One Month From Today

Dan asked me to marry him on August 11, 2007. It seems like only yesterday that I mentioned to him, "we're getting married a year from today!"

Well, the time has passed quickly and now our countdown has reached the one month mark. Even though I've had 13 months to get used to the idea, it's still surreal and fantastic that we'll be getting married. Husband and wife. In sickness and in health. 'Til death do us part.

So many exciting things to come (one month from today, and for this lifetime).

Photo credit: Laura Parente of Cariad Photography

Favorite Things

It's amazing how simple things can really brighten your day or make you smile.

Here are a few of mine:

• The Your DeKalb Farmer's Market in general (see my January 5, 2008 posting)
• Fresh flowers (often bought from the YDFM)
• Fresh (and affordable) produce
• Pencil skirts
• Thrift store bargains, such as pencil skirts
• Ebay finds (recently Crest White Strips Premium for $15 including shipping while they retail for $34.99 at your local Wal-Mart)
• Ross (Dress for Less!)
• Digital cameras and the fun moments captured by them
• Girlfriends (wonderful ones at that)
• Sleepovers and the friends that host them
• Dogs roaming my office
• Craft projects (upcoming: wedding programs)
• Project Runway and its great fan blog
• Friends' and colleagues' blogs 

"And these are a few of my favorite things..."

Pictured here is a $3.99 bunch of lilies from the farmer's market.

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You Know, the Girl With the Curly Hair

Since I consider my bachelorette party weekend to be a "special occasion," I decided to straighten my hair. My girlfriends will be arriving in waves starting in about half an hour.

As I blew my hair dry, I thought about how it had been about two months since I'd blown dry my own hair and straighted it with my flattening iron. The longer my hair has grown, the less I take the time to style it. My typical look involves throwing some gel or curl cream into sopping wet hair and walking out the door, allowing it to dry as the day goes on.

I suppose the wavy/curly regular look really started a little over two years ago. Up until that time, I styled my hair almost every day, with the occasional hurried wavy day. Just before a Train concert in July 2006, I decided I didn't have time to fully do my hair. When Dan came to pick me up, he saw a different style than what he was used to (which I was honestly very nervous about). 

To my surprise, Dan complimented my hair and asked me why I didn't wear it like that more often. I hope he doesn't regret it, because ever since he said complimentary things about my quicker "do," I don't straighten it very often.

Sometime I'll have to post pictures of the many hairstyles I've had (mostly during my high school and early college years). The mane has been everything from chin length and chocolate brown (not my shining moment) to three inches long with bleach blonde and dirty blonde chunks.

Apparently I've become very boring (and lazy)...

No Work for Roxxi

So, our CEO came into my office the other morning and let me know that after two "trial runs" in the office, Roxxi could not, at least at this time, become an office dog. He said that it's probably perceptions more than realities, but the issue is that people aren't used to big dogs. 

I was glad to hear him say that Roxxi seemed like a sweet and well-behaved dog. Also cited was the fact that we have an important client who's not as dog friendly as many of us are. I agree with our fearless leader that the work environment and culture are important and shouldn't be disturbed. He said she can come back for occasional visits. 

At least I know that she didn't do anything in poor character or hurt anyone or anything. I don't think she's the first approximately 100-pound Rottweiler to get somewhat of a bad wrap for others that came before her. 

Luckily Roxxi never got accustomed to being an office dog. Her life won't really change as a result of this decision; she'll continue napping at home on her bed or the chestnut-colored hardwood floors. All is well in the end regardless. I'm still happy to be in an environment where they are dogs roaming free, even if those dogs aren't mine. 

Photo is a few years old (visiting Jason's family's place up in Blue Ridge, Georgia). Roxxi is wearing Jason's family dog's life jacket.

Greek Yogurt: I'm a Believer

Referencing Kate in my previous post reminded me that I tried a trick she suggested to me—and I forgot to report my findings to her!

I am self admitting sour cream addict. I can find more ways than most to eat it, ranging from traditional Mexican and Japanese stir fry to chicken poppy seed casserole and homemade salad dressings. 

Kate suggested that I try Greek yogurt. If my memory serves me correctly, she described her love affair as borderline obsession. Well, I picked up some Greek yogurt about three months ago and never got around to eating it with so much perfectly good sour cream still in the refrigerator. I threw it out because its expiration date came around before I got around to eating. 

Well, I gave the stuff another shot recently. I don't know why I'd been too timid to crack open the container; I've always been a big yogurt fan—though usually in the vanilla variety. So last week, when I made chicken, red and  yellow pepper, onion and portobello mushroom teriyaki stir fry, I gave it a try. 

I'm here to tell you, I didn't feel like I was missing a thing by eating this Greek-style yogurt instead of sour cream. The sexy food accessory was still tangy, mildly sour and creamy just like the sour cream I've grown to know and love. And with 150 calories in the entire seven-ounce container (versus 40 calories in just a typical two-tablespoon serving of even light sour cream, about twice that much in the regular plastic tub), my pre-wedding dress body should be grateful. It does need all the help it can get!

The variety I picked up at the Your DeKalb Farmer's Market is Fage Total 2% kind. Check out the nutrition facts here. 

Guilty Pleasures Part II

Not unlike my friend Kate, I have an affinity for cheesy R&B music, sometime so sugary sweet that I am embarrassed to sing the lyrics in the company of others. Wouldn't singing the lyrics, after all, be a hit on my credibility?

After hearing a tune for about the fourth time on 99.5 fm ("99-5 the Beat"), I finally downloaded it. I've been jamming to this tune ever since.

So in an ode to my Guilty Pleasures blog from April 29, I write version 2.0.

• "Closer" by Ne-yo
• "Forever" by Chris Brown
• (I can't believe I'm publicly admitting to this, but...) "Crush" by David Archuleta (of American Idol fame) 

Download the iTunes  (or mp3's). I guarantee you'll soon be addicted, and dancing in your seat.

Extreme Random Room Makeover

We have a "third bedroom" at our little 1950's ranch that's oddly situated between the kitchen and a hallway leading to additional bedrooms. Its tiled floor and doors to the back deck also make it a less than desirable "traditional" bedroom.

Dan has mustered up the energy to do quite a bit of work on the room over the past few weekends. He painted the walls a warm yellowish khaki and pulled down a mishmash of shoe molding, crown molding and corner molding (the original owners didn't coordinate the dry wall to meet in the corners, leaving gaps that were covered up by molding). The old and disjointed molding was replaced with nice, new molding. Dan also stained tile grout (to match the kitchen's), switched out the light fixture, put up navy curtains (with a nice, mahogany rod), painted the dingy closet doors and changed out the closet and door hardware. A braided rug (from Scarbrough Faire via Ebay) and our new rooster painting topped off the transformation. We think the room will be a more inviting "office" than before and will serve the purpose of a convertible guest bedroom when needed (we moved the futon from the back bedroom, replacing it with a double bed).

Selfish thoughts run through my head... (I'll be able to sleep at least seven my bachelorette party weekend)!