4 Years Fly

One of my favorites from September 7, 2008. The best day of my life. Not only for marrying my best friend, but for sharing it with the friends and family who traveled to be there, stand beside us, and kick their heels up on the dance floor. Our parents for blessing it and our siblings for supporting us. We are so lucky.

Our happiness aside, I'm sincerely depressed by the news of Amy Poehler and Will Arnet's split. PLEASE WORK IT OUT!

Doozy Weekend

Doozy weekend started off with a morning bootcamp:

The enforcers.

Followed by major house cleaning inside and outside, Sunday BBQ prep, and an afternoon wedding, in honor of Blake and Priscilla-also new homeowners next door!

Sunday started with a booze cruise for Karen's birthday. What a gorgeous day to tour the Newport harbor.

We dashed home to make it to our neighborhood BBQ in honor of our next door neighbors who have sold their house (to Blake and Priscilla, newlyweds above). It was long overdue to finally get everyone together-even Blake and Priscilla came to meet their new neighbors, as well as a another family new to the 'hood. And in true potluck form, I anticipated their wouldn't be enough food and we had enough to feed a small army, including fall off the bone ribs from an award winning smoker.

Good weekend.

Project: apron

I've done it-my first 99.9% sewing project completed by myself*.

I found the pattern here, and it was pretty simple for me to work with being a first-timer. I'd estimate the project took about 5-6 hours to complete.

I do believe the bride enjoyed the gift :)

*After two hours on my own, small buttonhole work was subcontracted to my mom.

A 3 Year Analysis

Today marks three years of marriage for the mister and me. While we certainly aren't perfect, it's been some of the easiest three years of my life. I thought it might be cheeky to do an analysis of where we are now if aliens were watching our home as anthropological study.

1. We never go to the movies. I finally figured out why-we don't ever want to see the same films. Thankfully we've got Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings to keep us together on nights in. And Aragon.

2. Our roles are very gender typical. I cook, clean, grocery shop, and take care of the cat. He does yard work, fixes things for me, and works late into the night.

3. The neighborhood (and aliens) may think we are poor examples of young people today, since we sit on the porch drinking wine and whiskey, enjoying cigars, mowing the lawn with shirts off, and watering with shirts too low (I had a bathing suit on though.)

4. We eat like kings. I am tooting my own horn here, but he revealed to me that he looks forward to what dinner will be each night-even if it is only taco night.

5. We watch entirely too much Law & Order, yet sometimes discover an episode unseen.

6. There is a lot of love, even through disagreements about the speed at which emails should be responded to.


Happy anniversary Scott! Thanks for three glorrrrious years!

Weddings and Whatnot

The last wedding on our social calendar (at this time) was this weekend, another high school friend couple tied the knot: congrats Ryan and Ruthie!

The groom awaiting his bride.

Here she is! Super fabulous and quite fashion forward.

Gratuitous picture of Scott's new suit, looking quite sharp.

Newlyweds!

High school reunion-5 of the 16 that I know.

The dancing at this trumped anything I had up my sleeve. Serious moves. I'm talking bridesmaids doing the worm. I was shocked and yet entertained. Good times.

Our new tenant is moving in tomorrow so today was full of back breaking yard work. I am trying to convince Scott to go to Red Lobster tonight (thanks to his grandma for the gift card for his bday-perk of marriage, side benefit!) as I really am not up to cooking or dish washing tonight.

And with that, I congratulate Ryan and Ruthie and also reflect that 9 years ago today I graduated high school. Scott asked me what I would tell my old self and it would be to properly pronounce "niche" which in my grad speech I said "neesh."

His Best Friend's Wedding

I joked that it felt a little like Old School-the married best man whispering to his best friend while his wife looks on in the audience (though in this vision, sans babies.)

Scott's best friend Harrison married his long time girlfriend on Sunday and a lovely wedding it was.

Here comes the bride

Vows

Officially married.

Good looking Best Man.

The reception was lovely-good food, good drink, and a great reason to celebrate.

Good friends.

The next bride!

We tore up the dance floor and both Scott and I were zombies the next day at work. Mark of a good wedding methinks. Cheers Erin and Harrison!

Weddings Make People Crazy

A friend of mine shared this email with me today--a wedding she is a bridesmaid in. Therapists could really find a niche market in weddings. I decided to highlight what I consider to be the real gems of the email. Grammar and punctuation have not been corrected even though it looks terrible. Names have been removed to protect the innocent bridesmaids.


