1 year anniversary!!!

Yesterday was our 1 year anniversary!! John got me a dozen beautiful red roses, a pearl for my necklace (He went to Jared again!!), and took me out to Benihana's and to see Batman. It was a great evening!! I can't believe we have been together for a year!! It's been wonderful!! I can't wait to share many more anniversaries with you baby!!

That Batman movie was so dark. I don't know that I'd care to see it again. It was well made and well acted, but just too too violent!

Drowning in a sea of boxes....

How in the world did I accumulate sooooooooo much stuff? We have already donated 7 trashbags full of clothes, a bag of shoes, 2 bags and 2 boxes of kitchen things....4 bags of things we just threw away....You'd think it would be down to bare bones - but no.... I cleared out 4 boxes in the storage unit too - books and clothes. I still have a bunch of stuff from my store that I need to dispurse out/sell. There were clothes and things that I had just saved - just for the sake of saving that really there is no need. Am I really my grandmother's daughter? Normally that would totally be a compliment, but I don't want a house as cluttered with things. I don't have room for it all until I sell my place and rent an apt in John's complex.

Tonight Johnny has a softball game. It is freaking hot outside, and the game is early: 6:45....

So many things rumbling around in this brain! Maybe I can take some stuff to Athens this weekend and do the aisle runner and the save the date cards there (if I don't finish those up before hand). Or maybe I can have Carol's stuff all printed so I just have to bind it. So many choices. Sunday, John said we can come back early so we can paint my apartment. The walls are good (except a few places that need to be patched (nail holes etc.)) but we need to clean/paint the doors and moldings.

Let's stop talking and start doing!!

Lake Tahoe Baby!!

We finally got our honeymoon booked!! I actually left my phone in the car. Julie had sent me 4 messages and John had sent me one after Julie called him!! :) I'm so excited!! Now we just have to figure out a way to get there!! :)

Bought the Dress!

Mom bought my dress yesterday. It is so beautiful!! I can't wait to wear it! 7 1/2 months to get on the ball... Not just a should at this point - but a MUST. I'm going to wear Julie's veil. So now I just have to get shoes. Ugh. All the cute ones are so uncomfortable. Must work now....too many things to think about....Head spinning..Sigh...

A little blurry

It's so hard for me to focus right now. Life moves by pretty fast and I'm trying to keep up. So much to do. I need to get back into using my planner and get organized. It's just one of those times I feel out of control because everything is in disarray. Carpet gets installed Saturday. Hopefully I can get the house functional this weekend so it can be listed next week. I need to fill out that seller disclosure. Sigh...I need someone to manage my life...

Next projects: Pack up my house, do my aunt's invitations, do my save the date cards.

Time to start planning again.....

It's time for the wedding planning to resume. I was almost ready to send out my save the date cards to everyone. I have most of them ready. Cake testing is next. Then the dress purchasing. Buying invitations. Time is really flying. Less than 8 months now!! A week from today we will celebrate our one year anniversary. One year!! I love you so much baby! Last week kind of removed some of the enthusiasm for the process at least right now. But tick tock goes the clock - so I must keep taking care of the details. We got the flowers picked out a couple weeks ago. Calla lillies all around...white and pink and pink and white....it's going to be so pretty!

Go Team!!

Off we are to a softball game!! Go John go!!! :)

Sleepytime

I think we should have mandatory naptime. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

I need a hug...

We went to Kansas this weekend for the funeral. I knew it would be hard whenever she left us. My beautiful Grandma now only lives in my heart and my memories. She was such a special lady. When we were riding back to John's last night - I heard the new Brad Paisley song "Waitin on a Woman" It made me smile and made me tear up because it made me think of Grandma - who did everything in her own time. She couldn't be rushed. She stayed up late and slept in late. The last verse makes me think of Grandpa being so excited as he sees her walk up to him after he has been waiting to see her again for so long. I know she would be happy that the family is getting together twice within the next few weeks. I never really thought that she would be gone so quickly but we'll live our lives knowing she is still there celebrating with us. Her creativity is instilled in us. Her love and wisdom show us examples of how we should live.

"Waitin' On A Woman"
Sittin' on a bench at West Town Mall
He sat down in his overalls and asked me
You waitin' on a woman
I nodded yeah and said how 'bout you
He said son since nineteen fifty-two I've been
Waitin' on a woman

When I picked her up for our first date
I told her I'd be there at eight
And she came down the stairs at eight-thirty
She said I'm sorry that I took so long
Didn't like a thing that I tried on
But let me tell you son she sure looked pretty
Yeah she'll take her time but I don't mind
Waitin' on a woman

He said the wedding took a year to plan
You talk about an anxious man, I was nervous
Waitin' on a woman
And then he nudged my arm like old men do
And said, I'll say this about the honeymoon, it was worth it
Waitin' on a woman
And I don't guess we've been anywhere
She hasn't made us late I swear
Sometimes she does it just 'cause she can do it
Boy it's just a fact of life
It'll be the same with your young wife
Might as well go on and get used to it
She'll take her time 'cause you don't mind
Waitin' on a woman

I've read somewhere statistics show
The man's always the first to go
And that makes sense 'cause I know she won't be ready
So when it finally comes my time
And I get to the other side
I'll find myself a bench, if they've got any
I hope she takes her time, 'cause I don't mind
Waitin' on a woman
Honey, take your time, cause I don't mind
Waitin' on a woman

