending on how you look at parenthood) It'll look a little something like this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXj9U3_Oar29jSXUrsNg8yg_bSVHB-RlHrcRI22Lvgfd42kMddicIdfpdEo9hZz4C4lopm_4qqG1JPHefAoYPW3xsNnyDZe-sfSdzGF00o8Jnj8uFuO9T0zKYQ93vzkoa39LXfP77YzRu/s1600/2012-08-01+20.17.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRXj9U3_Oar29jSXUrsNg8yg_bSVHB-RlHrcRI22Lvgfd42kMddicIdfpdEo9hZz4C4lopm_4qqG1JPHefAoYPW3xsNnyDZe-sfSdzGF00o8Jnj8uFuO9T0zKYQ93vzkoa39LXfP77YzRu/s400/2012-08-01+20.17.54.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWUV-wybXm-NT_3CtSBq_EtJqBcKvoi5QwvrEoJwSLLRZTxYOhjZR_tlzfm1w7PVlDHDFG64VITwMnLW5K2WEWlzdv0zMzgk_NgCrYPjYbOIMER_rXA_YVUotvMrmXclw0hCtqmHaG_UD/s1600/monster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWUV-wybXm-NT_3CtSBq_EtJqBcKvoi5QwvrEoJwSLLRZTxYOhjZR_tlzfm1w7PVlDHDFG64VITwMnLW5K2WEWlzdv0zMzgk_NgCrYPjYbOIMER_rXA_YVUotvMrmXclw0hCtqmHaG_UD/s400/monster.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Crazy yes?! I'm five months pregnant!! I had no morning sickness, no problems so far, and I've officially felt it moving around. I want sweet things all the time. I can't function without my morning waffles anymore or my afternoon jello. And I'm starting to show enough that I had to get new pants and a few new shirts... but mostly I just feel fat! I can't reach my toes anymore!! Although I might just be out of shape flexibility-wise. If I have one piece of advice, it's stay at least a little active, it's made my weight gain not so so bad and kept me feeling good. I was really really tired at first, and then I started walking, nothing major, just a half hour in the mornings, and I stopped feeling like I had to take a nap every morning and afternoon.<br />
<br />
So the blog focus might shift a little again, don't worry, it's not going to be crazy baby. In fact, a good friend is getting married (yay!) and has asked me to be bridesmaid, so I will still be talking about weddings. I am also going to start album planning as well, because my mom wants an album, and I'm still interested in DIYing an album, you know, self-binding. I think it'll be fun! I also want to play with the pictures with this instagram-like website called <a href="http://pixlr.com/o-matic/">pixlr</a>, it makes your pictures go from this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKr_dAObhRALCn8gmKIonvcARBiHDxT3u7lekTozQthfvC7RKMsP0XsnchDp6xrndxtJc1GwztGt4qg57tUGe2oCNvO2H0teaVFBq3mdNthPj0sIcOUP88m3S1h5olH8nioOyKHb190tYp/s1600/ww2011004_0961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKr_dAObhRALCn8gmKIonvcARBiHDxT3u7lekTozQthfvC7RKMsP0XsnchDp6xrndxtJc1GwztGt4qg57tUGe2oCNvO2H0teaVFBq3mdNthPj0sIcOUP88m3S1h5olH8nioOyKHb190tYp/s400/ww2011004_0961.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
To this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejWykhx2N28hn6sw1pAfV-o30MWhaop06GR-03ISk-Oy4_WLlXqfWnsA3iI3pL03i7ot-DAp7XCQJdGZBg1QFFRloYVET9E1cyU_pH2-5bl_L5fIB2j7klI87N_Gm__KEeerWx7oL1azi/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiejWykhx2N28hn6sw1pAfV-o30MWhaop06GR-03ISk-Oy4_WLlXqfWnsA3iI3pL03i7ot-DAp7XCQJdGZBg1QFFRloYVET9E1cyU_pH2-5bl_L5fIB2j7klI87N_Gm__KEeerWx7oL1azi/s400/Picture+1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
That's a little extreme of an example (I already loooooove that photo as it is), but you know what I mean, you can modify the colors of your photos AND add effects. It's pretty awesome. More on that as I make more.<br />
<br />
That being said, there will be some baby stuff. For now, just me, five months preggers!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17iL6roCWsmGLyig4YUMSgRj88P2YUjX8XV0p9XM0qACTYgaUYiopa-EsZm6-H2aSNgRQFIdmu2jEedSGE9OKRr_e2ji7VFYFLq_w0CuP3jAn3CgrlH1Jc7ReWRsMlAKFeTlkRO3aSM6G/s1600/Photo+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh17iL6roCWsmGLyig4YUMSgRj88P2YUjX8XV0p9XM0qACTYgaUYiopa-EsZm6-H2aSNgRQFIdmu2jEedSGE9OKRr_e2ji7VFYFLq_w0CuP3jAn3CgrlH1Jc7ReWRsMlAKFeTlkRO3aSM6G/s320/Photo+15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Just starting to pooch out a little :) I've started a poll with my family and friends, I'll post more about that later. Right now it's been a half an hour and of course, I have to pee again :PJemima Kickypantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328947320496238665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588212182468040346.post-46140922644296919472012-07-10T09:46:00.000-04:002012-07-10T09:46:00.555-04:00Don't tell anyone I was here!I'm supposed to be writing my thesis! I have TWO WEEKS to get it done! I am literally just here to say hello, and share a photo:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji39kjcS_QHhO7i5mbFjdmcFPg9IQH-yZpN1IA_bCXML3fbpyNKFYYuoo7xBQBhHcJc3CjYy1umvDCkU6dIqwdnL0B5IxfvpnEvVQM7WrUZ7qkI8USCs9Hq49XfieHLmk9HbOnac2_NH_O/s1600/2012-06-30+23.06.36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji39kjcS_QHhO7i5mbFjdmcFPg9IQH-yZpN1IA_bCXML3fbpyNKFYYuoo7xBQBhHcJc3CjYy1umvDCkU6dIqwdnL0B5IxfvpnEvVQM7WrUZ7qkI8USCs9Hq49XfieHLmk9HbOnac2_NH_O/s640/2012-06-30+23.06.36.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
See, I have this wonderful man who, when I said I love the flowers around our house, went out and cut some for me! We have lots and lots of hydrangea already established around our house and they bloom in all sorts of pretty colors! I was also delighted to find that we have a few garden rose bushes around the house (those cute little light pink flowers in the middle there). We have lavender and daisies and even Gerbara daisies (none that were in cutting shape though).<br />
<br />
Isn't he sweet?! He'd be proportionally sour though if he knew I was blogging instead of writing :) I must get back to work! Can't promise I'll be around for the next two weeks, but I'll have some big news when I get back ;)Jemima Kickypantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328947320496238665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588212182468040346.post-91474933887862058862012-06-28T16:38:00.000-04:002012-06-28T16:38:18.482-04:00Long-awaited details about stuff and junkI know I know, but let me explain!<br />
<br />
First: It's hard when you're no longer planning a wedding to write about cool stuff because I'm not doing cool stuff anymore. Meaning I'm not doing anymore awesome projects or freaking out about any more deadlines.<br />
<br />
Second: Our lab is moving, I'm not moving with it, so I had to pack up my stuff and prepare for my lying in at home with my computer and my gestating thesis. It's not quite quickened yet, but my committee is ready, and my defense is set for August 6th, so I have to get my midwifing on (are you guys liking my Elizabethan birthing references? They make me giggle.)<br />
<br />
Third: The house has little things here and there that still aren't 100% where we want them to be. Have a look see:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1iGJRxyJtVGLKxJG0YHpVpz8xqi7_MMBdzCVkdrScz-zLV2ai3OjYVt6FCfVeERilgQnlF60FKuB24sd-6S4_RFi5SHiGvWCTKSqyDN_IcgtXgTwzzmyYcDc3DucsBfciJ0wzYBx9A2f/s1600/2012-06-28+15.01.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1iGJRxyJtVGLKxJG0YHpVpz8xqi7_MMBdzCVkdrScz-zLV2ai3OjYVt6FCfVeERilgQnlF60FKuB24sd-6S4_RFi5SHiGvWCTKSqyDN_IcgtXgTwzzmyYcDc3DucsBfciJ0wzYBx9A2f/s400/2012-06-28+15.01.20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Now, as a disclaimer, most if not all of these boxes are either half empty already or they're just waiting to be transported to their final resting place (the four boxes/crates in the back by the door are Christmas decorations and costume stuff). Yeah, also there's a hamper there, and video games that just need to go upstairs, a TV that just doesn't have a stand yet, etc... But it does get frustrating sometimes, Kyle feels there should be <i>no more boxes!</i> I'm learning to ignore him ;) Either way, even today I was still arranging our bookshelves some more, so I just take it a day at a time.<br />
<br />
We are starting to get into a pretty good routine. Our computers are finally set up the way we want them, which is the last reason I hadn't done a post in awhile, I had a computer sitting in a box, it's now on a desk, check it!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyhuQ7PuVlptXoMAMtn1zNG_jVutygS-JlkJf6KNY1HPpqzWK73phn7WzEI7Kl7noN7w0uiAPMil6ip3tVjO9F7bOWjk_ahQaO1IkbwAQhyphenhyphenGBMdNy1CEbKbwE7_3qJBFDS2YAwbAs-gMS/s1600/2012-06-28+15.09.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyhuQ7PuVlptXoMAMtn1zNG_jVutygS-JlkJf6KNY1HPpqzWK73phn7WzEI7Kl7noN7w0uiAPMil6ip3tVjO9F7bOWjk_ahQaO1IkbwAQhyphenhyphenGBMdNy1CEbKbwE7_3qJBFDS2YAwbAs-gMS/s400/2012-06-28+15.09.49.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
This computer stuff is right up against all the clutter, so it's a thin line between progress and insanity right now. Order and Chaos.<br />
<br />
Also, It's more fun to sit on the couch watching old reruns of The New Adventures of Old Christine when your puppy is playing footsy with you:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zdTyky45SDGfh4keggT3yQ_f6NM5DKpT23yo9Koe7ek1voJ3tDwSoWIeHAH-dXvFwLOISFojaWr8Prjoa2LCZL4K50jsHkBRBGauIy4VWfMhZuSnmnNuWvr-DnZg8LeeWjFyt86v6YvJ/s1600/2012-06-28+12.55.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zdTyky45SDGfh4keggT3yQ_f6NM5DKpT23yo9Koe7ek1voJ3tDwSoWIeHAH-dXvFwLOISFojaWr8Prjoa2LCZL4K50jsHkBRBGauIy4VWfMhZuSnmnNuWvr-DnZg8LeeWjFyt86v6YvJ/s400/2012-06-28+12.55.07.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It tickled!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Anyway, who cares right? I'm here now! Yay!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Last time I posted, I wanted so badly to make summer strawberry pudding; a recipe I got from Alton:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/TStJZ3yToO8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
So I did, I macerated my strawberries, which I talked about last time, and which were awesome as strawberry shortcakes once I actually made the whipped cream (they weren't bad with greek yogurt, just a bit too sour, stick with the really-bad-for-you-but-awesome whipped heavy cream). Anyway, I set out to make this pudding:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixG1omv44qpaKzuHiAa9IaiWgWHaXSxIMbK78jXGJB8n11okbtoAgCk-qFullso3BIqkOk1v77HqPpMvddtbcUAfmt7qfoRTj1R0Zf_GGvWBjdnNv6wjGRd21gSiMEE4sFyJWx04WSyEoA/s1600/2012-06-18+19.29.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixG1omv44qpaKzuHiAa9IaiWgWHaXSxIMbK78jXGJB8n11okbtoAgCk-qFullso3BIqkOk1v77HqPpMvddtbcUAfmt7qfoRTj1R0Zf_GGvWBjdnNv6wjGRd21gSiMEE4sFyJWx04WSyEoA/s400/2012-06-18+19.29.02.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
You need four standard tin cans, tops and bottoms removed, a loaf of potato bread, and a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Oh, butter the bottom piece of potato bread.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzr-ZN0qMBqObMuKwM4jfrVrZicMAOjldCQV2pequucIzN6qaQqQR8dvV8Ry83zPoL4lUYcnCHNVPn05-8HFxCr1nsumT_pTyV9kqpVVm3_OmAcFlmuKOoFOSYfmeES9YPQh90o3A1yF96/s1600/2012-06-18+19.29.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzr-ZN0qMBqObMuKwM4jfrVrZicMAOjldCQV2pequucIzN6qaQqQR8dvV8Ry83zPoL4lUYcnCHNVPn05-8HFxCr1nsumT_pTyV9kqpVVm3_OmAcFlmuKOoFOSYfmeES9YPQh90o3A1yF96/s400/2012-06-18+19.29.15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
You waste A LOT of potato bread. Anyway, I put the buttered bread rounds on the bottom, butter side up, then put some strawberries plus juice on top, then layered another round of bread, more strawberries, etc...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PTNgNzisz3iwjpkZfES4T3DeXUTibhMCAMkLdHTTj25i1iYfdEt-3IdiRVIxcU4ArD1kqc-YI6gXpicZUUBoKeYnHoUqIPMWlfCVROlD3HQ_ZsaQe0AlNvYY0WH5DX_KGeLV9xtQA8dC/s1600/2012-06-18+19.31.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PTNgNzisz3iwjpkZfES4T3DeXUTibhMCAMkLdHTTj25i1iYfdEt-3IdiRVIxcU4ArD1kqc-YI6gXpicZUUBoKeYnHoUqIPMWlfCVROlD3HQ_ZsaQe0AlNvYY0WH5DX_KGeLV9xtQA8dC/s400/2012-06-18+19.31.56.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Looks so pretty, right?? And so so easy!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdnpMyviGsqnh-b-PN-zhV9QttqSH5HcIVs1vLQgjGPDPqV-J4lUJenwCaE_0rlC6WpupdSZ0JjrSHSatTXyacD-_i-oDsz0xY8K0FCnjEa3zthyphenhyphenm0wBACrLSlWTl_7YT3mYUXLLNsATc/s1600/2012-06-18+19.32.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipdnpMyviGsqnh-b-PN-zhV9QttqSH5HcIVs1vLQgjGPDPqV-J4lUJenwCaE_0rlC6WpupdSZ0JjrSHSatTXyacD-_i-oDsz0xY8K0FCnjEa3zthyphenhyphenm0wBACrLSlWTl_7YT3mYUXLLNsATc/s320/2012-06-18+19.32.49.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlwjvZxSwVCLVzoRy-t_FSfKIQZAt3L53m7ZoyPuxxC6d0c-M-i192Bfg7lDFYpMVAecdkXdigvm8fTJxJ2_067PW9C1ePWm67AbpiZPie674tABDs3P9MhMRLVG1nO-8BLGLC7IrUNrS/s1600/2012-06-18+19.33.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlwjvZxSwVCLVzoRy-t_FSfKIQZAt3L53m7ZoyPuxxC6d0c-M-i192Bfg7lDFYpMVAecdkXdigvm8fTJxJ2_067PW9C1ePWm67AbpiZPie674tABDs3P9MhMRLVG1nO-8BLGLC7IrUNrS/s320/2012-06-18+19.33.21.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
After the last piece of bread, put the lids back on top of the pudding, and weight with four smaller cans, soda cans are what Alton suggests, but I discovered that tomato soup cans are actually perfectly sized!<br />
<br />
Let this set in your fridge for at least 8 hours, the pectin from the strawberries makes the whole thing gel together!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8qYwbTIYJUV2dhykgPOjD55ayOocNkT4HfPhpE263yTBmYkFSDh-U1VKUdJUtuRLCM_CRGuIRKz0vKSzUI6OeYjqD1P1AL2g1LrWFgRH6kHll2c89z7aiWNTSKnU9gffZu67bPL_Pjqb/s1600/2012-06-19+19.20.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr8qYwbTIYJUV2dhykgPOjD55ayOocNkT4HfPhpE263yTBmYkFSDh-U1VKUdJUtuRLCM_CRGuIRKz0vKSzUI6OeYjqD1P1AL2g1LrWFgRH6kHll2c89z7aiWNTSKnU9gffZu67bPL_Pjqb/s400/2012-06-19+19.20.52.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Look how pretty!!! I forgot to take a picture of one with whipped cream on it, but, yeah, put whipped cream on it. OK, so that was the fun part right? Ready for the not so awesome part? It was super sour! I was so disappointed. Maybe I picked a bad wine, maybe I let it set too long (I did it overnight), maybe there was too much air to it and the wine fermented, maybe strawberries and tin equals ick... I have no idea, please don't let my negative experience sway you from trying, but I had half a mind to write to Alton and ask what gives, because I was super super excited to eat this and I couldn't even get through more than a couple bites :( And Kyle was going to suffer through it for me too, and he wouldn't say it was bad until I said it was bad (and then he apologized a bunch of times... he's such a sport and a sweetie!).<br />
<br />
Anyway, I don't want to dwell on it, it was a big disappointment, that's the last I'll say. So let's move on to cooler stuff. Last I'll report on today is that we finally got the house looking presentable enough for me to show you some pictures! There are still a few things laying around, please don't judge, but for the most part, come on in!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGdgGq6CH3nt0Dc6k5R95hobIRMHJiKVZAx8ExEb-L_PEGh7uGvhew4SphuN5pySBYA4H62aO4Dhcf17ccnHS8T2L1tSbw1qvQcFTNgjMkSEYAeHV-D_MCRjAxuVdmjkgWTHRImg4fO6J/s1600/2012-06-28+13.02.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqGdgGq6CH3nt0Dc6k5R95hobIRMHJiKVZAx8ExEb-L_PEGh7uGvhew4SphuN5pySBYA4H62aO4Dhcf17ccnHS8T2L1tSbw1qvQcFTNgjMkSEYAeHV-D_MCRjAxuVdmjkgWTHRImg4fO6J/s400/2012-06-28+13.02.04.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
As you walk in the front door, this is our living room, complete with new coffee table and sofa and loveseat. The shelf is our DVD shelf, I <i>just</i> filled that up a few days ago because we <i>just</i> rearranged our furniture to fit it in a few days ago. Here's a better look at the furniture from the other side of the room:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1h2-gw6dKFdbS6bFHT3pMnWL8Yvr39b9iaG2eauNMQb9rkfddgm75dZZQqurfd7WZuEIgGvqvFdo27KFFkM8pwJnk53YSkH7frY8DHsywnRi_4LVB3wvoBPs14akE6RRZPqxoqaWf35-/s1600/2012-06-28+14.23.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1h2-gw6dKFdbS6bFHT3pMnWL8Yvr39b9iaG2eauNMQb9rkfddgm75dZZQqurfd7WZuEIgGvqvFdo27KFFkM8pwJnk53YSkH7frY8DHsywnRi_4LVB3wvoBPs14akE6RRZPqxoqaWf35-/s400/2012-06-28+14.23.35.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
