It's another.... Tasty Tuesday!!!!

Baby it's cold outside!

There was no easing in to fall here in the buckeye state. So now it is time to hunker down in a big cozy sweater (which I have a ton of!), hot cup of coco, and big wool socks and embrace this change in the season.

Fall is by far on of my favorite seasons, not just only for the beautiful colors but also because it is time to whip up hearty soups and meaty chili's. I am not sure about you guys but on a 90 degree summer day my stomach never growls for chili. So, as I have switched my wardrobes this weekend from summer to fall,I also put the grill and accessories away and broke out the big cooking crocks and stock pots.

Today it is a beautiful day with a definite hint of fall crispness in the air so what better to way warm you up than a nice big bowl of New England Clam Chowder (or as I like to say Chowda)

I had tried the Campbell's version of NCC but thought it gritty and bland. It wasn't until I was in Culinary school, in my Soups, stocks and sauces that I stumbled upon my now favorite soup. This recipe does take time but it is sooooooo worth it. It makes a hearty, flavorful soup that just sticks to your bones and warms you inside and out.

What you need:
½ TB Clarified Butter
1.25 Oz salt Pork
2 oz Med diced Onion
6 oz Clam juice
4 oz Chopped Clam
6 oz Milk
2 oz Heavy Cream
All purpose flour
White Roux
Salt and white peper to taste

What to do:

In pan render salt pork over med heat
Add onion and cook slowly, until soft. Do not brown
Add flour to make a roux, do not let brown
Using a whisk stir the clam juice in to the roux. Stir until liquid comes to a boil remember to stir constantly
Add the potatoes and simmer until tender
Stir in clams and add hot milk and cream, heat gently, but do not boil
Season to taste with salt and white pep

There you go Ladies... Stay warm!!!!

Fight, fight, fight, fight!!!! a weekend recap

This weekend was supposed to be filled with honeymoon anticipation and cleaning. All of which happened, just with a few set backs....

first. On Tuesday of last week I told husband that on Saturday we were getting up at 9 am so that we could get an early start to our day of cleaning. He did protest and gave me the line "but its my weekend." I refreshed his memory to the fact that he had Wednesday and Thursday off too so I didn't feel bad for him. Remember the long blog I wrote about some of the issues I was having with hubs? Well that whole blog was about to make an appearance....

Flash forward to Saturday and we both get up and go to the living room to make a game plan for the day. He sits down and the first thing he says to me is " I will only clean on one condition, that I can listen to ESPN college game day as I clean." Now, I know I blew this way out of proportion but, I know my husband, I know that college football is the cheese to his macaroni. That is why I wanted to get an early start, get everything done before the games start, or at least have a big enough dent that we were ready for a break anyway. Another thing I know about m y husband... he doesn't listen, he watches. He won't even mute the game so we can talk, he says it isn't the same. I felt defeated and kind of pissed off. Why didn't he tell me he wanted to watch this show? I mean I love sleep too, could still be doing it right now if he would have told me. I can feel the heat of anger start to rise from my tippy toes and I just get up and go get dressed. I come back in to the room stone faced, to him laying back on the sofa watching his beloved game day.

I go to the gercoery store, in a fowl mood, come home, to hubs sitting in the exact position and so is the mess, and start cleaning. I really wasn't paying any attention at first because I was busy putting stuff away, but I soon realize that I am alone in my cleaning venture. Hubs is sitting on the couch..... still. I start to think to myself, why am I going to clean if he is just going to sit there? This is his house too.
I walk away..... I walk in to the bedroom and just lay down. I am the type of person that was cursed with a very short temper, but I have system in which to control my temper, I walk away so I can collect my thoughts and cool off. Now, I never like to back down but I have a mouth on me too, a mouth and temper are a lethal combination. I didn't want to say anything to hubs that I knew I would regret and feel guilty for. Also, I hate being mean, it paints such an ugly picture.

So the fight begins and last for about an hour. We yell, curse, cry and yell some more. I didn't want to resolve our problems through a fight but, for this instance it did. It was strangely productive.

