Life is Good!

First of all, the Cinnamon Sun Chips are great!! If you need a sweet snack, that's a good choice!

We met with our wedding DJ last night, and I just love her! We got the reception music planned, and we are going to have the time of our lives!! (Anyone coming better get your booties on the dance floor!) David and I are getting ready to sign up for dance lessons so we can wow everyone! :) I really need the help. I am not so graceful! (But with my dress, I don't really need to worry...no one can see my feet!)

We are going to finalize flowers today, and then we are meeting with the church organist after that to select our ceremony music. I am in wedding Heaven! :)

I hope everyone is having a great day!

Potential to be the Holy Grail of Snacks

I have a real love of those cinnamon-sugar coated pita chips. I do...I love them! But I can't buy them because I will eat them. (I know that's the point, but I don't need to eat a whole bag of them!)

I may have found the answer. Sun Chips has just come out with Cinnamon Chips. I love Sun Chips because they are a little healthier, and now that they have cinnamon chips? Heaven help me! The good news being that they come in individual serving bags. I bought a bag from the deli this morning, but I haven't eaten them yet. (It's 8:24am...not the right time!) I have high hopes, though. :) I'll let you know what I think!

In other news, it was a good weekend. I did my first trial run on bridal makeup, and I really loved what she did! Paula, my esthetician, is wonderful! She is doing all my facials and brow waxing, and she has a love of MAC just like me! She is an absolute genius with makeup, and we decided that we may need to take a trip to the MAC counter together soon. (I love this girl!) I have a bunch of stuff to recycle and trade for free lipsticks, so I am planning to go this week regardless. :)

Hmm...I haven't mentioned WW lately, have I? I'm struggling again. I didn't go on Saturday, but I did get workouts in at the gym, which is the thing that keeps me from totally blowing it. I know that WW has revamped their program and I am supposed to be able to eat more food, but I don't want to do that. I am trying to re-focus on making smarter choices, so I am going to the old points system. The system that worked so well for me two years ago. I know...I keep struggling, but I just refuse to give up on myself. I did it once...I can do this again! (Right?)

We saw the new Harry Potter film...loved it!! The book comes out this week and I think I need to buy myself a copy. It's the last one and I can hardly wait to dig into it! We also watched Last King of Scotland, which was a very interesting film. Amin did terrible things to the people of Uganda, and this movie gives you a look at what kind of man he was. He was awful. But the film was great, and Forrest Whittaker is a very good actor!

I think that's about it for me. I hope everyone has a good Monday!

Thursday Randomness

I discovered that Target.com has a bridal section, with some very pretty wedding dresses. They also have flower girl dresses for $13.99 each. I paid $45. Go figure. If you are about to embark on wedding planning, go to target.com and search for "bridal".

It's going to take a LOT of motivation to get me into the gym today. I am bloated and crampy. Yay. I promise to be pleasant when David gets home from Houston tonight.

I got another reminder of why my family is awesome. When someone in the family is having a tough time, we (our whole clan!) band together like no one's business. Ashley, we've got your back, girl! (She doesn't read the blog, but I am putting that out in the universe!) Ash is 12 and needs some unconditional love, and this village is all about raising her right. Girl, you are awesome and don't forget it! We love you without exception!!

I got two new purses yesterday, compliments of David's company. :) It pays to marry a footwear rep! I love them, but they are fall bags and I was hoping for a white one for the summer. Wait...they were free and I'm bitching? Someone slap me.

This is post number 450. Yes, I have put 450 blurbs about my life out there for all to laugh at. Here's to the next 450!

I am getting married in 78 days. 78 DAYS!!! I have a lot to do between now and then.

Okay. I think that's enough mind-numbing randomness from me today. I just had some soup and a baked potato, and now I need to get some work done. Everyone have a great day!

Where Do I Want to Be Today?

Yep. I wish I was in Paris today. Sitting on the steps of Versailles. Or maybe walking around London...

If you look carefully, you will notice I have some sort of crazy white-girl 'fro happening on top of my head. I wonder what was up with that? I would love to be there right now...there's a sort of surreal excitement when you step off the train and take your first steps in a new city. Especially when it's London!

I am not enamored with my job today, so I am dreaming of being in other places. But mostly I am missing traveling and the adventure of going somewhere new. I want to go next summer so badly it hurts, but after the wedding we are trying to save for a house. This means no trip to Paris for Jen. At least, not next year. Is it possible to feel "homesick" for a place you lived for only seven days?

"If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris…then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, because Paris is a moveable feast." - Hemmingway

Amen to that!

Fun with Cheese!

