Happy Holidays!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday!  We are spending the weekend relaxing, cooking, eating, etc. Pretty perfect if you ask me.  There is about 6 inches of snow on the ground which makes our views of the mountains quite nice.  Planning on getting up there this week! 

xo,

Jill

Oh no...

My blog is turning into a "life of a housewife" blog.  Except I don't have children dressed in Anthropologie clothes, I can't create a centerpiece out of a toilet paper roll and I'm really not that great in the kitchen although I do enjoy trying.  One thing I can do, recycle clothing from 2005 and make it look good....ok good enough.  See pic below.  Gap 2005 Holiday collection puffy vest.  Bought it in college like a good employee should, wore it less than 10 times.  Now that I am a Colorado resident (officially as of yesterday, when I officially changed my name) I wear this vest at least 3 times a week.  From dog walks to date nights, it comes through every time.  Do I wish it was a cute plaid flannel with a fur collar? Yes.  Would I look ridic in Colorado wearing that? Yes.  Note, when I say Colorado- I mean Colorado Springs...a much different place than Denver and every other place I have been in Colorado.  Since I have moved every year for the past 5 I started getting pretty good and keeping my closet lean, things like this help me justify going back to my old ways.

As I write this Rob is working on putting together his wedding man-gift.  We collected some gift cards and went to home depot (ha, wore my vest- no joke).  Its coming together quite nicely. We went ahead and bought it now so we could use it while my dad is here visiting next week and start our own tradition of grilling out on Christmas.  Yes, our walls are THAT blue, not a camera malfunction.



Hope everyone is having a good weekend! Christmas is only a stones-throw away.  Notice I didn't give an update on my Christmas shopping, gingerbread baking, etc. Maybe next week.

JLM

My new initials! One week of marriage down.  It was seriously the BEST weekend of my life! I cannot wait to get more pictures.  The day after the wedding I was seriously sad for a few reasons:

• I didn't get to eat enough of the food,  I did try pretty much everything but I wanted more
• I for sure didn't get enough dessert.  Our little cake, cupcakes, chocolates and woopie pies were delicious, and again I wanted more
• Rob and I both hated to say goodbye to our friends and family.  So much that we stayed out until 4 am on our wedding night to hang out with everyone.  Romantic? Not really. Amazing? Yes.
• My flowers and decor...I just wanted to see it for a few more hours!  I could not have been happier with all of it!

My wedding wouldn't have been anything without my amazing vendors.  Seriously, every single one met every expectation I had.  I wouldn't change any of them:

Ceremony and Reception Event Space: Berg Event Space
Ceremony Music: Jim Lammers
DJ: All Ears Mobile DJ
Food: Delish! Catering
Decor and Flowers: Beco Flowers
Desserts: Baby Cakes (cupcakes), Christopher Elbow Chocolates and my pal Sarah Gilstrap made all those woopie pies!
Invitations and Programs: Salutations by Meriad Design
Photographer: McBride Photo Design
Hair and Make-Up: Candice Siekfes and Lindsay Bainter of Fringe...a salon. My friends Kasey and Robin helped too, both amazing considering they do hair just for fun!
Rehearsal Dinner: Jack Stack BBQ
My Dress: Gown Gallery (LaSposa)
Bridesmaids Dresses: Nolte's
Hotel: Westin Crown Center


We didn't take a honeymoon since Rob had to work on Monday.  Pretty bummed about that, but it has also been nice to just relax at home.  Don't get me wrong, I would take the beach in December any day but we made the best of it over the weekend by hiking, cooking, decorating for Christmas and watching movies.  Living in Colorado is kind of a vacation in itself. 


Will be posting pics later!  If anyone took some, send my way I am dying to see more!

One Month

One month until we get married!!! And one day until I go to VEGAS!  AHHH!  I can't wait to blog when I get back.  Got my nails done today and I am seriously OBSESSED!  Makes me want to wear sparkles every day.

XOXO- Have a good weekend!

Jill

Glitter

So I am still getting back into the swing of things but I thought I would let everyone know that my dog ate a sequin on one of my Las Vegas dresses (yes I have more than one and yes they all have sequins).  So in other words, my dog shits glitter! Holla!  Last week FLEW by since coming back to Colorado after being in Missouri for 11 days.  It was such a wonderful trip!  I had my first dress fitting...and I am still in love with the dress! I cannot wait to put it back on :)  We also got to celebrate the wedding of Erin Turnbaugh and Tyler Webb.  It was so much fun and insanely gorgeous.  I will have to say the coolest flowers I have ever carried.



