Someone Left the Coffee Pot On

Monday, July 22, 2013

Day Twenty-Eight:

Day 28: Something that stresses you out...

Oh things that stress me out...let me count thy ways....

Stressin'

Houston may not be pretty- but they are working on it. My husband and I just spent the past weekend biking all around our city. We were able to bike to the movies, to restaurants, bars and parks. Yea...there is some work to do. Bike paths need to be better connected and better protected. Parks need to be cleaned up and communities could use some "beautification" so to speak. But, as I passed this scene, I realized there is hope. There are positive changes being made. I passed several community gardens popping up in places near downtown (downtown, by the way, an area that has historically been deemed "unlivable" for much of the past few decades). We passed signs that displayed plans for future parks, trails, bike paths and improved waterways. I'm excited that this is the direction the city is headed. I just wish it could've been started sooner. But...better late than never!

Monday, July 15, 2013

Day Twenty-Six:

Day 26: Your Dream Wedding

Well, this one is hard because I'm already married and I no longer have a "dream wedding". I really enjoyed the wedding that we had, but there are also things I've seen since that I really like and kind of wish I could have done.

So, to make this one fit a little better to my experience, let me say 5 things I liked about my wedding, and 5 things I would change. It could be good advice to anyone planning a wedding in the future, should that be you!

FIVE THINGS I ENJOYED:

1. My dress

I got this dress on sale on a whim. They were having a Sample Sale at a local bridal boutique in Austin and my friend who was getting married before me invited me to come with her while she tried some on. I saw what great stuff they had (and how much cheaper it was than the normal price!) so I immediately made an appointment of my own for later that day and quickly told my mom to meet me down there. This was the first dress I tried on. I loved it so much. Some other girl was eying it while it was on me and I felt like she might take it if I didn't act fast. I'm glad I acted quickly because it really was a steal. Originally priced at $3000, I got it for $500. Pretty good steal.


Photo by Bill McCollough

2. My cake

I loved going to the cake tasting and I LOVED how they completely created what I had envisioned. Plus it tasted good. (If you're wondering who the baker was, it was Michelle's Patisserie in Austin, TX).


Photo by Bill McCollough

3. Our Getaway Driver

This guy was awesome! Loved the classic car and he even took pictures of us afterwards. Pretty cool dude!


Photo by Bill McCollough

4. Our Dance Floor

Definitely needed and loved getting our groove on!

Photo by Bill McCollough

5. The Flowers

These ladies did a phenomenal job! Rosehip Flora, Austin TX. Highly recommend.

Photos by Bill McCollough

FIVE THINGS I WOULD CHANGE:

Okay, so this is hard but there were definitely some things I would do differently if I could. I don't want to be mean to anyone, but there were certainly some vendors that I will not recommend to my friends who have yet to be married.

1. Communication with Photographer about Desired Photos

I didn't speak in detail to my photographer about what photos I wanted. I just assumed he would know. Which isn't wise. Because now I wish I had a picture of my dress before I put it on, a picture of me dressing, a picture of me with some of my friends individually, a picture of certain relatives, etc. etc. You have to remember that the photographer doesn't know who is who so to him taking pictures of that girl that someone brought one time as a date seems just as important as your best friend. Because they don't know! Seriously, I got tons of pictures of a girl I didn't know who was brought as a date (and who is no longer dating the person who brought her). I really don't want those pictures! So my advice- take heed- sit down with your photographer and write a list, go over the list, be specific. Be very specific!

