A Summer in Review

Tomorrow is September first. It's the official start date of work and the unofficial end of summer. It's also the end of my blog (for this summer anyway).


It's been a crazy couple of months between all the showers and wild bachelorette parties. I've learned a lot about tending to a yard. I've probably picked thousands of weeds. I've gotten a tan for the first time in I can't remember when. I've cooked some delicious food and played with fun kitchen gadgets. I've battled scary bugs. I've oscillated from super-frugal to shopaholic, which I suppose balances out in the end. I've landed my tripod headstand. I've learned to waltz. I've written. I've grown.


All in all, I'd say it's a win.


Thank you so so much for those folks that have been reading. I know I have a few faithful followers and I can't tell you how much it's meant to me that you actually care about reading things about my silly, little life. Hope you got a laugh or two out of the deal. 


Until next time...stay classy.

The Zen of Raking Leaves

Who would have thought that raking leaves would be such an enjoyable, relaxing activity, an activity where mental clarity occurs and you can be completely in the moment. The smell of the leaves, branches and grass is intoxicating.


Another poem break...haiku this time...


"Hurricane''


Green leaves fall early
Ripped out by the roaring wind
No chance to turn red

5-6 Pick Up Sticks

Which is precisely what I'll be doing every day probably for the next two weeks! Our yard is completely covered with leaves and sticks. I was out earlier this evening and starting to feel very overwhelmed, but as my mom optimistically put, all the less leaves to rake up in the fall - so every cloud really does have a silver lining. Plus, I am truly grateful that we did not have a tree hit the house and we never lost power. Definitely a lucky break for us. Still, I admit as I raked through our littered lawn I thought to myself, "I wouldn't have to do this if I were back in my apartment." Yaaaaaay homeownership!! 


In wedding news, my birdcage cardholder arrived today! I can't wait to wrap my autumn garland around it. I love these fun, crafty wedding projects. 

Here I Am...

Blogging in a hurricane.


(Though I suppose now it is technically a "tropical storm".)


I am so proud of myself! I made my first ever cup of coffee in a coffee maker. I realize that sounds minorly pathetic, but I've actually never done it before. I always go to Dunkin Donuts or some other coffee shop if for some reason Dunks is not available. In a few rare pinches I've even made instant coffee. But since I received a Cuisinart, stainless steel, 10 cup coffee maker for my shower (thanks Lynnie) I decided today way a good day to try it out, since I have no desire to venture outside my house today.


Maybe I will be really good now and start brewing my own coffee every morning, or at least several days a week. I know it's a really good money saver, and then maybe I won't feel so guilty about blowing a couple hundred at the outlets, which I may or may have not done yesterday after my dress fitting.


I LOVED wearing my dress again! I forgot how beautiful it was. I never thought I'd hear myself say this but I actually wish I didn't lose weight from last summer because I surprisingly needed to get it taken in! Totally racks up the alteration costs but what are you gonna do? 

***

I sincerely hope a tree does not fall on our roof today. Please keep your fingers crossed.  

Vow Date Tonight!

Tonight, Kevin and I are meeting up at one of our old, favorite restaurants for our "vow date". I read on The Knot that if you are choosing to brave the experience of writing your own vows then you should have what's called a "vow date" where you talk about why you love each other and take a romantic stroll down memory lane.


I already feel as though we're going back in time, since we're meeting at the place instead of going together. I'm running around the house primping getting all excited for my upcoming night out. I feel slightly jittery - in that great, exciting way like when you've first started dating someone. I probably got a smidgen overdressed for this occasion, but I wanted to wear the dress I had on during our first Valentine's Day together. I figure wearing a nostalgic outfit couldn't hurt. 


Apparently, Kevin already has a whole theme and idea of what he wants to say in his vows. Me, on the other hand, who's the writer (sort of anyway), hasn't gotten that far yet. I have so much to say that I don't know where to begin. 


Maybe I should take some advice from Julie Andrews and, "Start at the very beginning - a very good place to start."

Stuck

I apologize for not writing yesterday and for doling out some pretty brief posts as of late. I'm being a bad blogger. Also, I've been spending a lot of time trying to get back into "school mode" since I officially start back one week from today. I still have a zillion and one things I want to get done beforehand and I've been running around like a mad woman trying to make that happen.


I was very good this morning and went to the dentist, despite the fact that I'm desperately afraid of going. But look Ma, no cavities. I got my haircut afterwards and I'm not ashamed to throw out that I proudly go to Supercuts. You can walk in at anytime, any day and they can usually fit you in and you can get a great job done for like twenty bucks. Works for me. 


Afterwards I decided to poke around Marshall's since I absolutely love their Shoe Megashop. I was browsing through the clearance section when an interesting pair caught my eye. They were black, leather and some kind of strange hybrid of both boot and sandal. I couldn't decide if they were cool or hideous, but I decided nonetheless to try them on. Big mistake...


