Locked and Loaded

Whew!  What a whirlwind couple of weeks!  And, when I had a second to pick my head up, we only have 20 days left!  Where has the time gone?  Well, we have had LOTS of wedding events - lots to fill you in on!

So, I went in for my final dress fitting last Friday.  I was so excited to see my dress fitted to a T, and ready to go.  Well, it wasn't quite there.  Why?  Well, apparently I have lots quite a bit of weight and they had to take another two inches in on the top.  I tell ya - I try to lose weight all of the time.  But now that I am not trying and just trying to maintain, I am melting off the lbs!!  Not a terrible predicament to be in, but it makes me a bit nervous.  Now I REALLY have to maintain.  I have my "final" final fitting on July 6th, and then it is sent off to be pressed.  Here's hoping I don't gain or lose anything!

My mom came down last week for the dress fitting and to find herself a dress as well.  We got super lucky and she spotted a dress, tried it on, and we are set!  It was like the second one she tried on, and I didn't even pick it out for her!  I went and got my makeup done so that my girlfriend, Kristin, can do it the day of the wedding.  Then we had Sprinkles cupcakes and got some shoes for my mom as well.  It was a good day at the shops, for sure.

My lovely ladies, Monica and Alyssa

Birdy!!!

McClintocks!

The following day, my girlfriends and I left for my big bachelorette party!!  I was completely in the dark about the weekend's events, from the location to the activities.  That was so much fun.  From event to event, I had no idea what was coming, and it was very exciting.  There were seven of us, which was the perfect number of lovely lady friends.  We arrived at our destination, San Luis Obispo, around lunch time, and had the amazing Splash cafe!  I didn't know they had a location there, and it was definitely more posh and clean than the original in downtown Pismo beach.  But, they still had the same amazing chowda!!  That was a great start to the day.  Then, we walked a few shops down to get mani/pedi's!!  As I said earlier, I had NO idea what we were doing, and so I had JUST gotten my tootsies done a few days earlier.  But, I treated myself to a manicure.  The highlight of this had to be my sister getting a manicure. She hates people touching her feet, so a pedicure was not in the cards for her.  But, after some persuasion, she got a manicure, only if the manicurist did not file her nails.  She doesn't like that either.  She is growing up!

The ending pose around the pole - so FUN!!!

After that, we piled back into the cars to go to probably the highlight of the trip.  We started heading towards these sort of industrial type buildings.  I thought for sure we were lost.  We pull into a parking lot of a building that has no signage whatsoever.  I started getting a bit worried.  Then, we turned around.  We were a bit lost!  We went down a few more streets and pulled into another lot - same type of building.  I was definitely confused.  We pulled into a building labeled, "Yoga Flirt."  Hmmmm....  I couldn't see in the windows as they were obscured by heavy curtains.  We go in, and turn to the left, and there are four, floor to ceiling, poles.  Like "dancing" poles.  I was shocked.  We had to change into our yoga clothes and begin!  It was really, really fun.  And, an extremely good workout.  I could barely move my arms the next day.  I am still waiting on pictures, so check back soon for those.  Don't worry, they are all PG (though some moments in the class were a bit scandalous...)

Then, off to the hotel.  We stayed at a super cute hotel in Pismo Beach with an ocean view.  We went there to drop off our stuff, and to change into clothes for our dinner out.  We went to the famous McClintock's which I haven't been to since college.  It is a super yummy restaurant with lots of character including a stuffed buffalo in the bar and lots of hunting game throughout the dining area.  I was adorned with some choice bachelorette party regalia, and we had a really great time.   After dinner we went to a bar in downtown San Luis, appropriately called "The Library."  We danced and drank the night away and had a grand old time.

