Smith

For those of you hard at work trying to win a fantabulous bracelet, I have just received approval from Brandi to release her extremely unusual last name - Smith.

The blog name entries don't have to include Brandi's first or last name by the way. It might help get the ideas flowing if I told you that Brandi is very creative and talented in the areas of photography, floral design and home decor. In fact, one might call her, "Handy Brandi"...oh, did I just enter my own contest? Yep, I think I did!!

A winner will be announced on Thursday so keep entering those great blog name suggestions until then.

It will be your loss...

For all you lame people who haven't yet entered the Name Brandi's Blog contest, it will be your loss. The winner will receive a handmade bracelet in colors of their choice and it's going to be one of the BEST bracelets I've ever made. So, if you want a crack at winning my masterpiece, pay Brandi's blog a visit, get your creative juices flowing and send me your entries via the "Comments" section of this post. No entries will be accepted after midnight tomorrow (Wednesday).

For more of Sarah's wedding pix, go here to see the professional photographer's pix.

Would somebody kindly come over here and remove the Cheetos from my pantry before I gain back every pound I've lost?

Wedding Pictures

Sarah's Matron of Honor sent me pix last night. Here are a few of my favorites:

Rehearsal at the Conservatory Garden in Central Park

Getting Ready

Heading downstairs in the elevator

Waiting for the limo. The tourists loved us.

I now know what it feels like to be photographed by the paparazzi.

All lined up and ready

Sarah being escorted to the altar by my Dad and Vickie (my Stepmom)

There was lots of kissing...at a wedding...go figure.

Mr. & Mrs. Dodson

Mr. & Mrs. Ramirez

The reception was held at a historic 5-story townhouse on the Upper East Side called The Astor House

Congratulations Bret & Sarah! If you didn't get enough and want to see more, go here. Scott & Jen, who were both in the wedding, posted pix to their website. Let me warn you...there are some not so flattering pictures of me...you might get scared and run away...just keeping it real!

Only 3 More Days To Enter

My contest to Name Brandi's Blog will end on Wednesday. The entries so far include:

• Brandiland
• A Splash of Brandi
• Brandi Straight Up

What else have you got? Don't forget that the winner will receive a handmade bracelet in the colors of their choosing. I just got some new beads the other day and they are so cute. If I had a camera, I'd show you...

I'm back

I'm back, but in a bad mood and don't feel like posting because there aren't any pictures to share. Why not? You might be asking yourself. That would be because my camera broke on the first day. I took exactly two pictures before it broke. Not to worry because my friends and family will take care of me by sharing their pix, but for the moment, they're all still in NY so no pix...

I'm in purse heaven

Forget about the red purse. I'm in New York, New York and there are purses on every corner. For a purse addict (which I admittedly am), this is like being an alcoholic and having margaritas served on every corner (which would also be a problem for me)!!

Gotta go people. This is costing 20 cents per minute. This town is EXPENSIVE!!!

Is it a keeper?

Before I rip the tags off this purse I just bought for $16, I need some affirmation. Is it a keeper? It's not real leather and I'm kind of a purse snob when it comes to that, but something about this purse is drawing me in. Am I wrong? I should tell you that the red is actually a bit darker than it looks in the picture.

For those inquiring minds who want to know if I was able to scrub away my botched tan, I am happy to report that lemon juice and peppermint foot scrub pretty much did the trick. I'll need to do some more scrubbing again tonight, but I think I'll be presentable in time for the wedding.

What happened to your feet Mommy?

I just wanted to be tan like the bridesmaids from Arizona & Hawaii...

Wish me luck...

I searched the internet for "How to remove self-tanner". These are my options...If one of these don't work, I may have to resort to Clorox wipes, as suggested by one internet guru...Ugh!! Actually the Neutrogena, "Build-a-Tan" is what my helpful neighbor suggested that I SHOULD have used.

Brandi Needs a Makeover

Actually, Brandi's blog needs a makeover, but wasn't that a catchy title? Brandi is definitely not in need of a makeover. She has amazing style and I love to copy her hairstyles, home decor, etc.

