Thursday, November 29, 2007

The dress!

I found my wedding dress!!! I'm so excited about it. It's beautiful. And white. I know, but it's not a traditional poof ball. And the way I'm going to style it, it will be rock.
I got it at a boutique in Minneapolis. This place brings designers from the east and west coasts to the Midwest.
Oh and I got it off the rack, so it was a steal of a price. I probably shouldn't talk about how much it cost but I'm so proud of the deal! It's a $3,000 dress and we paid $800! Nice.
It was the third dress I tried on. And I have to give Kris credit, because she found the boutique. It was great because we were the only ones there. The saleswoman was super nice and let us do our thing and answered questions. They had a ton of great dresses, too. I knew as I slipped it on that it was the one. It fit perfectly, I'll just have to get it hemmed and take in the shoulders a bit.
It was exactly what I pictured!
Things are coming off quite well. I'm getting things settled with the DJ and then we should be done for a bit. Then it's flowers, bridesmaids dresses, tuxes, etc.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Smile!

There are certain things that I care a lot about when it comes to this wedding. And there are other things that I don't care so much about. One of those things are engagement pictures.
I'm not really sure why you have to have engagement pictures taken, but you do. You send them to your local paper where employees openly laugh at the dumb poses and think "How did that guy get a hot girl like that?" I know this to be true.
So Eli and I went and got our photos taken as tradition dictates, figuring we could get Christmas presents out of them. We went to a place that would be fast and cheap: Sears.
Of course we did the cheesy poses and showed off the ring. I probably should have gotten a manicure or painted my nails. But I didn't think that far ahead. Here's what we got. Feel free to laugh and mock.
How funny is this one? You can tell I'm trying not to laugh and my hand is all weird. I'm trying hard not to make it one of THOSE poses:
Insert corny love song from the 80s here...

I actually like this one.

Now the best for last. We took solo pictures. Apparently we may have wanted to get a collage, via 1976. You know what I'm talking about, the photo of the woman thinking dreamily and then in the corner is a photo of the couple. So great. Eli looks cute in this one, but it's still funny.




Wednesday, November 14, 2007

101 Things About Me

So this has nothing to do with weddings, but Jaci did this cool thing on her blog by posting 101 things about herself. I thought I'd give it a whirl...
1. I like to be constantly busy during the week and do nothing on the weekends.
2. I see my fiance maybe five hours a week because he works CONSTANTLY.
3. I tend to get cranky.
4. If I don't eat every three hours I get dizzy, cranky and can't concentrate.
5. The more I get to know my best friend, the more she reminds me of my sister.
6. I have an obsession with magazines and have five subscriptions, though I manage to find ones to buy on the news stands.
7. I wish I lived in Finland.
8. Instead of hunting for a wedding dress, I always thought I'd be hunting for my second job by now.
9. Nothing makes me happier than giggling with Eli.
10. I only have patience for kids under the age of 6.
11. I don't understand teenage boys.
12. I'm marrying a man who has 6 brothers and two sisters.
13. I'm ridiculously close with my cousins on my dad's side even though we only see each other maybe once a year.
14. I don't understand why people scrapbook.
15. I secretly wish I could be a clothing designer.
16. I wish I made $10,000 more a year.
17. I judge people with dirty houses.
18. Although I always have clutter, I hate dirt and grime.
19. I love to swim.
20. I'm really not into sports, but I like that it gives Eli and I something to do together.
21. I hate that Eli gets so worked up and yells at refs/officials/umps at sporting events.
22. I could live off of fries and ice cream.
23. I think people lie about how much sex they have.
24. I was born on the cusp of Virgo and Leo and have traits of both.
25. I'm usually selfish, but have found a giving side to me when it comes to Eli.
26. I'm completely in love, but not gross about it.
27. I hate public displays of affection.
28. I love movies.
29. I thought high school was going to be like the Breakfast Club, but it turned out to be more like Daria.
30. I went to Lilith Fair. Twice.
31. I used to know every band and every song within the first notes played.
32. I love Minnesota Public Radio.
33. It doesn't make me uncomfortable to see you cry.
34. I don't lie.
35. I tell people how wonderful they are, but I also tell them when they've disappointed me.
36. I want my mom to be proud of me.
37. My dad is the funniest person I know.
38. I love dogs, but don't want to clean up after one.
39. I like going to the gym and workout four or five times a week.
40. I want to be physically strong.
41. I think skinny people look sickly.
42. I have no idea how parents of young children do it.
43. I like my in laws.
44. I've been learning sign language in order to communicate with some of my in laws.
45. My great grandma lived to 101.
46. I've written so many stories about people dying unexpectedly that I cherish life more.
47. I like a glass of wine or beer, but don't like drunkenness.
48. I think people who get drunk are reckless.
49. I don't like all of Eli's friends.
50. I like my parents and wish I could see them more.
51. I wish I had the money to travel.
52. I knew Eli was the one because together we feel like a family.
53. I love my job.
54. This is harder than I thought.
55. I'm currently reading a book about prohibition in Stearns County, where I live.
56. The book is really interesting.
57. I hate people who try too hard.
58. I believe that nothing is black and white.
59. I'm all for spirituality, but organized religion makes me uncomfortable.
60. I have the best grandparents in the world.
61. When I was little I played with Barbies and had three huge boxes of Barbie stuff.
62. I don't like talking on the phone.
63. I love to e-mail.
64. It makes me sick to watch rich people on "reality TV" spend money without care when so many people can't afford health insurance.
65. I don't know if I'll stay in journalism once I have kids.
66. My dream is for Eli and I to own a successful restaurant.
67. I love movies from the 1980s.
68. My friends are way cooler than me.
69. I'd rather stay home on a Saturday night than go out.
70. I love to gossip.
71. I worry that my love of gossiping is going to bite me in the butt.
72. I love a good cuddle.
73. I'm crazy about Christmas and decorate my whole house.
74. I love holiday tradition.
75. I love playing cards with my family.
76. I'm going to Mexico in January.
77. I use Chapstick all the time and actually use up the whole tube.
78. I love Vaseline lotion.
79. I wash my face every morning and night like clock work.
80. I'm predictable.
81. I follow routines.
82. I don't have many female friends.
83. But the women who are my friends are those who I admire.
84. I enjoy being around men, and not because I'm a flirt.
85. I don't believe in tearing down other women to make myself feel better.
86. I got to sleep every night at 11:15 and wake up at 7:30.
87. There are three full bookcases of books in my house.
88. We have an extensive collection of DVDs.
89. We actually watch those DVDs.
90. I was in dance when I was little.
91. I played soccer growing up.
92. I wasn't good at either one (90, 91).
93. I was the chubby girl growing up.
94. That had a profound influence on who I am today (93).
95. I know my children will look like mini Elis.
96. On our first date, I thought Eli was 19. He was 25.
97. I hate seafood.
98. I think I could be stylish if I had more money.
99. I used to have an eyebrow piercing.
100. The only time I've made my mom speechless was when I came home with that piercing.
101. I'm not that smart, but I sure can fake it!

