Do you ever wonder about all of the details that go into planning a bridal shower? Well, wonder no more! Check it out at the wedding lens!
1 week ago
Bridal Shower Basics
Do you ever wonder about all of the details that go into planning a bridal shower? Well, wonder no more! Check it out at the wedding lens!
Saying goodbye to 30
In honor of saying goodbye to 30, here’s a highlight of 30 things that happened to me in my 30th year which in hindsight make me realize
HOLY SMOKES! I’M A GROWN UP!
3. Became a Blogger...
4. Attended four weddings, hosted two showers one bachelorette party, made one veil and two ring pillows, wore two bridesmaid dresses and gave two wedding speeches (pretty light year)
5. Tried my hand at curling (on ice, not my hair)
6. Bought a house
7. Walked in the house for the first time and I cried remembering all of the great memories with my family growing up.
Walked in the house for the second time to discover the house was decorated with Easter eggs and Hawaiian leis and stickers and various other 'things' my friends and family left to welcome me home.
8. Then I realized said new house needed a new roof - since when did roofs get so pricey!?
9. Challenged myself to only make my clothes (not buy) for six months – and succeeded! Though I probably should get back on that wagon. My bank account will thank me for it
10. Realized I’m not good at watering my outdoor plants – thank goodness for myroommate tenant sister and gardener father who keep what greenery I have somewhat green
11. Became an expert at wallpaper removal
12. Developed a scorn for the interior decorator who told1950s housewives everywhere my grandparents that wallpapering - then painting - then wallpapering the ceiling was a good idea!
13. Adopted a cat and named him Rico. He thinks he’s a dog and pretty darn entertaining, I didn’t want to encourage the stigma attached to a single-woman-in-her-thirties-owning-a-cat
14. So I adopted a dog and named him Riley and he’s goofy and HUGE and likes squeaker toys and standing awkardly on random things in the backyard. Now I have real responsibilities and my house is chaos
15. Lost 11 pounds
16. Gained three back
Yes, that picture is Photoshopped
I swear...Really
I was never that rotund
17. Somehow reset my internal clock to wake up between 3:30am and 5am. While I AM a morning person, this is still too early and am hoping its temporary.
18. Went to Brazil… Learned it was more dangerous than glamorous, so I was back on a plane faster than you could request a Brazilian wax (but not before I enjoyed some cacacha!)
19. Scored a free set of lingerie on my way to Brazil
20/21. Opened my heart to someone... Then crieda little a lot more than I want to admit when it didn’t work out
22. Made tons of progress on my BOOK (YES!! Me! An AUTHOR!? Not yet… but cross your fingers!)
23. In addition to Brazil, I travelled to Phoenix six times, Chicago twice and Thief River Falls, MN (via Grand Forks, ND) once for a mix of business and pleasure
24. Converted myself away from Country Music (still a fan, just am now back to my rocker roots!)
25. Found bliss
26. Lost my company’s Halloween costume contest to a “Pizza’ which was just a guy wearing an upside down triangle (I think it was rigged)
27. Re-read Gone with the Wind. All 1700 pages of it. In high school, I got to the point where Scarlett and Rhett’s marriage was breaking up and I absolutely couldn’t bear it, so I put the book down until I was ready to finish it 18 months later. This time around I got to the same part in the book and wanted to run away covering my eyes and ears … But I kept at it and Rhett still left Scarlett (ya, I know, she deserved it) and then the book ended and I can’t say I’m any better for it
28. Created the first annual (possibly only annual) Colbeck Family Christmas Trivia game
29. Lost my first game of Chubby Bunny
30. Reconnected with a long lost family member (probably the highlight of my year)
HOLY SMOKES! I’M A GROWN UP!
(When did that happen?)
1. Spent my 30th birthday in the Happiest Place on Earth (was pretty cool!)
2. Dressed up like a pig and capsized a float in front of thousands of people
3. Became a Blogger...
 |
| the veil I made! |
5. Tried my hand at curling (on ice, not my hair)
6. Bought a house7. Walked in the house for the first time and I cried remembering all of the great memories with my family growing up.
Walked in the house for the second time to discover the house was decorated with Easter eggs and Hawaiian leis and stickers and various other 'things' my friends and family left to welcome me home.
8. Then I realized said new house needed a new roof - since when did roofs get so pricey!?
9. Challenged myself to only make my clothes (not buy) for six months – and succeeded! Though I probably should get back on that wagon. My bank account will thank me for it
10. Realized I’m not good at watering my outdoor plants – thank goodness for my
11. Became an expert at wallpaper removal
12. Developed a scorn for the interior decorator who told
13. Adopted a cat and named him Rico. He thinks he’s a dog and pretty darn entertaining, I didn’t want to encourage the stigma attached to a single-woman-in-her-thirties-owning-a-cat
14. So I adopted a dog and named him Riley and he’s goofy and HUGE and likes squeaker toys and standing awkardly on random things in the backyard. Now I have real responsibilities and my house is chaos
16. Gained three back
Yes, that picture is Photoshopped
I swear...Really
I was never that rotund
17. Somehow reset my internal clock to wake up between 3:30am and 5am. While I AM a morning person, this is still too early and am hoping its temporary.
