Bloggville- Wedding idea blogs/sites

As most of you know (since I talk about it frequently here) we have a wedding in the family coming up in Sept.  I have found many sites that I peruse and get ideas from.  I thought I'd pass the sites/ideas along to you, my friends.  These are sites that I love looking at. (and some of my friends are in the same situation..weddings coming up, hi Sheriee)
so many ideas
Here they are in no particular order... but they are all together in one area that I (and you) can go back to time after time to check out the GREAT WEDDING ideas there are out there in bloggville!

Amor-ology

The Wedding Chicks
huge HUGE beautiful site with tons and tons of photos, and downloads etc and photos. and tons of photographers to look at THEIR pictures

The  Perfect Palette

The Broke-Ass Bride

  no picture here.. not as many pictures on wedding bee either, but lots of 'real' people submitting ideas
Weddingbee

ruffled blog-real wedding

Kara's party ideas

Utterly Engaged

Ever Ours

ok I think that's enough for now!

Wednesday Wisdom

You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.--Ralph Waldo Emerson

Little Thoughts for Life

These are amazing little thoughts that are worth repeating.  And worth reading over and over, and putting into practice...am I getting old that I'm starting to say... ahh if only I would have done that...
nope, I'm printing this out because I believe that I will: 

breathe... save... stay in touch... burn the candle... and give time time.

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland,

Ohio.

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
3. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and
parents will. Stay in touch.
4. Pay off your credit cards every month.
5. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
6. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
7. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
8. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
9. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
10. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey
is all about.
11. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
12. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God
never blinks.
13. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
14. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
15. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
16. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't
save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
17. The most important sex organ is the brain.
18. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
19. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will
this matter?'
20. What other people think of you is none of your business.
21. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
22. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
23. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
24. Believe in miracles.
25. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did
or didn't do.
26. Your children get only one childhood.
27. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
28. The best is yet to come.
29. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
30. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Handcrafted Custom Fishing Rods

A little about where I work;

It is a wholesale company that sells parts for custom fishing rods.guides-hook keepers-EVA rings-corkhandles-woodhandles-thread-blanks
The fellows I work with are all avid fishermen.  They also make their own fishing rods.  Apparently it makes a difference, whether it is a soft stick, or how many guides are on it or if it is a spiral wrap or even a fly rod (which has VERY few guides, if any, just a tip top)
They call our warehouse the candy store.
I have been in charge of our email newsletters for a while (guess they thought that having a blog was the same as writing and compiling a newsletter? This month we are featuring a fellow that is such an artist!
I thought I’d show a couple of his Custom Fishing Rods.
They are as intricate as any quilt … but for the outdoorsman that wants to show off (IMHO)

This is the thread work finished, the big picture is the blank in progress.

This next one is featured this week on our Tips and Tricks... It is snake skin  (not a thread weave)

The guys at work would call this one fish porn.

Gee, aren't you glad you joined me today... look at all this neat stuff ***welcome to my world. (mydaytimeworld)... It's a living, and sometimes the guys bring you fish (salmon and halibut mostly! but there has been the occasional sturgeon, yellow fin tuna and bass).

Social Media Revolution

You know, I may be a little late to the party.... but frankly I didn't grow up in the computer age, my kids did... so how the world has evolved has been a fun 'show' to watch... and pretty amazing to boot. 
Even though I work with a bunch of fishermen.. they are trying to run a business, a family business, and THIS is the way the world works now-a-days.
I sent this to my boss:

Social Media Revolution
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFZ0z5Fm-Ng


This is a GREAT video on the word and the ‘new’ way of reaching people (customers!) And how the WORLD has changed and how everyone is communicating their brand.


You don’t need sound, although it is a great piece of music (no words)

Best thing I learned: it took so many YEARS to reach 50 million people, with radio=38years, then TV=13years, then the internet=4years, then ipods=3years and now it only took less than one year to reach 200 million people with facebook.

Watch and see, I know I learned a lot from this fast moving video

(ignore the Obama girl at the end -the next video preview)

Food Fun Friday - Frittata

first and foremost, you guys rock, you are always so supportive... I felt weird going on about the upcoming wedding and ideas I have.. but you guys really listened and chimed in with interest and ideas. YAY YOU  Thank you from the bottom of my little pea picking heart, although I don't pick peas.

