I’ve moved!

meredithkwilliams — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:29:56 +0000

Check me out at: www.simplestripe.blogspot.com

I’ll still check back from time to time – but this is my new home!

Thank GOD It’s Friday

meredithkwilliams — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:37:49 +0000

I am so happy today is Friday, but so sad for the passengers and the families from Flight 3407 that crashed into a home last night in Clarence, NY. It just goes to show that life is too short. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone who is affected.

Lately I have been really crafty in the crappy weather! Below is my latest project: felt flower pins!

They are super easy, and fun to make. Each one takes about 10 minutes from start to finish! I will post the DIY next week! Then everyone can have colorful, fun pins in the dreary, drab winter!

Stay dry and warm!
Happy Friday!

Will you be my Valentine?

meredithkwilliams — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 14:37:56 +0000

I was chatting with my friend the other day who was getting her son’s Valentine’s Day mailbox ready for school! Remember the days in elementary school when you would decorate a shoebox with your name on it? On Valentine’s Day the class would go around and put Valentine’s in the boxes? I miss those days!

Here are some homemade Valentine’s Day cards by Your Wishcake on Esty! Sweet and simple!

Happy Thursday!

Hmmmm cupcakes!

meredithkwilliams — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:57:16 +0000

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day (BTW, I hate that it is on a Saturday) here are some sweet treats from around the web!

Baked By Melissa makes yummy bite sized cupcakes (about the size of a quarter)! Yes, one is enough to not ruin your diet, but who could eat just one of these sweet treats with flavors like, tie dye, red velvet, peanut butter and jelly and s’mores?

Sprinkles Cupcakes is one of my all time favorite cupcakes! I love walking into their store in Beverly Hills and being overwhelmed by the warmth of the tiny cakes! My favorite flavor is vanilla with vanilla frosting and vanilla sprinkles!

I told Bill that this year for Valentine’s Day it would be best to skip the box of chocolates. I have been doing really well by eating healthy and exercising regularly. But, Bill surprised me last night with a dozen rose, a subscription to Martha Stewart’s LIVING, and a box of chocolates! Yum! I love him!

Ahhh dating

meredithkwilliams — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 16:04:45 +0000

Before I met Bill, I went on every date imaginable. I have been set up by friends, met people through work, at bars, eHarmony, match.com you name it, I’ve done it. I have faked an illness to escape a bad date and literally ran out on the guy. I once met a guy who owned a rabbit. Yup, a full grown man with a rabbit. Not to mention that he walked his rabbit daily. Weird? Not to him, but red flag for me! I once went out with a guy who didn’t speak English. That was interesting.

My favorite dating story is about a guy I met through eHarmony.com. eHarmony guides the two hopefuls through communications before you can just communicate through email. This guy and I were at the “email stage”. I sent him a a brief email, introducing myself, gave a little background, and waited for his response. Read on:

The short version of what I do is keeping your mailbox full of junk mail; the long version is that I am an operations mgr for one of our high volume color printers. My main focus is developing efficient programs for Xerox field reps providing product support, training and the streamlining workflows to get the most usage out of our for least cost to the customer and Xerox. It’s not greatest job, but it is interesting.

I say that not to brag, but as explanation of how 1950′s my life was growing up. The thought never enter my mind growing up what it would be like not to have both parents or siblings (well expect when my brother would take my toys a child I wished it was just me, but I don’t think that counts ;-> ). This is going to sound really strange to you, but I didn’t know anyone that had divorced or single parents until I was in the 9th grade. How weird is that?

It is something I’ve thought of more as an adult though, but not so much thoughts of what type of person I would be if my family life was different. My contemplation focuses on just how luck I’ve been when compared to just about everyone I know. I’m a rarity to have had the family support that I had as child and continue to have has an adult.

Let me give you some background about grandparents and siblings because it easier to answer your questions if I can put it into context. My parents dated in HS and as some kids do they had unprotected sex and my brother was conceived….. Oops. So I guess you could say it was a shotgun wedding. I’m not saying they would have gotten married; just that situation in hand expedited the process. In fact that still embarrasses my mother to this day. I was in HS when I figured it out, my Dad happened to mention he needs to get her flowers. I asked why and he said anniversary. I though about it later that day, figured out it was only 7 months between the anniversary and brother’s b-day! Not that it seems to have mattered because they’ll be celebrating their 41st wedding anniversary next year.

My brother and I are only 54 weeks apart (Irish twins as it’s called) so I’ve always had a play pal growing up. My father worked and mother was a stay at home mom. It was just the 4 of us for nine years then I had a sister. The big difference between having siblings or not is the competition especially for boys. Because around 9 or 10 peewee football, baseball and basketball starts and it is not so much about winning or losing because we tended to be on the same teams but who performs better. My parents never encouraged one over the other it was just how we had to be better than the other. So that type of interaction lasted until we were in college together, where we got to know each more as adults and finally became good friends.

My sister on the other hand, we have always been close. Though now that I think about she would be the better person to tell what it is like to have siblings but also has an only child perspective as well because of the age difference. You could say that she had the only child experience from 9 yrs old on because Craig and I were gone. Off to college and what not. So if ever have you over for Thanksgiving or Christmas she could give you an interesting perspective.

