Happy Happy!

Happy New Year, folks!

Jan. 4th  isn't too late to still be saying that, is it? Because I've been saying it all day already...

Anyways, we had a wonderful Christmas break and I hope you did too.

here

We traveled over the river and through the woods to just about as many houses as we could fit in a week and half - and still missed people we wanted to see! But our visits were great and Santa was overly generous - I received so many nice presents and loved seeing ours get torn open, too (especially by two excited little boys). We also had a bocce ball engagement party, which was pretty much the coolest thing ever.

After all the holiday excitement, we were major lame-o's for New Years Eve. Nothing wrong with being home on your couch when the ball drops, amirite?

Of course, we did sit down and make some resolutions for the new year. Matt and I had actually been working on them for a few days - it's so much more fun to have someone to team up on these goals with! And just for added resolution we put these up on our fridge - no forgetting!!

2013: Bring it on.

• Duh, work out and eat healthy. But the real resolution is to feel great about ourselves in time for our wedding. So, thanks to our friends Zach and Dana, we picked up a copy of Bob Harper's The Skinny Rules and we're following it to a tee. Don't you just hate friends that inspire you to do unpleasant things that you know you really should do? Sheesh. And we've got a personal trainer lined up for later in the month, once we stop feeling hungry all the time :(
• Have FUN planning our wedding. We've already had enough with wedding stress -the rest of this process is going to be fun, or ELSE! Anyone not on board with that can jump off.
• Volunteer. We spend almost every Saturday cooing over the puppies up for adoption at Petsmart, so we think we'll do something to help out with them.
• Use our free time wisely. So often, we come home exhausted and just camp out on the couch all night ... which just makes us feel more tired and busier on the weekends. So we're going to try to fill our weeknights with some chores (laundry night, wedding planning night) plus even more fun traditions, like our favorite Modern Family / baking night with the Dewey-Gills.
• On top of all that, I'm back in the saddle of the great grad school search. I'm talking to a program (offers online and hybrid classes, plus would take transfer credit from ND) and hope to take a class this year!

So, share the goods. What are your resolutions? 

Photo (da) Bomb

Guys, Matt and I are getting our engagement photos taken today. It feels kind of like school picture day, but instead of the results being immortalized for over on little-used grade school yearbooks, they will LIVE FOREVER on mantels and walls all over the United States. Well, at least in 4 or 5 houses in the United States. Anyways, I want them to be good - but I've done pretty much nothing in preparation, other than washing my face twice last night (just to be safe).

I'm hoping they look like this:

by our photographer, Furore Photography

this would work too...

But I'm worried they'll look more like this:

Just search "Awkward engagement photos" -- it's a good (terrifying) time...

I realize this is a wedding photo, but I believe it deserves a spot in this photo reel, if not ALL photo reels.

Wish us luck!

PS Speaking of awk photos have you seen this Halloween costume? GENIUS.

here

Wedding Updates

To all the (seemingly millions) of people asking me about my wedding plans, this one is for you.

Weddings are exciting and beautiful and sentimental. They are also huge pressure-pots of expectation, emotions and stress. We already have a ton of those things in our lives right now (moving in together, new jobs, etc.) so the wedding planning has stayed decidedly on the back burner until our lives are just a smidge more settled. So here you go - exactly where I am in the wedding planning process:

1. Pinterest

I've collected some lovely pictures (mostly with the help of wonderful people who have pinned things for me themselves). Here are some of my favorites:

We'd like to get married outside! here

Awesome patterned invites- here

Pattern & Lanterns - must haves! here

Love a starry tent reception! here

2. General Preferences: Fall, outdoor, bright colors, fun music, great food.

3. Location: we have a scrawled-out list on a piece of yellow legal paper. Indy area, outdoor component, slightly out-of-the ordinary if possible :)

5. Facebook: my facebook friends rock. After one appeal, I've gotten so many websites and magazine resources to look at: stylemepretty.com, apracticalwedding.com, theknot.com etc. Thanks guys!

That's it, I promise! It just hasn't been happening, y'all. We are so excited for this to be a fun process, to involve all of our dear friends and family in this exciting time. It'll be a challenge for sure - we've got busy lives, budget constraints (gotta save up for a sweet honeymoon!), and we're living away from the location and the majority of our family and friends. But just you wait, once we get 'er done, it's gonna be awesome! So thanks for your patience- and stay tuned!

xo,

E.

New Beginings

Hey all!! Sorry for the radio silence lately. No, no, it's not you - it's me. I've been busy!

In addition to this huge life event, I've also switched jobs and moved 3 hours away from home.

And if you're guessing this move took me 3 hours closer to my new fiancé (in fact, right into his very studio apartment) you'd be right!

So this week is ALL about transition, learning, and trying not to kill each other in a space the size of a large dog kennel. We'll make sure this engagement sticks all right ;).

Anyways, I PROMISE I haven't forgot about all the awesome Paris and Brugges photos and tips I wanted to share with you. Just hold on to your horses and - GO IRISH!

A Special Story

Dear friends,

I have a sweet story to share with you today. I hope you won't mind the departure from our normal fare - but this is a very special occasion.

We'll start on last Monday. 

A walk through the early morning streets of Paris, hand-in-hand, just the two of us.

A stop at Notre Dame cathedral, where we get in line for the climb up to the towers.

After a short (2 hour) wait, we take the short (400 step) climb to the first observatory level.

We made friends with the gargoyles...

... and enjoyed the spectacular views.

We even spied a couple taking wedding pictures down below!

It was very romantic.

The bell tower was very impressive...

But it was the views of Paris that took my breath away (not the climb, promise)!

But then, there was another view that was even more beautiful...

Somehow, we made it back down the stairs and over to the Pont de l'Archeveché...

.... the bridge where Parisians declare their love by securing padlocks to the bridge and throwing away the key.

I am truly the luckiest girl in the world :)

XO, E.