Okay...yummy recipe if you love brie cheese:

1 sheet of puff pastry dough
1 8oz wheel of brie
1/2 cup raspberry jam
1/3 cup pecans
1 egg

Crack the egg and scramble in a small bowl. With a pastry brush, brush both sides of the puff pastry with the egg. Cut the rind off the top of the brie wheel, and lay on center of puff pastry sheet. Spread jam on the brie, and then sprinkle pecans over the jam. Bring all four corners of the pastry togther so that it wraps up the brie like a package. Back at 375 for 20-25 minutes. Serve with crackers. YUM!

I made this for David's family get together on Sunday and it was really good! :) I am such a fan of brie! And no, this is in no way a low fat recipe. I made it for a family gathering, so it was a special occasion. :)

I don't have much news. I got all the wedding invitation envelopes addressed, so now we just need to start buying postage. Cha-ching!

I think that's it today. No big news. I have a slight headache, so I am feeling blah. Nothing to worry about. I think it's the weather! Ugh!

Have a good Monday! :)

I Must Really Be Old Now

What did my Friday night consist of? A trip to the gym, heating up leftovers for dinner, and watching "A Prairie Home Companion". (Which wasn't good.) That's it. That's what I did. Yawn.

I am about to start working on addressing envelopes for wedding invitations. We did get a wedding gift in the mail today, though! (Thank you to Joe and Pascha!) I can't unwrap it because David is out of town and I want him to be here to share the fun of opening a gift, especially since it was sent with love from two of his very good friends!

In other fun news, I got the word from David that his company is sending all the reps a case of sample handbags. Yes, I am getting a large box of leather handbags! I have no idea what all they are sending me, but isn't that cool?? I think they will probably be fall bags, and I really need a good white summer bag. Maybe they will slip one in there for me! :)

I spent last night with Mom and Wendy working on the bridesmaids gifts...I can't say much, but they sure are cool! :)

I guess that's about it. Not much on tap for the weekend. David comes back tomorrow afternoon, and I am going to go work out in the morning. I have some relaxing scheduled, and I will pick up David around 3pm I think. He'll let me know for sure. (If he needs a ride from the airport!)

Everyone have a good rest of the evening!

Oops!

I didn't mean to take such a long blog break! All is well in my world...it's just been really busy. Yesterday was nice...we got in some pool time at Angela's before the storms blew in. I got a little pink on my shoulders, which I now have to watch since I don't want tan lines for the wedding!

Speaking of weddings...we're under the three month mark now. Yikes! David and I talked about the budget last night and things we need to be sure to do before the wedding. We have a fair amount of stuff to do! This week we are printing the response envelopes and starting to purchase postage. We're going to be addressing invitations since they go in the mail on the 27th of this month!! Wow...it's really starting to get close!

It's going to be a nice week...I have an abbreviated work schedule so I will be enjoying the holiday. We're going to David's parents house on Wednesday, and I am making a couple of things to take. (Thanks for the recipes, Paula Deen!) I feel the need to prove that I can cook for their son, although no one has ever said that I couldn't!

So that's it for today. Have a good Monday everyone! :)

Happy Birthday to Me

Yep, it's my birthday...I'm 35. I think I feel old.

My 12 year old cousin, Ashley, asked me last night if I enjoy "modern ice cream". What?? I asked her what she meant, and she proceeded to explain to me that when I was born there were only a couple of flavors of ice cream. Seriously, this is what she thought. I told her there were at least 31 flavors. (Hey, we lived close to a Baskin Robins!)

Ugh!

Anyhow, happy Friday to all! Have a great weekend!

I Have an Unusual Problem!

Well, I've got my dress!! I've tried it on, and all my worry about not looking pretty went out the window! I love my dress, and I love me in the dress! The only problem? This is the first time in my life something was too big in the bust! We have to have the bust brought in...a lot! :) No worries! My very dear friend, Wendy, is going to do my alterations. (She actually really wrote the book on wedding dress alterations for a major department store!) So I am very excited! I have the dress here at home because David is out of town and won't see it. I'll take it to Mom's on Friday before David gets home...I want the dress to be a surprise! I have pics of the dress on my cell phone, but I will wait until Wendy emails me the pictures she took...they will look much better! Once I have them, I will be happy to share!

So it's been a lovely evening. Mom and Dad came to the fitting, and I think they really love my dress. It's beautiful, and doesn't look like every other dress out there. And it's all mine!!

I own the dress I'll become a married woman in...weird!

Wear Your Stretchy Pants to the Reception!

Oh, we are going to have some very yummy food to eat! We had our menu tasting last night, and the food is amazing! We have all kinds of munchies, carved roast beef, salmon, shrimp, mashed potatoes, and some awesome appetizers! We've laid out the room arrangement, figured out how we're exiting the reception (very stylishly, I might add!), and now we just have to decide on favors and whether or not to throw bird seed or rose petals. I'm on a wedding high!!