There are doors to kitchen and dining room as well as stairs to the upper level, but since this picture is taken standing in the opening of the dining room, we'll go there next, just turn around:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUrgpNJOEXbdP345vI3t0-6D-Rc0Ruqqvg8g3Fjvxd1m_Z0H60zQI87Dc8Y68wWpJeQkxbwzLwNYLsuZ3Hw-hA50P7kcqhsHjPSt-oVAkzCy2HN61rMbTJ-DXCXoMTD81w72V27gcXvni/s1600/2012-06-28+14.21.53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUrgpNJOEXbdP345vI3t0-6D-Rc0Ruqqvg8g3Fjvxd1m_Z0H60zQI87Dc8Y68wWpJeQkxbwzLwNYLsuZ3Hw-hA50P7kcqhsHjPSt-oVAkzCy2HN61rMbTJ-DXCXoMTD81w72V27gcXvni/s400/2012-06-28+14.21.53.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Besides the boxes on the left that need to be recycled and the boxes on the right that need to be put away, I'm super happy with our little dining room. We have those great french doors and I've got all my cookbooks and entertaining stuff on the rack on the left and pots and pans on the rack on the right. I like the set up a lot. We're totally almost there to being totally domesticated!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFc0gxekJs5U0v28q8Vw2Wphl3i0_hwH4VzUsogzlSKBSH4M6UDyB6Uu795N0oxLTlTtAeTIRGOrq4m9xEIYX1_Kympbu7FOr6crCJNlZ66x21SEkbod8OntjAGw_PngcWqIh-LU3Y1C1/s1600/2012-06-28+14.22.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFc0gxekJs5U0v28q8Vw2Wphl3i0_hwH4VzUsogzlSKBSH4M6UDyB6Uu795N0oxLTlTtAeTIRGOrq4m9xEIYX1_Kympbu7FOr6crCJNlZ66x21SEkbod8OntjAGw_PngcWqIh-LU3Y1C1/s400/2012-06-28+14.22.20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Our kitchen/dining room is all nice and open, which makes the kitchen feel bigger, which is necessary because it's not a huge kitchen. But it's awesome and I'm so happy with it, from my dishwasher that makes life 50 million times easier to the hood which is an actual working hood to my oven that cooks stuff fast without heating the whole house, to the window over the sink, which I just don't think anyone should ever have to live without.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Anyway, I'll gush more later, that doorway leads down to the lower level of the house wherein lies my pride and joy; the library:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1F5VFDy2bpI6r38dWXgcVeq8_j5zpsX41wHqx6tRFmdCr2_3XQIhUdPJaYJpmONEPwBzmOFBU1RxcBQA73ilXSe0NyUnDgcbcEFhyT2LCy1sO2ohcuQw0MAJ7A6y87vU8rXjVWEvL4h1h/s1600/2012-06-28+14.18.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1F5VFDy2bpI6r38dWXgcVeq8_j5zpsX41wHqx6tRFmdCr2_3XQIhUdPJaYJpmONEPwBzmOFBU1RxcBQA73ilXSe0NyUnDgcbcEFhyT2LCy1sO2ohcuQw0MAJ7A6y87vU8rXjVWEvL4h1h/s400/2012-06-28+14.18.08.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Our old couch sits in this cozy, low-ceilinged room on the lower level with our books. ALL our books:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KwGw_X34KRBtj_vSfQQEP1Xnmg6qpZbjUiJy82ANKgI4jq1FnNTApDpSax0TX9hp5e1Q2JjMrzuwo94Wcj0g3YhnrXUN6-Qu06h0I59IMxuPzigmD3H4wn3kt_oVvOA7pqzZOge3Ez4p/s1600/2012-06-28+14.17.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9KwGw_X34KRBtj_vSfQQEP1Xnmg6qpZbjUiJy82ANKgI4jq1FnNTApDpSax0TX9hp5e1Q2JjMrzuwo94Wcj0g3YhnrXUN6-Qu06h0I59IMxuPzigmD3H4wn3kt_oVvOA7pqzZOge3Ez4p/s400/2012-06-28+14.17.24.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is such a cozy cozy place. Soft light (it only looks blaring because my cell phone camera is no professional camera), you're away from the rest of the house and confined by the low ceilings. I love it, I read and nap here all the time. There's even a door separating this room from the rest of the downstairs where the other bonus rooms are (including the computer room). Lastly, if you go back upstairs and then up the stairs from the entrance, you'll get to the top floor, where the bedrooms are. There are four bedrooms but the only one worth a damn is the one with our new bedroom furniture in it:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOL3rNE3Hi3C3WferOT55MglRk3s48feFaQFpX8YlmD4_VcZ3-rMb39AUUDIvdGgSTO2-STROdEytBRnVIV__q5LlAlf-eEM8d0y8_AHtatzB5McsbXIW3Pntv1Dtg10wY4METp1bc1Tf/s1600/2012-06-28+13.08.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOL3rNE3Hi3C3WferOT55MglRk3s48feFaQFpX8YlmD4_VcZ3-rMb39AUUDIvdGgSTO2-STROdEytBRnVIV__q5LlAlf-eEM8d0y8_AHtatzB5McsbXIW3Pntv1Dtg10wY4METp1bc1Tf/s400/2012-06-28+13.08.51.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I'm in a weird corner here, but there's our dresser and chest of drawers, brand new from Bassett. That door leads to our master bath. If you go to another weird corner, the closed door is the door entering the bedroom, and the open door is the door to our walk-in closet. And of course this is our new platform bed and night stands:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbyRh5WIHE64tCMKQqG_s-6BH-mJMAZIGSnoiKxv9gvLI8_DmEfckb1eUqqGCwaboNKR-B4XQHMC_LOIFsDAhsIf9ZeiKz1sAFLHfNMS8NiW8oZ7ZNK-gbT-_vZxZYSQR08qQ6T5uC4M1/s1600/2012-06-28+13.09.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbyRh5WIHE64tCMKQqG_s-6BH-mJMAZIGSnoiKxv9gvLI8_DmEfckb1eUqqGCwaboNKR-B4XQHMC_LOIFsDAhsIf9ZeiKz1sAFLHfNMS8NiW8oZ7ZNK-gbT-_vZxZYSQR08qQ6T5uC4M1/s400/2012-06-28+13.09.56.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So that's where the magic happens. Haha! Just kidding, I mean, gross. OK, well that's my cue. I could ramble on and on, but my back hurts from the odd angle of my desk and chair, and I've got other important stuff to do today! I hope the mass of pictures today makes up for my long absences a little. As I mentioned before, I've got to get lots and lots of work done on my thesis, so I will continue to be sporadic, but thanks to everyone who keeps sticking around!</div>Jemima Kickypantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328947320496238665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588212182468040346.post-20953441789450953212012-06-15T14:02:00.001-04:002012-06-15T14:02:24.283-04:00Strawberries!!!As promised, I remembered my bloggista manners and actually took pictures as I dealt with some strawberries yesterday! Huzzah!!<br />
<br />
So, as I mentioned in my last post, Kyle and I went strawberry picking last weekend, which I was really thankful for because I knew he'd be stressed and not really in the mood to do anything fun because he's been doing so much not-fun stuff lately; getting his Jeep fixed, paying lots of bills, getting the house moved into, taking care of the yard, etc... But with very very little pushing, I convinced him that he should relax and do something fun... that was until strawberry picking day dawned a balmy 90 degrees. We went anyway, armed with water battles and with promises of ice cream right after.<br />
<br />
We picked 16 pounds of strawberries, ya'll!!!! Strawberries are heavy, it didn't seem like 16 pounds, but that's how much two baskets weigh. By the way, I don't even know where my camera is to have taken pictures at the orchard, sorry. Here's some other people at the farm we went to having fun:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58xDtaf4pclPkHvg_5rOL5QwkwwugObxR4LbxeBOjHasUunMrFCpetiD_mCOctLJH_bt-mt74yXCUkJGxu55OhCeYUcjXC9ypKmRX7RFchLVnLYT4aSS4Js4_8jlcgLT4Ht5jYdXiA6wX/s1600/167139_499179496992_1443533_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg58xDtaf4pclPkHvg_5rOL5QwkwwugObxR4LbxeBOjHasUunMrFCpetiD_mCOctLJH_bt-mt74yXCUkJGxu55OhCeYUcjXC9ypKmRX7RFchLVnLYT4aSS4Js4_8jlcgLT4Ht5jYdXiA6wX/s320/167139_499179496992_1443533_n.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDzCBGMVN7Cc7k0hkSzxQlillfvcKAYU8d2A3rChn4khm7Y3bKOqGkd-NiJ5HNfTzAt0g2RUQmYujon1KAZD4KRO_syYT2sFF6dRBjaQ29FKb1KJOPLW2LKWvpFhMMkFrJ0nsM_ijD6vD/s1600/240698_10150185276366993_5012748_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDzCBGMVN7Cc7k0hkSzxQlillfvcKAYU8d2A3rChn4khm7Y3bKOqGkd-NiJ5HNfTzAt0g2RUQmYujon1KAZD4KRO_syYT2sFF6dRBjaQ29FKb1KJOPLW2LKWvpFhMMkFrJ0nsM_ijD6vD/s320/240698_10150185276366993_5012748_o.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
So this is <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Shady-Brook-Farm/324129026992">Shady Brook Farm</a>!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GIaNCULPIs-TIRhEYRDnpHRbB90BsXYFNTx0llyiBQxxLY2xv2cV7o6r31K7qpf-ylq0xihczNLlgNkc-DCS9WxxBP8wg1lUTWmNGPir6DCNve1MIx3XOJsZWaGf43JytblPxcKaJicj/s1600/34139_424669706992_6715562_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_GIaNCULPIs-TIRhEYRDnpHRbB90BsXYFNTx0llyiBQxxLY2xv2cV7o6r31K7qpf-ylq0xihczNLlgNkc-DCS9WxxBP8wg1lUTWmNGPir6DCNve1MIx3XOJsZWaGf43JytblPxcKaJicj/s400/34139_424669706992_6715562_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
There's lots of stuff to do there, and they're huge on kid stuff, there's stuff for kids all the time!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Y9n3VVjDR2VU_ln7IHdtq8_6bDwmL0BYkLur2fMVRE0CPjpd3vJLEaTOYr9y8Nox9u7BWGAlgObSOveTsUCGOS5x6TzowGFRNKNY3YHHZh6eQlC7YEvdtmAF62c9iafdDXw9m4tdQ3jZ/s1600/470718_10150863027001993_1227453939_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Y9n3VVjDR2VU_ln7IHdtq8_6bDwmL0BYkLur2fMVRE0CPjpd3vJLEaTOYr9y8Nox9u7BWGAlgObSOveTsUCGOS5x6TzowGFRNKNY3YHHZh6eQlC7YEvdtmAF62c9iafdDXw9m4tdQ3jZ/s400/470718_10150863027001993_1227453939_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
And of course, there's lots of strawberry fields. They also have pick your own apples, blueberries, blackberries, cantaloupe, peaches, pumpkins, raspberries, tomatoes and watermelon. They also make their own wine and have all sorts of herbs and cheeses and a market with a deli and an ice cream shop. It's pretty awesome there, but not so great on a 90 degree day with no wind. Nonetheless, like I said, it was still a successful day because we walked out of there in a little over an hour with 16 pounds of strawberries.<br />
<br />
So anyway, I've frozen about 2/3 of the strawberries, because it's just too many to eat fresh. Kind of sad, but I'll probably make stuff out of the frozen ones anyway. I didn't have dry ice like Alton Brown suggests, but I do have a FoodSaver, so hopefully they will thaw relatively well. Speaking of Alton, it's his inspiration I used to make a tasty concoction with the remaining 1/3 of the strawberries:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ddn7Z85NOwQ?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I macerated the strawberries so they could be used in any number of applications. Macerated strawberries is easy, watch the video. I made it a lot harder on myself by losing my wine opener kit. So I used the ole' push the cork all the way through method... it didn't go well:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyh9qiKsBghMkPXiHaqAN6y15da3_HwrNSd1pQVf_CMnBXHwr_nTCL006E_lRspt2TJQiWPoK1g5FHhye5UpfUg-CgpK5rlIPk8caLeGECPSzur3ndHMagbig4NVIsaNizwVUKFum-R-3s/s1600/2012-06-14+20.01.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyh9qiKsBghMkPXiHaqAN6y15da3_HwrNSd1pQVf_CMnBXHwr_nTCL006E_lRspt2TJQiWPoK1g5FHhye5UpfUg-CgpK5rlIPk8caLeGECPSzur3ndHMagbig4NVIsaNizwVUKFum-R-3s/s640/2012-06-14+20.01.39.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Wayta' go!! I also got it all over myself and the counter and the floor, but the ceiling was the best. It put me in mind immediately of Eddie Murphy and Daddy Day Care, when he takes the kid to the bathroom and the kid says "I missed!" which is exactly what I'm going to tell Kyle to break the tension.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
AnyWAY! Wine is breathing, break out the software:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9o-EeEJ_lFL3Id-sJj4waVfgEsCsE5AjOF_RVfQZb6iSDctLWA2lzo1fzSI0H4X51jLaYJAbi9fov_HYRur6D23wLqtS8FndmKca1fn-KwXotBJcv6SmVhi-RpKZJcaOXpxDrgwFXsoyP/s1600/2012-06-14+20.30.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9o-EeEJ_lFL3Id-sJj4waVfgEsCsE5AjOF_RVfQZb6iSDctLWA2lzo1fzSI0H4X51jLaYJAbi9fov_HYRur6D23wLqtS8FndmKca1fn-KwXotBJcv6SmVhi-RpKZJcaOXpxDrgwFXsoyP/s400/2012-06-14+20.30.58.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Strawberries of course! And as Alton recommends, I did NOT go out and buy a strawberry huller, I used my trusty dusty star tip from my piping kit:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WwhwWWM49oQ5nj5mIqZ-9Qv7-zPpbp0hyphenhyphenC0xdiCoKqiSsb0aDJkTb0hXPfD56VAshSmvPhuDjNB-eiQJOu7eXF-aAzsCGui2pazXketXtLDJsslxJ_EmY2xnUUu8dUZlDE1y6bW1ytUR/s1600/2012-06-14+20.35.12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WwhwWWM49oQ5nj5mIqZ-9Qv7-zPpbp0hyphenhyphenC0xdiCoKqiSsb0aDJkTb0hXPfD56VAshSmvPhuDjNB-eiQJOu7eXF-aAzsCGui2pazXketXtLDJsslxJ_EmY2xnUUu8dUZlDE1y6bW1ytUR/s400/2012-06-14+20.35.12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
It is an excellent alternative and does not damage the rest of the berry, but if you have squishy berries, you might squish them while trying to insert the tip and twist it. I had mostly firm ones, so... not to brag or anything...<br />
<br />
Moving on, the recipe for the macerated strawberries is just the strawberries (pretty much however many can fit in the container you're using, red wine (acid to stop the strawberry flesh from consuming itself), honey (you know what that's for), and lemon zest.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2ZMBa1T5x9TTu2UBEUbSn59hgxhwKnlUUC8tm8Ot1puFdV0WwPcSYki0ME5uqnhFYP349CQW4XzfIlKSm2_aE7TFkOlsZin6wMbbyLW3rmmBJvAjY205PkuLh1bKelRGGQ7TSUBnp7FM/s1600/2012-06-14+20.38.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2ZMBa1T5x9TTu2UBEUbSn59hgxhwKnlUUC8tm8Ot1puFdV0WwPcSYki0ME5uqnhFYP349CQW4XzfIlKSm2_aE7TFkOlsZin6wMbbyLW3rmmBJvAjY205PkuLh1bKelRGGQ7TSUBnp7FM/s400/2012-06-14+20.38.54.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
Alton didn't tell me this, but I think that a sweeter red works best, because you don't want it too dry or tannic, then you'll only taste dry red wine, and your berries will be oaky instead of crisp, but what do I know?<br />
<br />
Moving on again, I do NOT, however, own an egg slicer. I don't think they exist anymore... Who uses an egg slicer still?! Don't anyone answer that. I sliced every single one of those strawberries (there was also another tray that I didn't take a picture of) by hand:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeQOY1gick6deCdAGkjcUrxIf0XQDVpydBWW4o-lYHI7Zk_KiZ6fvzR83sLBmaMaXdaLBmWditxysaC1wYBe0GUTmq1_tcR1QnunfkLM9erCj5NZSBeAtKgGREAhRQb-ot7aMV6A0owSJ/s1600/2012-06-14+21.10.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeQOY1gick6deCdAGkjcUrxIf0XQDVpydBWW4o-lYHI7Zk_KiZ6fvzR83sLBmaMaXdaLBmWditxysaC1wYBe0GUTmq1_tcR1QnunfkLM9erCj5NZSBeAtKgGREAhRQb-ot7aMV6A0owSJ/s400/2012-06-14+21.10.33.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
(I got really bored, but I pressed on!) Then you just put the strawberries in a container with the wine and the honey and lemon zest... Alton also says pepper, I have nothing against pepper but I completely forgot it. All in all, I used all the wine and filled two half gallon containers with macerated strawberries. Phew.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi224QcbHRNm6FeY1w7PXagCK5KASW3v4s7fLGi2xO4WQwNlFhkXuxreWbAdq7tItnlwkEiofVwgDP9TkS9Kq13rnynzsPir9yBjxSyjd6gvLeU6wcG8_4zslLYYz56x9rnsJ3Px8vCrzzL/s1600/2012-06-14+21.10.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi224QcbHRNm6FeY1w7PXagCK5KASW3v4s7fLGi2xO4WQwNlFhkXuxreWbAdq7tItnlwkEiofVwgDP9TkS9Kq13rnynzsPir9yBjxSyjd6gvLeU6wcG8_4zslLYYz56x9rnsJ3Px8vCrzzL/s400/2012-06-14+21.10.51.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
It took me about two hours, all said and done, and I made one hell of a mess. But then I did a little dance because I have a garbage disposal now! Yippee!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriLmPviLd1l1WZhwt4jL6lKra1plh_kYAWh3eZM1IgVWIhqaUdgw5rPAQQE_vPaSQJn218mdK2rRsTGWZkIF7YDYtFJNut5QQQt1nnc94cnK4Y6wDLh4mEUhBBUmYdzcJwlgJQgFOMzxZ/s1600/2012-06-14+21.33.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriLmPviLd1l1WZhwt4jL6lKra1plh_kYAWh3eZM1IgVWIhqaUdgw5rPAQQE_vPaSQJn218mdK2rRsTGWZkIF7YDYtFJNut5QQQt1nnc94cnK4Y6wDLh4mEUhBBUmYdzcJwlgJQgFOMzxZ/s400/2012-06-14+21.33.33.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So, after all that, I went to bed, but when I got up the next morning, I instantly thought that I must do something with those strawberries, it would be a travesty not to! Of course, what's the best dessert/breakfast involving strawberries?! Why the short cake of the berry straw, of course! I had Bisquick! I made biscuits! I had shortcake!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQKkAEfgQp6-_PUeWeZ9B94Asyd4v8sJjiWdFEoYwEhz3JdDis_xca16a79J7FPsXG9Ym3_3PrjXh9B6OwmjKAUx8SUUgfPbXjmwbpQGkfsp2wl6lIeFGOoEy7s_Lfnsy6JYQ6Tp-TcjB/s1600/2012-06-15+08.19.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQKkAEfgQp6-_PUeWeZ9B94Asyd4v8sJjiWdFEoYwEhz3JdDis_xca16a79J7FPsXG9Ym3_3PrjXh9B6OwmjKAUx8SUUgfPbXjmwbpQGkfsp2wl6lIeFGOoEy7s_Lfnsy6JYQ6Tp-TcjB/s640/2012-06-15+08.19.30.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Beautiful yes?! So the only mistake I made was that I had heavy cream but I thought that it would be a healthy alternative to use Greek yogurt instead of whipped cream. It was a bad idea, it actually made the whole thing too sour. The berries in wine is already a little sour, don't make it worse for yourself. I had good intentions but I'll be sticking with some sweetened, whipped cream next time. Other than that, anyone that knows me knows that I hate fruit on bread or fruit in my jello or fruit on anything basically. I eat food as it is, and I eat fruit as it is, I don't usually like to mix fruit with anything... ANYTHING!! But this was awesome, I ate it all. None for you.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And Alton goes on to explain my next recipe, which I cannot wait to try:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/TStJZ3yToO8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But I'm visiting family this weekend, so hopefully I will be able to make strawberry summer pudding when I get back home! Also when I get back home, I'll take pictures of the new furniture too, promise, and thank you Lara Ann for reminding me that I didn't give credit where credit was due! Our furniture is from <a href="http://www.bassettfurniture.com/">Bassett</a>. Next, I need to find a rug for the living room... thus begins the new saga.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
If anyone has any strawberry recipes for me to try, send them along!!</div>Jemima Kickypantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328947320496238665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588212182468040346.post-57017189516983800872012-06-08T15:16:00.000-04:002012-06-08T15:16:07.686-04:00Adventures in HomeowningI will start by apologizing for what is no doubt going to be a wordy post. But it's been awhile and I don't have many pictures. I'll try to make it worth your while.<br />
