There is way too much going on in my brain right now to even post. All I can say is that I am so ready to stop planning, and just be married! I have so many upcoming posts,but let's be honest... A week before the wedding I don't have time to blog. I'll leave you with some teasers..
budget...what budget? Part 2
Flash mob....excuse me??
Cheap & Tacky
Golf
<3 Karissa
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
10 Things that Make Me Happy
Of course my wonderful, handsome fiancée, and my friends and family make me happy..they're a given!!
So here's my list of 10 Things That Make Me Happy
10:
The Magic Bullet....sorry ladies it's not a vibrator. It's a food processor, and a damn good one! I love this thing. I've only used it to make mixed drinks so far, but boy can it crush some ice. I'm sure it does everything well, and when we aren't so busy I'll play around with it some more!
9. My complete Friends series on DVD. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Friends. I loved watching it when it was on NBC, and I still love watching it. If there is nothing else on TV I will always watch reruns. I have seen every episode a million times, and no matter what I always laugh.
8. My Apple items Ipad/phone. Love them. I love not having
to fire up my computer every time I want to check something on the internet,
and I love all the apps.
7. Plato's Closet. Ok before you judge let me explain this one. I am a big fan of saving money, and getting my money's worth. I love the fact that I can take my old clothes to the store and sell them for cash! I also shop there on occasion. I buy my work shorts there, since I work with kids, I don't really want to wear my good "going out" clothes. So 8 bucks on a pair of shorts is a great deal..especially if they get a little paint on them!
6. Alright, this one may be a little embarrassing for anyone
to admit, but I have dark hair, and I'm Italian...so we Sopko ladies are
plagued with dark hair...everywhere. I just found this new product for removing
facial hair (upper lip) that works FANTASTIC, and doesn't irritate my skin at
all. I've searched high and low for something that won't give me little red
bumps. OLAY Facial hair removal duo is the bomb! This stuff works wonders, it
makes me so happy that I finally found something that feels so good. It's a
little pricy but it's totally worth it!
4. My kitties. I was never a cat person until I met Aaron. I
still don't think I'm a cat person, I just like my cats. They are so funny, so
cute, and full of cuddles. It makes me so happy to have them both curl up in
bed with me, although they are HUGE bed hogs. As I'm typing this my baby kitty
has the hiccups..so cute!
3. My engagement ring,
and my wedding band. Of course every girl can't wait to get hers. I love mine
so much. Every time I look at it I get so excited to think of the meaning
behind it. To know that Aaron picked it out, and hid it from me for a month
trying to think of the perfect way to ask me.
2. My house. We have so much going on right now. It's hard
to appreciate everything when we're doing so much, but sometimes when I turn
onto our street (Summertime ct)...see I'm a summer girl through and through. I
pull into our driveway and get so happy to see OUR house. When I walk in and
see all we have done to make it our own, I just love it!
1. Reading/my books/ my Nook: I am an avid reader. I love
getting lost in books, I generally read 5 or 6 books a week. Sadly the past
couple of months it hasn't been quite as many since we have been so busy. I
can't shut my mind off unless I read before bed. Even if I'm dead tired I'll
read a couple of pages. I have so many different authors that I love, and so
many different series that I have enough to keep me reading for years. The best
thing ever is my Nook. I love it, and it makes me so happy that I can take
hundreds of books with me wherever I go. I recently got the new glow light
nook...LOVE IT. It's nice that Aaron can go to bed, shut the lights off, and I
can stay up and read without bothering him!
Ok, so there's my list of 10 things that make me happy there
are so many more things, but I don't have time.
Oh one more..I'M GETTING MARRIED IN 3 WEEKS!!!!
<3 Karissa
Sunday, July 1, 2012
The Home Stretch
How is it July already? I swear I woke up yesterday excited that there was 2 months until the wedding..and now we're actually in wedding month...HOLY BALLS!!!
I'll be completely honest... I don't want to wish this all away, but I am also so ready for all of this to be over. I feel like our lives revolve around the wedding right now. We don't want to start any home projects because they'll just sit this entire month. We don't want to spend money because we're about to drop a whole lot of it. I'm just ready to get back to living life.
I'm sure there are tons of brides out there that would smack me right now for saying that I'm ready for it to be over..but I'm sooo tired. I'm sick of having crazy dreams about my flowers (one where we carried coat hangers, because flowers were never delivered). I'm sick of trying to chase people down who have said they were coming, but have yet to RSVP...I'm sick of trying to plan everything and keep everything in motion...I'm JUST SO TIRED!!!