At 5pm today I will go try on my wedding dress for the first time. I feel nervous...I hope I look pretty! I've struggled with WW (still plugging away with it, though!) and I was hoping to be a little smaller, but it's ok. My dress will still fit. I just want David to think I look like a princess. (I hope that's not too vain...I just want him to think I look beautiful!) I'll take pictures, and if anyone wants to see, you can email me and I will share. I just can't post here, as my future husband stops by the blog from time to time. :)

I had a massage during lunch today! It was my treat to myself, as my birthday is on Friday!! :) I got a funny shock yesterday...David has a step-daughter, Dara, from a previous marriage. She is 4 1/2 months pregnant (and she's only 19 and her husband is shipping out to Iraq in July!!). David has remained close to her, and he is the only father she has really known. So essentially, David is a sort of "Step" grandfather. In a crazy universe, that makes me a step-grandma! It's a bit of a stretch, but we've had a good laugh out of it! I do need to make it clear that the first person to call me "Grandma" gets a knuckle sandwich.

So that's my news! I'll let you all know how the fitting goes! Wish me luck!

UPDATE: Kim made a good point...David's step-daughter wasn't the shock...I already knew her and I think she's adorable! :) We're bummed because her due date is September 29th. :( She can't come to the wedding!

99 Days

Wow! 99 days until the wedding! Where does the time go??

Tonight we are going to the menu tasting to decide about the food for the reception. I have been looking forward to this!! We have a list of things to chow on, and we're going to have such a great time! Our coordinator is a doll, and she is going to make this so much fun!

Tomorrow is my dress fitting, and I am nervous. I hope I look like a princess in my dress! :) No pictures posted, though...I need to save that for the wedding! :)

Happy Belated Father's Day!

I didn't have a chance to post yesterday, so happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! We had a nice day yesterday. We visited with the family and then took my cousin, Ashley, shopping for clothes for her volleyball camp this week. (Shopping $$ courtesy of mom!) We got home around 6-ish, but stopped for a quick dinner at a yummy Chinese restaurant that we enjoy. We went home and watched some TV and then called it a night...we were sleepy! (And all the rain just makes me sleepier!)

So I hope everyone had a wonderful day yesterday! (Jerilyn and Blonde, my thoughts were with you both!)

Have a good Monday!

Happy Birthday Mom!

It's my mother's birthday today, and in her selfless ways she spent her birthday with me shopping for wedding stuff! We were with our friend Wendy, and we got three absolutely beautiful flower girl dresses, the gorgeous fabric to make the ring bearer pillows, my garter, some wedding jewelry for my junior bridesmaid, and in the midst of all this I got the call that my wedding dress has arrived and is at the store being steamed! I got to see it and try it on for the first time on Wednesday night, and I can hardly wait! I'm actually going to see the dress I will wear when I become a "Mrs."! It feels so surreal!

I went to WW today, but didn't get on the scale. It was a good meeting, and I am feeling energized and strong...I'm ready to have some success this week! I am hoping to go to yoga on Monday night, but it depends on if we go see David's parents. It's been a busy week, and next week promises to be just as busy. We have the menu tasting on Tuesday and the dress fitting on Wednesday. It's a wedding week!!! :)

So that's it for now. I need to get ready to go pick up David at the airport. He was supposed to be here, but his flight was very late due to the weather. Everyone have a good Saturday night!

The "Peaks and Valleys" Speech

I remember years ago my dad telling me that life has peaks and valleys, because without the valleys, we would never appreciate the peaks. One of my blogger friends is in a very low valley right now, as she has unexpectedly lost her father. Her grief is just beginning to pour into her blog, and I know she has a long path to feeling "normal" again...and normal for her is forever changed. I don't know the depth of her pain. I think it's only something you understand when you are going through it, and no one can sympathize unless they have been there. I'm lucky...I haven't been there, but I know people who have (including my own parents). I've watched people lose a parent, and it's awful and horrible. But I've also seen what happens as time passes and the grief isn't as life consuming as it was...and that's when you can revisit the loving memories without sobbing your heart out every time. (You still do it sometimes, though.)

Unfortunate Serendipity's blog is beautifully written, and I am grateful that she is brave enough to begin sharing a little bit of her grief with her readers. She's a wonderful person. How do I know? Because even though we've never met, she has become a friend to me. We email on occasion, and she's even offered to help me during fashion dilemmas. I don't have to have met her to know that I like her and respect her. (Hey, the woman has great taste in shoes!)

So my blog today is just about my friend and how even though there are no words to ease the pain, maybe the collective healing energy from those who read my blog and send her good thoughts will provide some comfort.

Jerilyn, you are in my prayers.

Wow...I Actually Have No News!

