The Dress....

So if you haven't already heard from my multiple twitter and facebook posts, I found THE dress. (No these aren't the dress, I couldn't post that or Bri would for sure see it. These are two of the millions I tried on though..). On Saturday after Tracy's wonderful shoe shower, we went downtown to House of Fashion to try on wedding dresses. Mahan, my wonderful wedding dress fitter, met us at teh front counter and wisked us upstairs to the world of wedding dresses. House of Fashion has over 2,000 wedding dresses, talk about overhelming. However, Mahan didn't let me get overhelmed she talked to me about the wedding and the styles I liked and then pulled out the dresses that she believed I would like. I knew I didn't want a big poofy wedding gown like the one pictured but Mahan had me try one on just so my mom could see it. It was a wonderful day and I left with one favorite. However, I was not ready to make a choice because I felt as if I had not tried on enough to make a decision. So Sunday morning we went out on the hunt again. We hit David's Bridal and Alfred Angelo( my mother and my sister were such good sports going from one store to the next, one dress to the next) and I again tried on a million beautiful dresses. Luckily we took pictures otherwise I believe I wouldn't remember ANY of the dresses. I left each store with a favorite dress but there was still one dress which stood out in my mind. So we made a call to Mahan and she was kind enough to let us drop back by and try on THE dress again. The instant I put the dress on I just knew it was THE one. It just felt right. So now I just have to wait 6 months for it to be made...
Ahhhh..... two major decisions done =)

The couple that plays together...

From the day we met Bri and I have been extremely active. We are both very high energy people and do not sit still for long. Three months after we started dating we vacationed in the Bahamas aboard Blackbeard Cruises, diving non stop. And things haven't changed much since then. Bri and I are constantly on the go, we rarely spend a weekend in town and when we do it still feels a little strange =). I know eventually we'll have to slow down some but for the time being we're going to keep going 100miles per hour (as my mother likes to say).
This weekend we got to go boating (picture on the left) with both of our parents and take a trip to our new favorite place, the Ryde Hotel, for brunch. It's hard to believe that one year from Saturday we will be saying "I do" in their beautiful garden, more posts coming soon on the location.
Also before going boating my sister talked Bri into doing the mini triathlon at the end of August and gues what he wants me to do it too?!? I am not sure if I am up for the challenge but we'll see as time gets closer. We went for a 10 mile bike ride this evening, followed by a 2 mile run with the dogs, they're sure exhausted. I am actually not as tired as I thought I would be but I have a feeling I will be pretty sore tomorrow. What about all of you, have you ever attempted a triathlon? Any training tips?

Simple Sunday Reminders

So in following suit with both Tracy and Kelly I would like to take a moment to be grateful for all the wonderful things in my life. It is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of day to day life that we forget to take a moment and just enjoy the little things in life. So since Sundays seem to be one of the only days I am able to sit down and blog lately I am going to try and write every Sunday about a few things I am grateful for in my life.

1. My incredible fiancee: I know extremely cliche, but lately I have been quite a pain to deal with and for some reason this only makes him love me more, he must be crazy (that's my therory anyways =))
2. My family: I was able to spend a lot of time with them this week because Brian was out of town on business and every moment I spend with them I realize just how special they are to me.

3. My Little Sister: (I know I already said family but lately she deserves an extra special shoutout). Katie Lynn is incredible, she has been so helpful in assisting in the wedding planning. I love her to death and I don't know what I would do without her.

The Ryde Hotel

You know that feeling of weightlessness that you get when you have finally made a big decision and you know it was the right now, well that's the feeling that has been going through my veins since I said the words out loud this morning: "We are going with The Ryde Hotel."
It was a long agonizing decision, with many long conversations and pros and cons lists but ultimately I know we have made the best decision for us.
Thank you to everyone for their support and understanding through this long drawn out process. I promise I won't be as difficult with the rest of the decisions.
Now on to the fun parts =)

Grandma's Pickles

For as long as I can remember Grandma has always made pickles and they have always been delicious. She usually makes around 18 jars a year and distributes them among the family as they ask for them. However, if you don't give her jar back you're NOT getting anymore pickles.
This year being that grandma knew how much Brian LOVES pickles she decided we should have a pickle making party. Bri and I hosted the party at our house Monday night. My mom, my future mother in law and grandma all headed over the Arbuckle after work. We had over 50lbs of pickles and were canning pickles for over 2 hours. It was alot of work but alot of fun at the same time.





Bri got into some trouble because he wanted to make a few "minor adjustments" to grandma's recipe, something she's not too fond of in her older age =)! Good thing she likes him, that's what I tell him anyways =). So after 2 hours of canning we made 36 jars of pickles and the entire house still smells like dill, good thing we like that smell =)!

Indecision

I have never been a person that struggled with decisions. I have always been able to make decsions fairly easily and I almost never get stressed out. UNTIL, now! I get engaged and all the sudden I can't make a decision to save my life.
I mean I am choosing between two amazing locations and I do not really have a bad choice but, still I can't choose.
Yocha-De-He is breathtaking the view from the ceremony site is incredible... who can't picture taking their vows overlooking this view, photo op anyone??? However, there is something holding me back from choosing Yocha. Bri of course is pushing for the Yocha-De-He, I can't imagine I guy that wouldn't, it's an incredible 18 hole golf course in the Capay Valley. However, a part of me can't get past the fact that it sits behind Cache Creek CASINO, who wants to get married at a Casino. However, Yocha-De-He isn't in the casino and the wedding guests never even have to enter the casino unless they chose to do so...
Ryde Hotel has that perfect backyard wedding feel that I have always dreamed about. (picture found here)I can just picture us dancing the night away under the stars with paper laterns strung throughout the trees. The Ryde feels fun, comfortable and safe. Major bonus it is located along the Sacramento River, a favorite location for my family. Yet, something seems to be holding me back from picking either location.
I feel so torn between the two venues...
What do you guys think? How do you go about making decisions? Any hints? Tips?