Hello Bridesmaids 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6:

The Bride's bridal shower is around the corner, so here is a compose list of what everyone should be doing/ bringing the day of the shower. Under your names there will be duties for the bridal party, you can make it or buy it which ever you like, but please make enough for everyone since there will be approximately 50 guest at the Bride's bridal shower. If you don’t like the item(s) you are assigned, feel free to trade with someone else. You can bring all your food on a disposal tray and we will put it on nice platters when you get here. If you have stuff you want to drop by the night before, feel free to do so.

There will be a theme to the Bride's bridal shower, it's gonna be a tea party style shower, color theme will be mainly black and white with a hint of red. Please make your food to as close to the pictures as possible ( I will enclose pics) With that said, the bridal party will be wearing black and White, or Black and the Bride will be wearing white and the all the guest can wear whatever.

Since the bridal shower starts at 12noon, I would like everyone with their food no later than 8am that morning, so we can set up and put everything together.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks everyone, see you guys there early morning on the date of the shower.

Bridal Shower Food List

Bridesmaid 1:

• Beef/chicken lettuce cups
• Seafood bruchetta
• Dynamite w/seaweed
• Shrimp Cocktail
  
• Cake
• Materials for toilet paper dress game
• Materials for Playdo game
• Materials for clothes pin game
  

Bridesmaid 2:

• Turkey wraps on toothpicks
• Asian chicken salad
• Caprese Salad
  
• Plates, knives, spoons, cups, champagne/wine glasses, napkins
• Decorations(Banners, flowers)
• Scrapbook and materials
• Winners gifts
• Jungle juice
  

Bridesmaid 3:

• Egg salad sandwiches (half white/wheat)
• Mini tuna pita sandwiches
• Tomato w/crab mix
• Party favors

Bridesmaid 4:

• Croissants with toothpicks (can get mini ones at smart and final)(turkey/ham, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, (if use regular croissant, cut in thirds w/toothpicks)
• Chocolate(milk chocolate/white) covered strawberries
• Homemade Cresent rolls
  

Bridesmaid 5:

• Spinach strawberry walnut salad
• Creme puff (can buy frozen at costco)
  
• Champagne punch(champagne, fruit punch, sprite)
• Strawberry lemonade, bottled waters, sodas, ice
• Pick up cake at 9am ( will give info)
  

Bridesmaid 5:

• Spinach, guacamole, salsa dips and chips/bread
• Assortments of fruits (grapes, watermelon balls,strawberries, raspberries, cherry, etc). *bring it and we’ll put them in individual cups.
• Vegetable platter ( cucumber, cherry tomatoes, celery, carrots etc. If store bought platters, buy 2 of them..
• Balloons 12 white 12 black, 12 red

Bridesmaid 6:

• Red velvet cupcakes
• Assorted fruit tarts

Wow. And this is not the bride.

Gina Getting Married

My younger cousin Gina was married yesterday to her beau Chris in a beautiful wedding by the sea. She is leaving for Oklahoma soon to start her new life out there while he is in the Air Force and will certainly be missed!

My aunt, mother of the bride, looking stunning. And the back of my dad's head.

The groom and his crew waiting for his lady's arrival. And the back of my sister's head.

My cousin Lisa, the maid of honor, looking lovely.

Here comes the bride!

You may now kiss the bride!
Sidenote: I always wonder if that's awkward for the officiants. They are right in their space bubble.

Angelina and I-almost exactly 18 years between us to the day. January babies with freckles. Go fig.

Cousins!

Congratulations to Chris and Gina-we wish you your own happily ever after!

Move.Donate.Sell

We are moving and I am at the point of keep, donate, or sell with some of our household items. Genius idea: I have a blog, I'll use for a little revenue generation if possible.

With that, I give you our wedding chandelier beads. Previously purchased for $200++ in 2008 to decorate centerpieces, it's time these puppies found a new home or event.






I think there are about 25 of the strands and 75ish of the chandelier beads. I'd sell them for $50 if you are interested. You can email me at erin dot haselton at gmail dot com, or post a comment.

My Best Friend's Wedding

Utterly chic, heart-felt, and amazing.

Dave, Kelli, and their gorgeous daughter.

Sisters!

Kelli and I during pre-ceremony pictures.

Groom and his g-man enjoying a Newcastle before the reception.

Married! Enjoying their dinner and reception.

The fabulous dessert station.

My dashing date.

Congrats Kerri and Rob!!!!

Kerri's Hen Night

Her last weekend as a single girl was spent with good friends, bubbly, and many mentions of Snoop Dog in Long Beach, where we painted the town red. Congrats to my best girl!