Co Worker Countdown

When I arrived at work this morning, my client team surprised me when they exclaimed in unison, "4 weeks!"  as I walked into our designated conference room.  Eye brows raised awe, I couldn't help but laugh.  First of all, I couldn't believe that they even remembered... second, I was stunned by their level of enthusiasm!  You'd think they were counting down the days to their retirement or lottery win- all 4 guys! :P  The cherry on top was when they all genuinely inquired as to whether or not they could help with anything! 
...sometimes I feel like the luckiest gal in the world.  Just when I think I am so stressed out, 4 of the most happily married men remind me what this process is really supposed to be about - love, happiness, and my future with Mr. Right! :)

4 weeks...
   ...  28 days...
    ... 672 hours...
woah.

1 MONTH!

Holy cow!  Where did the last 13 months go?  I imagined the time would fly, but I guess there is really no way to know how quickly it seems to pass until you realize there is a single month between you and your wedding day!  If you're wondering how it feels... it is terrifying, exciting, stressful, and most of all, unbelievable!  I still accidentally slip up and introduce Kory as "my boyfriend" on occasion.  What is going to happen when I introduce my husband as my boyfriend?  Good indication that this part of my brain is slower to transition than the part that is eagerly moving into the next phase... and the next phase! :)

So there is 1 month until we actually tie the knot but there is only 26 days until Kory and I fly down to Florida to begin our wedding adventure.  That means, technically speaking, I have 25 days to tie up all the loose ends!!! 

It goes without saying that I have a whole new appreciation for every wedding that I have ever gone to and will ever attend in the future - - specifically the bride, behind the wedding!  The fact that 1 individual, typically a young girl who has no background in party planning, or vacation planning, or major gatherings in general, is expected to put together a 'once in a lifetime' event for all of her friends and family, is quite the daunting feat.  More impressively, most of them generally turn out seemingly perfect and you'd never know that bride had a stressful moment!  How do you do it, ladies? 

Here's to keeping it together over the next month... prayers welcome!

Yes I’ll Marry You

In my search for wedding stuff, I ran across this adorable poem by Pam Ayres that reminded me so much of myself.  :)

Yes, I’ll marry you, my dear,

And here’s the reason why;

So I can push you out of bed

When the baby starts to cry

And I hear a knocking

And it’s creepy and it’s late

I hand you the torch you see

And you investigate

Yes I’ll marry you my dear

And you may not apprehend it

But when the tumble dryer goes

It’s you that has to mend it

You have to face the neighbour

Should our roggie cat attack him

And if a drunkard fondles me

It’s you that has to whack him

Yes I’ll marry you

You’re virile and you’re lean

Your house is like a pigsty

I’ll help you keep it clean

That sexy little dinner

Which you served by candle night

As I do the chappatis you can cook it every night

It’s you who has to work the drill

And put up curtain track

And when I’ve got a migraine its you who gets the flack

I do see great advantages

But none of them for you

And so before you see the light

I do I do I do I do

Oh the Anticipation!

I don't know about you, but I am ready to get my bags packed and head to Florida to wait for our ship!  Come on, it's only a little over a month early!  When I was a kid, I would start getting ready for vacations as soon as the idea of getting away was conceived, sometimes several months premature and I think I have a good excuse to anticipate this little getaway... I hear the food is to die for!  (haha, Just kidding, Kory!)

In preparation for our group vacation, I requested a few tips from Kristi and she responded with some very useful links for the novice cruiser in me...   here are the questions and responses:

1. What kind of entertainment should we expect? 
Response: Entertainment Link

2. Is there anything special I need to make sure I bring?
Response: What to Bring
Oh and I even found websites that provide checklists!  I found this site to be the most helpful: List

3. Any tips for a first time cruiser?
Response: Carnival Tips

If you have run across anything helpful, or if you've cruised before and have some personal tips, do tell!! 

37 days until the wedding... 35 days until our ship will sail!

Man Bling

With a month and a week to spare before our wedding day, I thought it was time that I drag Kory to a jeweler to pick out his wedding band.  We headed to the area with the greatest concentration of jewelry stores - the mall.  With Kory's specific desires in a ring, I thought we would likely visit every option the mall had to offer.  So when he found a ring that fit all of his "unusual" criteria at our first stop, I was completely shocked.  He insisted on ending the search, obviously because he'd found what he was looking for and more importantly, he hates the mall.  The shopper in me wanted to "shop around."  Fortunately for Kory, he was the appointed "boss" for this endeavor.  We ordered the ring, and headed home to watch his darling Steelers. 