We both go to air a lot of our grievances, we talked about his "I will get it later" attitude, my expectations of him, his lack of respect for our home, his expectations of me, and so on and so on. Which opened our eyes to a lot of things that we really came to realize was the elephant in the room. We were working against each other, he was still acting like he was a bachelor in his bachelor pad, while I was a conflicted new wife. I didn't want to nag, and it took everything I had to not scream when I felt like I was living with a 12 year old.

What still really hurts to know is when I said " I know this is an apartment, but this is our home, we made this place, this atmosphere together and I don't think you respect that." He agreed whole heartedly. His reaction was "This is just an apartment." I told him he needs to get over himself real quick because this is the type of housing we are going to have for at least the next 5 years. And I will be dammed if I feel like this for the first 5 years of our marriage. I mean I laid it out for him, every ounce of feeling I had, was out there. Which is strange for me.

This is new to us, fighting. We were long distance for 5 and a half years. When you are fighting on the phone all you have to do is hang up and turn off. Now we are face to face, there is on where to run, you have to stay and fight. Which I hope we don't do that often. I mean I am a realist and I know it will happen some, but lets be optimistic as well.

after the shouting stopped and we actually talked about what was going on, and our expectations we were saying our I'm sorrys to each other with in 15 minutes. Like I said this was a reality check for both of us. This is new for the both of us and even though we have been together for 6 years, we haven't been together.


Anyway, after the blow out we started working as a team and had the common areas pretty much cleaned. Then we took a break and I went to a Gold Canyon/Mary Kay Party which I mean come on, what girl doesn't like amazing smelling candles and make up.

We also got all packed up for the CRUISE!!!!!!! I am so excited, I can't even tell you. We leave on Saturday, for a week long cruise in the west Caribbean, SO PUMPED.

How was your weekend ladies?

I've come to realize...

1. I've come to realize that my hair:
will always be stick straight, no matter how hard I try to make it wavy or curly.

2. I've come to realize that when I talk:
That I sound like a sarcastic northerner.... wait...

3. I've come to realize that if I make a mistake:
i will admit it, no matter how much I don't want to.

4. I've come to realize that all I really need is:
love and support... and diet coke

5. I've come to realize that I've lost:
friends. My high school reunion is coming up and seeing everyone who has RSVPed it is funny how people that you thought you would be friends with after high school drop you like a bad habit and act like you were never friends.

6. I've come to realize that I hate:
money. It isn't a new realization, it is just one that I realize every day.

7. I've come to realize that if I were to get drunk:
I would probably cry. I tend to keep things bottled up and really have to let my guard down to deal with them.

8. I've come to realize that money:
you don't need it to be happy, but it sure can help.

9. I've come to realize that when I get old:
I may have some regrets, and think what if?

10. I've come to realize that I'll always be:
a worry wart, sometimes pessimistic, but I try really hard to be optimistic most of the time. Long story short. I will be me. Deal with it.

11. I've come to realize that I have a crush on:
My husband of course but also on most musicians. A man that can play an instrument or sing makes me weak in the knees... i.e. Dave Matthews, Michael Buble, Rob Pattinson.

12. I've come to realize that the last time I cried:
it was during Husband and I's first married couple fight.

13. I've come to realize that my cell phone:
used to be something that I just had to have, now it is my security blanket.

14. I've come to realize that when I wake up in the morning:
I should have gone to bed earlier.

15. I've come to realize that before I go to sleep at night:
I over analyze everything in my head and can't turn my brain off.

16. I've come to realize that right now I am thinking about:
My honeymoon, which starts next Saturday!!!!

17. I've come to realize that my life:
is going to get pretty scary here in a few months

18. I've come to realize that when I get on Facebook:
I get nosy.

19. I've come to realize that tonight I will:
probably still be doing laundry

20. I've come to realize that tomorrow I will:
be counting filters, and engines at work. gotta love inventory

21. I've come to realize that I really want:
reliable friends that I can truly count on

22. I've come to realize that the person who is most likely to repost this is:
I am not going to tag anyone, I am just avoiding laundry and cleaning.

