Abigail Grace

a few of my favorite websites:

2011-04-22T18:53:00.002-04:00

www.knowem.com
-tells you the availability of your site's name on all the important sites

www.pinterest.com
-beauty. creativity. truths.

www.pandora.com
-most know of this site. tune into "french cafe radio" so soothing!

www.thepioneerwoman.com
-the woman I wish I were. hilarious and touching. five stars!

Wednesday Nights:

2011-04-15T20:32:00.001-04:00

"I can feel my heartbeat in my eye balls."

2011-01-30T21:44:00.003-05:00

Oh, and go see The King's Speech . Just go. Its incredible. Nominated for an Oscar and such. I love Colin Firth.

Debt

2011-01-30T21:28:00.003-05:00

I'm in a lot of debt. I've gotten out of a lot of debt, but I still have a lot to get through. I was pretty stupid right out of high school, got a lot of credit cards, a lot of student loans, and ignored them all. Hence, the $40,000 of debt i accrued as a 21 year old.

On the bright side, the last payment of my debt consolidation loan is February 11th. This has been 5 years in the making, and I made it. I MADE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want to be so happy about it, and I guess I am, but I am also reserved, as I know there is still more to pay off. I have one large card to still work on, and student loans, but after that, (approx. 2 years from now) I will be done. DONE!!! I have learned so much these last 6 years, and I know I will still learn much more in regards to finance.

I have this to say to young people: Dont bite off more than you can chew, dont live beyond your means. Save. Save. Save. Dont charge it. I know its so much easier said than done, but just be smart (which is what I thought I was doing) and dont go into debt too fast. Its not worth it. I promise :)

***if anyone wants the link for my debt management program : Genesis Financial they were incredible and so helpful time and time again.

first show results

2010-11-06T22:54:00.004-04:00

I made a profit today!

Last year at my first show of the season, I only made $1. So comparatively, the results of this first show are stellar! :) I didnt sell all my product by any means, but a little success should be celebrated right?

Thank you everyone for your encouragement, support, and feedback. Its all very much appreciated! Here are some pics from the show:

Come see me at one of these upcoming shows!:
Nov. 13th - Tallmadge Alliance Church, Tallmadge, OH
Nov. 20th - Candy Cane Junction Show, Akron, OH
Dec. 4th - Woodridge High School Bazaar, Peninsula, OH

Didnt get to use the credit card app yet, but there are still 3 to go!!!

busy busy busy!

2010-11-05T00:29:00.004-04:00

Upcoming Shows:

Nov. 6th - Stow United Methodist Church in Stow, OH
Nov. 13th - Tallmadge Alliance Church, Tallmadge, OH
Nov. 20th - Candy Cane Junction Show, Akron, OH
Dec. 4th - Woodridge High School Bazaar, Peninsula, OH (HS Alma mater!)

I'm pumped!!!!! Stop by and say hey....

OH and also HUGE news: I can now accept ALL MAJOR CREDIT CARDS at my show, thanks to my iphone and the NEW SQUARE DEVICE, its all instant, with a receipt emailed right to you!

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I've been getting ready for craft show season, and sewing so much I'm afraid my sewing machine might explode and start smoking or something!

Items recently sewn/made:
Cloth boxes/bins
Cloth fold-over bags
Crochet pouches
Pillows, pillows, and more pillows
Crocheted scarves/hats
Up-cycled necklaces (new hardware, antique pendents)

I'll post pics sometime when I'm not needing to go to sleep before working a 14 hr day... :)

cake baking

2010-09-12T09:56:00.004-04:00

I made my first wedding cake this summer. I've never gone to school for baking or anything, but I watch Ace of Cakes religiously, and am pretty good at looking at something, and re-creating it, so I thought I would give it a try!

Here is the creating process in pictures:

Thin coating of buttercream frosting.

Next, rolling out the fondant.

One with fondant, one without.

One with fondant, one without.

Covered in fondant, wrapped, and ready for transport!

Final result:

What do you think? Not bad for a first try I'd say!

2010-09-04T17:33:00.004-04:00

I want to write a book. I have wanted to for years, but I have so many ideas for so many different kinds of books, that its hard to organize my thoughts, and I don't have a clue on how to begin.

I really enjoy reading the "Black Heels to Tractor Wheels" on the Pioneer Woman website, so maybe that's a good way to begin. To write little vignettes, or chapters in the beginning. Then allow things to grow. But the voices of my high school English teachers says to write an outline, and character analysis's, and the intro and conclusion paragraph first.

What to do! What to do!

So, help me! Any suggestion, ideas, words of wisdom? I'll take it all.

a love for blogging...

2010-08-29T19:49:00.005-04:00

I love blogging. I promise, I really do. You may then ask "Why have you not blogged for quite sometime?". My answer would be "part laziness, part working 2-3 jobs at any one time can be a bit time consuming". :)

Finally now, life has slowed down a bit, and I long to continue blogging. Thank you to those who keep coming back and reading, I appreciate it! :)

Here is my summer in pictures:

My mother's favorite gift for her 50th bday

Grad Cake for a co-worker

Bday cake for a 4 year old who couldn't decide what theme he wanted

Flower basket, ring pillow, flower decor for wedding I planned

Lake Erie, Put-n-Bay on South Bass Island

Put-n-Bay Lighthouse Tower

Centerpieces for July wedding I did

English Garden at Stan Hywett

Lauryn and Kurt on their wedding day :)

Flower in English Garden

Birchwood Alley at Stan Hywett

Docking area in Put-n-Bay

Fountain by terrace at Stan Hywett

Simple, Summer Wedding

2010-05-18T22:16:00.004-04:00

Here are some ideas for things in a wedding I am planning for this summer...
fun, simple, earthy, unique!

Cant get enough of it!

Getting Things Done!

2010-05-03T19:19:00.003-04:00

Today I did:
Research with Allison on B&B's
Sewed a little hand clutch
Got all the fabric cut for 2 bags (with the help of Al)
Set 3 dates to be at the Heartville Fleamarket
Cleaned out and re-organized my closet
Vacuumed
Cleaned up everything from the cake making adventure last weekend
Threw out bunches of trash, and recycled plastic bags
Drank LOTS of diet coke!

Feeling good.... nothing beats the feeling of a clean, organized space!

Pic of the cake I made this weekend:

currents:

2010-04-30T16:16:00.002-04:00

Just finished: Blink by Malcom Gladwell... SO thought provoking and entertaining! A must read for everyone!

Just started: The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks... so, its a Sparks book... I think that says it all!

Listening to: Bethesda (of course... what kind of manager would I be if I didnt know all their songs!) Listen to them HERE

Watching: Modern Family. Each week gets funnier and funnier!