This my friends, was the quickest successful trip I have ever made to the mall ... my future hubby will be clearly marked as T-A-K-E-N, in style! :)

Lap Dog

In celebration of her human grandparents' anniversary, Samantha felt a need to share my mom's chair with her at the dinner table.  One foot at a time she worked her way up onto her lap.  The dinner table is no place for a dog... but my mom brings out the baby in Sam, as you can see.  What a dog!  She simply has no idea how big she really is.  She is a teacup poodle in a giant's body!

Happy Anniversary to my Darling Parents!

Last weekend we had the pleasure of having my little sister and her boyfriend hang out with us for the weekend.  To add to the festivities, my parents came to Pittsburgh with my little brother to celebrate their anniversary!  They were so excited to have 3/4 of their kids together - but of course we all missed my sis, Kelly and her sweet kiddos.

I think everyone had a great time!  On our way to dinner, we stopped at a men's suit shop to have my dad and brother fitted for a suit to wear on the cruise.  I never knew it would be so fun dressing them up!  After my dad and Mikey had tried on what seemed like every suit in the place, they met with the seamstress on we headed down the road to dinner. 

Of course dinner was full of lots of laughter and comical conversation!  It was amazing to look around and think that this group of people is really all due to the love of one couple.  : )

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!  We love you so very much!! : )

The 3 couples while we were waiting for our table to be prepared (taken by Mikey)

Rosenberger Love.

The boys!

No family affair would be complete without some silliness... and this gathering was no exception.... :)

Later in the evening, we had the joy of hanging out with a long time family friend, Derek.  We are excited that Derek has agreed to control our video camera for our wedding! 

After a weekend with most of my family and some special additions, I am so thankful we made the decision to transplant ourselves to the other side of the country!  I can't believe what we would have missed out on!  Here's to more wonderful times with our nearest and dearest! :)

Recipe for your own Fairytale Love

Though the underlying lessons of this article are awesome, the inspiration from which it was written, creating your own fairytale romance) totally cracks me up!  I can't help but think of the Disney princesses and their perfect princes! Maybe I'm crazy for reading this kind of stuff, but if it's out there, and it works, why not learn my lessons through someone else's experiences?  I know, the author is probably a boyfriendless PhD student... but the attempt to link fairytales to reality is impressive! 

(Original Article)

Leave no doubt of your affection.
In romances you'll notice how the main pursuer is usually always up front about their feelings. Never do they let them believe otherwise. Take a look at your relationship (or past ones). Does your partner really know exactly how you feel? When was the last time you told them why you loved them or showered them with unexpected attention for no reason? If it's been awhile… do it now!

Value your relationship.
Most fairy tales involve the characters going through a tremendous obstacle to actually be able to be together. Overcoming those obstacles teach the couple how valuable the relationship and each other are. In real life it is easy to forget how important your relationship actually is. It may not seem like you've overcome great feats to be together, but if you think about it you could be alone still searching for someone. Think about how you would feel or what you would do if for some reason you would never see your partner again after today. How would that affect you? Make an effort to show your partner how much you value them and your relationship.
Defend and respect your partner.
When watching or reading a romance you'll notice how the characters never disrespect each other. Also, if some injustice has occurred towards their partner they are the first to stand up for them. There is something in doing those two things that completely changes the dynamics of a relationship. Imagine how you would feel if you witnessed your partner defending you or speaking highly of you to someone else. Make it a point to be there for your partner when they need it most and to show how much you respect them.

Don't evaluate or criticize your partner.
If a character in a romance overly criticized or tried to change the other character, the romance would never take place. Why? Because no one wants to be reminded of their faults or shortcomings, especially from someone who is supposed to love them unconditionally. A relationship is a place where each partner can feel completely and totally free with each other without judgment. It should be a haven where you go when outside forces close in. The next time you feel the urge to say something that isn't positive towards your partner… don't. Accept them for who they are… completely.

