Sunday, October 26, 2008

Life's Too Short: Stilettos in Dinning Rooms.

Years ago when I was a bride preparing for my wedding, someone much wiser told me to take it all in by stepping aside. I still, to this date, remember that moment where I stepped off the dance floor in my white stilettos and into a corner to observe the wedding reception.

I remember the small details such as the lead vocalist of our 10 person band needed a shave and the look of my goddaughter's face as my sister spun her around on the dance floor. I remember the procession of fancy petite fours on the 20 foot dessert table and the expression on my best friend's face when her martini met her lavender Ann Taylor bridesmaids dress. But what I remember most is how at the end of the evening my guests huddled together and enjoyed my father's surprise late night bigos (Polish hunter's stew). The dinning tables were alive.

Saturday night was no wedding reception.

However, that did not stop me from stepping aside for a moment and taking it all in. I hid myself in a corner and observed my husband's "best man's" son as he tore up the dance floor at only two years old, the parent's faces lite up in delight. I observed as my old colleague's husband held his infant daughter on his lap and watched as his three year old daughter kept up with the five year old girls on the dance floor. He was so proud. I observed as my girlfriend took pictures of her daughter as she ripped through the dinning room on a sugar high exposing her neon blue mouth from inhaling too many cupcakes. All night long, I observed as parents laughed, kids giggled, little girls twirled, kindergarten boys ran, and babies smeared icing over my dining room table.

At the end of the night, after people watching parents and their pride, I slipped out of my stilettos (cowgirls wear heels, right?) and joined my girlfriends at my dinning room table. It was a perfect ending to a perfect night.

Life is way too short for dinning room tables to remain empty.

Life is too short for stilettos to remain in dust covers.

Life is too short for us not to dance like it is going out of style.

53classy comments:

Caroline C. Bingham said...

Aw! All those happy smiling kids! Love it.

And cowgirls TOTALLY wear heels.

Anonymous said...

Awesome! Love the pictures! Looks like everyone had a blast!

Tara R. said...

I like that... stepping aside. We do miss so much, we are always too busy to really see all the wonderful happenings around us. I love the pix of all the kids... looks like everyone was having a great time.

Rhea said...

Lovely post and life advice. I need to see a picture of you in a cowgirl hat!!! Please! Your kiddos are adorable. Looks like the annual party was a BLAST! YAY!

Stephanie said...

Amen to your post. We've been dealing with a lot of sadness at our church recently. About 7 or 8 people currently battling with cancer, one who was just diagnosed with a fatal brain tumor. Life, indeed, is too short to worry about the small things. May we all feel this way every day so that the day we die we know we've lived a lifetime with no regrets!!!

Mandy said...

Looked like you had a great turn out for your party. Everyone looks great and they look like they truly had fun!!!

I am so behind in my blogging. You are way better than me. Ha-ha!!!

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

I would say based on all those smiling faces, that your party was a success!

It is important in the craziness of life, to step aside.....you said it so well!

PS. Love the cowgirl stilettos!

enthalpymama said...

You always have awesome parties!!! I will assure you, it is the high point of Halloween for my kids (and me, too). Thanks, by the way, for not taking pictures of the adults. Phew.

MommyTime said...

Love the photos, especially that last one of all the little dancing wonders. So much fun!

the planet of janet said...

that looks like a total blast!

Chelsea said...

Ah, so cool. Way to go for stopping and "seeing" it all.

carrie said...

Yahoo!

Or should I say "yippie ki yay?"

kim-d said...

Once again, I come here and learn SO MUCH from an amazing woman many, many years my junior...how did you get so wise? Seriously, stepping back and viewing and enjoying the most important things in life? What is better than that. I love all the kiddos gathered around the table, and then dancing; all of those little kids will have these happy memories forever.

Unknown said...

What a great time!

Katie Ryan said...

That looks like such a fun party!

Irene said...

Sounds like a great time. I think that type of party is a wonderful idea!

Anglophile Football Fanatic said...

I'm so glad you agree special rooms and the dining room table aren't for special times but for special people.

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

That looks like a blast!

What a great idea to step aside and take it all in!

Your kids are the cutest.

Crystal D said...

