A Haircut, a Wedding, and a lot of Photoshop

I saw a note in a picture today that said "The Secret to Writing is Writing."

Spoke to me.

I've been putting off writing about the actual wedding because I've been torn between wanting to do its beauty and pure love justice, and wanting to make you people laugh about catching Matt chewing gum during the ceremony.

Guess I'll try to forge ahead and find a middle ground.

Oh, and I got to thinking the other day I hope that it doesn't seem like the point of this blog is to complain about all the bad/funny things that happen to me. Like Ethel the granny-seatmate. On the contrary, knowing that I can twist these experiences into something that entertains is what redeems it--even while its happening!

Case in point: my haircut last Saturday. (actually I've already ranted on one haircut...so add this one to it)

I went in asking for a few inches off, maybe an inch or two of layering, and side swept bangs.

This is what I got.

If I look like I was in shock its because I was.


What HAPPENED??? The stylist was so nice and chatty (the whole thing took two hours!) and REALLY wanted to "style" my hair. With a flat iron. I tell you...stylists canNOT keep those dang blasted flat irons away from my hair! She wanted to show me how to "curl" my hair with a flat iron. As she proceeded and I watched kinky, zigzagged curls come out, I had to force my mouth to stay closed and not drop open in horror.

I looked like Shirley Temple who stuck her finger in a socket by the time it was over. The picture doesn't even do the back justice where its cut very short in parts so the curls stuck up all over my head.

I proceeded to drive straight to the REI to walk into the store and let Matt laugh at me. He even suggested a scarf...or anything...to cover it up.

To make matters worse when I washed the curls out and finally saw what the cut looked like, I realized on the right side of my head I have a bob in the front and a mullet in the back. And about 4 inches of choppy layering. I miss you, Michelle Talbott, and your golden hair cutting fingers.

So when you read about these things, please don't think I'm complaining. Its life, and stuff like that is going to happen. At least I can take a picture or two and have you laugh at it with me, thus redeeming the situation.

But onto the wedding!


We last left off with a rather dull pre-wedding night for Kevin as Matt and I headed back to the B&B to crash in the heavenly king sized bed.


The wedding day dawned warm and overcast, with a few drizzles here and there. Matt and I ate breakfast downstairs with the other guests and chatted comfortably over thick french toast, crisp thick bacon and delicious muffins. Back upstairs, Matt really didn't want to be late. He was supposed to be there at 11 for the pictures. The other groomsmen were meeting up at Katie's parent's house, and then heading to to site.



"Matt," I said cajolingly, "Kevin is a SoCal guy, there's no way they'll be there exactly at 11." Nonetheless I packed up my makeup and nail polish and got in the passenger seat. Being only 10 minutes away from the site it didn't take long to get there, and with a quick peck Matt rushed off.

Thirty minutes later I was just finishing up applying mascara when a car pulled up beside me. In it was Kevin and the other groomsmen. I just laughed to myself and waved.

Having primped all I could stand I was ready to get out and explore the grounds.

The ceremony was held at the Mansion on Ridley Creek State Park, a lush area of rolling hills, old growth trees and trickling streams. Having foreseen a stroll around the grounds I had brought my trusty Rainbow sandals and cinching my trench coat over my gauzy dress against the drizzle I headed out.

The gorgeous Mansion...



Finally I realized that people were trickling in, so after wiping the grass and mud off my freshly manicured toes and donning my high heels, I headed inside.


The wedding had originally been planned as an outdoor wedding, but with the off and on again drizzle and rain they had to move it indoors to the banquet hall last minute. I felt so bad for Katie...having been a bride and planned everything down to the last detail and dreamed how it would be, I wondered how she was taking it.


When she entered and looked at Kevin there was absolutely no doubt. It didn't matter one bit. She was tearing up before she even got to the front. No sunny spring day could match the glow in that banquet hall during that ceremony.

Ok, so the black and white doesn't capture the glow but my insufficient camera wasn't up to the challenge so I had to turn to Photoshop for help...the camera got returned, incidentally...

While I was lost in the beautiful language of the marriage vows something caught my eye. My husband. He does that a lot, but usually in a good way.

Not this time.

While the other groomsmen stood respectfully with hands clasped in front or behind them, my Matt was leaning to one side, hands in his pockets, and chomping away at a piece of gum.

I widened my eyes and glared at him, trying to get him to look at me. He smiled at something in the ceremony and kept on chewing. I crossed my legs, hoping to get his attention. Nada.

In the broad aspect of things it didn't really matter, but it did to me. Giving him the best pre-mommy evil eye I could muster, I finally caught his eye and pointed to my mouth. He smiled.

