Orchids and fancy dresses.

I'm thinking of using orchids as the centerpieces for the tables at the reception. I'm not sure exactly which breed of orchid I plan to use, but I'm almost positive orchids and some form of candles will adorn the tables.

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I am starting a new project. Today I purchased some beautiful pink silk jacquard and I am going to make a dress to wear out for a romantic dinner on my honeymoon. For a preview visit this page at Vogue. I am making the dress on the right (the one that is purple in the picture).

Off and running

Tonight was the first night of this semester's High School Writer's Workshop. We had a fantastic turnout -- 11 students! That's right... 11 students, on a snowy, Wednesday evening, the first night!!! It took us half the semester to get 10 students last time and then we shrunk back down to four. I'm hoping this is a sign of good things for this semester. The students all seem fairly eager to learn, and Nick and I are fairly eager to teach them.


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I set aside a block of hotel rooms this evening for the wedding guests that are coming from far away. Luckily, we found a hotel that not only allows pets, but also allows them to be left alone in the hotel room. My future in-laws have two dogs that must come with them on the trip, so we were worried about finding a place... but it all worked out.


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We found the most wonderful honeymoon that we can probably afford! It's no Tahiti or Petit St. Vincent, but it's great. It isn't written in stone yet, but it is the most promising thing we've seen to date. It's an all-inclusive (meals, drinks, activities, taxes, tips) stay in Puerto Vallarta. The room has a jacuzzi on the balcony overlooking the ocean. !!! I know, I can't believe it either. The price is half the price of most other places we've looked into. I'm hoping that we'll be able to do it. We're going to try to get it all sorted out this weekend.





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We still haven't found a videographer! I'm starting to lose hope. Is there no dependable person in WV who can shoot a decent wedding video??? Please, if you know of any, let me know.

To-Do

1. Keep your fingers crossed.

School bells ring are you listenin'?

Today, back to work. One of my English 112 classes was cancelled for this semester due to low enrollment, so I was offered an extra webcourse instead. I gleefully accepted. So.... this semester I teach two webcourses, two regular courses, a high-school writer's workshop, and work at the Writing Center as a tutor. It's still an insane amount of work, even a little more than if I had less webcourses, but it means that I don't have to be on campus at 8am, which is nice.

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Today consisted of:
Worked at the writing center for four hours.
Worked on my webcourses for a couple hours.
Cleaned the kitchen.
Washed Dishes.
Sewed 2/3 of a t-shirt.
Watched a little TV.
Stayed up a lot later than I should have considering I need to work tomorrow.

Blurbing about back bones

I've been going to the Chiropractor this week. Monday was my first visit to a Chiropractor ever. It was quite the experience let me tell you.

I was really hopeful that it might give me some relief from my shoulder pain. Immediately after my adjustment, I feel great... but then later in the evening my shoulders go back to hurting again. I don't know if I should just give it time and keep going back or forget it altogether.

Abby, you are seriously my hero.

I just got a sewing machine and I've been super excited to learn how to sew. I want to make cute little dresses and skirts and shirts etc. etc. etc.

Anyway, I went out and bought some patterns, fabric, ribbon, thread, a cutting mat, a roller-cutter, seam binding, etc... and I sat down to learn to sew. I read through the instructions that came with the machine, and the pattern instructions. And so began my first shirt.

First, I had to learn to thread the bobbin and the technical writer that wrote the damn instructions is a fool. I couldn't understand half the things written there. So after about twenty minutes, with Nick's help, I thread the bobbin and the needle and practice some stitches on a spare piece of fabric. I could barely sew a straight line.

After awhile, I started getting the basting and straigtstitch down, though around curves it is very very difficult.

Everything was going pretty good, The shirt was taking shape and even though all of the stitching wasn't perfect, it looked okay and you would have to be really close to notice the mistakes. But then today, I started the sleeves.

>:o How the heck do you sew sleeves onto the body of the shirt!!???!! I tried to follow the directions. When it was finished, it looked pretty good around the shoulder but then I looked down and noticed the arm itself was completely inside out. This would be okay if I could rip the seams out and do it over, but my fabric is super thin and when I try to rip the thread out it tears holes in the material.

I decided to sew on the other arm anyway, for practice sake. It looked okay. I still need some help though, because the inside of the sleeve looked ridiculoso.

I wish I had someone here to walk me through my first project so I can learn a little more easily. I don't mind trial and error so much except for the cost of the fabric.

Abby, you sew so well. I just think you deserve some credit for the beautiful things you make. I'm a little envious of your skill... but with time and lots of practice, maybe I will make you a dress and return the favor :)

New Year's Mail.

So I'm home.

I didn't get the chance to blog while I was in WV because I was constantly busy with friends, family, holiday festivities and wedding planning.

I love getting mail. This New Year's the box was full with a week and a half's worth of mail.

- Computer Credit Card Bill
- Credit Card Bill
- Credit Card Bill
- Cell Phone Bill
- Clothing Magazine
- News Magazine
- Check from Yale Younger Poets
- Wedding Video Demo
- Thank You Card
- Christmas Present from landlord (it was so nice)
- Retirement Brochure
- Credit Card Pre-Approvals
- Christmas Card
- Netflix DVD