What a smart way to look at life. So many times I am too wrapped up in the now to stop and memorize the pictures and smells. I can look back at photos and think, wow I hardly remember that. I think I will try this stepping aside thing. I was just wondering how I was ever going to capture this time of Charlotte being so tiny and sweet. Now I will step aside and just watch every once in a while.
Love it. Thank you dear!

Burgh Baby said...

My dining room is actually one of the most used rooms in our house. I'm pretty sure if there were a TV in there, we would just live in there full time, but I'm glad we're able to enjoy a space that isn't full of electronic noise.

GypsiAdventure said...

So true! I just love to people watch - especially when love and laughter fill the room!
~K

Blessings From Above said...

Your right, life is too short not to enjoy every minute!

I'm glad you party was such a success...and that you took time out to enjoy it as well.

Kat said...

That is awesome! I'm glad your party was such a success. And I'm glad you were able to step back and enjoy it too. :)

Lori of I'm no super Mom said...

Sounds like you really know how to enjoy life! I love the pictures and thanks for reminding me to "step aside".

Rachel said...

You're hot!!

I did the same thing at my wedding and it was wonderful. Those pictures are great! You're right, the house should never be empty and the dining table always surrounded with friends and family!

Anonymous said...

cute!

Anonymous said...

I want to throw a Halloween Party. Maybe I will have to throw a fall themed one since I'm not on the ball this week.

Glad you had a great time!!

Kaci said...

Awwwh look at all the princess's!! :)

Mama Smurf said...

I'm glad you enjoyed your party. I have a difficult time throwing a party because I just get way too stressed out. I need to take a lesson from Ohmommy to just sit back and enjoy.

Lisa said...

I was given similar advice on my wedding. Several times through the night I "took pictures in my mind" - saving the moments in my internal hard drive. I remember that often now days with the girls, because as all of us moms know way too well...these precious moments are fleeting!

Sounds like your party was fab! Love the kiddos & the costumes!

Tyne said...

What a fabulous party! I am so glad that you had a great time and took the time to enjoy it. Thanks for the valuable lesson- I usually am so worked up when I am hostess that I don't take the time to enjoy it!

Cecily R said...

Looks like a smashing success!!!!

You are quite the hostess!

tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

Yes. Oh yes, step back and drink it in...

Glad it went so well!

Unknown said...

I totally agree.

That's so cool about you standing aside at your wedding and taking it all in. You have to do that since it goes by SO fast.

Elisa @ Globetrotting in Heels said...

Amen to that! Fantastic post. Thank you for the pick-me-up.

Rachel said...

Too cute! Looks like a fun time was had by all. Great life advice - one to remember through the years.

The Sarcastic Mommy said...

Crap do I ever wish you lived in my neighborhood!!

Mandy said...

Sooo sweet! I wish I would have taken the time to take it all in on my wedding day!

Tonya Staab said...

I'm so glad you stepped aside and had a moment to really enjoy the party and all that was happening there. So often when you host a party, you get so caught up in making sure your guests are happy and everything is perfect, you forget to enjoy it yourself.

A Crafty Mom said...

Beautiful!! Looks like the best party on the block (in the whole town, maybe???!!) - and it's wonderful you sat back and drank in all that was happening around you. I love your observations and the pictures rock. You must have been the classiest cowgirl there :-)

Mom said...

What a great party for the kids... and you my dear have a great pair of legs in those Stilettos! and of course cowgirls where heels!

Karen said...

Oh my goodness! How much fun is all that?!

Anonymous said...

So I'm not the only one to have invited a classfull of 6ish year olds into their home for a halloween party?

Glad I'm not alone.

Though I invited 26 and got almost 30...not sure how that happened...

Anonymous said...

That looks like my kind of party. What a fun mama you are!! :-)

Karen MEG said...

What a GREAT party!!!! I just love that shot of all the kids dancing...precious!

tiarastantrums said...

SO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!!

Unknown said...

one day, i will be present at this fantastic halloween party! and i too, will step aside, and look at our children having a wonderful time...together!

Anonymous said...

it really was such a fun, fun, party. Fun doesnt even cover it...i am just at a lack of words.

April said...

Looks like you know how to party...with class, of course!

Jaina said...

What a classy party, it sounds amazing.

Quarantine Hobby said...

OMG! Looks like so much fun!

They are so precious. I love all of the little costumes!

Heather said...

So very true!

Shellie said...

Amen! Life is short, take it all in...

 

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