The Peach Post

I live in Pennsylvania, so recently we've received a ton of snow.  I love winter and the snow, so it doesn't bother me in the least.  Back in November I planted well over 100 bulbs in various places in my flower beds around our house hoping and praying that most will grow and bloom this spring and summer.

A few days ago, I was out in our front yard letting my dog do his business when I looked at our flower bed in the front of our house and in the gloom of winter when all seems dormant, I saw green.  Life. Some of my flowers are beginning to grow.  And it made me happy.

Not only that, but the rabbits and groundhog who live under our shed have made their first appearance (at least to me) this week.  I love to look out our kitchen window to see what they are up to. Last year they each had babies and I'm wondering if new babies lurk under that shed ready to be introduced to the world  once spring arrives.

I wanted to share this because while I become sad when winter ends (I know, I'm odd) I get very excited about the 're-birth' mother nature allows us to enjoy each and every year.  It's truly a blessing and something to be thankful for.

 

She was a bridesmaid in my mom's wedding. And I've never been uber close with her.  Infact, I don't recall seeing her except in pictures at my christening.    When I was younger though, she and I would correspond with letters and postcards because she had moved with her husband to Australia.  After several years living Down Under, his job took them to the U.K.  Several years later they came home to the States and have in been N.C. ever since.

We would email once in a while and always do the Christmas card thing.  She always updated me on her girls and their lives which was quite nice.

Since we've announced our engagement, she's been emailing my mom and me about the wedding plans, wanting our wedding website address and just curious in general all of which I find quite endearing.

Then, this past Saturday, I received an email from her. She told me that she can remember buying my christening gown in this one neighborhood in Philadelphia waaaaaay back when.  And would love nothing more than to buy my veil and headpiece for my wedding.  For this would make her feel as if she has come full circle with this 'little girl.' 

I was so taken back with this kind gesture and my eyes welled with tears. I emailed her back expressing my thanks and gratitude and accepted her offer.  Her email back to me after that:

Go for the bling and get the best.

Bippity Boppity Boo!

Happy New Year!  I needed a break from it all and that's what I did between my last post and this one.  So here I am.  A new year.  My wedding year.  My fiance, Mr. I, calls it, 'The Year of Us.'  I actually like this and it makes me smile when he says it. 

Back to all things wedding.   This past Saturday we finally made it to Men's Warehouse.  The mecca for all things man.  Okay, just suits, tuxes and a small selection of casual clothes but none-the-less, a very manly store.  Mr. I knew he didn't want a tux.  Not liking the penguin look myself, I was pleased with his announcement.  He decided to roll with a suit for the wedding and suits for the groomsmen, etc.  Into Men's Warehouse we roll.  First time there and all we really wanted to do was get a feel for what was offered, look at prices and colors.  That may have been what we wanted to do but certainly not what our salesperson wanted us to do.  And it just got more annoying from that point on.  He picked two suits.  From those two he picked the $700 suit to have Mr. I try on.  He looked great in the jacket but $700?  Okay, stop the presses.  There was a sale!  It was $100 off.  So for $600 this can be yours...minus the model.



This is the exact suit.  And as I found this photo, a mere few seconds ago, I noticed this is the most expensive gray suit they offer online.
Then add in a dress shirt, tie, pocket square and shoes and my groom's attire was inching closer and past the cost of my dress.  Do we really also expect our groomsmen to shell out money like this?  Isn't it our duty to be cost conscience for our friends and family who are standing up with us? 

Then it happened.

I looked across the store to see three body forms impeccably dressed.  And I heard the angels singing from above.

When I think of a tuxedo, I automatically go with the bow tie, black and white dealeo.  But these were tuxes that looked like suits and were color coordinated.  I asked our pushy salesman about them and this is where he knew he was losing us.  We didn't look back as we descended upon the tuxedo rental counter. 

For $150, Mr. I can rent it all.  I'm talking down to his socks.  The only item the needs to be supplied are undies.  Thank god for that.  And are you ready for this?  They have the matching color to the bridesmaid dresses.  Thank god for partnerships with David's Bridal! We think Mr. I will be in a black tux with Ivory shirt, tie and vest to match me, the guys in black tuxed with white shirts, Lapis (eggplant) ties and vests to match the girls, and the Father of the Bride in a black tux, white shirt, with black tie and vest.  Voila!

If you actually visit the Men's Warehouse site, you can build a tux.  Quite fun. 

 

It snowed yesterday.  All day.  It was so beautiful that I found myself staring out the windows more often then not lost in thought.  I love this time of year so much that I think it could the Holiday Season year round and I wouldn't tire of it. The sights, the sounds, the smells.  There's just nothing like it.

 

 

The snow and Christmas invoke peace and serenity within me.  My mind drifts back to Christmas's spent with my grandparents as a child and all of our holiday traditions that they made sure we did so that now, 20+ years later, I continue these traditions and because I do this, a part of me feels their spirit lives on.  I miss them.  And so there I was yesterday completely lost in the moment.  It's Christmas, it was snowing, the lights on the garland and wreath were lit, candles were lit, Christmas music was on and I was baking cookies.  It doesn't get more Martha Stewart then that.  I even wore an apron...I never wear aprons.  But it felt right so I did.  I heard Andrea Bocelli's new Christmas album in the background as I was fixated on the snow falling out my kitchen window.  At the very moment all I could think about was my dog, Bosco, who pass away in April 2008, and how much he adored the snow.  And my eye welled up with tears. 

 

These photos are from January 2006.  Almost 4 years ago.  It still feels like it was just yesterday.  I remember that day so vividly.  We had so much fun. While I do find myself missing him I can't look past the fact that I now have two beautiful dogs to make new snow memories with.  Our next walk I will have my camera in hand to begin capturing these moments.  The holidays can be a tricky time of year and can pull so much emotion.  Joy. Compassion. Sadness. Maybe it is a good thing then that the Holiday Season is only once a year.