It's our first Christmas in our own house. We spent last Christmas together as our first official holiday living together, but in an apartment that was terrible, leaky and drafty. We had a tree and some decorations, but it was a half-hearted attempt at the holidays.
This year has been an all out endevor to fully celebrate every aspect of the holidays. We got a turkey and all the fixings: green bean cassarole, stuffing, sweet and regular mashed potatoes, corn bread, cranberry from a can. We invited over a large group of friends, went through several bottles of wine and celebrated Thanksgiving in our own special way.
The FH and I had to split up for the real Turkey day, due to his shift work. It did mean that I got to spend the holidays with my family in raucuous laughter and good times arguing over cards games. I knew that once the shopping was done on Super-Sale-Friday we would start decorating. I had work on Friday and Saturday and figured we could start on Saturday night and I could finish on Sunday when the FH went to work. WELL WAS I WRONG.
I went minor shopping on Friday morning, then went back to bed around 6 am to get some more rest before work. The darling FH went out with his mom to help her out while shopping. I came home from work around 7 that night to find our new house all decorated outside with tons of multi-colored lights wrapped around the porch and house. I had a smile ear to ear. I rushed into the house to find a brand-new Christmas tree put together with sparkly new LED lights. He wanted to surprise me and have the house ready for Christmas. I fell in love all over again. He knows that in my family Christmas is THE HOLIDAY and everyone decorates to the 9s and then some. After some kisses and almost tears, we made some hot chocolate and pulled out the box of ornaments. He put on some Christmas music and we decorated the tree together. I tried several times not to cry as I realized exactly what makes my FH so special: he's sweet, thoughtful, still surprises me after 6 years and I can fall in love over and over again when he smiles at me.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Sunday, November 21, 2010
The awkward pause and silence
OK...I am a teacher. Unfortunately, I was laid-off at the end of last the last school year due to budget cuts in the fabulous state of NJ. My then boyfriend and I bought a house in April and in the same week we closed and finally had keys in our hands, I found out I was being laid-off. It stung. My darling boyfriend then proposed, much to my super surprise, over the summer. So here we are: engaged since August and happily living together in this house that we bought.
So where's the awkward pause and silence? We are having a long engagement due to our new "financial situation". We are not getting married until October 2012 because we are paying for the whole thing ourselves. Here's the awkward pause and silence: last night we were at a surprise birthday party for a friend's mom. There were other parent's of our friends there. One dad came over to say congratulations then asked when we were getting married. My FH knows how irritated I am by the fact that we have to wait so long, so he usually fields this question. He replied, in about two years: October of 2012. The friend's dad looked at me, gave me one of those sympathetic frowning smile and then said nothing. I could feel my blood boil. I know I could be over-reacting and I do feel self-consious by being unemployed but I HATE THAT FROWNING SMILE!!!!!
This has happened numerous times with varied types of people. I had one friend pause, frowningly smile at me and say "what a shame you can't save faster and have it sooner." Some folks have just blankly looked at us and changed the subject. I don't understand why it's so awkward.
If you have read my first post, you know I was not a girl who pushed to get engaged and married. I was utterly and incandescently happy with buying a several thousand dollar house. I am also someone who seems to get sick for weddings. I believe it's the stress and the busy-ness that push my immune system down, but still it does factor into how I feel about them. So I was in some respects happy with a long engagement. Plus, the positive to only substitute teaching a few days a week is I've had time to tackle a few DIY ideas and do some trial runs. I'll be making our invitations (yay - that post will come later).
I know I ranted and raved and probably had no clear meaning or idea going forth, but I had to vent about the pause and silence. I have to learn to get over it. Did anyone have a long engagement? How did you field the answer when telling people you were waiting so long?
So where's the awkward pause and silence? We are having a long engagement due to our new "financial situation". We are not getting married until October 2012 because we are paying for the whole thing ourselves. Here's the awkward pause and silence: last night we were at a surprise birthday party for a friend's mom. There were other parent's of our friends there. One dad came over to say congratulations then asked when we were getting married. My FH knows how irritated I am by the fact that we have to wait so long, so he usually fields this question. He replied, in about two years: October of 2012. The friend's dad looked at me, gave me one of those sympathetic frowning smile and then said nothing. I could feel my blood boil. I know I could be over-reacting and I do feel self-consious by being unemployed but I HATE THAT FROWNING SMILE!!!!!
