Registering

Sweet T and I were in full wedding mode this weekend. We started our wedding registry at many different stores. I found the whole process to be overwhelming. He is 33, and I am 30, and we have both owned homes for about 4 years. We have stuff already. We have like 2 sets of stuff already. We had a discussion about this, and we came to a reasonable conclusion. Our stuff is crappy. Lots of my things are cast offs from either my mother or sister. That stuff is actually nice, but doesn't really seem like mine. The stuff I have bought myself over the years isn't nice. So, we are embracing this once in a lifetime chance for people to buy us nice loot. My husband-to-be got a little trigger happy.

A pepper mill? I've never heard of such a thing! My pepper comes from a little tin like thing that I puncture to open. My salt comes from a navy blue Morton's salt canister, with the girl with the umbrella on the front. Williams-Sonoma has lots of things that are fun! We just got started there, with a few baking items. Some things we refrained from registering for:

* knives that cost about $1200

* sprinkles, cupcake mixes and jelly beans

Sweet T actually didn't have to keep me from registering for food. The lady who was helping us said, "we actually discourage registering for perishable items." Really, lady? I shouldn't register for seasonal cookies? What would I do without a knowledgeable guide like you? I'm not a total idiot. Or maybe I am. I'll just hope someone reads this and buys me lots of cupcake mixes.

We did register for the iconic wedding gift: the KitchenAid chrome mixer! I envision myself whipping up cupcakes, brownies and cakes, then licking those little mixer thingies! It will be wonderful!

Sweet T loves some juice. At Crate and Barrel we played with this juicer, but didn't register for it. I can't see us squeezing oranges. As my niece Caroline would say, "Its sticky, I don't like it."

So we are registered at Williams-Sonoma, Crate and Barrel, Macy's, and Pottery Barn. We are official. These are not even near complete, but we have started. Let the gift giving begin!

Nashville Fun

We had a very busy weekend. Mom, Dad and I went to Nashville to shop for a wedding dress. Katie and Caroline drove to meet us and we got to stay in Cousin Kris' beautiful condo. Dad's job was to watch Caroline as my sister, mother and I switched into full Say Yes to the Dress mode. Our time at The Bride Room was fabulous. We found several that we loved, but after much contemplation, we decided on a lovely gown. The only photos I could post were of my beloved flower girl, Miss Caroline.

She loved the dress and twirled herself silly.

Here she is twirling. I am in the background doing my best Jack Nicholson in The Shining impression. I'm also wearing my fabulous dress!!!!

A Wedding Dress Shopping Adventure

This Saturday I went on a wedding gown shopping excursion. I brought my dear pals Allison and Jamie, and my mother. It was an interesting experience. We went to 3 shops, and we found one that just might be it. I need a bit more time to ponder. I learned a lot about wedding dresses this weekend. Some new knowledge for me:

1. I wear a size in wedding dresses that is a couple of sizes larger than I usually wear. I know this is traditional sizing, but geez. I didn't enjoy this part at all.

2. Wedding dress boutique owners/consultants are painfully honest. For example a direct quote, "You have a nice body, but girl, you do have some HIPS." Thanks, lady.

3. Wedding dresses have tags. Lots of them. There were paper tags, satin tags, tags in my armpits, along my waist, and against my back. I had to practice yoga breathing and go to my happy place in my head. I felt that a tag-induced anxiety attack might be a bit embarrassing.

4. Wedding dresses take a long time to arrive once they are ordered. This means that I really need to move on this decision soon, and I am not the best decision maker.

5. All of the other women trying on wedding gowns have heinous taste. Ha ha! This is a huge overgeneralization, but at least the women who were with me at one boutique fit into this category. It was BAD. BAD. We're talking more beading than JonBenet Ramsay and all of the Li'l Miss Texas pageant contestants combined.

I didn't want to post any of the gowns, but this was the most comfortable thing that I tried on all day.

Sweet T's First Decision

This past weekend when Sweet T was in town, he said something interesting. We woke up on Saturday morning, and I was greeted with "Bets, what are we going to do about that BMW?" Through our conversation, it was revealed that he hated Fraulein more than I did. We needed a more dependable car, and Ze German was not it. We had visions of Shelley Long and Tom Hanks in The Money Pit, and decided now was the time to do it. Since Sweet T works for Nissan, it was time to get his sweet discount, and I am now the proud owner of a new Altima. She drives like a gem, and she has a nice little warranty. The folks at the dealership now have a lovely BMW, minus the MW(see a previous post.) We are both happy with the decision! As with all of my things, she has been named. She is all the way from Japan, so I present to you...

