tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10999094768780359442024-02-19T22:43:25.604-08:00Useless RamblingsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800095053867438310noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1099909476878035944.post-7860875498811093092012-04-21T10:29:00.001-07:002012-04-21T10:44:35.398-07:00Modern Day DinosaursSo, while making a quick trip onto Target, something, or should I say someone caught my eye and I had to snap his photo.<br />
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Meet the Guardian of the Target Lotion Aisle:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LgatWzoFdxK5kebVY5EL-lid7XSA4Rshm-T9lJsJAzEV57LU0S_f7sjn7Zt5dVWG5_lC5S5o7esx-hfzJPPPJwnkl1Tg73PGZvKGKuwI_4XHx4dyr7f2tgdPwjLXUoNu9PNDL-SpqGGk/s640/blogger-image--1254162861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-LgatWzoFdxK5kebVY5EL-lid7XSA4Rshm-T9lJsJAzEV57LU0S_f7sjn7Zt5dVWG5_lC5S5o7esx-hfzJPPPJwnkl1Tg73PGZvKGKuwI_4XHx4dyr7f2tgdPwjLXUoNu9PNDL-SpqGGk/s640/blogger-image--1254162861.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The funny thing is that I realized I've made a nice little collection of dinosaur photos without even trying. In fact, I even forgot about Christmas Dino that I snapped at the Memphis Zoo until I was searching for the photos for this post. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5chtwxCVN7LQcpVUdaZe2_1kbIUWp9NqEqgad0V59DjSfyrPVOxjxU0jDBgjrKIzYQPO2TIrOrMvAQzb6V1iY6cYqQ17hVvhnC9dMX-f0CTdjtZpJwUfDaq337NhBe3VUa2XI2u7EKkeP/s640/blogger-image--1052963376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5chtwxCVN7LQcpVUdaZe2_1kbIUWp9NqEqgad0V59DjSfyrPVOxjxU0jDBgjrKIzYQPO2TIrOrMvAQzb6V1iY6cYqQ17hVvhnC9dMX-f0CTdjtZpJwUfDaq337NhBe3VUa2XI2u7EKkeP/s640/blogger-image--1052963376.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Little Lost Dino (found abandoned in a corner of St. Jude).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDquO2wYQGXY9e0xIea-Tetx85YyvCGvaGTCxJuI5lqzOgFYetDPT95Rj2zzqRaotMCHPnwdszUA_t7fuL4gz90auFHjRbQ4N1ueS4MFOKq2RlNIGBnfKuL599aFUrdqVduRvPYAvobmI8/s640/blogger-image-314752824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDquO2wYQGXY9e0xIea-Tetx85YyvCGvaGTCxJuI5lqzOgFYetDPT95Rj2zzqRaotMCHPnwdszUA_t7fuL4gz90auFHjRbQ4N1ueS4MFOKq2RlNIGBnfKuL599aFUrdqVduRvPYAvobmI8/s640/blogger-image-314752824.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Finally, the last two photos are of a toy Dino that I received with my Photojojo order - they send one out with every order just for kicks. I was having fun playing with the little cell phone lenses that I purchased. In fact, this Dino is the only one that I didn't come across randomly, unless you count something being sent to you that you didn't order as random. So maybe he's a random Dino as well.<br />
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So this little post was to test out publishing from Blogger... to which Adam recently switched the blog over for me. I was just having too many issues with Wordpress and since Google has recently taken over Blogger, there's been some nice changes. In fact, I published this post from my cell phone (which I know is possible with Wordpress, but again, I was having difficulty working with their app). The only thing I can't yet figure out on the app is how to place photos directly where I want them within the post. However, the app allowed me to upload these photos straight from my phone, which is where most of the project photos are currently housed (we do have them backed up on Aperture and Google + as well). However, I don't often get on the desktop where the Aperture library is housed as Adam works from that computer most of the time. It was taking too long for my laptop to remotely access the Aperture library on the desktop and I couldn't get photos from Google+ to upload to Wordpress. However, since Blogger is now owned by Google, getting photos from Google+ to the blog is no problem! Hopefully, this will make things much nicer. Previously, I would write the text from the laptop and then go to the desktop to enter photos... Just too much work for me and I would never get to everything before the drive to write a post was gone. </div>
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So now, with things much more streamlined, I'm going to WRITE MORE POSTS! I promise :)</div>
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<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800095053867438310noreply@blogger.com0Midtown Memphis35.129309 -89.989345tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1099909476878035944.post-17735179372455308182011-11-29T14:38:00.000-08:002012-04-18T12:27:11.438-07:00Photo issue fixed - Yay!And I did it all by my little self :)<br />
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This also means that I can start blogging about my current project - repainting and decorating the entry way and dining room... the first two rooms you see when you enter the house. We've got some big plans, but for now, all I'm seeing is Grey and Yellow! (hint, hint)<br />
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I'll also give you all a proper house tour as well!<br />
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<a href="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/20111201-185049.jpg"><img alt="20111201-185049.jpg" class="alignnone size-full" height="640" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/20111201-185049.jpg" width="480" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800095053867438310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1099909476878035944.post-23279309040992664512011-11-01T14:31:00.000-07:002012-04-18T12:28:41.261-07:00DIY 20's Flapper DressI've been gone a long time. I miss this place. I've got tons of projects to share with everyone, and since most of you who read this blog way back before the wedding are not living anywhere near me, I want to let ya'll into our home, as well as have a way of documenting the goings on of our first home. We've been in this lovely house for about a year and a half now, and even though we don't work on as many projects as we'd like due to Adam's schedule, we've had fun with the projects we have completed.<br />
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I've tried to decide where to start for quite some time, but I think that's just making this more stressful than it should be. So, I'm just going to jump in! I'll get to a proper house tour soon, but for this post, I wanted to show off our Halloween costumes for this year. Some of ya'll have seen them on Facebook already, but I wanted to give a few more details because it was oh so easy! Believe it or not, I've never actually made my own Halloween costume, and until about last Tuesday, I didn't even plan on doing anything for this year. Adam's on nights this rotation and is exhausted...then we found out there was a resident costume party at the Flying Saucer downtown last Saturday night, so we had to do something. After some deliberation we decided to do a 20's theme - nothing too original, I know, but I love that era and we needed something quick! Also during last week, a couple of my favorite blogs, <a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/">Young House Love</a> and <a href="http://www.bowerpowerblog.com/">Bower Power</a> announced their second Pinterest Challenge (no official affiliation with <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/">Pinterest</a>, but just a way to get some of the projects on our Pinterest accounts actually completed). You can read about it on <a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/2011/10/its-baaaack/">YHL</a> and Bower Power for more details. So, I figured it was the perfect time to show off a recent project, get this thing up and running again, and participate in the Pinterest Challenge. So, without further ado, I present our Halloween 2011 Costumes!<br />
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Here, you can see my <a href="http://pinterest.com/msmo423/1920-s-inspiration/">20s inspiration board</a> for headpieces and dresses, which is where I got some ideas and inspiration for my dress and headpiece.<br />
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For the dress, I basically found a black short nightgown-type garment at Target that I could decorate. It was strappy but I figured that I could bulk up the straps and the bust line if needed with some trim. It had a good shape to it and wasn't too short or too long when I put it on. Also, it was really comfy, which didn't hurt either.<br />
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<img alt="Flapper Dress Layout" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-229" height="300" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/IMG_0404-300x225.jpg" title="Flapper Dress Layout" width="400" /><br />
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I knew that I wanted the dress to be completely covered in fringe so it was off to Hancock Fabrics I went. Luckily, they were having a 40% off trim and ribbon sale, which was perfect. It was also nice to see that I wasn't the only one grabbing materials to start my Halloween Costume three days before the Halloween weekend. However, that also meant that my choice for fringe was pretty limited. Happily though, I found a great black fringe, some sequin trim, and some fake pearl strands. Additionally, I grabbed some sequin stretchy trim for the headband and some black ribbon trim that my eye was drawn towards.<br />
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<img alt="Trim" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-230" height="300" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/IMG_0408-300x225.jpg" title="Trim" width="400" /><br />
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I knew that I had some peacock feathers at home as well, so I went with a turquoise, purple, and grey color palate. I grabbed some satin ribbon in my chosen colors as well just before walking to the counter.<br />
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<img alt="headband " class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-231" height="300" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/IMG_0405-300x225.jpg" title="headband " width="400" /><img alt="ribbon" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-232" height="300" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/IMG_0410-300x225.jpg" title="ribbon" width="400" /><br />
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I had absolutely no idea how much of each I needed, so I had the dress out on the cutting table at the store and basically eyeballed my needed length and added about another yard for the trim. I wasn't sure how much of the other trim I was going to use aside from the fringe, so I just bought a few yards of each. I ended up with about 6.5 yards, which was less than the original 8 yards I wanted, but 6.5 was all that was left in the store. I just hoped that I could end up getting more at another store if needed (turns out that I did and I could).<br />
