Comfy Saturday in./Wedding Planning Day 98!

Do you ever plan things to do, get distracted, and completely forget about your plans until you nestle up in your comfy clothes for the night? I do. All the freggin time!

Today I finished work at 4 and got out of coming back for my second shift of the day that was scheduled at 6. (Yay!) My lovely fiance picked me up, and I quickly reminded him of the Thanksgiving Point Tulip Festival, which I thought ended today. It didn't, but that's besides the point. He was a damp towel today. He decides to be spontaneous at the most inopportune times, and today was not one of those day. On the drive home we passed the beautiful tulips planted all around campus. We compromised and decided we'd take a walk and take pictures of the tulips around town [awesome!]. Then we got to his place where he showed me some delicious pictures! (more about that later) I am now home in my comfy little bed and just realized that we did not go on a little walk to see the tulips. :(! Tomorrow I'll get that little bugger out of the apartment and make sure to keep him from napping - I swear, if there was a sleeping profession, he'd be CEO. That man can sleep anywhere, anytime.

This is what I missed out on today. Luckily the Tulip Festival ends May 7th! 

Onward! With the help of the lovely 'Mama Casti', little bro Daniel, and aunt Linda and uncle Dean, we have a location! A LOCATION people! Ohh, how happy we are to have such wonderful people in our lives to give us a free place to exchange vows and be forever married to each other (and to celebrate and dance the night away with more amazing people!). 

I've always wanted an outdoor/backyard wedding, and that's what we're gettin' folks! I know you're dying to get a sneak peak, and I'm dying to share: (the delicious peectures I referred to)

We're envisioning greatness! Aren't youuu?

I think we're off to a pretty great start! I'm lucky to have some pretty stelar people helping us out! And in about 3 months I'll be able to officially call them family! 

On a side note, I hope to be able to be excited, interested, and involved in all of my family's (and future children's) exciting events. Many of them will only happen once. I hope I have the patience and remember what it means for people to earnestly care and communicate their interest, love and appreciation for their lives. I hope I remember their feelings and don't hurt them when they have something exciting to say when I have a thousand other things on my mind. I just hope I'm able to remember what I've learned and remember that family is everything - because it is. I hope I can be excited and proud of them no matter what. Do you ever learn what you don't want to be like or do from others? I have, I do - all the time. 

Regardless, I am excited. I am happy. I am in love with the man of my dreams. And I am lucky. 

Back on topic, woman!

I likes des cakeee:

xoxo.
Are you wondering what we'll accomplish next?
Me too.

Wedding planning: Day 99 Until the BIG Day!

Hey all!

We did it! 

We bought our first wedding-related purchases tonight! 

AND picked our colors! 

Orange, Pink, Blue, and Green!

Adorable, no? 

My face hurts from smiling so much tonight!

I love that things are coming together so smoothly.

Plus, it's SO much fun! 

Now you may be wondering that these little squares of fabric are for.

I guess you'll just have to wait and see!

But know, they are delicious; tasty even!

In other news: I have discovered that I have a problem.

I am addicted. 

Addicted to Sarah Seven dresses. 

Now you're addicted, too!?

The problem: I don't have $1500 to spend on a dress.

What, you want to donate to the 'Amanda Needs a Sarah Seven Dress Fund'?!

No? Well, it was worth a try. 

Anyway,

Happy spring, ya'll! It's snowing here in good ol' Utah. Yep. Yesterday it was in the 70s. Mother nature must have realized she made a mistake and gave us back our snow... as if we didn't get enough during the winter. Enjoy whatever rays of sun you can for me! 

xoxo. Smile!

What's sparkly and rhymes with "bling"?

That's right!...

RING!

Surprised? Not as surprised as I was!

I'm engaged to the most wonderful guy on the planet! 

The future Mr. and Mrs. 

But guess what? 

I only have 100 days left to plan! Yikes!

[For those that do not want to do the math, August 6th, 2011!]

Follow me through this exciting, slightly stressful, once in a lifetime experience!

So far:

• the guest list has been compiled
• tentative colors have been picked
• a date has been settled on
• a cake design has been selected

And nothing else. Is anyone else wondering how everything will be able to come together in only 100 days!? I sure am. 

