2011 Review

Of all the years of my life, each one seems to get progressively better. 2011 was an amazing year. I have so many wonderful people in my life, as shown by the tremendous support I've received for my wedding, my blog, and all of life's other activities. I cannot wait to see what 2012 will bring. Here are my top 11 memories of 2011 (in no particular order).

1. Our 2-week fall road trip through Colorado in October. Seeing the beautiful colors that covered the state instilled a sense of awe at Mother Nature and renewed (like it was ever gone) my love for the mountains and fall colors. I got to see Aspen and hike the Maroon Bells, go to Crested Butte for the first time and stay in my first hostel, and visit Palisade and the Colorado National Monument.

2. Experiencing the births of many of our friends' first children. It has been amazing to watch (from afar) the little ones grow and learn.

3. Camping trips with two great groups of people, my coworkers and our annual camping trip friends, and getting to tour Tonto Natural Bridge and enjoy all of Payson's natural beauty, namely tall trees and the Rim.

4. Getting 8 ski days in last winter, with the best snow Colorado had seen for years. I skied Winter Park, Copper, and Steamboat with family and friends.

5. Running in the City Search Challenge in Phoenix, a sort of "Amazing Race" for the locals. It was more work than I anticipated, but a memorable and fun experience. 

6. Getting to go to Chicago not once, but twice, for 2 conferences for work. Common Core left some things to be desired, but NCTE (National Council for Teachers of English) was well worth my time.

7. On that note, getting ENGAGED in Chicago on June 26/27 and feeling more loved than ever before while enjoying each minute of our engagement thus far.

8. Christmas with both families, 3 in 24 hours to be exact, and making it work out so that we could be with everyone and see their faces while they opened all the gifts. 

9. Wedding planning, when it was not too stressful, meeting our photographer and planner and getting excited about the final product (our wedding) with everyone's creative input.

10. Sedona, AZ engagement photo session, from climbing in the freezing cold Oak Creek to get that "perfect shot" to changing outside the Chapel on the Rock to get pictures in my favorite outfit before the sun set altogether.

11. Going to Tucson for Kyle's birthday in January and touring the Mission San Xavier, Colossal Cave, and horseback riding through the desert.

Of course, there were many more memorable nights with friends and family, too many to count, and I have realized how lucky we really are to have the life we have. Aside from the events mentioned, successfully reaching over 5000 views on my blog has made me feel even more blessed and has been more rewarding than I ever imagined. Continue on! See you in 2012.

Maroon Bells October 2011

Kyle lounging with Maroon Bells

Fall Color!

My first family bar outing (the youngest is finally 21) in Denver October 2011

"The Bean"- Chicago, IL

City Search Challenge Starting Line

Christmas #3 in Minnesota

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

9 Months!!

Holy cow! We've been engaged for over six months, and have only nine to go until our wedding day! We celebrate the occasion today with half of each family, flying from Minnesota to Colorado this evening. We just took a 2-hour walk in the unseasonably warm MN winter weather, and it was then that I realized the date. I am so excited!!! Cheers! [holding up my hot chocolate and Baileys mug]

At my Master's graduation from ASU (limited pictures since I'm not on my own computer!)

Wednesday Wish!

Although I truly just wish I had more vacation time to relax and hang out with the family (I shouldn't complain with 2 whole weeks for the holidays), I am also getting more and more checked off my wedding list so the wishes are narrowing to the details. The details are the fun part, anyway. Today's detail wish: cute shoes. When I got my dress last week, I was told that I had to know which shoes I thought I might be looking at wearing so that the dress doesn't wind up being too long or too short. I chose a medium heel height, but honestly I don't know what I'll wind up doing for shoes!! Here is one idea, which may hint at details from my dress... ;)

From Pinterest

Marry Christmas to All!

Pun intended.

Hope you and yours have a fabulous holiday. We are splitting this Christmas between 2 families in 2 states once again. Started Christmas Eve with the future father-in-law, moving into Christmas morning with the future mother-in-law, then onto a 4-hour plane ride for Christmas with my family in Minnesota. It may feel like a lot of work and stress right now, but it is all worth it to continue all the family traditions on both sides of the family while we still have the luxury of doing so.

Zoo Lights at the Phoenix Zoo- one of our many holiday traditions.

I bought a DRESS!!!

I know I've already blogged about dress shopping, and discussed the bridal salon experiences I've gone through, but even with all my talk, I did not officially purchase a dress until now!

I am absolutely ecstatic that I waited and that this can now be marked off my long list of wedding to-dos. I am glad I waited because I got to really think about my decision, and I don't doubt my choice at all now. I am also glad it is over, because the 4-6 month delivery period puts me a little bit uncomfortably close to the wedding date!

