Window Shop Wednesday!

It's another edition of...WINDOW SHOP WEDNESDAY!!!!!!  YAY!!

This week...Pottery Barn!

I LOVE this Sumatra bed.

With these!!

This new TV stand would be killer with our new TV!!

Since we've got that new TV and stand we better get some drinks and dispensers...

And some mason jar mugs to drink out of!

And some mood setting lanterns

Mr. Dan is getting old!

Hey Mr. Dan...IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful (and crazy) husband, Mr. Dan <3 <3

This post is for Earl...

Earl Cook was a young Winnipeg hockey fan who battled life-long health problems but remained a steadfast fan, a jovial person and an amazing Canadian.  I never had the pleasure of meeting Earl, he lived across the country from me, but I've heard his story(or stories!) often.  Earl  batled fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, the foster care system (before his wonderful foster mother, Debbie, brought him home 7 years ago), Asperger's syndrome, Tourette syndrome and cancer.  Through it all he remained a steadfast and sure.  He was going to fight.   To read more about Earl's story visit : http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2011/09/18/winnipeg-earl-cook-hockey-obit.html

Earl inspired me.  I have a sister who has faced many challenges similar, but different, to Earl's and his story really touched my heart.  Earl was an inspiration for Canadians of all ages.  I was so sad to hear of his passing.  I was devestated for his foster mom, Debbie, his friends in the NHL and hockey community and ,selfishly, myself.  Everything I ever read, heard or saw about Earl he was smiling, he was jovial and he was the kind of kid that people could and DID look up to.  In his short 23 years I can tell you he touched people from across the country.  My love and thoughts go out to his friends and family during this difficult time.  This post is for you, Earl.

I swear to you, it will get better...

How is it that today, in 2011, we're still dealing with people who are bullying others?  How is it that in our "advanced" society that we have CHILDREN KILLING THEMSELVES?!  How is it that the so-called ADULTS in our world continue this behavior in the work site, ignore or defend the actions of their of children and do NOTHING to help our children...to teach our children right from wrong...to do ANYTHING to help these children understand the pain that they're inflicting on other people in the world.  I want to tell the kids of today that it will stop.  It will get better...you are STRONG....

http://www.thechronicleherald.ca/NovaScotia/1264080.html

This poor kid.  I know how he feels.  I'm big.  I always have been.  I've been bullied.  But I didn't give up - I fought back because I knew it was wrong.  I knew I had support and I knew it would get better.

I knew that some day it would get better.  How did I know that?  I don't really know...I just felt it in my heart.  I knew that was no way that this would go on for the rest of my life.  I knew there was something I could do to change it.  So, do you know what I did?  I decided to tell them how it was, and it was going to be.  I said, at the age of 14 to the people that tormented me, something like this:
I AM smarter than you are.  I AM stronger than you are.  I AM braver than you are.  And one day, in the future, I will be more educated, better adjusted, loved by my true friends, loved by my family and at peace with the choices I've made in my life.  Some day, I WILL be your boss.  And then maybe you'll realize that all this shit, all this crap you've put me and countless others through will have done nothing but proved that you are a small, unhappy person.

I just want to reach out to all these other kids that feel how I did...I want them to know that it DOES get better.  Stand up, speak out, be yourself.  Because someday, you could be their boss.  And then you can show them the compassion that they never showed you.  Gay, straight, fat or thin, black, white, Asian or pink, it gets better.  It does get better.

xo

Pics...or it didn't happen!

As anyone who knows me will have heard me say: Pics, or it didn't happen.  So today I present you with a smattering of (non-pro) pics from the wedding.

It happened.

Chillin' in the hotel room

Waiting for the music...

Dad and I

Signing my life away.  (That's my Grandpa!!)

Mr. Dan signing his life away

We're murried!!!!!!

Mrs and Mr:)

First dance

Hello Gentlemen!

Mmm...cake....

