irene carole: 11/01/2008

You look like Ingrid Michaelson.

I think Ingrid Michaelson was my customer on black friday... really.

As we all know Black Friday is by far the biggest shopping day of the year, and of course I was scheduled to work. I had an eight hour shift to get through and by the end of it I was spent and semi-delirious. Before my shift ended I had a couple, or at least what I have assumed was a couple, come in looking for a pair of shoes.

From the looks of them both, you could tell they weren't for the area. Their indie/rocker attire and city vibe gave them away, so I asked and they told me they were from NY, specifically Brooklyn. Long before conversating with the pair I saw the woman walk in and she instantly reminded me of Ingrid Michaelson. She had the glasses and chunky barrett and the perfect set of locks to boot. I mentioned it to her and she aggreed to a certain extent.

In the mists of juggling customers, and also finding an impossible pair of shoes for her I got to talk and even joke with her and the guy she was with. They were both extremely nice and were probably my favorite customers all day. Without thinking twice about them after they had left I went on my business selling shoes and serviving the Black Friday crowd.

The next day I got talking with Tim about the events of the weekend, and then I actually recalled my "Ingrid Michaelson looking customer". He's the one who remembered she was in town, {Because earlier in the week I had told him she was playing in VA} ... which got us both thinking ... was that her?

I looked up some photos of her, and the guy who was with her has an uncanny resemblance to a guy in a few of her photos. And just for curiousity's sake I looked up where Ingrid Michaelson's from .. she's actually from NY also.

What are the odds huh?

Was it really her? I'm still not sure. But if it was that's pretty awesome, and she and that guy were so awesomely sweet, down to earth and really hip. If not ... it's still a story worth sharing, especially if the odds were in my favor.

I'm pretty excited about who else may come through our store this holiday season, they say the Redskins always come through during the holidays since we're the closest mall to Redskin's Park, but we'll just have to see.

Winter Song

Happy

thanksgiving to you and your loved ones.

Thanksgiving Eve

Thanksgiving is honest to goodness my favorite holiday, I can't wait for it to get here ... but in the mist of waiting it's going to be a pretty big day today.

We're taking mom to the doc's with my seestars {all 4 of them} and we're praying that all goes smooth, and later ... much later ... tonight I've got a company meeting after the store closes and a night of bowling fun with my co-workers to follow up.

Anyways, don't write me off as a Grinch or something, because I do adore Christmas and celebrating baby Jesus, and all the Christmas cheer. I just adore a day set aside to give thanks. So often we forget to be thankful for what we have, little or alot we've always got something to be thankful for. It's the perfect prelude to a season of giving and receiving.

"Be joyful always; pray continually;
give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
-1 Thess 15:16-18

Fambam Addiction: Pomegranate

Lately me and my family have had this insatiable addiction to pomegranate. The more we have the more we want .. hahah besides the actual fruit {which gets messy but is a mess we love} here are a few of our other pomegranate addictions.

We love tea in our family and we also love organic, sister dearest got us hooked on this one. She made me and Tim go out and find some after she and Terrence already went out and looked. Hahah. But it was definitely worth searching out.

I don't really carry around mints, but my best friend introduced me to to these amazing icebreaker lemon & pomegranate mints, and I'm addicted.

I've always seen POM in Robex but I never gave it a try 'til now.

YUM-O!

No surprise here .. this is one of my favorites
Organix Hair Care's pomegranate green tea shampoo
smells so sweeeeeeeet its delicious!!!

And as for this moment, I'm currently drinking Minute Maid's Pomegranate Tea. We love this stuff. Again the Diongzon's and Tea .. haha .. but really we got it yesterday and the bottle's already half empty. Haha!

Beautiful Jekyll Island, GA

I'm really slow at uploading photos but I've finally had the chance to upload even more from GA. I'd tell you that Jekyll Island is beautiful, but then again you can just see it for yourself. Walking around the island felt like walking through a fairy tale ... I've been dreaming of going back ever since.

All over the island are large old oaks covered in spanish moss, just

as romantic as weeping willows but with that good ole' southern fair.

My car for the weekend.

Though Jekyll Island spans only five miles wide, we rented two of

these little "Red Bugs" to drive around the island, and the Club Hotel.

