Thanksgiving wishes!

Just wanted to pop in, tell everyone Happy Thanksgiving. I have so much to post on, including a trip downtown (with photos) to see a pirate ship battle, lots of personal thoughts including my own battle with socializing, pre-marital counseling review, wedding plans and more! Wow, that just sounded like an advertisement!

Half day at work today, a few hours which I had hoped to be laid back and therefore able to sneak in one of the above posts. Nope. Its a cram-what-we-can-in kinda day. But hey, I'm grateful for a half day!

This Thanksgiving, I'm thankful for:

My family. Though we sometimes butt heads and are occasionally in each others business too much, we are always there for each other. Always. I've been so aware of this lately. When times are rough financially, there's no hesitation in support. When a shoulder is needed, we're there for each other. When I need to vent, there's always an ear. I'm so thankful for that.

My health. I know this seems cliche, but recently exercise has flown out the window due to a full plate of wedding to dos. (And the freezing cold outside!) I'm so aware of the difference in the way I feel when I don't exercise vs. when I do. Its amazing. Right now I am sluggish, tired all the time. I need exercise. I promise myself a couple of walks over the long weekend and to pick it back up full time after the wedding. I'm thankful that I am able bodied and have kept my health up thus far to the point that I can exercise.

My soulmate. He is everything to me. He supports me, comforts me, makes me laugh when I need it most. He is my best friend, my ear, my entertainment. He is selfless, giving, spontaneous, affectionate. Everything I would want in a husband. I am so thankful that God kept us in parallel paths our whole lives and then brought us together at exactly the right moment in our lives. I am so thankful.

Have a wonderful holiday, lots of turkey and may you fall victim to a food coma without being harrassed for it. Hugs!

Gifts and More Gifts

Wow. What an awesome turn out for our shower. All of my favorite friends and family were there, even my out of towners.

So many gifts y'all. Like, obnoxious amounts of giftage. I'm still not through putting things away. Some things we received and adore:

Yes, that's Emerilware. *swoon* I used it for the first time last night making BBQ Chicken Quesadillas. Love the sleek look of stainless steel. I just feel like a chef using it. I've been wanting this set since I was 4 years old - I kid. But seriously, this was a must have! Thanks Mom & Dad!

We got 3 tea makers, which was the joke of the night. My friend gave me one because she said it was so fitting due to me being a tea fanatic. I drink tea more than anything, maybe 4-6 glasses a day. She threw a mini tantrum at each tea maker we unwrapped after hers.

J's fave was definitely the fire pit. We've already used it twice since we got it. Its so romantical, sitting by the fire in our courtyard together. The Mini Monster purring on our laps, the cool wind whipping through, the flames so hypnotic.

The bedding, I adore, because it makes me feel all grown up. I actually have a design plan for our room that is created around this set, a natural bamboo, woodsy look. It was also the only bedding J and I both agreed on. (No floral! says J.)

Everyone got along so well. So many people came up to me to say how nice my friends are, how sweet my family is, how beautiful the shower was, etc. My cousin took photos of the night which I will share once he sends over, but for now you get a peek of the craziness that night.

My long time readers may remember Tsunami face. It was funny as we were taking photos, but now I realize we posed with this face pretty much in every.single.picture. Tards.

We even got a few family members in on it. Caught my Maw Maw off guard I think. Even so, she managed to pose pretty! And below, my mom. She's going to kill me when she sees I posted a pic of her! Get over it Ma, you look purty! (See her cutting her eyes at me? Ha!)

Me and my dear Michelli, so kindly covering up the inappropriate nippleage in this piece of art. Quite the conversation piece. My dad thought this was hilarious.

After, everyone came over for some vino, fire pit action and plumb sillery. We had a blast. Um, notice there were no pics of J? Sneaky, sneaky.

All in all, a great night. (Though I'm glad we'll only do this once...)

You don't eat WHAT??

As I spoke of in my last post, my good friend is coming in from Houston, TX for me and J's shower. Its going to be a really nice shower that we are calling a "couples shower". I felt it unfair to have a "bridal shower" where tons of women I don't know all that well sit around and watch me open gifts, all the while oooing and ahhhing and pretending to be interested. I also felt it unfair that most of the presents I would be getting would most likely be things that I put on our registry, not so much things J would have picked out.

