Our First "Domestic" Purchase

Before

Today, June 30th saw Jeff and I re-doing our kitchen. The house is painted all the same color or shall I say, all in the same color family, that being white. Lucky for us we are able to change that, either painting, new floors, lights, etc. So Jeff and I decided that we would paint the kitchen, put up a new curtain and make our first "domestic" purchase...a stove. We painted the room a light khaki color and left the cabinets cream color. I found a really cute shade/curtain at Target. I am not a fan of those "kitchen curtains" so this one worked out just perfect. It is red, cream and khaki stripe. Jeff loved it and loved how the kitchen turned out. Then it was off to Home Depot to look for a stove. He didn't have one and since we both love to cook, we knew that wasn't something we could live without. (Unlike Carrie on Sex-and-the-City, I do not keep sweaters in my oven...I cook in it.) After looking, comparing, and finally saying "who cares" we chose one. I had no idea there were so many to pick from, goodness. It is going to be delivered on July 3rd....we are so excited. I know, how can anyone get excited over an oven, but Jeff says that he first time he cooks on it will be to make me dinner...isn't that sweet. So the next room to tackle is the living room/dining room. Those rooms are really big and have a lot of great space. We think we are just going to paint and get some curtains up..amazing what just those two things can do to a room. Also, in the works is some work done to the outside, he and I both have a plan that will help the outside of the house. We are lucky in that we have a big yard and we can plant anything in the flower beds...so it is beginning to start looking and feeling like our home.

After

Our Home

For those of you who don't know, once we are married Jeff and I will be living in his house. He lives in what is called a "state house". Since he works for TDC and is a Lt., he has the opportunity to live in a house that the state owns and pays for, hence the name, state house. These homes were built in the 1950's. They are red brick, two bedroom, a duplex and the most important thing, free. I will admit at first I was against living there, mainly because the unit is so close. Jeff and I had several conversations over the issue. I explained my position and he explained his. He understood where I was coming from and listened my concerns, I listened to his. Guess I learned a valuable lesson, I learned that we are in this together. We have to learn to listen to each other and go from there.

Well we are going to be living in his place and we are going to be adding our touch to each room. Today, I went to Home Depot and bought the paint for the kitchen. We are going with a light khaki color on the walls, leaving the cabinets the off white color they are, and I found a really cute curtain for the window. I think that will look great once we get it all finished. I can't wait to go up there and start painting. I know with each thing we do it will make the place more ours, it will make it our home.

Changes

This morning I took another step towards getting married. I gave my apartment complex my 60 day notice that I will be moving out come August 30. Next question, where am I living until November 8th? Well who knows...but I will find something. The rent was going up and there was a fee of $150.00 extra, so I just couldn't see paying $900.00 to live here, YIKES! Some have said, "just live with Jeff" and maybe I should but I am still a bit of an old fashioned girl and that just doesn't sound right to me. Plus, I don't think (or I know rather) that my parents (aka check writers) would not like that idea. Mom really hopes that she has a place up here by then and we do too for her sake, if so, "Hi mom, I am back!"

Also, this morning I worked out again. I started working out about two weeks ago or so. Lets just say, it ain't pretty. But I do always feel better, once I stop sweating and catch my breath. I am trying to just make sure I look better in my dress and for the big event. Jeff has been so supportive and wonderful. He is always telling me, "you don't need to loose weight, I love you the way you are", those are all wonderful to hear. It reminds me of a story my grandma (Mimi) told me. She said my grandpa (Papaw..Loyal) told her once that he didn't care if she got so big she had to ride in the back seat and he was in the front seat of the car, he would always love her. That is how Jeff is and I know that I am truly blessed. But for me, it is more about getting into shape or trying to. I just want to tone up a bit (really a lot but gotta be realistic here) so that is why I am giving it a try. Today, my arms were killing me and I just kept telling myself my new mantra....."You do not want to look like a giant marshmallow, keep going!" We shall see if it pays off but for now, my payoff is I do feel better and have more energy....

We Have A Rehearsal

Today Mom, Grace and I went out to Kirby's Lone Star Bar-B-Que in Montgomery. If you haven't been there and live in the area, go! The place is great. Jeff and I have eaten there before and we both love the atmosphere. It is very relaxed, everything is done in a Texas theme, and the best part, the food is great. We decided that was just the type of place we would love to have for our rehearsal dinner. We have a large wedding party and a few out of town guests and this would be a wonderful place for them all to get to know one another before the big event. They might be moving locations but the new place promises to be just as great, either way it will be a great night. I am getting more and more excited as we continue the planning. The whole weekend will be a dream come true!

Planning and more planning

The past day or two have seen us planning, planning and more planning. I was able to schedule an appointment with a local baker for a cake tasting, and the best part, it is on a day that Jeff can join us. He is off that day and I really wanted him to be able to taste and pick out what he wants on the his cake. He was glad about being able to go to this event, I mean who wouldn't like to taste cake and for free.

Mom, Mary, Jennifer and I came up with some fun, different ideas for reception decorations. Now the fun part is working on those details and seeing them all come into place. Mary, is just great a research and finding the finds, she did last night I can't wait to see how they all turn out. Thanks Mary!

The phone!

WOW...the phone is attached to my ear today. I feel like I have been calling all over the county today. I spoke with the church (First Methodist) here in Conroe. Made an appointment to see the wedding coordinator there. She wants to go over some of the guidelines with me. Who knew there were so many rules for the church. I had to read them twice to make sure I understood them all.

Then it was off to set the appointment with the florist. We are so lucky and blessed to have a friend, Diane Covey, doing the flowers. She is one of my mother's best friends and I am so happy she agreed to do the flowers for me. I know they will be so beautiful and amazing. She does a great job and I trust her so I don't have to worry about it at all.

Tomorrow, I have to call and set up a cake tasting, oh darn! I am going to make sure that Jeff gets to take part in this planning, so trying to schedule that when he is off and can be there. I really want him to decide on what he wants on the grooms cake, doesn't matter to me so I told him, your choice. (Maybe I should re-think that...hahaha).

It's beginning to look like a wedding

Well it is beginning to feel and look like a wedding is going to be taking place in the coming months. Yesterday, Mom, Jennifer, Mary and I all went out to April Sound (reception site) to look around. It had been a while since we were there. We picked out the other linens (chair covers, table runners, overlays) and then we decided on where things were going. That is going to be a interesting chore with about 200 there but it will be well worth it.

Today, Dad, Cindi and I ventured out to April Sound again so they could see the place, meet Debbie the events director and get the lay of the land. They seemed to really like it, the place is going to look great. With the deck and gazebo decorated people will really be able to have plenty of space.

After seeing chair covers, table linens, deciding where the buffet is going and so on...it is really starting to feel like a wedding! Oh my goodness...isn't it wonderful!