My Best Friend's Wedding

After month's of planning, we finally pulled it off. My best friend's wedding.

Finding the perfect dress...



picking the flowers, the favors, and the cake!

It was absolutely beautiful, despite the torential rain storm 20 minutes before the ceremony, and the bride-to-be/partner in crime/voice of reason/best friend was nothing short of breath-taking. As Honor Attendant Numero Uno (I despise "matron" of honor...makes me sound really old, this title sounds much more fun, doncha think?) I didn't look so bad myself.




The resourceful bride planned and executed the whole event herself, with a little help from me and her mom, and saved some money buy making use of her creative, artistic talents.

I would have to say the most ingenius of our planning was turning this $5 thift store find (formerly a ladies size 16 tea length frock)



into a perfect ankle length flower girl dress,complete with straps made from the surplus fabric.




Mom was in charge of the flower arranging, with the exception of the bouquets, and the rented arch behind us, that the bride had purchased the lights, flowers and greenery to cover herself. There were some heated discussions as to who's vision of wedding decour should be followed ( I thought I was going to need a striped shirt before it was over!) but I am happy to say that the resulting arrangements were quite lovely.



We spent most of Friday and Saturday decorating and fetching and complaining (and shedding a tear or two). The arch had consumed most of our decorating time, causing the bride to have a minor meltdown, when it was discovered that dear old mom had used the greenery we had purchased to cover it in the other arrangements.

I am a list maker. I like to make lists of things to be done, and then check them off as I do them so that there is no question what is done and what is left. Usually, the bride is too. Why we deviated from our usual list-making practice, I do not know. All I know, had it not been for a wedding cake illustration on the balloons I tied to the sign post marking the turn to the church, we'd had all almost forgotten to pick up the bride's cake!

Tigger got to get in date number two with the lovely Miss Mary Mac (aka Honor Attendant #2). Both were more than pleased to pose for this picture.

Everyone looked lovely!




It had been a very popular Saturday to get married. At the same time, my cousin was getting married in a posh affair (12 bridesmaids...no kidding!) that ended in a swanky country club reception. My grandmother provided me with snapshots and details of what I had missed. She breathlessly estimated what the bride's family must surely have spent. I have to say, while it sounded impressive, I was much more impressed with the simple, elegant affair I had helped to arrange.

When it boils down to it, both couples are just as "married" as the other.

Whew!

Tigger made it through his first date. Whew! Glad that's over.

His date, I will call "Miss Mary Mac," a young lady I've known since she was just a twinkle in her father's eye. She and Tigger met when they were very young and they've been friends for many years now. As I mentioned in my previous post, they share many common interests and have a very close bond. This date is a recent plot twist in their friendship.

Having know me all of her life, Miss Mary Mac was not at all surprised when I asked for a photo to document this momentous occasion. It looks pretty much like all other photos I've taken of them over the years.

Despite having me tagging along to chaperone (or course, someone did have to drive), we had a great time last night watching "Despicable Me."

3D entertainment has come a long way. Aside from "Avatar," the last 3D movie I saw was "Friday the Thirteenth 3D." It also costs much more. If I'd known they were going to charge $4 more, I'd have kept the little glasses.

The bad thing about movie theatres is they reeeeeaaaaalllllllllllly like their popcorn and sodas. On the other hand, the good thing about movie theatres is that their idea of "medium" is a 44 oz soda.

Tigger is definately going to need to find himself a job if he wants to continue dating. I think we are going to try for a matinee next time.

The movie was really cute. A real family friendly story, emphasizing everyone's need for family acceptance and togetherness. Steve Carrell has a great Russian accent and the unmistakable voice of Russel Brand provides some really funny moments. After seeing Russell's comedy act, and more of him than I ever cared to see in "Forgettng Sarah Marshall," I'm really surprised to see he's involved in more wholesome pursuits.

The movie, surprisingly enough, starts out with "Sweet Home Alabama," something that is ALWAYS sure to get a whoop out of any crowd in Alabama (it is, after all, our "oh-ficial anthem.") I don't want to spoil the plot, so I will let you see the rest for yourself.

It is a definate "buy" when it comes out on dvd.

After the movie, we found ourselves in a familar place, on Miss Mary Mac's couch, watching "Mythbusters."

Nice to see things are back to normal.

Tigger 's First Date

Tonight is a milestone. My son has his very first date!

Both of us are very nervous (Mom nerves, who knew?!), despite the date being with one of his long time friends.

I had the chance to speak to him at length about how he sould behave on the date. Since he and the girl have been friends since they were little, the whole awkward, getting-to-know-you phase is long over. They share many common interests, and are comfortable talking, or just hanging out, sketching and saying nothing, But his desire to make a good impression on this date, has him overthinking it. I told him to be himself, but add a little chivalry, like opening doors and pulling back her chair.