I have been enjoying some down time since being back because November will be CRAZY!  I feel like the wedding will be here before I know it.  But before the wedding I will be in Vegas, Kansas City, St. Louis and Phoenix.  Oh and I will be attempting my first Thanksgiving this year in CO since Rob will be on-call.  Anyone have any good tips and/or recipes.  Don't worry if you don't...Pinterest will probably have me covered .

Yesterday I got a tanline on my arms from my t shirt, today we have about 6 inches of snow.  The weather is crazy here!  Duke is LOVING the snow....

Hope everyone is staying warm! I promise to blog more than once a month :)

I'm Back!

Ok Ok, so my coutdown to KC- failed.  It was fun until I didn't sit in front of a computer every day, didn't have a computer and didn't have Internet for about 6 weeks.  Beyond that....no excuses except that Colorado in the summer deserved all the outdoor time I could give to it.  A few things that have changed in my life over the past 3 months...

Moving: We are settled in Colorado Springs!  We love it out here so far and have been taking full advantage or this beautiful place.  Since moving here I have been to Denver, Copper Mountain, Boulder and Tabernash as well....all amazing. 

Our Baby: Don't worry no pre-wedding baby bumps, we have a puppy!  Duke has pretty much taken over our lives.  Being jobless...we spend a lot of our days walking, eating wood chips (Duke, not me) and taking the occasional afternoon snooze (Duke, not me...welll).  I will do my best to control my Duke pictures and mentions.

Baby Emily Mae Spence is here: She arrived last week and is just perfect.  This little California baby will be at the beach in no time I'm sure.  Such a proud aunt!

Like mentioned above: I am jobless.  Some days its cool, some days its painful.  I am pretty lucky that I get to see so much of Colorado but there are definitely things I miss about working too. I am sure my future blog posts will reflect the way I feel on that specific day.  Hopefully our next move (July 2012) will take us to a place where I can work and/or go back to school.  We shall see.

Feels good to be back....fall is is definitely present in Colorado bringing 60 degree temps :)



countdown to colorado

WOW.  I have been slacking...and I was doing so good!  I guess that is what vacation does to you!  Today is catch-up day....

1. Baby Cakes Cupcakes

2. Good JuJu Antique Shop

3. Habashi House 
4. Caddy Shack 
5. Dillards- Springfield, MO
6. McCoy's Public House 
7. Bikram Yoga
8. Stroud's (they choke their own chickens)

9. FREE country concerts at Power and Light

10. RA Sushi

11.  Hermann, MO...the whole town.

12.  Sol Catina.  Our second home for the past year.
13.  Cute tennis court in Westwood, where I beat Rob on a regular basis.

countdown to colorado

"It's Friday, Friday, gotta get down on Friday"....don't act like you don't know what I am talking about.

 

1. Baby Cakes Cupcakes

2. Good JuJu Antique Shop

3. Habashi House 
4. Caddy Shack 
5. Dillards- Springfield, MO
6. McCoy's Public House 
7. Bikram Yoga

The 8 times I went before my membership expired, this kicked my ass.  Never been so sweaty in my life.  It was hotter than Hades in there. But someday when I am rich and famous I will do this again because it was pretty amazing.

website: http://kansascitybikramyoga.com/ 

countdown to colorado

1. Baby Cakes Cupcakes

2. Good JuJu Antique Shop

3. Habashi House 
4. Caddy Shack 
5. Dillards- Springfield, MO
6. McCoy's Public House 

When Rob lived in Westport we went here A LOT, lots of good memories here.  Still one of my favorite places to eat when in the right mood. 

Website: http://www.mccoyspublichouse.com/kansascity/ 

countdown to colorado

Day 5.  I am not used to blogging this much!

