The Beginning

I once watched a movie where the main character, an author, was having trouble starting his book. His dilemma stemmed from the fact that so many other authors had set such a high bar as far as beginnings go that he felt he couldn't compare. 

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”

"In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth”

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife”

“Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the riverbank, and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, 'and what is the use of a book', thought Alice, 'without pictures or conversation?”

“Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small, unregarded yellow sun.”

“Mr and Mrs Dursley, of number four Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.”

Ok I got carried away quoting some of my favourite opening lines in books but you get the point. The start of something sets the tone. It lets you know whether you are in for a fun adventure or about to embark on a grey's anatomy-esque cry fest. (PS I'm convinced that the writers of Grey's anatomy meet in a grey building in a windlowless room with grey walls and conjure up ways to get audiences depressed and crying in 30 minutes or less. In every meeting the number one question on their minds is- "How do we get them to drown in a pool of their own tears?").

Sorry again I digress; let me get back on course. What was I saying? Oh yes, beginnings! So I completely get what that author in that movie (can't remember the name) was feeling. I wanted to start this blog with uumph, show that i'm silly and geeky but intelligent and well-read without coming off as stuck up or like I take myself too seriously and all the while trying to avoid sounding ditsy or shallow. Easy…right? *sigh* 

So I decided to begin by writing about writing my beginning...Clever? No...yes? Love me?!

Anywho, this blog was initially thought up by my fiancé, an actuary and self-proclaimed math geek, who for all intents and purposes shall herein be referred to as Mr. Right. He wanted us to write a blog together about the whole wedding planning process in Kenya and the madness of what happens when traditional culture meets modern day realities. I got all excited about it and I was on the idea faster than a weave on Tyra! Already had the various topics we would cover, put up the blog the very next day etc... As you can probably tell this story arc does not have a happy ending. Scheduling conflicts, everyday busyness and oh yeah, the fact that Mr. Right kinda didn't think I'd take his off-hand idea so seriously (does this guy know me?!) means the blog had an early funeral (it didn't even see death coming, the poor thing). But my readers will be happy to know the funeral was beautiful, Mr. Right even said a few touching words...it was nice.

Life moved on as did the wedding planning…C'est la vie. Because of the expense of planning a wedding I've taken on very many DIY projects. Now don't feel sorry for me; It's fun, I love doing artsy things and it saves me money doing things myself so hurray! I was sharing some of these projects with my friend who lives abroad, let's call her Mad Genius, and she suggested that I start a blog about the crafts I'm making.

 "DIY is big business here in the States and you could be like the Kenyan Martha Stewart". Mad Genius

First of all I LOVE MARTHA. I think I need to say that out loud so all of y'all reading this would understand why her statement got me all excited. Secondly being the Kenyan Martha Stewart is a life long dream I didn’t even know I had. I mean the minute she put those words together ie Kenyan and Martha Stewart something clicked in my brain and I was like I didn't even know I wanted that but I want it so bad! It’s destiny...I was born to hold that title! In the movie adaptation of my life, this moment will have a chorus of angels singing off screen, a montage of happy childhood memories and a CGI animation merging Martha's body to my head. Too much? Mr. Right says I sometimes come off as too intense, let me know if I ever start freaking you out, and no I didn't forget to take my medication...today...I think... Thirdly if writing about saving money by having DIY elements in your wedding can save me money by making me some money then all the power to it! You dig?

Anyway, so that's the 4-1-1 on the beginning of this blog. Stay tuned or ummm log on...subscribe? Subscribe sounds about right. Yeah do it like that, you know mama likes it all arts & crafty! Ok now it's getting weird. I'll STOP.