And this ... is Jekyll Island Club Hotel,

twas paradise for a weekend

Though this photo is being really stubborn {because it won't rotate} .. just like the rest of the south, Jekyll Island Club Hotel holds much history. It use to be the Southern Get-a-way for the rich. The Vanderbuilts and Rockefellers we're no strangers to the club and back then was a club with invitation only.

All over the club property palm trees line the street.

And as lovely and inviting as the hotel itself is, on the Club property are a few "cottages" which were essentially summer homes {mansions really} that were errected for some of the club members to come home to in the summer. The "Hwang - Yon" party rented out this cottage ...

The Cherokee Cottage.

The Cherokee had about 15 rooms total with full baths in each room,

a "lobby" and billards room and a King suite fit for ... a king really.

During the day we saw the rehersal dinner seating

set up outside the front of the cottage, but at night...

... it was even more lovely!

Georgia morning are just as beautiful as Georgia nights.

And though the wedding day got rained on and we had to move everything inside, this was the river front location where the ceremony was suppost to happen.

Can you believe this was only two hours

before it started raining cats and dogs?

Ok last shot .. while waiting for the wedding day events to commence, I got this awesome shot in the King Suite sunroom while airing out the wedding dress. There's plenty more photos to come!

Love Ham

Yesterday I received a package in the mail from a lovely little family in SoCal. They're practically my family away from home and I love them too mucho. No matter the distance between us their love, friendship and kindness continue to amaze me and bless me beyond words. Inside the package they sent my way was a love ham from their family to ours, a beautiful card, and this here picture.

Aren't they a lovely bunch?

Anywho ... I love this family to pieces and I am truly blessed to have them in my life. Besides being super beautiful, super talented, and super sweet, this family has been a super encouragement in my walk with God, in my arts and crafts, and for my family as well. I love you 6 { + another 6 } with all my heart and miss you all dearly. Thank you for the "love ham" and for the past 10 years of friendship and blessings!

PS. Dearest Reinna Sherie, Why do you always make me cry? Haha. I MISS YOU! And love you soo much. Your family rocks and I can't wait to be able to give you all big bear hugs!!!

{I love these girls: Ruby, Reinna, RJ}

I do Tabo

Ok ... so I'm going to do something a bit "tabo" here and simply share a handful of photos of last weekend's wedding dress, not the wedding itself just yet. I've got sooo much to share, and so many photos to filter through, I've even forgotten about some of the shots I actually did take while going though them again. But for now I just wanted to share these. It's a bit tabo to share the dress first, like showing the dress to the groom before the wedding, but I can't help myself {and plus Mr. Groom is off with his Mrs. to Saint Lucia and has already seen the dress so I'm pretty safe to share them}. Enjoy!

As lovely as the dress looks hung,

it was even more gorgeous on Rang,

who one was stunning bride.

Ok I'm a sucker for details, and I love the

delicate bead work on Rang's dress, I just can't

decide which version of the photo I like best.

This one ...

Or this one ... I love both.

Ok well that's all I will share for now .. hehe {it's a teaser I know} Please stay tuned for more! I've been super busy all week, so it's taking me forever to upload photos but I will share them in due time. Hope you like them!!! Have a Happy Monday!!

{click photos to enlarge}

A Blur

Flying was a blur, especially flying alone for the first time,

but I'd do it all over again.

Twilight

AHHH!!! Watching Twilight tonight with the fam!!!

its finally here! After 3 years of waiting!!!

Updates ... Ernie Halter

I finally posted up the concert, sorry it took me forever.

Post: Like a Cyclone

It's snowing!!!!!

It's the first snow of the *season!!! YAY!!

I'm thinking

... me and my sister were totally born in the wrong decade ...

give us a big band and a dance floor!!!!

{I can't believe I missed this episode of OTH ... I'll be hunting it down on youtube all night if thats what it takes!!! haha}

Crushing emotions

It's been quite an emotional weekend, {and monday}. One my heart is barely keeping up with ... a bit melodramatic, I know, but 'tis true. I've felt soo much in the past five days, I think I've covered just about every emotion known to man .. hahah .. all of it has put crushing pressure on this little heart of mine. But on the upside, it's also let me {not so gently} be reminded that I'm alive, like the lyrics to one of my favorite fall melodies ...

"It's October again. Leaves are coming down. One more year's come and gone. And nothing's changed at all. Wasn't I supposed to be someone. Who can face the things that I've been running from...

Let me feel, I don't care if I breakdown. Let me fall, even if I hit the ground. And if I... Cry a little, Die a little, At least I know I lived, just a little..."