The back of these "bandals" had those hot zippers, what my friend Ipsi calls "the S&M" look. What didn't occur to me was that these shoes were on clearance due to faulty zippers. They went up but they sure as heck did not come down. At first I thought it was because I was standing up and I just needed to sit and apply more force. No dice. I tried to pull my feet out of them without unzipping them also to no avail. I started to feel a bit panicky that I would never get these weird things off my feet, especially since I decided they were more on the hideous side of things. There were two women browsing the racks directly in front of me and I tried to stay cool so they wouldn't suspect what my only recourse was. 


I had to bust out of the shoes. The zippers only moved a teensy bit since the tracks and teeth had gotten all wonky. I pulled each one up as high as I could, reached in through the gap between the tracks and yanked with all my might. Pop for one and then the other. Freedom! 


I slipped back into my shoes which were thankfully zipper-free and hid the broken "bandals" on a low shelf where hopefully no unsuspecting woman attempts to try them on!


Moral of the story - let weird looking shoes on clearance lie or walk softly and carry a big pair of pliers.

Last Summer-y Dish

Tonight I made a delicious spinach, orzo and shrimp salad that also contained olives, parsley, radishes, red onion and a sprinkling of crumbled feta cheese over the top. The dressing was only lemon juice and some olive oil with salt and pepper for seasoning. Pretty easy and basic, but all the different ingredients blended together and made a fresh, summer salad dish. YUM!


Dinner sort of counteracted the giant Oreo ice cream I had earlier this afternoon. I have to watch it this week after all, with my dress fitting coming up on Saturday! Here's hoping!

So Long Summer...

Pretty soon anyway.


While picking out fall flowers for my centerpieces, and having an uncharacteristically cooler August day, it occurred to me that autumn is really just around the corner.


I don't mind. I actually love that time of year. The leaves change from bright green to vibrant shades of red, orange and yellow. The air becomes crisp. You start craving apple pie and pumpkin bread. You stop wearing flip-flops and break out your boots.


It will also be back-to-school time very shortly. I'm trying to balance wedding planning, with preparing my classroom, and a few unfinished yard projects yet to be tackled, but one thing at a time right?

First Wedding and a First Birthday

It has been quite the summer of celebration! This weekend entailed the first wedding of the season - my very own maid (never matronly) of honor, Lynn tied the knot, and we had my little nephew's first birthday party.


The wedding was just beautiful. I was definitely the crying bridesmaid. I started from the time she put on her dress, and then continued crying throughout the entire ceremony. I am so grateful for Maybelline waterproof mascara, without which my makeup would have been running down to my silver shoes. I couldn't help but think back to our high school days when Lynn and I used to sit at the 99, scarfing down buffalo chicken sandwiches after field hockey games wondering when our lives were going to start. Somewhere along the way, I guess they had. Life's funny like that....creeps up on you.


And speaking of life, or new life for that matter, I was very lucky to attend an amazing, safari-themed birthday party, complete with visiting giraffe. There was also a blow-up water slide set up in the backyard and I think Kevin was a little disappointed he didn't bring his swim suit. My nephew is the most adorable little man in the universe, but as his auntie I may be a tad biased. 


I am also quite excited to have a visiting baby over to my house today! As if my clock wasn't beating like a drum already. I'm sure somewhere down the line I'll be writing a baby blog...

Ewwwwwww!

I don't know how, or why or for what reason, but....


we have flies! Gross! A whole bunch of 'em hanging out by our bay window in the large living room. I keep a very clean house - there should be no reason this is happening! 


I started whacking them the other day with a heavy-duty, rolled up Knot magazine, but now I've resorted to my trusty dust buster. It seems to be doing the job for now anyway. Ugh! It's so disgusting! I've been reading things online, which may be a bad idea, but I suppose there could be the possibility of some dead animal in the wall of the house! Ahhh! Can you imagine? I don't smell anything, would I, if that was the case? I can't believe I'm even sharing this online, but it's so bizarre that they just appeared on day, seemingly out of nowhere. They're only in that one part of the house too, and they're sluggish - like really easy to kill.


I really hope I don't have to call an exterminator!

I Feel So Decorative!!

I am very pleased to be obtaining some more decorative pieces to accent my new home. I've been dying to add some little homey touches and today I got to do just that!


I went to Target, which is the best store in the entire world, by the way. I could spend a whole day there strolling the aisles. There's rarely been something I need or want that can't be found there. It also makes me feel calm and at peace. It's kind of like Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's - nothing bad could ever happen to a person there. 


So anyway, I went to Target and aside from a fabulous pair of black pumps on clearance for 
$7. 48, I bought my first ever box of potpourri and jar of glass beads. Now I have a lovely new centerpiece for my coffee table and a basket of fresh-smelling, pear potpourri in my guest bedroom. 

It's a shame we won't be having any more overnight guests this summer, because now there's actually something pretty in there to look at! Let me know if you'd like to come for a visit!

Christmas in August

The time after a bridal shower reminds me of when I was a little girl and I would have stacks of presents piled up under the Christmas tree. I would spend the next week taking each new item out of it's packaging, admiring it and then finding it a proper home where I would always know where it is when I wanted to play with it.  


