random...

happy friday!

thank you for the sweet emails yesterday.
i'm doing better today.
things are just stressful and kind of tough right now.
i know it will get better.


last night i finally got to see my bestie, whitney.
it was just like old times.
we went to target, got subway on the way home,
made adult beverages and spent hours chatting.
it was a perfect night.

*tonight my sister is spending the night!
billy invited her to sleepover, ha.

i have taken 3 days in a row off from the gym/working out.
i feel extra guilty.
i'll be working out this weekend for sure!

we exchanged my dead dell
for a perfect little mac! i love it!!

this week was a long one.
i'm so glad it's friday!

i hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

i don't know why...

it feels like my heart is breaking a little more each day...

i don't get it...

it sucks.

i'm sad...

feeling kinda lonely...

thinking about it makes me want to burst into tears...

so i don't think about it...

i miss the way things were....

i know they can be that way again...

i just don't get how...

yet.

everything will be okay.

at least that's what i tell myself...

life isn't easy...

or always fair...

we all know that.

it's just so hard when 2 people are on 2 separate pages...

when they so much want and need to be on the same one....

some things just need to change...
need to be worked out...
figured out...

that's all.

p.s. Thank You all, once again, for your sweet comments on the dresses.

you all could not be any kinder to me if ya tried.

you make me smile :)

thank you.

second attempt....

thanks for all your comments yesterday! ha!

that place was a joke and they did get a horrible review from me!

onto the second bridal shop...

this place was a cute little boutique store.

we had to take our shoes off when we walked in.

the lady brought us to a large private room and

i showed her 5 different pictures of dresses i liked.

she had almost all of them!

billy and i are having a very tiny simple wedding ceremony so i don't know if i will end up getting any of the dresses i tried on or the styles because i think they might be too much dress for such a simple wedding. i had to try the beautiful dresses on though! billy and i are also paying for everything ourselves and i have to keep reminding myself of that.

we also don't know if we are having a reception yet.

if we do it will be a few months after the ceremony.

now for the dresses....

i didn't zip, button or tie up them because it would've done nothing...

we just used the clamps and that got them plenty snug....

DRESS ONE

front...

back...

DRESS TWO
(my fave)
front...
back...
DRESS THREE

DRESS FOUR

DRESS FIVE

DRESS SIXclose up of beads...

DRESS SEVEN

(i just tried this one on for fun....it is fun dress and it was small)

thoughts?

opinions?

at the end i told the lady my budget and she offered me 2 dresses off the rack for 50% off!!

i couldn't believe it!

i might end up going back there.

i just need to decide what kind of dress i want.

i loved the dresses i tried on, i just don't know if they are too extravagant for the wedding we have planned....

i have to admit, i'm behind on blogging.

for a sad, sad reason...

my cute little pink laptop i just got not even 30 days ago...

already stopped WORKING!!!

it says it has no hard drive, so frustrating!

i'm returning it this week, i hate it.

good news...

i'm only working until 2 today...

and i get free lunch on the company with some fun ladies...

woo hoo!! :)

you don't have an appointment...

as my friend and i pulled up to a bridal shop.
that shall remain nameless.
all i was thinking was this place looks kinda ghetto.
we talked about not going in.
then figured what the heck.
we are here.
we have an appt.
lets just go check it out.

we walk in the door.
we're "greeted" with a may i help you.
my friend stated we had an appointment at 11.
the lady shot right back, no you don't.
in a snotty attitude and beady eyes.
my friend said yes we do.
the lady once again said no you don't.
i'll look in my book.
her book was a calendar laying open on the counter.
we all looked at it....11:00 - Annie.
go figure!
bet ms. snooty pants wasn't feeling all high and mighty then.
she didn't apologize for being wrong or anything.

my friend and i went about 20 minutes early thinking we could look around ourselves.
we thought wrong!
the lady explained to us that we will find in our bridal dress shopping experiences that most places do now allow you touch the dresses and look at them yourself.
my friend who was with me said that was a bunch of b.s.
she has been out shopping for dresses for two of her cousins and her other friend many times in the past 6 months and she has never been to a place where they don't let you look around the store. she got married a few years back and said she never had been told that before herself either.
anyway, we followed the rules and took a seat and proceeded to freeze our butts off.
the place had NO HEAT!!
she told us they were having heat problems and to keep our coats on.
it wasn't even 30 degrees outside and it wasn't any warmer in there!

