merry father’s day

Posted on 20. Jun, 2010 by Princess Lasertron.

Thanks to everyone who replied to or spread the word about my search for a paid assistant. I’m going to wait a few more days to collect applications before I start doing some interviews so feel free to drop me a line if you think you’re the person I’m looking for.

Mr. Lasertron’s first father’s day was really fun and busy. We had our own little celebration on Saturday since we had so many dads in our lives to visit on Sunday. I cooked for him for the second time since we got married two years ago (wife of the year, right?) and he was expecting that.

But I was most excited to surprise him by cleaning and rearranging (and finally unpacking all those boxes from the move last year in) the bedroom. I hung some pictures and art up on the wall, got brand new sheets, and he went to bed early and slept in Sunday. I also surprised him with an appointment to finish his incomplete tattoos.

Our bed is a low platform bed which I love and the paint is Valspar’s Peek-a-Boo Blue. The sheets are all mismatched, from Target. The frames were thrifted and spray-painted and Alice’s little bed is something from Target too. Not much I can do about the grody carpet right now but I’m looking for a better rug to hide it. Loathe carpet.

Here was my inspiration picture for the room–our bedroom/closet is exactly the same layout, except our room is a dormer. What I’ve done so far is no big deal to look at–there’s a lot to add–curtains, lighting, more photos, a better rug, and of course to redo the closet. But I am beyond excited about this start.

Finally, there are still some headbands left in the new Princess Lasertron store (linked in the tab up above!) And if you already placed an order, it’s on its way now.

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the greatest generation

Posted on 10. Jun, 2010 by Princess Lasertron.

I’ve been meaning to make this post for several days now but I was waiting to get some more pictures.

My great-great uncle Bill Duane, who is 93 years old, fought in WWII. You would never know it from talking to him–he is so humble and kind and soft-spoken. He will sit silently at dinner listening to conversation and then suddenly and quietly make the most hilarious comment–he is just as sharp as a tack.

Yesterday, he and my family returned from a two-week trip to Europe where he revisited the places where he fought almost 70 years ago. Through his remarkably detailed stories and the pictures my family took, he was able to give us all the smallest glimpse of what fighting in the second war was like. Lying in hedge rows with heavy equipment. Waiting to recapture a bridge, bringing wounded soldiers into medical tents. The honor of bringing freedom and liberation to so many families in France. He landed on Omaha beach. He was standing literally feet away from Eisenhower when his unit was told, “You must take Hill 122 or the invasion will fail and we’ll be pushed back into the sea.” So Bill Duane’s unit took it. It was a bloody and fierce battle but we know the outcome.

Those are all real memories to my great-great uncle, not just chapters in a history book or clips from a documentary.

They all had the most amazing journey around Europe on their trip in the last few weeks–I almost don’t know where to begin and it seems like around every turn was another serendipitous meeting. Bill Duane met with the former Marshall of the Russian Air Force, which is the top position in their Air Force. They also presented him with a medal. Bill Duane’s unit met the Russians at the Elbe River. The Russians were aware of a Russian veteran who remains alive who met the Americans at the Elbe, and he was at the meeting. It was billed as (probably) the last meeting in Moscow of a US & Russian veteran who met at the Elbe and received coverage on the front page of the Moscow Times and several other international publications.

There seemed to be so much more respect for war veterans in Russia and the rest of Europe than we have here. World War II is a BIG deal to Russians. Victory in Europe Day is a National holiday and they venerate their WWII Veterans. Dozens and dozens of people came up to Bill Duane and personally thanked him, or shared stories with him about their own families’ experiences in the war. One person even shared that his brother’s life was saved by Bill Duane’s own division–as a medic, it could have been Bill who saved him! So moving.

On D-Day, on one of the final days of their trip, Bill Duane raised the flag at the American Cemetery in Normandy. 66 years later.

I just wanted to share some of the pictures my dad took on the trip that I found very moving.

1. Bill Duane with a Russian Colonel who also fought on the Elbe and the former Marshall of the Russian Air Force 2. The path into the Kremlin 3. In front of “The Super Tiger,” the only one on display in the world. 4. Outside President Medvedev’s office

5. At the grave of a Nebraskan soldier in American Cemetery on Omaha Beach

6. At Omaha Beach 7. These were French reenactors who were playing the part of US G.I’s. There were TONS of reenactors. These guys specifically thanked Bill Duane for their freedom.

8. Bill Duane received an honor guard from soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division, The Big Red One! At the end of the ceremony they presented Bill Duane with a Division patch and pocket flag that had been carried by one of them in Iraq. 9. He was asked to raise the flag on the anniversary of D-Day in Normandy–this is the woman who supervised the ceremony.

10. Raising the flag at Normandy on D-Day

I teared up writing this post and I wish I had been able to make it on the anniversary of D-Day itself, but the pictures and stories add so much. I know here in America we don’t always think of the hard-won battles of WWII and the quality of life we are able to enjoy today because of the sacrifices of so many people. I know I am guilty of forgetting that.

Although I was home with Alice and not in Moscow or Normandy or St. Lo in the last few weeks, these pictures and the stories they tell make me feel like I was there.  I am so proud of my great-great uncle and honored to be part of his family. And I am proud to have that picture of him with Alice. I can’t wait to someday tell her all of his stories.

xo

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anniversary

Posted on 31. May, 2010 by Princess Lasertron.

Two years ago today Dave and I made one of our dreams come true.

The first of many.

I love you, sweetheart. Thank you for my amazing life.

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day of fun

Posted on 21. Apr, 2010 by Princess Lasertron.

Well I did fewer things today than I planned to.
I woke up late and asked myself what I really wanted to do today. If I could do anything. I decided that I wanted to take a long shower, lay around in my husband’s soft bathrobe, and then get a pedicure later (lavender). After visiting the salon I trolled around a few vintage shops looking for furniture. A little more relaxed than I originally planned!

But here are a few random pictures from my day of fun.

And I worked anyway. (I’m waiting on a shipment of more headbands from the UK…it’s been held up forever because of the volcano and I’m frustrated!)

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Buy a pair of TOMS Shoes embroidered by me to support relief efforts in Haiti

Posted on 21. Feb, 2010 by Princess Lasertron.

Several weeks ago I was asked by the Omaha Young Professionals Council to decorate a pair of TOMS Shoes for an auction to raise money for Haiti relief efforts. I was happy to help out and this is what I came up with. I love the little bee.

(more…)

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