July Books

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A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain
Historical Tales: King Arthur Vol. III by Charles Morris
Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge
The Book of Hours by Davis Bunn
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
What Would Audrey Do? by Pamela Keogh
Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell
Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand

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Weekend plans

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Here's my slightly ambitious list to work on this weekend! I could basically just print this thing off. Writing it down keeps me calm :)

Sushi date with another couple
Return Anthro dresses
Finish painting bonus room
Finish bridal shower thank you's
Check out ex-roomie's new rock :) Hear the story :)
Wedding make-up trial #2
Wedding cake tasting
Finish library book, pick up book on hold
Watch movie or Vampire Diaries episodes with fiance
Bike ride
Go over ceremony details, programs, directions, vows
Make a plan to get driver's license taken care of next week
Make a plan to pick up marriage license :)
Pick up cheap garter to fancify
Help Mom narrow down or pick her MOB dress
Drop off HP 1 and shoe clips to my lovely sister
Sun it up, but keep it cool at the pool
Call the church, try to set up meeting for coordinator and speak with organist
Get the sweet gifts received at bridal shower to the townhouse
Pick a downstairs paint color that won't make the new couches look green
Review my 25 before 25 list and make plans to accomplish some!

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Friday Unloading

 

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So, I'm an introvert. I love people, loving having people in my life, and now that I'm working and wedding planning, almost any free time is catching up with a friend, a conversation with my mom, or a little time with my honey. And maybe trying to get some other thing done. I guess when life gets busy, you can tell what's the most important to you, or the most important to get done, in your opinion. While I really do love seeing everyone, I've realized being an introvert and cutting out my alone time isn't always the best idea. I know some could be due to stress from business, but I really feel like cutting out that time keeps my energy lower, and therefore I'm a bit more on edge and a bit more, hmm, rollercoaster-y? Any drama at work or overload of questions from my well-intending mother and I'm instantly near tears, and feel guilty for being emotional, which doesn't help.. and then eventually I'm better again. With the work situations today, I'm having a little trouble keeping a good and grateful attitude, and not slightly stewing. I don't want that and would love prayers! I promise, friends and family, I plan to be closer to normal in about 50 days. As in, getting married in 50 days :) Counting down hasn't gotten old for me yet!

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swim

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Today I get to spend some time at my future home with my maid of honor. We're planning to paint and I'm excited to see her/get her help! 

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it's a wednesday

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Slightly whelmed!

Stay with me

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There's a lady on work who's being picked on. As we're renovating and moving around offices, her department is actually lobbying for her office to be on the other side of the building, even though there are a few available offices near them. My heart goes out to her. Just last week, she called and talked to me for maybe 15 minutes (possibly talking the whole time), nearly repeating herself about some topic that we both know I already know about. At the time, I did my best to reply kindly and at the same time, cut her off. Now, I wonder if she just needed someone to talk to, and if she was reaching out to others. Now, I would have listened to her all day. Seeing her in the bathroom makes me want to say hi, ask how she's doing, listen, and tell her that she looks nice. Now, I want to do that. Wouldn't it be great if I didn't need to know her background? That I didn't need to know that work is probably a tough place for her, in order for me to try to make it better? What if I just treated people like that all the time? I feel like I've learned a lesson and I want it to stick. We never know when that person needed our patience, and needed our smile. Why not just give it?

3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. - Phil. 2:3-4 (ESV)

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Pictures from Loved-On Day

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Pictures from the bridal shower are on my friend (who graciously agreed to be my ceremony coordinator) Kara's blog. You can see the decorations she and my mom and sister Jenn and sister in law Debbie and friend Stephanie all (all in the wedding too :) ) worked on. The cupcakes were awesomely decorated (reader and shoe collector here) and tasted really good too (chocolate and lemon). Still glowing from being so blessed :) 

Showered

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I had such a great shower yesterday! I felt very blessed, and was so amazed by all the beauty in the women that will be at our wedding! It was fun to get things that we'll use in our home, and our new life together. I loved getting advice from women who have been in marriage for years. The closer we're getting to the wedding, the more excited I am to be married to this man! I know marriage will be work, and we'll learn together, but I see it being a lot of fun too.

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Oh happy day

His voice promised that he would take care of her, and that a little later he would open up whole new worlds for her, unroll an endless succession of magnificent possibilities.

