As I sit here starting my blog posts about the lead-in to my daughter’s wedding and the celebration, it’s now that I’m ridiculously misty-eyed.  Oona and her husband are in Mexico on a well-needed and deserved vacation (do they still call it a honeymoon) and I’m back at work.  A mere mortal.  I’ll never again be a Mother-of-the-Bride and having an only daughter makes it all more special.

Mr. and Mrs. Butts–before they were married!  I can’t believe how quickly a year went by.  Exactly a year ago she said yes!

So, come along on my last leg of the journey and share stressful and fun times with me!

Bags packed. And yes–my MOTB Calvin Klein dress was stuffed into that weekender!  I travel light…..sort of!

I left last Tuesday for Cincinnati.

Minimal makeup and a bra peeking out from my maxi dress!  I kept it real classy!

Because I’m deeply concerned obsessive about traffic and airport conditions, such as the lines at the TSA, I arrived three hours before my flight. Don’t judge.  I would much rather be at the airport to spend time people-watching, playing Candy Crush on my phone and reading trashy magazines then to arrive an hour before my flight and deal with the stress of rushing to make a flight.

Candy Crush is my other Zen besides ironing.  Look. I’m in 15th place and very competitive. Great airport fun…

The airport was surprisingly empty for this July Tuesday.  I breezed through TSA, sat down to a delightful snack of a $7.99 bag of Peanut M & M’s and I ate every one of those tasty nuggets.

An entire $7.99 family bag was consumed by yours truly. And I felt sick halfway through but didn’t stop…

Not to be outdone with my appetite for overpriced airport food, I made my way to the Philly Pretzel stand and purchased a Pretzel Meal—three soft pretzels with a bottle of water.  There’s something even more delicious as you are washing those salty pillows of carbs down to your stomach with room-temperature bottled water.  I was in junk food heaven.

How much do I love these pretzels?  Well, I was thinking that the little spots of salt looked like whiteheads on pimples..and that didn’t gross me out enough to stop eating them.

My LV Neverfull MM bag is just like me.  Never full!!

When I got bored with Candy Crush, I took out a wig and combed it.  I believe in quality hair care—especially when the hair is fake.

Ever the class act, I didn’t even head to the ladies’ room to comb out my wig. I took it out of my bag, held it out and played hair dresser!

The biggest surprise for me was the weather.  I’m that person.  Whenever I travel by air—it rains.  It was an oddity for me to take off under clear skies!  The flight was quick and, true to form, we landed in rain and thunder—it made me feel so much better!

Bright lights.  Wet Cincy!  It’s how I travel!

Oona and Sam picked me up at the airport and due to a jackknifed truck, traffic wasn’t exactly moving and by the time we arrived at the house, it was time to fall into slumber.  But it felt so good to be with my baby once again!

Wednesday brought forth a mighty busy day.

Porch life. I swear Oona and Sam have the greatest front porch ever!  I enjoyed my morning cup of coffee….

…and played Mrs. Kravitz the nosey neighbor while watching Sam walk Gracie.  It was a bit on the wet side Wednesday morning but sitting on that porch was still enjoyable.

Oona and Sam both put a full day at the office and that meant I was alone with Gracie the grand puppy to assist with some wedding tasks.  Place cards needed to be cut and alphabetized.

Something tells me Gracie didn’t like the fact I had work to do

Cellophane bags needed to have Oona and Sam stickers placed on them.  The bags were for cookies.  The happy couple decided to have 20 dozen of their favorite cookies from Donna’s Gourmet Cookies to hand out to wedding guests as an extra.

You have no idea how challenging it can be to peel over 200 stickers in one piece

 But I peeled ’em…

…and placed them on the bags!

Thank God for this paper cutter.  It helped my crossed eyes to cut straight!

In addition, I did four loads of laundry.  I folded the sheets I washed and ironed what needed to be ironed.

Mommy couldn’t be happier that the daughter uses Tide!

And naturally I was in my glories ironing these napkins to look like…

I’m hoping that Oona realizes her iron is of excellent quality.  She had to think for a moment of where she kept it.  

By the time I finished it was mid-afternoon and time for me to take a bath and get ready for what was to come.  Upon Oona’s return from work, we headed downtown to her tailor to pick up the wedding gown.

Ahhhh..it was so refreshing to be clean once again! I’m wearing my Avalon wig by Estetica Designs.  She’s a great travel wig!!

When she tried it on for that final fitting, it was perfect. Tony King is tailor extraordinaire and what a sweet man.  We hung with Tony for a bit then made our way very gingerly and carefully to her car with the dress and veil in tow.

Tony King. THE King of wedding dress alterations!  He’s a Cincinnati legend and sweeter than a cup of honey.  I wanted to hang out with him.  He’s that guy–the one you can have a few laughs with.  Oona was blessed to have him work her dress!

Maneuvering those wedding dresses is no easy feat.  The car seats had to be pushed down, the plastic covering had to be just so and nervously we were off to head home before Sam arrived.  He couldn’t see the dress!

Dress home, hung and hidden, the three of us headed out to dinner at Revolution Rotisserie Bar & Restaurant.    I’m telling you there’s some good stuff to eat in Cincy!

I wish this place was in Phoenixville or Philly or NYC!!

We started off with deviled eggs and I’ve got to figure out the recipe.  The yolk filling was thicker than mine but capers were added and they were good eggs!!!

Why have I never put capers in Deviled Eggs?  Why?????  These were da bomb!!

Although the place is a chicken restaurant, I went with the Pimento Burger.  I had never had pimento cheese before and it was ages since I had a burger.  And they cooked it rare!!!  Angus Beef burger served on a Brioche bun, slathered with homemade pimento cheese, jalapeno-bacon fig jam, home made tater tots that got deliciously mushy and arugula.  And I wonder why I gain weight.

This burger was a work of art.  And I ate every last crumb without guilt.  Looking at this now makes me hungry AF!

Oona and Sam went with the chicken and it was delicious. Sam and I both had a side of the Crispy Brussels Sprouts–most likely the healthiest thing I ate all week!

Note to self–make crispy Brussels Sprouts as soon as possible.  If you love the Sprouts of Brussels you must try these nuggets of pleasure.

 It’s a very neighborhoody ambiance but I was a bit flummoxed that it closes at 9 PM.  If this place was smack in the middle of New York City or Philly, it would be doing business until two in the mornin’!!

When we got back to the house it was time to continue our work on wedding preparations then off to bed!

All divided into tables and alpabetized.  It was good work and fun!

Tomorrow will bring more fun and surprises!!!  Stay tuned for Thursday, Friday and the big day!

Hmmmm. I enjoyed this so much that I’m wondering if I can be a “Rent-a-Mother-of-the-Bride”