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Once I got home with all my supplies, I warmed up the hot glue gun and laid out a rough pattern of my design. From there on it was just gluing and cutting the trim. After each row of fringe, which I worked on from the bottom up as it was easier to glue without fringe pieces at the tip of my gluegun, I held up the dress to make sure everything was laying correctly as the material was stretchy. There was a bit of time that the glue could be removed before it was too set in, but it was difficult to get it all off the dress. So, I took things slowly and made sure to keep an eye on where I was going. I used the bottom hem of the dress to attach the last row of fringe so that the bottom of the dress is just fringe with no fabric behind it. That made it a bit sassy and also let me have a straight line to begin with. As I got a few rows of fringe on the dress I decided that it needed something more so I also added a row of sequins between each row of fringe. That definitely made a difference in the dress.<br />
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<img alt="dress halfway" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-233" height="400" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/IMG_0409-225x300.jpg" title="dress halfway" width="300" /><br />
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As I said before, I got all the fringe at the particular store I went to on Tuesday evening, but it ended up not being enough. So, Saturday afternoon when I realized how much more fringe I needed, I went out to the other two Hancock locations in Memphis to find some more fringe. Of course, the first store I went to didn't have any of the same trim I purchased on Tuesday night, so I went to the third store hoping that they had what I needed. The fringe was there, as was the same sequin trim that I had been using, which I was also out of. So I bought a couple more yards of each and got home as quickly as I could. Before I left the store, I did manage to find a grey satin headband and a cluster of peacock feathers pre-arranged and glued to felt backing making it ready to go onto a clip or headband. Due to having much less time than I had originally anticipated, I grabbed it so that I would already have half my headpiece together.<br />
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When I got home, I frantically put the last bit of trim on the dress and finished my headpiece.<br />
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<img alt="IMG_0407" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-234" height="300" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/IMG_0407-300x225.jpg" title="IMG_0407" width="400" /><br />
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Then I threw on my fishnet tights, thick eyeliner and dark eyeshadow, and grabbed my feather boa. I was ready to go!<br />
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<img alt="Halloween 2011" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-235" height="400" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/IMG_0350-173x300.jpg" title="Halloween 2011" width="230" /><img alt="Halloween 2011" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-236" height="400" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/IMG_0411-212x300.jpg" title="Halloween 2011" width="282" /><br />
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Luckily, Adam's costume was easier. I found a fedora and purple Missoni tie at Target, and a costume pinstripe jacket as the party store. I couldn't find the pants, so he just wore some of his black suit pants. We grabbed one of the pearl strands for a pocket watch chain and stuck a peacock feather in his hat.<br />
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<img alt="Adam's hat" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-237" height="300" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/IMG_0314-300x225.jpg" title="Adam's hat" width="400" /><br />
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For last minute costume creation, I think we did a pretty good job! We had a ton of fun!!<br />
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<img alt="Halloween 2011 At the Flying Saucer" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-238" height="400" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/IMG_0352-225x300.jpg" title="Halloween 2011 At the Flying Saucer" width="300" /><br />
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<img alt="IMG_0401" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-243" height="300" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/IMG_04011-300x225.jpg" title="IMG_0401" width="400" /><br />
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Hope everyone had a great Halloween!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800095053867438310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1099909476878035944.post-74213792515659002652010-01-24T12:11:00.000-08:002012-04-18T12:28:51.923-07:00Learning New Talents to pass the Time...Well...interviews are over (finally!) We won't find anything out until mid-May about where we're going to be, so we've got some time to kill.<br />
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Oh well...So, I guess to pass the time of waiting, Adam and I have decided to take some classes and hopefully learn some new talents! Adam is in the middle of a motorcycle riding course at the local Harley Davidson Dealer (Ssshhhh...don't tell my dad yet, its a surprise!) and I am soon to start a 6-week course on metal enameling...something that I've wanted to learn how to do for quite some time. It always seemed like something that is much better suited to learn by having someone who knows what they're doing to actually teach you...It could be potentially very costly and probably quite dangerous to just jump into something like this on your own...at least for me, anyway.<br />
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The other time consumer, at least for my mind, is to try and start sorting through some of the dark corners of our little apartment and prepare for the move, wherever it may be. I say this is an exercise for my mind as I haven't really gotten too far with it. I keep wanting to start with my crafts (which I have way more things than I realized) but end up just frustrated because I really want to organize things but know its better to do so once I have a physical space to place things... The top of Adam's old bunk bed has been the Goodwill pile for quite some time, and I will say that we've taken a couple trips already...so that is good.<br />
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So, that's about where we're at right now... Oh, and I've become a bit of a box hoarder! I know we'll use many boxes for the move, and I hate the idea of paying for something that is so plentiful in people's trash...so I collect the boxes at work that are destined for cardboard box heaven...or hell, whatever the case may be, and extend their life just a bit longer. I've got a pretty decent stash at home and a nice little stash at work - thank you St. Jude for your Staples orders!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800095053867438310noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1099909476878035944.post-78069855451551134052009-12-13T23:17:00.000-08:002012-04-18T12:29:00.401-07:00Almost Done!We're rounding out the last of the residency inverviews...I can't wait until we're done! There's one more in Dayton, OH at the beginning of Jan. That one will be nice because we're staying with my grandmother (whom I haven't seen since the wedding!) and we'll be able to eat at Maid Rite - the BEST hole-in-the-wall restaurant EVER! However, we'll be in Ohio, in the winter, which is usually not very much fun! We're so ready to get these all over with, I wish we could just stop by Ohio before we head back to Memphis...although I'm totally ready to be back in my own bed and be able to dress in clothing from my closet and not at bag! I'll do a wrap up of the interviews after we get back home. I know I said i'd be blogging along the way, but things have been so busy! When you're living a nomadic lifestyle and you have to get out of each room by 11 or noon every morning, and then find your way around cities you don't know, there's not as much down time as one might expect!<br />
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I also know that I haven't officially told you all my surprise! I'll tell you (those that I haven't spoken to in person, yet) - I cut my hair! Its oh so short and I LOVE IT! I'll post a photo when I get back home of before and after photos, but I don't have them with me now. I realize that many of you probably thought I was pregnant after reading the last post, so the hair cutting thing isn't as exciting, now. That wasn't my intent, but I wrote the last post quickly at work on the day that I made my appointment for (it was that evening) so I was excited. I got home and told Adam what I did and he says, "you know everyone is going to think you're pregnant now!" Oops....sorry! So...photos to come.<br />
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On a completely different note, I'm also ready to get done with this interview crap so that we can rank the programs and then begin the long wait until March 16th for Match Day. Not that I'm excited about waiting until that date, but I'm sooo ready to start moving on with the next phase of our life. I feel like we've been on hold since the wedding...it sucks not to be able to have some sort of loose plan for your life...and I'm soooo ready to get out of our apt. Not that I haven't liked it or the location, but Adam and I are ready to have something that's our own. I want to be able to buy/make Christmas Decorations that I have room to store after Christmas rather than be limited to putting up only 2/3 of our actual tree because we don't have the floor space for the whole tree! I want to frame photos and art and actually have a place to put them rather than just back in the closet. I want to buy throw pillows for the couch but actually be able to know that they'll go with the color of our living room rather than having white trim, beige walls, darker beige furniture, and no real anything to pull the room together. I want to be able to go to an antique store and buy an old chair to have reupholstered.<br />
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I just feel that everything is on a stand-still right now and so up in the air...Can't I just take a peek into the future about 8 months from now? Please, pretty please??Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800095053867438310noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1099909476878035944.post-43037388919943131352009-11-05T02:18:00.000-08:002012-04-18T12:29:10.243-07:00sshhh...I have a surprise...<br />
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But I can't let you know until after this weekend!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800095053867438310noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1099909476878035944.post-75973694788777806402009-10-26T06:28:00.000-07:002012-04-18T12:29:24.084-07:00Interview Madness!!!And so it begins...<br />
