a little party never killed nobody

Oh my poor, neglected blog. Someday I will stop doing travel itineraries and actually write something substantial, but today is not that day!

My sister Becky got married this August, and I got to fly out to Utah for it. I decided having siblings (or siblings-in-law in the case of my sister-in-law Rachel from last year) get married is kind of a weird feeling. A happy feeling, of course, but also a little bit like, hey! that is my family member and  I'm not so sure I want to share her with this other family. I imagine it's worse when it's your own kid. (Or maybe you're just really relieved they found someone to marry...okay, I don't know what I'm talking about.) Anyway, I really, really like Becky's husband and his family, but still. Family weddings seem to give me a weird mix of happiness/nostalgia/slight sense of loss.

Mostly though, this wedding was just a lot of fun.

There were gumballs in the bouquet and men in bow ties and cookies and milk at the reception and massive dance partying and striped paper straws and a giant gold sequin backdrop! AND a Tribe/Andrus family band performance complete with backup dancers! AND a twitter hastag! #beckyandstew

Despite whatever initial weirdly possessive wedding feelings I had, I couldn't be happier for these guys. They are a perfect fit and are probably the most fun couple to hang out with in the whole world. I wish they were my neighbors so we could dance party every night or maybe make some grilled cheeses.

Congratulations, Becky and Stewart!

two years ago today

We got married. And hey, guess what. We still like each other quite a lot.

Happy anniversary, Aaron dear!

one reason to celebrate:

A year ago today I married my best friend, and what a year it has been.
I love you Aaron!

Last Saturday my mom and I went shopping for a dress for me to wear to the wedding luncheon and temple clothes for when I go through the temple this weekend. And we were talking about wedding plans and all that fun stuff that we're pretty much done with at this point (I hope...not forgetting anything, right?), and I started to cry. Because my grandma should be here for all of this. And it breaks my heart a little that she won't. I told my mom that and she started to cry too, and for the first time in my life I saw my mom as a little girl.
Without her mommy.

And we both cried, sitting in Rubios eating tacos. Because we miss our grandma and mom.

But I know that we will see her again. And even though I won't see her sitting in the sealing room of the temple next to my grandpa, or in any of the million photos we take, I like to think that she'll be there. 

T-5 days

I can't help myself. We got the CD last night with over 300 photos on it...and I just have to share.

We lalalalove Nickell.

And my little sister Becky for being my hair and makeup stylist. :)

frosty

How about seven days, huh?

Can you believe that?

Finals suck, but life is beautiful.

tights

11 days...can you believe it?

Me neither.

photo by Nickell

meh

I like how eating nothing but pizza, chocolate, and a cream cheese danish and fantasizing over buying clothes I can't afford is how I choose to be self-destructive. 

Man, I am a rebel.

If anyone is looking/knows someone who's looking for housing...well...I've got a contract that I'm desperate to sell. It's in a beautiful house a couple blocks from campus, and I'll write you a $500 bonus check if you'll buy it from me. Click here for the craig's list ad with all the info.

Thanks in advance!

sweet

Really not liking the picking the reception food part of wedding planning...
I don't want to do an ice cream bar, brownie bar, cheesecake bar, or pies. I wanted to do a crepe bar, but at $5/person, that's getting a little too pricey for me.

But. I do love cupcakes.
And I am getting married in December.
So I was thinking cupcakes + hot chocolate.

Is that too simple? Too little food? Too much cake?! I don't know.

Thoughts?

P.S. Thanks for the invitations feedback! My lovely friend Natalie designed a BEAUTIFUL invitation for me that I'm getting printed this week! I would post, but...you're probably going to be getting one in the mail anyway. :) Take that overpriced etsy file...

decisions, decisions

So, I've been scouring etsy for the past three weeks looking for a printable wedding invitation pdf that I really, really like, and I've found several. This one, however, is my favorite:

I can change the colors to match the dark navy, slate grey, and ivory theme I've got going on, which is awesome. What's not so awesome is the price...$75 for just the pdf file! What do you guys think? Is it worth it? Or should I just go with this one (for a lovely $25):

Thoughts?

This is everything I remember from 09.18.2010

It all started with a perfect bun.

Frisbee game. The Deprotonators won again. Natalie took pictures, Brooklyn wore that adorable flouncy aqua skirt.

Borrowing Amy's lipstick again. Amy borrowing my eyelash glue.

Dancing. Being okay.

My mom crying.

Lying on the floor during cool down for the matinee performance, being not okay.

Going to Zupas. Eating salad (when do I ever get salad?). No ring at Wilson Diamonds.

Falling apart while writing a thank you note to Lee and Linda. Aaron calling. Me putting myself back together.

"My family wants to take pictures at the temple."
                   "Like this?"

"Are you serious?"

One knee.
"One thing ends, another begins."
Dave taking pictures. Me wearing sunglasses and smashing my fake eyelashes in funny directions. Wearing my European outfit-Becky's flowered aqua shirt, tucked in, shorts with the skinny brown belt.

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Everyone knew except me.

"Guess what?!" in the green room.

Whatever you're celebrating, stop for devotional.

"I'm engaged!!!!!"

Last show. As close to perfect as it was going to get. A tender mercy. No falls. Nothing shaky.
Shannon grabbing me from the dressing room. A good luck card from the team. Crying again. Ruined eyeliner for the 109234012834 time today.
Safety Dance Glee finale.
Sheer joy.

So many friends and family. Three bouquets. Me, Becky, and Mom. Crying all over again.
Matching Aaron's green polo.
Not knowing what to feel.

Putting away costumes. Good bye green Kaboom dress. Good bye lindy costume I never wore.

Dairy Queen (= glorified soft serve? Why did I never notice that as a 12 year-old?)
Blizzard. Freezing. Aaron's suitcoat.
Retelling "the story"
I told it different every time. Included the phone call, the Zupas lunch. Left them out.

Is it bad that I can't even remember the rest of that night? Calling Kim, Jody, Alyssa.
I opened the time capsule I made as a MIA maid. I wanted to name my children Madison and Tyler. I wanted my husband to have good sense of style so he could help me decorate our house.

I took out the bun. And fell asleep wearing a ring.

quoi le heck

Avoiding working on my Occitan paper feels like the kind of rebellion I never indulged in during high school.

Sigh.

If I just ignore it, maybe it'll write itself.

I can't help it if all I want to do is pick out flowers and reception centers!