1. Baby Cakes Cupcakes

2. Good JuJu Antique Shop

3. Habashi House 
4. Caddy Shack 
5. Dillards- Springfield, MO

Ok, this is a weird one unless you have been to this Dillards.  Not sure why or how, but it is one of my favorite places to shop and I can find something I need (want) there every time I am there!  When my mom used to come and visit me in Springfield we ALWAYS made time to go there.  I was just there a few weeks ago and I felt like I was home...ok that is dramatic, but seriously.

countdown to colorado

On to day four of our countdown to moving.  This may not be interesting to anyone else, but very good therapy for me so I remember all the good times I have had in KC!

1. Baby Cakes Cupcakes

2. Good JuJu Antique Shop

3. Habashi House 
4. Caddy Shack

This place is ridiculous.  A true dive bar near Columbus Park.  Many happy hours were spent here with old co-workers letting off more steam than you can imagine.  Mediocre atmosphere + stiff drinks + Cajun popcorn = a good time.  Yes, you smell like a dive bar when you leave. No, they don't have a website.

countdown to colorado

Hey everyone- the week has begun and I would be lying if I even acted excited about it! I will get right down to business with day 3 of my countdown...

1. Baby Cakes Cupcakes

2. Good JuJu Antique Shop

3. Habashi House

OMG, this place is amazing!  It is one of my all time favorite lunch places.  Its in the City Market just north of downtown and I never leave there spending more than $6.00.  My personal favorite is the faliafal sandwich and the Greek salad.  So good!

Here is their website- they even cater! Wish I knew that!: http://www.habashihouse.com/restaraunt.html

countdown to colorado

Happy Sunday everyone!  Hope you are enjoying the AC as much as I am right now.  Went to our friend's rooftop birthday party yesterday, yes rooftop.  My skin is officially sticky for the first time this year!  Had a blast even if I did sweat for a few hours before the sun went down!  Ok, on to my list....

1. Baby Cakes Cupcakes

2. Good JuJu Antique Shop

A friend recently introduced Good JuJu to me and I am SO sad that I am just finding out about this place! They are only open the first weekend of the month (Friday, Sat and Sun) so its a little crazy and definitely first come first serve.  I was dying to buy so many items and probably would have if I knew what we needed in our new place.  From amazing refinished furniture to vintage Frye boots...I fell in love :)

http://www.goodjujukc.com/

countdown to colorado

Rob and I are moving to Colorado one month from today!  I'm feeling scared, excited, anxious...the typical feelings with making a major change in your life.  We have found a townhouse to live in just outside of downtown Colorado Springs (we weren't quite ready for suburbia aka taking care of a yard) but definitely needed more space (hint, please come visit we have plenty of room).

There is no doubt in my mind that I will miss Kansas City and Missouri in general and lately I have been finding myself realizing "this will be the last time I go here or do this" for a long time, which makes me sad.  So, for the next 30 days I will make a list of 30 things I will miss about our current life here in KC. No specific order.  Starting today....

1. Baby Cakes Cupcakes
With flavors such as pumpkin, red velvet, lemon, chocolate, pineapple, etc. you can't go wrong.  Not to mention the butter cream icing. My favorite times that included Baby Cakes are celebrating my dad's birthday last year, avoiding  going back to work and stopping by to get a sugar high, and trying all the flavors at the Gilstrap wedding (I usually don't even try the cake because I prefer the wine).

http://www.babycakeskc.com/cupcakes.html

 

Side note, Rob is currently trying to convince me that Tupac's "Dear Mama" is the song he wants to dance with his mother to on our wedding day.

engagement favorites

It was worth the awkwardness of displaying PDA for 2.5 hours while our photographer shot hundreds of pics of us, here are a few....

mcbridephotodesign.com

mcbridephotodesign.com

mcbridephotodesign.com

mcbridephotodesign.com

mcbridephotodesign.com

mcbridephotodesign.com

mcbridephotodesign.com

i think a storm is coming...

View of Downtown from Broadway Bridge

what your american doll says about the rest of your life

Stole this from Sarah G.  I sure do know how to pick 'em. And luckily I got straight A's in first grade so I could get the trunk for all of Samantha's clothes.  

Don't worry I had the dress to match this one, and I actually wore it.

Samantha Parkington:
Did you know, when you picked her out, that Samantha was the cool one? Or were you simply drawn to her glossy brown hair, sophisticated accessories (she had a fur muff!) and rich demographic? Either way, every girl wanted a Samantha. If you owned her, you quickly learned the value of cachet. By virtue of acquiring a status symbol early on (a Samantha doll was the designer jeans of third grade), you never quite had to worry about things the way other girls did. You therefore grew up to be confidant, capable, and nonplussed. You've always been well liked. You aren’t the funniest in your group, but you’ve never really noticed or cared. If you thought about it, you could probably recognize other women who had Samanthas. But that’s not that impressive: everybody can. 