18. Went to Brazil… Learned it was more dangerous than glamorous, so I was back on a plane faster than you could request a Brazilian wax (but not before I enjoyed some cacacha!)
19. Scored a free set of lingerie on my way to Brazil
20/21. Opened my heart to someone... Then cried
22. Made tons of progress on my BOOK (YES!! Me! An AUTHOR!? Not yet… but cross your fingers!)
23. In addition to Brazil, I travelled to Phoenix six times, Chicago twice and Thief River Falls, MN (via Grand Forks, ND) once for a mix of business and pleasure
24. Converted myself away from Country Music (still a fan, just am now back to my rocker roots!)
 |
| Me - Rocking out at Bon Jovi (notice the side ponytail?!) |
26. Lost my company’s Halloween costume contest to a “Pizza’ which was just a guy wearing an upside down triangle (I think it was rigged)
28. Created the first annual (possibly only annual) Colbeck Family Christmas Trivia game
29. Lost my first game of Chubby Bunny
30. Reconnected with a long lost family member (probably the highlight of my year)
Looking forward to the wonderful things to come while 31!
Felt Flowers
Last weekend I took my mom to Fort Mason in San Francisco to check out the American Craft Council Show. This ain't no ordinary craft show... Some pretty impressive stuff...
Last year was our first time and it looks like it might be an annual Mommy-daughter-date... perhaps... Last year I also stumbled across an artist whom I jumped at. Studio DGM. I purchased one of her felt flower brooches and wore it on the lapel of one of my winter coats... Unfortunately it was lost somewhere between Grand Forks, ND and Chicago on a mid-western business trip. Sniff (I was sad).
I was stoked to see her back this year and couldn't wait to purchase my replacement.
Last year was our first time and it looks like it might be an annual Mommy-daughter-date... perhaps... Last year I also stumbled across an artist whom I jumped at. Studio DGM. I purchased one of her felt flower brooches and wore it on the lapel of one of my winter coats... Unfortunately it was lost somewhere between Grand Forks, ND and Chicago on a mid-western business trip. Sniff (I was sad).
I was stoked to see her back this year and couldn't wait to purchase my replacement.
My replacement (a teensy bit smaller than the original, but I don't care)
The one my mom bought last year
Honestly - LOVE her work!
Quince
Is a new word I learned this week!
it is a fruit that ripens to a yellowish-greenish color.
I purchased a dress frommy crack dealer Anthropologie this summer to wear to various events... bridal showers, birthday parties, just-because parties. Its a fun lime green that annoyed me whenever anyone called it yellow.
When I brought it home, my sister said,
"Oh, that's funny, it looked yellow online"
but to the naked eye its a pale lime green
And then I wore it to a bridal shower and the bride said,
"Oh, look at your fun yellow dress"
But its green! I wanted to correct her
then I stumbled upon a page in this month's issue of House Beautiful (cuz one day I want my house to be beautiful!)
and there it was on page 56... Quince... described as "Not quite lemon, not quite lime - its a happy family of hues between yellow and green that can't help but uplift you"
Whaddya think of that!?
it is a fruit that ripens to a yellowish-greenish color.
I purchased a dress from
When I brought it home, my sister said,
"Oh, that's funny, it looked yellow online"
but to the naked eye its a pale lime green
And then I wore it to a bridal shower and the bride said,
"Oh, look at your fun yellow dress"
But its green! I wanted to correct her
then I stumbled upon a page in this month's issue of House Beautiful (cuz one day I want my house to be beautiful!)
and there it was on page 56... Quince... described as "Not quite lemon, not quite lime - its a happy family of hues between yellow and green that can't help but uplift you"
Whaddya think of that!?
First family get together
I had my first family get together at the house last night…
All in honor of my cousin Deidre
(who's visiting from New York – we're trying to convince her to move here)
It was kind of a last minute thing but no one seemed to care they were sitting on fold-up chairs, or that I had paint partially stripped from the ceiling; wallpaper partially peeled from the walls or that I'm still waiting for my dining room table to arrive.
I remember as a kid so many family events being at this house… birthdays, holidays and even random family dinner parties. It was more than gratifying as the 3rd generation home owner to be able to carry on the tradition. In some ways I feel like my grandparents were in the room with us (maybe it's because we served my grandma's long lost cake recipe --> who'dathunk Jello poured into chocolate cake would be SOOO GOOD?!)
It was touching to know that some of the same family members sat in that same living room 20 and 30 years ago just as we did last night. It was even more touching to see us together with newer family members – like my blurry baby cousin.
Curtains for the bedroom!
When I moved into my house, beneath the plaid wallpaper of the master bedroom, had a vision of pale blue walls and yellow striped curtains. The plaid wallpaper came down and blue paint went up... the striped curtains - I put on the back burner.
