75% is a whole lot!

Ok, so I tell Tony that I'm going out to buy a red purse. Over the weekend I felt like I just couldn't live another day without a red purse. I call my sister to come with me - probably not the smartest thing I ever done. She tells me that the Bon-Ton is having their annual 75% off sale... whoa! Not only did I buy the infamous red purse (love it!), I ended up buying 2 Jones of New York bags - both well over $150 - and, of course, a pair of black shoes - and all under $70. When I got home the conversation went something like this:Why did you buy 2 bags when you were only going out for one? Well, because this bag is originally priced at $158 and it cost me $30. Besides that I needed a winter bag. But Dase, it's not saving money if you're spending money on things you don't need. True.... but I would have bought it for $158 in the winter. I'm just saving the money now. He looked at me like I had 5 heads. Men just don't understand.... BTW.... The Bon-Ton is marking everything down today to 80%!!! My sister was already there and has already called me... I think I need a new suit to go with those new shoes!

The "Show"

You think I should send out an email blast about my excitement - who would care?.... One of the large "morning shows" called me this morning to do a live show with them... ummm...I thought it was one of my kids' friends, one of my nieces or nephews pulling a prank and thank the Almighty God in Heaven I didn't say "Whatever!!" and hang up. Lawd knows my mouth gets me in trouble more than it should. I said (more cheery than I should have) "Good Morning, Hi!!"At any rate, this woman from "THE SHOW" - she asked that I not mention which.... ??? .... well she wanted to know about Whit's Quince since she saw me in Special Events Magazine. They're doing a live segment but wanted to film an actual party going on this week end or next - and then move into the live segment and ask why, as parents, we're crazy enough to spend time, money and energy into these lavish parties. DANG!! I don't have one.... so they're no longer interested in me. It doesn't take much, does it? I guess, she's moving on to the next Event and Wedding Planner on the list. UGH! I did tell her I would post the question on the Wedding Coordinator's web site that I belong to. Their life is probably more exciting - they live all over the world in Italy, UK, Virgin Islands - never know. In reality, it probably doesn't matter, though... I was so nervous just talking to her - I'm not sure why.... I kept thinking ... I won't be able to speak on camera, I'll make a fool out of myself, what will I wear, should I get my hair cut... I can't Iris is in the Carribean! .....and ....many more things I probably shouldn't mention here. So much for my 20 minutes of fame. I'll stick to the word of mouth recognition....

Artistic rendering

I've had lots of people call me looking for the picture of my reception facility. I thought I'd bump it up so you don't have to spend a whole lot of time sifting through sensless chatter.

I should have thought of it first!!

Because I get tired of hearing Tony say "when are you getting rid of that junk?" a gazillion times a year, I decided to rent a storage facility.Mind you, it's not junk. It's stuff that I've gathered, over the many child rearing years, proving that my kids may want it for their kids. It's stuff like old teddy bears. Whit's dress up clothes. Baby dolls - mine included. About 1,000 match box cars. An old Chemistry set - how can I get rid of it since this spurred my son to be a Chemist?? Now that I have the sympathy of all mothers out there I have to ask.... why didn't I think about building a storage facility instead of a reception hall?? Have you ever even been to one of those things? I never had to; at my last house I had a basement and attic where I sufficiently stored all things that were out of Tony's sight. In a warehouse you don't have those privileges! UGH. Back to the storage... here is a large piece of land with rows of garages and garages. I'm sure not much spent on upkeep. Hand them a lease, say "buy a lock" and collect rent! How ingenious. I should have thought of that! BTW.... before we drove off (after the second trip of two van fulls - you know, the kids stuff in the back and the party stuff in the front of the storage!) Tony looks at me and says "don't come sneaking over here after a shopping spree with your sister from Target -either!" I gasped and said "I'm offended!" - in honesty... I never thought of it. Thanks for the heads up.

Right in the thick of it...

Well, wedding season is in full force. I haven't had time to get on and express how fast these last weeks have gone. All of my weddings have gone on without a hitch. I cried at some of my weddings - ok, almost all of them. I have had some very moving experiences. Like the time during one of my weddings when the Pastor asked "who gives this woman..." and the father couldn't compose himself to say "I do" - whew! that was something - it still stirs me. With Whit getting ready to leave us and Tony acting up and getting teary eyed everytime I turn around, this wedding touched me to my soul.During this time of year I gauge my life by weddings so I can't believe we are almost into July! I can't complain... life has been good. When you surround yourself with so much joy, love and laughing there's nothing to complain about. My reception hall is coming along. The Knot ad has generated a lot of interest. I've been getting a lot of calls about it. I just can't wait until we're through! Speaking of the Knot. I was chosen (and humbled) by the Knot to coordinate their yearly Vendor Party/Celebration. It has been a huge undertaking but I'm honored. I am putting together a very distinct and exciting party for them. I'm really looking forward to it. I'll keep you posted. Well.... Pebbles keeps barking because of all of the pounding that's going on. Maybe I should put her on some Prozac until construction is finished. What do you think?

Whit's Quince isn't over....