Right now, I currently have a spare room chock full of gifts and going through them makes me relive the excitement I had just the other day of tearing off wrapping paper and bows. I've been placing things in various spots throughout the house, trying it out, seeing if I like it here or there, and I'm sure I'll change my mind many times before I find a permanent place, but it's all in good fun!


This is why we decided to buy the house before we got married. I would have absolutely nowhere to put anything back in my old one bedroom. As it is, I still have to find homes for my new coffee maker, spice rack, my wine grape wall hangings and many many more.


Looks like I'll have to play hostess sometime in the very near future!

I Made It Home Alive!

Since the final Bachelorette Party of the summer was my own, the following list will be a "Top 20" instead of the usual 10. (Note, this will also include elements from the bridal shower which occurred in the earlier half of the day.)


So here ya go sports fans,  in no particular order, the top 20 reasons why my Bachelorette was a raucous, roaring, "risque", good time:


1. My shower was not "frou-frou" but included 2 of my favorite things: crab rangoons and Blue Hawaiis.


2. The bartender at the CB announced he was looking for a single girl and said he could be found at www.meloveyoulongtime.com. Yes, really.


3. Candy-filled margarita glasses as favors. Thanks, Mom!


4. Chugging pink Barefoot Bubbly from the ever-impressive BRIDE chalice.


5. "The Panty Poem". So adorable and hilarious!!!


6. The male-member pinata was quite literally a smash hit.


7. The "Andrea" trivia at dinner was a hoot! Loved the different categories - especially "Intimate Nights". Other highlights, 3 words - Name that Dad!


8. Not noticing the giant tag that was still attached to my outfit after wearing it for a couple of hours.


9. I surprisingly can still handle a cosmo or two! (Though I suspect they were cut with something to make them less strong, probably saving my life.)


10. My wear-able items that matched perfectly with my dress - the sparkly tiara, sash and the hot pink feather boa. That was totally sassy though it looked as though a hot pink chicken escaped on the streets of Boston, since I left a trail of feathers everywhere we went!


11. The shot guy at the Male Encounter was my favorite! Thank you for the all the special attention. ;-)


12. Another shout out to the Sailor aka Dominic aka Adonis. You were definitely a crowd pleaser!


13. Tequila Rain!!! Where it's spring break 365 days a year!


14. The little boy by the elevator saying "Hubba-Hubba" to all of us at the prompting of his father.


15. Being able to sustain balance in my shoes for 95% of the night.


16. Dancing barefoot.


17. The very special, twoooooo cakes with their rainbow sprinkle embellishments.


18. That dang whipped cream can souvenir! 


19. A thank you to Ed from New Jersey for buying me a shot.


20. I feel absolutely loved and thankful to have such fabulous ladies in my life. I will never forget this night and am so happy to have shared it with all of you. You are the best!!!


XOXO

The Big Day Has Arrived

Well obviously I don't mean that big day.


It's the day of my shower/bachelorette. A day where I get to be queen!!!!!!!


(Sorry, was that a bit much?)


I woke up this morning feeling like a little girl on Christmas, except today I get kitchenware and male entertainers. Is there anything more to life?


Sorry for my absence yesterday and that today's blog is scattered and short but I have a feeling I have a lot to report back on.


See you later, alligators!

Poetry Break

Before I fold 3 loads of laundry, re-weed the front yard, empty the dishwasher, spot clean the carpet and find time to paint my nails, I thought I would share with you a poem I wrote - dedicated the the adorable, little old lady that works at my Dunkin Donuts. She looks like a real spitfire and I sort of want to be her when I grow up.

“Bee”

She works

behind the counter

serving coffee,

each of her movements

slow,

deliberate.

She calls the

young girls

“honey” and “sweetie”

and remembers

back to a time

when she was a

“honey” and a “sweetie”.

But she's grateful

for her age

her wisdom,

grateful that now

her life is as simple

as serving donuts

with a smile.

Squirrel Update

Okay, these animals are far smarter than we give them credit for. It appears, that one moved the wood out of the way, but did not knock it off, which would have called attention and had me come out to investigate. He then proceeded to climb up to my deck railing, looked at me through the screen door and started nibbling away at his chip. When he knew I was watching, he stretched out along the railing as if he was watching television and munched away. He only hopped down when I tried to open the door to take his picture!

Little Known Fact

Apparently, squirrels like tortilla chips. 


A couple of weeks ago a hole appeared on our trash can lid. I thought it might have been a raccoon or something since the hole was pretty sizable and there were scratch marks around it.  After my observations today, it is clear the culprits are squirrels. I caught them three times today, climbing in through the hole in the trash can and stealing tortilla chips. Nothing else. Just the chips. I peeked in and couldn't see a rip in the trash bag itself. These are crafty little devils. 


I put a piece of wood on top just as quick fix and as I heard it fall, I went around to the side yard and saw one little guy hopping away and the other standing on top of the lid like "Yeah lady, I'm eating your chips. What are ya gonna do about it?". 