Creative Picture

2010-04-28T22:24:00.004-04:00

Fount a great picture today while browsing photographers in the Akron area. This one is from Visualizations Photography, located on Portage Trail in Cuyahoga Falls. I have seen there work ever since high school, and have been repeatedly impressed with it!

You could also do a wedding twist to it... would be so creative!

currents:

2010-04-12T01:24:00.001-04:00

Reading: Prairie Tales, by Melissa Gilbert.... cant put it down!

Watching: The Proposal... cant go wrong with Sandra!

Sewing: Laptop bag for Allison, and "Business Suit Quilt" (more on that to come later!)

Flowers and Pillows

2010-03-22T20:26:00.001-04:00

Some gorgeous flowers from my boyfriend:

Some vintage lace applique and/or vintage fabric, re-purposed into pillows:

Its fun to see what can be made from things that already exist!

crafts and grandparents

2010-02-28T20:47:00.003-05:00

my dad made some digital copies of pictures of my grandparents. i dont know why we didnt do this earlier, but here is one of my favorites..... they started dating, got engaged, and were married all in one month. they have been married for 50 years. old navy sweethearts :)

and here is a shabby chic pillow i recently made, i really liked crocheting the little circles. easy and quick!

over and out.

Modern Family

2010-02-21T23:01:00.002-05:00

Watch it. You'll love it.

Realization:

2010-02-20T15:14:00.002-05:00

I've been listening to music more that usual lately. And as I was listening to Switchfoot's "Only Hope", it occurred to me that not only have I been listening to more music, but I am back to listening to love songs.

LOVE songs for crying out loud!!!!! I havent listened to that 'genre' of music for longer than I can remember.... I think I had given up hope on love, and romance, and future. But due to a recent turn of events, my subconscious has willed me to listen to some of my old favorites:

Addicted: Kelly Clarkson
Tim McGraw: Taylor Swift
I Can't Stop Loving you: Keith Urban
Just Might: Sugarland
Never Saw Blue Like That: Shawn Colvin
This Every Day Love: Rascal Flatts
Turn Me On: Nora Jones
Come Away With Me: Nora Jones
and of course, I Promise You (With Everything I Am): Backstreet Boys

Sidenote: it also struck me the other day: Chivalry is NOT dead. Not even close.

Contently,
Abby

These are a few of my favorite things:

2010-02-13T23:23:00.003-05:00

Chocolate Covered Strawberries (especially when made by that someone special)

While You Were Sleeping

Sandra Bullock

Reading

Jane Austen

Antiquing

Planning Weddings

Bethesda (http://www.myspace.com/bethesdaband)

My Family

My Friends

Going on dates

Movies and TV

Creating things with my hands

Laughing (a lot)

My Grandma

GOOGLE

Singing

Scarves

:::When the dog barks, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feel, so bad:::

New Things!

2010-02-09T17:34:00.003-05:00

Crocheted Cowl with Vintage Buttons
(made for Bridget's mom)

Vintage Crocheted Pillow Cover w/ zipper back

Vintage Clutch, Gold Clasp
(gold interior below)

Vintage Show Girl Feather Headband

fun stuffffff!

Reading:::

2010-02-08T15:21:00.002-05:00

Currently reading I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou.
Her language flows so smoothly, and what she writes about is so raw.
I become more and more in awe of her life as each chapter passes.

updates!

2010-02-07T07:46:00.002-05:00

recently watched:

Shrek (the third) : funny, but not that funny

Message in a Bottle : classic... and I was craving Nicholas Sparks, and couldnt wait for the next day when I went to see Dear John. Such a sad movie, with an unsatisfying ending! Gotta get the book!

Night at the Museum 2 : funny, but not as funny as the first... damn sequels!

The Young Victoria : exquisite

Knocked Up : raunchy, but funny

Up : beautiful first half, ok second half ... I think cars is still my Pixar Movie of choice!

thats all for now... I am off to church, then off to medina to continue the wedding planning of Ashley and Michael!
woot.

ABC's

2010-01-25T20:39:00.003-05:00

A – Age: 24

B – Bed size: twin.... I need my small bed to make room for my books, dvds, and crafting misc!

C – Chore you hate: mopping - though I enjoy sweeping...

D – Dog’s name: Nina and Bella boo

E – Essential “start your day” item: If I must leave the house then the essential is a shower then coffee. If I get to stay home coffee then shower.

F – Favorite color: plum

G – Gold or Silver: Silver

H – Height: 5′2″

I – Instruments you play(ed): Piano and Guitar... and a little violin

J – Job title: Captian, Wedding Planner, Artist.....etc.

K – Kid(s): Nope. Hopefully one day!

M – Mom’s name: Mother... or Brigette.

N – Nicknames: Abs, Gail (hate that one!) Flabby, Crabby, Shabby... the list goes on.

O – Overnight hospital stay other than childbirth: Nope

P – Pet Peeve: Breathing on my face... seriously, if I can feel the warmth of your breath on my skin, you are too close... unless you are Johnny Depp. You, my sir, may breath on my skin any day.

Q – Quote from a movie: hmmmm, he seems like a nice guy....

R – Right- or left-handed: Right.

S – Siblings: Brother - 22, Sister - 20, Sister - 18

T – Time you wake up: If I have to go to work - 4:55am. If I don't have to go to work about 8.

U - Underwear: Ummm. Yes.

V – Vegetable you dislike: Peas = Gross

W – Ways you drink your coffee: Sugar and cream (flavored if avail)

X-rays you’ve had: A couple of bones, but mostly dental.

Y – Yummy food you make: Fruit Pizza... well, Shanna likes it anyway!

Z – Zoo favorite : Killer Whales... and most of the creatures in the aquarium.

Today:

2010-01-11T18:19:00.002-05:00

Watched:
Holes
The Heartbreak Kid
Grandma's Boy
Superman Returns
NCIS - 1st disc of 2nd season

Went through my books and organized some bookshelves

Did laundry

Panera

Started a crochet project

and to top it all off, I slept 13 hrs last night

quite a successful day off!!

School of Rock

2010-01-07T22:00:00.004-05:00

Tonight my dad and I were working out in the basement and watching Jack Black in School of Rock. The treadmill gets a bit loud and starts to drown out the sound of the tv. Father was laughing pretty hard at certain parts in the movie, but then I started to notice that he wasnt laughing at some other pretty funny parts, and I realized, he couldn't hear it... not because of the treadmill, but because sometimes he just cant hear.

I didnt say anything, but finally he said, "can you turn it up??"

I knew it.

total falls today because of snow:

2010-01-04T19:42:00.003-05:00

two

1- middle of market street after work... in front of traffic... feet out from under me, lying in the median.... humiliating

2- after taking the dog out, slid down to one knee... wouldnt have hurt so bad if it were not for #1

is this day over yet?!?!

actually, is snow season over yet?!?!