2. MY DAY OF COORDINATOR!!!!

I won't name names because I feel that is bad taste (of course I'll tell anyone who asks or those friends who want advice for a wedding planner)...but yall...this lady was nuts. We met her over a year before our wedding date. At first we weren't sure about her. But then she kept emailing and calling to say how much she wanted to work with us and how she could cut us a deal on the price if we went with her. That should've been my first sign. We signed a contract and after that it was too late to back out (unless we wanted to pay her dues then hire someone else). From the get go things seemed weird. She kept adding all her credentials and talking about all her experience every time we discussed things. She also just did NOT get my vision for our wedding. I wanted to keep it super low key and casual. She didn't understand at all and in fact advised me to do things that now, in retrospect, I didn't really enjoy doing and wish I could've done differently. But, despite all this, I figured it wouldn't be that big of a deal...how wrong was I. The rehearsal and day of wedding she couldn't get my name right (we talked monthly leading up to the wedding, emailed more often than that and also met in person several times...she should know how to say my name). She also kept getting things confused from other weddings she was planning. The worst thing she did was at our wedding (obviously I was not in the ceremony space in order to correct this)she told the ushers (our friends) to keep the first two rows open(behind our parents and immediate family). She told them they were reserved for family. Of course, we don't have large families so the only reserved seating was our parents. Who were already there seated in front. So there were two empty rows at the wedding. And people standing in the back. Our friends who were ushers felt stupid because when the wedding started, it was so awkward to see those rows just open there while people holding kids and babies had to stand near the doorway. WTF? Oh man. I'm still upset about it...gotta move on. But my advice...really feel out your day of coordinator. They can make or break some things. If you are in Austin and want to know who NOT to hire, contact me. I really don't mind saving someone else from this experience. I should've put this as number one. Dang it. oh well, moving on...

3. Date of wedding

I picked a July wedding because a)it worked for everyone that it surrounded July 4 holiday (or so I thought) ... b)it was cheapest (in Texas) and c) I thought I'd be teaching and summer is the best time for teachers!

Well, it turned out that people made July 4 plans that interfered with many things leading up to the wedding (my bachelorette party being one of them). Kind of a bummer. Also, July is cheapest because it is 110 degrees in Austin Texas in July!

It ended up that on my wedding day (outdoors) it decided to rain on everything in a freak torrential shower starting at 6:30pm (the starting time of our wedding). I cried. Things were frantically moved. Many things got wet. The cocktail ceremony in the butterfly garden was relocated to...??? The musician had to remove all his set up and move to...??? And when the rainstorm ended, the hot, 110 degree ground began to sizzle and it created a sticky, humid, sauna. So everyone was drenched in sweat. Awesome. I guess it makes for a good story!

If I had to do it over again, I would think this through and plan it for a cooler time. Seriously. What was I thinking???

4. Smaller Guest List

You may think a big wedding is fun, but since our wedding I've been to smaller, more intimate ones and have had a BLAST. I would rather be surrounded by just my closest of closest friends and no one else. But, sometimes you are led to believe that if you invite so-and-so then you HAVE to also invite so-and-so. And then it grows and grows and grows. And then you are meeting people at your own wedding.

5. Pricey things

It really doesn't matter in the end. Don't go for the high end of things. No one notices or cares. Just go with something that's simple and it'll do the job and you won't be left with hefty debt afterwards. Things to splurge on: Cake, Food, Alcohol, A decent wedding coordinator (if your venue doesn't provide one) Music. But even those things can be pared down and still be good.

Day Twenty-Five:

Day 25: Put your iPod on shuffle, First 10 Songs...

First of all, this day's prompt proved very interesting! My Itunes shuffle ended up being quite a diverse collection of music and artists. It definitely reflects my eclectic taste and also reminded me of different times in my life. For example, I remember when I first uploaded some of these songs... I went through a White Stripes phase as well as a Michael Jackson phase (immediately following his death I got EVERY song he made). I also fell in love with Corinne Bailey Rae many years ago when she first appeared on the scene. The Busta Rhymes song reminds me of the music video (back when people used to watch MTV for music videos!). The Alicia Keys song is new and I LOVE it! She is definitely one of my all time favorite artists. So talented. If I would've done 20 songs I'm sure there would have been some 80s hits, Christmas songs, and classical music for my ballet classes I used to teach. I highly recommend doing this yourself and seeing what ends up playing.

