New Start

Hello all! Sorry I have been MIA lately (well, okay for an extremely long time). Michael and I are the verge of bigger and better things! After our wonderful, fabulous wedding (more pictures to come when I get them!), we had the lovely holidays upon us. It did not, I repeat did NOT feel like Christmas at all! I think it was a combo of the extremely warm climate lately as well as the wedding still playing around our minds. Needless to say, they both went very well and fast! I can honestly say now that I am relieved to be free and clear of any gift shopping for a very long time. I never thought I would say this, but I am sick of spending money! That could be because I don't have it. Whatever the reason, I am now trying to save.

Speaking of saving, Michael and I are in the process of buying our first gorgeous house in Freehold which is forcing us to take out our biggest loan to date! (ah, nothing says 'home' like livin' in the poor house). No seriously, it's old, victorian and absolutely beautiful (when I get through with it)! We're closing in a week! A WEEK! I can't believe it. I'm on the hunt for a third job and more money. Any tips will be greatly appreciated. We're movin' on up! :)

The Mrs.

I'm officially a Mrs. now. It's been one full week since I committed for life. I have to admit, nothing has changed much considering we did live together prior to the ceremony. I can happily say our "first year" as a married couple is behind us. It was tough living with him (in the beginning) and we now compromise a lot better.

Our wedding went extremely well. I'm not just saying that because it was mine. I think everyone had a great time. We didn't go on a honeymoon yet and I was actually relieved about that. I couldn't imagine going away with the whole wedding still on my mind! I still dream about it. We're looking to go away in February some time for a nice relaxing vacation. It gives us something to look forward to.

I guess I have to start a new blog soon. The Wedding Day is over. I'll never be a bride again. Now I'm a wife. :)

10 Day Countdown!

IT'S ALMOST HERE!!!!!

I've been a terrible blogger. I haven't even written in my bedside journal in almost three months. There has been more to do than anyone who hasn't planned their own wedding could possibly imagine!

We had our final meeting with Father Dan on Monday and just when you think "this should be the easy part", he whips out his folder-o-questions and starts pounding away. Do you want the bridesmaids to stand with you during the ring exchange or not and if so where. How would you like them to walk down the isle? Are you bringing flowers to the Virgin Mary? How about your mothers? Are you lighting a unity candle? If so, would you like the mothers to light the small pillars?...and so it went for approximately 20 minutes.

Michael and I looked at each other thinking the same thing..."what the..."

I know the day is going to co me and go, and everyone has been warning me to actually enjoy my day. I am trying to make that a priority. Considering the fact that I need to know everything and be in charge, I don't know how possible it's going to be but we'll see.

I know for me personally, I need to be sure everyone else is having a good time. The last thing I want is someone saying that my wedding was "boring" or "typical". Luckily Michael and I are pretty much on the same page with regards to that. A large portion of our finances for the wedding went to the band, videographer and photographer. For me, it's all about pictures. I need the memory of the day. I want it!

I love to capture a moment and freeze it forever in time. Berit is an excellent photographer (I know from experience, I assist her on weddings as well).
Our videographer was recommended by Berit and is just as grand. They have some awesome ideas that we are taking full advantage of. One is the Romance Recap which highlights the ceremony. They play it on a big screen at the reception for all to see before Michael and I make our entrance.

We also filmed a "wedding story" yep, just like TLC! We went to see it yesterday and it was really cute! They'll play it during dinner.

This wedding sure is turning into a big production! Well, I always did want to be an actress and Michael is a natural ham. haha! :)

Stay Tuned for photos!:)

Three Months and Some Days

Here I am in the final three months. I can't believe how fast it's approaching. I have not been documenting like I should and for that I am sorry. I have had a lot going on in the past month.

At work, we moved into a new building last week so everything has been very hectic lately. We actually moved ourselves. I had a lot of boxes to sort through and organize. Still not complete but a lot less stressful than before.

