Oh Christmas Tree

It feels like last week was the LONGEST week ever.  We had an amazing weekend, lots of family, friends, and drinking.  We both took Friday off and decided to treat ourselves to a day of whatever we wanted.  We decided to go ice skating at  Rosa Parks Circle, soooo much fun!  It was a dollar for each of us.  Cheap fun entertainment

Christmas Eve we went to Aaron's mom's house.  Santa was very good to us.  We got lots of goodies, and had a wonderful time with family.  Aaron's step sister once made a comment about me never wearing matching socks...(I just grab 2 and go, matching something no one sees is silly to me)  so she got me an entire set of really cute miss matched socks for a store called little miss matched...probably one of my favorite gifts!!!

Sunday was a huge busy day for us.  We over slept...luckily we have 2 cats that HAVE to eat at 8:00 on the dot or they think they are going to DIE.  So we got a late start but still made it to Battle Creek on time.  We did breakfast with my mom and sister.  We exchanged awesome gifts.  GPS, really nice mixing bowls, a new toaster oven, and some really cool art work. 

We headed to dads and got spoiled there too.  We got everything else we could possibly need for our kitchen.  Awesome salt and pepper shakers, pans, and tins, and wine glasses.  We basically have everything for our kitchen and only have to register for a few things. 

Finally we ended the night with the big Sopko (mom's side) Christmas.  There was lots of family, screaming, yelling, laughing, drinking, and more presents.  We had a wonderful time. 

Things started to get a little crazy near the end of the night!

 

Monday we hosted the Monzo Christmas.  We made breakfast and exchanged gifts with the siblings.  Overall we had a WONDERFUL Christmas with family and friends.  It was a great first Christmas together, and we're looking forward to many many more. 

Ice Skating downtown, a new tradition we're starting.

Our first Christmas tree. 

Our cats HATE us.  They were so embarrassed.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and felt as blessed as I do this year!  MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!  (Think of Charlie Brown Christmas, when you read that last part..that's how I said it in my head.)

<3 Karissa

Ho Ho Ho..We're in Limbo

Holy Cow!!  We have been so busy.  This time of year is so much fun, and so stressful all at the same time.  Lucky for Aaron he is about to marry a planner, and everything is all set and ready to go for the next week.  We both took and extra day off this week, so we're working a 4 day work week..WOOP WOOP  can't wait until Thursday.  We're going ice skating downtown on Friday, spending Christmas Eve with Aaron's mom, Christmas day in Battle Creek, and then hosting the Monzo sibling xmas Monday.  Can't remember if I laid out our plans in my last blog..but I've been sooooo busy I can't remember.

We've both been super sick too.  It took everything in us to get our shopping done this weekend.  Friday we went to dinner, and hit the mall to get last minute gifts.  We were home by 9.  What did we decide to do??  Wrap Christmas gifts, I know I know, LAME.  But it was fun and our tree looks awesome now.

Saturday morning we decided to do some apartment hunting.  It's absolutely amazing that we live in such a big city and there is CRAP out there for apartments.  We don't want to buy anything yet because we're hoping to move out of state in the next couple of years...no sense in getting stuck in MI.  If it wasn't a tiny 2 bedroom for twice what we're paying now, it was  coin operated laundry in a smelly smoke filled hall, or out in BFE.  The last place we saw was a 2 bedroom town home with an attached garage 2 bathrooms, it was soooo nice.  We loved it.  It was a little more than what we're used to paying, but totally worth it.  After a couple hours, and we came down from our high...(it was kinda like when we found Thousand oaks for our reception, before we picked the wave room)  We could afford it, but would we really want to stretch ourselves?  Especially since we're in a really good situation and also trying to pay for a wedding.  So we decided to stay put, deal with our loud dumb neighbors, and do some redecorating.

Once we got back home, I met Chelsea to pick up my wedding dress!!!  We also did some bridesmaids dress shopping.  I found it interesting when she brought out my dress in the garment bag all covered up so I couldn't see it, she tried to get me to sign that I fully inspected the items and agree that they are what I expected.  UM I AM NO DUMMY  I'm not signing anything without ACTUALLY looking at it first.  How dumb do they think I am.  the girl seemed really peeved too when I said Um I haven't inspected it yet. 

Chelsea was a wonderful model.  I know my girls are going to be in black with red shoes, so pretend all these dresses are in black.  I love this pink one.  It's a cotton fabric, I think it's a fun modern dress!