It is my mission to win a blog makeover for Brandi and as a result, I have been entering different contests this week while I should be focusing on household pursuits. Willie can and will gladly confirm this. My latest effort to get Brandi "made over" involves giving a shout out to an amazing blog designer and person with all-around good taste. Her blog is called Fabulous K and it has been on my list of links since the beginning. She posts about fun things related to blogs, fashion, home decor, you name it. So, go visit her and if you think about it, while you're there, tell her that Brandi needs a makeover!!

Lastly, when, and I do mean when, not if, Brandi wins this FABULOUS makeover, she will need a new blog name. I have only managed to come up with dorky titles that she probably won't go for such as, "3 Dudes and a Chick", "Red Hot Smokin' Blogger Chick", "Stone Cold Fox Blogger Chick", and my favorite, "Jacked Up On Mountain Dew". You can see why I'm no help to Brandi in this department. Please comment with your blog name suggestions. The winner will receive a handmade bracelet in the colors of their choosing. Just click on "COMMENTS". It's not hard, I promise. No sales person will call, your identity will not be stolen and your computer will not develop a virus. It's just a comment people.

April 25

This is my baby sister, Sarah, and her fiance, Bret. After seven years of dating, they are tying the knot next week at Central Park in New York City. I refer to Sarah as my baby sister because she is all of 24 years old, compared to my...well, never mind how old I am. You just need to know that she is my baby sister. My life is so crazy sometimes that even though I've been planning for this day for over a year, it is just now hitting me that my baby sister is getting married!!! What do you want to bet that I'll cry?

By the way, Sarah thinks I am the only person who reads her blog. Go see her HERE now and prove her wrong!

7 Things

Jennifer tagged me and I'm supposed to list 7 things you may not know about me. I think I've managed to come up with a few that may surprise you.

1. I was born AND married in Las Vegas.


2. I really wanted two boys. Girl children scare me. If I were going to have another child (but I'm not), I would want another boy, seriously. I'm not just saying that. It's fun being the only girl in the house. I'm not afraid of bugs, I like camping, I can take a fish off the hook when it's caught and now I even love baseball. My destiny is sealed and I couldn't be happier.
   
3. Speaking of the number 7, I went to 7 different elementary schools when I was growing up. My Mom was an Army brat who grew up and couldn't stop moving.
   
4. I once dressed up in a chicken costume for $50. My Grandpa used to sell chicken fryers to grocery stores and he had me dress up for a grand opening in Tucson, AZ. If I can find a picture, I'll post it later.
   
5. I really, really love spinach with red wine vinegar. I actually crave it sometimes. One of my roommates in college, Susan, used to get so grossed out from the smell of it in our tiny dorm room. She used to cook white rice all the time and eat it with soy sauce. I thought that was kind of gross, but it didn't stink like spinach with vinegar.
   
6. When I was a kid, I used to want to go to boarding school. I perused the back of my "Young Miss" (now called "YM" because "Young Miss" was apparently too sexist) and "Seventeen" magazines for boarding school advertisements and daydream about the adventures I'd have with my cool, rich boarding school friends.
   
7. I'm pretty good at changing flat tires and I can even do it fast, if necessary. One time, I was in the middle of nowhere on a dirt road with one of my girlfriends when she got a flat tire. This was before the days of cell phones so she was freaking out and I just said, "Do you have a spare?". She watched in amazement as I changed the tire and had us on the road again in no time.
8. BONUS: I cried when Elvis died.

I'm not tagging anyone because I'm already behind on my own tags (Love Story, remember?) and I don't want to contribute to somebody else's stress.

Future Dentist?

The other day, we sent the boys to their rooms for a little quiet time. When I checked in on Adam, this is what I found him doing. He was so intent on his work. The changes I have seen take place in this little monkey over the past few months are nothing short of amazing. I just want to SQUEEZE him!!!

