I ran track in high school. Not only did I run track (which can be generic and mean anything from 'I like wearing short shorts and tennis shoes' to 'I can throw a shot put 100 yards'), but I ran the 4x400 meter relay and was often the first leg. Which means when the gun went off, I had to get around the track one time as fast as I could and then hand the baton off to the next person, so they could get around the track one time as fast as they could. And so on, and so on until the 4th person raced across the finish line, and flopped into the waiting arms of their teammates.
Now, the hardest thing about the 400, for those of you who have never run it (those of you who have ever run it DO know...) is the fact that, while 400 meters seems to be a comparatively short distance in the grand scheme of running events (think marathon), when you're running as fast as you can (let's say sprinting) for 400 meters it's a LONG FREAKING WAY TO THE FINISH LINE.
There's actually some strategy, too. You start out controlled, lifting your knees more as you go around the first curve, you open out a bit more on the first straightaway, and then as you come out of the second curve, you put it all out there. You leave it on the track. You haul ass down that last 100 meters, towards that thin, white finish line. And your lungs burn and you're pretty sure you left your legs 10 yards behind you and there's is no way you can possibly move any faster than you are, but then somehow you pull everything together for one last lurch and you stick your arm out as far as you can and try to focus on placing the baton into the outstretched hand of your teammate, even as your field of vision shrinks because all the blood in your body is going to your screaming muscles and can't be bothered to keep your eyes working.
The feeling of the baton being pulled from your clenched fingers by the next runner is the best feeling in the world, because then you know you're done and you can stop running and best of all, you didn't drop it.
The way that you feel as you start that last 100 meters? That's how I feel right now.
It's a sickening, excited, glorious, knot-in-your-stomach kind of feeling, because you know the end is almost there, but you have to put in a tremendous amount of effort before you can collaspe in relief that it's over.
I have 4 days exactly before I'm married. And there is oh so much still to do. I have to figure out a detailed schedule of the next 96 hours, make sure everyone else has that schedule, double check with all the vendors, fit in two last pilates work outs (no telling what I'll be eating before Saturday morning), and get my fiance cuff links that don't look like I picked them out 4 days before the wedding.
And I know I said this whole wedding planning thing is more like a marathon, but it's all sprint now.
But then again, I'm better at sprinting anyway.
Yay!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
T minus 18 days
Oh yes. We are within a month of the big day. And that's just crazy. I mean, seriously? I'm getting married in less than 3 weeks? SERIOUSLY?
Yes. Seriously.
It's one of those things that I've been thinking about and planning for and talking about and thinking about some more and fighting about and hearing other people talk about and crying about and working out for and getting excited about for so long that it is really hard to believe it's actually almost here.
And things seem to be under control.
Dress? Check.
Minister? Check.
Groom? Check.
Rings? Dang. Haven't picked those up yet.
Reception? Um, check?
But seriously...I think everything's ready to go. There are of course small details that I go over and over again in my mind just to make sure that I didn't imagine they had already been taken care of.
And then of course we have to be there. And that's it. Right?
People have told me a lot that I should slow down, and really enjoy this time. And I get where they're coming from. They're coming from AFTER their wedding. I'm not there yet, which can be a little frustrating. Yeah, I'll enjoy it when it's over, too!
But (in a more generous spirit, and after eating some peanut butter crackers...I get cranky when I'm hungry...yet another reason a diet would never work for me) I can appreciate what they're saying. Plus, it's nice to know that the stress of having this big moment looming over you will eventually end and you'll just remember the good stuff and how quickly it all went by.
So, while my heart does do little tiny flip-flops when I think about how I'm getting married in 2 weeks from Saturday (see, there it went), I think I will accept that as a good thing.
And just try not to think of it so much.
Yes. Seriously.
It's one of those things that I've been thinking about and planning for and talking about and thinking about some more and fighting about and hearing other people talk about and crying about and working out for and getting excited about for so long that it is really hard to believe it's actually almost here.
And things seem to be under control.
Dress? Check.
Minister? Check.
Groom? Check.
Rings? Dang. Haven't picked those up yet.
Reception? Um, check?
But seriously...I think everything's ready to go. There are of course small details that I go over and over again in my mind just to make sure that I didn't imagine they had already been taken care of.
And then of course we have to be there. And that's it. Right?
People have told me a lot that I should slow down, and really enjoy this time. And I get where they're coming from. They're coming from AFTER their wedding. I'm not there yet, which can be a little frustrating. Yeah, I'll enjoy it when it's over, too!
But (in a more generous spirit, and after eating some peanut butter crackers...I get cranky when I'm hungry...yet another reason a diet would never work for me) I can appreciate what they're saying. Plus, it's nice to know that the stress of having this big moment looming over you will eventually end and you'll just remember the good stuff and how quickly it all went by.
So, while my heart does do little tiny flip-flops when I think about how I'm getting married in 2 weeks from Saturday (see, there it went), I think I will accept that as a good thing.
And just try not to think of it so much.
Monday, October 12, 2009
But, wait...there's more!
Well, the heels were the perfect height, even if the dress needed to be taken in just a tad more.
Sigh. And not in a good way.
But the solution, "just add some more padding" was not going to work. My poor fiance would have been hard pressed to keep the look of surprise off his face had I appreared at the end of the aisle more "blessed" than I had been the day before.
What can I say, though? I am who I am, and he loves me for who I am, and the dress just had to be taken in a bit more.
And my Uncle Bruno forbid me to lose any more weight. Not that I have lost a ton, but I am proud to say that there will be no "muffin-top" on this bride!
Now, if I can only refuse to eat the whole basket of cheese fries the next time we go to Snuffer's. Or maybe just not go to Snuffer's in general.
Anyway, things are still good...calm...even tempered as we approach the 4 week mark. But then again there is still more stuff to do. We have to make sure all the right people know all of the right information. We have to make sure we know the right information. We have to finalize wedding cake options, find napkins, figure out how my hubby and I will get back to the hotel after the reception (Car and driver, or the party bus with the rest of the crowd? Whose to say which will be funner? And yes, that was a nod to Legally Blonde.) And I have to come up with an official plan for the weekend, too.
And then. There are the thank you notes.
Not that I'm not grateful for the generosity of our dear friends and family. I am. Entirely, completely, fully. Grateful from the bottom of my heart. And humbled. Humbled by people who don't need to give me a gift to show me how much they care but who do anyway. I am honored and humbled and grateful.
But I am bad at writing thank you notes. Mainly because I feel so strongly in the first place, it takes me a long time to write each one. I haven't found the secret formula for the short, genuine, sweet note that can work for my future grandmother-in-law, my best friend from college, my co-worker, and the person in the congregation whose name I can't remember. If you have such a formula, please, please let me know.
Until then, the only good solution I can think of is for my darling fiance to grab a pen, flex his hand, and get to writing. His penmanship is better than mine anyway...
Sigh. And not in a good way.