i showed her some photos of dresses i liked.
she pulled around 6 dresses for me, i liked 2 of them.
the store was very small and they didn't have much of a selection.
she was being all smiley and trying to redeem herself.
she seemed too fake though.
i tried on one dress and shivered the entire time.
no clothes, no heat...brrrrrr!
the first dress, i loved!
no photos....that wasn't allowed either.
i didn't even bother to try on the other dress i liked.
it was a size 18, not.gonna.work.

our appt was at 11, we left at 11:10.
with smiles on our faces.
the lady handed us a card and asked us to review our experience.
it was my first bridal dress shopping experience and it was one for the books.
the store that has been in business for 40 years can't afford a sign out front.
it had a banner hung with string.
no heat.
and bad customer service.
thanks for nothing ms. snooty pants ;)

i did end up going to another store the same day.
where we had an excellent experience, i will post more on that tomorrow.
i have pictures too!!

onto the rest of my weekend....
the dress shopping took place on saturday.
i got to spend the entire day with one of my besties!
we went to the dress stores, out for noodles, made weekly goal charts and played with her adorable little boy who is one. it was such a fun day!
that night i worked out and then billy and i made chicken tortilla soup, it was delicious!!
we watched the wild hockey game and i was asleep by ten.
i got 12 hours of sleep and woke up at 10 sunday morning.
sunday was my brother's birthday, he is 25. crazy to think, he is all grown up! ;)
i did the cardio max workout and then i went to my parents house to have my bro's birthday lunch.
my mom set up a yummy taco bar at his request, we ate and then went downstairs to play buck hunter.
i suck at that game! ha! it was still fun though.
after, i went to the gym and cooked some breakfasts and lunches for the week.
i'll post on that later this week.
then i went back to my parents for part of the vikings game and chili dinner.
what a nail biter of a game! i was quite bummer they lost :(
jeez, i talk about food a lot.....i heart pretty much all food big time ;)

i apologize for the long post with no photos...
lots of photos planned for tomorrow!
i hope everyone had a FABULOUS weekend!!!

btw, "she" (other bestie) never came over last thursday!
we had bad weather and she didn't want to drive.
i don't blame her for that.
we have made plans for this thursday.
hopefully it all works out!

she is coming over tonight...

ya'll remember this post, she did it again...

well she is coming over tonight...

after i posted that post about her always leaving me hanging and not making much of an effort...

she left me hanging two more times...

then finally wrote me an email saying sorry, we just need to hang out...

she felt bad for being so busy all the time...

i agreed, it would be a good idea to spend time together...

we are best friends...

we haven't seen each other in months...

and we only live an hour apart...

a few things have come up in the past few days between her

and i but i'm just going to leave that between...

her and i...

we are best friends, we love each other...

i am thinking tonight will be just like old times...

she got the point that i just miss my best friend...

and that i don't want to feel like a burden in her life anymore...

onto other random things...

THANK YOU...

so much for all your comments from yesterday's post...

i am torn on what to wear now...

i think i'm going to keep looking for a floor length ball gown...

if i don't see anything that catches my eye...

i'm sticking with that little pink blush number...

it is a fancy event...

so i want to kinda fit in ;)

question for everyone...

what is your favorite work out song(s) right now?

my fave running song changes from week to week....

right now, i am loving cascada evacuate the dance floor...

i decided to change up my workout routine a little...

i'm going to the gym every other day...

on the days i don't go i am doing the shred or cardio max...

i favor cardio max so that's what i've been doing this week...

i like the shred but with cardio max, i can get a 30-45 minute workout...

okay enough ramblin for the day....

happy thursday!!

p.s. who knew grapefruits were such a pain in the booty to eat!?

Wishful Wednesday....

This is my first week participating in Wishful Wednesday....

I read so many blogs who already participate so I wanted to as well!!

'I wish' .... I could have worn the gown that Lea Michelle wore at the 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards.

Lea Michelle's wore an Oscar de la Renta gown!

