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Our wedding

I Can Feel Fall Coming Upon Us!

Today is a dark and dreary day and I love it.
Who would think like this?
We have had such warm, humid weather that I am so relieved to be getting closer to fall.
At the beginning of Summer I am always so excited for the beautiful weather.
It always feels like Fall is going to be this terrible, snarling storm of wind and rain when it gets here.
But alas when it does come I am so happy so see rain and clouds and turning leaves.
I can't wait to see the leaves turning.

Troubles Come in Three's

Everything is getting closer.
Graduation is so close and so is the wedding.
Apartment time is getting super close.
Just 19 more days to go for that.
And I can't believe that summer is almost over.

We got some terrible news about my cousin's husband.
His cancer has returned worse than ever in his liver, blocking his colon and other areas.

We are all praying and hoping for a miracle and I ask that anyone who reads this ..please pray for Jeff(cousin's husband),Colleen(my cousin/his wife) and their two little girls chelsea and katherine and for our family as a whole!

Cinnamon Toast!

I love cinnamon toast and I haven't had it since my Grandma died.
That was almost two years ago.
So today I broke out the 100% whole wheat bread and butter and of course had to mix up some cinnamon and sugar.
Woah was it good.

Its amazing how cold an oregon morning can be in the summer and then how it can heat up so fast.
We went walking this morning at Glendoveer.
It was so nice to get out and smell the fresh air.

I can't wait to go back to school on friday.
I know that sounds really lame but it is my last term ever!
YAY

School Has Started...The Sun Keeps Shining

So I took a nice little drive in my car today in the country and it was great.
I'm hoping that they get that terrible fire contained in Washington and that there isn't any damage to people or property.
I was watching a lifetime movie about a dentist who rapes his patients while they are under anesthesia.
How scary is that.
I am so glad that I go to someone that I've know since I was little and trust.
Oh and I looked at the family watchdog sex offender information website and there are a lot of them out there.
Some are normal looking and some are not.
I think as women we have a sense about situation that are good and are not.
We really have to listen to them.
You know when the hair on your neck stands up and you have that uneasy feeling.
I've had it before, in a parking lot at Washington Square where a man followed me to my car and just as my phone rang he veered off towards his car in the opposite direction.
So scary.
Anyways now its time to roll up the sleeves and turn up the music and get back to some cleaning:)

Last Term

Today starts my last term of college.
Taking it one day at a time you never think that you will actually make it to the end.
But here I am.
For some funny reason I've been wanting to buy school supplies.
I loved getting new crayons and picking out a pencil box.
And getting a new bag to carry it all in was the best.
It's incredible to think how much I have grown in the past year.
Putting together a wedding and going to school and trying to keep everything else balanced has been a difficult task.
But I'm doing it, or at the very least doing the best I can.

In regards to the shower, I had so much fun.
The food was super yummy and I loved seeing everyone.
I wasn't sure I was going to be able to fit all of the presents in the car.
It got me thinking about transporting the presents from the weddding, but I don't have to worry about that.
I've been trying to not worry about things that I don't have to, that aren't my responsibility.
If someone takes responsibility, I am going to give it to them.
But enough about that.
I got all my thank you notes all written.
Some of them made my mom tear up.
I should start writing for hallmark.
So I'd like to send out a big thank you to everyone who attended and made it a very special day for me, especially my family who put the whole thing together for me.

It seems that no matter how much you clean things are never clean.
Or maybe its because I never actually finish the cleaning, I just make little dents in it.

So here I go to make some more dents

The Second Half of My Break

To be completely honest I only have a memory of going to one bridal shower and that was in high school.
I know that I went to some when I was little.
But I don't really remember those.
So I think it makes it a little bit more exciting for me.
Do some people dread coming to showers like some dread weddings? I don't know!

Today is the day that the hair is getting cut and colored.
I'm expecting that it will need a check up closer to the wedding.
But this will give me time to see if I like it.

I'm watching GetMarried right now on Lifetime and some of the weddings that they show are just awful.
Favor giving has gotten out of control.
And who said that you have to give everyone a twenty dollar favor anyways.
It seems to me like they are just trying to rub it in how much they've spent on the occasion rather than giving the guests something useful.
I am making little mint candies and purchasing some yummy m&m's.
Hopefully no one is dissapointed by not recieving a plastic shoe to take home with them.

I have to pack some clothes and such for the Lake Merwin one-nighter.
Then I need to pack for the Reno vacation.
But first I need to do some laundry.
I've been living in old, oversized T-shirts the past couple of days.
Now I've got to say goodbye to them and hello to clean, non-homeless looking clothes.

66 days to the wedding.
My biggest worry is where are we going to live.
Will I find a job?
It seems that jobs in my industry are few and far between.
I guess I'm just going to have to be agressive.


Here is a list of things that I am looking forward to:
Graduating
Being married
Getting a dog
Getting our first real Christmas tree
Everyday life
Going to a job that I enjoy
Getting a new car


A little note about the dog thing,
I am a little apprehensive about living without a dog.
I have always had a dog to comfort me and to take care of.
I think I need the stress reducing properties of a dog.

