.maybe boys aren't whatever.

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.

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.

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.

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.

.kreativ blogger award.

YAY! Hooray! My first blog award…. It is an honor to just be nom, 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…

The dearest, sweet, adorable, fun, knowledgeable and all around great girl Ashley tagged me as a Kreativ Blogger! Yippeee!!! So now you have to endure 7-10 things about me and then, I pass the Kreativ torch onto other bloggers! I "know" Ashley though our coveted wedding forum site and am honored that she reads my blog and then gave me a Kreativ Blogger Award! So thank you, Ashley, for this honor:


1. Ok, 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 wouldn’t want to visit The Land of Make Believe? Won’t you be my neighbor??

2. I love even numbers. My favorite number is 22 because not only is 2 and even number, but 22 is two #2’s.

3. I’ve 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.

4. I love sports. I love the Steelers. 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.

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.

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.

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 endo- who I’d love to share the name with you and if anyone reco’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 Omnipod. So when you have a hang nail or a bad day, just remember, I am kept alive by a piece of plastic.


Here are the procedures connected with the Kreativ Blogger Award:

1. Copy the award to your site.

2. Link to the person from whom you received the award.

3. Nominate 7 other bloggers.

4. Link to those sites on your blog.

5. Leave a message on the blogs you nominate.- I may just send them an email!



My nominees for this Kreativ Blogger Award go to:

1. Jenny. 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 JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes! Read her blog here.


2. Kelly. 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 here


3. Sarah. My friend and fellow bride, She is hilarious and keeps me entertained via email and Twitter all day long. Read her blog here.


4. Kari. The Crazy Baykah. 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 crazy baykah.


5. TweetMyWedding. This is both an award and a shameless plug. TMW was one of the first places to accept my application as a blogger. What is TweetMyWedding? Well just head on over there and find out. You will be glad that you did.

6. BrideOnBudget. Two words that typically don't fit harmoniously into one sentence. but somehow, Ashley makes it work!! BrideOnBudget is having a fabu wedding without breaking her bank- and she shows you how every step of the way!

7. Becca. 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 her bakery selection. Who is it? See above, #4.

.holy october.

In traditional crazy Vegas weather, we went from inferno to ice box in a week. Literally. Two Sundays ago it was 102 this past Sunday it was about 70 and gusty. Yea, I am marrying the weatherman and use words like "gusty".

Welcome October! This is my favorite month and when I truly wanted to get married. However, with a January proposal that I wouldn't change for the world and self-paying for the wedding, October was unrealistic. Instead of stressing over what is left to be done and what needs to be where, I get to enjoy my favorite month along with the cooler temps, yummy wine and candy with friends! That is the only reason why I like Halloween- for the candy. This year, I am going to be the Mad Hattress.

Anyway, I blogged back at 366 days to go and 365 days to go to the wedding. Now, today, I have 200. Where did those other 165 days go? In another 165 days, I will be 35 days away from the wedding. Holy crappers time IS flying.

So this post is not about anything wedding related except the count down is really on.

Enjoy this beautiful weather! Have some apple cider (sugar free of course!) eat some snack sized candy and enjoy the next 25 days of my favorite month.

.when good things happen to great people.

One of my favorite things is celebrating the joys, accomplishments and successes of others. Really, I do. I know that this is a rare find...but I truly think that if you are happy for others, good things come your way and others can be happy for you.

I'd love for my blogging friends to get book deals... then I can go to their signings and have a gront spot in the line...or do their hair or style their clothes. I love when new businesses take off and become hugely popular thanks for social networking sites and their own personal triumphs.

So today, I am going to shout out my accomplishments....be happy if you want...post yours if you would like! Let's hear it for success!

My first ever article was published in Las Vegas Bride Magazine (Summer 2009). In meeting with the magazine to discuss wedding stuff, I asked for space and they delivered. So please, follow them on blogger and check out my article, The Nearlywed Report

I am currently blogging for myself (ahem...you are here) and three other FABULOUS wedding websites... again, congrats to those who have started these sites and have pursued making them the successes that they are!
In no order:
1. TweetMyWedding- This site had five bloggers who expand on one of the "Tweets" from the week. Happily, I can say that I am the first blogger on this site... my first post went live on Monday. There are four other talented blogger brides who write... so check them out daily!
2. Bridal Buds- I love this site! An inspirational place for brides, who are named after "buds". I love posting here and hope to continue well after I am a Misses. You can find my posts under the name of "Poinsettia" bud...along with all of the other talented brides.
3. Weddzilla- This site provides inspiration & insight to brides from brides. There are so many great posts from how to be a great MOH to e-pic ideas and beyond. My intro post is on August 5th, so stay tuned for great posts by Jennifer B. (that is my government name!)