Book Reviews and Happy New Year

2009-12-31T21:21:00.003-05:00

Finished reading "Unhallowed Ground" .... the first half was rather slow, but the second half produced a good story. I understand that an author needs to set up the story, but did she need to do it for almost 200 pages before it got good?

Now am reading "Bridget Jones's Diary". Verdict so far? Hilarious. I of course have seen the movie more times than I can count, and I have had the book for a long time, I've just never gotten around to reading it. Bridget in the book is even more funny than in the movie (didnt think that was possible!). There is so much more to her even, her paranoia of being a "thirty-something-singleton", her self-consious image of herself, and how she interprets men. She is what I will be like in my thirties if I am: still single, living in London, and a bit more crude and promiscuous. That last one isnt likely, so maybe just the first two.

Signing of on my last post of 2009. Happy New Year ya'll, may it be merry and bright.

Currents:

2009-12-30T17:43:00.001-05:00

watching: The Blind Side (so amazing... I cant even explain! haha)

listening: Sugarland's Christmas Album

reading: Bridget Jones' Diary (love it!)

drinking: Starbucks Peppermint Mocha

wearing: my oh so lovely pj's!

:::Sucky Sequels:::

2009-12-30T17:06:00.002-05:00

Today at work my friend Zack and I were trying to name our Top-Five-Most-Hated-Sequels-Of-All-Time.

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We started off:

SPEED 2 ... bad, just really bad.

Then we decided that ALL the DISNEY SEQUELS are bad... not a good one out there!!! (why do they keep making them when they go straight to video?!?!) we couldn't figure that one out!

The third would be OCEANS 12... honestly, I fell asleep during it in the theater. Yes, it was that bad!

The other one we agreed on was THE FAST AND FURIOUS sequels... dumb. Thats the only word I can think of!

And the fifth: honestly? There is no fifth! I LOVE sequels... even if they suck, I have to watch them, just to see for myself.

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Some of my favorite sequels:

Rush Hour
Miss Congeniality
Legally Blonde
Pirates of the Caribbean
Twilight/New Moon
Meet the Parents/Fockers
Bridget Jones
National Treasure
Elizabeth
Home Alone
The Santa Clause
Transformers
Alvin and the Chipmunks

Ohhhh this list could go on and on!

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Ok, peace out, I've got to go pop in a movie! Haha

ps- Merry New Year! :)

Afterthought

2009-12-27T21:18:00.002-05:00

I read a lot... I mean, a LOT.
In addition to crocheting like a madwoman!

More "Recently Read"

2009-12-27T21:14:00.002-05:00

Finished Angels and Demons... now I need to watch the movie again... great real time book, long, but keeps you reading!

Finished the romance A Family of Her Own... cheesy chick book, but good none the less!

Almost done with Unhallowed Ground by Heather Graham ... slower first half, but the second half has really picked up! Its a suspense mystery romance....

Funny thing... I realize the older I get, the more of what I read are things my grandma reads... weird realization! :)

My Dad sent me this.....

2009-12-08T18:23:00.002-05:00

98% OF AMERICANS SAY 'OH SHIT' BEFORE

GOING IN THE DITCH ON A SLIPPERY ROAD.

THE OTHER 2% ARE FROM OHIO AND THEY SAY,

'HOLD MY BEER AND WATCH THIS.'

Updated Reading List

2009-12-08T18:22:00.001-05:00

"Yes My Darling Daughter" gets and "A"

Now on to "Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown

so far, its an "A" haha, as was his "Davinci Code"

Recently Read:

2009-11-28T23:29:00.003-05:00

A+ The Help, Kathryn Stockett

A- The Road, Cormac McCarthy

B Midnight, Dean Koontz

A+ The Shack, William Young

next in my hands:
Yes My Darling Daughter, Margaret Leroy

This Is It

2009-11-16T20:18:00.002-05:00

I recently went to see the Michael Jackson movie "This Is It". I had always wanted to see him in concert, and since his death, I knew this would be the closest to that dream I would ever get.

I loved it, and I was reading some blogs today, and this one captured many of the things and emotions that I felt while watching.

Enjoy reading: thisisit

more FALL......

2009-10-28T09:33:00.002-04:00

Best Season: Fall!!!!!!

2009-10-28T09:22:00.003-04:00

Did I mention I love Fall?!?!!? because I do! My Birthday is in the Fall, if I ever get married, I want to get married in the Fall, I start wearing my scarves in the fall, omg, I LOVE the Fall!!!

this Fall, this is some of what I've seen:

Farmers Market and Craft Fairs!

2009-10-02T22:16:00.003-04:00

recycled crayon discs

This summer on Thur. nights, I would head out to Tallmadge to participate in their Farmer's Market. Didnt sell much, and then I got a babysitting job for thur nights, so I couldnt do the market anymore, but while I did it, I learned a lot! Its great to get direct feedback from people on my products. It seems most are drawn to certain items, and not so much others :)

One lady stopped by and requested I make some of these crocheted-button-hand-towels. I didnt think people still bought these things, but apparently there is some type of market for them, so I made a couple... I had the yarn, and plenty of buttons, so all I had to do was buy a pack of towels and get down to business.

Now I am bulking up my inventory for the four craft fairs in November that I will have a table at. So if you're in NE Ohio, stop by and support local art!!!

www.craftygoodnessatcalvin.blogspot.com
Summa Health Systems Craft Fair, NOV. 12 - Akron City Hospital
Candy Cane Junction Craft Show, NOV. 21 - Akron

and finally, there is one in tallmadge, and I'll post that location later when I can find it haha

To see the types of things I will feature: www.shystiches.etsy.com

SCARF SEASON!!!!!

2009-09-30T12:53:00.004-04:00

Its SCARF SEASON!!!! Time to break them out people!!!! Its about 50 degrees and rainy here in NE Ohio, and that deffinitely means its time to wrap my neck with sweet, hand crocheted creations!!! Check out my etsy shop for some warm creations!

New Mannequin!!!

2009-09-23T19:18:00.003-04:00

Well, not new, but new to me!!!! Its my new favorite accessory! A woman who's wedding I am planning knew someone who was getting rid of one, and, vola!!! Its mine!!! She is so pretty, and is going to help me so much with taking pictures for my etsy shop!!!!

Etsy Vintage Wedding Dress!

2009-09-02T08:32:00.002-04:00

I FINALLY put up this wedding dress on my etsy page... I've had it for a while, but never seemed to take the time to put it up! Tabitha (my sister) modeled for me, and it seemed a perfect fit, besides the hem line, but thats just because she is short! haha

Couple books I have read lately that I would reccomend:

Three Dog Life

Nights in Rodanthe

A Virtuious Woman

The DaVinci Code

and currently reading: Book 3 of the Mitford series, These High, Green Hills ... so good!

