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Hi Friends, How are you? How was your week? I was honeymoon-less for the past seven days…until yesterday any way. But it was the shortest-lived honeymoon ever.  Did any lovely and amazing things happen in your life?  Did any figurative honeymoons carry you away? The pace of planning Savanna and Joey’s wedding has picked up speed. Time is bearing down and strangely I haven’t found a way to slow it. Mondays hastily advance to Fridays, January to February and then, ohforcryingoutloud, is that March 1 less than a week away? Suffice it to say, the honeymoon stage of wedding planning is ooover.  But no worries, because I’ll be jumping on board [vicariously] as the Newleyweds embark on a REAL Honeymoon. Boy oh boy, do they have an exciting post-nuptial, European adventure on the docket (think: françois & Italiano). Enough of that! The shortest honeymoon I’ve ever experienced occurred in a bakery on the east side of Atlanta. Savanna, Joey and I attended a cake “tasting” at Sweet Cheats in Cabbagetown last Saturday. If you’re not familiar with Atlanta, Cabbagetown is a historical, hip section of Atlanta’s east side. There are artsy shops and quaint eateries sprinkled in among charming cottages that line narrow streets. Most notably Sweet Cheats, of course! sweetcheats The cake pops we taste-tested were guilt-riddenly delicious: Strawberry Champagne, Red Velvet, Chocolate Cookie Dough, Crème Brule and Sea Salt Caramel. The cake centers were hardly cake at all. None of us understood the owner’s explanation of how she married the ingredients together to birth the cryptic cupcake. What we did understand was that each pop had a thick, creamy, multi-textured, multi-flavored center that was positively premium. We unanimously agreed that Strawberry Champagne was numero uno. Thanks be to God, that as soon as I stepped outside of Sweet Cheats my bakery-bliss love affair was over. I broke up with it right then and there.  Splitsville!  …Until June 29, 2019 any way.   All of this labor intense wedding “bizzy-ness” that’s in high gear right now, is perfectly positioning all those creamy-dreamy cake pop flavors as dangling carrots. No sweet cheating for me…until…06.29.19. Check out the wonderful pictures on Sweet Cheats website (link above). Remember: moderation is key! Proverbs 25:27 It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory. Thank you for stopping by! Love, Shelley Strawberry Champagne (left) Joey + Savanna preparing to pop the pops Who needs a paint brush to express love Here’s an update from the bride herself:  time-flies

Dear Friends, I hope everyone is doing wonderfully well. By any chance have you noticed that Triangle Park is zigzagging all over the place trying (praying) to find a consistent blog theme? An awesome one exists. We just know, know, know it does. But whatever it is, it sure is a shy and swift little devil. Because the minute we think we’re committed to one, poof, like a cornered cat it bolts away and divorces us. And you know what the strangest thing about that is? As badly as we want to marry a theme, when options come and go, an odd aura of “Relief and Resume” looms as our search starts anew. In other words, the search, the planning, the anticipation, the newness, the dream, the honeymoon phase, lures us back in spite of truly desiring a focal point theme. Have you ever experienced a honeymoon finale? Figuratively speaking of course. Something (anything!) where there is a sort of pre-marital bliss that eventually turns to post-honeymoon melancholy. For instance: adopting a kitten or puppy starting a new job moving learning a new skill graduating from school losing weight having a baby buying a car building a house building a business getting in shape relationships and marriage purchasing high end cosmetics and/or attire I know someone who gets so excited when they buy a new outfit or pricey cosmetics that they won’t allow themself to actually use and enjoy them. They “protect” the items to prolong the honeymoon phase. I’ve treasured some songs so much that I’ve sworn I’d never tire of and divorce them. Angels, by Robbie Williams is a rare recording that I’m still in the honeymoon phase with. It never took off in the U.S. but is often still played in the U.K. Other than Angels, I eventually divorced all of my “favorite” songs. One thing Triangle Park has down pat is putting God first. He offers a honeymoon guaranteed to not end. It’s pretty cool that He paid a sky-high price for US so that we could be saved from our sinful nature. Once we’re in His world, according to His Word, we’re on board for one heck of an everlasting, eternal honeymoon. How many honeymoons have you had come to fruition? Triangle Park won’t stop searching until we discern a close-to-perfect melody (theme!) to dream and live and share with y’all. Maybe it will be: One Honeymoon Lives On… Thank you for reading. Love, Shelley