But the solution, "just add some more padding" was not going to work. My poor fiance would have been hard pressed to keep the look of surprise off his face had I appreared at the end of the aisle more "blessed" than I had been the day before.
What can I say, though? I am who I am, and he loves me for who I am, and the dress just had to be taken in a bit more.
And my Uncle Bruno forbid me to lose any more weight. Not that I have lost a ton, but I am proud to say that there will be no "muffin-top" on this bride!
Now, if I can only refuse to eat the whole basket of cheese fries the next time we go to Snuffer's. Or maybe just not go to Snuffer's in general.
Anyway, things are still good...calm...even tempered as we approach the 4 week mark. But then again there is still more stuff to do. We have to make sure all the right people know all of the right information. We have to make sure we know the right information. We have to finalize wedding cake options, find napkins, figure out how my hubby and I will get back to the hotel after the reception (Car and driver, or the party bus with the rest of the crowd? Whose to say which will be funner? And yes, that was a nod to Legally Blonde.) And I have to come up with an official plan for the weekend, too.
And then. There are the thank you notes.
Not that I'm not grateful for the generosity of our dear friends and family. I am. Entirely, completely, fully. Grateful from the bottom of my heart. And humbled. Humbled by people who don't need to give me a gift to show me how much they care but who do anyway. I am honored and humbled and grateful.
But I am bad at writing thank you notes. Mainly because I feel so strongly in the first place, it takes me a long time to write each one. I haven't found the secret formula for the short, genuine, sweet note that can work for my future grandmother-in-law, my best friend from college, my co-worker, and the person in the congregation whose name I can't remember. If you have such a formula, please, please let me know.
Until then, the only good solution I can think of is for my darling fiance to grab a pen, flex his hand, and get to writing. His penmanship is better than mine anyway...
Friday, October 2, 2009
Drum roll, please!
In exactly 3 hours, I will be stepping into my wedding dress for the final fitting. Months of pilates and not dieting will be put to the test. My own sense of self will come under attack. My mother's ability not to cry during the last fittings will be challenged.
And hopefully the biggest issue will be whether or not I wear a 1 inch or 2 inch heel.
And hopefully the biggest issue will be whether or not I wear a 1 inch or 2 inch heel.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Pre-Fair workout
As yesterday rolled around, and I prepared to head over to Telos for my pilates session, I realized it had been over a week since I had last been in. I had been busy moving and my dad had come in town (and you know when your dad comes in town, all other plans cease, and you let him buy you dinner and take you shopping and help fix things around the house. Did I mention I love my dad?) so I wasn't able to make any sessions last week.
Which means it had been over a week since I had crunched, squeezed, pulled, pushed or basically used at all any of the muscles that pilates targets. And since pilates targets just about all of them, my session yesterday was not a pretty picture. I'm pretty sure my abs are just now fully functioning again after what I call the twist/crunch/torture exercise that I'm convinced is the worst thing ever created. And who knew that the exercise they call "Stomach Massage" is definitely not what it sounds like?
But it was nice to get back in, and to realize that even after a week of no pilates and, let's be honest, no diet of any kind, my body still remembered how to function and I was able to make it through the workout with only a slight amount of wanting to die.
And it was even nicer to get through that workout knowing that less than 2 hours later I would be eating fried oreos, fried bacon, fried peanut butter, jelly, and banana sandwich, and fried butter.
Yes, exactly what it sounds like. And yes, so worth it.
Which means it had been over a week since I had crunched, squeezed, pulled, pushed or basically used at all any of the muscles that pilates targets. And since pilates targets just about all of them, my session yesterday was not a pretty picture. I'm pretty sure my abs are just now fully functioning again after what I call the twist/crunch/torture exercise that I'm convinced is the worst thing ever created. And who knew that the exercise they call "Stomach Massage" is definitely not what it sounds like?
But it was nice to get back in, and to realize that even after a week of no pilates and, let's be honest, no diet of any kind, my body still remembered how to function and I was able to make it through the workout with only a slight amount of wanting to die.
And it was even nicer to get through that workout knowing that less than 2 hours later I would be eating fried oreos, fried bacon, fried peanut butter, jelly, and banana sandwich, and fried butter.
Yes, exactly what it sounds like. And yes, so worth it.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
46 days and counting
Yep. That's it.
46 days until the wedding.
46 days until I can stop questioning every decision I make about food (note: I always make bad, or good, decisions about food depending on how you look at it. Let's just say one of the things my future sister-in-law likes best about me is that I don't say no to anything put in front of me...or to a second serving.)
46 days until I don't have to check the hotel reservations to make sure there are enough rooms for people in our block.
46 days until every time I say, "Darling, I spoke to my mom today..." my fiance doesn't groan and say, "More wedding stuff?" (note: I actually do often call my fiance "darling." I think it lends a certain old Hollywood glamour to our relationship. Plus, it reminds me of Lady and the Tramp!)
46 days until I don't have to think about flowers, or favors, or hairstyles, or second cousins who are not invited.
46 days until we see if everything we've planned actually happens the way we've planned it.
46 days until we see how certain people react to the last minute changes that will inevitably occur. (Question: if you plan on having unplanned things happen, are they really unplanned? Do I really have no idea what I'm in for?)
46 days until regardless of what goes wrong with any of the little details, I am married to the man with whom I can't wait to spend the rest of my life.
Bonus: 47 days until we leave for an 8 day honeymoon in Jackson Hole, WY! What will we do in Jackson Hole in the middle of November when the average high is 35 degrees F and the average low is 12 degrees F? Absolutely nothing. And we'll like it!
46 days until the wedding.
46 days until I can stop questioning every decision I make about food (note: I always make bad, or good, decisions about food depending on how you look at it. Let's just say one of the things my future sister-in-law likes best about me is that I don't say no to anything put in front of me...or to a second serving.)
46 days until I don't have to check the hotel reservations to make sure there are enough rooms for people in our block.
46 days until every time I say, "Darling, I spoke to my mom today..." my fiance doesn't groan and say, "More wedding stuff?" (note: I actually do often call my fiance "darling." I think it lends a certain old Hollywood glamour to our relationship. Plus, it reminds me of Lady and the Tramp!)
46 days until I don't have to think about flowers, or favors, or hairstyles, or second cousins who are not invited.
46 days until we see if everything we've planned actually happens the way we've planned it.
46 days until we see how certain people react to the last minute changes that will inevitably occur. (Question: if you plan on having unplanned things happen, are they really unplanned? Do I really have no idea what I'm in for?)
46 days until regardless of what goes wrong with any of the little details, I am married to the man with whom I can't wait to spend the rest of my life.
Bonus: 47 days until we leave for an 8 day honeymoon in Jackson Hole, WY! What will we do in Jackson Hole in the middle of November when the average high is 35 degrees F and the average low is 12 degrees F? Absolutely nothing. And we'll like it!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Some people are just great
And those people include my pilates instructors, Veronica and Alex.
Why, you ask?
