A few things
1) Mike and I DID make it to 6 Flags yesterday...a week and a day late. But we made it. I also discovered that roller coasters aren't as fun as they used to be. And Mike and I are terrible at doing things that involve walking.

2) I've had butterflies/anxiety/an upset stomach for going on three days now. There's drama between Mike's family, My family, and Mike's bro's girlfriend (who also happens to by my sisters best friend and roommate). I'm not going to get into the details here, but Mike and I are stuck in the middle of it. Maybe I'll write a private post about this later. Because I need to sort it out somewhere. It's SO messy. And I need to have an awkward phone convo or two to kind of smooth things over. At least until the wedding is over.

This drama started a couple of weekends ago, and won't end. A week before the wedding, and I'm starting to lose my shit. The thought of having everyone in one room for the rehearsal dinner is giving me panic attacks.

3) My bachelorette party is this weekend. And while I AM excited and it's going to be amazingly fun,, I'm losing my shit about the impending hangover. If I haven't written it here, I am basically allergic to alcohol (though it has never been confirmed by a Dr.). I had two beers last night (I'm training for the b-party) and I woke up with a headache. The last time I got drunk - I had 5 beers - I puked for 6 hours. I don't drink regularly because of this. The hangover isn't worth it. The thought of the headache, the shaking, and the puking has turned me into a ball of anxiety.

4) I get into work and there's a note from my coworker (I was out yesterday) that my boss was ticked that I didn't send something out. However, I didn't send it out because I've been the only person in the office all week, and I needed a sales manager's signature. The soonest I could have been sent was Thursday, and I thought that went without saying. So, now I have to deal with my boss' wrath. And I promise my reasoning won't be good enough.

OMFG, I am so anxious. I can't get over it. I'm freaking out. Like shaking. Almost in tears.

No storms!

Tomorrow Mike and I are going to get our marriage license, and then...go to 6 Flags!! Because nothing screams "upcoming nuptials" quite like Raging Bull.

Unfortunately, we are supposed to have hardcore storms after 3pm, with thunder and lightning galore. The weather has been unpredictable lately, and the weather-people have been consistently off...so I'm hoping for another mistaken forecast. Do me a favor and cross your fingers too. I need a lot of luck

Additionally, my dress is done, and my mom is picking it up today. The bridesmaids and groomsmen gifts are thisclose to being done. Shoes are in the closet, perfume is in the box. Practice hair and makeup appointments have been made, so have their wedding day counterparts. Falling in to place.

Though I am very tired of being asked "HOW MANY MORE DAYS!?!" I mean it's cool and all, but blah.

I really have nothing to report, except wedding stuff (because 2.5ish weeks is a short period of time in which to cram a lot of overdue preparation). I'm better under pressure, but this will consume me until it is all over.

We paid off all our bills this month (with savings money...) so that we don't have to worry about them until after the honeymoon. We'll be able to repay the savings money soon, I hope. It is a HUGE weight off my shoulders to not have to think about whether we will be short on bill money because we're paying the florist.

I have a REALLY good feeling that after the wedding, things are going to improve SO much. Mike and I can work on getting our life back on track, finding a place to live, searching for dream careers. I can cultivate hobbies, and bring an end to my endless commute.

I'm optimistic, friends!

Wedding Panic

Wow.
It has completely and utterly dawned on me how MUCH I still have to do for the wedding (not to mention the other celebrations, birthdays, social gatherings that still go on). I had a mini panic attack this morning while I tried to get organized and ended up with 4 pages worth of various lists.
It goes without saying that I am running. Out. Of. Time.

I'm pretty terrified.

And just the other day, I was all "WOW! I'm starting to feel all calm and serene!" I was reading regularly, and I've started running again (Granted, I've only gone three times, but I bounce back into it quickly). Both of these things give me life.

But NOW! Now, I'm all a tizzy. Running around. Making lists, but not knowing where to start. Making more lists because the one I already made is disorganized (I've already made 2 versions of the same list today). Crap.

I think the most frustrating thing about the wedding is that almost ALL of my vendors are very...lax? The florist provided us with little suggestion/enthusiasm/guidance, but she is VERY nice. The pastor is all "whatever you want to do", which is great, but I would appreciate a hint or tip. The DJ seems irritated whenever I email him. The only person who WAS all over us with recommendations and assistance was the Venue Manager, but she got fired, so now we have a different lady who is still trying to learn the ropes - so she has no feedback to provide. It's very frustrating. Especially, because I'm very ambivalent about most of this, and I could be easily influenced. It would have been helpful to have been influenced, actually. I need some answers!

My mom suggested I start a wedding blog that kind of helps provide those answers. I wouldn't even know where to begin!

I digress.
I'm working on taking a half-ish day (I leave at 1pm) so that I can accomplish some of the errands I have, and start to check things off my list, and get them out of my life. Unfortunately, I don't have many days off to spare.

OH YEAH, and part of my panic comes from the fact that I CANNOT find my USB jump drive. It has EVERYTHING on it. My guest list (though, I have that saved multiple places) pictures of hairstyles, and almost ALL my wedding-planning materials. I thought it was at work, but it's not here. I haven't searched at home for it yet...but I'm nervous that I won't be able to find it.

Sigh. It'll get done. It always does.

Giveaway win!?!

Holy Crap!

Let me preface by telling you about thepioneerwoman.com. She's super badass. She started off as this twenty five-ish woman from California who planned to move to Chicago to become a lawyer. She was this worldly, sushi-eating, chic vegetarian. In the interim between California and Chicago, she moved home and met this man whom she refers to as Marlboro Man (who is a STRAIGHT UP cowboy). They fall madly in love and get married and she moves to his cattle ranch in Oklahoma. And now she is a wildly successful blogger.
Here's a link to her love story - it's compelling!

Well, as a wildly successful blogger, she blogs about homeschooling her kids, photography techniques, life on the ranch (which has successfully made me want to move to the country), and most importantly recipes. But part of what makes her successful is that she regularly does giveaways - $500 Amazon gift cards, Kitchenaid mixers, and most recently a Snapfish album giveaway.

The original Snapfish giveaway was sponsored by Snapfish.com...and all you had to do was create an album, and 50 winners were randomly chosen, and each winner got 5 free Snapfish albums. Well, this woman has SUCH a following that her fans mauled the Snapfish server, and she had to create multiple group rooms in order to make sure everyone was able to register. In any case I was not one of the 50 winners.

However, she said that she was planning to go through the THOUSANDS of albums registered and pick some NOT random winners, who would receive a free Snapfish album.

Well this morning I log on and see the winners, and this pops up!

Long story short - My album titled "Me and Him" got chosen as most romantic.
Let me say - WTF? Awesome!

Thanks Ree!!