Manic Monday or Manic Marriage > Happy Anniversary, Baby

Card from Fireworks Gallery

I've been on a 35 year road trip with Mr. Glossy Flossy in a tiny clown car packed with all sorts of baggage of love, happiness, children, sadness, petty grievances and some murderous thoughts (not all of those were brought on by the kids.)  All that baggage is of different sizes and thank goodness the good baggage is a lot larger than the undesirable baggage.

I've been married to Mr. Glossy Flossy for 35 years and yes I was 11 when I got married :)  People have said that there is an ebb and flow to marriage.  I don't say that, it's a nice analogy for some people's marriage but not mine.  My marriage is like a fire.  One day it's warming and relaxing, like sitting in front of a cozy fire making you all comfy and drowsy and the next day it's like the worst sunburn ever, burning, uncomfortable and needing to get over it! 

An 80+ year old couple who had been married for over 60 years was asked how they had stayed married for so long.  The wife said, "Luckily, we never fell out of love at the same time."  That is the ebb and flow of everyone's marriage.  Anyone who has ever been married knows that marriage is a lot of work.  Sometimes you get tired of working at it and coast.  Sometimes it seems that there is too much ebb in a marriage, that's when, if you're lucky, the other person is picking up the slack and working very hard at making it work. 

Have you seen the saying on Pinterest that says:  Marriage is like a deck of cards?  In the beginning, all you need is two hearts and a diamond.  By the end, you wish you had a club and a spade.  The club and spade days are the burning fire days or the ebb but they don't have to be the end.

In honor of my anniversary and the upcoming wedding we have right around the corner; I came up with a list of things I wish someone had told me about being married:

• You can't always be right - WHAT???  But what if I am always right?  What do you mean I'm not always right?  That's a hard one for me and it's taken me 34 years, 11 months, 29 days to realize work on.  Okay, that's a really, really hard one for me.  Sometimes I am wrong, and mean, and bitchy.  Thank goodness the Mr. is very patient with me.

• Sometimes you have decide to be wrong and end the argument because what you have is more important than "being right."  There's no winning in arguing over something that isn't going to matter later and that you will not even remember what you're arguing about.  The following is a true story and the names have not been changed.  Mr. Glossy and I were arguing about something (I don't remember what)  when mid-stream he started laughing and said "Do you really want to argue about this?"  I started laughing too and no I didn't want to argue about it.  This only works if it is something  trivial, not something sacred like why did you throw out my 100 Taste of Home Magazines that I haven't looked at once in 5 years.

• Resist the urge to trash your spouses family.  Our clan is the perfect family so we don't have this problem, but I've heard of it.  Sometimes your family or his family are not very lovable, (just like sometimes you're not very lovable) but they are family, so resist the urge to go on and on and on and on about how they're not very lovable.  After all we already know how our own families are. No need to be redundant!

• You are a team and the children are the enemy, albeit a very lovable and at times, adorable enemy.  Band together with your spouse and be a united front against them.  Believe me if they see a chink in that united front they will exploit it for their own evil purposes.

I would like to say that I've learned all those lessons and we have a perfect marriage but marriage is like my hair - I have good days and bad days.  Sometimes it's just there - neither good or bad, sometimes it's scary bad and sometimes it's fantastic. 

When things get rough I like to remember and be thankful that I've found that one special guy that I want to annoy for the rest of my life. 

Happy Anniversary, Mr. Glossy Flossy.

~Laurie

Frock Me Friday > Old Lady Out On The Town

(No I'm not in the wedding, but this pic just cracks me up!)

I have an out of town bachelorette weekend coming up next week, and I have been quietly freaking out over the past week over what I will be wearing. I told the bride-to-be that I had found a great dress in the prom dress section of Macy's, (complete with gloves!) just to freak her out; but the truth is that I have no idea what I'm going to wear.

It's been a loooong time since I've been to a bachelorette party, like even before my ovaries were ever interested in babies. And I've never been to one where, I'm pretty sure, I will be the oldest gal there. Yep just gonna be me, my walker, and 5 other skinny 20 somethings out on the town, running wild. Yikes!

So what does a thirty-ish gal wear so that she looks hip enough that people don't mistake her for the mom chaperone, and chic enough that I don't end up looking like one of those women on those fashion don't pages in magazines. I don't want someone adding a black privacy bar over my eyes to protect my identity or other parts of me for that matter.

The other exciting part about this weekend of wildness is that we will be riding the train - the fancy train! This has inspired all sorts  of ridiculously fabulous fashion montages in my crazy head.
Did you ever see the Johnny Depp, Angelina Jolie version of the Tourist? Her wardrobe on the train scenes was TO. DIE. FOR. But I don't think vintage Chanel and wool capes is the look I should be going for on a young and fun bachelorette weekend. Or maybe I need a traveling wardrobe like the girls had in Sex In The City 2, when they all went off to fabulous Morocco...I think I might need to rein it in - obviously!!