I can't believe the weekend is over

Wow this weekend was busy.
I was trying to take it slow so that I could rest a little and get rid of the last of this cold.
I went shopping with my mom and got some fun things
Sometimes you just need some quality time with your mom
Ryan was gone ...he was in the wilderness.
When he got back I asked him if they set anything on fire
his response,
"No...Chris wasn't there"

The wedding is so close now

I need to get my lazy butt off the couch and start enjoying this weather. Atleast we have these big windows at our house that allow me to feel like im outside.
Apparently there are some raccoons in our neightborhood but also:
Cranes
wolves
and there was a bear once
and the froggies that are always making noise

On a happy note I got my skates sharpened and am going skating on Thursday with my bestest buddy Joni

Ruthie is still in Greece and I miss her so much but I know that she is having a blast and enjoying her vacation/cultural experience

I need to make a list of wedding things that I must do asap:
so here goes:
1.Marriage license(Ryan)
2.Attendant gifts(both)
3.Throw away bouquet(me)
4. I need a hairstyle
So I need to go into this a little. Right now I am hating my hair. My hair is so long and heavy it is bringin me down. Well I thought that I wouldn't touch it before the wedding because I need a hairstyle that goes well with a veil. Well my mom and I had a talk and like always the voice of reason calmed me down and we decided that I'm not the veil wearing type. So now I need a hairstyle that will stand on its own. And possibly with a veil lol!


5. Wedding Programs(me)
6. Bustle dress(me)
7. Make placecards(me)
8. Make a memory board(me and ruthie)

I think that there is more. Mom took my list and wrote our grocery list on it so I need to find it lol

My Momma

Today is Mother's day and I have the most amazing momma in the world. I know that a lot of people probably say that but in truth she really is. Since the first day I was born we have in inseparable. She has helped me through every good and bad phase in my life. So here's to you momma, you're the best!

Summer

So hopefully based on the present weather, summer will soon be here to stay. It will be so excited to go to school this summer with the sun all shiny and people walking their doggies, eating ice cream and smackin their bratty kids. No joke people, what is with parents these days. Please be kind to your children. There is a serious lack of control, either they are hitting them and yelling or they are being hit by their children. I think I've been watching too much Nanny 911!

Ruthie and I are trying to come up with a good idea for our graduation. We have been working so hard and we first thought that we would have a graduation party. That's the first thing that really comes to mind. I mean when you spend four years working towards something it deserves a little recognition and I don't want it to get lost in the wedding planning/wedding itself. On Friday we talked about going on a trip somewhere, possibly with whoever could come. My mom and Ryan expressed interest in coming and if Ruthie's mom could go that would be so much fun. But we still have to plan things or even decide on what to plan.

Last wednesday I had my sr. collection midterm and it went very well. I have some minor things that I have to fix but I did my best. Right before I was about to go into my midterm, I was thinking that it would have been easier if I hadn't done my best because I could take criticism better than if I did work my very hardest and still was criticized. Thankfully I was able to go in their with some confidence in myself. Nonetheless, it is over! and here are some picture of my collection that don't do it justice because I have a crappy dress form that is not shaped like a human! Plus I didn't iron them before so they are a little wrinkle from their return back home.
This is my first dress that I am doing and it is fully lined with an invisible zipper in the back with self faced cap sleeves and a silk hem. The body fabric is a wool/lycra blend and the lining is rayon ambiance.

This is the overdress that is made from silk chiffon and a cotton/lycra blend. the top is interfaced with knit interfacing and the hem is a baby hem. This one has been a little booger!

Here is the second ensemble that I did. The pants are a wide leg pant that are a wool/lycra blend with a contoured waistband and pockets in the front, no pockets in the back for a smoother look and only a hook at the center front so that they pant lies smoother. The top is a knit cotton/lycra blend turtleneck with dolman sleeves, which essentially means there is no armscye, just a seam along to upper arm and then one along the lower arm going down the side. Its meant to drape gracefully on the arms, if the dress form had ARMS!


Next up I will be doing two more dresses, one a wool sheath dress with silk color blocking and the other a silk, pleated, sleeveless party dress!I have my work cut out for me but getting those first done was a big part. Just two more to go, thats what I keep telling myself.

Also I have begun making my wedding bouquets and here is a picture of my finished one, I still have to make my throw away bouquet.




Oh and something else. I was at dress barn and when we walked in there was a Mary Kay lady there with her little table set up. My mom has been searching for some makeup that won't break her out. We have very sensitive skin and with the new mineral makeup that they are coming out with and have had for the past couple of years now seemed like the right time so it was actually just a coincidence that we met that lady because we were planning a trip to Ulta later that day. Anyways we entered a contest for $25 of free makeup and she called me last night to tell me that I've won. We were going to do a makeup party anyways but this just makes the deal sweeter.

My Crazy Life

We got the invitations last weekend and they are so pretty. I wasn't so sure about the purple lettering because I couldn't see it in the final product (we chose not to do proofs) Thank god they turned out so well. I can't wait to mail them out.