I almost feel like I should get them some salsa so they can have a real squirrel fiesta. 

Dancing & Ditches

Our first ballroom class was so much fun! Granted, it was a big feat to be looking into each other's eyes instead of our toes, but still, it will be nice to not look like a couple of awkward 7th graders at their first middle school dance to mark the occasion of us as a newlywed couple. I absolutely cannot wait for our next lesson. 


The other big event of the day was that the concrete finally happened. I am trying to get over the massive trench-like crater embedded in our lawn which had me freaking out for several hours. (This is my own, particular brand of crazy.) Regardless, I'm pleased for Kevin that the project is underway. Kudos to him and his little bro for all the work they put in today!

Hello my name is Andrea...

...and I'm a registry-checker-a-holic.


I admit it. I just can't help myself. And I do it every day. 


It's so hard to resist not looking at my wedding registry. Scrolling through, looking at all the cool kitchen gadgets and housewares Kevin and I picked out, makes me dream of the future and all the wonderful meals I can make. Then, my breath catches and joy fills my heart when I see that little number appear in the "received" column. It's now mine. I try to imagine who got me what gift, a fun little game if you ask me. Although sometimes I cheat, and if someone tells me, "I got your gift this weekend", I can usually narrow it down pretty easily. 


I just checked moments ago, and I'd like to say thank you in advance to whoever the person is that got me the Griddler. I have been psyched about that for months since I saw it advertised in The Knot magazine. Do you know of any other appliance that is a griddle/panini press/grill? Hello, awesome!


It's a good thing my shower is coming up this weekend, otherwise I may need to be admitted into the Cuisinart Clinic.

You know you're a new homeowner when...

you're upset about a rainy day because you were really gung ho to clean the gutters. It looks like that job will have to be for a different day. And when that day comes, hopefully in the foreseeable future, I'm almost 100% positive I'll have quite a story for it.


On the other hand, we were able to do a lot of inside cleaning, share a short visit with my mother and just kick back and do some lazy Sunday lounging. All in all, it's been a really nice day. It's been one of those days where nothing particularly special happens, but you just have a quiet feeling of calm and happiness.

Looks like it will be quite a busy week this week, so I am grateful for the chance to relax. Lots of wedding things to attend to - ballroom dance lessons, detail appointment at our venue and picking up my future mother-in-law at the airport for my upcoming shower.

Stay tuned...

I Need Some Vases!!

I think I'm going to have to take a field trip to Christmas Tree Shop. 


I made a special visit to Whole Foods today to get the ingredients for my dinner tonight - Pepper Jack Chicken with Succotash. As I was about to enter the store, I was stopped in my tracks at the huge display of beautiful yellow sunflowers. I said to myself, "You need those in your life," so I picked up a bunch and headed in to buy my food. 


What I didn't realize until I got home was that I no longer have any vases, minus a tiny one given as a free gift for registering at Crate & Barrel. I had a few when I was living at my old apartment, but they were kind of junky so I got rid of them before the move. So now I had fresh flowers, and no vase to put them in. It's a good thing I am creative!


Since I am a seltzer fiend, I always have empty bottles lying around. I peeled the label off and cut off the top. But that's boring. It looked like an empty soda bottle. I needed to find a way to jazz it up. I figured it would be best for me to wrap something around the bottle, but then the question was what. Luckily, we just bought some new kitchen had towels, one of them being sage green with little leaves - totally matches our decor! I was able to wrap the bottle using paperclips. I put some stones in the bottom of the bottle to give it some weight, since sunflowers are top heavy, filled the bottle with water and trimmed the stalks to fit!


This may not be a "Mary Lou caliber" floral arrangement, but it worked out great in a pinch.


Here's a pic of my fabulous, make-shift centerpiece:

What an Adventurous Day!

Today I took a Segway tour of Patriot's Place. Yes, you read that correctly. Me...on a Segway. 


If you're wondering how I got into this, the answer is simple: I was helping out a friend. And no, that is not a cover-up, I really was helping a friend who just started working as a tour guide. My other friend Rebecca and I were lucky enough to get a *free* (woohoo!) look around where all sorts of football-y things happen. Of course, all that sort of went in one ear and out the other. I was mostly thinking of how not to kill myself, and when I could hit the nearest shoe store. I may in fact be, the worst Segway driver EVER! I could have walked faster. 


However, I have to admit, it was actually really fun, despite the fear of falling after viewing a 15 minute video about all the ways you can crash and crack your skull open. And Rebecca and I did look pretty darn cute in our dorky helmets.


Afterwards, we went shopping and I got an adorable pair of strappy sandals on clearance for $11.98. That is a price I do not have to feel guilty for, and since I've been so good lately about not being frivolous with money, I figured I deserved them. Especially since they are to go with my hot pink dress for my upcoming Bachelorette!! (9 more days, but who's counting?) 