Although, I should take my husband on a weekend train trip sometime so he can be my Johnny Depp...


Here's what I came up with for the train:

Riding the Rails 2 by glossyflossy featuring travel bags

Riding the Rails by glossyflossy featuring flared jeans

Here's what I came up with for the big night out:

Bachelorette Night Out by glossyflossy featuring Valentino handbags

Bachelorette Night Out 2 by glossyflossy featuring clutch handbags

Wish me luck! I'm thinking this old girl has a thing or two to show these girlies. After all, after three kids I'm a champ at surviving on only 2 hrs of sleep. Bring it on!

~Angela

Celebrate Celebrate Celebrate > Rebel Housewife Bridal Shower Part 3

I'm so excited about today's "Rebel to a Housewife" segment, well because....
It's all about the food!

My personal theory (I really don't think my theories are just personal. Secretly, I think they are factual and say that they are personal, so that you don't think I'm a bossy know-it-all, like my baby brother once said - right before I shoved him in a closet) is that you can have all the great party themes, decorations, and games you want, but none of that will matter to your guests if you don't send them home having eaten something scrumptious, or sipped something delicious. Just consider it party commandment numero uno. 

Doesn't it look yummy? Here's the Menu:

~Blackberry & Honey Yogurt Parfaits~

~Lemony Asparagus Bow Tie Salad~

~Strawberries & Marshmallow Cream Cheese Dip~

~Mini Doughnut Hole Stacks with

Caramel & Chocolate Dipping Sauce~

~Shrimp on ice~

~Laurie Glossy's Ham & Gruyere Quiche~

(found here)

~Fizzed Orange Juice Punch~

~Lemon & Cream Cheese Buttercream Cupcakes~

Laurie Glossy Flossy and I also adhere to Party Commandment number two: Give your party food a party outfit.

Whaaaat, you say? Let me explain, just like you'd spend hours and hours looking through hundreds of outfits to find one outfit only to wear it for a three hour event (maybe that's just me); your food needs some special dud's to showcase it's yumminess too! By that I mean it needs, a great table runner, fun containers, beautiful trays, crisp white bowls, colorful picks, and pretty flowers. In other words: great accessories!

Just think how many more people would love broccoli, if it came served in a cute little mini martini glass.

Thanks for reliving our Rebel Housewife bridal shower with us!

~Angela

Celebrate Celebrate Celebrate >Rebel Housewife Bridal Shower Part 2

What did you think of those fabulous shower pics Laurie posted last week?

We had way to much fun coming up ideas for this party. At a certain point we just had to stop brainstorming because A) We didn't win the Mega Million's jackpot to fund all of our crafty ideas and B) Our families were threatening to riot if we didn't spend some of the time we were devoting to party planning, doing boring things like the dishes or laundry...Boo.

The great thing about our crazy Rebel Housewife obsession is that we have lots and lots to share with you guys! Today I'll be sharing some more great pictures of the games and our table decor.

As our guests arrived and found their seats, we gave them a little reading material called the "Good Wife's Guide" from Housekeeping Monthly circa 1955, which was redesigned from a great Etsy seller, Due Cuori. Let me just tell you that based off of this guide, I probably would have become a old spinster with 50 cats or a super divorcee ala Elizabeth Taylor, if I had to adhere to these guidelines. Here's a little sample of some of the "Good Wife's" suggestions:

Prepare and Refresh yourself. Touch up your make up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking for when he arrives home.

At the time of his arrival from work, eliminate all household noise. Encourage the children to be quiet.

Or my favorite:

A good wife knows her place.

I'm pretty sure that my "Good Housewife" place is in front of my laptop with a cup of coffee and if my husband came home to a quiet house and me in make up and a bow; he would be double checking the street address to see if he was in the right house. Or he would wonder if I had been body snatched. No wonder people drank so much back then! Just the thought of sacrificing all my personality just to be the perfect 1950's stepford wife, makes me want to stick my head in the oven. Hello, 2012!

Because we make our party guests work for their food love a good game, we next handed out a quiz that Due Cuori also provided to test those "Good Wife" skills. Some people even answered the quiz as to how the future Mrs. 2wicked would - and it was hilarious!

We also did the standard, "How well does the bride know the groom" and it was so sweet to hear all the quirky things those two love birds dig about each other. The was a lot of "Aawwww" 's going around.

On to the tablescapes!

Our girl loves her world in black and white, so we wanted to bring some of that into the color scheme with some cool chevron fabric that we found at Craft Warehouse. We cut pieces for table runners and table squares. We layered them over crisp white tablecloths for a little pop art contrast. Next we brought in some art deco style plates and then added a fun, blue dot dessert plate, on top. We finished the table settings off with the polka dot napkins with the red ribbon for a splash of color.