Bridal Sculptionary

Then, this weekend was my third and final bridal shower.  I tell you what, I feel showered with lots of love.  Beyond love!  Mike and I are so blessed to have so many wonderful people who want to celebrate us.  Yesterday's shower was thrown by my soon to be Mother-In-Law, Sandy.  It was mostly her family, and it was so lovely to be able to catch up with them.  It was at Mike's aunt and uncles house in Sunnyvale.  One of my bridesmaids helped Sandy with the games and such, and we played bridal sculptionary, bingo and took a quiz to see how well people knew me!  Lots of yummy food and wonderful gifts!  The gifts made the bingo a bit difficult because it was a lot of miscellaneous categories - a lamp, cups, a picture frame, a tea box - you get the idea!  All of our new kitchen items are so wonderful.  I am sitting next to our beautiful new lamp right now, drinking water out of a beautiful new cup.  Thanks everyone for helping us start our married life out in style!

Just some of my lovely FHS buddies!!  Amy and Monica!

Mom and Mom-in-Law!!
(a.k.a. Claudia and Sandy!)

Today marks 20 days to go.  We are so excited and can't wait to see you all very soon!  I have added some information on directions, and dress, so be sure to click on the venue button on our website!

30 days...

While the title of this post may sound more like a drug/alcohol rehab post, it is actually meaning that Mike and I are 30 days out from our big day!

I don't know where the time has gone - it feels like yesterday when we were in SB, and he was proposing. But isn't that life?  It has gone so fast, but I feel like we have kept everything in perspective and kept the purpose of all of these mini-stresses in mind.  As we are getting down to the wire, all of the details are starting to be a bit overwhelming.  Thinking about who needs to be where, at what time, how they are getting there, where x,y,z are going, how many ice cubes we want in each glass, it's all overwhelming!!  It is definitely awesome to not have school to worry about so that I can give 100% attention to this!  Today, after going on a walk with my lovely bridesmaid, Monica, I am going to try and do a mock-up of our table labels.  I am really excited about them, so hopefully they turn out as well as I am envisioning, or better!

This Friday my mom is coming to town and we are going on a shopping fete for her dress.  I am looking forward to it - it's always fun and kind of weird to see my mom in a dress.  My sister too.  They are more capris/jeans girls.  We are going to head over to the outdoor shopping mall by Stanford, and hopefully will find something great.  Then, after that, my MOH is meeting us and we are doing my final dress fitting.  Very very exciting.  I am hoping that we don't have to do any further alterations - I have lost about 5 pounds, just because of stress and I was really sick for about 8 days, but I can easily gain that all back if it means we have to alter it again!!

Then, the other exciting event this weekend is my bachelorette party!  I don't know where it is, though I think I have an idea :)  I am really excited to have all of my close girlfriends around to hang out and celebrate.  I will be sure to post with photos from the event, and all of the exciting things to come!

Showered with Love!

This past week has been a busy one in wedding development!  I had two amazing wedding/bridal showers and feel overwhelmed with excitement about the big day (only 49 days away now!) and love from my family and friends who really came out to celebrate this exciting time in our lives!

This is from my dad's card - me as a diva

Last weekend was a shower in Cool, where my mom lives.  It was mostly moms of my girlfriends and my mom's really close friends.  A VERY fun day.  Emily, my head maid, was in charge of the games, so we enjoyed bridal pictionary, toilet paper veil making, and a quiz about my groom to be.  I did pretty well on the quiz, I must say.  Though there were a few questionable answers on Mike's part.  We had three groups making different styles of veils (see evidence below).  It was a tough call, especially since I was told I would be wearing the winner's design to the rehearsal.  But, ultimately, the choice was made :)  My mom arranged for us to have lots of yummy food from the deli where she works, and she ordered some pretty amazing cupcakes for us to enjoy as well.  This was a kitchen themed shower, and so we received lots of goodies for our kitchen, which was really exciting.  We have already enjoyed beverages out of our new glasses and are planning ways to use our beautiful serving trays!  Very fun!
Last night was another shower, with a very different theme: linens and lingerie.  Very racy and lots of fun.  I felt like I was in a gourmet restuarant - Emily made so many delicious snacks for us, including salmon with creme fresche (OMG), proschiutto wrapped cantaloupe, fruit salad, honey and blue cheese topped bread....and then some pretty amazing bellinis with fresh fruit.  I was in heaven!  Overall, I feel very celebrated and I have still have another shower to go, which is being thrown by Mike's Mom, Sandy.  I just got the invitation for that in the mail!
I am including some (okay, LOTS of) pictures of the two events!  Lots of fun, and lots of love!  Thanks Emmy for making sure everything was documented so well.