23. I've come to realize that relationships:
are hard no matter what kind and how involved you are.

24. I've come to realize that love:
is amazing.

25. I've come to realize my best girl friends:
are my saving graces and I love them all.

26. I've come to realize my best guy friends:
give me different perspective.

28. I've come to realize food can:
make me happy and miserable at the same time.

29: I've come to realize that this summer:
was very stressful,but had a wonderful outcome.

30. I've come to realize heartbreak:
happens to everyone

31. I've come to realize that my ex:
don't really have one.

32. I've come to realize that my sister(s)?brother(s)
are just like one person they don't want to be like.... then again so am I.

33. I've come to realize that crying:
doesn't make me feel better, it just makes me feel weak.

34. I've come to realize that death:
is gonna happen, hopefully much much later rather than sooner.

35. I've come to realize that if I'm sick:
I am very stubborn.

36. I've come to realize when I'm bored:
I really have other things I should be doing, but I am just putting them off. Gotta love Procrastination!

37. I've come to realize that work:
doesn't always get to be something you love

38. I've come to realize that family:
you can grow and so can your family, even if some members of said family want grow with you.

39. I've come to realize when I go shopping:
I spend waaaaaaaaaay to much and have buyers remorse after wards.

40. I've come to realize:
that this survey is 40 questions.

thankful thursday!

Today is thankful Thursday or as I like to refer to it... Friday eve.

This particular day I am feeling light and bubbly, for reason to be thankful number one.
1.I feel better!!!!!! I didn't have a temp when I went to bed and I didn't have one this morning. Which is a great relief from this past week.
2.Candy corn....don't judge me. But, candy corn is amazing and is only really around when it's fall.
3.allrecipes.com it is amazing
4. My honeymoon is only 10 days away!!! I am so excited for sun and sand!
5. My dot dot. She is a pain but makes life so interesting.
6. the bible study I am doing. It is so great to learn about strong women, even in a biblical sense.

Tasty Tuesday!

Seeing as yesterday was the last day of summer I decided this was going to be an ode to those warm summer days spent outside grilling, sipping on a cold beer or for me a totally girlie concoctions with a frilly umbrella.

I discovered something this summer too, Guacamole! I have tried it and tried it before in my days and for some reason this time it clicked. I have no idea what I had done with out it in my life.

So here it is, my ode to summer:



What you need:
• Guacamole
• 2 avocados - halved, peeled, and pitted
• 1/2 lime, juiced
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 fresh jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• 1/4 cup minced onion
• 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon salt to taste
•
• Burger
• 2 pounds lean ground beef
• 1/2 lime, juiced
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1/2 cup diced onion
• 1/2 cup diced tomatoes
• 6 slices Monterey Jack cheese
• 6 hamburger buns
What to do:
1. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat.
2. To make the guacamole, mash the avocado in a medium bowl with the juice of half a lime, chili powder, jalapeno, cilantro, 1/4 cup onion, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of minced garlic; season to taste with salt, and set aside.
3. In a large bowl, mix together beef, the juice of half a lime, 1 tablespoon garlic, 1/2 cup diced onion, and tomatoes. Form the meat into 6 patties.
4. Cook the burgers to desired doneness on the preheated grill. Add a slice of cheese to each burger during the last minute of cooking. Serve on toasted buns with a dollop of guacamole.

Need some help...

So now that the wedded bliss fairy dust is starting to settle reality is starting to take over. Frustrations arise, a little gloom too.