Before I go too far, I have to say I was so naive in my thoughts. We just had a couples type shower given by the church last weekend. People still tend to give you things the bride wants because, well, the women tend to buy the shower present anyway. Moving on...

So my aunt and uncle, who are also my godparents, are throwing this shower this weekend at the gallery where we are getting married. Both sexes are invited. This is for both J and I. There will be wine and beer and mingling. Instead of sitting around in a circle for hours watching me open presents, our friends and family will walk in and both J and I will open the presents together and then put them on display.

I have a bit of social anxiety, but I'm really good at hiding it. I will have anxiety for weeks over something very simple. When its over I'll say to myself "that wasn't so bad." But, the idea of being the main focus at a shower with all these women fawning over presents and asking me ridiculous questions like "When are you going to have babies?" because dude let us get married first for Chrissakes - makes my skin crawl.

So clever, this couples shower I've suggested, no? :)

Then the other day my single friend asks me if she will be the only person not in a couple. Because its a couples shower. Doh! Guess we should have named it something else...

Back to the topic at hand, my friend that is coming in. She, eh, doesn't eat meat.

Did you miss that? DOESN'T EAT MEAT.

This is the girl I lived with for a year who would eat bacon and eggs for breakfast with me every weekend, who would walk in on Sundays from visiting her parents going Mmmmm!!! because the smell of roast cooking in the crockpot filled the apartment.

How can this be? I understand she wants to be healthier and I'm very excited and most of all, intrigued. I have questions for her:

What about bacon?
Do you crave meat?

Can you eat eggs?
Does this mean you can never have a cheeseburger again?
Do you cheat occasionally or is it like when you quit smoking?
Do you eat tofu?
What does your man eat when you're eating... sprouts?
What about bacon?????

I really am intrigued though. Nutrition has always been of great interest to me and I've always had these great plans for a healthier lifestyle *stare* but I have a feeling I will never be able to fully stick with a plan like one with no meat.

J likes meat. I like meat. I'm the cook. End of story.

So yeah, this weekend is going to be interesting. I'm up for the challenge though! She eats seafood, so tonight I am doing New Orleans style BBQ shrimp, garlic bread and mmm, something else to go with it. Maybe corn on the cob or some stir fry veggies. I dunno. Breakfast should be a breeze and maybe I'll suggest going out for lunch and grill her for more info. Who knows, maybe by the end of this weekend I will have converted to a vegetarian as well.



Nahh....

As of Today

• We have exactly one month before the wedding.
• I have less of a to-do list. Ribbon to bakery for cake. Jewelry for flower girl. Gift for ring bearer. Get kiss proof lipstick. Choose bridal photo for presentation at reception. Pay florist and dj.
• I have less weight on my shoulders. Yesterday J was rained out of work. When I got to the house he had cleaned the kitchen, mopped the floors, done laundry, bathed the dog, scrubbed the tub and picked up around the house. I could have cried. Yes, I know I'm lucky.
• I need to start tanning. Somehow I have bikini strap lines and its been months since I went to the river. I certainly don't want to be that bride that is orange in winter, but I need to knock these lines off.
• I am getting excited about my best girl friend coming in. She's sort of the male version of J. Wait. I'm sort of the male version of J. Guess that's why we get along so well. We became roommates after about a month of knowing each other at work and have been friends ever since. We just hit it off. I can't wait to be silly with her, catch up and hang out with her. She just gets me.

On another note, J and I took the PREPARE test last night as part of our premarital counseling. Not sure if any of you married folk had to do premarital before your wedding, but its something I highly recommend for those who are engaged to be. The test questions you on so many different aspects of your marriage-to-be and life together. Things you probably wouldn't think to discuss together. You take the test each separately, same questions, and then have a counselor review it and note the differences and possible issues. Next week we go to see our counselor to review our outcome. I'm nervous and anxious to see where we are. We know we are highly compatible, but you just never know how it appears to a third party.

That's all for today. Tootles!

15 Years, Forever to go

Tomorrow marks our anniversary. Babers and I have been together for 2 1/2 years. Some days I'm so warm and comfy in our relationship habits that it feels like longer. Other days, he'll do something new, exciting and off the wall and I feel like I only just met him.

