Not this time

Thanks, Nicole-Lynn for the "poke" to blog about this weekend and what did (or more like, what didn't!) happen!

No ring this weekened. I'm not sure how I feel about it but more just content than anything. I had basically worked myself up and convinced myself that it was going to happen this weekend. There were just too many weird signs that really made it made sense - but alas, it was just the world happening the way it does and it wasn't in the plans for this weekend.

Friday night we spent the night at his place just chilling and enjoying each other. Saturday, after breakfast and a couple errands he told me to pack a bag, put me in the car and drove me downtown. We had a picnic lunch at St Anthony falls and spent some time exploring the area - it's super cute and I had never spent more than a moment there so it was definitely enjoyable. Then we drove deeper downtown to the heart of Minneapolis and checked in to a hotel! This was really exciting to me because I've often told him how I love "staycations" - little getaways within your own city to explore and get to see new things. That's the great thing about the Twin Cities - you can live here for years and years and still find new places to see and things to do! So we checked in to our suite (!) and chilled out for a little while. We decided to go do some walking/shopping before dinner, so we headed to Nicollet Mall (a stretch of about 8 blocks with lots of different shops and malls in the skyways) - which was only a few blocks from the hotel. Then we had dinner reservations later (mmm...walleye!) and went back to our room. We exchanged gifts (I got a jewelry box!), popped a bottle of champagne that he had brought when room service showed up with champagne and breakfast buffet tickets (apparently, he had told the front desk that it was our anniversary, so they sent it up!) - so we drank some more champagne and then went around the corner to a cute restaurant for dessert - and then to one of my favorite bars for a beer before heading back. Sunday we had breakfast and then explored downtown a bit more at the Sculpture Gardens, the NE neighborhood and lunch downtown again.

It was SO much fun and I just loved it. I knew after dinner that there wasn't a proposal in the works and admitted it to DB. He felt bad and I told him it wasn't his fault, we talked a bit and he assured me that it wouldn't be much longer. I got over it pretty quickly and more just feel dumb that I had convinced myself it would happen!

My goal is to REALLY cut back on talking/thinking about it now because I know it really is immenent and I don't want to spend the next two months thinking it's going to happen every second. I want to enjoy it and experience it as it is supposed to happen.

Nonetheless, we had a great anniversary celebration and I am excited and more confident that my honey will be able to surprise me with a wonderful proposal when the time is right!

While I drive myself crazy thinking about DB's plans for tomorrow and how in the world I got the whole weekend off at my second PT job (I always work at least 2 shifts on a weekend!) to enjoy his special plans for us....I found you some cool GROOM blogs!! Check it and have a wonderful weekend!

http://groomsadvice.com/

http://www.iamgroomzilla.com/

http://templeofgroom.blogspot.com/

http://themanregistry.com/

So next Tuesday is out one year anniversary. The first night that things really clicked with us on more than a friendship level was at this outdoor band concert we attended at Lake Harriet. That same concert is Monday night, which we’re going to. Then Tuesday DB supposedly has dinner plans and we’ll exchange gifts – NO idea what I’m getting him yet…yikes! And then that Saturday he told me to reserve for a special celebration.

We were supposed to go to Indianapolis this weekend for drum & bugle corps championships (we met in drum corps) which would’ve been awesome, but decided not to due to how expensive the trip would’ve been. So instead, he wants to do something special the Saturday after our anniversary to make up for it. Not sure what he’s thinking???

I just feel bad because I know he’s trying to hard to put every penny he can towards the ring, and here he is planning nice anniversary things. I hope whatever I end up gifting him makes up for it all and is just as special for him. I know the one thing he would say he wants is a new nice watch – but I’m waiting on that to give him after we get engaged as a sort of “engagement gift” – I know he’ll appreciate that since he worked so hard on the ring.

I’m trying to put all thoughts aside of a possible engagement during the anniversary activities…he’s alluded to the fact before that he won’t do it then and it’ll be it’s own special event. WE’LL SEE!

trends as seen in real weddings

The following are some pics I've seen lately from friends' weddings that feature current trends I've seen in the wedding world. Take a peek and enjoy!

Ashley and Jeff gave all the groomsmen white jackets - classy look!

Check out the beautiful BM dresses. And birds of paradise bouquets! Nice!

Rachel looks great in her hair to the side and floral piece. Also - check out that dress!!