Well, besides the fact that they are excellent instructors (you can tell because they are more toned than the Tabernacle choir), they are the most understanding, patient, chill, forgiving of me people I have ever met.
Our email conversations usually (I'm ashamed to say) go something like this:
From: Elizabeth
To: Veronica
Subject: Conflict
Hey Veronica (and/or Alex),
I know I said I'd be there on Thursday, but something came up. Again. Is it possible to meet later that day
or maybe on Friday? I'm so sorry for doing this again, please let me know!
Peace,
Elizabeth
---
From: Veronica
To: Elizabeth
Re:Conflict
Elizabeth,
No problem about Thursday. I can do Friday morning if that works better for you.
Veronica (and/or Alex)
It never fails. I abuse them time and time again, I'm consistently 5-10 minutes late (at least I'm consistent right?) and they are not only gracious when I do finally show up, but they make me feel like they don't hate me for being a total airhead about my schedule.
Why can't everyone be that great?
Plus, pilates is actually working! I know I'm firmer, trimmer, and Veronica and Alex both said I'm showing some good definition in my arms! (Another reason they are great.)
I also have this old rugby injury (I love that I can type that...I feel so hardcore), and my right shoulder was really messed up and was much weaker than my left. But at pilates, with all the one-on-one attention that they give me (let's just say I can hardly blink without them knowing) I have been able to strengthen it and it feels great!
The main point is that because of the greatness of Veronica and Alex, the craziness of what I have to deal with for my wedding doesn't even stress me out as much. Because while I have to worry about finding time to go to the jeweler's to look at wedding rings so that my fiance and I don't end up having to use string or foil or grass or whatever else we can find in my grandmother's backyard the day of, I know that I don't have to worry about rescheduling my pilates in order to figure it out.
So thanks, Veronica and Alex. You have truly made this whole wedding thing possible, and maybe...just maybe...I'll be on time tomorrow.
Why, you ask?
Well, besides the fact that they are excellent instructors (you can tell because they are more toned than the Tabernacle choir), they are the most understanding, patient, chill, forgiving of me people I have ever met.
Our email conversations usually (I'm ashamed to say) go something like this:
From: Elizabeth
To: Veronica
Subject: Conflict
Hey Veronica (and/or Alex),
I know I said I'd be there on Thursday, but something came up. Again. Is it possible to meet later that day
or maybe on Friday? I'm so sorry for doing this again, please let me know!
Peace,
Elizabeth
---
From: Veronica
To: Elizabeth
Re:Conflict
Elizabeth,
No problem about Thursday. I can do Friday morning if that works better for you.
Veronica (and/or Alex)
It never fails. I abuse them time and time again, I'm consistently 5-10 minutes late (at least I'm consistent right?) and they are not only gracious when I do finally show up, but they make me feel like they don't hate me for being a total airhead about my schedule.
Why can't everyone be that great?
Plus, pilates is actually working! I know I'm firmer, trimmer, and Veronica and Alex both said I'm showing some good definition in my arms! (Another reason they are great.)
I also have this old rugby injury (I love that I can type that...I feel so hardcore), and my right shoulder was really messed up and was much weaker than my left. But at pilates, with all the one-on-one attention that they give me (let's just say I can hardly blink without them knowing) I have been able to strengthen it and it feels great!
The main point is that because of the greatness of Veronica and Alex, the craziness of what I have to deal with for my wedding doesn't even stress me out as much. Because while I have to worry about finding time to go to the jeweler's to look at wedding rings so that my fiance and I don't end up having to use string or foil or grass or whatever else we can find in my grandmother's backyard the day of, I know that I don't have to worry about rescheduling my pilates in order to figure it out.
So thanks, Veronica and Alex. You have truly made this whole wedding thing possible, and maybe...just maybe...I'll be on time tomorrow.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
And now for this week's drama...
The closer I get to my wedding, the more often drama surrounding the wedding seems to attack me. Random things, little details, really, that you wouldn't expect to cause drama...well, that's when they cause the most.
Did you know that you're supposed to have at least 15 extra invitations that you don't plan on sending to anyone at all? Did you also know that it's possible for certain people TO PANIC if you have enough invitations, but not enough EXTRA invitations?
I know. Oh, how I know.
Now, what I don't know is if the amount of these little dramatic attacks increase exponentially as the wedding date approaches.
Cause if so, I'd better register for an emergency crank radio, some safety flares, a helmet, and probably some Kevlar body armor...
Did you know that you're supposed to have at least 15 extra invitations that you don't plan on sending to anyone at all? Did you also know that it's possible for certain people TO PANIC if you have enough invitations, but not enough EXTRA invitations?
I know. Oh, how I know.
Now, what I don't know is if the amount of these little dramatic attacks increase exponentially as the wedding date approaches.
Cause if so, I'd better register for an emergency crank radio, some safety flares, a helmet, and probably some Kevlar body armor...
Monday, August 31, 2009
It's a marathon, not a sprint
I've never been good at running long distances. And by long distance, I mean anything longer than a mile. I know it's kind of pathetic. I have friends that run half-marathons, and 5Ks, and full marathons, and friends who say "oh you know, I got up this morning and just had to run 5 miles before starting my day!" But, me? I get a stictch in my side, and have trouble breathing, and my legs want to fall off as I near the half-mile mark. This is why pilates is working for me.
You see, I've always been more of a sprinter. All the sports I did required short burst of sometimes intense energy. And that was fine. Volleyball, soccer, track, rugby...I could do that pretty much all day long. (Actually, rugby was tough, and I was always a little relieved when the final whistle blew, no matter what the score, and I still had all my teeth.) But ask me to pace myself for the long haul, and I'd come back sweaty, red-faced, doubled-over, telling you I pulled something and could I please sit down cause I wasn't going to make it.
So here I am, metaphorically sweaty, red-faced, doubled-over, positive I've pulled an emotional something and please let me sit down cause I'm not sure I can make it.
Now, look, I know what you're thinking. I, too, hate that all these posts seem to have a similar strain: Elizabeth being dramatic about getting married and planning a wedding, thinking she's not going to make it, blah, blah, blah...
But it's true, ok? It's like being in love, or losing a loved one, or having kids (so I've heard). You don't get it until you've done it, but at the same time it's different for everyone.
But I will say that some very significant progress has been made. My sisters and future sister-in-law have actually ordered their bridesmaids dresses. My mother and father have finally met my future mother-in-law and her husband (it went very well, and included smiles, homemade blackberry jam, and some alcohol, thanks for asking). We have hotel reservations. Flowers have been ordered. I've done a hair and make-up trial run. And we've received our long-awaited and much-anticipated stationary!
Note on the hair and make-up: Of course your fiance will probably be like my fiance and say, "Why don't you just get married with your hair down and no make-up on? I think you're beautiful that way!" Aw. Bless him. And yet, let's be honest. It's not about him. It's about the photographs that will last FOREVER. When I'm 94 and wrinkled with white feathers for hair, I will want to look at the pictures of my wedding and think, "Hell yeah, I looked good!"