A couple weeks ago, I stumbled on some YELLOW striped duvets in the Ikea 'As Is' Section for $5.00 - A COMPLETE STEAL!! (Did I mention I'm on a yellow kick lately?) Not even thinking of my bedroom curtains, I bought one to see what fun things could evolve.
This yellow was BRIGHT... a little too intense even for my sunny personality, so I threw it in the wash with some bleach.
Still intense. Still Yellow
So I threw it in again with MORE Bleach
Still intense. Still yellow
Tried it a third time with about half a bottle of bleach and STILL no change.
As I was folding them up to add to my 'fabric stash', I realized the reverse side of the fabric was pretty darn close to the yellow I had in mind... So I dashed off to Ikea I to buy one more duvet - good thing I did as their inventory had dwindled!
I took apart each duvet, so I had four panels. I hemmed each and added a casing... Add some Tarjay curtain hardware and fun-time with my drill...
Voila!! Yellow striped Curtains I envisioned for less than $50!
A couple weeks ago, I stumbled on some YELLOW striped duvets in the Ikea 'As Is' Section for $5.00 - A COMPLETE STEAL!! (Did I mention I'm on a yellow kick lately?) Not even thinking of my bedroom curtains, I bought one to see what fun things could evolve.
This yellow was BRIGHT... a little too intense even for my sunny personality, so I threw it in the wash with some bleach.
Still intense. Still Yellow
So I threw it in again with MORE Bleach
Still intense. Still yellow
Tried it a third time with about half a bottle of bleach and STILL no change.
As I was folding them up to add to my 'fabric stash', I realized the reverse side of the fabric was pretty darn close to the yellow I had in mind... So I dashed off to Ikea I to buy one more duvet - good thing I did as their inventory had dwindled!
I took apart each duvet, so I had four panels. I hemmed each and added a casing... Add some Tarjay curtain hardware and fun-time with my drill...
Voila!! Yellow striped Curtains I envisioned for less than $50!
If the curtains didn't work out, how cute is this KATE SPADE skirt?
Running.
Today I went for a run for the first time in almost three weeks. I feel like this is the longest I’ve gone without running or any exercise in YEARS.
It felt pretty darn good
I don’t have any excuse for not running lately, really…
My NEXT motivation is I’m running a half marathon (my 4th) later this fall… It’ll be my first half since 2007… I hope my joints will hold out. I hope I’m faster than I was three years ago. I hope I’m not hung over from Katie and Jake’s wedding the night before!
I hope I ROCK IT!!
It felt pretty darn good
I don’t have any excuse for not running lately, really…
- A mix of personal and work conflicts
- various stresses
- laziness
My NEXT motivation is I’m running a half marathon (my 4th) later this fall… It’ll be my first half since 2007… I hope my joints will hold out. I hope I’m faster than I was three years ago. I hope I’m not hung over from Katie and Jake’s wedding the night before!
I hope I ROCK IT!!
A Perfect Moment
Today I ran an errand during lunch.
Driving back to the office I was cruising up 101 rockin' to good tunes...Going 80 (don’t tell the CHP) and topless (the car, not me).
With the wind blowing through my hair, I had that moment where all troubles instantly fall away and life is nothing less than great. I couldn’t help but smile and embrace the moment.
(convertibles do that to me)
So… one, maybe two miles later – still blissfully enjoying my windswept ride - I noticed a white Toyota Tacoma lurking in my blind spot. I turned my head to have a look...
Behind the wheel was this little old Asian man.. He had about three graying hairs on the top of his head and I’m not sure if he had teeth, but he was GRINNING and WAVING to me like I was his BEST friend and he was SO HAPPY to see me!!
I was already smiling - so instead I chuckled and tried to smile bigger and waved back at him before turning my focus back on the road (safety first). We kind of drove together for a bit and then he exited @ Great America Parkway, but before he did, he sped up and flashed me his eager grin and gave me the ‘Thumbs up”.
I have no idea who he was or what on earth he was so excited about - whatever it was, it somehow only added to an already perfect, private moment.
Driving back to the office I was cruising up 101 rockin' to good tunes...Going 80 (don’t tell the CHP) and topless (the car, not me).
With the wind blowing through my hair, I had that moment where all troubles instantly fall away and life is nothing less than great. I couldn’t help but smile and embrace the moment.
(convertibles do that to me)
So… one, maybe two miles later – still blissfully enjoying my windswept ride - I noticed a white Toyota Tacoma lurking in my blind spot. I turned my head to have a look...
Behind the wheel was this little old Asian man.. He had about three graying hairs on the top of his head and I’m not sure if he had teeth, but he was GRINNING and WAVING to me like I was his BEST friend and he was SO HAPPY to see me!!
I was already smiling - so instead I chuckled and tried to smile bigger and waved back at him before turning my focus back on the road (safety first). We kind of drove together for a bit and then he exited @ Great America Parkway, but before he did, he sped up and flashed me his eager grin and gave me the ‘Thumbs up”.
I have no idea who he was or what on earth he was so excited about - whatever it was, it somehow only added to an already perfect, private moment.
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