<br />
A week ago, started living in our new house! Last Tuesday, we were surprised by a knock on our townhouse door and Kyle's bestest buddy, Dan, had driven to Philadelphia from Baltimore to help us move! It was just about the sweetest thing anyone (who isn't related to us and therefore obligated in some way) had ever done for us. He had taken off the whole week to help us move. So he helped us finish our packing, load the truck on Wednesday, go to settlement and move in on Thursday, and cut the grass on Friday!<br />
<br />
I could go on about how awesome that was, but like I said, I'm trying to not be TOO wordy. He was a life saver! He was a better truck organizer than I would have been, and he and Kyle communicated better moving stuff up and down stairs. So remarkably, he also made the whole process more peaceful, because I would not have wanted to make the days even worse by bickering with Kyle.<br />
<br />
So since then, we've just been slowly moving in. Kitchen was first, and it felt really really good organizing a nice kitchen, especially with all the new wedding gifts that we didn't allow ourselves to open at the townhouse because we would have just had to pack them right back up.<br />
<br />
I already burned my first dinner! It was just frozen pizza; I've cooked with natural gas all my life, and now we have an electric oven and stove... in my defense, it's a really really good oven and it cooked the pizza a lot faster than I expected! So I set the smoke detector off within the first few days of moving in!<br />
<br />
Anyway, back to moving, I was really discouraged for awhile:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOIH0NV6uVvixvKLNJqKDOZ5eA4wO29jWtkXpmzGaH-9opKF31cc16hqos9n_PA3PAu64cfrwtefR4Cn0kOcLcAyJJxnV2tZMAQFVfV5WBYShn6UECzmw20mVQ0cPNXOqflVdxfbSmu5w/s1600/2012-06-01+10.18.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuOIH0NV6uVvixvKLNJqKDOZ5eA4wO29jWtkXpmzGaH-9opKF31cc16hqos9n_PA3PAu64cfrwtefR4Cn0kOcLcAyJJxnV2tZMAQFVfV5WBYShn6UECzmw20mVQ0cPNXOqflVdxfbSmu5w/s400/2012-06-01+10.18.24.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
But we're already powering through and so there's only a few miscellaneous boxes left. Also burdensom has been the amount of trash, broken boxes, and allllll that packing paper for fragile things. But enough about that, on Wednesday, we had FiOS installed (yay!! we've wanted it for years but it wasn't available in the city) and today I'm waiting for lots of furniture to be delivered!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Sx42qxK5Mi4txufDBdbmihnyLH55B3oOherxGhGMy3iXveDmjdu1d6QLmi_crUX0KrRXN2kATYBc2w5LTgQM1DHd2l_g2hfxgkUeyt81M2exNNR6zX6sE0-z_W2lNLoEHurAsJuMrH2c/s1600/2222-K169D_SP11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Sx42qxK5Mi4txufDBdbmihnyLH55B3oOherxGhGMy3iXveDmjdu1d6QLmi_crUX0KrRXN2kATYBc2w5LTgQM1DHd2l_g2hfxgkUeyt81M2exNNR6zX6sE0-z_W2lNLoEHurAsJuMrH2c/s400/2222-K169D_SP11.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
New bed, bed frame, nightstands, dresser, chest of drawers, and sofa, loveseat, coffee table, and end table for the living room. Whew. That's why I haven't taken any pictures of the house yet, it doesn't seem to have any stuff in it!<br />
<br />
My mom came to visit over the weekend; no one from my family had seen the house in person yet, so I was really happy she could come, and we just hung out for awhile and got Five Guys. Thanks, Mama!<br />
<br />
Kyle and I also spent more time than we'd like to admit watching our new front-loading washing machine going around in circles... it's super exciting. Tonight, Kyle's mom is coming to visit and bring our puppy to her new home. I might be more excited for her than for us, she's been forced to do her business in a very small, overgrown yard for her whole life.<br />
<br />
Other than that, the new house is kinda' paradise; we have pretty butterflies and birds in the morning, bunnies in the afternoon, and bats at night (don't knock 'em! I haven't been bit by a mosquito yet!). My commute to work is awful now, but since I'm almost done, I don't have to make the drive too many more times. I've also started playing with some new toys:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsI3Vk1wKVfinb7UDcfElD_-UoVtjRsOEXEL40FaPb5ZYPC76Rw0Uj5KXu6Cw0QTYZQfKbH1tvYOF0C-NhF5YBNwr43xuzfvlprWGXLOQvug1wZyNN5r70zmo_bPpmZTERC8YiLk0196HD/s1600/2012-06-08+11.05.37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsI3Vk1wKVfinb7UDcfElD_-UoVtjRsOEXEL40FaPb5ZYPC76Rw0Uj5KXu6Cw0QTYZQfKbH1tvYOF0C-NhF5YBNwr43xuzfvlprWGXLOQvug1wZyNN5r70zmo_bPpmZTERC8YiLk0196HD/s400/2012-06-08+11.05.37.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Say hello to my little friend! I got a Ninja!! These little things are badass! Go get one. I had berries frozen in the freezer, vanilla greek yogurt, and some chocolate syrup, and the Ninja made short work of it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Sfin-Kz0vY0GtnJoOBO9hMliFipAakzj3MgsfsQbbpBsk94GpnCW1dcd5h6Ow6sDqR02bu5K69jm93P9Vr4YmvtkmO65rPjohd-Arpo6UknkXawWup6Yl5eAwlmjgHeC7r0pBrFvN97Y/s1600/2012-06-08+11.07.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Sfin-Kz0vY0GtnJoOBO9hMliFipAakzj3MgsfsQbbpBsk94GpnCW1dcd5h6Ow6sDqR02bu5K69jm93P9Vr4YmvtkmO65rPjohd-Arpo6UknkXawWup6Yl5eAwlmjgHeC7r0pBrFvN97Y/s400/2012-06-08+11.07.24.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
MMMMMMmmmmmmmm!! Healthy, and awesome. I'm not a huge fan of the gigantic seeds, but it was so good and so quick and easy to make, I overlooked them as I scarfed this down. Oh, and look forward to strawberry recipes; we're going strawberry picking this weekend!! Yay!!! I love strawberries!! I love strawberry picking!!! I'M SO EXCITED!!<br />
<br />
So, the furniture guys should be here soon, and I've gone on long enough anyway. With thesis writing and home making, I'll be sporadic, but I promise I won't abandon you!!Jemima Kickypantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328947320496238665noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588212182468040346.post-44614451304854574992012-05-31T19:45:00.001-04:002012-05-31T19:45:18.277-04:00It's home<div><p>:)</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhMQGd4_nf_9sWC-_WR2oGpGa84JGrWNzBT2lbxSVgRK8Zy6ABingQPHfTeXGdg5LhuWPJtpaaO0G2JDBDaZkYddxHDZBBtR_UWxE1XFbAT4klBegBCvTxCw0dBz-VWTSXbijgpqX_yA/' /></div>Jemima Kickypantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328947320496238665noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588212182468040346.post-67859069693372425412012-05-24T15:51:00.000-04:002012-05-24T15:51:12.738-04:00[Mis]adventures in album-makingHello All... a very distressed lady greets you today. I'm so frustrated that it only made sense to get it all out... I plan on doing some good ole' fashioned bashin' today!<br />
<br />
Ready? Here it goes!<br />
<br />
I was supposed to do this long, tedious experiment today that then fell through, so I had some time on my hands to... do a whole lotta' nuthin'. I decided to look at wedding photos, since it's past time to start thinking about albums.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeVh_7tqEU6K2DGffVWDae93sMwWBgHTX93vhxtTpELwMr1rVqRDFVbd_D5Y0R_diuzcGObwT58FEusFzQp1fZOAOTaJtcsky5G_o1jsYfZ80KgjaDFFuKVpnDyvt07K7M9U21dVwnXqQ/s1600/coverdisplay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeVh_7tqEU6K2DGffVWDae93sMwWBgHTX93vhxtTpELwMr1rVqRDFVbd_D5Y0R_diuzcGObwT58FEusFzQp1fZOAOTaJtcsky5G_o1jsYfZ80KgjaDFFuKVpnDyvt07K7M9U21dVwnXqQ/s400/coverdisplay.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's really hard nowadays just to find an image of an old fashioned album... I won't say 'crappy' per se, but I think we all know that the days of glued-in-pictures albums are history. Taking the place of these not-so-sturdy albums is the flush mount album of course:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAVR4wtyubtoFOGZOlJcXWslJprsnoRSlwfmrOTVqCLl8y59Pvw9lGomR1XtgC4isjPftyqa2FRL2QowwAKLUKlYjQipBQPcvi-vAhZifJij0EUZItDrItFm-uZR4v_E4QTydeF95wOH3/s1600/ceremony-details-from-flush-mount-wedding-album-minneapolis-photographer-becca-dilley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtAVR4wtyubtoFOGZOlJcXWslJprsnoRSlwfmrOTVqCLl8y59Pvw9lGomR1XtgC4isjPftyqa2FRL2QowwAKLUKlYjQipBQPcvi-vAhZifJij0EUZItDrItFm-uZR4v_E4QTydeF95wOH3/s400/ceremony-details-from-flush-mount-wedding-album-minneapolis-photographer-becca-dilley.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This should come as no surprise to most. Even the super cheap companies like <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/">Shutterfly</a> and <a href="http://www.adoramapix.com/">AdoramaPix</a> use this fancy shcmancy technology. Those albums you can get for probably a maximum of $100. We use them for vacation photos and gifts for family members... but they don't exactly qualify as wedding album quality. No offense to these companies and others like them, the purpose of Shutterfly and AdoramaPix is ease and affordability. Shutterfly photobooks are the bare bones; thin pages, regular binding, but still great quality, and hardcover to boot! Adoramapix pages are slightly thicker, quality is slightly better, and they have the added bonus of having lay-flat pages with no seam in the middle so you can add panorama shots. Pretty cool, but still, not high quality enough for a wedding album.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So I set off on my search for professional album companies. The first place I looked was my own e-mail archives. Ben had originally told me his album pricing, and I knew there was a reason I had disregarded it in the beginning:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0ePUx_c82rB6kq6SSgXuG1VvAUMsdi4PTB9zNm_b7zE-NE7hgZGh6MqubyQYhxmH5CoijezhbQnW39xn7R7kWqgPwm3DaddVaLQ4qH93MHbHz6UOSCUkbRZHE-QgvCOfPaFFDb_2gDkP/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0ePUx_c82rB6kq6SSgXuG1VvAUMsdi4PTB9zNm_b7zE-NE7hgZGh6MqubyQYhxmH5CoijezhbQnW39xn7R7kWqgPwm3DaddVaLQ4qH93MHbHz6UOSCUkbRZHE-QgvCOfPaFFDb_2gDkP/s1600/Picture+1.png" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Eww... I don't get it! Those prices are ridiculous right?! But I'm not faulting Ben, I know that those prices are standard... Wha?!?! How?!?! That's just the way it is I guess (except I know for a fact that that Blurb book only costs a little over $100... who you tryin' to fool, Buddy??). I was most upset at the limited number of photos you're allowed. Finally I remembered the only other professional album company I had ever heard of, <a href="http://www.muujee.com/">Muujee</a>:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AqnAW1L_D6458QBe4PLdSQUtycW0da4e2ZfslHz8Kg6B6-9-VSWpqHN4-xhn2CXuF0JCks0vzG_HvpcY8ouYsfVBT7pnekYrMlv_hHGzbc1f6JNJZjZp2YiweJPJSanCWW6cvSS4w4bL/s1600/Picture+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AqnAW1L_D6458QBe4PLdSQUtycW0da4e2ZfslHz8Kg6B6-9-VSWpqHN4-xhn2CXuF0JCks0vzG_HvpcY8ouYsfVBT7pnekYrMlv_hHGzbc1f6JNJZjZp2YiweJPJSanCWW6cvSS4w4bL/s640/Picture+2.png" width="592" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I didn't know it at the time, but this was to be THEE ONLY professional album site I would find that allows a normal person (as opposed to a professional) to order their own album. Their prices are not much better (if you want the good stuff), BUT the key difference is that they allow you to add more pictures per page. For $500 <i>less</i> than Ben's albums, I can get the same album with 30-40 <i>more</i> images. So the company's concept is slightly different obviously, and because it's direct to you rather than through a photographer, it's a tad cheaper. I was still baffled though when I realized how much it would cost to get an album for us and three parent albums... Ready?? $3,000. Yes, that's more than I make in one month. That's more than three month's rent.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
So I still wanted to find something else out there that was reasonable but still high quality. I mean, do people just save up their pennies forever and only buy albums years after their wedding?? Well, I was determined not to get discouraged just yet. I found a <a href="http://www.modernalbumdesigns.com/wedding-album-companies.html">resource online</a> that had a whole list of online retailers of flush mount albums!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwd9DchfCF78_a_bU3W_OQlRY6RTI11qrj9oZxmq3fGUSUbW6FM9gW-x-Bh34dZtdysqhl7n0xMtnuSz8UZMK6RlJkxgG3LEu5pKymToyBO5DTl3OlDtifjyPkxD6UPhbHMcdC8lvcu3av/s1600/Picture+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwd9DchfCF78_a_bU3W_OQlRY6RTI11qrj9oZxmq3fGUSUbW6FM9gW-x-Bh34dZtdysqhl7n0xMtnuSz8UZMK6RlJkxgG3LEu5pKymToyBO5DTl3OlDtifjyPkxD6UPhbHMcdC8lvcu3av/s640/Picture+3.png" width="590" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As you can see, I went to every single site within the US and only one even let me create an account and log in as a normal person and see their prices. Seriously? Fine! I'm not a part of your system!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUCk4ss9wGfUrIu65NjMfoyPArQhX4klZReoekeCWTeFsdi6c61pDUNA8j3sqpzUotmRNGBjzZ90Wz_qCHMDbKw26BkWLu2Ve5xUq97rYc8Z3UBXMcKdBFtsRoSIu-xHBKDNps2AuU-sz/s1600/andy+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsUCk4ss9wGfUrIu65NjMfoyPArQhX4klZReoekeCWTeFsdi6c61pDUNA8j3sqpzUotmRNGBjzZ90Wz_qCHMDbKw26BkWLu2Ve5xUq97rYc8Z3UBXMcKdBFtsRoSIu-xHBKDNps2AuU-sz/s320/andy+3.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
(My computer? I very nearly <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAYL5H46QnQ">threw it on the ground</a>). Anyway, the point is, since I only sneaked into one company somehow, I don't know how their price versus quality really compares... but the prices shocked me. Direct-to-photographer prices are ONE FIFTH what photographers charge brides. Now, I guarantee some photographer out there will tell me I've got it all wrong, that this is some isolated incident, that I don't understand everything that goes into it... nice try. I finally changed my search terms around (I don't remember to what) and found some other sites that don't need special logins and registrations to order... all the prices pretty much maxed out at $600 for 12x12 albums with leather covers and thick lay-flat pages and up to 60 pages (~120-180 images).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.bayphoto.com/">Bay Photo</a>:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GjrbMdmcceH_WK55OkZEyV8AQckoIawCoy99EItYmTdiywL5psiK98DZLtZ97r9KMFiZMQtw8iCnmi3Qy4_erPRhFO2bdZs_PFB6a8WPjyI4bh06gMloJmnU_GvALMxKxxJlmxymYYAQ/s1600/Picture+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GjrbMdmcceH_WK55OkZEyV8AQckoIawCoy99EItYmTdiywL5psiK98DZLtZ97r9KMFiZMQtw8iCnmi3Qy4_erPRhFO2bdZs_PFB6a8WPjyI4bh06gMloJmnU_GvALMxKxxJlmxymYYAQ/s320/Picture+4.png" width="273" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOHLcSkmf8OwdQmmihojd_EdyFpXZtn5aVYJZUD-Gdk1MXeWugExJI2p0883_gneNEV2d7peT3zjFwPbyGkt4jkHFaxDIafBrAmZJTDQLtKLy56ZBEJyGRvBIVdw-FgL_1Q9h2YoOXgYR/s1600/Picture+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiOHLcSkmf8OwdQmmihojd_EdyFpXZtn5aVYJZUD-Gdk1MXeWugExJI2p0883_gneNEV2d7peT3zjFwPbyGkt4jkHFaxDIafBrAmZJTDQLtKLy56ZBEJyGRvBIVdw-FgL_1Q9h2YoOXgYR/s1600/Picture+5.png" /></a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.nationsphotolab.com/albums.htm">Nations Photo Lab</a>:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFlsZ0FyWMpgDU8qSS0c8d4NHZcnOGmXkfrfjjkb-XmcwQECpCWEhBMY7XCfn94nYbulIa7BiPkMGMXXD7XSB0o3sJzNSdXUSKS74qE7q9fzb0NGg2i0selng3_o78nOV4c0zFh7WmmYZ/s1600/Picture+7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbFlsZ0FyWMpgDU8qSS0c8d4NHZcnOGmXkfrfjjkb-XmcwQECpCWEhBMY7XCfn94nYbulIa7BiPkMGMXXD7XSB0o3sJzNSdXUSKS74qE7q9fzb0NGg2i0selng3_o78nOV4c0zFh7WmmYZ/s1600/Picture+7.png" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And my favorite, <a href="http://www.blackriverimaging.com/index.asp">Black River Imaging</a>:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rcdDcEcJwLfRd2Kq5-TQBJUl4xWYVFap84lpSGxpgwvIiswqdOmsz35Rh5XBvjfj5vkoGTCo60fnczG1oBnOHH76jxv1dGa5lf1UVlCkWShcyOauZkTvzjG2VKS3YhIb7NJvQ1Rgcktx/s1600/Picture+10.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2rcdDcEcJwLfRd2Kq5-TQBJUl4xWYVFap84lpSGxpgwvIiswqdOmsz35Rh5XBvjfj5vkoGTCo60fnczG1oBnOHH76jxv1dGa5lf1UVlCkWShcyOauZkTvzjG2VKS3YhIb7NJvQ1Rgcktx/s400/Picture+10.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lj3ruz14phFa9DKxlT2vA8r6iNZKsmhR7W1nlRMjDfRqDFXQ8pt0sp3Fho1EVu61NwAB5_jR6EhPFp5NTn0Ia5f3TbjgsK_80VQAj8RKNdSE07eibDjdVdFy_I3eeXj7rs1ZBttlOlwP/s1600/Picture+8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1lj3ruz14phFa9DKxlT2vA8r6iNZKsmhR7W1nlRMjDfRqDFXQ8pt0sp3Fho1EVu61NwAB5_jR6EhPFp5NTn0Ia5f3TbjgsK_80VQAj8RKNdSE07eibDjdVdFy_I3eeXj7rs1ZBttlOlwP/s400/Picture+8.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpT3jb0p6sdUrB-FBTVX-yv44GZA5acTJ_PFQVaaOSndl5HfIjxZNPGF7aNcUx3XtBmbwppnOSVoWifVpPPRUAWUD4Hdce9xNbULNQu68ez1jScDn14HYv9DvfreujybXkpzu1fAzPNds/s1600/Picture+9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpT3jb0p6sdUrB-FBTVX-yv44GZA5acTJ_PFQVaaOSndl5HfIjxZNPGF7aNcUx3XtBmbwppnOSVoWifVpPPRUAWUD4Hdce9xNbULNQu68ez1jScDn14HYv9DvfreujybXkpzu1fAzPNds/s400/Picture+9.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Also, the same resource that I mentioned above, Modern Album Designs, that had that whole webpage of unhelpful other websites, they also help individuals, even if it's just by hooking you up with a photographer, you can still possibly get discounts... I dunno' though, I haven't checked. Probably not with my luck. Anyway, I was particularly peeved because one of the websites that's only for professionals had something I'd never seen before but instantly wanted:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchCTQpVTsHf4_X08SK5t9wSXJCfNCmdT51rzS083SkVdmTTajh3w51S8HMDqaH6eiMhcSE7Assgd2CoWc82qjJsPsutypYKPI8iMKr4OMeetgJy9Rk0Jof5jlLAhfaQ1yfio1FSA9MgeY/s1600/Picture+11.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchCTQpVTsHf4_X08SK5t9wSXJCfNCmdT51rzS083SkVdmTTajh3w51S8HMDqaH6eiMhcSE7Assgd2CoWc82qjJsPsutypYKPI8iMKr4OMeetgJy9Rk0Jof5jlLAhfaQ1yfio1FSA9MgeY/s1600/Picture+11.png" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiV15pB_4aokl34Km6n4FruOhg980pCYIhlMgQUEgkJ-TPTQ1_SieTV8Aue5Cxwe7F-NWnmBmW5nAvkJb7RgKLH2OUg7QqN6Dnl5ij-fZMwa-ZcEHgcmlBfBU2ZiSJvRa3oMXFJ_3LaYD/s1600/Picture+12.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiV15pB_4aokl34Km6n4FruOhg980pCYIhlMgQUEgkJ-TPTQ1_SieTV8Aue5Cxwe7F-NWnmBmW5nAvkJb7RgKLH2OUg7QqN6Dnl5ij-fZMwa-ZcEHgcmlBfBU2ZiSJvRa3oMXFJ_3LaYD/s1600/Picture+12.png" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