Everything that you read in bride books about a slight depression after your wedding is true on some level for every bride. Wither it be a complete nuclear meltdown or just being bored on the weekends. I can say that after 9 months of actual planning and preparing, every weekend being devoted to something wedding, watching wedding show after wedding show, scouring lord knows how many bride magazines, there is a void there. This is the time of your life you get to plan and live out your fairy tale. It is exciting to take a blank canvas and truly make it in to a cohesive vision of what you and your partner wants. So when it is all life consuming and then it a memory it is hard to let it go. When I flip to a wedding show now I say how I was feeling at that point, or what I was thinking. I guess I was waiting to feel something different, I don't know, almost like getting that badge in girl scouts. I will admit I wanted it to be over with, not just because of the stress and the drama, but because I wanted to be a newlywed. Get to that final level in this whole process. Did I think I was going to miss it this much? Not at all.

So after falling back in to the swing of things, I feel that I am left wanting. I am not sure what that is but there is something there. Maybe it is the fact that there was this huge climax and then nothing. Because husband and I pretty much lived together preceding the wedding there wasn’t the excitement of blending our lives. Now I am left with the same frustrations that were there before we said I do.

The week before the wedding was such a whirlwind. From finishing projects, cleaning, double checking every last detail. Everything was perfect, including our home. I had scrubbed, washed and polished everything in that apartment. Nothing was out of place and it looked AWESOME!!!! Flash forward 2 weeks and it doesn’t even look like the same apartment. I will say there was an adjustment period afterward and a huge sigh of relief when it was over, and both of us being sick thrown in to that 2 weeks, but still….

I came from a home, growing up that was never clean. It was always cluttered, dishes in the sink, stuff like that. Nothing health department serious, it never took much to get it in to working order, just a reason like company or a holiday. So, now that I have my own place and by that I mean without parents I knew how I was going to want it to look and how I wanted to keep it up. That is fine for me, but there was a foreign object to bring in to the equation…. A boy. Boys in general are messy people, dirty people… and I am speaking that they are this way to the opposite sex. I could be about to wet my pants and would still run past his bathroom, and run to my own. Now, I tired the whole cleaning and maintaining but that didn’t work. It actually resulted in a big fight, that then lead to a discussion. The fight was about “Why should I give up my weekend to clean”, to my response “Why should I give up my weekend to be your maid?” I made it clear through the shouting that I am not his maid nor am I his mother in the sense that I shouldn’t have to nag you everyday to pick up your socks off the living room floor. I realized I was going about this the wrong way. I knew very little about Husbands everyday home life, at his parent’s house and in college. What were his chores at home? What were his parent’s roles in the house? How did his apartment in college look like on a day to day basis (can you tell I have been in therapy before)? I was very upfront with him. I told him I am a messy person by nature, I am prone to clutter and I keep everything. But! And I told him it was a big but, if I get the place clean it will be CLEAN! Like eat off the floor clean and I will get aggravated if it doesn’t stay that way. Then the answers to his questions came…

1. His chores were to keep the basement clean – which I knew was the start of my uphill battle. In previous discussions I knew he pretty much just let the trash (i.e pop cans and such) pile up until his mom said clean it up and to empty the dishwasher.

2. His dad was in charge of the honey dos and the yard work while his mom tended the rest of the house.

3. His apartment, like my house needed a reason to be clean.

Oh boy! Here I thought for all these years he was the yin to my yang in the sense of he was neat and clean and I was messy and cluttered. He would be my muse to keep a neat and tidy house, not my biggest adversary. So already I knew I was going to have to tell him what to do and to nag him to do it. I also told him since we live in an apartment and don’t have a yard and maintenance can take care of all my honey dos he was going to have to help around the house.