I LOVE IT!!!

I think she looks beautiful!

It's such a princess dress!!

photo found on bing images

speaking of dresses...

i've begun the search for my...

wedding dress...

i'm not mentioning the date as of now...

it is in under 6 months though...

i have a bit of anxiety about the whole thing...

although it will only be our immediate family...

my dress will not be anything extravagant...

we are paying for everything out of pocket...

we don't have much in our pocket, hehe....

our wedding will be very simple and just about us...

in other dress news...

we have a "ball" to attend...

the ball is not until april but i love looking for dresses...

last year i wore a long black dress...

i fit right in with all the crowd...

seemed like everyone was wearing black...

this year i want to wear something different...

i think i was one of the youngest people at the ball last year...

probably will be this year as well...

the ticket for dinner plates for this ball are $500 each...

we go because we get invited for free...

score!

i was thinking of getting the dress below...

it's from arden b...

billy really likes it too :)

what do you ladies think?
is it too casual?
would you pair it with gold shoes and accessories...
or silver?
or what other options are there?
thanks for opinions!!

happy wednesday to all.of.you!!!

waterpark weekend....

we spent most of our weekend at the water park of america.

we celebrated christmas with my mom's side of the family.

it was so much fun!

if i thought i didn't like my camera before...

now it's been confirmed...

i hate it...

we started off the night by playing on the this....

example #1 why i hate said camera....

action picture...

we were flying down the hall...

after hall races we went to the waterpark...

billy and i got dominic some car slippers for the hotel...

i think they look so cute on his little feet...

uncle b holding little d....

example #2 why i hate my camera...

the only photo i have of billy and i...

my nose looks like a case of bad plastic surgery...

why?!? ha!

girls only photo..

gina (my brother's fiance), me, my sis and crystal (my cousins wife)...

they are expecting a little babe this year!

me and my baby sis

the waterpark had a surfing/body board pool...

this is my billy showing off his skills...

they wouldn't let people stand, all you could do was roll over and attempt to keep the board in your hand and slide around...

dominic hung out at the snack table most of the night...
dom being a ham...
cousins....

our little charlie brown christmas tree...

my sis and her bobber cooler for the pool this summer....

lastly, my cute little cousin eli...

we swam from 4-7...

the waterslides were a lot of fun...

we tested them all, body slides, tub slides, 6 person raft...

which was by far the most fun....

we ate lots of snacks...

started playing the present game around 9...

it was an intense game of stealing and making deals...

trading and scandal...

i got what i wanted ;)

we ordered pizza at 10 and sat and chatted until midnight...

sunday billy and i watched the vikings game...

of course!! we do live in MN ;)

i spent most of the day on the couch just relaxing.

then off to my parents for dinner and desperate housewives.

billy gave me the best back massage to end the weekend...

it was a great weekend! :)

i love being able to see my family/relatives.

i hope you all had wonderful weekends as well!!

how to be a gracious b*t*h....

I received this earlier today and thought it was a too funny not to share, a little humor for a Friday afternoon....TGIF!!!

Jennifer's wedding day was fast approaching. Nothing could dampen her excitement, not even her parent's nasty divorce.

Her mother had found the PERFECT dress to wear and would be the best-dressed mother-of-the-bride ever!

A week later, Jennifer was horrified to learn that her father's new young wife had bought the exact same dress as her mother! Jennifer asked her father's new young wife to exchange it, but she refused. 'Absolutely not, I look like a million bucks in this dress, and I'm wearing it,' she replied.

Jennifer told her mother who graciously said, 'Never mind sweetheart. I'll get another dress. After all, it's your special day.' A few days later, they went shopping and did find another gorgeous dress.

When they stopped for lunch, Jennifer asked her mother, 'Aren't you going to return the other dress? You really don't have another occasion where you could wear it.

Her mother just smiled and replied, 'Of course I do, dear. I'm wearing it to the rehearsal dinner the night before the wedding.'