I think I can, I think I can!

xoxo. 

Help.

Implosion?

Last night around midnight I was welcomed home, again, by the aroma of garbage. It seems as though the two trash bags from the other day reproduced. The new bag must have spit up or not understood that trash was supposed to be inside of it, not all over the kitchen. 

[No picture, sorry! But it was quite the site, as you can assume.]

I held my ground.. for a whole 10 minutes. After deciding that, "no, I do not want to feel like throwing up in my own home," I took out the entire family of trash bags that had over-stayed their welcome. Wow, we have a trash can and a floor in that corner of the kitchen! What a difference. And, what?! I can breathe? Such were my thoughts. I was pretty worked up, as you can guess. It's times like those that make me think living out of my car would be a more pleasant experience than student housing. 

But, wait! There's still a mountain of dishes in the sink, on the counter, the kitchen table and on the stove top! How did I make such a mess when, the past week and a half, I've only been home to sleep?! Boy Amanda, you've gone and done it again. Never ceasing to amaze. 

[Nearly an hour later...]

We have a sink, and a counter, AND a stove top! And suddenly our tiny kitchen looks huge! No longer does it look as if the garbage bags barfed, or like the dishes decided it was a good idea to have a mad rage, or as if our kitchen imploded. 

[It is now 1 AM.]

Oh, What? It's finals week and that hour could have been spent studying or, better yet, sleeping!? And here I am, Thursday morning, venting my frustrations when I should be studying for the test I have in a couple hours. 

Have a great day, world.

Do something fun for me.

xoxo. -_-

I do believe..

that I'm a lucky gal,

every day is a new opportunity to make a difference,

people are amazing and stupid, but very amazing,

dreams are to be pursued,

the world is beautiful,

God lives,

every life matters, 

photography is awesome,

animals make great best friends,

music is neat,

friends should not be taken for granted,

family is everything,

prayer is powerful,

ice cream is the best invention. ever. 

I also like to believe that my dreams are little glimpses into my future. (I had another dream about babies a couple nights ago... twins.) :]

I'm taking a tiny break from end-of-the-semester-maddness to think of all the little things I am blessed with, and holey-moley is there a lot to be happy about! 

And at these times of the year, 

I am especially glad to have ice cream. 8]

Keep yo' chin up. xoxo.

Spring sprung today.

I live in the lovely land of Utah. Yay.

The scenery's great, don't get me wrong, but growing up in California kind of.. spoiled me. It almost feels like it's always winter here, but not today. Today was beautiful. It hit a high of 55! You know what that means?! No figure-eliminating coat! That's right, I didn't have to wear a coat today. I was ecstatic!

It even smelled like spring. 

Today made me realize that I need to live somewhere warm. I love actually having a white Christmas here, but I'm not exactly fond of it staying white so long (although it's been a few weeks since snow piles have invaded the sidewalks). Unfortunately, the homeland isn't exactly my cup of tea either. Maybe, just maybe, if the Mr. and I can one day afford to live in California, we'll live in the more pleasant areas like the bay or somewhere along the southern California coast. Orr maybe we'll pick a random state and settle down.. orrr maybe we'll have a get-away home somewhere awesome.. orrrr maybe we'll just travel the world and have homes in all of our favorite places.

I think I just got carried away. It's healthy to dream, right?

One of my favorite parts of spring is the flowers -

         I love bulb plants; especially tulips. They're sprouting up everywhere! I'll take pictures tomorrow.

Another favorite is blossoms!
      
         Peach blossoms, nectarine blossoms, plum blossoms, blossoms! I haven't seen any here yet. I miss that about home. I miss living next to a peach orchard and seeing the pretty pink and white trees. I miss driving the country roads and looking at the cotton candy- like rows. The trees are in bloom right now back home. I want to see them!

Fingers crossed for another beautiful day tomorrow!

Lovers love, Haters hate.

Honestly, how did I get SO lucky?

The past couple years of my life have completely changed me. What turn of events made my little life become filled with so much bliss, you might ask?

I have a simple, perfect, all-encompasing answer: Matthew. 