I have always been a planner at heart. It can be Monday evening and I'll be asking Aaron what we're going to do this coming weekend, because I like to know, and I like to have everything planner out. I'm a very spur of the moment person when it comes to implus purchases and doing crazy wild things, but I love to have my plans. It is so freaking hard to plan everything for everyone, and work around everyone’s schedule. We can't even find time to go get our marriage license together..so I have to do it alone. :(
Through this whole planning phase (9 months) I have really tried to avoid playing the "I'm the Bride" card, and I feel like I have done pretty damn good, but sometimes I just want to scream...why are you making this so difficult...I'm the bride, this is what I want, just do it. It's not like I'm asking people to cut their arms off..for the most part it's fun stuff, and I feel like I've had to pull teeth, which in turn makes me feel like the bad guy...and then makes me care anymore.
I know this is kind of a bummer post, and it should probably be filled with many more exciting thoughts. I truly am excited to get married and be Mrs. Monzo, and I am really excited for the wedding itself, but right now at this moment...I'm ready for July 29th so I can be a wife on her honeymoon.
<3 Karissa
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Welcome to the 50's
Division of labor and assests has been on our minds lately. How does a couple who once lived totally seperate lives, mesh their two lives together? It's a hard subject to bring up. We had the conversation when we first moved in together. We weren't engaged, but we knew we were headed in that direction (or else I never would have moved in).
We split certain bills, and we went every other on grocery trips...seemed fair. Then almost hubs pops the question, and the whole topic comes up again...not to mention I took a different job, which I love, yet doesn't pay me near what I was making before. Suddenly I find myself doing all of the housework, cooking all the meals (at least the meals that we eat at home...we eat out A LOT) and clipping coupons, and all other wifely duties. While almost Hubby took on the brunt of the bills, I turned myself into a nice little housewife!
Don't get me wrong, I like making my own money, and I love my Independence..and I'll be damned if my wedding vows say the word obey. Chances are if almost hubby told me to stand still, I would jump up and down on one foot..I don't "obey" But I love love love taking care of him.
I love cooking for the almost hubs, I don't mind doing all the laundry..I don't love laundry in general, but it doesn't bother me to do his too. Partly because I don't want him to ruin anything of mine. I love cleaning the house, and making it a clean home for him to come home to everyday. If he's going to be doing most of the providing for our family, why shouldn't I be helpful in the places that I can be?
Some people may read this blog and want to totally smack me, and think these opinions are the reason why women still aren't equal to men. I would like to point out..if I had a high paying stressful job that provided a huge chunk of our income, I know I would be singing a different song, however the situation being what it is, I feel perfectly content in contributing in every way I possibly can...so put me in an apron, and stick me in the kitchen...I'm cookin dinner tonight!
<3 Karissa
p.s. 1 month 1 week 1 day till I DO!!! YIKES!!!!
We split certain bills, and we went every other on grocery trips...seemed fair. Then almost hubs pops the question, and the whole topic comes up again...not to mention I took a different job, which I love, yet doesn't pay me near what I was making before. Suddenly I find myself doing all of the housework, cooking all the meals (at least the meals that we eat at home...we eat out A LOT) and clipping coupons, and all other wifely duties. While almost Hubby took on the brunt of the bills, I turned myself into a nice little housewife!
Don't get me wrong, I like making my own money, and I love my Independence..and I'll be damned if my wedding vows say the word obey. Chances are if almost hubby told me to stand still, I would jump up and down on one foot..I don't "obey" But I love love love taking care of him.
I love cooking for the almost hubs, I don't mind doing all the laundry..I don't love laundry in general, but it doesn't bother me to do his too. Partly because I don't want him to ruin anything of mine. I love cleaning the house, and making it a clean home for him to come home to everyday. If he's going to be doing most of the providing for our family, why shouldn't I be helpful in the places that I can be?
Some people may read this blog and want to totally smack me, and think these opinions are the reason why women still aren't equal to men. I would like to point out..if I had a high paying stressful job that provided a huge chunk of our income, I know I would be singing a different song, however the situation being what it is, I feel perfectly content in contributing in every way I possibly can...so put me in an apron, and stick me in the kitchen...I'm cookin dinner tonight!
<3 Karissa
p.s. 1 month 1 week 1 day till I DO!!! YIKES!!!!
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Man Gene and Total Destruction Part 2
So the past few posts have been about how vastly different men and women are. How our brains are totally different, and how we function completely opposite. In my Total Destruction post we covered the topic of our backyard overhaul. I was pretty happy with the outcome of our conversation. We were going to tackle the backyard one section at a time, that way we didn't have to look at a crap pile of a yard the whole season. Well that whole theory went to shit yesterday. I blame my father. What is it about a pair/group of men getting together, and suddenly everything seems possible? "Oh you want to dig a hole for a pool with your bare hands...NO PROBLEM. I bet I can dig faster and deeper than you!" Everything becomes a possibility and everything becomes a giant pissing contest.
