Surprise for Dirk - Panic Attack for Libba

(Note: All these photos are courtesy of Tim & Liz, mine are saved on the macdaddy computer and I'm currently using the laptop and too lazy to go downstairs and blog and would rather use the laptop while watching reruns of "The Hills" and how f-ing crazy are Spencer and Heidi?!)

On Sunday Aimee & Jorge hosted a surprise Stock the Bar party for Dirk. And I had a panic attack. Because Dirk and I don't keep secrets. In fact, they just usually come spewing out of our mouths as soon as we've heard or seen or know something that we should keep from the other person. So getting him there and keeping my mouth shut over the past almost two months of knowing about this was really hard. So when I finally got him there and it was time for the surprise I was shaking and my heart was pounding and I went straight for the margarita dispenser.

Dirk was very surprised. He's never had a party hosted in his honor (which is one reason why writing the checks for our wedding has been so difficult for him) let alone a surprise party. His family and friends all showed up with booze and he was silly stupid smiley the whole party.
He was also impressed by my surprise party secret keeping abilities.
I've relaxed a little bit by this point.
I think we need to have a party! You are all invited!
Special shout out to Liz, who has been an amazing asset over our engagement. Not only has she designed all of our wedding stationery, but she even designed the Surprise Party invitations for Aimee. So very sweet, she is!

Okay, so yeah, the big day is just days away. In fact, if I had a calculator I could probably count the hours, but I'm too scattered right now to do that. My head is in eleventy billion different places right now but I am SO very excited for this weekend. Almost all the details have been taken care of, and now I'm just biding my time 'til noon when my parents arrive and the madness ensues. The only thing I'm super nervous about at this point is whether or not my dress will zip. See, it fits to a T. No room for error. So I've been super careful the past week, but when my mama is in Birmingham it's a nonstop eat/drinkfest. How many cheese curls and cookies and wine can we possibly consume over the course of one tiny person's visit? You'd be surprised. So yeah, salads and water for this broad for the next few days. Everyone cross your fingers or I'll be heading to the store to drop $75 on Spanx.

My Fiance the Hero

I had just gotten finished shopping with Shannon and Liz this afternoon and was very excited about all my fun new clothes and accessories for next weekend (yes, one week from today at this very moment I will be saying "I DO!" when I pulled into the driveway and stopped the car. At first I thought they were branches from yesterday's storm, and then I realized one had a head and was looking at me. Thank God for cell phones. I've never been squeamish about snakes, and every time I tell my Mama I'm going to swim in the river she shudders inside thinking about all the snakes that must be swimming with me, but in my almost 8 years in Alabama, I've only seen three snakes (five now, I suppose.)

But luckily, I am marrying a man who takes care of these sorts of things. His first instinct was to get something to kill the snakes, instead of calling a pest service or screaming or carrying on. He takes care of $h!t, and it's one of the many reasons I love him. Because I know that if there's ever something around threatening his family, he'll do what needs to be done. Although he hated killing the poor things and said so a couple of times, I am so grateful that he did. Because I couldn't have.

Please pardon the curse words. We were distraught.
(note: I cannot seem to get this video to upload, but will continue to try!)

Snake 1
Snake 2

Baubles by Libba is BACK

I know it's been awhile, but I FINALLY got around to updating my etsy site. So yes, there are new items and sections, including a SEVEN DOLLAR SALE section filled with affordable accessories for your ears.

Oh, and I now have a fan page on facebook, so "Like" me.

Here's the Dealio

This post is going to be chock-full of random photos taken over the past few days.

Here's a selection of the earrings I made this past weekend. Having fun hammering again and manipulating wire. The shells are for my new friend Amy in exchange for the twin bed and boxspring she gave me for my guestroom!
I discovered this bottle of wine at a new package store in Southside. I want to buy it for someone, but I'm really afraid they may get offended.
My b!tch likes balls (our friend Bobby came up with the caption for this photo.) Piper is obsessed with balls like no other dog I've ever met (even Ruby.) She can't control herself when there's a ball around. So when she found a second ball she went into a trance after she was able to figure out how to get them both in her mouth at one time.
I made this long pearl and seed bead necklace this past weekend, too. I'm kind of into long necklaces lately, not sure why. They're not too fun to make, but I love the way this one turned out.
I got new glasses! The stupid eye disease left my poor eyeballs dry as a desert, so I have to wear glasses for the next few months 'til they rehydrate. Dirk and Aimee helped me pick out this pair and I really do like them.

Dia De Los Dirka

We celebrated Dirk's birthday this past weekend Yay! Over the past five years, this is only the second birthday I've gotten to spend with Dirk, poor guy. I was always traveling on his birthday, so we made it extra special this year.