Don't let outside sources influence your relationship.
The number one antagonist in a fairy tale is a third party trying to destroy a relationship. Many times it's not even intentional. Outside influences are one of the largest causes of strife in a relationship. Take a look at your relationship now. Is there anything you both frequently argue about? Chances are it's been caused by an outside influence. The next time you feel the need to criticize, judge or argue with your partner make sure it's actually something that originated from you. If someone tells you something about your partner, first check the validity of the source and then confront your partner in an adult manner. Don't first assume what the person said was true. This is trait is especially important when it comes to family members.

Last, but definitely not least, don't do anything to cause a lack of affection from your partner.
Not all fairy tales have a happy ending. When they don't it's almost always because one of the characters did something to make the other fall out of love with them. Your partner can only love you as much as you give reason for them to love you. Don't jeopardize your relationship by doing something you know will cause them to lose their trust, faith and/or love in you. It's not worth it… ever.

6 years ago...

Kory and I are coming up on our 6 year anniversary!  Well, really, we don't have a technical anniversary.  We started dating casually, then seeing each other more regularly, moved across the country together, and next thing you know we are engaged and planning a wedding.  There was never a single day that we made it "official" that we were exclusively dating one another.

Though to me, there is a date, so I call this our "I Love You" Anniversary.  It was the day that I knew, irrefutably, that I never wanted to live another day without Kory by my side, and so I decided to express this to him with 3 little words - I love you.  This was only 3 years after the first time he "said" them to me on ICQ! haha! 

So with our anniversary just around the corner, my little romancer surprised me with a super cute Pittsburgh Penguins shirt (not the romantic part... but super cute, and much loved) and tickets to the opera!  Now I know he must love me to willingly buy those tickets! :P

Love on Mount Washington

Last night Kory and I had our first double date with Phillip ("Bear") and Ann, Kory's cousin and his fiance.  To our delight, they brought along their crazy cute little boy, Lucas.  We started out the night at a Hibachi grill for dinner.  Our chef was entertaining and fun ... and the food was delicious!  We had an awesome time getting to know Phillip, Ann, and sweet Lucas. 

After dinner Phillip and Ann kindly offered to take us up to Mount Washington - a place I'd somehow never heard of and they insisted was worth our time. 
Oh my goodness... If you've never been there, GO!  It is amazing.  It is on top of this hill overlooking Pittsburgh - it is amazing!  (oops... I think I already said that... but it deserves 2x amazing!)  I'd certainly never seen this perspective of Pittsburgh.  The twinkling city lights from the skyline at night were breathtaking and so very romantic. 
So romantic that Kory, Ann, Phillip, Lucas, and I all has the privilege of witnessing a marriage proposal.  We were hanging out on one of the scenic overlooks taking pictures, in no hurry at all.  I noticed a very well dressed couple (he was in a suit and she was in a silver cocktail dress)  hanging back patiently waiting for their turn to take a look.  This didn't seem out of the ordinary until we saw a photographer standing behind them, silently attempting to shoo us away.  When we all finally got the hint, we stepped aside and watched the magic happen.  The couple moved forward to take in the incredible view. They spoke a few words, not legible to our ears.  Then he pulled the ring out of his coat pocket, and got down on one knee.  In one swift movement he was back on his feet and they were kissing and hugging.  All the while the photographer was capturing this life changing moment in one of the most incredible spots I think I have ever been to!  It was perfect... so much so that I let out a loud cheer followed by a clapping precession.  Maybe inappropriate but well deserved. 
Phillip had mentioned that people get engaged up there all the time, but I just never would have imagined that on that Thursday night, we would be privy to witness such a thing! :)  It was such a fun night...  and I am so thankful we will get to hang out with them again... and again!

Time Flies...

I'm told that time flies when you're having fun... I'm finding that it flies particularly fast when you work 80 hour weeks and have a construction zone at home to tend to on the weekends.  Excuses aside, Kory and I have 49 days left until all of this (or lack there of) planning comes to fruition and we seal the deal in front of most of our closest friends and family.  This realization of how little time actually remains makes my stomach drop and flip flop with anxiety - not, of course, because of cold feet, but because I know I am forgetting to do something important!  With more substantially planning required than the wedding, the hometown celebration in January is also beginning to creep up on us.  When I actually get a little free time to think about it, I begin to wonder what I was thinking when I agreed to complicate this all so much.  Fortunately those opportunities to think about past decisions are scarce! : p

49 days until we officially merge our lives on the sandy beaches in Cozumel...