Plus, it was kind of fabulous doing a trial run. My hairstylist did three different dos on me. The first style was a bit 80's and looked like I had pulled it up with one of those giant banana hair clips we all know and loved. Her excuse was that I just had so much hair (I do have a lot of hair). We moved on to better things. The final look [spoiler alert!] is with my hair in loose curls, pulled and then pinned up, low and to the side, just over my right shoulder. I think it will look really great with my dress.
Then the make-up was great too because...well, someone else did it, and it's always better when someone else does it. The end product was something that even my fiance couldn't complain about.
So things are going well. We're definitely on the home-stretch. With only 10 weeks and 5 days to go we'd better be on the home-stretch. But with all of 10 weeks and 5 days, we still have a long way to go.
And truthfully...I'm tired. Remember, I'm more of a sprinter. And planning a wedding I have found is draining. Especially if you're a people-pleaser. Like me. Nevermind the time wasted at work practising your new signature, or looking at pictures of other peoples' bouquets...
Hello, nice to meet you, I'm the oldest child, desperate from birth to please just about anybody she's ever met.
So yeah. That's why I'm not sure if I can make it. Because every day is a huge question of whether or not the decisions I make about this wedding will make everyone else involved happy.
Will my friends still want to come if they're not bridesmaids? Will my aunt be offended if I don't wear her jewelry? Will my grandmother care if I use her florist or the one my cousin recommended? Will that person feel bad if I don't invite them to the wedding?
I guess it's silly when you read it out loud. But I still feel it. Thus, the red-faced, exhausted person with no stamina when it comes to emotional outpouring. I literally sob every time I watch Armageddon for crying out loud!
At some point I can only hope for what some would call a "runner's high." That point when you've gone so hard for so long that your body actually responds positively to the exertion and you feel euphoric and could go on in the same way for days.
It hasn't hit yet...but with how hard this has been for me...it's gotta come soon.
You see, I've always been more of a sprinter. All the sports I did required short burst of sometimes intense energy. And that was fine. Volleyball, soccer, track, rugby...I could do that pretty much all day long. (Actually, rugby was tough, and I was always a little relieved when the final whistle blew, no matter what the score, and I still had all my teeth.) But ask me to pace myself for the long haul, and I'd come back sweaty, red-faced, doubled-over, telling you I pulled something and could I please sit down cause I wasn't going to make it.
So here I am, metaphorically sweaty, red-faced, doubled-over, positive I've pulled an emotional something and please let me sit down cause I'm not sure I can make it.
Now, look, I know what you're thinking. I, too, hate that all these posts seem to have a similar strain: Elizabeth being dramatic about getting married and planning a wedding, thinking she's not going to make it, blah, blah, blah...
But it's true, ok? It's like being in love, or losing a loved one, or having kids (so I've heard). You don't get it until you've done it, but at the same time it's different for everyone.
But I will say that some very significant progress has been made. My sisters and future sister-in-law have actually ordered their bridesmaids dresses. My mother and father have finally met my future mother-in-law and her husband (it went very well, and included smiles, homemade blackberry jam, and some alcohol, thanks for asking). We have hotel reservations. Flowers have been ordered. I've done a hair and make-up trial run. And we've received our long-awaited and much-anticipated stationary!
Note on the hair and make-up: Of course your fiance will probably be like my fiance and say, "Why don't you just get married with your hair down and no make-up on? I think you're beautiful that way!" Aw. Bless him. And yet, let's be honest. It's not about him. It's about the photographs that will last FOREVER. When I'm 94 and wrinkled with white feathers for hair, I will want to look at the pictures of my wedding and think, "Hell yeah, I looked good!"
Plus, it was kind of fabulous doing a trial run. My hairstylist did three different dos on me. The first style was a bit 80's and looked like I had pulled it up with one of those giant banana hair clips we all know and loved. Her excuse was that I just had so much hair (I do have a lot of hair). We moved on to better things. The final look [spoiler alert!] is with my hair in loose curls, pulled and then pinned up, low and to the side, just over my right shoulder. I think it will look really great with my dress.
Then the make-up was great too because...well, someone else did it, and it's always better when someone else does it. The end product was something that even my fiance couldn't complain about.
So things are going well. We're definitely on the home-stretch. With only 10 weeks and 5 days to go we'd better be on the home-stretch. But with all of 10 weeks and 5 days, we still have a long way to go.
And truthfully...I'm tired. Remember, I'm more of a sprinter. And planning a wedding I have found is draining. Especially if you're a people-pleaser. Like me. Nevermind the time wasted at work practising your new signature, or looking at pictures of other peoples' bouquets...
Hello, nice to meet you, I'm the oldest child, desperate from birth to please just about anybody she's ever met.
So yeah. That's why I'm not sure if I can make it. Because every day is a huge question of whether or not the decisions I make about this wedding will make everyone else involved happy.
Will my friends still want to come if they're not bridesmaids? Will my aunt be offended if I don't wear her jewelry? Will my grandmother care if I use her florist or the one my cousin recommended? Will that person feel bad if I don't invite them to the wedding?
I guess it's silly when you read it out loud. But I still feel it. Thus, the red-faced, exhausted person with no stamina when it comes to emotional outpouring. I literally sob every time I watch Armageddon for crying out loud!
At some point I can only hope for what some would call a "runner's high." That point when you've gone so hard for so long that your body actually responds positively to the exertion and you feel euphoric and could go on in the same way for days.
It hasn't hit yet...but with how hard this has been for me...it's gotta come soon.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Miracles DO happen!
After being down in Houston for 35 hours this past weekend, I have decided two things:
1) Pilates is not only combating but kicking all the bad-for-me-food-I-eat's butt.
2) Having to TAKE IN the wedding dress (as opposed to letting it out) is an amazing feeling.
1) Pilates is not only combating but kicking all the bad-for-me-food-I-eat's butt.
2) Having to TAKE IN the wedding dress (as opposed to letting it out) is an amazing feeling.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Mayday, Mayday, MAYDAY!
I like food. I'm a foodie, a gourmet, a food snob. (Ok, I also just looked up "foodie" on Wikipedia and apparently I'm neither a foodie or gourmet because I don't love food for "consumption, study, preparation and news." I love it for going in my belly and tasting good on the way down.)
That being said, this whole you-loose-weight-before-your-wedding-because-you-get-so-stressed thing I've been hearing so much about...I've decided is a myth. At least in my case. Because I'm plenty stressed (see previous post). And yet the overwhelming desire for pizza, ice cream, and all things fried keeps coming.
Now, I am combating the food that desires to take up permanent residence on my thighs and hips by doing pilates, which is great and is really making me feel good. But I'm failing in this whole work-out and (double emphasis on the "and") eat-right thing.
And here's the scary part. My first dress fitting. Is. This. Friday.
