The Proclaimers

The Proclaimers "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" song is one of our (my sweeter and I) songs. We love the words and when he is gone he always tells me that he "would walk 500 miles and I would walk 500 more..." and it will definitely be played at our wedding!

I got to the city too early to go to work so I made a quick trip into Walgreens to run an errand and as I walked in, the song started playing!! I wanted to cry out of sheer joy!!

That being said, I know that it is going to be a GREAT Friday!!

Mary Kay!

Good Evening!

For a long time I have considered selling Mary Kay Cosmetics. I have decided to jump in a DO IT! I am really excited to start networking and pampering everyone and anyone!!

I am now an independent beauty consultant and I just set up my Mary Kay website! One of my goals is to get as many people as possible to check out the website and I want to offer 10% off any and all products on the site if you are one of the first 20 people leave me some feedback!!

Sign up for a free make-over and pampering party! I want to get the Mary Kay word out there! I am so excited!!

Thank you all, in advance, for your support!

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See ya later...

...CALIFORNIA


One of my very closest friends from college left California last night to go on to gradschool and pursue bigger and better things! I am so proud of her and so excited for her while simultaneously being VERY jealous of Indiana (where she is headed). She is going to study Student Affairs while working in housing (Something she does so well!). She is will be amazing at whatever she puts her, like she always is, and I could not be happier for her!

Fortunately, I was able to spend the last two weekends with her and we were able to go to the CA State Fair (one of my favorite places!) and I helped her pack this weekend and we just relaxed and created even more memories for her to take with her!!

Indiana State is gaining a top notch gal and they are very lucky and should feel very honored to have her join their student body and they better treat her well, OR ELSE! :-)

A Big Hit

Today is my last day working at my part time gig and tomorrow is my first day out in the "big kid" world!

I have been working at the same job that I have been working at since last September. My boss has been kind enough to let me work through the summer until I found a job. I have gone on countless interviews and have been gaining a lot of invaluable experience interviewing. I heard about this job from a friend and I went on two interviews meeting 3 employees, 2 HR and the man that I will be working for! Everyone that I met there has been very kind and welcoming and I am so excited to start working there next month!

There is a lot for me to get ready for my new jobs and I am looking forward to meeting everyone on the marketing team!

Since today is my last day at my current job, I (my mom) made sugar cookies and they have been A Big Hit in the office!

So I thought that I would share my (my mom's) secret!

The dough is pre-made Sugar Cookie dough, bought from the grocery store, and then cut like you are making circular cookies. After the dough is cut, you roll the pieces into balls and in a plastic bag you pour powdered sugar, cinnamon, and coco powder and place the dough into the bag and shake it around until the balls are well coated. Then place the balls on a cookie sheet and bake according to the package. The cookies will come out looking marbled and they are delicious!

While I am excited to start my new jobs, I am nervous for the new and different responsibilities! I know that I will be a great team member and I am excited for this new chapter in my life to start!

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Sweet Awards!

Lacy in the City's sister, Laura Out Loud, has recently started a blog and she and I have become virtual friends because I wanted to see pictures from and hear about her recent wedding to get ideas about my own and I have just continued to read about her life.

Laura was sweet enough to get a couple of awards and has passed them on to me! What a doll! Thank you for these sweet awards!I wish that I could send both of these awards back to her!

The rules of the awards are to share ten things about myself, and pass the award along to blogs that I love to follow.

First, a few ladies whose blogs I love to follow and would totally recommend that you check out:

Lacey Lacey in the City
(yes, I know she gave it to Laura, but I do love reading up on her life!)
Laura Laura Out Loud
(I love her blog so I have to send it back to her!)
Adrienne AOG Daily
(Her blog is about life, love and family! Always so refreshing!)
Logan Oh, Hello
(She finds the most inspiring images that make me want to go out and shop!)
Mykael For Richards or Poorer
(She keeps us updated about her life and has the most beautiful family!)
Sarah Sarah Jane Eddy
(I love all of her wedding images and ideas!)
Jen West Sac Honey
(She always has the best and most creative ideas!)

Now for a few fun facts about me...

(1) I don't really like nicknames that can come from my name--The nicknames that I have with my friends and family are special and come from a funny or meaningful story, those are the best!
(2) I met my fiance through my best friend. He is her brother!
(3) I am so in love and I have never been so happy and felt so much love in my life!
(4) I love my family and I consider my friends to be my family!
(5) While I am very outgoing, I would rather be at home, spending time with my family!
(6) Celine Dion is my favorite singer and John Travolta (in Grease) was my childhood heartthrob!
(7) I have not missed a bridal fair in the Bay Area, yet, in 2010!
(8) I would rather be cold than hot!
(9) I have really enjoyed blogging and I think that I am getting better at it and becoming more comfortable with it with every post!
(10) I JUST GOT A JOB!!!