Click here to read the about the rest of the dolls, warning this may be a biased opinion.

cupcake vodka, check

Cupcake Vodka

adult prom

A few weekends ago we went to our last Dental School Formal, sad.  The best way to describe Bushwacker (name of the formal) is prom with an open bar.  We had a blast with good company, good food, good music, etc. Shhh, don't tell, but I think all the guys are getting sad about leaving school and well, so am I. Anyways, here are some pics!

brunch party

Design Sponge is a fabulous blog and today's post talks about a brunch party- how fun! Check out the recipes, especially the pumpkin pancakes- are you serious?!  I can't wait to try these!

Design Sponge- Pumpkin Pancakes

extreme couponing

Extreme Couponing = HOARDING. Just a little more organized. Meet Nathan.  The ONLY good thing about what he does is that he donates a lot of this "collection" to military families.  I get that you save money but NO ONE needs 50 lbs of cheese. This show stresses me out.

blissful living home

I discovered this today in my daily Ru La La email.  Ru La La is another blog post in itself, either way you should sign up for it and you will begin to anticipate the daily 10 am emails with sales on things you could never afford.  Back to Blissful Living Home...I'm in love.

Harmony

Traflagar Half Apron

Dauphine White

happy birthday miranda

Happy Birthday to my sweet Sister-in-Law Miranda! Wish I was in Cali to celebrate with you :)

weekend recap

Had a wonderful weekend!  Here is a recap:

Friday: I was awakened from my slumber at about 10 pm (it was a long week, see previous post) on Friday night to find out that Rob passed his final boards test!  I couldn't be prouder!  He celebrated in STL while at a bachelor party and got off the couch to take care of celebrating with fellow future dentists at Sol.

Saturday: Ran a million errands and had lunch with Rachelle.  One of the errands included picking up my new camera...hopefully I will be posting more pics on here. Spent the rest of the evening playing words with friends and catching up on last week's shows.

Sunday: Brew to Brew 2011!  Had a blast with my team running from Boulevard to Freestate Brewery. Besides the wind and 90 heat my 4.8 miles went well. I have a pretty intense sports bra tan to show for it.  Kind of weird but it makes me feel like an athlete again, its been forever since I have had a sports bra tan! 9 hours in the sun l wore me out, I was asleep by 9 pm. 

Supporting William Jewell, I don't own a jersey so this is what was left

Good thing I got plenty of sleep last weekend, because this weekend will be a different story.  I will be celebrating Amanda's last weekend as a single lady and a Drury mini reunion.  I hope to be posting appropriate photos next week.

happy wednesday

Its only Wednesday.  Longest week ever.  You know its a long week when you want to drink by Tuesday (which I did).  Then today I had a director ask my if I know how to take notes in a meeting and proceeded to remind me that she has done her time and no longer takes notes.  All this in front of other co-workers. What I wanted to say in return was not appropriate (or appropriate for my blog) so I just held it in....and then proceeded to finish the meeting, based on the notes that I took in the meeting in question, so yes I know how to take notes.  For lunch I had a latte and cupcake from Mildred's and I don't care.  Happy Wednesday to me.

something blue

Good thing this wasn't at the bridal shop when I bought my dress, I would have spent my unborn child's college education to have it....

Dior Dress Found on The Wedding Wire Blog

i want the gold

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Kansas City gets very excited for this holiday, I mean Pauly from Jersey Shore will be in the Power and Light tonight! I am so glad I remembered that I have this shirt because it is perfect for today, even if I am breaking the dress code at work.

This video will NEVER get old and explains what my shirt means.  I hope everyone enjoys the day!