HOMEMADE PAPER ALBUMS!!! These are from <a href="http://www.corealbums.com/index2.php#/home/">Core Albums</a>, and they just in general have really cool stuff. They all have a very modern, yet homemade feel but are still super professional on the inside. I contacted them pretty much begging them to let me order through them or at least hook me up with a photographer that I could order through, and I'm waiting to hear back... Very discouraging and disappointing.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgwY9MJiROjyiWpn4DKWt6IZ81wwwI8kvuU4fktZapsMl2JiC8z_mII8VX78DfoPaOww7bS6yuYVVYUOSGKsRrRHW1gJdpKEUoyrmrniczFTxEwbWHev7p2EUip9A5Lh8nhsJBdORHhHG/s1600/sad_face-600x450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgwY9MJiROjyiWpn4DKWt6IZ81wwwI8kvuU4fktZapsMl2JiC8z_mII8VX78DfoPaOww7bS6yuYVVYUOSGKsRrRHW1gJdpKEUoyrmrniczFTxEwbWHev7p2EUip9A5Lh8nhsJBdORHhHG/s320/sad_face-600x450.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Pity me yet?? Well continue pitying, because then, fueled by the idea of rustic design, I changed my search terms yet again and I found this!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFOCiOHouIWi4imxc7_n59ffQBItUKjSN57wH9aBCCIkzHdIcu5wcCq_vEx7o3NS5eHgm1lkJ4Jv-njGY1b2c92twwinpENU22nH4pit-LadolA_3l98z_cyiAg11-SvVV__DJC8AW1YM/s1600/Picture+13.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFOCiOHouIWi4imxc7_n59ffQBItUKjSN57wH9aBCCIkzHdIcu5wcCq_vEx7o3NS5eHgm1lkJ4Jv-njGY1b2c92twwinpENU22nH4pit-LadolA_3l98z_cyiAg11-SvVV__DJC8AW1YM/s400/Picture+13.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFm8-IFn8kcvmPA8D7utlOSGh0Vm9qNdV6BD2VjbcKZaQIhP4zysklgFcYK7WCK2SPa1XzgW_lV1kU-ctepbxQmh7rk-FzFCOO6Mz7eusWekL8B_EqXWAtrE84TOxqbyVR_1TnS8DQwdzB/s1600/Picture+15.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFm8-IFn8kcvmPA8D7utlOSGh0Vm9qNdV6BD2VjbcKZaQIhP4zysklgFcYK7WCK2SPa1XzgW_lV1kU-ctepbxQmh7rk-FzFCOO6Mz7eusWekL8B_EqXWAtrE84TOxqbyVR_1TnS8DQwdzB/s400/Picture+15.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQc-IYdOz73Rh4inlbr4WgiEGwTx7G-wT0V454BFeIDwsfsLheHljcsn6igsXxPTVY6H5RQP-xc7LBN3XyLpFV5htkKMSgdKUDR9ovPdBYm5zi9aeNfi9_mEVi1kyU9TJLRyvbRDBmx8W/s1600/Picture+16.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaQc-IYdOz73Rh4inlbr4WgiEGwTx7G-wT0V454BFeIDwsfsLheHljcsn6igsXxPTVY6H5RQP-xc7LBN3XyLpFV5htkKMSgdKUDR9ovPdBYm5zi9aeNfi9_mEVi1kyU9TJLRyvbRDBmx8W/s400/Picture+16.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCV96NBUaGoDzpn1DinQxNws6I-D2cRigeH-d9V-eu_35OLa8UZb0s0dL6lc9oLDJLa6po2I5lfn_ZnXjwWE13YnmnUuzmDDcUpoxd-WODYikouvV6cxNqamsoSurcnRZDV1_KS34TqMrp/s1600/Picture+18.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCV96NBUaGoDzpn1DinQxNws6I-D2cRigeH-d9V-eu_35OLa8UZb0s0dL6lc9oLDJLa6po2I5lfn_ZnXjwWE13YnmnUuzmDDcUpoxd-WODYikouvV6cxNqamsoSurcnRZDV1_KS34TqMrp/s400/Picture+18.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Ohmigod Ohmigod OHMIGOD!!! Are you serious?! Rustic on the outside, modern on the inside flush mount albums from <a href="http://www.loktah.com/">Loktah</a>. If you're thinking 'Oh, how fun! They kinda' look like your <a href="http://ashandkylewedding.blogspot.com/2011/09/revelio.html">invitations</a>!' Well then rub it in, why dontcha'! Because every single one of these is out of my reach. These guys are totally upfront about only working with photographers...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>**Side Note:</b> By the way, they humiliated me twice over by making me realize I've been spelling loktah (or lokta) wrong this whole time! In my defense, the website I was buying it from was spelling it wrong, but still... how'd you guys let me do that all this time?! You know what's hilarious too is that once I spelling it correctly, I couldn't believe how many vendors online sell it! I had such a hard time finding it when I needed it for invitations... Well no wonder! I feel so ridiculously dumb now!! <b>**End Side Note!</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Point is, this would have been pretty ideal. I have contacted them as well to find out if I can pair up with a photographer in my area, but, no word yet :(</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Part of me feels like I'm going behind Ben's back and the other part of me resoundingly reminds me that there is no way I'm paying $2000 for an album with only 60 pictures in it. Sorry. I have no idea how much these last two companies cost but for me, the design element automatically justifies the cost. After seeing the Loktah products, all I wanted to do was learn how to mount a book myself; that was the whole thought process behind making my own invitations, why not DIY this too?!?!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkG7QIuJymSIXn3eRu5kGTHNNNdtjbLbd9tSd1srzQohTRtTa8xwL1Cl_A92FRk7p-ncdIpiylbpsf1m5Mw-mtmk8C6tYLqgMkZs1arWOnt_UHw7OleU5PnYAwTUtk7IRL-qFtgOZbDqra/s1600/We_Can_Do_It.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkG7QIuJymSIXn3eRu5kGTHNNNdtjbLbd9tSd1srzQohTRtTa8xwL1Cl_A92FRk7p-ncdIpiylbpsf1m5Mw-mtmk8C6tYLqgMkZs1arWOnt_UHw7OleU5PnYAwTUtk7IRL-qFtgOZbDqra/s1600/We_Can_Do_It.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Well, I wish, because if I could, I think I'd've found my calling in life... *stops and looks up... thinking... re-evaluating...* I also just remembered my new cousin-in-law is a <a href="http://www.tornleafdesigns.com/gallery.html">graphic designer</a>... I wonder if she needs an assistant...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Well, anyway, while I contemplate a new career move, I desperately searched the last place I knew might possibly help me (do you like the drama I'm setting up here??). Also I was on a handmade kick, where does every self-respecting, smart, bored woman go when she wants something handmade?! ETSY! My lovely Etsy was less helpful than usual in this realm but I finally found one designer or, let's just go ahead and give them the all-inclusive title of middle man, who "sells" custom wedding albums:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.inspiredalbumdesigns.com/">Inspired Album Design</a>:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgTUjTRtUpgAQH4hYuyHPxr1QcFOKyRfc7HOkQ3Doe5rRc95dlONXCQ4LRCtuLKIynz8qE5vpT4y9NqGxoDMqq1-ACWfzu6qmGcIdVqOPg35IWcAfPSca2pcIsw7ZojN1EliekR6BUZ0I/s1600/Picture+21.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="503" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgTUjTRtUpgAQH4hYuyHPxr1QcFOKyRfc7HOkQ3Doe5rRc95dlONXCQ4LRCtuLKIynz8qE5vpT4y9NqGxoDMqq1-ACWfzu6qmGcIdVqOPg35IWcAfPSca2pcIsw7ZojN1EliekR6BUZ0I/s640/Picture+21.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_pYOvNT5KbvxNiIiz2812A9Wqv14BTH-q-3YxbnIajpTyH7xcipRwZ-zDKPtbAjERv3Qxk0G7vV9AwTK-hj9Q4ayRw0hT5DMABDUGYvDbdLPum2JmNPIDniQrCuq5uYWpHFUk-Di3a3cS/s1600/Picture+22.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_pYOvNT5KbvxNiIiz2812A9Wqv14BTH-q-3YxbnIajpTyH7xcipRwZ-zDKPtbAjERv3Qxk0G7vV9AwTK-hj9Q4ayRw0hT5DMABDUGYvDbdLPum2JmNPIDniQrCuq5uYWpHFUk-Di3a3cS/s640/Picture+22.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
They have contracts with these companies (some of them I already mentioned earlier in this post!) and they get through the red tape for you, and the albums are still only around $600. Now, another thought strikes me, that maybe the reason these albums are cheaper is because they are not as good a quality. But, consider this, this website only lists these companies but says they can order from any other company as well (they must have some sort of design studio or something that allows them to be eligible for a professional login) so I'm contacting them as well to see if they can order an album for me through my two favorites; Core and Loktah! I'm not getting my hopes up but this is exactly what I'm hoping for, and at a price that makes so much more sense! (Also, consider that if a Blurb book gets marked up 500%, how much are those $2000 albums really worth??)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'll keep everyone informed, in the meantime, I just wanted to get off my chest how frustrating it's been to try and figure out this whole album thing without taking out a loan! So now I need advice/help/suggestions: How did you do your wedding albums?? Old fashioned slide-in? Through a "fast and cheap" company? Through your crazy-expensive photographer? Through a middle man?? How did it go?!?!</div>Jemima Kickypantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328947320496238665noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588212182468040346.post-59224151870969973952012-05-18T11:09:00.001-04:002012-05-18T11:09:36.184-04:00Oh hello!!I know I know. But I have very good reasons for being away for so long. We're less than two weeks away from our move-in date, so we're trying to start packing/deal with our landlord who wants the house ready to show to new renters; I'm trying to solidify my new job, which means a lot of e-mails and brown-nosing and reading lots and lots of material that I don't necessarily really care about in order to pretend like I know what I'm talking about; I just finished writing a research paper (40 pages long!!!), so that took awhile... I think that's it... but I think that's enough to be getting on with, right?<br />
<br />
Well, anyway, like I said, the paper is done, e-mails are written, we're not at all packed yet, but that's going to be tackled this weekend. So I find myself with a rare moment of peace- of mind and time. I finally took some pictures of some things that are growing away in my house!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoswriXbPsSIkEpKsEgAsY9XIZWXFsEbiIQdLPkDXL46zc5iZKLkUDMvid87D-WgDVUxgp66j17DNkejapzVHD8f69NsNg1C8sNSinmTo6jpWunfzWz9BFFDY6HsZPc8WTd49Zgo1FAsH/s1600/2012-05-17+20.13.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoswriXbPsSIkEpKsEgAsY9XIZWXFsEbiIQdLPkDXL46zc5iZKLkUDMvid87D-WgDVUxgp66j17DNkejapzVHD8f69NsNg1C8sNSinmTo6jpWunfzWz9BFFDY6HsZPc8WTd49Zgo1FAsH/s640/2012-05-17+20.13.19.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_ilLptjtHB7-IyrMy-VSqaYm1cRFw7lRvKLfnv-3dFht5ROBIJEXTA38v0BJ5cQ0qjbDrnLULCx9ru_SmvJ8di1R5TxpMrRlhFE4UpymOTqWHL7joUEdRT8Kx2o5Uw8N8S_jiV_5U4PY/s1600/2012-05-18+07.01.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_ilLptjtHB7-IyrMy-VSqaYm1cRFw7lRvKLfnv-3dFht5ROBIJEXTA38v0BJ5cQ0qjbDrnLULCx9ru_SmvJ8di1R5TxpMrRlhFE4UpymOTqWHL7joUEdRT8Kx2o5Uw8N8S_jiV_5U4PY/s640/2012-05-18+07.01.14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I'm sorry these are such crap quality POS's but my camera phone is on its way out, and I think I took both of these photos right after a cup of coffee or something too. Anyway, the top photo is what remains of my very first attempts at growing succulents; the super tall one that can't hold itself up anymore and the tiny one up front PLUS the two succulents I pulled from my bouquet that are growing beautifully. And the bottom photo is my collection of succulents I 'stole' from California.<br />
<br />
Everyone is growing well but I've been noticing that I can't get my succulents to spread-grow, they always grow up! Stop doing that!! I believe that they're getting too much light, but I don't want to take the light away from them. Also... no one is having babies!! I mean come on!!! My aloe plants won't stop having babies, they're like rabbits, but these succulents just keep growing up and up and up! I believe that they're getting too much water to grow babies. I'm supposed to behead them if the stems get too long... and I feel bad doing that.<br />
<br />
Wanna' know what's what? I used my handy dandy <a href="http://gosucculent.com/">gosucculent.com</a> website to identify most of them. First photo first:<br />
Cotyledon Powdered Sugar- the one that's too tall to stand on its own<br />
Echeveria Glauca- probably most notable succulent, commonly called "chick-and-eggs"<br />
Echeveria Nodulosa- the rare green with purple streaks<br />
Echeveria Pulv-oliver- the one chillin' in the background<br />
<br />
Second photo, from the left:<br />
Crassula Hobbit<br />
Sedum Rubrotinctum<br />
Sedum Burrito<br />
Glottyphyllum Linguiforme<br />
Sedum Burrito again<br />
Sedum Rubrotinctum again<br />
Graptopetalum Paraguayense<br />
And one more Crassula Hobbit!<br />
<br />
I'm pretty excited about how well everything is growing. I will let them do their thing until they all start to have babies or start growing out of control and then hopefully have a whole house full of succulents!! I know this might seem silly to some, but I am not a flower person. I don't like most flowers, and I hate that flowers only bloom once a year and then you have to plant more or stare at ugly bare stems for the rest of the year. Succulents look like flowers and come in all different shapes and sizes and colors but 'bloom' all the time and are really hard to kill.<br />
<br />
Anyway, there's not much else to get super excited about right now anyway. I'm just sitting on my hands waiting to move into a new house, waiting to submit and publish my paper, waiting to defend my thesis, waiting to get a new job... Not to sound like a total downer or anything ;)<br />
<br />
Anyway, I think, now that I'm really seeing the horrible quality of those photos, that I might take close ups of individual plants. Not much else to blog about anyway. I'm trying to follow some food blogs more closely to get some good summer/grilling recipes... Anyone else sort of sitting around waiting for cool things to happen??Jemima Kickypantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328947320496238665noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588212182468040346.post-7233168320616043042012-04-30T09:24:00.001-04:002012-04-30T09:24:59.631-04:00MVP: Most Valuable ProjectOr most highly anticipated project or something.<br />
<br />
So you all know how much I love succulents, I mean, just head over to my Pinterest <a href="http://pinterest.com/ashleynmjames/wedding/">wedding</a> or <a href="http://pinterest.com/ashleynmjames/living/">living</a> boards, succulents pretty much populate them entirely.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7yIlAuYvZllUNfNMk3N8S0wRvPvKcqKJ6_PtllNGvUbrmGkyqEBSj9EeHWLbJCH7dGIAmSj-jYYLS6EsTfFtmQZeWJDevrGwAPus9tAbiQtJ_IfZqu47fttYL9My2bZexzIRg5Fl-Myy/s1600/pallet_garden_intro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7yIlAuYvZllUNfNMk3N8S0wRvPvKcqKJ6_PtllNGvUbrmGkyqEBSj9EeHWLbJCH7dGIAmSj-jYYLS6EsTfFtmQZeWJDevrGwAPus9tAbiQtJ_IfZqu47fttYL9My2bZexzIRg5Fl-Myy/s320/pallet_garden_intro.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduEPZvedgol9zSghHOtoqMUWofcXZ7UYNo8MKwv5oziBlGlrM4JvioZ1giFK8v5EHmzu0mytkLO1QFYMpEIokiMylR-GvBMO_h7fdtrP7FCrt93yqdkk7IlQkvtFNHsXVRmEUYp7-DZnH/s1600/succulent-living-wall-planting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduEPZvedgol9zSghHOtoqMUWofcXZ7UYNo8MKwv5oziBlGlrM4JvioZ1giFK8v5EHmzu0mytkLO1QFYMpEIokiMylR-GvBMO_h7fdtrP7FCrt93yqdkk7IlQkvtFNHsXVRmEUYp7-DZnH/s320/succulent-living-wall-planting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6OUMki1xdmgPq7FR-w53D6ZOVA1YerQkpS1BUZZmSRiFv6AAh6nRtfKEoybmVFgllIti6JOwIgdjVLoHautQPfnIBVIiKa8qYPRGIH-ywhhZ5iFt0vNfGcJm9tlQMV2yy_hRtQBIxMER/s1600/succulent-shoot_rustic_FKPHOTO-49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_6OUMki1xdmgPq7FR-w53D6ZOVA1YerQkpS1BUZZmSRiFv6AAh6nRtfKEoybmVFgllIti6JOwIgdjVLoHautQPfnIBVIiKa8qYPRGIH-ywhhZ5iFt0vNfGcJm9tlQMV2yy_hRtQBIxMER/s320/succulent-shoot_rustic_FKPHOTO-49.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqj_o94_RuBuXDjQO5570393RDqa96efnG4qqEq8C10WU3wnGgQVtYd-IAf5eQJyM4RqKjnYWjL4FYEsyeRzhvRVQWSct2l922Gn2dE02CGnMYI-kk8NOCntEUNrXOoL3HK4D8H6ktwAM/s1600/viansa-winery-0134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSqj_o94_RuBuXDjQO5570393RDqa96efnG4qqEq8C10WU3wnGgQVtYd-IAf5eQJyM4RqKjnYWjL4FYEsyeRzhvRVQWSct2l922Gn2dE02CGnMYI-kk8NOCntEUNrXOoL3HK4D8H6ktwAM/s320/viansa-winery-0134.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