Then we went to the most amazing store I've ever seen in my entire shopping life. It's all accessories divided into color groups, and you could literally find anything you would possibly want. It's the Willy Wonka of accessory stores. It's like a black hole for women. It's like....a CASINO! You walk in and everything is really shiny and bright, and there's music playing and you lose all sense of time and leave a little lighter in the wallet. Although, it's all costume jewelery, so everything is like $3-$10 bucks! Bonus! Check out the link and let me know if you would like to go visit sometime...
Charming Charlie




Oh, and this morning I locked myself out of the house and had to break in, but that's a different story for a different day.

Serious Laundry Question

There was small little stain on the bottom of my comforter and I very stupidly, immediately reacted to dampening a wash cloth and wiping it. After checking the tag which says "Dry Clean", I realized I made an error here. 


After the water dried you can see a faint ring of where it was. Now, any regular person looking at the bed would not notice it, but I know it's there and quite frankly, it's bugging me. Do I need to take it to be dry cleaned or is there some other home remedy that I may not be aware of?


Please help! Post, email, call me!!

You Can Go Home Again

A huge perk of being a housewife for the summer, is getting to take off on random Tuesdays for spontaneous road trips. My pal Ipsi is back at the old alma mater working on an additional degree (you go, girl!) so I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to go back in time and hang out with her just like we did in the old days.


First off, I love driving out into the western part of the state. You're really in the sticks. There were times where I seemed like the only car out on the road. (Isn't that a "Train" song?) Anyway, it's so relaxing and gives you such a clear mind. Very zen. 


I arrived in the late morning and we took a jaunt through campus. Although there is some new construction, I was quite pleased to see that not a whole lot has changed. It felt very comforting to walk around an area that I knew so well several years back. We had lunch at The Diner, requesting Shaggy on the jukebox, and moved on to the affectionately named "Dirt Mall" which maybe has five stores and a movie theater. Then, we did the ultimate college activity: crashed on the couch with Dr. Pepper and M&Ms and drooled over Gerard Butler while watching The Ugly Truth. After a little of TLC's What Not to Wear, we were off to downtown, where I scored the ultimate souvenir - Antonio's Pizza. 


What a great day!


Side note: best line ever to hear when driving through Dunks - "What? What do you need?!" Ha!

What Happens in Foxwoods, Stays in Foxwoods

The moment you've been waiting for...


The Top 10 Reasons Bachelorette Fiesta #2 was a Rip-Roaring Good Time:


1. Vodka-infused watermelon (this was my top-secret treat that I mentioned before.)


2. Decorating the hotel room with more male-member related items than you could possibly imagine: banners, napkins, baked goods, the list is endless.


3. Getting to use a helium machine. I was scared at first, but then the balloons just got bigger and bigger.


4. Temporary Tattoos (which after mucho scrubbing still has not come off all the way.)


5. The BRIDE cup lives on! (took me 2 iPartys to track it down)


6. The ultimate, party "Master-Mix" which included many classics such as "La-La" by Ashlee  Simpson (you know you remember that song!)


7. Andre the Russian Dancer, who is truly a tribute to his profession. I will never forget the way he gyrated to Ricky Martin. I could probably make a top ten list devoted to how awesome this guy was. 


8. Winning $7.25 on a penny slot - woohoo!


9. Eating mac & cheese at one in the morning. It was the perfect way to absorb the vast amount of drinks that had been consumed.


10. Seeing the bride dance with her "special tiara"- I love you girl!!!

Top Ten Pending...

Seeing as the festivities were so crazy and I'm only working on 4 hours or so of sleep, I'm afraid the Top Ten Reasons Bachelorette Party #2 was a roaring success will have to wait until tomorrow.


I know you are all waiting with baited breath!

Bachelorette Bash #2

Big time party this weekend!!! 


I have my second bachelorette party coming up and it is going to be an unforgettable event! I am doing all sorts of fun preparations, and again, I would love to share the specifics but I don't want "Bride-y" to see. One of my bridemaid's duties was to be in charge of drinks. I picked up an arsenal! I don't think I've ever used a shopping cart before when going to a liquor store. I even got something to make a very special alcoholic treat, which I will divulge upon my return. This afternoon also had an arts & crafts section for a "fun, hot, adult party game". (Which is what it said on the <ahem> package.) 


I will more than likely not be back until Sunday, since tomorrow I'll be busy picking up some singles at the bank, packing my lil' black sequined dress and also preparing a ham and cheese macaroni for Pam who's spending the night. Carbing up is essential for a weekend of this magnitude. 


I sincerely hope no one gets left on a rooftop somewhere...

Tripod Headstand Here I Come!

This morning I wanted nothing more than to go to yoga. I don't normally go on Wednesday mornings, but I thought I had the time and was all planned out. However, I realized last night that the air conditioning maintenance man was coming, so I was out of luck. If he had left here approximately 15 minutes sooner I could have made class, but c'est la vie.


