Updates on "getting my style on"

I realized that I never updated about my shoe choice to The Wedding Event of the summer.  Over the weekend I made my jewelry and tried the whole thing on w/ a green pashmina wrap that matches the green beads in the earrings/bracelet.  Looked pretty darn good (IMO) and short the wrap (that I don't have a picture of) here is the get up.  And for the record I still can't find a decent picture of the dress online.

With regard to the earrings and bracelet...  I found the teal and crystal beads, links, chain (30") and chandelier earring posts at Ben Franklin.  I robbed an old necklace I never wore of its green beads and got to work with a pair of needle nose pliers.  This was a rotten PIA but I am thrilled w/ the way it came out.  Got the earrings done first (after 3 tries and a lot of time spent in front of the mirror) then moved on to the bracelet.  It goes around my wrist 5x and so I roped it back and forth, attached links at the 2 ends and added the clasp.  Then I started randomly putting the beads on.  I still have a few left and am wondering if I can try my hand at a large cocktail ring for my right hand.  We'll see...I've moved on to a new crochet project so this may be the end of my costume jewelry for a week or 2 :)

And because The Hubs is going to look pretty swanky himself....here's his suit and my opinion on what his tie should look like :)  We'll see if he'll go along w/ his tie matching my bling and pashmina.  tee hee!

AHA(!) re Southern BBQ! and Partypalooza pictures!

It was a crazy busy weekend with Partypalooza at our house but I think a good time was had by all.  I told The Hubs that I wanted to entertain more often and he looked at me like I was insane but I think we're good at it and he'll come around ;)

The menu for the party centered around a South Carolina BBQ recipe that a friend made for me last year.  I've been trying to figure out BBQ since we moved to Richmond 3 years ago and (AHA!) I've finally got it.  And since I don't know too many folks who don't LOVE southern BBQ I'm posting instructions...  I'm not a recipe hoarder and you can all thank me later...after you eat this...and lick your lips and smack your chops and impress your friends :)

 

 

And here are some of my favorites from the party!

Opening Day Excitement! and BRRRRR....

To all my VT friends & family - skip ahead to the next paragraph of this post.  You will not want to read my first section after your late April snowstorm for which I am absolutely feeling grouchy on your behalf.

Okay, now that my VT followers have skipped ahead I'd like to say to the rest of my readers...  WHAT THE HECK?  It was 35* out this morning.  I was freezing on my walk to work. 

Welcome back VT readers :)  Today is the opening day of the 17th Street Farmer's Market here in Richmond.  My favorite thing about this is that it is a 10 minute walk from my office.  So, I get some sun, some 'fresh' air, and some excercise in addition to supporting local farmers and picking up some goodies for my family.  I am really looking forward to my first visit today.

On the list:
Good, fresh baked, bread!
Goat cheese!
Unusual variety tomato plant for the garden!
Fresh, organic spinach!

YAY!

At last....Pictures!

Spring...are you out there?

I'm pretty sure while I was driving to work and admiring the pretty Richmond skyline from a distance that I heard SNOW in the forecast for today. ??? I live in VA, right? It's March, right?

In other news... Paddy is dangerously close to walking and that makes his parents quake with fear and dance with joy. I wish I could say that its all just because I'm thrilled that he's so 'advanced' for his 10m age bracket...but I'll confess that it's mostly because I want to wean him off the prevacid and stop shelling out $40/month for a maintenance drug for my infant...and of course the extra time not spent dosing him every morning during the mad dash would be helpful too. Last night he was walking while holding Jame's fingers and when Jame let him go he took 3 more steps. I don't think these qualify as official first steps because he was already in motion...but like I said, he's dangerously close!

I'm getting very excited for a girls weekend coming up soon. Have I told you ladies how much I love you? How I would be lost without you? Well, I do and I would. xoxoxo And because this will be my first weekend w/out kids in tow in more than a year I'm panicked and exhilarated all at the same time. 2 nights! I seriously hope my body will sleep past 6am!
Jame got another A+ in his first BS class and so his fabulous GPA continues to hold. Natalie has been WOUND UP and I think we need many, many days in a row of outside time. Spring is coming, I think, maybe, someday....

I'm currently revamping the garden (as you all know)...seeds were ordered yesterday from High Mowing Seeds but I'm in a quandry over tomatoes and eggplants. And right now I'm making Nattie a crocheted dress (she won't wear) in the most atrocious purple color you've ever seen. She chose it. I am desperately hunting thru my leftoevers looking for a color of secondary yarn that will tone down her "barney costume" and so far have come up w/ nothin'. There has to be a way to make that color look less awful....  It'll be done tonight (I think) so I'll post pictures!
That's all from here :)

Complete

This project was tough for me.  I had to start it over 4 times before I got it right and then discovered (too late) that the arm holes weren't the right size for my beefy, baby hefting arms.  instead of unraveling it again I decided to ask my friend Emily to copy me a work out DVD to target arms and will make my arms fit the sweater rather than the other way around :)  If it works she gets a free something of her choosing out of the deal!  So, its done.  Here are the photo's to prove it :)

And I would like to add that regardless of the arm situation I am feeling very proud of this.  I'm definitely getting better at this crochet thing!

For Sara :)

A very dear Forever Friend had her 2nd baby on the 11th and I immediately got to work making goodies :)  I think the sweater/hat set is insanely cute and was thrilled to give it as a gift.  Natalie rightfully decided that Big Sister Gianna should get a gift too so she picked her out a princess sippy cup and a singing Happy Birthday card.  I thought it was hilarious and an insanely sweet gesture on Natalie's part.  Here's a link to Amy's blog in case anyone is interested in her musings and pictures of her insanely beautiful children.

And here is my handiwork...

I got the pattern for the sweater from bella bambina and managed to confidently put my own twist on it.  The hat is thanks to String Theories and Other Whimsy and once again I put my own twist on to make it teensy and matching to the sweater. 

The pattern for this came from Vallie's Kids and once again I messed around a bit to put the butterfly in the back and the scallop on the edge to ensure that no one would look at Sara in this yellow hat and wonder if she was a boy :)

It has been a busy week!

More Oldies - 2005

These are just a few that I've been able to pick thru from 2005.  That was the year we got married so there are a ton of pictures.  I'm sure there will be more to come as I go thru and organize so that they can all be backed up and saved properly.

My bridal shower - April 2005

We're missing Leslie but I love this picture of all of the Albright Girls!

Reception - 5/21/05 - Porch, Echo Lake Inn

Stonewall's Restaurant - Honeymoon - St. Kitt's

Honeymoon - St. Kitt's

Abigail's Wedding - Portland, ME

Natalie :)