another door closing on pop culture...

OK I just had to do it!

Pay a tribute to Farrah that is.

There was a day when I was just mesmerized by this women.

I wanted to look like her.
I wanted to talk in a little quiet sweet voice like her.
I wanted to bat my eyes like her.
I wanted to have her golden tan.
I wanted men to swoon over me like her.
I wanted my teeth and smile to look like hers.
I wanted that HAIRSTYLE of hers!


Well, this was as close as I got! Not too bad for a 15 year old huh! hahah!
Well Ok not EVEN close but it was still fun when I came across this picture the other day.


Judy & Jill 1978

Yes, I am the one with the amazing Farrah bangs :)
Oh! and that shirt was a gift purchased at Nieman Marcus in New York 1978. You know...where the STARS shop ;)

(don't hate me-haha!)

HaPpY FATHERS Day to the most amazing man!

I can't help but feel so fortunate to have such a wonderful Husband and Father to Britney! The night before brit's wedding, she gave letters to her dad and I. With permission, I am posting exerpts she wrote to her daddy. I feel it is such a nice tribute to Kirt and tells what kind of person and FATHER he is.

Awwwww... just loveLOVElove this!

So here goes!!

Dad

Wow. What can I even say to you? How do I even begin this? You are the most AMAZING father in the whole entire world. I can’t even tell you how lucky I feel to be able to call you my dad. I really truly am so blessed to have you in my life. I can’t tell you how many times my friends have commented on how awesome you are. It’s no secret that I have the best dad around. I get that ALL THE TIME. I’m not even kidding you. Every single friend that has gone on vacation with our family has said that you are the most amazing man they have ever met. And it’s so true.

You have such a strong testimony of the gospel and the light of Christ shines through you. You are honestly the most Christ-like person that I have ever met. You have raised me with the gospel and have taught me right from wrong. You have helped me gain a testimony for myself and have helped me get to where I am today. I love your enthusiasm about learning more about the gospel. You are always reading some church history book or prophecy book or something. I LOVE this about you. You are so dedicated to learning more and bettering yourself. You always give 100% into your calling.

You are also the most selfless person that I know. In our home, it has always been apparent that mom and I come first. You never complain when we ask you to do something, you just do it. Because you know that it will make us HAPPY. And usually these aren’t very fun tasks. But you do them anyway. You also show this selflessness in your interactions with other people. You are constantly serving neighbors and friends when you already have a full plate of stuff you need to accomplish. But you never hesitate to stop and help someone in need. You are the most honest person that I know. You run a great, honest business and treat everyone around you with respect.

Thank you for ALWAYS making me feel loved. I have never doubted that you love me with your whole heart. And thanks for always making me feel beautiful and talented. It’s really true when they say that a girl’s self-esteem rests upon her relationship with her father and how he treats her. Thank you for that.

I can’t thank you enough for ALL that you have done for me in my life and for ALL that you have taught me. And I also can’t thank you enough for giving me the wedding and wedding dress of my dreams. You are AMAZING! I love you so much Daddy!

There you have it!

The GREATEST dad
in the world
according to Brit and Jill :)

I have thought about my father also so much lately and actually think of him often even though he passed away 16 years ago. I came accross some fun old pictures of him and I am going to post on him soon. I would like to give him the time he deserves probably later this month...

Ladies night on the town...

These are some amazing friends here!

They were my lifesavers when it came to my food and treats at the wedding reception. They each took charge of a food area and saw it through to the end and it all turned out wonderful!!!There were many more who helped but these women helped to make it all happen . I couldn't be more grateful to them for that. Then, it was GAIL, not me to take us out on the town after it all! The week after the reception, Gail had extra tickets to "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" at Gammage and got us a limo so we could all go out on the town and have a good time.

So THANK YOU Gail and I still owe you all BIG time :)

Lori is just the CUTEST ever. And since since she is single, she was able to flirt a little and the Sonic boys totally adored her! I just LOVE this picture probably cuz I love Lori so much! She is so fun and always such a good sport :D

OK Gails video on her blog was much better but here is a small idea of how crazy we were. Elaine, who does NOT like blogging really wanted to make our blogs with her wild behavior. She was a crack up all night. I don't know where she got all her energy but she was dancing all night long. She normally is not one who likes to go out late in the evening but after this.... hmmmm I think so!

Another good sport was our Limo driver... He put up with us all. 6 crazy moms
and 2 of Gails darling daughters and nieces.
FUN NIGHT!

