We just received our CD of wedding photos in the mail yesterday!  Yippee!  My conclusion from a few photos is that I should be a model  Actually, I think our photographer was just really wonderful.  She took some amazing pictures.  I’m a little bummed that a few moments were missed, especially a really sweet an emotional hug with my roommate Cindy during the reception – our photographer was probably eating.  But all in all, coming from another artist and photographer, I was impressed.  Now comes the fun part of choosing pics for our album!  Eventually I’ll maybe post a few more favorites on here….and if you’re a friend that would like a “copy”, just send me an email!

That’s the reason for my LONG absence.  We got married – YAY!!! I love it so far.  The honeymoon was great – pictures to come soon, I just keep forgetting to download them.  Moving was not so much fun – we’re still unloading boxes and figuring out where everything should go.  Plus trying to get work done too.  Fun fun!

Eventually I’ll change the name of this…..be on the lookout for an update!

I guess the disadvantage of the 10 day forecast is that isn’t very accurate.  Probably won’t be until maybe 2 days before…but even so, I was sad when I checked in today and it said 60% chance of rain, with scattered thunderstorms.  :-(   I guess I gotta keep praying!

The ten day forecast now includes the BIG DAY!  I’ve been praying for good weather, which means pretty much anything but rain.  We know it will probably be hot and muggy no matter what, but a nice partly cloudy day would help everyone feel just tiny bit more comfortable.  

I’ll probably be obsessively checking this every day until Thursday of next week.  Only a few more days to go!

Amherst, MA (01002)

17 Fri, Jul 18                                       Day Night Partly Cloudy High 85°F    Precip 20% Wind: W 6 mph Max. Humidity: 61% UV Index: 9 Very High   Sunrise: 5:30 AM ET Avg. High: 84°F Record High: 97°F (1953) Partly Cloudy Overnight Low 61°F    Precip 10% Wind: SSW 1 mph Max. Humidity: 75%       Sunset: 8:22 PM ET Avg. Low: 60°F Record Low: 47°F (1939)

Last Updated Wednesday, Jul 9, 8:10 AM Eastern Daylight Time

I’m going to let you in on one of my favorite websites I have discovered.

www.retailmenot.com

If you do any online shopping or purchasing, whether it is ordering shoes, paper, printed items, photos, clothing….you need to check this website first. It has OODLES of online coupons and discounts.  You know those little 25% of coupons you hate getting emailed to you?  Yeah, I hate it too.  But then when it comes time to get something, I’m always wondering what that random discount code was that I deleted.

Case in point, I’ve ordered several wedding-related things that required printing.  Some postcards and a book and a few other things.  I saved probably close to $75 by just typing in the website I was ordering from in the little search box and then using one of the coupons.  

Seriously, it’s the best thing EVER.  And I don’t even do that much shopping or online purchasing.  You might be surprised what you can find, so I encourage you to check it out before your next online purchase

For the probably 5 readers I get (maybe I have some people out there I don’t know about!) Jerod and I finally have some engagement pictures!  We waited a little too long to take them, and now we have pretty much ONE DAY to pick out which ones we want for an enlargement (11×14), these little hand out photocards for our wedding photos, and a magnet we’re going to make with our address.  So, because we’re pretty indecisive, I thought I’d post the link here.  :-)

http://www.pictage.com/485017

You have to sign our guestbook in order to view.  And there’s a folder called My Favorites that has our top choices so far.  Let us know what you like!  Anything can be changed to color/B& W…..seriously, comment away!

And eventually I’ll post about our trip to Boston, Phillie and NYC.  :-)

Congrats to my good friend Patrick and my friend Lois (she’s my florist and DOC for our wedding) that just got engaged this week!  Their story of how they arrived at where they are now is pretty extraordinary and really a testament to God’s grace and redemption, and patience and obedience on both of their parts.  I’m so excited for them!  I think they’re getting married around here in the fall, so hopefully I can make a trip back for that special occasion.  This means that over half of our staff team is engaged – Patrick, Lois, Matt and me. Crazy.

Yesterday we got our engagement pictures taken – it was a lot of fun.  Very different being on the other side of the camera as a photographer myself.  Things were a bit more “posed” than I expected, but it was still fun.  We went up to Mt Tom and took some photos by this massive rock formation, on the swings, slide and teter toter (I felt like a little kid again) and by this cool old stone house.  Then we went over to the Log Cabin, the sister facility to where our reception will be, and had a few pictures there by the flowers that we hope we can use for our newspaper announcement.  Danielle was super fun and nice, and really easy to work with.  We can’t wait to see the pictures when they come in!  I’ll make sure to post a link when we hear back.

Today is wedding to do list day – time to mark those things off!!  Hopefully I can get lots done!

Oh, and DF is amazing and somehow scored us tickets for Red Sox game tuesday night against red hot Tampa Bay, and then next weekend we’re driving down to Phillie to visit friends, and on the way back we’re going to a Yankees game! I know I know, totally a wrong thing to do since I’m part of Red Sox nation, but they’re tearing down Yankee stadium, and so we wanted to see it in person before it’s gone.  Should be fun!!

I know some people think pre-printed RSVPs are want for taste and etiquette, that we should all follow Emily Posts rules and write our own RSVP on personal stationary and instinctively know what to say.  And even though that might be fun, I am VERY glad for pre-fab RSVPs.  I think I’d be too worried about not hearing back from people using something else, so it’s such a relief to hear back from people and know who’s coming.  It’s also sometimes sad – I don’t take it personally that people can’t come to our wedding, but it is a bummer when close friends can’t make it because of schedules or whatever else is going on in life.  We wish these important people could be there to celebrate with us!!

Now we just have to figure out stuff for our reception in MN – how to invite people and do RSVPs for that, because we want to make it super simple.  I think we’re going to do a mailed postcard and RSVP with the internet.  It’s a casual thing anyways, so it fits the bill.  Hopefully it will work!

I know you’ve all been waiting for it, they’re finally here.  A few pics from my surprise bridal shower a few weeks ago.  I couldn’t post everything because I didn’t want to COMPLETELY incriminate half of my friends.  :-)

Moments after the surprise, hence the look of astonishment and slightly crooked picture.  

The yummy mini-bundt cakes with edible flowers.  Mere’s mom made TONS of these little sugar flowers and brought them all the way from Washington!

The front and inside of invitations.

My favorite – the larger bundt, complete with potted flower inside, and windex to boot.  :-)

And they’re off!  The relay begins!

Kate gets her hair teased, I don’t think she liked it very much…

This idea was so non-PC/orthodox – the “baptism” was turning in circles 5 times within a little chicken wire fence.  Gotta give props to Sarah for creativity.

My “greek” bridesmaids – Kristen, Kate, me, Sarah and Meredith.  I was supposed to choose which one most resembled one of the girls from the movie.  Mere’s team won!

Most of the group – some students, roommates, IV friends!  Thanks for a great party!