Have a great weekend everyone!! :)

like father, like son....

the other night when i was not feeling well....

gussy decided to lay with me in bed to keep me company...

he ended up rolling to his side and falling asleep....

next thing i know the pup is snoring!!

do your dogs snore?

this is something new for gus...

he has never snored before...

i think he is taking after his daddy ;)

gus does not snore when he is sleeping on his back...

with all 4 paws in the air...

or on his tummy...

only when he is sleeping on his side all stretched out...

unlike his daddy, who only does when sleeping on his back...

another thing about gussy....

he has this stuffed puppy (well 3 of them)...

he will take said puppy...

turn it upside down...

wrap his two paws around the puppy...

and proceeds to suck on one of puppy's back feet...

like a paci until he falls asleep...

he does this ALL THE TIME...

does anyone else's dog do that?!?

photo below of him doing this....

one last thing...

this little stinker butt had a groomer appt this morning...

my dad came over to pick him up at 6:45...

he rang the door bell...

so of course gus went nuts and ran to the door....

i opened it and gus saw my dad and took off....

back up the flight of stairs...

tore through the living and dining room...

then up the other flight of stairs...

straight into his kennel...

he wouldn't come out...

i reached in to grab him and he growled at me...

he never growls at me...

then he got nippy...

so i took his water dish off the kennel...

tipped it upside down...

then he came out, ha...

i picked him up and he cried...

i felt bad because i know he hates the groomer...

but he needs to be cut and cleaned...

okay enough gus-isms for the day ;)

hope everyone is having a great week!

so glad tomorrow is friday!! :)

didn't they always say we were the lucky ones...

i would have to say so...

seeing as how we are going to see this amazing man...

in concert in march!

billy introduced me to this man's lovely voice...

3 years ago when we first met...

i fell in love instantly!

who wouldn't!?!

in the first few weeks that billy and i started dating

we found out he was going to be in town for a small concert,

although tickets were already sold out.

so now, 3 years later he is coming back to MN

and we get to go see him!

i sat waiting for the clock to strike 10:00 so i order us the best tickets we could get.
i don't think we will be let down!
we are both equally excited to see him perform!!
billy maybe even a bit more ;)

a few months ago billy bought a couple of michael's cd's.. .

including his new crazy love cd...

we listen to it often...

while chatting, cooking or just dancing around the living room...

i'd have to say we are the lucky ones...

my butt hurts...

i thought as i woke up...

my a$$ is really sore...

i stood up...

oh my goodness...

my legs are too...

i hope i can make it down the two flights of stairs...

i reached for the railing...

realizing my arms were quite stiff as well...

my back, ouch...

WTH?!?

so maybe i was a little ballsy thinking i could handle the shred and the biggest loser cardio max.

i was still doing level one of the shred and it seemed like i needed a little something more and more exciting. i picked up the cardio max dvd at best buy for $8!

i did the shred, level one on saturday morning and then proceeded to do cardio max.

bob does the workout routine and it was actually fun!

at least a bit more upbeat than the shred.

it is high energy, you continue moving the entire 20 minutes.

even the 5 minute warm up is a mini workout.

the workout is weight lifting cardio almost the whole time.

i used 5 pound weights and didn't struggle.

you can go as hard or light as you want on each move.

bob just wants ya to keep moving!

you can choose to not use weights as well.

i did struggle on the pushup part of this workout.

i need more upper body strength.

the pushup routine they do is intense!

when i was doing the workout, i felt no strain on my muscles.

which is why i was quite surprised at how sore i was all day sunday!

it literally hurt to walk.

i don't get that from the shred.

it might have also been because i did 2 workouts and probably only needed to do one.

i'm looking forward to continuing the cardio max!

i will NOT be combining it with the shred ever again!

yesterday, i did the shred level 2.

today i am going back to cardio max level 1.

i don't know for sure if i'm going to continue to alternate the 2 workouts.

i might just stick with cardio max.

there are 3 different levels to the cardio max work out.

level 2 and 3 are 10 minutes each.

it is set up as a 6 week program.

2 weeks at each level.

if you need a new workout dvd, i would totally recommend this one!

i still want to combine the gym into my workout routines.

i miss the treadmill.

can't believe i just said that!

also, i'm paying for a membership so i should use it.