Thus the distress signal. I am indeed in grave and imminent danger of eating a whole pizza for lunch...and probably some cereal...and some popcorn...and maybe some carrots...and then a couple of cookies...
That being said, this whole you-loose-weight-before-your-wedding-because-you-get-so-stressed thing I've been hearing so much about...I've decided is a myth. At least in my case. Because I'm plenty stressed (see previous post). And yet the overwhelming desire for pizza, ice cream, and all things fried keeps coming.
Now, I am combating the food that desires to take up permanent residence on my thighs and hips by doing pilates, which is great and is really making me feel good. But I'm failing in this whole work-out and (double emphasis on the "and") eat-right thing.
And here's the scary part. My first dress fitting. Is. This. Friday.
Thus the distress signal. I am indeed in grave and imminent danger of eating a whole pizza for lunch...and probably some cereal...and some popcorn...and maybe some carrots...and then a couple of cookies...
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
I'm still alive...barely
So it's been a while.
I know, I know...when you commit to blogging, you've got to actually blog. And I'm committed I assure you. But you know how it goes...I was out of town one weekend, and going crazy the week before trying to get ready to go out of town, and then trying to catch up after being out of town, etc.
Where did I go you ask? To Boston and Maine for one of my best friends' weddings. The ceremony was on the coast of Maine (literally) over-looking the ocean. It was gorgeous, and so was my friend.
Now, it's funny how this happens (actually maybe not "funny" per se) but planning your own wedding makes you that much more aware of details at other people's weddings. For example, I would have never noticed how much time was spent making sure everyone had rides to and from places if I wasn't thinking in my head, Crap! That's something I'm going to have to spend a lot of time thinking about! And who knew that wearing a button down shirt would make it so much easier to change into your wedding dress after hair and makeup? I do now...
I almost feel like I cheated because now I know what to do better than I was planning on doing it. (I suppose I could have also learned what not to do, but there wasn't anything about her wedding that I wouldn't do...so it was a very positive learning experience.)
The only bad thing is that now I really have to get cracking on my wedding.
Tip: If you want to order designer bridesmaid dresses, make sure you do that at least 11-17 weeks before you need them. (Now, if you're nervous because your wedding is 14 weeks away and you don't want to risk the dresses not being there and your mom is mad because you should have done this earlier and you want them to fit your sisters and future sister-in-law well and yet still all look different but be the same color and made out of the same fabric, JCrew has some very pretty dresses from which you can pick and choose between styles and colors. Plus they deliver within a few weeks and you can return in-store...)
Tip: Pick some post-wedding thank you card stationary early. And believe me. Your fiance does not care about what the typographed initial on his note cards looks like. But your mom does. So go ahead and make the decision for him, only telling him how much your mom has thought about it if he needs a good laugh.
Tip: Don't wait until 3.5 months before the wedding to schedule all the wedding showers and bachelorette parties that different people are throwing you. There will not be enough weekends to go to them all, and to go down to Austin for food tasting, and to go down to Houston for dress fittings, etc.
Tip: Think about the wedding rings at some point before the wedding. Then, don't just think about them. Schedule a trip to the jewelers to go and GET THEM.
Tip: At some point, don't forget to buy plane tickets for your honeymoon, pick hotels for your guests to stay in, finalize flower orders, get all the addresses for invitations to various things, schedule run-through with your hairstylist and make-up person, and buy a wedding present for your beloved.
Oh, and keep going to pilates. Because nothing soothes you more when you're stressed than a large pepperoni, jalapeno, and pineapple pizza from Papa Johns and a pint of Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia while you sit on your couch watching Legally Blonde, and you're not going to want to deal with that come November.
So, yes. Three and a half months to go...and I'm not any where close to being ready.
Tip: At crucial moments, stop and remember why you're doing this, drop everything and go watch a romatic comedy with your fiance. Share popcorn and a drink. Hold hands as you walk back to the car. Sigh. Smile. And take it one day at a time.
You're gonna make it, love. You're gonna make it.
I know, I know...when you commit to blogging, you've got to actually blog. And I'm committed I assure you. But you know how it goes...I was out of town one weekend, and going crazy the week before trying to get ready to go out of town, and then trying to catch up after being out of town, etc.
Where did I go you ask? To Boston and Maine for one of my best friends' weddings. The ceremony was on the coast of Maine (literally) over-looking the ocean. It was gorgeous, and so was my friend.
Now, it's funny how this happens (actually maybe not "funny" per se) but planning your own wedding makes you that much more aware of details at other people's weddings. For example, I would have never noticed how much time was spent making sure everyone had rides to and from places if I wasn't thinking in my head, Crap! That's something I'm going to have to spend a lot of time thinking about! And who knew that wearing a button down shirt would make it so much easier to change into your wedding dress after hair and makeup? I do now...
I almost feel like I cheated because now I know what to do better than I was planning on doing it. (I suppose I could have also learned what not to do, but there wasn't anything about her wedding that I wouldn't do...so it was a very positive learning experience.)
The only bad thing is that now I really have to get cracking on my wedding.
Tip: If you want to order designer bridesmaid dresses, make sure you do that at least 11-17 weeks before you need them. (Now, if you're nervous because your wedding is 14 weeks away and you don't want to risk the dresses not being there and your mom is mad because you should have done this earlier and you want them to fit your sisters and future sister-in-law well and yet still all look different but be the same color and made out of the same fabric, JCrew has some very pretty dresses from which you can pick and choose between styles and colors. Plus they deliver within a few weeks and you can return in-store...)
Tip: Pick some post-wedding thank you card stationary early. And believe me. Your fiance does not care about what the typographed initial on his note cards looks like. But your mom does. So go ahead and make the decision for him, only telling him how much your mom has thought about it if he needs a good laugh.
Tip: Don't wait until 3.5 months before the wedding to schedule all the wedding showers and bachelorette parties that different people are throwing you. There will not be enough weekends to go to them all, and to go down to Austin for food tasting, and to go down to Houston for dress fittings, etc.
Tip: Think about the wedding rings at some point before the wedding. Then, don't just think about them. Schedule a trip to the jewelers to go and GET THEM.
Tip: At some point, don't forget to buy plane tickets for your honeymoon, pick hotels for your guests to stay in, finalize flower orders, get all the addresses for invitations to various things, schedule run-through with your hairstylist and make-up person, and buy a wedding present for your beloved.
Oh, and keep going to pilates. Because nothing soothes you more when you're stressed than a large pepperoni, jalapeno, and pineapple pizza from Papa Johns and a pint of Ben & Jerry's Cherry Garcia while you sit on your couch watching Legally Blonde, and you're not going to want to deal with that come November.
So, yes. Three and a half months to go...and I'm not any where close to being ready.
Tip: At crucial moments, stop and remember why you're doing this, drop everything and go watch a romatic comedy with your fiance. Share popcorn and a drink. Hold hands as you walk back to the car. Sigh. Smile. And take it one day at a time.
You're gonna make it, love. You're gonna make it.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
For the benefit of Mr. Kite...
