Bachelorette Party!

And one more from the day before the Taylor Swift concert.  Which was AMAZING btw.  Except no one would stand up in our section, which really disappointed me and ticked me off.  But I digress, here is my other blog I wrote before and never posted:

This weekend I had my bachelorette party!  It was pretty low-key because my sister knows my friends and I are not what you would call “party animals” unless you consider dancing to Taylor Swift or playing ‘truth or dare’ wild and crazy.  What?  That’s what 12 year olds do?  Well then you won’t be surprised about where we went.

First we met at my apartment and opened presents and talked.  Everyone received a risqué button like “lucky” and “flirt” and “vamp.” Rachel brought dice.  For example, one would say “dance with” and the other would say “a bald guy” but three of us were too scared to even talk to a stranger, let alone dance with or wink at one.  Before we left I got a tiara that said “Bride to Be” with a veil, a light up button that said Bride to Be, a Bachelorette sash, a shot glass necklace and a whistle.  I have no idea what the whistle was for but I wore it anyways.  Well I was wearing a silky, pink party dress that I got for $20 on sale at Deb (it could be worn for homecoming) and all the girls were wearing dresses as well.  Then we went bowling!  Cosmic bowling at 10:00.  We got lots of stares and a few comments:

            *is this a homecoming party?

            *you came because they told you I was a stripper didn’t you? (This was a 40 year old man that I assumed was drunk but it turned out he was a bartender.  I couldn’t hear half of what he said so I smiled and nodded and he seemed satisfied with  whatever I was agreeing too.) 

And my all-time, well-meaning but dumb statement was:

            *Happy Birthday! (VEIL what BIRTHDAY chick wears a VEIL?)

But at least that must mean I can pass for 21 right?  Freshly 21, but at least out of my teens.  Maybe it was the shot glass?  (That went unused by the way) Well I can understand some of the confusion, most people go dancing or bar hopping for a bachelorette party.  But we are not “most people”. 

Michelle did not do well on her bowling score but at least she looked super cute while trying! 

Jill and Emilee drove all the way up from Lincoln and braved a storm for my party.  You guys rock my socks off!

Moving Day

Forgive me for being a dork but I wrote a couple blogs when i didn't have access to the net, and I haven't been able to get them up yet. But I still want to share them so here they are.  They are from a couple weeks before the wedding:

Moving Day

The day started out a little shaky.  Matt picked me up late and we drove to the courthouse to get our marriage license!  We got lost in the building but once we found it everything seemed that much more real.  Our appointment to pick up the U-haul was at 10:00 but we got lost and were half an hour late.  Then I had to add money to my debit card before we could get the truck.  We finally started but we had so much help (Chris, Scott and two of Scott’s brothers) that it went so fast!  They were very helpful.  It rained pretty much the whole time but I would take that over a hot sunny day.  My carpets didn’t suffer for it.  (Scott always lectures me when I say “my” instead of “our” but I told him she who cleans it, owns it)

I’ve been packing for a few months and I’m still totally unorganized.  As evidenced by this picture.  This is the night before moving day.  Don’t I look prepared? 

We only made a couple trips to the apartment and we were done on time to get Chris moved in as well.  The first bad thing I noticed about our apartment was the tub.  It was brown and disgusting on the bottom.  It’s one of those tubs that already has a non-slip surface which mostly makes it difficult to clean and gives dirt a good place to hide.  So Matt and I shopped for necessities and cleaning supplies.  I thought bleach would do the trick, he suggested a magic eraser and I told him he was crazy, that wouldn’t do anything.  We stopped at my house to pick up a wedding present Matt’s great Aunt and Uncle sent.  It was a beautiful afghan!  Well I asked my mom for advice about the tub, and she suggested a magic eraser.  Matt’s ego completely inflated and he had to remind me about 43 times about how I was wrong at 9:20 that day.  Really though, that must mean he knows I am right 99% of the time.  ANYWAYS the bleach did nothing, the magic eraser proved to be successful.  It is my new best friend. 

My parents stopped by while we were setting up and brought a plant for me with a blue pot that matches my living room.  It’s pretty much the only other living thing we are allowed to have in our apartment and it’s a nice pop of color.  My mom says it is hard to kill…thank you for the confidence mom ; )  Due to my parents being traitors and saying how unique and cool the Tiki Man is, I consented to let Matt keep it in the living room.

He has super hero drawings that he made as well so he is putting two in the living room.  However, Garfield is relegated to the bedroom. After pondering it, I don’t think it would feel like our home if Matt didn’t have some of his personality in it too, and I know in the end it will be sweet!

Is that a compromise?

