big news!

Well, we've gone back and forth over renting or buying.  We were looking at places with one bedroom that was gonna cost roughly $800/mo and it wouldn't be in a good neighborhood.  It was depressing.  Like all 30 somethings though, living with parents/in laws isn't ideal.  So we started looking at houses again.

We put in an offer yesterday and it was accepted.  Pending inspection, it should be ours on Nov 6th if all of the financing and stuff goes through.  We are super excited! 

Here is a picture for you!

photos

So, when we got engaged, we were at Ober Gatlinburg.  He wanted a good view.  It was beautiful!
He did it in their restaurant where we were feasting for our 4 year anniversary.  We never order alcoholic beverages... I mean NEVER, because it's so expensive.  This time though, we got some wine.  And the pictures below will show what wine does to me.  My dear god.

They are great pictures though and they show the absolute excitement that we both felt.  They aren't great pics by any means, but they are special.  I want to always remember this moment. 

Excuse my fatness.  I'm working on it before I gotta get in a wedding dress.  I don't wanna look like a tube of sausage in my dress.

the dress

Well, it seems things are progressing very fast!  If things keep going like this, I will be able to kick back and be lazy about this whole wedding thing for about 6 months.

Right now, we have:
The date- 10/13/13 (not THIS YEAR!!  A friend thought it was next month.  Wow...)
The venue- Red Top Mountain
AND... the most exciting thing for me:  The dress!!

I think we have the caterer.
The biggest things we need are the photographer and dj.

After that?  Well, there is still a lot...
So much for being lazy...

Advice

So, just being for 12 days as of now, I have been given tons of advice.  If it's not advice, it's questioning why I'm doing things the way that I am doing them.  This is all giving me new perspective.  I hope I can walk away from this and realize that maybe my advice and opinions that I give to others, might not always be needed or wanted.  Man, am I ever learning this.

I have gone from not wanting bridesmaids, to almost being talked into it.  I realize, that bridesmaids could be helpful on that big day.  Especially since I'm going at this without a planner and all of that.  I do need people to have my back.  It would be nice to make sure that I have some people there to make sure we are all walking down the isle at the right time, tables are set up the way I need them to be and decorations are in order.  Someone to keep me from choking my mother would be nice too, because face it... she's crazy these days... sigh...

See how I just almost talked myself into it?  I dunno.  1 out of the 3 people I would ask, makes me cringe.  I'm very afraid that they'd try to make it about them and not about me.  Sorry, but this day is ALL ABOUT ME.  Anyways, I'm afraid I'm already sounding like a looney person over this crap.

Oh, and because my father is not in the picture, I don't technically have anyone to walk me down the isle.  I have proclaimed that the puppy is going to walk me down the isle.  Lex is like one of my best friends and I think it would just be perfect.  However, now it's "Well why don't you get your 2 uncles to walk you down the isle?"  "Don't you think they'll be offended?"  Ugghhh yeah maybe... I dunno.  It could be nice I guess.  But wouldn't Lex walking me down the isle be the cutest thing EVER?!  Again... sigh...

easy, right?

So here is a picture of the ring.

I think he did a pretty good job.  I took it to get sized on Saturday and they finished it by that afternoon so I wouldn't be without it very long.  Sunday morning I woke up and noticed that one of the small diamonds on the side had fallen out during the sizing.  It also happened to the band.  They have it now to fix it, but I was sooo upset.  Glad they are fixing it no charge.  Glad they are a family friend of Herbie's.  Whew!

So, I took a sick day from work today.  I told myself I'd check in on email and all that, but you know what?  I just didn't do it.  I'll see what awaits me in the morning.  If I'm in deep crap, I'll handle it.  I had a dr. appointment for the ob/gyn anyways, and glad I did.  (this is where there might be tmi, but whatever...)  I had started hurting really bad in my side/back yesterday.  I was doubled over a times.  I explained my other concerns and then just mentioned that casually.  Low and behold I have an ovarian cyst.  Yeah, it's pretty cool.  By pretty cool, I mean pretty painful.  Luckily, I am on some preventive medication now and it shouldn't happen again.  Hopefully the attacks and pain will go away soon.

ANYWAYS... with all of that out of the way, I think I have found my dress.  We have the location in mind, and a date.  We are ahead of the game.  This is starting to seem way too easy.  Don't worry, I know it's not.

heavy handed

So, I got engaged on Friday, August 31st.  Pretty freaking awesome.
I am so excited.  I cannot wait.

You know what I really am excited about the most?  Spending the rest of my life with Herbie.  If you've seen us together, you know it's meant to be.  I can't wait to see what the future holds for us.

You know what I'm least excited about?  Planning a wedding.  That's not going to be my favorite thing.

Luckily, we are not doing traditional.

If you're looking for bridesmaids, garter toss, bouquet toss, etc... you probably will be really disappointed.

Things I want to see happen:
People being comfortable.  This is going to be more of a casual affair.

Things I know so far:
It will be a Jewish wedding and on a Sunday.  There will be mountains involved and it will most likely be in Sept/Oct/Nov, but I could be talked into maybe an April or May wedding. I think I already know the dress that I want, but I will still go to some stores and try dresses on to see what I like to be sure.  I also know that this HAS to be cheap.

Things I don't know:
The DATE!  omg, the next person to ask..........
The exact location...HELP ME FIND IT!

That's all for now.  I might post some pictures later.  YES, LAURA!! pictures!!!

life

Life is hard, man.

Things are going ok here in Atlanta.  I'm making decent money and the job isn't unbearable, I've almost got my house rented out, and I'm feeling a lot better lately.

I'm just...stressed.  I feel that through life, god is always throwing you off that path of stability.  Not out of spite, but just to make you a stronger person. 

I am not one to ask for prayers because... well, that's not my thing.  But I do need something of that sort sent my way.  There has been some somewhat terrifying health issues that have come up with someone I really love, and although they say it's ok, everything has been caught in time to reverse any damages, I am scared.  Like, really really scared.

I'd go into more detail, but out of respect for privacy and all that, I just don't wanna put it on my blog.

I will say that it makes me really want to emphasize how important it is to take care of yourself.  I'm not good at doing that, but I gotta get on board.  I've been much more aware of my own health issues the last couple of months, and now I have to make it my primary focus.