weekend shenanigans

Adam and I had one of the most productive weekends of housework since moving into our wonderful house. I am feeling so good about us! We stained the deck on Saturday, a job that took about 5 hours and included a trip to the store to buy more stain. My neighbors informed me 3 times that I needed sunscreen. I had already applied sunscreen twice. And with skin like mine, I don't mess around - it was Aveeno SPF 45. But my skin was very very red while I was in the sun. The amazing thing is that once I was out of the sun, I went back to being pale me. YAY Aveeno SPF 45, and thank you, despite looking like a lobster in the sun, I am not a lobster! I don't think my neighbors believed me that I had on sunscreen, but oh well. I'm Irish and a redhead, therefore, the sun and my skin do not get along.

I digress... we also purchased lots of outdoor goodies from friends that are moving and so yesterday Adam had a great time mowing the lawn, weed wacking around the fence etc, sprinkling the lawn, and cooking on the grill. While he was doing all this, I was cleaning our bedroom. Something I have avoided since moving in and still had boxes to unpack. But, now that the bedroom is almost clean (just a couple of boxes left), I can set up the treadmill I bought at a garage sale for $30 this weekend! That's right, a $30 treadmill. I've been hoping that I would find one for years, and once I completely forgot, there it was! The display saying how fast you're going etc doesn't work, but it was a $30 treadmill, I can handle the display not working.

The only thing I have left to do outside is plant the grape tomato, zucchini, and yellow bell pepper plants I bought. I went to Lowe's, and they are now selling their plants in a peatpot. A biodegradeable pot that you just plant into the ground. That way you don't have to worry about shocking the plant with the transfer out of the plastic, plus it is so much better for the environment not having that plastic waste! Yay Lowe's! I have never had a garden before, so I'm just going to start out with these three plants and see how I do. Hopefully I do not kill them, because we will save lots o money not having to buy these veggies!

wedding shoes

So, I have now purchased two pairs of possible wedding shoes. And because I am a fabulous shopper, I have only spent $40 on these two pairs of shoes. Drumroll please......

From Payless Shoe Source, Predictions Hutton in Silver, $19.99

And from dsw.com, Caparros Kacey in Ivory Silk, $44.45 and after lots o coupons, $20.

Since my matron of honor is Kacey, the Kacey shoes have a lot more cool points, and I had to buy them since they actually spelled Kacey correctly (instead of Casey or Kasey boo). I think that the Kacey shoes are my wedding shoes. What do you guys think?? The other bit of info is that the Kacey shoes are taller, making my wedding dress drag on the ground less, but making my feet hurt more (possibly) unless cheap payless shoes are what make my feet hurt more.

Thoughts??? Please leave comments!

spunky wants to express herself

My mommy and daddy had some strange men deliver a new fluffy thing that they sleep on. My mommy and daddy will not let me up there. It's a LOT taller and it's really hard for me to get up there, but they used to just pick me up and I could sleep curled up next to them. I love sleeping curled up next to them and now they won't let me in! I am not sure what this means, but it cannot be good. Yesterday I got in the bed to warm it up in case they wanted to get in and mommy yelled at me to get down. Daddy bought me this big pillow that they keep telling me is my bed, but it's not nearly as comfy at theirs. This morning, after mommy got up, I tried to take a running jump into the bed with daddy so that he wasn't sleeping alone, but instead of getting into the bed I ran smack into the side. Daddy started yelling and I had to shake it off. I do not like this new arrangement and it doesn't seem as though they are going to let me up there with them anymore. I'm very sad about this and I suppose I will just have to climb all over them anytime they are on the couch or floor. I need my snuggle time!

to help old friends

The lab computer and I are NOT getting along today. So while the computer thinks about what it has done to ruin my day (and increase my need for a drink when I get home), I am going to blog about what a great week it has been on the collaboration front.

People come in and out of our lives every day. We often wish some would stay around longer, but regardless, we try to stay in touch. It is not often easy (though facebook makes staying in touch a little easier, as long as people actually use facebook), but at least keep email addresses around. Check in on how people are doing once in a while. And, when it comes to science, don't ever hesitate to ask for help. Old colleagues of mine have been EXTREMELY helpful this week. I am trying to start up a new project in my lab and I have called and emailed quite a few people asking for advice and protocols. Even free stuff (thanks to a certain someone who shall remain nameless working at a certain company that will also remain nameless)! Let me just say, I wish it was that easy to get free shoes!

So, a piece of advice: stay in touch with your old friends. And if they need help, give it. Someday you might need some in return. And since I've been doing so much taking this week: Does anyone need my help with anything??? I'm feeling a little selfish and would like to pay it forward. Maybe that's why the computer is being such a giant booger, because I haven't paid anything forward for all the help I have received... does anyone need anything??? :)

how scientists make it though the day

Ah BioRad, thank you for this little gem (and thanks to Dr. Isis for bringing this video to my attention):



Enzyme!

wedding websites!

I bought a Brides Magazine (I had a coupon, otherwise I would not have spend $6 on a magazine) and they had a list of 75 websites that are a help for wedding planning. Well, I am going to say those websites that have helped me bunches:

1. www.theknot.com
With the extensive photos from actual weddings and articles about just about everthing you could wonder about, the knot is a HUGE help. I have gotten lots of ideas (or vetoed a lot of ideas) from the wedding photos and the DIY section.

