CRAFTY

***EXAMPLE PHOTO***

I saw this DIY (do it yourself) idea in one of my magazines a few months back...I made a mental note about it & thought that I could sooo take this on easily! Then I thought...I could sooo make these for Christmas gifts! I'm going to have no shame in sharing that I purchased 20 two foot black chains from Lowes for roughly $20. I plan on purchasing girly printed ribbons @ a local craft store on Friday to start this crafty task! Heck...maybe if all goes well I'll even sell some on Etsy.com & make some money! Stay tuned for a sneak peak of the outcome.... In the mean time, I'll share with you the last DIY projects I did... #1 my wedding rehearsal heels (NO, not the purple heels in the photo @ the top of my blog!) & #2 a photo collage of our wedding day

#1: http://skv6.blogspot.com/2009/08/my-wedding-rehearsal-shoes.html

#2: http://skv6.blogspot.com/2010/07/diy-project.html

OUR 1 YEAR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

Almost one year ago on (Sunday) September 5th I walked down the aisle of a beautiful stone church located in Providence, RI with a HUGE smile on my face while gazing into the eyes of the handsome guy below....I can remember that exact moment as if it were yesterday....I was beaming with excitement yet shaking with fear. I wasn’t scared to marry Steve I was scared to have everyone's eyes on me. I am not a fan of being the center of attention. :) Before the doors opened I had to ask my dad to hold onto me tightly, I honestly didn’t think I could walk. As I put one purple heel in front of the other I got into this zone, a zone I can't even explain. Everyone around me had disappeared, the only person I could see was Steve, my future husband, who was waiting for me... patiently...what an amazing feeling....thank goodness we had a videographer, I honestly love watching this moment (& all the other moments over & over...yes, I'm "that girl"!)....I will never forget our wedding day & how I felt, I will never forget the look on Steve's face & I will never forget the tiny stream of tears rolling down his cheeks as I approached him....the moment, as it should be, was perfect... :)

These 2 photos are my favorite shots (taken by guests/wedding party) by far....Steve & I dancing our 1st dance as husband & wife & posing for pictures outside (in the "abundant" sunshine-thx for the weather reminder/yearly weather coincidence Sue!) of the church before hopping on the trolley....Our 1st dance song was "Today" by Joshua Radin---The slow version---& get this, our vows were incorporated within the beginning of the song!..... & YES, it was Ellen & Portia’s 1st dance song as well! :)
Here is the live video from *Ellen*...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIFknUShX_k&feature=related


NOW on for our current exciting news!!! We are heading to Cocoa Beach, Florida early tomorrow morning through late Tuesday night to celebrate our 1 year wedding anniversary!!! We are super stoked about this!!! We are staying in the *RON JON* surf shop hotel!!! How awesome is that? SO AWESOME. :) While we are there we plan on relaxing, sun bathing, eating, drinking, dancing, site seeing & of course checking out this place---> http://www.andrettithrillpark.com/index.html ....Sooo as you can guess I will be signed off for a few days! I hope you all have a lovely long holiday weekend!!! HUGS!

***On a funny note...my friend Amy sent Steve & I this email & photo (that she drew herself) the other day! HILARIOUS!!!....Luckily we won't have to worry about Earl anymore. Phew!

"Well be careful that you don’t get caught in Earl’s wind because you’ll blow away. Have Steve tie a string to your bikini just incase. It will be a twofer... relaxing day at the beach and kite flying."

PS: Shortly after we return from our trip we will be getting our 1 year wedding anniversary photos taken! Super pumped for that as well!

***Ahhh one last thing....I just have to share this bc I find it quite amusing....last year, on our wedding day a certain someone wrote a message on another certain someone's FB wall....I can't remember the exact wording but it said something along the lines of "What a lovely day for poop & pee!".....As for my readers, you might think...huh???....Let me explain...Poop & Pee aka Brown & Yellow aka the colors of a SUNFLOWER. Our wedding color scheme & accent print was Purple, black & white polka dots & sunflowers. Apparently this someone was trying to take a stab at our big day. Rude? Cruel? Jealous? Childish? I'd say so....But honestly it makes me laugh! Quite a bit actually. I LOVE SUNFLOWERS, so yah I LOVE POOP & PEE. :)

BRUNETTE VS BLONDE---BANGS VS NO BANGS

I have always hated my hair… OK I know hate is a harsh word but I have at least semi hated my hair. For the most part I’m never happy with it. I know that this might not just be a ME thing…it might just be a GIRL thing. I think we all want what we don’t have; at least that’s how I feel personally. If I’m happy with my hair it’s only for a short period of time, then I’m over it & need a change or a quick fix to make me think otherwise. I’ve always wanted healthy, shiny, thick, long, voluminous hair…brunette or blonde, usually I want blonde when I’m (naturally) brunette & usually I want brunette when I’m blonde. I try to trim it on a regular basis to keep up w/ my split ends, but every time I trim it people say to me “Did you cut your hair again?” In my head I reply NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!.........I can’t tell you when the last time someone said “WOW, your hair is getting soooooooooooo long!”….I haven’t had long hair in many many many years. Did I say many? I always tell myself I’m going to grow my hair out, but my pacience starts to fade away considering it seems as if my hair grows soooooooooooooo slow. Sometimes to hold me over I cut my bangs to keep me from “cracking”! HA! So I’m curious…now that I’m getting the itch to change my hair up again what’s your opinion?