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Holy smoke, there’s a lot going on around here! Along with dodging life’s daily curveballs, I’ve vicariously endured the-bride-to-be’s (Savanna) pain of whitening her teeth while the sister-of-the-bride (Diana) and moi have executed the chore of acquiring “day of” dresses. (As for hair and make up, well, those two remain top-tier stressors. The fact that I visited a salon this past week for a simple color touch up and fought back tears as I checked out didn’t help.) My new Wedding Day motto: Perfectly imperfect will be well enough. Finding my dress was surprisingly easy. I spied it on Bloomingdales website and fell in love with it when it arrived, Savanna did also. The dress showed up on our front porch in less than a week. The fit was glove-like. Since Diana and I are essentially Sav’s only attendants we aimed to blend our style. I snapped a couple pics of dresses at Bloomingdales for Diana and even took one to her in Chattanooga last weekend (that one didn’t pan out so well). Dress hunting took some buy/return effort but last weekend on Superbowl Sunday after an ostensible panic attack in the parking lot (rivers of tears fell – don’t ask why it’s cryptic), Dan and I dragged our bodies into Bloomingdales. Thanks be to God she slipped into her very own glove-like fitted day of gown in less than ten minutes. Bloomingdales dress shop at Lenox Square is fabulous. After being a west-coast Nordy girl for most of my life, Bloomingdales has won me over. A huge shout out and plug to them for quality customer service and fab fashion choices. (If only there was a hair salon inside.) In addition to having the day of dress dilemma solved, last Friday Joey, Savanna and I met our day of coordinator Rebecca, at Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee just down the road: Peachtree Rebecca brings energy, experience, enthusiasm and beauty to the tasks at hand. Planning Savanna’s wedding has been relatively smooth sailing…until recently. Ants and angst began gnawing and pinching in places that are difficult to reach. But hey, without angst there’s no true joy and victory. Understanding the Word is complicated. But you’ll never understand it if you don’t study it. Timothy 2:7-13 – No pains, no gains! No cross no crown! Matthew 23:12-12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. And speaking of my new motto: Perfectly imperfect will be well enough. I was trained as an artist in the classical style of the old “masters.” In other words: execute your projects as close to perfection as possible. Here’s an example: And here’s an example (unfinished) of my newly adopted art style: Perfectly Imperfect: Love, Shelley Finding the One Shiny new teeth [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

As of late, there are three points on my perpetual-psyche : Savanna’s wedding triangleparkATL.com, and God Not in that order of course. Planning Joey and Savanna’s wedding has developed a pleasant cadence. Time we spend chatting, choosing, and cheering has [truly] been a lot of fun. We’re cooking up a super summer hoopla, for sure. But, like my wedding planner, Sean, reminds me, “it will only last about four hours.” Then, bam, it’s over. Thankfully, a rehearsal dinner and Sunday brunch will extend the joy of being with family and friends a bit longer. If you’re anticipating a wedding, here’s my advice thus far: don’t project too far in the distance; enjoy the stages and people you work with along the way, and have faith it will all turn out as it’s meant to be. The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9 Mother-of-the-Bride dress shopping begins. This one went back to Bloomies. Triangle Park continues to seek content cohesiveness as an interconnected body. Obviously, each of us is involved with the wedding. But, that will soon end. Then what? You might already know Diana is living in Chattanooga, TN, interning for Volkswagen. Jeff and I visited for the first time this past weekend. Chattanooga (Tennessee in general!) is heavenly IMHO. We’re hopelessly proud of the work Diana is doing at Volkswagen and also of her finding a place to live on her own, and how she has settled into the culture. In her spare time, she’s creating watercolor greeting cards. I love this because it wasn’t long ago that I was spending spare time (and then some) making art. Maybe TPA has a right-brain-focus future? If you go to Chattanooga, checkout The Bitter Alibi for Sunday brunch. Very hipster. Joy unspeakable (inside of The Bitter Alibi) There are so many wonderful restaurants in Chatta.! Ahh, the best for last: God. I try not to brag about how smart my girls are, or how caring they are, or talented, or empathetic, or attractive, or the like. But, I must admit I do fancy bragging about their faith, love and hope in Jesus. There’s an abundance of broken people living in a broken world today – all of us? My hope is for Sav and Dan’s faith to carry them above fear and for them to share their love of God with their generation. As millennial/genZs they have a more crucial platform from which to reach, than I do. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” Joshua 1:9. A drawing I did on an airplane. It’s special because the AMAZING Dylan Pierce “liked” it. (Thank you Dylan, I was humbled) Whether we’re blogging about the wedding, art, travel, or Jesus you can count on it coming from our hearts. We’re doing what we love and we love what we’re doing. Mostly, we love and appreciate YOU! Writing is nothing without someone to read it. See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand ~ Galatians 6:11. Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley #motherdaughterblog #familyblog #weddingplanning #createartcards #loveGod