Click on my sidebar to get to amazon and buy them used!!! ***great way to "recycle" versus buying new books!

2009-08-24T15:57:00.001-04:00

Just got: CUPCAKES! from the Cake Doctor!!! Cant WAIT to bake!!!!!

also, had the MOST amazing time with Katie today at the thrift and el Meson! yum!

currents.....

2009-07-30T21:41:00.001-04:00

Feeling: supper sick, for the last 4 days!

Reading: still atonement

Watching: Horton Hears a Who... pretty funny!

Drinking: lots and lots of hot tea

Currents:

2009-07-20T20:51:00.002-04:00

Watching: Everybody Loves Raymond reruns

Reading: Atonement, Ian McEwan

Drinking: Water (very needed after all the wine consumed Saturday... more on that later!)

Sitting: In bed, ready for bed, loving my bed :)

Family Reunion

2009-07-20T20:45:00.004-04:00

Each year our "Family Reunion" gets smaller and smaller, to the point where we cant really justify calling it a reunion anymore... its more like a family-get-together-potluck-lunch-time-thing. Here is a picture of this year:

Probably our last, until one of the grandkids (thats my generation...) has kids of their own. Problem is, I am the oldest grandchild, so I guess I better get crackin' huh?

oh boy...

Maxed Out

2009-06-20T18:29:00.003-04:00

Years and years ago, I Netflixed a documentary called Maxed Out. It talks about our debt as a nation, and especially, as young people. It also talks about people's way out... and a main method is suicide. When you go to college, one of the first things you see are booths of people trying to get you to sign up for clubs, organizations, and credit cards. The way the credit card tables get you is by offering free tshirts, or water bottles, etc. if you sign up. Speaking from experience... I signed up for two cards the first day. I already had 4 in my name. That made six. Eventually, it got up to 8. Yes, 8 cards, and over $40,000 in credit card debt... as a 21 year old.

My options: ignore it, bankruptcy, ignore it, pay what I could, ignore it, or suicide. The last seemed like the easy way out. I could just give up and that would be the end. What I ended up doing was a combination of paying what I could, ignoring it, and contemplating suicide. I became more and more depressed, and thoughts of suicide were sometimes more frequent than others, but deep inside, I knew that it wasn't fair to my family, friends, or myself. I eventually went to my dad for help, and he helped me get set up with a credit counseling service to consolidate and lower my monthly payment. That is probably the best option for those of you in debt.... short of winning the lottery and paying it all of in one day... haha. (ps- tried that... I never won) :)

So back to Maxed Out... in part of it, parents of young people who commit suicide because of overwhelming debt tell their story. I will never forget watching it in my bedroom and sobbing and sobbing as I watched it... I could feel the pain that the young people were feeling, and see the hurt that the parents had... it tore me apart... I related on so many levels. It was so TRUE and REAL! It was incredibly comforting to know that I wasn't alone... I wasn't the only one going through this hell. My life sucked, but so did others, and it was wrong. Its not necessary. The documentary shows the tricks that credit card companies pull on you, they prey on ignorant, young people who don't even have money to pay their bills, and they create more bills for them! It is such a vicious cycle.

Please, if you are in a sickening amount of debt, or know someone who is, watch this documentary, and know that there are ways out and people to help you. Its never so bad that you have to end your life and take that away from your family, friends and yourself.

Right now, I am about half way through paying off my credit card debt. I am almost 24, and still have a lot left. I live with my parents because I cant afford any other place, I have nothing to show for what I have spent, not even an education. But I am not giving up, even though sometimes it still seems that that might be easier.

The reason I've been thinking about this is that an old friend called me today and left a message saying that he was thinking about me because he was watching that documentary. And he told me how thankful he was that I didn't chose suicide. That I chose to fight, because if not, he wouldn't have known me, and become my friend. Even as I write this, I am brought to tears, just as I was while listening to his message. I have never had anyone say something like that to me who seemed to understand the gravity of my debt.

Thank you JW, thank you.

grrrrrr

2009-06-12T15:48:00.005-04:00

Its a bird...

Its a plane...

No, its the blasted Goodyear Blimp

Its seems that lately the confounded Blimp has a new route when it flies, and that route crosses directly ABOVE my bedroom. And, for those of you who dont know, blimps are LOUD... they are not like hot-air balloons, they roar. And to make matters worse, when the Cavs were playing, the blimp would fly up to the Gund Arena (I will not call it by its "official" name, and that goes for Jacob's Field too) and then fly home after the game at about 11pm, which for most isnt a big deal, but when you go to bed at 9pm, and get woken up 2 hrs later with what sounds like a fighter plane outsied your bedroom window, it sucks!

So, in conclusion, I am not so pleased with our local blimp right now... that is all..

ps- currently enjoying an iced vanilla coffee and watching friends.... bliss!

Coffee Connoisseur

2009-05-04T12:07:00.003-04:00

Some of you may, and some of you may not know that I love coffee. I love the smell, I love the taste, I love the varieties, I love it in the morning, and I love it in the evening. I love coffee. As you can tell from some of my previous posts, Dunkin Donuts is my current coffee of choice. "What?! Dunkin?! That's trash!!!!" you may say... however, to counter that, I must say that a large coffee with cream and sugar from Dunkins (only 99cents on Mondays!) is smooth and rich, with a nice aroma and a polished after taste. It is also extremely cost efficient when it comes to buying coffee at a coffee shop, and has many drive-thru locations.

More on Dunkin later... my new mission is to be a Coffee Connoisseur. Staring in NE Ohio, and perhaps spreading out from there, it will be my mission to find the best coffee, at the best price, wherever I go. I will try my best to be objective, knowing that what I like, isn't always what others like.

For my first review, I chose McDonalds McCafe Iced Mocha with skim and whip. I was hoping for a refreshing coffee drink. I wasn't too disappointed, aside from the powdery after taste... The presentation was good, and it looked delish! I could definitely taste the espresso, that had a strong presence, and I could tell it was a mocha, but it was as if they pored Nestle's Quick (the 'q' for you Dane Cook fans) in in and it never dissolved... so the after taste was a bit unpleasant. So over all, the McDonalds on East Market St. in Akron gets a B- coffee rating.

Stay tuned for more coffee ratings!

currents...

2009-05-04T11:59:00.002-04:00

reading: a Nora Robert's trilogy from a friend at work.... currently cant put it down!
drinking: naked juice: red machine
watching: nothing!
today: working out, relaxing on my day off, then to Kairos for din din!

:::currents:::

2009-04-05T15:45:00.002-04:00

reading: Confessions of a Shopaholic, book 3
watching: Unforgettable Hollywood Tragedies on E!
wearing: pj's
eating: Panera cinnamon scone, and Dunkin coffee
mmm mmm good

A Special Valentine's Day Post

2009-02-14T18:52:00.005-05:00

Valentine's is....

