Simply Violet...is Simply Awesome!

I am in love you guys..and it's not with Chris!  It's with this new Vera Bradley pattern that just came out (and I happened to accidentally come across in Hallmark).  It's called Simply Violet and I simply love it.  I haven't seen a Vera Bradley pattern that I have liked since like 2002.  Oh and the fact that it's purple just makes me even happier! This is a throwback to the classic Vera style and I am all about it.  I envision myself with the luggage bags and big zipper bag and a future diaper bag (very future).  Now, if only I could win a little lottery to get the whole collection!

Soapbox Rant # 1

Okay, so I have strong opinions and from time to time, I need to rant.  Welcome to my very first full-on Soapbox Rant.

Topic:  Facebook and Arizona Immigration

My Stance on The Issue:  In MY very educated opinion on the matter, the Arizona Immigration law is unconstitutional.  It is sending us back to the Jim Crow days by promoting racism.  Sarah Palin says that it's not going to lead to racial profiling.  How will it not?  Who are the cops going to be targeting?  Freakin people who look Mexican.  I tell you what, if I was in AZ for a vacation and some cop came up to me telling me to prove my citizenship, I'd be freakin' pissed.  Not since Nazi Germany were a whole race of people required to carry around their papers due to fear.  I understand that the Nazi Germany and AZ are two different things.  I, more than anyone, understand this since my own family died in concentration camps...but at its hateful core, they are very similar.  Now, I am for Immigration reform.  I am tired of all of the money spent on Immigration crap and the babies born b/c of it.  I do insurance stuff all day and I know all about Medicaid.  However, this is NOT the way to handle it. 

The Real Reason for my Soapbox:  We all have our opinions.  Hell, we all post our opinions on Facebook and Twitter all day everyday.  But here's the thing, if you don't agree with someone's political opinion do you always put them on blast and be disrespectful to them?  I hope not.  I sure don't.  If someone puts up any political opinion that I disagree with, I choose to roll my eyes and simply scroll down.  I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion, even those I view as moronic and ridiculous.  If I commented on every Republican's criticism of my good friend "Barry" (Barack Obama) then I would not only have 75% less friends, but I'd have my Mom's entire family wiped off the grid.  So, I shut my mouth....However, not everyone does.  People who are not even my IRL friends are bashing me and even some family members.  They are being hurtful and disrespectful and insinuating I am brainwashed.  (BTW, I am not brainwashed and have been a card-carrying member of the Democratic party for 20 years, at least.  My opinions just so happen to coincide with the Democratic party so please stop telling me "Oh you'll grow out of it".  )

So please, if you see a political status of mine (and really anyone else you consider a friend or care about), think before you type.  If you can't stick to the issues and keep it classy and have to be mean and so "unchristianlike" then maybe you should do as the Golden Rule says, "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all".  From now on, if you choose to ignore this and be rude and disrespectful to me, I will not only delete you from my Friends list, but also my life.  Friends and family included!

Me voy a España!!!

Yeah, so I had to go to a Google translator for that one..and to save you the same amount of time...I'M GOING TO SPAIN!!!  As most of you know, Chris will be in Barcelona all Summer for study abroad (5/27 - 7/24 to be exact).  So, Lil and I are going to visit him from 7/2 to 7/11.  During this time we are going to go to Pamplona for the Running Of The Bulls (San Fermin)!!  Lil and I have been planning our trip for months now, but were waiting to buy our tickets.  Well, today I bought them (YAY) !!!  We are going to be flying Air Canada and the only sucky thing is we have to stop in Toronto and Montreal on the way there and we have to stop in Munich and Toronto on the way back.  The great thing was that I scheduled my flight so early that I was able to pick our seats for 5 of the 6 flights and for all of them we get window seats.  The even better part of this is that for the big, long, overseas flight we will have our own little 2 person row (1 aisle, 1 window).  How awesome is that?!?!  Can't wait! 

Bye Bye Loretta!! Hello William Wallace!!!