In fact, me not making it to class was probably the best thing that could have happened. I decided to do a home practice instead. I started to take my mat outside to one of the back decks but it was still damp from last night's rain. I figured, okay, well I can practice inversions then if I move it in. I've been able to do basket headstand for quite some time, but tripod headstand has eluded me. It seems way more difficult, requiring more abdominal strength, and more pressure on the crown of the head. I've never gotten further than having my legs resting on my arms. 


Today, something amazing happened! I got my legs up! I couldn't hold them for long, and I was very wobbly, but I was able to lift them, and that's really half the battle. I started out the same way when I was learning basket.


My asana goal this summer is to nail my tripod headstand!


If you're curious as to what the pose looks like, check out this how-to:

Getting Real

Somehow, working on my invitations is making my upcoming wedding more real. I don't know why this is different than any other sort of planning. Buying my dress last summer was one of the best days of my life, but it still didn't put things into perspective as much as this whole invitation process. I guess once I send those babies out, it's official - it's happening.


And I can't hardly wait. Everyone told me that the time you're engaged goes by super fast and everything is over before you realize it. I suppose I can see that in retrospect, but I feel like I've been engaged forever. Not that it hasn't been an enjoyable time, but I honestly can't wait to be married. I want the wedding to be here. I want to put on the big, white gown, dance, eat cake, and celebrate with close family and friends. I'm ready to be a "Mrs.". 


It's kind of embarrassing to admit, but I'm watching The Wedding Planner (you know, Matthew McConnaughey, Jennifer Lopez) which is a movie I must have seen a zillion times when I was in high school. I used to imagine what my wedding would be like, or sometimes cynically, if I would even have a wedding. Yes me, ever the optimist, used to think that it may not be possible for anyone to ever love me - the kind of self-loathing thoughts one has as a teenager. But now it's upon me. I'm actually, really getting married. 


All I feel right now is gratitude.

I've never been so happy...

...to have an overcast, cool day in July.


I got so much done outside today, and was able to have a way longer yard work endurance due to the absence of the hot sun beating down on me. The downside is I feel like I'm walking a bit like Quasimodo. However, other than some crab grass between my hosta plants down the driveway and the huge suckers along the sides and backyard, I'm going to consider my weeding project as coming to a close. I actually see a light at the end of this green, leafy tunnel!


This is not to say I don't have a million other things to do out there. I have to clean out a whole array of different dead grasses, leaves, etc. It's the kind of cleanup one typically does after the last leaves fall in late autumn, so there's some catching up to do here. And yes, the gutters will be happening this summer, but Kevin made me promise not to do that when he's not home, and rightfully so. He'd probably come home from work to find me sprawled out on the lawn with two broken femurs. 


Sigh. Very much looking forward to yoga tonight, though I may never get up from savasana (corpse pose, if you're not hip to the Sanskrit.) 

I am my mother's daughter...

I have to admit, I really enjoy cleaning. I don't always want to start doing it and procrastinate just like everyone else, but once I begin, I get into it. I don't know - there's just something very satisfying about the whole cleaning process. Dusting or mopping the floor instantly makes things seem right with the world. I even like cleaning the bathrooms. In fact, that may be one of my favorite jobs. I get that it can be disgusting scrubbing a toilet or wiping down the shower, but the end result is so worth it! And there is a plethora of good cleaning products nowadays : Swiffer Sweepers, Clorox Wipes, those awesome dusters on expandable poles that help you get ceiling fans - it's a cleaning dream come true!


When I was a little girl, I once wrote on an "About Me" paper that when I grew up I wanted to be a cleaning lady, which is pretty hysterical, but I guess I can see the allure - you're making something look better, and improving your health at the same time! Think of all the bacteria you can kill in one swipe of a counter top!


(I also wrote on that assignment that I enjoy money, the color purple, boys and macaroni and cheese, so you can see not much has changed since I was in the first grade.)

Late Night Random Ramblings

Sauce tip:


If you're getting tired of regular marinara, there's a quick easy way to mix things up. Add a little bit of light cream, stirring throughout, and a palm full of basil. It really spruces up a plain plate of penne. 


Earlier this evening I felt very "momish" as I made several turkey and cheese sandwiches and got them ready to go in ziploc bags. (Beach day picnic tomorrow.) I felt as if I should add some juice boxes and maybe write little messages on napkins that say "Have a great day, honey!", which is totally something I would do when I eventually have children. 


On a different note, I need to start bringing my azalea bushes back to life. They all look a little sad. Does anyone have any idea what kind of plant food or fertilizer I should use? Or do they naturally look like they're withering away to nothing during this time of year? I never realized how complicated it is to care for plants. How do people learn how to do this?!

Ask and you shall receive...

A couple of little birdies have asked for a picture of the outside of my house:

So this is the good ol' homestead. It isn't super big, or super fancy, but it's mine. It's actually more spacious looking than you would think at first glance. It's a 3 bed, 2 bath and has high, vaulted ceilings in the open plan kitchen, dining and family room area. I like it. Think I'll stay a while. (The mortgage is thirty years after all.)


