Upcoming Getaway

I am so excited. In approximately 3 weeks I will getaway from everything for 3 days.

 

 

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This is what I get to do. Travel to California, thanks to the Man who insisted I go. I shared with the Man how much fun it would be to join the newly married couple for the viewing party they are holding on April 20th for the Storibook Wedding show airing of their wedding. The couple has access to a Theater room at the apartment complex where they live. Friends, Family and Wedding party who live in Cali are able to attend, but when one lives in Ohio it makes attending events a little more difficult. I had entertained the idea of throwing a viewing party myself. The show in Ohio does not air till 10:00pm on a Wednesday. I don’t think guest would be up for a weeknight party. Who would really come? I will DVR the show however and try to record it on my DVD recorder so anyone who would like to share this event with me will be able to when time is available.

I have recently had the pleasure of being with my Cali girl. Cali girl came home for youngest Grandbabies birthday, (she helped me with the making of a cake for the birthday, her help so appreciated,) and sad to say one more funeral. This however needs to stop happening.

Dear God, enough already, you have given us three deaths this years. Three is the number they say, so I pray to you Please keep my loved ones safe from illness and harm. Amen.

I believe this short getaway is well deserved and needed. Mind off of troubles at home, and fingers idle for a short time. This means no Sewing for me. I will need to sew my fingers to the bone before hand though. I have 2 big projects due at the beginning of May and the http://alterationstation.net desperately needs my assistance at the moment with a tailor off for a month to visit her Family overseas. There are times I wish I had the opportunity to do this month long hiatus. I however, would not have a job to come back to or a clientele. Good for her, no bad wishes, she is needed and respected in her craft of alterations. (At least by me), you go girl, enjoy your Family in Viet Nam for in three weeks I too will enjoy my trip as well no matter how short it may be. I could never get tired of seeing my Cali girl, my Daughter, my Friend. This party she is having will be done up right for she is her Mother’s Daughter and I will be there to help.

My Cali girl and I sharing wine while up late decorating a cake.

Cali girl and I challenge you to join us from the comfort of your living room on April 20th in your time zone to watch us in our glory along with our Families, celebrating the union of two in a Shabby Chic Wedding, presented by Oxygen, The Storibook Wedding, hosted by Tori and Dean.

Don’t miss out, set your DVR if you need too, Just Tune in.

Let’s Dance

The night air has become rather cool on the wedding patio setting, even the gas heaters can’t keep up with the cool night air to comfort the guest. The DJ has moved inside where the rest of the wedding celebration will happen. Upon entry you see this lovely table laid out with a book that will be filled with silhouettes of the guest, they can write words of wisdom or just a signature in remembrance of their presence. At first sight you were not aware this would be a part of the evenings entertainment. Had a scene for Tori and Dean not have been set up and one of the rare times I had a chance to speak with Tori, I would have missed it entirely. Thank goodness I didn’t, for each guest who took the opportunity was presented with a silhouette of their own to keep. Father and I had our silhouette cut together. This was a true work of cut art. I will let you be the judge. This is a medium I myself have always wanted to try.

The bar is open inside, the guest are anxiously waiting for the entry of the Bride and Groom. The music begins, and cue the Bride and Groom as they take to the floor for the first dance. The song that represents their love is a beauty. Lady Antebellum “when you got a good thing.” The Bride counts out, 1,2,3 helping the Groom with the waltz step they were taught by the dance instructor Tori and Dean were so kind to provide. A fun day for the four, the event was captured in US weekly. Look for it you will find the Bride and Groom in the background. Such a beautiful moment, through the excitement of it all we get to see true bliss, as the Groom sweetly kisses his new Bride. Once again I am crying to see this tender moment. A little break for the couple as the dance floor gives way to the guest.

