Ribbon Wands, Part 1

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to my Saturday evening:

Sometimes I get a little overwhelmed with tasks that need done.  They bring me anxiety because they're not done yet.  I am very much aware, however, that there is no need for most of these things to be done right now.  The thing is, though, that if I do them now - I know it's one less thing I'll have to worry about later.  Hello, crossing things off a to-do list is pretty great.  I know you all agree with me.  Nevermind the fact that Meghan was right when she asked me what I would be doing with them between now and the wedding and why they couldn't wait to be completed sometime around a shower later this summer or something when other people would be around to help.  Pish posh, Meghan.  I know you love to-do lists and crossing things off, too.  :)

So, craft night it is at our house.  I guess in lieu of the art fair we were planning on going to, we are being the "artsy" ones instead.  I mean, if you can call making ribbon wands "artsy."  I don't really think so...."artsy" might be a stretch.  Oh well.  It's creative.  Or something.

I knew I wanted ribbon wands, mostly since I first saw someone blog about them.  But, I didn't realize just how much I wanted them until I actually started making them.  I LOVE them!!!  They're so fun - and I have no doubt that they'll help facilitate beautiful pictures at our wedding.  Not to mention, being something people can hang on to, if they choose.  And, really....they're just fun.  Plain and simple.  Beyond loving them for what they'll do and how they look - they make me love our wedding colors even more.  The addition of eggplant couldn't be more perfect!  And, the original chocolate brown, apple green and peacock....LOVE.

Here are the whole whopping 4 ribbon wands I have made so far:

Sadly, the eggplant ribbon gets a little lost in the pictures

It's hard for pictures to really capture the fun-ness of them.  And, for you to really understand how great they'll flow when waved around.  You'll love them.  Trust me.

You're dying to see what they look like while being waved?  Yeah, I figured as much.  So you don't have to wait any longer, here you go:

Oh man, I just can't wait for it to finally be here!!!  105 days to go - holy crap!!!

Napkin Rings

I bet you're sitting there wondering why anyone would take any time to blog about napkin rings.  Well, my question back is: Are you really sitting there reading about napking rings?  The answer to both is clearly yes.  I won't bore you, though.  Know how in a recent blog I offered up some ideas for napkin rings?  Well, then I stumbled across pinback buttons and a site where you can create your own.  The fantastic thing about pinback buttons as napkin "rings" is that they would require virtually no effort on our part and they wouldn't be all that expensive.  Two completely awesome things.  So, we'd use ribbon to wrap around the napkins and pin the two ends of the ribbon together.  We could create our own design or we could use something like these:

We're nerds, so these seem fitting since we're both therapists

These clearly stay within the green color scheme

These are just fun

Buttons that promote being earth friendly seem pretty fitting with our day.....

Taking Care

You may have noticed by now that our blogging has slowed a little.  And, by "a little" I really mean that it has slowed to a turtle's pace.  We're sorry.  Well, I'm sorry.  I guess Crissy could have picked up the slack...but she's been a little busy taking care of me.

A while ago, I posted about big changes going on in our world.  One of those big changes was my change in job.  April 4 was the official first day - and well, things since about mid-March have been just a little bit nutty.  Preparing to leave ABC was difficult on many levels.  I love that place.  Not past tense...totally present.  Love.  That was a big factor as to why it was difficult.  But, beyond that - I just had a ton of shit that needed to be done before it could actually be my last day.  Case noting?  Not exactly my favorite thing to do.  Nor is closing files.  Good thing Lynn loves me despite these flaws.  So, as my days at ABC came to an end, I was spending lots of late nights at the office.....and not blogging.

Speed up a few days to the start of my new job at SIU.  And, well, it's been something of a time warp - or a time slug.  It's really hard to say whether it has flown by - or if it has taken for.freaking.ever.  Needless to say, I haven't felt like life is normal yet.  I think it's slowly starting to get there, but I just don't quite think we're at normal yet.  I now get up at 5:30 in the morning.  Every morning.  If you have EVER met me, you know this isn't exactly something I'm fond of.  My ideal working hours?  10am to 2pm.  Those are my prime waking hours.  That or about 8pm to 11pm.  Either way - 5:30am is not it.  Beyond that, there's the driving.  The anxiety.  That's a whole other paragraph, though it could be its own post, really.  There's the lunch making the night before.  There's the outfit picking out the night before.  There's really just about everything crammed in before bed.  Ugh.