Next we placed our favors that Laurie geniusly DIY 'ed and the floral center pieces. For these we used a vintage looking bird accented domed cake plates we found at our mothership, TJ Maxx,  and used oasis foam and flowers for the center. They came out pretty cute huh?

We also used this concept for some busts that we prettied up with a chevron apron and a floral crown. These flanked our buffet table:

Laurie also found these gorgeous mirrored "love" signs from Hobby Lobby, which we hung behind the buffet and dessert tables. A little pop art and retro all at the same time!

 We finished everything off with a dusting of bling...

Ummm, doesn't that table look yummy?! Come on back tomorrow for our "Rebel to a Housewife" menu and more delicious pictures.

~Angela

Frock Me Friday > We're Going To A Bridal Shower -- Again!

Our bride to be is having her "Not Clan" Bridal Shower on Sunday at a local winery and believe it or not the weather is saying it's supposed to be 84 degrees that day!  

I have found the perfect dress on Polyvore and accessorized it with all the items that I wish were in my wardrobe.  My dream is that after making a styleboard on Polyvore I could press the print button and my in home dressmaker (like your printer - but makes a dress with fabric) would work away and then out would come the dress and not only would it fit but it would be very flattering on me!  Of course this magical machine would also spit out the accessories, handbags and shoes!!!  Okay back to reality or Polyvoreality.

I know I like to use my existing wardrobe and build on it but sometimes a special occasion like a bridal shower calls for a special outfit - especially if you are the mother of the groom.  

Spring Bridal Shower Dress/Outfit by laurieglossyflossy 

I should have added a hat - not just any hat - but a wide brimmed southern belle type of hat.  I had to include a pair of wedges with this because while I'm a pump girl, wedges are much easier to navigate if you are outside on the lawn.  I really, really, really, love those sunglasses, but sadly I don't have $230 to spend on something that I will scratch, bend, and eventually lose or break.  I can't be trusted with a nice pair of sunglasses.  If anyone knows where I can get a more reasonably priced version of those, let me know.


I did not go completely over the top with this outfit because I can use the pieces in this outfit and mix it up with my existing wardrobe for some cute outfits.  That sweater is very versatile and would go with a ton of things in my Polyvore wardrobe.  Check it out.

Spring Blue Stripe Strapless Dress/Outfit by laurieglossyflossy featuring The Row sunglasses

Goldenrod Sweater w/pants outfit by laurieglossyflossy featuring Kookai jeans

Goldenrod Sweater with slacks Outfit by laurieglossyflossy featuring Aqua earrings

Happy Frock Me Friday.  Don't forget to let me know if you find those sunglasses!

~Laurie

Celebrate Celebrate Celebrate > Rebel Housewife Bridal Shower Part 2

Are you ready for Part 2 of the Fabulous Rebel to Housewife Bridal Shower?  We have so many fab ideas for you that we are gonna have to stretch this into a three parter!

I want to forewarn you now that I maybe should have titled this:  "Longest Post Ever!"


There have been some questions about how the flower bustier of dress form was made.  It was trial and error and I'd like to pass on the tips that I learned.

• I used small straight pins to pin flowers on.

Assemble the flowers:

• Take flowers apart and with a low temp glue gun put a small amount of glue on each layer to glue together. Why low temp?  Because I'm not very coordinated and I would like to keep my fingers from getting 3rd degree burns.
• I glued the plastic stamen (that's the technical name for that thingy that's in the center of the flower) on the hydrangeas to the flower petals and then cut the back of the stamen flush with the flower.
• I glued the small red flowers together without the stamen, kind of scrunching the top red petal so you couldn't see the hole where the stamen was.
• After gluing the daisy petals together, I glued the red flower to the middle of the daisy (where the stamen would be.)

Assembling the Floral Bustier:

• I put the belt on the form first so I knew where the bottom of the floral bustier would be.
• Find the spot that will be the V of the bustier and pin one hydrangea blossom there.
• Pin one hydrangea blossom on each side where the bustier would end under the arm.
• Pin one hydrangea blossom on each spot that would be the top of the bustier of the breast or as I like to call them "the ta-tas".
• Stand back and check to see if it looks symmetrical.  Be sure to stand back often during the whole process and check to see how it looks.
• Fill in the hydrangea trim.  Be sure to put pin in the bottom layer petal so it won't be seen.  
• Now start pinning the daisies on, keeping in mind that you don't want one daisy centered on each side or it will look like a strippers pasty - unless you're going for that look!  I started with the daisy under the V and pinned around the trim and then worked my way down to the belt.
• There you have it - easy peasy.  