Baby Mimoko

Cadillac Margaritas

Mom and her gal pals came into town for a girls' night out, and Sweet T was also here. We decided to meet up for some Cadillac Margaritas, which I do love!

We also had lots of tortilla chips. I wore a very summery top, it was my way of protesting this weather.

I got to see Molly, fabulous pilates instructor, childhood friend, and daughter of Leslie, one of mom's dearest pals.

The two Sweet Ts decide to do a shot of straight tequila. This was taken right after a spur of the moment, tightly choreographed, pre-tequila shot dance.

Court was there in spirit. You see, she too has turned into her mother. Teri=Courtney, Courtney=Teri.

A Very Clever Coworker

I am so lucky to teach with a lot of fun girls. One of my dearest pals, Marinda, is a literacy coach with me. One of our jobs is to order books for the classroom teachers to use with their students. We are always getting huge orders, and many orders of books come with strange things. One of our orders arrived in a giant, zip around portfolio-type thing. Once we unpacked the books, Marinda and I talked about what we should do with such an odd contraption. We decided we would leave it out in the hallway for a teacher to take. As I left yesterday, I casually mentioned that Sweet T would be visiting this weekend, and that wedding planning would be in full swing. When I arrived at school this morning, I saw that Marinda had "repurposed" the portfolio for my use. I'm thinking of bringing this to meet with a wedding coordinator. I think it would be a great way to let some poor soul know just how sarcastic I am.

An Engagement Story

This post will be a departure from my usual sassiness and sarcasm, as I am simply smitten, and gloriously happy. This weekend I got engaged to the most wonderful man I have ever met. I am so blessed that he came into my life, and I must say that it was after many years of praying and hoping that there was someone out there who would love me just for me, and with all of his heart. Thankfully, that person is Sweet T, and on Saturday, February 13th, he told me that he wanted me to be his wife.

He took me to the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, for a special Valentine's Day getaway. We checked into our lovely room, overlooking the Delta Atrium, and Sweet T promptly told me to take a nap, that I would not get my gift for bit. He brought out some champagne, and started to put it on ice. I was very thrilled, as I love champagne!

Here he is, preparing to ice a bit o' bubbly.

Here I am, enjoying the view, after surprisingly refusing to nap. I wanted to enjoy the view, and have 2-6 glasses of coconut rum and Diet Coke that we brought from home. I was completely oblivious to anything at this point.

Fast forward, this is the aftermath of the question. After begging for my gift, which was a big red box, I was told to put on the dress I brought for dinner and then got sit on the balcony. 5 minutes later, Sweet T arrived with that little glass of candy hearts. I went to snag one, and inside was a sterling silver heart with "Marry Me" engraved on it, and my fabulous ring tied to it with a ribbon. I would love to say that I listened as Sweet T poured out his heart. Actually, as he was bent down on one knee, I grabbed his face, squeezed it really hard, and then starting shaking and shrieking. I said "YES!!!!" and then shoved that ring on my finger. We were hugging, laughing, shaking, etc. and then he brought in the red box. It was actually a set of lovely champagne flutes from his parents, along with a handwritten toast from them. We got out the champagne, and sipped as we looked at this view.

Minutes of bliss passed before I jumped up and ran screaming into the room, "I have to call my mom and dad! I have to call Katie and Chip! I have to call Robby." Sweet T laughed as I ran inside to grab my cell phone.

My precious.

Here I am discussing the situation with my brother, who was thrilled. I couldn't reach my parents, since they were ironically at a wedding. I quickly learned that they already knew.

This is me talking to my brother in law, the one and only Chip Kenworthy. "I'm getting married!!!" I screamed. Chip, ever cool and collected quipped, "Bets, congratulations. I can honestly say that I never thought I would see this day." He is a hoot, you see.

First photos as an engaged couple taken with the self-timing camera.

We met Rusty and Mary Fran for cocktails, and MF was completely shocked, as her husband knows she can't keep a secret, so she was not informed. We are very similar in that regard.

We had a wonderful dinner at the Old Hickory Steakhouse and were treated to a lovely meal by Rusty and Mary Fran and Rusty's parents, Tom and Carol.

This is the next morning, the first of many phone calls from my mother, Jane. Let the planning commence!