Michael's visit back in July...

It's pretty sad when you have to go to the archives to post "new" pictures.

I'm ashamed of myself.

Mr. Metro.

The out-of-towners and the metro... I swear.

I'd so totally joke him if I didn't a) think he was the best, most adorable thing on the planet...

and b) didn't secretly still like the metro myself! Haha.

We went to the rehearsal for the Capitol Fourth concert and it was super fun.

Saw Barry Manilow... which was hilarous because I guess I never realized he is an actual, real person... I felt like I was watching a person impersonate Barry Manilow...

but no... he was there, in all of his Manilowness... Hahaha.

Told ya.

We road tripped it down to NC for the Brodster's birthday.

I can't believe he's 3! And now he's a big brother.  I can't wait to meet little Grey soon!

And no... Michael is not a Holocaust survivor.  That is a list of things for me not to forget.. on his forearm.

We had a crazy busy, but really fun and memorable time together!

I can't believe how long ago that was now!

Remember Me?

Wow... I haven't blogged since July 1st!?!?!

I knew it has been forever, but I didn't realize it's been THAT long!

Life is full of CHANGE right now.  For starters, I'm getting married in something ridiculous, like 9 days or something!  Michael is at home sleeping in my bed right now, as I'm at work.  Oh, the injustice!  I'm so glad he's there though, and I can't wait to see him!!!

I'm moving.  Okay, down the hall. But whatever, I still have to pseudo pack up my stuff and get it all into our new 2 bedroom apartment!  It's crazy, trying to get all of this done before leaving for North Carolina in less than a week for the wedding, but whatever.  Such is life at the speed of Dana Brown.  I sure hope my hubby-to-be is ready for all of this! 

When I get home today, I'm going to finish painting our floors.  We have concrete floors.  We had the apt. people pull up the carpet so it will be easier for Michael to get around.  I was a little nervous at first that living on cement floors would feel a little like living in prison or on a basketball court or something, but I think it's actually going to be cute! And nice.  As long as they aren't a beast to clean.  But, they can't be worse than cleaning carpet with 3 pets, right?

I only have a few minutes, so no long diatribe.  Just a quick note to say hello and it may be a while before you hear from me.  But, I do want to get back to blogging... once life slows back down to our "new normal."  We'll see what that's like!

Oh - in other news... I got a new job, too!! More on that soon.  And, baby brother is home from Iraq!  Today is his birthday, by the way.  Oh, and I found a long lost friend who is really like a brother and I've been working on finding him for like 6 years, so that's pretty amazing, too.

I'll post some pictures.  Standby.

Lists

I am the kind of person who can't get anything done unless it is first written on a list of some sort.  I mean it.  Pretty much everything.  It's amazing that I remember to breathe, etc. without writing that on a list!

Post-it notes are some of my best friends!  I kid you not.  I once got a bag full of post-it notes as a going away gift!

Today, my list is so full I can't add anything else to it, and keep it looking presentable.  I'm also the person who has to have a nice, organized list.  I will totally re-work that puppy in a second!  I'm also the girl who totally does something, then writes it on the list so she can scratch it off.  Yep.  Lots of confessions up in here today!

Bridal Shower Pics

I swear to you, it's like the internet has something against my bridal shower!  I have been trying all morning to post the pictures my sister sent me and they just won't go up! Argh... here, I'm just going to do them one at a time... until the end of time.  Take that, stinky interwebs! (update: I just won, word)

Cupcakes! Yummy.

And check out my mom's craftiness with the sanddollars and the candles, I couldn't believe it!

The spread.  Everything was so good and the deocrations were so cute!

Made me so excited and inspired!

My sweet Mama.  Too bad she makes me feel like a giant.  I know she doesn't mean it.  But still... it's no fun feeling like a Shrek. Haha.  She's so tiny!

Good things come in little packages :)

Mom and Granny (rockin' the Cintaberry!)

 

I love this action shot of Gretchen!

Super bridesmaid!

Yes, that's a moo-moo.

Yes, people.  It takes a lot of grace and confidence to pull getting a present like this off at your bridal shower, haha.  But it was definitely a memorable moment!

Thanks, Granny Nora :)

I hope Michael likees moo-moos....

