tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10705343744702532152024-03-12T20:29:02.299-07:00The NearlywedsFrom I will to I do, this is the story of us getting from his knee to the alter. Wedding planning, wedding procrastinating and whatever else comes our way!The Floshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110954960058211929noreply@blogger.comBlogger115125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070534374470253215.post-73138308649586937412010-07-06T09:00:00.000-07:002010-07-06T09:00:00.156-07:00.the story behind the dress, part 2.<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">In </span><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" href="http://www.thenearlywedsblog.com/2010/07/story-behind-dress.html">yesterday's post</a><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">, I shared with you part 1 of my dress drama. Here is part two. I ended up buying the Jovani Cowl Back dress:</span><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1VgK_0jv6aoBY-5KL6dVeTrLi07ZDhXLtpIwP9qqRAhc03QG8KZX9JpvJ6HGN73qdOufcDllmStVviSEwDVszWUmpuNFCgjzSupGvfwV5lMtrl_X8jHsJPf2AxwuEaMaT0rqd0VtGSUY/s1600/dress+back.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1VgK_0jv6aoBY-5KL6dVeTrLi07ZDhXLtpIwP9qqRAhc03QG8KZX9JpvJ6HGN73qdOufcDllmStVviSEwDVszWUmpuNFCgjzSupGvfwV5lMtrl_X8jHsJPf2AxwuEaMaT0rqd0VtGSUY/s320/dress+back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490605154142598162" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">At my endocrinologist visit in July, my blood work confirmed that my C-peptide was .8, which is the bare minimum it can be before requiring full-time insulin. My previous reading was 1.2, so it was declining and I was put on insulin shots. Within a few weeks, I was up eight pounds. By the time my gown arrived in mid-September, I was up about 12 pounds. Scroll back up and see how slim and slinky that dress is.... yea, no room for anyone to gain 12 ounces, yet alone pounds. But never fear, I still have seven months until the wedding and can easily lose that weight. Ahem.... if you've never been on insulin before, you won't understand. But it is a fat producing hormone. And fat, it produced. I continued to gain weight until at least late December.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I first tried on the dress in September with K-Zilla when we also tried on the Zillaz dress. Yea, there was evidence of a weight gain, but it wasn't of worry yet. Matter of fact, we celebrated this day with pizza, afterward.</span><br /><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQ6opXbLwqgjdvxDc-rLbytoYjFz7dsNQ4Cc7wJbl9jk5n0Vr0ZjUy0ev0fYsGX1SGa-vik0eiqWZsMY8jhehodR24G_4HltkmwFlPUZTTc83rMEbCugl997ocdYB5YYrK2DrMjdT6zQ/s1600/Dress+002.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQ6opXbLwqgjdvxDc-rLbytoYjFz7dsNQ4Cc7wJbl9jk5n0Vr0ZjUy0ev0fYsGX1SGa-vik0eiqWZsMY8jhehodR24G_4HltkmwFlPUZTTc83rMEbCugl997ocdYB5YYrK2DrMjdT6zQ/s320/Dress+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490608398104346850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-b_Mx24p7E3WfCTg6V1MQavcZGo6f9MTJVJBui3ePCVXcFXBn22tdvvpWq0z_XZ6ZJOmMBOtL19hRm23u9vlmXWJBbJSGqgql0iTM1u7d66ftBXGqFzMWQo0cTBssAkS0JFz57oiLII/s1600/Dress+028.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6-b_Mx24p7E3WfCTg6V1MQavcZGo6f9MTJVJBui3ePCVXcFXBn22tdvvpWq0z_XZ6ZJOmMBOtL19hRm23u9vlmXWJBbJSGqgql0iTM1u7d66ftBXGqFzMWQo0cTBssAkS0JFz57oiLII/s320/Dress+028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490608445620899666" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Even with working out, the weight didn't fall off. I will admit to this: knowing that I can now eat more than 30-45 carbs, I actually started to eat real pasta and enjoy me some more sweets. Yea, I took advantage of my insulin pen.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Long story short.... I worked out insanely and the true test came MLK weekend in January 2010. I was having a "Zillaz" day, the morning belonging to K-Zilla and the afternoon belonging to M-Zilla. It was M-Zilla who was with me at Nordstrom when we tried on undergarments and the dress. Sadly, it was a disaster. Not fully because of my weight gain, but there is no room for any undergarments. The seams were showing, the line where it ended above my knee was showing. It was a nightmare. With four months until the wedding, I knew that sure, the weight could come off, but was it worth the stress? Not to me. So M-Zilla and I walked briskly to Jessica McClintock and tried on some dresses. I worked at Fashion Show for months while I was engaged and never once tried on any of her dresses. Odd, because they are amazing. I thought they were out of my budget, they aren't. Wait until I tell you how much I paid for my dress, in the end.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">So I tried on a few and these two were the contenders. I loved this one shoulder gown and I know that Mr. Nearlywed loves me in one shoulder garments. I didn't like the way it photographed. Granted, this was a point-and-shoot camera. Forgive my poor posture. This gown was $2,000-it was a one-of-a-kind couture gown. Gorgeous.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5zy1pQ6kedb3U6VYPjeF6D6xLHfsg9KXelyqOYxPNYvgsQpO_Lcs4tt0YewOGP0JWqPY_aYTcYAPObLV75ZyhmICkT3-b0xd_CqHiuLLeJjKFKuRHpxr5Vx5RBe9zOtiLzBYBagqiMw/s1600/download-6.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5zy1pQ6kedb3U6VYPjeF6D6xLHfsg9KXelyqOYxPNYvgsQpO_Lcs4tt0YewOGP0JWqPY_aYTcYAPObLV75ZyhmICkT3-b0xd_CqHiuLLeJjKFKuRHpxr5Vx5RBe9zOtiLzBYBagqiMw/s320/download-6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490613690276900002" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KAkeatD09ONBbylMTPJD9T59xWCDpumu99oLnDi_VDWq9L-Qk0wtmBhAz27Qv9qVLm3MrHuPoO2z0_fT45QOICFwjX0gyaflcJh5lZNqjZ4sZuipEBOjo1O2gUodYSnWg8rAfBXfDzc/s1600/download-5.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KAkeatD09ONBbylMTPJD9T59xWCDpumu99oLnDi_VDWq9L-Qk0wtmBhAz27Qv9qVLm3MrHuPoO2z0_fT45QOICFwjX0gyaflcJh5lZNqjZ4sZuipEBOjo1O2gUodYSnWg8rAfBXfDzc/s320/download-5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490612879022407250" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyuDK7SafZSallLH74QeNR4vW54ue7CGd3XplMfj5hyphenhyphenvuI5GxYPGiKqcUdI3oYTwGSmC3k2y6-pP1cHi_WEIIkX6lBoPqTSf895s4Ho32-LNaPqBXP1eHjnw4TPcPoxvIKZ569iKo8OU/s1600/download-4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyuDK7SafZSallLH74QeNR4vW54ue7CGd3XplMfj5hyphenhyphenvuI5GxYPGiKqcUdI3oYTwGSmC3k2y6-pP1cHi_WEIIkX6lBoPqTSf895s4Ho32-LNaPqBXP1eHjnw4TPcPoxvIKZ569iKo8OU/s320/download-4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490612875878865266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">But then I loved this one... it was simple, yet fun and would go with fun & fab shoes and the veil that I had in mind. The price tag on this one was just over $400. </span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8GGYinKBK5sxqWrvyHMYFl9EjfjQ0LpKarE07_U-4QT6xvFlaDCcVT9yRvX3IuqPcfYsDviXMU0_ZJzI9acOZA1lj1gGY3nUhuPphdv7slHRc3jl-TlNhQUSmWj5R4Og7P0MxN2lOPo4/s1600/download-3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8GGYinKBK5sxqWrvyHMYFl9EjfjQ0LpKarE07_U-4QT6xvFlaDCcVT9yRvX3IuqPcfYsDviXMU0_ZJzI9acOZA1lj1gGY3nUhuPphdv7slHRc3jl-TlNhQUSmWj5R4Og7P0MxN2lOPo4/s320/download-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490612866819323826" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGKWULvorb8DwVB7R6RvU44KA6sfIsB0i8G5uLjGdYJdRo713uC7lCv8qhOJo3pg5MHNd2zIFoIZsAobuckRQu1dYKdvH92_U-2l0HNHV_AtvvGDTbLNfydN1Qsps1AEh25wXO2GGZPM/s1600/download-2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 228px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaGKWULvorb8DwVB7R6RvU44KA6sfIsB0i8G5uLjGdYJdRo713uC7lCv8qhOJo3pg5MHNd2zIFoIZsAobuckRQu1dYKdvH92_U-2l0HNHV_AtvvGDTbLNfydN1Qsps1AEh25wXO2GGZPM/s320/download-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490612860166101250" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPwMJjUxhcSd5MvBzWUo2Tbna1lkYgMK-jVm0ULxZ5Ipli-J4C8CRopb5bD1KVKPNpTIxgbvJhm9Yac9eIe2zFID9bM_ATkoYHq1TNFuQ897VfS4s0lHMf8FtrjEQfjwBxOsE8TD1Ph0/s1600/download-1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLPwMJjUxhcSd5MvBzWUo2Tbna1lkYgMK-jVm0ULxZ5Ipli-J4C8CRopb5bD1KVKPNpTIxgbvJhm9Yac9eIe2zFID9bM_ATkoYHq1TNFuQ897VfS4s0lHMf8FtrjEQfjwBxOsE8TD1Ph0/s320/download-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490612842945252450" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">If you've seen even one wedding photo, then you know I chose the above dress. The coolest thing was that I told virtually no one, except Mr. Nearlywed, M-Zilla and a few others who were not related to the wedding. The shock came to them on the wedding day.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">So now that you know my dress mess, how did I do?</span>The Floshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110954960058211929noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070534374470253215.post-27317392126374227212010-07-05T17:49:00.000-07:002010-07-05T18:31:32.696-07:00.the story behind the dress.<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">For as long as I've been blogging on this site, my wedding dress was a huge source of stress. I can finally, two months after the wedding, share all with you. Yes, I could have done this sooner, but I must say this-- the wedding wore me out. It seemed like recovery was nowhere in sight at times. But here I am, to recap everything from the wedding. Let's start with my dress.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">When I started out, I didn't have a budget, but in my head, I knew that spending over $1,200 on a dress (and even that was pushing it) would eat me alive. But I still tried on Elizabeth Filmore, Amy Michaelson, Vera Wang and more. They all look maaaahhhvelous. And I loved the silk charmeuse on my skin. So at one point, I went to a seamstress and took her this love of my then bride-to-be life. It is Taj Mahal by Amy Michelson. It retailed for about $3,800 at Kleinfelds. Which, by the way, shopping there is ground for a whole other blog.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Here is the dress, courtesy of AmyMichelson.com</span><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-CWISJj_wkqwacaHwUZTrNYI7EhVjieFiTUra4qMj9pUdM3GQZLt8YsiSpCsQkov2E-hd2q33Q6cItEz7XmbnT5SQkFlmBhVGR0Vt67TmgXiK9Hr7mQKC6SwnV8OmI7ToOwWdzr8Xsw/s1600/3tajmajal_back.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 174px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN-CWISJj_wkqwacaHwUZTrNYI7EhVjieFiTUra4qMj9pUdM3GQZLt8YsiSpCsQkov2E-hd2q33Q6cItEz7XmbnT5SQkFlmBhVGR0Vt67TmgXiK9Hr7mQKC6SwnV8OmI7ToOwWdzr8Xsw/s320/3tajmajal_back.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490591981558270322" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdN9BHCG1VzMZfRxQ38vRJ35DeXljv6L4gpdFYoCAH9HkQS52b8zf44jLbY0rvJKIFPnGi-XiSfGMyKx3bS7Z7UizaejaiSd2WGcOUXF197hBHMHyraWSVoRRKdw0DLMmwz2pfzGF0nk/s1600/1tajmajal_front.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 174px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdN9BHCG1VzMZfRxQ38vRJ35DeXljv6L4gpdFYoCAH9HkQS52b8zf44jLbY0rvJKIFPnGi-XiSfGMyKx3bS7Z7UizaejaiSd2WGcOUXF197hBHMHyraWSVoRRKdw0DLMmwz2pfzGF0nk/s320/1tajmajal_front.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490591977385014914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Gorgeous, huh? After trying on this gem, of which there are no photos courtesy of Kleinfeld's rules, which we respected, I needed a sexy back dress. I wanted to hear my guests gasp after I passed them while walking down the aisle. But I refused to pay that much. It was a new dress, from the fall 2009 line, so there weren't any for sale. I also found some from Winnie Couture that had the open back and they came in my price range, around $1,200.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYnMjYZC5dUPKBh_q_JH2TNH3mjETCFqz7s9NMDDwL68nf-IxziX20j5ksGQkNV3EJdpz9fDtmIxRRvW5vzxtj4a2QlKBejX38pvk5ZifZJWzVSxSaJ5Mbw8nYSgmI7rK2XH57Q4dvsQ/s1600/giada+back+view.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYnMjYZC5dUPKBh_q_JH2TNH3mjETCFqz7s9NMDDwL68nf-IxziX20j5ksGQkNV3EJdpz9fDtmIxRRvW5vzxtj4a2QlKBejX38pvk5ZifZJWzVSxSaJ5Mbw8nYSgmI7rK2XH57Q4dvsQ/s320/giada+back+view.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490593122821700994" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">This is the Winne Couture "Giada" dress. I wasn't able to try it on, the only store in Vegas who carried the line wouldn't order a sample. Silly, because I probably would have bought it. So...at this point we moved on.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Come June, my sister, my six-week-old niece and I went dress shopping. Again. We turned up at a little shack-on-the-road called Tina's Bridal in Totowa, NJ. When we pulled up, I almost told her to turn around, it was that much of a shack looking place. But we went in, smart move. What I would like to say most about Tina's is that we had an appointment to look at bridesmaids dresses, but when I asked if I could see their bridal gowns, they didn't even bat an eyelash and 100 percent accommodated us. And in the end, I bought a dress there.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">I wasn't looking for poofy, I didn't want any skirt underneath and then I came across two gems there. One was a "Destination" label by.... I don't even remember. Darn. This was the dress. Of course, I wanted to open the back and make some adjustments to it....</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJuyuH-Qe6CthvWLCz18naJTof2ycxEDADQZmRO09RcZ7U7xSucOEPlIFu5EkaLhMxGY3vFwMsQjz-QVqm6KGY8sCbqdkb3_GCHUO40gtEUdp1byg3Jux4juqTvkKJWFdXl2PRTXNCBE/s1600/Vacation+part+3+034.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfJuyuH-Qe6CthvWLCz18naJTof2ycxEDADQZmRO09RcZ7U7xSucOEPlIFu5EkaLhMxGY3vFwMsQjz-QVqm6KGY8sCbqdkb3_GCHUO40gtEUdp1byg3Jux4juqTvkKJWFdXl2PRTXNCBE/s320/Vacation+part+3+034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490596923955949586" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4XbKw3xxZnBfZvet2YHooRv5bdo3fz_R63jSAB-Vecy3SrLyo2qKrLCF0u72EpQyNFNEjrPqX746l_mXMBwwZYLvEaKY7PJNorpDZbkFFZsQA-WdAn_Wec3C_wAcoWhQVqRGkBWT7f8/s1600/Vacation+part+3+033.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ4XbKw3xxZnBfZvet2YHooRv5bdo3fz_R63jSAB-Vecy3SrLyo2qKrLCF0u72EpQyNFNEjrPqX746l_mXMBwwZYLvEaKY7PJNorpDZbkFFZsQA-WdAn_Wec3C_wAcoWhQVqRGkBWT7f8/s320/Vacation+part+3+033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490596899441163362" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Then, there was this beauty by Jovani. I had to slide into and hold my breath. However, wearing it on my wedding was of no concern. I was the thinnest I had pretty much ever been, with no intent on gaining weight, so I was good to go in this looker. I loved the back and how vintage it looked. I pictured a glamorous walk down the aisle, posing for photos with my chin just coming over my shoulder. And my body? It would be bangin'! It was June and I had 10 months to firm up and rock this dress. Apparently, my pancreas had other plans in the weeks to come. </span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84MypPI0P7VrO0gA7J_q1b3-RZg-bauTlG0iVPPT39dGmWTAuohLtQPSCsnnGmHbA6zAxZNp7Q6pGt4bE7Dqz4jUzQNra6c-WXrGsSQr9i0EiH3iiMB583cIzC3okJl6PM_NEuImBFFI/s1600/Vacation+part+3+032.