not that anyone checks this but...

AHHHHHH!!! So i'm engaged :) Which you all already know. I went dress shopping today and it was so freaking fun! I have a new need to blog so I can get it all out. So feel free to check here regularly since I don't have my own real blog and don't feel like starting one :)

So I went with my mom, sister, grandma, 3 of bridesmaids and their mom!! We brought champagne and picked out about 20 dresses to try on. The girl who helped us was Amanda and she adorable and funny and was actually the one who picked out the dress I ended up getting! Anyway-I had NO IDEA what kind of dress I wanted so everyone picked out one they liked and I started feeling increasingly anxious the more they grabbed. I still am reeling from just being engaged so it just felt weird to be trying on dresses...like I was pretending or something!

So...I tried the first one on and actually really liked it...discovered I LOVE lace :) My mom wasn't a huge fan though. First hiccup! Hard to please everyone eh ;) So i tried on the next one which I think I just laughed and didn't even come out in because it was sooo ridiculous and it kind of went like that for the next few except for one which was okay and my mom really liked. I tried on some ridiculous ball gown style dresses which I always figured I would love and wow-i looked like an oompa loompa on crack or something. not such a good look for me!! too damn short :)

Then the lovely amanda snuck one in and said she thought it might have all the pieces from each of the dresses I had tried on and liked and none of the aspects that I didn't like. Sidenote...as she helped me into each dress, which by the way is very hard. I almost fell over about five times. very fun topless with a complete stranger. anyway...as she pulled up each dress, she would ask me what i thought and for each one I didn't really have any thoughts. I just sort of said "umm...i'm not sure yet!" But as she pulled up the last one and asked me, I couldn't stop smiling and she kind of winked a knowing wink! As I walked out to where everyone was, I glanced in another mirror and had a little moment of "oh my gosh that's me?!" and as soon as I got situated on the podium thing whatever you call that and turned to the mirror and started giggling. then sobbing and everyone else was one step ahead of me and already crying and popping the champagne!!

then...i hung out in the dress for about an hour :) amanda told me there are always signs that's it the dress. first the keep on glancing in the mirror and smiling, then the swaying and admiring yourself, and finally petting the dress. which i was definitely doing! I swear, I have had nights where I thought, "hey...okay I don't look that bad" but with that dress on, I felt BEAUTIFUL :) it was so freaking fun!!!

so now it's on to bridesmaids and mothers and grooms!!! i'll post pics as I go-in case you all were really feeling the need to be intimately involved in this whole thing ;) really it's for my own enjoyment and my family's sanity so they don't have to do double duty of doing it all and reliving it all fifteen times as I obsess over it all :)

Happy Halloween!

I hope you all enjoyed your Halloween.

I had the pleasure of participating in my company's costume contest for the second year in a row! Last year...with an amazing entry of Buddy the Elf, I tried to one-up myself and go for something even more ridiculous.

With that...PLEASE ENTER...SCOOBY DOO!

Also, the gang and I decided to dress up in a group. It was pretty hysterical as we all went as something from Dr. Seuss. I was the Grinch...it looked more like Shrek with a red robe on, but it can't hurt to try...right?!? Courtney and Kristen did an amazing job with Thing 1 & Thing 2. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed your weekend. Miss you!

Class Act

My mom and dad told me I define white trash in this picture. HA. I simply call it multi-tasking! I miss you guys, I just came on here to see if anyone had posted and was then going to start replying to the thread of comments on Sar's post, but thought I'd start a new post for kicks. Does this make you think of the song I like big butts or what?!? OK friends, keep in touch. Emili's getting married this weekend...CRAZY!!! PS J, I almost ran into a car on my beach cruiser the other day cause I swore I saw you in Avila...turns out I was wrong. Um, Sar, I still have your email in my inbox...will reply soon I promise!!! Peace out loves!

Hello

OH HEY!!

I just wanted to say hello to you lovely ladies. I feel like I've been all over the place this summer, but hope you are all doing well. I wanted to let you know where I'm going to be in the next couple weeks because I'm hitting up some of your places...

Aug 14th...I'll be in SLO, Lees..expect a call or I might just come over (yeah I'm like that!)

Aug 15th or 20th...I will be driving through Stockton...J, you live close enough that I might have to come see your new house!

