That Awkward Moment When....

... you accidentally steal someone else's birthday cake.

Yeah. This happened. And it was really, really awkward.

One of my new colleagues had a birthday today, so a group of us went out to dinner to celebrate. We had all finished eating and were just chilling at the table and talking, when this really amazing looking cheesecake is brought out and over to our table, complete with candles.

No one admitted to buying the cake, but we all sang Happy Birthday regardless. They hadn't brought out serving plates or a cake knife, so we just sat there for a few minutes, talking about this cake that came from nowhere. We considered maybe it was a complimentary cake from the restaurant for the birthday, or maybe someone just wasn't owning up to arranging it, or maybe it had been organised by the Head of the Faculty, who couldn't make the dinner.

Finally, they brought out the plates and knife, so we ate the cake. It was delicious.

About halfway through, someone noted the table behind us kept looking over and were whispering, and maybe it was their cake. But they didn't say anything, so we just laughed about the idea and wouldn't that be awkward?

When we had all finished eating (and someone had had seconds), the waiter walked past- like the tenth time he had done so since bringing out the cake), and then.... the lady at the table behind us stops him and tells him that yes, the cake we had just eaten was theirs.

And then they asked the birthday girl why she would accept a cake that wasn't hers? She explained that it was actually her birthday, and our boss had mentioned a surprise because he couldn't make it, so we just assumed the cake was it.

After that it got really awkward, so we paid and left.

It was a genuine accident, and we just assumed that if it was their cake, they would have said something before we had eaten it. The restaurant apologised to the other table and took the cake off their bill, so they weren't out of pocket but.... Awkward.

We managed to laugh about it after, but still... so awkward.

Don't Tell the Bride: The Rings

I have a little of gold jewellery, but I prefer silver. (My Dad once said I'm his favourite because I prefer silver over gold- which is cheaper). But my favourite thing is the white-gold ring my parents got me for my 21st birthday. 

Fiyero's Choice:

Fiyero's ring for Elphaba

The Ring Fiyero chooses for himself

Elphaba's Choice:

Elphaba's choice- simple silver.

Don't Tell the Bride: The Wedding Favours

Here's all the songs that Corin took his lyrics from.

1. "The Power of Love"

The power of love is a curious thing
Makes one man weep, make another man sing.
Change a hawk to a little white dove
More than a feeling, 
that's the power of love.

If you don't know this song, A) be ashamed, and B) go watch Back to the Future. ASAP.

2. "Chapel of Love"

Going to the chapel
and we're gonna get married.

This song is annoyingly catchy, just FYI. Also, Father of the Bride (The remake with Steve Martin, Diane Keaton and Kimberly Williams-Paisley is a great movie featuring this song, and you should watch that. Before you watch Back to the Future because this is better).

3. "Listen to your Heart"

Listen to your heart, listen to your soul.

Inside you'll find the answer, to take you to the place you need to go.

Listen to your heart, your heart will let you know.

No matter where you are, the truth is never far, 

just listen and your heart will lead you home.

No movie with this one. This is by Anthony Callea, original Australian Boq. He was runner up on season 2 of Australian Idol, but he totally should have won. And has done much more than the girl who did win that season. This is his version of the winner's single, as performed on the show.

4. "Wheel of the World"

God put us here on this carnival ride
we close our eyes never knowing where it'll take us next.
Babies are born and at the same time, 
someone's taking their last breath.

Because Carrie Underwood is awesome.

5.  "Affirmation"

I believe the sun should never set upon an argument,
I believe we place our happiness in other people's hands.
I believe that junk food tastes so good because it's bad for you,
I believe your parents did the best job they knew how to do.

By Australian band Savage Garden. They were big in the early 2000s (and maybe late 90s... I definitely remember them being around in 2000 and they were big).

Writing Confession #2

I've only noticed when re-reading some of my stories that I've written characters based on people... that I hadn't actually met when I first wrote them.

Seriously, Zofie? She is so much like Laura, a little adorable girl who was at the first school I taught at.

And I only realised a few months ago, that Kasmira is very much like my Head of Faculty at my last school, Rachael. And I created Kasmira over a year before I met Rachael!

I don't know how it happens, but it does!

Don't Tell the Bride: The Hen's Night

There's not much to say here for this one, but here are the photos of all the dresses the girls wore.

Kellye's dress

Nessa's dress

Galinda's dress

Kasmira's dress

Elphaba's dress

Updated: Wicked Works in Progress

The Ghost of Kiamo Ko: "Last night I dreamed I went to Kiamo Ko again." While working as a companion to Nessarose Thropp, daughter of the Munchkinland Governor; Elphaba meets Fiyero Tiggular, a widower still mourning the loss of his perfect wife, Sarima. After a whirlwind romance, they marry and he takes her back to his beautiful Vinkun estate, Kiamo Ko. But the honeymoon doesn't last long. The staff still worship the first Mrs Tiggular, and Elphaba knows that Fiyero only married her out of pity. Most disturbingly, is the shadow of Sarima who fills the castle and haunts Elphaba's every move. AU. Inspired by the novel Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. There's also a movie.