This black one is my Second favorite.  It looked AMAZING on Chelsea.  I think it will look good on all of my girls too.  It's very similar to the pink, only the fabric makes it a little more formal, and the top is a little different.  Chelsea really liked it too.

We're pretty sure this is the Winner.  The picture doesn't do it justice.  It was beautiful on Chelsea.  She said it was her favorite too.  Everyone that I sent texts to loved it too.

A while ago I told Aaron's sister that I wanted them to be in pea green with huge sleeves.  This is the best we could do to find a silly dress and text all the girls.  Thanks for being a trooper Chels!!

Now that all the deposits are put down, and everything big is all planned and figured out, I have a bunch of small stuff to figure out and deal with, but we're kinda in that in between stage.  Ask us about the wedding plans this week and we're going to give you the same answer as we did last week.  It will be the same answer we give for the next couple of months too.  Everything is great....how boring to be in limbo.  The "newness" has worn off.  BORING.

Sorry so long, it's been a while.

<3 Karissa

Have a Holly Jolly Christmas

I have never been so exhausted in my entire life.  Ok, that's a lie, but I'm super tired.  We had quite the weekend.  JB and Ashlee (Aaron's best man and his wife) came into town so we got to go out with them for the evening.  It's never a dull night with the two of them.  We did a little dancing, and drinking...tons of fun!!  Of course I woke up Saturday feeling like I got hit by a truck...for some reason that always happens when those two are in town.

 Saturday we decided to tackle our Christmas shopping.  We are soooo behind, and also realizing that shelling out deposits for vendors and Christmas shopping in the same week is not a very fun thing to do.  We got everyone done, with the exception of a few small things for each other.  Shopping for Aaron is one of the hardest things in the world.  He never really vocalizes what he wants, and when I ask he always answers with .."I don't know"  how flippin helpful.  We ended the evening by having dinner with Aaron's brother and sister which was so much fun!  Aaron got to ask his brother to stand in the wedding, so now our wedding party if officially set! 

After dinner Aaron and I got to talking about starting our own holiday traditions.  I have a few cousins, that I am VERY VERY close too, and I have a really great relationship with my Aunts and Uncles on my moms side of the family.  It's always been important to me that my kids are close to their aunts and uncles and cousins too so we're going to try to start our own Monzo Sibling Christmas.  We'll cook breakfast, exchange gifts and enjoy each others company.  Super excited!

Speaking of holiday traditions, Aaron's mom, step sister and I started a traditions today.  Our Annual baking day.  I actually received a baking day gift.  I got a 15 piece set of baking pans...SOOOO EXCITED!  We made so much food...I came home with so much I have to pace myself I have a wedding dress to fit into YIKES.  We had a lot of fun.  We ran out of time, and couldn't get everything done, so we decided that next year it will be a baking weekend!  I'm looking forward to it!

Ok totally random and really boring, but that was our weekend woop woop!

<3 Karissa

Saying Yes to a Dress

There are certain dates through out this whole experience that I will never forget.  October 29th 9:44 a.m. the date and time Aaron purposed.  December 3rd, the day I bought my wedding dress.  I had a whole gaggle of people with me.  I'm an avid watcher of Say Yes to the Dress, so I wasn't sure how this was going to go.  They say that you shouldn't take a large group, it will only confuse you even more.  However, I knew what I wanted, and frankly didn't care if the group liked it or not, if I felt good in it I was going to get it.  Lucky for me my entire group was FANTASTIC.

We started at our place, my mom, my sister, Aaron's sister, and Staci.  We met Aaron's mom at the shop.  The only missing link was Chelsea my 4th bridesmaid.  I was thinking about her the whole time.  I was secretly hoping I wouldn't find a dress, so she could go out with me looking...but things didn't go as planned.  As we were leaving the apartment I was showing the girls some of the different dresses I had picked out.  I already heard opinions...YIKES WHAT WAS I GETTING MYSELF INTO??!!  No one had anything negative to so, everyone just has their own ideas of what looks good and what doesn't  Aaron was so sweet, he kissed me goodbye and whispered in my ear "remember you have the ultimate say"  I was ready to conquer the world!....or at least the bridal shop.