My God Box

My mom has always said, "It's in the God Box" when referring to something that is out of her control. I never really understood what that meant until recently and now it is one of my most used phrases!

There are a lot of things in life that cannot be foreseen or planned and it is important to remember that everything happens for a reason. People come into our lives for a reason. Jobs, opportunities, success, failure, love, lost--you name it, it probably wasn't planned! Even a fun Friday night can turn into an unexpected adventure or even a total flop

Currently, I am looking for a job and have gone on countless interviews
It's ALL in the God Box, and I need to remember to be patient! I know the right job will come along and all of these interviews are just exposing me to the art of interviewing and when the right one comes along, I will be ready!

What is in YOUR God Box?

Sweet

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Sunday Fun Day!

On Sunday morning, I went to the Walnut Creek Community Park and did yoga in the Park. If you live in the East Bay, or are ever out in the Walnut Creek Area, you should definitely check out lululemon athletica's yoga in the park! It is so nice and relaxing! I love to start my Sunday out with some calming yoga in the sunshine!

My mom, FRIEND, Christine and Christine's mom and I headed downtown San Francisco and we went to Priscilla of Boston for my muslin fitting! It was a good visit because we got to voice some of our concerns and also to try the dress on and see what it will look like in my size!! Eeeee... IT'S ALL SOO EXCITING!

After our appointment, we all went to lunch at a sushi restaurant in Walnut Creek, Sasa. Oh my gosh! It was DELICIOUS!!! I recommend (We only ate rolls): Walnut Creek, Sasa, N. Main, & Dragon and we also got an eggplant dish that was pretty tasty! The ambiance was great, very modern looking and they have a fully stocked bar with lots of sake options! Definitely a 2 thumbs up!

Overall, the day was busy, but it was all great things and I was surrounded by great people!

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Tip Top Tuesday

I hope that everyone is having a Tip Top Tuesday!

FRIEND always brightens my day with a cheerful "I hope you are having a Tip Top Tuesday!" So I thought that I would spread the love!

I wanted to share what makes this Tuesday a Tip Top one!

(1) Planning to walk to BART and then getting an unexpected ride with a neighbor!
(2) Arriving to BART, running to catch the train, and making it!
(3) Reading "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and I can't put it down!
(4) Writing Rich motomail and sending him e-postcards with pictures from our engagement session!
(5) Eating yogurt covered pretzels!
(6) Getting a second interview for a job I want!
(7) Seeing a great friend tonight before she moves away!

and last and of course not least...

(8) Getting to check one more day off of the calendar for when my Sweeter comes home--for good!!!

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Petar's

Petar's is a restaurant and lounge in Lafayette.

On Friday Night, one of my friends, my mom and I went out to Pitars to get a drink and go dancing.

Oh boy, to say we had fun is an understatement! We had a BLAST!

We got there around 9:30pm and the people there were a little older to start out with, so the music was geared toward an older audience. As the night progressed, a younger crowd started showing up and taking over the scene, encouraging newer tunes!

The place is small and if you are dancing, it gets VERY warm in there! If you are ever in the East Bay and you are looking for a fun low key place to eat that turns into a lounge with a DJ, I would definitely recommend Petar's in Lafayette!

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Weekend Excitement!

I am going to have a full weekend starting tomorrow morning at 9am!

**Job Interviews**
**Dinner with friends from home**
**Brothers' baseball games [Fingers crossed for some summer sun!]**
**Dinner and a movie with a great friend!**
**Yoga in the park**
[and last but CERTAINLY not least]
**Getting fitted for my wedding dress! [well the muslin, anyway!]**

I am VERY excited for all of the fun that is ahead of me this weekend!

Wishing wonderful weekends to all!

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Books Books Books

I love to read! I like to take public transportation [silly, I know!] so I get the time to read!

At the beginning of the summer, I finished Blink, by Malcolm Gladwell.
I liked it, but I felt that it was a little repetitive and was boring and dry at times. Even though I thought that it was boring and dry, I took a lot from it and would recommend reading it to anyone who is interested in getting into the marketing field.
***
After Blink, I read The Tipping Point, also by Malcolm Gladwell.

I really enjoyed this book, more than Blink. I thought that this book was more practical than Blink and I felt like I was able to relate better to the content of the book. Of the two books, I would DEFINITELY recommend The Tipping Point!

Malcolm Gladwell is a very smart man who knows how to convey his point in his writing and really knows how to capture his audience.