Last weekend I rented Morning Glory:

a fluffy chick flick.
In the movie the character played by Harrison Ford makes a frittata...

Last night there was nothing thawed for dinner.... people coming over in a while so I had to make dinner for us quick and clean up quick
hmmm what to make.......what to make
LIGHTBULB...I did just as the character in the movie did... looked around my kitchen for items that could go into an omelet, umm I mean frittata.  (all you really HAVE to have are eggs and cheese, after that it's anyone's game.) There are tons of recipes on the Internet about ingredients..but I liked being resourceful and looking through the kitchen for items that could be used!
I also realized that I do not have a sauce pan that could go in the oven, but I do have oven proof plates...

This is an easy, a totally filling meal that helps clean out your left overs!!! (and atkins/southbeach friendly!)

A frittata is almost like a quiche... and a lot like an omelet.
I'm adding this one to the menu for once a week!

Succulents- easy to grow

       
Up here in the Pacific Northwest (also in California too) Succulents are very prolific. 
I have a love affair with them! (wish this was mine but alas not..)
Every year at the garden show I buy some.
Then go home and remix and  repot  the ones I already have.

My thought today is... why not use them in the wedding?? huh? Kieri? Lauren? does this sound (look) beautiful and elegant and personal?

my favorite- in a pretty red or colored glass.

That's our problem with a wedding looming in the future... you are always on the look out for interesting things, only with all of us living so far apart it's becoming increasingly hard to pin down the right ideas!~!


over at myselfcareblog  I found a great analogy
Living a Succulent Life.
A few facts about succulents we might take a few lessons from:
1) Succulents are built to survive in tough conditions.
2) They need water, so they absorb it as often as it is available to them.
3) During times of drought, the succulent draws upon its water reserves.
4) Despite the stress of extreme conditions, the succulents actually thrive and become even more brilliant in conditions that make other plants wither and die.

YOU are also built to survive tough conditions, but you need to make sure that you are taking good care of yourself -nurturing your body and soul and getting your physical, emotional, mental, volitional, spiritual and social self care needs met with some regularity. Taking small steps each day to build your reserves will prepare you to be more brilliant and contribute better when you find yourself in a trying moment with your children or situations that call for your superwoman strength.

Wednesday Wisdom

Friends are like stars, we don't always see them but we know that they are there.

Spices.. let's spice it up!!

We are on our third month of:   Love it or Lose it.
I feel pretty good about the job I'm doing, although it will be a life long battle to rein in the clutter!!

While decluttering the house, I found the Pantry Closet to be Pandora's Box.
When Mr. P and I got married 5 years ago, he had his food (he lived here in this town) and I came from 2 states away.  He had some interesting items.... but just what is IN those 3 little jars... homemade pickled somthing that looks like pig-guts????? (and yes I finally threw them out, sorry honey)
Now from two kitchens we have spices on three different shelves.
Are they good?  just how old is old??

Here's what I found out: 
You can keep ground spices 2-3 years.
Whole (cinnamon) 4 yrs

To use spices that actually tast like something, you need to check jar/bottle/can for best by date
and... How to tell how old your spices are???
*If it is tin it is 15 yrs old
*If made in Baltimore it is 15 yrs old
*ALL Schilling spices are at least 7 yrs old.
If there’s a code you can type it in:
http://www.mccormick.com/Spices101/HowOldSpices.aspx

and just FYI  Schilling IS McCormick now!
here's more info: 
*Check the color of your spices. Make sure they're still vibrant. If their color has faded, chances are so has their flavor
*Rub or crush the herb or spice in your hand. If its aroma is weak and flavor is not apparent, then it's time to replace it

This is Spring?

Let me first say that it may be Spring according to the calender, but NOTHING has bloomed and it is still freezing cold here ...with frosted windshields in the morning... 

In other news:
House on the market 2 weeks, 0 showings
Mothers house on the market 1 week, 1 showing
We have been told that we are on the Real Estate Agent tour this week, so finally we will get some interest..because I just know if someone will look at it, they will love it.  As we do.

