only almost

lights, a photo by Digital Heather on Flickr.

I'm at a standstill.

It's a blessing and a curse.

I'll say more when I know more.

This year has almost killed me but only almost.

And our vacuum cleaner broke and Jason yelled at K-mart until they replaced it.

This is my life.

a cake and a rabbi

engagement blooper, a photo by Digital Heather on Flickr.

This is probably the funniest photo taken during our engagement photo session the other day. I look terrified!

We found a priest, believe it or not. A priest and shoes have proven to be the most difficult items to check off for this rushed wedding scavenger hunt. And now they're both checked off!

We need a cake and a rabbi-- and that's it, believe it or not. We can't sit back and relax just yet, but it certainly has gone much more smoothly than I anticipated. We have actually done a lot in such a small amount of time.

I'm pretty bias, but this is going to be the best wedding J and H have ever been to. You'll see.

Arizona marries New York

san carlos chandelier, a photo by Digital Heather on Flickr.

This is a chandelier at our wedding reception venue.

Everything is actually coming together nicely. It took me weeks to find shoes that I liked for myself and then another style for my bridesmaids so that they compliment the dresses as well as each other. My wedding theme and details straddle a fine line between being random and "too much." If that makes sense.

My dress was easy-- a little too easy. I knew the moment I saw it.

Getting a priest and a rabbi is another story. There's a reason jokes start with both and my wedding will be the punchline. Priests don't like marrying you outside of the church. Priests also don't like co-officiating. I've read online that rabbis will co-officiate at an interfaith wedding as long as the children are raised Jewish. One thing at a time. They make this dual-religion thing look so easy in the movies. Aside from some comments from our families sometimes, it has actually been very easy. 8 years of fairly easy. We'll figure it out.

This is what happens when Arizona marries New York.

scientifically correct

birthday monkey, a photo by Digital Heather on Flickr.

It's official. I'm 28. It's a bummer being sick and poor on your birthday, but hey. I could be dead or homeless, so I am thankful nonetheless.

For the first 6 months of the year J is older than me and for the remainder we're the same age. He will argue that he is always older than me, and is technically and scientifically correct, but you know what I mean.

This is a giant sock monkey my mother got me. My other soon-to-be-mother bought me a beautiful peignoir set that makes me feel very va-va-VOOM... which I haven't felt since April. My birthday consisted of a cat scan of my lungs, an ultrasound of my neck and arm, a free birthday lunch (technically we were taste-testing our wedding meal), finalizing our wedding flowers, a long angry nap, and a free dozen of krispy kremes.

I've still got 1.25 hrs left of my birthday, so the night is not young but neither am I and much like life lately, I dunno what else she might bring.

Happy Birthday to me. Life is good! I'm marrying my best friend and planning all the details is uber exciting.

a little creativity

window with vines, a photo by Digital Heather on Flickr.

Snapped this pic while taking a tour of a wedding venue this morning.

I'm still sick but wedding planning keeps me busy. If I list everything we've done or decided on, I'll feel accomplished, so here goes...

-ceremony venue chosen, deposit tomorrow
-wedding dress
-wedding dress deposit
-first dress fitting
-bridesmaid dresses almost chosen
-shoes chosen
-groom's attire chosen
-groomsmen attire chosen
-stylist and make-up artist chosen
-reception venue chosen
-food established and provided by venue
-centerpieces chosen
-photographer chosen
-wedding cake topper chosen
-first dance/song picked out

Still need to...
-taste test with chef
-pick wedding cake
-get a dj
-pick out wedding music
-hire mariachi band
-send invitations
-secure transportation
-visit flower shop
-decide birdcage VS veil
-find a priest
-find a rabbi

I'm probably forgetting stuff at the moment.

I was so stressed and thought I needed a wedding planner so I could just focus on my health. I got this! Everyone is a big help so far! I'll say your name so you know I mean it... Jason, Robin, Sara(h), Elysia.

Tackling some homemade invitations tomorrow and hopefully with a little creativity and dog shampoo, they'll be better than the ones I wanted for a thousand bucks.

More next time.