UNUSUAL week!

8 things I enjoyed this week that is not the norm for me...

Slept. chilled. vegged out on Sat and Sun all day :)

Went to work more than I have in a long time and started to get caught up.


Left my house a mess and didn't even stress about it :D Which is sooo NOT like me!

Got to hear the happiness in Brit's voice when she called to tell me about her awesome adventures in bahamas!



Went to a show at Gammage and rode in a Limo for the first time with my girlfriends! 6 crazy ladies let loose on the town Ha! FUN time!


Did NOT cook dinner once!

Went on a spontaneous adventure with Amy from 11:30pm to 2:30am!! made me feel like a kid again and we had fun. ahhh summer nights.
(sorry no more details.) :)


Watched my favorite guilty pleasures on TV... SYTYCD, Batchelorette

Last moments of being single...

OK I just found these on the camera and they were taken the last moments these two were single. They looked really happy going into the temple to get married!

Just wanted to share :)

ALL ABOUT THE WEDDING AND RECEPTION...

WARNING: If you are expecting to read about all the things that could and did go wrong this day, you will be disappointed. Yup! It was a pretty near perfect day. Just like we had hoped for and worked so hard to create. Many prayers were answered. Blessings received. So here is my account of all the details that helped to make this day memorable.
You know the quote, "Just for today, BE HAPPY." Well how could we not be happy on June 12, 2009!


At 2:15 on June 12, 2009 I was able to witness a beautiful wedding ceremony in the Mesa Arizona Temple uniting two fabulous people together as husband and wife for time and all eternity! They were sealed by a great man and close family friend Brad Perkinson, with about 60 of our dearest relatives and friends witnessing this event. Many great things were said that day, advice was given, promises were made and it was evident that this couple was truly meant to be together as husband and wife. These two have lived their lives preparing themselves for this special day when they would find their chosen mate and be united together in marriage. {In a later post I am going to share some of my thoughts as to how and why I think Brit reached this level of happiness.} This by far was the most important and special part of the day. Nothing else mattered.
and...
Britney was Finally Mrs. G!

This being stated... we still MUST CELEBRATE!!
How is it that you can put so much time and effort into something that is over in the fraction of the time you put into it, and yet,
IT IS SOOO WORTH IT IN THE END?

That is how I feel about this wonderful wedding day! For years Brit and I have dreamed and talked about how we would make her wedding day special. How she would feel like a "princess" on her special day. What colors and themes we would use to make it unique and so "her". We began putting our plans into action beginning in March of this year. Three short months to pull together one big special day! We knew if we wanted it to be special WE had to make it happen! So WE did!


We adopted a successful attitude with the help of these sayings...

"Nothing worth doing is easy"

"Do what you can, with what you've got, wherever you are."

"Life is not having and getting, but being and becoming"





Then it was on to the details... and those who know Brit and I, It is surely all about DETAILS!!! So many comments we received were...
"It's SOOO Britney!"
"There are so many personal touches"
{i must also add people were lovin our photograher, Annie Randall, and caterers which were "my FRIENDS incorporated"!!! ;) --- but that is entirely another post! later}

OK. THE DETAILS.
in a nutshell
black & white + citrus colors

We chose to have a variety of colors and themes which at times wondered if it could be pulled off without being tacky... but I think we did it. :)

there was...
FUN! ice cream cones with sprinkles. candy. beautiful candy table. take home treats. {thanks lori and C girls} salads (Paradise Bakery style). delicious YUMMY rolls! and CUPCAKES! citrus waters. LIMEADES. lots and LOTS and lots of pictures. candles. ribbons. flowers. crystals. glass blocks. sayings. jewels. plates. candlesticks. metal. citrus. GERBER DAISIES. photo books. initials. words. personal touches.

The centerpieces were large square glass vases with whole and cut oranges in it and another vase hidden in the middle with pink orange green beautiful amazing flowers billowing out the top. A zebra ribbon knotted with a gerber daisy adorned the outside of the vase and a quartet of candles surrounded this on each table. The tables were white with black overlays tops and the chair ties were hot pink.