The girls and I woke him up with veggie sausage and biscuits and orange juice in bed!
I slaved away over this two-layer chocolate creation.
We went to dinner with friends at Taj India and then we headed to drinks with more friends at the Garage, the coolest bar in Birmingham.
The courtyard is amazing with a bunch of collectable treasures just laying around. Each one of the garages (my great Uncle Bubba used to park his car here back when they were functioning garages) has a different theme and is full of fun stuff.
And creepy things, too.

After the Garage we all headed to listen to a great band named Pharm Hand at the Open Door Cafe. I danced the night away. And Dirk drank the night away. We were joined by some more friends and we were able to celebrate both Dirk's birthday and Aimee's graduation from the Master's Program at UAB. So proud of her! And still recovering from all the fun!

My Backyard Smells Delicious

Thanks to the invasion of the honeysuckle. I love Alabama.

Happy Mother's Day!

For Mother's Day this year I decided to do something OTHER than making my mother earrings or a necklace (shock, right?!) So my new friend Amy (in a shout out to Brooke's "new friend Kelly") and I went to Happy Hour and then Sips 'n Strokes to create masterpieces.

So we set up our easles.
And unleashed the cooler.
And uncorked the wine.
And prepared our brushes.
And I admired the textures :) Of course.
And readied our palettes.
And we began to paint and it rather resembled a you-know-what.
But then it began to take shape.
And here we are with our finished products! I LOVE Sips 'n Strokes and Amy and I are making it a monthly tradition. We had so much fun chatting and painting and it was SO very relaxing.
So I hope you like your peacock, Mama. It will be waiting for you when you come later on this month. I know he looks a little angry, but please blame it on the Pinot Grigio!

Random Photo Blog

Whole Grain Goldfish, Wasabi/Soy Sauce Almonds, Honeyroasted Peanuts, Cashews, and Craisins. Antioxidants and protein galore!
I could eat an avocado a day. LOVE!
OUR CAKETOPPERS! By the lovely and talented Katie Shelton of skunkboycreatures. Awesome.

Enjoying the View

When I first moved to the mountain my freshman year, I could not get over the crazy weather. In Iowa, you can see the clouds from miles away so you know when it's going to snow, rain, tornado, etc. You see it coming. In Sewanee, I would walk to class in the sunshine, and run home from class in a downpour, only to study in the courtyard in the sun fifteen minutes later. A local told me that if you didn't like the weather in Sewanee to wait 10 minutes.

These are three different views, seen on three different days at the Bradfords cabin in the mountains.

I'm the Bride, That's Why

My Bachelorette Weekend was everything I had hoped for. Hiking, Fine Dining, Family, Friends, Views, and lots and lots and lots of wine.

Mama, Jane, and I went up on Thursday and spent the night chatting over gumbo. We laughed so hard that one of us peed her pants (this person shall remain anonymous.) On Friday we woke up and drove to one of the most beautiful spots named after a family I nannied for during my years on the mountain. And I skinny-dipped for what will probably be my last time as a single lady. It was cold, but SO exhilarating!
Brooke, Kate, and Meg arrived Friday afternoon, just in time for drinks on the deck. We missed Blair & Sarah (our other female cousins), but we managed to have a great time. Kate made us these headbands out of ribbon from presents I received at my bridal shower. Craftiness runs in the family, right?
This photo pretty much sums up the feeling I have while I'm in Sewanee. Complete and total relaxation. Who wouldn't be relaxed with this view, though, right?
On Saturday I took my female family on a tour of the campus. Can you believe I spent four whole years walking around this beautiful campus?! And seriously, I promise you that I NEVER took it for granted. Here's a view of the Quad from Walsh-Ellett (where I had all my religion and history courses.)
This is Guerry Garth where concerts and plays are held. The office at the top of the clock tour belonged to my advisor during my time at Sewanee. When I studied in Oxford I had the privilege of seeing the EXACT SAME clock tour at Magdalen College at the University of Oxford. The architecture at Sewanee was modeled after that at Oxford, so even though I was far away from home, I never felt TOO far away.
And there was some of this, too. I had hoped that I would get out of the embarrassing boa-type behavior common amongst those about to be wed, but alas, Aimee and Stephanie arrived just in time to make sure I was sufficiently embarrassing looking.
CHEERS! At Shenanigans!
The crowd!

So yes, I returned from the weekend feeling a little sad that one more milestone leading up to the big day had come and gone. I mean, you only get ONE Bachelorette Party, right? I successfully turned mine into a weekend, but still.