 There was a whole lot of shaking our tail feathers going on. The time has come for a special dance, the Bride is searching for me as she takes to the floor once again for the Father-Daughter dance portion of the wedding, (the announcement of the next event wasn’t always clear.) I was never far from the Bride, I always had a watchful eye over her just in case she needed me. The Brides song choice for this moment is a song I shared with her many times through her strife of teenage years, letting her know I will always be in her corner through hardship and joy and only wanted all and everything in the world she could achieve. She may have been dancing with Father, but I knew the dance was dedicated to me. Again tears.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV-Z1YwaOiw “I hope you dance” by Lee Ann Womack. Life is a dance, like Lee Ann Womack sings, always keep your options open never closing the door on life.This beautiful Bride, my Daughter is a champion of hardships, always holds fast never giving up. I did possibly lose sight of her while sharing the dance floor, for the next time I saw her she had changed into the reception dress I had made. I didn’t think this would happen, surprise, she says “I made it happen”.

She looks so pretty in it and ready to party. The Bride and Groom takes to the dance floor again while the onlookers watch in amazement. They learned more than the waltz at their dance lesson. I smiled the whole time watching as the Groom picks up the Bride by the waist, leg popped as he spins her around. So much fun, till at the end, they lose their balance and topple. No harm though, they regroup and then ta da!! Applause rings out. Time now for the Groom and Bride to cut the Grooms cake for tradition. A funfetti cake will be exposed to the Groom, something of his request. As we watch we hope for all hopes he minds his manners and refrains from doing what most Grooms want to do and what Brides make them promise not to do.

He just couldn’t help himself, the cake headed toward the mouth area somehow ended North, all over her eyelashes and in her eyes. We were in the ladies room quickly, and as on a movie set called for makeup, (when do you ever get a chance to do that?) The Bride desperately trying not to be upset, the makeup artist helped clean the frosting from her lashes, powdered her face while she took a deep breath hanging onto Tori’s soothing words helping her to  recompose her Bridal demeanor. Me I gave plenty of hugs and love while saying “I don’t know why Men find that funny. (This happened at her sisters wedding as well, and tears of disbelief came out of her eyes too when the cake was should in her face. So mad I thought she would punch her new husband out.) The Groom in all felt awful and couldn’t explain this impulsive behavior. Boys will be boys. It is now a good time for Tori and Deans big surprise. A band the Bride had tweeted about on Twitter was introduced. Honestly, I can’t tell you the name of the band or the title of the song. Watch the Storibook wedding and maybe you can tell me. I have slept since December 12th and my short term memory is failing. None the less it was an awesome gesture. One member missing, but can you name that band?

It happens the unknown band was not the only live entertainment of the evening. The Grooms Father and sister wrote and composed a song for the bride and groom. Maybe one day Joey Scarbury and Katie will head into the recording studio to record their song for these two to cherish.

All the single ladies now want what the Bride has, so they group together on the floor and hope the bride aims her bouquet in their direction. I ask you, if you don’t want to catch a wedding bouquet why would you include yourself in a tradition of hope to be the next to marry? Hmmm just asking, for the one who caught it actually did not want to. The boy who caught the garter in the same token did not want to kiss the girl with the bouquet. Too funny as the Man and I sit and watch this all unfold. He may have said something about this to me as I reminded him of my microphone. Oops!! Last on the schedule the announcement of the money dance. This is a dance where you pay to dance with the Bride or Groom. The money of this dance would be donated to a charity the Groom founded. As I don’t remember the charity once again resort to my statement about the band . The Bride and Groom did manage to raise 2300 $$s, 20 dollars from me and 20 from Dad to dance with the Bride, he danced with the Groom, oh what fun. One last drink and goodbyes are handed out to all our guest, along with Thank You to Tori and Dean as well as the Crew involved and it is time to head home. Tonight back to the hotel, tomorrow on a plane back to Ohio. This is how I lived this Storibook wedding and then some. Only the editors and those at the wedding will know what ended up on the editing room floor. My only hope, you keep an open mind just incase. Like anything else, what is life or even a wedding event, if you don’t have a little drama thrown into the mix. It may just be plain boring or even a little corny. Hope it to be neither when the show airs and you enjoy reliving this Wedding with me as I will be watching.

MY CALI GIRLS WEDDING WILL APPEAR ON STORIBOOK WEDDINGS

HOSTED BY: TORI AND DEAN ON OXYGEN APRIL 20TH 2011 a little birdie told her so.

HopE You TunE in and JoIn us for our ReaLity WedDing. 