Here's the deal.  I hate change.  I think I've mentioned this more than once.  Change brings me anxiety.  Not feeling confident in what I'm doing?  You guessed it, anxiety.  Driving in bad weather?  Yep, anxiety.  New social settings?  Anxiety.  Fear of failure?  Anxiety.  So, you know what this job change has done to me?  Brought on a hell of a lot of anxiety.  Seriously.  I'm not kidding.  I'm not sure I've ever needed Xanax like I do now.  But, since I hate meds...which is ironic since I now work for the psychiatrists.....I'm not going to do anything about it.  It will get better.  It has a little.  It's just slow moving.

More anxiety?  Picking out clothes.  I HATE picking out clothes.  And, subsequently....Crissy now hates picking out clothes with me.  :-/  Sorry, honey.  She's pretty great, though.  Nearly every night, we go upstairs early (so we can actually get to bed at the desired time) so we can find my clothes.  I never know where any of my things are - and she's brilliant and always finds them.  Man, I would literally be lost without her.  Or, well, I guess more technically - my clothes would be lost without her.

There's been no time for blogging because I've been so wrapped up in dealing with all of these changes and still trying to have a seemingly normal social life, all while Crissy has been taking care of me.  Which leads me to what will likely be a sappy moment.  Consider this your warning.  You can choose to either scroll past the cute bulldog puppy and read the sap....or just stop here.  Again, your choice. You've been warned.

(This pic is special for Crissy - she'll love it)

Okay, here's the deal.  I'm in Farmersville staying with Crissy's parents right now (gas conservation, people), so this makes me typing all of this less weird.  No worries.

I've always known Crissy was amazing.  I mean, it's exactly why I want to marry her.  But, sometimes things happen in life that just reaffirm what we've always know, you know?  Crissy has always been supportive....amazingly, crazy, supportive.  Of everything.  Crissy shows her love in many ways, but since I started this new job, it's been in ways I never expected.  Crissy helps me find clothes nearly every night - even though she hates it - because she knows it will keep me from freaking out at some point.  Crissy peels my oranges, as we make my lunch for the next day together....even though her hands are *too sensitive* for the cold of the orange.  She's learned to make coffee and sometimes gets it ready at night, instead of me.  She goes to bed early with me.  She doesn't complain *too* much when bedtime ends up being later than planned because of aforementioned freakouts over clothes.  Crissy has taken care of me in ways I didn't know I needed taken care of.  I can only hope that I give as much to her as she gives to me.  Because, man, I'm one lucky lady and I love her tons.

Fun Stuff

Crissy and I definitely want a classy event.  There's really no doubt about that.  But, we also really want people to have fun.  Lots and lots of fun.

I mean, what else says fun, than something like glow sticks?!?!

See?  Fun!

And, neatly arranged before people grab them

One of the reasons I really like them, though?  They could be used to help light the way back to people's cars (or tents) at the end of the night.  I mean, I know they're not a flashlight....but they might help.  Humor me, here.  It will make people safer, I'm sure.

OMG!!! It wasn't my plan to post yet another picture of a gorgeous backyard in this post, but when you find one.....well, you just have to post it.  It's that simple.  Check it out:

Dad and Bill - I hope you're taking notes.  I'm not really sure how to make that happen...but there must be a way.  And, it will be gorgeous.  :-)  And, I'll buy you a drink that day as a token of my appreciation....hahaha...

More fun stuff?  The idea of a one-man piano show.  Think dueling pianos...but, well, not dueling.  We're not really committed to this one yet, but we know it would be fun.  Thanks, Bill, for adding more to the "dream" budget.  :-)  I can always count on you to spend more money.  Really, though, we'd love it.  We're just not sure we're going to have the money to spend.  So, you'll have to actually show up to find out if we have live entertainment or the ever-so-trusty iPod entertainment.  You'll love it and dance either way.  Guar.an.teed.  I'm not kidding.  You WILL dance.

