The Craziest Year of my Life

...and I can't say that I'm going to miss ya.

A year filled with so much change, both good and bad, I'm quite impressed that I still find myself standing on two feet. 

Here's the fast forwarded edition of my year:

January

On our plane ride home from Mexico, on NYE, Joel told me that his goal in 2012 was to find a new job.

In the middle of January, Joel received a random text message about a huge job opportunity that would take us to NYC or LA. He pursued the interview process while we kept our mouths shut around our friends and family.

February:

Joel accepted the job offer that would move us to LA. We left on February 2nd to go look at apartments and make plans to move across the country.

 

On Valentine's day, I put my 2 weeks notice at my job and Joel promised me we would get a dog in LA

 

That night, when we left Valentine's Day dinner at Shaw's my mom called me in the cab and told me my Aunt Peggy was in the hospital in very serious condition.

As we packed, arranged movers, and said goodbye, Peggy's condition got worse. I didn't fulfill my 2 weeks at work, left on the 16th for Crystal Lake to be with my aunt and family in the hospital and never looked back.

  

My friends helped me pack and we shipped my car to LA, and tried to handle moving while dealing with the fact that my 48 year old aunt was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. 

We were able to fit in a goodbye party with our amazing Chicago friends the night before Joel left for LA on 2/28.

.

 

March

Since I didn't have a job, or an apartment, I stayed at my parents house for two weeks, 1 mile away from my Aunt Peg.  I was witness to too many doctors appointments, too many scary words, too many tears, and the deterioration of the healthiest woman I knew.

Amidst the dark, dark chaos, their were bright lights. So much love and support came from our community, and my close family, got closer.

I said goodbye to my Aunt Peggy on March 6th, with a hug, and the advice from her to "Go conquer California". 

My mom flew with me to get me settled in LA. 

 

The day my mom got back to Crystal Lake and came to see Peggy, she found her in bed, speaking incoherently. Peg has suffered a stroke that would ultimately end her life a few days later, on March 10th, 2012.

 

On March 11th, I flew home the next day, and began the most awful week of my life.

On March 20th, I had to go back to California. I hated leaving my grieving family, cousins, grandparents, and mostly my parents...but my mom forced me back to reality. 

I was still unemployed so I spent a lot of time looking for jobs, decorating my apartment and trying to understand the LA life. 

I met two new girls in California that ended up turning into dear, dear friends - Carly and Dawn.

On March 31st, I accepted a job offer.

 

April

Joel and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary with a weekend trip to Santa Barbara 

 

On April 7th, after a few days in San Diego with Joel's brother, we stopped in Long Beach and picked up my long awaited puppy Roscoe. 

 

We hosted an Easter brunch with everyone we knew from California. All 9 people. 

 

We adjusted to life as new parents and fell absolutely in love with our little nugget. 

 

April 16th I started my new job

 

May

 I turned 24 and Joel had a surprise dinner party for me at The Lobster in Santa Monica. 

 

We flew to Jupiter, Florida to watch Joel best friend Chris get married

 

My sisters came to visit us (and meet Roscoe) in LA  

June

My cousin Amanda and her boyfriend Andrew were our next set of visitors.  

I fulfilled a life long dream of seeing Mr. George Bank's house from Father of the Bride 

 

On June 9th, I got ENGAGED!

 

I was finally able to buy bridal magazines! 

I traveled to Palm Springs for my soon-to-be Sister-in-Law's bachelorette party

July

I flew home with Roscoe so that I could finally see my family

 

I asked my best friends to be my bridesmaids

 

I picked my wedding venue and date

 

Joel's brother Andrew was married in San Diego

 

  

Before Joel's parents headed back to Chicago after the wedding, they came up to LA to spend the weekend with us

 

August

 We started taking advantage of living in California with weekly hikes

 

My bridesmaid Sara came out to LA for a long weekend.