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This Wednesday night, Adam and I will go to a "get-to-know-you-dinner" at one of the Memphis OB/GYN resident's house to meet (officially) and mingle with the residents, physicians, and their spouses. We'll eat dinner, they'll size us up, we'll be pleasant, chatty, the happy couple you know that we are ;) and the next day Adam will have his first of many interviews for residency. The interesting thing is that we're beginning with the program that we want to end up at (at least as of right now) and I hope that the next two and a half months of road trips are all just to serve as part of the crazy rite of passage into the world of being a Doctor of Medicine...<br />
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Here's our schedule so far...I sort of hope that there aren't many other interview offers, because I see no physical way of fitting many more interviews in!<br />
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This week's interview in Memphis Adam has been told to use as a practice interview since he knows the program and they know him. So we have Memphis on the 29th, then the following Sunday (after a fantastic Halloween party at some friends' house) he'll fly to Atlanta to interview in Macon, GA. He'll come home Tues 11/3 and then the following Friday, we'll drive to Maryville (!) for a cousin's wedding reception and then drive onto Greenville, SC to interview on 11/9 at East Carolina University. However, don't forget the customary "Get-to-size-you-up" dinner the night before! Why do we go to the dinners, you ask? Well, it just so happens that the residents, NOT the physicians of the program, have the majority of the choice in who's ranked to come to the program after the initial interviewees are chosen from the pile of applications. The official choice comes from the Physicians, but we've been told that if you miss the dinner the night before, you might as well not even interview the next day because the residents won't know you...that's how important they are.<br />
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"No pressure, you know, its just fun...casual dress...here, have some complementary alcohol , you're our guests and we want to show you a good time!"<br />
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{note to self: DO.NOT.GET.DRUNK}<br />
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East Carolina University rounds out November, for the time being, but then comes the doozie of a trip we have planned for December. You ready for this? Here goes...<br />
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<b>Dec 3</b>, drive to Knoxville for lovely dinner, <b>Dec 4</b> interview in Knoxville<br />
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{weekend at home, deep breath}<br />
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<b>Dec 6</b> drive to ETSU for dinner, <b>Dec 7</b> interview at ETSU - haul ass to Chattanooga for dinner, <b>Dec 8</b> interview in Chattanooga, drive to Atlanta<br />
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{Hello there, lovely Kevin! Sure is nice to be in a city we're not having to interview and be sized-up, we already know that you love us}<br />
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<b>Dec 10</b> drive to Savannah for dinner, <b>Dec 11</b> interview in Savannah<br />
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{Weekend, PARTY IN SAVANNAH!!! You can drink on the street there, you know...}<br />
<br />
<b>Dec 12</b> hangover (just kidding - maybe), <b>Dec 13</b> drive to Columbia, SC for dinner, <b>Dec 14</b> interview in Columbia and LONG, TERRIBLE 12 hour drive back to Memphis. If all goes well, we'll get in about 3am and then we both have to work the next day!<br />
<br />
{Yay...}<br />
<br />
Add in a dinner and interview scheduled for Jan 5-6 in Dayton, Ohio,<br />
<br />
{Hello, Memaw!}<br />
<br />
then one last dinner and interview at Tulane University (New Orleans) for Jan 14-15,<br />
<br />
{Party in NOLA!}<br />
<br />
and you've got the gist of our next two months or so.<br />
<br />
Oh yeah...then ranking the programs...we'll think about that later...gotta get through the interviews first! The amazing thing is that through all this traveling, it works out that I'll only have to take 6 days of vacation. Unfortunately, I'm on call for Thanksgiving so we won't go home then, but we'll still manage to go home for two days before Christmas and I'll even have some vacation time left over. Its too difficult to completely explain how all this is working out, but lets just say that if I'm at work for even an hour, I don't take vacation time. In addition, I have two personal days to use aside from my regular vacation and I was able to find a conference to go to the day we're in Atlanta and thus was able to take three of the days during that trip as "Travel time" and not count against vacation. This is where being in a salaried position REALLY pays off!!<br />
<br />
So, that's all for now. I think we're going to go purchase some luggage tonight so Adam has something to fly with (we've been borrowing up to this point and really need our own). I'll be chronicling these events as we go...I'm sure they'll be interesting and Lord knows I'll have the time while Adam is in his all-day interviews! There will probably be some interesting road stories, as well as interview freak-outs. Don't be surprised if you start to see <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">tons</span> a few alcohol photos (all aesthetic, of course!). We plan on stopping (as much as possible) at brew pubs along the way to sample the local fare. Hey...we've got to have something pleasant to keep us going from city to city or we might never make it!!! Interviewing just might drive us to alcoholism!<br />
<br />
{just kidding, maybe}Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800095053867438310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1099909476878035944.post-79409115916906603432009-09-25T00:07:00.000-07:002012-04-18T12:29:34.457-07:00new name needed!So...I'm not planning a wedding anymore. Haven't been for 13 months, almost. I think its time for a new name. I like the useless ramblings part...but, what to follow? Any suggestions? Adam and I are coming up on the joys of residency - he's applied to about 20 programs and is starting to schedule interviews, all within the months of Nov and Dec - so something tied to this upcoming adventure would be appropriate - but i'm not married (haha, knee slapper) to the idea.<br />
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Thoughts?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800095053867438310noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1099909476878035944.post-9242802511362613222009-09-15T06:52:00.000-07:002012-04-18T12:12:33.876-07:00Am I going to die?So...I've been sitting in the board room at work watching my coworkers stand in groups of four, place respirator masks on their face, then place bio hazard helmets over their masks and proceed to have crap sprayed in their faces while they march in place, shake their heads and make sure they don't smell the pungent spray. Lovely! I can't wait for my turn!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800095053867438310noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1099909476878035944.post-8003379694797351512009-09-08T14:46:00.000-07:002012-04-18T12:29:56.287-07:00it's been one whole year!oddly... in the days leading up to our 1st anniversary I found myself longing to be working on wedding projects again! Am I crazy?!? Then, today at work, I had the realization that I had finally stocked up on a decent amount of sick time and realized that its because I haven't been sick this year (knock on wood!). Its surely the lack of all the stress of planning a wedding, albeit a fabulous one if I do say so myself, alone, from across the state and making almost EVERYTHING! However, it was so much fun and I got to play with a lot of new ideas and toys! It felt like it was getting old after doing both Heather's wedding as well as my brother's wedding, but I wouldn't have it any other way! Maybe I just need to get back into making something, anything... I haven't made any jewelery at all since I made my wedding earrings the night before the wedding. However, I have been organizing, cleaning, sorting, and organizing again...which does feel good, and considering that we'll be moving in a little more than six months (where is the pivotal question, here) all my organizing and purging is a good thing. However, I don't get to bask in the moments during the day when someone says "You MADE that?! That's beautiful!" It is a good feeling. So...here's to making something....and soon!<br />
<br />
So, back to the actual title of the post. Adam and I celebrated our one year anniversary this holiday weekend (and the perks of getting married around any holiday is soo nice for the prospect of vacations in the future. My parents were married around July 4th, my brother got married around memorial day and we were labor day...maybe its in our family's blood....but I swear, none of it was planned! Adam did have to work, both on Sunday, our actual day, as well as yesterday for Labor day, so no trip this year, but its just as well...we've been paying for a lot lately -- new computers, phones, residency applications, board exam fees...etc. etc. etc. Friday night was Zoo Brew, a fundraiser at the local zoo....which was AWESOME and we'll definitely be back again as soon as they do the next one. For a small donation of $25 to the zoo, one receives a fun little shot glass, actually about 3.5 oz that has the zoo logo on it and the Zoo Brew logo as well. Not glass- plastic, but definitely sturdy enough to keep and reuse. We then were handed a brochure of the listings of all the beers available to sample. In all, there were 20 tables with 85 different brews from 38 different brewers! Heaven!! You simply walked around from table to table and handed them your shot glass. They were supposed to fill to the 2 oz mark, but most of them filled you up all the way! Most of the tables were different brews from single breweries, so you could try different brews to compare instantly... At least that's what we did. I saw many people (mostly women :/ ) who obviously would have been happy with their Miller light (ugh!) but we definitely enjoyed it all! Not that we had some from every brew...we can't hold our alcohol that well! But in all, Adam had 15 samples and I had 13 samples. We had tried many of them before, and some we knew we didn't like, so we didn't get them even if we hadn't tried the specific brew. I personally found 2 new favorites that I would definitely like to have again. It was a perfect event to start off our anniversary weekend...especially for those of you who have heard our stories from the honeymoon.... Lots of local breweries in Colorado, people!<br />
<br />