...A day for singles to stay inside, so they dont see the crowded restaurants, movies, and other fun places that people go on this day with their significant other.

...A day to stay inside, eat a whole box of heart chocolates by yourself and cry at the Lifetime Channel's love marathon.

...A day for, when you are watching that marathon, wondering "why cant this stuff happen to me?!?! for crying out loud!!!!!!"

...A day when strangers of the opposite sex say "happy valentine's day" to you, and it causes you to get weirded out.

...And Valentine's Day is, alas, just another day for us Singletons in Singleville...

ps- Its not too late!!! You can still go out and get a whole cheesecake, or a couple boxes of chocolate and curl up to watch Bridget Jone's Diary, and realize... there is still a chance!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

etsy, etsy, etsy!!!

2009-02-12T17:06:00.004-05:00

I love my etsy.com!

I recently added a link in my page to my flickr.com

account so that you can see more of what I make,

even if its not all in my etsy shop!

so click here to stir your creative brain!

Currents...

2009-01-26T13:58:00.003-05:00

Currently reading: Jane Austen's "Emma"

Currently listening: Beyonce's "If I Were A Boy"

Currently drinking: Dunkin Coffee (mmm mmm good)

Currenly watching: Chocolat (Johnny Depp... also mmm mmm good)

Currently crafting: 3 hat and scarf sets, sold at $20 each to girls at work

Current mood: Content :)

Thank goodness for:

2009-01-09T20:44:00.003-05:00

Brownies with frosting and powdered sugar on top!

Tampons... women, how would we function normally without them?!?!!

Jane Austen (for providing us with hours of passionate reading)

Having a job in 2009

Pretty snow (note: I said pretty... once it turns grey and slushy, ugggg!)

Currents:

2008-12-09T16:51:00.002-05:00

Currently listening to: Twilight Soundtrack (Favorite Track: Flightless Bird, Iron & Wine)

Currently reading: Breaking Dawn (4th book in Twilight Series)

Currently watching: Clips from Twilight

And an obsession is born....

Prince Edward Island

2008-11-23T21:26:00.003-05:00

I use SiteMeter to track visitors to my website, and recently someone from Prince Edward Island - an island in Canada, near Nova Scotia- visited my site. I know most of you are probably like "Ok, big deal, get a life" UNTIL I tell you that I would DIE to get to go to Prince Edward Island (also know as PEI) for SO many reasons...

1- That is where Anne of Green Gables was set and filmed (one of my all time favorite books and movies!)
2- It is an absolutely beautiful island with coasts, cliffs, fields, lakes, etc... they are breathtaking!
3- I have thought for a while that if I ever get married, I might like to honeymoon on the island, and/or, if I was to ever write a book, I would want to rent a little cottage in the middle of nowhere on the island and isolate myself and just write and live, enjoying all the island has to offer!
4-I think there are other reasons, I am just such a spazz about it!

So to WHOEVER YOU ARE! from PEI, thank you for visiting my blog, I hope you enjoyed it, and I REALLY hope to visit your amazing island one day!

Its Been A While...

2008-11-16T18:38:00.003-05:00

Its been a while since I last posted, and a major reason for that is my new job, that keeps me exhausted all the time! I started working at the City Hospital at a "tray passer" delivering trays to patients rooms. The job starts at 6 in the morning, and I walk mile after mile each day, until 2:30. Therefore, I go to bed sometime between 7 and 8pm... I know, pathetic. Its a steady job, and the hospital has great perks, but it is definitely exhausting. So because of all this walking, this is what happened:

Also, because of all the walking and sweating each day at work, I have been losing more and more weight, and of this morning, my total weight loss since May is 26 lbs! I haven't weighed this for almost 4 years. Its a great feeling to know that I am disciplined enough to be healthy and get some exercise (some at the hospital, and some through Curves!). Lately things have been looking up, and that is such a good thing :)

Bacon Brownies?

2008-10-06T11:12:00.003-04:00

If you look at ONLY ONE MORE web page today, please look at this recipe for Bacon Brownies. "BACON BROWNIES?!?!? THAT'S DISGUSTING!" you may say... or perhaps, you don't think anyone would be bold enough to combine two great tasting foods in to, what can only be described as stomach-churning-queasy-gut-dry-heaving-ness-non-food, but you'd be wrong. Just click on the link, I dare you...

Reader warning: if you've just eaten bacon or brownies,
or you tend to have morning sickness, I don't advise clicking...

+ =

Nights in Rodanthe

2008-09-27T23:16:00.005-04:00

Tonight I went and saw the Nicholas Sparks adaptation of his book, "Nights in Rodanthe", starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane. For all you Nicholas Sparks fans,
this is the 4th book to film!
-Message in a Bottle
-A Walk to Remember
-The Notebook
-Nights in Rodanthe
(I dont think I am missing any... am I?)

Is the movie worth seeing you may ask?

Yes, would be my answer, however, I must advise, I am a sucker for stereotypical chick flicks! (My friend Mark says I like every movie, so my opinions don't hold much weight... but I respectfully disagree!) Gere is his "hunky" self, and Lane was truly believable in her character.

Was this a chick flick, yes, I'll admit, but it was also sad, touching, and full of growth and forgiveness. It seems that Nicholas Sparks... at least in the books I've read... whether intentionally or not, has written some sort of biblical message into the story. Forgiveness, acceptance, redemption, trust, surrendering, are all themes I have seen in the books.
If you want to purchase some of these books, here are a couple I have read and would recommend:

Warning: if you cry easily (and I do!), please be sure to bring tissues, so you don't end up wiping your snot and tears on the shoulder of the person next to you - whether you know them or not! -

Alright, that's all that I'll say about the movie... you can go see it for yourself!

Highlight of the day:
Made my first Etsy sale! Sold a scarf that I recently crocheted! Its pretty neat that someone wants to buy something that I created!

The shop is complete! (at least for now...)..

2008-09-25T22:47:00.002-04:00

See the side bar for an etsy preview! Also... afghan is being crocheted as I finish out the great season premier of Greys!

My Etsy Shop is UP!

2008-09-25T11:35:00.003-04:00

Hey Everyone!

My Etsy Shop, shystiches, is finally up! Right now I don't have any handmade items in it, just supplies (cigar boxes) and a vintage item, but later today I plan on posting some scarves that I have made over the last year or two!

I am in the process of finishing an afghan that I have been working on forever, and am super excited about that... I don't know if I will be selling it, or keeping it to be sentimental over my first afghan :)

I found a couple books on Amazon.com to learn some new crochet stitches, so I don't have to keep doing the same simple stitch over and over! Yay!

