So Thankful!

I really, truly, am feeling like the luckiest person ever.  I mean, besides my job (which I hate and have no idea what I'd rather be doing...  oh the stress!), everything in my life is so great.

• I have the most wonderful fiance, who says sweet things like "I like to be close to you" and other such things.  
• My family is amazing and supportive, and I can't imagine life without them.  
• My mom is nearly done with her chemo treatments, which is enough to be thankful for!  Only 2 more treatments, 2 more weeks!  
• I'm thankful my dad and brother are around to take care of her.  
• I'm thankful that when our roof was leaking, and basement started forming puddles, I could not only rely on Dino but also my dad to make me feel better about the situation and stop freaking out.  And I'm thankful that the roofing company is fixing it and also has to pay for our drywall to be replaced!  If a house issue comes up, it sure is nice to not be responsible for the cost.
• I am so thankful that I am for the most part healthy, and have a warm home to live in.
• I'm also thankful the utility company is fixing the leaky pipe in our yard, and that yet again it is not our expense since it is on their side of the meter!  

One of the biggest things I am thankful for, and this is somewhat wedding related, is that I am marrying into the best family.  I am so grateful for that, and for them!  We spent last weekend at his parents' house, and had thanksgiving with them.  They are beyond wonderful by being so flexible with celebrating holidays; we discussed Christmas plans as well, and they are okay with us celebrating early with them for that as well.  I feel a little bad that my family is hogging us for the actual days, but it almost works out better this way.  

They are also just wonderful people.  I guess his parents had talked about not being those demanding in-laws that get a bad rap.  They couldn't be further from that!  They are not too involved, don't make any crazy demands or guest list changes or anything, and basically are more than happy to just let us do our thing and help out where they can.  Seriously, I don't think I could ask for better in-laws.

My FMIL is also taking this rehearsal dinner thing and totally running with it!  Unfortunately, my #1 choice and reason for thinking of food trucks, Molly Moons, is not sure they will be doing private parties next year. WHY?!?!  It's like, guaranteed money!  I want to pay you!  Argh.  But they won't know for sure until the spring, so we just have to sit tight, or make other plans.  So I'm not sure what we want to do, but I'm kind of okay letting her make those decisions.

They are also letting us tag along on another trip to Hawaii next year, after the wedding!  It'll be like a second honeymoon, but with his family...  Not as awkward as it sounds!  So exciting!  Just like the trip this year, when we got engaged.  

Anyway, on the eve of Thanksgiving, I wanted to take a moment to mention how lucky and grateful I am for everyone and everything in my life.  When I was little, more than anything I always said I wanted to be HAPPY when I grew up, and I think I am well on my way to that goal!

Losing steam...

Exhibit A: I opened this post about a half hour ago, and didn't write a word!

I don't know what is going on, but I just don't feel motivated to get things finished!  Looking at our to-do list, I'm getting a little worried.  There are a LOT of things on there, and only 3 are marked "Done."  To be fair, though, I didn't add some things that are already finished in steps, like I have added some future projects, and some things we don't need to worry about at all, like the officiant.  But this month, according to my to-do list, we need to book a caterer, buy my dress, interview/research DJs, block hotel rooms, and register.  Yikes, those are big things, and the month is already half over!

We did attend another tasting event last night for a caterer.  It was fun, again, but I honestly didn't like the food nearly as much as the last one - at this one most of the food was cold already, and a lot of it tasted sweet.  The last one had killer short ribs, roasted veggies and mashed potatoes, this one had tasty cheese selections, salmon (cooked on individual little cedar pieces!  So cute!) and apparently really good marinated cold veggies.  I guess it might depend on price a little, though, and I haven't gotten a quote from the one last night yet.  Dino told me he doesn't care too much about the caterer, since he doesn't think we'll be eating too much on the day, but it is important to me that we serve our family and friends really good food.

I applied to Randy to the Rescue, as they are coming to our city soon.  They want me to make a video application, and I'm nervous to do so - do I really want to put my dress search on national tv?!?!  Yikes.  But it might help?  I've been dragging my feet in general, keep making plans to go try on dresses, but don't follow through.  Boo.  I REALLY need to, though!  It's to the point where I almost just want to just go with the Pronovias dress I liked, just to get that item checked off the list.  I just would hate to have regret.

We haven't even STARTED looking at DJs, although I did kind of contact one awhile ago.  Prices are just so big, and I don't even know what I'm looking for, really...

We haven't contacted the hotel, yet, to block rooms.  Probably ought to do so!

The one thing we have done this month is REGISTER!!!  Last weekend!  We wandered around Macy's and picked out some things we like (and I had already started an amazon registry, but refined it a lot).  I hate all of the checklists everywhere provides, though.  You cannot convince me we need fine china or serving things or new silverware.  I have like, 3 packs of the same silverware already, so we're fine there.  We aren't fancy.  And we have a lot of things already.  Like, I considered not registering for a Le Creuset dutch oven because I have a Martha Stewart one that works just fine.  (But I did!  I've always longed for one...  and this one would be blue, whereas the current one I have is red, so...  Totally necessary...).  We did also register for some luggage, but holy cow is that expensive.  So many things on our registries are crazy expensive.  Sorry guests!

Registering wasn't too bad, though.  We had fun envisioning our future stuff, but it is also a little stressful picking out things you might have for the REST OF YOUR LIFE.  Deciding between Victorinox and Wustof  and Henkles knives was so hard.  We went with Henkles because the handles felt the best and they weren't as shockingly expensive, but I really really want Wustof.  I'm still not sure we need a new knife set, we already have some nicer knives, and I would love to just add a few more pieces to make our own custom set.  Dino is a little bit stuck on needing a set, though.  Maybe I'll take another look, and present my case again...

Man, there is so much left to do.  I'm ready for it all to be done for me, so I can think about the details and other little things.  Instead, I'm finding myself caught up on things I don't need to think about at all for another few months.  I need to keep it going, and get back into the decision making!