Other perks of the night...I went to purchase a Yazoo (Nashville based brewery) pint glass ...we've begun a nice collection of pint glasses picked up when we travel... Adam wasn't with me at the time, he was talking to the couple that joined us for the evening... and I definitely scored a free pint glass! I was ready to pay and everything! He was just like, nah...keep it, but don't tell anyone! Now...it could have been b/c he was nice and they're cool, local, micro-brewers, or that he didn't want to deal with the fact that he was going to have to process my credit card when there was about 30 people in line waiting for samples...or he could have just thought I was cute! (we'll go with the latter!) In any case, I got a free pint glass, ended up collecting lots of new and different bottle caps, for an as-of-yet unrealized craft project....if only I could solder better!...and to top it off, I found 5 bucks! Score a free buddy's bar b que sandwich at the end of the night. A perfect meal to top off two hours of beer sampling! The event was actually 3 hours, but we were all ready to go after two.... So much fun, though, and definitely worth it to go again. If anyone wants to join us next time, let me know! May 28 and Sept 3 2010 will be the next events...if we're still in Memphis that is!<br />
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Two things before I continue...I realize this post has been mostly stream of consciousness...and I apologize, but I don't feel like fixing it tonight. Secondly, I promise we're not alcoholics. We just tend to drink in spurts when we find opportunities to try new beers!<br />
<br />
As for the rest of our weekend...Since Adam had to work on Sun and Mon, we decided to go out for a nice dinner on Sat. After asking the social workers for their favorite restaurants (I work with a bunch of foodies!) we chose to go downtown and eat at Circa Restaurant ( http://www.circamemphis.com/ ). A local small restaurant that has fabulous food! Here's was our menu for the night:<br />
<br />
Appetizer:<br />
<br />
a sampler of our choosing of three regular apetizers. We chose Crawfish Beignets - with roasted red pepper remoulade, Proscuitto Wrapped Asparagus roasted and served with creamy gorzonzola (my favorite!), and Beef Wellington. Adam also had some creme of tomato soup and they brought out a small appetizer (an amuse bouche, if you will - add a french accent to that one) of the evening that the chef had prepared for all guests - salmon merangue on a small baguette. Also very yummy!<br />
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Dinner: We each had a glass of wine paired with our meals<br />
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Adam - Sorghum Cured Rack of Lamb with sweet potato shiitake flan and cranberry-rosemary jus; Wine - Earthquake, Zinfandel 2006 (Lodi, California): Huge, black, spicy, endless… guaranteed to rock your world!<br />
<br />
Moi - Roasted Quail with Delta cheese gritts (I'm lacking the actual description b/c this was a new menu item and I couldn't copy it from the website!); Wine - Bliss, Merlot 2006 (Mendocino, California) Merlot-everybody-loves; cute, easy, uncomplicated<br />
<br />
Desert:<br />
<div>
Il Diplomatico - coffee-rum soaked sponge cake with dark chocolate mousse, raspberry sauce </div>
<br />
<div>
Oh my goodness....words are not enough for how good this was! It was served with fresh strawberries and blueberries in the raspberry sauce as well and we added some french press coffee to go along with it. Yum! Then, they brought out two chocolate covered strawberries as an anniversary treat. Always tell the restaurant you're making dinner reservations for your anniversary! You never know! The strawberries were appropriate as well, because our hotel sent us champagne and chocolate covered strawberries to our room the second night of our honeymoon. </div>
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<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div>
So in all, fantastic food! We had a good time...we payed for it, but it was fun to get dressed up for our first anniversary and go out for a lovely meal. Memphis was having a street music festival this weekend so we walked around for a bit before going home for the evening. We had planned on taking a carriage ride around the city (not quite as romantic if you've got a carriage ride through central park floating through your head, but would have been fun all the same). However, we were stuffed and really tired, so we decided to call it an evening. We did decide that we want to incorporate something similar in our house one day.. perhaps as a divider between a kitchen and dining room that would otherwise be somewhat open:</div>
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<div>
<img alt="Circa wine display" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-180" height="311" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Circa-wine-display-300x234.jpg" title="Circa wine display" width="400" /></div>
<br />
<div>
Sunday wasn't much as Adam was at the hospital until 8:30 pm, so I ordered a pizza when he was on his way home and we got out the rest of our wedding cake top to eat on our actual anniversary. I have to say that we were skeptical, and I also have to say that we actually ate most of the cake we brought back from the wedding shortly after the honeymoon as we didn't want to waste perfectly wonderful cake after having it sit for a year in the freezer. So we left a good hefty two slices and proceeded to wrap it... first in freezer paper, then a layer of plastic wrap, and then finally, a layer of foil. And there it sat, in the back corner of our little freezer for a year, until I dug it out an let it thaw on Sunday. When we unwrapped it, it smelled like fresh cake! It looked and felt fresh and not freezer burnt, and definitely not dry. </div>
<br />
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div>
So, we dug in....and in about 10 minutes that sucker was gone! It was soo yummy! We definitely should have left the whole top for the anniversary, but we never thought it would have been this good! So, for those of you yet to be wed, save that cake (make sure its a good fresh cake to begin with), and then wrap that sucker with all your force, let it age for a year in the freezer, nearly forgotten....and then when it thinks you've abandoned it, pull it back out and celebrate one year of marriage. Our year has been as wonderful as our cake - a bit unconventional, but yummy, fresh tasting, despite a year of age, and definitely leaving you wanting more, lots more of that wedding cake (and the marriage!)</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800095053867438310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1099909476878035944.post-64125282877550961872009-08-10T11:24:00.000-07:002012-04-18T12:30:02.682-07:00More photography, anyone?So, Adam is looking at a new format for my blog, hopefully to help with the formatting of the text around photos that I put in my posts. Well, looking back at my posts, there really aren't many photos - at all. So, I'm going to be better about posting photos. I'm not sure how each of you prefer to view my blog, but I can tell you that it seems to be best viewed in Google Reader....of course Google would have one of the best options...I love Google!<br />
<br />
So, until I realized just how sparsely photoed my blog is (is "photoed" really a word? My computer's dictionary says it is), I was going to title this post "Summertime" and tell you how much I love the summer because of this beautiful fruit:<br />
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<img alt="Watermelon!" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-165" height="426" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/DSC_0071-300x200.jpg" title="Watermelon!" width="640" /><br />
<br />
Yum! Its so good! I ran last night, which brings me to the thing that I hate most about Memphis - the absolutely stifling heat! Its suffocating sometimes - I opened the door for a minute while I grabbed the trash to take out and was sweating before I left the doorway! It was NOT a pleasant run! However, my re-hydration/dinner of ice cold watermelon was lovely!<br />
<br />
If I remember correctly, I also mentioned my 1st attempt at photographing fireworks in my last blogpost. So, here it is, for your viewing pleasure.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="fireworks" class="size-medium wp-image-166 aligncenter" height="640" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/fireworks-aperature-300x300.jpg" title="fireworks" width="640" /><img alt="Fireworks 2" class="size-medium wp-image-175 aligncenter" height="640" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/DSC_0124-300x300.jpg" title="Fireworks 2" width="640" /></div>
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<br />
The bridge in the photo is I-40 and we're on the little bridge going over to Mud Island. Adam and I went out the night before to scout out a prime photo spot and it was perfect! However, when we actually got out there on the 4th, there was a crazy wind blowing straight at us! If you look at the light trail from the fireworks, you'll notice that they're zigzags! It isn't noticeable much otherwise, and the ziggy lines of the light trails are fun and unique. Adam and I also played around with some light painting as well and came out with a nice ghostly image!<br />
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<img alt="Ghostly Mabes" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-176" height="425" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/DSC_0213-300x200.jpg" title="Ghostly Mabes" width="640" /><br />
<br />
So, that's all for now! Have a good night!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800095053867438310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1099909476878035944.post-44474011455687631452009-08-08T08:25:00.000-07:002012-04-18T12:30:11.889-07:00this is a happy math formula!Student discount + Tax Free Holiday + Back to School + the Apple Store =<br />
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<img alt="overview-gallery4-20090608" class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-156" height="212" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/overview-gallery4-20090608-300x159.png" title="overview-gallery4-20090608" width="400" /><br />
<br />
Not to mention that we also got a new printer/scanner/copier AND an ipod touch for almost nothing after rebates (Adam wanted to pay an extra few bucks for the 16gb touch)<br />
<br />
Have I mentioned that even though the stores become madhouses, Tax Free Holidays are AWESOME!?!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800095053867438310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1099909476878035944.post-60046837546167937752009-07-31T13:20:00.000-07:002012-04-18T12:30:20.002-07:00knock, knock...Psssst...is anyone home? Wow, its dusty in here, there's cobwebs everywhere! There's not really much around here but old cans of spam, old moldy spam at that (and its pretty pathetic when even the spammers give up on your site). Who's job is it to clean around here?<br />
<br />
oh...thats right, me...<br />
<br />
So, i'm not sure if anyone still checks this thing or not, but I guess I'll sit and tell some stories and see who comes out to listen...<br />
