The weekend

This past weekend was one of my favorite kinds, the ones where you just get to relax, have no real plans and everything is exactly what you want to be doing right then.


*We checked out the pool in our new neighborhood. I would say it was a win-lose outcome. Bird did not like the pool but enjoyed playing outside of it and laying in the sun with T. The "best" part was the comic flirting done by the teen girls with the lifeguard/pool watcher. Ah, to be young again.

*An early morning trek to Trader Joe's was made to pick up some challah bread for an epic french toast + bacon breakfast.

*Family photo/video shoot for Andrea's lovely Flair in her Hair. Me and Bird got to model and there are some pretty funny outtakes from the evening. I'm so excited to see the final product. We also got a couple good "family of 3" shots since we haven't had any good ones done since last summer.

*We visited and had dinner with my parents since my older brother is in town. It was so fun to see Bird run around their backyard, giggling and "playing soccer."

*Took a walk to get ice cream with my other older brother, T and Bird. Again, the youths were cracking me up with their antics. While we ate our Blizzards we watched some kids try to get their lacrosse sticks out of an evergreen tree they had been stuck in (?) and a gaggle of young girls run back and forth in front of side street traffic while their parents were not watching. I definitely got sassed by one of the girls when I mentioned that they might not want to be doing that. I'm officially old.

*A few orders for the shop got sent out and I got to work on some new pieces for the show I'm participating in come July!

bridal + mint chocolate chip - coming soon!

In the Photo Fridays - Week 10 - Saturday Edition: Part 2

or

How to attend a wedding wearing something from your SIOL

We were so very lucky to attend Ms. Self's (now Mrs. Milam!) wedding last night at the beautiful Blue Dress Barn on the west side of Michigan. The details and the site were gorgeous as were the bride and groom. We had a great time, met a ton of new people, danced and laughed all night, and enjoyed sleeping in while Bird stayed with my parents for the night. Here's the proof:

Getting ready

What do we have here?

Signing the guestbook

Me and the Mister

Photo booth shots that the couple got a copy of in a memory book

p.s. As the month comes to a close, I am very proud of us for sticking to our six. I fought with myself about what to wear to this wedding and whether or not I should break the experiment for this one event. I'm glad I stuck it out and didn't break because in the end, it didn't matter what I wore at all. That might have been the best lesson that I've learned from this whole experiment.

In the Photo Fridays - Week 6 - Saturday Morning Edition

I didn't have/make many photo opportunities this week so I had to wait until T and I went to our friends' wedding last night to get one.  This is us with the bride and groom, enjoy!

P.S. Yes you've seen that dress before. I love that dress and it will be my staple at weddings this summer because I'm still excited that I fit into it after having a baby!

Happy weekend!

This weekend is more celebrations and friend time -

Tonight: T and I get to celebrate J and CD getting married. Sadly this might be one of the last times we get to see them also since they are going to be living in Texas after their honeymoon (J is there already and CD is moving down in a couple weeks.)  Nana is coming to stay with Bird while we're out tonight and she might even get a visit from her Uncle Chuckles, such a lucky girl!

Saturday: We're going to a high school graduation party for a friend's daughter and then we're hosting a BBQ for my women's small group.  Instead of meeting this summer for a book study, we've been having rotating BBQs at each others homes in a "getting to know you and your families" relaxed summer style.  A lot of us (read: 5!) have had babies in the past year so having a relaxing summer as we all get used to growing families has been great.

Sunday: No plans, which are sometimes the best plans.

Surprises: Hopefully none like last weekend, where I got sick from whatever Bird had and spent most of it sleeping and lounging.

1 year.

1 year ago, we married the partner that God created just for us.
1 year ago, we smiled so much our faces hurt for days.
1 year ago, we pledged before our Lord, our family and our friends that we would protect, care for, love, serve and obey the other for eternity.
1 year ago, we laughed to hold back the tears of sheer joy.
1 year ago, we were surrounded by those that cared for us and supported our union.

Today, we smile, kiss and hug more than we argue.
Today, we know more about the other and continue to learn.
Today, we laugh at time that has passed and wish to hold on to it.
Today, we remember our vows and renew them whole-heartedly.
Today, we are more in love than ever.

to many, many more...and enjoying the ones we've been given...

