Been A While...

Wow, I can't believe I haven't blogged on this account since March. Sorry 'bout that! My spring semester classes kept me busier than I had hoped, so I wasn't able to focus on much else. I even had to put wedding planning on hold for a while (which is probably a good thing, as I had become a bit obsessive). The semester is over now, though, and I'm in the middle of a much-needed break. The wedding is less than 13 months away now, so I figure I better get back to planning ASAP. =)

We still haven't decided on a ceremony location, which is starting to freak me out a little bit. There is a lutheran church over in Redwood Falls that would work, but Jer and I aren't really "churchy" people, so I'm not sure if that's the route that we want to take. I did call the pastor there, and he said he'd write our names down for June 26, 2010. He also encouraged us to become members (which isn't going to happen), and let us know that they require pre-marital counseling. So, yeah...we'll see how that turns out.

Unfortunately, we don't really have many other options. An outside wedding would be nice, but I don't want to chance it; the weather in MN is way too unpredictable. Other than those two options, the only other thing we could do would be to get married right in the ballroom where we're having our reception. That would be nice and convenient, but I dunno...I'm just not crazy about the idea of having everyone sitting at dinner tables during the ceremony. I'm still going to look for more alternatives, but I'm guessing that the church idea will win in the end.

As far as other details are concerned, I'm pretty lost. Since we live down in the sticks, wedding resources are scarce, to say the least. I still have no idea where to go for flowers, hair, or makeup. There is a flower shop in Redwood Falls, but it's tiny. There are also a couple of hair salons, but I'm worried that they might be a bit farmer's-wifeish for my taste. I need someone that is highly skilled in order to work with my impossible hair. I know that probably sounds kinda bitchy and demanding, but it's my wedding, ya know? =P As for makeup, I'm totally clueless. As far as I know, they don't do makeup at the local salons, and no one in Jer's family or my own really has any expertise in that area. I'd like to just do my own to save money, but I generally don't wear makeup, so I'm thinking that'd be a disaster...

Anyway, on a more positive note, we do have a few details nailed down! Like I mentioned in a previous post, the reception will be at Jackpot Junction. For our photographer, we decided to go with Jessica from JM Photography. She's based out of the cities, but she's super nice and she has a great portfolio, so we were willing to pay a little extra for her to come down here. Also, we chose Will from Music In Motion to be our DJ. We just recently mailed the signed contract and deposit to him, so hopefully he'll confirm everything with us soon.

Since I'm thinking about all of this again, I suppose I should go scour the net for more ideas and inspiration. I'll try to update my blog more often from now on. My summer classes don't start until June 15, so at least I've got some time to relax and focus on planning again. If anyone has any ideas or suggestions, please feel free to share! =)

It's Official!

On Saturday morning, Jeremy and I signed a contract with our reception venue and gave them our deposit, so...it's official! No more changing our minds! We're getting married on June 26, 2010, and the reception will be at Jackpot Junction down here on the reservation. I'm still a tad panicky about the whole thing, but I'm also really excited. Now I just have to iron out the rest of the seemingly endless details!

In the immediate future, we have to pick out our photographer, our DJ, and our ceremony site and officiant. June is, of course, the most popular month for weddings, so if we don't book people soon, we won't have many options to pick from (not that we have many to begin with). I am actually considering hiring photographers from up in the Cities, because the ones that I've checked out down here aren't really up to my standards when it comes to quality. Unfortunately, most of the good photographers up in the Cities are waaaay out of our budget. I did, however, stumble upon Paisley Road Photography, and it looks promising. They're still expensive, but they're a LOT cheaper than most of the companies that I looked at...and they work as a couple, so we'd get two photographers as part of the package! They divide their time between Minnesota and Missouri, so I'll be setting up a time to meet with them later in the month when they are back in town.

I still haven't decided where I want to have the ceremony. I am Lutheran, but Jeremy isn't into the whole Christianity thing, so I'm not sure that a church would be the most appropriate place for us to get married. I think he'd be okay with it, but I'm sure he'd much rather have it someplace else. It would be nice to plan something outside--maybe here on the rez or over at Ramsey Park or something--but that's always such a gamble. Right now, we're considering having it at the ballroom where we'll be having the reception, but we're not sure yet.