<br />
I've had urges to blog from time to time, but I was always in the middle of something, then the thought quickly went away. I decided last night that I am offiially diagnosing myself with wedding adversion and possibly a bit of adjustment disorder (ya know, there has to be something that the insurance will pay for). Of course, I didn't realize this until I actually got excited about a wedding - well, technically an <i>anniversary</i> - related project. I think that not only doing our wedding, but then jumping right into Heather's wedding and then a month later, Dane's wedding was a lot -- not that I regret doing even one second of work for either wedding, it was an honor to be that involved in the marriages of my close friends and family. However, when I was done, I stepped away from blogging, (reading and writing), crafting, printing wedding photos... If it was creative, it didn't happen. Taking photos was about the only thing that I still wanted to play with, oh, and<br />
<br />
organizing, cleaning, purging, organizing, cleaning, purging, organizing, cleaning, purging<br />
<br />
That was all very cathartic. Not 100% organized, mind you, but we'll be packing boxes in 6-10 months or so, and its at a level I can live with for a while at least. I do have a very nice craft table to work on now, handmade by Adam - not carved out of a tree, he's still in med school! But he varnished the table top (butcher block countertop from Ikea) and added legs...too bad it wasn't there in its full function when I was doing so many crafts!<br />
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I've not accomplished some things that I really should have (thank you cards - I'm horrible!), but there's been so many decisions going on, this year really has been filled, but not really going anywhere at all. Adam is done with his boards (HALLELUJAH!) and we're trying to talk ourselves into a final, and I do mean final, choice for a specialty (OB/GYN, anyone?) and really hoping with all our might that we'll still be in Memphis for another four years. If you would have told me two years ago that that phrase would have ever crossed my mind I would have admitted you to the Memphis Mental Health Institute right away. But really, I have the perfect job, we are at least a drivable distance from home, and we know the area and some people here. It could be worse. In any case, Memphis or not, we've got our apartment for 6 more months which should take us to March 1 - sixteen days before we find out where we'll be living for the next four years. Then its just a decision of looking for a house in Memphis right away or paying month to month until June when we'll move to, well, wherever. So, we have had, and still have, a lot to think about and prepare for, but at the same time, there's not really much we can do about it. Its an odd feeling - to have so much riding on something that you really have no influence over. So, we'll see.<br />
<br />
There are a few things that I want to do, but haven't. Partly out of fear - start an etsy shop, photograph a wedding - and partly out of lack of time or money - frame concert posters and wedding photos, make an anniversary album, try some photography projects (i did pull off a couple pretty good fireworks shots on the 4th). I was just offered a chance to photograph a wedding, actually (thanks, Scarlett!), to which I first said no, then got up the courage to seriously consider it, and while I was waiting for more information, the person found someone she could afford. Which is fine, weddings deserve professional photographers, not just serious hobbyists and there's a lot I'm lacking in terms of taking on someone's beautiful wedding all alone. However, if it was me or no one, I would have done it and I know that I could get a decent amount of photos for the couple. More than anything, it let me realize that it was something that I wanted to do and probably could have done a mostly decent job. So, it was a good thing in all.<br />
<br />
What made me realize I was ready for creativity again? Well, it was the anniversary album that made me notice I was coming out of this post wedding funk. I saw a handmade album with pages for each year's anniversary to keep sort of a journal and add a couple photos each year. I almost bought it, I liked the idea of it being handmade. It wasn't too expensive either.<br />
<br />
So, for all you out there who don't do the crafty thing, I'm about to tell you the biggest downfall of all time for a crafter - "That's an awesome idea -- I could make that!! But I'd add this or change that" and before you know it, that little idea becomes a beast that cost 3 times as much as the original item (handmade really does cost more to make than people usually sell it for) and 5 times longer to make than you first intended. However, you know this on the front end, but then there's nothing that could top the one that's so perfect and now framed neatly in your mind and its that exact design or you'll have nothing at all. So, this cool album? After reading the reviews, I found that it had some cheesy prompts in it about things like "our favorite song this year" and such... Also, the cover was nice, but...<br />
<br />
So, to esty I went (because I don't know the first thing about proper book binding, which is the way it should be - remind me of that later when I tell you its something I want to learn to do). After a few minutes, much quicker than I assumed, here is the fruit of my efforts: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5744911<br />
<br />
And now for the real work...I like the horizontal books, with the open spine, in the spring green bookcloth, with the criss crossed ribbon binding, approximately 100 pages, with the rough edges, and a photo of me and adam stitched to the front with possibly our names and wedding date printed next to the photo....I'll send to her the ribbon we used for the wedding (b&w stripe) along with some of the paper we used for our envelope liners to place on the inside of the covers. oh yeah, throw in one of those matching cases to store it in - I can't have my lovely getting dusty during the year between our anniversaries...<br />
<br />
But it doesn't stop there...oh no! So, when it comes to me, all perfect and beautiful, well, the pages are blank... and one has to understand which pages belong to which anniversaries, right? So, out comes the Gocco, to which I'll print on every other page or so a number along with "anniversary" to which will correspond to each year of our marriage. Maybe a small something or other for decoration, but that'll take some designing.<br />
<br />
So, now....finally, its ready to be lovingly filled with memories and thoughts of the celebration of each passing year (just wait until the kids come, they each will need their own books, too. Matching in style if at all possible). Done, right? Weeeeellll, the Gocco really isn't made to print just once or you've wasted a lot of materials. So, while its out, there's bound to be other uses for it! See?!?!? See what goes through my head? Its a wicked, exhausting, expensive, time consuming, mind consuming process.... and it happens quick! All those ideas came in about 5 minutes after finding that website. Wow, all of a sudden being a social worker doesn't seem so exhausting after all!<br />
<br />
Anyway, I've rambled enough, we'll see how this blog thing goes now that I have a renewed creative energy. I hope that there are a few people still hanging around the rafters :) Have a lovely evening!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800095053867438310noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1099909476878035944.post-48136138657465521792008-11-04T10:44:00.000-08:002012-04-18T12:30:34.333-07:00Holding my breath...and hopefully I won't have to hold it all night!<br />
<br />
I've been watching the election results since I've been home.... heck, I was up this morning at 6:30 with the TV on! I knew that the only things they were going to say was that polls were opening, but I'm so excited, nervous, hopeful... You name it, I'm probably feeling it! Adam and I were able to vote early about three weeks ago, which turned out nice for us as we were able to walk in and right up to a voting machine. It was great! People I spoke to at work who voted even last week were waiting up to 2 hours. I'm not sure what the Shelby Co. lines were like tonight, I'll have to see tomorrow, but I bet they were lengthy! I'm just gonna say two things: I hope everyone went out and voted today (or has already done so in the previous weeks) and I wish I was with my friends in Maryville at their election party! We've been speaking over the phone a few times, but its just not the same.<br />
<br />
On another completely separate note, I hope to be able to have some photos up here soon of the wedding! We've got our proofs but not the digital copies to upload. Of course, I could sit here and tell you about my wonderful, fabulous bachelorette party, but I'm too engrossed in the TV tonight -- SORRY!!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800095053867438310noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1099909476878035944.post-67411532124464719112008-10-24T14:16:00.000-07:002012-04-18T12:31:11.849-07:00Another night alone?I don't like this rotation that Adam's doing...of course, I'm sure he doesn't like it either. At least he should be home around noon tomorrow rather than having to stay until 6 like he did last time. Almost 40 hours in one continuous shift. We decided it wouldn't be that bad to work all 40 hours at once if you had the rest of the week off. Of course, you'd still have to spend most of the next day recuperating from the crazy long shift. I'm not sure what specialty Adam will end up going into, but I'm not really looking forward to tons of nights on call during his residency.<br />
<br />
So. I think its time for some photos to be posted. I actually want to start with the week before the wedding, in which many, many, projects were completed. I'm doing this partly so I'll remember ears in the future, and partly because I don't yet have photos from the wedding. They're on their way and should be here at the beginning of the week. However, I know it will take a few days to sift through them and pull out our favorites. Alright, I'll start off with ThursdayFriday the 21/22 of August. For Thursday's report, lets just say that the reason Thursday was run into Friday in the previous sentence was because it was run into Friday in real life. I think we <i>might</i> have had 2 hours of sleep Thursday night... Adam had the whole week off before we came home, and he did quite a bit of helping me gocco our favors and also ran a lot of errands, etc. Still, we ALWAYS wait until the last minute to pack, so why would this trip be any different? We actually spent most of Thursday night loading general wedding crap that had spent the last 19 months (wow...long engagement) piling up in our apartment. At least it started feeling like crap when it was 3am and we were running out of room very quickly in Adam's car. This was without any of our actual luggage... So, I slept a bit around 5am and I believe Adam actually just stayed up finishing some goccoing. In two very short hours and drug myself to work on Friday. My lovely and wonderful boss let me leave work Friday around noon so that we could get going. However, we still had to pack, remember? So, I think we finally left around 5, just in time to hit rush hour in Memphis! YES!! Wonderful start to our trip! There isn't much to say about the actual trip except that we spend most of the drive sifting through our music and working on our wedding play list. We didn't even have a first dance song at that point! We made the trip as useful as it could be, because at that point, every <i>second</i> felt like it was needed.<br />