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in my heart)

My sweet, sweet Grandma, I miss you more than words can say. Your funeral is Saturday and I know there will be so many people there because you touched so many lives. 90 years full of memories and making a difference in this world. We were planning to honor you in a few weeks at Hallmark Cards in Crown Center as one of the original artists there. We wanted that to be a great surprise for you, but you never got to see. We were hoping that you would be able to share in so many of the milestones in our family this next year - Mom turning 60, Carol's wedding, Julie's baby, my wedding, Mom and Dad's 40th and most importantly - your 90th birthday!! While we are all devastated that our lives will not be as full because you are not here, we are also at peace knowing where you are and that you are having a great reunion with all those loved ones who went on before you. You'll always be in my heart, my sweet, beautiful Grandma. I love you!
Your Deary Doll

Tear Stained Face

Waiting - It's a challenge. Praying it's good news... I wore my glasses today. Usually not a good sign because that means tears are possible. I'm not good at hiding my emotions. Even if I'm not crying all someone has to do is look at my eyes and they know.

I'm not ready to lose Grandma. She needs to be a part of so many things in the next year at least....Carol's wedding, my wedding, her own 90th birthday, Julie's baby, Mom 's 60th birthday, Mom and Dad's 40th anniversary. It's not time yet. It's just not. Not that we ever want her to go - but just not right now...I want to see her again....and not for the last time.

Sigh....

It's 10:20 and no one has called yet. If I haven't talked to any one by noon - I'm making a phone call.

I am having trouble concentrating at the moment so I'll just end this blog now.

This weeks plans...

DIY projects for the week:

STD cards out and mailed

Begin working on photo montage

I added a new thing to my DIY things to try: jewelry!!! I hope that I enjoy it!! So many possibilities!! :)

My mom just laughs at me. :) It's fun though!! And I'm saving $$$ :)

My mom and I are meeting with a potential florist tomorrow. She is one of my dad's friends, so hopefully we get a discount. I already like her from talking with her on the phone. May have a rather large check tomorrow!! Yay!!

We had to postpone cake testing a few weeks. John ended up being on call this weekend so we will have to wait until the end of July or August after our trip.

Goodness - can you believe that our vacation is almost here? We are going to Kansas to celebrate many family events!! How fun!! I'm ready for the time off - as is John I'm sure....

Leaving early!!

What a deal!! Today is my one year anniversary with the company so my boss said I can go home after our meeting today - a couple hrs early! Tomorrow I have the afternoon off to go meet with the florist! Yay for going home early!

It's time to tackle those 'save the date' cards!!

I got my magnets in from Vista Print. They look great - have a little bit more of a white border than I like and the picture is a little darker - but for the deal they were - they are perfect. I have most of my addresses and am going to begin addressing them this week. I wonder if we will start hearing back from people in response to that or if they will wait for the invitations.... I guess we will see.

John called a little while ago. He is back to being on call this weekend again. Thought we were going to get a chance to test out a cake place this weekend...Oh well....I know there is still time...but I was getting excited to possibly get 2 big checks this week. Hopefully the flowers will work out this weekend. I think that the floral and the cake ladies have businesses out of their homes and they are both friends of my dad's so hopefully we will be able to get a good deal on those. I'm all about the good deal. The wedding has really brought that out in me!!

I love finding new fonts. There are such pretty ones out there - for free! Love it!! I think that even after the wedding I need to keep up this creativity. I think there are a lot of "knotties for hire" - I don't know if I will do that or not. I'd love to have a Gocco and create crafty stuff like that all the time. I don't know how profitable it will be though. As soon as I can get a place for my stuff I have lots of ebay stuff I'm going to list. I started packing this weekend and have already set aside some things that will be of value in that arena.

I just keep thinking that this time next year we will be in a much better position!! I can't wait!!

Stressed out bride

Stressed out!! I need an outlet for this stress. It keeps coming and it keeps escalating. Bills!! Plans!! Packing/selling my condo!! Wedding!! Besides the bills - it's good things - I'm excited to move on to the next phase of my life...but all the details of all of it together....AGH! My goal is to have my house sold by Labor Day. That's 2 months. I sure hope it sells quicker than that - I guess only time will tell. If you are reading this - say a prayer for me please.

On top of everything else - John tore his hamstring on Monday playing softball. So he is hurting, and is upset because certain people in his world were born without an ounce of sympathy and with their heads permanently up their.... Ugh...Anyway - Our honeymoon can't come soon enough!! I need the time off just to chill. Even though we have a few days off next month...those will be pretty hectic. I want to be on a beach or in a snowy cabin somewhere doing nothing but celebrating our marriage and letting the stress of the last few years melt away.

I hate that it is so stressful too because this is one of the best times of our lives that we are supposed to be enjoying the journey...and we are - but the stress is just overwhelming sometimes.

On a happy note - Rocky and Keli were supposed to deliver Landon tonight...I'm waiting to see if that happened...Amidst all the chaos comes a little innocent baby.... We got to see and hold Mark and Amy's 2 week old Sasha the other day....and John got to hold his cousin's baby Avery (18 months)....Babies find joy in the simplest of things... They show life full of promise and inspire us to keep trying...

DIY water bottle labels and timelines

More DIY planned but not started.

Here are timeline templates and waterbottle templates we are using. Both of these are compilations from templates I found online. If you are interested in getting a copy - let me know. I'm happy to share!!