- Bethany Joy Galeotti

I know it's been quite some time since I've really shared anything personal, but a good venting could do me some good. Writing ... and running use to be two of my favorite outlets, but I've definitely neglected to do those two things for myself lately. First, because I was told I look pretty dumb doing one, and second I've been pretty timid to do the other and haven't been compelled to open up a clean page and just let it rip.

But this weekend's emotional roller coaster calls for both.

{Though running might be a bad idea with the chances of snow furries tomorrow}

I have literally traveled from one emotion to the next. Thursday I was starstruck and serenaded by none other than Mr. Ernie Halter himself, then my trip to Georgia was pretty emotional ... but then again what wedding isn't? And in the time I've been away, it's been pretty emotional back at home and I'm just beginning to share in all the emotions my friends and family have been separately going through over the past few days.

Both my mom and my sister have had their own separate battles to fight this weekend. {And no they weren't fight each other if that's what your thinking .. haha} But it pains me that I wasn't home to help carry them through both battles, I love them so much I'm so glad I am home now.

As for my friends, there is soo much to pray about I have not idea where to begin. One particular friend of mine needs the most prayers because the Marines is giving him a hard time. I know the Lord has His perfect plan, but I can't help but worry.

Also, as I've been totally oblivious to what's been going on in the real world because I was stuck on a island in Georgia, the news about the wildfires in southern California only got to me yesterday. I've been thinking of you all ever since and I'll continue to be praying. I love you all!!!!

If all that isn't enough, I've had my own crushing emotions take me for a spin ... and boy am I dizzy. I'll let you know when I get my feet back on the ground, but till then I'm going to be knee deep in work, work, work, work, work!!! I've got 2,000 photos to filter through and edit, handmade orders to catch up on and also add to my shop, and this week at Footlocker we're in over our heads trying to get ready for the Regional Manager's visit.

I'm pretty overwhelmed to sum it up,

but with all honesty ... Praise God.

I've been praying for things to "come my way" ... the good, the bad, and the ugly if it had to be, just anything to keep me busy, test me, try me, build me up or even crush me. The Lord definitely provided that, and now is no time to get lazy, or even give up. Even in so much emotional chaos, I know the Lord is still in control so I'll be ok, I'm always ok. God won't ever give me more than I can handle, so I'm going to take a guess ... He thinks I'm pretty tough huh?

Let's see what I'm made of ...

... or just take me back to the Palm Trees please!!
I've got so much to share about Georgia, just you wait!!!

Smitten by A little love

My big sister just introduced me to this girl's beautiful music

... and I swear I'm totally smitten by her songs. Thanks sister!

Check her out: Meaghan Smith
I hope you enjoy Monday's melody!!!

'Like a Cyclone'

Last Thursday feels like ages ago, but I still haven't shared the fun time me and my sister had at the Coffihouse that nite. First if you haven't heard of Ernie Halter definitely check him out...

Greatest cover ever! Haha! It's pretty crazy Baby Bash called him up to do a tour together because of this cover .. LOL! But on with last weeks show. The place, Coffihous was amazingly intimate and super cute, and their chai latte is pretty darn good!!

Though Ernie Halter's set was last, and by far the best, I did really enjoy the only lady in the bunch, Shannon Curtis who's super sweet, love song ballads got me hooked on her sound the very moment I heard her.

Shannon Curtis was amazing. She reminded me of

Sara Bareilles and she was super super sweet!!!

Not to mention, crazy tall .. but she was so sweet to get small just for our picture! Also if you noticed, she has the cutest nose ring on. I asked her if it hurt and told her I want one. Her words were

"You should totally get one!!! What are you doing tomorrow?"

I laughed so hard, she almost got me to go, but I had a flight to catch early in the morning .. haha. Maybe one day, maybe ... but I think first I should get my cartilage pierced like I've been meaning to do forever. Then I'll consider other piercings after.

Someone else performed in between Shannon and Ernie, but I forgot his name, He's local talent, but my favorite part of his set was his bongo player, I love bongos and or accoustic percussions in any set!

Ok so I'm a little out of order here, but for the record, the first person and thing I did when I walked into the coffihouse was spot Ernie by the coffee line. His set wasn't till later so after me and my sister grabbed some coffee we turned around and talked up a storm with the ever so talented and honestly sweet Ernie Halter.