Tonight I might finish the blanket... that is if I can peel my eyes away from the 2 Hr. Season Premier of Grey's Anatomy! I am SO GLAD its THURSDAY!!! Plus I'll be taping The Office, since its on at the same time! (darn those station programmers! don't they know not to put two of the best shows on two different networks at the same time!)

I'll post some pictures of my handiwork when I get home from work later! In the meantime, check out my Etsy shop for a preview of what is to come!

Emmy Awards, Lost and The Office

2008-09-21T23:37:00.003-04:00

I am assuming a lot of you saw all, or at least some of the 60th annual Emmy Awards tonight. And I'm not gonna lie... it got off to a pretty crappy start.

The five nominees for best reality/something show were the "hosts" for the evening, and they prepared NOTHING for the NATIONAL broadcast!!! They even admitted it while on stage.. they thought that that would be more funny than some planned lines and jokes. However, that idea flopped big time! Some of the winners/presenters even cracked a couple jokes referring to the hosts as just "talking for 12 minutes" etc. Over all, bad idea regarding hosting... next time, stick with what has worked in the past... one host, funny lines, good laughs.

Sadly, my favorite shows did not win any Emmys, (however some were nominated).

Grey's Anatomy didnt win anything, however, I am sure nobody minded seeing Patrick Dempsey in his tux!

LOST was nominated for an award or two, but didnt win. Now that I think about it, they didnt show any of the stars from LOST either... they are probably in Hawaii filming some amazing new episodes!

(This GREAT photo came from http://stillhisgirl.blogspot.com/2008/04/you-can-buy-new-stuff-but-you-cant-buy.html and I of course used it because of the picture above of the LOST cast!)
And lastly, my NEW FAVORITE SHOW! The Office! Did not win any, though they were nominated for some, and Steve Carell did get some on screen time... and helped provide the first big laugh of the night!!! (You could see the man who playes Dweight behind him laughing!)

Over all, dissapointing, save the few stars who were genuinly funny and graceful! The hope that has come from all this? I am SUPER PUMPED about the season premiers of The Office and Grey's Anatomy this week, and still anticipating the next season of LOST!

Richard Gere

2008-08-26T09:42:00.004-04:00

On Sunday, Bekah, Allison, my dad and I watched Pretty Woman (Richard Gere, Julia Roberts). Such a classic! The chemistry between Vivian and Edward is amazing to watch... and one thing we kept noticing was how DREAMY Richard Gere was/is (well, my dad didn't notice, but we girls did!). My dad kept saying "You like Richard Gere in this? You should see An Officer and a Gentleman."

So the girls and I decided one day (when we all have the time) we will have a Gere-athon and watch all our favorite Gere movies in the order they came out, because it seems that he gets more and more handsome with age! Some of the ones we thought of were: Pretty Woman, Runaway Bride, First Knight, Chicago, An Officer and a Gentleman, and Shall We Dance... am I forgetting any?

I did a little imdb.com research and found out that Richard is an accomplished musician, is currently 59 years old, and was born in Philadelphia. In Pretty Woman, when he played the piano at the hotel... he played a piece that he had composed himself!

Ok, enough about some movie star that really is just like the rest of us...(except for the fame of course).

Wedding Photos

2008-08-12T10:52:00.005-04:00

Today I am going to highlight some blogs/web pages that have some fun and creative ideas for weddings, and then add some ideas of my own :)

This blog has some great wedding photos... they seem light and breezy, with vibrant colors. If you are getting married in San Diego, keep them in mind!

Here is an Organic Chocolate Wedding Cake... pretty interesting, and a nice change of pace from the typical buttercream cake!

Here is an environmentally good way of registering for [recycled] dishes.... someone on Etsy takes old plates and adds to them to make them funky and elegant to use as your current dish set!

This is a SUPER cute idea for your wedding party, and/or special friends who come to your wedding and plan on partying hardcore! You could do a variation for each table at the reception too!

I've got an idea for themed weddings: drinks! Now, before you say, "there goes abby, thinking about drinking again!", here me out! You could have a Coffee Wedding, a Chai Wedding, a Coca Cola Wedding... do you have an obsession with Dunkin Donuts Coffee? Give each guest enough to brew a pot the next morning, along with a mug, or flavored cream! Some people collect Coca Cola memorabilia, and you could give each guess a small glass bottle of the pop, so they can enjoy the beverage, and keep a piece of the wedding. You could wrap tea bags and a honey stick with cloth or ribbon as favors. Each table could have a different roast, or flavor name, instead of just numbers... there are so many ideas!!!

Any more ideas? There are so many possibilities to the "Drink" themed weddings. And a great part is it depends on each couple, so its so personalized!

Dumpster diving night 2:

2008-08-06T12:36:00.005-04:00

A couple nights later (see last post) we went out again and found some more gold! (not actual gold mind you...)

Findings:
MP3 player
T9 Graphing Calculator
2 containers of laundry soap
2 large (new) rubbermaid trashcans (which we desperately needed!)
new fabric
a CUTE brown couch with wooden carved legs,
5 Boxes un-opened animal crackers
and so much more I cant even remember it all!

Photo From:
Google image search: dumpster diving... its eerily familiar!

Gilmore Girls update:
Season 7, Episode 17 (5MORE TO GO!)
This episode will NOT load!!! I am getting desperate!
Lorelai and Christopher: split up (forever I hope!)
Rori and Logan: arguing, but they've done that before...
Lane: about to BURST with twins!
Luke: still in love with Lorelai, but may not know it.....

I promise to write about something else besides dumpsters and GG soon, but right now, its a major part of my life! :)

Dumpster Diving!!!

2008-07-31T09:40:00.003-04:00

Tuesday night Ryan, Austin, Josh and I went dumpster diving around Kent. People's leases are up today so they are moving out so that new students can move in. As a result, students are throwing EVERYTHING out! Some of the things we got:

Beautiful IKEA bookshelf
Two vacuums (one working, one... not so much)
A reclining couch
A bar with leather accents
A FULL bottle of rasberry vodka
A barely burnt candle
Cleaning products (Fabreez, 409, Windex)
A fancy office chair
A aerobed.. no holes!
A nice arm chair
Rubermaid container on wheels as tall as me!
3 nice rugs
A brand new mop bucket
Couple lamps
A nice dresser

And maybe more... I cant remember it all... Its so amazing what we found, and a sad reminder of how wasteful so many people are! All of that stuff listed above would have ended up in a landfill for hundreds of years... and maybe it still will one day, but at least for a while we kept it all out.

Isle Runners and GG

2008-07-30T12:31:00.004-04:00

New found lovely blog! Look at the colors of the flowers
and the beautiful cake. I think the isle decorations are my favorite!

(pictures from blog mentioned above)

Update on GG: I'm in season 6, episode 3.
Luke and Lorelia: Still together!
Rori: Still living in Pool House!
Dragonfly Inn: One kitchen fire.
I'm lovin' it!