Box with Save the Dates! Savanna is not kidding, wedding planning is moving along. There’re mucho-shifting parts and my body temperature seems higher than normal as a result :-). Save-the-Dates are boxed up and ready to go out tomorrow, finally. All the fast-paced-ness lately has called for much needed SPA time. And that’s what I did last Thursday. We’ve lived in the same house in Buckhead for close to 30 years (30!??). In hopes of relocating elsewhere via something other than a gurney, Jeff and I purchased a condo on Peachtree Road where Savanna currently resides. We aren’t convinced we’re the mid or high-rise types, but a new tenant on the first floor of the building is making it more appealing every day. ~ Truffles Medispa opened a new location in The Astoria, 2233 Peachtree Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30309 , check it out here~ I’m 56-years-old and from time to time I get run-of-the-mill facials at a “regular” spa. The thing is, anyone can give himself or herself a relatively comparable home facial if they have decent products in a drawer. Medispas are different; they offer things like micro-dermabrasion. I tried botox a year and a half ago (1x!) and had a miserable response. I experienced virtually every adverse reaction on record (gastrointestinal upset, uncontrollable tearing, migraine headache — yes, it’s supposed to thwart migraines – fainting, botulism nightmares, etc.). No thanks! At Truffles Medispa/Buckhead, Jennifer, suggested micro dermabrasion for me. I gave it a shot and was thrilled. The results are a step beyond a “regular” spa facial. My skin looked brighter, smoother and just better, without a single side effect. Truffles offers other non-invasive “healthy” treatments. I plan to check more out and will let you know what I find. Here’s a link that explains micro dermabrasion in detail. After all, part of wedding planning is preparing for the pics! There’s no going back once snaps are shot. Old gals have to work harder at Keeping up with the KIDaashians! Next weekend Triangle Park heads over to the house of former Kim Kardashian make-up artist, Stephen _____, for a trial make-up run. After, it’s on to invitation details at Paper Source/Around Lenox. Shout out to Diana who is settling in up in Chattanooga. We miss you Dani! Thank you for reading and God Bless us all! Love, Shelley