Brunette w/ bangs ($7 BOX)
Brunette w/o bangs
Blonde w/ bangs ($100 SALON)
Blonde w/o bangs

PS: On a completely different note....in general...i think it is SO RUDE to not respond to an invitation of any sort. Email invitation, snail mail invitation, Evite invitation, wedding/birthday/retirement/baby shower/bridal shower invitation & so on....This is a HUGE pet peeve of mine. I don't like to rant & rave or complain much on my blog but from time to time I need to do so. Sometimes blogging is meant for venting. If you can't make an event, NO BIG DEAL, just respond! It's common courtesy! Especially when someone needs time to plan or shop for a certain event, big or small. Be polite people, a Yes, No or even a Maybe will do. Thank you-I feel a lil better. :)

BATH & BODY WORKS

You can get ALL of this for $20 with any $30 purchase @ Bath & Body Works! This is over an $88 value! Speaking of B&BW...I went this past weekend while Steve was gone. I had a coupon for a FREE trial size product with any purchase. So I purchased my old school PLUMERIA body spray! Plumeria used to be my favorite until they discontinued it! Well Plumeria lovers, it's baaaaaaaaack! So I got the Plumeria body spray, the Warm Vanilla Sugar body spray & my FREE trial size Plumeria body lotion all for ONLY $5 and change. LOVE FABULOUS DEALS.

PS: The cabinet, the desk & our wedding date came out AWESOME!!! I am so excited with the results! I will post the updated photos soon!

ANOTHER DIY PROJECT

Im having fun w/ these mini projects that save money! This weekend Steve is off to a canoe trip w/ the boys up in Maine. As much as I miss him when we are apart I have to admit it's nice to have some alone time to just do girly stuff & knock things off my personal/anal (HA!) to do list. Tomorrow I will be painting these items to use in our house!

This cabinet was in the house I grew up in. My Dad had it in our basement storage room & used it to store/hold school supplies. He was always able to collect extra supplies since he was/is a teacher. My sister & I used to hate having to rummage through this thing bc we really wanted to just get our supplies @ the store where the supplies were wayyy cooler. But of course my parents were all about saving money. HA! Too funny! I laugh @ it now. And of course this cabinet gives me humorous/good memories looking back. I plan to paint it black & put fabric behind the glass to hide whatever I put on the shelves. Probably clothes-since I have "way too many" as my family has always told me & now Steve tells me. It will be placed in the "Glamour-esque" big guestroom that I am re-decorating!
A lil something we found @ this unfinished wood store in RI. We will put the numbers in our newly finished basement as you come down the stairs. 9-5-09 is our wedding date! YAY! Clever right? I'll paint them white so they POP on the black wall/ceiling.

Last but not least...this desk was given to Steve by his Mom a few years ago-I believe it came from her side of the family. One of the drawers was broken until I realized last night how easy it was to fix. I will paint this black as well, along with adding fun glass vintage looking knobs. Then I'll add a vanity chair in front of it & a vanity mirror above it. This of course will go in the "Glamour-esque" big guestroom as well.

***a weekend to myself= relaxation, mani/pedi, errands, dvr, re-decorating our big guestroom "glamour-esque" style, facial, house chores & lifetime movies. :)

DIY PROJECT

So after almost a year I finally put up our wedding photos! Pretty unique huh? I found the idea online! Mirror, brown twine, brown wood clothes line clips & 80 black & white photos of our big day! Sooo cheap & easy!

FERNS & FLOWERS

How adorable is this "Ferns & Flowers" bistro, florist & teahouse! (Natalie-I bet you would love it!) This is located right down the road from my work in Warwick, RI. My friend & co-worker are going to check it out today! We have reservations to sit in the backyard garden where they have cookouts & weddings! I am sooo excited! I have wanted to try this place out for quite a while now! It seems so girly w/ all of the "ferns & flowers"! Ill snap a few pics while we are there...stay tuned for an updated post! In the mean time check out their website!