I am sad that I did not choose the dress from my favorite bridal shop, Uptown Bridal, in Chandler. I realized, however, that their fabulous customer service could not distract me from thinking that another dress I had previously tried on was worth a second glance. Turns out, the old adage that brides choose the first dress they try on may be closer to reality than I thought. The dress I bought was among the first 5 I tried on the first day I went shopping for my dress in Denver. I should have gone with my gut and taken care of it then, but having waited I scored a $600 discount and got to give my patronage to a Chandler business as well. I wound up purchasing my Casablanca gown at Yes I Do Bridal from a very nice couple, who also had great customer service. And after trying on the dress a second and third time, I keep loving it more and more.

So the benefits go either way. Buy early and stop worrying about finding a better dress "out there" because you're probably wearing your favorite one right now anyway. However, if you do shop around, you can also solidify your choice and not wonder "what if there is another dress out there I'll love more" and you could save yourself some cash!

If there is one thing I learned, it is that it is beneficial to ask around when pricing your dresses as well, as each shop can charge what they want, and some will be cheaper than others for the same dress!

Sorry, can't show the dress online!!! You'll have to wait to see!

Christmas Wishes!

My wishes today are not primarily wedding-themed, but holiday-themed. Who can escape the spirit of the season?!

Wish 1: For my students to come back after the break grateful for all they have been given and with renewed energy and desire to learn.

Wish 2: For me to do the same, except renewed energy to teach.

Wish 3: To see some snow over the holidays.

Wish 4: Relaxation, hot Irish coffee or chocolate, and Christmas cookies!

Wish 5: Time filled with laughter, memories, for both my families!

Wish 6: That everyone likes the gifts we got them!

Wish 7: For all you wonderful blog readers to have a safe and happy holiday!

Ok, I'll admit to having a teary moment...

I've been strong, held it together, and continued to insist that weddings (my wedding to be specific) are CELEBRATIONS not tear-fests. I've not cried at many weddings myself, although a good Hollywood movie wedding filled with pathos and irony can often get me, but in real life I find it hard to cry about something so darn good!

I had a teary moment.

One of the best moments of this engagement thus far, however. In fact, one of the best moments of my relationship, I'd venture to say!

I had been asking Kyle to write up a blurb about me for our wedding website (still a work in progress) as I wrote the "About the Groom" section and thought it would be fun if we told each other's stories. He, being busy and mathematically minded, was putting it off until I begged him to help me mark off items on my to-do list.

And then he wrote the most touching, funny, and true paragraph with words I thought only Hollywood could come up with.

And once again, wishes, fairy tales, and maybe even Hollywood movie weddings CAN come true! And DO!

Tear.

The most cheesy romantic cliche photo I could find... butterflies in my stomach! :)

Confession: All I Want for Christmas

I must confess, I am having a hard time enjoying Christmas when the much more-anticipated wedding is getting nearer and nearer each day. Every year, people look forward to the spirit of the holidays and the time with family, gift giving, and of course food. Well, I'll see you one Christmas and raise you one Wedding!!

Why weddings are more fun than Christmas (not that anyone out there will argue):
1. The cake. I love Christmas cookies as much as the next person, but cake wins, hands down.
2. DANCING. Christmas dancing is really reserved for New Year's Eve, not Christmas.
3. Dresses. It is much too cold in Minnesota to dress up on Christmas and be comfortable, so until I spend Christmas in Phoenix (which can also be freezing in December,) I give one more point to Weddings.
4. More friends and family. I don't know about you, but we are lucky that my immediate family can be together for Christmas. Weddings are filled with all the people you love, not just a select few.
5. Christmas may mean happiness and joy for a month or two, but my wedding will mean a lifetime of happiness and joy. (I know, I am so cheesy now that I'm a bride to be).

On that note, all I really wanted for Christmas this year was a wedding, and I am getting exactly what I want.

Christmas 2010 in Minnesota!

On the 12th of December...

On the 12th of December, my true love gave to me, presents that needed wrapping.

A sign of times to come I am sure, but I am not complaining, as one of the few tasks I enjoy "taking over" as the wife is wrapping gifts for holidays. I know I will go all out and make them fancy, with bows, and add gift tags instead of writing the recipients' names in Sharpie on them. My perfectionist side likes this task.

One thing I've noticed about wedding planning in the midst of the holiday frenzy is that it is really hard to think of gifts you want that you don't want to register for in a few months.

Why don't they have "Christmas Registry"?? I mean, how much easier would our holiday shopping be if we could all just go shopping, use a pricing gun to scan a bunch of stuff we like, and then send that list out to all our friends and family? In our family at least, we kind of already do this with the hopes that the items on our wish lists will be easy to find. It might take some of the excitement out of unwrapping a present, but at least there is no need to wait in the return lines the week after Christmas.