Trapped in the midst of the seemingly endless debate as to whether a band or a dj is a better option for wedding music, and taking into account the time and location of our wedding (mid-day, in my grandmother's backyard), and knowing that my fiance is not what you'd call a "dancer," and that I wont be able to really get my groove on in front of certain people who are invited to the wedding (for instance, the old family friends who last saw me dance when they came over to watch my 11-year-old self and younger sisters put on a "show" that included dancing and lip-syncing to "Hakuna Matata" from the Lion King), my fiance and I have come to a few conclusions.
1) We're getting married in the Texas hill country.
2) If people want to dance, they certainly can.
3) If people want to sit back and enjoy some great music, they can do that, too.
And
4) If people don't like the Beatles, they shouldn't really be at our wedding anyway.
That being said, for music at our wedding, my good friend Dave Wilson hooked us up and got us the band Beatlegras. AND WE ARE SO EXCITED! What could be a better musical combination than Beatles and Bluegrass?
So, now we need some help. Obviously, Beatles music will be on the playlist. But we need stuff to play between sets and some other non-Beatles options.
Send me your suggestions for great tunes, that Beatles-lovers would like, that will blend well with the beautiful Texas hill country, and that people can dance to or sit back and enjoy.
It's probably true that you can't buy love, but we know we'll get by with a little help from our friends...
1) We're getting married in the Texas hill country.
2) If people want to dance, they certainly can.
3) If people want to sit back and enjoy some great music, they can do that, too.
And
4) If people don't like the Beatles, they shouldn't really be at our wedding anyway.
That being said, for music at our wedding, my good friend Dave Wilson hooked us up and got us the band Beatlegras. AND WE ARE SO EXCITED! What could be a better musical combination than Beatles and Bluegrass?
So, now we need some help. Obviously, Beatles music will be on the playlist. But we need stuff to play between sets and some other non-Beatles options.
Send me your suggestions for great tunes, that Beatles-lovers would like, that will blend well with the beautiful Texas hill country, and that people can dance to or sit back and enjoy.
It's probably true that you can't buy love, but we know we'll get by with a little help from our friends...
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Wowzers...
Other than being a fan of the original cartoon Inspector Gadget....I'm really freaking sore.
Those of you who've done pilates before...why didn't you warn me? I mean, I thought I'd done pilates before. My college roommates and I would push our couch back, roll out our mats in front of the tv and try to mimic the shapes into which some blond woman in a blue unitard (who always seemed to be in the middle of the desert for some reason) would twist her body. It was never really that hard, and most of the time kinda boring.
But this. This is different. For one thing, they have...machines. Pilates machines! I always thought it was just mats and tight spandex. And it can be that. So I've seen. But not at Telos.
I walked into a room with light wood floors, soft lighting, and random bamboo features. It felt really warm and cozy, but also fresh and clean. And lo and behold, there were what looked like torture devices placed sporadically around the room. No kidding, made of wood, with bars and springs and loops and leather straps, it looked like a chamber of doom.
I had no idea what I was getting into because I didn't see mats anywhere, but of course when they asked "Have you done pilates before?" I wanted to seem cool and confident, so I said, "Oh, yeah, definitely." Then they said, "Ok, great, well hope onto the Cadillac, and we'll get started." And it was a good thing they gestured toward what looked like a cot with a canopy of springs over it, because the only cadillac I knew of is a car.
Here are pictures of what I have since found out are the pilates machines:
This is the "Cadillac."
This is the "Reformer."
And this is the "Chair."
Isn't that the worst name ever for a workout machine that supposed to be good for you? It's so ominous. "Next, we'll head over to the chair." The CHAIR. And it's the hardest. The other stuff is hard, and I do some crazy ab crunches that leave me breathless, but the chair. My butt is SORE because of the chair.
But I will say, my love handles have diminished, my stomach is firmer, and my thighs...well. They're getting there. Or, not as there.
Only 4 month until the wedding, I still have to find bridesmaids dresses, create a song list for the band, taste the food, etc. etc. and I have my first dress fitting next month.
Bring on the machines!
Those of you who've done pilates before...why didn't you warn me? I mean, I thought I'd done pilates before. My college roommates and I would push our couch back, roll out our mats in front of the tv and try to mimic the shapes into which some blond woman in a blue unitard (who always seemed to be in the middle of the desert for some reason) would twist her body. It was never really that hard, and most of the time kinda boring.
But this. This is different. For one thing, they have...machines. Pilates machines! I always thought it was just mats and tight spandex. And it can be that. So I've seen. But not at Telos.
I walked into a room with light wood floors, soft lighting, and random bamboo features. It felt really warm and cozy, but also fresh and clean. And lo and behold, there were what looked like torture devices placed sporadically around the room. No kidding, made of wood, with bars and springs and loops and leather straps, it looked like a chamber of doom.
I had no idea what I was getting into because I didn't see mats anywhere, but of course when they asked "Have you done pilates before?" I wanted to seem cool and confident, so I said, "Oh, yeah, definitely." Then they said, "Ok, great, well hope onto the Cadillac, and we'll get started." And it was a good thing they gestured toward what looked like a cot with a canopy of springs over it, because the only cadillac I knew of is a car.
Here are pictures of what I have since found out are the pilates machines:
This is the "Cadillac."
This is the "Reformer."
And this is the "Chair."
Isn't that the worst name ever for a workout machine that supposed to be good for you? It's so ominous. "Next, we'll head over to the chair." The CHAIR. And it's the hardest. The other stuff is hard, and I do some crazy ab crunches that leave me breathless, but the chair. My butt is SORE because of the chair.
But I will say, my love handles have diminished, my stomach is firmer, and my thighs...well. They're getting there. Or, not as there.
Only 4 month until the wedding, I still have to find bridesmaids dresses, create a song list for the band, taste the food, etc. etc. and I have my first dress fitting next month.
Bring on the machines!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Which door is she gonna choose, Bob?
So the more I plan this wedding, the more I think about ditching it all and eloping.
No kidding. And we're actually pretty far along planning wise. (It's funny how these things seem to take on a life of their own, especially when my mom's involved. She's one motivated lady.)
I don't think I've mentioned it yet, but we decided to get married at my grandmother's house on Lake Travis just outside of Austin. Isn't that nice? Yeah. It's sweet. But even more than that...
You know those places that are, just for you, sanctuaries? They're places that maybe aren't perfect, and might be a little random, but still, no matter what they are, when you're there, it's as if you're standing on sacred ground, and you seem to find a bit of peace in an otherwise hectic world. This is one of those places for me. (As is the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas, but it would cost way too much to get married there.) It's one of the only places I can go and relax and just...be. Which sounds cheesy, but it's true. And I love my Mimi. And she loves my fiance. So we're all happy about this.
