Its been a while

Hello, hello, hello. It sure has been a while, things around here finally feel like they are back to normal. We had a great time in San Francisco. We walked a ton and ate a lot of ice cream...and you know we did some honeymoon stuff. As soon as we got back John was on the grind, shooting a Doritos commercial and as that wasn't enough booked Heroes. Our apartment is finally painted and organized and it feels great to have a place for everything. I feel like everything I dreamed about is slowly falling into place. This is such a wonderful time in my life and I feel so blessed. Patience is so important and though its quite hard to have it sometimes, it is worth it. I wish I had something amazing to share with you but I don't. What I do have however is a recipe that takes some patience but it is well worth the wait. I made it for John the other night and he loved it. It really is the little things that make everyday special.

Easy Rice pudding
1 gallon whole milk
1 cup sugar
1 cup white rice (uncle ben's original)
1 orange peel
2tsp. vanilla (opt.)
cinnamon to garnish

Pour milk, sugar and rice in a stock pot. Cook for two hours maybe a little longer over a low heat.
Stir every 15 minutes (make sure you use a wooden spoon and run it along the bottom of pot to prevent rice from sticking and burning). When you see that it is beginning to thicken stir in the orange peel and vanilla. Once it has thickened turn off heat, remove orange peel and pour into serving bowls. Sprinkle with cinnamon and let cool. Enjoy!

Honeymoon...ooh

Saw this and it reminded me of us in an indirect way, oh this will be fun!

The chill is in the air.

Time to get out your fall coat! Fall fashion is by far my favorite. Not too hot, not too cold. I love jackets and sweaters and everything cozy. Clothes have sleeves and shoulders and I can wear a BRA and be comfy. Love these coats from Anthropologie... peep this!

Saturday Night : ) Am I getting OLD?

I can't decide if I'm getting old or what, but on Saturday night I love coming home from work and staying home. I first noticed that things were changing when a few years back I no longer watched MTV. Used to love MTV, any chance I was around a TV with cable I turned it on. Where was the party, what club is hot? Don't care, not anymore. John works late Saturday night so it's not like I got married and he's why I stay home. I love to come home, maybe clean a little, read a magazine, make something, bake something, I get some peace and quiet and some time with my thoughts. What makes it so sweet is that I get to sleep in on Sunday morning and that's why it's so relaxing! Tonight I'm gonna take a lavender bath(I pulled my side this morning boxing). That's another thing that's got me thinking I never used to pull things working out:( maybe a hamstring in soccer. Oh well... Off to soak!!

Faith

"Faith is believing that two of one things will happen. That there will be something Solid for you to stand on-or that you will be taught to Fly"-Unknown

I have been repeating this to myself all week. Work has been extremely hard, not sure how much more I can take. I just want to be creative, and make my living doing it. If I keep being creative hopefully something will come of it. I am keeping the faith and busy. I baked a carrot cake from scratch! It turned out really good too! I just wish I could share it with my favorite girls back home, yeah I'm a little bummed. It stinks sometimes not being close to home.

The Wedding!

Our backyard, Greek style, dance off having wedding! These are some photos a friend took, we had a blast. I can't believe it came and went like that. I'll post some more once I get more from the photographer. Enjoy : )

Mrs. Gerbin

My name is Mrs. Gerbin. Sneak peak.

It is getting soooo close.

There are so many things that I have wanted to post...but I can't, cause I want them to be a surprise at the wedding. We have been running around like maniacs getting things, buying things, making things, finding things, sending things and the day is almost here. Can't wait.

Like it.

Yesterday all the gifts from the shower arrived. We had to make a lot of room and think very Euro as far as storage goes, cause we have... like... no storage. We spent the afternoon together unpacking the gifts, it was nice spending that time talking and laughing. I came across this picture and I really love this rack with all those colorful plates. Maybe John will build one for me someday.

I'M 50...days away from the wedding!!

I'm officially 50 days away from THE BIG DAY.
Less than two months. I am so excited and so overwhelmed. The list of little details gets longer and longer. I get a little bit more and more crazed everyday. Some days it all feels very surreal than the pink post cards arrive and I say yup, people are coming. We really can't wait, I keep having these day dreams of when I see him for the first time at the foot of the church, and I just keep praying that I will keep it together. Just wanted to say a quick Hi! Have a good weekend all!

My daily Happy break!

