That one time in Richmond

May 15, 2012 3 Comments
magnolia crowndvic

This past weekend I learned (in no particular order):

  • if there are urinals in a bathroom, then it’s probably the men’s room (even if no one is occupying said room)
  • there is such a thing as too many free, warm cookies (but thank you anyways, Doubletree)
  • the south is a confusing, meanwhile very kind place to visit
  • it is possible to mess up a simple order of “white wine, please” and even a simple Jack & Coke
  • Gypsies steal things
  • it is possible to become extremely close with someone you just met
  • even though Richmond is only 2 hours south of DC, it is definitely part of The South
  • it is better to get a parking ticket than a DUI*
  • love means smashing your iPhone screen when you accidentally smash your fiance’s iPhone screen
  • not all hospitality staff is hospitable
  • I cannot stay up past 3am anymore
  • You can tell how amazing a couple is by the awesome people at their wedding
  • you should sign the guest book towards the beginning of the wedding, not at the very end (my apologies for “Vicki & Mike Vicki oops”)
  • the Roger Rabbit will never go out of style, in my book

Huge congrats to our friends Eytan & Trish on their marriage! We had an amazing time celebrating!!

*No I did not get a DUI, I opted to leave my car knowing full well I would get a ticket if I didn’t move it, but was in no state to move it.  Thus, ticket < DUI.

 

Filed Under: awesomeness, besties, chuppah, newlyweds

April People are Awesome

April 13, 2012 14 Comments
crownbutton

In a span of 4 days, specifically the 8th-12th of April, four of my favoritest people in the world were born.

While my wallet says “whoa” my heart screams “yay!” because ladies and gentlemen, these peoples are so money it’s not even worth checking my bank statement.

My bestie, Meagan, and I met in high school.  We spent many a morning late for class due to my inability to relate to a clock.  But during those drives, classes skipped at the coffee shop, jaunts to the mall, and whatever else we did as teenagers (?), we became very close.  She’s one of those friends you can go weeks without talking to (which we do too often) and always pick up where we left off.  Since we both teach elementary school there’s an added bond.  Meg Rocks. She’s like a sister to me.  Which is why I wish I was there in person to celebrate her big 3-0 on the 8th.  I will make it to visit soon, though!!

My eldest niece, Eleanor, turned FIVE on the 9th.  Can we pause for a minute? When did that squishy little baby get to be so big?!  There will always be a huge place in my heart for her.  Eleanor rocks my world and always make me laugh.  Like when she called to wish Mike a happy birthday (they share a bday!), sang to him, and then said, “Now you sing to me!”  Aunt Vicki Cool Dude  loves her Little E.

 

I know when I married Mike we promised to help each other in sickness and health and all that good stuff. But lately he’s been such a rockstar I don’t even know how to express it.  While my head decides to dish out weird bouts of pain, Mike consoles me and takes care of me, without missing a beat.  I loved celebrating his birthday (once in March and again on April 9th), because he deserves so much.  I am so very lucky & so very in love.

[ enter picture of Vicki & Nicci taken in the future when

we attend a conference on blogging together]

Recently I met Nicci through the interweb words and our personalities clicked.  She’s crafty (visit her shop!), funny, nerdy, smart, and also wants to be a teacher! There are times when we can be found having a text, email, and tweet conversation all at the same time.  We’re that cool.  Fate decided the 12th needed to be a stressful day for her, instead of a fun birthday, so I hope this bday weekend is kinder to her!

So you see, April has some pretty stellar people born into it!

I’m so glad they are all a part of my lives and I get to celebrate their existence.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Meg, Eleanor, Mike & Nicci!!

Note: Vicki is no longer accepting friends or relatives with birthdays in April. Please apply for May or August, where the ratio of people’s births to dates is currently low.

Filed Under: awesomeness, besties, birthday, eat your heart out, family

Changing the Universe Giveaway!

February 23, 2012 9 Comments
Changing the Universe Etsy Shop Button

Did you hear that?

That was the sound of a brand new Etsy shop, opening it’s virtual doors!

My BIFF, Nicci, of the blog Changing the Universe now has an Etsy shop with the exact same name (Changing the Universe Shop)!! And, ahem, I might even add I had something to do with her tag line.  That might be why she sent me my very own set of coasters.  That or she’s buttering me up for when we finally meet at BlogHer ’12…

Nicci whipped up some amazing, handmade items sure to add color and pizazz to your home!
Coasters!
Throw Pillow Covers!!
All handmade and wonderful!!