About 80 people have not rsvp'd yet and our guest list is at 133 right now.  A lot of the people we haven't heard from live out of town so I would be surprised if we even had 175 people.  We sent over 280 invitations, with the thought that 200 would come.  So it's working out alright!  Too bad we already finalized the flowers for 20 tables. 

Still haven't heard from my biological father.  FAIL.

In college my bio father forgot my birthday and i guess I said something to my friends about it.  So Emilee wrote an aggressive Myspace message to him and it freaked him out! Lol that was so nice of her.  She gave him the what-for and he sent a card.  I wasn't mad about not getting a present, I just thought it would be nice to be acknowledged.

Have I already said I can't wait to feel normal?  Yesterday I got teary eyed at High School Musical.  How sad is that?  I think I'm one of those people that gains weight when they are stressed...maybe all the food I eat all day has something to do with that.  I should not have snacks available to me at work.  BAD Julie.

I think I'm a super accomodating fiancee.  Matt has a three-foot-high tiki man, a giant Garfield clock, a wooden mask, and a couple tin posters about beer that are only appropriate for a man-cave or a garage.  I don't want any of that in my living room, I've already got a dream in my head for that and they don't fit my decor.  I've got a plan for the kitchen too, and the dining room is pretty much just a corner where a table will fit.  I kept asking Matt when he was getting rid of this stuff and he said never. So I told him he could put it all in our bedroom because I care about it the least and no one else will really be going in there.  Is that a compromise?  :)

I told him he could have a man-cave when we get a house, but now that I got him to marry me I might admit that I was lying...ha ha jk I think.

17 Days!!

He sighed with relief and I was very offended

Today I went shopping with my mom.  I ran out of jeans because the last time I bought them was high school, and they are sort of falling apart.  I bought a new dress too, just a pretty cotton one that I can wear to my rehearsal dinner.  I would like to live in dresses this summer when I'm not at work.  I only have 21 days left til the wedding!  So I'm sure the shopping trips will be over for a little while.  We want to save up for a downpayment on a house, so I'm going to let us have an allowance every payday.  We are going to save all our receipts and figure out where all our money goes the first couple of months so we can get an idea of where we can save money.  We basically are going into this blind.  Wish us luck!

I do plan to be a couponer, but not as extreme as the people on tv.  I don't want my whole house taken over by it.  We finally got our new address!  We drove by the apartment last night, and Matt moves in on Friday.  I am SO excited to finally set it up.  I like moving, it entertains me.

A couple weeks ago I had my bridal shower.  Half my family didn't come of course but two of my Aunts did, and Matt's moms side of the family came all the way from Minnesota.  So that was nice!  Jill, Emilee, Brenda and Allie also came and I thought it was fun.  My mom and sister set it up with paper lanterns and flowers all over the place.  It was so pretty but no one took a picture :( 

Today Matt and I were hanging out and I was telling someone about our wedding.  Matt said: "OMG that's in two weeks!" and I said: "no, three" he sighed with relief and I was very offended.  As if he's been doing anything to help prepare! ;)  Actually he has made a lot of calls for me because I hate calling people I don't know.  We've given the band our "don't play" and "do play" list.  The don't play list only has one song.  The Chicken Dance.  I just don't want to flap like a chicken on my wedding day.  I would rather do the cupid shuffle.  We LOVE that dance.  It's easy lol.  They do the cha cha slide live! 

The biggest things we have left are the seating charts, escort cards, and a finalized timeline for the reception and ceremony.  Oh I also have to finish the ring pillows which have gone a little by the wayside. 

Honestly I'm just looking forward to feeling like a normal person again.  I've been trying to find a father/daughter dance and my dad gave me a cd of ideas.  I had three favorites and I kept going back and forth listening to them and bawling lol.  Taylor Swift has a song that makes me cry too.  I think I cry more for my parents than myself.  I'm not conceited, I just think about how I will feel when my kids grow up and leave.  Empathy is annoying sometimes. 

OH I watched the royal wedding.  One comment.  Beatrice and Eugenie: Evil step-sisters?

I'm going to be a mean fiancee and put Matt's baby pictures on here.  He doesn't read this anyways.

 I think I was told that Chris is the one pointing.

 Matt is in the white sleeper.  Not that it makes a difference right? 

 Matt is on the right

I have no idea which one Matt is.  I just love this picture!  I put the best pictures in the slideshow.  One involves sailor outfits.  These almost make me want twins.  Almost.

Pending wedding withdrawal and a little memory

Even though wedding planning has been stressful and frustrating at times, I have this feeling that I will have some withdrawal when it's all over.  No more excuses to go on the Knot or Wedding Bee.  All the most fun things are finished;  now it's just boring things like timelines and confirmations.  I guess I can focus on decorating my house for awhile if I want a creative outlet.  In the end, I'll be with Matt all the time and that's what I've cared about more than the wedding of course.  Only 41 days left.  I cannot believe it is so close!  I've only been waiting like 6 years for this. It'll be so fun to see everything come together! 