Here's my list:

1. Brand New Me, Alicia Keys

2. Cups (Pitch Perfect's "When I'm Gone"), Anna Kendrick

3. Remember the Time, Michael Jackson

4. Babylon Flamenco, Gaudi & Ojos de Brujo

5. You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do What You're Told), The White Stripes

6. 1904, The Tallest Man on Earth

7. Il Mare Impetuoso Al Tramonto Sali' Sulla Luna E Dietro Tendina Di Stelle, Zucchero

8. Daydreaming, Corinne Bailey Rae

9. What's It Gonna Be, Busta Rhymes & Janet Jackson

10. Suena Mi Guitarra, Federico Aubele

Friday, June 14, 2013

Day Twenty-Four:

Day 24: Something You've Learned

I've learned that moving forward is the sometimes the only thing you can do to fix a problem.

I've learned that there is so much that I don't know, and that I will never know, and the more I learn, the more I am aware of how much more there is to know. That sounds like a tongue twister.

I've learned that passion is a prerequisite to happiness.

I've learned that you have to tend to friendships just as you would a garden. You can never neglect them or they will begin to wither.

I've learned that every place has something redeeming to offer, no matter how bad you may think it is initially.

I've learned that reading is an excellent way to induce clear thinking. So is walking or running outside.

I've learned that animals can be the best of friends, sometimes better than humans.

I've learned that a child's innocence, imagination and playfulness are treasures and should be kept intact for as long as possible.

I've learned that loyalty to one's family and friends is far more important than loyalty to a political party.

I've learned that eating well and eating amongst friends is one of the best things in life.

I've learned that coffee in the morning can make things feel a little easier.

I've learned that it doesn't really matter how old you feel on the inside...your body will begin to let you know how old you really are on the outside and there's nothing you can really do about it.

I've learned that it's okay to break rules if it serves for a better purpose.

I've learned that history repeats itself in the most moronic ways and we are constantly having to relearn the same lessons over and over again.

I've learned that life is all about learning. Discovering your world and yourself is the point of it all.

Photo by: Andrea Hempel

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Day Twenty-Three:

Day 23: Favorite Book

AHHHHHH! Another one of these that I couldn't possibly narrow down to just one. One favorite book?? ONE??

So I'll leave you with TOP 5 (and you should know that this top 5 changes often so this is really just TOP 5 for June 2013).

1. Wild, by Cheryl Strayed

If you have not read this book, then go, run, NOW and get it. From your Library, Bookstore, or friend. I guarantee it will change you. Some thought it a bit difficult to read (difficult meaning emotional, gruesome, morbid, sad), and, yes, there are difficult parts, but you reap the rewards of getting through it when you get to the end. Trust me. I was a mess when I finished this book. So great!! In fact just talking about it has made me want to go re-read it.

2. The Four Agreements, by Don Miguel Ruiz

This book helped me change my perspective on life and many of the elements in life that serve to confuse or frustrate or degrade you. It's lofty and philosophical but also very uplifting. I recommend highly. Then you can follow with the other books related to this one including The Voice of Knowledge, The Mastery of Love and various others.

3. The Kite Runner & 10,000 Splendid Suns (Tied)

Both of these books are incredibly well written and moving. The setting and culture is so foreign and yet the emotion and humanity of the stories are universal. They are both incredible reads.

4. The Last Lecture, Randy Pausch

This book is wonderful. Uplifting, yes, but also thought provoking. From someone who is at the end of his life, looking back on what really matters most. Yea, okay. It made me cry. I'm not the only one. Geeeez, I'm tearing up just writing about it.

5. Make the Impossible Possible, Bill Strickland

I like this book because it's about an art school/trades school in Pittsburgh that I actually attended. The man who started this school overcame so many obstacles in order to make this place a success, not only for him but for his community. It's a story of perseverance and hard work and is inspiring to anyone who wants to tear down those walls of defeat and naysaying.