That's just a small taste. I looooove succulents. I started out with a few aloe plants, that I almost killed initially, and from there found a humble little pot of succulents hiding in a corner at Home Depot of all places and started growing succulents. Now, I'm still not great at taking great care of them (part of this is not my fault as the weather here is not succulent weather) but I still manage to keep them alive or bring them back to life periodically.<br />
<br />
I've had my first batch of succulents for a long long time... let me look through my archives right quick...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_DvURB9OcWtmSeiWHZSdD0w0DcCDamz26bL725DN4Ev99rFpT6XO6v7zo-Xnq5QOm0iJWAKFCke1dbnME1LxXW0K21r_n3GCAtNjqbi4qMh1JLCWJ9XyJwoj49VdPEKbJrGR7o-MkTWI/s1600/my+succulents.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_DvURB9OcWtmSeiWHZSdD0w0DcCDamz26bL725DN4Ev99rFpT6XO6v7zo-Xnq5QOm0iJWAKFCke1dbnME1LxXW0K21r_n3GCAtNjqbi4qMh1JLCWJ9XyJwoj49VdPEKbJrGR7o-MkTWI/s400/my+succulents.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
That took a long time to find! This post was from <a href="http://ashandkylewedding.blogspot.com/2010/12/and-pretty-succulents-all-in-row.html">December 2010</a>!<br />
<br />
Sheesh! Anyway, so unfortunately, of these originals, only the top one still has living offspring, as well as one not pictured here.<br />
<br />
<br />
Then, after the wedding, I attempted to plant succulents from my bouquet:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4lzX85l1fESrzGm-xr9U5_Bgc-XuJ1W6t1hXi_AhLFti8Yub5zUBcp82dvb0SnV0O4dvlYvEVBylyWpDw0L54k_5kkjZyn3escsX4HWRJTv_jBpTN5RE7OLCuRSEzI6acoLIZgbHZcew/s1600/ww2011004_0346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4lzX85l1fESrzGm-xr9U5_Bgc-XuJ1W6t1hXi_AhLFti8Yub5zUBcp82dvb0SnV0O4dvlYvEVBylyWpDw0L54k_5kkjZyn3escsX4HWRJTv_jBpTN5RE7OLCuRSEzI6acoLIZgbHZcew/s640/ww2011004_0346.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Of course it's that sweet green and purple right-smack-dab-in-the-middle succulent, which I found out later is quite rare (echeveria nodulosa), and one more that was in the bouquet which you can't see here. I didn't have high hopes, because the florist had to use glue to adhere it to the bouquet, I cut off as much as I could and planted... and they're positively thriving! Of course I forgot to take a picture, but they're doing really well, doubled in size, awesome.<br />
<br />
THEN, I went to California and saw succulents growing willy-nilly all over the place, unchecked. I'm not proud of this, but I took a few cuttings from plants that WERE NOT on anyone's front lawn; this wasn't difficult because they grew everywhere. I took some from the beach and I found one that had broken off its parent plant, etc...<br />
<br />
I took them home and planted them just a few days ago... and I'm crossing my fingers. I can't believe I forgot to take a picture of them, but I will be back with that later.<br />
<br />
Anyway, where am I going with all this?!?! My new, most anticipated project(s) once we move into the new house:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBwf6w_HwtjJbD-dvJRPxJOvbvsoIFXrkRoEFDZo_npijGs4_Lz27pnn8-upbQCPKZAv5nLBkshCAGqLkw4Je5hYj3v-V_UcpZArIIXCFrPVUJqcUGMBmsU0r3rfrLSJ5FNwYwI8iNmRC/s1600/15100523_ZoomLarge1_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBwf6w_HwtjJbD-dvJRPxJOvbvsoIFXrkRoEFDZo_npijGs4_Lz27pnn8-upbQCPKZAv5nLBkshCAGqLkw4Je5hYj3v-V_UcpZArIIXCFrPVUJqcUGMBmsU0r3rfrLSJ5FNwYwI8iNmRC/s400/15100523_ZoomLarge1_1.jpg" width="338" /></a></div>
TA DA!!! Gorgeous no?! I probably won't do wreath per se just because you have to have the right climate to have succulents outside year round. The important part of this project is the concept, which I will elaborate on. But first, the <a href="http://www.vivaterra.com/succulent-wreath.html">source</a> of the above image, a website where you can buy this wreath already made... for a 'scant' $100. No thanks, plus, <i>how many times</i> do we have to bring attention to my control freak tendencies?! How could I possibly buy something stuffed with succulents in which I had no control over which succulents were stuffed into it?! I couldn't! That's how!<br />
<br />
Thankfully, DIY is not a new concept, duh. And someone already figured out and published online several tutorials on succulent-stuffed things. I posted the pallet above, that's courtesy of <a href="http://www.designsponge.com/2011/09/diy-project-recycled-pallet-vertical-garden.html">Design*Sponge</a>, and then I found this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-z2l2D8pRBp1XmmBeiDuGHd-M4zCA-HCu-Maz5biSuaWsjZKJoyDTUaG_Vg0z6khE1-PxFv_RaOoJu4BZEj7hC0mjKWuwfkMbHXWL3wRybrGeGtEceXFnNill1dwXJBwJfe89_QODX-1f/s1600/IMG_9890.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-z2l2D8pRBp1XmmBeiDuGHd-M4zCA-HCu-Maz5biSuaWsjZKJoyDTUaG_Vg0z6khE1-PxFv_RaOoJu4BZEj7hC0mjKWuwfkMbHXWL3wRybrGeGtEceXFnNill1dwXJBwJfe89_QODX-1f/s400/IMG_9890.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
From <a href="http://prudentbaby.com/2010/12/prudent-home/diy-simple-stunning-living-succulent-wreath-2/">Prudent Baby</a>. I highly recommend this tutorial anyway, it's very thorough and has lots of pretty pictures. It introduced me to how this concept works, Spaghnum:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9tUR6Wda4R0_NKr1eilsYe1WopJgs3WVb2eZWQFnV5ELCp3O5qGhIuNeRF9aP1973t9jlc_eynvug9nYEVtaji0ORV08_zz6LwPwUh_i44NycfLDooAq7ffU8IhzXCmkhd_iidIfYgGq/s1600/IMG_98481.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx9tUR6Wda4R0_NKr1eilsYe1WopJgs3WVb2eZWQFnV5ELCp3O5qGhIuNeRF9aP1973t9jlc_eynvug9nYEVtaji0ORV08_zz6LwPwUh_i44NycfLDooAq7ffU8IhzXCmkhd_iidIfYgGq/s400/IMG_98481.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Looks gross, right? It's a fantastic moss that holds moisture really really well and also provides a great porous structure that's ideal for succulents to grow their roots. This website also taught me that succulents take root and grow better if you let your cuttings dry for a few days till the bottom gets a little scab. This probably explains why the succulents from my bouquet are growing so well; I didn't get a chance to take them from the bouquet and replant them until a few days after the wedding.<br />
<br />
ANYway, so I'm super super psyched about doing this project, either with a pallet or a wreath, I have some great succulents from CA now to add, plus I found this awesome website that sells every type of succulent I'd have ever thought of:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmUpIOGOJ-xB92E7hIdxFN4tPtvE4qlTcOPXOm3O6dH6GU0hCvPmGUtW88PePzU8NaPwzyMyxCCkkAKQHQ71GCBeV05g-AHA-pQIVodOURw7oHcVHD_viTa3aQaqBZkXrgECMnIg0brsh/s1600/succulents.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJmUpIOGOJ-xB92E7hIdxFN4tPtvE4qlTcOPXOm3O6dH6GU0hCvPmGUtW88PePzU8NaPwzyMyxCCkkAKQHQ71GCBeV05g-AHA-pQIVodOURw7oHcVHD_viTa3aQaqBZkXrgECMnIg0brsh/s640/succulents.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
These are just a few of my favorite things!! From <a href="http://www.gosucculent.com/frontpage_index.html">GoSucculent</a>. Best of all, they offer a 100 cuttings box for $50. I don't know if I need 100, but you can't beat the price, since if I just bought the above plants individually, it would cost about $100 (yeah, $100, for 20 plants... plus I don't even wanna' think about the shipping... plus that's 20 pots... just, I don't need all that).<br />
<br />
So how 'bout the rest? Get wire frames from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wire-Wreath-Frame-12-Green/dp/B000YFKXV2?ie=UTF8&tag=prudbaby-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969">Amazon</a> or <a href="http://topiary.stores.yahoo.net/rowiliwrfo.html">Topiary Art Works</a>:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuNGKz5uNu_WrhTNDFtnXIcLWHYzcuC1za6bIKGJ_6NjVue7W81rXuFjy-6fkbxuBXJlRF6jRyoucVGxQT0rLW07AJwYfV6rkVoU2KQV2cxAkI7dj-nDihF70fxeEL-Cb9i-x9LB8lGdy/s1600/topiary_2205_28488418.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuNGKz5uNu_WrhTNDFtnXIcLWHYzcuC1za6bIKGJ_6NjVue7W81rXuFjy-6fkbxuBXJlRF6jRyoucVGxQT0rLW07AJwYfV6rkVoU2KQV2cxAkI7dj-nDihF70fxeEL-Cb9i-x9LB8lGdy/s320/topiary_2205_28488418.jpeg" width="264" /></a></div>
Get spaghnum moss from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Luster-Leaf-Long-Fiber-Sphagnum/dp/B0015HZI90?ie=UTF8&tag=prudbaby-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969">Amazon</a> or <a href="http://topiary.stores.yahoo.net/spmolofi5stq1.html">Topiary Art Works</a>:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnirIoUkxFK2FDhE34wtitagqAFfFzHckBkE4c1BH6lR-JIGuoe9ulb0AM2fKS2fQiROZjjrO5qcSu06em7RNPefEZuAq4hTXfwuJ4erLeItPLJpeevOA5QMVZLVNXA5JGIdlvF372i_Y/s1600/91+LZVHQSbL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnirIoUkxFK2FDhE34wtitagqAFfFzHckBkE4c1BH6lR-JIGuoe9ulb0AM2fKS2fQiROZjjrO5qcSu06em7RNPefEZuAq4hTXfwuJ4erLeItPLJpeevOA5QMVZLVNXA5JGIdlvF372i_Y/s320/91+LZVHQSbL._SL1500_.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I have no idea how much I'll need yet, I'll keep you posted on that. I will be sure to let everyone in on the progress. I am so super excited about this project. I done my research! The only problem might end up being going a little crazy; why stop with a wreath? Why not do a shadow box filled with succulents for the bathroom? And a wall hanging in the living room? And a succulent centerpiece for the dining room table?? Window boxes to brighten up the kitchen??? And I've got a great bay window now so the seat will need to be decorated! EEeee!!<br />
<br />
I'm sad we still have a month till move-in, but hey, we're half way there! So I'll be back with pictures of my new succulents from CA.<br />
<br />
Until then, anyone with other cool DIY ideas for decorating my new house, I'd be happy to entertain and post about any new ideas. Just know that I subscribe to Design*Sponge and How About Orange; I'd be happy to hear about any other great DIY blogs that you guys follow too!Jemima Kickypantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328947320496238665noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588212182468040346.post-58355572372972460862012-04-26T11:21:00.000-04:002012-04-26T11:21:33.932-04:00Wow!Yeah, I know! It's been, like... forever! Right?! Well, I been busy!! Just kidding, I mean, I have been busy, but I mean I'm kidding 'bout getting angry with you for questioning me. I just came back from a conference in California. Luckily, it has not made me renounce the East Coast, that'll just never happen. I was with my buddy Emily though who is from the West Coast of Canada and it made her homesick for the West Coast, and she was all trying to push her 'West Coast is better' beliefs on me.<br />
<br />
Bah!! I say BAH to that! (I'm kidding of course, she is too nice to push her beliefs on anyone)<br />
<br />
Anyway, it was foggy and chilly in the mornings and then the sun burned off the fog and it was gorgeous. but East Coast (Mid Atlantic to be exact!) wine is better than CA wines... (how many readers did I just lose?) And I prefer to watch sunrises.<br />
<br />
OK, now that my foot is firmly lodged in my mouth, wanna' see pictures??? Of course you do!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3mcYlDFwFomY5kt55soSng5kqSok7CJnaaAMBhqVtCi_WaapTG7uNN-XLNDqCkjASrKbfHmb8rLkykj9I_ak0nG8WHCj6DUzIeECLCEoitxwuNV4HfqmYYIRAL6k9fyCcCKYqxPMMmUb/s1600/2012-04-20+14.24.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq3mcYlDFwFomY5kt55soSng5kqSok7CJnaaAMBhqVtCi_WaapTG7uNN-XLNDqCkjASrKbfHmb8rLkykj9I_ak0nG8WHCj6DUzIeECLCEoitxwuNV4HfqmYYIRAL6k9fyCcCKYqxPMMmUb/s400/2012-04-20+14.24.19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Our hotel was right on the state park/beach in Monterey, CA. These are the morning shots, foggy, chilly, but we still had to enjoy the beach a little.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEWUoXTKN_k1UVlalk79xOJVh3NilPBe6iSdrwmzQwmQQMnMonibb3oVtKk3bHytbr4kTNZ8N9CYtR2HkgrVI_BCO1ejIZ8a2qZXoN0z_CwPn1FUdfvZ5-oV0Fyk6ieQHQyDBXOxIHnNM/s1600/2012-04-20+14.24.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEWUoXTKN_k1UVlalk79xOJVh3NilPBe6iSdrwmzQwmQQMnMonibb3oVtKk3bHytbr4kTNZ8N9CYtR2HkgrVI_BCO1ejIZ8a2qZXoN0z_CwPn1FUdfvZ5-oV0Fyk6ieQHQyDBXOxIHnNM/s400/2012-04-20+14.24.49.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
The sand was fantastic! Super fine and warm and white.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueOAZCCI1uFKTWZOoSXLOPm_1hYBCWQWuJA-rPIboYFU-JcETEGVPUzklyNtLlY7whzrxKwVrVHZm0DJXoKnniICC3PpdxqE6kntwl9UGbmU-rrMkHFwgE84NQ7H_0A4bS7y3lT99cgs_/s1600/2012-04-20+14.24.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjueOAZCCI1uFKTWZOoSXLOPm_1hYBCWQWuJA-rPIboYFU-JcETEGVPUzklyNtLlY7whzrxKwVrVHZm0DJXoKnniICC3PpdxqE6kntwl9UGbmU-rrMkHFwgE84NQ7H_0A4bS7y3lT99cgs_/s400/2012-04-20+14.24.58.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Emily being goofy...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmTD_HZxekBXQkVLhARRueHtfKfgF59XqKE4jiKGvzUjrYyupkCwmfs2zoYcJ4F4IkX-KXBptIttzI_ZP7t5vE-_9OBbsXBKjNJ2FXlrxY5T_uQVxMIFJl24RU3sca-aSZMbWUEXywnRP/s1600/2012-04-20+14.25.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmTD_HZxekBXQkVLhARRueHtfKfgF59XqKE4jiKGvzUjrYyupkCwmfs2zoYcJ4F4IkX-KXBptIttzI_ZP7t5vE-_9OBbsXBKjNJ2FXlrxY5T_uQVxMIFJl24RU3sca-aSZMbWUEXywnRP/s400/2012-04-20+14.25.26.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Ashley following suit.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qzYAaT-jsQivfWykkSybNTzvXk6meDrXsy4wYmlTJOxekGDP4CX95ApGGVRWR2hn0I_MEEMhCU_0U6afoGBxX3nVQ_nlekOBFe6HV-ZQgvPEaFzTBwHwhrX93ufJI1vicxVc_m50DxdQ/s1600/2012-04-20+14.33.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qzYAaT-jsQivfWykkSybNTzvXk6meDrXsy4wYmlTJOxekGDP4CX95ApGGVRWR2hn0I_MEEMhCU_0U6afoGBxX3nVQ_nlekOBFe6HV-ZQgvPEaFzTBwHwhrX93ufJI1vicxVc_m50DxdQ/s400/2012-04-20+14.33.09.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
The water was also surprisingly gorgeous. I told Emily I still love my brown, murky Atlantic :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7STFwonEN9__ZXj0LpGVwO98srA-Gyns9dUKRFhhP8yh62O0UFJ1kbnbjTBuTNCtIGWnWbei0fJPMQjx8ejWkQah-Isg-lkypZXWR-AYuMDRzWOKVXlLmQJJ2-eSQsVb5zplo0DD6Y3nJ/s1600/2012-04-20+14.33.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7STFwonEN9__ZXj0LpGVwO98srA-Gyns9dUKRFhhP8yh62O0UFJ1kbnbjTBuTNCtIGWnWbei0fJPMQjx8ejWkQah-Isg-lkypZXWR-AYuMDRzWOKVXlLmQJJ2-eSQsVb5zplo0DD6Y3nJ/s400/2012-04-20+14.33.19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKsrgzE7rnP-_ZxD3H7u1AGT_THSNH39VXIuojht_bWA62XAgHYtcfzkfAp1VQZbUYzNbFmDijCmm4kSzVwUFNuFyJ4vLPJeG36HTnDj0Hvghkxo4SxBkyD8ToP_E4GwTzcrladMBTVh0/s1600/2012-04-20+14.34.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZKsrgzE7rnP-_ZxD3H7u1AGT_THSNH39VXIuojht_bWA62XAgHYtcfzkfAp1VQZbUYzNbFmDijCmm4kSzVwUFNuFyJ4vLPJeG36HTnDj0Hvghkxo4SxBkyD8ToP_E4GwTzcrladMBTVh0/s400/2012-04-20+14.34.26.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlz0O_dGfK-HEIhZvIzCZsUMq7Eq_NJ0d9A0X5ObJ_SW1q24wUmaXIywb9VGexCyPjOxD23RvkqoQkA5B6X-IUheyUHL2ka4MXdbf9O0VV_eeDmcBaOdLbWbo-Qnx7Ff3UZiDKAl8ubUnI/s1600/2012-04-20+15.21.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlz0O_dGfK-HEIhZvIzCZsUMq7Eq_NJ0d9A0X5ObJ_SW1q24wUmaXIywb9VGexCyPjOxD23RvkqoQkA5B6X-IUheyUHL2ka4MXdbf9O0VV_eeDmcBaOdLbWbo-Qnx7Ff3UZiDKAl8ubUnI/s400/2012-04-20+15.21.11.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ending the morning the way it's supposed to be ended ;)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDBzJwd6TGxkIfP9mgbQcWR2-YeAE12KVb8mxrlA5W20pOkB3gB_5q_bzUY-pJH-SYSI4LY_1fOzG1EY4KzfiHI6OSGPItOxqE5spJ9xr3VQgofsuGx3X7ufqrLJNfvqkR0jUEwNUx0oK/s1600/2012-04-20+18.16.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxDBzJwd6TGxkIfP9mgbQcWR2-YeAE12KVb8mxrlA5W20pOkB3gB_5q_bzUY-pJH-SYSI4LY_1fOzG1EY4KzfiHI6OSGPItOxqE5spJ9xr3VQgofsuGx3X7ufqrLJNfvqkR0jUEwNUx0oK/s640/2012-04-20+18.16.33.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
This area had some amazingly dazzling trees.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhae-K057aFyh3fyU7GY7ZvAQSUlBOk12ok22QYRxWRSzSTLEnMM6wR6FoaLeFlLcUhFbT5_cuCibg5n7ovzMc_iDrYGJ-67oTJZJ9VMxHuzgiPAzPRVyttd7c7yOhwopOuNvWbKzjOJo/s1600/2012-04-22+09.09.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhae-K057aFyh3fyU7GY7ZvAQSUlBOk12ok22QYRxWRSzSTLEnMM6wR6FoaLeFlLcUhFbT5_cuCibg5n7ovzMc_iDrYGJ-67oTJZJ9VMxHuzgiPAzPRVyttd7c7yOhwopOuNvWbKzjOJo/s400/2012-04-22+09.09.13.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
It has those trees with the fuzzy stuff hanging off it... that's as eloquent as I can be about that.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPirQDdBb02enwLQFMVr_8y5I0NXXR_-NGcQgohv3TRg8mbIeLB3EimkSTXuN4mOiyWN-0yla_CnQ72N5m75iG2yR5X0DeSGIVEnm6zGNp8eB9sglrvmDdOWqeoSZ5XcTNfkKLLx4D3Sns/s1600/2012-04-22+09.16.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPirQDdBb02enwLQFMVr_8y5I0NXXR_-NGcQgohv3TRg8mbIeLB3EimkSTXuN4mOiyWN-0yla_CnQ72N5m75iG2yR5X0DeSGIVEnm6zGNp8eB9sglrvmDdOWqeoSZ5XcTNfkKLLx4D3Sns/s400/2012-04-22+09.16.49.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Fuzzy trees, and sweet rustic road signs. Also, the only other thing that makes me jealous of these amazing year-round great temps; succulents just growing everywhere!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSW953THnxHd_TFMtlG4X-Q0SNoQfzJoGcb6-s_7sVYmr7BCTh0bFKEPvgO-R7hFkfGmeCvZszRtxPmZC-1VtmSD3id1mKT9fKFumLO2qfNE53pKyDbdzORh6M637uJJX6s1sd_MWKrqh1/s1600/2012-04-22+09.19.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSW953THnxHd_TFMtlG4X-Q0SNoQfzJoGcb6-s_7sVYmr7BCTh0bFKEPvgO-R7hFkfGmeCvZszRtxPmZC-1VtmSD3id1mKT9fKFumLO2qfNE53pKyDbdzORh6M637uJJX6s1sd_MWKrqh1/s400/2012-04-22+09.19.56.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGH_ExIKH1Bj6O-qZuyXE8IvYaDT3DMHC_PHLjov5sH63-jmRbEZ3A-4lq4zlqVz38DjIgWyrFywl4htV5hUtD_lKOlf3K2p4quHPa4koyHSesncBC3CtFYB_AUX9FSoI7j2cAMlD4U69/s1600/2012-04-22+09.23.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPGH_ExIKH1Bj6O-qZuyXE8IvYaDT3DMHC_PHLjov5sH63-jmRbEZ3A-4lq4zlqVz38DjIgWyrFywl4htV5hUtD_lKOlf3K2p4quHPa4koyHSesncBC3CtFYB_AUX9FSoI7j2cAMlD4U69/s400/2012-04-22+09.23.11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Succulent bushes!↑ Someone's succulent garden ↓</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcmUZfCQAgIXEXNvDaZkcCN2KXWnhZSNLHLJ-9w6ghdXZu2w4kR1IkZuCFZIlRsfMMDv_yNWWtwabTnRIkfsaQjy1KUxIHClzamr_jz06q8XQ31VfOTDQ4D8pJ0nm8dcO5ZCciI2OEdgW/s1600/2012-04-22+09.24.56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFcmUZfCQAgIXEXNvDaZkcCN2KXWnhZSNLHLJ-9w6ghdXZu2w4kR1IkZuCFZIlRsfMMDv_yNWWtwabTnRIkfsaQjy1KUxIHClzamr_jz06q8XQ31VfOTDQ4D8pJ0nm8dcO5ZCciI2OEdgW/s400/2012-04-22+09.24.56.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