We are currently coordinating parent schedules and movie times. I, of course, get to be the driver, as both are just a few months shy of getting their own driver's licenses.

This experience has been very different for me from when my girls started dating. I was a little more prepared for the day Julz asked to go to a school dance with the boy up the street. I'll never forget how he introduced himself, extending his hand for a shake. I was a little less prepared for the announcement a few months back that Kit-Kat, now 15, had met a boy at a skating party. But after meeting his parents, who share the chaufering duties with us, I breathe a little easier.

But my son seems to have hold of a different heart string. Boys are supposed to be tough and not let things get to them, But I know my son is tender-hearted and I'm a little worried.

More to follow...

Reality Check

I just had to share about a new show on VH1 that I stumbled across this weekend called You're Cut Off.

I really wasn't looking for another reality series to watch, but this one was so fascinating, I couldn't stop myself!

Southern Reality

Oh no! I wonder what kind of "Reality" this show will present of the South!

Move over Jersey! There is an Open Casting Call for new reality series featurning my fellow Southerners called Party Down South!

The website boasts "If you like your chicken fried, drive a pick up truck and are full of American Pride, we are looking for you!"

I shudder to think who is going to apply.

jw

EUREKA!!!

I didn't believe it was possible, but I have found someone that loves make-up as much as I do!!

Marlena the Make Up Geek!

I sort of stumbled on to her site while googling make-up techniques and I've been hooked ever since! Marlena's site contains tutorial videos, product reviews, a make-up "store," idea galleries, and a forum for make-up discussions.

The step-by-step video tutorials are awesom. Marlena not only shares her technique, she also shares the make-up brands and shades (usually a great mix both high-end AND drug store varieties!) and the brush types for each application. I am in heaven,

Though you wouldn't know it by looking at me today (stupid upper respiratory infection) I LOVE make-up! I was very lucky that my introduction to make-up coincided with my mother's job at Clinique when I was about 10, so I learned to use make-up with some pretty quality stuff. I've been a "3 stepper" for most of the past 30 years, and I owe a mostly acne free adolesence to that fact.

Every so often, Mother would bring home old testers or a new free gift. I had ammased quite a collection by the time Mother let me wear make up, around 12. I pored over magazines and books to learn what colors and techniques would look best. I practiced on all my friends. No one ever refused.

Eye shadow was a particular passion. I was always jealous of my brown-eyed friends. All of my favorite colors look the best on brown eyes. I loved to make up my friend Melanie, with her chocolate brown eyes and large lids, a perfecr canvas. My own eyes are blue, with small lids, that are somewhat hooded, (and getting more hooded by the day).

My knowledge of make-up has served me well over the years. I spent many weekend nights playing official make-up artist for my friends. Several friends asked me to make them up for pageants and proms and later their weddings. It was also handy in covering cuts and bruises. But that is a story for another day.

Product and techniques have changed quite a bit since I started using make up. I'm really excited to find a place where I can learn more about them. There are enough video tutorials to keep me busy for weeks.

Won't you other Make Up Geeks join me?
~EnJOY!

An Open Letter to DIRECT TV

Dear DIRECT TV,

Thank you for FINALLY sending a tech to repair the satellite dish that has been down for a week. The surprise situation and subsequent telephone calls to your customer service department made my wedding anniversary quite memorable. Thank you for setting an appointment for us to have your product repaired "between 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m." a full week in advance. Despite paying for your product's premium package, we were more than happy to add the "new" service plan as well. How silly of us to think it would be covered by the "premium" package.

My family enjoys your product tremendously and was quite disappointed that we had to wait for an entire week for a visit from your technician. Just one more day without network television, I am quite certain few in this household would have survived. On the plus side, it has been determined that the VCR does indeed still work, and that the stand that I took several months ago, rescuing the VHS tapes from the charity box, was well worth the effort. It has also brought the family closer, as everyone came together about Thursday, to create a "movies we must buy on DVD" list.

Despite having an appointment today for "8:00 a.m. until 12:00p.m." your technicians arrived at ten minutes to 1:00 p.m. During their ten minute visit, the smoke from one's cigarette infiltrated my home, and further irritated my slowly healing upper respiratory infection. Not to worry, he did put it out ...on my porch, where it remains as I write.

I was impressed by how prepared they were to service the dish unit, on record as being on our roof, when they came to inquire if we had a ladder. We did not, but thankfully, one miraculously appeared from the back of their truck.

They worked quickly, and soon, all our recievers were working. We were able to see what the problem was, unfortunately not until long after they were gone. They were kind enough to leave the damaged parts and coaxial peices ...in the middle of our front yard.

We thank you for recognizing that we were extremely upest by this series of events. It was very kind of you to deduct the week that we were without your product, as well as the $50 service charge for the tardiness of the technicians.

We thank you for your time and patience.
Signed
Your Silly Customers