Wedding Word Wednesday: The Proposal

Our proposal story actually began in December of 2008, about three months before we got engaged. NWH and I had been in TN for the holidays visiting MIL (mother-in-law) and J-Man (father-in-law).   One day on our trip we decided to swing by J-Man’s new office. While there I noticed hanging on the wall, a beautifully framed photograph of the Golden Gate Bridge. I commented on the amazing picture and J-Man said that he had taken the photo himself. Raving about the view, I said, “I have to see that!”

After that little remark, J-Man, MIL and NWH booked a trip to visit San Francisco in March for Spring Break.

With months of anticipation behind us, NWH and I, along with J-Man and MIL headed west to the great state of California. We had an early night the Friday we arrived, but woke up Saturday morning refreshed and ready to go.

After coffee at the local Starbucks, the guys split from MIL and me. We girls were ready to do some San Fran shopping while the guys were going to pick up the rental car and check out possible restaurants for the week, (at least that is what they TOLD me.)

After a full day, we all met back at the hotel to freshen up for the evening. NWH and J-May told us they had made dinner reservations at The Spinnaker, a classy spot across the bay. We jumped in the car and were on our way.

The Spinnaker is located in Sausalito, a town that sits adjacent to the city of San Francisco. You can imagine my excitement as we drove; it was my first time across the famous Golden Gate and seeing the grand Pacific Ocean.

Once we were over the bridge, J-Man mentioned that we were a few minutes early for our reservations and suggested that we re-visit the spot where the photograph in his office was taken. Of course I burst with excitement, and we began making our way up the steep coast line.

On top of the hills, J-Man and MIL moseyed off, and NWH walked me to an isolated spot cut out with beautiful shrubs and flowers. I felt like I was standing on top of the world. The magnificent Golden Gate was to my left framing the city of San Francisco while the mighty Pacific waved to my right welcoming in the sunset.

Standing in his arms, NWH began to tell me how much he loved me and how he hoped this trip would be memorable. He said he wanted to bring me to a place that we could return to in future years, a place that would always be. And just like that place would never disappear neither would his love for me.

He then reached in his coat pocket, pulled out a box and got down on his knee. Now at this point I always imagined I would cry; but instead of tears, I SCREAMED! I jumped and shouted, “I’m engaged, I’m engaged!”

(J-Man, MIL, NWH, and Me)

Not only did we have a wonderful candle lit dinner overlooking the sparkling bay, NWH concluded our evening with dancing and celebrating at The Top of the Mark, San Francisco’s legendary 19th floor sky lounge.

How could there be a more perfect proposal!

Wedding Word Wednesday: Showers

Okay, since most of my followers (all 7 of you, hahahahaha) probably don’t care about hearing about Wedding *stuff* all week long, I think I’m going to reserve Wednesday’s for Wedding talk and the other 6 days of the week for everything else in life, sound good?

So today’s Wedding Word was inspired by the great Preppy Pink Crocodile. (Shout out to you PPC, and everyone else she has a great blog, so check her out!)

The word is……………………Showers

You know those “so-called” parties where you get the presents you registered for AND the presents you never-would-in-a-million-years register for. I swear to you, you will get something that makes you think “What….. in the WORLD….. where they THINKING!!??’

Anyway, PPC posted about Super Baby, a 1 year old b-day party she attended when someone (an adult) opened the cutely-wrapped gift that she brought (and made). It wasn’t the mom and it sure wasn’t the baby. She was furious, and I don’t blame her!


But I have a confession….. a BIG confession….. an AWFUL confession…..



This happened at one of my wedding showers.


Now, let me explain. The first shower came, and I was SOOOO excited. Mostly I couldn’t wait to see friends and family. When the shower began, I was sitting front and center of a huge circle. There were about 30 people there and it felt like 130! Their eyes felt like lasers piercing through my face (okay, maybe that’s a little dramatic). One-by-one the presents came, every giver patiently waiting for their gift to be opened and wanting to witness the expression on my face.


I found myself repeating things like, “Oh my gosh, this is awesome!” “Wow, we’ll really enjoy this,” “This is beautiful,” “This is gorgeous,” “Thank you,” “Thank you,” “No, really, Thank you.”

OMG!!!! I was trying to be funny, trying to vary my words, trying not to sound fake, trying to make everyone feel like I L-O-V-ED their gift. It was over-whelming, awkward, and just about as fun as watching eggs boil! And don’t get me wrong, I am all for attention. I’ve been in pageants, plays, I sing, I’m an attention lover but NOT that kind!


So the next shower was given by my co-workers. I expressed my previous shower’s hilarious experience to my office manager (just thinking I was being funny) Next thing I know, I arrive at my shower and all of my friend’s presents are being confiscated at the door. In my defense, I had no idea this was happening.


You know what happens next..after food and conversation, my co-workers lead me to a back bedroom. My friend’s squeeze into the master suit only to see all of their beautiful gifts UN-WRAPPED and lying on a bed. I thought my mother was going to pass out.