His better half and her better half coffee mugs from my sister's mom (it's complicated).

Confession: I have been using them both. What does that say about me?

It was a blast and I was blessed with so many incredible gifts!

This is my bow bouquet crafted by Gretchen.  It is lovely, and she barely broke any ribbons (thank you Gretchen!)

I think the "bridezilla" whistle from my sister was a nice touch, no?

Cheers.

Stretch 2, 3, 4...

Man, I am financially S-T-R-E-T-C-H-E-D right now... and I am FEELING THE BURN.

I am not one of those people who likes living close to the edge, anymore.  There was a day when I wouldn't even think twice about having double digits in my savings account but today is not that day!  Oh. My. Goodness.  Payday cannot come soon enough!  Thank God it's this Friday!  Phew!

After this trip, I'm hoping to stack up some majorly busy dog walking days to make some cash!

In other news... this time tomorrow I will be hanging with my awesomely kind, hilariously funny, gorgeous fiance!!  Bless his heart.  Listen to what my Michael is going through to get to me:  He'll be up all day today, travels tonight, gets here really late, I'll pick him up from the airport and drag him directly to work with me, where I will work for approx. 9 hours, before we take off, have some sort of lunch in the city, then head to PRE-MARITAL COUNSELING.  Yeah.  That will be fun.  Good thing it's him and not me that will be the one who's been up for 24+ hours because we all know how charming and lovely I am with no sleep, right?

I can't wait to see him!  And he's bringing some stuff, yay!  Permanence.  Bring it on!
Funny side note:  When I was cleaning out his dresser the other weekend I was telling my mom and my sister that I put a few of his items in his drawers that I had.  And I caught myself referring to them as "his little....."  You know, his little undershirts.  Why do I do that?  I don't know?  He is not a little child.  Yet I refer to his stuff as "his little stuff."  Guess it's 'cause he's so cute!

Anyway... he's bringing some of his little things to hang in the closet!  Aww.

Checking In

Hey y'all!

I had such a blog-athon last weekend, then this weekend... nothing.  Sorry!

I was a busy girl, though.  I got all of the wedding invitations printed, yay me! And it only took two ink cartridges, so far.  Not bad!  That part, at least, is coming in... wait for it... UNDER BUDGET!  Oh yeah!

Other wedding progress... for flowers, I think we are going to DIY it from Sam's Club.  And for cake, CUPCAKES, oh yeah!  I'm still waiting for confirmation back from the cupcake lady, though.  Good vibes to her, people, send good vibes.  Thanks.

Sunday, I woke up with horrible cramps.  Ugh.  Then Sunday night I had a massive allergy attack, from which I'm still recovering.  Double Ugh.  The last thing I have time for right now is sickness!

My love gets here late Wednesday night!  I can't wait to see him!  We're going to have a super fun 4th of July in the Nation's Capital, then road trip it down to see the nephew(s).**

**We're waiting on a new little one this month!

It will all be super fun!  Now, if my brain can just calm down as it constantly cycles through work schedules, grocery lists, car maintence due, birthday cards that need to be sent out, stamps that need to be bought, Facebook messages that need replys and kitchen cabinets that need to be cleaned out... I'll be fine.

My to-do list is bigger than I am.  And it needs to calm down because I need to lay by the pool at some point!  I do not want to be a whitey-white beach bride, that's fo-sho!  Which adds another thing to my list... I need to find an acceptable strapless bathing suit!  I haven't been able to find anything!  Everything at Old Navy and Target is made for pre-teen Skipper type dolls and the stuff at TJ Maxx looks like it's for big mamas.

Woe is me.

As I go... here's a picture of my little bro.  Just because I'm so proud of him.  And because I want you to keep him in your prayers.  He's been putting up some really compelling pictures from Iraq on Facebook.

An Evening with Morning Joe

Last Thursday, Joe Scarborough was at the National Press Club (Go Big Blue!) for a book event.  I slept as soon as I got home from work so I could go.  I made it, and boy am I glad I did!  It was like watching "Morning Joe" (which is the best news program on television right now, hands down.) in person!  Joe and Mika are smart, hilarious and their chemistry is amazing.  I was lucky enough to get my book signed, get a picture and talk with the show's EP for a couple of minutes.

