Dress choices

So it took longer than a few weekends ago, but I finally made it to try on wedding dresses with my sister. And despite my misgivings about going to a "factory" store, the expirience I had with David's Bridal was above my expectations. I came away from the visit with two, yes two, dress options and the idea that if I bought my dress from David's I would go back to the NJ store and have the same sales consultant. She was very helpful and just plain nice. Here are the links to my choices. The first one is name brand and pretty expensive. But the second one is just as pretty and fits me well so I will not be upset if I decide that the first dress is just too much money for me.

Dress #1: http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Satin-Bodice-with-Organza-Skirt-and-Beading-CT258_Bridal-Gowns-Features-Designer-Gowns-Oleg-Cassini

Dress #2: http://www.davidsbridal.com/Product_Satin-and-tulle-assymetrical-pick-up-gown-T9669

My plan is to look at two other stores, the bridal place in SP and the same place my sister got her's to see if I can find similar dresses that I like even more or the same dresses for cheaper.

Enjoy the pictures.

Attack of the ants.

Went to a wedding this sunday. It was an outdoor/ backyard wedding. Very nice. Very hot!. Left my purse on the ground. Had an interview the next morning and discovered ants crawling all over me and my purse. Once home dumped everything out and found the draw. An old jolly rancher. Covered in ants. So I attacked them back with my vaccum cleaner. No more ants!!! PS. No wedding dress shopping this weekend. Nor next weekend. Too many changes in plans. So we try again next weekend. Keep your fingers crossed!!!

My Grand Adventure

This weekend I am officially beginning the grand adventure known as... Wedding Planning! I know, I know, I really started that the moment Russell proposed, but in my mind it is not truely offical until I look for a dress. So this weekend I am driving up to NJ for such a purpose. I'm not planning on buying anything yet. I mean I've still got a few years... hahah. But really. I have no idea what I want in a wedding dress. Except that I want a big skirt and a train. Oh.. I also think I'd like a cream colored dress. Not ivory, but off white or some shade of that. I am hoping to come home with some good ideas and an idea on prices. As of right now, I'd rather keep my dress with alterations done to a three digit number. I'm pretty sure I can do that. I'm also plannig on looking at bridesmaids dresses. I know David's Bridal is a very good place to get dresses from. I mean they DO dresses. And I am ok with getting bridesmaids dresses from there. But I'm not sold on buying MY dress there. Probably because when Gina went to David's to look for dresses she didn't have a good time. It was crowded and rushed and the guy (yes, guy) brought the same dresses out for her to try on. When she did find her dress it was from a small, local store and I loved the atmosphere of it. There was never more than one other person there trying on dresses and all the ladies came out and fluttered around her during the fittings. I'm afraid that with David's I wont get that. That it will be too overbearing and "processed." There is so much time and effort put into picking and fitting the right dress that I want to be the only dress that person is thinking about. Not "oh my gosh this is dress number 4 and I've got 50 more to fit!" With bridesmaids dresses there isn't that much to it. You get a dress, make sure the size fits and if you needs some alterations they are usually very small issues. So.... here's to getting ideas and just enjoying trying on some dresses!

Happy 4th

Happy Early 4th of July everyone!!!!!!! And for those reading this tomorrow, Happy Regular 4th of July.

Baby it's cold outside.

Ok so it's not really cold... but compared to last week and even the beginning of next, its wonderful outside. We've got the windows open and everything. Highlights of the week: my nephew came down on Monday and Tuesday. He had a fever the whole time but we weren't sure if it was a virus or from teething. Highlight of next week: Gina is coming back down and we begin..... Wedding Dress Shopping!!!!!!! I can not wait. It makes the fact that I actually AM getting married all the more real. And what girl doesn't like playing dress-up in some fabulous clothes.

An Adventure in Butter and Cream

So folks, I did it! I made butter today!!!!! It was really fun. It took a bit longer than I thought so I got a bit nervous but everything turned out right. I started with a nice cold mixing bowl, wisk and heavy cream. I started mixing it and watched at the cream got thicker. Once the stiff peaks formed, this is where it got dicy. Since it was taking a decent amount of time, I turned off the mixer and scraped down the sides. I also looked up my friend EK's blog to see what she did when she made butter. About this time, the mixture started changing and I knew I was on the right track. As I watched the butter granules started forming and buttermilk began splashing out of the mixer. Thats right. With a mixer on high, any liquid is going to get wizzed right out of the bowl. At this point I decided the mixer had done its work. I turned it off and felt the butter. It felt like, smelled like and looked like little pieces of butter in a cloudy liquid. I dumped everything into a strainer lined with cheese cloth and squeezed. Once the butter was in a nice lump I began to wash it. I got butter all over my hands and ring, but its all good. The water came clear and I put the new butter into the French Butter Bell that I had bought from the farmers market a few months ago. My mom had bought one just like mine with a different pattern. When she tried to use hers with store bought butter, she said it didn't work. The butter slid right out of the bell into the water. When I filled mine, I checked to make sure the butter was staying upside-down. So far so good. In fact I just checked again... it's still upside-down. Since I've also been trying to find a place that sells fresh dairy products so that I can buy some buttermilk and fresh cream to make sour cream, I used some of the new-made butter milk and the left over heavy cream to attempt to make some sour cream now. Its sitting in a platic container on the counter. "Souring" I hope. We'll find out tomorrow. Now for using up the rest of the buttermilk. I have no idea what to do with it. The only thing I can think of is buttermilk biscuits or buttermilk ranch dressing! I'm sure both of those are fine things to try out. Maybe next week? Anyway.. I have plenty of ideas for using up the butter. I am hoping to make an herb butter with it. I have tons of rosemary that I never use and I am trying to come up with ideas for using it up. So far it's doing the best out of all my plants and herbs that I planted in the spring. I have one cucumber growing but I think it is dying because it is turning yellow. Oh well. On a side note I have some black cherry tomatoes! Gonna talk to my mom to find out exactly how dark they should be before I pick them. I can't wait. Maybe I can make some bruchetta with the basil pesto and cherry tomatoes. Looking forward to all the possibilities!

Its hot outside!!!!

Russell took a picture today. It was of the tempurature gage in the paramedic unit. It registered a 120 degrees outside!!!! Yikes! On a good note: I made a basil-parsely pesto trying to use up all the basil from my herb box. Its getting too hot outside for any kind of plant so I had to save them. The pesto doesn't quite taste like basil, but that's because I put a huge amount of parsley in it. And maybe not enough garlic. I toasted up some pine nuts for the first time. I tasted them too. They are soft. Almost like peanut butter in a hard shell form or something. It was new and different. I also have some good news. I finally bought heavy cream with the intent to whip the heck out of it and turn it into butter!!!! Yay! Stand by for an update either tomorrow or Saturday. Because I am going to make butter. =)