Leprechaun in Mobile, Alabama

butter cream icing

Yesterday was my the first anniversary of my mom passing away. No, it wasn't a sad day. That doesn't mean that I didn't think about her, miss her or remember exactly where I was a year ago. It does mean I got through the first year.  They say its the hardest one, I hope they are right because it was a long one and it of course had its ups, but it had its downs...like nose dive into a black hole down. A down I have never experienced but I am better because I have.  I now know what it REALLY means to be sad.  Sorry ex-boyfriends, you got nothing on this.  Back to my point...yesterday wasn't sad, it was good.  Really, it was a good day and of course there is always something missing since my mom isn't here and yesterday didn't change that. So we made it, as a family, and of course with a cheers of red wine to my mom at dinner (a heart healthy dinner of salmon and risotto made by our family friends).  Another reason it wasn't sad is because I came home this this at lunch...flowers from Benjy and Miranda and Cheryl's Cookies from Stephanie and Andy.  The only butter cream icing better than Cheryl's was my mom's :)

having a rough day?

dresses, dresses, dresses

There is a thunderstorm happening in Kansas City right now! I love it! A great end to a truly wonderful weekend. This lucky girl had her best friends come in town to help her find a wedding dress, and that I did! I wish I could wear it tomorrow, I just love it!

A few things I learned when wedding dress shopping:

• The consultant makes the difference.  Anyone dress shopping in KC, go to Gown Gallery and request Janay Andrews.  She was absolutely wonderful and I would have been happy with all the dresses she showed me!
• As long as you are good at making decisions, you can never have enough supporters with you while trying on dresses
• I learned about curves I didn't know I had, think Jessica Rabbit
• Do the "sit down" test but if the dress doesn't pass, buy it anyways.  Sitting is overrated. 

Speaking of dresses...are you watching the Oscars?  Here are my personal favorite dresses...

Jennifer Lawrence- Calvin Klein

Gweneth Paltrow- Calvin Klein

Jennifer Hudson- Versace

spray tan at your own risk

I have been spray tanning 3 or 4 times and been pretty happy each time although I get super nervous every time I go.  I hate the smell and breathing in the fumes, I can't help but think what kind of damage that is probably doing to my body. I went last night to a new place because of a Groupon I bought in the fall that is about to expire.  While the actual experience was fine, and my tan was actually pretty even although on the brighter side...playing soccer 3 hours later is NOT recommended!  I came home and my socks and sports bra were and orangish-brown color that I am sure is now permanent.  I took a pic, but it was pretty gross so I kept it to myself.  It did remind me of the below pic of my friend Sarah and I at last year's Bushwacker Formal (prom for adults/dental students) doing our spray tan dance.  It was funny at the time, but then again many things are funny at an open bar.  Hopefully the rest of my tan will last til Saturday when I attempt to try on fancy ivory dresses and negotiate the price of the dress down at least 20% before I buy...

We are so cool

girl you know its true

Happy Valentine's Day!  I have never claimed for this to be my favorite holiday, but its always fun in its own way.  No major plans this year, just lucky to have a wonderful valentine!  Some of my favorite things I have found on my blogs the last few days....

We Go Together like Milli and Vanilli, Girl You know its True

and this...

cupcakes...mmm

and this...

"Grow old with me, the best is yet to be"- Robert Browing

 

 

 

 

 

 

fancy plumbing

A term used by my father's thoracic surgeon post triple bypass surgery.  Oh yeah, my 62 year old, 140 lb, fish eating, red wine drinking father had triple bypass surgery on Tuesday. Not planned.  I took him for a test on Monday morning and by Tuesday morning they were repairing 3 clogged arteries that were dangerously close to causing a fatal heart attack (yes, they used the word fatal when letting him know he was about to have a heart attack).  So within a year of my mother passing away, we find ourselves at North Kansas City Hospital...again.  But this time, this time, it is different. The optimism is beaming off the nurses and doctor's faces every time we talk to them.  Because my dad is in such great shape besides a few clogged arteries, his chances of not making a full recovery are very slim.  He started walking on Wednesday afternoon and is now training for the NYC marathon, ok not really but if that's what he wants to do he has the new fancy plumbing to get him there. He is scheduled to come home from the hospital this weekend where he can watch all the golf and basketball he wants from his own bed.  Of course I wish none of you have to be any where near a hospital any time soon, but North Kansas City Hospital does some pretty amazing things.  I have a professional crush on all the nurses I have seen in the last year and it seriously makes me consider a career change. 

So needless to say this week has been a roller coaster, here are a few high's and low's.

