Combining our lives

As we continue to combine our lives, I am amazed by all that we have. We have made so many trips to Goodwill and yet we still have so much "stuff". This past weekend, the goal was to make the rest of our "stuff" fit in our little townhouse. We packed and repacked family heirlooms and sentimental relics, we let go of those things that have seen better days. Our final duty was to tackle our tool boxes. Now, those who know me may remember my proudest mechanical moment...when I changed the alternator in my car. Since then, my mechanical work has come to a halt but I am proud to say I have a decent set of tools to help me do the basics. Michael also has a large set of tools as well as his fathers old tool sets. When we combined our stuff we came up with this (and this is NOT and exhaustive list):

12 Phillips Head Screwdrivers

11 Boxes of Screws

10 torque tips (2 boxes)

9 rolls of tape

8 Crescent Wrenches

7 Channel Lock Pliers

6 Hammers

6 Levels

5 Flat head Screwdrivers

4 Socket Drivers

3 Paint Scrapers

2 Palm Mice

2 Wire Testers

2 Wire Strippers

1 Rubber Mallet

This list does not include power tools and other unique devices. We were shocked and amazed and a little appalled. We organized, tested and tossed and I am proud to say we now have an indoor and outdoor toolbox and each of us has a mini kit in our cars!

This post is dedicated to Tom Range and Danny Smith. Our dad's who taught us the importance of a good set of tools and the smarts to know how to use them!

Breaking up with The Knot

So, I mentioned in a previous post that I jumped on the crazy train for a few weeks after our engagement. Me being the planner I am began flashing back to the preparation time it took to make camp a success. I remembered meetings with contractors, site visits, logistics and I began to panic. This panic morphed into me crying every time the word wedding was said. Not exactly what your fiancee wants to see every time he walks in the door and asks a simple question.

I sought help from friends and they talked me off the edge and I broke up with The Knot.

See, a few days after I got the rock, I excitedly logged into their site and registered us. We didn't have a date yet so I put in a tentative one just so I could have access to all of their exciting ideas.

BIG MISTAKE!!

Once you provide them with the date of your nuptials, they start a running checklist of things that need to be done...that day, that week or that month. I started scrolling through the list and hives broke out?

Here are just a few:

Let friends and family know you're engaged.  Send them a just-engaged video Ecard and submit an engagement announcement to the local newspaper.  You may also want to have your engagement photos taken in time for this.
I opted for calling and texting my friends after having a few drinks on NYE and telling them we were engaged. Much faster and much more entertaining...or so I was told.

Start taking better care of yourself. Get in wedding day shape by eating right, joining a gym and/or even hiring a personal trainer.

No pressure here. Basically, they are saying stop eating you cow! Plan on salads for the next 9 months and you may look okay for your wedding day!

Book your reception site as soon as you see something you love that's available on your date. Before you sign the reception contract, make sure it includes everything you discussed.
I work full-time people. How the hell am I supposed to see all that's available in a weeks time...seriously???

Make sure everyone in the wedding party is aware of what you expect of them --especially your bridesmaids and groomsmen.  Provide a list of duties to the maid of honor and a list of to-dos to the best man.
Wedding party? Oh, goodness how do I choose. Wait? I get to give them a 'to-do' list? This doesn't sound so bad after all.

So, there were many more 'to-do's on the list...25 items to be exact. Needless to say...only a few of them are complete. And I have finally come to the realization that regardless, our wedding day will be exactly what it's supposed to be...a uniting of two people who love each other and want to share their special day with family and friends.

So goodbye for now Knot. I may visit you again for ideas and tips but I will surely avoid your dreaded checklist forever!!

Ouch!

So one of my favorite bloggers, the Kitchen Witch had a realization that her ass was a little out of control and in need of some shrinkage.  I myself have had a realization that OMG...my pants are REALLY, REALLY tight.  It was less of an Oprah "AHA" moment and more of a "Why are my pants leaving red rings around my waist?" 

