Engagement Anniversary!

One year ago today SB got down on one knee and popped the big question!

It's so fun to think about that night, to relive those feelings, and to remember how wonderful it was to put the ring on my finger! He was so nervous too - it was adorable. He had finally closed on the sale of his house in Atlanta, and we had made plans to go out to celebrate. When I got home from work that evening, he was all dressed up in a suit (which sort of threw up a flag). I put on a skirt and top and off we went, walking down King Street in Alexandria to the Torpedo Factory art gallery. After we explored the gallery, we had dinner reservations at the Charter House right on the Potomac River. We were a touch early for the reservation and of course I was like, "Well let's just go in, I'm sure they'll seat us!" But he had other plans, and walked me out on one of the piers, and the rest is history. I'm smiling just thinking about it all!!

Our big day is just under 4 months away.....I am SO EXCITED!

An Amazing Wedding....Beautiful Inspiration

This wedding was featured on Style Me Pretty today.....and it is just too beautiful not to share. The bride is gorgeous (I really love her hair, and that dress is stunning!), and I just love the classic elegance in their country setting. Enjoy the following pics...

(photos by the talented Lauri Levenfeld of Zoom Photography)

What to wear....what to wear!?

Ok, so somehow just now it's starting to dawn on me that I really need to start thinking about packing for my trip home....which of course includes the wedding shower. I hadn't even thought about what to wear!! I'm thinking I'll wear the blue Boden dress below with dark brown boots....but I'm not really sure what jewelery to wear with it. My pearls are a little on the short side for the deep V.....and the other necklaces I have just don't seem to cut it. I guess they show the model without any necklace, but I'm just not sure!!!! Any ideas?????

Ouch!

Contacts and me are not the best of friends.....at least not yet. It seriously took me an hour to get them in. My eyes just kept blinking, even though I was trying to hold them wide open to prevent the lids from getting in the way. At the end of the session, my eyes were bright red and it pretty much looked like I'd been crying for hours (that's probably how I felt too!!) In the end, I did get them in and out (with a lot of coaching from the optician), but now I have to practice a lot to try to see if I can do this on a regular basis.

BUT the good news is that I'm able to look forward to traveling home to Wisconsin for 6 days starting this Saturday. My mom and sister are hosting my first bridal shower on Sunday (which is exciting!!). Two of my bridesmaids will be able to join in the fun, along with their moms (unfortunately the others are spread too far out -- San Fran and NYC -- and just can't make it). Beyond that, I'm just excited to spend time with my family. I have 6 little nieces and nephews (my sister has 3 and my brother has 3), the oldest being 8, and the youngest being just 3 months. My brother's family lives in Manhattan, and my sister's family is just outside of Madison (where we all grew up) on a total fluke in that her boyfriend at the time (husband now) was transferred to Madison, WI right before they got engaged. While I would never have guessed that she'd be the one to end up in our hometown (I always thought it would be me)....she is really lucky to have my parents there to help care for their kids. I still can't believe I haven't really introduced my fam in the blog -- they are SO important to me, and I cherish every moment I spend with them. I'll post pics when I get back!

And now I'm off to rest my poor eyes...

Optometrist Appt.

The time has come. After a year or so of squinting at hockey games, in meetings, and when reading signs from a distance....I will finally be getting contacts tomorrow (or at least that's my hope)! Granted, I do have glasses that I like and that work perfectly fine, but I don't like wearing them all the time every day. I especially don't like wearing them when I play tennis or go running. My major motivation is to be able to see SB's face clearly at the end of the aisle. That doesn't seem too much to ask for, right!? haha :)
Tomorrow I will be going to an optometrist to get fitted for contacts (please note that this is a big deal because my dad is an ophthalmologist, but retired just over a year ago, and up until then he was the only person to ever do anything to my eyes. PLUS this person will be an optometrist, not an ophthalmologist...which really shouldn't make a difference b/c they probably fit a million people a day and I don't have any other eye issues to be concerned about....which means that I don't need to see an opthalmologist, but it's just what I'm used to...anyways, I'm rambling).
So while I am really excited about the appt, I'm also super, super nervous to attempt to put contacts in my eyes, and to take them out (even though that's probably silly because lots of people have been doing it since grade school). We'll see how it goes!!