Well, the long awaited article in this month's Special Events Magazine is finally here. It took 5 yrs to put Whit's Quince together and one month for SEM to run their segment.... ;0) It's been a really interesting experience - having to relive that party. All the drama, heartache and a few close calls with me losing my mind over it all. It seems like that was a lifetime ago and yet it was only 3 yrs ago. Take a peek. I think Natasha Garber did a fab job on the article - Kudos, Natasha! http://specialevents.com/childrens/events_family_ties_20060503/

Now, can I have my pictures back, please? ;0)

Am I there yet?

Did you ever have one of those days where you thought "I should really go back to bed and try this all over"? Well, today was that day for me. How frustrating. Nothing went right. I was sooo busy today I didn't have a chance to catch my breath. The contractors got here at 7am. I wanted to get down there and talk to them, take them coffee, take them some of the awesome corn bread my fabulous neighbor made me for mother's day. At any rate, none of that happened. I could go on for the next two hours about how everything was off today..... I'll spare you. I finally get downstairs at 1:30pm to say hi to the contractors..... they were just cleaning up..... if I won't be dog-goned.... they were almost done and they had the wrong blue prints!!! I would have been renting out bathrooms had I not went down. I think they knew by the size of my eyes that something was wrong. I took the steps two-by-two...found my prints and went downstairs. If they weren't plain clothes Mennonites he'd of cursed. I could see it. Poor devil. I left him with the prints and told him to call into the company. Mind you, (in their defense) I changed the plans maybe 7 times.... but I knew I wasn't in for renting bathroom space. It was just wrong. He knocked on my office door - 25 minutes later with a technical question. To top it all off... he was very nice to me... and I didn't want him to be.... I was having a bad day and misery LOVES company. He could of yelled at me and said "well, why the heck weren't you down here at 7" but he didn't. I asked what happened and he shrugged and said "they told me to fix it..... it was our bad" ;0)In the end - as I just had a revelation - maybe the working foreman was the one who had a bad day. Maybe he's home telling his wife what a type A I was all day and didn't come down to check on them. Isn't it funny how we put things into perspective? Sure hope tomorrow's a better day....... because Lord knows, I'll be here waiting for my FedEx package that should have been here last Thursday!!

The Knot

Just wanted to post my knot ad. Look for it this fall in the Knot Magazine. Thanks to everyone who helped with my ad design!

50th Birthday Bash

It's been a week since the 50th Birthday Bash. I hadn't written about it before because I wanted to do justice to this awesome affair and my schedule didn't allow for it. Well.... I have time now!Can I tell you how fabulous that Family was? The whole family seemed to be from Perfectville. They all seemed to genuinely love each other and care for one another. I understand that they go on vacation together for a week every year. I was green with envy by the time they left. One of the brothers-in-law brought this gargantuan slushy machine. If anyone knows anything about me it's that I love, love, love slushies! The BIL was making strawberry daiquiris and Pina Coladas. I'm not a Pina gal so I didn't try that one. I did, however, have 4 strawberry drinks. I can tell you that they were out of this world. The machine the BIL brought was an industrial Island Oasis machine that they keep in restaurants and bars. When he was cleaning it at the end of the night he let out all of the remaining ice shavings and Tony and I made snowballs - it was that fine of snow. At any rate, .... I don't necessarily drink. Never have. On Sunday morning when Tony and I were cleaning up Tony told me how much Bacardi goes into those drinks. One shot per mixed drink. WEEEELLLLLL NO WONDER I was laughing so much!! I kept saying (all night) "I have never laughed so much with perfect strangers" - it IS true, the Hostess's sister is VERY funny and her laugh is throaty and contagious but I think the Bacardi helped a little. But Bacardi or not, you've gotta love the story about the sister putting the little sister into the dryer when they were children. I still laugh thinking about this. They were just really funny people. They cracked me up all night. I may have had just as much fun as the Host of Honor.... sorry, I love my job!

My baby is all grown up....

Yesterday I had the huge honor to have Whitney's teacher nominate her for student of the month. This isn't any ol' student of the month. Here in Columbia they make a huge to-do out of this. They present the award before the school board ( I can't believe you guys sit through that every month - it's from Kindergarten to 12 grade!) and they have a large gathering of folks that come for other school business. The Columbia Ledger is there and they take pictures of the student with their parents and Principal and post it in the paper (picture to come). At any rate, you must have perfect attendance for that marking period - Whitney didn't. Instead her Phototech teacher nominated Whit for the student of the month award on her academic abilities. For those of you who don't know - Whitney is going to Photography School in August. Anyway, I wasn't prepared for all of the hoopla and it made me swell with pride. Whit is very reserved, kind, grounded and polite - minus hormones - and it feels good that someone else, other than us, see that. So thank you, Columbia and many more thanks to Mr. Hill!

Still trying to create the perfect setting....

Ok, it seems like this is dragging on forever.... what was supposed to take "3 months ma'am" has been over 2 years. No fault of my contractors... just life. The floor is done...... well, the subfloor at least is. The electrical work is done... well at least it's roughed in... Ok the artistic rendering is done! Really. Awesome picture by Ryan Hoch.