Moving

I'm officially moving and hope you will come with me! I'm sharing my stories over at Newlywed Tales!

Stop by and say hi!

http://www.newlywedtales.com/

New!

I decided I needed a new blog for a new chapter! Visit me

at http://www.sneakyseconds.blogspot.com/

I'll likely still post here a bit, but I felt like I needed a new blog as I embark on the crazy journey of marriage, (hopefully someday) parenting and life in Jersey!

Brokeback Diamond

R and I recently went back to the jeweler who designed my engagement ring to choose a wedding band design. We settled on a lovely thin princess cut infinity band and placed our order. The jeweler then asked if I wanted him to clean and tighten up my engagement ring, so I handed it to him for a quick tune up. He immediately sits down and says, I hate to tell you this, but you broke a diamond.

I WHAT????

I have a 3 stone princess cut engagement ring and somehow one of the side stones got a crack on it inside. I had noticed it had turned cloudy, but I assumed it was just dirty. Apparently when you break a diamond, that's what happens, it doesn't necessarily chip, but it loses its clarity.  THANKFULLY my ring is 100% insured so we were able to get it fixed immediately. Unfortunately it means I have to be ring-less for a week. 

Anyone else have a traumatic wedding or engagement ring story to share?

Hi there. Remember me?

I took a little unplanned hiatus, but I'm feeling the bloggy itch again so here I am. 

What have I been up to? A LOT of wedding planning, cooking, couponing and weight GAINING. Also I got an iphone.

Ok I think you are all caught up now! 

Next up: why I'm not wearing my engagement ring this week. 

Wedding Update

Wedding plans continue!! Let's see so far we have:

-Booked the venue and the church

-Found a wedding weekend coordinator (who I LOVE, but wish she was slightly more responsive to emails...it's my SINGLE  (I swear!) bridezilla thing.

- I've purchased my dress, shoes, jewelry and hair accessories

- We have an invitation mock-up and bought most of the elements for them (I'm designing them myself) and found a calligrapher

- Booked a photographer and hair/make-up artist

-Purchased the bridesmaid gifts

- The little things: unity candle done, blingy hoodie done, save the dates sent, card box made, escort cards bought, table number holders bought, candlesticks for centerpieces bought

- Flowers designed and florist booked

- Band booked (was a gift from his family)

-Day after brunch booked and menu planned

Still to go:

- Wedding bands. I've purchased his (THREE TIMES NOW since we can't get the size right. Fingers crossed (so to speak) that the one that came today fits his finger so this can get crossed off)

- Cake

- Choose menu

- Rehearsal dinner location

- The guys attire

-The guys gifts

- Painting the aisle runner (our wedding has a monogram theme and I'm painting our monogram on the aisle runner)

-Origami flowers to decorate the church...half are done, but we took a folding break. Need to get back on that. 

-Design the ceremony (readings, music, etc.)

-Rent chairs for reception (theirs are ugly)

-Favors

8 months to go! Hope the time DOESN'T fly! I have so much left to do!!!

As always you can visit us at http://trippingdowntheaisle.weebly.com/ to stalk our plans!

Taxes Fail

I've always done my taxes on my own. Old school style: pencil, forms and calculator. I loathed the idea of paying someone to do something I could figure out on my own (my taxes have always been ridiculously straightforward, no deductions or anything). Last year I changed jobs and changed states and it's just been too hard to figure out, so today I sucked it up and dropped my papers off at H&R Block. I stupidly feel a sense of failure/defeat and am annoyed they don't make it so a normal person can figure this stuff out! I even tried doing it in Turbo Tax but couldn't figure it out. Ah well, it's my one solace that this year is the LAST YEAR I'll be filing on my own. Next year I'll be a married girl and taxes fall under R's domain! 

Speaking of R's domain....we had a possum fall into our backyard garbage can and get stuck! Apparently he was a happy camper in there because even when R tipped the can over so he could run out, he stayed in there! R tapped on the can, turned it all the way over even tried putting food in front of the can, but that little guy would NOT come out! Finally he wandered out without a care in the world and kind of looked at us like "what?". He didn't even run away or anything! The nerve!

Sore

I finally was able to hit the gym again post-MRSA flare and BOY am I sore! Mostly just in the arms, but I discovered an ab machine I like and while at the time it seems easy! What a nice way to stretch my back! The day after is BRUTAL. 

Wedding plans continue though I'm at a  lovely time right now where I've done everything that NEEDS to be done before 9 months out, plus caught up on some of the other misc. things that need to be done, so I have nothing to stress out about getting done and nothing really looming for awhile that NEEDS immediate attention so I've just been relaxing and not really thinking too much about it. I think they key to non-stress planning for me is going to be to do a big chunk, then take a break,enjoy just being with Raf and spending time together, then do a chunk, relax and reconnect. 

Our superbowl/engagement party was SO much fun. None of us cared too much about the game (sorry SeekingSolace!) so it was pretty relaxed. I made some GOOD food (homemade (turkey) bagel dogs...YUM FREAKING YUM), a veggie stocked pasta salad, wings and everyone ate drank and had a good time.