Neither book is a real page turner, it is based on real life experiences of why people do what they do, how they do it, and what the repercussions are of their actions as well as describing snap judgments and how it is important to do while being very difficult. They, both, were quite good, and I am looking forward to reading Malcolm Gladwell's third book, Outliers.

Both Blink and The Tipping Point came highly recommended to me by a few of my friends as well as a professor of mine from college. I have gone on more than a handful of interviews since I have graduated and I have be able to bring up both books in all of my interviews! It has worked in my favor every time because my interviewer has always heard or has read the books!
[A+ for me!]
***
After The Tipping Point, I read Beach Road, written by James Patterson.

Beach Road was a quick and easy read. I was recommended this book by a family friend. It is a murder mystery and I was entertained, but a little disappointed. I thought the book was a little boring, but the ending of the story made the entire read worth it! There was a crazy twist at the end that I was REALLY not expecting! And usually, I am good about guessing endings! It was very unexpected! The book is about 350 pages and if you are looking for a story that is quick, maybe you are going on a little vacation, I would recommend this one!
***
Now I am reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson. I am not far into it [I am just getting the hang of the authors writing style]. I like it so far, and I have heard great things about it! I am excited to really get into it!

Blink, Tipping Point, Beach Road

Reno Rodeo

I was in Reno last week visiting my grandparents with lots of sun, food and relaxing! I had a blast! The last night I was there we all decided to go to the Reno Rodeo, "the wildest and richest rodeo in the west"

I had a blast! I had never been to a rodeo before and I am so glad that I got to go to this one! I guess all of the rest that I plan to go to now have to live up to this one!

The events include:

Bareback Steer Wrestling
Saddle Bronc
Team Roping
Tie-Down Roping
Mutton Bustin'
WPRA Barrel Racing
Bull Riding FUTURE RENO RODEO DATES
June 16 - 25, 2011
June 14 - 23, 2012

For more information..take a look at their website, or click on the event you are interested in!

The Slanted Door

Last weekend I went to The Slanted Door for lunch on Embarcadero at the Ferry Building.

This was my first time, and it definitely WILL NOT be my last! I am usually not an adventurous eater, I am actually really picky; but we decided that we were feeling adventurous and wanted to try something new and exciting!

We ordered [to share for 3]:
vietnamese crêpe with shrimp, pork, bean sprouts and onions
bánh nam rice dumplings with pork and dried shrimp wrapped in banana leaf
grilled tiger prawns over rice noodles with vegetarian imperial roll, cucumber and mint

Oh my gosh! Everything was FANTASTIC! And the location was great too!

And our waiter was so nice! He made sure that we ate each dish the way that the chef intended! The grilled Shrimps were delicious and the imperial roll was soo tasty! We liked the Vietnamese Crêpe and all of the sauces really complimented each dish! Some of the food was a little spicy, but delicious nonetheless!

The one thing that was a little weird to us, is that the bathroom (a) was coed and (b) has a monitoring attendant. The attendants job is to go into each stall after it has been used and wipe down the seat and spray a disinfectant solution to get rid of any odors and open the stall door for bathroom users..It was like the movies!

I definitely would recommend this place! Try it out!

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Skype

Skype is seriously the best technology ever invented!

If you don't have it, download it!
[It will make keeping in touch with anyone and everyone SO MUCH EASIER!]

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The Bridesmaid Dresses

After long hours of deliberation and some disappointments....I have picked a bridesmaid dress! I couldn't be happier with the result!

Originally, I wanted a red and white wedding, and after finding out that the shade of red that I was looking for was being discontinued, I had to come up with another option. So I decided on purple, then blue, than a magenta color that the salon calls "teaberry."
I wasn't IN LOVE with any of the colors that I had to chose from....

Thanks to FRIEND, and her never-ending patients, after trying on more bridesmaid dresses than I did wedding dresses, we found the perfect dress for the occasion and the location.

We decided on a more neutral color; a color that would go with everything and anything; a color that I didn't have to find the right shade of flowers to match perfectly with the dress. The salon refers to it as "dove" (quite appropriate for the occasion!). It is a simple, yet elegant dress that will compliment our special day!

I can't wait to see all of the girls in the dress on our big day! Yay!

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Mirror Images

I was talking with a few friends and one of them said "Is it true that if you take a picture of yourself, cut your face down the middle and mirror image both sides together, you will look like a different person?" We were all dumbfounded by this and I told that that I would HAVE to experiment and ask a coworker of mine to see if that is true and to test it out...

Here it is...

Me
Christine

MelissaWhat a TRIP!

Thanks Elbert!