4 days and i'll be in a bathing suit....

not in a tropical/warm destination....

ha, only in my dreams...

i want to attempt to eat better...

i'm good during the day...

i eat healthy all day long...

i'm not bad at home but i'm not that good...

i like gummy bears...

billy has a stash of peanut mm's in the freezer...

we also don't usually eat dinner until 8:00...

then we are sleeping by 10:00/11:00...

i know that is not good...

tonight, biggest loser is on....

so is american idol...

thankfully we have 2 dvr's...

billy isn't into biggest loser with me...

we'll be watching american idol...

may be the last season we watch...

simon is leaving!!

time to slice up my apple ;)

have a great day everyone!!

weekend recap...

hi lovelies!
i hope everyone had a great weekend :)
mine was pretty low key.

FRIDAY
worked out...
then billy and i went to Best Buy...

he wanted this...

a headset to play XBOX live...
i have a feeling he will look quite dorky doing so...

he thinks it will be fun to tornment little kids...

meany!

i got this....

review coming tomorrow...

after BB we went to applebees...

half price appetizers....
we had one of their new apps, chicken wanton tacos...
my belly wanted more....

i was sleepy by the time we got home so i crashed...
i'm old and that was the excitement of my weekend...

billy decided to stay up all hours of the night....

setting up his xbox and playing his new hockey game...

SATURDAY
worked out...

cleaned and did laundry...

then packed my over night bag...

i watched 4 little boys over night saturday night...

triplets that are 8 and their little 5 year old brother...

i do have to say they are very well behaved kids...

very low maintenance as well....

they only needed me for food....

and bedtime stories...

SUNDAY

i woke up feeling sick...

got sick...

then made the boys breakfast...

i don't know if i ate something wrong or what...

i couldn't keep anything down...

not even water...

it's the worst when you are so thirsty....

guzzle water...

and just know it's coming back up...

after i left the boys house...

i decided to test my limit...

even though i felt like crap...

i wanted to go to my happy place...

TARGET

we needed groceries for the week...

i made it through okay...

got home laid on the couch and fell asleep...

i was due at my parents house at 2:00...

we were making paninis and celebrating my dad's birthday...

of course, i wanted to be there...

i drug my butt off my couch...

drove 2 minutes to their house...

and proceeded to lay on their couch...

by this time my stomach was in knots and just hated me...

i don't even know what i did to it...

i made my panini...

with 2 tiny pieces of rye bread...

and one piece of turkey...

my dad opened presents...

billy stopped over late for a sandwich...

then we headed home...

i got sick right when got home...

ugh...

the rest of the night i just laid in bed with my gussy...

billy had football to watch...

i needed my weekly dose of desperate housewives...

i took nyquil and slept quite soundly...

for the exception of gus who is a wiggle worm...

i am feeling much better today...

still have a sore stomach and my body is a bit achy...

but i'll survive...

the only thing missing from my weekend was dominic...

i miss that little guy...

i haven't seen him in a whole week...

anywho,

i hope everyone had a great weekend!!

off to find out what ya'll did! :)

p.s. thank you all SO VERY MUCH on your comments from my last post! seriously, what would i do with out you all?!? it's good to know i'm not the only dealing with a friend "like that". it's nice to be connected to so many ladies that can relate to the same issues. thanks again! i'll be sure to let ya'll know how things turn out :)

she did it again...

i have this friend....
she will text me and say...
"hey, how are you? i miss you so much? what is new? how is everything?"
all in one text...
i will text her back either right away…
or within an hour...
then i won't hear back from her...

a day will pass, sometimes a week...
then she will text me and say....
"i'm so sorry for not texting you back...
life is so busy but...
i miss you and love you so much...
i think about you all the time...
and I can’t wait to see you"...

i contemplate texting her back at these times...

although i always do...

because i do care about her and our friendship....
anyway, this whole texting thing has happened at least 6 times in the past 3 months...
it's starting to upset me...

it happened again this week...

tuesday...

i get the same ol' text, "hi love! how are you?"....

i wrote her right back...

never heard back from her...

wednesday....

i get a text that says "so sorry about yesterday, ...."

then she asks if she has any mail at my house...

she lived with us over 2 years ago...

she hasn't changed her mailing address...

i let her know she doesn't have any new mail....

and we text back and forth 3-4 times...

then she just stops....

no, good bye....

no, enjoy the rest of your day...

nothing...
this friend is one of my very best friends...
the girl I used to talk to non-stop…
all day, every day…

we would talk about anything and everything...

literally all.day.long...

i haven't seen her in 2 months...

last time we had plans to spend the day together...

she had to cancel...

i know she has a good heart and means well...

i just don't get how one person can be "that busy"...

anyway,

i guess i just miss my friend...

wordless wednesday

random....