I've been driving myself crazy trying to figure everything out. I really want to pick a theme (or at least a color scheme) for the wedding, but I've changed my mind a billion times over the past couple of months. How do people do this? I'm so bad about making decisions...

Guess I'm gonna go research some more stuff on the net. I'm sure I'll be posting a bunch of ideas and whatnot here over the coming months, so bear with me!

At Least It's Over

Well, I managed to go through with the EMG, and it did indeed suck...but it wasn't as bad as I was thinking it was going to be. I didn't even cry, so yay me. =) Probably won't get any results until next week, but I'll be sure to post again when I find out any new info.

Pray for Sunny

Oh, my goodness...right after I posted that last message, I found out that something had happened to a former classmate. Kind of puts things in perspective.

Sunny Bresin had a heart attack recently. You can visit www.caringbridge.org/visit/sunnybresin for more information and updates.

Keep Sunny and her family in your prayers!

This Is Gonna Suck

I've been having a lot of issues with my right arm over the past year or so--frequent numbness and some nerve issues. I think it's partially due to a lump that I have near my elbow, since it's in a spot where it could potentially be pushing on a nerve. I've talked to several doctors about it, and they've all said that the lump isn't anything to be worried about. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt for now, since I've had it for at least 4 or 5 years and it hasn't really done anything. The issues with my arm, however, are really getting irritating. It's hard for me to type, to write, to basically do anything involving my right hand or arm. So, I finally told the doctor that something had to be done.

I did not, however, want THIS to be done. -_- Tomorrow morning, I get to go up to Willmar for an Electromyogram (EMG). They're basically going to stick needles into my nerves repeatedly to test how well they're working. I'm terrible with needles, I'm terrible with pain, and I'm terrible with people touching my inner forearms, so this is going to SUCK. Jer's sister had it done to her leg, and her exact words to me when I told her were, "You're gonna cry." Great. ::sigh::

Scratch That

Okay, forget that last entry...lol. We might still have it at Centennial Lakes. I'm so confused and frustrated. I don't want to book a place that is too small, just in case we have extra people show up. I also, however, don't want to book someplace that's way too big, because what if only half of the people on Jer's list show up? UGH. Eloping is starting to sound pretty good right about now.

Guess Not

Okay, so...after much deliberation, Jeremy and I have decided not to go with Centennial Lakes as our reception venue. It was really pretty, and I loved all of the natural light, but the space was very limited. We would've been fine if only the people from our guest list showed up, but if Jeremy's cousins all decided to bring their kids, we would've been screwed. Besides, the park doesn't allow cash bars, and there's no way we can afford to host alcohol for everyone.

So, the search continues! We're looking into the Monticello Community Center (which is where Bethie had her reception). It's much bigger, and it sounds like we can maybe do a cash bar there, which would be a huge plus. I'm going to give them a call tomorrow to get the details and to ask some questions. If it ends up saving us enough money, that could very well end up being the place. If not, well...we might just have to have it down here on the rez after all. We'll see. At least we're starting this process waaaaay in advance. I can't imagine how people manage to do it in under a year.

Decisions, Decisions...

I'm back from the Cities, I finished all of my homework that was due tonight (by the skin of my teeth), and I am now going to take a much-needed break...at least for an hour or two. Then it's back to work, since I've got what seems like a billion pages to read in my Psychology and Geography classes. For now, though, I'm going to try not to think about it.

So, like I was saying in my last post, Jer and I had an appointment to check out Centennial Lakes Park in Edina. We met with the assistant park manager, Laura, on Saturday, and she was extremely nice and super helpful. The building itself is cute, but I was worried that it might be a bit small. She assured us it was big enough for 120 people, though, and after looking at pictures of previous receptions, I can see that she's right. It was a bit hard to imagine what everthing is going to look like in the spring, since everything is covered with snow and ice right now, but it definitely looks promising. Here are a few of the pictures that we took while we were there.

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This is the front of the building. Very cute.