We got to David's Bridal (I know I know, I should shop local..blah blah blah...my dress was on MEGA sale, and I can't stomach spending thousands of dollars on one item of clothing for one day, so I went chain...sue me!)  Plus WHO CARES?  They gave me an appointment slot of 2 hours...I told my consultant the style numbers I had picked out, and she brought back the dresses one at a time.  I knew right away with the first one that I Hated it.  The second dress took me a while to figure out whether or not I like it.  The third dress was it, I knew before it was out of the bag.  It was the one I feel in love with online.  I could tell in the bag I LOVE IT.  She put it on, and before I was even in front of a mirror I said "I'm done"  I knew it was the dress.  It was just a feeling.  Plus it was a size smaller than all of the other dresses..BONUS.

***Disclaimer****  I don't really know what the rule is about showing the dress to other people before the wedding.  Aaron doesn't read the blog, or have facebook so he won't see pictures.  If you want to wait until the wedding, don't look at the pictures. 

Front and back view.  Obviously it will look way better once it's altered to my size.  I feel like the lighting made me look like such a cow!!!

Once I said yes, everyone started crying.  I knew I was on the right track.  It is exactly what I have always envisioned myself wearing.  The look fits the feel of the wedding, it's a very "me" dress.

The store made me ring a bell once I said I was getting the dress, when I rang it everyone cheered, and clapped...it was really fun!



Ringing the bell after I said yes!

I have a friend making a headpiece for me.  She makes great bows and headbands for little girls.  I've bought some bows from her for myself, so I figured I would ask her to make my headpiece for the wedding.  She said yes, I am soooooo excited!  I've always known that I don't want to wear a veil.  They all look exactly the same, and just don't do anything for me.  I figured to give myself the full bridal experience, and to make my mom happy, I would try the dress on with a veil.

The moms started crying, so I caved.  I'm weaning a veil for the ceremony and a few pictures, and then switching to my custom headpiece by Peyton's Closet

Once I got home from the very overwhelming, but fun day, I got to thinking about the tux situation.  I have no idea when those are supposed to be picked out and ordered.  Aaron and I went to dinner, and decided to make a quick stop at Men's Warehouse to see what the scoop was.  We ended up picking everything out, and finding out, we're pretty much right on time with the tux ordering!  I'm feeling good!!!!

<3 Karissa

A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words

Welp...we've managed to nail down our photographer!  http://www.chadbosma.com/ Chad was so nice, and he pretty much has the same thought process that I have when it comes to the types of pictures that I want.  What makes me super excited is that his pictures are amazing, he does all sorts of different coloring, (water colors, black and whites) and he gives all of the pictures to you.  He said if he makes any changes he will give us the original and the changed pictures!  A lot of photographers don't do that.   We get the rights to all of the pictures and everything all touched up and ready to go on a disc.  I LOVE THAT.  We can burn copies of our pictures for everyone.  I think it's a nice cute gift for the wedding party.  How many weddings have you been in where you're in tons of pictures, and you see like 3 of them..and what are the chances you'll ever get a copy of that picture??

He also told us that if we book with him, he'll do our trash the dress session ABSOLUTELY FREE!!!  He knows his stuff, he knows great locations.  I am bouncing off the walls I'm so excited!

We also pretty much have our DJ lined up.  The DJ that I really wanted isn't available..booooo hoooo!  Even after he told me he was, his manager said he was booked.  I was a little mad, however, there is always a positive to be found.  The DJ we're getting also has a sweet photo booth that fits up to 12 people.  He has all of the props and, unlike some photo booths our guests will actually get their four pictures with our names and wedding date on them.  We will also get the CD of all of the pictures that are taken in the booth!  I'm so excited.  Pictures are one of the most important things to me, you only get to have this day once, and I want to be able to remember it in the best most interesting way.

I also have decided on carnations for our flowers....I KNOW I KNOW carnations?????  Hear me out.  They are making a come back.  I was such a carnation snob for the longest time however, they are very retro and when you put a whole bunch of them together in really tight bunch 1) you can't tell what kind of flower it really is and 2) it looks really really cool.  So anyone who doesn't like it..well.....who cares.  It's my wedding and I'll do what I want!!!  Oh Boy I'm starting to sound like a Monzo already! 

On  a different note.  As we were coming back from our photographer meeting Aaron informed me he wanted to move when our lease is up.  It's up in February.  Have you ever moved in the middle of a Michigan winter??  I have and it BLOWS.  We won't be leaving the area, apparently he just wants a bit of change.  I love where we live, and have no desire to move in the dead of winter...I sense a battle coming on.  Our complex does have really cool loft apartments, if we can move into one of those I'm all for the move, but I don't want to move across town.  We have a perfect location and I don't want to give up my 30 second commute to work!  Ohhh compromise, I hear you knocking on my door.

That's all for now! 

<3 Karissa