Long, boring wedding blah blah blahing

So, taking stock, where am I?

I've got this nervous excitement that I don't know what to do with. Sooo, why? I've got an appointment at David's Bridal to try on the White by Vera Wang collection this Thursday. My Mama just called last night to tell me she's got some time off in April to do some girly wedding stuff. I'm super excited about this because we're going to hit some Lancaster farm stores, a huge silk flower warehouse, and talk wedding details. I'm open-minded to seeing what might be at the silk flower warehouse; I'm not against silk flowers. Most of us have a bad taste in our mouths over silk flowers because it makes us think of the arrangements in dentists' offices and hotel lobbies. BUT #1, artfully done silk flowers do not have to be gaudy (Mia is using silk flowers for her wedding and I already saw the bouquets which delightfully surprised me), #2, if I don't love them for bouquets, bouts, etc... I might still be able to use them as accents, and #3, even if I don't end up using them, I can practice with them; see if I can put together bouquets by myself. I am also planning a trip to the Pennock flower distributor here in Philly to see what the deal is with big flower distributors.

I'm super excited to talk wedding with my mom because we haven't had much time just the two of us talking wedding stuff. I'm happy too that it's not dress stuff because I feel like in the end, she took the stance of the mom who says "whatever you want is going to be fine!" I've heard soooo many horror stories about MOB-zillas I know I should be ecstatic. But I think unfortunately, I might be one of those un-bridezillas that actually wants more MOB-zilla behavior. BUT don't get me wrong, I also didn't have one of those fantasies where I come out in a gown and both my mom and I start crying because it is just SO thee one! and both of us are 100% on it, because neither of us are at all like that. I've learned that no mother-daughter pair is exactly like any you'd see on TV. Duh. I'm not harping on it though, because I don't want to imply that I have a problem with anything. Because of course, she's a rational mother and she knows that this is my wedding and has no intention of trying to make it hers.Ah, I guess I felt that if she didn't like the dress, it would be like she didn't get to have an opinion. But that's of course not the case, and I know she knows that. But still, every time I forced her to tell me which dresses she did like, I coached myself to try to like it more. I stopped doing that though when I realized that she wouldn't want me to do that. 'Nuff said.

Anywho, the other reason I'm nervous excited is because I found out last night that Kyle is going to be in our house for a total of three days for the rest of the month :( This is the most business travel he's ever had in a stretch. He literally leaves at the beginning of the week, and then comes back for one, maybe two weekend days, then leaves again at the beginning of the next week. For all of February. This means that I have time to do wedding stuff without inundating him with all of it, but of course I'll miss him too. I'm concerned about talking too much about the White by Vera Wang stuff because at this point, he has been a part of these conversations with me. I have included him in all my dress talks because he is my best friend and I value his opinion more than most.

He accidentally found out about Vera Wang, there was no way getting away from that. He figured it out somehow... I don't remember how, but I was a little crestfallen because I wanted it to be a complete surprise... COMPLETE! But you know what he said when I confessed that (After I said "You know who Vera Wang is?" and he said "Of course, I know Vera.")? He said "She's got a unique, interesting, different style and that's exactly what I would think you'd want." And I was like 'This is why I'm marrying this man, because he gets me AND he likes what he sees!' Aside from this, as promised, he's not asked any questions, he hasn't looked at any magazines, he hasn't been the least bit curious about the dress, and of course, he stays well away from the guest bedroom where my dress is hanging. THE POINT is that I think I sensed some relief when I told him I found thee dress and that I was ready to buy it. I think some of the magic will wear off if I tell him I'm now having these second thoughts. I'm really looking forward to our first eye-lock when I'm walking down that aisle. And as ridiculous as it sounds, I want that to be magical and not exasperated.

Anyway, this is why I'm nervous excited! I've got a lot of stuff on my mind!

Oh yeah, and our tasting is at the end of this month! And I'm super excited to try our menu and see our venue again because it's been several months since I've seen it. My parents are coming too so me, Kyle, my mom and dad are all gonna' taste [hopefully] tasty food that will be served on our wedding day!

Also, I promised a music post and we are working on it, we keep adding songs here and there. We also got a chance to finish a big project at home. See, we always had these pre-fab book shelves and wanted to make a real, good bookshelf from scratch. Every year for his Christmas- New Year break, Kyle wants to take on a project. Our first Christmas, it was a DVD shelf. It works out just fine, but we didn't try as hard as we did with this bookshelf that we started last year. Well, it was a huge project, so we didn't finish it, and we just didn't have the time to finish it till, well, this past weekend! Here it is (just because you know you want to see it)!!

We deliberately kept the back unfinished because the frame is so dark. I love the contrast. This was a labor of love, ya'll! There's also not a single nail or screw anywhere it in, all glue, rabit joints, biscuits, and elbow grease!

This is what we had to fill it with:
It's more than it looks, please believe!

Bailey is there for scale.

We STILL have to use one of the small IKEA book cases. We have too many books!

Anyway, it was fun. I think all the materials and tools and time made it more expensive than buying one :) but it was totally worth it. This thing will be passed down to our great great grandchildren if I have anything to say about it!

OK, well, got to get to work!