mission: ice cream cake

so s's birthday is saturday and while i have the evening planned out (we going here!) i still am working on two things- birthday gift and ice cream cake.

so i started the cake part today but baking the actual cake part. i'm sort of just going to let it go and take shape as i complete certain things. hopefully it turns out alright. i'm sure it'll be great!

last night was truly a great evening spent with friends. no matter how the meal was the time spent together was fantastic. and seeing Sam's show was great.

my biggest mission lately is getting my new office/escape in order. it's been going very well and everything (almost) is physically in the room there's just a few (alright a lot) left to actually make it's way to a new spot to keep.

maybe pictures will follow once it's completely, i'm rather proud of it...

thankfulness

i'm so thankful to be blessed with amazing people around me.
tonight, s + me are going to see our dear friend Sam play a show in kc.
he's just released a new record and we're excited to support him.
check it out and download it free here.

alright. that's it. now off to eat some yummies at la bodega with simon and cathe

sleep

a natural state of bodily rest.

lately i can't seem to get much of any. actually that's a lie, when i sleep it is absolutely magnificent but the trouble comes when the time comes when i should be sleeping. currently it is 1:40am and I work at 9am. what's wrong here?

i don't really feel exhausted during the day but it's frustrating waiting up for hours and hours until i'm tired to actually lie down and rest my eyes, and mind.

the problem is that when i lay down, my mind becomes flooded with thoughts, ideas, to do lists and other things i shouldn't be worrying about at days end.

now it's time to attempt to fall asleep.

adieu,
c

ponder this one-

each and every breath you take, you then exhale into the universe forever. why not exhale goodness each time you breathe?
maybe it'll make the universe a little more beautiful.


image found on flickr from palisade14

mrs.bates

i'm a mrs. now and while life hasn't changed too much, it sure has been busy.

i write this snuggling up next to two of my furry friends and i couldn't be happier. i just got back from being away for the weekend, the first time we've been away from each other since the wedding and it was hard. i'm glad i was so busy because i wouldn't have made it through. i can't believe how easy it was to make the ultimate commitment to sb. it was a no brainer. i love him and he loves me and our lives are going in the same direction and we want the same things out of life so of course it was easy.

we definitely are surrounding by the most amazing people out there. the entire weekend wouldn't have gone the way it did if it weren't for our family and friends. we are surrounded by love.

maybe some pictures soon- trying to get life in order for the next new adventure- the house :)

later
c

red dresses...

Click on these links for some cute dresses-
David's Bridal
David's Bridal
David's Bridal


Here's some pictures and links that go along with them...


Victoria's Secret



Victoria's Secret



Victoria's Secret



J Crew



J Crew

aqua dresses...

Click on these links for some cute dresses...
David's Bridal
David's Bridal
David's Bridal


Here's some links with pictures to go along with them...



J Crew



J Crew



J Crew

Hey Boys...

Okay- here's what the slacks can look like-



sweet. thanks.

lawrence

so far in 2009 i've:
-moved to a new town (565 miles away from chicago!)
-worked in a kitchen (professionally)
-bought a wedding gown!
-had 3 late christmas' (thanks family, truly amazing!)
-helped create a burger menu, for a real place
-cooked two homemade-original dinners and baked from scratch in our beautiful new kitchen
-started a bible study full of darling women who can teach me alot
-caught up with friends and enjoyed solitude

so, i'd say 9 days into it i'm not doing to shabby. and while i'm at it i thought i'd start project 365, i think i've taken a picture almost everyday so far, but those will be added later for now enjoy this:


we're here! we've arrived in lawrence (a week ago actually) but today we got internet and i can now follow through with a goal i've wanted for this year- blogging more! its taken us a while to get situation, well not really i suppose because a week isn't very long and surprisingly i feel completely at home! this house is A-mazing (pictures soon) and the people here are wonderful.

so, this is a perfect example of what i am thinking for my girlies! it worked out so well when this bride had her maids (teehee) pick out a dress in green, it's cute!

on another note- one of my lovely ladies just got engaged this afternoon! congrats brit and alea!

yay. i'm currently occupying my time making new year's postcards- yup we decided to do that instead b/c its cool (and i'm behind on the ball!)

invitation meeting this friday!!

so we're totally pumped for friday- we get to go over to Humbolt Park and meet with Anne Benjamin of MOK DUK

http://www.annebenjamin.com/custom/wedding/wed_all.html

Check her stuff out, she's pretty cool and so nice!

YAY!

Until then, I'm going to be making New Year's cards for us to send out :)

look for yours in the mail

bridesmaid dress ideas...

so, i don't want the dresses to be something i choose for my beautiful ladies! i am going to get some fabric swatches together and then have the girlys go off of that. i want the choice to be theirs and for them to be comfortable... here's some ideas


bmaid dress sample by leealbright

and some shoe ideas...


bmaid shoes by leealbright

more pictures...

i've got wedding on the brain, can you tell? it's nice because it keeps my thoughts on something tangible and that has a specific date--- that's almost only 6 months away.

not soon enough.

how fun is this? it's in an old barn. i like the combination of the twinkle lights and the lanterns, oh and the circular tables!



here's a good picture of fabric draping



lanterns just over the dance floor?



i like this because its versatile- if it rains, the tables go inside the tent :)

new wedding ideas, 199 days until forever

some tent decoration ideas, dance floor ideas and what not, just to get an idea of what may be possible...













imagine these in aqua mason jars!



this is fun!



colorful cupcakes!



lanterns are wonderful!



i want a lounge like this, and weather like it too!

wordle

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seven months to go!

with this, i write with the overwhelming/exciting/tubular (is that even a word?) feeling that from this day exactly, in seven short months i will be married. i will have a new last name and my best friend at my side for eternity. i can't wait.

decoration ideas

here's some cool ideas i've been thinking and looking at for the wedding... it is nearly 7 months away!



-this is a cool inspiration for the vibe of the event. yay 40's carnival feel!




-the layout of these chairs is so cool. its a great way to create and different atmosphere for the ceremony




i like the lanterns here and the cool colors they give off



-mason jars filled with tea candles. fun atmosphere creator, soy candles would be best




-A lounge area would be a cool place to relax outside of dancing. blankets, pillows and comfy seating

yes we can.


thank goodness this election is over. and while the outcome is amazing, returning to daily life without the overarching of politics into normal conversations is something i'm most excited about.

voting for the first time for this amazing man is something i will be proud about for the rest of my lifetime. i will tell my kids that i voted for a great man who changed the country for the better, regardless of what the next four years hold. i will not need to say, i voted for a black man, because the color of his skin won't be relevant. he is an amazing candidate and i feel so proud to be an american, for literally the first time in my life. I am an American, and I have a voice.

happy november

it's that time of year ;)

think about it...

Barack Obama:
Columbia University - B.A. Political Science with a Specialization in International Relations.
Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cu m Laude

Joseph Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in History and B.A. in Political Science.
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)


VS

John McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank: 894 of 899

Sarah Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in Journalism