OMG!

I think I found it. I think I found the wedding dress. Can you believe it? It was so easy and so fast. Here's how it happened...

I have really liked the Alfred Angelo dresses that I've seen online and in magazines. They are really beautiful and good quality too. There's an Alfred Angelo store just 5 minutes from my office, but I haven't wanted to go in since Mike and I weren't engaged. But now that we are....well, my girlfriend Angela and I ditched work this afternoon to go look at the dresses. I made an appointment for noon this morning so that I knew they'd have some time for me. I got there and told the girl, Heather, a little about what I was looking for in a dress and envisioning for the wedding. She picked out 4 dresses for me to try on and started a room.

The first I tried on was part of their "Dream in Color" line. It was really nice with the strapless, princess line and A-line style silhouette. It has a semi-cathedral train, so long enough, but not too long. These were all things that I was looking for. But it just didn't make me go ooooooh! Well, I tried on another one with some rusching on it, but it was too fitted through the waist and hip area for me. I just really liked the look of the A-line!

So...then I tried on the third dress she had picked out. It is perfect. I'm not going to go into detail or really even describe it, other than to say, it is perfect. My waist looks tiny. My hips are hidden. My boobs are perky. It's the perfect dress. I sent pictures to the girls to see, so until we get married, Mike is going to have to wait. I told his mom that I wanted his jaw to drop and it's going to! I'm going to stun him with my beauty. I'm telling you it's THE PERFECT dress!

MOH & BM Dresses!

I may not be planning my wedding for any time soon, but I should probably get started on this whole dress shopping thing. I know I'm going to have fun doing it, but there's so much to consider. What style of dress do i want?Halter? Strapless? Cuff sleeves? AHHHH!!! Then I get to worry about everyone else too. What style of dress will my girls look good in? What colors do I want for the wedding? What colors will the girls look good in? How do I start the dress process? Maybe I'll get some outside help and feedback from the girls that will be wearing the dreses. Any suggestions Tay!? :)

March 2009

Originally Mike and I were thinking that we wanted to get married this coming August or September. We wanted to get married as soon as possible. And I guess I was a little optimistic about the support I was hoping to get from my family. Well, my mom is way supportive, financially and otherwise, but, surprise, surprise, my father is dropping the ball once again.

Haven't I been his one and only daughter for 28 years now? Shouldn't he have been planning for marrying me off someday? Doesn't he realize that it's a father's responsibility to give his daughter the wedding of her dreams? Apparently, my father didn't get that memo the day I was born. He didn't get a lot of memos about parenthood, but that's another story!

So...in order to save some money ourselves, and maybe do a little fundraising with family, we've decided to wait until March 2009 to get married. That gives me 15 months to plan the wedding of my dreams! We're hoping that March 28 will be available at a location that we like, but we'll have to wait and see.

We didn't think there was any significance to this date at all. I wanted to pick a date late enough in March that daffodils and tulips may be in season. But it turns out that March 28 has a little significance. Mike and I met through eHarmony. He started communication with me on March 20, 2005. On March 28, 2005, we entered "Open Communication" which basically means we were finally able to communicate as ourselves without the eHarmony people guiding our conversation. We didn't even realize this when we picked March 28, 2009 as a possible date to get married. This will be exactly 4 years to the day that we started to really get to know one another. Pretty cool, huh?

Well, I'll keep everyone posted, but for now keep March 28, 2009 open and available on your calendar! Now I'm off to work on my wedding.

Naked....

We went to Shane Co tonight to pick out the setting for my diamond. This is going to be the "real" engagement ring! :) It was a hard choice, but I found one that I really love. It's white gold still, but it has a thicker band that has these cool asymmetrical swooshes (for lack of a better term) up the side that are more burnished than polished. It also has a small row of diamonds on each side of the solitaire AND it was within the budget. I had to leave my ring with them so that they can reset the diamond in the new setting. I'm so sad! I feel completely naked without it on. We went to CPK for dinner tonight and I caught myself playing with my ring finger. The ring wasn't there! It was so sad. I'll post pictures of the new ring when I pick it up on Saturday.