Tonight Ryan, Jamie and I are traveling to Pittsburgh to help Jamie in moving her stuff from Kent back to PA. Despite the nasty Steelers, Pittsburgh is a pretty sweet town... GO BROWNS! hehe

GG!!!!

2008-07-23T10:20:00.005-04:00

So this summer I was able to watch LOST in it's entirety, and I was HOOKED! I cant wait 'till the next season starts! So after I finished that, I thought, well, what's the next series I can watch in it's entirety?! And, probably because its so popular with Allison, Bekah, Tabitha, Shanna and Jamie, I picked The Gilmore Girls.

I've made it to season five, and I was ELATED when Lorelai and Luke finally got together... but now, he told her he needed time to think, and she is in bed crying, and stupid Taylor is selling ribbons, and oh my, its all just falling apart! This is what it's like now:

I think it will get better, but how?!?!

I love this show... but what should I watch when I finish all those seasons? ;)

e.e. cummings

2008-07-23T10:07:00.003-04:00

Yesterday my sister Bekah reminded me of one of our favorite poems by e.e. cummings.
It's titled: I carry your heart with me (I carry it in my heart). I don't know why, but we can't read it without crying. In fact, I don't thing that either of us completely understand even what it means, but the second we discovered it, it meant something to us. Here it is in it's entirety:

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go, my dear and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear
not fate(for you are my fate, my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and its you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or the mind can hide)
and this is the wonder thats keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

My favorite part is this: "(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or the mind can hide)"
When that part is read aloud it is like music to the ears... it's such fluid poetry, and so descriptive and pleasing to the senses.

Greeting Cards

2008-07-20T21:36:00.004-04:00

Last week I was able to make some greeting cards to give to Jamie for her birthday.

This is Jamie:

She works for the CCO and because of the nature of her job, she writes more notes/thank-yous than most of us :)

Here is a sampling of the cards:

I am thinking of making sets to sell on etsy.... we'll see.

Oh, Bridget also helped with the designs because she is just so crafty!!!!

This is "Bridge":

(Bridget will be moving into the house I live in next month and I am just SO excited!!!!!)

family from the country...

2008-07-20T21:17:00.005-04:00

Last week my Aunt Reba and Uncle Fred from North Carolina came to visit us up here in Ohio. We haven't seen them for 3 years, and while we stay in touch through phone and email... spending late nights on the porch drinking sweet tea cant be substituted.

Thats Fred, Reba, Mother, Father and nina

My sisters, dad and I all knew they were coming, but my mom (Reba's sister) did not. So she came home from work Tuesday and there they were just sittin' in the foyer to greet her. She was super surprised and we were all just so excited to spend time with them. Reba and Fred just have a way of being so kind and funny and country... we (especially my sisters and I) just soak it up. Our accents that are dormant from living "up north" start to seep out, and soon we are drinking sweet tea and sittin' on the porch like its our job! (Being raised by a mom with an accent, it cant help but rub into our language). For some reason, we don't do that kind of stuff so much "up north" I think people stay inside more and always go go go, so the idea of porch sittin' doesn't surface very often. So to say the least, we had an amazing couple days with them, and they left all too soon! However, they made sure to tell me before they left that I have an open invitation to go down and live with them whenever I'd like....

Maybe there could be a lot more porch sittin' in my future...

Promises

2008-07-20T21:07:00.003-04:00

Its a pleasant evening here in Kent, OH... (at least while a fan is blowing on you...). I promised pictures of our bingo game at my family reunion, so here they are!

Bingo has been a tradition at these reunions for as long as I can remember... everyone brings a couple prizes, and when you win a round, you get to pick your prize. We laugh with each other, get annoyed with each other, and laugh some more. Its a great family time :)

2008-07-11T11:53:00.006-04:00

I have a confession to make: I use tea bags more than once. When at work, I use the same tea bag about 3 times... I get the same taste with all three cups, and I don't waste extra tea. I have heard that some frown upon this saying it is either not as tasty, or just plain gross. I however, don't care what the haters say. Its good, it saves money, what more do you need to know?

I found this website yesterday and it is the most amazing thing I have ever stumbles upon in my LIFE. There is so much there to read and learn and be entertained by, I felt like I had ADD when I was on it because there was so much good at once, my mind couldn't concentrate on just one thing! Here is the story of how the author of the site met her husband "Marlboro Man" and how she became "Pioneer Woman". I think that her life may be most like the life I want. City living would be nice for a time, but ultimately living on a ranch in the middle of nowhere with kids and animals and hay and tractors and a big kitchen... that's the dream :)

Part of this blog was to talk about weddings and ideas for them and my life as a Wedding Planner, so I think maybe I should do something with that too! I want to share with you all a particular NE Ohio Photographer who's skills are superior and who's blog is a delight to read. Genevieve Nisly Photography is just delightful and definitely saved under my "favorites" for photography available here in Ohio. (check out their blog and the pictures taken in Mexico!).

Thats all for today. Have a delightful weekend everyone!

2008-07-01T13:00:00.003-04:00

I am back to blogging today, mostly from the prodding of Ryan. I just forget to do things like this, and he is a pretty helpful reminder :)

another funny picture:

Photo by Antonis Giannelis / Greece

This week was.... ? I don't really have a word for it. We did have our 23rd Annual Eddy Family Reunion with I planned. I'll post some pictures of our bingo game later... (no, I am not joking) :)

Last week my dad brought over my sewing machine and table... and I am super excited about what I can do with that... I will post pictures as I create...

Thats all for now. Pictures later.

2008-06-16T11:01:00.004-04:00

Update on the gardening... check out Ryan's Blog for pictures of our plants.... I am super excited about the spinach! I can practically taste the yummy salads we will eat later this summer!

Found some more crazy wedding photos today on this website here is a sampling: (some are funny... and some are not)...

She looks MAD!

I can only imagine the sad story behind this face!!!

My youngest sister (Bekah) called me 18 times yesterday asking me to bring her some books to read.... she is 16 and on summer vacation, and our mother has never let us just sleep all the time or watch a lot of tv on vacations (I don't think she understands the word "vacation"), but anyways, Bekah decided to use her time to read and look busy instead of being bored and roped into doing chores and yard work (smart girl!). One book she asked for was "The Nanny Diaries"... its a pretty good book, and the movie isn't bad also... here are some of the books I gave her:

I've slowly been able to get her interested in things like Anne of Green Gables, and books of that time period... one day when I was sick I made her watch the movies with me... I grew up watching them and always cry when Matthew dies, laugh at Anne's silly stubbornness, worry when Gilbert gets sick, and cry in the end while Anne and Gil are on the bridge.... after Bekah watched them with me, I think she feels the same way! A lady at my church whom I babysit for recently gave me the WHOLE Anne series (books), and I cant wait to read them all! Bekah also asked for those to read! I bet none of those other girls at Hudson are doing that this summer... but maybe Bekah can influence them a bit! :)

The rest of today:
Finish work.
Austin moves in.
Watch 3rd Season of LOST (my new favorite show!!!).
Dinner at the Brysons.
More LOST!!!.

