The end of a decade

Happy New Year!! What's awesome is that when people ask me about my upcoming year, I get to say - I'm getting married in 2010!

So, I actually saw this on another blog and thought it was cute - so I'm stealing it :D

Born in the 80's, grew up in the 90's and *kind of* started getting a clue about the real world in 2000's. Here's a glimpse into highlights of the last 10 years!

2000 - I survived Y2K!

2001 - got the role of Cinderella in my high school musical

2002 - my brother got married and I got a sister-in-law

2003 - graduated high school

2003 - moved away from my family to go to school

2003 - auditioned and accepted into Marching Illini - would spend the next 4 years of my life with these people on a daily basis!!

2003 - diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes

2004 - auditioned and accepted into Basketball Band - would later go on fantastic trips thanks to them!

2005 - selected as a section leader for Marching Illini

2006 - met my future fiancee at a friends birthday party

2006 - turned 21

2006 - elected President of college sorority

2007 - graduated college with B.M.E

2007 - internship in Colorado - moved out of state

2007 - first full time job - moved back to Illinois

2008 - got my first promotion

2008 - became proud puppy owner

2009 - took my first trip to NYC

2009 - became engaged

wow... it's crazy to think that 10 years ago I was in high school! Things have definitely changed a lot, and I think if it were back in 2000 I would have totally different thoughts about where my life would be in 2010! I really wonder in 2020, what I will be saying about the next 10 years!

January To-Do List

Ok 2010... time to get you started!

This month I will:
Meet with/Book Photographer

Design Save the Dates

Send Save the Dates

Find/Book Ceremony Location
Confirm lighting vendor

Set-Up Initial Florist Consultations
Find and Buy the perfect pair of shoes
Schedule 1st fitting
Apply for passports
Get BM dresses ordered
Finish getting all addresses for guest list

Christmas Recap:

What do you get when you cross Christmas Eve with future-in-laws who when they come to Geneva like to treat themselves to the luxuries of the suburbs?

Dinner at Atwaters.

The exact location of me and KJ's engagement dinner! This fabulous restaurant in the

Herrington Inn has it all. An amazing view, exceptional service, and food that will leave your mouth watering for another round. New England Crab cakes with molten brie in sauteed apple shallot butter for an appetizer. Pumpkin Lasagna for a main course, and of course... dessert. How could the sweet tooth avoid the three mousses: chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry mousses served with fresh rum soaked berries and chocolate shavings...

Oh. My. Gawd. SO good.

Christmas Morning my family came over and we opened presents with KJ's parents. It was nice to be able to show off my colorful Christmas tree!

I got the new Crayola Ornament this year: Mommy's Little Artist!

Since this IS my wedding blog, time to bring Christmas gifts back to the wedding. So my

parents started giving me an ornament every year since I was young. That way, when I was old

enough to have my own tree, I would have ornaments for the tree. This has pretty much turned into my favorite gift ever because its so nice that when KJ and I started putting up our tree, we already had ornaments!

After presents we all went to see a movie, another silly tradition that started a long time ago since my family typically had nothing to do on Christmas! So off to solve the case of what movie to see..

The movie was "ok". The best part was, of course, the eye candy, one deliciously witty Robert

Downy Jr. and the strikingly handsome Jude Law. After the movie, I actually cooked Christmas Dinner and it turned out not too bad!

Our crazy Christmas Weekend ended with Adam & Megan's wedding. Their ceremony was at Naper Settlement in Naperville. This quaint little chapel was beautifully decorated with TWO dazzling Christmas trees and wreaths adorned in gold bows that matched the warm chapel interior wonderfully! I don't have any pics of the inside decorated, but to give you an idea.

Maybe a place for our ceremony? I'll definitely have to look more into it. It really was charming! Adam and Megan couldn't have chosen a better location for their winter wonderland wedding!

...And so ends the tall tale of Christmas 2009: a family, food, and festivity filled Holiday weekend.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Wedding Blog. Like my cheesy Christmas Love picture?!?

This will probably be the one and only Merry Christmas blog I get to put up, because at this time next year we will be Mr. & Mrs. It's weird, it feels like this week the flip switched, and the wedding is actually getting like official. KJ even made mention of it feeling like it was going to happen soon.

We have a lot of work to do before that time, but its kind of a great feeling. Knowing that you are on the brink of a lot of blood, sweat, and tears, but that it will turn out as something great.

I'll recap on the Holiday with the future in-laws in an upcoming post, but tonight I'm just blissfully happy and excited for the upcoming months.

Much love!

MY DRESS CAME IN TODAY!!

2 months early and 2 days before Christmas. It's the best worst timing imaginable!