August goal recap and September goal setup

Here's how our August goals panned out:

T's goals:

• build shelving in master bedroom closets - FAIL but that's because we changed our minds and built shelving in the garage instead!
  
• learn another new dish to cook - DONE - Honey mustard vinagerette chicken, yummy
  
• get AC hooked up in the house - DONE - Finally, 10 months after we moved in, our AC was working and it felt so good in the end of August heat!
  

RA's goals:

• shop only from a list - FAIL - bought a pair of shoes that definately were not on my list when I walked in the store.
  
• bring lunch to work every day again - DONE! - It is starting to just be a habit but it still feels good to do.
  
• say "no" to one outing every week - better but FAIL - still "over booking" myself, though its fun
  
• $100 total in wedding fund by 8/31 - DONE! - finished August with $141.17 in that account...its a start to fund an expensive wedding season next year.
  

And now that we are a week into September, new family goals:

• add at least $75 in snowflakes to wedding fund
• read a book of the bible together during the month of September - Mark
• no eating out all month - so far, so good...I'm starting to have Jet's Pizza withdrawls...

Goals: a reflection

Here are some goal updates so far:
Brought lunch all last week...still haven't decided on reward yet for attaining this goal but I think it involves a dress for Mr. & Mrs. G's party at the end of August!

Bought a sweater that was on my list of clothes to buy for fall! Well to be clear, this actual sweater wasn't on my list (my list gets kinda detailed sometimes), but a similar sweater was and besides specific sweaters I had the vague "2 sweaters" to save myself in case I found something I really liked...even better, it was on sale! That's what we call a win-win-win!

It just keeps snowing...the snowflakes are just showing up from everywhere...we just got a rebate check in the mail from some oil we bought last month to do an oil change...also, I took the change in from our piggy bank and came home with 23.24! ("Not to shabby for sitting on the desk," says Piggy.) This is a good start for our wedding fund but we have a long way to go.

Stagnant

The one thing I'm not liking about the diversion of our snowflakes to the wedding fund is this:

Though I see our savings growing for some really memorable occasions, I don't get to see our debt go down little by little each day like I'd become accustomed to. It still will go down by big chunks every month, but I miss the instant gratification of a snowflake sent to combat debt.

On the bright side, every dollar we save now is one we don't have to charge later to enjoy our friends' big days!

Goal reached

I have already accomplished one goal and it's only 8.11!

Well to be very upfront its only a planned accomplishment. I have enough snowflakes planned this month to have over $100 in our wedding fund before 8.31. The money isn't in the account yet as it will trickle in over the next week or so but to tally as of right now is $102.53.

I say lets keep up the good work.

And then there were three...

More good news poured in yesterday.

T's close friends J and M are getting married next year! Congrats to them! T was asked to stand up in the wedding, which is set to be June 12, 2009.

This now makes three weddings next year for us to attend/be a part of. Lucky for us, all the weddings are taking place in good old MI. Our wedding savings fund will now be a combined savings instead of just me saving all by my lonesome.

Part of me is worried that this will set us back on our big goal for next year - being CC debt free - but in reality, life changes fast and it wouldn't be the worst thing. Also, I don't think it will be a huge problem.

We'll be looking at how to fund these celebrations in the coming weeks, either through snowflakes or cutting back on something. More details on that once some decisions are made.

Pinecone Research

So I signed up for this online survey company that pays you for your time taking surveys. I had heard good things about them but didn't know if anything would really come of it. Well, I took my first survey last week and lo and behold, my first Pinecone Research check came in the mail last Monday! It was only for $3 but I know first hand that $3 here and there starts to add up to big things.

I have decided that all survey money will go towards my wedding fund for AAD's nuptials next summer. So my wedding fund starts with $3 today! Thanks Pinecone, keep them comin'!

Secret Saturday announcement!

My best friend E just got engaged last night!!! I could not be more excited, I've been bouncing off walls all morning! Congratulations, E, I love you! And congrats to you too B, you are getting one heck of a lady!

More details to come.

Always a bridesmaid, already a bride...

As if my level of excitement for AAD's upcoming nuptials could grow any bigger, she has asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding along with some of my favorite ladies!

I am very grateful to be able to repay the great friendship and service that was provided to me on my wedding day by AAD and my other bridesmaids. I can only hope to do as great a job as they did!