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg84MypPI0P7VrO0gA7J_q1b3-RZg-bauTlG0iVPPT39dGmWTAuohLtQPSCsnnGmHbA6zAxZNp7Q6pGt4bE7Dqz4jUzQNra6c-WXrGsSQr9i0EiH3iiMB583cIzC3okJl6PM_NEuImBFFI/s320/Vacation+part+3+032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490598052436926914" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhp8GpYB3fSaJkASdS1T2IMbKkwfUwcvkH9RoMQcNyZ_3VbyCKScy1vxtpps4MOFV1Ff1xA1tfwunbBy965rfauzV2aYejNmO_gWxHPxhCf7OxInrwF92zIAZ8lp0fIFT104PH3Nlwb8/s1600/dressm+front.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdhp8GpYB3fSaJkASdS1T2IMbKkwfUwcvkH9RoMQcNyZ_3VbyCKScy1vxtpps4MOFV1Ff1xA1tfwunbBy965rfauzV2aYejNmO_gWxHPxhCf7OxInrwF92zIAZ8lp0fIFT104PH3Nlwb8/s320/dressm+front.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490598041296642850" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">This is what it is supposed to look like on the model who needs to be fed a steak. </span><br /><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHGYFmpsxdrz0uTh8GXAJMy0maaGoY3kc1_tcmKk9iAGFL4OdwdBkGEqKXiijm3WNhqGW4C0NdST42-DJrvRqUI-W-iHu3GKmiIu7sfKsdG5NPKFLJUSz9YThsqof7Hn0TlYDePTP9_ek/s1600/edressme_2060_168901413.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHGYFmpsxdrz0uTh8GXAJMy0maaGoY3kc1_tcmKk9iAGFL4OdwdBkGEqKXiijm3WNhqGW4C0NdST42-DJrvRqUI-W-iHu3GKmiIu7sfKsdG5NPKFLJUSz9YThsqof7Hn0TlYDePTP9_ek/s320/edressme_2060_168901413.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490598058456928738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">So there you have it, my dress loves.... I went from loving a $3,800 gown to not being able to try on a $1,200 gown to deciding between a $400 and a $350 gown. I ended up buying the Jovani gown.... we had it ordered in a size bigger than the sample shown in the above photos. As you can tell, it was a bit snug. I was thrilled to buy my wedding dress in a size six. As someone who battled weight my whole life, this was a huge accomplishment. However, I would only be able to bask in that glory for a few short weeks.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">What happened? The rest in my next post. Which will not be in six weeks. I am going to write it now.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">By the way, I have the Jovani dress in my hands and am willing to part with it. If anyone is interested please message me. </span>The Floshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110954960058211929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070534374470253215.post-62082029548616003272010-05-13T11:48:00.000-07:002010-05-13T11:57:58.568-07:00.the wedding.<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Readers... wow.... does anyone still even read this anymore? Sheesh. Shame on me. Life got in my way and completely halted my blogging. However, with the wedding weeks behind us already, I can catch up and fill you in.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">First, the wedding was amazing. Period, new line.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Recaps are in progess....but in the meantime, here is a teaser or two....</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ODdKG10II6z7XcnA1qNRW3PSipozsKDvdti1lZ0w2_0vB4SzXKms-9fHutoAjEkJyQ7_2MAAtmAoUcJ6U-6NjB8UPA5733JDSvpRAC8NM03jmM4mk2rOltA4kaV6E22szfz1kqcTyHE/s1600/0126.1.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="WIDTH: 181px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470830143726504514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ODdKG10II6z7XcnA1qNRW3PSipozsKDvdti1lZ0w2_0vB4SzXKms-9fHutoAjEkJyQ7_2MAAtmAoUcJ6U-6NjB8UPA5733JDSvpRAC8NM03jmM4mk2rOltA4kaV6E22szfz1kqcTyHE/s320/0126.1.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Hvsrt-kcdqGDNsl5BPDkbKO9e9Qc-_l1hQugRvQuRH9wrdYYAEkqNlj5SvRx4UHn8siDhtDj9XKjc2LOQflmA-BZBXBohr66nWTriRDH7DP_Arzfp7mSPihSrepCKjCz2Xc2nCQR0f8/s1600/0136.2.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 275px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470830149617249666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Hvsrt-kcdqGDNsl5BPDkbKO9e9Qc-_l1hQugRvQuRH9wrdYYAEkqNlj5SvRx4UHn8siDhtDj9XKjc2LOQflmA-BZBXBohr66nWTriRDH7DP_Arzfp7mSPihSrepCKjCz2Xc2nCQR0f8/s320/0136.2.jpg" /></span></a>The Floshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110954960058211929noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070534374470253215.post-20240902128759989222010-05-13T10:34:00.000-07:002010-05-14T12:36:09.077-07:00.wedding recap 1: .the week prior.<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Well… let me rewind to the month prior. March 27th was my East Coast shower. It was fabulous. My mom hosted it at her house and about 15 of our relatives attended. They are mostly my aunts and moms cousins, but they’ve all been married for 33+ years, so to hear their advice was priceless.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWelanUCX3wcqDtSdt0hOFulV5tAftrA4J0wa15sO-3WB8lWaVouw2F53jqYtmo6yk91F3wR5oPELR4fCZU_DELYOgbTY96_nvwjwavhqrnkBvRpbuZ2dE0cy7cUmYmvv7mu3r2muicg/s1600/shower2.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470809546696101362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYWelanUCX3wcqDtSdt0hOFulV5tAftrA4J0wa15sO-3WB8lWaVouw2F53jqYtmo6yk91F3wR5oPELR4fCZU_DELYOgbTY96_nvwjwavhqrnkBvRpbuZ2dE0cy7cUmYmvv7mu3r2muicg/s320/shower2.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43A4PFEzPRbP9jzS1nDYJLxeCBALFygFaCGFff4AfQsWfcDOsdgohle1759eUGpmJfK1qAceF-VPt1-AwYJWIjfZhwAdERFZB2xigyNYFiunXYiwyFltNArLotBLmty6ao5AEXKmf71c/s1600/shower1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470809544879828994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg43A4PFEzPRbP9jzS1nDYJLxeCBALFygFaCGFff4AfQsWfcDOsdgohle1759eUGpmJfK1qAceF-VPt1-AwYJWIjfZhwAdERFZB2xigyNYFiunXYiwyFltNArLotBLmty6ao5AEXKmf71c/s320/shower1.jpg" /></a><br />The day after, my dad and I loaded up his truck and hit the road for Vegas, 2,496 miles and 41 hours later…. Here we were.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudRzfpUQ1tnH9EkaKUcNOOCu6eTaOn0sZNFncTTY3faD5OaM62aiQD80uBZCyYWxMDzfo6nRHlEdX8-BKgj8wqY9jbUuzGUeSFTcrZBWthSz5Fmx7zFRMxunsr_40NDJduf4qYaYHFDU/s1600/shower3.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470809928961042338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgudRzfpUQ1tnH9EkaKUcNOOCu6eTaOn0sZNFncTTY3faD5OaM62aiQD80uBZCyYWxMDzfo6nRHlEdX8-BKgj8wqY9jbUuzGUeSFTcrZBWthSz5Fmx7zFRMxunsr_40NDJduf4qYaYHFDU/s320/shower3.jpg" /></a><br />It was the first time that our dogs were together in over two years. They were the reason we met, so it was great to have them together. </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlz9Ni886P5NFmnTMI-toEu7amUDL3dvPxuQlfoTrfkZWLaEYqHMJC6jjeWWwHWPFdgVPk0nKjhxDbaaT8KZcTA48Cxb8knucqVoyi78yr88En8Su-oNEYmTAviOFhUBwqy0BpbOh-kdI/s1600/shower4.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470809944677316274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlz9Ni886P5NFmnTMI-toEu7amUDL3dvPxuQlfoTrfkZWLaEYqHMJC6jjeWWwHWPFdgVPk0nKjhxDbaaT8KZcTA48Cxb8knucqVoyi78yr88En8Su-oNEYmTAviOFhUBwqy0BpbOh-kdI/s320/shower4.jpg" /></a> </span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></div></span><div>With three and a half weeks to go until the wedding, we had to finish packing our house and move. Yes, the sale on our home that we owned went through and we were told to be out by April 30th. Uhhh… so we chose to move on April 3rd. My dad was here and was a priceless piece to this move. He was gung-ho for it… I would have been too if I lived in the same house for almost 40 years. However, both Flo and I knew what we were about to experience. We were moving from a single story to a two-story home…. The new crib is fabulous and we have a huge yard and the home is perfect for entertaining. That is great for me because almost everything we registered for is an entertaining piece. </div><div><br />So the first two and a half weeks of April were spent packing, unpacking, fixing up things, running wedding errands and trying to show my dad a good time in Vegas. We took him to Mix 94.1’s “Pet-A-Palooza” and ran into some good friends with their dogs… we even made the evening news! ;) </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6BPkPm-KxM7bcbipwWwXLIrTTvKVzUGNu8zAjsNCbZAQFCcTLu1nGTxFlKlm49AwI6oZmcCg9bPG7U_ZayzsOOMBcL9mjIv2nKtU5a1KSOAJwi8KNqq5Z5teg1S8GYNeruBvERRhNwo/s1600/flo+news+pic.bmp"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470811919229453970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6BPkPm-KxM7bcbipwWwXLIrTTvKVzUGNu8zAjsNCbZAQFCcTLu1nGTxFlKlm49AwI6oZmcCg9bPG7U_ZayzsOOMBcL9mjIv2nKtU5a1KSOAJwi8KNqq5Z5teg1S8GYNeruBvERRhNwo/s320/flo+news+pic.bmp" /></a><br /><div>We took him to the “Vegas Dozen” party at Saks Fifth Avenue… we ate all of the Manchego cheese. And drank. A lot. It was fun. No photos were taking at this event. </div><div><br />And then on the 17th, we picked my mom, sister and niece up from the airport. This, to us, truly kicked off wedding week, since this was the start of the guests arriving! My uncle and the best man arrived on Monday. Tuesday we hosted a “Ster is cooking BBQ” and entertained in our new home for the first time. We had some of Flo’s BFFs over, the Zillaz and my family. It was just a sign of the good times to come. I loved every second of it. </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-cVwsWuUDMkTrP1bpC3tZEgRrkFOirqSiEx9xFTlJZ7No6l1bi-xla5Ph-jdlWHxC1UD7hBU3e4iMTKUyDnP163SjucFrVHyW03-5D22sLulBLGy26RUJJmAn-wpqSbYUKLZHIiTAco/s1600/Dad+Visit+Part+5+015.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470823817374411186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM-cVwsWuUDMkTrP1bpC3tZEgRrkFOirqSiEx9xFTlJZ7No6l1bi-xla5Ph-jdlWHxC1UD7hBU3e4iMTKUyDnP163SjucFrVHyW03-5D22sLulBLGy26RUJJmAn-wpqSbYUKLZHIiTAco/s320/Dad+Visit+Part+5+015.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPwWGSd76gQxMOdMUwKppjQ4KOQ4w4HCL2X6LP8u00SqJ3TMNaXC2-4ayjDEYoHiUhksRuF8oc2i_L7xyiI2-KsuMikY6aSHUci-Q4FTD2yMX4bODFIczDleJE8wO93A5YLrNShqNIv8/s1600/Dad+Visit+Part+5+017.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470823806493980354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPwWGSd76gQxMOdMUwKppjQ4KOQ4w4HCL2X6LP8u00SqJ3TMNaXC2-4ayjDEYoHiUhksRuF8oc2i_L7xyiI2-KsuMikY6aSHUci-Q4FTD2yMX4bODFIczDleJE8wO93A5YLrNShqNIv8/s320/Dad+Visit+Part+5+017.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggxGngsYMcZmRvBFaA1LggCgR8Ai0ADM245VeS-Gf8q9XqmkuPsYHmAgBdHwHyPKexN3GFNhthN45s58oEYrHrV69LYqlO7V4myRYRomPRbBJmwIucOz-9mdWIc-ed6L8yzcr55gL-rU/s1600/Dad+Visit+Part+5+011.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470823797736466706" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiggxGngsYMcZmRvBFaA1LggCgR8Ai0ADM245VeS-Gf8q9XqmkuPsYHmAgBdHwHyPKexN3GFNhthN45s58oEYrHrV69LYqlO7V4myRYRomPRbBJmwIucOz-9mdWIc-ed6L8yzcr55gL-rU/s320/Dad+Visit+Part+5+011.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacumLpl6qWAwuRCAbRtfD6IqN8opgptdBsAtwAeRF0HqIKL6HbUghcvOtBMMPRgnptoBhAZXQfSyL__OXguWuUPWXj2CAf_uDwY9901DL0lKCTkLDh8L19wjJxn1D9OVwiHmv-8QfoLk/s1600/Dad+Visit+Part+5+006.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470823791097013746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiacumLpl6qWAwuRCAbRtfD6IqN8opgptdBsAtwAeRF0HqIKL6HbUghcvOtBMMPRgnptoBhAZXQfSyL__OXguWuUPWXj2CAf_uDwY9901DL0lKCTkLDh8L19wjJxn1D9OVwiHmv-8QfoLk/s320/Dad+Visit+Part+5+006.JPG" /></a> </div><div>Wednesday started the Bachelor activities… Flo rented a Fantasy Suite at The Palms hotel... I worked… and packed. It looks like the guys had an amazing time… who couldn’t?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wLjSNXEzAc0ENMCwooTE4r_pKD7-H_JW36C10DXbItDBGsOmtWIwKonDOJIYT1YZFsOKhj2JwVL4DTlR7gw2Jm7PhHISnjrjjXr8opiQLJ95b8mSKzBoXsmxh9M26leDlf9T9h0NiXw/s1600/bach6.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 233px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470813658579335874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wLjSNXEzAc0ENMCwooTE4r_pKD7-H_JW36C10DXbItDBGsOmtWIwKonDOJIYT1YZFsOKhj2JwVL4DTlR7gw2Jm7PhHISnjrjjXr8opiQLJ95b8mSKzBoXsmxh9M26leDlf9T9h0NiXw/s320/bach6.jpg" /></a> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOOyAGTcfqUEOU00tXXeByAHi4Ba7xfw8Mdo3s6RYs1nWiNHreCErK2bhoeNBvKXwCiczQs_nbSkXfzLe42YRLpmwgd-Kh3SRiNEokAnsilqSYmliG7k8gZXwuGc3vjxVYJIF25vcOkE/s1600/bach4.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 233px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470813650839009122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOOyAGTcfqUEOU00tXXeByAHi4Ba7xfw8Mdo3s6RYs1nWiNHreCErK2bhoeNBvKXwCiczQs_nbSkXfzLe42YRLpmwgd-Kh3SRiNEokAnsilqSYmliG7k8gZXwuGc3vjxVYJIF25vcOkE/s320/bach4.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkVgMBWdb3npbYGd7pApXziuLSCltWYZmzc3PEr6R3Qr_2QspfRpS4frGn3eaAH6_N_jZV9OOsHKFtjqMlFHjlcAfYJ8p8_QJLX7qa0C6p_nh2plc1J3mQhvt0UYqCEOUiuMVlPzWzA4/s1600/bach3.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 233px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470813640622338370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJkVgMBWdb3npbYGd7pApXziuLSCltWYZmzc3PEr6R3Qr_2QspfRpS4frGn3eaAH6_N_jZV9OOsHKFtjqMlFHjlcAfYJ8p8_QJLX7qa0C6p_nh2plc1J3mQhvt0UYqCEOUiuMVlPzWzA4/s320/bach3.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKqzuwo0tKCWNjAABRMXXO-ISrtctLkjITkFCIZLuLV-1VSzydE8LG4beEyqS_5fD5tRV3Lc6Kkjkuaq7tZQrhefaR238y3ennJhBjsVRGOgty088NZ3FYcnAGwBuU43aYl9NYon0bG0/s1600/bach2.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 233px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470813638116633090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSKqzuwo0tKCWNjAABRMXXO-ISrtctLkjITkFCIZLuLV-1VSzydE8LG4beEyqS_5fD5tRV3Lc6Kkjkuaq7tZQrhefaR238y3ennJhBjsVRGOgty088NZ3FYcnAGwBuU43aYl9NYon0bG0/s320/bach2.jpg" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjxuacGJoL0KMpvn9H2UfVJiO75okQcBVhyphenhyphenggs1_NtvaVwtQ7jRoCtnLUuoez_6R4ltStvKJmPcEu2tgKQ1UG8nzo53olAdNqWSBQ9Yx89Q6IiHWTunydEMQsmmoTVck7Z5_KF_OxC5g4/s1600/bach1.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 233px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470813627210646018" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjxuacGJoL0KMpvn9H2UfVJiO75okQcBVhyphenhyphenggs1_NtvaVwtQ7jRoCtnLUuoez_6R4ltStvKJmPcEu2tgKQ1UG8nzo53olAdNqWSBQ9Yx89Q6IiHWTunydEMQsmmoTVck7Z5_KF_OxC5g4/s320/bach1.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Thursday was my bachelorette party. We reserved a cabana at the JW Marriott Pool and had plans to sit out in the sun and have some fun. It rained and was 56 degrees. In Las Vegas. In April. What are the chances? The weather didn’t dampen our fun; they moved us to a suite, we ate, we drank and we talked. What more can one bride want? My Zillaz treated me to a wonderful Vichy scrub, which I do not recommend after drinking. It was hard to not want to pass out in all of the heat and steam… but it made my skin ready for the spray tan. Three of the Zillaz and I got in-room spray tans for the wedding. Getting it two days before the wedding allowed us enough time to let it set, wash it off, etc. Well, I looked dirty in our Thursday meet and greet photos… oh well. I didn’t have to wear makeup or a bra, both of which I quite enjoyed. </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiL5aK0dxz3E1R_ivCJ2OJJfGXJdpfpQCKfAUbVSZfPXEHmp-b_OoukLmvo2vmcrL7J_ydCFUX1CIJzupyL4H6-e2TTr8Ns6yDgq2Z1JXZSfSPEHxN53cbin3TlqYFtOTaejgL3jEkJI/s1600/Wedding+Pics+from+Our+Camera+134.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470819035947363506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiL5aK0dxz3E1R_ivCJ2OJJfGXJdpfpQCKfAUbVSZfPXEHmp-b_OoukLmvo2vmcrL7J_ydCFUX1CIJzupyL4H6-e2TTr8Ns6yDgq2Z1JXZSfSPEHxN53cbin3TlqYFtOTaejgL3jEkJI/s320/Wedding+Pics+from+Our+Camera+134.