I remember the first time Matt mentioned marriage.  I was a freshman sitting in my tiny dorm all alone, and I had just watched Pearl Harbor.  I was talking to him on AIM and all of a sudden he said

Matt: "I have a question, but don't freak out ok?  It's just a question."
Me: "Okay"
Matt: "Do you think that one day, I mean when we are all done with school and have jobs, do you think we would get married?"
Me:" That question doesn't freak me out, I've thought of that before.  Yeah, I think maybe we will"

He probably shouldn't have said anything for a couple of years, we were nowhere near ready!  But it sure made me happy back then :)  It was the first time that getting married felt like a reality to me.   

It turns out Matt will have a couple months of summer break after all.  So we can still go on some kind of honeymoon.  Probably a road trip, that's my favorite kind of vacation. I have no desire to leave the country right now, I wouldn't feel safe.  Just somewhere far away from Nebraska.

Dear John letter from the Woman I was named after

In case anyone wonders what my mother's family is like, here you go.  The family feud started at Christmas and snowballed just in time for my wedding.

45 Days til my wedding:

Hi Julie,


I am writing to you with heavy heart and great deal of sadness. I will not be coming to your shower or your wedding. I am so sorry that you had to get caught up in everything that is going on and that at the happiest time in your life you have to suffer the consequences of other people's actions. I truely can't get past the vicious, vile email that Scott wrote. That and the fact that everytime I am around your mom we get into a negative conversation about family, has led me to believe they can't be a part of my life. Since I feel that way I know you won't want me in your life. Julie, I just don't have room in my life for such ugliness and hatred. If I thought I could help the situation I would do everything in my power, but at least at the present time there is just too much rage.
I hope you have a wonderful wedding and a great new life. Losing each other is a terrible price for both us us to have to pay and again I'm so sorry.

If you ever have no where else to turn I will always be here for you, but for now I understand that you have to put your loyalties with your family.

I will always love you.

If you choose to show this email to your parents please let them know that I will not be opening any email or text from them or taking any calls. I have no desire to get into any back and forth comments. This is between you and me.

I love you.

Aunt Julie

 
*Yes I am one to air out my dirty laundry.  Tune in later when I will go back to my normal blog atmosphere.
*Side note: I just read my dad's email for the first time.  There is nothing vile about it, he was just being honest and I thought it was a pretty calm, factual manner. 

Matt Can Grill and I Can Bake Pies!

I finally realized I am addicted to online shopping. It's fun! It's convenient! It's like getting presents all the time in the mail! Except I paid for them. Maybe Matt will have to limit my internet time when we get married. Getting packages reminds of of Christmas time when I was a kid in England. It gives me the warm and fuzzies.

Oh my gosh I just realized, there has to be a way for me to get a baby picture of Matt on here. He was ADORABLE. We are getting our slideshow ready and they are in my possession. Be afraid Matt.

Last weekend Matt and I went to dinner and a movie with Chris and Allie. Chinese food rules! I can't get enough of fried rice. We saw "Your Highness" which was hilarious. I just love Zooey Deschanel :)

Before the movie we registered at our last place. We got there at 5:30, listened to a little speech and left at about 7. How many things did we register for? About 7 if you include the pillows that go with our bedspread. It took more than half the time to agree on a bedspread and Matt gave me hell about what we chose because

Matt: "I don't want to sleep on those little pillows"
Me: "You don't sleep in those pillows, you throw them on the floor"
Matt: "well what's the point then?"
Me: "they are pretty! and presentable. Picture your bed Matthew. What does it look like? It's not even made is it?"
Matt: "um...probably not"

So I won that round, but he preferred another set that looked a little ghetto to me and I did not like the huge buttons on it. We chose a red and white one with some sort of pretty decor on it and some super cute pillows. We couldn't even agree on bathroom accessories still. Our tastes are completely different and I'm having a hard time NOT picking blue for every room. Blue chairs in the living room, blue dishes, blue china, blue towels...but at least our bedroom has red right? I figure I can do different accent colors. We got a lot done, I started getting my materials to make my ring bearer pillows! One will look similar to this: Martha Stewart!

As I write, the children are screaming upstairs. Only 53 more days and I can have some peace! I love them, but I also love what little sanity I have left.

Oh and we found an apartment. It has a washer/dryer in the unit so I will be very happy. Matt can grill and I can bake pies and it will be so cute. At least until the honeymoon phase is over. Then it will just be very adult. All I need is for friends to move into the apartment across from me and it will be just like a sitcom. Anyone?