dresses, dresses, dresses

There is a thunderstorm happening in Kansas City right now! I love it! A great end to a truly wonderful weekend. This lucky girl had her best friends come in town to help her find a wedding dress, and that I did! I wish I could wear it tomorrow, I just love it!

A few things I learned when wedding dress shopping:

• The consultant makes the difference.  Anyone dress shopping in KC, go to Gown Gallery and request Janay Andrews.  She was absolutely wonderful and I would have been happy with all the dresses she showed me!
• As long as you are good at making decisions, you can never have enough supporters with you while trying on dresses
• I learned about curves I didn't know I had, think Jessica Rabbit
• Do the "sit down" test but if the dress doesn't pass, buy it anyways.  Sitting is overrated. 

Speaking of dresses...are you watching the Oscars?  Here are my personal favorite dresses...

Jennifer Lawrence- Calvin Klein

Gweneth Paltrow- Calvin Klein

Jennifer Hudson- Versace

spray tan at your own risk

I have been spray tanning 3 or 4 times and been pretty happy each time although I get super nervous every time I go.  I hate the smell and breathing in the fumes, I can't help but think what kind of damage that is probably doing to my body. I went last night to a new place because of a Groupon I bought in the fall that is about to expire.  While the actual experience was fine, and my tan was actually pretty even although on the brighter side...playing soccer 3 hours later is NOT recommended!  I came home and my socks and sports bra were and orangish-brown color that I am sure is now permanent.  I took a pic, but it was pretty gross so I kept it to myself.  It did remind me of the below pic of my friend Sarah and I at last year's Bushwacker Formal (prom for adults/dental students) doing our spray tan dance.  It was funny at the time, but then again many things are funny at an open bar.  Hopefully the rest of my tan will last til Saturday when I attempt to try on fancy ivory dresses and negotiate the price of the dress down at least 20% before I buy...

We are so cool

girl you know its true

Happy Valentine's Day!  I have never claimed for this to be my favorite holiday, but its always fun in its own way.  No major plans this year, just lucky to have a wonderful valentine!  Some of my favorite things I have found on my blogs the last few days....

We Go Together like Milli and Vanilli, Girl You know its True

and this...

cupcakes...mmm

and this...

"Grow old with me, the best is yet to be"- Robert Browing

 

 

 

 

 

 

fancy plumbing

A term used by my father's thoracic surgeon post triple bypass surgery.  Oh yeah, my 62 year old, 140 lb, fish eating, red wine drinking father had triple bypass surgery on Tuesday. Not planned.  I took him for a test on Monday morning and by Tuesday morning they were repairing 3 clogged arteries that were dangerously close to causing a fatal heart attack (yes, they used the word fatal when letting him know he was about to have a heart attack).  So within a year of my mother passing away, we find ourselves at North Kansas City Hospital...again.  But this time, this time, it is different. The optimism is beaming off the nurses and doctor's faces every time we talk to them.  Because my dad is in such great shape besides a few clogged arteries, his chances of not making a full recovery are very slim.  He started walking on Wednesday afternoon and is now training for the NYC marathon, ok not really but if that's what he wants to do he has the new fancy plumbing to get him there. He is scheduled to come home from the hospital this weekend where he can watch all the golf and basketball he wants from his own bed.  Of course I wish none of you have to be any where near a hospital any time soon, but North Kansas City Hospital does some pretty amazing things.  I have a professional crush on all the nurses I have seen in the last year and it seriously makes me consider a career change. 

So needless to say this week has been a roller coaster, here are a few high's and low's.

High: Volkswagen/Darth Vader Superbowl commercial and Glee after-show
Low: Groupon Commercials and Christina Aguilera

High: Dropping off my dad at the hospital early enough to get my oil changed and Starbucks
Low: Getting a call from the doctor that my dad will need bypass surgery while at work, and then leaving in a complete frenzy, embarrassing

High: My brothers have both been in town all week
Low: The reason they are in town

High: Hearing my dad say "The nurses are cute" after coming out of sedation, a sure sign of a full recovery
Low: Seeing him in pain

High: After a long search (6 liquor stores) with nothing to show, it pays to know the Elbows.  Last night we got to enjoy Christopher Elbow's Chocolate Ale with Chris and family.  Seriously though, its was delicious. And I would say go get some, but as of right now its sold out.  We did bring a bottle home with us, and I am actually scared that Rob will drink it without me. Oh and the Goat Cheese and Honey and Toasted Coconut Glace Ice Cream flavors are to die for.
Low: Did you see how much I ate and drank above? I didn't mention include our dinner!

High: Its Friday!
Low: There is nothing low about Friday :)

Have a great weekend everyone!

snowmageddon

Well, I am officially OVER winter. Every year about this time I get into a sluggish funk because I am cooped up inside and miss warm weather.  I can only put on so much bronzer in hopes of a golden tan!  Our street may be the last one in the city to be cleared, as in they haven't yet.  The Civic and the Scion hold their own but 12 inches of snow definitely won.  Luckily, Sol Cantina is within walking distance which is what we did for dinner Wednesday night because we couldn't eat any more chili and were sick of battling for the TV remote between the Duke basketball game and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Reunion.  We also cleaned our place up and down on Wednesday which felt pretty awesome.  I have learned that when Rob starts cleaning, he can't stop until its done and prefect.  So, when these opportunities come I take full advantage and offer to do the laundry while he takes a toothbrush to the bathroom floor, ok not really but I wouldn't be that surprised. 

I knew 2011 would be a big year, but it is hard to imagine how much we will be cramming into this spring/summer alone...Rob's formal, Rob's graduation, 4 weddings and festivities that come with them, engagement photos, etc.  So if you want to hang out April, May and June are booked, sorry. I am definitely  ready to get into colorful spring dresses and open toed shoes.

To humor myself, I shop online.  Its the only kind of window shopping I am good at because I always tell myself if I like something enough to go to the store and get it (so I won't have to pay shipping), then that rarely actually happens. But if I actually go shopping, I don't come back empty handed, never have and probably never will.  Bad habit, really bad habit but there is no sense in fighting it, right?  Champagne Friday was definitely developed because of my online "looking" habits.  My taste has always been outside of my means but there is something about sharing it with everyone else that is also gratifying, kind of like "I found it first even if you can actually afford to buy it".  Lately though, I haven't seen anything worth posting. I think it brings me back to the sluggish time of year where everything is beige, gray, and black...which is pretty much how I feel.  Side note, I am wearing a gray hoodie, black t-shit, and beige converse today...point proven.

So no Champagne Friday this week.  But I promise when I find something worthy, you will be the first to see it.

Joshua Radin is getting me through the day with this song, he is wonderful. Title: Only You, originally done by Yazoo...so very 80's.

 Happy Friday, no major weekend plans here and I kind of like it that way :)