There was barely a moment during Christmas that Triangle Park didn’t anticipate our Save-the-Date “folding party.” On December 30, we packed up supplies and headed to the women’s lounge at Ansley Golf Club to execute the wedding chore at hand: fold, seal, and stamp Save the Dates. A change of scenery was heavenly after labor intense days in my cozy, urban Atlanta cottage. Wedding planning is serious stuff. Or maybe I’m taking it seriously because it’s my first shot? Whatever the reason, the Jeff Sweeney family has spent no-joke time on marriage minutiae. Save the Date card folding was no different. Three of us set up shop at Ansley like we were skilled assembly pros. Bam, finished! Then, we soldiered to the next pressing task: ***Complete online hair/makeup contract with Area 4 Salon*** This wedding planning stuff has been in motion for about five months. No “T” has gone uncrossed nor “I “un-dotted. To avoid mundaneness, TP agreed to VLOG about “folding” day to have a little fun. In other words, ants were scurrying and biting all up in our pants – we needed diversion! We set up a small ring light with a cell camera in the Sweeney living room. There was no planning or prep. Savanna took to the spotlight right off the bat! She spoke about her celebrity make-up artist, “Stephen!”   (Shhh, we can’t give Stephen’s full name until he gives permission. He used to do Kim Kardashian’s make up and all…we wouldn’t want him to think we’re willy nilly throwing his name around.)  On June 29, 2019 Stephen will work magic on Savanna – never mind she’s young and beautiful and a swipe of mascara and dot of bb cream would suffice. Diana, with her tech-savvy composure, was surprisingly mum. Off camera she’s the extrovert! But she did interject bits and pieces of how we coordinated the day. As luck would have it, I was furthest from the ring light, make-up-less, and wore day-old-air-dried-rain-sprinkled hair. Fifty-five+ must be closest to ring light!? It wasn’t long before we got snippy with each other. Sav mentioned my pompom socks (which were OUT of view!), Dan threw in that they were HER socks, and I chimed that Sav picked at her food in the golf club restaurant with her index finger and thumb. Lets not get kicked out before June! Clearly, a script monitor and direction would have kept the peace. Good aspects were over run by amateur, dreadful parts. In the end, we about lost it with each other. A huge, heroic bark out to our beloved Gus who took matters into his paws and bit his way in to save us from impending doom. So, ya, Triangle Park is deep in wedding planning…serious wedding planning. But, we’re keeping it real by not taking ourselves too seriously — having fun and love, love, LOVING each other all the while. We hope you’ll check our next VLOG attempt! Thank you for stopping by! Love, Shelley

Hi Everyone, The Sweeney family is grateful for all the cards we’ve received this year. Now that our kids are grown, I’m not as diligent at getting greetings in the mail. Thank you to everyone who continues to grace our mailbox in spite of our absence from yours. My prayer is that McKinley Road motivation will reignite in years to come. Lack of vigor isn’t the only reason our Christmas cards didn’t launch. Jeff and I will be sending Savanna and Joey’s matrimony Save the Date(s) in early January (didn’t want y’all to get sick of us). I’m tempted to give a sneak peak…but don’t dare. There’s not much “traditional-ness” in our planning, but decorum is most definitely sought :-). All of the photo cards we’ve received have been utterly devoured, especially ones of kids! Great nieces and nephews, cousins, second cousins, third cousins, children and grandchildren of friends have been yummy-delicious! We were blessed indeed to spend Christmas Eve with our “Gam” tonight. #ChurchoftheApostles put on an extravaganza to remember, wow! We returned home to an amazing French, beef stew that’d been cooking for NINE hours in the crockpot, and spiced Malbec wine. Here’s wishing all of us a new year filled with love, joy, prosperity and obstacles to conquer. “With God, all things are possible” Matthew 19:26 Love, The Sweeneys Diana & Gam, Church of the Apostles lobby After Christmas Eve service, Jeff, Shelley, Gam, Diana, Savanna, Joey Merry, merry Merry Christmas!

Ever heard of pickleball? Better yet, have you ever played pickleball? I switched workout clubs recently and the new one, Piedmont Health & Fitness, has a pickleball program. I had never in all my life heard a single word about such a peculiar-sounding game prior to joining PHF. Now I’m a pickleball fanatic. Pickleball is a cross between ping pong and tennis. If you enjoy either of those you’ll likely find pickleball a fun, in between alternative. The court is large enough to provide a good cardio workout, which you don’t get with ping pong, but it isn’t as large as a tennis court, which cuts back on your exertion. In addition, it doesn’t call for as much upper body strength as tennis does. And much like ping pong, strategy is key! Scoring is a bit complicated. Actually, it’s very complicated. I played my first ever, official game today and the scoring aspect befuddled me to the end. Serving, executing hits, and volleying were a piece of cake, but the mental math and memorizing various details got in the way of me joyfully hitting the ball. Patience, I imagine, is key with this aspect! Before I started playing, I bought some sporty, K-Swiss court shoes and a couple beginner racquets. A light, beginner racquet is a great starting point. I must admit, in spite of superb eagerness, I was a little intimidated to play at first.  It was, however, comforting to learn that people of all ages play pickleball. So far all the players I’ve met have been friendly and enthusiastic to share their knowledge. Best of all, it’s a great game to partner up with someone. Jeff will soon be joining me on the court.  Discovering at this “stage in the game,” that there’s a new, fun sport that the hubby and I can dive into together is simply welcome news. Check it out for yourself! Thank you for stopping by! Love, Shelley (MERRY CHRISTMAS!) Miracle Bar Atlanta