They Live Happily Ever After

As in every fairy tale the Prince and Princess overcome many obstacles to finally be together and have all their dreams come true and in the end gather those close and dear to rejoice in their bliss. My Cali Girl along with her Dream Prince had been in a whirlwind for over a month. They were given the gift of a fairy Godmother along with helpers to make all their Wedding dreams come true. A little piece of their backstory I have yet to share. On vacation in New Orleans a girl was walking with a friend in the brewery district, when a young Man from a balcony sees her and gives her a shout to please stop and allow him to come off his perch and introduce himself. He does quickly and without hesitation. She blushes at his charm and wit and instantly he wins her heart. This young man lived 2300 miles from this girl. The weekend in New Orleans had a tremendous hold on this girl and young man. They spoke daily for a month. Life was not going as planned for the girl and the young man beckoned her to come and be near him. Nothing holding her back and love calling her near, she moved, taking the next biggest step in her life, leaving those closest to her behind, love had not always been kind to her in the kingdom she lived. This man was so sincere in his feelings for her she had to go, for he was put in her path for a reason. Love not tried could be true love lost. The girls Mother fully supported the romantic notion for he could be the one, you know, the soul mate we all hope to find. The young man was so certain he had found his soul mate within months he asked permission of the girls Father for her hand in marriage. Father did not hesitate to give it to the young man, he himself proposed to the girls Mother no longer than a month after courting her. When it feels like forever you know it. The girls Parents still together 25 years after. Happily Ever After is possible, use of the right tools to make a relationship last a lifetime hopefully has been on display for the girl and she will use them when obstacles are tossed into their pathway putting curves  and road blocks in their future relationship. Communicate, compromise, pick your battles, never hold on to an argument. No one is ever right or wrong, opinions may differ and that’s okay. Always, always kiss Goodnight. Now, we are on the next path of life, the wedding party is posed and lined up to make the Grand entry with the Prince and Princess.

Upon arrival into the reception this is what we see. 

Tables were set with small bunches of daisies along with milk glass brick a brack. The nonmatching chairs were oh so quaint. A relax feeling of home with pillows tossed about on comfy sink into couches. The food was served buffet style, all the comfort foods you would desire daily if health wasn’t an issue. From french fries served in cone shaped paper bags to fried chicken and mashed potatoes. Yes there were healthy things to eat, roasted veggies as well as salad. Signature drinks of the night were displayed in chalk for those who dared to sample. As you moved around the patio you spied something that looked so scrumptious you would gladly go off your diet for a little taste of heaven. How pretty they looked,  perched on their perfect pedestals of milk glass you weren’t certain they were meant to be eaten. Eat them we did, the red velvet cake served in a jar with cream cheese frosting in between the pieces were to die for. A miniature cake for the Bride and Groom in a flavor of the Grooms choice would be cut later in order to preserve the cake cutting tradition.

The food was just the start of everything else around the patio to enjoy. A Corner had been set with a Photographer taking keepsake photos to give to the guest, with frames of their choice to capture this moment. I thought this to be a spectacular idea.Once your picture had been taken it would be displayed on clothes line for others to see. A bridesmaid takes a moment to show her love for her husband, and of course a big congrats. A Dj spins his music for the patio setting, a mixture of old and new crooners. I hear, Frank Sinatra calling my name to take the Man’s hand for a dance before we settle in with food and drink.http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC9oQoFk9Rs&feature=related He complies to my request for we needed a little bonding time and what could be better than the words this song holds. We look into each others eyes and sing each word of “Fly Me to the Moon” while trying to hold our grip on the stone patio. It was all good, no hips broken and I believed this tender moment also caught the film crews eye. Before we head towards the buffet line Father is handed a microphone, this is his cue to welcome and Thank the guest for sharing in our celebration. He starts his speech in the traditional manner, starts to hand back the microphone and as he does he is wise enough to ask if he will be given another opportunity to speak again. No, was the answer heard. He politely says, “well then I am not finished for I have something I would like to say and present to my Daughter at this time.” Much to my dismay into his pocket he reaches for a box what it contains I have no clue. (A well kept secret and surprise to me.) He holds up a necklace that has a perfect circle on it. he says “This circle is perfect and continues around never ending, as my love for you, when you wear it I will always be close to your heart for it is your Daddio which you have a tendency to call me. Whenever times get tough or you are missing home just hold tight to your Daddio for I am there keeping you always in my heart. Tear!