So I had finally had it with crusty work socks on my floor, and pop cans scattered about. I made a list, a compromise if you will, of the duties around the house. I even discussed it with him to see if it was ok to go by and he said yes. Now, I did leave some gray areas because I live in the real world where we both work 40 hours a week and sometimes are going to be extremely tired, or need help. So I put that on there. Well he took what I wrote and then decided to throw it back at me every time something wasn’t done on time or right then. Something I have noticed about husband is when it comes to him personally there are no rules. For example: If he is home all day and has to take Dot out I will take her out when I get home because he has had her all day. Now in any other circumstance we trade on and off on who gets to take little lady out, but when I said it is your turn he said but I have been with her all day, so I take her out. But last night, when I had been home with her all day he pulled the “it is your turn” thing. It is like that for a lot of stuff. But when I was planning the wedding and there was a blow out about the laundry, I snapped. I snapped because I even wrote out on the list “can ask for help if they need it.” Needless to say I haven’t touched his laundry since said blow out. I will say here and now that I would be the main cleaner, if I didn’t have to fight a loosing battle. I can clean to my little hearts content but he has to meet me half way, by simply picking up after himself, but he doesn’t even do that 100%. I am his wife, I don’t want to feel like the maid (a repeating theme in this blog), and that is exactly what I feel like when I am picking up after him constantly and not getting a “wow the house looks great” or “ thank you.” That last one is a big ONE.

So here I am, a messy house waiting for me, a husband that says “I’ll get it later” and that means days later, and a dire need for some guidance and motivation. I just don’t know what to do. I don’t want to nag him because 1. He is 25 (in a few weeks) and he is to old for that and 2. It is his house too. He needs to take as much pride in this apartment as he would our house, when the time comes. I need some fresh perspective…

How should Husband and I get on the same team? How did you lovely ladies deal with this issue? Or something similar.

TGIF

TGIF Bloggies!!!!!

Even though I did get a day off during the week, we are gettin in to our slow season at work so the days just crawl by.

This week was a big week for me, I officially changed my last name. I went from something pretty straight forward to something that is going to get mispronounced, and misspelled the rest of my life,needless to say it is going to be a big change. It was hard seeing my maiden name go, there is a lot of pride and history that comes with that name. I remember doing the family ancestry projects in middle school and became obsessed with finding out anything and everything that had to do with my ancestry. It lead me down some very awesome paths, and it is fun to see where you came from and how you got to where you are today. This identity change is strange because Hubs knows very little about his last name which was kind of a bummer. I guess it is a challenge for me to do some research!

Hubs and I also went as a treat, to Bed, Bath and Beyond to use our wedding gift cards. We made out like bandits!!! And the good part is we still have some money left over! We figure once we move we can spend the rest.

Today I made my payment to hold my place for JWU to start in November. Now, all I have to do is find out when orientation is and register for that. Yay for school!!!!

Last night was the start of Bible Study and I am so excited!!!! This study is going to be amazing and I am so happy it is one that was done by Beth Moore. I think she is hystercial and brings so much history and just plain Umph to the table. The study is on the book of Ester and is called "its tough being a woman." Amen sister!!!!

I have to be domesticated this weekend and seriously clean house! We are overrun with gifts... I know, such a sad state to be in : ) But, it is time hubs and I got back in to a routine, back to a norm and getting things back together will seriously help. Now, lets hope my health holds out so I don't have a repeat of last weekend.

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

Thankful Thursday

Here we go lovelies...

1. Having the name changing process 99% finished. All I need is to get my new debit card and title to my car.
2. That my honeymoon is in 2 weeks! So exciting, We have never been on a trip together before.
3. My mom, she really is an amazing woman and mother. She loves us all very fiercely and I was reminded of that last night.
4. Reduced Fat Cheezits.... they are my new obsession.
5. that even though it is high pollen and my face is going to explode from sinus pressure, it has been beautiful weather the past few days. Cool mornings and evenings with warm sunny afternoons in between. Sweater weather is just around the corner!!!!!

There you have it.... what you are thankful for today?

Tasty Tuesday

Today will be the start of Tasty Tuesday! I know, I know you are bursting with excitement.

Alright all those wanna be chefs out there, here is a recipe that is easy and oh sooooooo good.


It comes to you from south of the border, with its spicy meat, gooey cheese and sweet corn bread topping whats not to love.





Corn bead and beef bake





what you will need:


1 pound ground beef
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves, crushed
3/4 cup Pace® Picante Sauce
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (16 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 (8 ounce) package corn muffin mix





What to do:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Cook beef and oregano in skillet until browned. Pour off fat. Add picante sauce, tomato sauce and corn. Heat through. Stir in cheese. Pour into 2-quart shallow baking dish. Mix corn muffin mix according to package directions. Spread over beef mixture.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until crust is golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes.

