237 days...

What a lovely wedding on Saturday. Cathy looked beautiful in cream, Jeff wore a matching tie and vest under his tux coat. The women wore lapis (dark purple) long dresses and it snowed.
The reception was at Colletti's. A great place to eat. I wish they had a room big enough for my wedding. The food was just great.

Steve and I registered at Crate and Barrel yesterday. They have a new stand-alone building outside of the Woodfield mall complex. It's very nice. Large enough that they are able to have lots of furniture. Steve and I haven't been able to agree on stemware but we found the perfect coffee table at the right price. Crate and Barrel has some amazing furniture but the high price comes with it. I was really amazed at the price of this coffee table. I hope someone buys it for us.

239 days (part two)...

I've heard so often that the wedding is based on the bride's dress. I've even passed that on a few times but it's really setting in right now how true that is....
I look at flowers for bouquets and centerpieces... but can't choose them yet. I flip through pages and pages of shoes... but can't buy anything yet. I look at bridesmaid gowns and colors I think I like... can't pick one. I look at bride's dresses... but can't pick one. Well I could but you never know how something looks on you looking at a picture. I do have a date set to try-on dresses. Hopefully I will find something I like or find out if white or ivory is better for me. even knowing a little detail like that will help things fall into place. We are also scheduling appointments for receptions halls. can't make any food or flower decisions until the hall is booked. Some halls provide flowers or centerpieces as part of package they offer, so maybe that's a decision I won't even have to make.
*sigh*
I'm kind of glad I can't make any desicions right now, because my heading is swirling around too much.

239 days...

This weekend we are taking time away from our wedding to attend the wedding of Steve's brother and sister-in-law. A lot of Steve's relatives are coming in for the weekend and I get to meet them. How perfect, now I'll be able to talk to people and get to know them before they come for our wedding.
Thursday night we went to Steve's mom's house for dinner because one aunt and husband had already arrived. it is fun to meet people you've only heard about. I liked her. She's the middle daughter in the family. She gave me a hug and a rose when we were introduce. How can you not like that? plus they were in Sweden this year. I'll need to talk to them about where they went and what they did. Such fun people. An extra bonus to stopping by for dinner, cousin Larry, his wife, and children also stopped by.
We're all old friends now and soon we'll be family.
I like it.
:)

242 days....

Today I am making a spread sheet of reception hall options. I'm looking right now at price range, parking, and location/easy of getting there. it's interesting to see what each one includes... or doesn't. Some of them include everything in the price; hall rental, flowers for every table, champagne for the head table, wedding cake... and cutting it. Some of them include nothing... soft drinks are available for an extra charge. It's rather amazing. Seeing as how I don't know what I want for a centerpiece choosing a reception hall that provides flowers for the table might be the way to go. I'm also wondering if any of them know how to make marzipan wedding cakes. yum! most of them say no outside cake or we'll charge you an arm and a leg to cut and serve them. Steve and I will try to narrow the list down to three or four options to call first to get a few more details. Then the fun part of setting up an appointment to go tasting. I think I'll like this part of the planning. Did I mention that Steve and I started working out again this week? We'll be able to do lots of taste tests.

243 days and counting...

Steve and I did some registering this weekend. Steve was a bit reluctant but once he got scanning things, it became more fun for him. I just planned on registering at one place but he was ready for a second. We started at Target and moved to Bed, Bath, and Beyond after a lunch break. It was not easy to find things. We both had so much stuff that we didn't need the typical things you register for... silverware, plates, bathroom towels... it added a challenge but we found a few fun things to put on each list. We are in discussions right now for which wine and water goblets we want. That is something that neither of us had. We're going to check Crate and Barrel and hopefully find some there that will fit our style.
Registering was an easy (although energy draining) thing to check off our list of "to-dos". Now we are looking at reception halls. We have a short list to research, call, ask a few questions, and hopefully make appointments to visit.

246 days...

Ok. so much is going on... there's so much to do... Groan!
The list of reception halls is rather short, that's good and bad. We'll soon have to start making appointments to talk budget and food with a few of the places. I did book my appointment for trying on wedding dresses. yikes! it's April 10th at 10:00 in the morning. I picked out some wonderful women to come with me for support and to have a good time. :)

countdown...

248 Days

2010

We are will into the new year but I feel like it's just beginning.
So much has happened in our family both real and community.
It started at the end of last year with me losing my job in December. Nine and a half years.
Jack Donald (Olson) Foley was born on February 11, 2010.
Dear friend, Leslee Schiller, passed away February 13. She will be missed.
It's been a real testament to the circle of life, a life beginning as one is ending.

My most exciting news is my engagement. Steve proposed to me on my birthday. So how did it happen...

Saturday we went ice skating at the fireman's built rink in Eagle River. Steve "fell down". I asked him if he was ok. He replied yes and made a waving motion with his hands. I didn't know he was calling me over. I skated in another circle before seeing that he was still down on the ice. I skated over, asking if he was ok. He said, "come here." He took my hands and ask in broken Swedish if i would marry him. I didn't know what was going on. I said, "what?" He repeated it and then asked me if i understood him. I wasn't sure I had, so I said so. He asked again in English. I said, "OK" and kissed him. He said "please say yes so i can get up." So I said, "Yes!"

and the rest is history...

Saturday, November 13, 2010