Joe told me his first girlfriend's name was Dana.  Hmmm.  Interesting.  It was so much fun seeing them again.  Remember, we first met at the New Hampshire Primary last year!

Let's review:

Chris Licht, the show's executive producer, remembered that I've loved Morning Joe since before it was cool!

Yes! I have!

Room at the Inn

I topped off my productive weekend with another purge session.  I have way too much crap, like most Americans.  But, behold - I have the best reason in the world for getting rid of it!!  There's a really cute boy moving in soon!  And he will need somewhere to put his stuff!

I am proud to announce, as of this afternoon, I have successfully vacated half of my closet and an entire dresser!!  I would like the record to show that I used to own two walk-in closets full of clothes!  I used to pretty much collect clothes as a hobby, so this is a very big deal, people!  I have gotten rid of so much over the last few months, now I'm actually at a livable point!  I'm so proud :)

I cleaned out all my jammies and stuff, too.  I can't be lounging around single-girl style in my holy, coffee-stained extra large NBC shirt anymore!  I want to look hot for my man!  So, if it isn't decent, it got thrown out, and if I don't love it and wear it, it's going to be sold in my mother's next yard sale!

Proof:

His half.

(that stuff will be gone after the wedding)

The stuff on the shelf is stuff I need to sew.  I've been needing to hem three pairs of pants for more than a year.  I don't know if I'm a leg dragger or what, but the hem always falls out the left leg of all of my pants, haha!

And my poor green trench coat.  I think it has a total of 3 buttons, and it's double-breasted, pretty embarrassing.

My half.

Not bad, eh?

OH... I'm also selling that 6 foot Martha Stewart Christmas tree.  Any takers?  It is not pre-lit, but it's really easy to put together, and it's really pretty and it doesn't shed.  Also, going on Craigslist!

I'm pretty proud of the creativity I mustered up to figure out how to get all of my clothes and shoes to fit on one side of the closet (albeit the bigger side!)

And, HIS dresser!

I already put a couple of things in there.

Can't wait until it's filled up!!!

Okay, seriously.  I should be sleeping!  I just realized that I still have my contacts in, though, so it looks like I'll be getting up before drifting off.

But yay for an uber-productive weekend, right?  And, I'm pretty sure I set some sort of blogging record, haha!  Cheers.

Stuff For Sale

I'm about to put a few things for sale on Craigslist.  Let me know if you want dibbs before I post them, and how much you'd want it for.  

(Puggle not included)

I should be sleeping, not blogging...

but I am really proud of the progress I made this weekend, so I just have to share it with you!

It was an excellent weekend.  Very productive in the wedding department.  I was reminded of how blessed and taken care of I am, it was great to be back at church with some really good friends I've made.  Great to catch up with my Dad and my Step-dad on the phone.  Love those guys!

Now.. documenting the wedding progress:

I finished the centerpieces!!!

I think I have 23 or 24 of these.  I tell you my new best friends are Dollar Tree and my hot glue gun!

I only burned myself once, and that was yesterday, and it's already pretty much healed.

Yeah!

See what I mean?

I forgot how awesome this place is.  Where else can you get this much stuff for like $38?

I grew up in the town that Dollar Tree is headquartered in, and there was one on like every corner, so it's sad I had to Google and GPS just to get to a couple around here, but it was totally worth it!

I also made all of the boutonnieres (gosh! I can't ever spell that word!) for the boys!!

This is what they look like for the groomsmen.

Michael's is special since he's my GROOM.

He gets to stand out.  :)

I also made the corsages for our moms and Granny.

It took me a while to come up with this design, but I think this is nice!  I didn't want them to be the same as the boys, ya know!

I even got them all wrapped and assigned and packaged!

I scored some free bubble wrap someone was getting rid of, and a box, so I was able to pack the centerpieces all up!  I can't wait to get this stuff down to the OBX and out of here, because it's really starting to take up a lot of room!

I redesigned our picture cards with our one of our new logos (another score from Etsy, seriously, I am so in love with that website!) and I'm much happier with them.  I even printed and cut all of these out!

So, yay!!! Major progress made!  I have a couple of important things to accomplish this week, but I should have time, so hopefully all of these things will just keep getting scratched off of my gigantic to do list!