Archive for category Memories

My Bridal Shower

Last Saturday, my best friend and I got up early to make our trip home for the weekend.  Well, to my home.  She lives on the other coast.  Anyway, we grabbed a quick breakfast at McDonald’s and started our trip.  As we drove, we talked wedding, goings on in our lives, and all that girly stuff.  We made it home by 11:30am.  My mom was so excited to see us!  We got all of our stuff inside and ran up to the cake place.  The cake lady agreed that the flowers we bought for the cake wouldn’t work.  We agreed on hydrangeas that she would die to match our lilac color.  I love going to the cake place, because the lady has it set up like a dainty boutique.  Seriously, it is wedding cake mania in there, with a cute dining room table and chairs for tastings.  She serves everything on china and even serves water in tea cups! 

We had enough time after going to talk with the cake lady to get home, change, and head to the shower.  My sister was already there when we arrived, but she and my sister-in-law (also my matron of honor) were still setting up.  It was weird; they wouldn’t let me help and I had nothing to do!  I started feeling really weird, almost like an out of body experience.  It was a combination of anxiety and the thought of being the center of attention.  People starting coming, I would greet and introduce them, and before I knew it, the party had begun!

We started out with introductions around the room; since there were about 30 people there, we pretty much needed to have everyone introduce themselves.  The sweetest thing was when we got to my stepdad’s family – everyone introduced themselves as my sister, aunt, cousin – no “step” involved.  It was a very subtle thing, but very special to me. 

We got some food (which was amazing – finger sandwiches, spinach dip, fruit skewers, sangria, wine, etc.) and started the first game.  My sister-in-law asked Tom a bunch of questions beforehand, and she asked me those.  People guessed how many I would get right.  If I got a question wrong, I had to put a piece of gum in my mouth.  Out of 12 questions, I got 7 wrong!  I swear though, Tom tricked me.  No joke, one of the questions was “How many times in a day do I fart?”  I guessed 50 times, but his answer was, “17.  One day, I counted.”  Tom’s mom was mortified, and I was slightly embarrassed, but everyone laughed.  I made sure to get a picture of my chewed gum for Tom, since he gave me such interesting questions to answer!

The next game we played was a “Bobbi or Tom” bingo game.  Several questions were asked, people would show a “B” or “T” on their paddle and would get to mark that square on their bingo card if they got it right.  We didn’t make it all the way through the questions before someone called “BINGO!”

Next up, we had cake and I began opening my gifts.  I got an insane amount of gifts!  My most prized possession was what I received from my future mother-in-law.  Her gift was wrapped in a shirt box, and when I opened it, there was a letter that told me about the gift.  The letter told me about Tom’s christening cap that was too big for his little head.  The christening cap is to be used for my handkerchief the day of the wedding.  As you can imagine, it was a very emotional moment, and I cried a lot!
The rest of the pictures are those that I picked from the 180 or so that my sister-in-law took and sent to me.  Click to see the full size pictures.  I had such a wonderful time with thirty or so women that I adore.  I can’t wait for the wedding!

Our Wedding China

Tom and I spent quite awhile looking online and in stores, trying to agree on a china pattern.  We ended up deciding on Lenox Opal Innocence, which happens to be Macy’s most popular pattern.  If you click on the link, you’ll be brought to a page that includes a picture (that can be enlarged) of the beautiful china.  Make sure to enlarge it so you can see all the detail!

So far, we have received a few pieces.  How do I know?  I’ve been peaking at my registries.  I know, I probably shouldn’t be doing that, because I won’t be surprised when I open gifts on Saturday.  But I still don’t know who is giving the gifts, since the website(s) only say “fulfilled” or “completed” next to the items that have been purchased.  So it’s not 100% surprise, but I’m also not completely ruining it.

Speaking of the shower, I am getting very excited about it.  I bought this dress to wear and it fits PERFECTLY!  Also, it’ll be perfect to bring on the honeymoon for dinner out or something.  About 30 people are coming to the shower, a combination of family and friends.  I cannot wait to see everyone.  Some ladies I haven’t seen in quite a few years.  Others I see quite a bit, but it will be fun to share such a special event with them.  We’re playing two games (not cheesy ones, of course), will have snacks and Sangria, I’ll open gifts and everyone will eat cake.  I CAN’T WAIT!  Then Sunday, I have my first dress fitting.  I’m nervous because … well, I don’t know why.  One of my bridesmaids will be with me though, so that will be nice to have her there. 

Other than the looming shower stuff, wedding planning has become a lot less stressful this week.  This is for two reasons.  One, we spoke up about the rehearsal dinner and decided that what was planned for us was not really what we wanted.  It is going to be a lot cheaper (and more fun!) the way that it is planned now.  Two, I am back on my meds for anxiety, so I don’t feel so stressed and overwhelmed.  Within one day of being back on them, I felt so much better.  Which is good, because I was starting to turn into a biatch!