Joel turned 25 and we hosted a wine tasting party for him

 

September

We flew home over Labor day to see my cousin Cole get married

 

I found a wedding dress

 

We took engagement pictures

We went down to San Diego to spend time with Joel's brother and sister, and I went to my first pro football game

 

October

We did a day trip to Malibu winery

 

We carved pumpkins as a family

 

Accomplished a 6 mile run in the mountains

 

We registered! 

November 

My best friend Claire came out and we explored LA and Santa Barbara

 

 Completed a 7.1 mile turkey trot in the mountains with my girl Shelby!

We had our first "Friends-Giving" with all the L.A. orphans and it was amazing

December

We decked the halls

 

I hosted an ornament exchange with some girls

 

We spent 8 glorious days on the beach in Mexico with my family

And unfortunately, on  December 29th, my 90 year old Grandpa joined his daughter Peggy in Heaven. 

 

Here is to 2013

Wedding Wednesday

It's almost 6 months to the day that I will be walking down the isle, becoming a bride.

I've been on a bit of planning hiatus this month, since most of my vendors have been hired, but I thought I'd check in on my ever growing list and see some progress - or concerns - for the sake of both you and me. 

Set a date

Book venue

Book photographer

Book videographer

Book DJ for reception

Ask bridal party to be in wedding

Book caterer & bar

Create wedding website

       Register     

Book florist

Buy wedding dress 

Book ceremony & cocktail hour musicians

Book rentals

Take engagement pictures 

Select bridesmaid dresses

Have bridesmaids order dresses
Select and order groom & groomsmen attire

Have groomsmen order suits
Purchase veil and accessories for dress

Book cake baker
Hire coordinator 

Buy cake knife & server

Order save the dates   
Finalize guest list    

Send save the dates  Going out mid January

Book officiant  

Pre-marital counseling

Order guest book

Hotel room blocks
Hire a calligrapher

MOB & MOG dress shopping

Find wedding shoes

Find wedding jewelry

                Find garter   Not wearing one

Book makeup artist & hair stylist 

Menu tasting - in February

Take bridal portraits / hair & make up trial

1st dress fitting
2^nd dress fitting

Order ceremony programs

Order invitations

Mail invitations

Book rehearsal dinner venue  Almost love it more than the actual reception! Almost.

  Rehearsal Dinner music/activities

Buy Rehearsal Dinner dress

Transportation for Rehearsal Dinner bridal party   

Buy bridal party gifts

Bachelorette party Being worked on

Bachelor party

Bridal showers Being worked on

Purchase wedding bands

Put together picture list for photographer

Get marriage license

Order wedding favors

Book transportation from reception to hotel

Book honeymoon 

Honeymoon shopping

Gift for Groom

Rehearsal Dinner  invitations

Music selections to band and ceremony artist

Book wedding night hotel room

Order thank you notes

 Walk down the aisle & say I do!

 

What was the craziest planning month of your wedding? Do you think I'm on pace? Anything I'm missing from this list?

Confessionals.

Maybe it's because the year is ending, and I'm craving a new start. Or maybe it's because my mom is away in Mexico so I don't have her to be my springboard to vent. Or maybe I just can't come up with any other blog idea and I've had a glass of wine and this sounds good?

But, here are a few things I thought about getting off of my chest from 2012

 

-I like California more than I ever thought that I would. I knew I needed an adventure, and to leave my comfort zone, but I never thought that I would fall so head over heels for this state. I like the slower pace, the sunshine, the mountains, and the ocean.

-But, with the year that I've had, I sometimes wonder if I love California so much because it's been escape from a tough reality. A reality in which I don't really want to face.

-I'm truly addicted to getting  manicures. I feel like I have to have one every two weeks or I start to feel seriously out of whack.

-I haven't taken a shower in months. I'm a strictly bath kinda girl. And I'm actually a 2x/day bath kind of girl. I wake up in the bath, and I start my bedtime routine in the bath. It's a little geriatric, but, I don't really care.

-I haven't eaten "white" carbs in about 22 days. I was hoping I was going to lose like 10 pounds, but that didnt happen (update to come later this week), but I do have far less stomach aches and have been feeding my body - and Joels - so much healthier. Our grocery bills have gone up about $30 a week, but I'm cooking almost 5 nights a week.

