"This is the story of a squirrel...

...whom God preserved when He drowned the whole world." Story of a Squirrel by Apologetics (a takeoff of Story of a Girl by Nine Days)

Before I forget, my sister sent me this amusing picture in reference to this post. Oh dear me.

Isn't it ironic?

Bridal Soundtrack, Part I

I've just come up with an idea for a little series to throw in my blog every now and then this spring, the Bridal Soundtrack. I will link to youtube versions of songs that are helping me cope with various parts of this whole adventure...and just fun stuff too.

The first "set" of songs is inspired by my friend who writes All The Lovely Particulars (who tells me the album the first song is from will be the definitive indie band of the decade). She often finds songs that she correctly thinks will make my heart happy.

Horchata - by Vampire Weekend.

(Don't let the name hold you back--there's nothing creepy about their sound or lyrics.)

It's Good To Be In Love - by Frou Frou

Dearest - by Buddy Holly

Throw Me A Rope - by KT Tunstall

Brightly Wound - by Eisley

Gotta Have You - by the Weepies

This is my playlist while I've been designing the invitations, which I'm pleased to announce have been designed to the satisfaction of all parties involved! We ended up doing linen-press coverstock paper and cardstock, with a rubber stamps (One and Two) letterpress design and a Martha Stewart bird cutout for the last little "touch." The word design and text were simply done on Microsoft Word.

So yes. Now it's just a matter of making them all.

"I said I wasn't gonna lose my head...

...but then POP goes my heart!" Pop Goes My Heart, by Hugh Grant from Music and Lyrics.

Hello friends. I've gotten lots of questions about my sanity in this somewhat crazy busy time, and I'm just here to assure you that I am maintaining. Not that I'm doing a perfect job of it (the roses the Fiance sent me to cheer me up are proof that I have had at least one bad day...) but I think we are keeping our little noses above the water.

For any other brides out there attempting to stay sane in the middle of this craziness...or anyone who is stressed, I'm going to share a few of the things that keep me grounded and (mostly) happy. Some serious, some...not so much.

First: Bible study and quiet times.

This one is most important. The Bible study I'm doing is a book my pastor recommended (the Fiancee is also going through the book with me) and it is so good because it is helping me remember that we're dealing with a marriage here--not just a big party. Besides that, the quiet times are so good because it is a time to push all these details out of my mind for a time and center on something else that is much more permanent than a single day...and also helps me remember what marriage is all about anyway.

Second: Organization and Display

I know organization can be over-rated, but for me, it's crucial to have lists of everything and schedules written down. And I can't do any of that digital stuff either (though I use it as supplement and aides...) but I need written, paper, physical copy of things so I can flip through and remember what is going on. And I like to have stuff to scrapbook with later. :)

Third: Things that Sparkle.

This includes my darling "little girl" chandelier...

...and my my many sparkles that I have been wearing every single day...

...and other shiny things like lipgloss...

...and of course, my lovely ring. :)

So yes.

Those are my fabulous tips for today. Stay tuned for more...:P

No but seriously.

Tomorrow I go to a wedding expo in Abq, and then Monday it's meetings with some of my wonderful helpers who I haven't gotten to talk to yet and guestlisting, and by Tuesday I hope to be smacking down the invites so that by WEDNESDAY...I can be actually ready to call on some of the sweet people who have offered to help out!

Ok, off to sleep, because I'm going to early church tomorrow..

"If it's a crime, then I'm guilty.......

...guilty of loving you." Guilty by Billie Holiday

Hello friends! I have finally finished our little wedding website, so I am giving you all the inaugural link. There are touches and of course changes that will be made as we get closer to the date, but it's at least operational! The Knot is kindly hosting our site, and I'm quickly becoming the hugest fan of The Knot's wedding planning aids, as well as Bed Bath and Beyond's registry program.

Also: Big News! I've cut my hair! Not much, don't worry--just got some very awesome layers and a nice trim that makes me feel much less scroungey. :)

I also want to take a few lines to thank everyone who is being so patient and understanding and helpful with me. I am being (unfortunately) the classic emotional bride, and everyone has been simply marvelous! Also, the number of people who have offered to do various things has made me just cry. Before we started planning I was simply pulling out my hair to figure out how we were going to get it all together, but thanks to you all, the wedding may actually happen. :) Thank you all!