So we got the place, and we've talked to a caterer (but no tastings yet, so we'll have to check that out before we finalize), and we've picked out invitations (they're cute), and we've finalized a guest list (which was the BIGGEST NIGHTMARE EVER. I...I don't even want to think about it. Or write about it. It was so horrible. But it's over, breathe, thank goodness.) Oh, and we picked a photographer, which actually is something I'm really excited about!
Anne Marie Photography is a couple of girls who shoot in the Austin/San Antonio area, and they are really talented. My cousin, who got married a year ago last March recommended them to me. My fiance and I love photography and photographing and Photoshop and probably anything else with "photo" for a prefix (yes, smart ass, even "photosynthesis." How else would plants stay alive? We like plants.) And my fiance has a great eye for detail, patterns, color...he's quite good, and his photos adorn the walls of my apartment. So it was important for us to find a photographer whose work we actually liked.
Mini wedding photographer rant:
Because seriously? There are some crappy photographers out there, and you know how you can tell? Poses. How do they pose people in pictures? Some of the stuff these people come up with... I mean, who in their right minds would ever arrange their bodies in that position?? Arms sticking out in odd angles, stupid "serious-faces" that make them look unhappy to be getting married. Ugh, it's awful. And THEN, they have the nerve to charge you that arm and leg they just had you stick out in a grotesque position. I looked at photographers from anywhere from $2,000-$7,000, not including tax. That's like $1,000 an hour! That's just plain crazy!
But you gotta get a good one. Because apparently memories don't last forever, everyone forgets their wedding, and the pictures will be all you have. Ok, done.
So, yeah, we picked a great photographer, I have a dress, we've registered, and have started planning showers. See, we're doing ok!
Plus I'm loving pilates right now. I feel great after each sesssion, and I'm pretty sure I wont be as motivated to get tone if the only one who will see me on my wedding day is my soon to be husband and some random online ordinand.
And yet, I still get the urge to lose the deposits, sell my unworn dress on ebay, and elope.
Which door am I gonna choose? Sigh.
You know, I gotta say, after writing all of this out, as tiring and stressful as it's been, I think I want to go through with the whole thing. To make a life-time committment, at my grandmother's house, in front of our dearest friends and family, to the man I love, while wearing a stunning dress and looking good doing it...I just don't think I want to give that up.
So it's to the altar for me! Or at least to the big oak tree down by the lake.
No kidding. And we're actually pretty far along planning wise. (It's funny how these things seem to take on a life of their own, especially when my mom's involved. She's one motivated lady.)
I don't think I've mentioned it yet, but we decided to get married at my grandmother's house on Lake Travis just outside of Austin. Isn't that nice? Yeah. It's sweet. But even more than that...
You know those places that are, just for you, sanctuaries? They're places that maybe aren't perfect, and might be a little random, but still, no matter what they are, when you're there, it's as if you're standing on sacred ground, and you seem to find a bit of peace in an otherwise hectic world. This is one of those places for me. (As is the Nasher Sculpture Center in Dallas, but it would cost way too much to get married there.) It's one of the only places I can go and relax and just...be. Which sounds cheesy, but it's true. And I love my Mimi. And she loves my fiance. So we're all happy about this.
So we got the place, and we've talked to a caterer (but no tastings yet, so we'll have to check that out before we finalize), and we've picked out invitations (they're cute), and we've finalized a guest list (which was the BIGGEST NIGHTMARE EVER. I...I don't even want to think about it. Or write about it. It was so horrible. But it's over, breathe, thank goodness.) Oh, and we picked a photographer, which actually is something I'm really excited about!
Anne Marie Photography is a couple of girls who shoot in the Austin/San Antonio area, and they are really talented. My cousin, who got married a year ago last March recommended them to me. My fiance and I love photography and photographing and Photoshop and probably anything else with "photo" for a prefix (yes, smart ass, even "photosynthesis." How else would plants stay alive? We like plants.) And my fiance has a great eye for detail, patterns, color...he's quite good, and his photos adorn the walls of my apartment. So it was important for us to find a photographer whose work we actually liked.
Mini wedding photographer rant:
Because seriously? There are some crappy photographers out there, and you know how you can tell? Poses. How do they pose people in pictures? Some of the stuff these people come up with... I mean, who in their right minds would ever arrange their bodies in that position?? Arms sticking out in odd angles, stupid "serious-faces" that make them look unhappy to be getting married. Ugh, it's awful. And THEN, they have the nerve to charge you that arm and leg they just had you stick out in a grotesque position. I looked at photographers from anywhere from $2,000-$7,000, not including tax. That's like $1,000 an hour! That's just plain crazy!
But you gotta get a good one. Because apparently memories don't last forever, everyone forgets their wedding, and the pictures will be all you have. Ok, done.
So, yeah, we picked a great photographer, I have a dress, we've registered, and have started planning showers. See, we're doing ok!
Plus I'm loving pilates right now. I feel great after each sesssion, and I'm pretty sure I wont be as motivated to get tone if the only one who will see me on my wedding day is my soon to be husband and some random online ordinand.
And yet, I still get the urge to lose the deposits, sell my unworn dress on ebay, and elope.
Which door am I gonna choose? Sigh.
You know, I gotta say, after writing all of this out, as tiring and stressful as it's been, I think I want to go through with the whole thing. To make a life-time committment, at my grandmother's house, in front of our dearest friends and family, to the man I love, while wearing a stunning dress and looking good doing it...I just don't think I want to give that up.
So it's to the altar for me! Or at least to the big oak tree down by the lake.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Well, I did it...
I got a dress and my fiance and I joined a gym. And I admit one is definitely, slightly related to the other.
The dress is beautiful, but I'm not going to post a picture until after my husband sees me in it. And the gym is really more than a gym.
First things first. The dress. I must say I'm quite proud of myself...it was the 6th dress I tried on at the first place I went.
You see, my Uncle Bruno (who isn't really my uncle, but one of those people you call your uncle because he's been around since before you can remember, and you've grown up hearing your parents refer to him by saying things like, "Say goodbye to Uncle Bruno," and "Give Uncle Bruno a hug," and "Pour Uncle Bruno some more wine," etc.) took me dress shopping with my mom, and my youngest sister.
So the place I went in Houston is called Ventura's Bridal and it's this great warehouse type structure, and you walk in and you're accosted by very dramatic posters of very dramatic brides in very uncomfortable looking poses. But then you're ushered into the back and there are about 10-15 racks of designer wedding dresses, one after another and you just go through them. I picked 6 dresses, and after trying on all of them, and wittling it down to two, my final choice was the last one I had picked. Uncle Bruno (who should know) said it looked like it cost $5000. Trust me. It didn't.
I teared up for a split second when I stepped out of the dressing room in the first wedding dress I had ever put on in my entire life. It did make things seem a little more real at that moment, but I think my sensitivity mainly was hightened by the very young looking girl who was on the next stand over from me, who had just walked out, seen her dad, busted out crying as he started crying and ran into his embrace. It was moving. There was certainly no tears busting out of my mom, in fact I think she looked at me like she couldn't believe her eldest daughter was actually in a wedding dress. But I know deep down she was excited, too.