"FERNS & FLOWERS" http://www.fernsandflowers.com/aboutus.html?source=header

BURSTING WITH EXCITEMENT

Really though, I'm beyond BURSTING WITH EXCITEMENT!!!!! The wait is finally over! This long weekend is our (my side) family reunion & clam bake!!! Steve & I are hosting this @ our house in CT. The last time everyone was up here all at once was for our wedding in September. As great as it was to see them that weekend bc the weekend was so crazy we really didn't get to visit. My parents, my sister, my Grandparents, my Aunt, my Uncles, my cousins, extended family, special guests, close family friends & part of Steve's family will be in attendance! I can't get enough of my family. I really love spending time with them! Talking, laughing, being silly, catching up, playing games, making memories, eating, drinking...you name it! LET THE FUN BEGIN!!!
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OH yesssss of course Lobster Bibs will be included. :)

***PS: ENTOURAGE starts back up Sunday night!

***PPS: My 2 year Anniversary w/ COX Communications is tomorrow! Crazy I have lived up North & been w/ COX for two freakin years now. CRAZY COOL.

WORKING BACKWARDS

SUN: HAPPY FATHER'S DAY DAD!!! :) Dad---Sorry Ash & I won't be there in VA to celebrate with you this weekend! BUT we will see you next weekend up here in CT. We will of course celebrate then! Thank you again for ALL that you do for us! We are so lucky to have you! You have been a wonderful Dad throughout the years... We love you!!! PS: This is one of my favorite pictures of us from my wedding last September!
SAT: BRYAN & SUE ARE GETTING MARRIED!!! :) The time has finally come! Sue & Bryan were both in mine & Steve's wedding. Now it's their turn to tie the knot! They are getting married on the campus of the University of Connecticut! It's going to be such a beautiful day for a beautiful bride & a studly groom!

THE OTHER DAY: The neighbors kids... :) This is Gabby & Zachary. There Dad has been helping us out tremendously with our basement! As a small thank you I took a few photos of them in our backyard while Steve & their Dad were hard at work. Aren't they adorable?

ROCK THE DOCK 2010

Hello to my NOVA peeps! Paul Warren is hosting yet another ROCK THE DOCK event this summer! Here's the info! It's a BLAST if you have never been! Unf we can't make it to this one. I'm crossing my fingers that Paul plans a 2nd one for 2010. Enjoy yourself if you go! If you have any questions and/or need tickets send an email to: RockTheDockParty@gmail.com (***Find Rock The Dock on FaceBook!)


*****Exciting times over the next 2 weeks…basement final touches, highlights, mani/pedi, Bryan & Sue’s wedding, (YAY!), Father’s Day, spa facial, date night w/ my hubby, 3 day family reunion & clam bake (YAY!) & sooooo much more! :)

PS: Yes Ashley (& Scott), I will get to your photo shoot photos as well! ;)

RAIN RAIN GO AWAY

Normally we have a lot going on each weekend....BUT this weekend we don't have too much planned. For the most part at least.... unless you count our neighborhood yard sale on Saturday & our carpet being installed in our basement on Monday BIG. :) HA!...For the past few weeks Steve & I have been collecting "old" & unused items from around our house from before we met & from our 1st apartment, as well as a ton of clothes that we no longer wear. If the rain holds off we should have a good turn out in our cul-de-sac! Ads were placed in the Turnpike Buyer (local paper) & Craigslist. We hung a few signs this morning & will hang the rest after work! Cross your fingers we make some moola!.....As far as the basement carpet, we are STOKED-we ended up purchasing the sample piece we picked up a few weeks back. HERE is a photo of it. I can't believe the process is almost complete! I can't wait to share the updated photos with all of you.

I think we have way more "crap" then in this photo here! HA!

On another good note, my friend "Tall Paul" from home in VA will be in CT this weekend! He will be in Danbury, which is 2 hrs away from us. We are going to try our hardest to meet up with him knowing he is visiting the area for his cousins wedding. Paul has been one of my really good friends for many many many years! This is Paul... :)

Our classic "Shannon & Paul" pose...
This was from 2005 (WOW has those 5 years flown by!)...we were in the shopping center of Ned Devine's in Herndon, VA. Paul & Justin found this shopping cart so we had some late night fun w/ it! By far my #1 photo with Paul. (I should post the photos from the Chantilly Highlands playground later on that evening! HA! Those were hysterical!)
Mine & Steve's wedding weekend. The night before our rehearsal dinner & gathering. Part of my crew...Matt, Jay, Justin, Paul, Me, Amanda & Steve

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PS: All you "True Blood" fans! The show starts back up Sunday night!