I decided that I wanted to register at Bed, Bath and Beyond because they have a great return policy. It would have been a great experience except I think the guy that was helping us was either very sick or very high. We were answering his questions and it took him like an hour to input our information into the computer. We picked out china and stemware and flatware with him and he said that he would input them into the computer for us. Well when I got home to check it he had put in the wrong stuff. It was so frustrating. I wanted to smack him! Anyways, everything is fixed and ready to go.I am keeping the Macy's and Crate and Barrel registries because we can buy stuff off of them after the wedding!

I recieved my veil about two days ago and I love it. The comb is HUGE but I am going to replace it with a brown comb that will blend into my hair better. I am also contemplating adding some rhinestones to it.

I only have two classes this term but it feels like five. I really need to start working on it today or I will get behind.

Soon Ryan and I are going to go apartment hunting and I couldn't be more excited.

I feel bad that Ryan and Jeremy haven't really been on the best terms lately. It seems like Ryan wants the best for Jeremy. But Jeremy just seems to take it as a slight! It sucks because we are both missing out! I've never had any siblings! But I guess I just have to keep reminding myself that Ryan also comes with great friends who fill that position and more! Must be thankful for them!

I can't write anymore!
steph

Corsets Are Not My Friend

So I finished up the sewing of my corset this morning and I put decided to do a lining and well I put the boning in backwards into the lining. So instead of the boning curving outward it curves inward. It sucked from the beginning because the boning is rolled up so it curves and it makes it terrible to work with...but sometimes you just have to roll with it.
I am hoping to make a stop at the diabetic bakery today to get some yummy treats. My favorite is the napoleon which is huge and 163 calories and 4 carbs.I usually only eat half at a time so it works out to even less...but so yum! Even if it is a little expensive, sometimes you have to have a treat.
Tomorrow is wedding extravaganza day and I am excited because it get to spend some time with my mom. Who could ask for a better start to a weekend. First it's a south park day with Ruthie and then some mom time.

Procrastination

So at first I thought that I know my hair better than anyone so why not do my own hair. But now I don't want to deal with it myself. Why shouldn't I relax on the big day? So I made an appointment for a consultation with Sunny's Weddings at the Oak Grove Hair Salon for April 5th @ 1:00pm. I'm actually excited. I really hate calling people to set up appts because I always sound like such a dork.
I am also planning on going to the wedding cottage or I think that is what it is called to look for different invitations because my mom woke me up this morning to tell me that she really wasn't too keen on the ones that we bought..which can be returned thankfully. I agreed because they look green to me. They are supposed to be silvery, but they aren't. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and admit to yourself that something isn't right and you gotta fix it before its too late. So we are now on the hunt again.
I am also reading a new book about what they don't tell brides and what to expect! Its helping me with the transition because I am a fiercely independent person and my instincts are to fight for it! Accepting your own happiness is not easy if it conflicts with that.
My current sewing projects include a corset, a lingerie ensemble, and one more dress for my senior collection. I also have to do some work on my portfolio and I've been putting it off. BUT FIRST I HAVE TO CLEAN MY HOUSE! I can't start something new until the house is clean and I can find things. So that is what I am going to do now.

I will say that I am very excited about chris and rebecca's wedding in fall 2009!
Now I just want everyone to get married and I have to reign my excitement in because I want people who aren't even in relationships to get married just so I can talk with them about it! OH GOD WHAT HAVE I BECOME?

Starting Over

I am renewing my resolve to keep up with the blog posting. I think that writing helps to cleanse you of all the bad things that have happened and help to reaffirm the good things in life. So what are the good things? Well, my number one good thing is Ryan. I couldn't ask for anything better because there isn't. But not just Ryan, there are the people that came with him, some of the greatest people I've met. Fun and full of life and inspiring. I know that I am younger than he is but I look up to his friends! They inspire for what is to come.
I am also thankful for my friends. Towards the end of last year I added a new friend to my most trusted list. Ruthie is such an amazing person and I am so thankful that we have gotten to know eachother. She is responsible for nurturing my newfound love of South Park and I have her to thank for helping me to learn the computer patternmaking program. Senior Collection II next term is going to be a blast and its because she is there to keep me motivated.
I'm most thankful for the combination of family and friends that will be at our wedding and for the support that they have given me. Each day my excitement grows. We bought the invitations, the bridesmaid dresses, flowers and I can't wait to pick out my jewelry, shoes and other accessories for the big day.
One thing that I have been fighting lately is my new plan for eating healthy. Ever since I got sick, I have been a stranger to my workout. If you fall off you must get back on and that is what I must do. Plus I have to finish my finals that were postponed and I need good brainpower!
So here is what I think that everyone needs to keep them healthy over everything else......LAUGHTER
My cheeks may hurt and my sides may ache but there's nothing better than laughing your heart out. Okay enough for today I am going to stock up on more bridal magazines.
Here is how I have decided that I want my hair to look like and there will be a bun in the back.
The bun is up for interpretation though and I haven't decided how I want it. I would like my veil to hang from below the bun and then place a comb into the bun or something sparkly. Here is a bun that I like a lot!