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I’ll post more on this later but all I have to say is finding a dress for your wedding is gosh darn painful and brought out a side of me I never thought existed. BUT! On the day of my friend Rachel’s birthday I had two very important life moments. 1.) C and I got our marriage license and 2.) “My dress” (dress thing actually, I wouldn’t really call it a “dress”) arrived in the mail (I’m a mail order bride) and it is perfect. Only a week and a half away…kind of cutting it close!?!?!?! Yes. Phew is all I have to say. Ok, bring on the nuptials.

Phew! We did it! As of yesterday, April 28, 2011 Cdawg and I made the 10 year mark in our courtship.

(yes, my face is really that white and Cooper’s isn’t really that dark but in comparison to mine he looks like another ethnicity).

To celebrate we 1.) Are getting married (in two weeks!) and 2.) Dined at Chez Panisse with a reservation at 9:15pm. Eat a four course dinner at 9:15pm you say? Yes, we ate late and we seriously enjoyed every moment of it. PLUS, since we finished at midnight it was easy for me to stay awake in time for the Royal Wedding! There is something to say for watching “historical” events happen live that just gets me…makes it real. We watched the tsunami in Japan as it happened live and I think the emotional impact was so much stronger as it happened. Anyhow, my favorite parts of the Royal Wedding were 1.) The anticipation of seeing “the dress” and having that first peek as Kate stepped into the car, 2.) The trees! The shots from down the aisle were unlike anything I could have imagined in such an old church 3.) Chatting with an old friend via facebook as it all happened. That was fun. Ok, anyway here is what we ate at Chez Panisse:

Bagna cauda with cardoons, asparagus, carrots, turnips, and radishes
Tomales Bay clams with spring onions, peas, spinach, and toasted breadcrumbs
Becker Lane Ranch pork confit with fava and flageolet beans, celery heart,
caper salsa verde, and mâche
Tangerine sherbet Pavlova with strawberries

AND, they sat us at the same table where we sat in 2007. I asked if they keep record or something but nope, it was all coincidental.

Anyhow, I’m really thankful to have a Cdawg and can’t wait for the next 100 years we promised to live together (we shook on it at dinner last night so there is no backing out now).

***Disclaimer! I wrote a lot. Sorry.

One of my favorite parts about this matrimonious thing (besides marrying Cdawg, having so many really amazing people coming together to help celebrate, looking forward to eating the really good food and changing my name to Beckass {totally kidding on that last one}): is THE RING! Who would have thunk it? Not me, since I don’t really wear much jewelry.

While visiting Washington in February the task was to start the ring selection process. I told the Cman long ago that I didn’t need a $293857923875923875 engagement ring. Actually, I didn’t want one at all. I’d rather save the money for something else. So, instead of doing the traditional two ring deal we hunted for something else to adorn our fingers. I realized quickly how painful this process was…especially since there are so many large and in charge big honkers out there that just are not me and I had no idea what I even wanted. We’d go to a jeweler and I’d look for something simple and understated which beyond just a basic band was virtually impossible to find. Luckily, C-dawgs mom was SO kind to offer her grandma’s engagement ring…a beautiful but simple rose gold ring with a missing stone in the center with one small diamond and one small pearl on either side. For some reason this ring just spoke to me and I fell in love. Plus, it was full of good “juju” since Cdawg’s great grandma had been married some 40 54(!!!) years. We took the 100-year-old ring to a family owned jeweler to see what we could do with it and it was somewhat suggested that I not consider working with it because it was so worn. They suggested melting it down and making something new out of it. I just didn’t have the heart to do that. So I gave up (a little) on the heirloom.

On our way back to Cali we drove through some outlet stores in Oregon (no sales tax! woot woot!) and I found a different ring that I kind of liked for $199. Ha! I found my potential wedding ring at an outlet store! I’m too embarrassed to say the name of the store…you’ll laugh at me. Yes, I kind of felt like a cheap date but the ring was really me and simple and tiiiiiiiiny (like only 1 mm wide!). The guy even said, “Boy, you sure don’t want people to know you are married!” (side note, I have long white fingers so something big and shiny just wouldn’t work…small and simple felt better). So I bought my wedding ring at an outlet store. Whatever.

Then my wild mind got going again and I thought…maybe I should just try working with the heirloom ring at a local family owned jeweler and see what they say. We took it to Oaks Jewelers in Berkeley….first we met the founder of the store, a man who started the store in 1948. Yes, 1948! (and I fell in love with him by the way). He directed us to his son (who is now the owner) and after showing him the ring he didn’t question for a second the ability or desire to keep the 100 year old treasure alive. He worked with us without pressuring in any way to get the ring just the way we wanted it and each time we went in they’d remember who we were. They were beyond awesome. And although a family heirloom is priceless I would have to say their prices were so reasonable (ok, so maybe a little more than outlet prices, but still). Cooper also found just the right ring for him there too…a euro cut (i.e. not so domed but not square) yellow gold band. I bought his ring, he bought mine. That is romance.

Anyhow, SHAZAO! this is what the end result looks like:

I kick myself for not having a “before” photo but really the ring is exactly as it had been except they polished it, added new little diamonds in place of the one little diamond and one little pearl and in the center is a yellow sapphire. Yes, diamonds are a girl’s best friend but I wanted color/character not just another diamond! And we thought it would look a little less like an engagement ring if I didn’t go all out diamond action. I love it love it love it love it love it love it love it love it love it love it love it love it and just can’t wait to wear it for as long as it will keep living. THANK YOU to my future ma-in-law for giving me such an incredible gift! Makes my heart and warm and cozy inside. I truly am so grateful.

