Let Them Eat Cake . . . More Photos

A few more photos from the wedding -- Philip and Catherine at the reception. Don't you love the gardenia in her hair!!

Rick and Maddy and I before the wedding:

And son number 2, Connor, after the wedding -- he was best man -- too cute!

The Wedding Report!

My oldest son got married last Saturday! Wasn't she the most beautiful bride ever!!! It was such a lovely day and ceremony! Rick and I are so proud and happy for the newlyweds. We're still floating on air from the joy and happiness of the day! Congratulations Philip and Catherine!

[A bit of a disclaimer on the photos -- I was trying to stay out of the photographer's way and had a new camera -- I'm sure there are many better photos to come!]

Let me back up just a bit. The rehearsal was Friday afternoon and went well, though the priest seemed just a bit mixed up at times. He had another wedding starting soon after the rehearsal and was, perhaps, getting a bit anxious to finish the rehearsal. The little kids (6 in all) seemed to understand their assignments . . . time would tell. Anyway, after the rehearsal, we had the rehearsal dinner at a local restaurant in their sunroom. Can I take all the credit for it (since I did plan and arrange it) and say that it was simply perfect!! It was a lovely day and the sun was streaming in, there was yummy food and drink and loads of relatives and friends -- just so much fun!

The day of the wedding started bright and early for Maddy and me as we headed off to hair appts at 8 am. Maddy wanted her hair to look like Gabriella's (High School Musical), and the hairdresser used lots of products and hairspray and gave her lots of curls! Bonus -- the hairdresser did a great job on my unruly hair too -- I Loved It!! It was so fun and time passed quickly for us to get back and get ready and get to the church by 10 am.

The wedding was so lovely, personal and just perfect for Philip and Catherine. Likewise, the reception was fun, the food was great and the gathering showed their love of family and friends. Lots of dancing went on and Maddy and Simon (one of her new best friends) could really move!

And since you have all shared in my last few months of prep work for the wedding, here's a quick photo of me and Maddy at the end of the evening --it was such a wonderful day!! And now the newlyweds are off to Rome tomorrow for a 10-day honeymoon. Have fun!!

Having a Party!

The party season is getting into full swing around our house. My son's sweet bride-to-be graduates from the University this weekend, so we are having a little lunch at our house with her family to celebrate. Now, if I can only get party-planner extraordinaire (the Hub) to let go of the reins, I could get it organized. For some reason (maybe I haven't done very well at gatherings in the past??) he wants to do everything for the party. Anyway, it's going to be fairly casual, so am not too worried, but he suggested coleslaw and baked beans -- ugh -- not yummy, in my book! And there will be 6 little kids -- they don't want to eat coleslaw and baked beans -- heck -- I don't want to eat coleslaw and baked beans! Bring on the chips!! Bring on the cookies, bring on the cupcakes!

And then the pre-wedding festivities get into full swing with bridal showers on May 17 and on May 25, bachelor party on May 24, a bridesmaid luncheon on May 30 and the rehearsal dinner on May 30 with the wedding on May 31! Just look at these darling invitations I had made for the rehearsal dinner -- are they just too cute or what!!

Maddy says she is very nervous about being a flower girl and having people look at her. When the other little flower girl is visiting on Saturday, I'll have to remember to have the girls practice a little bit. I'm sure they will both do fine! And you can probably guess, I am still working on the beautification process. Yes, it does seem to take a while and some things, like eyelashes, spray-on tans, pedicures, etc. need to be re-done. Beauty doesn't come cheap, does it!

Got It Under Control

Whoa -- that title is an "under"statement to be sure!! Most of you dear readers know that my oldest son is getting married at the end of May! Yikes -- only 1 month away! Well, the beautification of "moi" process continues at a rapidly-escalating rate since the wedding is getting closer and closer. Anyway, I ordered and received my dress (very lovely if I may say so myself), but it seemed a little saggy baggy and . . . who am I kidding . . . I am a little saggy baggy! So after conferring with a couple of friends and my hairdresser, I decided to pull out all of the stops and invest in some Spanx! Well, actually, I went for the JC Penneys cheaper version called Flexees. But really, come on now -- there is NOTHING flexible about it. Plain and simple -- it's a big fat girdle and a long one too -- it goes halfway down my legs to just a bit above my knees!! These garments are not made for the weak -- they are scary! [Oh look -- there's a photo of me below in my spanx and heels with my incredibly long legs! Wow -- this beautification process is really working!] Oh, I can hardly wait for Maddy to see it -- she will die laughing!! But, on the other hand, it really does get everything under control! Another scary thought -- the saleswoman told me that she wears hers all the time -- like under her shorts in the summer!!! OMG -- I thought she had to kidding, but nope, she said that she loves the smooth lines and no flab look! Maybe she just said that because she works there and wanted me to buy more -- no way would I ever wear one under shorts. Well, maybe if I wanted to drop a couple pounds fast as I figure it would be incredibly hot in the summer and I could sweat off a pound or two. I did have a couple of more fun purchases than that one! Found a lovely necklace and dangly earrings and shoes!! And, took my dress (along with my faux-spanx) and had the dress altered a bit so there should be nothing saggy baggy about me on May 31!

Sprucing up a bit

I know, I know -- you're probably thinking this is all about cleaning up the old leaves and sprucing up the yard for spring, right??? But no, we're not quite to spring here anyway and this is about the sprucing up and beautification of moi!!! Stop laughing and thinking -- oh man -- she is just too vain!! I have good reasons for trying to look better-- my son is getting married at the end of May!! And the pre-wedding party season is beginning!

So, here's what I've done so far. First, I've lost 12 or 13 pounds since October! Yay! Actually I started my diet/exercise plan because I knew I had to see my cardiologist in November. And I didn't want him to think I'd let myself go since my heart surgery the year before. He did say I looked great, by the way :)

Last week, I had eyelash extensions put on (you, know - fake eyelashes--too fun!!) to see how I liked them. I do like them -- except on one eye -- I think they all came off already; touch-up last night, so am feeling glamourous again today! Last Sunday, I had a spray-on tan done at one of the tanning places. Now, that was a weird experience -- like being in a carwash, except without the proctection of a car all around me! As I stood there in all my glory, a sweet voice came on and would say "3, 2 1, tanning" and the spray would start up; turn, spray, repeat. I do like the way it turned out and bonus, it won't cause any wrinkles!! It's supposed to last for about 10 days. So will be doing it again. I like having a little color without having to be in the sun or a tanning booth.
Also have had my usual hair color/highlights done and have been letting my hair grow out a bit, but no closer to figuring out what to do with my hair for the wedding than months ago. We'll just see and wing it. No, no, no, I don't mean I want Farrah Fawcett wings -- I'll just try and do something that is not too poufy. In every single picture that Maddy draws of me --my hair goes way up above my head! She has gorgeous black, shiny straight hair -- mine tends to more of a frizzy, poufy look - aack!!

Tomorrow is the first of the pre-wedding events. A bridal shower/luncheon hosted by two of my sisters. It's a "girl" shower so will include my Mom, niece, aunts, cousins and Catherine's sisters and sisters-in-law. Of course, Miss Maddy will be there and SHE has a really cute outfit. Me -- I think I'm just wearing something I wear to work as the forecast is for another cold, dreary, rainy day. No matter, I figure the sun will be shining from the inside as we enjoy celebrating the lovely bride-to-be and the upcoming wedding. Watch for photos after the event!