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwoW_R2rq-W-LSCtNpqWH5GKleO9SUAGBd1rkoTP7X9M4Nkthzy5n1lAgPdvaAlu5W3g_gf0Hf1vcM3yxFN4m6BRAkNzxRmeFbBW2WvCsPMgMg0lvLrBikEl7gX9DA1ASA0JPqoTWfZ4/s1600/DSC_0068.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470816545722970082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhwoW_R2rq-W-LSCtNpqWH5GKleO9SUAGBd1rkoTP7X9M4Nkthzy5n1lAgPdvaAlu5W3g_gf0Hf1vcM3yxFN4m6BRAkNzxRmeFbBW2WvCsPMgMg0lvLrBikEl7gX9DA1ASA0JPqoTWfZ4/s320/DSC_0068.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzuH2G0-BEDfQnVQwmAMfl31WRnUsz3kFXJNE8glsH_5wV8gvmczjwNfiN9MnJNKDKNLR1AqeeAddr861zvXZzUXqmGEe3rT1TGzxOemVGqKC-dOYz-jpcatCbYgegTLicRZPAwVfzhE/s1600/DSC_0064.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470816541601291874" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzuH2G0-BEDfQnVQwmAMfl31WRnUsz3kFXJNE8glsH_5wV8gvmczjwNfiN9MnJNKDKNLR1AqeeAddr861zvXZzUXqmGEe3rT1TGzxOemVGqKC-dOYz-jpcatCbYgegTLicRZPAwVfzhE/s320/DSC_0064.JPG" /></a> </div><div>Thursday also came with one heckuva tired groom, but his tiredness was no match for my blazing bridal stress. Actually, I wasn’t overly stressed once we got to the hotel and got settled. But his tiredness was no match for my to-do list. We had invited our out of town guests over for a little “meet and greet” party. Our party didn’t consist of much food, just some homemade chocolate sauce from Budelia’s Chocolate… I ordered six jars. They were delivered to one of Flo’s co-workers who was kind enough to bring them to me, except she didn’t know that we ordered six jars and she brought one. We made it work. Ironically, my dad’s friend sent us an Edible Arrangements fruit basket and it worked out perfectly. We served that, pretzels, the jar of sauce and tons of beer, wine, water and soda. It was actually quite fun. </div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tQbKMlRkzoulgC718Xv0i4y6KgVV6UagofhrWlNv9GWGumSQdnTlih-wqjqgW44uB7YUW5FNieUGyl4nqqCysZsiktgsS3zt9d1-CiLcnH_EAUIV163BL5anCjxrSzVP1LULx_Wn3uk/s1600/Wedding+Pics+from+Our+Camera+135.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470821069583032754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tQbKMlRkzoulgC718Xv0i4y6KgVV6UagofhrWlNv9GWGumSQdnTlih-wqjqgW44uB7YUW5FNieUGyl4nqqCysZsiktgsS3zt9d1-CiLcnH_EAUIV163BL5anCjxrSzVP1LULx_Wn3uk/s320/Wedding+Pics+from+Our+Camera+135.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZyGSYYgON_DSTHelVV9L65vfTWqmJjmk2ZIMeJN1SSLyX23XiupITiCSva_BvMF2MmU7WO8vh5G6w3GxH-kiJQdfcd5XdArZ6SQQqTIFNQAd7FE0fSqbK6VLJGA8s-cDI5Gvx_yugw4/s1600/Wedding+Pics+from+Our+Camera+144.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470821055100842738" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ZyGSYYgON_DSTHelVV9L65vfTWqmJjmk2ZIMeJN1SSLyX23XiupITiCSva_BvMF2MmU7WO8vh5G6w3GxH-kiJQdfcd5XdArZ6SQQqTIFNQAd7FE0fSqbK6VLJGA8s-cDI5Gvx_yugw4/s320/Wedding+Pics+from+Our+Camera+144.JPG" /></a> </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7K8wmetxuaKEobCP2odKAzHJfwrG2Rjg9cyRUJv_kz5KQ8oBKZqY2qAYAI7MrPb49zq_SjgxaVbNo8QlVda2UCPEpIkftDFpfJB-RACBLk_wdzieh97x0GMG6MouydhJhV4avVdEa9w/s1600/Wedding+Pics+from+Our+Camera+157.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470821843520307346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7K8wmetxuaKEobCP2odKAzHJfwrG2Rjg9cyRUJv_kz5KQ8oBKZqY2qAYAI7MrPb49zq_SjgxaVbNo8QlVda2UCPEpIkftDFpfJB-RACBLk_wdzieh97x0GMG6MouydhJhV4avVdEa9w/s320/Wedding+Pics+from+Our+Camera+157.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXj3O3fICUVPMm_AIdT4BVlztEFwvBEDTY0Ej9EUSd13Z2w09jkSKjzw98jeFkJ6lA9YoKHraah6JwTn3nwIT8404QwTl7Q-pbWQWjf2dhvnKsv-RWiDQQrxgI_xQiYXGRNpRFL8zrVoQ/s1600/Wedding+Pics+from+Our+Camera+158.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470821838495386594" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXj3O3fICUVPMm_AIdT4BVlztEFwvBEDTY0Ej9EUSd13Z2w09jkSKjzw98jeFkJ6lA9YoKHraah6JwTn3nwIT8404QwTl7Q-pbWQWjf2dhvnKsv-RWiDQQrxgI_xQiYXGRNpRFL8zrVoQ/s320/Wedding+Pics+from+Our+Camera+158.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Friday…. The day that I had set aside for Flo and me to relax and enjoy. We woke up, munched on whatever stash of food that we had in our room. Wait, Flo ran off to go do something... because I remember calling him and telling him that we needed to head to the spa at a certain time. Bridal Brain, it affected me. We had a spa appointment at noon for a couples massage. I had also booked a manicure and pedicure. When I checked in for the appointment, the mani and pedi wasn’t scheduled. It was my first “bridezilla” moment because in my head, I knew that my snaggle toe nails were in no condition to walk down any aisle without being groomed or painted. This is where the JW highly impressed me. It was a Friday, they were busy and booked. The spa hostess with the mostest told us to go and have our massages and that they would take care of it. So we did. It was 50 minutes of pure bliss; it was THE best massage that I had ever received. When we were finished, my mani and pedi were scheduled. Not just for me, but for Flo too. Wow. </div><div><br />While at the spa, I bumped into the fabulous, amazing Andeen of Hair By Andeen. She would be spending the nite with the Zillaz to get us ready for the wedding, but she took some time to enjoy the spa, the sun, the pool and get some much, way deserved R&R. She looked so fabulous. Every day she inspires me to become a better person.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBZZHVYoexEr-D2BkcSDIeWtp0ZL-X5IZglYzu2gTSnI33ahPLWOCSWV7mIehRLb2oKofGh92ktUrYpXIbKTO97Y0Z6d05ZFQespSbZQG_pSZ0aw6MrKywAzL3u-eSsWA_uWpHUnwHJg/s1600/DSCI0325.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470824844179159330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBZZHVYoexEr-D2BkcSDIeWtp0ZL-X5IZglYzu2gTSnI33ahPLWOCSWV7mIehRLb2oKofGh92ktUrYpXIbKTO97Y0Z6d05ZFQespSbZQG_pSZ0aw6MrKywAzL3u-eSsWA_uWpHUnwHJg/s320/DSCI0325.JPG" /></a><br /><br />And then…we head into the rehearsal….<br /></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>The Floshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110954960058211929noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070534374470253215.post-54340066316791107982010-03-05T16:37:00.000-08:002010-03-05T16:37:00.242-08:00.the bridal shower. .part 1.<div><font face="trebuchet ms">The Bridal Shower- I’ve been dreaming of it since starting my registry. Back in July. Yes, we probably registered too early and for too many items, but this is the one time that you can ask for any and everything with the hope that maybe you will get half. </font></div><font face="trebuchet ms"><br /><div><br />For my bridesmaids, I know that setting this up was difficult. The Maid of Honor lives in New Jersey, the shower was in Vegas. There are two Zillaz who live in Vegas but didn’t want to step on the toes of the MOH. In the end, it was more than I could have hoped for myself. The food was amazing, I had 20-some friends and extended family there… my sis and mom sent me flowers, which made me cry. </div><br /><div><br />The gifts were awesome- it made me realize how well my friends do know me! I got almost all of my wine glasses, the tea infuser, the kitchen tools…. It was wonderful. After welcoming everyone, I said a few words and meant it. The weather was perfect- upper 60s and sunny, it was a Saturday afternoon. My friends could have taken their dogs and/or kids to the park and instead, they spent the afternoon with me! It was fabulous, I was touched. </div><br /><div><br />My Zillaz got me an amazing gift- the Wine Enthusiast Wine Fridge! I couldn’t believe it! It was delivered right to me a few weeks back, but I didn’t know from who it was. Apparently there is a card in there, but I haven’t opened the box yet. We have NO ROOM for anything right now. </div><br /><div><br />Lucky, spoiled me, I get another shower in Pennsylvania, in March.<br /></font><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUfqIjvHDbiGJQvQV_Y60Ym1RiHjWLNzCrBK5uONRtp5IqQKSklNglK1mECSg4abzvH8UgM2TA9kog9NCBaoq4m9YoRMSgOI1KLQVZg5KSieNc7QyBHu22pBHJeY3Wf5pIfghmusMlxo/s1600-h/shower5.jpg"><font face="trebuchet ms"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440907897177515378" style="WIDTH: 239px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUfqIjvHDbiGJQvQV_Y60Ym1RiHjWLNzCrBK5uONRtp5IqQKSklNglK1mECSg4abzvH8UgM2TA9kog9NCBaoq4m9YoRMSgOI1KLQVZg5KSieNc7QyBHu22pBHJeY3Wf5pIfghmusMlxo/s320/shower5.jpg" border="0" /></font></a><font face="trebuchet ms"><br /></div></font><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaoj7JuLLbGOBNSuh7eHThwPG6RNlmm07sgUl35QgmMCA9RMdyv3mpP2LsgM3w55zfNjpC0RWen_zWXKPEn5_ZOPAptD6iWKUoMZgmdkB0AEcnDdXvmjfAD5UJKl7rViKQauviUE9G4bI/s1600-h/shower6.jpg"><font face="trebuchet ms"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440907886248686082" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaoj7JuLLbGOBNSuh7eHThwPG6RNlmm07sgUl35QgmMCA9RMdyv3mpP2LsgM3w55zfNjpC0RWen_zWXKPEn5_ZOPAptD6iWKUoMZgmdkB0AEcnDdXvmjfAD5UJKl7rViKQauviUE9G4bI/s320/shower6.jpg" border="0" /></font></a><font face="trebuchet ms"><br /><br /></font><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQhD-2f4LXeLa0XsF9y5cTpLgSGHqIqWhasNHoEeZCvZuN96a0EeUk_oabf6He2MKyI1iS46sV2WqQsC1kdW9GKJHAhrDUWwaBc6uFK8m9kfxX2vz3FPU_j5vL8H_KqBHynFqtsYdbRs/s1600-h/Shower8.jpg"><font face="trebuchet ms"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440907884122712274" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQhD-2f4LXeLa0XsF9y5cTpLgSGHqIqWhasNHoEeZCvZuN96a0EeUk_oabf6He2MKyI1iS46sV2WqQsC1kdW9GKJHAhrDUWwaBc6uFK8m9kfxX2vz3FPU_j5vL8H_KqBHynFqtsYdbRs/s320/Shower8.jpg" border="0" /></font></a><font face="trebuchet ms"><br /><br /><br /></font><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZh1ytpFZNW4QROREiYNLpOfxKvhQ2GKU03WiW-xFflpmz-dgWlNFyUp5QZ6s8111ZS6tfZy9xhI4U5zrb8emJuDQXvF_OjyGFZaNYyNVcqIFiV6AXhHRxqXO9wNJsIm0eC8tZgw-cAo/s1600-h/shower21.jpg"><font face="trebuchet ms"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440907482381922626" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYZh1ytpFZNW4QROREiYNLpOfxKvhQ2GKU03WiW-xFflpmz-dgWlNFyUp5QZ6s8111ZS6tfZy9xhI4U5zrb8emJuDQXvF_OjyGFZaNYyNVcqIFiV6AXhHRxqXO9wNJsIm0eC8tZgw-cAo/s320/shower21.jpg" border="0" /></font></a><font face="trebuchet ms"><br /></font><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdA-haXP1HQSEWgokEHJiIu7D5NPoltgJfdBEGdZ8F_-68wZEAtqsOgw5dxRexcG-3qjcLGkWz3AF8Zft1bx6nBLEel5sBzQFjMVxHzqf_uGa_quskA5XYQ1iccJlW16mlIrdtNQBftuM/s1600-h/shower39.jpg"><font face="trebuchet ms"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440907475853954402" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdA-haXP1HQSEWgokEHJiIu7D5NPoltgJfdBEGdZ8F_-68wZEAtqsOgw5dxRexcG-3qjcLGkWz3AF8Zft1bx6nBLEel5sBzQFjMVxHzqf_uGa_quskA5XYQ1iccJlW16mlIrdtNQBftuM/s320/shower39.jpg" border="0" /></font></a><font face="trebuchet ms"> </font></div><br /><div><font face="trebuchet ms"> </div></font><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrXZmuiKS5BwaR-dq_QYmrTlopFhawYnnTmdIb6a6R17z9czLmcG_nUfXjK0bqHMkfF079HGb4l2b9Zs15VboEPFXhTEdEv4IGCa8_bv8Wtu6xXSFIaDyTsiD7BTGqi3jXycIIuQEvHA/s1600-h/shower11.jpg"><font face="trebuchet ms"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440907470996028226" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglrXZmuiKS5BwaR-dq_QYmrTlopFhawYnnTmdIb6a6R17z9czLmcG_nUfXjK0bqHMkfF079HGb4l2b9Zs15VboEPFXhTEdEv4IGCa8_bv8Wtu6xXSFIaDyTsiD7BTGqi3jXycIIuQEvHA/s320/shower11.jpg" border="0" /></font></a><font face="trebuchet ms"> </font></div><br /><div><font face="trebuchet ms"><br /> </div></font><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcdGm7WITDdvYSeNG7Iyi3tne5qk5ui5H7AAw7sz4E7BJQrP3dtdEk4PqtiyoHFfQuW0R63xYHBxOY-ekviOcPTWjdDUmtBhY-8oDWYgaFLNV5s-yXpj5IDGaRu6LBh0-efxdB-TS3ys/s1600-h/shower19.jpg"><font face="trebuchet ms"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440907463999385602" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWcdGm7WITDdvYSeNG7Iyi3tne5qk5ui5H7AAw7sz4E7BJQrP3dtdEk4PqtiyoHFfQuW0R63xYHBxOY-ekviOcPTWjdDUmtBhY-8oDWYgaFLNV5s-yXpj5IDGaRu6LBh0-efxdB-TS3ys/s320/shower19.jpg" border="0" /></font></a><font face="trebuchet ms"><br /><br /></font><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNuRUTf_hcYPKupIFpvRRwKj54vrizNdmYyqmHaDD_Su95zoXxHtK_npmfFUxOzLe4WLgoqJ_ZfpQnu71dM2XIGf1BjTkqyiL2ReWxOj5Su6c1K1lx9JENr-9wVmBnCnYLftntPCnEtQ/s1600-h/shower12.jpg"><font face="trebuchet ms"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440907455681489698" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNuRUTf_hcYPKupIFpvRRwKj54vrizNdmYyqmHaDD_Su95zoXxHtK_npmfFUxOzLe4WLgoqJ_ZfpQnu71dM2XIGf1BjTkqyiL2ReWxOj5Su6c1K1lx9JENr-9wVmBnCnYLftntPCnEtQ/s320/shower12.jpg" border="0" /></font></a><font face="trebuchet ms"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></font><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>The Floshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110954960058211929noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070534374470253215.post-59177910818987900072010-03-01T19:32:00.000-08:002010-02-22T06:29:04.848-08:00.eat. .drink. .be merry.<div><font face="trebuchet ms">There are only so many things that people will remember from your wedding- the bride’s dress and the food. Our tasting was last month and we are delighted with our menu options and our signature drinks. Our reception package included two signature drinks and we had to give them four options, which included: </font></div><br /><div><font face="trebuchet ms"><br />Purple Haze Martini:<br /><br />* 1 oz. freshly squeezed pomegranate juice* or<br />POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice<br />* 1 1/2 oz. Hpnotiq<br />* 1 1/2 oz. pineapple juice<br />* Orange rind and apple slice for garnish<br /><br />Blushing Bride<br />1 oz peach schnapps<br />4 oz Champagne<br />1 oz grenadine syrup<br /><br /><br />Romeo and Juliet Cocktail<br /><br />1.5 oz Absolut Apeach<br />1/2 oz Gran Marnier<br />1/4 oz cherry or Chambord raspberry liqueur<br />2 oz chilled peach juice<br />maraschino cherries<br />orange spiral<br /><br />And one other drink that of blueberry vodka, pineapple, Curacao and a few other ingredients. What did we select? Well, we loved the purple haze and the mystery blue drink! Now, we just need to name them….<br /><br />The food menu, sooo yummy, I can’t wait for this food:<br />Cocktail Hour, Passed Hors D’Oeuvers:<br />Tomato and Mozzarella with Basil and Olive oil on Bruschetta<br />Minted Mandarin Shrimp on Buttered Brioche<br />Coconut Shrimp with Sweet Chili Mint Sauce<br />Mini Beef Wellington<br /><br />Two Hour Dinner, served Buffet Style:<br />Live Action Pasta Station:<br />Cheese tortellini and Penne with sauces of Bolognese and Garlic and Wine<br />With toppings: shrimp, grilled chicken, baby scallops, mushrooms, scallions, onions, peppers, tomatoes, parmesan, garlic, fresh herbs and fresh focaccia bread<br /><br />Carving Station:<br />Steamship round and Roast Brest of Turkey<br /><br />Mashed Potato Bar:<br />Red Bliss and Yukon Potatoes served with: cheddar cheese, bacon, sautéed mushrooms, caramelized Onions, Parmesan cheese, Goat Cheese, roasted garlic, roasted pepper pesto, basil pesto, sun dried tomato pesto<br /><br />Mixed greens:<br />Caesar Salad<br />Mesclun greens tossed with crumbled blue cheese, toasted pine nuts, and dried cherries with balsamic vinaigrette<br /><br /><br /></font><font face="trebuchet ms"><br /></font><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4lYe0GmEeFMQ4j8A2S6QdJmkiYO1hV4itQ9iebHrohrdng8H8R5LKawMP_JqYWFqGOP_vetVa5sXe8D78eKD29OiFkB14x2gcP4MQXgQOfJxBM-LCQ3YhSL9A9I7Aozydi9SOph0glbQ/s1600-h/Our+tasting+008.JPG"><font face="trebuchet ms"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440906427635561074" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4lYe0GmEeFMQ4j8A2S6QdJmkiYO1hV4itQ9iebHrohrdng8H8R5LKawMP_JqYWFqGOP_vetVa5sXe8D78eKD29OiFkB14x2gcP4MQXgQOfJxBM-LCQ3YhSL9A9I7Aozydi9SOph0glbQ/s320/Our+tasting+008.JPG" border="0" /></font></a><font face="trebuchet ms"><br /></font><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHN2gUK50nXg9hlA_-gJSRU-FLa31mgYJNmXBVGA9SIbDJyBSR9eN_Xz5S2aWzJeaTh-yObD08PFcUR2Nknu9hGbYopFL8PylbYzCAqdvskRu4czWNQ0Lstcmu_r1pJXpOU_X3aoQkN-w/s1600-h/Our+tasting+002.JPG"><font face="trebuchet ms"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440906414609073970" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHN2gUK50nXg9hlA_-gJSRU-FLa31mgYJNmXBVGA9SIbDJyBSR9eN_Xz5S2aWzJeaTh-yObD08PFcUR2Nknu9hGbYopFL8PylbYzCAqdvskRu4czWNQ0Lstcmu_r1pJXpOU_X3aoQkN-w/s320/Our+tasting+002.JPG" border="0" /></font></a><font face="trebuchet ms"> </font></div>The Floshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110954960058211929noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070534374470253215.post-83387460059156819612010-02-27T19:22:00.000-08:002010-02-27T19:22:00.817-08:00.invites. .rsvps. .and headaches.