SWALLOW IT, I mouthed.

I think he giggled and then did. And miraculously stood up and clasped his hands.

Matthew, darling, you know I love you, but please refrain from chewing gum while you are in the camera frame during people's weddings. The end.

Attention turned back to more important things at hand. Can I just say that seeing this young couple, so committed to the Lord, their passion for helping people working as a doctor and a nurse, and embracing each others families so whole heartedly was such a blessing! The ceremony was a testament to their pure love and what lay in their hearts.

After the ceremony the bridal party headed out to take pictures, and Katrina (one of the other groomsman's--Sam's--wife) and I followed along. She had a gorgeous digital SLR that made me salivate, and I had my brand new point-and-shoot that showed amazing photos on the LCD screen and so-so photos once they were downloaded. Thus armed we slunk behind the photographers, stealing their shots and getting a few impromptu ones in the meanwhile. Katrina's photos are fantastic, and if you want to see some real quality you can view her pics here.

Meanwhile I went on photoshop last night and had way too much fun.

This is Sam--Katrina's husband. Big burly man holding a bouquet = comedy.



This happy gent is my own.

The three stooges. Sam's lobster hands.

We don't know what was going on we just took pictures.

Ahh, here's a prettier sight.

I heart lens flare. Supposedly a photography no-no but I don't care.

We made our way into the banquet hall for the reception, where thankfully Katie and Kevin were thoughtful enough to have the significant others of the bridal part sit at the head table. After stuffing ourselves silly with good food and watching the well-composed and humorous slide show, everyone danced their booties off. Here's a few other key moments:

I wish I knew what he said right before she made this face...

During the slide show...

The Maid of Honor caught the bouquet...

Finally as we were headed out, Matt and I noticed the getaway car was lacking any embarrassing remarks painted across the windows! We couldn't let that slide...not after our car was so covered we had to wash the windows to see out before we left on our road trip! Every newlywed couple deserves honks from strangers!

Only thing was what would we use to paint with? Being a Girl Scout and always prepared, I whipped out...my foundation. And an eyeshadow brush. And we wrote away!

Well folks, that's all, and probably plenty, for now! Next up...Matt and Kaitlynn are laid low by some mysterious flu and spend abundant time in their B&B room...exciting times...

My Seatmate, Ethel.

Well that was quite the hiatus, wouldn't you say? My last post was nearly a month ago! Holey Moley!

During this last month the main event was our trip to Philly to go to the wedding of our friends Kevin and Katie. More on wedding stuff later, I know what you're really wanting to hear about are the hiccups along the way because that's what makes for funny narrative.

Let's start with the flight, shall we?

As Matt and I raced to the gate I let him check which gate we were boarding at. Once on the plane we had that weird feeling that we were on the wrong flight. First off our boarding passes had a different gate than what we had entered at. And then there was a lady sitting in our seat. After clearing things up with the flight attendant we were relieved we WERE on the right flight and not headed to Milwaukee.

I was slated to have the window seat, but I volunteered to sit in the middle seat being of smaller proportions than Matt, and so after explaining to Ethel (I never got her name, but we'll call her Ethel) that she was in our seat, we all got settled, me in between Matt an Ethel.

At first glance I thought Ethel was maybe in her early 70s. She told me she was coming back from an Alaskan cruise with her girlfriends (who were sitting across the aisle...with an empty seat). While the ladies across the aisle chattered away about Sudoku, Ethel promptly passed out with her mouth hanging wide open. Awww, how sweet.

A few minutes after takeoff she was awake, fidgeting around. Now, I have to say one of my pet peeves is people who get on a FIVE hour flight with absolutely nothing to do. There's no screens on the flight, so movies aren't an option. And so they SIT. And twiddle their thumbs. And tap their fingers. And stare at the back of the seat in front of them.

Drives me crazy. I want to hand them the in-flight magazine.

Ethel didn't bring anything to read. So Ethel fidgeted.

And took full advantage of the armrest and several inches of elbow into my ribs without noticing.

Finally the drink service came by. Ethel wanted coffee, and HALF a glass of tomato juice. After the ten minute discussion on how many packets of sugar and cream she needed, the flight attendant poured her a full glass of tomato juice.

"I only wanted HALF!" Ethel protested.

"Well, ma'am, you can drink half and throw the rest away," he responded nicely.

She huffed.

And the tomato juice lasted, reeking its processed lukewarm tomato-y-ness, for the rest of the flight.

At this point it was dark in the cabin and I, who'd had my light on the whole time to read, suddenly saw thrust into my field of vision a tiny watch inches from my face.