Best, because Oh.My.Goodness, its here!!!! I can't believe it was July when I last saw the dress and it seemed like winter was a whole other world away.

Worst, because, well, that kind of puts a cramp in the whole eating all the Christmas cookies imaginable plan for this weekend. I had originally wanted to be a few pounds lighter than what I was in July, but thanks to my non-existent metabolism, I haven't changed at all.

I don't even know, do people stress about the first fitting?

Remember how I said this whole blog started because of a dress freak-out I had?

The dress coming in means I have to deal with this freak-out. You see, I've definitely had dress second thoughts. At the time I freaked out because I was scared I bought the wrong dress I got through it by telling myself I had months before I could do anything about it. Now that the dress is in the whole avoidance band-aid isn't going to work too much longer.

I know I'll be writing more about the dress dilemma, but for now, I'm just super excited :D

BOO

Boo, I don't know why the post didn't publish the picture correctly, but if you click on it you can see the whole thing.

Hmm...

Apologies & Inspirations

Bad wedding blogger... very very bad! That was my punishment for hardly blogging in the past week. I'm kind-of a last minute Xmas shopper, so the past few days I have been battling mall parking lots, overworked retail employees, and the pressure of finding the "perfect" gift.

This is one of my inspiration boards, I have about 3 of them - but this is the first one I had created - its sort of my "attire" board. My mom had a really hard time envisioning what Navy dresses with pink accents would look like so I created this to share with her. I think the navy and pink is a preppy, clean and fun look.

One thing I'm struggling with lately is a theme/design I can use throughout the decorations. Obviously, one theme would be the navy/pink, but I've seen a lot of "birds" or "monograms" or "palm tree" logos that people will use on all sorts of things from Napkins and favors, to programs and invitations. I feel like if we were doing a destination wedding, or a Holiday celebration it would be very easy to find the perfect little design, but we are not. Once I find this "thing" I'd like to update my inspiration board to start making it more personal.

I can't wait for a few months down the road, when the decorations have all been picked out, to look back at my first inspiration board and see where it has gone from here...

His & Hers

BLOGS that is!

KJ decided it was time for him to join the blogging fun, so he created waitingtoseethegirlinwhite.blogspot.com!

I'd like to think it was all my talk about the awesome wedding blogs that inspired him to jump into the wedding blog world, but really, I think it was Amy Adams. We were watching Julie & Julia last night, and after seeing how a blog pretty much opened up this whole new world for one individual, well, how could you not want to start a blog?

I on the other hand spent the day baking (thanks to Julie & Julia's inspiration). Cranberry Orange Scones, Cinnamon Sugar Rolls, and Apple Cinnamon Muffins. The apartment pretty much smells like a bakery right now... yum!

More Holiday baking this weekend, but for now, my scones will do just wonderfully!

Daily Obsessions: Chair Covers

First, I have to say my computer is working again (the cord was broke and I couldn't charge my lappy) so I'll be back to updating more often.

Secondly, I feel like every day I am obsessed with something new wedding related... today, Chair Covers.

Believe it or not, my dad is a huge advocate for chair covers - I am too, but I also think they can look a little overdone. I've known all along I would do chair covers because the chairs in our room are an unfortunate shade of forest green, but I thought, we will rent the cover, tie a bow on it, and call it beautiful.

I just so happened to be watching a rerun of the not-so-great show "Battle of the Wedding Planners" when I saw them... they were only there for a second, then gone. It was during the third planners proposal at the London Hotel in L.A. There were these beautiful and classy ruched white satin chair covers clipped with some type of crystal broach on the back. I had never seen anything like them ever before... but I have decided they must be mine!

Just one problem... I've googled "Battle of the Wedding Planners", "The London Hotel L.A", and "Ruched Chair Covers" and I cannot find a picture of my dreamy chair covers! I've never really seen anything like them before, and don't know if they are an unusual find, or if I'm just calling them the wrong thing?!

All I know, is I want them. All I hope, is that they aren't beaucoup bucks per chair. and All I can think about is finding a picture of them so I can show everyone how beautiful they are!

Christmas Countdown

22 days and counting - all I want for Christmas this year is MY PASSPORT!!

I've never gone out of the country, ever. I've asked my wonderful fiance that for Christmas we get each other passports, with EVERY intention of using them on our Honeymoon. My mind is 100% made up and I'm so excited. I started filling out the application tonight, its actually way easier than I thought it would be - I love filling out forms, especially when its going to land me one of these beautiful blue bad boys!!

Pulling Out the Playbook

It happened.

The first time during the planning when trying to make things right for you, you piss someone off.