 Crying, once again. I was so proud to know this Man and be able to call him my Husband on this special day. Now we can eat and mingle a bit and find the rest of our Family to break bread with. Yum is all I can say. So much was happening I glance across the patio a group had formed hanging onto words ringing from The Bestman, he was so funny in his story telling we all had a good laugh with him about his childhood friend the Groom. Time for the Maid of Honors speech, nervous, she managed to tell her story of love for her sister, the honor it was to have this duty and told the Groom how she believed he truly loved her sister for he alone was the one who could love all Women she is. (This statement made more than once is now a running joke with his friends, asking what woman she is that day.)

Let’s Eat, Drink and be Merry, for you will need your energy in check for what is in store next. A Good Time Dancing. We have yet to cut the cake, throw the bouquet and garter, hear a song written just for the couple or see what else may be up the sleeves of Tori and Dean.

Till the next time. Stop and smell the daisies.  

Please, Don’t Eat the Daisies.

 

 

 

 

 

Shabby Chic Celebration

Two Turtle Doves flying off to seek a life together as one. Released from the guidance of their parents watch,  now will celebrate with Friends and Family as they take the next step in the journey of life. We walk across the bridge of unity to the clearing,  where,  in jubilation, the Bride and Groom hold hands.  As they approach said clearing what do they come across? The clearing is host to ducks at rest waiting to be greeted. Without hesitation the Bride and Groom run toward the group of ducks  greeting them, as if saying, join in on our day of celebration. I see this unrehearsed moment, once again, I start crying. This happened to be one of the most beautiful, happy scenes I have witnessed at a wedding. I am blessed, lucky, and feel so privileged to be the Mother of the Bride and  part of it all, the ups and the downs. The ups brought once in a lifetime moments.

The guest will be assembled in this clearing while the wedding party will be put in hold mode, taking wedding photos until needed for our grand entry of  Welcoming and Thanking of the guest for joining in on our joyous celebration. While I and the rest of the wedding party are in a holding pattern the cocktail hour will be hosted by our benefactors Tori and Dean. What an event they have set for our guest. At least from the pictures it appeared to be fun as well as inviting.

A guest book properly displayed in a shabby chic way, along with comfortable group seating, H’ors d’ourves  as well as a bartender making drinks of the guest choice were on hand, ready, willing and able to see to the guest wants. Tokens of Thanks for the guest were displayed in the grandest most inviting way. They beckoned to please help yourself. Take me I am for you.

candles in patina mini tin buckets, fleece cuddly blankets for the evening after sunset, After the sun sets in California winters, the evening can be quite chilly, blankets would be a warm welcome. (Not gonna lie, I would have loved to at some point been able to mingle during cocktail hour with the guest. Once the party gets started you are dancing and enjoying yourself you forget to take time with the guest. At least, I do, for I loves to dance. Probably not a very gracious thing to do.) Picture taking of the wedding party is coming to a close, the photos will not be revealed for awhile, possibly not until the show on the Oxygen Network airs. (Storibook Weddings) The sun going down for some reason did not seam to do so slowly. Before I knew it, it was dark and we still were in a holding pattern, it seemed as though we had been away for quite sometime. We hadn’t been though, just felt as if, I would describe the feeling as one of those work days that just seems to go by at a snails crawl. Grateful for the bucket of beers provided while we were waiting. Now the cocktail hour is over, the guest will be escorted  into the reception.

Across a different bridge aligned with daisies and soft lighting along the walkway, and ropes of lighting strung from above. The guest are getting settled as we are gathering ourselves for our grand entry. The wedding party is announced and the festivities now can begin with the important people finally present. The Bride and Groom. Oh boy, I am hungry and can’t wait to see all that is in store for us to enjoy.

What a beautiful group of young people, (they clean up good)

Bring on the speeches, the DJ and dancing, most important of all. The cutting of the cake. We can only hope the Groom behaves with this one.

This is such a story to share I must tease you and share it in increments. Hope you don’t mind. Stay tuned more to come.