One of my favorite pictures ↓ Not sure what happened to this poor cypress tree, but some pretty crazy force bent its two largest branches at almost 90 degrees. It looked unreal.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYGNqf4FHVK_wCHZC8Pq_J1X_iaj4me6_f6ptrR5snh0A4aOkIevd5V_HrDBDaK8sg8y3DTItCY3ZAP58YcE4LQQnMPam4mRIwcaNJZxjk5OyO8whLyh7SGS2du0xtAX9zQRLPkW22xrT/s1600/2012-04-22+09.28.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaYGNqf4FHVK_wCHZC8Pq_J1X_iaj4me6_f6ptrR5snh0A4aOkIevd5V_HrDBDaK8sg8y3DTItCY3ZAP58YcE4LQQnMPam4mRIwcaNJZxjk5OyO8whLyh7SGS2du0xtAX9zQRLPkW22xrT/s640/2012-04-22+09.28.15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEw8KA_f0tSoVbitVc80jv2US_XuphvSKndhNVlznwoMy-Oj9BiFv1ULNg5qaNfj0rUocYvUIRXwSFBMWzi6KvgIYWH7S2_r5Y_xUTo7Ody82SbZjA1igGitRoCE-uw-sL0EXKLI60hXa6/s1600/2012-04-22+12.54.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEw8KA_f0tSoVbitVc80jv2US_XuphvSKndhNVlznwoMy-Oj9BiFv1ULNg5qaNfj0rUocYvUIRXwSFBMWzi6KvgIYWH7S2_r5Y_xUTo7Ody82SbZjA1igGitRoCE-uw-sL0EXKLI60hXa6/s400/2012-04-22+12.54.13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
So I had to come back to the beach and take sunny pictures as well :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7ZxG2UpqFmryyOv7VCaXKfAWs2DbiWEKoYVItYeRmkEfCFhUejidEud7HYIy_afvcVwMbta-3JR6HHq4OiNbrSLTMcewtV3vNePKHF73bo9oodA9uEs9FQzoWHQUtFGTwuMMKNLTsNpb/s1600/2012-04-22+12.54.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7ZxG2UpqFmryyOv7VCaXKfAWs2DbiWEKoYVItYeRmkEfCFhUejidEud7HYIy_afvcVwMbta-3JR6HHq4OiNbrSLTMcewtV3vNePKHF73bo9oodA9uEs9FQzoWHQUtFGTwuMMKNLTsNpb/s400/2012-04-22+12.54.47.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Pretty sick, right?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2VjgLgZcB5-4yfVGtiuiZha7CsElWsUISilS0qVpCpBi1l2m5uhDm3fGQLJEUtWbGXS4JmdhWVpXvPOXC3DjeCpvMOpueeC4GTjN4-E4NljJj6-aaAX2S8DcyXh3j7wVtEwgin-nZa9D/s1600/2012-04-22+12.55.11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2VjgLgZcB5-4yfVGtiuiZha7CsElWsUISilS0qVpCpBi1l2m5uhDm3fGQLJEUtWbGXS4JmdhWVpXvPOXC3DjeCpvMOpueeC4GTjN4-E4NljJj6-aaAX2S8DcyXh3j7wVtEwgin-nZa9D/s400/2012-04-22+12.55.11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
OK, so one afternoon, we all went on a tour of 17 mile drive, a famous trek through Monterey that follows the coast of Monterey Bay and has all sorts of great little monuments. The one below is not a good example but way back in the background is Bird Rock.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRTJh-kRcOxlKCpMrYYLb1y_5SMuo993Aubc5Kzr8I0i7a594bGZgOvVNby7ffHaFXVNoi9UTemGRZBhyphenhyphens64D6l0iZjzibj4xGOOFE7-kN-GyM8EyxQs9QRJ1M2Lx6WtCTYvJ-isa95Hj/s1600/2012-04-22+16.29.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIRTJh-kRcOxlKCpMrYYLb1y_5SMuo993Aubc5Kzr8I0i7a594bGZgOvVNby7ffHaFXVNoi9UTemGRZBhyphenhyphens64D6l0iZjzibj4xGOOFE7-kN-GyM8EyxQs9QRJ1M2Lx6WtCTYvJ-isa95Hj/s400/2012-04-22+16.29.50.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There were some fantabulous beaches where seal pupping happens, and the seals are very well protected by the state while they pup, so that we as fur seal lovers can continue to go 'Awwwwwwwww!!!!' at fur seal pups for years to come.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFBM9imu-78mCBeng466bibraKd4vgqmMVyZSuU3cK84KiWvRCREV9n2Q2XBiC8-8jY6OYQMDOyS-mZFHkEKhFZpjcFCmwlkRcGG_Cw1umb9PXm8qhPLrP_gSopzY-7wcfIjXnVfpOrHh/s1600/fur_seal_pup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFBM9imu-78mCBeng466bibraKd4vgqmMVyZSuU3cK84KiWvRCREV9n2Q2XBiC8-8jY6OYQMDOyS-mZFHkEKhFZpjcFCmwlkRcGG_Cw1umb9PXm8qhPLrP_gSopzY-7wcfIjXnVfpOrHh/s320/fur_seal_pup.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So as a result, this is sometimes the only types of pictures I could take of some of the beaches:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcO8611Tw_av76L38Rhbei2AfsHKRtL7NMtTQubFsmLbmSwtrPd-0REb8z6ZcTPJCXg77MSeENhi7ooJrI20Gw0gYzBSblee4t1QxxBw5Peo1_2Hx95gp6hyDpLj4qcrr1nk3IFP5hqZTU/s1600/2012-04-22+16.30.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcO8611Tw_av76L38Rhbei2AfsHKRtL7NMtTQubFsmLbmSwtrPd-0REb8z6ZcTPJCXg77MSeENhi7ooJrI20Gw0gYzBSblee4t1QxxBw5Peo1_2Hx95gp6hyDpLj4qcrr1nk3IFP5hqZTU/s400/2012-04-22+16.30.01.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Still pretty heavenly...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-2MajVh-ZK_sqRfihBJO-PPe2Dm5P93x_kHs3LttuDt-uQHMhtdIgSKapy9t41eZ63xOS1gdttERmgEL932YZP3-fAE4bUpoxW-4gjlAHAoxeWsLmhNdjnaJ3BzuF8nVSSLqq-gRF5YN/s1600/2012-04-22+16.40.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-2MajVh-ZK_sqRfihBJO-PPe2Dm5P93x_kHs3LttuDt-uQHMhtdIgSKapy9t41eZ63xOS1gdttERmgEL932YZP3-fAE4bUpoxW-4gjlAHAoxeWsLmhNdjnaJ3BzuF8nVSSLqq-gRF5YN/s400/2012-04-22+16.40.17.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
This is the Lone Cypress. No, not the huge impressive one in the forefront, the lonely one in the background on a cliff all by itself. It's been there for about 250 years! That's what's supposed to be impressive about it, because as far as looks go, I saw a hell of a lot of cool, impressive-looking cypress trees in Monterey, but this is one of the only ones that's been around for forever.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzovT8CEvX61YwhURdF6smgo9Jxo3ARJF-ECCDi8HTrlOVe__2JJ35_2raD-pCHsUHK80w8rN3R4vab3F86yFcimVGV_cUuBj6teeJd1lQisik6mdrEqAjxrvCWLg2T6iiJNn7yPdgPNL/s1600/2012-04-22+16.40.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzovT8CEvX61YwhURdF6smgo9Jxo3ARJF-ECCDi8HTrlOVe__2JJ35_2raD-pCHsUHK80w8rN3R4vab3F86yFcimVGV_cUuBj6teeJd1lQisik6mdrEqAjxrvCWLg2T6iiJNn7yPdgPNL/s640/2012-04-22+16.40.50.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
Tons and tons of scary/awesome cliffs with smooth, pretty rocks, wind-beaten trees, and succulents and moss growing all throughout the cracks. And of course the Pacific lookin' pretty.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKO7oYmse5gc9ETdImOE8z7zKFoy-752XvJ10NArUy76bBCGzGQXeY0d5NlvnZbdm9VYx6escMYBfsGmLSnq8_dZLNh1TNXhg-339uitIYwhtr2g5NZRuap_5G9trhJJATXu12HajrvGzB/s1600/2012-04-22+16.47.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKO7oYmse5gc9ETdImOE8z7zKFoy-752XvJ10NArUy76bBCGzGQXeY0d5NlvnZbdm9VYx6escMYBfsGmLSnq8_dZLNh1TNXhg-339uitIYwhtr2g5NZRuap_5G9trhJJATXu12HajrvGzB/s400/2012-04-22+16.47.39.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
My phone died before I got a good picture but behind these live trees is the Ghost Tree:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWVWm7sAbVfa8zeNWGpe66ug4TerR3-tmb26RlQij31MH9ftLSPVogqX-4ycJCrrpZxF1hgMNkaOd-AdzB9bHuXvd6GPvHG3qdW6aR4l8JSJTYcSMmp1uFV0ASAciC5UAdZ8FVxhgS9Um/s1600/2012-04-22+16.47.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWVWm7sAbVfa8zeNWGpe66ug4TerR3-tmb26RlQij31MH9ftLSPVogqX-4ycJCrrpZxF1hgMNkaOd-AdzB9bHuXvd6GPvHG3qdW6aR4l8JSJTYcSMmp1uFV0ASAciC5UAdZ8FVxhgS9Um/s400/2012-04-22+16.47.51.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I was so upset that I didn't get a good picture of it, I got a stock photo because you have to see it:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85qGKgNMzdSQJgs6sHzIzs0wm4QLRO1Hl4U0kH48AUy8yDjz4vi7pd7HXa_BnV37WZeDIbmn1ryt485tCOHdEcSpWzYNyFs4Qo8CS2oY6m1i9rvupDHSzPHnAsoJk0DXNm-b0cB5KXx-S/s1600/17-Mile-Drive_1550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85qGKgNMzdSQJgs6sHzIzs0wm4QLRO1Hl4U0kH48AUy8yDjz4vi7pd7HXa_BnV37WZeDIbmn1ryt485tCOHdEcSpWzYNyFs4Qo8CS2oY6m1i9rvupDHSzPHnAsoJk0DXNm-b0cB5KXx-S/s400/17-Mile-Drive_1550.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
There's controversy over which one is actually considered the Ghost Tree, that tall one in the front, or that little bent one on the right in the background. The tall one is my favorite though. These trees have been so weather-beaten that they lost all their bark and leaves and branches. They look creepy but awesome.<br />
<br />
What's amazing is that these cypress trees seem to grow best in this salty sea air and soil but they also get warped and look crazier than any other tree I've ever seen. They were everywhere so I had plenty of 'wow!' moments.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Finally, our last evening, we had a gala dinner at the Monterey Aquarium. Now, I don't know how I keep managing to go cool places with an almost dead phone, but I only had enough battery for a few pictures, and this guy was my favorite.<br />
<br />
We caught this octopus in a rare active state, he climbed all over the place, and we caught him on film!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gAQbuTmNash-eK7u-TtsdMRNdNO3ISnV3CBaJXQkuLNtyrPYDkt0eoPuaj8LCr6VYyPyobrioTkhfMciEcWcH5Px5g7zjPPALJ_xnEd4frW8gCYYgWWoL_4jYdfLJFIJzXka6zGSukVj/s1600/2012-04-23+19.33.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gAQbuTmNash-eK7u-TtsdMRNdNO3ISnV3CBaJXQkuLNtyrPYDkt0eoPuaj8LCr6VYyPyobrioTkhfMciEcWcH5Px5g7zjPPALJ_xnEd4frW8gCYYgWWoL_4jYdfLJFIJzXka6zGSukVj/s640/2012-04-23+19.33.09.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I loved this Aquarium, it was featuring jellyfish, and behind glass, I looooove looking at jellyfish.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnG58LrNWIS64j_cIizJkrazgzBqIuGb7wQg8lnb5GCmMn8oBRM8gfm2NTH-8kGk3XwfO7Lkr6Ex79B2SRRDdQtPwbFGTZyEwGT_rExd0q_DjYUh2DDPeoARg4gvP8Ue-U0ABhFHaYENXb/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnG58LrNWIS64j_cIizJkrazgzBqIuGb7wQg8lnb5GCmMn8oBRM8gfm2NTH-8kGk3XwfO7Lkr6Ex79B2SRRDdQtPwbFGTZyEwGT_rExd0q_DjYUh2DDPeoARg4gvP8Ue-U0ABhFHaYENXb/s640/Picture+1.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
(Yeah, that's not my picture) They also had awesome hammerhead sharks and otters (buggers were sleeping the whole time we were there :( ) and a huge 'please touch' area where we played with manta rays and starfish and little sharks. oh, and abalone!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38Xu9iF5Wrx66eJr_riWjtCi7n_WG26mSCjcZp0KZJHS8rQQ2i-LBKoU2jMfwpE1rTnCf5SwXTnrahHCnt-pmYGAxKuRx-DOF7sxEFrMGp2REj_C710SNMzml98q460_G_B3KXHjqhPuB/s1600/tagging-abalone-540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg38Xu9iF5Wrx66eJr_riWjtCi7n_WG26mSCjcZp0KZJHS8rQQ2i-LBKoU2jMfwpE1rTnCf5SwXTnrahHCnt-pmYGAxKuRx-DOF7sxEFrMGp2REj_C710SNMzml98q460_G_B3KXHjqhPuB/s400/tagging-abalone-540.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
This isn't a great picture but I wanted to impress how big they are. They basically look like a cross between a snail and a clam (because they have more clam-like shells but only on the top of their bodies, the bottom is a big sucker that they slither around with like a snail), and they can be about a foot long! Their shells are gorgeous like oyster or mussel shells on the inside, only gorgeous-er!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZTC7_xOhpvdq0MFPpp23oHLMXwdnHcXR9gujEaRY3T9CAZ5fhpPN9rSFf0XG2WBA2aFwTJTqozLcbu4ddBSuaz62lkkxju4sSRAQjQEqDlAGg_3LRzQxsEV4vHvBpkoi49HinV66Hk3f/s1600/2008103837_4bae407274.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZTC7_xOhpvdq0MFPpp23oHLMXwdnHcXR9gujEaRY3T9CAZ5fhpPN9rSFf0XG2WBA2aFwTJTqozLcbu4ddBSuaz62lkkxju4sSRAQjQEqDlAGg_3LRzQxsEV4vHvBpkoi49HinV66Hk3f/s320/2008103837_4bae407274.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Anyway, they liked to sucker to our fingers, they were awesome. So I also did a lot of work and networking and listening to lectures while in CA, but that's the boring part not worth talking about. We're still on track for moving into our new house, inspections and haggling over fixing stuff is done, we're just patiently waiting now for the end of May!<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, I still have no word on whether or not I've got a job after grad school and thank you notes are still not done! Lots to do, but I'll be around!Jemima Kickypantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328947320496238665noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588212182468040346.post-79248512640527731602012-04-13T08:43:00.003-04:002012-04-13T08:43:43.018-04:00Dude!!I just got an e-mail from my <a href="http://www.weldonweddings.com/index2.php#/home/">photog</a> who said that not only is he submitting our wedding to <a href="http://www.phillymag.com/weddings/index.html">Philadelphia Magazine</a> (I'm gonna' buy a million copies!), but he also got wind that our wedding would be posted on a blog. Now, I already told you that <a href="http://theknottybride.com/">The Knotty Bride</a> is, at some point... eventually... I'm sure she's going to post our wedding, but he said 'no, this was some other blog.' So I went there this morning and sure enough, <a href="http://www.trendybride.net/blog/ashley-kyle-lancaster-pennsylvania-real-wedding/">THERE IT WAS!</a> Pretty crazy no??<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fuTOThSIWWgAQ0d1xHeuWYbeXh2KRHoNPcKV9aKstiwrhLNxGlC_hgAVU2yg1wjHrB-89GvW3cQlT_R5f0fA1yDvQBQJ9IUgzE4GQorHGb36BwxCDRsBYz5sRYo_Ht1EwgoTyKrVDysL/s1600/ryan+gosling+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fuTOThSIWWgAQ0d1xHeuWYbeXh2KRHoNPcKV9aKstiwrhLNxGlC_hgAVU2yg1wjHrB-89GvW3cQlT_R5f0fA1yDvQBQJ9IUgzE4GQorHGb36BwxCDRsBYz5sRYo_Ht1EwgoTyKrVDysL/s400/ryan+gosling+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Shut up, Ryan! It was a very unexpected surprise. Now, I have no idea how they got wind of it and that weirds me out a bit, but it's cool, nonetheless. I just hope it gets Ben some cred.<br />
<br />
After attending our wedding, our DJ's wife, my awesome friend Julie, told her friend who is getting married soon how awesome he was and Julie's friend booked him! I joked with Ben that I got him the business and he said now he expects a certain number of clients from me every year (I think it was seven :)). That's why I cannot wait for the TKB post! Because she has a much wider audience, mostly in the Midatlantic area.<br />
<br />
Speaking of Philly, I walked home from work yesterday and got inspired to take some pictures of the things I'll miss most about Southwest Philly when we move out of the city. I wanted to share them with you:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrHeAJc16J4yQJSrN4wB5eW5GuQQ48vIK9fRNrc26SzLlSmiEy-qQ8kl-iWY5g9FHuI1jS23S8gMXdaijT8CtJqdBy5hBzLIvxrA8GtQrAZawuKp9H5c5eBdc1GmX1lPL3yDp9xP2IYy_/s1600/2012-04-12+15.50.08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrHeAJc16J4yQJSrN4wB5eW5GuQQ48vIK9fRNrc26SzLlSmiEy-qQ8kl-iWY5g9FHuI1jS23S8gMXdaijT8CtJqdBy5hBzLIvxrA8GtQrAZawuKp9H5c5eBdc1GmX1lPL3yDp9xP2IYy_/s640/2012-04-12+15.50.08.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I'd love to know what this used to be, it's obviously been abandoned for quite some time and is hiding under an abandoned building. I love it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja41aP0gs_zxrW-nvhbZc73mNexfZNkmXODqMlRRMryjiyeeKTuAiLWQTC5JWVnXriGxXp5HqXjFx3yBxX44lpIOZH5vxU7nrs1lcvB1oyjfE1is9cslcp50SzYaVMV09CpfP43RXaDsD0/s1600/2012-04-12+15.51.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja41aP0gs_zxrW-nvhbZc73mNexfZNkmXODqMlRRMryjiyeeKTuAiLWQTC5JWVnXriGxXp5HqXjFx3yBxX44lpIOZH5vxU7nrs1lcvB1oyjfE1is9cslcp50SzYaVMV09CpfP43RXaDsD0/s640/2012-04-12+15.51.21.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
My camera, auto-focusing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KAb80FQXw9HU9S9RpXxaikygQgj-jnBZqXNxO2Dtn_TSk2KCyDNta8tyzFFNRGAFDRkUq5PYcGgdHzJB-Pt5wcHlIRIL5KrQ2DexhCybWsVB3X3nzHaQI6ORPiWSNvnhh3idxMdeFpBy/s1600/2012-04-12+15.51.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KAb80FQXw9HU9S9RpXxaikygQgj-jnBZqXNxO2Dtn_TSk2KCyDNta8tyzFFNRGAFDRkUq5PYcGgdHzJB-Pt5wcHlIRIL5KrQ2DexhCybWsVB3X3nzHaQI6ORPiWSNvnhh3idxMdeFpBy/s640/2012-04-12+15.51.46.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
This is just a different angle, there's a whole huge machine under here. No idea what it was or why it's still just taking up space down there.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNAv2LD8S7RXYpMZ3g-Jgi0hfE0gi0566qzpTFk1fVtdIjQ9rUhrqA2Yhd0GyiHaW4RiKG9d8pWBt064s11XWwSwj78eISm2Ch1ruZhsAfzrwshbHF6QFwYqLowvcSRaksmM7OzvG6Mv10/s1600/2012-04-12+15.52.38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNAv2LD8S7RXYpMZ3g-Jgi0hfE0gi0566qzpTFk1fVtdIjQ9rUhrqA2Yhd0GyiHaW4RiKG9d8pWBt064s11XWwSwj78eISm2Ch1ruZhsAfzrwshbHF6QFwYqLowvcSRaksmM7OzvG6Mv10/s640/2012-04-12+15.52.38.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Isn't this a fabulous backdrop?! I know it's not some people's cup o' tea, but I think it's gritty and fantastic.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpR3K4kOHCDA9kdVuIl239VWnaeE8jexGUegDk_Dm_tgcv1OP5oHdRlquUvqWXQ8SDyB2AGRPx9UEV674r5i_cp33R27yjBrVEfi0xmPq9fdfFUNjgtKkjjM8FunF_OJ6flnUOOX2AgX5/s1600/2012-04-12+15.53.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpR3K4kOHCDA9kdVuIl239VWnaeE8jexGUegDk_Dm_tgcv1OP5oHdRlquUvqWXQ8SDyB2AGRPx9UEV674r5i_cp33R27yjBrVEfi0xmPq9fdfFUNjgtKkjjM8FunF_OJ6flnUOOX2AgX5/s640/2012-04-12+15.53.03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