Road trip

First stop on the way to Oakley, KS...the Russell Stover Factory Outlet!! I didn't want to stop but Sarah begged me...seriously, it was embarassing. She almost cried. How could I say no? I had to buy a bunch of stuff just so she wouldn't feel like she was the only one buying something. It was a sacrifice, but I'd do it all over again, just for her...

You might be in the bible belt if you see something like this...

And then a few hundred yards down the road, you see this...
The real reason for our 700 mile round trip to Oakley, KS...My baby sister, Sarah flew out from Arizona so we could visit our Great Aunt Janet in western Kansas. She is my role model for growing old gracefully. At the young age of just 97, she rarely, if ever, complains about her aches, pains or ailments. It's not because she doesn't have them either. She is a classy lady and I'm blessed to have her in my life.

Posh bathroom at the upscale resort we stayed at in Oakley. Please take note of the vintage retro design, very hip indeed.

The sparkly cottage cheese ceiling in our upscale hotel room. And here I was going to scrape the popcorn ceilings in our house and re-texturize them. Now I have a new plan that involves me, a few margaritas, and a spray can of adhesive glitter...

On Sunday, after we returned from our Thelma & Louise road trip, we hung out, had lunch at Cheeseburgers in Paradise and shopped. Sarah and I scored at the Ann Taylor Factory store while Willie was a total sport and hung out with the boys...I just love that man of mine.

After we took Sarah to the airport, Willie and I went back to T.J. Maxx with the boys (they were excited about that, let me tell you) and got matching KC Royals shirts for our family. We are going to be total dorks at the games this season and I LOVE IT! I also got a cute throw pillow to match our new family room curtains. If anybody sees these at their local T.J. Maxx, let me know because I need two more.

Blog Makeover Contest

Shauna of See My Designs is doing a makeover give-away contest. Get over there NOW and enter!

My sister is visiting from Arizona right now so I'll be back later to post about the fun we've been having.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk!

In case you live on another planet (or anywhere but Kansas!), the KU Jayhawks won the NCAA championship last night and in our part of the world, that is big news.

Adding to my sports fever, the KC Royals have their home opener game this afternoon.

But even better than all that, do you love my blog makeover or what?!!! Shauna, I don't know how you work your magic, but I love that you do.

Sorry my posts have been so spotty and short lately. During baseball season, we eat, sleep and breathe baseball because Willie coaches Jacob's team and assistant coaches Adam's team. I get the busy job of being Team Mom and yes, it's an official title designated by the 3&2 Baseball Club of Johnson County, and rightly so for all the work it entails.

Getting Crafty With One of My Girls

This is what Jennifer and I did yesterday while our kids played outdoors in the sunshine. It was a perfect afternoon. Prior to taking this time for ourselves, I was stressed because of all the other things I felt like I should be doing. Afterward, I realized that it was just what I needed.

Two years ago, I told Jennifer I was going to make a bracelet for her birthday. I purchased some turquoise beads with the best of intentions and then I proceeded to sweat blood and tears over trying to design the perfect bracelet without actually producing anything. Now that Jennifer's birthday is approaching again, I decided to invite her over to play with my beads and make her own birthday bracelet so that it would be exactly what she wants. The bracelet on the left is what she came up with and look, it's almost a perfect match to some earrings she already had! The bracelet on the right is what I came up with.

Flip-Flops - a Fashion "Must Have"

I saw these at DSW Shoes when I was shopping for "nude" shoes to go with my bridesmaid dress. Since the bridesmaid dress for my sister's wedding is pink & green, I'm wondering if I can convince Sarah that these are THE shoe to go with our dresses. What do you think?


Yeah, I know, the greens don't match and since the pink in the dress is really more muted than it looks in the photo, the pinks don't match either. It's just that I typically limit myself to flip-flops from April to September.

Do you know how hard it is to find strappy "nude" shoes?!!! This is as close as I could get. They're not really nude. Kind of a champagne color. There's even a hint of gold, but it is very understated and not gaudy gold. Do you love how they somewhat resemble a flip-flop? I do! Can I get some input from the fashionistas who read my blog?