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The trip went well, until we hit about two hours of stopped traffic between Nashville and Knoxville. There had been a huge wreck about 11am and at 10pm that evening, they were just clearing up the wreck. We heard via Adam's phone and data plan that both sides of the interstate had been closed. Seeing as how we were in one of those middle-of-nowhere spots that didn't have an exit. So, at that point, it was ok that we didn't leave until 5....we wouldn't have gotten home much sooner than what we did and we probably would have been pretty pissed. Of course, the inevitible happened just as we ran upon the traffic: I just announced, "Let's stop at the next exit...I have to pee"...I'm not sure that those words should ever be uttered on a road trip unless the car is safely within walking distance to the next exit. As Adam also needed to pee, we contemplated all the options we had at that point. There were no empty bottles...don't laugh, I've done it before, and I'm sure that some of you have at least contemplated it....don't lie, now. The terrain around us was going to be treacherous in the dark as there was about three feet of level ground, completely lit by car headlights, before the ground dropped off sharply. I really didn't want to risk one of us breaking our leg a week before the wedding, so we sat in pain until we got through the mess. I don't really remember what time we finally got home, but we didn't get to sleep until 5am Sat morning, that I do know, because on Saturday, it was up at 8am to be in Knoxville by 10 for my final dress fitting. I'll stop here as Saturday was my wonderful, fabulous bachelorette party! Adam did his thing too that night, but it got crashed! All in good fun though. Amanda took photos of my dress fitting on Sat morning, but when she sent them, they didn't go through for some reason. (pssst...please send them again). So, instead, here's me in the dress when we found it last Christmas. The look on my face here was, "did we really just find my wedding dress in 2 hours?!?"<br />
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ok...well, wordpress doesn't seem to want to upload photos tonight. ugh...i guess this post will have to remain photo-less for now. Sorry!<br />
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I feel like there should be other photos to post related to this portion of the trip, but honestly, I don't remember what photos we took...lack of sleep, I suppose. You're probably lucky I remember anything at all about these early days. Adam and I broke down and paid for a flickr pro account, which is good cause that whole 10megs a month free uploads just wasn't cutting it. I (and sometimes we) take WAAAYY to many photos, and now my standard photo on my wonderful, beautiful Nikon D80 is about 8 megapixels each. I could probably get about 3 photos a month uploaded. And of course, I never remembered to actually upload the photos each month. So, when we get past uploading our honeymoon photos to Flickr, I'll look to see if there's anything fun to add photo-wise. If I get dress fitting photos, I'll come back and upload them to this post too.<br />
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Well, I might be an old lady and go to bed before midnight on a Friday night. Oh well, I don't really sleep enough as it is. I hope everyone else has a lovely evening!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800095053867438310noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1099909476878035944.post-57353039594675236432008-10-21T12:49:00.000-07:002012-04-21T09:49:00.185-07:00time to write, but not much to say.I was planning on writing a blog post tonight (which, I guess I am <em>technically </em>doing) because I'm home alone tonight (for the first time as a wife), as Adam is doing an overnight rotation at LeBonheur. Well, really its more like a 37 hour rotation, but we'll try to look on the bright side. However, I don't really have much to say. I took my shower at 9pm and just rummaged through the fridge for dinner after getting home an hour and a half late and going for a run. Its probably a good thing that I don't live alone. I might be a sad reclusive woman with 12 cats! Ok, probably not 12, but I think I'd have at least two if it weren't so expensive to own pets at our apartment.<br />
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I was hoping to have photos to begin sharing with you but we haven't received them yet. Brian said he was sending them out last week, so I think I'm gonna double check with him to see when he actually sent them to make sure our post office Adam and I really did have a lot of fun that week, even though we were exhausted and working on projects until almost 3am each night. Think of how much wouldn't have been done if we didn't have wonderful people helping us! I think I've mentioned them before, but we really did appreciate people taking the whole week off of their jobs just to help us with our wedding! What lovely friends and family Adam and I have!<br />
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Since the wedding, I haven't quite been able to shake the addiction of looking at wedding blogs. I've definitely shaved down the amount of them that I'm reading, but there are lots of blog writers who have had their weddings a month or so after our wedding, so I have to hang around to see their photos of the weddings I've read so much about over the past months of my own planning! Other reasons to keep reading wedding blogs - awesome give-aways and contests. I'm a bit sad to say that I didn't win the contest I asked many of you readers to vote for, but I was surprised to even have one of the top entries as I put it together at the last minute! Here's the result for any of you who didn't get a chance to see it:<br />
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<a href="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/marriah-and-adam-board.JPG" title="frst inspiration board"><img src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/marriah-and-adam-board.JPG" alt="frst inspiration board" /></a><br />
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I'm rather excited about how it turned out considering I only had a few actual photos from the wedding. I've been going through my saved photos that I used for inspiration and pulling out the ones that I liked the most. I had always intended on putting together an inspiration board <em>before</em> the wedding, so as to actually have some <em>inspiration</em> all in one location rather than in numerous bookmarked websites, torn out magazine photos, and random photos in 5 folders on my computer. However, seeing as how many photos I found had direct impact on the wedding, I thought it would be cool to see a board of photos I've saved compared to a board of photos from the actual wedding.<br />
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So, that's about all....I'm going to spend the rest of the evening watching The Daily Show and The Colbert Report - the best way to get the news of the day! - and look for some bridesmaid dresses for Heather (I haven't forgotten you, I promise!).<br />
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Oh, one more important announcement - my brother is engaged! He proposed to Brittney last Friday on her birthday by surprising her in New York! I haven't gotten all the details yet, but the most important detail is that <strong>he asked and she said yes! </strong>I'm so excited for them!! Dane told me two weeks before he proposed and I was a good girl and only told two people, both who lived out of the state and who weren't individuals they would have called themselves. I had to tell <em>someone</em>!<br />
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CONGRATULATIONS BRITTNEY AND DANE! WE LOVE YOU!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800095053867438310noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1099909476878035944.post-69122153450821539642008-10-16T01:19:00.000-07:002012-04-18T12:32:35.595-07:00This morning began...with good coffee, rain tapping on the window, and a blueberry cake doughnut. If only it was tomorrow morning, I would be at home on the couch rather than sitting in my office at work. I think I want one of these umbrellas from the <a href="http://www.umbrellas.net/Long_Umbrellas_s/20.htm" title="Umbrella society">Umbrella Society</a> for days like today when I have to walk in the rain.<br />
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<img alt="umbrella-1.jpg" height="320" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/umbrella-1.jpg" width="290" /> <img alt="umbrella society 2" height="320" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/umbrella-2.jpg" width="290" /> <img alt="umbrella society 4" height="320" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/umbrella-4.jpg" width="290" /><img alt="umbrella society" height="320" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/umbrella-5.jpg" width="290" /><br />
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Oh, I think I'll have soup for lunch...<a href="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/umbrella-3.jpg" title="umbrella society 3"><br /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800095053867438310noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1099909476878035944.post-9114775102967986862008-10-15T14:36:00.000-07:002012-04-18T12:33:17.492-07:00It's been a long time, babyI want to apologize for the terrible lack of posting - I know I've said this before, but I do want to be better about posting, and since I want to review the week before the wedding (which was busy, wonderful, fun, and stressful all at the same time, and Adam and I couldn't have done it without some very lovely people who spent the better part of a week helping us. We love you lots!!). I got an email from our photographer last night letting me know that our proofs are ready! I'm so excited to see them. For any of you who didn't get the link from me when he posted a few on his website, you can see them on his <a href="http://www.brianwagnerphotography.com/wp/2008/09/19/wogomonmabe090608wallandtn/" target="_blank" title="Brian Wagner preview post">blog</a>. Here are a couple of my favorites:<br />