Um....I glanced at her. She was holding her watch up to my light to try to read it, completely oblivious to the fact it was inches from my face. Would she like me to turn on her light for her, I asked?

NO. She acted offended.

Ok, I shrugged.

Oomph. Another elbow in my ribs.

Ethel's fidgeting then was ratcheted up a notch. She fiddled with her seat belt. Looked up and down the aisle. Humphed. Growled. Puffed. She yanked again on her seat belt.

"Do you need help with the seat belt?"

"YES, how do you get this thing off?"

I undid it for her and she continued looking up and down the aisle. Finally an attendant walked by and she reached out and tugged his uniform. "Can I go to the bathroom now?"

The attendant responded in the affirmative and she began the process of getting up. Envisioning stinky tomato juice all over my jeans I offered to hold her glass for her, then as soon as she was in the bathroom I took my chance and rushed to get to and from the bathroom before she got back and we had to repeat the whole ordeal.

Settling back in, Ethel took possession of her tomato juice again and proceeded to tap her fingers and twitch and moan until the snack/dinner service came. After studying the menu for twenty minutes she placed her order and then (after shoving it inches from my face and into my light) was shocked to find it was salami and acted like it was the poor attendant's fault.

Ooomph. Elbow in my side again.

By this time my arms are beginning to hurt from staying as closely pinned to my sides as possible. Adjusting and losing my right armrest again to Matt I pleaded in a whisper, "Can I p-p-please have the armrest?" He was of course gentlemanly and I was able to relax a bit. Until I felt a head on my shoulder.

Ethel was now leaning far over into my seat with her head nearly on my shoulder. When I shifted a bit automatically she faced me and reared back with an open mouth in apparent shock. I heard Matt stifle a laugh. I opened my mouth...and closed it...not quite sure what to say.

The flight finally landed in Newark and as we got off the plane I muttered to Matt, "You OWE me mister!"

An hour later we finally found where our hotel shuttle was picking up, and were hanging on for our dear lives in the back of a minibus blasting offensive rap music. It now being past midnight, we checked in, dumped out bags off, dug out our dollar bills and dined on gummy snacks, vending machine crackers and a ginger ale.

Saturday morning we got back on the dangerous hotel shuttle, went back to the airport, picked up our rental car and were finally on the road towards Philadelphia. I have to say I preened that morning and was wearing a cute new dress and just looked like such the traveling jet setter...until I spilled my Starbucks mocha all down myself. God has a way of humbling the prideful, doesn't he?


We finally made it to Media, PA, the smaller town outside of Philly were we were staying at a Bed & Breakfast. Cutest place - a 300 year old stone barn with eclectic decor and the nicest people running it! After changing our of my mocha-laden dress we were off to Katie's parent's house to get Matt's tux and head to the rehearsal.

After hi's and hugs all around, Matt and I split off from the main group to get our first real meal in over 24 hours. A glass of wine, some gourmet pizza and a stroll around the mall left us uber-relaxed. Driving to the wedding site I got very very sleepy...

Though it was warm out, the sky was clouded over and it was sprinkling. They were slated for an outdoor wedding...let's hope they're flexible! I thought as I dozed in the car during the rehearsal. Trust me, they didn't want a grumpy Kait on their hands.

The rest of the evening was a fun mix of food and catching up with Matt's old college friends and remembering all the pranks they'd pulled. Like trying to steal the tiki hut, or throwing old computer monitors off the science building, or throwing squid on the gym floor after the first score was made at Homecoming. You know, harmless things like that.

After the rehearsal dinner we loaded up and went to Kevin and Katie's apartment in downtown Philly just off of State St., then to a pub where we were a wild and crazy group! Not. And yes that joke is old. We were the tamest group in there...one drink and we were done!

The Groom...texting his Bride that we're a bunch of chumps I'm sure...

Sam & Katrina...who traveled the longest and had more energy than anyone else...

We look like strangers. We like each other...really we do!

I just want to title this one "The Conspirators."

Sorry we were such party poopers the night before your wedding, Kevin! We still had a good time!

I'll leave you there for now. Coming up next is the wedding with pics to boot!

An Accolade to Chard

Last night while talking to my 2 mommies (hmm, gotta be careful saying that nowadays), I mean my mom and Char Char, I told them I was making chard for dinner and neither one of them had heard of chard before. Since I'm a big fan of this vegetable I thought I would give y'all a little tour of this heavyweight veggie in terms of nutrition.

This is Swiss chard. Red stalks, big dark green leaves packed with Vitamins K, A and C.


below is Rainbow Chard...and yes those colors are all real and natural!