The Right Thing to do: It's a matter of honour, of doing good. But sometimes doing the 'right thing' hurts more than anything. Especially when it comes to love. As they graduate Shiz, Fiyero is dreading it. He knows what comes next- marriage. But he knows he can't marry a woman, when he's in love with her best friend. While everyone is spending the summer at Kiamo Ko, waiting for an announcement, Fiyero decides he can no longer live a lie. And then all hell breaks loose, and no one will escape being hurt. All in the name of doing the right thing. AU.

What a Girl Wants (although title may change): Elphaba Thropp met Fiyero Tiggular, fell in love and married. But they were torn apart by Fiyero's disapproving family, lies and secrets. Ten years later, her daughter runs away to find the father she's never known, forcing Elphaba and Fiyero to come face to face for the first time in a decade. Inspired by the movie of the same name. AU.

The Stories We Tell: Elphaba Thropp is now the Wicked Witch of the West. A fugitive, named as a terrorist, feared by all and hunted by the Wizard's Gale Force. Whilst working to free persecuted animals all over Oz, Elphaba comes into contact with someone from the life she left behind- Fiyero. The reunion between the two will shape the course of history. And what does the story of Elphaba and Fiyero have to do with artist Alyssah "Lyssa" Scarlett, living in the Emerald City a century later,in a time when the Wicked Witch of the West is more myth than history? 

The Vow: Not long after their wedding, Elphaba and Fiyero's world is shattered when Elphaba suffers a head injury and lapses into a coma. When she awakes, her last memory of her husband is when a scandalacious prince arrives at Shiz, dancing through life. Can Fiyero make his wife fall in love with him all over again? Written with Team Wicked. Inspired by the movie of the same name.

Knocked Out: Intermission fic. Still have no more details than this.

War: This is literally all it says. Don't have all the details planned yet. It's going to be some kind of wartime romance fic between Elphaba and Fiyero.

Writing Confession

In my brief considerations of a 40 Weeks follow up; when Ashur received the journal on his 18th birthday, one of his parents was not around.

Don't Tell the Bride: The Bridesmaids' Dresses

This is the dress that Fiyero... well, Nessa and Galinda picked.

And here is a photo of Max from Sean Saves the world.

Don't Tell the Bride: The Cake

So, the cake.

I knew immediately that Fiyero was going to pick a cake that was a bit fancy and something non-traditional. And I knew Elphaba was going to pick something very simple. And I knew Fiyero was going to pick chocolate, because there is nothing better.

Fiyero's choice:

The cake Fiyero actually picks

Chocolate with pearls.

I did like the tree

Love is in the air

Elphaba's choice:

The one she picks

Pink goes good with green! I did like the use of rings on top of the cake though.

Flowers

Don't Tell the Bride: The Flowers

I'm a big fan of anything that means anything, which is probably why I like the meaning of flowers and things like that.
When I first put that into a fic, and made it a subject of expertise for Fiyero; it was mostly because well... he's not stupid, he just doesn't think (whether by choice or just naturally), so he had to know something. And with his background as kind of a playboy, I thought it could be useful for him. Otherwise, as stated in Out of the Blue, you end up giving a flower to a girl that means "eternal love" or something and you're screwed.

Fiyero's choice:

Red Tulips: Declaration of Love

Yellow Tulips: Hopelessly in Love

Purple Tulips: Royalty

 

Elphaba's choice:

Purple Lilies: Presence of Royalty, Majesty and Honour

My Top 10 TV Weddings

I really love weddings. I know, you're all shocked by this. No one would have guessed this, right?

This means that even though I've only ever been to 7 weddings in my life (actually 6. 2 cousins, 2 uncles, 2 friends. But I'm going to my 7th wedding in April- another cousin), I have watched a lot through movies and TV.

If there's a show I only kinda watch, or I vaguely know, there are three things that will get me watching- a birth, a death or a wedding.

So, I thought I'd do a countdown of my favourite TV weddings! Starting with #10 (obviously), and working my way up to my absolute favourite TV wedding.

10. Howard and Bernadette "The Big Bang Theory"
This one makes the list because even though the wedding itself, as in the vows, isn't overly romantic, I do love the whole thing about having the wedding on the rooftop so they'll be on Google Earth. Because that is awesome. And I loved that all their friends helped officiate the wedding, even Sheldon with his Klingon. It's sweet.