Billy and I went to our first WILD hockey game together the week of Christmas.
It was SO MUCH FUN! We ate, had a few beverages and ate some more!

my favorite lil sister came with us too ;)

we had great seats, one of the guys I work for gave me free tickets :)
the men on the ice....

Billy got me these cute hand warmers from his store yesterday.
They are made out of all recycled products.
I love them and they match my laptop ;)

I might be the only one not watching The Bachelor...
Biggest Loser starts tonight...

American Idol starts in a week....
When does GLEE come back!?!

I am attempting to start the Shred...

again...

tonight, for the 4th time!

When I quit, it's usually to go to the gym but I have taken a 2 week holiday break from working out!

not good!

I have to be in a bathing suit in under 2 weeks....ha!!
I don't know if miracles can happen but I'm hoping to look at least semi-decent ;)

****************************************************

okay, enough randomness for one day!!
enjoy the rest of your day gals!!

Happy New Year!!!

I hope ya'll had a great New Year's Eve/3 day weekend!!
Mine flew by, of course ;)

Thursday/NYE
My brother, Dominic and sister came over for some apps.
I made some really random appetizers, buffalo chicken dip served w/celery sticks.

Stuffing balls (baked in the oven and rolled with sausage, very yummy!)

mini pigs in a blanket w/ketchup....Dominic and Billy were also being silly eating cheetos ;)
Billy and I had a few drinks after they left.
We ended up talking until 5 in the morning.
Ate some little piggies in a blanket, for breakfast & finally got to bed at 6.
Billy had to be to work by 8 the next day, poor B :(

Friday
I slept until 3:00, ha!
Billy and I had plans to take out 2 managers that work for him and the 2 lead supervisors, as their Christmas gift. He didn't want to do gifts this year and thought that us all going out for a fun dinner together was a better idea. There was 8 of us total, 2 of the ladies brought their husbands. We went to a hibachi restaurant, Osaka and it was so much fun!!

The guys were doing saké shots and we were all cheering them on.
Here is Billy...I guess they thought it was Billy's birthday so we got to wear some awesome masks, and the entire resturant sang happy birthday....ha! I should also mention our dinner was delicious!! After, we ended up going out with one of the couples to another bar, it was a great night!! I don't think we got home until 1 in the morning, once again poor Billy had to be to work at 8 in the morning. I don't know how he survives on hardly any sleep.

Saturday
I slept in late again.
Then my sis and I took Dominic to see the new Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel movie. Poor Dom fell asleep during the very first minute of the movie. He was so cute during the previews, we told him the movie was finally starting after 30 minutes of commercials and previews and he yelled "YAY" super loud, the theater was quiet but it got a few laughs.
We lifted the arm rests and Dom laid down on the seats between my sis and I.

After that we met Billy at Best Buy, him and I had plans to make a purchase or two.

B got a monster TV for the living room...
I got a new pink laptop:

I'm so excited to finally have my very first laptop!! I've wanted one for so long!
Merry Christmas to us :)
I'm glad we waited to buy these items, we got great deals on them!!

After Best Buy we all went back to our house and my brother came over to watch the WILD hockey game with us. We ordered some dinner and had a low key hang out night, we even made it to bed by 10:30 and finally watched The Hangover. Which was a hilarious movie!

Sunday
I woke up early and took down all the Christmas decor...

cleaned the entire house....

did all the laundry....

and got it all put away!

I was proud of myself for finally having a productive day ;)
Our house feels so empty to me now with all our Christmas decor put away! I think I'm going to have to do a little home decor shopping ;)
Once Billy was home from work we went to my parents for dinner. We stayed until Desperate Housewives was over. Love that show!

Now back to the real world of working full weeks....

I hope everyone had a great weekend!! :)
Best wishes for everyone in 2010