This is my favorite building in the whole city. This building is why I originally wanted a warehouse wedding (but I would never have been able to find one that was suitable or not condemned and I knew Kyle would never go for it and it was just going to be logistically impossible... so I never even blogged about it. Kyle and I aren't badass enough anyway, well, maybe he is, but I'd never be able to fake it for a whole day.)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDY-848_tcjNncq05xsmcw_Qj5r6Dj2R53m6-d_25BH7nsu8suGAN88W5wfEhA_NSHGpZgKO2r5EVxCdYh8tNOANI16sQiH1kcsADNHu11d-55p7bZJ2CYgcxiwXK7Gfi2e4xDfX7Ncyf1/s1600/2012-04-12+15.54.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDY-848_tcjNncq05xsmcw_Qj5r6Dj2R53m6-d_25BH7nsu8suGAN88W5wfEhA_NSHGpZgKO2r5EVxCdYh8tNOANI16sQiH1kcsADNHu11d-55p7bZJ2CYgcxiwXK7Gfi2e4xDfX7Ncyf1/s640/2012-04-12+15.54.21.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
This 'structure' is part of the Crescent Iron Works factory. The company is still functional but not this part of it. My favorite thing about Southwest Philly is they're masters of having functioning businesses right next to abandoned, broken down... things. The above image, the abandoned building with the ivy growing all over it; that building is right next to the place where they keep the garbage trucks. Like, literally in the same lot. It's like they just let that old abandoned warehouse sit there in their parking lot like an old beat up pick-up truck on blocks.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArl8pKwvgTalQQpSuRs8yPaxr0MNcWByCgBRA9ju0jglNnh5FF4zHFDvdqf8lWlMkqELbC-ZEszIiEIJUS-TLOZbajVULHqhMIRLCx5ZINGduYmFI-1UH6DqIe28ma1_2ouvnW0lgGgIk/s1600/2012-04-12+15.56.40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiArl8pKwvgTalQQpSuRs8yPaxr0MNcWByCgBRA9ju0jglNnh5FF4zHFDvdqf8lWlMkqELbC-ZEszIiEIJUS-TLOZbajVULHqhMIRLCx5ZINGduYmFI-1UH6DqIe28ma1_2ouvnW0lgGgIk/s640/2012-04-12+15.56.40.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Here's another example. I have no idea if this building gets used. I never see anyone in it, it looks like it's in a pretty advanced state of disrepair... who knows?! It's cool looking though.<br />
<br />
So my favorite favorite spot in all Southwest Philly was recently finally cleared and cleaned up before I got the brilliant idea to photograph it, so, that was a huge shame. It was this horrible broken down brick structure with all different types and colors of graffiti all over it. Between the trash and the big chunks of building littering the structure, it was a mother's nightmare, which is probably why they finally took it down, but I loved looking at it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXTIPy5K2KVCjIK7it150RspekXsjmJIQ_HsOMimDs2KXqm22Z6B6F0EN4PHx5ORkJtkFhAEmH1ptEM86NPJuPIX27Y4v7CDtjtsTgm-A7B-UXn4piLc0bGkdyazaUdqaoJe5QjcsB2ve/s1600/ryan+gosling+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="377" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitXTIPy5K2KVCjIK7it150RspekXsjmJIQ_HsOMimDs2KXqm22Z6B6F0EN4PHx5ORkJtkFhAEmH1ptEM86NPJuPIX27Y4v7CDtjtsTgm-A7B-UXn4piLc0bGkdyazaUdqaoJe5QjcsB2ve/s400/ryan+gosling+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
(Sorry, I <i>could not</i> help myself!) Oh well. Hopefully these other random awesome structures will be around for weirdos like me to continue appreciating.<br />
<br />
I think I came to a decision too as to what this blog will continue to be now that the wedding is over. You all know that DIY was a huge part of the wedding and so DIY will continue to be a recurring theme now that we're moving into our very own home. So if it's your thing, you can look forward to all the projects I keep wanting to steal off <a href="http://www.designsponge.com/">Design*Sponge</a> ;) I guess you can classify that as lifestyle, because I'm sure I'll also be posting recipes stolen from <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/">Smitten Kitchen</a> and hopefully one day baby ideas off whatever blogs talk about babies. I've been spending [way too much] time on Pinteret so I'm sure it will be a whole lot o' Pinteresting stuff. Thanks for stickin' around!Jemima Kickypantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328947320496238665noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588212182468040346.post-82279087712048271012012-04-13T07:44:00.003-04:002012-04-13T07:44:54.809-04:00Another FABulous deal!Hey ALL!!! I just got this awesome e-mail about this awesome deal. I do not think I will be taking advantage of it because I'm cheap like that and like I hinted with the last deal I posted about, I think it might be overkill. Anyway, it's from <a href="http://links.photonews.mkt4197.com/servlet/MailView?ms=NDAzNzgzOAS2&r=NzQyNzkzNzQ4NwS2&j=NDE0ODM0OTIS1&mt=1&rt=0">Fabness</a> and it's super sweet:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGWJoAQwh_wljSW0M2qJAZhyphenhyphendIcZ_4XGzzmBzL3nbABC2Q92FJFuBADad4t-vTjO280kQ64zQmpbMZKZkqMDW8w4jWMNgz2Js1dOmO0dNal7xHMSIWau7fsXgD8ZCURXRQmakuyxUtqgC/s1600/Picture+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuGWJoAQwh_wljSW0M2qJAZhyphenhyphendIcZ_4XGzzmBzL3nbABC2Q92FJFuBADad4t-vTjO280kQ64zQmpbMZKZkqMDW8w4jWMNgz2Js1dOmO0dNal7xHMSIWau7fsXgD8ZCURXRQmakuyxUtqgC/s640/Picture+1.png" width="444" /></a></div>
Like <a href="http://view.email.easycanvasprints.com/?j=fe63167177660d7b7314&m=fe57157076630d757c17&ls=fde51075756c037b7211777c&l=fe9215737d67057570&s=fe1e1c757d6d077e701074&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe321676746c017d751073&r=0">Easy Canvas Prints</a>, I can vouch for their canvases being pretty top notch. The ECP deal is going on till the 15th, so you still have a few days, this deal is a 48 hour one. Added bonus, the ECP deal also has free shipping, not sure if the fabness deal does.<br />
<br />
Like I said, I don't think I'll be taking advantage of it (I might rue the decision to get two prints from ECP instead of three from Fab... let's try not to think that way, shall we?) but I encourage anyone else to. THIS IS NOT JUST FOR WEDDING PHOTOS!! Obvy it would be great for wedding photos but any photos that you've been dying to get prints made of, go for it! Get both deals! If you're moving into a new home like we are, why not decorate it? Even if you want to take stock photos of pretty flowers or something, get fancy wrap-around canvas prints instead of just posters that you would have to frame. Oh oh, say you're a new photographer and you need to decorate your studio with prints of your work. This deal represents a combined savings of <b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">$290!!!!!</span></u></i></b><br />
<br />
I forgot to say the other day, and I will say now, and this applies to both companies: <b>I am not getting paid to advertise here.</b> They didn't even ask me to advertise. But dangit, I can't help but be excited about these deals and share them with you all. I hope this is some helpful money saving for everyone!<br />
<br />
Happy Friday!!!Jemima Kickypantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328947320496238665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588212182468040346.post-89278922191634167432012-04-11T14:51:00.001-04:002012-04-11T14:51:51.523-04:00Why the long face?<div><p>You'd be angry too if you spent $5 on a drink. Delicious though it may be. They didn't even kiss me first!</p>
<p>It better give me super powers.</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hrZ1uDLqboU3F4gvHhlWOBNmZGOR4GTGoRQ9PPiQaapNllkjCiQHlno9vobY0EoQe1qtYcwbh0CLjp6iG4g81fJOfwHZ_AXe4aBkRA70lILvNhBPEE7UylEjiq7yfH6TafXeZ2IJEtQ/' /></div>Jemima Kickypantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328947320496238665noreply@blogger.com1South Philadelphia West, Philadelphia39.916626 -75.18372tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588212182468040346.post-80995960735801663342012-04-10T11:01:00.000-04:002012-04-10T11:01:16.025-04:00Interwebs good again!I hope everyone had a marvelous Easter! I just wanted to take a minute out to let everyone in on a pretty fantastic deal going on right now at <a href="http://view.email.easycanvasprints.com/?j=fe63167177660d7b7314&m=fe57157076630d757c17&ls=fde51075756c037b7211777c&l=fe9215737d67057570&s=fe1e1c757d6d077e701074&jb=ffcf14&ju=fe321676746c017d751073&r=0">Easy Canvas Prints:</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXOUaWOtuSaE-U_TelGUscSAwChe_dObcFAjutXtP2VYraG8K1NL5OdbWNq4yC0BlMIOR8whNHGIisFR1qWEUexDSdIKqAzW0T2vHZHCaND5TcOab7e-GZyMBWGiMvK-TaaNMFfxde8s9W/s1600/20120409-ecp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXOUaWOtuSaE-U_TelGUscSAwChe_dObcFAjutXtP2VYraG8K1NL5OdbWNq4yC0BlMIOR8whNHGIisFR1qWEUexDSdIKqAzW0T2vHZHCaND5TcOab7e-GZyMBWGiMvK-TaaNMFfxde8s9W/s400/20120409-ecp.jpg" width="375" /></a></div>
Just in case there was a question, this is a phenomenal deal! Just in case you need an idea of how big an 18x24 print is... it's big. I thought 16x20 was only kinda' big and when my first prints started coming in the mail (the ones I talked about <a href="http://ashandkylewedding.blogspot.com/2012/03/interwebs-interwebs-good.html">a few weeks ago</a>), I was kind of overwhelmed at how huge they were. And now these guys are giving away 18x24s and 8x10s for $50 PLUS free shipping... that's kinda' gigantic! And by gigantic I mean a <i>savings</i> of $100 gigantic! Get it?? As in 66.667% OFF!! OK, just making sure we're clear.<br />
<br />
I <i>almost</i> doubled the deal, but I decided that it would be a little overboard. Before we've even moved into our first real home, we'll have SIX hung portraits... that maybe just might be enough for now. <a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/">Shutterfly</a> was running one of their awesome '101 free prints for no reason!' deals yesterday so I got more small photos for hanging in multi-picture frames. I don't quite know how these people can just give stuff away, but I am not complainin'! I'll take a picture soon as they come in! And I gotta' start shopping for multi-picture frames!<br />
<br />
This actually brings up something that just happened this past weekend. Kyle and I linked our bank accounts! This might seem like nothing for some people but it's kind of a big deal for me, because I always find myself feeling very sheepish about how much money I have left in my bank account at the end of the month or how much is in my savings account. Now Kyle can see it. So there's no more "What do you mean you're out of money?" or "How much is really in your savings account?" <i>Now he can see it.</i> I'm not at all saying that I'm one of those people who lies about money, but I think I might have a tendency towards stretching the truth because I'm always kind of embarrassed when I make frivolous purchases or don't budget well. That kind of thing makes me want to fudge the numbers a little when my spouse asks me why I had to put groceries on a credit card (I don't! I'm just saying, I want to). 'They' say some crazy percentage of marriages break up because of money issues. I would never forgive myself if it was my fault. Some might look at this merger as a potential issue while I look at it as a blessing, because I'm the horrible type of person that doesn't have much drive to do certain things correctly until someone's standing over them with a stern look on their face... Shameful I know, but I'm not too good at saving money and Kyle is a-mazing at it.<br />
<br />
All I have to say is why save $50 when you could save $100 on an 18x24 and an 8x10 canvas print instead?!?! No more, I promise, baby!<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, I've got a conference in California in a week and a half and my interview in a week! So I gotta' get back to work!!<br />
<br />
Was linking bank accounts an adjustment for anyone else one way or the other? How did it go??Jemima Kickypantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328947320496238665noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588212182468040346.post-18569522871828107922012-04-04T11:04:00.000-04:002012-04-04T11:04:06.593-04:00Inspiration vs. Reality, part VWell, here we are, the last segment of our inspiration versus reality inspiration boards...<br />
<br />
<br />
:(<br />
<br />
<br />
I saved what I assume is the best for last; me and the man.<br />
<br />
I pictured a very editorial feel, but I also recognize that we're not snobby Vogue or Harper's Bazaar models. So I think we ended up with something that had a cool, sort of dramatic flair to it, but that doesn't feel fake.<br />
<br />
INSPIRATION!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hXyABH7jboz9H7Uq7vjhLPEFHj8lPJcZpuGd9mDzCtWc4ashxpEX9Qik_Tt3kKDmGzDzATb_Hlk-URcpAl97EnAHZd6-sHlc9C2ZJzWkWZBHkrK1QwYgDFlLaSubbSPmiIg-Gs37fxBL/s1600/portraits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hXyABH7jboz9H7Uq7vjhLPEFHj8lPJcZpuGd9mDzCtWc4ashxpEX9Qik_Tt3kKDmGzDzATb_Hlk-URcpAl97EnAHZd6-sHlc9C2ZJzWkWZBHkrK1QwYgDFlLaSubbSPmiIg-Gs37fxBL/s640/portraits.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I've already mentioned... probably a few times... how sad I am that we never made it out onto the balcony. That was kind of a big deal for me, but obviously not the end of the world. Chalk that up to 'there is bound to be something that didn't go perfect.' If that's all I have to complain about, I think I'm in good shape.<br />
<br />
Oh, also, I never did get the whole party together for a Vanity Fair-esque shot, but when it came down to it, when the whole bridal party was together, we were all too goofy with each other to do anything that serious. Not too sad about that, it would have been cool, but sometime in my life, for some other event, I will make this happen. It's not over for me!<br />
<br />
Anyway, so this is the reality we made of it:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJySzs-EkQj3kjLgGjM_cHTYxxBMCDC4yXazpeejUFHXf9FjzY2g3LVR1Hx7jjisP9ASC8l7E87nBoKB2NpxjRJJcpZhQntB-SxRhBTwnwCCEHbctR9SMtWR8h7q4WWVUhLwCPq1wodGJ3/s1600/portraits+reality.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJySzs-EkQj3kjLgGjM_cHTYxxBMCDC4yXazpeejUFHXf9FjzY2g3LVR1Hx7jjisP9ASC8l7E87nBoKB2NpxjRJJcpZhQntB-SxRhBTwnwCCEHbctR9SMtWR8h7q4WWVUhLwCPq1wodGJ3/s640/portraits+reality.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
There we are. My sweetie's very photogenic! I'm in love with our photos, our whole day, our photographer, all of it!! Anyone else want me to plan their wedding?? I'm gettin' bored ;) (just kidding, I have lots of work to do, that's why I've been completely absent from the blogosphere for the past few days... I had over 300 Google reader items to go through this morning!)<br />
<br />
Anyway, lastly, I've had so much fun with inspiration boards that I think that when we move into the new house, I'm definitely going to go the multi-picture frames to display our wedding photos in our house (and eventually family photos). I just love the multi-picture frames in general:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-f__fzGt5zrsBIJlDhhrZzD4fT6Y7-h_pJAK2H-9s1_yIRRNRXb8gl4a606M84ZuH_DrsFLOim_g5f6cTudhY4-F-FRzNasY_BgqWNp9x1wgCvL0IbIoGShG-UCjD19n84M2Rz_ptCaod/s1600/Picture+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-f__fzGt5zrsBIJlDhhrZzD4fT6Y7-h_pJAK2H-9s1_yIRRNRXb8gl4a606M84ZuH_DrsFLOim_g5f6cTudhY4-F-FRzNasY_BgqWNp9x1wgCvL0IbIoGShG-UCjD19n84M2Rz_ptCaod/s1600/Picture+5.png" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12cPSmNwtWGlR7IlEqHOkRdFxpSrn77PFWQEJq0aH3G-bGAY5F921npOMu-6z_TqwUME5ewAj5ICQx9YtkWzO_45WRpGZYOA6QMpg3wGwTLX4A204NAfvVHb4hKGP4xrm-s6XxChaHEL5/s1600/picture+7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12cPSmNwtWGlR7IlEqHOkRdFxpSrn77PFWQEJq0aH3G-bGAY5F921npOMu-6z_TqwUME5ewAj5ICQx9YtkWzO_45WRpGZYOA6QMpg3wGwTLX4A204NAfvVHb4hKGP4xrm-s6XxChaHEL5/s1600/picture+7.jpeg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha58wDDPgQn4VjTV1tpCBGTKsHuSrHKcQYDKjRAlqux7yCHanPMvaxa9lYitViu8MJRA9mzgW6aRuYmYKapjYqQUEYR2EQksbgdOWjNHLvvbCDuPpQ6loWpJubjAPy9v_T4nIbHAAy4nEH/s1600/picture+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha58wDDPgQn4VjTV1tpCBGTKsHuSrHKcQYDKjRAlqux7yCHanPMvaxa9lYitViu8MJRA9mzgW6aRuYmYKapjYqQUEYR2EQksbgdOWjNHLvvbCDuPpQ6loWpJubjAPy9v_T4nIbHAAy4nEH/s1600/picture+6.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I love the modern idea, but when I saw the rustic one I loved that too... ohhhh decisions!<br />
<br />
I think the best part of this idea is that I could make these myself by connecting several frames... a much less expensive idea. I was amazed at how much these things cost.<br />
<br />
I also mention it because it's made it much easier to decide which images are most important for albums, etc... When I focused on one theme; the details or the ceremony or the portraits, and forced myself to only pick out the top ones, it was less overwhelming-one theme at a time.<br />
<br />
So instead of ordering 500 pictures and loving every single one but not having anywhere to put them all, I've picked out the top top priority pictures and now I know which will go in albums. I can finally start on albums! Let's not get too far ahead of ourselves though; we still have to finish thank you notes, WHICH HAVE BEEN STARTED! thank you, but are nowhere near done. So much for that taking one weekend :(((<br />