So there ya have it! I am trying to make my way as a writer... anyone have any book deals they want to hand out?!? Ha...well if you do, who am I to say no!?

Share your recent joys with me! I'd love to be happy for you!

.five9nine.

When I woke up yesterday, there was nothing in the air to indicate that this day would different than any other. There were no breaking news stories, no devastating tragedies, not even any make-you-go-awe-heartwarming stories. Just an ordinary day until 9 pm. I woke up as I did any other day: as a daughter, a sister, a fiancé and a friend.

My dad was never much, if any, of a texter until I gave him an old Crackberry of mine. Now we text nearly every day but it was odd for the time of the text I received that my sister was having contractions and that her water had broken. Immediately, I froze and thought “Ok, what do I do?” Apparently, when you are over 2,000 miles away, you don’t do anything except become engulfed by an excited panic and think about how in a matter of mere hours, your life is now changed forever for the better. I urgently call Flo, twice. No answer, so I do what any crazy aunt-to-be would do, keep calling and start pacing. When I am angry, anxious or stressed cleaning becomes my panacea. Thankfully, I was already entering my third hour of cleaning and feverishly continued until Flo came home. It’s all a blur to rehash what was going through my mind, but I started to look up flights (obviously way too expensive and I will have to sit this one out until my trip at the end of the month), think about what I will do when the call comes in and says, “It’s A ????????!” a still unknown detail. How will I react not seeing my niece or nephew for three weeks? How will I feel as I add Aunt to my list of things I am. Something of which I proud yet scared…

To say that I am scared is an understatement. I’m not scared that my life is changing, but I am scared that there is now someone in this world who is part me, part of my DNA. Someone in this world who is going to look to up me, seek me out for advice, hopefully do as I suggest and not as I did, a being to add to my holiday and birthday gift list. Someone to spoil, someone to help with fashion! (It will need my help!! *smile*). A little someone to look at and see my sister in its eyes, to see what characteristics it may have that were my devious self as a child. To hope and pray that my T1 Diabetes is just by random selection and isn’t something that will get passed down to the next generation. To hope and pray that I can help shape this person’s world to be one in which they enjoy living and thriving. Starting today, my role in life has added a new responsibility. Starting today, we become Aunt Foof and Uncle Teddlious. Or Foof2.

When I woke up today, it was to an update that my sister was on her way to the hospital. As I finish this piece of writing, she is at the hospital and the baby is almost here. My next piece will be written by someone is still a daughter, a sister, a fiancée, a friend and now a proud Aunt.

***UPDATE***

As of about somewhere between 6:45 AM and 6:55 AM, I became an Aunt to the beautiful Marisol Acadia. I say she is beautiful because she is. And she is ours. Welcome to the world, Marisol. Happy Birthday.

.five9nine.

A little fitness humor....

Yesterday’s blog had me reminiscing about something that I had as a chubby little kid- the “Get In Shape Girl” exercise set. Back in the day- and still sometimes today- I thought that just by owning the equipment, magically I’d get in shape. Much to my dismay, that was the wrong through process. Probably the reason for my still flabby buh-byeceps- I have the workout gloves, but they don’t life the weights and poof! turn my arms shapely. My memory has reached a failure fuse in recalling what, if any, of these workout delights I once owned. Maybe the parent units can remember, but I was definitely a wrist band girl as a child. I remember wearing them in the 80s to go do exercises with my dad! How cool was I? If only I had a photo to show my degree of coolness.

In case you don’t remember the joys that were Get In Shape Girl, allow me to introduce you, courtesy of You Tube. Guh! Casette tapes!

Click here to watch a faded, but good You Tube video.

Ahhh to be young again… wait…. I was a chubby kid….to not be young and vulnerable again.