This is the back of the building. It might be hard to tell because the picture is a bit small, but there is a big patio that extends from one end of the building to the other. Exclusive use of the patio is included in the rental price.



This is the outdoor amphitheater where they often hold wedding ceremonies. If you reserve the reception building, the amphitheater is only an additional $75, which I think is a great deal. You can't tell because of the snow and ice, but the tented area is partially surrounded by the water from the lake. I guess some couples choose to arrive by gondola during the summer. =)



This is the inside of the building. During the winter, they use it as a warming house for the ice skaters. It looks (understandably) messy right now, but once they pull the mats off of the floor and remove the benches and decorations, it's really nice. I love all of the natural light.



This is a floorplan of the building that I pulled off of the park's website. We would be renting the Fireside and Parlor rooms combined, and we would also be allowed use of the atrium (though I think the public is also allowed in this area, since that's where the bathrooms are located). The room is fairly long and narrow, but I think it would work for the number of people that we are expecting to invite.



This is a shot from one of the bridges. That isn't just a big patch of ground that's been iced over--it's actually a lake! A man-made lake, sure, but a lake nevertheless. =) That's the building where we'd be holding the reception, and you can see the ceremony amphitheater to the left off in the distance.

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Sooooo, after touring the building and talking to Laura, I was almost ready to book the place right then and there. She told me to sleep on it, though, and to call her on Monday if I still felt ready. She even said she'd write my name down for May 22, 2010 so that no one else would snatch it up in the meantime. See? She was SO nice!

Anyway, I tried to sleep on it, but I ended up stressing about wedding details all night and not getting any sleep until about 8:00 in the morning. I slept for 2 hours and then we had to wake up and check out of the hotel. Ugh. NOT FUN. We decided to stop by Centennial Lakes one last time before heading home, and we both agreed that it was a great spot.

So, after all that, what is my problem? Well, it's this...

I feel bad. I feel guilty. If we have our wedding up in the Cities, we're going to end up excluding 75% of Jeremy's family. He says he's okay with that, but I know he'd love to have everyone there. Plus, his mom and sister are both rather disgruntled at the thought that we might make that decision. I know, I know...it's not their wedding. Still, though, I don't want a bunch of pissy people at our wedding, and I don't want to piss off my in-laws any more than I already have.

I'm so awful when it comes to making decisions. I can never please everyone, and, more often than not, I end up sacrificing my own desires in order to make sure someone else doesn't get upset. It's a trait that I get from my mother, and I just don't know how to get past it. I swear, those chicks on Bridezillas may be bitches, but they are bitches that get the job done. =P Maybe I should take some notes.

A Moment to Breathe

Okay, I finished the exam and the map quiz that were due today, so I can actually take a little bit of a breather. Jeremy will be home from work in about half an hour, and then we're going to head up to the Cities for the day. So excited! We've got an appointment to go check out Centennial Lakes Park in Edina, since it's one of our options for a reception venue. Everyone I've talked to has said it's really pretty, so hopefully it'll fit into our budget.

Just to let everyone know, we're tentatively leaning toward May 22, 2010 as our date! That could still change based on site availablity and other factors, but for now, that's what we're looking at.

Okay, I've gotta go finish getting ready and whatnot. We'll be spending the night up in Maple Grove, so I have to pack a few things. I can't wait...I've been going stir crazy stuck in this house all of the time. I'll have to bring some homework along, but whatever. It's still better than nothing. =)

Busy Busy Busy

I know I've been neglecting my blog duties lately, but I've been sooooo busy. My classes started off slowly, but now I'm suddenly overwhelmed with assignments and experiments and discussion questions and quizzes. I haven't even updated my other blog this week, because I completely forgot to weigh in. =/ Ugh. I wanted to be busy, but I didn't want to be THIS busy. Careful what you wish for, eh?

Anyway, yeah...bear with me. I'm hoping things will calm down a bit next week. Right now I've got to keep studying, though, since I've got an exam in the morning. Wish me luck--I'm gonna need it!

Bleh. Figures.