Oh, and just to clarify I’m not wearing it until the “deed is done” and I returned the outlet mall ring to the outlet mall.

First time at In-N-Out for two little girls:

Eyes full of hunger and genuine enthusiasm for the best burgers in the world. The next night when we asked the question “Where should we go to eat tonight?” I heard one little girl yell from the bathroom “In-N-Out!” Atta girl.

This post looks very “Spring-y” which was not my intention at all (and actually the pastel colors make me a little nauseous) but it just so happens that there are a lot of spring time things coming at me that I’m really thankful for.

I’m thankful for my neighbor who just had to jet off to Italy and before leaving she gave us a dozen eggs from her food stylist’s chickens (our neighbor is an amazing food photographer). These eggs are so so so so so so beautiful…some are narrow and tall, some are fat and short, they are all different hues like browns and greens and blues and some have little speckles! And they taste so good! Not only did she have to give us a dozen eggs but she gave us hoards of cheeses, crackers, fruits and beautiful lemons. Thank you to my neighbor.

Thank you to my neighbor’s friend who was visiting the area and before leaving she gave us some of the best smelling flowers. I now declare that if you want to make me really really happy just send over some gardenias.

And then, I’m thankful for this little fan that I found at a garage sale for $5.00 while on a girlie weekend with my gal pals. Not only does it look cool and is it all old and rusty and industrial but it works! Just don’t stick your finger in there…the metal blades will chop your little limb right off.

And, I’m thankful for having the gumption to pick up my camera again. I feel like it has been ages since I’ve used it and I realllllly need to get back in the creative spirit again/see things in a different perspective. Its all about the little details that make this big wide world kind of interesting. As a matter of fact…I’m kind of inspired to start a new project…

A little delayed and just crappy iphone photos…but here is our attempt at giving Oslo a mohawk. Because he has such curly hair it is hard to get the hawk to stand up straight…so really it is a flophawk.

In working from home I certainly don’t socialize enough but this weekend I got out and made some new friends!

This is Marissa, she is a hair dresser who is so obsessed with Paul Mitchell she had his name tattooed on her neck.

This is Tammy. She raises pit bulls.

I didn’t get to chat with all of their friends but the one
with the dreadlocks was really nice…

Cdawg said the other day “You’ve officially become a bride.” I barfed in my mouth then thought to myself…”what did I do?!?!” Well, let me tell ya (this is a bit of a confessional).

1.) We are planning a super super uneventful event. Not inviting more than 40 people…and keeping it to immediate family and close close friends. Even with a super uneventful event we need to make it semi worth it for those who do come which means a teeny tiny bit of planning. So, for the teeny tiny bit of planning I guess I get a little caught up and the man has to reign me in…a lot.

2.) I bought this:

and this

(For those who don’t know, these are paper doll cut outs with lots of different outfits to dress the characters in). I purchased these primarily for the kids to play with during the luncheon portion of our uneventful event but they are also my one SUUUPER girlie attempt at this whole wedding thing. But really, don’t you just want to dress something in this?

3.) I’ve asked two 5 year olds, a 2.5 year old and 3 month old to be my “bridesmaids.” They won’t actually have to do anything but I thought it would fun for these girls to say they’ve been bridesmaids before…when they were as tall as an adult’s kneecap. One note: my 5 year old niece said she didn’t want to be a bridesmaid but preferred the role of flower girl. So she is officially a flower girl who won’t be holding any flowers (I don’t think). I asked her what she is going to wear and she said “My most flower-y dress and maybe I’ll put a butterfly in my hair like the butterfly has landed on a flower.” I love her.

4.) The UPS man comes just about every day. Translation: Finding something to clothe myself in has been PAINFUL. I’ve made appointments at 5 different bridal stores but canceled each one. I won’t go in. Makes me sweat and feel all itchy just thinking about going into a bridal store. (side note: I’ve had this same reaction at ring shops too. Man alive). So, I’ve had the “bridal store” come to me. But, this has not been a fun process for those who are trying to help me because just about every day I send a new photo of a different dress.  And this is driving people crazy. I even got Cooper involved. I feel bad about that. The issue is I don’t really care but at the same time I guess I also put too much pressure on myself. Plus I don’t want to feel like “a bride” or look super bridal. I bought this dress and thought “this could do” now I think it is too bridal-y. (obviously, I won’t be wearing this so if anyone wants to buy it from me I’ll sell it to you for cheap!).

I still don’t know what I’m going to wear. Expect a burlap sack creation with “I’m a Bride” written on it. Ha!

Have I mentioned I’m a senior citizen in a 30 year old body? Yes, I have? Oh, right…I seem to forget things. Well, to add to “I am an old person” list I have to share something: my old women shoes.

They look ridiculous, are quite ugly and don’t “fit in” in California (they can pass in Colorado but certainly not California). Cooper makes fun of me because of my Dr. Scholl’s shoes with the boat bottom sole but I have to profess to the world that these shoes are AMAZINGLY  comfortable. I tried them on in the store (for fun) and was instantly in love. Not for a moment have I had any need to break them in…I can wear them for hours and hours and hours and still feel so incredible. AND I think they may help my posture and my back pain. These things have changed my life and I’m now addicted to orthotics. HA!

What do three grown men do on Christmas morn? They dress in their red long underwear and pose on a kid’s playset. Then we go for a walk around the neighborhood…still in the long underwear. THAT is what I call a merry Christmas.