PinkOrangeLimeZebra all mixed together
and we wanted it ElegantClassyWhimsical

...and we had to have a cake that said ALL of that also. It had pinkoranegreen diamonds and jewels bottom round layer, black & white zebra square layer next, pinkoranegreen circles diferent styles and sizes round layer next, and the top was a square white with black swirls with pink ribbons and a special pink G etched on the side of the top layer with flowers and forever wedding bands to top it off on the very top. MY SISTER IN LAW LOIS ROCKS AT CAKE DECORATING! {thanks LoLo}
It was amazing, and it was PinkOrangeLimeZebraallmixedtogetheranditwas
ElegantClassyWhimsicalitwas
WOW!

The 6 groomsmen and the best man wore black suits with cool matching ties and gerber boutineers with lime green wire, and they were all handsome :) The 6 bridesmids wore Zebra dresses with black shrugs and 2 each wore hot pink, orange and lime green shoes. 6 darling 19 year old girls in cute zebra dresses. ya you will want to see the pictures! April the MOH looked hot in a cute black dress and they all had really cute bouquets in the colors. ummm MUCHmuch work went into pulling all of that look together on a tight budget (the shopping became exhausting!) but once again, so worth it!



PRESENT: A photographer takin lots of pictures for all of todays time of fun bloggin days. An amazing video and love story of the happy couple themselves was showing continuously. A ROCKIN DJ who kept things going all night with nice music and "got the party started" just before 9:00 with dancing and FUN! Did I mention that our family knows how to shake up the dance floor? YUP! Lets just say for those there it was real entertainment whether you were watching OR dancing!!!

ALSO PRESENT: Lots and Lots of FABULOUS people! Family, Friends, Neighbors, Co-workers, (their were even some uninvited guests just comin to check things out... and they were welcome too!) Everyone helped to make this night FUN!

I will only mention the two hours I spent in a receiving line that was nearly 30-40 minutes long all night. I really didn't even mind it. It was fun to meet and greet so many people that chose to share this day with us. :)

AFTER this "SWEET" couple SHOVED cake in each others faces, they shared a precious first dance as MR & MRS G. They are quite the dancers together. Mr G loves to dip Mrs G and twirl her like a princess and momma P loves to watch this. This actually occurs on a regular basis and they have behaved like this since their early dating days. ahhhhh. NEXT, came the TENDER daddy daughter dance {so so special} and momma joined for a group hug at the end.
The couple then got "lost" for awhile. hmmmm... anyway, they reappeared in DIFFERENT clothes ;) and proceded to share a special surprise with those daring enough to stick this night out to the end... the surprise? ...DRUMROLL PLEASE... a TANGO DANCE that the couple had been working on for this night! Sure, it was a little SPICY but these two had been building up for this special day and wanted to "have some fun with it". After all they were now "married"!!! It had lifts, and slaps, and grabs, and kisses and this look and that look. uh hum. That is all I am going to say about that dance but anyone not there really missed out on somethin special!!!! ;)
Shortly after this everyone ran outside where the Limo awaited this happily newly married couple's departure to a hotel in Scottsdale. A surprise was waiting for Mr G in the limo... you guessed wrong! It was 6 beautiful bridesmaids in the Limo informing the groom that they were joining them for a slumber party! He booted them out so fast! Guess he wanted his bride only to himself that night. Good for him! We all said GOODBYE and I LOVE YOU and off they went into the dark of night...

the end.

Oh wait!



Ok. It is recorded. All the details. Pictures of the reception should be coming in a week or two. I will post a slideshow of all those details. :)

I can't end without adding that I am so so so FOREVER grateful to the MANY wonderful people who helped to make this day so perfect. That too is another post. But I do feel incredibly blessed to have such wonderful friends and family. And the grooms family was so awesome and easy to work with to enjoy this day.
ahhhh blessings.

WoW.

Ok I thinK after 3 days I can come out of hiding...

I am a little overwhelmed with what i feel I need to post. So much to record and there is so much going through my head. I really just am not into this but I want to record my thoughts on the wedding while everything is fresh. I think I will break it into sections. I will try to post about a different topic each day.

1. Britney is Finally Mrs. G!
~all about the wedding and reception~

2. Pictures, Videos, DJ's... the BEST!

3. FRIENDS+ catering and help=the BESTEST!

4. The BACHELORETTE party

5. She gets to go to the Temple!

6. Whats going on in the "Empty Nest"

7. Why I think my daughter deserves to be this happy :)
to be continued...

APRiL BLESSiNGS

Once again, here I am counting my many blessings. Life has been a little tough on me lately and yet I am so so grateful for many things. I needed to take a couple of minutes to express some of those feelings.