<div><font face="trebuchet ms">I’ve already heard tons of horror stories on guest lists and RSVPs…. And thought that, for some reason, we would be exempt from any drama. Ummm…no! Our final invites were sent out in two rounds: the first round went out in January for our OOT guests. The second round went out in February for our in-town guests and for our family who has already told us that they would be coming to the wedding (some even booked rooms already!) </font></div><br /><div><br /><font face="trebuchet ms">With two or three days left until the RSVP deadline, we were still missing almost half of the replies! So between my FMIL, Mr. Nearlywed, my mother and I, we had to make a ton of phone calls. Some people never even answered our phone calls and some said yes they will come and some, although they turned in their RSVP with a Yes or a No, some have already called to change their mind. </font></div><font face="trebuchet ms"><br /><div><br />PEOPLE! This isn’t a carnival. This is an expensive event, where we are paying for each and every one of you to be there with us. If you RSVP no and then say yes, we are short. If you RSVP yes and then change your mind, we have already paid for you and it is rude. If you are family and have not responded to any one of the three phone calls that we’ve made, then it is rude. There, if I could say that to everyone, I would be so much happier. </div><br /><div><br />I have to admit, I am really panicked about the guest list, STILL. Although we’ve written off the non responders and have heard from most people, I’d be lying if I said that the list makes me comfortable.<br /><br /></font><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7IgRrYgIbomlGFSJ8ZJHfxETdOIEPwSCzevYPR5AemJsTf5OTIKdk_eUzIgzILRzm3ckNnlXFQJMAH8AjhJIu_TeeQPL6xbhzpJgsqpjOS0msH4dGEEGPzDtgdu4UZZ0AhOKJ8MvvNbc/s1600-h/final+invite.jpg"><font face="trebuchet ms"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440903032267059010" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 247px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7IgRrYgIbomlGFSJ8ZJHfxETdOIEPwSCzevYPR5AemJsTf5OTIKdk_eUzIgzILRzm3ckNnlXFQJMAH8AjhJIu_TeeQPL6xbhzpJgsqpjOS0msH4dGEEGPzDtgdu4UZZ0AhOKJ8MvvNbc/s320/final+invite.jpg" border="0" /></font></a><font face="trebuchet ms"><br /></div></font><br /><div><font face="trebuchet ms"></font></div>The Floshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110954960058211929noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070534374470253215.post-23784130470242605902010-02-25T19:26:00.000-08:002010-02-25T19:26:00.262-08:00.sticking with some tradition.<div><font face="trebuchet ms">I am marrying a wonderful Filipino guy. I am a full blooded mutt mix of Polish, Czech and Greek…. The only thing that our cultures have in common in being Catholic and The Money Dance. My future mother in law explained the role of “Sponsors” to us and we tossed the idea around for a while on whether or not we would like to have any. </font></div><br /><div><font face="trebuchet ms"></font> </div><br /><div><font face="trebuchet ms">Since we aren’t having a traditional Catholic wedding, we weren’t sure if we should move forward with this tradition or not, but in the end, we decided to go for it. We have two sets of couples here, in Vegas, whom we look up to, respect and are happily married for years and years. </font></div><font face="trebuchet ms"><br /><div><br />We, unfortunately, had to ask our couples via phone because we were unable to get together with them, but no matter how we asked them, they were thrilled and honored that we asked them to do this.</div><br /><div><br />Well, apparently we didn’t research their roles well enough because they asked us what we wanted for them to do and we were clueless. We aren’t doing a unity candle, cord & veil or coin ceremony. So in the end, we designed them as “Primary Sponsors”, which was described as such:</div><br /><div><br />The Principal Sponsors (aka Ninang and Ninong): These are women and men whom the bride and groom respect & admire. They are, as in the early days of the Church, sponsors of the couple attesting to their readiness for marriage and freedom to marry. These are often aunts and uncles or close friends of the family. In the Philippines, they are the official witnesses of the state and they sign the marriage license. Worldwide, their participation is symbolic of the wisdom & support they shall offer the new couple. The number of sponsors can vary from a single couple to many couples. The Principal sponsors are part of the bridal procession. At the nuptial blessing, they may also be invited to come up with the celebrant and to extend their right hands to join in the prayer of blessing. In doing so, they are fulfilling their roles as sponsors.</div><br /><div><br />We will acknowledge them during the ceremony and then have them enter during the reception. There- a compromise on traditions. </font></div>The Floshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110954960058211929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070534374470253215.post-55674248453321993432010-02-21T12:27:00.000-08:002010-02-22T06:23:59.977-08:00.and then there were shoes.<div><font face="trebuchet ms">Whew… getting my shoes was a struggle, without any exaggeration. I first took them to a reputable store, which I’ve heard was expensive, but come on…how expensive can it REALLY be? </font></div><br /><div><font face="trebuchet ms"></font> </div><br /><div><font face="trebuchet ms">Well, here is how my conversation unfolded at store #1:</font></div><font face="trebuchet ms"><br /><div> </div><br /><div>Me: Hi. I’d like to get this pair of shoes dyed to match this fabric swatch. And can you fix the heel on the inside, they flop off.<br />Guy at the store: Ok, sure we can dye them. That will be eight each. And the heel, well they will have to rip it apart and reconstruct it.<br />Me: No thank you. Ok, can you also dye this other pair to match this other fabric swatch?<br />Guy at the store: Sure, (taps calculator)…. That will be One hundred sixty dollars.<br />Me: HUH? (Look of shock and fright on my face) I thought that you said, “EIGHT EACH?!?!?”<br />Guy at the store: No, I said EIGHTY.<br />Me: Grabs shoe boxes and everything and runs out the door, saying, “no thank you.”</div><br /><div><br />When I was in high school, dyeables were all the rage for proms and homecoming. Taking them to Thom McCann and having them dyed cost all of maybe $12 back in the day?? And now you want to charge me $80? To be honest, that is more than I paid for each pair of shoes.</div><br /><div><br />So I use the Google and find another place. When I show up, to say that I was shocked at the goods for sale in this establishment would be an understatement. On the left side, they sold hookah pipes, in the middle they sold handbags and shoes, in a display case, on the right; they made keys and fixed shoes. When I presented the store owner with my swatches, he was kind enough to test out the colors on some fabric. The green was a no brainer; it was the purple that frightened me. I really wanted something dark for my reception dress…. So I left the green shoes, walked out with the purple shoes for another week.</div><br /><div><br />Long story short, he dyed them both for $40 each and they look great! The colors look amazing and I am thrilled to have this checked off of my list!<br /></font></div><br /><div></div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMQZCXy9W30TUSCZ_QDwgJ6rnnbz2uwwEPHpmzF-ahOdM1q5hewcPTxErmzenbCwt-Uf5n-ZwiipyeiYCa7Cfm1WcsG-mYx9lASxbP9Kn38tcXVfJgbQCIE5XCGUV_Q55CyE_Zs5jzkw/s1600-h/My+chews+010.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440905245460165842" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMQZCXy9W30TUSCZ_QDwgJ6rnnbz2uwwEPHpmzF-ahOdM1q5hewcPTxErmzenbCwt-Uf5n-ZwiipyeiYCa7Cfm1WcsG-mYx9lASxbP9Kn38tcXVfJgbQCIE5XCGUV_Q55CyE_Zs5jzkw/s320/My+chews+010.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiB4gvcw7gblMJcjRqjJK-zss0BR4lVb7qmdO6SAsDuleR8E0AzxdKhs86COtVJDbjPRf_8G6LBIWN8hXY6k4j2FatTe0Jb-9ZQnUlGpxwD3g6FrELaVyNOpCsYo1PwAZ0e4KpHyfL060/s1600-h/My+chews+007.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440905232668883474" style="WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiB4gvcw7gblMJcjRqjJK-zss0BR4lVb7qmdO6SAsDuleR8E0AzxdKhs86COtVJDbjPRf_8G6LBIWN8hXY6k4j2FatTe0Jb-9ZQnUlGpxwD3g6FrELaVyNOpCsYo1PwAZ0e4KpHyfL060/s320/My+chews+007.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>The Floshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110954960058211929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070534374470253215.post-63169174525870426072010-01-19T14:34:00.001-08:002010-01-19T14:36:24.876-08:00.jackpot part 4.<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">When picking a bridal party, it is important to pick the people who you know have your back. While a bridesmaid doesn’t “technically” have to do anything other than show up to your wedding, there are some who fly to the moon and back for you. For my wedding, I was lucky enough to pick two Zillaz who would fly to outer space and back for me.<br /><br />They are planning all pre-wedding activities with two others who each live 2,000+ miles away and are three hours ahead of us. They both have families, jobs and one is even back in school taking classes.<br /><br />When it comes time to work out the details of a shower that is in disarray, they were ready willing and able to meet with me at a moment’s notice and work out the details. When I need someone to go shopping with me, they are available at any time, even if one starts the day with me and the other finishes with me. When I feel like the wedding world is against me, they both reassure me that everything will come together, everything will be fine and I will be beautiful.<br /><br />When I express concerns about fitting into my dress, they offer to work out with me and if all else fails, rip off our insulin pumps and go rogue with me. Even though we won’t do it, I care that she cares. When I tweet about someone upsetting me or calling me a word that I have to look up on dictionary.com, they will immediately send an email, asking if everything is OK and offer their great advice, even if it is from a cartoon, “Smile and wave, boys. Smile and wave.”<br /><br />They both cried when I asked them to be in my wedding and to stand up with me and watch me marry the love of my life. They both cried with me when I was shared with them what it felt like when I was diagnosed with diabetes and shared with them some very personal details of my struggle with my life and health. When I need a pick-me-up, it isn’t too far off to find a silly video posted on my facebook account or a request for a sushi date at our “first date spot.”<br /><br />I know that these two Zillaz are friends for life because of what we’ve been through and what we will continue to experience together. I also know that we will be friends for ever because we have already crossed all of the bumps in the roads from brutally honest emails to just plain old not speaking to each other and look at us now…we all have matching slippers.<br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyUgqsd-DGJ11Onf6Qtj4G1vJ4r1mI1jte01bqiw78dnhk8nA48twtIjlOfghFX5bWNZlZ12U4m8KmYNUmYZ2zJpqKxNlQ8Pl-G-lpiUSepA20sKuYNx18Xuy7yIe6mBuLwAh9wfc_8fY/s1600-h/zillaz.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428583133407394210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyUgqsd-DGJ11Onf6Qtj4G1vJ4r1mI1jte01bqiw78dnhk8nA48twtIjlOfghFX5bWNZlZ12U4m8KmYNUmYZ2zJpqKxNlQ8Pl-G-lpiUSepA20sKuYNx18Xuy7yIe6mBuLwAh9wfc_8fY/s320/zillaz.jpg" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div></div><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">To K-Zilla and M-Zilla, thank you from the bottom of my Bride-Zilla heart for all that you have done for me, to me and bring to my life!</span>The Floshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110954960058211929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070534374470253215.post-11564163285255911932010-01-13T10:06:00.000-08:002010-01-13T10:06:00.127-08:00.the bad and the ugly.Ok, yes, I am a blogging slacker… I get it. Let’s hope that this makes up for my slacking. As of today, we are 101 days away and it can’t get here quickly enough. I know that we should enjoy this special time, I won’t be a fiancé again and I won’t plan my wedding own wedding again (vow renewal, anyone?!?) but it is sucking the life out of me. For serious.<br /><br />Lately, I am feeling defeated. This is the ugly side of wedding planning that I will share with you. Of all the blogs I read, this subject hasn’t come up often, but I am not the only bride who wants to just quit, go to the courthouse and get it done. If we didn’t already pay half of our event to our venue, that would be an option.<br /><br />Planning a wedding could seriously be its own job and that is why there are wedding planners- it is their job. How many weddings a year do they plan? That is their fulltime job. Me? I have a full time job and am planning a wedding, so it is becoming a bit much.<br /><br />While most of the details are worked out, there are logistics to handle. So… I will go ahead and post all of the things that aren’t going right, at this point.<br /><br />1. The dress. I haven’t tried it on in months. SO it may fit. I haven’t lost any weight since it arrived, months ago. I’ve been working out like a fiend, which I am loving. (More on my workouts another time)<br />2. I need undergarments and furnishings for this dress that I am praying fits.<br />3. My shower, while I am VERY appreciative that anyone invests any amount of time or money into me, it has become chaotic. My sister is trying to plan it from 2,500 miles away. I have two Zillaz here who want to step in and help more. Maybe my sis wants to be a good sis and plan it all. But we ran into some snafu’s…<br />4. The invites weren’t done in time. So with 4 weeks until the shower, they weren’t approved or even created. I am not sure what happened and don’t want to know.<br />5. My wedding invites are going out now and I don’t want to crowd the mail box with a shower invite and a wedding invite. Nothing screams “GIFT” more than two invites in one day.