Can't sleep...?

Sleep? What's sleep?
Oh, you mean that stuff you're supposed to get about 8 hours of a night? Yeah.
I wish.

Last night's topics to ponder when I should have been sleeping:
Oh, crap! Did I pay all of my bills last month?
Crap! I have to pay April's bills soon.
I need to turn in my taxes- do I have enough money to cover what I owe?
Did Sam pay the mortgage last month? I think so...?

As you can see, money is apparently a stressor for me. Yay.
But isn't it for everyone? I just want to get rid of ALL my bills and only have to worry about the mortgage. But I don't see that happening anytime soon. :(

I just need some rich relative to die and leave me hundreds of thousands of dollars... even just $100,000... so I can pay off all my cards and a chunk of the house. That would be awesome... but I have no rich relatives. LOL

"Interactive" Wedding Plans

Basically, as I figure things out, you'll know, too.
Or, as I pick and choose, you'll know what I'm deciding between.
It's a way for me to get all my thoughts down somewhere "solid," even if it's not on actual paper... yet.

Possible Wedding Locations:
El Dorado Park ($5,000)
Includes:
- Gazebo/Wedding Arch/Aisle Runner
- Cake & Cutting/Serving
- Complimentary Champagne & Cider Toasts
- Linens & Dance Floor
- Inclusive &/or Custom Bar Service
- Venue Space for min. 4-5 hours
- Dinner served
- Complimentary Entrée for the Bride and Groom
- China, Flatware, and Glassware
- Skirted Head Table or Sweetheart Table
- Personalized Tiered Wedding Cake
- Customized Room Set Up
- Complimentary Guest Parking

Not Included:
- Groom’s Room (no big deal, right? haha)
- Photographer (Megh has connections)
- Decorations (Do I really need them? haha)
- Clergy (Blah)
- Music: No DJ Equipment at all. Not even speakers for my iPod.

On the Plus:
Most things included!
Ceremony + Reception = Cheaper!

On the Minus:
Reception *might* be outside in a tent.


Skylinks at Long Beach (No online quotes)
Included:

Not Included:

On the Plus:
Indoor reception area
Ceremony and Reception on site

On the Minus:



I looked up CSU, Long Beach's Japanese Garden for a possible wedding site... but it would only be for the ceremony and it would only be available for 2 hours total for $2,400. No thanks. As beautiful as it is, it's too expensive, even as an alumni.



My Dress:
David's Bridal Version


Alfred Angelo Version



Bridesmaid Dress:
Retro "Pinup" Dress


Strappy Fun Dress (Alfred Angelo)


More "Traditional" Dress (David's Bridal Mix & Match)


Or... There's always David's Bridal Mix & Match where everyone gets something they like (and look fabulous in), as long as it's Clover Green with Black accents!


Flower Girl:
I'd like Cassidy (Sam's Goddaughter) to be our flower girl. If that happens, here is her dress! It fits her personality perfectly!



Ring Bearer:
I'd like to request Colby for this position. :)
Generic "tux" or suit with a green tie.


Photographer:
Yet to be decided.


Music:
On the RSVP cards, you'll be asked to name ONE song (maybe two if you're a couple) you'd like to hear at the wedding. I'll download that onto my iPod and off we go. I'm thinking about an actual DJ though, so we can have a sound system and someone to announce things, like toasts or cake cutting.


Invitations:
My friend Whitney said she can make them! Yay!
I'm also looking into an online website that specializes in wedding stationary.


Honeymoon:
HAHAHAHA! We're going back home to Oregon! We'll travel to Ireland, Scotland, and England another time. But it is going to happen one day. :)



Anything else I missed?

I'm loving all the extra and added help from all of you!
Thank you!
You don't know how much it all means to me.
You're awesome.
*hugs*

May I have your attention please...?

After realizing two of my friends have been married now for SEVEN years, I decided it was time for Sam and I to have a serious talk about setting a date for our wedding.

And with that, we did. YAY!

January 2, 2010.

Think about it... 0102 2010

Awesome, eh? hehe

Oh, and it's a Saturday, too. haha!

It will be in Southern California, but the location is yet to be decided. I'm looking at the Long Beach Museum... It's beautiful and on the beach!

Colors: Green and Black (I win) HA!

And yes, it will still be a Masquerade Ball, no matter where it is. :)

More details as I get them...
This is so much fun!

Beer Tasting!

All the boys are in town so I thought I'd buy a mixed 6-pack of beers to taste test... and then I also bought a 12-pack of mixed beers (three of each flavor). All together, we had 9 different beers to test.

Drop Top Ale
Fat Tire Ale
Honey Beer
McTarnahan's Amber Ale
Mac's Blackwatch (cream) Porter
Black Toad
Black Butte Porter
Oatmeal Stout
Oatmeal Blueberry Stout

Out of all of them, I preferred the Black Butte and the Black Toad. The Blackwatch wasn't bad; it had a light taste for a porter. Kinda nice.

Now... I'm onto my pineapple and Malibu.
Ahhh... I'm a happy lady.
hehe

The Boys.

I haven't posted much about them lately, but I just cleaned off my camera and I thought I'd share.

Here's Grimm, looking oh so cute with his bag o' catnip. I gave this to him as a Christmas gift... He really liked it.



Here's Grimm attempting to get into the window. He doesn't like to jump onto the windowsill anymore because they're not as wide as they were at the apartment. He needs some help getting into windows now.



Odin... last night. We bought him a new scratcher because he destroyed his old one. This time, we got a taller one so he (and Grimm) can stretch while scratching. Apparently, Odin likes to climb it, too.



And somehow, he managed to turn around while on top of it. He's so funny!



Both of my boys. This is the cuteness that I woke up to this morning. They seem to like the new bed. But even though there's PLENTY of room (it's a king size bed), Odin still has to snuggle with someone... and it just happened to be Grimm.



Aren't my boys the cutest little dudes?! hehe
I know, I'm biased.