I usually serve with a dollop of sour cream on top!

Bon Appetite Bloggies.







recipe courtesy of www.allrecipes.com

Recap Monday!

Hola Bloggies!

My weekend was not what I had expected.

On Friday at work I noticed my throat started to ache and I thought it was because I was tired and we had been busy here at work. Alas, when I got home I was hit with chills and a fever. Great!!! My weekend plans were totally blown. Husband got home from work at 11:30pm and took one look at me and told me to get my sick hiney to bed. He even let me have the bed to myself. He made it seem to me he was being nice, but I knew he was really trying not to get sick. So Saturday was supposed to be my go to the bmv and start the process of getting my name changed but I didn't get out of bed until 11 and went straight for the couch and planned on staying there most of the day.

Mom came over to watch the OSU vs. USC game... this is all I am going to say about this,talk about a let down. We were so close to a huge upset and what happened. We choked... I am not bitter or anything.

I got to see my Brother and my SIL this weekend, I am going to try to see them as much as possible because he leaves for basic on Nov. 4th. It is going to be a really hard time because he and my SIL found out they are going to have a baby in April. He won't be here for hardly any of the pregnancy and he will miss the birth too. It is hard for any of us to talk about because of the obvious. He knows she will be in good hands though....

Sunday was going to be a good tv day. I am now obsessed with the show (don't judge me) The Nanny. They play it on TV Land like it is there job, but they only play it in the wee hours of the night when I am away in dreamland. So, I did what anyone would do. Filled up my DVR with nasally goodness. I watched to my little hearts content and then it was time for the TRUE BLOOD season finale. Ok. I am not sure if anyone else watches it but THANK YOU SOOOOO MUCH FOR KILLING OFF MARY ANN!! I liked the storyline to begin with, but then it got a little to out there even for me.

I will say that on Sunday I became a proud owner of an OSU snuggie! My hubs surprised me Sunday night with one. He said that he still hoped I would wear it after Saturday's depressing game. I told him I made me happy that something good OSU came out of this weekend.

How was your weekend?

The rehearsal

This was not a disaster but pretty close.

First, I would like to give a shout out to Hems & Hers for her amazing work on a tie strap shift dress that I wore for the rehearsal. Pics are below!!!!

Now for the day ....
During the day I planned a relaxing day getting a pedicure and getting my nails done. It would have been relaxing if people would have stopped calling me. So they day was already stressful. I get home and no one is there, Matthew decided that he wasn't going to come home that he was going to eat out for lunch and meet everyone at pinnacle. Which wouldn't be a problem but Dot had to go my mom's at some point and that was supposed to be that point. Anyway, I get home and I am starving so I make myself some Ramen and then get dressed. At this point my phone is yet again ringing off the hook. Now, if it were questions that really needed answers it would have been ok , instead it was questions like how long does it take to get to Pinnacle? what should I wear? what are you wearing? blah, blah,blah. So I turn my phone off. It wouldn't have been an issue if I hadn't sent out emails with all of this info the week before.

We pull up right at 3pm when everything is going to be starting, and my mom is standing in the front and she starts in on me having my phone off. I try to keep calm because I really didn't want to loose my cool in front of my Future in laws. My FFIL likes to have a plan, stay on schedule which is ok but when I can't get a hold of the planner at pinnacle and the pastor, what was I supposed to do? I have never done this before. Fed up I finally leave a message forLisa the planner and I say that we are going to get started and she will have to catch up. My FMIL says she used to do this when she worked at the church and gets the boys lined up by height. Then walks in the pastor and he is so apologetic for being late and we get started. It is time to get the girls lined up and they were actually in the perfect order with the guys. When deciding the line up,I had every a very diverse group of girls compared to his guys we really wanted to pair them on personality not on height. We make it through the ceremony, and then I get asked the same question 2 times by the same person... "do you want the bridal party lined up by height?" I answer no and tellFMIL why we lined them up that way. We walk to the back of the court yard to practice the processional and get asked by FMIL if I wanted the bridal party lined up by height and and I say no and again explain why. My MOH , my fairy matron of honor could see that I was starting to feel the pressure, so she tried to get me to laugh and shake it off.