To make it you can saute, steam, or blanch it (there's probably more ways, those are just the ones I've done). Previously I rolled it up, cut it in ribbons and steamed it with garlic and orzo...but I couldn't find the recipe last night and almost drove myself crazy looking for it.

So instead I tried out a new recipe from the Alton Brown cookbook I got for Christmas, which has onions, LOTS of garlic, which after you cook for awhile you add a paste of butter and flour and toast it all, then add crushed tomatos, chicken broth and whisk till the sauce becomes creamy goodness. Throw in whole wheat pasta (boiled in the water the chard was blanched in to get extra minerals and goodness) and the chopped up chard. Topped with parmesan or feta (the parm was better) it was pretty darn good! I think I may add a few of my own tweaks, but Matt ate 4 servings so it couldn't be that bad!

mmmm...we're both having it again for lunch today too...



and did I mention this entire meal costs about $6 or $7?

to further impress upon you the goodness of chard, here's a link to a chart showing how much good stuff it has...

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=16

Thus endeth my acolade of chard.


Oh, and this is what I got at Ikea yeserday to finish off our reading corner:

A tall frame, poster (that I cut up) and a shelf for books and coffee. Now I need a creative way to cover up that cord...

And one more tidbit. Our landlords/upstairs neighbors/friends' 3 year old son Micah is going in for a procedure that will close a patent (open) ductus arteriosis (a prenatal blood vessel between the aorta and the pulmonary vessel), that should have closed at his birth. Please keep him and their family in your prayers.

Okie Homie

Our first day in Oklahoma we headed into OK City to Brick Town, the downtown part of the city built around a river that, according to my mom, "Is trying really really hard to have a river walk." It may not be San Antonio, but it was pretty.

Here are my lovebird parents.

And here is one of the many statues of an American Buffalo.

I mean, really American.

It was too easy to pass up all the jokes on this one...





Then my dad led us under a bridge to what we thought was nowhere but turned out to be an enormous statue of the Oklahoma land race.

Where we proceeded to have more fun climbing like monkeys on the warm metal.

Matt and I are headed to the homestead...

Then we wandered over to the enormous Bass Pro Shop.

Enormous.

And J found himself on a park bench towards the back. Why Bass Pro felt the necessity for a garden backdrop in the middle of all that camo I don't know.

J looks rather frightened.

And here's where the men wanted to stay the rest of the day. In large, oversized, camo/woodland printed Lazy Boys.

Wouldn't you like one in your living room?

That evening there was a storm a'blowin' in and we all hopped in the car and drove out on the plains to watch the lightning. Most of it was cloud to cloud but we saw some amazing strikes and one particularly bright one lit up the giant thunderhead blowing by. We didn't get much of the storm but it was fun to watch!

Easter Sunday we all dolled up and headed to the Baptist church. It was a large church, emblazoned with pastels and lilies and there was a singin' and a baptizin' and a preachin' and even a bit o' dancin' by girls in white robes. Apparently that part was a bit unusual for the church, but it bein' Easter Sunday and all I guess they wanted to pull out the big guns.

Afterwards we all piled back in ye olde minivan and took a little tour of Edmond, stopped to see Buddy and Tammy's lovely house, and saw Buddy brushing their large German Shepherd Dawson outside. I thought he might have been shearing a sheep there was so much fur! Heavens! And we thought Roy shed a lot! We waved and hollered we'd see them soon and went back to the house.

I popped in the mac n' cheese I had made the night before and my mom pulled out the ham and threw in the rolls. We had just finished everything up with everything when Buddy and Tammy arrived with two new MACU hires, their son Chris and friend Mike Good, and of course Dawson.

We all dove in again and entered a state of food paralysis and talked away the afternoon. Ok, confession. Matt and I were still recovering from the move and the time change and we passed out on the chaise lounge. But we talked most of the time.

Monday my mom and I got to have a girls day and hit up Hobby Lobby, Serendipity and Hip & Swanky all in one afternoon. That sounds like the playlist of a pop album, doesn't it?

By late afternoon we headed back, picked up the boys and were off to the Western Heritage Museum. We got there only 28.3 minutes before the doors closed so we practically ran from the guitar showroom to the old western town to the outdoor area where famous bulls and horses are buried (yes, that's what I said).

There was also a giant statue of Wild Bill Coyote.

The family gazing admirably.

After that we met up with my dad at a restaurant on Lake Hefner and ate some DE-LISH food. We were nearly done with dinner when the waiter came over and asked my brother, "Is your name Jeremy?"

"Uh, yeah?"

"From Orange County?"

"Um, yeah?"

Turns out one of the waitresses there had gone to high school with J and done a play or two with him.