We're engaged!

Just so that it's documented here's the engagement story!

Christmas Eve I stuffed our stockings with the goodies "Santa" had left for us. I hid Mike's "real" stocking under the tree and put a bag of coal in the stocking he thought was his. I stuffed my stocking with goodies and went to bed. When I got up in the morning, I started making breakfast: a yummy quiche and a coffee cake. Mike got up while I was putting breakfast together, so I told him to go open his stocking. He found the lump of coal Santa left him! I laughed and then pointed him to his "real" stocking under the tree.

Once everything was in the oven, I went to open my stocking and then we were going to start with the other presents under the tree. Since I had put everything in my stocking, I was really sarcastic about it as I took stuff out. "Look, I got gum!" "Oooo - and some Kleenex!" Then I pulled out something that I hadn't put in the stocking. It was a small box that obviously, being a woman, contained jewelry. I had no idea what was to come next!

I put it down next to me to save for last and continued to pull stuff out of my stocking. When I was all done with the stuff that I had gotten, I turned my attention to the small burgundy box. I untied the ribbon and took the lid off the box. Inside was a small white jewelry box. I still had no idea what was coming! I thought I was getting another pair of earrings or a necklace or something. I'm sure Mike was laughing at me.

THen I opened the small white box. Inside was the most precious, beautiful ring I had ever seen. I looked down at it and then up at Mike and said, "Are you serious?" He took the box from me, got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. My response? "Oh God Yes!" And then we hugged and hugged and kissed and then hugged a little more. I kept asking him if he was serious, if he really wanted to marry me! He reassured me and then said the sweetest thing I've ever heard from him, "You are the only thing in my life that makes sense." (insert ahhhhhh's here!)

I didn't cry. I think I was too happy. I've been in shock ever since. I woke up this morning, put my ring on after my shower, and then just stared from it to my reflection in the mirror. I had to make sure it was real! Well, it is and we're getting married. There's a lot to do and so many decisions to make. It's all overwhelming, but we'll get through it and in less than a year we'll be married. I can't wait for that day to come!

Merry Christmas to me

I have a great Christmas story about the best present ever, but I don't have an international calling card to call anyone to tell them the story. Maybe they should call me instead!

Oh and here's a great picture of me and Mike with Santa at the mall in Ventura this weekend! :)

Merry Christmas to everyone!

International Shipping...

...sucks! I sent a package today to a special someone in Europe. It wasn't anything "expensive", but it's all special stuff. So I went to the USPS web site to figure out postage and found out you can do everything online and then just leave the package for your postal person to pick up! That was cool and easy. I got to avoid the lines at the actual post office. Score!

But the bad part is that the cost to ship the package probably cost more than everything in it combined! That's just too funny to me. Anyway...the only reason I'm posting this is so that my special someone will keep an eye for a package in the next few weeks. She might want to open it RIGHT AWAY since there is food in it.

Love you Tay!!

Christmas Tree Extravaganza!

My friend Jeanette and I went to Holiday of Lights at Del Mar fairgrounds! It was really pretty with great lights. They basically have it all set up so that you drive around the outside of the racetrack and the lights are all set up in the middle. It was pretty cool. And definitely helps to put me in the Christmas spirit even more.

But there's more to this story! As we were driving in, we passed a Christmas tree lot. When we were done wiht the lights, we drove back to see if they were open still. They were, so we went in to get me a tree. Well, what I didn't know is that Jeanette insists on THE PERFECT Christmas tree if you're going to get one. So my plans of getting a smal 4' tree went out the window. I ended up with a 6' Grand Fir for almost $60! It was crazy. Then we were faced with the dilemma of what to do with the tree.

It was 8:30p by this time and I really wanted to take the tree up to Mike's place. I knew he was sick, but thought he might still be up. I called and he answered at the very last second with a very groggy "Hello." He was asleep and not too pleased that I had called and woke him up. I told him that I needed to drop something off, but that he should go back to sleep. So Jeanette and I drove up to Mike's house, got the 6' tree off the top of my car, hauled it upstairs, found a bucket and a towel, put the tree in the bucket in the corner of the dining area, left some notes for Mike, and then left.