<a href="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/mom-and-shoes.jpg" title="mom-and-shoes.jpg"><img alt="mom-and-shoes.jpg" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/mom-and-shoes.jpg" /> </a><a href="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/awesome-photo.jpg" title="awesome-photo.jpg"><img alt="awesome-photo.jpg" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/awesome-photo.jpg" /> </a><a href="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/sparkler-exit.jpg" title="sparkler-exit.jpg"><img alt="sparkler-exit.jpg" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/sparkler-exit.jpg" /> </a><br />
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So, like I said, I can't wait to see the rest! And, Adam and I still have another session to do with Brian, which I'm not going to say too much about just yet.<br />
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I do want to update you on what's been going on medically with me. A month and a day before the wedding, I was getting very excited. I had a post planned - nothing too exciting, but something to mark the occasion. However, someone had other plans for marking the final month countdown. I woke up that next morning, august 6th, and as I was getting ready for work, I suddenly had excruciating pain in my abdomen. I had had some pain the previous evening and already had a doctor apt on the 8th. Well, let's just say that there was NO way I was going to wait two days for an answer to the horrible pain I was feeling. So, I laid on the couch until the doc's office opened at 8:30 and told them I HAD to come in that morning. There was only one way I had found to lay that didn't hurt as bad as other positions, so the 45 minute drive to the doctor was awful...in rush hour traffic, no less. The diagnosis was an ovarian cyst, which I later found out to be two of them growing into each other. After a prescription of controlled narcotics, the pain was just slightly more tolerable...and I spent the next four days on the couch, in the same position, eating only granola bars as everything else made me nauseated. I lost a quick 5 or so pounds in those days and also lost a LOT of time working on my projects. Even after I was able to get up off the couch, everything was difficult, even standing up to walk or shower. Soo....not much got done except a lot of worrying. There was talk of surgery, but with a long recovery period of 6 weeks or more (uh...I had three weeks, not 6...). If we did the surgery before, there was no way I would be recovered by the wedding...and if we waited, there was the chance the cysts could burst suddenly, requiring immediate surgery as well. So, the honeymoon to Jamaica was out...and there was even talk between Adam, Mom, and myself of how feasible it would be to postpone the wedding. We knew if that happened, we most likely wouldn't have the wedding until Adam graduated, unless it was a quick weekend thing. So, we just said we'd keep going as if nothing was wrong. I went to the doctor once a week until the wedding and we had to re-plan the honeymoon. Luckily we had bought trip insurance at the last minute and were able to get all but about 200 dollars back. I gradually had less and less pain leading up to the wedding, but still a lot of anxiety. After the honeymoon, I went back to the doctor and he decided everything looked fine and seemed to be clearing up on its own, so no surgery. There's been no problems since, but I really hope this is a one-time occurrence.<br />
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Since we've been home from the wedding and honeymoon (to Vail, CO), I've been on a bit of a wedding break. There was TONS of cleaning to be done and I still have craft supplies strewn about the apartment that need to be sorted through, but its much more manageable. I feel like I'm finally ready to begin going back through the wedding again, to share it with you as well as to keep it for myself. The memories are nothing but lovely and Adam and I both feel the wedding was perfect, even despite a few things we forgot to do (more on that later). However, I needed a bit of time to step back from the planning and details and just let it sink in that I am Mrs. Mabe - or will soon be officially...I decided to wait until after the election to begin changing my name so that there was no question of who I was. My vote WILL count, dangit!<br />
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So...I'm going to be better with blog posts, and I'm going to get to major work on my thank-you cards. Then...its onto rearranging the whole apartment...things just seem to be everywhere!<br />
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Ok...I should be in bed now...I got my flu shot today and I'm feeling a bit extra tired... Well, like I said, I'll talk to you soon!<br />
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Love, Mrs. MabeAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800095053867438310noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1099909476878035944.post-21940610881602120592008-07-30T13:06:00.000-07:002012-04-18T13:16:42.640-07:00Today was an awesome mail day!!!The best one I've had in a while, but hopefully not the last good one before the wedding (which is um...a month and 6 days away!!!). The first happy item in the box was a small gift for my bridesmaids that I ordered a few days ago...this will be something to make them more comfy on the wedding day and in days to come. The second happy item was more photos from the wonderful Brian Wagner. Now, we can complete our guestbook and get that ordered and on its way. A third happy item was two lovely sets of red wine glasses from our registry. A complete surprise too as I have been expecting the other items. They will promptly replace the chalices we have been trying to pass off as wine glasses since Junior year. Seriously, we bought them at a Maryville College yard sale blowout - everything you can fit into a large cardboard box for a buck! If you've been to our apartment and seen these suckers, you know they weigh like 5 pounds...well, maybe not 5, but they're not exactly light - and definitely not light when you're a bit tipsy! These new glasses are Lennox crystal with the loveliest sounding "ping" to them. They have a balloon shaped cup with a (slightly) taller stem than normal. Very classic with a slightly modern update!<br />
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The last happy item that was waiting for me when I arrived home...6 lovely little green envelopes that looked quite familiar! That's right, we had 6 RSVPs in the mailbox today...the first ones to make it back to me. Those I left in the mailbox and came back with my camera to document the event...that's me, ever the photographer! Someone might have to hide my cameras from me so that I don't take one down the aisle...KIDDING!!! (mostly). The other good thing about the RSVPs arriving is that I got to begin my experiment with them. I wasn't 100% sure that people would figure out how to seal up the envelopes as I used a bit of a non-conventional method. However, I hoped that people would figure it out and if not, then I'd just get a lot of envelopes with tape on the back. Well, I'm happy to report that so far, we are 6 for 6...people are figuring out the design. Which is good, because I wanted things to be easy for people, but also easy for me to make. I think the major lesson I have learned from making the invites completely by hand is that next time, I'll order the dang envelopes. They came out just perfectly (I think) but they took far too long to make. I would say that I spend a good two weeks on making the envelopes themselves - that's including spending about 12 hours each day during a weekend. That's a whole lot of time that could have been spent on other projects....or getting the invites out two weeks earlier. Really....the next time I'll buy the envelopes (and by "the next time" I mean the next time I want to make a lot of cards, not the next time I get married!). Truth be told, the details that really make the envelope are the labels, stamps, liners, and any goccoed details - all of which can be made and added to old envelopes bought from any paper store. So...lesson learned, what more can I say... they're pretty, right? :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800095053867438310noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1099909476878035944.post-59224055690476732342008-07-29T02:42:00.000-07:002012-04-18T13:17:39.537-07:00A few thoughts...and one of my inspriationsFor a few of you who know me well, you know that I'm not afraid to voice my opinions on things such as politics, what social situations enrage me, and situations I feel to be unfair to certain groups of people. I don't want to be abrasive about these topics, but if in a situation where I feel I can have an honest, sane conversation with someone, I'll let my opinions be known.<br />
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That being said, no matter what your views are politically, I think that one person worth reading is Barbara Ehrenreich. The first book of hers that I read, "Nickel and Dimed", was about her journey as a woman trying to make ends meet on a minimum wage job in various parts of the country. She took her computer, a reserve amount of cash in case of a major emergency, and a few clothing items. Anything more than that she pretty much had to find for herself on a very limited means...income levels that many Americans must live with on a daily basis. The book is a description of jobs she had, interview processes, where she lived (many hotel rooms), people she met, and the many difficulties that she and her co-workers were facing. If you've never known someone trying to make ends meet on a minimum wage job, this is very eye-opening.<br />
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She's written a few other books looking at different aspects of people in other income levels and situations. Sadly, I have not yet had the time to read them. Recently, she was on The Colbert Report and she keeps a blog (which is a bit more sarcasm and satire than her books and so an entertaining read). Although its not updated too often, I do enjoy reading it and thought I'd pass it along to anyone who's curious. She's a wonderful sociologist and someone that I would absolutely love to hear speak one day. She gives, what I feel to be, a very honest, unbiased description of many of the struggles Americans face in today's society as well as some reasons that people are in these situations. The latest post on her blog happens to be regarding foreclosures and the housing-market crisis - and is interestingly compared to the public's response to a housing crisis in the 1930s versus the ways people are dealing with foreclosures today. Its short, so give it a read if you're interested. Let me know what you think...<br />