First things first, set up a savings account specifically for this wedding and the expenses that will be incurred. I plan on setting aside a portion or all of my clothing allowance per month for this. Overall I think my costs will break down like this:

• ticket to AZ
• dress
• shoes
• any accessories
  
• shower donation
• gifts (shower/wedding/bachelorette)
  
• bachelorette party
• nails/hair?
• misc.

I'm sure my list will grow and change as the year goes on...if there are any bridesmaids that can give me a clue as to anything I'm missing from this list...the last time I was a bridesmaid was 10 years ago and didn't pay for anything!

Another one bites the dust!

One of my best friends, AAD just got engaged this weekend!

I could not be more happy for her and elated that she has found the man she wants to spend her life with. This man truly loves and cares for her and wants nothing but the best for her, what more could you want for your friends!

I can only hope that this means plenty of partying and last minute debauchery is in store for her visit this week and all throughout the next year as plans get under way for her big day.

Congratulations and I love you!

To go, postpone, or cancel a.k.a. The wedding's off!

So this week we were faced with some sad news: my friend N called off her wedding.

[moment of silence]

After getting past the shock of the actual announcement that the wedding would no longer be taking place, T and I started to think of our options now that our summer trip was in limbo. Our tickets to get to NY are non-refundable which leaves us with these choices and their levels of costliness-

We could:
a.) Still go to NY and visit with N, though our reservations and all were closer to the wedding/reception venue (about an hour from N's place). This would entail an extra cost as we would then have to rent a car to go see her and the city. $$$

b.) Postpone our trip to the same destination. We really have no need to go to that part of NY, especially for the short amount of time the trip would be for (roughly 30 hours). $$

c.) Cancel our trip to NY. We can still get a refund of our hotel costs (minus a $25 cancellation fee) and use that money plus the spending money we were going to use on our trip towards something else. This would just leave us with a loss of $341 for tickets and $25 to cancel overall. $

Decisions to come in the near future...my prayers are with N in this time of change and re-evaluation.

We're going to NY! and other summer plans

We booked our tickets to go to NY for N's wedding! That makes wedding number two for us this summer!

It feels good to finally have that purchase out of the way, to stop worrying about the cost of getting there and where to stay and now get to focus on the fun we'll have celebrating their union and traveling together. One of the highlights of the trip (besides their fabulous Indian ceremony!) will be eating at Famous Dave's. This restaurant is near our hotel and apparently boasts really good - not good for you food in large quantities and we're excited. The other upside of the trip is that its totally budgeted for, all the trip costs and even fun money! Very little to worry about except arriving on time and making sure my voice doesn't go out and I don't forget the words to my song I'm singing for the couple!

One question is left to decide, what to get them and our other friends that are getting married in June?

Besides these farther away plans, this weekend should be fun because we are hosting the A's from T's home town. I'm excited to have them come down and visit and we'll get to go to the Red Bull Air Show with them on Sunday.

Later in June I'm going to a concert for a band I've never seen in concert before with some new friends. I'm really excited because I haven't been to a big show in a while and I love discovering new music. Also, I'm glad to be getting to know new people around this area.

Lastly, we are going to spend the weekend in T's home town up north. I really am looking forward to spending time with my in-laws as we don't get to see much of them and we always get to see my family. Its always so laid back when we go up there and my MIL and FIL are so accommodating.

the end of an era...sorta

2007 is almost over and with that I wanted to recap some of the amazing things that happened this year...

My best friend had her first baby

Two of our good friends got married

We got married

We moved back to Michigan, after surviving some time in Los Angeles

We bought a house

We joined our church and met some wonderful people through our small group

We found new jobs that we actually like

I get to spend time watching almost 2 year olds every other weekend

My parents celebrated 37 years of wedded rollercoaster

Reclaimed the joy of napping

I'm sure there is more that went on, and if you were close to me, you probably saw this all and more occurring...

Here's to the best that 2007 had to offer and to the amazing opportunities to be had in 2008!

L'chaim...


P.S. Today, so far, we have only left the house to walk to the mailbox (across the street) and back...sadly inside was a returned to sender Thank You card we had sent to my cousin and a Science Fiction Book Club order packet...