There I'm done! Maybe you learned something...

Sunday, November 11, 2007

It's coming together

I'm watching Steel Magnolias right now. I'll have to turn it before it gets too sad, but it's the beginning with the wedding scene. Man I'm so making my bridesmaids wear dresses that look like cotton candy and hats that match!! So great! Now I just need to have about a dozen more bridesmaids and it can be just like the movie!
Kidding aside, wedding plans are going great. We officially have all the majors done: Ceremony and reception site, caterer (the tasting is in February), officiant and now we have a DJ. We're using the same guy who DJed my sister's and cousin's weddings. He did a good job and doesn't cost a ton. I hear he likes to hit on the ladies at receptions, even though he's married. So watch out girls! The only person I'm really worried about is Eli's younger sister Brittany. But the groomsmen and ushers have generously offered to keep an eye on her...
That reminds me that Eli has asked two of his friends to be ushers. They are Pat and Andy. They both have known Eli forever.
But I'm so happy to have all the major decisions made. Now it's the fun stuff, like dresses and flowers. The day after Thanksgiving we're going to go check out a couple more dress shops and hopefully I'll make my final decision on a wedding dress. Woohoo!
My mom was teasing me, though, on how I have very strong opinions on some things and have no opinions on others. And the things I don't care about I just want her to handle! Why should I waste my energy on something like, for instance, center pieces, when I couldn't care less? Oh well.

Sunday, November 4, 2007

About that dress...

So sorry about the long wait between posts. Things have been crazy at work and I always think of a million other things to do on the weekend. So anyway, here's what I've been up to...
We went wedding dress shopping last weekend! I was nervous that I would get stressed out, but it wasn't too bad. I went with my mom and sister.
I think that for most women, shopping for their wedding dress is the highlight of their lives. They've looked forward to it since they were girls and have a definite image of what that would be.
With me, not so much.
At the first place we went, the woman helping us was great. She listened to me and was patient.
The second place we went to sucked. The woman didn't listen to me and kept bringing me all the wrong dresses. And the gaggle of women who came with the other brides was too much. Who needs 12 people along to look at dresses? Too many opinions.
As many of you know, I really wanted a non-white dress. I just hate how every bride looks exactly alike. And a princess gown just isn't me.
So I looked at dresses in different colors and, well, they were either really ugly or too bridesmaid-y. We even went to Macy's to find a nice party dress or something, but that didn't work out.
But I tried on some white dresses that I actually like. They are still non traditional, no big ball gown for me. And I found one that I really liked!
The day after Thanksgiving we're going to a couple other stores just because we have time to keep looking. By the end of the day I should have a gown!
In other news, Eli's mom brought over a bunch of photos of him as a little kid. I wanted them for the slide show for the reception. I haven't really seen too many pictures of Eli when he was younger, so it was pretty fun. Once I get our scanner/printer/copier up and running I'll post some! He's too cute!