Check This Out

Busy making wedding plans, attending classes, vacations etc! Will try to keep you posted not only with my own reflections, but with pictures too. For now check out the beginnings of  wedding website!

Quick Thought on BP

  I had an awesome evening last night dancing my booty off with my friends at this year's Hessler Street Fair! Carlos Jones closed the concert portion, which is tradition and has been awesome every year! This year he mentioned that he would be  protesting BP until they cleaned up the oil in the Gulf. I at first agreed with him. We shouldn't tolerate poor business judgements anymore and give money to people who claim to be environmentally friendly...

 The more I thought about this though, the more I started to remember all the employees at BP. If such a strike was established, to the point where employees were being laid off in response..where would that put us as a community? So I'm thinking twice about BP yes I will not frequent BP stations(I don't really anyway)  but may not completely go on strike against them, at the risk of creating an even larger problem. I would love to hear more thoughts about this and what could be done to at least have funding and energy go towards getting the oil out of the gulf!

Calm Down!

   Whenever something fantastic happens, I get a little overwhelmed.. I become obsessed and go through it over and over in my head. It doesn't happen all the time, but I do tend to look for ways to break up the monotony. Like when I found out the Black Keys were playing a secret show at the Beachland Ballroom, and I made my brother leave class to stand in line with me, Liv, and Sam(little boy I was watching at the time) for two hours to get arm bands..which I then in turn gave to Jack..who at the time I was trying to impress :)

 So my wedding is turning out to be no different. I keep hoping that things will calm down. I will not be looking at wedding dresses, flowers, cakes, invites, guest list, catering, music etc. It doesn't help that there seems to be an endless amount of people who are willing to be excited along with me. This however is also a worry because everyone I'm talking to, isn't necessarily invited!

 I worry that this isn't proper etiquette to be going on and on like this. I also worry that my loose lips are upsetting to Jack, who doesn't like to display our business all over Ohio. This is something I need to respect and really work on.  So instead of going on and on, on Facebook. I just try to keep people posted on new developments, but not express every detail in great detail to everyone! I will pray that God not only keeps me on the path of least Resistance, but also calms my heart and my mouth!

 So I did mention over there at FB that I never thought I would be getting married in Akron. I attended school there and lived there for a brief stint.. Meant some nice people, but over all thought the town was..crummy, poor, deviant, crazy, and run down are all words that come to mind when describing Ol' Akron. I believe I've said in the past "Eek I would never get married in Akron."

 Never say never.. Last summer Jack, Liv and I took a day trip on the Cuyahoga Scenic Railroad down to the Akron Peninsula. It was a great trip! The train ride was amazing and there is also a bike path that you can ride and take the train back. Fantastic trip which I highly recommend. Due to this trip I had somewhat I've an idea of what Akron Peninsula looks like and it in no way is connected to the sues pool of Akron proper.

 I tell that story to tell this story, so over the past two weeks my mom and I have been looking at potential venues for the wedding. I'm pretty against halls, which I discovered because I was looking at so many of them. I didn't like the drop ceilings, poor lighting, no windows, and uniformity. The halls I did like, were extremely expensive for example, windows on the river is beautiful, but very expensive. I also started to realize what kind of wedding I wanted, by seeing what I didn't want.

 Couple years ago, my mother saved a Country Living Magazine with a "rural wedding" in it. It wasn't a hoedown, but a quiet beautiful wedding, filled with local food, homemade items, and a handsome groom in a tan suit.  I loved it and saved the magazine. So when it came time for my actual wedding, I tapped into those images. So I guess I want a rural wedding..

 So we looked at the botzum farm as mentioned in previous posts.. I wasn't thrilled, but wanted to be because I thought botzum was beautiful and would be the prefect landscape for our day. The more my mom and I discussed it, the more discouraged I was. We would have to literally do everything ourselves and if it was a rainy day the shelter would be inadequate. I gave up. Maybe Jack and I should get married at the Justice of the peace and have a nice dinner. Or so I thought!

 One  the way home from Peninsula, Liv dropped her toy in the back seat. I already irritable and disappointed asked my mom to pull over so I can get Liv's toy. She pulled into a drive way. As I was getting situated I noticed a sign. "GAR" we do weddings, call this number. My mother noticed it too and suggested I write it down. I did begrudgingly, figuring another place that wants way too much money..

 I went to bed discouraged. The next morning I called the number for Garhall and spoke to the lady. The clouds parted! Beautiful hall, tables, chairs, linens included, and all within our budget! The more I thought about it, the more I discussed it with Jack and my parents, the more I loved it! Still love it! Everything I've been thinking about is all right there. Amazing place and right now shaping up to be exactly where we need to be!

 I could see Jack get excited about it too, which made me even more excited. While we're still figuring out a date, we are so excited to have our wedding in this amazing little town. I am encouraged, not irritable and everything is starting to feel right again!

 One more thing, I have showed the "new" dress to my mom and a friend, but I don't think I will advertise it to anyone else. Maybe my maid of honor, but that's it. I've decided that my over all look will be kept secret. The challenge of my life!

Think We Got It!

Can't talk long, but check out the venue! I think this is it!

Wedding Brain

 Jack and I have been engaged for about two weeks now.. Couple days after Jack proposed he left for a week to Florida for a conference and to attend his brother's wedding..

  STOP HERE : if you would like to read my thoughts and reflections on Ben's wedding..
 Meanwhile I'm swimming in a ocean of it all! Who to invite, who will cater, where are we getting married? I'm trying so hard to be mellow about the whole thing, but the more I think about it the more I see the horns starting to grow from head! I do deep down just want a relaxed wedding. Good food, great friends, and dancing the night away. Decor I always figured would magically come together.. I guess I've been in lala land..

 Right now we're just trying to find the right venue, and praying to Baby Jesus that everything will flow from there.. Yesterday we checked out college club. It's beautiful! An old house with a fire place, hardwood floors and tons of character! It's not a hall (which I know I don't want) and also is completely convienent for Jack and me. Basically walking distance for both of us. If we want to keep it local this place would be great!

 Like anything else I don't want to fall in love with the first thing I see. I've been doing a lot of looking online, and also kept  this vision of a farm wedding in the back of my mind. I like the idea of wide open space, chill atmosphere and beautiful scenery.. The farm wedding would be great for Jack and I because it is so us! I already see a lot of cons however.. It's far away(Akron) we'll have to find good caters down there, and nothing is included, ie chairs, linens etc.. My mom, Liv and I (hopefully Jack if he can get off work) are all going to check it out this evening.


 So to rap this up this is what's been going on, totally have wedding brain! I'm sure I will be turning this blog over to wedding issues for the next couple months.. I will try to recap and mention other goings on in the Trio world. Liv starts swim lessons and camp, I have a 10k this sunday, and we're all planning our first road trip of the summer!  But because I don't want to overwhelm my friends with wedding talk, I may just want  to work out my thoughts here.

Peace!