It’s here: The most wonderful time of the year! Do you agree with that? I do, at least to some extent — the giving part in particular. Here’s my motto: whatever “it” may be, “it” isn’t yours until you give “it” away. Yes, it truly is better to give than receive. We reap what we sow, right? Other wonderful aspects of Christmas time: gathering family, attending 12.24 candlelight service, eating, drinking, keeping warm in spirit, joining together gaily. I must add, of particular importance [IMHO] during December, is acknowledging the birthday bash at hand. Save for the holy baby — whom we’re all eternally indebted to — there would be no Christmas. Who wants to be left out of eternity? Not me! It’s so bloody (no pun intended) easy not to be. On a different note, my family is immensely blessed and excited to have my 88-year-old mother (Gam) join us this Christmas (she turns “89” December 27th). Do you have an elderly mother, father, aunt, uncle, or other close by? Unique, right? I’m the older angle of Triangle Park…cheers…or not! Maybe every generation feels this way, but I could have sworn I’d stay in the 20s, 30s, or even 40s forever; but 50s, almost 60s?? Who knew. My counter parts are daughters who are…umm…are much younger. As I acquire birthdays (56), I become more and more fascinated and intrigued by elderly people.  Savanna, Diana, and I are trying to pin down a common ground of blog-togetherness.  It aint easy.  Please pray as we sort out our continuity cohesiveness. So, ya, Christmas time in Triangle Park’s realm is about giving and loving, especially to and on beloved elderly whose priceless, precious time is particularly prized. Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley Gramma Lois – Gone and Loved On… Savanna’s blog: ‘Tis the season to be jolly

“Did you feel left out?” “Did your presents get skimped?” “Did your mom go extra lengths for your birthday?” It’s impossible to count how many times I’ve heard all of the above. Is having a December birthday a big bummer or a jackpot party? I wouldn’t know because my birthday isn’t in December, but I do have family members who call December their debut day: a daughter, Savanna, and my mother, Diane. In part, geography may contribute to the answer. My mother, who will turn 89 on December 27, bemoans winters in Michigan where she grew up. “The sun doesn’t shine for three months,” and “nobody wants to even think about presents after Christmas,” she says. Conversely, spring-like December days are relatively common in Atlanta, and what if your birthday is before Christmas? No doubt, gloomy skies can get you down whether you add a year of life or not, and who can deny the sigh of relief once the build-up of Christmas passes. Energy and enthusiasm are in short supply after 12.25. Personally, this includes New Year’s Eve; I prefer to stay home, watch others whoop it up on t.v., doze off at a reasonable hour, and party the rest of the year — just not on 12.31. One exception: If your birthday is NYE, I’m in! And then there’s having a baby in December. I dare say, there is nothing more peaceful and holy than anticipating the gift of a first-born child in the month that Christians celebrate Jesus’ birthday: Utterly Magnificent. But, yes being the mother of a December 19 daughter had its challenging aspects. Sorting out what gift was from Santa, which was from Mom/Dad, and which would be for birthday always befuddled me. I was a happy camper indeed when we bid “Santa” farewell. So, does having a December birthday pose an “odd-month-out” or a “gifts-galore” perception?  Again, I’ll never know. What I do know, is that loved ones born in the same month as Jesus sparkle as special! Thank you for stopping by! Love, Shelley