Now you might be thinking, "Ah, typical." or "How cheesy." or some other [more mean] remark. Pooh on you if you're thinking rude thoughts. Thank you, if you're thinking happy thoughts or thinking about how your significant other is the best thing that ever happened to you. 

He really is the best thing that has ever happened to me. Even better than the time I found money in my pocket, or the time I built the most amazing club house out of a huge, hard dirt mound in a vacant lot (I mean, really, this thing was amazing. I spent SO much time in it, carving little stairs into the side of it and even a little seat at the top). 

Not too long ago, I realized I was destined to find my other half in a man named Matthew. Why? Because it just so happens that I'm in love with actors named Matthew:

Matthew Fox:

[I was/am a die-hard fan of LOST. Matthew just happened to become my favorite man on the planet. He's a handsome man. Anyone beg to differ?! I didn't think so.]

Matthew McConaughey:

[Duh!? Who doesn't love him? And who wouldn't love this man to be their yoga partner?]

Matthew Perry:

[Ah, Friends. 'Nuff said]

Matthew Morrison:

[Okay, so who knew he was hiding all of that under those vests and cardigans!?]

I think I've proven my point and made you all drool enough. Pick up those jaws, people! What did we learn from this? I'm totally destined to marry a Matthew. I found mine, and he's totally better than all of these Matthews. 

What makes this kid so special? Ohhh boy. Do you have time for this? Didn't think so.. I'll give you the Spark Notes version of why.

1) Before we started dating, we became very good friends (vis the internet and texting, of course. ha! Cliche) 

2) He pursued me for months (nearly a year, people!) before I gave him a chance.. and not in a creepy way either. He was awesome.. listening to me talk about dates I went on with other guys. (I was awful, I know this.. now)

3) Our first date: on a summer night, we went to the local community college and laid on a blanket under the stars on the football field. We talked and talked and talked. Then he finally made a move: he tickled me into his arm, which of course lead to cuddling. And, ya, the cuddling lead to a cute peck on the cheek, then the lips. ["aw's" all around. I can hear you ;)] And, yes, a kiss on the first date. I'm not easy, people. Don't get the wrong idea! It was perfect. Like movie-quality perfect. A couple days later, we were "facebook official".

4) [This is the kicker!-well, one of them] I had been going to school in Utah, and he had been going to school at said community college in our hometown in California. We were physically together for just under a month before I had to go back to Utah for school. We talked every day. We talked every night [for hours!]. Then he came and visited me! 

5) He decided to transfer to a school near mine in UTAH! [BIG kicker!] But first, we had to get through two semesters apart. I came home for the summer the summer following the beginning of our romance. In that first year that we had been "dating", we had only physically been together for a couple of months, but we knew we wanted to hang out forever - for-EVER! Really, folks. It didn't take long for us to fall 'head over heals'! 

6) He moved to Utah at the end of the summer and started his education at a new school.. and get this!: he changed majors from history to nursing! (Because my dad's a nurse and he saw how much my dad enjoyed his job and stuffs.)

7) And so we're here today - happy as a bug in a rug. Living our lives together in Utah rather than 12 hours apart. It's heavenly. Sometimes I can't believe all of this happened to me.. to us. I've never been the lucky type - like, really. I have awful luck. 

I think I should add that not only did I find a man who loves me and would literally do or go anywhere for me (obviously), I happened to find a man with the most amazing family, who - get this - loves me too! I have fallen in love with him and his wonderful family in the past year and a half. 

All of my relatives live in Canada.. a bit of a drive, no? As such, I don't get to see them very often. But my Matthew and his family - relatives included - have wholly accepted me as a part of the family. I am SO blessed to have another family. 

If you're not convinced, today, his wonderful mother bought us plane tickets home! In nine days we'll be flying home to his lovely family and my unsuspecting family (just in time for my littlest sister's birthday). This will be the second time that she has paid for my plane ticket home, and, of course, she won't accept reimbursement. I'll get her back one day, I promise, and you'll be some of the first to hear how that goes. 

I've written a novel. I apologize. You can be sure to hear more about my adventures with my man and our families. 

Until then, tell me who your favorite person is. Why? 

Mine's obvious:

I think I did enough explaining in this post. :]

Goodnight world.