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http://ehrenreich.blogs.com/barbaras_blog/2008/07/the-suicide-solution.htmlAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800095053867438310noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1099909476878035944.post-21344930674656665672008-07-24T05:02:00.000-07:002012-04-18T13:18:42.467-07:00At this very moment...there is a large Piperlime box sitting in my office with 100 stamped, sealed, addressed, COMPLETED INVITATIONS!!! That's right, folks - They are DONE! So, be watching your mailbox over the next few days for a hefty envelope. Darn it that I forgot my camera today or I'd have a photo of them all packed (tightly) in the box. For those of you who have ordered shoes from Piperlime.com, you know that the inside of their shipping boxes have a lovely lime green print and it just so happens to match my invites quite well! I've got a few more invites to address tonight as we had a few people give us their addresses over the past few days...I'll get a photo then. Its very nice to see them all packaged up like that and I don't want to forget this huge feeling of accomplishment that I have right now.<br />
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Well, off to the mail room to send them on their way! I'll probably show them off a bit too...our mail room employees have seen my thank you cards, save the dates, and so now they'll see my invites too! They're all very nice people. Thing is that its quite a way to the other end of campus and its probably 100+ outside today...and I've already walked there and back - twice. Don't ask! ;)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800095053867438310noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1099909476878035944.post-53480030218243449662008-07-21T13:27:00.000-07:002012-04-18T13:18:54.082-07:00Engagement PhotosAdam and I got our engagement photos from Brian today and they're wonderful! Check out our <a href="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/">website</a> to see some of our favorites!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800095053867438310noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1099909476878035944.post-51719959875026001762008-07-21T05:04:00.000-07:002012-04-18T13:19:14.743-07:00Things on thier way...My little birdies are flying across the pond to me.<br />
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Engagement photos are coming across the state to me.<br />
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Invitations are going to friends and family from me (soon).<br />
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If only I could stop adding things to my to-do list!!!<br />
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(I can see August on next week's calendar! Can someone make it wait a little while?)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800095053867438310noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1099909476878035944.post-9321335752911450702008-07-17T10:29:00.000-07:002012-04-18T13:19:32.648-07:00How could I forget?!?I forgot to mention on the last post that I received an email from our photographer today saying that he's ready to send us the photos of our engagement shoot!!! Nothing on his blog to show you yet, but you'll find out as soon as I do!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800095053867438310noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1099909476878035944.post-14296732823614782382008-07-17T10:24:00.000-07:002012-04-18T13:23:20.799-07:00Why I'm in love with EtsyFirst of all, for those of you who aren't familiar with Etsy, its an online marketplace...sort of like ebay, but instead of auctions, its for handmade items. There aren't any auctions - everything is a straight-up sale. If you like handmade items or are looking for a special gift for someone that isn't in every store down the street, I'd look to Etsy. That being said, beware - there's tons of fabulous artists out there....our own Hollie even has her own store selling jewelry. I'll probably set up a store when I have a non-wedding life again! However, I wanted to show everyone a few things that I've either found or had made for the wedding. Many of the artists will work with you to create a custom order - and everyone (from my experience) has been great to work with...they typically will throw in a little something extra or just package it up nicely.<br />
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The first thing that I'm excited to show you is our cake topper. I know I've mentioned these in a couple posts, but I got photos today of the finished product and I just couldn't wait to show you! The store is <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5139538" target="_blank">cotton bird designs</a> and she makes some fabulous little birds! I really want to buy one that she's made from paper...they just seem too cool! So...without further ado...here is our <a href="http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=9549638" target="_blank">cake topper</a>!<br />
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<a href="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/our-birds-3.jpg" title="topper 3"><img alt="topper 3" height="263" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/our-birds-3.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/our-birds2.jpg" title="topper 2"><img alt="topper 2" height="283" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/our-birds2.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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I've debated on whether or not to show them, but I just had to let you guys see them! I don't yet have them, but they'll be on their way from England soon! The artist was wonderful to work with, very kind, quick to respond, and wanted to make absolutely sure that I was happy with the end product. We were going to use some fabric from my dress, but the length turned out perfect so there was nothing left over. I then saw some that she had made with antique lace and thought it was a nice addition.<br />
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The next artist that I worked with was <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5429379" target="_blank">Red Ruby Rose</a> who makes wonderful little clutches. Notice these all seem to have sewing involved? Bet you can't guess what craft I'm not terribly wonderful at! Partially because I'm afraid to try and end up with another love of a slightly expensive hobby. I really need to start selling some things! I had her make me this clutch, only with a nice green silk lining to match my shoes!<br />
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<a href="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/my-purse.jpg" title="clutch 1"><img alt="clutch 1" height="372" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/my-purse.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/my-purse-2.jpg" title="clutch 2"><img alt="clutch 2" height="400" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/my-purse-2.jpg" width="360" /></a><br />
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Again, a fabulous product, great design, and very sturdy. She sent along a little set of magnets that she made using some scrap material of her other purses. She's got about 8 other patterns that I'd love to have - and I don't really consider myself a purse person...Hollie, on second thought, you probably shouldn't visit this site - both for your safety and mine! She was wonderful to work with and all I did was send a photo of the shoes to match the green and she found the silk from her supplier within a couple days, and about a week later I had my clutch!<br />
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I have found some other cute gifts as well...none of which I'm going to show now. I don't want to ruin the surprise!<br />
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The final artist I wanted to share tonight...partly because I need to get to work on the invites and partly because I could go on forever about some of the wonderful little stores that I've found... is <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5581897" target="_blank">EasterYu's</a> shop. I haven't ordered anything from her, but I may have to break down and order a flower for my hair and quite possibly we may buy the boutonniere for the guys from her. They're about 12 -15 bucks each...which is probably about what it would cost to have real flower boutonnieres made. These have quite a bit of color as well and they can keep them. Though, I'm sure that the guys won't care so much about keeping them as what the gals would...however, they're still probably going to be about the same price-wise. For the flower for my hair, I could use it to add for my "something blue" and I could even add a splash of green, it seems! Not quite sure what I'll do, but I think they're fun ideas and something that will last. As for options for the boutonniere, I haven't found anything right away in her store that would work that I can show you here, but I'm sure she could come up with something! Here's a sampling of both.<br />
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<a href="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/hair-flower-possibility.jpg" title="white and blue hair flower"><img alt="white and blue hair flower" height="400" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/hair-flower-possibility.jpg" width="400" /> </a><br />
<a href="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/hair-flower-2.jpg" title="green hair flower"><img alt="green hair flower" height="400" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/hair-flower-2.jpg" width="399" /></a><a href="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/boutneers-1.jpg" title="boutonniere 2"><img alt="boutonniere 2" height="400" src="http://www.adamandmarriah.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/boutneers-1.jpg" width="399" /></a><br />
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A little tidbit about the cake toppers: You will soon see some of the ribbon that was used to make the flower, bow tie, and vest, on my little cake topper, as its the ribbon that I have driven all over the South to find for my invitations. Well, not really all over the south, but it sure feels like it. Three stores in Memphis, one in Knoxville, two in Nashville, one in Louisville, KY and almost one in Dayton or Cincinatti, OH. I was legitimately traveling through those cities when I stopped to search the stores, but each time we went somewhere, I Googled the major city to see which Michael's was in the closest proximity to our route. Typically they were all close...but I finally got enough ribbon together for the invites...which are turning out quite nicely- although v e r y s l o w l y. Hopefully they'll be out at the beginning of the week...hopefully. Remember when I said, "Yeah, but there's no moving parts like the save the dates, so they'll go much quicker!" Well, I guess technically they're going quicker as I'm making 170 of these and only made 65 save the dates...in about the same time. So. There. I am pleased with them however. I'll get some photos up when they go out...don't want everyone seeing them before they get to their mailboxes! Speaking of invites...back to cutting and assembling! Have a lovely evening!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800095053867438310noreply@blogger.com2