<br />
So, let me know what you think of our final inspiration board. Let me know how you felt about your wedding photography after a few months. AND <i>pleeeease</i> let me know what you did to display your wedding photos!Jemima Kickypantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328947320496238665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588212182468040346.post-86551041709350883202012-03-30T09:54:00.000-04:002012-03-30T09:54:15.543-04:00Inspiration vs. Reality, part IVOK, so where are you? (movie reference anyone??) Some motel room. (there, I gave you some more) Maybe I'll get another freaky tattoo to remind myself... anyone??<br />
<br />
But seriously, my head is in a billion places right now, and looking over wedding pictures is how I calm the storm. That's my excuse and I'm stickin' to it! My paper for work is almost done. Once the paper is done, I get to start writing my thesis and defend. I've got five months, I should be done in four :) I don't have a huge amount of confidence in my writing skills so I'm always scared when I write something that it's going to be total rubbish. So while publishing this paper and officially getting the OK to start the final countdown is an awesome prospect, the fear of failure is stressful.<br />
<br />
I got my first 'job offer' yesterday. I call it job offer but put it in quotes because it doesn't work the same way in science, you e-mail a prospective professor, and if they say 'Yeah, let's meet and talk' you're in the position of leverage. That doesn't mean you have the job BUT you'd have to really mess up at this point. If I can keep it together, Kyle and I will both be in great positions, both of us having good jobs, both working only ten miles from our new home! It's pretty intense... and stressful.<br />
<br />
The home inspection is today. It's when we find out if there's some massive structural problem that we don't know about. This is highly unlikely because the house isn't that old, has little to no damage, and looked and felt great. BUT you never know of course. And there is a slightly higher possibility of there being something not massive but still expensive wrong with the house, and if the current homeowners don't agree to fix it, and we can't afford to fix it, then we're at an impasse, and the whole deal <i>might</i> fall through. Again, highly unlikely, all this, but still... stressful.<br />
<br />
So there's a little look at why I'd rather be looking at wedding pictures. Ha, actually even that's kind of stressful because the man and I swore we are going to do thank you notes this weekend. Not really the most exciting of Saturday activities. ANYWAY, I'm almost done with inspiration boards. I'm slowly starting to shift my Pinterest use from wedding photos to kitchen and bathroom photos, but NOT TOTALLY! Still subscribed to a few of my favorite wedding blogs. So, without further ado, styling inspiration:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJ8yasdkpYY9xLAHtHJbrrlAbfGrEYTmHtBL1f3D_I7pBUIpnJVrtMn3kiG1hs0_gI7oKZ_w24VCnTDKBmcDhoWJyREmbEyuNRE0K9tC0Z6aST9pz0iFRgce4zuYITsuabkDRUYFYHzRq/s1600/styling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJ8yasdkpYY9xLAHtHJbrrlAbfGrEYTmHtBL1f3D_I7pBUIpnJVrtMn3kiG1hs0_gI7oKZ_w24VCnTDKBmcDhoWJyREmbEyuNRE0K9tC0Z6aST9pz0iFRgce4zuYITsuabkDRUYFYHzRq/s640/styling.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Succulents, fiddle heads, feathers, big hair flowers, big hair... yup, that sums it up! So there's no need to beat around the bush, here's out inspiration-turned-reality board; stylin'!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLdtm0rODtCnOHxNZVF10YlUVuKlg5eF761bKvYWik2qTCUOYsmf_OA-JNuYH2TSTqO5BpgsHxsSuAY-dBmyZhj8yeaKdrvSy0HvdQBYmBPuDOOQv2S2_7vshpB2pcoutfDlUzjclrjA9/s1600/styling+reality.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSLdtm0rODtCnOHxNZVF10YlUVuKlg5eF761bKvYWik2qTCUOYsmf_OA-JNuYH2TSTqO5BpgsHxsSuAY-dBmyZhj8yeaKdrvSy0HvdQBYmBPuDOOQv2S2_7vshpB2pcoutfDlUzjclrjA9/s640/styling+reality.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
In love = me! I knitted my own shawl, made those hair flowers and the hangers, my Mama made my garter, the florist did a FANTASTIC job on the flowers, and Ben captured it all! Oh, and I am so glad I wore flats, so so glad; every muscle in my body ached the day after the wedding from all the dancing, but not my feet! The only thing I wish was that we had more time for portraits of me and the girls before the ceremony, but that was no one's fault but time; that fickle mistress... bitch...<br />
<br />
Anyway, what do you think?! Thanks for the comments so far, I really enjoy these inspiration boards, and I hope you all do too!Jemima Kickypantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328947320496238665noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588212182468040346.post-66233742179118581042012-03-29T09:27:00.000-04:002012-03-29T09:27:47.380-04:00Inspiration vs. Reality, part IIIIn continuation of my excuse to relive my wedding over and over again, I bring you another inspiration board and accompanying inspiration-turned-reality board. I'm super excited about this one because it's decor details, table settings, DIY stuff. I had a lot of fun with most of the projects and Ben did a fantastic job capturing them. Basically I'm as excited about this board as I was for the <a href="http://ashandkylewedding.blogspot.com/2012/03/eleven-twenty-five-eleven-details.html">details</a> post!<br />
<br />
As I went through, I was sad for a few seconds here and there, there's no picture of our chair ribbons, no pictures of all those crates and extra wine bottles we collected (the ones not at the alter or on guest tables) BUT, and it's a big BUT, I was happy again when I continued perusing our pictures and seeing the overcompensation in other areas. You'll see, hopefully, too. I've certainly let go of any hang-ups I have about what might not have been captured. I am such a control freak, it's unhealthy.<br />
<br />
Inspiration boards are healthier:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12l1OC2tqz5A3fmgbVGHX0xRynFCTWF7e0lmdPA9Lbsmb1lZtwqnxm2kAwLP89G6xC5llqjt_zdmsf2uiecLEMLB9RH-dmePDrwzlWw5XzxkX1LyJ0bbU6PPgAvpg8FH1-OOWp91IaFnM/s1600/decor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12l1OC2tqz5A3fmgbVGHX0xRynFCTWF7e0lmdPA9Lbsmb1lZtwqnxm2kAwLP89G6xC5llqjt_zdmsf2uiecLEMLB9RH-dmePDrwzlWw5XzxkX1LyJ0bbU6PPgAvpg8FH1-OOWp91IaFnM/s640/decor.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Ohhhh how exciting! I look back at these pictures and I see inspiration that I had started to gather almost two years ago!<br />
<br />
Moment of truth, if the above is sort of how I saw the wedding looking and feeling, then did I get it right???<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOT9tJw3i_rdj9kRIOdMx1k1HpG16CPOdI8UFJh4l9RAqPjTz13Kb5EEoY5jdm6iTblNX-ZPrA8w_RtusCczn1KQK4tiEjGCwUGbeypI0CGqDdghNjsDwEWMef1fkafAJc-vymk82h0X-/s1600/decor+reality.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhOT9tJw3i_rdj9kRIOdMx1k1HpG16CPOdI8UFJh4l9RAqPjTz13Kb5EEoY5jdm6iTblNX-ZPrA8w_RtusCczn1KQK4tiEjGCwUGbeypI0CGqDdghNjsDwEWMef1fkafAJc-vymk82h0X-/s640/decor+reality.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Nailed it!! Now obviously, the inspiration photos are from multiple sources, so this statement is going to seem really obvious, but the reality board is much more cohesive and carries a theme. I could look at the centerpiece photos for days.<br />
<br />
I think it's safe to say I'm having way too much fun with the inspiration boards. Only a few left, then I'm going to have to find something new to blog about :( Well, we'll tackle that obstacle when we get there.<br />
<br />
So let me know what you think!!Jemima Kickypantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328947320496238665noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588212182468040346.post-187356626212770182012-03-27T09:44:00.000-04:002012-03-27T09:44:09.513-04:00Inspiration vs. Reality, part IIContinuing on in our quest to waste more time at work, I bring you the second inspiration-turned-reality board from our wedding. I next tackled details, like paper and some DIY. Without further ado:<br />
<br />
INSPIRATION!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKH4eb7OuBnBfL1v17RIAwfNJ7qwFW-rGSPAlOhc2PAjOK3OmQ9i9T_6DfHz5I1f6lMiEjMNPFwbtmsygxLOjeqBcd8bdNXjnOy1UHDug2Nt1D7484-vtgFlJUFwrqX-3LZHFxTzxdTV3/s1600/details.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWKH4eb7OuBnBfL1v17RIAwfNJ7qwFW-rGSPAlOhc2PAjOK3OmQ9i9T_6DfHz5I1f6lMiEjMNPFwbtmsygxLOjeqBcd8bdNXjnOy1UHDug2Nt1D7484-vtgFlJUFwrqX-3LZHFxTzxdTV3/s640/details.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
and REALITY!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiotAg-EBeLtMbyW8egSUOTdvVXqR-SPHqLhX2lfMt3x2nfTfPFHXW2a4knl0SjFEydKinPVfug3dpiMkEtqtFM7cDzIPy2myeCWtcQVJivIdgsiXyqie3QWtpj3uBDq8uUn2n2e6CmDo8d/s1600/details+reality.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiotAg-EBeLtMbyW8egSUOTdvVXqR-SPHqLhX2lfMt3x2nfTfPFHXW2a4knl0SjFEydKinPVfug3dpiMkEtqtFM7cDzIPy2myeCWtcQVJivIdgsiXyqie3QWtpj3uBDq8uUn2n2e6CmDo8d/s640/details+reality.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
I do wish we had a few more detail photos or more close-ups (some of these are crops), but I think I am also probably missing a few, and I am in love with the ones that we do have, so I'm not complaining.<br />
<br />
The next one is going to be exciting because it's all decor, so, yay! Everyone have an awesome day!Jemima Kickypantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328947320496238665noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6588212182468040346.post-20088898163340007522012-03-26T15:39:00.002-04:002012-03-26T15:41:07.900-04:00Two awesome thingsEvery now and then, I hear about non-wedding-related stuff and I want to share it, but then I say 'I'm not going to bother everyone with this one dumb thing.' Then sometimes I hear about two non-wedding-related stuffs in one day and I decide to bother everyone with both of them!<br />
<br />
First, every now and then, scientists do very silly things, like this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Fl4L4M8m4d0?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
This is indeed very silly. I can't believe I haven't shown it till now. Well, I just became aware of a new silly thing, that's also for a good cause. Every time someone views this next video, a donation is made for cancer research. The older guys in the video are some of thee premier cancer researchers in the world, which just makes it sooo much funnier.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Hg1yw8D3glE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Every now and then, scientists do these silly things because really, we have no shame, and the amount of work that goes into it just cracks me up, because ofttimes it seems we have no sense of humor. WE DO!!<br />
<br />
Oh the other thing? Oh, just that we're home owners now...<br />
<br />
WHOO HOOOO!!! Kyle and I put an offer in for a sweet little split level in the burbs and they countered, but we didn't want to fight or lose it, so we accepted. And now we own a house!!! You wanna' see?!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8fzSo7y7wAwQgGSVxdpsgwEOLAX2sJ7waevFVrGb9ftmXsPGnLRNSNske-BAECz9L4gtz3XJUDW_lvOtb66mO-vG0J8v-QhLZ-U1JiLqNuI6EdBS2lFmKf0khgGuQehVuB7kECZssixx/s1600/pheasant+run.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8fzSo7y7wAwQgGSVxdpsgwEOLAX2sJ7waevFVrGb9ftmXsPGnLRNSNske-BAECz9L4gtz3XJUDW_lvOtb66mO-vG0J8v-QhLZ-U1JiLqNuI6EdBS2lFmKf0khgGuQehVuB7kECZssixx/s400/pheasant+run.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ujQ1_iU4U59OKhRB4ExWvYoxz9DaZiFLk592jpwleN42X93ApHlGceuO11Xjzk5BVEAuERYjJ0gUSpuyh5AD4FKfMq-hfBZXy0Kd2oM9EOvQnqBNkYUtZPKrvPWOWMY3LtvJKyxyJvLf/s1600/pheasant+run+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ujQ1_iU4U59OKhRB4ExWvYoxz9DaZiFLk592jpwleN42X93ApHlGceuO11Xjzk5BVEAuERYjJ0gUSpuyh5AD4FKfMq-hfBZXy0Kd2oM9EOvQnqBNkYUtZPKrvPWOWMY3LtvJKyxyJvLf/s400/pheasant+run+2.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Cute yes?! It's a four bedroom, two and half bath 2,750 sqft split level! Plenty of space for all our crap :)<br />
<br />
That sitting room has a massive picture bay window, it gets fantastic morning light.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1subw4oDm1HOKvvLpB7jbLvmKOXMzEJPOUS7FIZBUb1W0RHHsFNCLk5WH3zYwMeUpERSQBoK3mpuN0I_R-0avdbEAg5sSryUKkF2z3BwMmJxKS9DX47ky3-QIPdIy1yjXYHMOT8DIS2T/s1600/pheasant+run+3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt1subw4oDm1HOKvvLpB7jbLvmKOXMzEJPOUS7FIZBUb1W0RHHsFNCLk5WH3zYwMeUpERSQBoK3mpuN0I_R-0avdbEAg5sSryUKkF2z3BwMmJxKS9DX47ky3-QIPdIy1yjXYHMOT8DIS2T/s400/pheasant+run+3.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
It's very well-maintained, doesn't look like we have any work to do right off the bat; paint and drywall is in good shape, hardwood and tile floors are great.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9U7q-U9F88eye3m2Z9u6ffby5SYaFZZYIS184h-6-CNSQKcjDl5mGqdcRCYvkJ2xn_c8ZQfNMQVi5ToJyhX47yszvl6lkh1fA4KnWvGn3uG6r7fLOd-26xtI52BkX2_tPVk7efsKiGsM/s1600/pheasant+run+4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9U7q-U9F88eye3m2Z9u6ffby5SYaFZZYIS184h-6-CNSQKcjDl5mGqdcRCYvkJ2xn_c8ZQfNMQVi5ToJyhX47yszvl6lkh1fA4KnWvGn3uG6r7fLOd-26xtI52BkX2_tPVk7efsKiGsM/s400/pheasant+run+4.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
Large bedrooms, good bathrooms, really nice warm paint choices throughout.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRhM954WSwTLPfMaYMBGHCTPxZIEkhpA2nobSSsSW8XSjDIdNWmA_7-5ceafLg-ZeD6Rod4kkNH8F2UPuearQeprJg4QqUwHt6CKG3kvgkxq0Nf7djwrvvJzadikflzo2M8-gKXJ9gOEd/s1600/pheasant+run+5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRhM954WSwTLPfMaYMBGHCTPxZIEkhpA2nobSSsSW8XSjDIdNWmA_7-5ceafLg-ZeD6Rod4kkNH8F2UPuearQeprJg4QqUwHt6CKG3kvgkxq0Nf7djwrvvJzadikflzo2M8-gKXJ9gOEd/s400/pheasant+run+5.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjODS-R0dgZsHd5Yv9nKHKZRVdNriE5zqyAAWIQ8qBE5sUddf2c8scOGhCUbNLIq6YIRBTP0r9ueu8CCgcpl7xCNz65OJ9iUPvZNrycVXO2s_XdaA11RKu-BfTfJvsjqii4Tta24BroNFem/s1600/pheasant+run+6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjODS-R0dgZsHd5Yv9nKHKZRVdNriE5zqyAAWIQ8qBE5sUddf2c8scOGhCUbNLIq6YIRBTP0r9ueu8CCgcpl7xCNz65OJ9iUPvZNrycVXO2s_XdaA11RKu-BfTfJvsjqii4Tta24BroNFem/s400/pheasant+run+6.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
Feels like home!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNAEvRI_R_guDEnVVWoy90YkHnv7JwUvTIsOUqvrG1qksi8XYglrRu-61fXhXpzgf_Z7h8lZ4_f-xTObodmikOQ-GpC5mYqyVwWT1Bcr9ma52C-gF_yrm91FisIKb77I-TYwBsj7F_les/s1600/pheasant+run+7.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVNAEvRI_R_guDEnVVWoy90YkHnv7JwUvTIsOUqvrG1qksi8XYglrRu-61fXhXpzgf_Z7h8lZ4_f-xTObodmikOQ-GpC5mYqyVwWT1Bcr9ma52C-gF_yrm91FisIKb77I-TYwBsj7F_les/s400/pheasant+run+7.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
It used to be a dentist office, so it has several bonus rooms on the lower level, and lots and lots of space; walled off right now, but as we have the time and money, the lower level will be transformed into a gigantic living room with a wet bar and a full guest suite.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWXgFl3BuXn96gpEBmNjqDTqvlV2nWjvziz9FVhw2Rbfj1owkWiGsKRRfJaLKl-u1LVnIFRmrQEHFXYeOPAxmkdH8lUToL0_FyJWl3jaAt6I9LFXYQdiKtQew3iKVFEQSLNMX5ajUbpY8/s1600/pheasant+run+8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWXgFl3BuXn96gpEBmNjqDTqvlV2nWjvziz9FVhw2Rbfj1owkWiGsKRRfJaLKl-u1LVnIFRmrQEHFXYeOPAxmkdH8lUToL0_FyJWl3jaAt6I9LFXYQdiKtQew3iKVFEQSLNMX5ajUbpY8/s400/pheasant+run+8.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
The house has a covered, three season porch and an open brick patio, so we'll be able to be outside almost all year round!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ybS6oAy8yipPf7kZYjgw2dygYjdQ-HRIeRK9C-rFMyVL2ck6KzC3WN7antAe-yEflb4sg2yHMhkudxaJvLtjKCYhmULfKyh7o-9ebm8A5ZcFBy-W0KchL3U0jfui-Af7LWuMUHSJVy4N/s1600/pheasant+run+9.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ybS6oAy8yipPf7kZYjgw2dygYjdQ-HRIeRK9C-rFMyVL2ck6KzC3WN7antAe-yEflb4sg2yHMhkudxaJvLtjKCYhmULfKyh7o-9ebm8A5ZcFBy-W0KchL3U0jfui-Af7LWuMUHSJVy4N/s400/pheasant+run+9.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
One of the best features: we're on a corner lot and we have a half acre!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Sure, maybe as we go along we'll feel the need to make it a little more modern but for the time being, I am so super excited we've found such a sweet first home. I think we can really start living a real day-to-day life now, not just a "I hope we don't see a roach in the kitchen today" life. No more "I hope all that banging and yelling is across the street and not on our front porch." No longer a "need to wear shoes throughout the house to avoid blackfeet" life (it's the downstairs carpet, not my cleaning skills, I swear!).<br />
<br />
For the recently married or getting married soon or even the married for a long time ladies, did you get super excited moving into your first house with your new hubby??Jemima Kickypantshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09328947320496238665noreply@blogger.com1