wedding dress is in the bag!!

So no pictures in this one... I guess you will just have to wait for it!  But today, I purchased my wedding dress!!!  This is a major event.  One part of me wishes that we would have timed it to see just how long it took us to find the dress.  Carolyn, Kathy, and Erin (Jon's friend---now a close friend of mine) went with me to David's Bridal.  Side note: the prices were far better than I anticipated.  Anyway, I was extremely appreciative for their help since shopping, especially something of this magnitude is *not* my forte!  I probably tried on 6-10 dresses.  The last one was IT.  You know, you put it on and it fits perfectly.  Looks like it was custom made for you and for the event.  We did a few switch ups, i.e. tried a different bustle, "inserted" a corset, put on a veil, and a tiara and.... WOW.  I had to do my happy dance.  Brittany, our assistant, asked if I wanted to ring the bell.  "That's what we have people do when they 'say yes, to the dress.'  So people don't want to do it, I don't understand." I rang the bell, while the girls, a random onlooker, and Brittany clapped. 

I have to say it feels a bit surreal.  This is the part of being married that apparently I missed before.  I do enjoy having more of the fun, with less of the stress. I don't have to drive 45 minutes to see Jon, or have to say good-bye when the date is over.  I can discuss the wedding plans and then fall asleep next to him (best part of my day--really!).  Not to mention that if I have a question he is close by to ask.  I don't have to try to remember my questions for the next time I see or talk to him.  I don't know how I would have done it the "normal" way.  Sometimes my brain functions so differently than the culture around me--I wonder where I was really raised.  I am appreciative of friends who encouraged me to think outside of the box.  This definitely was ideal for me, although I can understand and appreciate others who do it differently.  What I think is--do what suits your personality.  I'm not talking just about this topic.  I'm talking about being less image conscious and doing what YOU need to stay alive and well.  Well mentally, well physically, well emotionally, well spiritually, etc, etc.  You get the picture.  God made each of us so differently.  Does He laugh (or cry!) when we treat our personalities and situations in similar ways because "it's expected"? 

Okay this is me getting down off of my soap box.  lila tov (good night in hebrew) to all.

shopping

Most of you know how much I dislike shopping.  Well, today and yesterday were almost exclusively about shopping!  And I did not kill myself or anyone else.  Always a plus.

Yesterday we shopped for wedding things.  Lots and lots of wedding things.  The back seat of the truck was full of things as well as somethings on the bed of the truck.  First we stopped at the Wedding Center.  They do dresses (bridal and wedding), flowers, tux and vest rentals.   One stop shopping at its best.  I signed up for everything (almost). We went to Hobby Lobby, the Dollar Tree--for cheap decor, and multiple hotels--to rent a block of rooms for our guests.  Finally decided on the Holiday Inn after touring 3 hotels.  That was a first.   This is what the truck looked like when were done shopping!

Now the decor is basically bought or planned.  We picked the colors out for the wedding. It will be orange/peach with royal blue.  The bridesmaids will wear royal blue.  The groom and his men will be in black tuxs with blue vests and ties.  The flowers will be orange and blue.  The name of the roses are circus.  Which will be in my bouquet and the bridesmaid bouquets.  There will be spikey blue flowers in there as well (I don't remember the names).  The arrangements for the tables will be amber mums (amber is just the name of the flower--they are really orange) with the blue flowers again, ferns and bear grass.  The florist from the wedding center was willing, thank God, to help us do our flowers for a *very* reasonable price.  She even told us how we could save more money.  Now that's what I call service!!

Today we did some much needed clothing shopping at Kohls.  When we were there of course we had to stop and looking at the jewelry for the wedding.  Jon has more patience with jewelry shopping then clothing shopping.  I don't know why, but I am not complaining!  He helped me pick out some beautiful stuff.  :) It is a gorgeous set with the necklace, bracelet, and earrings.  Since they were all buy one get one free, I got another set of earrings for "free".   Jon has this habit of spoiling me.  Which I love! 

Don't look at the surroundings!  It looks like we should spend more time cleaning up and less time shopping.  But at any rate I am very happy with the jewelry.  I think it will be beautiful! 

Today was also a day of bike riding with Carolyn--probably 8 miles.  That could be why it hurts when I sit down.  After that we went swimming.  Yes, our pool is already open!! It has been warm here.  I have my tomatoes and cucumber plants on the balcony.  Then a quick shower and Kung Fu lessons.  Not sure about the Kung Fu.  It's definitely a different world.  Jon asked the teacher to show him how to do a certain move.  The teacher kindly instructed him that it is impolite/rude for the student to ask the teacher to show him something.  "You will be shown when you are ready."  um...ok!  I think Kung Fu requires more dedication to it then I am willing to commit.  Now or anytime in the future.

goodnight.

p.s. thanks for the comments--personal or on the blog.  I loooove comments.  =)

so you had a bad day

Today was not the most pleasant day.  On the way to work (in our new truck) I cut someone off--accidentally of course.   They made hand gestures at me.  Then I almost bombed my ACLS test.  Fortunately the teacher only did remediation with me and did not make me do the other test (You really don't want to do it", she said and then laughed).  Came home and washed my husband's formal shirt and trousers.  Dry clean only of course.  So much for trying to help out.  When he came home, we went shopping at King Sopper's where I started crying in the parking lot, for who knows what reason (I just love being a female).   At Sam's Club we discussed that I should try making a cake with chocolate buttercreme icing.  I went home and made a cake with regular vanilla icing.  Hellooooo....is anybody home? Or maybe I should ask who's home? 
Anybody else ever have a day like that?  On the good side... I have a patient husband who helped me fix the plain icing to become chocolate, did not complain about my washing issue, gave me lots of hugs and kisses and helped me clean up my cooking messes.  He also went grocery shopping with me--one of my less desirable tasks. 

On Sunday my dear husband accompanied me to a bridal show.  Or should I say I accompanied him.  I don't enjoy these types of festivities, but admit that it was relatively painless.  Honey was a good block against some of the more forceful advertisers.   For those of you who don't know, we did a private ceremony in January and will be having a real "wedding" in the fall.  I had no idea that it entailed so much.  I vacillate between joy and terror.  Who knew that wedding invitations could cost 1.29 a person not including the RSVP card--plus postage.  Or that dance lessons cost 720 buckaroos?  The guy who showed us his antique car (as an option for a limo) said that at $375--his offer was the cheapest we would get all day.  Shockingly he was right.  I am still trying to decide whether or not to hire a professional photographer or try to get family/friends to take our pictures.  It is scary to think what my side of the family will do when they hear that I am even considering the second option.  Heresy heresy! 

Here's a photo of the cake, that turned out reasonably well considering the rest of my day. 

positions

I wonder how people get the positions that they do.  Qualified nurses are merely staff nurses and then there are lazy nurses (with less experience) that are charge nurses.  I am still trying to understand that.