-I can't eat chicken. In March I tried to make chicken salad wraps and put the cooked chicken into a blender (per the directions) to mash it up, and ever since then....it's been over between us.

-I love hotel bars. There is something so sexy and romantic about having a drink or two there.

-I drink wine 6 nights a week. It makes me nervous that I drink too much sometimes. I'm only 24, so I know it's not that big of a deal to have 2 glasses of wine on a Tuesday, and Joel and I don't do "O bombs" on the weekend, so it probably evens out, but drinking - as much as it relaxes me, sometimes gives me anxiety.

-The only blogs that capture my attention are "real life" blogs. Blogs that tell real life. I don't like blogs about girls who play dress up, or copy pictures that I've seen on pintrest a million times. My favorites are: Sarah (my BBF), Natasha, Natalie, Andee, and Kelly.

-Speaking of anxiety, I sometimes wonder how I'm going to be able to have kids one day.  I carry so much anxiety about my family's well being, and Joel's well being, and even my dogs well being, I don't even know how I'm going to be able to handle a little thing that is my own flesh and blood. After this tragedy in Newtown, it seems safer sometimes to just sit alone at home

-Christmas music and country music are the only two stations allowed in my car

-On that note, I only see and read happy movies and books. My constant excuse is that "I don't need the extra drama in my life". In college, my roommate would all huddle together to watch Grey's Anatomy and I would hide away in my bedroom. If they tied me into a chair, the next day I would be convinced I had whatever ailment the actor died of the night before.

-Joel and I are in love with each other, of course, but we have never, ever loved something together as much as we love our puppy Roscoe. We are beyond obsessed with him, send each other pictures, talk about his poop, stare at him while he sleeps, and so many other creepy things that I'm starting to worry about our sanity as a couple.

-I leave for Mexico, and I can't wait to spend 8 days straight with my parents and sister. I just wish my other sister Hannah was able to be there, but she is living and working in Barcelona, Spain - so I don't feel too awful!

-I bought my first even tankini (since I was like 13) to wear in Mexico. Not sure if this is happy or sad moment.

-Wedding planning is not exactly what I imagined. I'm not sure if it's because I'm removed from my family and bridesmaids, but it often feels more like a chore. I hate the idea of spending these buckets of money, on one day, and constantly thinking that it's still not enough.

-I love to go to the movie theatre. Mainly, I love to go alone. When I worked in an office in Chicago, I would take a day off every quarter to have a "me" day. Besides sleeping in, and doing some shopping, I always went to see a movie alone. As soon as I get back from Mexico I'm going to see "This is 40". I may even brave the crowds on Jan. 1st!

-I wonder how I lived without Pintrest. Ever recipe I cook comes from that site, I take the computer into my room to plan outfits, and I use the handy ideas all the flipping time. It eats up about 4 hours of my time every week.

-I'm borderline obsessed with Kathy Lee & Hoda

-I am a mega nester. I like the house to be our little oasis, our safe place, our comfort - and I mainly do it for Joel, although I do need it too. I like to think about him sitting at his office after a long day, looking forward to coming home to this clean, cozy house, with a warm dinner waiting and me and Roscoe happy and ready to see him. I think it's probably one of the greatest pleasures of my life....which semi concerns me.

-I'm not a fan of planes, even though that's the industry my fiance works in.  I don't like take off, but I've gotten better. Virgin America is my favorite airline, and they serve a really delish mimosa that helps take the edge off.

-I've never flown first class and it's one of my goals in 2013.

-I go to sleep before 10pm pretty much every night. I need a solid 8-9 hours of sleep to function properly, but if I'm asleep at 10, waking up at 7, or 7:30 is no big deal.

-I want to have kids before I'm 30. Which is contrary to an earlier point, but in all reality, I cannot wait to have babies.

-I feel like taking vacations as a couple, and only a couple, is an investment in your success as a couple. I try to remind Joel of my theory very often.