High: Volkswagen/Darth Vader Superbowl commercial and Glee after-show
Low: Groupon Commercials and Christina Aguilera

High: Dropping off my dad at the hospital early enough to get my oil changed and Starbucks
Low: Getting a call from the doctor that my dad will need bypass surgery while at work, and then leaving in a complete frenzy, embarrassing

High: My brothers have both been in town all week
Low: The reason they are in town

High: Hearing my dad say "The nurses are cute" after coming out of sedation, a sure sign of a full recovery
Low: Seeing him in pain

High: After a long search (6 liquor stores) with nothing to show, it pays to know the Elbows.  Last night we got to enjoy Christopher Elbow's Chocolate Ale with Chris and family.  Seriously though, its was delicious. And I would say go get some, but as of right now its sold out.  We did bring a bottle home with us, and I am actually scared that Rob will drink it without me. Oh and the Goat Cheese and Honey and Toasted Coconut Glace Ice Cream flavors are to die for.
Low: Did you see how much I ate and drank above? I didn't mention include our dinner!

High: Its Friday!
Low: There is nothing low about Friday :)

Have a great weekend everyone!

snowmageddon

Well, I am officially OVER winter. Every year about this time I get into a sluggish funk because I am cooped up inside and miss warm weather.  I can only put on so much bronzer in hopes of a golden tan!  Our street may be the last one in the city to be cleared, as in they haven't yet.  The Civic and the Scion hold their own but 12 inches of snow definitely won.  Luckily, Sol Cantina is within walking distance which is what we did for dinner Wednesday night because we couldn't eat any more chili and were sick of battling for the TV remote between the Duke basketball game and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Reunion.  We also cleaned our place up and down on Wednesday which felt pretty awesome.  I have learned that when Rob starts cleaning, he can't stop until its done and prefect.  So, when these opportunities come I take full advantage and offer to do the laundry while he takes a toothbrush to the bathroom floor, ok not really but I wouldn't be that surprised. 

I knew 2011 would be a big year, but it is hard to imagine how much we will be cramming into this spring/summer alone...Rob's formal, Rob's graduation, 4 weddings and festivities that come with them, engagement photos, etc.  So if you want to hang out April, May and June are booked, sorry. I am definitely  ready to get into colorful spring dresses and open toed shoes.

To humor myself, I shop online.  Its the only kind of window shopping I am good at because I always tell myself if I like something enough to go to the store and get it (so I won't have to pay shipping), then that rarely actually happens. But if I actually go shopping, I don't come back empty handed, never have and probably never will.  Bad habit, really bad habit but there is no sense in fighting it, right?  Champagne Friday was definitely developed because of my online "looking" habits.  My taste has always been outside of my means but there is something about sharing it with everyone else that is also gratifying, kind of like "I found it first even if you can actually afford to buy it".  Lately though, I haven't seen anything worth posting. I think it brings me back to the sluggish time of year where everything is beige, gray, and black...which is pretty much how I feel.  Side note, I am wearing a gray hoodie, black t-shit, and beige converse today...point proven.

So no Champagne Friday this week.  But I promise when I find something worthy, you will be the first to see it.

Joshua Radin is getting me through the day with this song, he is wonderful. Title: Only You, originally done by Yazoo...so very 80's.

 Happy Friday, no major weekend plans here and I kind of like it that way :)

i can't belive it's back

A perfect example of fashion cycles, styles from Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead are coming back. I knew I had seen the La Nouvelles dress before and I found it! I kind of love both of them! Now for the hat, I am not even going to look in hopes that never comes back.

Christina Applegate- Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead- 1991

Le Nouvelles Julia Open Back Dress- 2011

I do LOVE this movie so I also included the best part, the fashion show in SueEllen's parents back yard. 

A few other movies from this genre that I remember loving Teen Witch (1989), Baby Boomers (1987), Lady Bugs (1992). I can't believe how young I was!  By the time I was born, I think my parents were over trying to regulate what we watched.

Have a good weekend everyone!  My intention was to do a Champagne Friday today but I saw this dress an the rest is history.

natural high

I was at the grocery store yesterday and got a natural high when I saw that Smart Ones were 6 for $10. I'm so cool. I don't even like Smart Ones that much and will probably get sick of them before I get to the 6th one.  Luckily that wasn't the highlight of my weekend.  Rob and I went to our friends house for dinner and game night.  They have a cat and I took a benadryl along with a glass of wine so I was a little out of it but still had a great time!