Love!

"I don't know where to start...

...say I'm tired or throw a party." It's Good To Be In Love, by Frou Frou

All right, lovelies. Today is a day of momentous decision.

I have decided to make some belated New Year's Resolutions in reference to The Wedding. (For the hopefully very small number out there that doesn't already know, the wedding date has been set for a mere 70 days from today--March 27th.) Here they are:

I will NOT:

-stop blogging because I'm too busy planning. I love seeing peoples' weddings as they plan them, and I'm going to assume you do too. I may not ALWAYS talk about wedding, but then, I just might.

-have the wedding of the century. Too many perfectly nice weddings are ruined by this attempt.

-freak out when things go wrong. Everything goes wrong, it's like a law written somewhere. The weddings where things don't go wrong are weddings with planners, and they DO go wrong, just the planner is the one who sees it. For goodness sake, I've BEEN a planner, and I know!

-stop wearing makeup until the wedding. Some days, maybe. But just because the fiance isn't here to see me, doesn't mean I have the right to scare the little children.

-cry and moan because I don't see my boy every day. Admittedly I feel like it. I also feel like not getting up in the morning. What's the point? But I have it really good, and by golly I can't be a whiny little baby--if I'm old enough to get married then I am old enough to deal with a month or two of separation.

-be bridezilla. Enough said.

...and since resolutions can't be only what I WON'T do...

I WILL:

-put up pictures and ideas to document the work in progress. Momma scrapbooks; I will blog. More people will see the blog.

-make it mine. This is my wedding and I do have a personality of my own and this wedding will include those special little touches that are because I like them, and for no other reason.

-keep perspective. Some things are worth being concerned about. Some things are not.

-maintain other areas of life besides the wedding. I will not stop maintaining my physical needs nor, and this is more important, my spiritual needs--I will grow closer to God through this, and not just coast.

-miss my boy. Why bother trying not to? I miss him terribly, and I intend to lap up this beautiful melancholy by taking advantage of the romantic opportunities available only through distance--what other times will we have to write horribly mushy love letters?

-put my foot down. This is, after all, my wedding.

So there, that's the momentous decision I came to today.

Oh dear, the cat is about to fall off my dresser and take a mess of makeup with her....

"When I'm worried and I can't sleep...

...I count my blessings instead of sheep." Count My Blessings, by Bing Crosby.

So. The date is set. The Fiancee and I are getting married the weekend of March 27th (hopefully on the 27th, though it depends on venue). So much to do!!! I am moving back home to plan, and my stuff is boxed up and scattered and I'm trying to cling to my sanity as I consider all the details and fun stuff coming up with my limited budget.

Besides the mere craziness of ME being ENGAGED to be MARRIED. Eek! Yay! Eek! and Yay! again.

And to top it all off, I'm an Auntie!?!?!??! And little Meggers is beautiful. She's the sweetest little babykin you can imagine--and yes I know I'm biased, but it's also true. She doesn't fuss, she is so pretty, she is friendly and easygoing...love that girl.

So. About to go to church, but before I left, I thought I'd post a few long-awaited pictures of my darling niece, and my darling fiancee (and me) from our engagement shoot. :) Engagement photos by Mark Allen, edited by me; baby photos by my dad.

The whole entire fam, including newest members at Fred and Balesy's apartment. (Photo taken by Debs Francisco)

Baby Meggles with her "Wubbanub," a pacifier with a frog attached. (She loved it.)

Balesy, Fred, Meggles, and Wubbanub.

New Grampa!

Baby's first bath. She's such a sweetie.

I can't descibe to you how cold we were taking this outside one...but it was fun.

Lovely red wall at the Lansdown Golf Club building.

Probably after we'd tried unsuccessfully to take a "serious" picture.

Again, lovely red wall. Also, strange birdsnest things.

Yay! My precious fiancee in front of a Christmas tree!

As an amusing sidenote--I found this link quoting Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband concerning "Engagement Season." :)