Lost and Found

Maybe it's just my eye, or I'm subconsciously always on the lookout for a photo opportunity, but I absolutely LOVE finding random crap lying around and documenting it. Here are a few of my faves.

Holy SMOKES, BATMAN!

Some avid puzzle fan is very upset about this. I took this shot in Virginia, and it made me think about how upsetting it was as a kid to get to the end of a puzzle and find out you were missing a piece. Maybe the puzzle manufacturers do this on purpose and dump the excess pieces around the country for someone like me to find. What an interesting concept, no? Kind of like a treasure hunt to complete a puzzle. I've been watching too much Lost.

I found this in Key West. I like to think it was a swashbuckling pirate hiding a card up his sleeve during an intense game of blackjack. Or something like that. I was really just drawn to it because of the texture and contrast in colors.

clear to close

I've been holding on to this news for awhile now, especially after the disappointment of the historic home. I didn't want to jinx it. But we got a clear to close this afternoon and will be moving this weekend. It's weird to not put a (hopefully) behind that last sentence. Because whenever I've spoken with anyone about potentially moving I've always added a "hopefully!"

This is our new home. On an acre on a cul de sac with three other homes. There's a creek running through the front of the property and tons and tons of trees. I'm glad I got this photo because in a month from now you won't be able to see this house from the street.

It's amazing how you don't really think about boxes much 'til you're moving. I'm obsessed. Luckily I work at an office where we get a fresh shipment of boxes in every day. I even saw a box on my walk this morning on the curb and seriously contemplated whether or not I could carry it the remaining mile home. Then I had to keep myself from hopping in the car when I got back home to go and get it.

These guys have been a huge help. Ha!

So yes, this weekend is going to be crazy. Dirk is working both Friday and Saturday nights and then playing with his band from 12:00 a.m. Sunday morning 'til 7 a.m. Sunday morning. Then we have our tenant moving into our current home on Sunday. So we have to be out of our house and have it cleaned by then. Oh, and did I mention that all of our manly male friends are going to be out of town this weekend? Yes. And while the fact that my fiance thinks I'm Superwoman is a tad bit flattering, it's also a bit annoying because he believes that JUST THE TWO OF US can move ALL of our furniture in 48 hours. I foresee a lot of swearing and name-calling and I'm hoping we're still engaged when March rolls around on Monday.

More than anything....

I must have flowers

always

always






I hope everyone had an amazing Valentine's Day

xoxo

Engagement Partay!

What an amazing night. I admit, I was a little nervous for the Young South meeting, but I am so very glad that everyone had a chance to meet each other prior to the wedding celebration, one less thing to worry about, right?

Aunt Jane and Uncle Mike hosted the affair at their home and it was perfect. Jane and Mike have the perfect party house. We had a lot of fun taking prom type photos in front of the fireplace, and then we brought out Gomar's mohair coat. Complete with shoulder pads. Gomar is probably rolling over in her grave right now, but towards the end of the night, everyone was taking turns with the coat and the tophat and boa that Dirk and I were told we were wearing.

Brooke and I are very fond of this particular prom portrait pose. Brooke's eyes in this photo crack me up!

My fiance the pimp.

We asked Mama and Daddy to flash their gang sings. We got a thumb's up and an A-OK. They've officially ruined their street cred. Not to mention that huge fish hanging from Daddy's neck is not dipped in 24K gold. Pshaw!

These are my soon-to-be in-laws. Yes, they can hang. The clock was Dan's idea. He's Flava Flav, doncha know?

Here we are. I told Dirk he needs to practice his photo smile because we will be taking a lot of them. He's so burnt out already on having his photo taken (living with me and all) it's like he has to make weird faces in any photo taken of us. He needs practice, but I look cute, right?

Mama's best childhood/high school friend, who is also been a huge support to my life in Birmingham came to the party, and she showed up in the exact same outfit as my mother. I mean, we had even tied her scarf four different ways before settling on this one, and Lyn showed up with her scarf tied the exact same way! They haven't seen each other in years!

I just love this photo. I do believe it's frame-worthy.

Family Time

This post is going to have lots of photos. I've got tons of blog posts planned, mostly with tons of photos, because I've been feeling kind of inspired to take pictures lately.

