And they're off...

I ventured off to Camden, South Carolina to the Carolina Cup steeplechase races to be a spectator with some 70,000 other people. I will try to make this as quick and as easy to read as possible. Well first off it was FREEZING. So it was pretty insane to be running around in halter-top dresses, bare legged, with big hats on. Melissa and I had chicken skin legs anytime we were outside. We spent most the time in the truck because of my profound lack of weather planning.

8am - March 29th, 2008: There we were outside my lovely cousins residence some 30 miles from the race course, where the sun was shinning through the patches of gray clouds, it was a temperate 65 degrees. Who needs a jacket this is great weather? I asked myself. This weather kept up until we arrived or so it seemed. It turned dark and cold. To top it all off the wind was ripping around taking with it hats, tents, and all sorts of trash. Most of the morning was spent inside a vehicle taking refuge from the horrible weather only interrupted by occasional bathroom visits. (porta-johns yuck) By noon we had discovered a souvenir stand where of course they had sold out of everything long sleeve, but conveniently had polar fleece vests left. As soon as a wrapped something around my bare back I felt like a new person! We had a great spread of food: three pepper hummus, pasta salad, and sandwich makings. All of which I devoured, the adverse weather had taken a lot out of me. After that we started to wander around seeing the sights, and looking for friends. About 3pm I felt one little cold, wet rain drop so that meant in heels we had to book it to the car again. I felt like I spent all day on a trip/ stuck in a car!! It poured for about 45 minutes; at this point we had, had enough. We packed it all up and headed home.

There was magnificent people watching though: girls chasing hats and trying hard not to have their dresses fly up, intoxicated people, a tent that titled themselves "the frilly tent" complete with pink flamingos and all, dresses covered in mud, people falling off vehicles. All in all it wasn't my best cup year yet, but still fun. I will be back next year!! (I might even re-use my dress and hat, I didn't get it show it off hardly at all!)
Melissa, and Dirty Bird which happens that he matches her dress, convenient!

Me :polar vest and all:, Melissa :smart enough to lose her's for pics:, and Shelly :drunk:

Easter, not just about bunnies

For winter's rains and ruins are over,
And all the season of snows and sins;
The days dividing lover and lover,
The light that loses, the night that wins;
And time remembered is grief forgotten,
And frosts are slain and flowers begotten,
And in green underwood and cover
Blossom by blossom the spring begins.

Algernon Charles Swinburne 1837–1909

Isn't this just beautiful. First off Happy Easter! How magnificent, that some two thousand years ago, Jesus died and was resurrected for our sins. We should all be so thankful how full our lives are. Take this time when nature comes out of the cold of winter and reflect on all our blessings. I know we should be grateful all year round, but it is something about holidays that makes everyone more reflective on our lives. It's times like these where in the face of change all around us, and the great un-known that issues that seemed un-manageable can just disperse almost with a few kind words or a smile. When there is a trauma with-in a close-knit group of people its just like a lot of things don't seem so important as they once were. They have to come together and support one another with love and forbearance. A lot of people now days only want to depend on themselves, but I have come to learn that is a terrible way to live. : lonely, fruitless, downcast: We've got to support and love one another, these are the fruits that God has given us and I believe far too many times we turn our backs on one another and de-humanize our love ones. Let's get back to a straightforward way of living or at least try. I have good feelings about all the changes upon us. I think with lots of prayer, hopes and lenience we accomplish almost anything. A new prosperous year is upon us and I am feeling more alive as each day gets warmer and warmer. I know that everything happens for a reason and it is all bigger than we can even begin to comprehend. So let's all be positive and celebrate the small things.