It's true...I have nothing to contribute to the world today. It's been a boring day at work and I am sleepy. (I hung out with my mom way too late last night!) I haven't been overly productive or anything. Kinda pathetic!

Mom's birthday is Saturday, so that might be classified as news! (Happy 29th birthday, Mom!) I need to get a manicure, and I have a massage scheduled on Wednesday. That's about it!

So everyone have a good Wednesday! I'm going to Grampa's tonight for dinner, so I know it will be a good day!

After Much Thought...

I have decided that I am feeling differently about the Sopranos finale than I was yesterday. The more I think about it, the more I think I liked it. TV spoon feeds us stories and endings, and for once we are now left to think about what has happened. I have a few theories on what happened to the Soprano family, but I also kind of like the idea that I don't really know. I hope that they eventually decide to do a movie, but mostly because I enjoyed the series so much that just a little more would be a wonderful treat. However, there is apparently very little likelihood that it will happen. So we are left to mull over the fate of Tony Soprano.

And back in the real world, there's not much news to share. David headed out for south Texas today, and he'll be back Saturday night. Saturday is Mom's birthday, so I am thinking of a good b-day gift for her. She comes back from Austin today! :) Dad left for the coast yesterday for his annual fishing trip, so until tonight I am holding down the fort!

I'm sleepy today...I was so warm and cozy in bed when the alarm went off. :( Getting up is no fun! I hope everyone has a wonderful Tuesday!

Sopranos Finale: Who Got Whacked?

The viewers did! I won't go into detail here just in case any Sopranos fans haven't seen the finale yet, but what the heck??

It was an interesting way to end the series, but me? I think I would have liked to see something different. Just an opinion.

Ugh!

Okay, Maybe I Did Have A Brush With Fame

When I picked up David from the airport last night, I did get to see Eva Longoria! Of course, she was whisked by on one of those little carts, but she seemed very unpretentious and looked happy. (No one saw her but me...no one else knew to look for her!) She was in jeans, a black t-shirt, and red high heels. She also had a headband in her hair and big sunglasses on. But she was smiling and chatting with the cart driver, and she looked like she was enjoying her conversation. My impression on her? She looked like she was enjoying herself. David said she was letting people take her picture on the plane, and I think that's nice. She could have been a real b*tch about it, but she chose to be friendly and pleasant to her fans, and that makes me like her! (I wish I could have asked her about her wedding plans!)

So anyhow, I did get have a brush with fame!

Catching Up

Wow...it's been a little while since I had time to blog! It's been a busy week. I overslept for WW this morning. :( Although I wasn't feeling like it would be a good weigh in, I was planning to go. However, I did go to the gym so I am feeling good. I am also really feeling like I am back on my game, so hopefully the pounds I am revisiting will be on their way back off soon.

Mia and I went to the mall to check out the new Sarah Jessica Parker clothing line, and it's pretty good! We picked up a few things after a light lunch, and had a lot of fun walking the mall. Mia is getting ready to go to CA, and Kim is there right now. Everyone is travelling! David is on his way back from NYC right now. Actually he just called me about 5 minutes ago to tell me that Eva Longoria is on his flight! Pretty cool! He waved at her as he passed through First Class and she waved back. I told him to give her a "Go Spurs" if he sees her again! Pretty neat! He also met Oscar de la Hoya at his hotel across from Madison Square Garden. I didn't meet anyone famous this week. :(

A week from Tuesday we have our menu tasting for the reception food, and my dress will ship out on June 14th, so things are really moving along. Mom's birthday is a week from today, and my birthday is approaching, too. 35. Yikes! However, having oily skin is keeping me young looking, as no one seems to believe I am older than 27. Hey, I'll take it! :)

I think that's about it for now. I need to clean and get ready to pick up David in about 4 hours. I can't wait! :)

Have a good weekend!

Glamorous!

David and I had our engagement pictures made on Sunday, and if I may say so, I think we looked great! I can't wait to see how the pictures turn out! It was humid so I hope our photographer can photoshop out a few sweat beads. :) But it was a lot of fun and she took a lot of pictures!

It was a very productive weekend! I got my invitations put together, the programs are done, we found a dress for my junior bridesmaid, shopped for a new phone for David, and looked at a kitchen table. I also got my hair highlighted and went to WW. WW wasn't so good, but I knew it was going to be a gain. For the last two weeks my eating hasn't been good, but I am back on track now. I am working with Susan this afternoon, and then I am going to Yoga with Kim tonight and I am very ready! I need it! I haven't been in a couple weeks because of being sick and then last Monday being a holiday. So I am probably a little regressed, but I am back on it, baby! :)

So here we are on a Monday morning. Is it 4pm yet? I am so ready to hit the gym!

Everyone have a great day!