So, I started my spring semester courses last week. The one thing I was hoping for was that we wouldn't have any group projects, but did that work out for me? Nooooo. There will be a major group project in my Geography class where we have to research climate change and do some stupid PowerPoint presentation. Doesn't sound so bad at first, until you take into account the fact that I have to have tons of resources, only two of which can be from the internet. That means at least one trip up to the Cities for research, since there aren't any decent libraries down here. Have I mentioned that I am SO ready to be done with college? Well, I am. So very ready. At least it's only one class that's requiring a group project, but still...ugh...

Adding to my not-so-chipper mood is this morning's disasterous weigh-in. I still don't know what the crap that was all about, but whatever. I've already been to Snap Fitness today, I've had half of my water so far, and I've been measuring and tracking everything that I've put in my mouth, so at least that's a step in the right direction.

I do have some homework that I could be working on, but it's not due until the end of the week, and I need to de-stress, so I think I'm just gonna skip it for now and chill out with Jer for a bit. He's got the day off, so that's nice. I'm may be back to vent more later. It's just one of those days, I think.

Halcyon Lotus

I just realized that most people won't get the whole "halcyon lotus" thing without a bit of explanation. It's basically the equivalent of "tranquil lotus" or "peaceful lotus". I have always loved lotus flowers, and, after taking a course in Eastern religions, I've really embraced the whole tranquilty thing. My life is a tumultuous sea of emotions most days, and I've found that trying to incorporate some degree of serenity has really had a positive influence on my mood and my overall outlook. So, "halcyon lotus" isn't so much something that I am, but rather something that I strive to become. Does that make sense? =)

Not Looking Forward to This

I start classes again tomorrow morning. I've been on an extended break (partially my decision, partially not), so it's probably going to be a bit difficult getting back into the swing of things. I'm still taking online courses, so at least I won't have to wake up at the crack of dawn to drive somewhere. Unfortunately, though, based on my past experience, online courses are a lot tougher than traditional classes. Yay. -_-

I was planning on taking four classes this semester, but the bookstore didn't have the Intro to Logic book that I needed in stock, so I ended up dropping it. I suppose that's probably for the best, since three online courses are going to keep me plenty busy as it is. I'll be taking Intro to Physical Science, Physical Geography, and General Psychology. I'm so nervous. I'm hoping that I won't have to do any group projects, since they're a nightmare to coordinate via internet. Guess I'll find out in the morning. ::sigh::

Priscilla Ahn

If you haven't heard of Priscilla Ahn, I encourage you to check out the video linked below. I chanced upon it a couple of weeks ago, and it's beautiful. Her voice is amazing.

Priscilla Ahn - Dream

Edward Cullen Rocks My Socks

Up until about a month ago, I was irritated by all of the fuss surrounding the Twilight books. I didn't see how a series about teenage vampires could be all that exciting. Then, I began thinking...I was similarly frustrated by all of the Harry Potter mania back when that was the big thing, but, when I gave the HP series a chance, they ended up being some of my favorite books ever. Sooooo, I decided that I'd read the Twilight books to see if they were really as good as everone was saying.

Long story short...

They are fantabulous, and I am now madly in love with a fictional character.

Seriously.

Madly in love.

::sigh::

Edward Cullen embodies everything that a man (in my opinion) should be. It is absolutely unfair that such a person cannot possibly exist. It's heartbreaking. Ugh! Frickin' Stephanie Meyer...yeesh. =P

Anyway, sorry Jer. Edward Cullen rocks my socks. <3 (You do, too, but c'mon...I mean, it's EDWARD...)

Breaking the Ice

Who knew it would be so difficult to begin blogging? I created this account well over a month ago, and I've been meaning to start posting ever since, but I just haven't been able to figure out how (or where) to start. I'm a bit intimidated by it all, I think. I already have a blog where I track my weight loss progress, but that's easy, because I have a clear topic that I can focus on. I'm discovering that it's much more challenging to find random aspects of my life to blog about. Maybe I'm just self-conscious and uninspired because my life isn't exactly exciting (at least in my opinion). I guess the only solution is to just get this initial post out of the way, even if I don't really have anything interesting to say.

So, there we go. Better than nothing. =)