Fabric Coasters, Hot Pink Safari -- Set of 4

Fabric Coasters, Coming Home (Set of 6)

I can attest to these coasters durability and beauty.  You can’t even see the seam.
I mean, that’s talent.

Throw Pillow Cover 14x14 -- Purple Leaves

The pillow covers are equally amahzing and deserving of a place on your couch!
All items in the shop are ready to ship in various quantities of styles available.  So if you like something you see, buy it quickly!

 

Want your own set of coasters or pillow covers?  Use code “CROWNDVIC” for 10% off your order!!

Or enter to win a set of coasters of your choice, here!
[Read more...]

Filed Under: awesomeness, besties, crafty, GiveAway

When in Rome…

February 10, 2012 5 Comments
Rome Proposal 1_CrowndVic

Imagine this:  you, your mom, and sister plan a trip to Italy (your nation of heritage) for Christmas.  Your sister, who currently teaches English in Thailand will fly and meet you there.  How amazing to spend this special time with the ladies of the fam?  Even more amazing, your long-term boyfriend’s mom plans to meet you there the day after Christmas.

 

Fabulous, right?

On Dec 26 you wake up and get ready to hit up your first full day of sight seeing.  Your sister insists on straightening your hair for cute pictures. And having you change your outfit a little bit.   Having slept on your neck wrong (in a bed that is not your own) you perfect the art of asking every pharmacia for a “pad of heat” to no avail.  If only your mom and sister would stop rushing you along!

What’s so great about the Spanish Steps anyways? You’ll see them again later on a tour…

 

Jet lag plays tricks with your head as you spot a guy wearing your  boyfriend’s scarf, and looking exactly like him, and walking like him, over to you, carrying a bouquet.

 

A wave of surprise hits as he drops to one knee in front of you.

The boyfriend flew, overseas, and proposed! in Italy! and only his mom and your sister knew!

Sounds like a great story, right?

And it’s a wonderful reality for my friends Kathryn & Eric.  Thanks to both of them for letting me share their story and their love! I am thrilled to celebrate the next chapter of their lives with them!!!

Filed Under: attendants, awesomeness, besties

My husband is my Bestfriend

January 23, 2012 15 Comments
Carnegie-Institution_Washington-DC-Wedding-Photography010

People ask us, “How’s married life?”

And we state the obvious, “I can’t complain!”

Because honestly: everything rocks. But I really don’t know what other answer to give.  Mike and I dated for almost 6 years before engagement, 7 years before marriage.  During that wonderful time, we lived together for 5 years. We anticipated what lay ahead of us.  He knew about my selective hearing, I knew his tolerance for mess.  He accepted my need for cleaning, I accepted his love of all things sports.

And it works, as our almost 6 months (longer than the Kardashian marriage, ahem) proves.

We carry on like we always did, with the exception of “always and forever” in marriage contract form, instead of merely implied.

 

But the one difference lies outside of our marriage.  Let me set this up for you…

The other day, a local radio station publicized a contest in which you and three friends win a trip to London to party with Rhianna. Awesome, right?! Immediately I start brainstorming the potential amazing trip (instead of picking up the phone to call in for the contest).

And I came up with nothing.

Me, Mike and ??

I don’t know if our newlywed status scared friends away, or I’ve been so wrapped up in our honeymoon time frame, but it dawned on me…I have no bestfriend.

Sure, I have my bestie from high school, Meg, who lives in Atlanta; My college roomie, Ali, lives in Orlando; my BIFF Nicci resides somewhere in Minnesotan Sasquatch land.  I have several displaced besties across the nation whom I keep in touch with via the interwebs.

Locally I have several girls whom I can call on to plan a night out, shop, or gab.  But if you ask me who that one girl is, my bestfriend?  A girl who might drop everything for me and knows me inside and out?  I have no answer.  And if you were to ask me who relies on me and knows they can call me up at a moment’s notice for advice or help?  yup.  nothing.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not applying blame at any avenue. If anything I step up and take responsibility.  But if married life is grand, shouldn’t my friendship life be too?  It’s hard to weigh the playing field on both sides.