It's a small world after all...

That night we kids all stayed up super late with the knowledge we'd have to get up at 4:30 or some ungodly hour to make it to the airport to catch our plane rides home. We managed to make it on time and after hugging my parents hard we got on the plane. I got to spend a bit more time sitting next to my bro on the bumpy flight to Denver, then we said our goodbyes and we headed to Seattle while he headed back to the OC.

That's probably about as much of me for today that you can take so I'll sign off now, to leave you looking forward to pics of our place finally put together!

Never Underestimate a Sofa

Oh how I've missed it.

Being able to come home from a long day and plop down.

Taking the phrase "Put your feet up" literally.

Laying at one end of the couch and waving my feet in front of Matt's face for him to rub.

Yes, all these things are what comes with a sofa.

Which we had not had (is that grammatically correct?) for a month now. But last Friday, after impatiently waiting we finally picked up our first large furniture purchase made as a couple. A brand new couch!

Before I give you the grand tour of our near-completed home, let's recap over the past month.

First there was an empty room.

a few boxes at first

then we moved in

and began unpacking...

and our house exploded.

it was about this time I went insane.

Eventually we got it under control...

but were still waiting for that elusive piece of furniture...

and Friday we got it!

oh how we rejoiced!

And now for your consideration, is our new home.

Roy is very grateful for the shag rug. Its one large dog bed.

I love our library, but was shocked to find 3 bookcases hardly held all our books!

see Ammah? we kept your yellow chair

I love our little breakfast nook...

This clear counter top makes me feel so Zen

The bedroom is still a work in progress. We had a minor setback when a shelf loaded with books and pictures decided to give way and dump everything into our laundry bins giving Roy and I quite a start, and I'm still figuring out what to do with that whole wall. And I have plans for the stairway, too, but you'll have to wait for that one.

Hope you enjoyed your tour of the Palmer Place!

Journey to Okie Land

We moved on a Saturday and Sunday.

Monday after work we went back to the old apartment to clean it.

Tuesday after work we tried to unpack what we could at our new place.

Wednesday after work we went back to the old apartment to clean the carpets.

Thursday after work we went back to the old apartment to hand over the keys and do the walk through.

Friday morning we dropped Roy off at daycare and flew to Oklahoma City for the Easter weekend.

We were flat out exhausted. The circles under my eyes were so dark I kept thinking it was mascara that had smudged.

On our way to OKC we had to stop in Denver, then we met up with my brother and got on a small prop plane headed to OKC.

Oh Lordy.

I've had some air scares. I've been in a plane hit by lightning, in one that had to take off unexpectedly so we wouldn't crash into another plane on the tarmac, and had my share of drink-spilling turbulence.

But those flights in and out of Denver, let me tell you, were some of the worst turbulence I've been in. And on the first flight out I would have been near pulling something my mother once did in putting my feet up on the back of the seat in front of me like birthing stirrups and shrieking "WE'RE GOING DOWN!"

Sorry, mom, but that story's just too good to hide.

I say "would have been" because in the seat in front of me sat a good ole' Oklahoma boy who laughed, guffawed, yipped and yee-hawed for every jolt and drop that plane took. My brother was sitting across the aisle from him and kept making eye contact with me with a look that said, "Is he crazy? I don't care because it makes the whole thing funny and a lot less scary!"

Twenty minutes into the flight it felt the whole plane (all 30 of us or however many there were) was giggling right along with the man. When we left Oklahoma and flew back to Denver, I kept thinking of that man and every dip and dive we took I giggled and thought, "THAT was a doosey!"

We did make it safety to Oklahoma City where my exuberant Dad picked us up and took us directly to the new Mid American Christian University (MACU.edu, for a little plug) campus to show us around his new office.

Very nice indeedy, and if you're looking for an online school I've heard good things about it ;-). Both my parents are in the process of finishing up their college degrees and are enjoying it, though it seems funny to hear my mom talk about homework.

At my parent's house which is adorably decorated and felt like "home" with so many familiar things in it, we were wrapped in the whirlwind hug that was my mom and hustled in for a dinner of chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, gravy and biscuits...mmm. That began a long weekend of eating very very good food in very very large quantities. I think I'm still full, and the phrase of the weekend was "I'm in a food coma."

More to come later on Brick Town, storm chasing, and giant sculptures of the Oklahoma land race but all that need pictures and I don't have those right now so you'll have to wait.

And I haven't forgotten about "The Land of Two Names" post, its just much better shown with pictures and every night up until last weekend has been preoccupied with trying to get our house in order. Which it now is...but then of course, you'd like to see pictures...