Sep 5th & 6th...I'll be in San Diego...and Karina, frankly there is no excuse! We should see each other more, you're like an hour and half away and we have the same friends

Rheanna, I'm sorry I will not be north enough to see you, but Nik and I want to go to San Fran in the fall, so it might be in the cards for us! :)

This is more of an email than a blog, but I'm ok with that. Also I wanted to share a recipe that I made for "family night dinners" as we call it. I made a white bean chili, sounds kind of weird, but it's really good. Sorry you no meat eaters, it's got chicken in it. I got it from watching Food Network on TV! Enjoy!! Also, Nik is making enchiladas tonight and they will probably taste good, but let's be real, it's not going to be like yours Lees!

White Bean and Chicken Chili

Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 pounds ground chicken
1 teaspoon salt, plus more for seasoning
2 tablespoons ground cumin
1 tablespoon fennel seeds
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons chili powder
3 tablespoons flour
2 (15-ounce cans) cannellini or other white beans, rinsed and drained
1 bunch (about 1 pound) Swiss chard, stems removed, leaves chopped into 1-inch pieces
11/2 cups frozen corn, thawed
4 cups low-sodium chicken stock
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Freshly ground black pepper for seasoning
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Directions
In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan or Dutch oven, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the ground chicken, 1 teaspoon salt, cumin, fennel seeds, oregano, and chili powder. Cook, stirring frequently, until the chicken is cooked through, about 8 minutes. Stir the flour into the chicken mixture. Add the beans, Swiss chard, corn, and chicken stock. Bring the mixture to a simmer, scraping up the brown bits that cling to the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Simmer for 55-60 minutes until the liquid has reduced by about half and the chili has thickened. Add the red pepper flakes and simmer for another 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Ladle the chili into serving bowls. Sprinkle with the Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley.

Love you all.

here comes the bride

Saturday marked the first of many wedding anniversaries for Johnna and Jeremy!!!! I drove up to witness this holy matrimony of J and Jeremy at Morris Chapel located on the UOP campus. The church itself was exquisite...the stained glass, the wooden pews, the rose gardens. It had this traditional and classic feel. The weather was absolutely amazing and the sun shined through the colored glass just as we sat down for the ceremony.

Johnna looked absolutely gorgeous. She had this ornate lace gown and a hand-made veil (down by one of her best friends). When we all stood up to watch her walk down the aisle she was stunning and Jeremy looked so happy. It was a wonderful ceremony and I was so excited to see all her friends and family.

Once the reception started, K, Rhe, and I were able to properly celebrate with J! It was so much fun and so great to be a part of this very special day. I'm so excited to share the pictures. I had so much fun seeing everyone and watching J & Jeremy get MARRIED!!!!

Karina and Rheanna were the natural dancers on the floor, but I tried really hard. It wasn't until the end of the night that we got the brilliant idea to take our shoes off. But we totally owned that floor. I'm pretty much the worst dancer ever and this was emphasized when a particular man dressed in all blue attempted to swing dance with me...needless to say it was a complete failure.

We did have our own personal celebration with a toast dedicated especially to J!!!

After the night ended the J's headed to Hawaii and we spent the rest of the night in Stockton! It was so much fun and so amazing. Here's to Johnna and Jeremy...I love you guys!!!!!

the usual Sunday?!

Finally, we were reunited and able to hang out on a wonderful Sunday. After a lovely breakfast (from a restaurant that had 5 items on the menu...way to go Lees) & church we had to feed Scott and Jimmy again. The buttery waffles and weird oatmeal didn't cut it the first time. :) In the midst of deciding between sandwiches and pizza the idea of shooting guns started the swirl around. Considering it is nothing we've ever done together, I didn't want to miss a minute of it. Scott and Lees gathered the supplies and packed up the 4WD. We drove up the grade. I love that Rhe even drove half way up the trail...you did a fantastic job and the Camry had one of the best views of the day.

Once we got up there, Scott gave us a necessary course in safety and we were ready to rock...or shoot! Emili had the best reaction ever....see below--

It was really great to catch up with you girls and do something way fun and super exciting.

Lisa & Scott demonstrated the art of teamwork and you guys are my favorite married couple. I really loved seeing the two of you, visiting your house and checking out the SLO-life.

These little weekenders are pretty great and I was so happy to see you all. Let's do it again soon! Love you all...so much.
Rhe...I think we found your new calling, aside for being a vegan, it looks like you were made for activies like this...xoxo

I am so excited I could dance...

Rumor has it we're all going to be in SLO this weekend. Seriously...I'm so excited...seriously!!!!!!!
I hope to see you all there.

143 XOXO