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?

Wedding Binder

  So I had to show off my adorable wedding planning binder that Tracy made for me. It is just the perfect place to keep all of my wedding stuff organized. I can't believe it hasn't even been a week and my binder is already overflowing with idea pictures...Thanks Tracey for the AMAZING binder!

A Girl's Necessities...

In answer to Tracy's blog, here are my necessities...

My brand new bright yellow summer purse, which I just love, it adds pop to every outfit

My coach wallet, the first coach item I ever owned and I still just love it!

My coach sunglasses, I have a black pair and a brown pair depending on my outfit and I feel lost if I leave the house without them!

My blue tooth, my commute gives me LOTS of talk time and without my blue tooth I get very lonely...

My car keys to my new cleaned Celica =)

My bare minerals compact, just in case I need to freshen up throughout the day

My perfume container that looks like a lipstick case, I got it at Christmas last year and it comes in so handy

What are your necessities?

ABC's of Me

I stole this off facebook because it seemed like the perfect blog post:
ABC's of Me!
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A - Age: 24

B - Bed size: California King

C - Chore you hate: Vaccuming, although if I get my new animal dyson I think I'd learn to like it ;-D

D - Dog's name: Peaches & Cabella

E - Essential start your day item: Sad but true, Make up

F - Favorite color(s): Pink, I know really clique

G - Gold or Silver: Silver

H - Height: 5' 3"

I - Instruments you play: musically challenged

J - Job title: Office Manager/Substitute Teacher

K - Kids: Eventually....

L - Living arrangements: I live with my fiancee, wow still weird to say =)

M - Mom's name: Lauri

N - Nicknames: Manda, Manda Lynn, Manda Panda, Babe

O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: Nope

P - Pet Peeve: Flakiness

Q - Quote from a movie: Way too many to list

R - Right or left handed: Right

S - Siblings: Sister, Katie and Brother, Chris

T - Time you wake up: 6:45 am is when my alarm clock goes off

U - Underwear: Yes please

V - Vegetable you dislike: Brussel Sprouts, yuck!

W - Workout style: Nintendo Wii =)

X - X-rays you've had: Teeth, Wrist & Arm

Y - Yesterday's best moment: Sitting in our backyard with all of our closest friends realizing we'll be having many more parties for years to come =)

Z - Zoo favorite: Sadly, I have only been to the Sacramento Zoo, guess I'll have to borrow my future nieces and take them to another zoo =)

Please copy and repost so I can hear the ABC's of you =)

The Proposal...

Brian and I headed up to Monterey Saturday morning for "his birthday" trip. He had planned the whole trip, got recommendations from friends, made dinner reservations, etc. We were both really excited, however I was completely in the dark. We arrived in Monterey around 12, checked into The Plaza and headed downstairs for a bite to eat. We then headed to the aquarium, one of Brian's favorite places in the whole world. After the aquarium we headed back to the hotel to change and freshen up for dinner. We had a really nice dinner at the Sardine Factory but throughout dinner Brian kept checking his watch, I told him to relax and enjoy his dinner but he of course did not listen. After dinner we walked, well more like ran back to the hotel to change and head out to Lover's Point to watch the sunset. We climbed out on the rocks and poured ourselves a glass of wine to enjoy the sunset, which was incredible. We chatted briefly about the Ocean and the sea animals. Brian was very fidgety but because I was not suspecting anything I just figured he was trying to get comfortable. As we finished our glasses of wine he asked me to refill them. I reached into the bag moving things out of the way and removed the wine bottle. Apparently in doing so I moved an envelope Brian had meant for me to see, so with a little prodding on his part I opened the envelope and immediately started balling. When I finally read the card through my tear filled eyes I looked up to see him on one knee with the most beautiful ring I have EVER seen. It was an amazing incredible wonderful fantastic proposal.
What about everyone else? Share your proposal stories...