Red Velvet....enough said...

(from the back) Key Lime, Cookies & Cream, Mint, Double Chocolate...

The final veil products

My mom had these awesome aprons made for us!

Gail and Kelly trying to strategize in the veil game

Emily had to run out to the car, so she naturally grabbed her fur coat...

The Table - it looked so awesome!  Our wedding colors, too!

One of my many new aprons - this one has cupcakes AND is in the new Sex and the City movie!!!

My Mother in Law (to be) and Grandma Takaki

Mandro mommies!

Bridal Pictionary!





San Jose Shower

Lemon and Chocolate Caramel!!!

Bellinis?  Yes, please!

OMG.  That is what these are called.

Toasting in some of our new flutes!

The Waiting Game...

We are waiting with bated breath on about 50% of our RSVPs!!  If you haven't sent yours in, please do, so that we can start on the next steps!!!  Can't wait to hear from you!

Uh oh...

Mike and I on a champagne cruise on Sunday :)

So, for those of you who know me well, you know that I tend to get very ill when I am really excited about something.  This illness comes in many forms (vomiting, stomach ache, headache, etc.).  It's really rather unpleasant.  But, it's been that way since I was a kid.

The first time I remember being really excited about something was when I was like 5, and it was Easter.  My dad and I were still going to church, and we had a tradition of going to Coffee & for breakfast right after.  I was extra excited this day because I knew I was coming home to a basket filled with goodies.  I had my regular french toast order, but started to feel really nauseaus half way through.  I couldn't stop thinking about the Easter basket.  My dad had to run a few errands, and I told him I didn't feel good.  But, I was dramatic as a child, so he thought I was exaggerating.  Go figure.  After about 30 minutes of errands, we were finally on our way home.  I remember counting in my head so that I could concentrate and not get sick in the car.  When we got home, I RAN inside, and got sick.  But, soon after, I got my easter basket, replete with chocolate goodness (always good right after tossing your cookies), and a Barbie ice cream maker!  I felt fine afterward, but the anticipation was what got me all worked up.  And it's been the same for 22 years now.

Why am I blogging about getting sick as a five year old?  Well, because we are at the under 60 day mark, and I must be excited because I have not felt good for the last 3 days...  My mom's bridal shower is this weekend, and I know I am really looking forward to it.  As I have mentioned before, I am so excited to see all of my mom's friends, and my friend's moms.  It's going to be a really fun day, PLUS she got cupcakes for the occasion!  Truly - nothing could be better.

BUT, I don't feel good.  At all.  I am having to teach, but have severe heartburn, acid tummy, and a loss of appetite.  I had to force myself to go to the gym last night thinking it would make me feel better.  Nope.  I didn't run or anything, just weights, but I was doubled over between sets.  Can you imagine what I will feel like the day of and before the actual wedding?  YIKES - is all I can say.

Is it normal?  Nope.  Do I want to be at work with 120 15-17 year olds?  Absolutely not!  But, I am really excited about the next 59 days, and after that, the rest of my life!

And the list goes on!

We had a 2 hour marathon check-in session with our wedding coordinator, Marcia, on Saturday.  At first, I couldn't imagine what we could possibly have to talk about for two whole hours.  I mean, we are ahead of the game, just the little details to go at this point.
Boy, were we WRONG!
First of all, thank God for Marcia.  She is a veteran, and I honestly don't know how we would be doing this without her.  She isn't helping us plan anything, but just serving as a day of coordinator, telling people where to go and when, and who everybody is.  She had lists and lists of questions, to dos and items to bring with us both on the wedding day and rehearsal.  She got everybody's names, and wanted to know who they were walking with and what song was the cue.  She gave us a timeline for the entire day, and even scheduled potty and snack breaks for Mike and I.  Wrote down which type of drink we wanted right after the ceremony, and where I would "hide away" on the property while Mike got his pictures done.  Seriously.  We left this meeting with our heads spinning 100 miles an hour.  I went home, sent about 15 emails to all of our vendors to request information for Marcia, and then we went to paper source to brainstorm about how to format our table names and escort cards.  I really enjoy that type of thing and so I am looking forward to doing those - especially since we had a lightbulb moment and thought of a cute way to format them!
We are at the two month mark/61 days out.  I feel like it was just yesterday that I was in disbelief at the proposal itself - something I waited almost 5 years for!  Then, amazement that we were at under 100 days - and now, we are a mere two months away.  I have to force myself to SLOW DOWN and remember this time.  Even though I am anxious to be married and start that journey together, I know that this is a time that will not be happening again, so I need to open my eyes, keep my head up, look around and enjoy it.
My mom is having a shower for me this weekend, and how's this for hilarious?  Emily, Brittney and I all bought the SAME DRESS - Emily and I same exact color - Brittney same print.  All in different cities on different days.  Luckily we figured it out before showing up at my mom's place.