<br />6. One Zilla replied to an email and CC’d me on it. It was the email with all of the shower details and a gift idea that the girls thought of for me. So of course, I read it…. I could have NOT read it. But I now I know everything.<br />7. Bachelorette party. A-Zilla has offered to help plan this since she is on modified bed rest. This is a GREAT thing…but then I feel badly when the cost of anything comes up. But it is part of being in a wedding; these are things that need to be paid for and not by the bride, right? I will have a stash of cash anyway.<br />8. My list keeps growing<br />9. One of the mothers still doesn’t have a dress. And when I offered to go shopping with her, she said that it was too early. Now she wants to go next month and I am slammed with work, wedding planning and staying healthy.<br />10. My health. In case you didn’t know, I am a Type 1 diabetic who has been doing a decent job of maintaining good blood sugar numbers. The wedding hasn’t been stressing me out too much. Well that is starting to change. My numbers are fluctuating all over the place. The other nite, I woke up with an extreme low. So even with the working out, the healthy eating, it is my life right now that is taking me all over the numbers map.<br /><br />I’ve asked Mr. Nearlywed to help keep me as stress-free as possible over the next three months. Stress free and weddings don’t normally fit in the same sentence but we can see how it works out.<br /><br />Ok, there ya have it. Weddings seem like fun, but they can be insane. And there is a piece of my insanity that I’ve shared with you.The Floshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110954960058211929noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070534374470253215.post-11501196279216102342010-01-12T10:03:00.000-08:002010-01-12T10:04:52.037-08:00.happy 2010.<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">Happy New Year! This is the year in which I will be married. Yippeeee! While it seems that it can’t get here fast enough, it is really right around the corner. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"><br />The planning is ho-hum, but not wanting to start the New Year with an ugly blog, I will focus on the good. The bad and ugly will come tomorrow.<br /><br />With 103days until the wedding, we have:<br />1. Started our pre-marital sessions (another blog will elaborate!)<br />2. Are starting our dance lessons tonite. I am white. I can’t dance.<br />3. Our invites are going SOON! Yes, it is three months early, but we have a TON of OOT guests and they are getting their invites soon, it will also make for hunting down people for RSVPs a TON easier.<br />4. My shower is in one month.<br />5. Make up is booked, yay!<br />6. My candy buffet has been reconfirmed.<br />7. We are meeting with our vendors slowly and surely to wrap up details.<br />8. Next week I meet with someone about creating a head/hair piece for me!<br />9. Mr. Nearlywed and I are really working well together as a team<br />10. I AM GETTING MARRIED!<br /><br />There are many more good things, but that is what is making me happy right now, while I am in the middle of wedding chaos. Again, that post is scheduled for tomorrow.<br /><br />Yes, I still owe you more on flowers, our invites, our DJ and videographer…. Stay tuned.<br /><br />I wish you ALL a HAPPY NEW YEAR! And Happy wedding year, a happy engagement year, a happy dating year, a happy year of being in your BFFs wedding because it means the world to her, trust me, I know this.<br /><br /></span>The Floshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110954960058211929noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070534374470253215.post-9973828249295541522009-12-29T15:16:00.000-08:002009-12-31T10:49:28.346-08:00.2009 my best year yet.<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">When the countdown to 2009 began, it was like every other countdown 10…9…8… and then the clock struck midnight and the New Year started out normal and that lasted for about 18 seconds. Just enough time for a hug and a kiss to my boyfriend and my parents, who were there with us. And then, my boyfriend gave me a letter to read. While reading this letter, he was trying to gauge how far along I was so that he can time his proposal correctly. Yes, it was the moment I had been waiting 50 weeks for, the moment when he finally proposed. I say finally because when you know that someone is your lobster, it feels like forever until they ask you to share your life with them. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />2009 was my best year, ever. It started off on a high note and is ending on a high note. The year didn’t kick off with resolutions of losing weight (at this point, I could have stood to gain back a lbs. actually); it didn’t kick off with a vow to travel or read more or to volunteer my time. It started off with me just being grateful to be alive and to be surrounded by so much love. Besides, when you have a wedding to plan, you life becomes all encompassed and you really don’t think about much else: wake up. Think about wedding colors. Eat breakfast. Think about wedding menu. Go to work. Sneak a few minute on line to browse photos. Drive home. Create your binder. You get the picture.<br /><br />The year continued to go on the up and up….here, I share just a few highlights from the year:<br />January- started off great as you know. We then celebrated our birthdays with a weekend ski trip to Big Bear, CA. It was soooo much fun, if you missed it, then you really missed a grand old time. The weather was great, the wine was perfect, and the company was great. We had a blast and then followed up with my traditional birthday party at Caramel at Bellagio. That was the last year for the big birthday bash…. I am getting too old and am now too busy with life to focus on a big party. Although- they will probably resume in 2011. If you are wondering, Mr. Nearlywed celebrates his birthday on January 23 and me… I am the 24th. We are a few years and one day apart. It was January 22nd when I got the results back from my antibody test, confirming what we long knew: I am a Type 1 Diabetic. I was put on insulin that day and that was the last day of getting along with the scale. For the first few weeks, I was incessantly hungry. And it showed- within a month I had gained almost 10 lbs.<br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhkb1X9Ut4EGYlhSi1M56X10gSrMXWXAWI7iOMY2vxItyIEG9F7xcvgcKcVDNpO5WMYRIEFA0P76KbH8OtfWMhez0fl33dvJm9otmTDi3f-eGFT_3iGEPWdyqQWTY-h-GYyZQhHa5LvZw/s1600-h/jan09.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421467935383466386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhkb1X9Ut4EGYlhSi1M56X10gSrMXWXAWI7iOMY2vxItyIEG9F7xcvgcKcVDNpO5WMYRIEFA0P76KbH8OtfWMhez0fl33dvJm9otmTDi3f-eGFT_3iGEPWdyqQWTY-h-GYyZQhHa5LvZw/s320/jan09.jpg" /></a></p>It was February 24th when we wrote out the first check for the wedding: we put a deposit on our venue that we later kicked to the curb. On that same February 24th, we had 14 months to go. It seemed like an eternity. We now have less than four months to go. Yes, it flies by.<br /><br />In March, I had the pleasure of taking an icy cold, freezing trip back to NYC for my BFFs (A-Zilla) bridal shower and my sister’s baby shower. It was cold on the East Coast! Whew… but we still managed to trudge through NYC trying on bridal gowns. This is where my sister earned her Jackpot status—she was seven months pregnant and walked all over NYC and helped me to try on dresses. It was this time when I truly felt like there would never be the right dress for me. All of the dresses we liked were way more expensive than my budget would allow. In March, it also felt like A-Zilla’s wedding was still so far away. She is now married almost seven months and well…six-and-a-half months pregnant.<br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XCca-_BhQUC3sv8UWZrzv3lzT7MZPUMH5KHDG_23tPUJcNbiaT2arj5anNN25AymPao5pY_9OZHHbS7hYFuRW91Dz4jaihlpHsPyXkOE0blGPQZ46JHCXJ-zZp4_u8_aQT9w3BsUAFo/s1600-h/febmar09.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421467947817386626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XCca-_BhQUC3sv8UWZrzv3lzT7MZPUMH5KHDG_23tPUJcNbiaT2arj5anNN25AymPao5pY_9OZHHbS7hYFuRW91Dz4jaihlpHsPyXkOE0blGPQZ46JHCXJ-zZp4_u8_aQT9w3BsUAFo/s320/febmar09.jpg" /></a></p>In April, most of the month is a blur, but we did manage to celebrate our “minus one” anniversary (marking the day when we will be married in one year). That was on the 24th and on the 28th we had our engagement photos. They turned out fabulous- I lurve them.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421471488309901794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOa-0doSIMSFZB8r5EtQYFERev2DPSLNmybx8GdiHDDJh1SHAvafO9uR0a0LiyrTP74oIz7InGwwv63ziZIdoKS2fmNoUun6QYOTSzPnuLSxSvXbE9A69Ec1EzVgjfW9yw3uSt20H8Fs/s320/engage+2.bmp" /></p><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRl4C5uvSgG83OzJ4iUb596qlg2S9dmGEbNMtwHMjjjdLmFiEpU7YO1oaMphLsIWVMUXFb5QOk5MEVGw6Xj-RZwMHOEbICX0hVThX56ceUdzm1SH_1nEJynRYkIibJJOiMie-ZxOhNUP4/s1600-h/engage.bmp"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 228px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421471483866399682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRl4C5uvSgG83OzJ4iUb596qlg2S9dmGEbNMtwHMjjjdLmFiEpU7YO1oaMphLsIWVMUXFb5QOk5MEVGw6Xj-RZwMHOEbICX0hVThX56ceUdzm1SH_1nEJynRYkIibJJOiMie-ZxOhNUP4/s320/engage.bmp" /></p></a>In May… The highlight of my year was getting engaged and then becoming an aunt. I will never forget the text, “Sue’s in labor. She thinks her water broke.” That text came from my dad. I was home alone and no one would answer their phones- my fiancé, my BFF, no one. I could barely contain my excitement and my desire to book a flight to New Jersey. But I waited through the nite with zero updates. So when I awoke at 5:30 am, I frantically called my dad. They were pulling up to my sister’s house and off to the hospital they were… within 90 minutes, no this is not a joke, my beautiful little angel was born. First baby. No drugs. Ninety minutes. Let’s all take a minute to hate on Ster. Ok, done. My angel was three weeks old before I got to meet her but holding her for the first time in unforgettable.<br /><br />May turned into June, where I stayed for two weeks to enjoy my family and my niece. I also walked down the aisle for the first time in A-Zilla’s wedding. As soon as Trumpets Voluntary started, I looked at my dad who was in the back of the church and fought back the tears. All I could do was picture my own wedding and the emotion that went along with it. And I also was elated for my dear friend to marry the love of her life. Mr. Nearlywed and I also spent some time enjoying a little vacay time in NYC. We love NYC. Period, new line.<br /><br />My wedding dress was also picked out and purchased in June. After my weight got back down and before it went back up. UGH! I actually bought a size bigger than the sample and still have issues with it…more on that.<br /><br />This is also when The Nearlywed Report made its debut in Las Vegas Bride Magazine. It was my first published piece and let tell you…. I was (still am) so proud. I gave my parents an autographed copy. In case I ever hit it big.<br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif3uoSbIYzWh-PzLWeuhAUhF7h3GyMEs-mxBGiYwaGWQWPaurxrzx9LwEwMoz-rS0xixF9rHaU1OSXMeaSgFTAvq2_cx_Z16aO52EqZCAUnk0SxJDtrTiZ8tazVaw6-tyyocOzgGoewc8/s1600-h/Picture+2.png"><img style="WIDTH: 162px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421467942239701954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HoxqvM2-L0f4_tacJW1FFVw9BzsLHsj042MOlgLXXp2EuwWEech9Wfp-HGhI2oZoJceMJdzpexZTtPpPQepwgA4Sl9qFzbUejhdnwyFHBbG062FlgHkv61XhbHym50KQRUeFQDeaVr0/s320/july09.jpg" /></a></p>August- the only highlight I can remember is working with the JW Marriott on moving our wedding. We spent most of the month crossing our fingers and biting our nails. We weren’t sure if we could swing the $$ but in the end it worked out.<br /><br />September rolled around and we signed our contract with the JW Marriott. Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy.<br /><br />As the year rolled on, so many more great things happened: I found out that A-Zilla is pregnant and expecting in late March, thus taking her out of the wedding, but this is much more fabu. I continued writing and discovered things like twitter and that people do enjoy my blogs and my writing!<br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGMZm3siIsMiSSFZ8dCBOeQFhParHIa0Yw7CyjDcPxXCd_zEI346Yglv7yKsPGIjFzuh1ZdJd_q9onZKimEcNOt_DjieYeLvIEzA5fv3l1cLODID0c6wY65UhyvGU3q7ROlJklS1iV_Q/s1600-h/fall+09.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421470842991037842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCGMZm3siIsMiSSFZ8dCBOeQFhParHIa0Yw7CyjDcPxXCd_zEI346Yglv7yKsPGIjFzuh1ZdJd_q9onZKimEcNOt_DjieYeLvIEzA5fv3l1cLODID0c6wY65UhyvGU3q7ROlJklS1iV_Q/s320/fall+09.jpg" /></a></p><br />As the year rolled on, I also continued to grow as a person and as a wife-to-be. While I didn’t try to start cooking, I did try to be more domestic and really enjoy the moments at home with my fiancé. It worked. Our house is still comfy and cozy and the quiet moments truly helped us to build a stronger bond and cherish our relationship. It is easy to get caught up in the grind of the wedding planning and the pressure of the planning. It is easy to forget about the goal of the day and that is to become a wife, not a princess (for me at least). I could see a difference in the depth of our relationship over the past year and few months.<br /><br />Moving on…. In October, I interviewed for a position with Las Vegas Bride magazine to become their editor. I was offered and accepted the position. One step closer to my goal of being a writer. I love this job and I love the company! This year probably could not have been better. When December arrived, the holiday season was already flying by. Since I wasn’t at the mall this year, I didn’t get to enjoy the season as much, but that is OK- it helped to keep us from over spending. We pulled a Four Christmases and took off for the holiday weekend to our favorite get-a-way, Lake Las Vegas. It was glorious. Our last vacation as a single couple, the last vacation before we tie the knot. It was bittersweet. The next time we stay there will be as a mini-moon.<br /><br />Christmas day didn’t pass us by without the wonderful news of becoming an Aunt and Uncle again! My sister in law is pregnant with a little boy and we can’t wait until he enters the world and we get to spoil the life out of him!<br /><br />Life is good.<br /><br />As 2010 knocks on my door, I am not trying to set more resolutions. I am not trying to become a super woman. I resolve to continue to be a good fiancé/wife, a good friend, a good daughter, sister, aunt. I resolve to surround my life with positivity and put myself, my husband (to be) and my health first. That will mean saying no once in a while and it will mean being tired because of hitting the gym so early, but in the end, it is my life and I love it.<br />So there ya have it folks…. 2009 was the best year yet and I can only hope that 2010 at least matches it but I have a feeling it will surpass it.<br /><br />I wish you all a healthy year, a successful year and one that brings you all that yuo desire- without being greedy!