We've already shared that people can camp out at my parent's house in the yard if they want to.  Or, maybe we haven't.  Maybe I was saving that for its own post.  Who knows.  But, the deal is:  if you can't pay for a hotel room, love camping, or just don't think you'll be able to walk at the end of the night....my parents have a large yard that you can put a tent in to sleep off your drunk in.  Just don't puke in the pool.  Or be too loud.  Or leave gross bathroom-like-remnants in the yard.  There, those are the rules.  For now.

I figure the backyard will look something like this

It seems like somewhere along the way Crissy and I channeled our inner hippies...with the whole camping, burlap, recycled bottles, glow sticks, and such.  But, we're really excited about it.  Plus, Crissy has always claimed she has an inner hippy.

Another fun idea?  Owl cake toppers.  Crissy loves owls.  I think they're pretty cute, too....but I'm not nearly as obsessed as she is.  But, owl cake toppers at one of our events would be pretty swell.  These are from Claylicious on Etsy (of course).  One in the "grape purple" and "robins egg" would be super cute together, don't you think? 

Napkin rings/napkin holders.  Yes. I'm serious right now.  I don't know that we're actually doing any of these things, but check 'em out:

And, then, I LOVE LOVE LOVE everything about this:

Source

Thanks to the site for that lovely little wooden inspiration board, I think we just found a wine box for the wine ceremony.  :-)

They have so many things!!!

Ok.  I think I need to stop.  But, seriously....there will be loads of fun stuff.  Or, well, let me rephrase.  There will be loads of stuff that I (we) think is (are) fun.  :-)

I've thought of having things like ladderball (or whatever other people call it) and bags.....but then, I fear people wouldn't dance with us.  We want dancing.

Tempting, though, right?

Happy ________________ Day!!!

You know, most people have things like "Happy Mother's Day" posts....us?  We're having a "Happy (fill in the blank) Day" post.  Why?  Well, because we're not normal, I guess.

I mean, we have moms....but we have more than that.  And, May 8, 2011 was more than just a day for moms.  So, here we go:

Happy {Grand}Mother's Day!

To our grandmothers, we say "You're swell."  Thanks for your love and support and just being "grandmas."  You know who you are.  :-)

Happy Mother's Day, Ladonna!

This would probably be more touching if it were actually written by your daughter, so it will have to do from me.  Thanks for everything you do for us, for your love, support, and concern.  Even when that concern is over a measly little cough.  :-)  But, seriously - we're both thankful for you.  And, thanks for letting me invade your house once a week like I live there.

Happy My Linda Day!

I don't like the term "stepmom" or "stepmother" or anything of the sort.  And, I've just not come up with anything else to call Linda...but she does often get referred to as "My Linda," so this one's for her.  :-)  Even though you decided to bail on Mother's Day and spend a week in Mexico with dad, I hope your Mother's Day was fantastic.  Though, I'm sure it was something near tragic without us kids around.  In all honesty, thank you for being you.  Thank you for being such a fantastic woman in my life and a wonderful role model.  Thank you for your love - and your support.

Happy Mother's Day!!
This could get real sappy, so I'll spare you all.  But, it was Mother's Day yesterday....which means my mother, while she's no longer here to be celebrated in person, was certainly thought of.  I miss her a whole heck of a lot.  But, I was lucky to have her for as long as I did.  So, Happy Mother's Day to you, Mom. 

Happy Kristy Day!!!

Nope, Kristy isn't a mom.  But, it was her birthday yesterday!!!  Which means she gets celebrated, too.  Birthdays are just as cool as things like days celebrating parents.  And, yesterday was all hers.  :-)  So, to my bff - thanks for being you, for being great and supportive.



This is sad that this is the only picture I readily saw of the 3 of us.  We need more!

Sooooo....to all of the moms, the Kristy's, the birthday people, the soon-to-be-moms, the new-moms, the wannabe-moms, and every other person celebrated yesterday.....I hope your day was as fantastic as possible and that at least one person celebrated your greatness.