And They're Back!

We got four of our RSVP cards back yesterday!  All of them were yes responses!  Very exciting!

Then, I came home today and saw two stuck into our door, which means our super talented mail man (who i already have "supreme faith " in) read the addresses incorrectly and our neighbors were kind enough to walk them over!  Yikes...Do you see why I don't trust the postal system?

Isn't he the cutest?

That's Amore

Hooray!  Big to do checked off the list today, thanks to the future in laws, Jack and Sandy!  We have booked our rehearsal dinner site at Bucca De Beppo!  I'm pretty sure it's everywhere, but for those who don't know, it's a super fun and casual family style Italian restuarant.  We have a very festive room to ourselves to celebrate, and I'm really excited!
People are starting to get their invites for the wedding yesterday and today, and Mike and I have bets about who is going to show up first in our mail box! Check back soon to see the winner!! :)

We Cordially Invite You...

Mike and I just returned from an extra exciting trip to a random and slightly ghetto post office :)  We just sent off all of our beautiful wedding invitations, and they are on their way to you!  It was kind of scary popping them into the mail box.  I am not sure if this scared feeling stems from my general distrust of the postal system (however unfounded) or if it was just an undiagnosed rush of excitement.  I'm putting my money on it being a combination of the two.

My friends, as discussed in a previous post, really helped me put all of the pieces together, and so shooting them off today was really rewarding, and extra exciting.  So, when you get them, mark that date and shoot that card back in the mail!  It's stamped and addressed already, all you have to do is check yes or no and seal it and send it on its way!  I can't wait to start opening the mail box to see those little envelopes...(actually I will have to wait until Mike gets home because he has the mail key....I lost mine.  Go figure.)

In other news, we received our FIRST wedding/shower gift yesterday on our porch, and we opened it!  It was a beautiful pitcher from my wonderful Japan-bound family, Dave and Meg.  Mike saw it and said, "That would be perfect for mimosas."  (In case you were wondering why I am marrying this man...)

My shower is coming up in three short weeks and I can  hardly wait.  Some of the people coming I have not seen in 5-10 years, and I am sooooo looking forward to visiting with them.  There is something really comforting about being back home and being in the company of your mom, and your friends' moms and all the moms who were around when you were growing up.  I can't WAIT!!  I still have to find a cute dress, so hopefully I can manage a shopping trip before then!

Showered with Love!

The wedding is approaching more and more quickly!  We are 82 days away from marital bliss!!  As things are getting closer, all of the festivities are starting to get lined up.  My mom sent out invitations for one of my showers last week, and they are sooooo cute!
We are having an afternoon shower at her house in Cool next month. I am really looking forward to seeing many of her friend whom I have not seen in a really long time!!  It should be a really good time.  This one is kitchen themed, and I have been compulsively checking our Crate and Barrel registry - it tells you how many items you have left, so I have stopped looking at what people actually bought us.  (Which, for those who know how LITTLE self control I have know,  is an amazing feat...)
Emily is throwing one in San Jose, but I don't know anything about that one - I want to be surprised!  I feel very showered by love and appreciate my friends from all over making the effort to come and celebrate with me.  I cannot wait for everything to get going!  Now, to find the perfect outfits for all of these events...