<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My wish for you all is good health, great happiness and much success- no matter what you set out to do, do it honestly and always be positive.<br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Cheers! </span>The Floshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110954960058211929noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070534374470253215.post-78905566303023228032009-12-20T11:26:00.000-08:002009-12-22T09:23:01.284-08:00.professional roll call.<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">With just about 4 months to go until the wedding, I figured that a Professional Roll Call is in order…. These are the folks who we are using for our wedding and those who we have personally selected- or- have been matched up with by our planner. They are truly, utterly, seriously the DREAM TEAM. </span><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This also gets a JACKPOT label.... for the reason that we truly are hitting the wedding JACKPOT by using these fine wedding professionals!</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />In no particular order:<br /><br /><strong>Venue: <a href="http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/lasjw-jw-marriott-las-vegas-resort-and-spa/">JW Marriott Resort & Spa</a></strong><br /><strong></strong><br /><strong>Photographer: </strong></span><a href="http://www.imaginephotostudios.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Imagine Studios</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><strong>Zillaz Dresses:</strong> </span><a href="http://www.bellabridesmaid.com/index.php#mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=0&p=0&a=17&at=0"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Bella Bridesmaid</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><strong>Hair:</strong> </span><a href="http://www.hairbyandeen.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Hair by Andeen</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><strong>Make Up:</strong> </span><a href="http://www.oneluvagency.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">One Luv Bridal</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><strong>Cake: </strong></span><a href="http://www.gimmesomesugaronline.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Gimme Some Sugar</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><strong>Cinematographer:</strong> </span><a href="http://www.lightenfilms.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Lighten Films</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><br /><strong>Floral:</strong> </span><a href="http://www.lasvegasfloral.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Enchanted Floral</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>DJ:</strong> </span><a href="http://www.djstoyou.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">DJs TO YOU</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We are still working out a few other details.... and vendors...but for now, this is the solid dream team! Check them out- if you are in Vegas and getting married, these all come highly recommended by yours truly!</span><br /><br /></p></span></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></span>The Floshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110954960058211929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070534374470253215.post-1838062422839418782009-12-18T11:10:00.000-08:002009-12-18T11:10:03.463-08:00.i now pronounce you.<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Something else that has been crossed off of the list: The Officiate. This was on my list to confirm and finalize back in June. Sure, that was a long time before our April nuptials, but it is something EVERYONE needs for a wedding so they do book up quickly. We were ready to meet with one and just as we were setting the appointment, another couple stole her away for the same date and almost the time. If we were willing to move our ceremony 30 minutes later, she was willing to perform the ceremony. Thanks but no thanks.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />I then reached out to the father (dad) of one of my friends. He is a Rabbi here in town and while neither of us is Jewish, he performs a great Civil Ceremony. I could already see the uproar from the in-laws, who still think that somewhere, someway and somehow we will be married in a Catholic Church. Not only are we not, but we were almost married by a Rabbi. While not being completely ignorant to the wishes of the in-laws, I did try to find someone of the Catholic faith who would perform our ceremony. While most of us know, a Priest is forbidden to perform any Catholic wedding outside of a church. Well, we did hit a jackpot- we found someone of the Catholic faith who would marry us come April.<br /><br />Immediately upon meeting him, we were won over by his calming demeanor and ability to crack jokes, which is important to me as someone who cried tears of laughter on a daily basis. A sigh of relief could not be loud enough once we left his office, it was fabulous to agree on an Officiate and have someone we think will make the ceremony memorable and touching.<br /><br />As you know, I am a BIG proponent of planning for marriage as you plan your wedding. So we enlisted his help to pre-marital counsel us. No- there are NOT any underlying issues, as my dad was under the impression of, but we are smart- this is going to be our one and only marriage. This is going to be through better and worse…richer and poorer…and through my sickness which we hope turns to health. Anyway, he will be going through the Catholic pre-marital program without having to actually go through it! Double score.<br /><br />And here we are, along with my niece. That couch was so swanky.</span><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwH1U3v6Qrr6gXAo4v-SgCooxCTLhehQLqgE6pKdQ2s19KoB-XAGgOWP9FsTliTNjPtidQYhOQvPF8e2bYkNwb0Kcf3otYrBGNvUHyn8dnSshBjaI9g9a1ZaJBJl9c-Vjcrsivpd-vCyg/s1600-h/with+officiate.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415170962786222962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwH1U3v6Qrr6gXAo4v-SgCooxCTLhehQLqgE6pKdQ2s19KoB-XAGgOWP9FsTliTNjPtidQYhOQvPF8e2bYkNwb0Kcf3otYrBGNvUHyn8dnSshBjaI9g9a1ZaJBJl9c-Vjcrsivpd-vCyg/s320/with+officiate.jpg" /></a>The Floshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110954960058211929noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070534374470253215.post-70067075610537196382009-12-14T11:21:00.000-08:002009-12-14T11:25:36.562-08:00.where i've been part 2.<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ok- Where I have been, part 2… </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">What a few months it has been, as you already know. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />During a shaky economy, nothing can be more wonderful than being slammed at work, right? Sure- if you aren’t planning a wedding, writing for four blogs and a magazine. My life in August-October flew by. At my Event Planning job, we were slammed with events, especially in the month of September. I find that on days when you are on your feet, physically and mentally, all day long it leaves you with zero motivation for your own life once you get home.<br />So you all know that in addition to this blog, I write for <a href="http://www.tweetmywedding.com/">Tweet My Wedding </a>(catch me every Monday), <a href="http://blog.weddzilla.com/">Weddzilla</a> and <a href="http://www.bridalbuds.com/">Bridal Buds</a>… I tired to give each new content, but it became too much and I slacked as evidenced by this blog. I still write my column, The Nearlywed Report for Las Vegas Bride and one day…. I just happened to stumble upon the publisher on the right day. A long story short, I am now the Editor-in-Chief of <a href="http://www.lasvegasbride.com/">Las Vegas Bride </a>and another fabulous publication, <a href="http://www.dineoutlv.com/">Dine Out Las Vegas</a>.<br /><br />Whew… so needless to say, I am no longer an event planner, but planning is in my veins and will never go away. Being in the wedding industry does not grant any additional time for my own wedding, as I am trying to put my heart and soul into this publication- for several reasons: my loyalty to the publisher, my loyalty to myself and my desire to spend the rest of my life at the mercy of a keyboard, writing.<br /><br />If I thought that there was an extreme amount of wedding planning pressure when I was just an event planner, imagine the pressure of being the editor of a bridal mag and throwing a wedding. Can you say yikes with me?<br /><br />I am so excited to be embarking on this career path, which is now in its fifth week and my first publication is at the printers and I await it with great excitement…mostly to see how many typos were missed, but hey, we all live and lean. I've been blessed with an amazing opportunity and am thankful for it each day.<br /><br />So there you have it folks, my life has been flipped and turned upside down and right side up all within the five months leading up to the wedding. Maybe all of this change will turn into a wedding novel someday. Hey- if anyone wants to publish it, let me know. I’d be cool with that! (Yes, wouldn’t we all?!?)<br /><br /><br /></span>The Floshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110954960058211929noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070534374470253215.post-80980604425730726142009-12-14T10:55:00.000-08:002009-12-14T10:58:13.622-08:00.with these rings.<div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The checklist is still overflowing with tons of to-do’s….but one thing that can be checked off:<br />OUR WEDDING BANDS!!!</span></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We ordered them on the 5th and they came in on the 12th. When I say “they”, I mean Mr. Nearlywed’s bands. Yes, he ordered two. One for the ring exchange, the one that is his formal, good band. And one for his recreational time, like snowboarding and hiking. </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As I think about the rings, I am also challenged with engraving. Yes, we do have little silly isms that are just “us”, but they change constantly. He did use an ism in my proposal letter so that may be the winner. But readers, what are YOU having engraved into hubby’s band?? Or what did you engrave, if you are willing to share?</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDbUozw8I14tA_qLH5Yqj9Z_MqCzQIB7IIc54eDx1eKN3UKCLXg-PlqBJWSoaVw4jDnftkdszxfWYlpTs4s6MwAgJeApYpNl0DZ3sQyfpSNThxmSYAlBKI6MP3GLdbG5JoRfHCSNcpyw/s1600-h/his+bands.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415167836278690610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDbUozw8I14tA_qLH5Yqj9Z_MqCzQIB7IIc54eDx1eKN3UKCLXg-PlqBJWSoaVw4jDnftkdszxfWYlpTs4s6MwAgJeApYpNl0DZ3sQyfpSNThxmSYAlBKI6MP3GLdbG5JoRfHCSNcpyw/s320/his+bands.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAPhw3witrbxbicLnm0wA8Exm5p7OcAlkatvKEMFowfBtdwYZbKtm7CXDxpCOncZx6CTiG4A83hfi2TyOcvR69k_Uejc6xCnoxXOLHqRmStXzwOTfBnWubb54an1Rr_2If4F3ALzR4VI/s1600-h/my+bands.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415167832130597442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTAPhw3witrbxbicLnm0wA8Exm5p7OcAlkatvKEMFowfBtdwYZbKtm7CXDxpCOncZx6CTiG4A83hfi2TyOcvR69k_Uejc6xCnoxXOLHqRmStXzwOTfBnWubb54an1Rr_2If4F3ALzR4VI/s320/my+bands.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPcmlgRdpc-0qWQZSP5VRjd8vQ7qAoSY0LA9qUoqd-W2xEKFEvRih04TFDVRFDKn0_DGqf_j6_6wIqMU-o6_M6A3ysW9hMsCZLc0sxpDTOQ0cGQ73zFJv7RwDpyz5cnb1ZER6BDBzGbpU/s1600-h/our+bands.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415167823520241618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPcmlgRdpc-0qWQZSP5VRjd8vQ7qAoSY0LA9qUoqd-W2xEKFEvRih04TFDVRFDKn0_DGqf_j6_6wIqMU-o6_M6A3ysW9hMsCZLc0sxpDTOQ0cGQ73zFJv7RwDpyz5cnb1ZER6BDBzGbpU/s320/our+bands.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div></div>The Floshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110954960058211929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070534374470253215.post-75077386678928126442009-12-12T07:01:00.000-08:002009-12-12T07:04:03.447-08:00.favors: almost finished.In late November, my dad sent me photos of him bottling my favors. They are just about complete- the last piece, which is the label, is waiting on me. My only concern now is having enough. Since we compiled our final tally, there have been some adjustments to the guest list; however, I believe that we were always shooting for 200 bottles.<br /><br />Back to the favors. Ok, so we are giving away homemade wine (which is my dad’s retirement hobby) and there will also be a candy buffet and another little fun thing, which is remaining nameless, for now. The one time I received wine as a favor, I kept it in the bottle as decoration- mostly because I was only 17 when the wedding took place. I want people to enjoy the wine, it is homemade, it has been about 9 months in the making now and it is a labor of love. I want guests to DRINK the wine, ENJOY it. And, if you want, save the bottle as your souvenir because the labels are going to be fabu.<br /><br />So what I am asking for is some help—I need something catchy to put on the labels. I have wine & love quotes, but I want a cute saying that we can use to let guests know to drink the wine now and save the bottle. It can be about friends, aging fine wine, enjoying now, etc.<br />Anyone have any ideas? Yes, I am a writer and I am asking for writing help. The irony.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTHP3BjVLfBxI_YfqKceUBighQS9eAFIIOmSPDT0pMT4F20K625ud_XhT6N5Ab2xBQVgpUu2SCV7HiFCCFPrTIVRdh7fAZIS0LT2I60w1bjGrfLZ8V-D6Fszj2lv1YUH3uH-CxtSlt5s/s1600-h/DSC00892.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414365264801050786" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigTHP3BjVLfBxI_YfqKceUBighQS9eAFIIOmSPDT0pMT4F20K625ud_XhT6N5Ab2xBQVgpUu2SCV7HiFCCFPrTIVRdh7fAZIS0LT2I60w1bjGrfLZ8V-D6Fszj2lv1YUH3uH-CxtSlt5s/s320/DSC00892.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjop-AFr-PdQFUfZB1d9D3ugd6FknhVgo0YrRxm77GCdhyslhpChe8CA3Cf1dNnj-NV1WSpSAFN8N3J6z4poxKN3vdsRSP0Us5YIugh4KLNR4b7Ohq95yyxj2-Y39XmpDwSRjOvkaOHkgg/s1600-h/DSC00891.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414365260804306402" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjop-AFr-PdQFUfZB1d9D3ugd6FknhVgo0YrRxm77GCdhyslhpChe8CA3Cf1dNnj-NV1WSpSAFN8N3J6z4poxKN3vdsRSP0Us5YIugh4KLNR4b7Ohq95yyxj2-Y39XmpDwSRjOvkaOHkgg/s320/DSC00891.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3tSXnLPasBy0zJZMt_5noncAP2Yxup0GoV2QVK0jXELM3ataKklhQbp3NPMwxZWKmNG0DLQMiLn97-mzK-VIaPv1uGDqEexB0LCOpDrw2PEljki0ZcddShYopZZxGtfbYo3FnCGA3MA/s1600-h/DSC00893.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414365268078791154" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3tSXnLPasBy0zJZMt_5noncAP2Yxup0GoV2QVK0jXELM3ataKklhQbp3NPMwxZWKmNG0DLQMiLn97-mzK-VIaPv1uGDqEexB0LCOpDrw2PEljki0ZcddShYopZZxGtfbYo3FnCGA3MA/s320/DSC00893.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAuqro2U2JcuI-5ynTjLekWKBv7Jv04EOF5YbeQMnnDmi5LAuN8XpYFUj5wjkQbP7h6rsG43O1DFILKcvkTJd2TDCCnw6yG13mxRCI6GLVjO1vqhOWRpjxuPBkegW7gmauiHNMbwFCyWI/s1600-h/Finished+Wine.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414365254646603186" style="WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAuqro2U2JcuI-5ynTjLekWKBv7Jv04EOF5YbeQMnnDmi5LAuN8XpYFUj5wjkQbP7h6rsG43O1DFILKcvkTJd2TDCCnw6yG13mxRCI6GLVjO1vqhOWRpjxuPBkegW7gmauiHNMbwFCyWI/s320/Finished+Wine.