I don't know what I would do without friends! I can always have a great time with these girls. Earlier this month we celebrated 3 of our birthdays. These girls will sacrifice, and go out of their way to show they care and make my life more complete. They helped throw a shower for Brit and they are so excited to help with the wedding. I feel I don't deserve such goodness yet am so grateful for it! Ummm, why do I get to have such ooober talented, sweet, and FUN friends? Guess it's cuz I'm so blessed :) Thanks Lori, Lori, Deb, Elaine, and Gail!I love you girls :)

"Birthday Queens"

(I must add that these two really are queens. Everything they touch turns to GOLD!) Lori S. made the cute crowns for us. So fun!

My "forever friend" Amy.

We also share the same birthday. I can share anything and everything with Amy. She is sooo incredibly talented and I don't know anyone more thoughtful than her. And I get to claim her as a "Best Friend" ?!! Yep, that's right I am so lucky! I know Amy is ALWAYS there for me when I need it most. We were able to spend the whole day together on our birthday. :) She listens to me. She "gets" me. We were together in the pre-existence, and I know we will remain FOREVER. the best.

"Sisters"

I still haven't blogged about my January sisters trip. I will someday... (maybe after that wedding?!) I LOVE my sisters. I can totally be myself with them. I know that they would do ANYTHING for me. They are FUN. Yes, they too are ooober talented. They are my blood. My sisters always and forever. For this I am grateful! doesn't get better.

My April Jean :)

April came earlier this month from Utah to help with the wedding. She just came back again and will be here through the wedding. She is my absolute lifesaver! It is so nice to have someone to run errands with and to be able to talk and laugh (and maybe even cry with) along the way. She knows all my secrets and I hers! It is so nice to have someone like that to love me even amidst my many flaws. She is the eyes in back of my head and my 3rd and 4th hands. WoW! And she is an amazing person. Such and example and blessing to me. one of my greatest blessing. ever.

I LOVE you April Jean!!!!!

love LOVE love these girls!!!

and here is why... well there are many more reasons why but currently this is what is on my mind!

N-DUB Nat = SUPERCALIFRAJELISTICEXPEALIDOCIOUS!!!

Yup you got it! another daughter to me. For my birthday Natalie posted the most AMAZING blog about ME... Mooaaa...Jillene :) right here...[ http://nataliemorgandub.blogspot.com/2009/04/today.html ] She is way to good to me and seriously just makes me feel so special. I did a blog about her also in March but she did a much better job. Thanks Nat. i love you

Chelsi. Cute CUTEST chelsi. She was just at my house last night. What a sweetheart. So fun to talk to and so good to my Britney. There are lots of wonderful things about this girl but at the TOP of my current list is this: SHE is partly responsible for giving me a SON! Yup! She was friends with Jesse and introduced him to Britney. So you see why she is a BLESSING! the end.


Cute kids at my house!!!

I LOVE kids. They make me happy. Can't have a blog about blessings and not add some children. And I so LOVE the Patterson cuties!!!

I really love their mom too! She was my "baby niece" when I was 20 before getting married and at the prime of being an aunt. She is now my hair stylist so you see SHE KNOWS MANY OF MY SECRETS ALSO!!!! She really got an earful earlier this month. hahaa

Isn't she just sooo cute!!!

And for anyone reading this who doesn't know, this is Dane's (from BIGGEST LOSER) wife. Yes! they are also REAL celebrities! and i know them! very well.

OK! Too much to do gotta END this Blog. But lastly this month I want to say that I am grateful to have such a wonderful daughter that I can plan her most special day with. She has always DREAMED of having that special wedding day. A day to always cherish and remember. A day to celebrate as she begins a new life with the LOVE of HER life! It is busy, hectic, and stressful. Yet such a wonderful and special time for us. I hope it will be all she has dreamed of. Everyone knows I would do ANYTHING for this girl and I thank my my Heavenly Father for her everyday!!! so much.

I am glad HE loves her as much as I do!

A sneak peek at some of our "Wedding Inspiration"
makes ya wanna be there June 12th huh?!!

Drumrollll....... please

Awwwwwwwwww. i know.

OK I cannot end this blog of blessings without acknowledging my verryyyy best friend, my glue, the one that keeps it all together for me. Kirt has been so SO soooo great through all of these most wonderful yet challenging times. COULD NOT do it without him. He is so good and understanding and always helpful.

I love him with all my heart.