— F. Scott Fitzgerald

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Happy Friday

 

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Have a fun weekend :) I look forward to getting enough sleep and getting some fiance time!! 

hope rains down

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Occasionally it's so weird to me that we work 1/3 of our day, try to sleep another 1/3 of the day, and spend the rest in transit and living our "actual" life. Sometimes it goes both really slow and really fast. Like when you have a reason to count down days. Like graduation or Christmas or a wedding :) 

Also, kinda weird to me how there's a delicate balance between admitting something to yourself like "I'm not happy with _____", but also not letting yourself get consumed in it. I'm a strong believer that whatever we focus on shapes us, which is why positive words and an attitude of gratitude is important. Still good to admit to yourself when something needs to change, or when you need to take Midol :) It's a good day.  

PS. Totally stoked see what dresses my bridesmaids pick (because the dresses are up today!!) and to go dress shopping for/with my mom tonight, and walking with ex-roomie Annie who has a place to move to at the end of the month! You go girls.

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it's okay

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We had a really great family trip - great campfires and coffee in the morning and it was good to see people you love, especially doing things like biking and hiking. We were serenaded by rain the first night, the Virginia Creeper was so much easier than I remember as a kid!, and the woods were just about the most silent I've ever experienced. In spite of not having service, so extra missing my fiance, I really enjoyed the trip :) I  mean, I was happy to see my bed again though. This week, my boss' two wine offices were combined into one on the first floor. So I've been organizing ~1500 bottles and I actually really enjoy it. It might just be the novelty of something non-computer related or being able to listen to music, but I think it's largely being able to see productivity. They're organized by region and by white vs. red and by peak drinking years. Fun! 

Tonight, we're seeing the final Harry Potter movie. Bittersweet.

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2 months to go..

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"always remember there was nothing worth sharing like the love that let us share our name"

-avett bros.

Family Trip

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 Bring on the sweat! All packed up for our dual family adventure. We're going to bike the Virgina Creeper and have some campout fun. Both my family and sister in laws family :) Sans fiance :( But hopefully he and his team have fun in Philly! 

Oh I didn't know, but it was France's Independence Day yesterday. Since I have an attraction to French things - Happy Bastille Day, a day late :)

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The Truth about Planning (for me)

 

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Can I be honest? I absolutely love wedding planning. It's crazy fun. I don't (always) love it while working and thinking about moving and creating a home and seeing friends and family and maybe hormonal and trying to sleep enough. But in itself, I love it. It's been so fun to collect ideas via blogs, to blend ideas and make variations, to work with my fiance and mom until it just feels right. There are so many links and emails that I've sent those two and my MOHs. Do the details matter? In my opinion yeah. God cares. It's part of making life fun and beautiful. It's why I try to express myself in what I wear and taking time to do little things that make me happy like stopping for coffee or reading a page in the bathroom. I actually do that, which I realize is a little odd and I can't imagine what my coworkers think watching me walk around with a book under my elbow, but it really does make me happy and refreshes my thoughts. Anyways. I love knowing that on this day I'll be united with the one I love, that I get to spend it with people I care about and want to witness it and be a part of our lives, and that throughout the day - the ceremony and fellowship of it all will be glorifying God, as well as the planning process (I hope). Part of me wishes I shared more of these ideas on my blog, but then I know another part of me is 1) too busy and 2) wants to have some surprises for those attending that might read this. I'm sure my fascination with weddings will not end with my own, and I'll share then :)Whew, ramble!

Do you love your job?

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Do I need to? I really don't mind my job most days (I miss my old manager though - she was really great to work with [not that my new manager isn't per se, but we're still in a transitional state]). The days vary in business, I'm learning (mostly) but most learning about people or myself. I do miss challenging my brain sometimes, but does work have to provide that challenge? Sometimes it's frustrating, but what job ever isn't? I sometimes see value in what I do, but not too often. I see more value in the fact I'm obeying God, laboring, and trying to be a good example in my ethics, attitude and conversation. My environment is fairly flexible, time-wise, although there are more restrictions in my actual position than others in my company. I think I find it harder to have to be here when Sully and my fiance are at home, but overall, I'm happy enough. Occasionally, I'm even thankful that I'd rather be at home - if I loved my job so much it was hard to leave, I think it would deeply impact the things that make me happier. And I think this is where I'm supposed to be. For now.  Until He moves me. 

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Be Open

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This week has been all long days so far. Although fun, it can be taxing to go straight from work to evening activities. I want to be light hearted, open, caring. "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry." Being tired, busy, whelmed, doesn't excuse rudeness or crankiness, but it is a good opportunity to surrender.

Being Different

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It's kinda normal to be kinda weird.  

Missing

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Sometimes it's a little hard when we had such different schedules. J and I haven't had a day where at least one of us isn't working since his birthday, June 27th (because I took the day off), and won't have another day with him in town and us both not working until July 23rd. I know I still see him after work often, and he seems less available just because he's working night shifts and sleeping while during the day, but I still miss long stretches of time. I think I'm just excited to experience things with him!