France cancelled :(, but Loved London!

Due to the riots and the transportation strike, we did not make it to France. We went to the airport and they were canceling flights and trains were not running. We had a problem with Ryan Air (which I do not recommend to anyone) and were not able to make our flight, even though we were there two hours early. A little disappointed, but I believe that everything happens for a reason so I'm glad God protected me against an unknown battle.

We did have an amazing time in London and were able to add a couple of days before we came home early. In no particular order some highlights were:

1. Beautiful weather the whole time we were there.

2. Saw the Queen.

3. Saw Madonna (and the circus that is her life).

4. Enjoyed old friends.

5. Saw Jersey Boys.

6. Ate at spectacular restaurants (even if most of menu had odd combinations with things I've never heard of or would consider eating!)

7. Awesome hotel at a great price in a amazing location. I could walk just about anywhere and had the most amazing view. The view was The Thames, London Eye, Big Ben and Parliament.

8. Discovered the best little cafe for breakfast and lunch.

9. Spent time with the Handsome Husband, laughing and enjoying ourselves.

10.Realized how much I love London.

Have you ever heard of the Loire Valley?

The Loire Valley is a 3 hour car / 1 hour TGV ride from Paris. It is the Valley of the Kings. Here, in the 14 - 1600's the kings built their palaces. It was the seat of government before Paris. Numerous chateau and castles dot the countryside and wonderful medieval towns are ripe for exploring. I have wanted to go here for at least 15 years, but was never able to fit it in. Finally, we are visiting the valley for 5 days and staying in the wonderful town of Amboise.

Chambord

I have read many travel books and have narrowed my chateau visiting list to 10 must sees:

Chambord

Chenonceaux

Villandry

Amboise

Usse

Azay Le Rideau

Blois/Clos-Luce

Chateau d'Angers

Abbaye de Fontevraud

Chenonceaux

Exciting, intriguing, history. Beautiful Chateaus and glorious gardens. I am looking forward to riding bikes, picnicking (if weather permits), and relaxing.

Gone With The Wind

Clark Gable as Rhett Butler and Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara

I'm currently reading Gone With The Wind for the second time. The first time being when I was a sophomore in high school. Just let me tell you, it is soooo much better this time around. I think it might have to do with having some life experience and being able to relate more to the situations Scarlett finds herself in and I visited Savannah and Charleston a year or so ago and I can picture the scene. I'm reading it on the Kindle which means no thick, heavy, book to try to hold and I'm loving that too.

I've always thought Vivien Leigh was the perfect Scarlett and I could not consider anyone but Clark Gable as Rhett.

Here are a few interesting facts about Vivien Leigh:

1. She was British and born in Darjeeling, India in 1913 and died in 1967 at the age of 53.

2. Her name was Vivian Holman and she changed it to Vivien Leigh to please her agent, who wanted her to change her name to April Morn.

3. Vivien Leigh and Lawrence Olivier met and fell in love while filming Fire Over England in 1937. They were both married and continued their affair until their respective spouses granted them a divorce. They were married in 1940. Katharine Hepburn was one of two witnesses.

3. Vivien Leigh was 25 when she filmed Gone With The Wind and the woman who played her mother was 28.

5. Vivien Leigh won 2 Oscars - both for paying the part of Southern Belles: for Scarlett O'Hara and Blanche DuBoise in a Streetcar Named Desire. Blanche DuBoise was her favorite role. (I guess I gave you two for one there!)

6. Leigh and Olivier divorced in 1960.

7. Leigh suffered from Bi-polar disorder for years.

8. Vivien Leigh was regarded as one of the most beautiful actresses of her time and most believed she was not taken seriously as an actress because of her beauty.

9. Tuberculosis, from which Leigh had also suffered for years, was the ultimate cause of her death.

10. She starred in a movie called Waterloo Bridge, it is the saddest movie I have ever seen, don't see it.

It was for a good cause...

Katie's sorority had a fundraiser last night: Pie a Pi Phi. Needless to say, Katie got her fair share of pies in the face. All for a good cause.

And on a different note, Delaney went to theme party with a Reality TV theme.

Delaney: Rock of Love meets Kendall: The Simple Life

I was feeling a little crafty today

Today it is 105 degrees outside. I do not feel guilty for staying inside and crafting. I was cleaning out my scrapbooking/craft closet and began to feel the urge to create. As I was going through all my goodies, sorting and throwing out, I came across some fun fall items. These funkins are from Michaels, I bought them on sale, 40% off.
To two of them, I just added these rhinestone decals and I covered the third with black lace.

Easy peasy, took me 10 minutes total!

I then made this fall pumpkin with a lot of left over ribbon that I had. I took one ribbon about 10 inches long and tied other ribbons on it, in the middle, for about 4 inches. One ribbon right next to the other. I then took some sticky dots and stuck them all around the stem and wrapped the stem with the ribbon. I then just stuck on two flowers and some leaves with sticky dots. No hot glue, no tacky glue, no mess.

Delaney joins Alpha Chi Omega Sorority

Delaney with some of her new Sorority Sisters on Bid Day.

Roxy (one of Delaney's friends from high school) and Delaney - D looks like she's having a pretty good time.

The Fall 2010 Pledge Class

Wow! What a weekend for Delaney. She rushed this weekend and she got her first choice, Alpha Chi Omega

A lot of her good friends were chosen as well and she gets to be with Kendall who is one of Katie's best friends and is a little older. I wish I had a picture of the two of them together. Lucky I got these actually. Other girls tagged Delaney so I was lucky enough to be able to get them off her facebook!

It's like going to Prom

Remember back in May, The Handsome Husband and I went to the Exceptional Producer's Council Gala in Scottsdale? Well, we finally received the pictures from the Awards Night Banquet. They totally remind me of Prom pictures.

I look a little awkward in this one, but the Handsome Husband looks good.