I do wish that I did not have to try to balance my time between work (the end of the semester), Christmas (13 days and counting down), and wedding planning (only 9 months left?!?!). Unfortunately, work usually takes precedence, but this year I've slacked a bit, causing even more "end of the semester" stress. Slacking is maybe too harsh a word because I have successfully bought gifts, wrapped gifts, set up appointments over Christmas break with our wedding vendors, and even decorated the house! That is a lot to accomplish with all the other stuff going on during this time of year. I just need to quit procrastinating doing the real work I have so I can enjoy the holidays, stress-free.

So as the holidays near, I hope that I can keep up with my blog posting so I can be an avenue for all of you to procrastinate, too! :) Or you can spend your time browsing Pinterest for winter wedding themes, like me.

Via Pinterest

Wishes do come true!

Well, my biggest wish as of late was for Kyle to help out with our wedding planning by getting some addresses together for me, then deciding on his groomsmen. Love you honey, but really, procrastination does not work so well when we have to send SAVE THE DATES. The date will be passed by the time you get a hold of that long lost high school buddy to get his latest nomadic address.

Good news, that wish has come true! I think Kyle is feeling bad for me as I've been under the weather for the past week.

Even though I now have addresses and groomsmen, it will still probably be awhile before all have been sent and notified, but I am going to count my blessings today, not just my wishes!

Via Pinterest

Wish this Wednesday

Feeling in the holiday spirit of giving, so it is very hard for me to decide what to wish for today. The biggest wish I have is that West Elm and BHLDN did not sell out of the wedding decorations I previously wished for, before the holiday season allowed for me to ask for them.

I suppose a good wish for the day is that I don't have to make my centerpieces but instead budget well enough to purchase these beauties for the ceremony. That is a wish for extra time, art, and creative spirit!

Via Pinterest

It's Officiant...

Talk about capitalism, not wanting to pay for a church membership should not be punishment when planning a wedding. We have found that had we wanted a religious ceremony, we would have not only saved some money (some churches listed officiant services as "donation of choice" and others were free with membership), but we would have also not had such a hard time finding an available officiant.

Anyway, well, we have been on the search for the most cost effective yet unique and entertaining officiant for our wedding. Truth is, in Colorado you don't have to have a certified officiant at all, your wedding congregation can marry you, your DJ could marry you...  and you wouldn't have to fake it Heath, Jill, and Vance! But we want our ceremony to mean something special, to be truly "us", and to be fun at the same time. Kyle, of course, also wants to know if Jack Daniels is an appropriate substitute for wine.

So we have met with 2 officiants in Colorado who advertised "unique and original" ceremonies. Unfortunately, I learned that I need to practice what I preach and not procrastinate. We found out this past week that we waited too long to reply to one of them and we lost out on the date. Everything, however, happens for a reason, and this rejection became a blessing in disguise when I found a new officiant to meet with. This one asked if we could somehow arrange a meeting to fit his ski schedule. Now we're talking...

While panicking momentarily about who could marry us, I had contacted a number of officiants, and asked numerous questions about their services. We first of all found out that the original one we picked would have been way overpriced in comparison. Second, we think this new guy is going to rock our ceremony based on the first 1/2 hour conversation I had with him on the phone, where he let me vent about the woes of wedding planning and Kyle's procrastination about choosing his groomsmen. And when he asked if we could "meet slopeside for a brew" when we will both be in Breckenridge over New Year's, I knew that I would be booking this man. (At least, I hope our meeting in person will go as well as our phone call did). He also told me he Skypes, so I guess being hip with technology was kind of appealing.

Anyway, everyone always says that getting married brings some stress and disappointment, and not everything will go right, but as I see it, it DOES all go right with the right attitude. Everything happens for a reason.

Our ultimate back up- my soon to be brother-in-law got certified to officiate his sister's wedding.

Confession: I'm not as amateur as I claim to be

I must confess, I have done this before.

By "done this" I mean worked on planning weddings. But not for myself, well, ok maybe for myself, in the guise of working on other friends' weddings, attending other friends' weddings, and everyone else's blogs and stories. I feel like a seasoned researcher, having attended about 20 weddings together with Kyle over the past six years of our relationship. I have seen it all, from the behind the scenes of getting ready with my bride friends, to the gamut of ceremonies lasting anywhere between 10 minutes and an hour, and watching from afar at weddings where we only knew the bride and groom. I have tasted nearly every cake flavor available (my favorite to this day is still Will and Brittany Heerman's chocolate Grand Marnier). I have seen every style of dress (this one's favorite goes to Lisa Houston's) and I have danced it up to live bands and DJs.

So, claiming to be a true "amateur" throughout the planning process is really a misnomer. I am by no means amateur when it comes to the details, the things the guests can see and experience. I am certainly, however, still an amateur when it comes to knowing when to plan our wedding details, and how to manage the time between working and planning. If I had all the time in the world, I am not sure I'd find the time to do everything that is in my head and make it reality.

But I'll continue to call myself amateur for the sake of this blog! By the time I'm through, none of you will be amateurs officially, either. :)

Some of my recent research:

From Jared and Beverly Ross's Wedding