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div></div>The Floshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110954960058211929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070534374470253215.post-61923225564703111132009-12-09T15:21:00.000-08:002009-12-09T15:26:02.460-08:00.one zilla down.<div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yes, folks, that is right. I am down a Zilla. Not because I am a Zilla….although I was called one TWICE last week. TWICE! Me?!!? Psh.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It was in early August when I sent out an email to my Zillaz asking them some things about the wedding. Shortly thereafter, I get a BBM from A-Zilla: “Hey- we need to have a phone date soon!” I was one of those things you just know—like when your man is the one and when your wedding dress is perfect for you. I just knew that she was calling to tell me some fabulous news. It couldn’t wait- on my end- until the weekend. I told her that I’d call her right after my meeting. Not that I could concentrate on that meeting, but I tried. Before jumping to too many conclusions, although I texted what I knew it to be… </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Giving away no clues, I had to suffer through a meeting while dreaming of the call that awaited me. When I was able to finally call her, I just waited for her to spew it out, “You are going to be an auntie!” YAY!!! One of my Bffs was pregnant!!! And can’t come to the wedding! Yippee…. What is so yippee about that? Well….we are in our 30s, there are never any guarantees when you are eager to start your family.<br /><br />When I asked A-Zilla to be in my wedding, she had asked if I’d be upset if she was pregnant at my wedding. Maybe if I were under the age of 25 and thought the world truly did revolve around me, I would have been, but after 30 eh….you are just happy to be alive. I didn’t care if she would be preggo! She didn’t expect it to happen so quickly…turns out she is due 3 weeks before the wedding. Whether the baby arrives early or late, she won’t be flying 2,500 miles with a new born, a husband and a bridesmaid dress. I almost wished she found out after we ordered the dresses because I kind of want one for myself now.<br /><br />Anyway, we don’t know the baby’s gender or a name…. so don’t ask. And I will say this again: Flo and I could not be any happier for our dear friends. We will truly miss them and the fun that they bring to any gathering. I can’t wait to meet baby Zilla one day and be there for his/her wedding too!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmJO7Vz1s6l1FPk6f2-iZ_c3omwNP5tWtEbF4IEbCRdekDGgD3y3N9sIi0DCagnfV5wKbHoLferloJOHA22sHGF7oP_lELow0-JxbDBvIEu7oS-zvgH0b6ZGujtbjx0I8TaCVj7GW5vA/s1600-h/zillaz.bmp"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413381483960438274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmJO7Vz1s6l1FPk6f2-iZ_c3omwNP5tWtEbF4IEbCRdekDGgD3y3N9sIi0DCagnfV5wKbHoLferloJOHA22sHGF7oP_lELow0-JxbDBvIEu7oS-zvgH0b6ZGujtbjx0I8TaCVj7GW5vA/s320/zillaz.bmp" /></a> <br /><br />So what does this mean for The Nearlyweds wedding? Well, we are four on one side and five on the other. One of the lucky ladies will be escorted by two gents. </span></div>The Floshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110954960058211929noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070534374470253215.post-72649532542435051792009-12-09T14:50:00.000-08:002009-12-09T14:50:22.047-08:00.where i've been, part 1.<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Whew….quite a few months it has been in the world of wedding planning. It feels like I took a nap back in July and woke up to now December. So let me start back with where I feel I’ve left off. I told you that we changed our venue and I updated you with both photos and stories and reasons why.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Then, I’ve almost decided upon flowers. Almost. I just need to pare down a few things to fit within my budget. We decided on a fabu four tiered cake. Invites are approved and the check has been sent. We booked a DJ and an officiate. We solidified a date & location for my bridal shower in Las Vegas. Mr. Nearlywed has almost planned his entire bachelor party while mine….well…. I don’t know where or if mine stands yet. I spoke with someone regarding music for the ceremony and we have a menu tasting next month. We don’t have songs picked out and my do not play list still lives in my head.<br /><br />I almost have shoes, still need accessories, jewels and undergarments….le sigh.<br />Today, we are 136 days out from the wedding. Remember my 365 blog?? Over 200 days ago?!?! Yea, me too.<br /><br />So what do I owe you for blogs? Well I need to blog about my experience with my florist. Show you pics of the cake. Talk about finding out minister. How awesome our DJ will be. That should give me a good start. Are you ready, readers? Stay tuned, I am going to hammer these out and post them ASAP.</span>The Floshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110954960058211929noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070534374470253215.post-63410548650046978222009-11-28T22:03:00.000-08:002009-11-28T22:24:48.715-08:00.jackpot part 3.<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Forgive me <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">bloggers</span>, but it has been a long <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">freakin</span>' time since my last blog. And this has happened several times over the course of my planning, forgive me and accept my apologies. Just when I think that life is settling down, something else happens. This is slated to be a JACKPOT blog, so on we go with that.... my excuses for not blogging will follow another day.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">JACKPOT::</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I feel as tho <strong>BOTH</strong> Mr. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Nearlywed</span> and I are hitting the JACKPOT on this one.... our parents! We both have amazing parents, which, after reading several wedding forums, makes us realize how lucky we are. While my path to approval by the in-laws wasn't always a yellow brick road, the point is, now, it is great! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Yay</span>. What makes this a JACKPOT blog is not that we are combining two cool families, but the roles models they have provided for our lives- especially in marriage.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This past July...my parents celebrated 38 years of happily ever after. While I am not so naive to know that not all 38 of those years were for better, richer and in health, I never knew if there were any <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">worse</span>, poorer or sickness issues. Well, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ok</span>, I knew if someone was in poor health, but you get it. Anytime there was something wrong or a disagreement to be had, it was kept from the kids. As I grew and became more wise and aware, I knew that not everything was roses but appreciated that my parents never fought opening and in front of the kids. Sure, there were disagreements but in all seriousness, I can't tell you when there was an all out battle. I've heard small town rumors....which just goes to show that either someone made something up or someone they trusted didn't keep their mouth shut, but I digress.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Maybe growing up, I didn't have a brand new car or the latest fashions, but I never had to want for anything we needed. I was always covered with my basics and then some. My parents were the cool parents, even though I wanted to disagree with that. My friends would hang at our house and they knew everyone and everyone knew them. Overall, both my sister and I turned our pretty well. And with them as role models for my life and my marriage, I am sure to succeed.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Before Mr. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Nearlywed</span> and I met, back in his single/dating days, his mother wanted him to find a "Catholic girl whose parents are still together." Can you imagine how difficult that is in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Las</span> Vegas?!? VERY difficult. It is hard enough to find someone who still has both parents happily married yet alone to find someone who is also Catholic. She promised him $1,000 if he ever did find that person. By the end of this blog, you will know the answer.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Mr. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Nearlywed</span> also comes from a solid family and two parents who stayed true to their vows and were together for all the days of their lives. While I don't know how many anniversaries they shared, I do know that once Flo's father's health took a turn for the worse, his mother was there, by dad's side every day. EVERY day. Not just here and there, but day in and day out. And that became one of the unwritten qualities in a woman for which Mr. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Nearlywed</span> searched. As someone who cried when they think of the words, "In sickness and in health..." this not only makes me happy to know that Mr. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Nearlywed</span> will be by my side just as I will be by his.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">When I think back to other who I've dated.... I have to take it back to high school to find a boyfriend whose parents were still together. But at the age of 16, what do you really know <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">about</span> dating and life? When I think about how those relationships worked & ended, I look back on the issues that we had, it became clear that without that solid relationship role model, we were on different paths. Clearly different paths.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Now... I am <strong>NOT</strong> at all saying that if your parents are divorced you can't have a happy and healthy marriage/relationship.....but what I am saying is that having grown up in solid households, it helps us to put forth more effort and say our vows of marriage very seriously and looking up to my parents and future in-laws as role models. We won't let them down. </span>The Floshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110954960058211929noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070534374470253215.post-29024690071700197152009-11-15T12:48:00.000-08:002009-11-15T12:49:53.318-08:00.maybe boys aren't whatever.<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;">Since we were young little girls, we’ve always heard, “girls are forever and boys are whatever”. I am starting to think…in my 30s…that maybe this isn’t true. As the past two years of my life have flown on by, I noticed that many of my personal girlfriendships have changed some dramatically and some just barely. While I will stay away from specifics, I noticed that since Mr. Nearlywed and I began dating, all of the sudden, I no longer have much in common with some girlfriends. Some didn’t bother to get to get to know him and some did. But all of those relationships changed. As I plan a wedding to the man I love, I notice that it brings out unhappiness in others. Being in a relationship doesn’t make you tainted or less fun. I think that my relationship has enabled me to feel alive again and able to give energy to my girlfriendships.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;"><br />Here is my theory on why some girlfriendships maybe not be forever. Think back to the boys we dated in high school….are we still friends with them? Sure, maybe you married your HS Sweetheart, or maybe you still keep in touch because you were so young the relationship is more like a long friendship than a short dating relationship. But, for me, it was a great up because it was broken and I didn’t invest any energy into those relationships beyond the day that they ended.<br /><br />As someone who has had more girlfriendships than shoes, I noticed that, sometimes people grow, they change, and they set different goals. Once I started dating Mr. Nearlywed, my life goals changed. I met someone who shared my visions for life and was ready, willing and able to start working on those goals and visions together. I know that every girl who is in my life today may not always be in my life. But no matter what, they left a lasting impression on my heart. Would I like to purge my phone book and my Facebook page? Yes, sometimes.<br /><br />After being missing from wedding blog posts, I share this one not to vent, but because as I watch the girlfriendships of others change, it can help you to realize that maybe girls are whatever.</span>The Floshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110954960058211929noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070534374470253215.post-12585534749844335532009-11-01T15:47:00.000-08:002009-11-01T15:59:14.785-08:00.sunday jackpot.<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Yes, I am a blog slacker. More on that later. Right now.... here is my latest blog on how I am hitting the wedding jackpot: My Fiance. Mr. Nearlywed.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Where does one gushing bride even begin? Welp, let's start with this:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We met in January 2008. When we met, it was three weeks post diabetes diagnosis. So sharing the news to him was like telling him that I like pizza, it just flowed. It was as new to me as it was to him so we basically have navigated my entire disease together. It wasn't until this year- and only by my crazy schedule- that he missed a doctor appt. He went through Diabetes education training with me, read the books, walked the walks, he did everything that one woman could hope to have in a partner.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">About two weeks into our dating, I let him know that I will be a medical landmine until all of this gets figured out. And I gave him the chance to walk away from any potential relationship and we can just be friends, if that would even work out. I realized what a long load it would be to get back to healthy (another blog for another day) and didn't want to drag him down that road.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">You could tell that he heard me but maybe it didn't hit him or maybe he didn't believe me. Mr. Nearlywed barely batted an eyelash and said that he will stick by me.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">He now gives new meaning to, "In sickness and in health...."</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Last year, at the Step Out to Fight Diabetes, he gave a speech. Here is what he said, get a tissue, I can wait....</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br />"<span style="font-family:verdana;">I stand before you here today, not as a type 1 or type 2 diabetic. But, this disease affects me just as much as it affects all of you. Years ago a co-anchor of mine said, "Tedd… you should support a cause. Fight for something!" I didn't even give it a second thought. I was too consumed with my job, my life and my success. But, All of that changed 8 months ago. I met a wonderful, beautiful young woman named Jennifer. