Bruiser is 100,000

  My wonderful Xterra, Bruiser Woods ( named after the pup from Legally Blonde) just turned 100,000 miles!!!

                      It is hard to see with the sun, but yes its says 100,000 miles


                     To another hundred thousand more....well maybe not that many :)

Welcome to the Family!

  This past weekend, my family and I spent the weekend in sunny Florida for my Aunt Nancy's wedding.  Everything was beautiful, from the weather ( a nice change from cold cloudy Pittsburgh), the view, the company, and especially the bride and groom. 

It was so nice to be with my family, especially my extended family who I rarely get to see. 

JLP and I

The DeGraff ladies

Mom and Dad

The other newlyweds

My Aunt and now Uncle rented a beautiful home right on the beach with an amazing view and a great deck pool and hot tub included. 

 I had fun playing with the different functions on my new camera.

We did a Plate Family photo shoot

The Wedding was beautiful and perfect

The Groom and Groom's dad waiting for the Bride

 Brian starting the ceremony with a conch whistle

Here comes the Bride



The Sabins !!!!



Family looking on

Hugs



xoxo



Sisters <3

I loved the seafood setup

First dance

The Toast!



Loved the light-up glasses

bottoms up :)

JLP...So glamorous

Bloody Marys such a great way to end a fabulous weekend!

We had such a great time lounging, chatting, drinking, and eating.

CONGRATS!

Costco....the greatest department store of all?

   The other morning on Good Morning America, they announced that Costco would now be carrying a wedding dress line for the "frugal" bride.  The dresses are actually quite nice, and in a blind test many people chose the Costco dress over the designer dress.

I informed ALV about this, and she then found the following for sale at Costco:

 Costco's one million dollar diamond ring, If I were in the market for a 1,000,000 diamond I don't know if Costco would be the first place I would look.
ALV and I then continued to Peruse the Costco website, and we found that we could pretty much get EVERYTHING at Costco:

 

Planning a funeral??  They have a variety of caskets and urns, and offer expedited shipping as well.

Learning to play the piano??  How about a baby grand??

Need a wine cellar kit....Costco has that too!

Perhaps you need a three person spa?

Or an outdoor greenhouse ?

Do you need a home indoor/outdoor security system to keep away intruders?

Finally, how about a vending machine for home or office use...this would be perfect to have in the living room at home for snacks :)   ....Costco has that too!



    Apparently Costco is no longer just a warehouse full of oversized Cereal boxes, samples galore, and Twenty Packs of Mayo.  It has become a store where you really can get it ALL.

Check out the thousands of other random items at Costco HERE

Read All About It!

  My friend and Pittsburgh's very own C.S. is a star!  Her question was selected to appear in today's edition of the New York Times Celebrations/Weddings: Etiquette Section with Peggy Post, the great-granddaughter-in-law of the legendary Emily Post, queen of all things etiquette.



Q&A: The Well-Mannered Wedding

Published: March 31, 2011

BRIDESMAID QUESTION

What is the proper etiquette for declining a request to serve as a bridesmaid in the wedding of a friend? Or, as some have told me, is saying no never an option?
Anonymous,
Fox Chapel, Pa.


"Being asked to be a bridesmaid is an honor indeed and, while it is not a command performance, it should be given serious consideration. But sometimes it’s necessary (and O.K.) to decline the honor. Valid reasons for saying “No, thank you” include finances, scheduling conflicts and health issues. Some examples: your budget truly will not allow you to be an attendant, you have already accepted an invitation to attend someone else’s wedding (maybe even as an attendant), or you have a longstanding work or family commitment. A chronic illness might prevent you from committing to bridesmaid’s duties before or on the wedding day, as might caregiver responsibilities for a family member who is ill. Pregnancy is another practical reason for saying no; while there is no reason not to ask a friend who is expecting, the mother-to-be may just not be comfortable with the role.
When there is a compelling reason to decline the invitation, tell your friend honestly, graciously and compassionately, and soon after she has asked you. A polite “no” could go something like this: “Susan, I’m so honored that you have asked me! I’ve thought about this so much, but I cannot be your bridesmaid. I simply could not afford all of the wedding expenses in addition to paying my college tuition and rent. Please know that I wish I could say yes and that our friendship means the world to me.”  - New York Times

to read the actual article in the New York Times : Click Here


Congrats on being published  :)