Today we met with a photographer and plan on booking him this week, we were both very impressed and so excited to work with him....see his work here: http://mcbridephotodesign.com/. We now have a date, reception site, and photographer! We are getting married December 3, 2011 at The Berg Event Space downtown.  Ready for the party!

switching things up...

well guys, I haven't really had a chance to find anything fabulous this week, if I must be honest I have been looking at wedding stuff (more than normal).  I am that girl, I fa real have wedding on the brain. I know it will go away but right now, I am embracing it :)  There is probably a million fabulous wedding things I could add for champagne Friday...but that isn't going to happen this afternoon.

Something that is a million times more adorable and captivating than any fabulous bracelet or pair of shoes is this father/daughter duet of the song "Home" by Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros.  Now I am not the first to discover this duet, unfortunately 2,851,579 people did before me...but you you haven't watched this...take a moment, you won't be disappointed. 

everytime I mention "wedding" rob acts like he is asleep

Could be a long year...

Happy snow day to everyone else...I am 1 of 11 at work today while everyone else "works from home".  Blah blah blah.

champagne friday 2011!!

I took a little break of the past few weeks, but I'm back!  This has been the fastest week EVER, thank goodness.  But I managed to come across a pair of shoes that are out of this world ...on and they only cost $2,000 but seriously, they're awesome.

Customized Swarovski Crystal Shoes

i got rob a golf bag for christmas...

and he got me a ring!  Oh, and I said "yes" and gladly accepted it.  Ok...so it was after Christmas, but before New Years Eve.  I should have known that when he got me a coffee mug and a picture frame as my Christmas gift that something was up :)

People have been asking if it was a surprise and I say yes...because it was...but I did come home to my dad's house right before Christmas to find Rob and my dad having a beer, when Rob was supposed to be on his way to St. Louis.  So did I know that Rob was thinking about it, yes, did I know when, no.

How he did it...We drove to the lake on Thursday after I got off work and met our friends Joel and Amanda at the park where Rob grew up.  HaHa Tonka...ever heard of it?  Well its an awesome park at the Lake of The Ozarks that Rob and his family grew up in, no seriously they grew up in the park because his mom runs it. I had never been there but Rob said we were meeting there because it was on the way (first clue that I missed, not on the way to anywhere).  Joel and Amanda beat us there and we were supposed to meet them up at the castle since I had never seen it (see pic below).  Since it was dark, all I could think about was Joel jumping out of the trees and scaring me off the cliff so, again, still pretty oblivious. We got up to the castle and Rob was telling me about all the history (which I am sure he was so thrilled I was asking numerous questions) and then next thing I knew i was climbing some wall and that's when I began to get suspicious...I don't just climb walls in the dark really close to really tall cliffs.  But I went with it...we came to a spot that he always imagined proposing to someone that overlooked the lake and tons of trees and whatnot (red x). He started saying really nice things that I don't really remember (sorry) and when he started choking up....I turned around and he was getting on one knee!! He got out the ring (which I couldn't see because it was dark) and showed it to me....and I said yes!  I am going to emphasize "show", he didn't let me put it on until we got off the cliff...too dark, too big, not insured- he had a valid point.  So after a few moments, I asked "where are Joel and Amanda?  Are they hiding in the trees like paparazzi taking pics of this awesome moment?"  We walked about 20 yards and saw a romantic display of candles in mason jars on another cliff with a beautiful view (blue x). Oops. As fellow newcomers to the HaHa Tonka park, it was pretty tough to guess which cliff Rob was referring too.  I LOVED it, and it made the moment even better when they did come out of the trees and we could actually see them...we enjoyed a bottle of champagne before heading to dinner with Rob's parents!

HaHa Tonka

Rob did a good job with the bling, explains why I couldn't put it on right away!  And yes, this was taken at work.

Soooo, Rob and I are engaged and couldn't be happier!  He gets so excited every time I come home with a new bridal magazine, reception idea, etc. He even told me he would start on the guest list this week...

No we don't have a date set, but my New Year's Resolution is to get Married!!  I am a pretty lucky girl and have a pretty awesome fiance, life is good today. 

Ready for a bold statement? 2011 has potential to be the best year of my life!!