If there’s anyone I want to spend my day with at the local market, wandering around the mall, or flying abroad and jamming with Rhianna — Mike’s my number one choice.

There’s a reason he’s my “always and forever.”

So, I guess if you ask me how married life is — my strong, resounding, proud answer will be:

My husband is my bestfriend.

 

And that is what really matters.

(and I’m more than OK with that)

Filed Under: besties, i complain because i can, Mike, thats life

The Start of Something Beautiful

December 9, 2011 4 Comments
crowning2

Um, do you do see what I see?

Do you see this new & improved, shiny, WordPress blog?!?!?

 

I made the jump to WordPress!

But you’ll have to excuse me while I tinker with settings and get things just right.

In the meantime, huge thanks to my girl, Ali.

She did this jump and did all that confusing html/hosting/computer mumbojumbo.

I am so lucky she is my friend!

YAY!

(and happy Friday!)

 

Filed Under: awesomeness, besties, eat your heart out, favs, love, shut the front door

Scentsy! Mixing it up

November 21, 2011 1 Comment
FULLSIZE_PURPLE

Two amaHzing Scentsy things:

1. Online Scentsy Party, hosted by a dear friend!
 AND

2.  Did you know you can mix Scentsy scents?!  “Recipes” below!

First up, through the beauty of the interwebs I met Nicci. Sure, she might mock my love of Twilight, but deep down we both find Will Ferrel movies hilarious, exchange tweets about HIMYM, and enjoy a good football game (even if the Packers and Vikings don’t exactly mix & she finds that stupid Big Lebowski movie tolerable..).  Oh, her kid baby toddler is really cute, too!

We can both agree on this: Scentsy makes wonderful wick-less candle systems (& other fragrant products), which also are great gifts!
So, Nicci’s hosting an Online Scentsy Party!

Beyond the basic wonderful Scent Bars, you can combine fragrances to create even better aromas!
I first discovered Clove & Cinnamon to be slightly strong for my liking, so I added Cinnamon Vanilla and BAM.  Amahzing cinnamony-clovey-vanillayness.

In fact – if you find any of the scents overwhelming, just add a cube of Vanilla Cream to even it out!

Here are some other great combos for the upcoming holidays:

So go show Nicci some love, buy some scents for those you love, or just show yourself some love.  If you try the recipes above, let me know how you like it!

Do you have any Scentsy Recipes to share?

Filed Under: besties, scentsy

Steppin’ Out Saturday 11.19.11 Early Thanksgiving

November 20, 2011 7 Comments
steppin out

Our good friend Sarah hosted Early Thanksgiving, with her roommate, yesterday.  She provided the bird, the ham, and some serious side dishes (despite her oven breaking on Friday! eek!).  Everyone else brought tons more food.  The selection? Amahzing:

The bottom right picture shows my contribution: my dad’s recipe for savory ginger mashed sweet potatoes.  They are my essential piece for the holidays.

Oh right, clothes:

 sweater dress, scarf, leggings, and shoes:
all from Target (I know, right?!)
owl ring: ?? seller @ Eastern Market, DC
button earrings: oh sweet joy
up-cycled tshirt bracelet: cotton lane
new highlights: you can’t be me (ha ha!)
Do you celebrate early Thanksgiving? (Twice the fun & yumminess?)
Did you tell your stylist “a little more red” and end up with fire engine RED highlights? (which actually ended up rocking your world once you realized how cool it was?!)

Filed Under: awesomeness, besties, eat your heart out, hair, Steppin' Out

Steppin’ Out Saturday 10.1.11 A Garden Wedding!

October 2, 2011 4 Comments
steppin out

First, the pictures from last night lack in the awesome-photography department.  My apologies.  Open bars at weddings mightbe to blame…

Had you told me, 12 to 15 years ago, while my gaggle of girl friends and I loitered after hours hung out on swings at our local park, that two of us would get married within months of each other? I probably would have told you to shut the f take your silly talk elsewhere.

Another member of the Fondu Crew (story for another time) tied the knot last night.