Now I want to rant a little about Joann's.  We have a little Joann's in the next town (Port Angeles) that is just the worst store ever!  I have NEVER found exactly what I was looking for, AT BEST I will find something that will do.  But mostly I never find anything I am looking from from my extensive list, and from the 'on sale' flyer I receive.  Saturday I drove to the big city, and heard the ~~music~~ as I stepped into the big, FULLY STOCKED Joann's in Silverdale.  They had everything on my list and more!  They had sales, and things I could actually use my coupons on.  I am glad that winter is over and I can travel the hour each way to Joann's to soak a batch of creativity. 
I finally got my curtain material that I have been searching for since  here.
so before picture:

and after

I seem to be missing all the fun!

Apparently all the little ones don't stop growing while you are away.  This little guy is now walking .. and pretty much starting to run everywhere in their new, pretty much empty house!! (ok what better place to learn to walk and run... the least amount of furniture the better....)

now here is where he shows his true self... poor mom is trying to pack the bedroom, and kitchen and closets and.... well Look who has to be right in the middle of it all.. and BOY does he know it!!!  He gives his mom his little snorting laugh face....

I mean come on, who can say no to THAT fun face!!!

These houses better hurry up and sell or we'll miss out on all the fun!

For Japan- Day of Silence

I think it's safe to say we've all been a little saddened by the devastation and destruction that has spread across Japan this week. Hearts are heavy, too many lives have been lost and the destruction so immense it will take months and potentially years to rebuild what was once a thriving and colourful country.

The blogging world has united together. 

For Japan, With Love has been created out of the hearts of Lucia from Utterly Engaged and Lydia from Ever Ours and you too can do your part to help. And if you are a blogger, please join the blogging community by participating in tomorrow's bloggers day of silence.

Regardless of your financial situation, if each of us can do our itty bitty part it's amazing how much of a difference we can truly make.

AMERICAN RED CROSS: Emergency Operation Centers are opened in the affected areas and staffed by the chapters. This disaster is on a scale larger than the Japanese Red Cross can typically manage. Donations to the American Red Cross can be allocated for the International Disaster Relief Fund, which then deploys to the region to help. Donate here.

Bloggville-food storage made easy and thoughts on Japan

I had something else planned for today but with all the destruction that happened in Japan last Friday, showing anything frivolous does not make sense.

JAPAN- 
My father was stationed in Japan during the Korean war.  He loved the people and the country.  My father worked for a company that imported from Japan, he was never happier than when he was dealing with the Japanese. 
I lived in Japan in 1983.  Misawa AFB, it is about 150 miles north of the destruction in Sendai.  The Japanese people are the most gracious people.  Never a day went by when I did not feel welcome in their country and treated like a honored visitor. 
Everyday I pray for the people of Japan.

I recently found a wonderful site for Food Storage and Emergency preparation!!
Food Storage Made Easy

SO many ways to learn from these two; Jody and Julie
They have great categories:  10 baby steps, Recipes, Checklists, Emergency Preparation, Self Reliance

You can sign up for emails, where they will send you a 'checklist'.   OR you can download all the checklists at once, ALSO there is a monthly newsletter.

I know one of the questions I have is about recipes... and how in the world would I cook without a stove/oven/microwave... and amazingly enough they have the answers...
Powerless cooking!
emergency cooling&heating
emergency sanitation..

There is a wealth of information here!
It may take a little bit of studying up on, but oh so helpful.  Here on the West Coast there is always the possibility of something like an earthquake happening....ok, Living ANYWHERE, there is a 'possibility' of something along the vein of a natural disaster happening.
I need to learn more.  period.  end of story... or is it the start???

Wednesday Wisdom

Neither give cherries to pigs nor advice to a fool.
  --Irish Proverb

House Tour- Want to Buy Me?

Welcome to our house... look even Elliott welcomes you (sort of)

to the right you will see our cute little dinning room.

and here is our Living room, with door leading to the back yard.

and right to the right our kitchen table

Kitchen, let's see what's on the menu for dinner???

Upstairs we have our 'bonus' room (the room built above the garage).  Warmest room in the house.

and our guest room, you are welcome anytime 

and the craftroom/office... which BTW is the cleanest you will ever see it.

It doesn't take long to show, but sure took long to de-clutter and clean.  I, hopefully, can live a clean and de-cluttered life now.  This is the way Mr. Produce prefers it, but... well I like stuff (and garage sales and crafts and yes I have too many likes that clutter up the house, oh well-take me as I am) 
Thanks for coming along our journey! I just love my blog friends.