Last in a Series

After the Bachelorette party, and the wedding rehearsal...

Hi, My Name is Amy, and I am a Creeper

Just read Kelly's post regarding Facebook. I can't believe I let everyone talk me into it. I'm doomed...

11 1/2 inches later.

I no longer have a ponytail. In fact, it's impossible to even attempt a ponytail. THAT is a big change. Let me tell you, when you have hair that falls half-way down your back, and suddenly it is gone, for starters, you feel about 5 lbs lighter. Then you realize that the former huge amounts of shampoo, conditioner, and products to tame your hair are now too much. I always scoffed at the directions on products that say, "use a dime-sized amount..." As if that would do anything for my former hair. Now, that's much closer to what is necessary.

It just feels, weird. Different. Hair is so much a part of who we are. Which when you think about it, makes the mission of Locks of Love come into perspective.

This is the last photo of long hair, which was taken mere minutes before the cut. Robin actually suggested that I drink a beer, because I was so nervous:

Then she put it into a ponytail (apparently, the last ponytail I would personally experience for a while), and she just cut it all off:

And after I washed and styled, this is what I am left with:

My Wig (take 2)

No, this is not the before/after photo post... I'll post those later. However, someone posted a comment on the original version of this post that was, well, quite inappropriate (and that is the nicest way I can refer to it)... So I deleted the original version, and here it is again. And thanks to that person, there will be no more anonymous comments allowed...

It's actually ironic. Robin, the most wonderful artist/photographer who also happens to be the best hair stylist in Memphis, likes to refer to her clients' hair as our "wigs." So when I emailed to make an appointment for a hair cut tonight, I told her I need to have my wig cut.

Where's the irony, you ask?

My hair is LONG right now. Very long. Long enough to cut off 10 inches, and still (hopefully) look like a girl. Thus, I am planning on having Robin cut 10 inches tonight so that I can donate it to Locks of Love, where it will a part of a hair prostheses for a child who has suffered long-term hair loss.

I'm posting my plan to do this, to hold myself accountable, so I don't run screaming when she brings out the scissors. Instead, I have to remember the photos I saw on the web site, and the stories of children who are in need of hairpieces.

For these kids, hair is much more than just, well, hair. Hair means they will have more confidence. It's a chance for them to feel like their lives are a little more normal.

But for me, I know that I can cut my hair, and it will grow back. I can experiment with it, as I often have, and still get it back to my au natural state of brown curls. So this time, I'm having Robin cut A LOT off. And I will share it so that I can possibly help a sick child have a little bit of normalcy in their life.

Second in a Series

One of my favorite things about a wedding (besides the wedding cake) --- the rehearsal dinner... Always so entertaining, especially when the families fly in from afar. We gained a fabulous addition to our family when Chase married Chelsie, but little did I know until the wedding weekend that we also were gaining even more than just her. We also gained her family.

Chelsie's family was a blast. They came from Mexico, Miami, Spain, and even the Canary Islands. With just family and the wedding party at the rehearsal dinner, there was almost 60 people. After the weekend, I ALMOST learned all of the names!

Now for the photos...

The future (at the time) Mr. and Mrs. Worrell. And, I must point out her Prada clutch. Why, you ask? Because my dear sweet brother picked it out for her in Las Vegas. Not because he has just heard of "Prada" in passing and thought a girl would like the label... No no no. Not Chase. He bought it because he loves fashion and can appreciate a PRADA. Almost, or even as much, as I do. This purchase was no accident.



Chelsie and her beautiful cousins:



The sisters were feeling the patterns:



Bubby, or Mason, or, the baby of our family... I had to talk him out of going out partying after the rehearsal dinner. Since when did I become the voice of reason??? I must be getting old. Or responsible. Or both?



Yoyo, with Chelsie's uncle, Carlos (AKA Jimmy Buffett, just for the weekend), and with Chelsie's dad, Jose:



Barry, Chase, Debby, and Grandma Betty:



More to come...

First in a Series

My brother, Chase, is tying the knot today! It's been an exciting and fun time in the past week, as the bachelor and bachelorette parties were last weekend, last night was the rehearsal dinner, and of course today is the wedding.

The guy's bachelor party was in Las Vegas. I, obviously, was not there so am not able to give much of a recount of that, except to say that for sure, they gambled, and went to a strip club. Or two...

But the bachelorette party, that I can talk about! We all met up in Atlanta last weekend, and started the day with some shopping.

We then checked into our hotel, the W Hotel in Midtown. What a fabulous place! I won't ever pass up the chance to stay there!

Our room had an Ipod docking station beside the bed, a plasma TV, the most well stocked mini bar and snack selection that I've ever seen, and even an "Intimacy Kit for Two." Would be interesting to see how much they charge you for the use of that, but thinking of how much kids cost, I'm sure it's a great investment!!



After popping some champagne bottles while all 12 of us got all fancied up, we went to dinner at Verve. Food, not so shabby... Service, horrendous. Seriously, I have served and bartended, so I know that waiting on a table of 12 is not the easiest. However, waiting ONE hour for our first round of drinks is ridiculous. And food served sporadically, as in, I got my food about 30 minutes after the first plate was served, is just not acceptable! I did (nicely) talk to the manager several times, and they ended up giving us $250 worth of champagne, a round of drinks, and didn't charge for Chelsie's dinner.

But to give an idea of how bad our server was, here's a few examples of our questions, and her answers:

• Q: Do you have sugar-free red bull? A: I don't know. [she later came back and said they did, but I found out later when the bartender brought my drink that not only did they not have sugar-free, but they didn't even have red bull...]


• Q: Do you have orange flavored vodka? A: I don't know.


• Q: What types of beer do you have? A: [she lists about 6 beers and later comes back to say, they have 2 beers]


• Q: Can you bring glasses for the beer? A: [she brings pint glasses... with ICE in them]

But we still had fun, and that is what matters in the long run, right!?

The rest of the night was full of drinking, dancing, and generally making sure Chelsie was enjoying her last weekend as a free woman! Looks like we succeeded:

I'll post photos from the rehearsal night and the wedding later. I'm signing off now, time to get ready!

Restaurant Iris

I think Memphis has excellent restaurants and some really, really talented chefs. This is why venturing out and trying new restaurants is a great thing to do in Memphis. We did that, and tried Restaurant Iris Friday night. The food was fabulous!

I followed a friend's advice and tried the brussels sprout salad to begin. A true test of quality, and it far exceeded my expectations. It's warm, and has chunks of country-style bacon that add just the perfect saltiness.

I also had the bass, followed by bread pudding. Both were excellent, I would highly recommend those, or the surf and turf. Or just about anything off the menu, actually.

The restaurant just opened a few weeks ago. I never went to La Tourelle, so was not familiar with the layout, but I thought the atmosphere was nice, yet comfortable. It seems that they are doing Sunday brunch as well.

Anyway, make it a date night, or a girl's night!