The welcome sign was made with an 8.5 X 11 sheet of card stock printed with speech bubble and text.  I used clear packing tape to attach a straightened wire hanger (remember those - this really is a retro party!)  The t-shirt was a child's size and was very tight on the dress form so I just stuck the wire down the back of the shirt and it stayed!

Now for the favors:  the favors are the dollar store (10 for $1) bridal dress favors that I fabbed up to look like a million bucks!  Super simple to do except the numerous trips to Craft Warehouse, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Walmart and JoAnn's to get the right paper and trim.  You know how that is - you have to look at all the paper and trim to see what is available and then go back and get them from three different stores because no store has paper and trim to go together.  The jeweled band came from Walmart, small polka dot from Hobby Lobby and large polka dot from Michaels.  


Assembling the Favors:

• Trace the bodice of dress favor on the small polka dot paper and cut out.  Repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat enough for front and back of each favor.  Again, we really went old school, pencil and scissors - no fancy schmancy Cricut or Silhouette.
• Trace and cut out skirt using large polka dot paper for front and back of each favor.
• Printed text in speech bubbles and cut out.  I had four different sayings.

• Glue front and back bodice to dress form.  
• Attach flower to bodice and blinged trim at waist.  
• Using a half of a white address label, attach small white floral wire to back of speech bubble.
• Using other half of white address label, attach other end of wire to inside of dress favor.
• Fill with favors and close up with glue dots.
• Now rest your fingers from all the cutting you've done unless you did what I did and find someone to cut out everything - Thank you Mr. Groom-to-be! 

Miss Angela Glossy Flossy will continue with Part 3 which will be all about table decor, games and food.  That's sounds like another reeeaaaalllyyy long post - this may become a four parter.


~ Laurie

Manic Monday > All Over The Map

This weekend flew by like a IRS refund. Sorry, had to do it. Tax day is tomorrow in case you hadn't heard or you are skipping taxes this year - which may not the best idea, just ask Wesley Snipes.

Here in Glossy Flossy land we had a weekend filled with baseball, sunshine, and most importantly, kettle corn. Seriously is there anything better than baseball and popcorn? Well maybe popcorn and wine, but your fellow little league fans might frown on your glass of Pinot in your cup holder, so best leave that combo for home. Which led me to this recipe for home made kettle corn in the MICROWAVE from April over at Frugal Homemaking, with just a paper bag and just four ingredients. Easy Homemade Kettle Corn:

2 Tbsp. popcorn kernels

2 tsp. oil

1 Tbsp. sugar or sugar substitute

Dash salt

Directions:

• Pour the kernels, oil, sugar and salt in a small bowl. Mix until all kernels are well coated with sugar, salt, and oil.
• Pour the bowl's contents into the paper bag. Place the bag on a plate and fold the top of the bag over 1" twice. You can also use a microwave-safe bowl and a vented lid (like a microwave-safe colander or splatter shield),
• Place in the microwave on popcorn setting or for about 1 minute, 15 seconds. Either way, shut off microwave when popping slows to less than a pop every second to avoid burning.
• Open slowly and carefully, as steam will be hot.

Was anyone else foaming at the the mouth with this week's stay a home mom bashing? Lets face it, being a mom is not a job for wimps. It is a freaking hard job to be solely responsible for the complete development of a human being, who at times just wants to cry and break stuff. Why would we as women turn on each other, when we are all in the same boat whether we work or not? Lets face it, the children out number us, so we should stick together -there is safety in numbers!

Is everyone getting ready to plant their gardens? Laurie Glossy Flossy planted her garden this weekend, but I am still procrastinating...I have these two livestock troughs that will hopefully soon look like this:

In the mean time check out all these great gardening plans for vegetables from Better Homes and Gardens:



I'm also jonesing for new melamine plates for summer:



Marimekko Plates, Crate and Barrel

Melamine Summer 2012 Collection, Target (Online only)

Happy Manic Monday!

~Angela

Frock Me Friday > Orange You Glad Its Friday?

Did you guys know that Tangerine Tango is the official the color of 2012? Well, according to the color wizards over at Pantone, Tangerine out Tangoed last years color queen "Honeysuckle". Poor girl.

It would be hard to even stand next to a color that is described as, "Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy," says the peeps over at Pantone. Yikes! This girl sounds fierce.

But she definitely has the looks to back up all that sassiness! I'm sure you've seen her popping up all over the place. I think I heard that her platform is world peace thru Springtime pops of color....Check out all the ways she can make you look fabulous:

Tangerine Tango by glossyflossy featuring stretch jewelry

Day Dresses by Anthropologie
Flats by Sacha

Day Dresses by Romeo & Juliet Couture
Flats by Kate Spade

One-Piece Swimwear
Platforms

 

Better luck next year, Honeysuckle.

 

Happy Frock Me Friday!

 

~Angela

 

P.S. As always, click the pics for the links.