2. www.weddingwire.com
This site has a (free) seating program. The one in Brides Magazine was not free. Free is good. I'm not sure yet if I am going to have assigned seating, but I can work on how I would like the tables set up and where the different special tables will be (DJ, cake, gift, guestbook, etc). And if I decide to assign seats, it'll be a piece of cake!

3. www.weddingchannel.com
They have a wedding music search. Type in an artist and it gives you a list of good wedding songs by that artist. They even have categories of when to play the songs (first dance, cake cutting, bouquet toss, etc).

4. www.weddingmapper.com
With this site you can make a map with little icons for the hotel, ceremony site, reception site, etc. You tell the site addresses and it pulls them up in google maps. You then get to assign icons to the different locations. Center the map however you want, hit the 'print screen' button on your keyboard, paste into word or powerpoint, crop out what's not your map, and voila! you have a perfect map for including in your invitations!

5. www.travelzoo.com
We haven't yet figured out our honeymoon, but this website emails me every week the top 20 deals. Oh the possibilities!

and even though it's not a website, I have gotten really lucky by getting a little lost in Walmart (I am happy to say that I enter Walmart so often (rarely) that I get lost every time). I found clearance invitations and favor boxes that will probably end up saving me at least $100, if not more. I hate Walmart, but I could not pass up that deal! They required some dressing up and buying ribbon, but even still shopping at Walmart is saving me at least $100.

adam's newest wedding dream

Adam had another wedding dream last night...

Somehow my dad got The Dead to play at our wedding. Following the ceremony, my dad was selling tickets at the History Center to the Dead show inside. My brother was selling magnets. My mom was selling oat patties.



I think I have created a monster by introducing Adam to Dark Star Orchestra. I LOVE IT!

the magical powers of coffee

I love coffee. My mornings with coffeemate are the greatest. Unfortunately, this morning is not great because it is April and it is snowing. Snowing. BOO.

I think I am hoping that by drinking coffee it will make the snow disappear. A hope that caused me to drink my coffee a little too fast and I missed my mouth. I now have a dribble of coffee down my shirt.

This is why I drink coffee first, get dressed later.

weddings - PhD Comics style

So, I am spinning cells down and perusing the phdcomics website in order to pass the time. Low and behold, there was a wedding in phdcomics a couple of months ago, and considering my current state, I find these comics hilarious:


PhD Comics 1.30.2009
Now, we luckily are not going to have to serve ramen at the wedding, but this is hilarious just the same.


PhD Comics 2.9.2009
Ah, how your advisor becomes attached in a way that we all hope never happens...

adam's wedding dreams

Two mornings in a row, Adam has woken up to inform me that he had a ridiculous dream about the wedding.

The first: We were getting married in one of the operating rooms at the hospital at which he works.

The second: We had karaoke at the reception and my dad was trying to sing 'Jump, Jump' by KrisKros.

Both of which will never happen, but I find them absolutely hilarious!

wedding shoe shopping!

So, I am thinking that I will probably wear silver shoes for my wedding (I would never wear a white shoe again). I have actually found some cute shoes at Payless (for $18), but I am still looking for something that I might like better. For $18, I would not feel guilty if I do find something I like better. SO, my online shoe search extravaganza has me really looking at everything but silver shoes.
Carlos Santana Pounce Printed Satin Peep Toe Pumps $49.99 at smartbargains.com. How awesome are these shoes!? They're like tie-dye, but WAY better!

Zinc Cliff Suede Studded Wedge Sandal 39.99 at smartbargains.com. I am salivating over those colored striped heels!

Martinez Valero Willow Printed Satin Slingback $79.99 at smartbargains.com.

The only problem with all of these shoes is that I would break my neck trying to wear them. Or wish my neck was broken so that my feet wouldn't hurt anymore. I need to focus on wedding shoes that I can wear instead of these super colorful beauties that I cannot wear. Sigh...

the planning continues...

Now that we have a location and caterer for the wedding, I need to focus on all the little things that I am planning on doing. Luckily I have so many friends who have already gotten married that can give me good ideas!! And by going to walmart to look for something else, I just happened to find a clearance section and got a GREAT deal on invitations and favor boxes. Unfortunately I need a lot of ribbon. And I have been to three walmarts and purchased all they had in the colors and type that I want. And that's not much. I need quite a bit more, but the walmarts I've been to only have 1 or 2 of each kind/color and I need more!! I suppose I can just keep visiting walmarts and everytime I drive by one I will just have to go in. So pathetic. I tried to find the ribbon on walmarts website and the ribbon company website with no luck. Oh well... I have a month. I can find everything in a month (I hope!).

I also found out about this great website, www.weddingmapper.com, where you basically use google maps and then add little icons to the map for the different locations (a bed for the hotel, a bride and groom for the ceremony, a dinner plate for the rehersal dinner, an airplane for the airport). It's totally cute and great for making maps to insert in the invitations! Although, I just realized I didn't say which direction was north, and I've already printed everything...

The main thing I'm avoiding is addressing the envelopes. I just know I'm going to screw it up.

But once all the invitations are done, then I can work on making the favor boxes and silk flower boutinierres. And possibly silk flower corsages too. Then the bridesmaids and I will be the only ones with real flowers, but we're probably the only ones that care... we know boys won't even notice they're wearing flowers. That is, until the flower pin pokes them!

Everything is happening super fast and easily, and I'm waiting for something bad to happen. Maybe the only bad thing will be Beth getting caught trying to sneak down into the jail at the History Center to break the dummy out of jail. :) Cause I know she cannot resist at least trying...