PHOTO SHOOT SHADOWING

That's right!!! I will be shadowing our amazingly talented engagement photographer Stacey M!!! She has asked me if I want to learn from her by doing a side by side wedding photo shoot in September out in Mystic, CT!!! I am soooooo excited!!! I am so thankful for this! I hope to do some "lifestyle" photo shoot shadowing with her as well if she let's me. Check out Stacey's photo blog! Her work is breathtaking.

http://staceymphotographyblog.com/

I'LL CHERISH IT FOREVER

It's no surprise that I'm a HUGE fan of antiques or anything retro, ESPECIALLY if they are from within my family. THIS vintage rotary phone was my Grandparents. (Betsy & Fred-yes) :)...Ever since we started to decorate the kitchen I tried to think of items that I could incorporate that meant a lot to me or reminded me of my past or my family's. This phone brings back so many memories. It used to sit in my Grandfather's den (aka office) in Arlington, VA. The house my mom (Linda) grew up in. I remember as a lil kid always wanting to use the phone bc I thought "dialing" it was so much fun. It was a "treat" to call someone whenever I visited alone, with my sister or with my parents. I can picture the den & where it would sit on my Grandfather's desk. Right on the left side. I have it clearly stamped in my mind. Anyway, I called up my Grandparents recently and asked if they still had it. Luckily they did! My grandmother searched for it in their attic & found it just for me! They gave it to my parents a few weeks ago, who then gave it me the other weekend when we were home for my friend Tiffany's wedding. Right now it's sitting on our dining room table ready to be dusted off & displayed. I can't wait to tell this story to those who are interested when they see it. I wanted to share this with all of you bc I know there are people out there that always wonder what the story is behind a certain antique/vintage/retro item. It's always neat to hear about who used it & when...Pretty cool huh? I certainly think so. :)....Thank you again Grandmother & Granddaddy! I'll cherish it forever! As well as the other items you gave us as well. I love you both!!! AND again...

GRANDADDY: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! :) :) :)

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WHERE I "FIT" IN

THURS-MON: Homebound to Northern VA (is for lovers) w/ Steve!!! Making more memories w/ my parents & my peeps, all while tending to my bridesmaid duties for Tiffany & Derek’s wedding!!! I can’t wait to reconnect w/ the pieces of my puzzle... :)

The dirty details.....

THURS 2PM: Head to PA to break up our 8 hr drive & to spend time w/ Brett & Jess
FRI: Bridesmaid luncheon @ MiMi's Cafe & salon appt, Rehearsal & Rehearsal dinner @ PassionFish
SAT: Bridesmaid salon appt, wedding ceremony & wedding reception
SUN: Lunch @ Busara w/ Amanda, Justin, Matt, Jay, Andy, Rebecca, Dan & Michelle…finally meeting Paulo's twin girls & then heading to my parents house in WV to spend time with them & stay the night (in between all of this, maybe we'll have the time & maybe I'll have the courage to knock on the door of my old house Franklin Farms house...)
MON: Drive back to CT

In my head-on repeat: "The House That Built Me ~Miranda Lambert~
THE VIDEO gives me chills...

***HAVE A FABULUOS BIRTHDAY WEEKEND KRISTY & NIKI***

THE BEGINNING OF A GREEN THUMB

Thanks to my Aunt Angie who gave us an amazing wedding gift this past September! She offered up her expertise on how to start the process of landscaping our yard! A few weekends ago we were finally able have her visit us. She taught us all about the ins & outs of the process! I personally learned so much!!! I have never had a green thumb, or at least tried to have one. Ever since she came to our house I have been super excited & inquisitive about many different tress & plants! I have found my self walking around our yard checking out the progress of our seeds & bulbs obsessively! HA! Every day when I pull up to the garage I get out to inspect. Whenever there is a small amount of sun we are outside & inside watering our many plants & flowers! Even though we don’t have much to show, what we did has already made a HUGE difference in our eyes…..AND even though we don’t’ have much color popping up at the moment, we should hopefully very soon! Only if I planted the bulbs right side up…right Mom? The words/phrases/names keep popping into my head…. Anemones, Ivy, Annuals, Sunflowers, Zones, Catnip & Easter Lilies (Thanks again Heidi!), Strawberries (thanks to our neighbor for giving us their “run offs”), Bradford Pairs, Perennials, Forsythia---I could go on & on………On top of planting all of these goodies we hung a bird feeder on the back deck & hung 2 bird houses in the front & side yard. I think I might be turning into my Papaw-my Dad’s Dad. I’ve started to do some bird watching….I may need to pick up a pair of binoculars & some bird books! Seriously Dad…it’s scary…HA!........I'm very proud of myself...a bit shocked actually to find that I'm REALLY enjoying all of this! :) Don't get me wrong, it was A LOT of hard work for Steve & I but well worth it! Check out the pics below (click on each photo to enlarge)...I really hope to have a garden "feel" some day...colorful unique flowers EVERYWHERE!!! I'd love to see more butterflies fluttering around the house that's for sure... (please excuse our grass-ewww-THAT'S a whole HUGE different project in itself!)

The beginning of the process...

Reserved for my favorite flower---SUNFLOWERS!

Just had to capture this action shot of Boo...