I've been in New Mexico for the past week babysitting. I am exhausted mentally, physically and emotionally. This week was difficult, and I probably cried to myself and over the phone to John at least five times. Not only were the hours long and the children a bit difficult, but I really missed John. I know people say it will change but I hope it doesn't ever, I hope I always want him close. As hard as this week was it was a real eye opener as well. My problems are minor compared to others every day battles to do something I take for granted on an every day basis. I am not ill, I have family and friends who love me and I have the ability to smile. Still sometimes its easy to fall into a slump. Do you do something everyday that makes you smile? Well you should, everyday at least 15 minutes a day. I realized I was so upset because, the past week I didn't have my daily walk with John and Juju. My skin looked different, my body felt different, my confidence was down. I saw my two favorite people, I realized... I missed my Happy Break! So today I took a Super Happy break with John and Juju as soon as I got back from the airport, and I was right back on the Happy track...choo choo!

Wedding Shower!!!

This weekend was my wedding shower back in Chicago. It was a lot of fun and I got a chance to see old friends and family, and of course Biggie's family who will soon be my family too! Voula and Chrissie threw me the shower and it was lovely. The flowers were beautiful spring tulips in white simple pitchers and I wish I had a good picture to show cause they were really sweet! I must say this weekend was the first time I felt some wedding stress. I guess it's because its really happening. No more talk but action. The gifts were beautiful and I can't wait to make a cake with my new bundt pan, maybe make a panini sandwich with my grill press, or wrap my self in an organic bath towel after a hot shower! I feel a little spoiled by it all. At first I must say it was a little uncomfortable to ask for things and it is still a little sureal to have all these new beautiful things. I am very thankful for everything and most of all I am thankful for everyones well wishes for John and I as we begin our journey together.

Craft Day

I loved being a girl scout. I loved being a girl scout because arts and crafts. I was pissed when it ended. I loved my Make and Do book in my children's encyclopedia set as a kid. And still to this day I can get lost and stay at Micheals for hours dreaming about all the projects I will do. There are a lot of handmade touches I want to add to the wedding. Crafting is not always cheap and I have had to be choosy about what I will make for the wedding, because as my friend said this morning, "People don't appreciate this like you or I do." She's right that's why Girl Scouts ended in sixth grade, thats when girls cared about what everyone else thought. The popular girls said we were dorks, they didn't appreciate homemade pillows or cookies. They cared about their hair and clothes and boys. Well now I have it all, I have a boy who likes handmade things and let me know he would like a lavender scented candle, he's the boy who matters. Here is the Lavender-Lime candle I made today with my friend Emily!

I know. I know.

You might ask yourself, "What happened to Helen?" Again you might not have even noticed. You know what's funny the people I see and speak to the most were like, "Can you update your blog?" I took a little break for a moment enjoying other peoples blogs. Getting obsessed. Researching. Planning. Picking. Unpicking. Buying. Returning. Organizing. Collecting my thoughts. It's Friday night and I'm up waiting for John to get back from work. My friends left a little while ago, tonight we started our Treasure Maps. Treasure maps are an inspiration board that are done specifically on the Aries new moon for more info click Treasure Map. We had some munchies, drank some wine and cut up magazines for our collages like a bunch of thirteen year olds. Not the wine part, we would have snuck two shots of whiskey and mixed it with coke if we were thirteen and four of us would have shared it and gotten giggly. None the less we had fun.

Table numbers!

Pretty great! Milk bottle table numbers. I saw this on a inspiration board on Snippet and Ink. This bottle is sold at Three Potato Four. They have random numbers and are about 30 bucks a pop. So I went and found a website that sells glass milk bottles, I'm going to number the bottles and use them as table numbers. That is just plain pretty.

Cake Toppers- what do you think?

I found these on etsy.com. They're so cute. I love the love birds. Can't decide so what do you think? Let me know.

Flower Power

The other day I was babysitting and the kids wanted to came over to our house. Our house is small, we don't have a Nintendo WII or even a T.V. But we do have Apple Jack's to make necklaces and flowers to put in our friend's hair. We have good times, that's what we have.

Make believe.

Make believe! This morning my Biggie shot his first commercial! After being in L.A. for one year, John booked his first gig. The best part is, he is now SAG eligible allowing him to audition for many more roles. There was something special about watching him get ready this morning. John is usually not a early riser, but this morning was different. It was different because he woke up to do something he loves, something he has wanted to do for so long. Today he got paid to do something that makes him happy. Make believe, there is something special about people who never stop believing, who follow their dreams. So to everyone today make believe until your dreams come true cause they will! Love you baby, thank you for reminding me.

Happy to see everyone and Happy to be back home.