J and I have known each other exactly half our lives. We met in highschool 15 years ago. Back then we had a little phase of puppy love, but as sophmores in highschool, relationships were hardly something we were aces at. Still, we were good friends. Shared the same sense of humor, had similiar family backgrounds. We flirted like mad with each other and he still reminisces outloud about how my legs looked in my cheerleader skirt. *blush*

And back then he was always the bad boy, and you know how women love a bad boy. I just happened to get lucky and be one of the few women who get to tame their bad boy. *wink*

After highschool we went our separate ways. But over the years we always came back around to each other. Its like Fate wanted to remind us on our journey that the other was still out there. Sure, it may not have been our time to come together, but She threw us together often.

We saw each other out. J would randomly call me. (Though he'll tell you I ignored many of his phone calls, which is the truth. I was a good girl and was a bit afraid of him for some time.)

For a year we waited tables at the same restaurant together. We had not talked to each other for a while, so can you imagine how giddy we both were walking in on our first training day and seeing the other there. "This is going to be fun," were our first reactions. And it was. I have so many great memories of us that year. Like how I looked forward to seeing the shift calendar at the week's end to see how many shifts I had with him that coming week. Or how he used to sneak up behind me and pull the strings on my apron, sending my apron and its contents crashing to the floor. The way we'd clean our sections and cut up with each other while doing so. How we'd sneak off in between shifts to hang out.

One night two and half years ago (as of tomorrow) J and I were both (separately) talked into going out. We hadn't seen each other in years. My sister begged me out of my pajamas and into lipstick and her car for a night out on the town. On the same night, J's friends drug him out as well.

J just so happened to turn on his barstool and peer out the window at the line waiting to come into the door of a local bar that night and guess who he saw? I can still remember that big ole grin he gave me when we saw each other through the glass.

I remember feeling a rush of giddiness, butterflies taking over my tummy. Me and my sister went straight to the bar so as not to look too excited by rushing to say hey to him first. Still, I kept an eye out over my shoulder.

J came up to me and our conversation never ended. I followed him to another bar for a round of pool. There we talked for hours. He stuck his foot in his mouth by asking if I still had my annoying dog. The dog which had just passed into Puppy Heaven a year back! But, he won me over by asking me to marry him 16 times that night. Funny how things work out.

Six months ago, we reminisced about that night in the bar. About how giddy we were and how funny this time around we just clicked for good.

Six months ago, he questioned what I would say if he asked me just one more time to marry him.

So yeah, today I'm feeling fuzzy, dreamy, romantical and little bittersweet. Because tomorrow marks the last "anniversary", if you will, before we're married. Then, we will have new anniversaries. New memories.

Happy early 2 and a half year anniversary Baby. Loves you (forever).

Tagged for the Kreative Blogger Award!

While I'm not feeling very creative as of late, I do appreciate this awesome award. To me, one of the biggest compliments a person can give me is to tell me I'm creative. Tookie tagged me for this award, go see her!


Here are the rules:

1. Mention the blog that gave it to you and comment on their blog to let them know you have posted your award.
2. Publish these rules.
3. Share 6 values that are important to you and 6 things you do not support.
4. Grant the prize to 6 people.


Six Values That Are Important To Me:

1. Sense of Humor
2. Gratitude
3. Happiness
4. Honesty
5. Passion
6. Health


Six Things I Don't Support:

1. Cursing and lewd language/behavior in front of children
2. Religious kooks trying to force their religion upon others
3. Smoking/Drug Use
4. Irresponsibility
5. Ignorance / Narrow Minded People
6. Rudeness / Disrespect - its so easy to be nice, why not?

I'll tag Kitty, Kelly, Stace, Christie, Damsel and Papa (Papa, this would be a good one to share with your youngin!)

On another note, the Halloween party was fun but left me with a bit of a hangover. I just can't handle the liquor in my old age! ;) Hopefully I'll have some photos to share soon. (I wasn't the camera holder for once!)

I went to vote this morning and actually got a little nervous walking in. Strange. I like watching everyone before they vote - its the most courteous you'll ever see some people in your life. Women and men standing quietly in line with their arms crossed, keeping to themselves. Not staring at anyone, telling the volunteers thank you. Now if we could just get everyone to act this way in the lines at Walmart...