Kairos Garden

2008-06-04T11:42:00.003-04:00

Ryan and I planted a garden a couple weeks back... sometimes we forget to water it (oops!) but its been raining lately, so we've been covered. We planted pumpkins, cucumbers, peppers, radishes, 5 different herbs, watermelon and spinach! We are so excited to eat fresh salads later this summer! Our cucumbers have already started to come out! I was listening to the radio today and they had people calling in giving gardening tips... and I realized there are some pretty neat ways that plants work with each other and the earth to help everything to grow, so I googled some books on this stuff and came up with:

Those two look like good starters for those who want a green thumb!

And one more thing (maybe to protect that thumb - and the other 4):

They have different sizes and colors! Check them out!

I think having something fun to wear will motivate us "gardeners" who are not always eager to go play in the dirt...

Barn Wedding reprise...

2008-06-01T18:14:00.005-04:00

Since my post on barn weddings (see below), I have had so many people tell me they want a barn wedding! That was super encouraging... one, because that meant people were reading my blog, and two, because I may be on to something with this theme wedding idea...

There could be many variations to a barn wedding:

Totally Country: Checkered tablecloths, horse rides, square dancing at the reception...

Victorian Country: Deep colors, sweeping sheer fabric, brass table decor, ivy...

Simple Country: Barn, hay, chairs, more hay...

Life stuff:
House fire this week: 1
Police car run-ins: 4
Trips to Little Italy in Cleveland: 1
Dunkin Coffees: 2

Regarding the house fire, no one was hurt, and no structural damage (thanks to an observant hero/neighbor)... caused by a cigarette... not by a person at our house though. Through it we got to meet a couple neighbors that we hadn't known yet, so that was a good thing!

Little Italy was great, though when they say "little" they really mean it!!! It was so teeny! But fun none the less... We went out to celebrate Eric's 23rd Birthday. It was the "fab five" (Eric, Shanna, Jamie, Ryan and me) and while getting ready for the evening, it was brought to our attention that there were NO pictures with the five of us together (we have been friends for like 3 years) and we were appalled, so we made it a point to take one... however, we took it with Shanna and Eric's camera, so we may never see it again, because those two take lots of pictures, but never do anything with them!!! I'll post it if I ever get a copy :)

This is Shanna and Eric (I planned their wedding! One year ago July 14)

Disturbing photo of the day...

2008-05-22T09:24:00.003-04:00

The other day I found a picture that
I thought was funny at first,
but then disturbing the more I looked at it:

First: what are those creepy boys doing in the back?

Second: WHAT in heaven's name is she wearing?!

Thirdly: What is the groom thinking?!!?!!

Update:

2008-05-16T09:36:00.002-04:00

Still raining.
Number of free iced coffees yesterday: 2
Interesting website discoveries:
www.wardrobeexchange.com
One more person moved out of Kairos yesterday.
Her room was awfully empty last night.
However, someone else moved right in,
but posted no monkeys on the wall....

Free Coffee!

2008-05-15T10:07:00.011-04:00

Yesterday was such a rainy day.

I had so many plans for what I would do after work, but because of the ridiculous rain, all the plans had to be put on hold. So instead, I drove to Dunkin Donuts because I had a Free Pepperoni Pizza coupon, but when I got there, they told me they didn't have the equipment to make them yet, but they gave me a free donut (score!) and I drove down the road to the next Dunkin Donuts (yeah, there are that many in NE Ohio) and they had the pizzas, so I got a free pizza and a 63cent Polar Pop from Circle K. I then drove home and decided I would take a "Rainy Day Nap" for like half and hour or so.... hehe. I went to sleep at 3:38 pm, and woke up 4hrs later at 7:47 pm. I couldn't believe I had slept that long... so I went downstairs where Ryan, Jamie and Mark were cooking macaroni salad, and I helped/slept while they really did all the work. Then, (naturally) I decided I wanted to make banana pudding, but I only had the bananas and the vanilla wafers, not the putting so I went to the store to get that! mm mm!! it was delicious!

Then Jamie and I watched Grey's Anatomy online... THEN took the quizzes to see which cast member we were most like... I am Izzie and McDreamy, and Jamie is Izzie and George. It was a great day, but not all was lost... I went on a walk with Mark at like 1:30 for almost 2 miles.

The real reason for this post is this website:

http://www.etsy.com/storque/section/spotlight/article/
handmade-wedding-series-eat-greener-food-with-emily-of-eco-c/1460/

The author of one of my favorite books ( Eco Chic Weddings ) and one of my favorite web pages (www.Etsy.com) came together on one page and talked about weddings going green, and how to support Fair Trade, organic, local, or handmade producers while still having the wedding you've dreamed of. Read the article and let me know what you think!

ps- Today is FREE iced coffee day at Dunkin Donuts!!!

New Ideas

2008-05-13T10:01:00.000-04:00

Its a beautiful morning here in Ohio! The sun is shinning and the HI is 69 degrees... Today I plan on doing some gardening at Grandma and Grandpa's, then helping Ryan plant the garden at our house. Its a great day to work outside and feel the earth with your fingers! (plus, working in the sun always helps the quest for a tan) :)

I found a new blog today... http://justjaime28.wordpress.com/

So it inspired me.... I thought... "why don't I blog my findings of SWEET wedding ideas, party pictures, and creative misc!? It would be a great way of saving things I find (instead of having hundreds of bookmarks) AND a great way to share things with friends and/or clients... mmm..... :)

So here goes!

I have been talking for a while about having a Fall/Barn wedding...
and today I found this picture(from the blog listed above):

Then these pictures from this website (http://www.fearrington.com/house/weddingbarn.asp#5):

and a couple more:

What I really have in mind is a more natural feeling... dirt floors, horse tackle in stalls, a little hay lying around (like the 1st picture)... you get the idea. Its pretty exciting really!

So those are my ideas for the day... comments or suggestions welcome!

-Abby

1st posting..

2007-10-29T00:03:00.000-04:00

Happy Halloween!!!!!

This weekend I truley celebrated Halloween for the
first time in my life as a 22 year old :)

I made a pumpkin cake :

Carved a pumpkin, passed out candy, dressed up like a spooky scarecrow
to scare people on our porch ::: kind of like this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnDa2Zqvl6c&feature=related
except I didnt get punched in the head.

It was a really fun weekend, and was full of good times with lots of friends...

Thats all for now! Have a lovely Sunday evening!