Veronica was the friend in high school with all the great bad ideas which never quite got us in trouble, but did get a few side-eyes. Veronica’s humor knows no bounds (hence the “Papal Benediction, Balloon Hat Demonstration & Kiss the Girl” performances listed in her wedding program).  Her effervescent personality makes her more than easy to like and always fun to be around.  She’s fiercely loyal, insanely smart, and very deserving of her husband (!), Reid, who does crazy awesome journalistic political stuff (<– me pretending to know exactly what he does).  Reid is so awesome that some weirdo political blogger wrote about their wedding as a some sort of indication of the future of his career, or something.  I heard about this at the reception where big wigs like Chuck Todd were also invited amongst commoners like me!

please forgive the uncomfortable close up

Anyways, Veronica moved up here to DC years ago, & I simply love having her nearby. We don’t hang out often enough (but sharing the wedding planning process rocked!).

The bride’s dress is from Priscilla of Boston, which b-2-b’s, if you didn’t already know, is going out of biz! Go nab a great designer deal!

Veronica and Reid’s garden party themed wedding & reception captured their fun, beautiful personalities.  A grand time was had by all!

I wish them both a lifetime of love and happiness!
Filed Under: besties, Steppin' Out

(Wedding Recap) Bridal Party Shots!

September 5, 2011 6 Comments

Let me start out by saying we had the best attendants.  Our groomsmen & bridesmaids (have you heard them called “bridesbabes” ?!) were fabulous.  Whats more, we couldn’t imagine better people to stand up next to us as we said our vows.
Thankfully, we have these awesome pictures to prove it:

But honestly, THESE are the pictures that really show how much we love them:

Oh, those boys…

The ladies:

Such hams! Love it!

I wouldn’t have it any other way!
(and yes, there is double meaning in the title of this post…hence the great photos)
{said great photos, by Studio Juno}
Filed Under: attendants, besties, bridesmaids dresses, flowers, love, Mike, recap, shoes, the big day, wedding, wedding dress

(Wedding Recap) Getting the Girls Ready

August 23, 2011 7 Comments

My bridesmaids are wonderful women.  I promise these words come from an honest place deep down inside me.  Mostly they deserve such complements because they put up with me for a year-and-a-half of wedding planning and then my sharp orders on the day-of the event.  I tried my utmost best to not turn all bridezilla.  But let me tell you, if you’ve never gone through it before, there’s no preparing for the rush of emotions.  I swear any woman who gets away without even a hint of bridezilla must be hiding something.  or holding it in.

Of track.

My bridesmaids deserve a medal.

or a gift.
On the day of the wedding I gifted them each a different Coach clutch.
Thanks to the a shopping-angel’s coupon delivery, I purchased these babies for a *very* competitive price.
Always be on the lookout for a good deal, even 6 months before the wedding!
And so the readies began.
Curlers and button downs (no hair mess-ups!) and patience, oh my!
Meagan makes being athletic & beautiful look easy.

Tell me Kathryn’s beauty doesn’t astound you?
One day (soon) she’ll make a beautiful bride.
She’ll also kill me for typing/publishing this.
(But Kat, it’s not like Eric reads my blog!!!!)
 My sister rocks the mom-card, and the big-sister card, and the cool card.
She makes me feel better about one day “going there” as a parent (being all pretty and in control even though she might not really know what she’s doing… but you’d never know that.)
Diana wins for most favors-cashed-in.
You know that friend you can always turn to when you need something? trip to the ER? ride home from Target when you just bought a bicycle and it’s now snowing? advice and just a general ear?
Yeah, Di’s got my back.  I hope she knows I’ve got hers, too!
They were all there, and then some, for me on my wedding day!
Love. These. Ladies.
{All beautiful photographs by Studio Juno}
Filed Under: attendants, awesomeness, besties, recap, the big day

(Wedding Recap) The Rehearsal Dinner After Party!

August 1, 2011 1 Comment

Once our friends and family were good and fed, and filled with memories of Mike & Vicki growing up/through the college years/our DC days, we went out to continue the celebration!

Good friends, good times!
Speak no Evil, Here no Evil, See no Evil.
Because why not?
(This is a new “thing” we’ve started)
All FSU friends singing our War Chant.
Yup, we were those people in the bar.
Not sure what was happening here, but hey, they were having fun!
Again, no clue, but we’re cute!
At the end of the night, my eyes flooded with tears as I said goodbye to Mike.  The next time I saw him I would be wearing a wedding dress!   GAH!
Filed Under: besties, recap, wedding

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