Throw in my dad, and suddenly hubs to be thinks he can do it all, and for some reason has to prove it. *Side note, when men are all together why do their ideas become more and more stupid?* We had my dad over to help with some yard work. My idea was to get one whole side of the yard totally cleaned up, and ready for some planting next weekend...Aaron and my dad had a much better idea. Lets get a 15lbs sledge hammer and giant ax and chop at a stump in the ground for 2 hours...just to see what happens! Oh lets also get a saw and cut down two trees in the backyard. Honey it will be a great idea.
EXCUSE ME..HOLD THE PHONE.... What happened to pulling weeds raking up all this dirt and getting some nice stepping stones and potted plants?? Oh I know Father and Son-in-law together...Operation Total Destruction is back on. I'm so glad our logical conversation was at the front of almost hubs mind...oh wait it wasn't.
While I appreciate all the cool news toys my dad bought Aaron, I don't appreciate the fact that he's now got these massive toys that do nothing but create a mess in my yard! So now my yard has to extra stumps from the cut down trees, a "burn pile" the size of a bear cave of wood that we'll have to burn once we get our fire pit, and nothing has been planted yet.
We worked ourselves to the bone yesterday, and my dad was great help, we actually got a lot cleaned up and while it looks worse than before..it also looks better..all the weeds are good, all the dead leaves are raked out. My dad did a great job helping us...I just don't think I'll ever let those two make the plan again!!
Throw in my dad, and suddenly hubs to be thinks he can do it all, and for some reason has to prove it. *Side note, when men are all together why do their ideas become more and more stupid?* We had my dad over to help with some yard work. My idea was to get one whole side of the yard totally cleaned up, and ready for some planting next weekend...Aaron and my dad had a much better idea. Lets get a 15lbs sledge hammer and giant ax and chop at a stump in the ground for 2 hours...just to see what happens! Oh lets also get a saw and cut down two trees in the backyard. Honey it will be a great idea.
EXCUSE ME..HOLD THE PHONE.... What happened to pulling weeds raking up all this dirt and getting some nice stepping stones and potted plants?? Oh I know Father and Son-in-law together...Operation Total Destruction is back on. I'm so glad our logical conversation was at the front of almost hubs mind...oh wait it wasn't.
While I appreciate all the cool news toys my dad bought Aaron, I don't appreciate the fact that he's now got these massive toys that do nothing but create a mess in my yard! So now my yard has to extra stumps from the cut down trees, a "burn pile" the size of a bear cave of wood that we'll have to burn once we get our fire pit, and nothing has been planted yet.
We worked ourselves to the bone yesterday, and my dad was great help, we actually got a lot cleaned up and while it looks worse than before..it also looks better..all the weeds are good, all the dead leaves are raked out. My dad did a great job helping us...I just don't think I'll ever let those two make the plan again!!
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
The Man Gene
Lets talk about the man gene. A gene that resides only in the male species. This gene allows for men to walk in the door, see the mat where shoes are supposed to go, and it somehow signals their brain to put their shoes three feet away from that mat. I don't get it. It's not just shoes either it's all inanimate objects.
Dishes are placed in the sink, when the dishwasher is full of dirty dishes, waiting for the last few dishes to have a full load. Mind you the dishwasher is a foot away from the sink.
Empty glasses are left ALL OVER the house, regardless of how many times he's walked into the kitchen to get something else. Same goes for dirty socks, and walking to the bedroom.
The real kicker is the keys...ohhhh the keys. It's an on going battle and I honestly think I'm fighting it with myself., because no matter how many times I subtly move the keys to the correct spot, I find them resting peacefully two inches away form their true resting place.
Dishes are placed in the sink, when the dishwasher is full of dirty dishes, waiting for the last few dishes to have a full load. Mind you the dishwasher is a foot away from the sink.
Empty glasses are left ALL OVER the house, regardless of how many times he's walked into the kitchen to get something else. Same goes for dirty socks, and walking to the bedroom.
The real kicker is the keys...ohhhh the keys. It's an on going battle and I honestly think I'm fighting it with myself., because no matter how many times I subtly move the keys to the correct spot, I find them resting peacefully two inches away form their true resting place.
Where they should go...
Where they end up.
This BOGGLES MY MIND!!!!!!