Now my grandparents are an interesting tale because my fraternal and paternal grandparents are completely different, I mean like night and day different. My fraternal GP’s, in fact my dad’s side of the family as a whole, is the religious side and paternal GP’s are…….well the hillbillies side! My mother was welcomed into my father’s family with open arms while her parents despised my father and didn’t really want to be involved with us growing. More so with Craig and I then with Andrea (my sister) and I’ve no idea why because it was never talked about though if had to venture a guess it would have to do with the early pregnancy. Strange when I think about because my father gave my mother a life infinitely better than the one her parents would have chosen for her. Everything emotional, spiritually, and monetarily all better. So we really on see on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve for a grand total of 48 hours per year, sad really but it is what they chose.

The flip side is we grew up my father side of the family. He has 2 brothers and 2 sisters and in turn each had like five or more kids apiece so we had a Saurer family army. Six of the first eight kids born where boys (I being one them) so you can only image how times I’ve heard the phrase “Go outside and Play”, it was just an idyllic way to grow up. An because it was the religious side to family we went to church every Sunday, that type of up bringing just instills a value set of honesty and integrity that I made me the person I’m and frankly I’m extremely fortunately to have had it. The stories I could tell of growing up that are so funny, but that is a phone conversation because there better told than read!!

I wouldn’t be the person I’m without them and be clear, I love who I am. I am by no means perfect and there is room to improve, but don’t need to change who I am at my core because I’m a good and kind person. I’ve never thought how my life would have been without the family I have because they made me into the person I am.

Wow, I think I’ve just raised the rambling bar to new level!

WOW is right! Needless to say I replied with a polite email that I was not interested. He provided way to much information which was a total deal breaker for sure. For all those dating out there, I am convinced online dating is the way to go. You have to pick and choose the good, from the weird, rambling, and bad, but it’s worth it! In the end subscription after subscription, you will find someone. It happened to me! Just wait and see. Happy Tuesday!

For The Love of Liz

meredithkwilliams — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:55:13 +0000

For all my regular readers, you know that I blog stalk Matt Logelin and his journey after the birth of his daughter and the death of his wife. Matt has taken his personal, life changing event and used it to benefit others.

The Liz Logelin Foundation was set up too offer support to other families in need resulting from the death of a spouse, life partner or parent. $7 on the 7th is a campaign created to help families in need:

By donating $7.00 to The Liz Logelin Foundation on the 7th of every month, you are helping provide financial assistance to families as they deal with the loss of their loved ones.

In light of the country’s current economic crisis, $7 on the 7th is an easy, affordable way to impact the families of widows and widowers in a positive way.

So, this Valentine’s Day think about skipping that box of chocolates, teddy bear, or card and donate to this great cause.

Thank GOD It’s Friday

meredithkwilliams — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 19:43:12 +0000

I am happy it’s Friday that’s for sure! I have been getting up so early this week I can’t stand it! It will be nice to get up early on Saturday knowing I can go back to bed!

I love Fridays and I LOVE our save the dates!

In my opinion they turned out great! I could not have done this without my sweet friend Lynny and her sister Darcey! They are both so inspiring and I miss that we all don’t live in the same state anymore. The portrait is the front of the card and on the back is the laid out text. The business card size hotel information is perfect for my guests to slip in their wallet when they are traveling. Then they always have the number of their hotel!

I mailed them out in a black envelope with the Celebrate stamp!

Cheers to our save the dates being done! Now on to the next project!

Happy Friday!

Events & inspiration for all things wedding

meredithkwilliams — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 14:28:49 +0000

If there was a Paper Source in Rochester (or even within a 100 mile radius) I would be at both of these spectacular events!

On February 21, 2009 Paper Source invites you for an afternoon of complimentary demos, make-and-takes and inspiration for your big day!

11:30 am – Announcing the Big Day
12:45 pm – Inspired Invitations
2:00 pm – Tasteful Tabletop Décor

On March 5, 2009 the wonderful PS invites you to the Exclusive Wedding Suite from 6:30 – 9:00 pm. Sip sparkling champagne and enjoy chocolate dipped strawberries while you create a full suite of wedding samples — including a select group of letterpress invitations, escort cards, favors and table accents.

These events are at all Paper Source store locations! Have fun! If anyone attends, please report back! I would love to hear about it!

Who would’ve thought?

meredithkwilliams — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:05:22 +0000

That buttons could be so unique and cool NOT sewn on a sweater, jacket or pair of pants?

Letters4lilly creates custom button bouquets! Check out these colors! I think these are the perfect bouquet for a flower girl!

BTW – Sorry I haven’t posted in a while – I was working on getting my save the dates out! Yes they are out! Pictures to come soon!

Thank GOD It’s Friday

meredithkwilliams — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 23:31:47 +0000

It’s friday, friday, friday! The weekend is here and no one else is! Bill is working, my parents are out of town as well as my two best girl friends. What am I suppose to do? I know for sure that I am going to get the save the dates done, that’s for sure!

I love fridays and I love Curly Girl Design! Please let me say that I have ALWAYS loved them, I was going through some old cards and found one that I received a few years back! It’s like a hidden treasure!

Leigh Standley (THE Curly Girl) is the creator of this awesome brand!

Check out these fun cards!

I love that they have such an artistic, handmade feel to them! It would be cool to take a few of the cards and hang them in your personal workspace as inspiration (uh yeah – she has already though of that)! Shoppers can purchase wall canvases or matted prints of the designs! This site is so fun to get lost in!

Cheers to you Curly Girl Design!