Thanksgiving 2018 has come and gone. I hope everything about yours was great: the company, ease of shopping, personality cohesiveness, delicious food, speedy clean up…everything. The last couple of years we spent Thanksgiving at Ansley Golf Club. Doing so meant there were no complicated recipes or laborious shopping trips to contend with. It also meant there was guaranteed tender turkey, zero clean up, and lots of friendly service! Celebrating Thanksgiving in a stress free environment like AGC was a welcome diversion from the ordinary routine, especially given Thanksgiving a couple years prior was borderline disastrous. An old friend of mine told me a story about a time her mother spent hours in the kitchen preparing Thanksgiving dinner. After a huge casserole finished cooking her mother pulled it out of the oven and carried it into the living room where the family was gathered. She proceeded to turn the casserole dish upside down on the floor, in front of everyone. The steaming hot dish oozed over the carpet, shockingly. My friend’s mother left that night and never returned. Sad. Our “disastrous” Thanksgiving wasn’t quite like that but it was nerve-racking all the same. This year we opted out of dining at AGC. Overall everything turned out well: green beans, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, incredible stuffing from Steve Doocey’s The Happy Cookbook, cranberry sauce, etc. The turkey was tender but I did happen upon a few chewy bites that left me disappointed (oh the pressure of it all)! When one’s nest is empty it truly is wonderful to have baby birds fly home for holidays. Both Savanna and Diana were here this year! Of course everyone knows there’s a future son-in-law on my horizon. It was a pleasure having him join us. Joey makes me burst out laughing with his quick-witted humor.   Amidst labor-intense holiday cooking laughter is a coveted gem for sure. My mother also joined us. Grandparents add a special something to holiday gatherings. Thanksgiving day or not, I’m thankful every single day. For: friends, family, and God. Thank you for stopping by! Love, Shelley Thanksgiving: the Good, the Bad, the Ugly Required: 5 years management experience

Do you remember where you were and how you celebrated your 21st birthday? Savanna and Diana wrote about their memories last week. I will never forget my 21st birthday, especially the car accident. Like most moms, I’ve thrown my share of child birthday parties. Diana desired a party almost every single year. Some celebrations outshine others. In regard to Savanna, a “Pocahontas” party stands out. Pocahontas herself showed up for crying out loud! Savanna was turning four-years-old. It was a gorgeous, 63-degree Atlanta afternoon in the middle of December. Colors of the Wind played from a boombox, little girls twirled and danced in the front yard. Strangely, I also recall Jeff videotaping the party…catching noteworthy angles of Pocahontas’ ample upper torso :-). You may have heard, Diana turned 21 last week. We threw a charming gathering with some of her Georgia Tech friends. Fried avocado tacos, pink champagne, plenty of laughter, and gifts for all was abundant. I turned 21 in Atlanta, Georgia, 1983. I’d just returned to ATL after growing up in Portland, Oregon for 12 years (my journey was perpetually coast to coast and trans Atlantic). It was Monday night, March 14 and my mom’s friend, Linda, was in town from Portland. We’d lived this round in Atlanta for all of six months. Dad had already returned to the west, Utah. Our brand new, decorated, Dunwoody house was back on the market. Not surprisingly, my social life had yet to take off. The Limelight, Atlanta’s Studio 54, was the place to party. So, that’s where Mom, Linda and I headed in the family, four-door, Ford Mercury. I was the driver — which was somewhat perplexing because back in Oregon I wasn’t allowed to drive the Ford Mercury. Heading south on Roswell Road, one turns left onto infamous Piedmont Road toward “Disco Kroger.” A stone’s throw from making that left on to Piedmont, a fire engine stormed behind me, siren blaring. I signaled and rested on the right-hand curb just shy of the turn. As the fire truck blew by I was given instructions from Mother to “go, go, go.”  While acting, a fast-driving car flew by clipping the Ford Mercury’s bumper into a vertical direction. No one was hurt, however the car was rendered un-drivable. We continued to The Limelight via taxicab. Savanna and Diana’s rendition of their 21st birthday celebrations make me happy and whole. Reflecting on my 21st birthday makes me squint and rub my temples in search of pressure release. Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley NYC before heading to ATL 1982 – 20-years-old