Last week John and I went to Chicago to plan our wedding and to celebrate his 30th birthday. We had a blast! It was great seeing everyone and I mean EVERYONE, and we really got a lot done with the wedding. We met with the rental company, our caterer, the priest, went and saw flowers and we even registered. The rest of the details we will figure out here in L.A. I will be adding a lot of hand made touches that I will be doing towards the end. We still haven't gotten our save the dates out because we wanted to be completely certain we were happy with all the plans. Those will be on their way very shortly. The other part of the trip was John's birthday. On his birthday morning we went to Bongo room, a breakfast place in Buck town that has the most amazing pancakes. He knew his parents were coming later that weekend, but I had them come early to surprise him on his actual birthday for dinner. Some of his friends came by and we had dinner my mom cooked. That night we went to the city and celebrated with all his Chicago friends. It was nice, I had a chance to chat with some of his buddies I never really got a chance to talk to. It was one surprise after the next. On Saturday night I told him we had to go see a hotel for the out of town guests, I LIED. Two of his sisters and their families came up to surprise him. Breath...tell me about it we did not stop for 5 days in freezing temps.
I am very excited to let everyone know I have a few overseas followers. My cousin Bill from Greece called to let me know he has been following my blog...I LOVE IT, 14 hour plane ride apart and he can read what I'm up to. I also to have reader from India pretty cool as well.
I am definitely happy to be home - chat soon!

Goodbye 80% beautiful California! Hello freezing -2% Chicago Blizzard?

I want to start off this blog as a public service announcement to all those in the midwest- YOU HAVE A CHOICE! It is the truth, you don't have to live this way anymore. It is freeeezing in Chicago, and I have checked weather.com every hour like something is going to change. John and I are all packed gloves, hats, coats, salami sandwiches, phone chargers, we are set. Even Juju's bag is packed, but unfortunately she can't come with us=( she's staying with uncle Casey and aunt Shannon whom she loves and that makes me feel better. John and I have 3 days to meet with all the vendors for our wedding, get the O.K. from the priest, see my kagillion relatives and celebrate his 30th birthday, all in 0% weather with a wind chill of -20%. Should be fun! Love ya' all.

Comments!!!!!

I had some people tell me recently they couldn't comment on my blog. I fixed it, so now you can!!! I changed the settings so anyone can comment. Please comment, I look forward to hearing opinions, likes, and dislikes. Especially just a quick hello from people. I am looking forward to your feedback!

SCOOORE!

Today we went over to my friend Casey's house just to hang out for a bit. He is my oldest and best friend here in L.A. My Brotha from Anotha Motha. The best part is, him and John are good friends as well. When we were leaving I saw these junkers hauling chairs into a storage closet. I asked John to stop but he said we have no cash and they probably wouldn't give them to me. Again I asked please turn around so he did. I asked if they were selling them and they were kinda like maybe? so he said I'll give you one for $5. So I ran back to the car and I could only find $2.75. The guy ended up giving me two chairs for $2.75!!!! John laughed as we drove away saying, "you don't think your rack helps?" Well I'll tell you what, you go get'em girls knock them dead, I got two awesome chairs and with a little TLC they will be perfect around the kitchen table. HAPPY SATURDAY to all!

My Pillows

For over one week I waited patiently for its arrival. Calling and checking in daily "Has it come?" The reply was "nothing yet." I had a long work week so at least that made the days go by, making the wait a bit easier to bare. Then on Thursday I got a call, it was John saying, "I'm not saying the sewing machine is here, but there is a package from UPS here." Oh it finally came, the joy, I couldn't contain myself. The next day John and I went to Levine's only the most awesome fabric warehouse/store in downtown L.A. So many choices, so much to get done but I started off small, picked out some fabric and headed home. Billy was over running lines with John and I was trying to wind the bobbin but it kept jamming, and I started to get frustrated. I tried over and over and then like that the needle started and it started stitching and I was sewing and I felt good like when your a kid and you learn something new. Sewing isn't entirely new to me, I took sewing in high school but that was over 10 years ago. WHAT! TEN years ago that is crazy to me, any way look what I made! PILLOWS!

Happy 200-Fine!

WOW! 2008 what a year! We made it! After a year of settling back into California living and getting engaged I am ready. I am ready to walk, thanks to Juju who whether I like it or not has to be walked. I am ready to to be FINE at where I am in life and most of all I am ready to plan our wedding. Its Official the wedding is in Chicago! On July 11th at 4:00, ceremony is at St. Demetrios and reception in the backyard. John and I will be going to Chicago on January 14th-18th to start the planning, and it will also be a special little trip for John's 30th birthday! I want this wedding to be full of LOVE LOVE LOVE! and FUN FUN FUN! Here are some more of the little details that inspire me to really make this wedding John and me! Images are from Snippets and Ink.