In all seriousness, I love being a homeowner. It can be stressful and overwhelming at times, (physically, emotionally, financially) but at the end of the day I have a real home. There's something so special about building a life with a wonderful man who will soon be my husband and imagining all of the experiences that we'll share as we grow older and start a family. I can't believe how lucky I am.


Wow, I just got mushy. Sorry about that - it creeps up on me!


Bottom line:
Dorothy was right.... "there's no place like home".

Possible Wild Wednesday?

Traditionally, Kevin and I have instituted Wednesday nights as our "date night". It's not usually terribly different than the rest our nights, but it's something we both look forward to, me especially during the academic year. We haven't been sticking to this too much lately, not because we haven't been romantic, but there's clearly been lots of changes and new things occupying our time. But tonight is the night.

I am bringing date night back.

I still have homemade sauce from when I cooked up a batch a while back. I'm thinking a simple plate of ravioli with lots of fresh grated parmesan on top, also a little bit of red wine. Not too much - just enough to set the mood. (I kind of wish my dining room chandelier worked on a dimmer.) 

I've also scavenged the basement to where some of my old Halloween costumes are. I don't want to give TMI, but I've decided to go a smidgen crazy with this. Let's just say I've dug out a little ensemble worn by cleaning ladies in France...

That was...

AWESOME!!!


I can't believe how much fun I had trimming the bushes! It was a hoot! I was a bit nervous at first after reading the manual for the trimmer and it telling me all the ways I could injure myself, but I totally got into this!


Here are the before pictures:

Here are the after pictures:

I can't believe I did it! Joy!

Middle School Embarrassment Rears Its Ugly Head

I just encountered a whole new level of humiliation while taking my bridesmaid's dress in for alterations. The dress is lovely. It's a short, chiffon, cloudy blue little number with a sweetheart neckline - a dress I would actually wear again. It fits perfectly, except it's too big the chest region. Now, considering my size in that area hasn't changed much since the 7th grade, I've come to terms with the fact that I'll never be Pamela Anderson. Heck, I'll never be Cameron Diaz either, but I got a great pair of gams, so I'll go with that. 


Anyway, I go to the tailor shop and try the dress on. I come out of the fitting room, the woman looks at me and in some kind of Eastern European accent she states, "Haha, yes, you don't have enough bust to fill dress." Quel horreur! Granted, I had already given her a brief description on the phone of what the problem was, but jeez, she didn't have to announce it. Then, to add insult to injury, she asks me if I was wearing a bra! I had to admit yes I was, not mentioning that it was a padded strapless from Victoria Secret. I guess there was no miracle there, considering she didn't think I had anything on! 


*Sigh*


I'm about to gear up for some yard attack, so you may be hearing from me again later today. If I come back without a severed arm that is.

The Trimmer Tradeoff

I have to accept the fact that after buying a house, my life will no longer be the same. I've been deleting sale emails from the Gap, I immediately tear up any Kohl's 15-30% off coupons, and I just recycled the new Victoria's Secret catalog without even flipping through it. Temptation is everywhere and it takes a lot of restraint not to give in. Little voices pop into my head saying "buy it, it's super cute", "imagine all the different occasions you can wear this", "you can just put it on a credit card", but I ignore them all.


I haven't stopped shopping completely of course, it's just that I have to spend my money on different items now. For instance, today I bought a Black & Decker, 17 volt, hedge trimmer, in preparation for a whole new aspect of yard work starting tomorrow. While I am predicting some kind of disaster occurring while I attempt to complete this task, it actually seems a bit exciting and satisfying, and unlike weeding, there will be immediate results. I need something to boost my yard morale because I am starting to get a tad bit overwhelmed. Part of me wishes I just saved up a bunch and hired someone to do all of this for me, and save me the trouble, but I suppose taking the easy way out wouldn't be nearly as much fun.

The Best Concrete Party That Never Was

Apparently, in order to get concrete delivered on a Saturday, you need to call the day before - something which they neglected to tell Kevin when he had called and inquired a while back. No concrete, no pouring, but lots of drinking, eating and all around good times.


First I would like to mention, that the BLT Pasta Salad was a big hit. People actually took seconds and thirds, so the next BBQ I am invited to, I know what I am bringing. Secondly, Barefoot is seriously the best cheap wine ever manufactured. I would like to meet the owner of that company one day, shake their hand and say, "Thanks to people like you, I took a ride in the cart on the back of my fiance's tractor, while wearing a blue hard hat strategically dipped below one eye." (Bonus points if you can tell me what song that is from!) I also might add that the "Not-Concrete Pour Party" lasted from 11 am until 12:30 am, ending with some choice karaoke up the street. There we saw a man in his seventies wearing little white shoes getting down with his bad self at almost every song. Kevin hopes to be like him one day.

Bacon Makes Everything Better (I hope!)

It has been suggested that I start incorporating more pictures into my blog. Seeing as that seems like sound advice, I thought I would begin by displaying a photo of the BLT Pasta Salad I just created!

This is a brand new recipe, so I hope it came out okay! It's full of everything bad for you, except maybe the L and the T. But seriously....bacon and pasta together? How can this turn out badly?