This has happened numerous times with varied types of people. I had one friend pause, frowningly smile at me and say "what a shame you can't save faster and have it sooner." Some folks have just blankly looked at us and changed the subject. I don't understand why it's so awkward.
If you have read my first post, you know I was not a girl who pushed to get engaged and married. I was utterly and incandescently happy with buying a several thousand dollar house. I am also someone who seems to get sick for weddings. I believe it's the stress and the busy-ness that push my immune system down, but still it does factor into how I feel about them. So I was in some respects happy with a long engagement. Plus, the positive to only substitute teaching a few days a week is I've had time to tackle a few DIY ideas and do some trial runs. I'll be making our invitations (yay - that post will come later).
I know I ranted and raved and probably had no clear meaning or idea going forth, but I had to vent about the pause and silence. I have to learn to get over it. Did anyone have a long engagement? How did you field the answer when telling people you were waiting so long?
Monday, November 15, 2010
Lucky Duck
I love Bridal Expos...at least now I do. I cringed at the thought that throngs of brides to be, mother of the brides and bridal attendants would converge on one spot to crowd tiny booths elbowing and shoving to get at free pens and pencils. I was wrong. And slightly over-exaggerating - but only slightly.
There are tons of brides with entourages in tow (even the occasional fiance - poor guy). Some are cordial, some do shove for the pens and pencils, but most are very willing to chat on and on incessantly about the tiny details of their weddings. So I was in love. I was no longer the only female with "wedding" on the brain 24/7. When I realized there were give-aways at the expos, I was even more interested to attend. Then I started winning.
People say I am a "lucky" person and I guess I should believe them. I've won a prize at every expo I've attended. First one I ever went to: Bachelorette Party to NYC to see the Awesome 80's Prom http://www.awesome80sprom.com/. Next time I attended: MaryKay home spa day for the bride and bridesmaids. This past weekend, I won an additional MaryKay package but gave it to another future bride who was with me.
I'm addicted now. I want to go to win. I want to enter every contest at every booth. I have created a new email address used for the sole purpose of entering. I created stickers (at the advice of my future sister-in-law) so I don't waste time filling out the entry cards. I analyze the numbers on my raffle tickets to try and figure out if any combination of the numbers contains or can make my "lucky numbers". I stalk out certain booths and put multiple entries in for the prizes.
I am going to keep going. I am certain to win a honeymoon at an expo in the next 22 some odd months I have left before we tie the knot. Are you hooked? Do you attend every chance you get? Have you won anything at any expos?
There are tons of brides with entourages in tow (even the occasional fiance - poor guy). Some are cordial, some do shove for the pens and pencils, but most are very willing to chat on and on incessantly about the tiny details of their weddings. So I was in love. I was no longer the only female with "wedding" on the brain 24/7. When I realized there were give-aways at the expos, I was even more interested to attend. Then I started winning.
People say I am a "lucky" person and I guess I should believe them. I've won a prize at every expo I've attended. First one I ever went to: Bachelorette Party to NYC to see the Awesome 80's Prom http://www.awesome80sprom.com/. Next time I attended: MaryKay home spa day for the bride and bridesmaids. This past weekend, I won an additional MaryKay package but gave it to another future bride who was with me.
I'm addicted now. I want to go to win. I want to enter every contest at every booth. I have created a new email address used for the sole purpose of entering. I created stickers (at the advice of my future sister-in-law) so I don't waste time filling out the entry cards. I analyze the numbers on my raffle tickets to try and figure out if any combination of the numbers contains or can make my "lucky numbers". I stalk out certain booths and put multiple entries in for the prizes.
I am going to keep going. I am certain to win a honeymoon at an expo in the next 22 some odd months I have left before we tie the knot. Are you hooked? Do you attend every chance you get? Have you won anything at any expos?
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