Our weekend really started on Thursday when we headed to Wasabi in Canton (hint to management if you only seat the entire party let someone know at the time of reservation - it was slightly annoying but we still love you -THIS time) Tom got me to eat both octopus and squid - I would eat them again but probably not as a meal. The sake toasts were fun and the rest of the food and company were outstanding.

Having Friday off was a rare treat - we ended up at The Lizard for lunch with Aura and her Mom and baby D and then after a short trip to Aurora Farms we headed back to have dinner with Joe and Diana.

Freedomfest 2009 at the Malensek’s was nothing short of awesome. The hospitality of the hosts and the friends all getting together from near and far made the whole thing an event we all start looking forward to again starting on July 5th every year.

Tom - can’t wait to see you again next year.

Joe & Diana - I hope you had a good trip home and come back to us soon!

Everyone else you gotta know I love you!

When we first started planning our wedding we had many ideas of what we wanted to do.

My first thought was to get married in Vegas at The Venetian – that got nixed because family members kept wanting to tag along and my idea was a classic elopement with just a couple friends and a weekend to burn.

Soon after we scrapped the Vegas idea we began researching venues. The research was all done online and then we planned a weekend to look at sites. The first place we walked into was “it” for Kevin and we took it. It’s a very unique setting which gave me the idea of doing a theme wedding – the 1920’s. 

Once I found the dress – the idea of a theme wedding went straight out the window. Also, in order to pull off the theme I would have had to tell our guests what attire they should arrive in – a big no no.

We are now having a very classically inspired wedding – with touches of the 20’s and 30’s along with some unique modern twists.  I’m finally very happy with the way things are shaping up.  I’m still a little stressed out with all the decisions I have yet to make but I’m keeping my vendor list to a minimum – I’m not hiring any ‘uni-taskers’ .

Until yesterday my biggest worry has been choosing the food. I finally figured all that out – plated, duo. (don’t ask, if you’re there – you’ll see what I mean)  Today I am more worried about the favors and the bridal party gifts – I’ve found a lot of things and I think that’s the problem, there are so many options and so many merchants playing on your heart strings making a bride think that if she doesn’t get THIS or THAT then she obviously doesn’t love her guests or bridal party as much as she says. UGH. In the end, I pretty much know what I’m going to get but I am constantly over thinking the little details. See? self induced stress.

My weekend was filled with three kinds of trips – Dress, Stair, Boat

The first trip was a lot of fun because I got to go help Makenna, my niece and my sister all pick out dresses for the wedding. (They are all going to look F A B U L O U S  by the way)

The second trip happened later that night when I fell down the stairs – I swear we need to put some grip tape on the last wedge stair at the bottom. I wiped out and took the stuff off the side table next to the banister as well – good times.  I was pretty freaked out because I had just missed re-breaking my tailbone with that fall.  Gah! October would not have been fun with a borked tailbone!

The third trip was done at West Branch State Park with two very dear friends Justin and Jenny.  I hadn’t been on a boat since I was 17 years old and I think that time was at West Branch too and also with good friends :-] There were good snacks and music and some very very cold water – I don’t care what the guys said about being able to get used to it – That water was COLD. Luckily it was nice and warm on the boat and the sun was shining enough to get a little tan.

That’s all for my weekend.. how were tings on yours?

Kevin and I spent Sunday with Chelsea (Maeron) at Bowling Green.  We had some good food at a Japanese restaurant (natch) and then went to see a movie (Sunshine Cleaning) .   I also got a travel book for Costa Rica.  I’m getting a little more than excited about our honeymoon - maybe a little skittish about the zip-line tour though so Julie (Matron of Honor)  and I are planning a practice run this summer in Hocking Hills - I don’t want to spend all my time in the rainforest being too nervous to enjoy it. 

The wedding planning is still going well.  I’m starting on the invitations and the table decorations this week. 

All the coughing didn’t stop me from doing 35 minutes of the WiiFit. I love this thing - especially the hula hooping. I don’t do it as exercise though.. I do it for the fun and I guess that’s how they get you.

IF SOMEONE SAYS ‘ARE YOU OKAY’ YOU SAY [I AM]?
Ocean Avenue (Yellowcard)

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF
Silence is Golden (Garbage)

WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Burn to Shine (Ben Harper)

HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Sometimes (James)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE’S PURPOSE?
Don’t Panic (Coldplay)

WHAT’S YOUR MOTTO?
Pretty Ghost (Bodeans)

WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
The One Thing (INXS)

WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
The Prince of Parties (Flight of the Conchords)

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Pop Life (Prince)

WHAT IS 2 + 2?
Wild Wild West (Escape Club)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
None of the Above (Duran Duran)

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
A Lapdance Is So Much Better When the Stripper is Crying (Bloodhound Gang)

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Peach (Prince)

WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Secrets (Good Charlotte)

WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
S’Wondeful (Diana Krall)

WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Trudy and Dave (John Hiatt)

WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Do You Want Crying? (Katrina and the Waves)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
The Comfort Zone (Vanessa Williams)

WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Welcome to My Life (Simple Plan)

WHAT DO YOU WANT RIGHT NOW?
Two Seater (Bowling for Soup)

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
One Night (Eric Heatherly)

WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Mr. E’s Beautiful Blues (remix) (Eels)

I love Tiki bar TV :)

1. Who is your celebrity dream date?

It would have to be Brendan Fraser or Daniel Craig

2. Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger, Owl, Rabbit or Christopher Robin… which one are you?
I’d say Tigger with a little bit of Piglet mixed in.

3. If you could have a round-trip ride in a time machine and travel any distance into the past or future, where would you want to go?
I’d check in on myself when I was in high school - just to let me know that I’ll end up okay and not to worry so much about what people think. 

4. If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do?

Probably spend the whole day naked - providing that it was not during the winter.  If it were the winter, I’d probably spend it naked anyway.. and I wouldn’t go outside.

5. If you were to be granted any one magical power you wanted, what would you pick?
Healing (GMTA Denise!)

6. Career do-over! What’s your new job?
Archeologist

7. If you had to pick a new first name for yourself, what would you choose?
I can’t think of a better name for me.  I love my name.

8. If you had to assign an Indian name like “Dances with Wolves” to a friend or family member, what would it be?

I’m not feeling creative at the moment.

9. What good book have you read lately?
Infected by Scott Sigler

10. What is your dream vacation destination?
A month in Italy to tour the museums and the countryside.

11. What is the most enjoyable way for you to spend $25?
Books.

12. What is the funniest thing that happened to you this month?
It’s only the first of the month and nothing funny has happened as of yet. I’ll keep you posted.

13. What is your all-time favorite snack food?
Totino’s combination pizza rolls

14. Cost, practicality and travel are not a factor… where is your second home?
Beach House - pretty much anywhere.

15. Other than Facebook, what’s your guilty online pleasure?
Youtube.com