It's 9:40 in the morning and I haven't heard from him yet! I'm dying to find out what his reaction is to the Christmas tree that has appeared at his house. I know he's sick, but how can you be mad about a Christmas tree! AHHHHH!!! I'm dying to hear from him.

Infected with the spirit

I've been infected. Infected with the holiday spirit! I'm not depressed about Christmas anymore.

Our small group met at Starbucks last night. Then we got in my car and drove to a few different neighborhoods that have been decorated for Christmas (check out the picture above). It was amazing. The houses were beautiful. There was so much work put in to decorating them for everyone to enjoy. It was great. There were a couple girls with their dad in one driveway serving hot chocolate to everyone walking around. They weren't selling it, just giving it away. It was such a sweet thing to do!

Then on the news this morning there was a story about Toys for Tots and how they haven't gotten as many donations this year as they have in years past. Due to this lack of donations, there are about 2 million kids that aren't going to get toys this year (I think that figure is correct)! Can you believe that!?! It's amazing. It's really humbling to realize that there are people out there who aren't celebrating Christmas because they can't afford to. Here I am complaining about not having a Christmas tree and Mike being grumpy about Christmas and there are people out there who won't have a warm place to even spend the holiday. Wow! It just puts things in perspective for me.

The reason we celebrate Christmas is not for the tree and the presents and the stockings. It's the celebration of Christ's birth and the beginning of our salvation. Christmas will be great because we'll get to spend it with people we love in a warm, dry home. We'll open gifts from each other and be grateful that we are even in a position to give gifts to each other. It just humbles me and makes me remember that there is a whole lot more to this holiday than the smell of the Christmas tree and a full stocking hung by the fire.

Merry Christmas!

A little emotional?

Ooops! Note to self: NEVER post at night when I'm tired and emotional. It makes everything come out more negative than I mean to. Oh well, live and learn.

I was a little tired and cranky last night if you couldn't tell. Maybe I was PMSing or something. But there were credible reasons that I was cranky.

I got up earlier than I wanted on a Sunday morning. I had plans at my house, so I had to leave Mike's place instead of spending my weekend with him. After Jen & Glenn left, I was exhausted and still had a loaf of banana bread to make.
Then I had to do the dishes. And the kitchen hadn't been cleaned in weeks - it was GROSS! So I cleaned the kitchen and the living room and my bedroom. I did 3 loads of laundry. I sorted through the recycling from Mike's place so that it would be ready to take to the dump. Then Beth came home and walked on the newly mopped kitchen floor - even though the mop was sitting ACROSS the entrance to the kitchen. (AHHHHHHH!!!!) So then I had to clean up the dirty footprints in the kitchen. Then I started putting together the Christmas gift for Mike and I cut my finger when I was almost done and got blood all over it, so I had to start over. Once I finished the second one and put the stuff in it, it doesn't look as good as I was hoping it would so I'm not happy with it. Then Mike called at 9p to say good night and I realized that I hadn't eaten dinner because I was waiting for him to call to meet up for dinner and he never did. And then I mentioned that I was disappointed that we didn't have a Christmas tree and he took it that I was blaming him for that, but it's more that I'm just disappointed that I haven't been able to do this one thing for myself because I've been doing all sorts of stuff for other people. And he didn't seem to care that we don't have a tree, even though it's important to me, so that made me sad.

And that's why I was cranky and tired last night. I think it was at least a little justified. Right? :)

Christmas...

Christmas is one of my favorite holidays. I love decorating my house, putting lights up, trimming a tree, baking cookies. I love the smell of a "fresh" Christmas tree on Christmas morning with loads of presents underneath. I love seeing the stockings filled by Santa with treats and toys and silly little things you never really need. I love shopping for gifts for others and then watching the surprise as they open them. I love baking cookies, making candy and fudge and truffles. I love driving through my neighborhood at night and seeing all the houses lit up and beautiful. I love hearing the Christmas carols on the radio and hearing people say "Merry Christmas" to each other. This is the one time of year that people are genuinely nice to each other. Who knows if it's because they understand the real meaning behind the Christmas season, but whatever the reason may be, people tend to be a bit nicer this time of year. Maybe it's because they believe that Santa won't bring them anything if they aren't good. Or maybe it really is that they are infected by the Holy Spirit and the celebration of Christ's birth. Whatever it may be, I don't really care. I just love this holiday season.