In January 2007 I needed a car and fast because Chris had to take over my car.  So, I bought my 2003 VW Jetta (which I named Loretta).  Although she's been good to me, she is very small.  Also, she is about to need a lot of maintenance (sensors, suspension, timing belt, tires, etc.).  Chris and I have been talking for months now about me getting a new car now so that we can pay it off by the time he gets a new car (so we don't have two car payments).  We have scoured the internet and dealerships looking for something we both really like and would want for the next decade.  I had to bat my eyelashes, but he finally agreed to let me have my dream SUV..a 2006 Highlander...but with one catch.  It must have 4WD or AWD.  Fiiiiiinnnnaaaallllly, yesterday we found it!  We were able to unload Loretta and get William Wallace (get it?  William Wallace like from Braveheart b/c he was a Highlander..please say you get it b/c it's really funny) and William came w/ a 3 year or 60,000 mile warrantee (including hoses, parts, etc).  I am beyond happy because not only did I get the car I have dreamed of since college, but we got a really great deal! :) 

Oh, Prease, Gimme!!!

So, attending Lindsey's bridal shower yesterday made me start to think about what kinds of crap I want for my big day.  So, I started googling.  I knew I wanted some color while Chris wants like plain, boring white (veto!).  Then something magical happened...I found this!!!  Spode "Baking Days" serveware and cookware collections.  It comes in black, red, Carolina blue, and lime green.  How cute!  For Christmas you could do the green and red or black and red.  For spring, blue and green.  I can go on and on.  Plus, it's polka, which btw, is soo me.  The best thing is that I can steal Courtney's idea and use this as everyday china and special occasion china.  Now, please everyone, convince Chris that this is the china and bakingware we need to start a new McKeown household next year! :) :)

GAGA!!!!

OMG!! Lady Gaga is coming to North Carolina..twice!  (The only thing better than this would be *N SYNC reuniting and coming to North Carolina.)  The Princess of Pop will be in Charlotte on Saturday, Sept 18, 2010 and in Raleigh on Sunday, Sept 19, 2010.  I have no idea when tickets will go on sale, but I'm Googling all I can to find out.  I am planning on going to the Raleigh show and probably taking off work on that following Monday.  Anyway, two things.  Please let me know if you know what day they're going on sale and let me know if you're going.  I have a crowd swarming already!!  YAY GAGA!!!

 

New Wedding Cake People!!!! :)

After the huge craptasticness of the last cake lady (see previous entry), we learned a few lessons.  Robin had successfully bullied us into an oval, lilac, 3 tiered fondant cake.  I am not a 3 tiered cake person, much less a FONDANT 3 tiered cake person.  I had always thought I'd end up w/ a cupcake wedding cake that's fun and a little different.  So, after the whole debacle, Chris and I decided to go back and really decide what we wanted for a cake and find someone who could do that for us (and at a jew price).  I called all around town and narrowed the list down a lot.  I mean some people are charging $4 - $5 PER CUPCAKE.  No thank you. 
We then had a list of about 5 people to meet with.  We met w/ a nice young lady last weekend.  Her cupcake tasted okay, but mine taste just as good and Courtney's are better, BUT she could do what I wanted (decoration wise).  BUT THEN...she said her delivery fee was $75.00.  Are you kidding me?!?!!  Thank you, but HELL no thank you.  So then we set up two other interviews.  The first was last night. (Spoiler alert:  We enjoyed the first place (Island Cakery) so much that we cancelled the second interview and booked Island Cakery immediately)
We showed up to Island Cakery and the owner Gail wasn't quite ready for us yet, so we chatted with her husband, Frank.  Immediately we felt very comfortable and at ease.  We were at their business, but it felt very homey.  I was skeptical about pricing for this place because their cakes are $5/slice (that's a lot).  However, after everything is said and done, we are only getting charged $20/dozen cupcakes and $60 for the giant cupcake top tier (to hold our cake topper).  We will have three flavors w/ three different frosting colors (and are purchasing 12 dozen cupcakes).  Including all of this and delivery we're only paying about $375.  And let me tell you, the cupcakes are delicious!  I am thinking of buying a dozen just for the heck of it sometime.  So excited!!

I thought about not blogging about this because I need to stop wedding blogging since we're going to have a very small wedding and it may be considered a little rude, but I was very excited and it was time for a nice blog instead of a rant.