Someone please explain to me how as women we can be soooo vastly different from men. How is it that I can walk in the door each day and put my keys in the little box (which was purchased by Aaron not me!!) and he manages to get them about an inch away from the box???
I don't think he's lazy by any means. There are a million and one things that Aaron has going on around the house, but it will never cease to amaze me that the small tasks somehow are nearly impossible to get men to complete!
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Lions and Laughs with the Larners
After a few crazy weekends working on the house, and dealing with the wedding, we decided to forget about our projects, and do something fun! We have both always wanted to go to the Detroit zoo, so we packed our bags and headed to Detroit. Aaron has a cousin that lives there (we went to the Pistons game with them earlier this year) so we crashed their weekend and all went to the zoo together!
Talking a 1 year old to the zoo is SO MUCH FUN!! I'm about to marry a grown child, and Amanda and I joked about how excited Aaron was getting about the animals, but watching their little girl watch the animals was so cute! Plus she is the cutest little baby on the earth! I could watch her facial expressions all day long.
The zoo was lots of fun..it was sooooo hot. Somehow I managed to get a wonderful burn on my left shoulder. I have been tanning so I have a nice base color for the wedding, and I have been really careful about lines, and now I have a lovely strap mark on my shoulder...awesome.
After the zoo we went home, and had grown up's night out! John and Amanda had a sitter all lined up, and it was the first time their little lady wasn't staying with a grandparent it was an actual sitter. It was so funny/cute to listen to Amanda give instructions! I have to say, while we were out, she was a very good trusting mama, and didn't call and check in every 5 minutes! I know I won't be that calm and collected! We headed out for a great dinner, and comedy show! It was so much fun. Aaron and I always go out to dinner, and we hit a movie every now and then, but we never actually get all dressed up and do date night. It really made us think. We promised on our way home today, we would do an official date night once a month. Something that we don't always do, where we have to get a little dressed up (that was my rule) and something that would expose us to different things and activities that are around our city!
John and Amanda live right in front of a pond, so we slept with the windows open, and had nice breeze and listened to the frogs all night, it was so peaceful! This morning we woke up and sadly said our goodbyes, and headed out to Ikea!
Ikea is one of my favorite stores. I would love to be able to walk in to their show room, pick up a "room" and put it in my house. Sadly I'm not a zillionare and can't do that, but we made out really well! We go some decorative pieces, and a new TV stand. We pretty much got everything we went for and then some! Of course I explained to Aaron that the reason we did so well money wise was because we have to put everything together ourselves. Anyone who had every put something together from Ikea knows how OBNOXIOUS it is. It will truly test how solid your relationship is if you can manage to put your stuff together without killing your partner.
We bought a bed side lamp.....took us 25 minutes to put that animal together, and we were on the verge of killing each other. We managed to survive and it's sitting blissfully on our nightstand. Probably mocking us at how long it took us, but regardless..we did it!
We had a wonderful, relaxing (minus the assembly of the lamp) weekend. We spent it with wonderful people, and had a great time reconnecting!
xoxo
<3 Karissa
Talking a 1 year old to the zoo is SO MUCH FUN!! I'm about to marry a grown child, and Amanda and I joked about how excited Aaron was getting about the animals, but watching their little girl watch the animals was so cute! Plus she is the cutest little baby on the earth! I could watch her facial expressions all day long.
The zoo was lots of fun..it was sooooo hot. Somehow I managed to get a wonderful burn on my left shoulder. I have been tanning so I have a nice base color for the wedding, and I have been really careful about lines, and now I have a lovely strap mark on my shoulder...awesome.
John and Amanda live right in front of a pond, so we slept with the windows open, and had nice breeze and listened to the frogs all night, it was so peaceful! This morning we woke up and sadly said our goodbyes, and headed out to Ikea!
Ikea is one of my favorite stores. I would love to be able to walk in to their show room, pick up a "room" and put it in my house. Sadly I'm not a zillionare and can't do that, but we made out really well! We go some decorative pieces, and a new TV stand. We pretty much got everything we went for and then some! Of course I explained to Aaron that the reason we did so well money wise was because we have to put everything together ourselves. Anyone who had every put something together from Ikea knows how OBNOXIOUS it is. It will truly test how solid your relationship is if you can manage to put your stuff together without killing your partner.
We bought a bed side lamp.....took us 25 minutes to put that animal together, and we were on the verge of killing each other. We managed to survive and it's sitting blissfully on our nightstand. Probably mocking us at how long it took us, but regardless..we did it!
We had a wonderful, relaxing (minus the assembly of the lamp) weekend. We spent it with wonderful people, and had a great time reconnecting!
xoxo
<3 Karissa
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