We finish and my FSIL ask me the same question again and I just say no... no I don't. I know they are trying to make it perfect but there was a method to my madness and during all this wedding planning I came to find out that my new family does want you to be happy and they want the best for you if it what they say and how they do it. I am standing next to my MOH and we are just talking and my FMIL asks me if the mothers are going to be escorted down the aisle and my FFIl hears this and immediately turns around and it feels like they are right in my face and they say "It's tradition, in the south...." It took all of my might to not punch something and cry about it. I look around frantically for my soon to be husband and my MOH says "No, Katy and Matt discussed it and they are going to release the parents first." I smile and walk away. More words were said that I was glad I was kept oblivious too and we ended the rehearsal and went our separate ways to get ready for the dinner.

Ta da!!! My Custom made Dress from Hems & Hers , I paired it with a turquoise chunky necklace and my jazzy sandals. I got so many compliments it made me shine on a very stressful day. Ladies if you are interested in getting your own custom creation go to the link above!

September 11,2001

I remember my mom always talking about there being pivotal moments in her life where she will always remember where she was, what she was doing. She can tell me exactly where she was when Kennedy was shot, what she was doing when the challenger exploded. Up until September 11th,2001 I had never had an event like that. And to tell you the truth I was happy I hadn't, It seems it is the disasters or tragedies that stay with us more than than the miracles. I have never written about what I was doing on that day so I thought today was as good as any.

On September 11th,2001 I was a Sophomore in high school. It was a normal day, it was a Tuesday to be exact. I had just finished my French class and my AP Euro History class was right next store so I was usually the first person to get to class. I walked the few feet to my next class and saw that the tv was on...they must have watched a movie I thought, and I actually got excited thinking maybe we would too. I walk in and see on the tv BREAKING NEWS: WTC IN NYC and that is all I really read until I really listened and looked at what was on the screen in front of me. People running, the thick black smoke billowing out of the tower, at this point they still didn't know that it was a plane. I didn't even notice my class slowly starting to file in and we all looked like zombies in a trance. We couldn't look away, then it happened. The second plane hit and you could hear screams and gasps thought out the hall ways. Why did a plane hit the WTC, Who did it, what is going on. When the nation saw that second plane hit, it sent a shock wave felt even here in Ohio. I started crying, the news was showing people trying to get out, breaking windows for air. They knew no one would get to them, to think it was so bad in there that for some people the next best option was to jump. Now, if you know me I am not a religious person in the least, I will admit to anyone I am more spiritual, but on that day, when I saw those people all I could do was pray. When the bell rang it was a race to get to your next class. It was so surreal, from thinking something exploded in the wtc, to knowing it was a plane, the the second hit, to finding out we were under attack. I remember thinking we are the United States of America.. how is this possible. When the news of more hijacked planes hit, that is exactly what it felt like.... a hit to the deepest part of you. By this time it is almost my lunch. I stayed back in my class to watch and heard the Pentagon had been hit. The thought of OMG we are all going to die did cross my mind. I mean I know it is a touch dramatic but in this country were told we are invincible. And now our capital is being taken out. I thought it was only a matter of time before we see the white house up in flames. I called my mom from the pay phone at school. I told her I wanted to be home. In my mind if we were all going out I was going to be home, She told me I was in the safest place I could be right now and since I had excess to a tv if more hijacks were reported or terrorist acts taken out to leave school and walk to my Grandma's house. She would meet me there. She knew I was scared and that I needed am escape plan, her voice really calmed me down and helped me be able to carry on with my day. I went to a high school where even in my sophomore year we were almost 500-1000 kids over crowded, that day the halls were like a ghost town. Kids getting pulled out of class or getting similar instructions from their parents... just leave. After lunch the Mr. Rienhart, our principle made an announcement to the student body about what had happened, all after school activities were canceled, and I remember looking at the sky and seeing no airplane jet lines. You don't realize how much noise they make until they aren't there, it was eerie almost, it being to quiet. I think everyone watched the news for weeks following, looking for answers, looking for our next course of action. I have never prayed so hard in my life, laying in bed that night I couldn't get the images out of head.