On a completely unrelated note, I broke and bought Sims 3.  Should be here in 3 days!  Am I lame because I’m 22 and playing this game still?  My stepdad doesn’t let me live it down that I spent my first college Christmas break on the couch playing it….

What Do I Do Now?

May 3, 2009
May 3, 2009

Click the picture for a full size version

You guys, that’s me up there, shaking the hand of the Dean of my college.  Everything went by so fast, despite the ceremony taking two hours!  We didn’t even have a special speaker!  When we got back to the apartment, there were several family members waiting – the ones that have little kids celebrated at the party, since they didn’t want the kids to disturb the ceremony – and the party began.  I felt so incredibly loved and supported.  Unfortunately, my dad and my sister did not make an appearance, but that was to be expected.  And to be honest, it looks like I robbed a cash drawer or something, because I got a TON of cash!  Which is really good, because I can’t seem to find a summer job right now… so this will definitely help me get through!  More pictures to come on flickr sometime today when I feel like being more productive.

Wedding Registry

Tom and I spent the day today running “wedding errands” and getting a couple other things done.  The first stop was at a local jeweler to see if we couldn’t find the perfect wedding bands.  Turns out, we did!  I should have them by the end of next week (in time to show everyone coming up for graduation) and I will be sure to post pictures of it ASAP.  I would just pull an image from online but it just wouldn’t be the same.

Our next stop was Target.  We’ve decided to have two registries (one at Target and the other at Macy’s) to make our wedding gifts affordable for everyone.  It was very exciting to hold that scanner in my hand and know that I could ask for ANYTHING I wanted.  We asked for a lot of kitchen utensils (since the ones I have are from my dorm days and in bad shape), patio furniture, and some basic linens.  After that, we had a quick lunch at BJ’s (which is my new favorite … even though it’s sooo bad for you) and then headed over to Macy’s.  This is where the fun really started!  I found some gorgeous Lenox china with matching stemware.  I really really hope we get that.  We got a bunch of other stuff too, but need to go back and tweak it and add some more things.  I would highly recommend Macy’s for a registry.  There are a lot of perks to registering with them.  Check out their web site for more details.  Honestly, if we threw in a couple of farmhouse sinks, we’d have an entire house worth of stuff on our registry!

Tom and I got back around 6pm (we left at 11:30am!), played around on our computers, and then I got to studying for my final.  I’ve been doing reading on and off all night while Tom plays Super Mario Brothers on the Wii.  We used our Wii points to download it … and are obsessed with it.  We’re staying up until we’ve beaten it, haha.  Thankfully, I’m able to focus on my reading.  Only 20 more pages until I’m done for the night!

You mean … I’m graduating?!

The feeling has finally sunk in.  I took two out of my three finals yesterday and classes are over.  I woke up this morning all ready to lounge around, do nothing and sit in my pajamas all day.  Yeah, not happening.  I’m too excited!  I made myself a very nice breakfast (albeit healthy), folded clothes, ran a few more loads, played with the dogs and paid a couple bills.  I’ve got some errands to run this afternoon, but I’m going to save that for after Tom is home for lunch.

I got some good news this week.  We finally know where we will be moving and where I will be attending law school beginning in the fall.  Unfortunately, I did not get into my top choice, but PLEASE do not comment and say “I am so sorry” because I am totally fine with it.  My top choice was a private school and although it would have been so nice to live back at home near my friends and family, it would have cost us SO much more.  With my school, I will be saving about $22,000 because of my scholarship.  Also, Tom and I will be able to start our marriage completely fresh and on our own; not that I wouldn’t prefer to have his family and mine closer for us to lean on when we need them, but I really think it will help our marriage to be away.  We’ve already told our families that our house will be the “vacation house” so they will have to come visit.  I am so incredibly excited (and proud of myself) because I am actually doing it - really and truly going to law school!!!

With finals and all that, I have seriously been slacking with working out, and my good eating habits have gone out the window.  This morning, I started up again.  The gym is going to be my last “errand” of the day and when I get back from that, I will be shredding.  I weighed myself this morning AND I GAINED A POUND FROM LAST WEEK.  UGH.  I was talking with a friend and she recommended that I should stop weighing myself and instead get a measuring tape to measure myself once a week.  With all the strength training I’m doing, it makes more sense to pay attention to the inches but not the pounds. 

And lastly, I was tagged by one of my favorite people to post a picture of myself that I JUST took.  I took three and couldn’t choose, so I’ll just post all of them:

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Um yeah.  Still in my pajamas, hair unwashed, face unwashed, and … I haven’t even brushed my teeth yet.  Why did you make me do this, Rachael?!

I am going to get a couple other people to do this, so consider yourself tagged Tiffany, Jessica, Katharina, and Lynn!  Here are the rules:  

  • Take a picture of yourself right now.
  • No primping or preparing.
  • Just snap a picture.
  • Load the picture onto your blog.
  • Tag some people to play along.

Have fun! :)