Monday, December 28, 2009

The date is set!

I couldn't be happier. I never thought planning a major event like a wedding, much less my own, could be so thrilling.
Saturday, September 4th in Lincoln county, Colorado I will marry my best friend, Chad Taylor. I was able to reserve the reception location today, talk to a few people about music, get my bride's maids to say yes and I choose my color palate. I selected chocolate brown and green. The flower arrangements can be white and orange Gerbera daisies. I think it will look nice, casual, simple and be under budget! :) My daughter is going to walk me down the aisle. My father died ten years ago this February 9th. I'm excited to go through this process and just wanted to share it with you. If anyone knows a photog who will travel to Hugo, CO (East of here in Lincoln County), would you kindly send me the info?

Sunday, December 27, 2009

I said YES!

I said yes to a question I had not really expected. Well, OK, I had an idea it was coming soon but didn't know it would be now. Boyfriend Chad asked me to marry him and gave me a ring on Christmas Eve! He presented me with a gift. I opened it and it was a photo frame...."uh, huh, I thought....so....". He then explained that we would need a photo of us to go in the frame...because I would be wearing his ring, then he pulled it from his pocket. yippee I jumped around like a teenage girl winning tickets to see Bryan Adams in concert with backstage passes. OK, I'm dating myself, I know. I jumped around the house so happy that I hurt my knee, and then my ankle.
I think we're doing it in September.

I guess we'll have to call him "Fiance Chad" now. Oh, and here's the story board of how it all went down in chronological order of course. A picture IS worth a thousand words.




Thursday, December 17, 2009

Simple Christmas ...Please!

Look in the stores and while you're still donning your shorts and flip flops, you'll find Christmas trees. It's almost Christmas in July anymore.
The commercialization of the holidays is only getting worse. The season is bombarded with pressure to do more. Cards, parties, letters, photos, decorating....obligations galore.
I remember a Christmas when we waited until Christmas Eve to decorate the tree. We did so as a family. My Aunt popped corn we strung as garland and we brought out hand-made ornaments that had a history and a story. We did a tiny tree at her house and a big one with my mom.
Most importantly, there were memories. Everyone would tell a story of their favorite Christmas and would put an ornament on the tree. My mom would tell us again about her favorite ornament...it was a star wrapped in tin foil with a toilet paper roll on the back to secure it on the top. It didn't show and it didn't matter that our tree didn't have a Home and Garden Network color coordinated theme.
My other Aunt, Aunt Teenie, as we call her would prepare a big dinner....it's prime rib and Yorkshire pudding, cream cheese mashed potatoes and brandied flambe fruit for dessert. One year she nearly burned down the house with her elegant candles getting too close to a beautiful silk floral display. My cousin, Gordon, a retired Fire Chief, just watched in amazement with little excitement. That same Aunt, now a cookbook author, recounted that memory in her book.

So it's not what's on your tree, or under your tree it's what's in your heart. What do YOU remember about Christmas in your home? I hope they are happy memories.
Merry Christmas!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Hamster toy recall? solution offered

This past week there was another news story about another toy recall. It's a little toy hamster that is realistic...like a real animal! You can play with it and it jumps around in an interactive manner. Something about it is poisonous!
Funny, I was thinking our way of thinking has become a little well, ok, not poisionous but definately bent.
What is wrong with getting the child a real animal? A pet provides a child with responsiblity and committment. It teaches them to care for something. An animal is a wonderful companion for children and adults alike. Oh, it goes to the bathroom and makes a mess? I can almost hear my response comments now. Oh, if a child is too young they can't care of it. Ok, that's true, under the age of four, that is true. But most children are very capable of handling this responsibility after that age. My daughter has been in charge of morning animal duties now for two years and she's just six. She changes the rabbits hay and makes sure the water isn't frozen, and feeds him. She gives the dog his breakfast. She fills the cats bowls in the morning. I handle the PM Pet duties.
So before you consider buying some cheaply made, possibly soon-to-be recalled piece of plastic junk, consider making room in your heart and home for an animal that will bring you much joy in the years to come. There are numerous rescue agencies that have dozens upon dozens of furry creatures in need of a home! However, make sure you're willing to make the promise of caring for them for at least a dozen years.

Friday, December 4, 2009

Angry? Why?!

I read something interesting today. A large number of people under the age of 30 are angry. I thought it was a strong word to use. I don't feel like I can recall more than a few times in my life when I was "angry". Mad? Yes. Disappointed? Certainly! But "Angry" is a word my family didn't use much. For us, it always conjured up feelings of angst. If you were "angry", you were out of control because it meant that something had got the better part of you. When you hold onto anger, it only affects you...really. I mean there might be a few folks who receive the unpleasantness of your feelings at first, but in the end it's all on you. If you allow yourself to be angry you'll be the one carrying that burden around. Everyone else forgets it. After all, it's not their problem. Learn to understand the anger in your life, confront it and try to let it go. It will hurt YOU in the long run. I know...it sounds all new-age and everything but it works. Try it and e-mail me back with your success.
Now, I shouldn't tell you to "let it go" without telling you how I do it. Not sure this is the right way but it works for me. I try and have a "gratitude" moment everyday. When I feel fat or sausaged into my jeans, I realize that many much bigger women would love to be in my shoes. Speaking of shoes, when I feel clumsy and lanky because of my very tall height, I tell myself, many women would love to be taller. I usually can see over most heads in a crowd and turn heads sometimes and that's a true blessing. When I feel like I'm worried about paying my bills I think of the people who live in homeless camps who have nothing at all.
So getting back to my point on why I started this blog.....Angry? Really? Why?
Will you remember it a year from today?