Yellow Steeplechase Hat

Help! I think I am a blog addict. Everything I do something I think to myself I must take a picture or write some notes so I can blog about this later. I feel very afflicted by this strange attraction to blogging! Well on to the topic... This is a project I finished quite awhile back. March 29th is a huge steeplechase in Camden, South Carolina. All of society comes out in their spring finest for an amazing fashion show of sorts! Instead of searching high and low for a costly hat. I took it upon my self to decorate a plain chocolate brown Nine West sun hat. With instructions partly from My-sister and law and part Internet research I began creating "yo-yo's" from different types of fabric. There are many different ways to make these, most commonly used are circles, then hearts, and squares. I took the easy way out using circles. You cut a circle 2x the size roughly of what you actually want your "yo-yo" to be. I used all sorts of round things as templates: a CD spindle, drinking glasses, coffee containers. Sew a running stitch around the outer edge of the fabric give yourself some room though about a 1/4-1/6th of an inch from the edge. If you get too close you will have tearing when you go to gather it all up. When you have completed your circle take both ends and draw them up letting the fabric gather, making a little balloon type looking thing. When you can't gather anymore tie it off to secure it. Begin the press it all the fabric flat, and move your gathers where you would like them to be. Wah-La you have a beautiful "yo-yo" or flower. You can embellish them with beads, buttons, other fabric flowers that you cut out, and scraps like I did. These look great on all kinds of things, hats, clothes, bags, barrettes. (where I borrowed the idea from) The best part is they are SO EASY! Heather Bailey has an easy to follow tutorial check it out: http://heatherbailey.typepad.com/photos/how_to_make_a_yoyo/index.html

As soon as my party weekend comes and goes I will be back with lots of photos, so I can show it off with my dress. Pretty snappy if I should say so myself! I can't wait, I hope the weather warms up for this weekend: Easter, and stays warm. Salutations for now.

Rapunzel, Rapunzel let down your hair ...

Well I am no self-proclaimed rapunzel, but that is as catchy as it gets today. The weather here is very grim. : lots of rain and dark dark clouds: However not too many complaints here though because we do need it. Anyhow I ventured out into this wet weather today to get my hair coifed with a color, cut, and style. I haven't been able to do anything with my hair in about six months or so for one various reason or another. Also this was a new hairstylist, which made me a little nervous understandably. I took her some photos of rachel bilson, eva longoria, and lindsay lohan for inspiration. I was going for a richer color that looked a little sun kissed. The cut I wanted was long simple layers-unfortunately I must grow all my little layers out first so I will have to work my way into that style.The process is as follows: lots of dark rich brown hair dye, two tubes to be exact. I have VERY thick hair so it really soaks this stuff up. Wash. Two different color highlights: one red and one caramel, only in the crown of my head. Wash. Then she proceeded to blow out my hair and followed that by using a straightener. She began to do a dry cut, which all said and done turned out amazing! The whole thing took about two and half hours, which is about average for the length and thickness of my hair. Overall I had a great experience and would go back again. On a side note I also got my nails done in this shimmer sheer pink that is almost white. I found comfort in its subtle pop of color on such a dreary morning. It was titled It's Sheer Luck by OPI.
Check it out.

Virgin Blogger

Please bear with me, this is my first time blogging. I took the idea from my sister-in-law and ran with it. It just seems like a fabulous way to vent, and at the same time share my life and experiences with everyone in the WORLD! Now if anyone wants to hear about it, it may be another story all together. I was sorting through my photos looking for a picture for my profile when I found some beautiful shots that reminded me of the upcoming spring season and Easter weekend. I really needed a boost. This weekend was tough for me due to some laser treatments I had on my face. When I heal I want to make a post ALL about it. It is very interesting and painful.
I love taking photos and these are some shots that I did last spring. I have a Canon digital rebel, which I think is a great camera for an amateur such as myself. It definitely gets the job done especially since I was gifted with the zoom lens. I have lots of subject matter since my husband's grandmother is an amazing gardener. Every year about this time she has a plethora of flowers springing forth to display their full glory for all to enjoy. Each one is so different and beautiful in its own way. I know that sounds ridiculous but each one seems to have its own story.