Bouquets!  MIL made mine and MOH and I made the rest:)

Miiiiine!

Let them eat cake!

Told you it happened.

Murried!!!!!!

So I know you've all been dying to her about my amazing, fantabulous, AWESOMELY SPECTACULAR wedding...and so I give you the wedding recap:

Sunday morning was lovely. I couldn't sleep much past 5:30 but that was fine. All the ladies (mom, BM's, aunts, a few girlfriends and I) ate breakfast in the hotel then the BMs and I  relaxed in the room. We had champagne and OJ, played on Facebook, ordered pizza and just chilled out. Everyone kept joking with me that I was too relaxed, but honestly I just was. I had this wonderful sense of calm. No nerves, no jitters, just calm. It was AWESOME.

At 2:45 mom came and got us for the ceremony. We all went down and the music started. Girls went in and when it was time for us Dad just grabbed my arm and looked at me and said "Steady now. We've got this one." And then smiled at me and we were off. The ceremony was great (I kept grabbing looks at Mr. Dan) and only 10 minutes!! We signed the papers and then waited for Grandpa to come pronounce us....3 minutes....4 minutes...finally my aunt went over and then Grandpa comes back "My daughter told me I should now pronounce that we have Mr. and Mrs.Paige." I almost bust out laughing. Then all you hear is our photog yell "KISS THE BRIDE!!!" and the people in the seats start yelling "Yeah! Kiss her!!" "KIss Kiss!!"! Too funny! After it was just a blur of hugs and kisses.

Pictures were awesome! We went to the Public Gardens (beautiful!) with our family and the wedding party. Then just Mr. Dan and I headed with the photogs to another park, some woods, a pond and some random train tracks. I think we're going to have some AMAZING pictures. AND my photogs were amazing! Karen kept checking on us, Brian was bringing us drinks and setting up shots without us even knowing it. They made it so easy! (http://www.brianlarter.com/)

After that we met up with the wedding party and had a drink in our suite. Then we headed down to the reception. I could hear my brother annoucing us but no music. I thought it was weird but Drew (banquet manager) said it was okay and we'd just go with it. I was okay. So we get annouced and cheer and yay and suuuuch and then sit down. And I look over to see no DJ. Uh...what? So I grab Drew (who was AMAZING the entire night! He made sure everyone was taken care of, nothing went wrong or if it did he fixed it, and he kept getting us beer ♥ ) and ask. He says he'll figure it out. 60 minutes in to the reception (and while we're eating) the DJ shows up. (NOt sure what happened BUT he made up for it with the dance.) Speeches were AMAZABALLS. Dan's dad didn't want to speak but he wrote something and read it to us privately part-way through the reception. I'm getting copies of the speeches so I'll share later♥

Anyhoar: My brother was seriously an awesome MC. He was funny and quick and witty...just like I always tell him!! lol! He even said he really enjoyed himself. And everyone kept commenting saying "I didn't know your brother was so funny!" "How did I miss his sense of humour?!" It was GREAT!

The food was AMAZING! Like seriously some of the best food I've ever had. We got so many compliments on it. And zomg I agree...NOMMMM! Mom thought it would be funny to annouce to each table with kids that the candy buffet was now open. 15 minutes later there were only a few candy sticks left. The glow braclets were a HIT! Look at our cake pics and you can see that I had two on...I forgot to take them off for those pics...OOPS! lol

The dancing was wonderful! Our first dance was so nice, we just chatted and laughed and really enjoyed it. Dad and I had a blast too. The parrrrrrty was rockin'! Everyone was out on the floor and we all danced and partied...it was seriously the best party I've ever been to! Everyone said they enjoyed themselves(which is really what we wanted!) and I can't believe it's all over now!

It was seriously this amazing, wonderful, beautiful time! It went by quickly but we drank in all the details. It wasn't a blur...it was like a dream though. Everything was relaxed, and perfect. It could not have been better.