(This is actually me, and those are actually the presents on the bed, gasp)

So in the end I didn’t have to unwrap the present, per say, but I still had to pick up each gift and gawk at it! I felt so bad for everyone. I could tell they were thinking (W@#). This is definitely NOT the way you want a shower to go…sorry friends and family of the co-worker shower!

Did you EAT it???

So I hate this dreaded topic. Wait, hate is an understatement. Despise loath, scorn, can't stand, can’t bear... Get my drift? WEIGHT!! The only way I like to hear or speak of this term is if LOOSING in front of it!

I’m pretty sure every woman thinks about it constantly UNLESS you’re one of the few who are just born naturally skinny, and the older I get the more I realize that this is probably .5% of the population.

Being in a sorority kind of taught be that. I used to think, “Gosh she is so small, she must be born that way.” Then you become roommates with that small person and realize… nope, she just doesn’t eat anything!

So anyway, it’s not that I’m huge.. It’s just that I am 5’1” and ANY little bit of weight on me causes all my clothes to shrink! Now, I WILL say that the lumps on the back of my legs and butt are beginning to multiply at an alarming rate (something I am attributing to getting older).

I was always pretty small growing up, not tiny, but small. I cheered, played tennis and soccer. Then my junior year of high school came, and I blew up which probably had something to do with puberty. Senior year lost it, gained it back first semester of college (yes, I was a victim of Freshmen 15) and finally lost it again.


I kept it off all through college, don’t know how but I did. THEN grad school came! My future NWH moved back home to work for his family business and I was left all alone going to school, working 24 hours, and evidently eating 4,000 calories a day!


So before the wedding there was only one thing to do… loose it again! I worked out relentlessly, even when I had no time! I would run hours, lift arm weights, do lunges and squats and eat nothing! This went on for about… 5 months… 5 months people and FINALLY the weight came off.

Why am I telling all of this.. because the 5 months of working so hard…went down the after about 8 weeks of marriage. So here I sit, depressed and disgusted.


I’m back on the tread... did 4 miles yesterday. I had a 100 calorie granola for breakfast, a pulled pork sandwich for lunch, and a taco salad (no tortilla) for dinner. Then my oh so loving NWH went to the store and brought me home this….

“Did you eat it?” you ask………………………………….Uh does the word devoured mean anything!

Wedding=PRESENTS!!

Okay, so far I’ve only been posting about things “After the I Do”, but I really want
to help any of you out there in the “Before the I Do” stage so let’s talk about one of the most daunting tasks on the pre-marriage to-do list, REGISTERING.

Yes, I know many are thinking who doesn’t love running around a store with a gun shooting everything you could have, want, or dream of; it’s like Christmas on steroids, right?? Well lemme tell ya.. it ain’t easy! In fact, it can become extremely overwhelming.

It’s kind of like you know you’re going get stuck with a bunch of junk you don’t like if you don’t choose everything perfecting. You’re trying to match your bowls to your plates, and your plates to your napkins, ugh.. get what I’m saying???

Well here are just a few tips I would give anyone getting ready to choose their dowry.


1. Only pick items you’ll actually use.

If you and your beau don’t own a king size bed, don’t sign up for king size sheets! Yes NWH and I registered for King Sheets and we both owned Queen beds, don’t ask!

2. Choose appliances that are all the same color and the same brand.

Even though we had no idea where we’d be living when we registered, we selected all stainless (you may like white or black). When we got to our new apt everything looked fab because they all coordinated.

3. Decide on one type of serving or entertainment pieces.

Another boo boo I made was registering for a few copper pieces, a couple wood things and a lot of silver and pewter. In the end that is just what I had.. a little bit of this and a lot a bit of that. I wound up having to return a lot because I didn’t have enough to make a complete set. So just choose one and register for everything in that collection!

4. Finally, take back what you’ll never use, and don’t feel bad about it!

I think this is something me and my NWH did well. We started returning as soon as we received items we had no use for, and that included things we had registered for! You can only use so much pyrex, so bring one back and get the salt and pepper shakers that you don’t have!


I’ve also compiled a list of things that me and NWH use all the freaking time! I can’t imagine life without them!! These should be on EVERYONE’s registry list. Heck, these should be on everyone’s CHRISTMAS list!

Perfect for the dinner table, not too bulky and very classy!

I have to have my coffee!! This Cuisinart not only looks good, it makes a GREAT cup of joe.

I didn't say everything was fancy.  This little thing is on $7.99 and is the best dish mat EVER!! (Not that I hand-wash everything, but the fancy stuff can't be put in the dishwasher, bummer huh?)

One word...Emerilware nonstick (okay two words)

I didn't even know what a mixer was a few months ago!  I do now.

Another appliance by Cuisinart that is both functional and pretty.

Lastly, this bamboo utensil thing is just awesome.  They also make small and larger boxes for your drawer of junk!  Love this thing!!

Okay, I think that is all for now.  Anyone else receive a wedding present they can't imagine life without???