I hope it satisfies the hunger of all the menfolk slated to be working tomorrow's Concrete Pour Party. Of course, I'm not going anywhere near the stuff! I already did my stereotypical, wifey job and began cooking for this shindig. Saturday, I'll have my feet up, stuffing my face with bon-bons.

Well, at the very least, a big glass of vino.

Heaven Exists

Heaven is located, believe it or not, in Worcester, Massachusetts, at a small eatery aptly named Wholly Cannoli. 


Today, I went on a quest to pick up a John Deere cart for Kevin's tractor since the big concrete pour party is coming up this Saturday. I took the trip with my mother's new beau, a very sweet Italian man who describes himself as looking like he belongs on a pizza box. We needed use of his truck, since I'm pretty sure any John Deere attachments would not fit in my car. 


Afterwards, we went to Wholly Cannoli (more like Holy Cannoli, but I think that might be ripping off an old Ben & Jerry's flavor). I had an AMAZING Italian sandwich on toasted foccacia bread. You could taste a hint of olive oil mixed with rosemary and inside was an indescribably wonderful stacking of Italian meats and cheese with just the right amount of lettuce and tomato. On display at this establishment, is a stunning tribute to dessert. Not just cannoli, but lobster tails, whoopie pies, tiramisu, the list is endless. When I'm pregnant, I'm going there and trying one of everything. When the time comes, let me know if you would like to join! It's worth the road trip- trust me!


In my fridge right now, is dessert - a cookies & cream cannoli and a peanut butter cannoli. The plan is to go halvsies with Kevin so I can sample both and my mouth is literally salivating right now at the thought of it.


PS- Thanks very much to my pal Helen who's wedding gift arrived yesterday - Food Network Magazine Cookbook and cookbook holder. I just finished concocting a masterpiece from it (Chicken with Apple, Onion and Cider Sauce) and was so excited not to have to worry about holding the page down to follow the recipe!

I may have fixed the commenting problem...

First off, a big thanks to those of you that read my blog. I'm really glad I can bring a little laughter to your day!

Secondly, several people have mentioned that they had tried to comment, but had a problem doing so. I fooled around a bit in the settings, so I may have solved the issue, so please try again! If it still isn't working, give me a heads up!

I seriously need to stop...

watching Lifetime movies when Kevin is working late hours. It just makes me freaked out and paranoid!


It was a real good one, about a suburban housewife (I thought I could relate) who spies on her neighbor because she suspects he has people locked in his basement, and of course he does- with a couple of twists thrown in. Very suspenseful!


I should have taken my friend Rebecca's advice and watched something light after - possibly one of the Full House dvds she very graciously let me borrow. I decided to read instead, which was probably a mistake. Every creak, groan, normal house sound, made me jump out of my skin. I went around and made sure all the windows and doors were locked. As it happens, I guess I was a little overly cautious.


Close to midnight, two or three loud knocks came from my front door. Now, on some level, I did think that it was probably Kevin, but I knew he couldn't have forgotten his keys since he drove home. My heart started to race as I pictured the horror that could possibly unfold. But then I also thought, if someone was going to break in, why would they knock first? Doesn't that take away the element of surprise?


You know what I did next? I hid. I hid, by making myself as flat as possible on the couch so you couldn't see me from the kitchen window. This is the master plan of someone who has had 2 glasses of Little Penguin wine and has clearly been watching too much tv. I grabbed my phone and texted Kevin, "Is that you?". I wanted to be sure before I grabbed any sort of weaponry. I waited for him to respond, anticipating him saying, "What are you talking about? I'm still on the road." Finally, my phone chimes. I look and it says, "Yes it's me - you locked me out!".


Turns out, I had the screen door locked so he couldn't get in. He also said he saw me through the kitchen window and watched as I went into my brilliant hiding place.  


Next time Kevin works late, I'm inviting a friend over.

My Yard is Like a _____________

Disclaimer:

The following analogy is meant to amuse, not offend. If offense is taken by any readers, I apologize in advance. I will try to be as politically correct as possible.

Now that everyone is hooked - here I go. (It's probably not as exciting as you imagined.)

My yard is like an extremely overweight individual who has begun a diet - even after shedding only a few pounds, you can already see a difference. 

After extracting not only oodles of weeds, but also 3 dying bushes* I am beginning to see a glimmer of hope that one day I will have a pretty little garden and not something Rudyard Kipling would admire. I still have miles to go before I sleep (Robert Frost allusion- I'm in a literary mood, I guess), but every day it gets better. I'm even, dare I say it, enjoying myself out there. 

*Special shout-out and big thank you to my yard boy for the day, Dan. I had nothing to do with the bushes other than saying, "These are the ones, take care of 'em!". I'm also very happy there wasn't a snake living underneath the porch, though hearing him "scream like a girl" would have been priceless.

Off to Swiffer the tile now, since the pink tims tracked in all kinds of dirt. (As long as there are no scary beetles, we're cool!)