TIP: Because I chose a wedding dress on my first visit, I got 10% off the final price, which essentially means I didn't have to pay tax.
And secondly, the gym. Like I said, the gym is way more than a gym. More a spa-like fitness center.
It's called Telos, is actually kind of great, and even though it's not what you would call "inexpensive," I have to say I think it's going to be worth it. Let me just say this: they have individual, claw-footed jet tubs in the women's locker room. Fabulous. Plus the more I think of that dress, the more I want to be at Telos. I'm specifically doing a pilates program they offer, trusting them when they say pilates is just the pre-wedding thing for a wedding day body. I definitely want to tone and lean up, especially around the upper back and arm area since my dress is strapless.
Plus, with pilates there's this 10-20-30 idea: after 10 sessions you feel different, after 20 sessions you begin to look different, and after 30 sessions you're a completely different person. On the outside at least.
Never be afraid of change. I'm in it for the long haul.
TIP: This place gives you one free pilates lesson with your membership so you can try it out, plus a free assessment with a personal trainer who develops a personal workout regime for you. Again, so far, it's totally worth it.
The dress is beautiful, but I'm not going to post a picture until after my husband sees me in it. And the gym is really more than a gym.
First things first. The dress. I must say I'm quite proud of myself...it was the 6th dress I tried on at the first place I went.
You see, my Uncle Bruno (who isn't really my uncle, but one of those people you call your uncle because he's been around since before you can remember, and you've grown up hearing your parents refer to him by saying things like, "Say goodbye to Uncle Bruno," and "Give Uncle Bruno a hug," and "Pour Uncle Bruno some more wine," etc.) took me dress shopping with my mom, and my youngest sister.
So the place I went in Houston is called Ventura's Bridal and it's this great warehouse type structure, and you walk in and you're accosted by very dramatic posters of very dramatic brides in very uncomfortable looking poses. But then you're ushered into the back and there are about 10-15 racks of designer wedding dresses, one after another and you just go through them. I picked 6 dresses, and after trying on all of them, and wittling it down to two, my final choice was the last one I had picked. Uncle Bruno (who should know) said it looked like it cost $5000. Trust me. It didn't.
I teared up for a split second when I stepped out of the dressing room in the first wedding dress I had ever put on in my entire life. It did make things seem a little more real at that moment, but I think my sensitivity mainly was hightened by the very young looking girl who was on the next stand over from me, who had just walked out, seen her dad, busted out crying as he started crying and ran into his embrace. It was moving. There was certainly no tears busting out of my mom, in fact I think she looked at me like she couldn't believe her eldest daughter was actually in a wedding dress. But I know deep down she was excited, too.
TIP: Because I chose a wedding dress on my first visit, I got 10% off the final price, which essentially means I didn't have to pay tax.
And secondly, the gym. Like I said, the gym is way more than a gym. More a spa-like fitness center.
It's called Telos, is actually kind of great, and even though it's not what you would call "inexpensive," I have to say I think it's going to be worth it. Let me just say this: they have individual, claw-footed jet tubs in the women's locker room. Fabulous. Plus the more I think of that dress, the more I want to be at Telos. I'm specifically doing a pilates program they offer, trusting them when they say pilates is just the pre-wedding thing for a wedding day body. I definitely want to tone and lean up, especially around the upper back and arm area since my dress is strapless.
Plus, with pilates there's this 10-20-30 idea: after 10 sessions you feel different, after 20 sessions you begin to look different, and after 30 sessions you're a completely different person. On the outside at least.
Never be afraid of change. I'm in it for the long haul.
TIP: This place gives you one free pilates lesson with your membership so you can try it out, plus a free assessment with a personal trainer who develops a personal workout regime for you. Again, so far, it's totally worth it.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Let me just say...
I'm really bad at planning a wedding. Really bad. I don't like it and I'm not good at it and I wish I didn't have to do it.
Don't get me wrong...I'm really excited about being married, especially to the man to whom I'm getting married. He's great. But planning the wedding in which we will become married? Not so good.
And here's why I have to say "I hate to be dramatic," because 1) planning a wedding really is hard when you have a full time job (doesn't that just sound dramatic?), and 2) I've got to start working out/eating right (that just plain is dramatic).
And, look. I know I'm not saving the world from nuclear war here, but I work hard and I get really busy and it's hard to stop what I'm doing to decide whether I want satin or lamore tablecloths. And I know I'm not rediculously over-weight or tremendously out of shape, but it's true my metabolism has slowed down, and I sit at a desk for 8 hours a day, and I just can't resist eating a whole bag of popcorn (or cookies, or chips, or a block of cheese, or ice cream, etc.) when I get home from work.
So if I'm going to be in a state of getting married for the next 5 months (which I will be), then I think I'm going to have to embrace the drama of planning a wedding, choose the satin tablecloths, put down the hamburger, and start some serious sweating (and not by simply turning my a/c off).
Here we go.
Don't get me wrong...I'm really excited about being married, especially to the man to whom I'm getting married. He's great. But planning the wedding in which we will become married? Not so good.
And here's why I have to say "I hate to be dramatic," because 1) planning a wedding really is hard when you have a full time job (doesn't that just sound dramatic?), and 2) I've got to start working out/eating right (that just plain is dramatic).
And, look. I know I'm not saving the world from nuclear war here, but I work hard and I get really busy and it's hard to stop what I'm doing to decide whether I want satin or lamore tablecloths. And I know I'm not rediculously over-weight or tremendously out of shape, but it's true my metabolism has slowed down, and I sit at a desk for 8 hours a day, and I just can't resist eating a whole bag of popcorn (or cookies, or chips, or a block of cheese, or ice cream, etc.) when I get home from work.
So if I'm going to be in a state of getting married for the next 5 months (which I will be), then I think I'm going to have to embrace the drama of planning a wedding, choose the satin tablecloths, put down the hamburger, and start some serious sweating (and not by simply turning my a/c off).
Here we go.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
It has begun...and is
In spite of the opinion held by many people I've come in contact with (all of them non-bloggers) who say that blogging is the most self-absorbed way of communicating there is (notwithstanding the auto-biography, I'm sure), I have decided to write a blog about getting married.
I've never seen the movie "Rachel Getting Married" (and can't say I've heard great things about it, never-mind that the star, whom I can only really take seriously as Princess Mia, received an Oscar nod), but I have to admit I like the tense of the phrase: it makes it seem like getting married is an ever present experience, not just something that will happen one day in the future, but something that is always in the process of happening.
And so far, I'm am certainly finding that to be true.
I've never seen the movie "Rachel Getting Married" (and can't say I've heard great things about it, never-mind that the star, whom I can only really take seriously as Princess Mia, received an Oscar nod), but I have to admit I like the tense of the phrase: it makes it seem like getting married is an ever present experience, not just something that will happen one day in the future, but something that is always in the process of happening.
And so far, I'm am certainly finding that to be true.
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