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">She's the love of my life, and 2 weeks into dating she was diagnosed as a diabetic. A diabetic at 30 years old, I thought to myself how is that possible? This young, vibrant, healthy woman was now facing a lifelong disease--I was crushed. I told myself I have 2 options. I could either NOT worry about it. Or, I could support her, be there for her, help her fight this fight-------I chose option 2. You see it doesn't matter if you're type 1, type 2 or type 3 like myself, the role of the caregiver. Every dollar counts. It's organizations like this that help bring us closer to a cure. There are medical breakthrough's everyday. I'm not asking for a thousand dollars, I'm not asking for 20 dollars or 2 dollars. All I ask is that you keep supporting organizations like the American Diabetes Association and other diabetes fundraisers. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">There are 300,000 Las Vegans with the disease, and I bet there are some who don't even know it. Millions in the US are affected by the disease, we can't escape it. We can't turn our back to it, because I'm willing to bet you, or someone very close to you has the disease. I stand before you to ask for your continued support for causes and organizations and fundraisers like you see here today. Because it's your support and money that brings us closer to a cure, so that our loved ones, and my Jennifer can live a long, healthy, prosperous life right along side us. </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I'm proud to be walking alongside all of you. I thank you for being here this morning, Jennifer thanks you, Channel 8 thanks you…… but most importantly thank yourselves for being here. God Bless." </span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">~Speech at Step out: Fight Diabetes Fundraiser</span>The Floshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110954960058211929noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070534374470253215.post-7573455076721271352009-10-23T19:23:00.000-07:002009-10-23T19:23:00.374-07:00.a custom dress hanger.<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I will be a bride for one day but a Mrs. forever..... so having stuff that says, "<em>bride"</em> is not important to me.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A wedding is one of the few times in your life when you can go overboard on anything and everything. Think about it: What other occasion would you have for buying one of these:</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qx-uWehEmg6VLB1wJiPSvArhXTNOb-uDzgR6Dluti8Y88wKSAY6oYYydesisSOe88hRFX06htorJQzzVvP2uvlK6EADLq7LDum5E8Z_4sUfWRalQoIilaAPGiFSMglxvVxpGTRfSVG8/s1600-h/etsy+hanger.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393760329264947826" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 210px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qx-uWehEmg6VLB1wJiPSvArhXTNOb-uDzgR6Dluti8Y88wKSAY6oYYydesisSOe88hRFX06htorJQzzVvP2uvlK6EADLq7LDum5E8Z_4sUfWRalQoIilaAPGiFSMglxvVxpGTRfSVG8/s320/etsy+hanger.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><a href="http://www.bridalbuds.com/wp-content/uploads/etsy-hanger.jpg"></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Or one of these…<br /></span><a href="http://www.bridalbuds.com/wp-content/uploads/lilafrance-on-etsy.jpg"></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This would be great for both the bride and her dress and maybe make for some cute pics for the groom’s suit! I am not one who is into the “bride” labeled items, so this is a great! A unique item that you can use throughout your entire marriage- forever!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLU3OJ5B0hUeXu0w8sgGwpm3ossCiGmKgMC6GrIDWcvteUZ2tVefEqyn1ZfYLw20NPiRH6rOS39C0kyg3DIK0D8jIJG9AkypI6aFIIC3JUYCvj4gJrF9sqpAQIorrO74c2suu7GY1HCs/s1600-h/lilafrance+on+etsy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393760338613496722" style="WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 286px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcLU3OJ5B0hUeXu0w8sgGwpm3ossCiGmKgMC6GrIDWcvteUZ2tVefEqyn1ZfYLw20NPiRH6rOS39C0kyg3DIK0D8jIJG9AkypI6aFIIC3JUYCvj4gJrF9sqpAQIorrO74c2suu7GY1HCs/s320/lilafrance+on+etsy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />These are found on the ever reliable </span><a class="external" href="http://www.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Etsy</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> with the seller </span><a class="external" href="http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5679857" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Lilafrances</span></a></div>The Floshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110954960058211929noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1070534374470253215.post-35357689720537094812009-10-22T08:36:00.000-07:002009-10-22T09:14:37.254-07:00.kreativ blogger award.<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">YAY</span>! Hooray! My first blog award…. It is an honor to just be <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">nom</span>, er… I mean just to have a reader! Just kidding, my following is growing and I am thrilled to give you some entertainment! Moving along…</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The dearest, sweet, adorable, fun, knowledgeable and all around great girl </span><a href="http://ashleysrevenge.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ashley</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> tagged me as a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Kreativ</span> Blogger! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Yippeee</span>!!! So now you have to endure 7-10 things about me and then, I pass the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Kreativ</span> torch onto other <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">bloggers</span>! I "know" </span><a href="http://ashleysrevenge.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ashley</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> though our coveted wedding forum site and am honored that she reads my blog and then gave me a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Kreativ</span> Blogger Award! So thank you, </span><a href="http://ashleysrevenge.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Ashley</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, for this honor:</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjzLFCJVhB5Pvhm1mXpEBez9DR8G74ASpY7ZcB_I2IPTJKsCJtxbNF_ZguCF0_Kn0D6JvSKFp2dTI5zNpAvbNar0XpUtHIRh_Rqqxit-64BVbTTxSR2b4ZEqbZ5-r9AHQifBZEsTZCdk/s1600-h/Kreativ+Blogger+Award.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395453414837123650" style="WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwjzLFCJVhB5Pvhm1mXpEBez9DR8G74ASpY7ZcB_I2IPTJKsCJtxbNF_ZguCF0_Kn0D6JvSKFp2dTI5zNpAvbNar0XpUtHIRh_Rqqxit-64BVbTTxSR2b4ZEqbZ5-r9AHQifBZEsTZCdk/s320/Kreativ+Blogger+Award.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Ok</span>, I will get this out in the open because if I don’t, then my sister just may do it for me. I watched Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood up until I was about 9 years old. It was fun- who <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">wouldn</span>’t want to visit The Land of Make Believe? Won’t you be my neighbor??</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2. I love even numbers. My favorite number is 22 because not only is 2 and even number, but 22 is two #2’s.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">3. I’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">ve</span> been told- from a tarot card reader- that I have a little bit of psychic ability. And I believe her. When my last boyfriend and I broke up, during one of our heated “I can do better than you” arguments, he said, “You are probably going to run off and find some suit and tie wearing guy.” To which I replied, “Yea, and I’ll probably meet him at the dog park.” And I did- both. Everything happens for a reason. So thank you for putting that out into the Universe for me. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">4. I love sports. I love the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Steelers</span>. And the Yankees. There are other teams I follow as a here and there fan, but if it is live sports, count me in to spectate. However, I have ZERO athletic ability. None. The adage, “You blank like a girl”, that is me. I run, throw, kick, etc. like a girl.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">5. I HATE feet. HATE. THEM. Hate looking at them, anything. My feet are quite ugly so it has to stem from that. If you run after me and try to touch me with your feet, I scream and probably cry if you succeed.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">6. I am petrified of the dark. There always had to be a light on in the house. If I am going to bed, I have to go and turn on the bedroom light, then come back into the hallway and turn off that light. It started when I was in Italy and went to the beach, it was dark. The ocean scares me because it is so vast and full of deadly creatures.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">7. I been both a T2 and a T1 diabetic already in my life. How? Well, I was diagnosed with diabetes at age 29. My idiot <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">endo</span>- who I’d love to share the name with you and if anyone <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">reco</span>’s her to you, RUN FAR AWAY- looked at my and said, “No you are a T2.” She did that by looking at my 29 year old body, all 5 ft., 7 inches and 138 lbs of me. Turns out, the only way you can tell is by an antibody test, which I failed. I am a T1…or 1.5 (Latent Autoimmune/Adult Onset). So now, I am kept alive by a piece of plastic called an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Omnipod</span>. So when you have a hang nail or a bad day, just remember, I am kept alive by a piece of plastic.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Here are the procedures connected with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Kreativ</span> Blogger Award:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1. Copy the award to your site.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2. Link to the person from whom you received the award.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisHHgEyCQCWk3fn3BLtJ0qYiV2VISFE5Zk_T27FN7ONkUpjihyphenhyphen18N9BMF3rEmyFkM1l5lp6jLGpza6vFzSxKh2bOUJLxMoGTJed9aBDg74eaiFd4TInARkBXMowXszeaBEyKgoeCa24cM/s1600-h/Kreativ+Blogger+Award.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">3. Nominate 7 other <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">bloggers</span>.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">4. Link to those sites on your blog.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">5. Leave a message on the blogs you nominate.- I may just send them an email! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My nominees for this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Kreativ</span> Blogger Award go to:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">1. <a href="http://www.stillfiguringoutlife.blogspot.com/">Jenny. </a></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We've never met but I consider her a friend- she is humorous, always gives great advice and is a great supporter. She generously donated to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">JDRF</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Walk</span> to Cure Diabetes! Read her blog </span><a href="http://www.stillfiguringoutlife.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">here</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">2. <a href="http://kellysthelyingthebitchthewardrobe.blogspot.com/">Kelly</a>. </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> My friend and Zilla. When it comes to friends, everyone needs a Kelly. She is the slap that you need when you really want to be hugged. She is the truth when you want to look in the mirror and lie. But when you want to cry, she will have a tissue and bottle of Merlot ready and waiting. Read her blog </span><a href="http://kellysthelyingthebitchthewardrobe.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">here</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">3. <a href="http://celestialweddings.blogspot.com/2009/09/welcome.html">Sarah</a>. My friend and fellow bride, </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> She is hilarious and keeps me entertained via email and Twitter all day long. Read her blog </span><a href="http://celestialweddings.blogspot.com/2009/09/welcome.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">here.</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">4. <a href="http://buildingabakery.blogspot.com/">Kari</a>. The Crazy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Baykah.</span> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> There is nothing crazy about her, but her energy is contagious. And her cupcakes....even better. Words like addictive and can't have just one come to mind. Read about the good, the bad, the ugly and sweet of being a </span><a href="http://buildingabakery.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">crazy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">baykah</span>.</span></a><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">5. </span><a href="http://www.tweetmywedding.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">TweetMyWedding</span>.</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> This is both an award and a shameless plug. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">TMW</span> was one of the first places to accept my application as a blogger. What is </span><a href="http://www.tweetmywedding.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">TweetMyWedding</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">? Well just head on over there and find out. You will be glad that you did.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">6. </span><a href="http://brideonbudget.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">BrideOnBudget</span>.</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> Two words that typically don't fit harmoniously into one sentence. but somehow, Ashley makes it work!! </span><a href="http://brideonbudget.blogspot.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26" style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">BrideOnBudget</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> is having a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">fabu</span> wedding without breaking her bank- and she shows you how every step of the way!</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">7. </span><a href="http://needles-pens.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Becca. </span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Another fellow bride who is also getting married in Vegas. I've been trying my best to help her out and am pretty sure that I am responsible for </span><a href="http://needles-pens.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">her</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> bakery selection. Who is it? See above, #4.<br /></p></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span>The Floshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18110954960058211929noreply@blogger.com2