Candy Rehersal Bouquets

About 7 years ago Corrine and I started making Candy bridal bouquets for the women in our lives whom we are very close with. Our first one was for my sister-in-law, Natalie. Well, this last year we have had more of them to make then ever and I've started to add things to make them individual towards their weddings and colors. Here are a few of the recent one. I wish I had taken a picture of the one I just did for our friend Erica's wedding this December (cough cough, need the picture lol). I'll add it when I get it.

Racquetball

I have been wanting to give racquetball a try...my dad plays and now my brother Jonathan plays. So, my brother booked us a court at LA Fitness, court number 1 (whatever that meant). I was really excited thinking we had this private room to play and I didn't have to worry about a thing! Well, I should have known it was not going to be a good idea when Jonathan comes downstairs with one racket in hand and I said one of those things you know you want to take back as soon as you spit out the first word but it's too late, right? " So, do we share the racket?" Yeah....I know....
So, we get to the gym, go inside, check in and as my brother takes me to the left, this is what I see...

not just one but 5 huge rooms all with glass and all in perfect viewing for the many cycles upstairs, and the weight lifters, and the personal trainers, yeah so I am starting to regret trying this and then I think about the outfit I picked out to wear. I don't have gym clothes anymore and as I am thinking this through I realize my backside will be the view as we play our hour long game.Why didn't I have anything lycra to wear? Just shoot me now. I mention my concern to Jonathan but he reassures me that he booked court one all the way on the far left side, all the way in perfect view of everyone, I think. So, this is exactly what our room looks like. It was the longest hour of my life. Let's just say, I had wedgies to deal with, a mental block on the instructions of the way to play, I actually missed the ball and tried to grab it only to have it hit me in the nose, I had countless "air" balls, meaning my racket swung like a mad woman. At one point I turned to look and see if anyone noticed us and there was a man sitting on the bench in front of us with his head down laughing and when he saw me look at him, he had to get up and move out of sight until he gained his composure to finish his workout. That about did me in. My brother must have been bored because he hit the ball so hard all I could see was a blur of black flying towards my face, so what did I do? The proper "girl" thing. I screamed and jumped out of the way! We ended a little early, and as we left the building we walk to the car and what do I see but someone had stuck their gum on my side of the door handle! Yeah, first and last time for racquetball.

Just Say No To Bullying-Take 2

This is Coby, my youngest son. I'm not sure if you read a post I did about him when he was in 5th grade about being bullied.The original post is here, on my old Xanga site , but basically Coby was bullied for about 3 to 4 years by various kids in elementary school through the 5th grade. It was very very difficult to walk through with him, but in his 5th grade year he took a stand. He took a stand by getting involved in Toastmasters and writing a speech based on his experiences and the the facts of bullying. It was great! He then went on to 6th grade, had his best year and now an even better year in his first year of Jr. High. So, this is close to our hearts and we are very sensitive to keeping our eyes open for other kids who might be bullied.

Now, to the present, a couple of weeks ago, I was sitting in our car waiting for him to get out of school and then the mad herd of kids start flowing around the block. I'm sitting in the car and I am watching this one boy day after day come running around the corner followed by 5 boys chasing him, throwing plants at him and one even hitting the boy in the back with a newspaper. My first thought is to get out and yell at all the parents on the other side of the street, closest to him each day who don't get out of their cars and say something! Shame on their turn the other way attitude. Secondly, as I was assessing the situation I noticed they all were laughing, even the boy being chased, but that day he got hit in the back with the newspaper I could see it in his eyes. He wasn't laughing inside. So, Coby got into the car and I asked him questions, one being if he sees this happen on campus. He tells me they are actually all friends and play basketball together. Another red flag for me. Coby and I proceed to watch it happen again and decide that this boy is not running around the corner for a game and I ask Coby if he would mind if I said something to the kids chasing him. Coby says not at all, we have to do this. So, I pulled up to the 5 of these boys and roll down the window and say," Hey, I don't want to see you boys chasing that other boy anymore." One of the kids proceeds to yell back, "We are all friends." to which I reply, "Friends do not treat their friends that way, I don't want to see that again." So, I think out of embarrassment the 5 boys laugh and start making fun of me, to which I turned to Coby and said, they won't do this again, that is their pride in being "called on it" that is causing them to laugh, but inside they know they were caught. I also told Coby that if they start to mess with you, you let me know. Coby, didn't care, he even started playing basketball with the other kid just to keep an eye on him.He doesn't know him or his name but was watching out for him.

Here's the cool part, last week Coby and I watched the boy who was being chased get to walk to his car at his own pace and we even ran into him and his dad at 7 Eleven, but we didn't say anything. Coby and I looked at each other and smiled and then when we got into the car and Coby turned to me and said,"Mom, I am so happy we did that!" I said we could have just totally made a difference in his life and future just by standing up to those boys and telling them to stop it.

You have to smile. To this young man, I say, you do not know that we are watching out for you, but we are and will continue to do so.

The Dress and Shoes

So, Corrine and I headed out yesterday to find my dress for Erin's wedding and the shoes. I wanted to get this done because I knew there would need to be alterations, and there does. We really liked what I found. I need, as I knew I would, some extra material up top and I want to get what Corrine calls "a shrug", a short sweater type little cover.

So, I went more earthy with the look

I also needed a large heel to give me a little height. I had to go with something that had a wedge because I need stability. It's been a long time since I have worn a heel, I'm a flip-flop kind of gal.