I booked my videographer, photographer and band. Everything so far is going great. I still need hair and makeup but I think I may have that situated. Right now I am working on invites. It's a little tedious because I want them special. I don't want any old saying on them. It has to mean something real. I actually asked my mom for advice on that since she has a nice way with the written word.

Well, I must get back to some serious business. Stay tuned...

Who's Wedding Is This Anyway?

I got into a little tiff the other day with my future mother-in-law about the guest list. I mentioned that I noticed she added her neighbors consistently serious yet on again/off again girlfriend to my bridal shower. The bridal shower is at my future mother-in-laws (I know this because it's a story for another blog..I don't like surprises), and I know that when we invite her neighbor to the wedding, he will more than likely bring his girlfriend which is fine. I am not her friend though, I've seen her three times and actually talked to her twice, why would she want to come to my bridal shower? I justified it by saying Michael is inviting friends of his from work but their significant others are not coming to the shower?! Why would I want to sit around and open gifts from people I may never see again (other than estranged family of course).

My 'mother-in-law' got all defensive saying it was the right thing to do since she is practically always over the neighbors. I argued that she doesn't even come out of the house and wouldn't notice a party going on anyway. That's not the point though. I and everyone who knows me knows damn well I'm just talking and of course will give in but I just wanted my point made that not every person and their sisters-fathers-mothers-daughter should be invited to my bridal shower. If, it still is in fact my wedding.

NOTE: This matter was peacefully resolved.

How To Get a Man to Register...You Don't!

Sunday I woke up and went over to my future mother-in-laws to complain about what a hassle this wedding work is. In all her go get'em glory, she said, "Let’s do it. We'll go today and register". Sure enough, register we did, her and I!

I'm sure some are wondering why I would take my soon-to-be mother-in-law as opposed to my future husband. Though I did want him to go (at first), I soon realized how little help he would have been (sorry honey, but you know it's true).

I remember not so long ago when I told Michael, "we are going to have to register soon".

His response was "for what".

Mind you, I must have told him numerous times before that we, "register-for-gifts-for-the- wedding".

"That's terrible." comes his reply as he sits and watches grown men roll around on the floor together, trying to knock each other out.

"What’s terrible?” I ask, slightly losing patience.

"We have to tell people what to get us?” he says with disgust.

I try to explain, "now, I do realize it may seem a little forward and our parents never "registered" but that was THEN! this is NOW!"

The bottom line is men, mine anyway, are useless when it comes to what we "need". According to him, we don't need anything. We have everything. Try telling him that as he accumulates more certificates (ha ha inside joke).

I say "we need a vacuum".

He says "why, we have one".

I say, "Yes, honey (trying to compose myself) but it was on the clearance rack for 30 bucks two years ago, it's smaller than my grandmother and hardly sucks. It may be okay for our little pad right now but when we move into a "real" house we NEED A VACUUM...honey."

Hence, my mother-in-law and I gleefully filling up the registry sans my fiancé. Turns out, she was more help than I even imagined! She loves to cook and helped me fill the registry with gadgets I'm sure will take me a while to figure out what I actually use it for.

Thanks Mare!

Feel Free to Inform!

Okay, now it's the down to the nitty-gritty. I have precisely seven, count them 7, SEVEN
months! That's not a lot of time. I still don't have my band, nor my
flowers, bridesmaids dresses,videographer ...alright I'm depressing myself
now so I'll stop listing but you get the point...I'm behind! HELP! How
on Earth can I make this easier and less painful besides eloping?
Whenever my mother offers her 'words of wisdom', I blow it off as
nagging (sometimes you get confused). Now I am starting to panic. Well
not really but I'm getting there. Few more weeks and I'll be in full
blown panic mode and actually become productive. I'm sick.

So please, any advice would be appreciated. And since, mom...dad, you two
are the only ones that read this, feel free to drop some comments
(anonymously) so I don't blow it off as "nagging", that would be great.
Thanks, love ya! :)