But this year, my house remains dark. I have no tree a week before Christmas. The presents are wrapped and in boxes in my room instead of littered around the tree. I have no time to put lights up and I don't want to get my tree alone. The most I have done is hang lights at Mike's house, but I know they're only lit when I'm there. I've hung our stockings above the TV at his house, but I know they'll remaining empty on Christmas morning.

On Christmas morning this year, I'll get up late, make breakfast for myself, open the couple of presents that happen to be sitting in front of the TV or on the kitchen table or wherever I dropped them, maybe make a trip up to Mike's mom's house to celebrate, and then I'll go home to get ready for work the next day. There is nothing special about the holiday this year. Nothing fun and traditional at all. No tree. No lights. No stockings. No Christmas feast. So much for loving Christmas...I'm off to bed now to sign the cards that only I care that I send and possibly finish the stocking that Mike's niece won't care that I made especially for her. Good night.

Socially Immature?

I have 2 new roommates: Beth & Jared. They are both about 25, so a few years younger, but not what I would consider "young" by any means.

Jared is a computer nerd - he works all day, comes home, goes to his room, plays video games, watches tv, and occasionally comes out to talk to me, but basically, spends his time at home in his room. He's a cool guy and, when we do talk, he's fun to talk to. Plus, Mandy loves him. And anyone Mandy loves, gets bonus points in my book!

Then there's Beth. She's an interesting individual. When I got new roommates, I was looking for 2 people who would pay their rent and their bills and would keep the drama to a minimum. I wasn't looking for my new best friend because let's face it, I've got a lot of really good friends. While it's always nice to have more, I'm not out there looking for more friends! Well, Beth is very needy and I feel like I'm supposed to be her bosom buddy, in her mind. I spend A LOT of time at Mike's place because it's just the two of us and our dog. There's no roommates there to deal with! It's nice. She constantly comments on how lonely the house is when I'm gone and when Mandy's not there and how she's always alone. Well, honey, I'm not on this earth to entertain you! SORRY! Is that mean? I just don't have the energy to constantly entertain someone else or to be there for her when she needs a friend. That's why Liv and I didn't work living together....way too much drama!

I titled this blog "Socially Immature?" so let me explain. First, Beth and her friend Nancey joined my family for Thanksgiving dinner. Beth is pretty much estranged from her family and didn't have anywhere to go. I felt bad having my family there for dinner, eating all the scrumptious food, and her just sitting there watching everyone. So I invited her and told her she could have a friend join her so she wouldn't be "alone." Then we went over the not-so-appropriate topics for dinner convo because I have teenage brothers and my parents are fairly conservative. You know, things like not talking about how she likes girls, how her brothers gay, but has a girlfriend that he keeps around for the sex, and no cursing in front of my family. These are kind of no-brainers to me, but hey, everyone has a different idea of what's "appropriate." That's a lot of background to say that she basically talked about and said all the things that we discussed as inappropriate. She turned the nice background music off and turned on techno music, REALLY LOUD, at one point. How does that facilitate conversations?!!!? YIKES! Then she kept asking for pie when we were in the middle of cleaning up the table and doing dishes. Geez...not even my teenage brothers were that obnoxious about pie.

SO...my mom and I have decided that she is socially immature because she hasn't had any social upbringing from her parents. I just don't think she understands what it is to be appropriate in different social situations. I don't think it comes naturally to her to modify her behavior based on the situation she is in. She may be 25 in age, but socially, mentally, she seems A LOT younger than that. Maybe 18 or 20? It's crazy! So that's the story of my socially immature roommate.

Back to work now!