I know now in 10-15 years when my kids are doing a history project and the subject of "where were you when 9/11 happened?" I will tell my kids, maybe even let them watch the documentaries that came out after, but I will always say what my mom said " Just count yourself lucky you don't have something like this yet."

some wedding pics

This is just a taste of what is to come!!!!

its all in the details!


The dress getting ready to be worn

getting suited up!


Matthew seeing me for the first time. I couldn't look at him 1. I was going to burst in to tears at any minute 2. I was really trying not to fall.

Dogs are people too!!!

I have started to look for apartments for the hubs and I,but it is hard when you don't know the area and can't grab the keys and look for yourself.


I just got off of the phone with Lake Hill apartments which was a 3 bedroom with hardwood floors for less than what we are paying now... SAY WHAT!!!! on their site it said pets welcomed...now when you saw this would you assume because there are no specifics it meant all pets. Yeah no. I ask Diane if dogs are allowed in the hardwood apartments to a response "Uh, we don't allow dogs, just cats." I said that's funny because no website I looked at which would be apartmentfinder.com,rent.com, and Lerner Apartments themselves specify that the apartments are cats only. Before a response I thanked her politely for her time and ended our conversation.

I think what erks me the most is that because I am doing this out of state I need the most up to date and correct information. And they should be happy to take my little lady. I mean she is so loveable.

It is expensive too. Hubs and I would like a 2 bedroom 2 bath with basement or a 3 bedroom 2 bath apartment or duplex. All for under $700.00... is that to much to ask? I think it maybe.

Thankful Thursday!

Happy Friday eve!!!! here is what I am feeling thankful for today:

1. That it is all over. After 10 months of planning, stressing, working my mom, my bridesmaids, an myself to the bone with DIY projects, everything came out beautifully.

2. Reconnecting with people. I never realized how big of a void friends can leave if you loose touch.

3.Gift cards! Hubs and I have a lot of shopping to do this weekend!!!

4. Getting your nails done. I love looking this polished!

5. And finally... my new husband. He is amazing, and he makes me feel amazing.

I am a Mrs!

That's right bloggies I a Mrs. now.

My boss pretty much made me take all of last week off of work because of how stressed I was. Which in the end I am thankful for, I mean I got everything checked off of my to do list with very minimal rearranging.

My stress really came to a head on Saturday. Between all the phone calls ( 25 total, I counted them this morning), to being asked questions I don't know the answer to, getting asked the same thing 3-4 times, all talk of tradition... I was burnt out.

I had to rush to get everything done before the rehearsal dinner because then future hubs was more worried about entertaining his friends and watching the game (we had words at the rehearsal about it). I was 30 min late to the rehearsal dinner, of course my dog got out and was running wild in my neighborhood while I was in 3 inch heels and a dress, of course I needed gas, of course the directions from google maps SUCKED so we got lost!

The rehearsal dinner was nice, food wasn't awesome, but the speeches were good. Saturday night was nice and I had fun at the hotel with my girls, playing cards and listening to music.

Needless to say we stayed up a little to late on Saturday.. like 2am late. There wasn't too much sitting around but towards the end we were rushed with makeup and left the hotel late. We got to Pinnacle and had to do a covert op to make sure the guys didn't see us. The place looked AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You know, when you o something yourself you never know what it is really going to look like until the day of and it was awesome. What Erin and Kelly did was really take my vision and bring it to life.

That is all I am going to tell you for now. Look for My Wedding Week Blogs coming soon!

September 6th, 2009

Today is my wedding day!