Lauren & Marty go with yellow and tiffany blue for their scheme. Love the yellow flowers! Nice statement!

Jamie & James had a nice, country, subdued color scheme. I love the bridesmaid dresses - cocktail length and a pretty light sage/champagne hue.

Heidi and Matt are definitely a city couple. I love the shots against the cityscape!

Heidi's bridesmaids and bouquets - super cute!!

Matt's groomsmen in their chucks.

Gina's gorgeous halo ring!

Erin's pretty pale yellow BMs!

Love Ariann's dress with the cute sash!

to friendor or not?

The boy and I took a weekend trip to Madison this past weekend to visit his sister and while in route we found ourselves in, what else, wedding discussions. The topic this time? Music.

You see, DB and I are of the musical nature. We met in a music group, we have lots of musical friends, we routinely listen to music in the car that "normal" people would cringe at (and do!). So naturally, music is an important part of a big event as a wedding might be for us.

It all began with talking about the wedding party. You see - he has one sister and one brother and I have two brothers. Naturally, he wants his brother to be a groomsman and his sister to be one of my bridesmaids. No problem. Except what about my two brothers? If all is fair in love and war - my brothers would be both be groomsmen as well. But that doesn't leave very many spots left for DB to have friends in the line-up. So then I thought of the option of my brothers doing the ceremony music (not sure how considering one is an ex-trumpeter gone drummer and the other is a trumpeter). But DB countered with - "Um...have you not thought about the many, many friends we have that are excellent musicians that we could book for close to free?" and I'm all - "oh yeah."

the question at hand is this, my lovelies...do you use friendors or risk offending friends who have the same talent by hiring a "professional"?

We have numerous friends who have groups who could play at the ceremony, cocktail hour (will there even be such a think?), dinner and reception. But - would they rather enjoy the wedding instead of playing? Or would it be a smart move financially to hire a friendor instead of a vendor?

None the less - our wedding/reception will be a rockin' one...you betcha!

so a few weeks ago DB's grandpa (who has been in a nursing home for a few years and had diabeties, was 82, etc) was sent to the ICU because things had spiraled out of control - kidneys failing, all that good stuff. DB called me at my part time, evening job (which he never does) and told me through his tears. I left work immediately and he came and picked me up. When I asked him where he was he hesitated and said "on hwy 169..." sheepishly. I asked why and he said "don't worry about it." then i figured out that up 169 is where the jewelry store that we picked out that ring is! AH! we spent the day at the hospital and that night DB told me he was in the parking lot when his mom called him. MAN! We spent the next day with his Grandpa and family and then his status improved so we went home.

A couple nights later, DB was being super cute and antsy and he wouldn't tell me why. But he pressured me to ask questions (fine...twist my arm!) and I found out that he had gone and picked out the diamond and put money down on the ring as a whole. and he was BURSTING at his seams with pride and excitement. it was SO cute. I cried, of course.

His Grandpa continued to get better and then two weeks later (last Friday) they sent him back to the nursing home because he was going downhill again and he didn't need the hospital so he went back to where he was comfortable. We went to see him this past Sunday night and he was even responding to us (come to find out we were the last ones he talked to) and he passed away Tuesday morning.

DB is BESIDE HIMSELF. I never thought he'd be this torn up. I feel SO horrible - and hate seeing him in so much pain and hurting so much. We'll spend the weekend with his (big) family and be at the funeral events Sunday and Monday. He went to the funeral home Tuesday while I was at work and apparently everyone was asking him about when we were getting married (he's hardly ever with his family without me).

This has also brought up to me the issue of honoring passed grandparents at the wedding. I had never really thought of it because this was his first grandparent to pass and I don't have any still alive (none of which I really knew or were close with). But now that I know how close he was to his Grandpa, we'll surely figure something out.

Real Wedding

One of my old college roomates got married this past weekend. While I wasn't there, I do know how to grab photos from our other roomate, Maggie's, facebook album. :) Maggie and I have lots of fond and hilariou memories of living with Olga sophomore year. Maggie and I already knew each other and Olga was a transfer student who got placed with us - little did we know how lucky we were! We spent the school year learning bits of Russian, in awe of her beauty, going to Russian church and events with her, making fun of her for American things she didn't know and so much more. After college she moved back to Boston and now has married a good Russian man. Maggie said it was quite an event with all the Russians there and the reception was even a bit different because of their culture. Congrats Olga and Ilya!