9. Phoebe and Mike "Friends"
An impromptu street wedding in the snow! I don't really like snow (it's too cold and wet), but I like the way snow looks on TV and in the movies... it makes everything so pretty. And magical looking. I love this wedding because the vows are so sweet. Phoebe is such a... unique character and I loved her and Mike together. The wedding was so appropriate for them as a couple.

8. Angela and Hodgins "Bones"
I'm talking about Angela and Hodgins' actual wedding, not the one that got called off at the last second because she was already married. You may not think a wedding in a jail cell would be romantic, but it is. Angela and Hodgins went through a lot before finally getting married, and once again, the wedding suits them as a couple; and it definitely suits Angela's personality, her being the free spirit that she is.

7. Melinda and Jim "Ghost Whisperer" 
Technically, it's Melinda and Jim's spirit in "Sam's" body, but well... yeah. I love this one, even though you don't see the whole thing, because it was a surprise wedding. I would never want a surprise wedding, but it's sweet. Plus, the fact it was in the middle of the street in the spot where Jim and Melinda first met- that I love. I love all that sentimental stuff.

6. Monica and Chandler "Friends"
Monica and Chandler. Two best friends who fell in love and got married. That's incredibly romantic even without Chandler overcoming his commitment issues. Rachel has always been my favourite of the Friends girls, but I think I'm the most like Monica- without the neat freak things. And I can't really cook. And Chandler is always my favourite Friends guy.
The vows were perfect, and anything officiated by Joey is hilarious. The whole wedding was elegant and classy, and I love it.

5. Nathan and Haley "One Tree Hill"
I love both of Nathan and Haley's weddings, but I'm focusing on their vow renewal in season 3. All the drama of that episode aside (who's pregnant? And of course, the giant car crash off a bridge), it was such a beautiful episode. Nathan and Haley had overcome so much in seasons 2 and 3. Plus, Lucas gave Haley away because her parents didn't come back for it! One of my favourite things about One Tree Hill was Lucas and Haley's friendship. 

4. Lily and Marshall "How I Met Your Mother"
I adore Lily and Marshall. And their wedding was no different. I loved Barney officiating, despite his complete disbelief in marriage as a concept and the fact that he cried while marrying them, haha. As Future Ted says, it was the perfect, intimate wedding they always wanted. Their vows were sweet and showed everything them as a couple.
Also, Marshall's line of "Hat. We thought of authentic native american headdress before we thought of hat," always makes me laugh.

3. Piper and Leo "Charmed"
You guys, Piper's mum's ghost got to come to her wedding. That gets me every time. I love Piper and Leo. I started watching Charmed in season 5, so I already knew they were married and the story behind it. But every time I watch it, it feels like I'd been watching from the beginning and waiting for them to get to this moment.
A witch marrying an angel, with the wedding officiated by a ghost. How is that not romantic? Haha. I can live without the Prue storyline of that episode though (not a huge Prue fan. Although Paige was in it for 2 seasons longer than Prue and I'm still not sure if I like her. Piper was always my favourite, and I like Phoebe... until the show seemed to be all about her. But that's a whole other issue).

2. Lucas and Peyton "One Tree Hill"
Gosh, Lucas and Peyton. Where do I start? Lucas marrying the girl of his dreams, that he foretold in the eight grade that he'd marry her one day (before they'd even spoken). And like so many other couples on this list, they'd overcome so much to get to the point of their wedding day.
And Peyton being pregnant with their daughter, with a potentially life-threatening condition; and Haley performing the ceremony... it was just perfect.

1. Booth and Brennan "Bones"
This has to be number one. You can say whatever you like about the show, that Brennan and Booth never should have gotten together, whatever. But Bones has the best character development, maybe ever. Brennan is so firmly anti-marriage in the beginning of the series, and watching her slowly let Booth in over the years and change her mind about it all... to see her at that altar in a wedding dress is such a great moment.
The vows were absolutely perfect, and I loved all the little references to the show's past.
There is not a more perfect TV wedding in my mind.

What are some of your favourite TV weddings? 

Don't Tell the Bride: The Wedding Dress

Fiyero's choice:

I was going to be mean and make you guys wait to see the actual dress, but I decided to be nice. And I was originally going to post pictures of every dress considered, but let's be honest, you only want to see the dress, right?

OK, here is the dress Fiyero picks for Elphaba:

THE dress. 

The veil/fascinator. Like I wrote,
I didn't want to take away from the back of the dress.

The shoes- AKA Elphaba's something blue. 

Elphaba's choice:

And here is Elphaba's choice of a dress. I wanted something simple and modest yet fancy enough for a wedding.

Elphaba's choice. Simple and elegant.