Ouch.

So, I am taking matters into my own hands...or rather, my feet.  I joined a women's running group through a local running store, Bull City Running Company.  Now, I've never been a fast runner.  Hell, I had never run outside of the required mile in high school (which I probably walked) until January of 2007 when I decided to do the "Couch to 5K" program which led me to complete my first 5K.  I got the  bug at that point and trained for and completed the Soldier Field 10 mile. It wasn't pretty but I finished and felt so proud of my accomplishment.

I wish I could tell you that I continued to train for a marathon 

I wish I could tell you that I continued to train for a half marathon. 

I wish I could tell you that I kept running and continue to do 5K's.  

These would be lies.

Instead of doing any of these things, I quit.  Hung up my shoes and didn't run again for months. The problems began when  I kept eating like I was running 12-15 miles a week.  Pounds slowly started to creep back on.  I would make attempts and off and on I would throw on the shoes, run for a month or so but it never stuck like it did when I was training for those initial runs.

Last year I did Crossfit which I loved but my bank account didn't.  I attempted a gym, running schedules and exercise videos but the motivation never stuck.

So in light of my upcoming nuptials and honestly because my pants hurt, I decided to begin again and hit the pavement.  Tonight was our first night and over 30 ladies showed up for this 10 week program.  Our fearless leader and shop owner had a sit in a circle as she discussed what the 10 weeks would look like, etc.  After wards we went around in a circle, introduced ourselves and explained why we were there.  I can't quite put words to how amazing the energy was in that small storefront as I heard  stories from those 35 ladies.  Despite having just met, we were laughing, congratulating and appreciating each other in such an authentic way.  i was totally geared up to get going.  After introductions, we divided into our pace groups and we were on our way.

I wish I could say it went well.  

Let's just say I ran and I made it back to the store in one piece.  I was tired, dehydrated, sweaty, red faced and sore.  Yes, I am already sore.  I am terrified to see how I am going to feel tomorrow.

One week down,  9 to go....

Two weeks...its killing me!

So, Michael knows that I can be a bit neurotic.  Granted, he was not witness to my CampCare planning (not sure he would have agreed to marry me if he would have seen me that last week before camp started) but he has learned that in order for me to feel some control in my life, I like to get things planned even if its tentative.  I like to roughly outline our weekends, make grocery lists and house to do lists.   Hell, I still have a planner!   No, not a blackberry or electronic organization device...a planner!  I buy my refill every year from the same company. When it comes in the mail, I savor the time it takes to transfer birthdays, anniversaries, etc from the old one to the new one.  I LOVE my planner. 

Side note: My father LIVED by a planner when he was a salesman.  It had a metal case to withstand the abuse it took from being dropped on construction sites or run over by his car. He referred to it as his "brain." 

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

Anyway after we got engaged Michael and I agreed that we would not talk about wedding plans for two weeks. We wanted to savor the idea of being engaged and not get immediately wrapped up in all the details.  Two weeks is nothing.  I did Girls Hope for 3 years I can do ANYTHING for two weeks. 

NOT SO MUCH!!

I think I lasted a day before I was on every southern wedding website looking for locations.  I have already cried twice about not finding a venue and one night I tossed and turned for hours thinking about all the details that go into planning that special day.  I finally admitted my obsessive thoughts to Michael and while channeling Prince Charming, my fiance said exactly what I needed to hear...   

"We will find a place and it will be perfect for us."

I breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.  He said exactly what I needed to hear.   I am a lucky girl.

Now, when is the bridal expo??

Happy New Year!!

So, I had grand plans of doing some reflective year in review either through pictures or old posts. But I must admit that there is only one thing currently on my mind....

THE ROCK I AM WEARING ON MY FINGER!!!!

Yup, he proposed on New Years Eve.  It was wonderful...he kneeled, I cried, he asked, I cried. He finally had to ask if they were happy tears and if I was going to say yes. 

I did.