The main thing that was different about this family visit (aside from the lack of nervous breakdowns), was the fact that Taylor was absolutely, positively, 100% in love with her YaYa. That's what we heard all weekend, "yaya, yaya, yaya?"

Cuteness

My poor parents. They thought they were coming to the sunny south to escape the snow. What are the chances that our bi-annual snow accumulation would occur on the exact same weekend? But it did give us a chance to have a good old fashioned snow ball fight. Actually, they didn't have any snowballs, so it wasn't so much a fight as a masacre.

Brooke and I had decided that in lieu of birthday presents, we would both take Daddy out to lunch to celebrate his January birthday. Of course we had to take Daddy Portraits.

This one's cute.

Here's my delicious "Faux-lafel" Burger in a lettuce wrap instead of a bun. Delicious. I heart chickpeas.

The occasion warranted beers.

Amazingly enough, Daddy opted for a milkshake. Wha?!

What a lucky guy, right? I mean, he gets two gorgeous girls all to himself? I can't remember the last time we got to spend quality father-daughters time. What a treat.

The decor of the restaurant is so cool! These lights hang down from the booths.

Taylor discovered the doggy door on this visit. She liked to open it and then say, "Piper OUT!" and push whatever dog was closest to her out the door. Check out Piper's mouth in this photo (near the back of Taylor's head), she's taller than Taylor!

Bookwormishness runs in her blood.

Engagement Party photos to follow, I just didn't want to bombard everyone with eleventy billion photos all at once! Come back in two days!

Weekend in Review

I will have you know that I made a conscious effort to photograph and find things to blog about this weekend! I know no one's been pressuring, but I miss the blogosphere. I promise to procrastinate at work tomorrow and catch up on all your blogs. There, I said it.

Friday night Dirk and I went to what we thought was going to be a casual tasting of potential Rehearsal Dinner and Reception cuisine. We showed up and it was a candlelit five-course affair with a customized menu. We were in heaven. It was super romantic and a great way to set the stage for our celebration. And apparently the steak was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Dirk actually said, "If you were ever going to try a steak, this would be the one to try." No takers. I greatly enjoyed my veggie skewer, quinoa stuffed poblano pepper, and snow pea puree. Oh, and the squash muffins. Delicious.
So yeah, it's officially official. The deposit has been forked over and we are getting weddinged at Blue Spring Manor May 29th. And I am getting a wedding dress on FRIDAY! WOO HOO! I am so excited!
On Saturday, Dirk and I took Piper to get her yearly shots at the vet. She's weighing in at 68.5 lbs and is healthy as a horse, and as big as one, too. The vet has to stand on tip-toes when she was on the table in order to look in her ears. To reward our sweet pup, Dirk and I took her to the pet store and got her a new toy. Since Piper was a bitty pup she has had this one bear (that Will gave me for Christmas back in 1992) that she will put between her paws and suck on. It's kind of creepy because it looks like she's in a trance or something. We found out that pups that are weened too early may have a propensity towards suckling stuffed animals. Until Fantastic Mr. Fox came along, however, the bear bore the brunt of Piper's SuckFests. Here she is with her new fox, assuming the position.
Dr. Pignataro introduced me to this new iphone app called "Words with Friends" in which you play Scrabble back and forth wiht other iphone or ipod touch users. Dirk and I are now obsessed and I have games going with two Docs at work, Dirk, Mama, and my Aunt Jane. The other night these letters popped up (IN THIS ORDER) on Dirk's game with Aunt Jane! Ha! So yeah, if any of my blogger friends have iphones or ipod touches with wireless access, add me to a game, my username is "libbalu"
The best part of the Superbowl, in my humble opinion, is the PuppyBowl. Piper, however, is not a fan!

I hope everyone had wonderful weekends! This week is going to be awesome, with Mama & Daddy coming from Iowa, Brooke, Chris, and Taylor coming from NC, and other peeps coming in to help me buy a wedding dress and then attend our engagement party! Dirk and my parents will finally meet this weekend. I'm a little nervous. I mean, the Blackwells tend to steal everyone else's thunder. Pray for the South family, please.