I'm not a confrontational person, in fact, I hate it. I much rather just sit alone and be angry for a while than try to talk something out and have it turn into a huge fight. I cave in fights, i don't know which way is up, which way is down and if I'm playing offense or defense. Acknowledging this isn't the healthiest behavior, I made an attempt to pull out the playbook and talk things out when something had disappointed me.

I bet you can guess what happened...

More anger.

Yes, it stinks - but honestly, I've vented, and now I'm just going to move on. I know this wont be the last time it happens - but I hope when it happens again it isn't over something trivial. I think the worst thing about trying to be prepared is that despite all your efforts, the other team pulls out a play you never saw coming, and you still loose. Le sigh.... time to move on.

Bridesmaids Thanksgiving!

I LOVE MY BRIDAL PARTY! It was so fantastic to spend time with the girls talking wedding(s) - one of my cousins got engaged over Thanksgiving - and just catching up. Although we were down one bridesmaid, the weekend definitely got me excited for the wedding. It's been hard to be excited with the huge amount of planning yet to be done, but a weekend with the funniest and sweetest girls I know really got me in the spirit! I was a little nervous for this weekend because each of my bridesmaids has a BIG personality, but I everyone got a long and there was a lot of laughter!

Friday night we hung around the apartment talking weddings.

(I promise this picture WASN'T staged)

And after a morning of bridesmaids dress shopping (more about that in an upcoming post) we spent Saturday afternoon eating and shopping in Geneva.

Mother of the Groom, soon to be sis and Bridesmaid B, me, Bridesmaid J, Bridesmaid K, and Mother of the Bride

A great shot of MOG and Bridesmaid B

Bridesmaid J!

Red coat cousins!

and even the groom-to-be got in on the fun!

Thanksgiving Mash-Up

The past 2 years my parents have joined KJ's family for Thanksgiving in Kage's hometown of Paris, Illinois.

My dad having a new work schedule doesn't know if he will be able to make it, he is finding out tomorrow if he can come. My mom has already committed to coming, in addition, to bringing along a favorite family dish. It's kind of cute because both of our families are very proud of their food traditions. KJ's mom makes oyster stuffing (which I'm scared to try) and brandy infused sweet potatoes, both recipes coming from his great grandmother. My family makes pirogies and other carb loaded polish dishes. When my mom asked the FMIL what she could bring to dinner she got the typical "just yourself" type of answer - and my mom being the stubborn one she is, insisted she not come empty handed. So between e-mails the moms decided my mom should bring an "Arnett" family dish to be among the traditional Jenison Thanksgiving table. Joining families and meshing traditions... I think it is a very sincere middle ground.

Funny enough, my mom decided on Broccoli Rice casserole, a dish I hate (not a big fan of Cheese Wiz), but a dish I think will go great with the Turkey Day menu. Sometimes mixing families and traditions can be awkward and difficult, especially around the Holidays. This year I'm thankful for both families flexibility, despite the pride and traditions. I think in the end a little flexibility will go a long way in making everyone happy.

Balls

I saw this and HAD to repost it: Trash the Dress to the extreme!

now THAT takes balls. they definitely got the trash part right.

Bridesmaid Thanksgiving T-11 days

3 of 4 bridesmaids are coming to what Kage and I have dubbed "Bridesmaids Thanksgiving" during which we plan on picking out the hopefully not-so-dreadful bridesmaid dress! I plan on presenting the girls with these dainty hankies from ArtfulBeginnings on etsy.

I had been wanting to get the girls something small for bridesmaids thanksgiving, and when Miss Pretzel posted about this find on weddingbee - I knew it was meant to be! I've had them customized to match my wedding colors with a dark blue flower, silver trim, and pretty pink on the envelope. I already received the one for my Maid of Honor last week, and am waiting on the Bridesmaids ones to arrive. I <3 packages from etsy!!!

I've officially started a wedding blog!

Last night I had a mild panic attack over my dress.

So today - I caved. I'm starting a wedding blog. This way, I have someplace I can write down all my worries and frustrations along with the successes and silly moments of bliss that come with being a bride.

Today was a big step in wedding planning. My Maid of Honor (MOH), Shannon, visited and we did some initial bridesmaids dress shopping. 4 hours, 3 stores, and 2 tired blonds later - we narrowed the playing field down to a handful of dresses. Our two front runners:

A very simple but cute Bill Levkoff Dress - It would be Navy with a soft pink middle band:

And a fun little party dress by Saison Blanche - show in Raspberry, we would order it in Navy:

The other 3 bridesmaids are coming in a few weeks - we will decide on a dress then.

And major props for The Crystal Bride in Geneva. We didn't have any appointments set up since we were just doing initial shopping, but the staff there answered all of our questions and helped us out despite the busy store.