Wedding Details...Part 2

What better thing to think of on a BEAUTIFUL Saturday morning than wedding flowers! (right now I'm waiting for my ipod to charge before setting out on a 9 mile run....sheesh, this "cramming" for the half-marathon is definitely not the recommended training regimen! The race is in 14 days and I haven't run anything longer than 7 miles to date....I hope I make it!!)
So our wedding colors are light blue, with accents of navy and ivory. Our flowers will mostly consist of light blue hydrangeas, peonies (if they can find some in July at a semi-decent price) and garden roses with accents of green (can't remember the flower's name??). They're also going to use some beachy sea grasses, as you will see! Here are the pictures I provided our florist for inspiration....

(to adorn the aisles....this ribbon will work its way into the decor....wrapped around square vases for cocktail reception, and as a napkin tie for dinner)(for the groom)

(groomsmen)

(bridesmaids' bouquets)

(for the bride :)

(this isn't the best pic for how I envision the centerpieces, but I couldn't find anything better....basically they'll be like the bridesmaids' bouquets...but bigger. We'll have high and low arrangements)

Salt....The Movie

I just learned today that a new movie is filming in DC right now, and they are using the empty parking lot across from my office building as their headquarters. The movie is "Salt" and their star is Angelina Jolie......which means that her trailer is in that parking lot too. Supposedly Tom Cruise was supposed to play the lead part, but when he turned it down they converted the part to a woman....and she jumped at it (I've read it's a bit like Bourne Identity...but with a female lead.....). It's strange how I really have a hatred for her b/c I see her as a home-wrecker (yes, I'm very much a part of Team Aniston :) Brad Pitt seems nice enough, but seriously - when the interview came out with Jolie saying things like how much she looked forward to going to work when they were filming (and he was still married)....well, that just struck me as tacky and insensitive. Granted, if I were to see her in our neighborhood Starbucks I wouldn't cause a scene, but I certainly wouldn't gawk over her either. It's strange how I clearly don't know her, but I have such strong feelings about her! I'll let you know if I see the beautiful couple out and about with their 6 children....

Daylight Savings Time.....This Sunday!

So out of the blue, my fabulous coworker mentioned that this Sunday is Daylight Savings Time! This news literally made my day. I'm so excited that soon it will still be light out when I leave work....which means I can run outside with Daisy at night (and SB too when the season is over), and that spring might just be right around the corner (ok, that part's hard to believe when it's 15 degrees out, and snow covers the ground but you get the picture!).

The other fun thing that happened today was a long, funny email chain with my brother and sister. We are spread out across the country, and I miss them so much -- so I always love when we're able to share a few laughs like that. I'll share more about them sometime soon....

For now I am going to veg out and watch tv :)

Snow Day!

photo source: BBC

It snowed about 6 inches last night! It's the most we've seen since we moved here last November from Atlanta (though it's funny....they saw a record snowfall last night too!). Since I'm able to work from home, I'm sitting here, nice and toasty, working at home....but it's a winter wonderland outside! I guess it's true that March comes in like a lion. I can't wait for that 'lamb' weather!!!!

Engagement Pics!

Back in late July my whole, extended family had a reunion like we do every 2 years at the same beach where SB and I will be getting married. This year it was especially timely because we were able to meet with a bunch of our wedding vendors. I had worked an engagement photo shoot into our photography package, and we were all set to do it Wednesday at sunset.....well it rained then. We rescheduled for Thursday and it rained again.....so then finally we decided to do sunrise on Friday morning...and everything worked out (minus the crazy humidity that did a number on my hair!)! We have yet to pick a guest book-type item to sign...but I always like it when people sign a mat for a framed photo....because you can display it and see it forever. Anyways, here are a few of my faves from the shoot: