Weekend of Wonderfulness!

Remember the weekend I told you about? Well it came and went and it was a great time! I got up bright and early on Saturday so I could see Matt the earliest. It's a good thing I did because about 90 miles into my trip it dawned on me.... I forgot my dress!!!!!!!!!! For the first time in my life I didn't over pack, so I didn't have additional options. Fortunately, Dillards was having an amazing sale so I was able to find another one with out breaking the bank.

I went to the Victoria's Secret and got some fantastic OSU apparel from their PINK collection. For some reason the OKC store seems to have more selection. I got the cutest t-shirt w/the gift card that my best friend got me for my birthday. Just because he's wonderful, Matt bought me what I am sure is going to be my favorite sweater of 2010. Pictures to come!

We searched the mall for some clothes for our upcoming engagement pictures this weekend, which was a success as well. Then we registered at Dillards. We learned a lesson that if you're starving and short on time- registering may not be the best idea. We clicked stuff like crazy with little discretion. Beep! Beep! Sure! Why not? Beep! Matt asked what our total damage probably was...I told him that on wedding registries there's a "Greedy-o-meter" that people can see when they look at it. I need to tell him that was a joke. However- I did look at the registry this morning, and for the most part it was all reasonable stuff. Plenty of selection.....

We went to the cheesecake factory with his parents. That place is really great and their selection is NUTS. In light of our own upcoming nuptials, I decided to have a turkey burger- clearly that would be a better choice right? WRONG! I just looked up the calories. Approximately 1336 calories!! That's nuts! Praise the Lord I had a side salad and not fries! Lesson learned....

The wedding was really nice and I was able to collect several ideas. I got to meet Matt's friends from Midland- nice people!

I even got to meet and visit with Lt. Governor Jari Askins! I told her I am going to invite her to OUR wedding. Hopefully she'll be the Governor by then! There's my new dress too, it doesn't look anything like the original- but it worked!

Matt and I danced a few times. I loved it! Especially when we danced to Michael Buble's-Save the Last Dance for Me- which I have decided will be played at our wedding as well.

It was an all around really good time! It made me so excited for our wedding!!

On Sunday Matt and I just spent the morning together walking around brick town and working out some details for the reception since I have a meeting this week. We ate at Zio's for lunch and just enjoyed eachother's company. What a wonderful weekend! Next weekend should be great too!

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The Crazy iPhone

I've always had my opinions about the iPhone. First I thought it was stupidly expensive. Secondly, I find it annoying when someone is clearly referring to their phone as the iPhone. "Where's my iPhone?" "I took a picture with my iPhone". We get it. You're proud of your little phone. Excuse me, your iPhone.



Well, I'm a sell out and when Matt put the iPhone as a birthday present on the table I didn't decline. It didn't hurt that I couldn't hear out of my 3rd replacement phone. So we marched our little selves down to AT&T. First they were out of iPhones. What? Whatever. THEN we finally got some attention days later (geez, AT&T must really be making a killing, I don't blame them for paying for the monopoly).


Well let me tell you a few things about the iPhone.


First- you know their funny commercials that say "AT&T Covers 97% of Americans"? Notice it says Americans not America. There's lots of places that AT&T doesn't cover because not many people live there. Apparently my house is one of them.


Their texting is actually pretty cool because it's more like an instant message and you can see the ongoing conversation. However, you're not allowed to write words that aren't really words because it auto corrects. That's annoying.


The battery life is AWFUL. I have to charge it every single solitary day. My old phone would go strong for 4 days. Then if it died when I was out and about, I could just pop into US Cellular and they'd give me a free charged one.


Somehow minutes have become an issue. I apparently don't talk to enough AT&T customers- and I'm getting in trouble for it!

I think you can probably tell a lot about a person by their apps. My apps are iMapyMyFit, Pedometer, WordsFreewithFriends, Pandora, and Wedding 911. My apps say I'm a nerd, and cheap. They're free.

So here's me bored at work... writing about iPhones. This weekend should be fun. Going to a wedding. I shall take notes and get ideas!!

**** I forgot to mentiont that I appreciate my new phone like crazyyyyy! I'm not cool enough for an iPhone- but I suppose Matt thinks so. He's the best.

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Sure Signs I am Going to Cry at This Wedding

You know when you were a kid and your mom would be crying and she would say it was because she was happy? What? That doesn't make sense. You cry for 2 reasons. 1) You're hurt. 2) You're sad. That's it. You LAUGH when you're happy. Well I guess I am getting old. Lots of things make me cry just because they're so darn sweet! When Danielle's baby was born, I cried. When Matt proposed, CRIED. When I asked Danielle to be my Maid of Honor, BIG BABY.

Well those all seem like reasonable reasons to cry when you're happy. Well today I called up a DJ for the wedding (one thing that I actually am soliciting advise for). The guy was hilarious. I even mentioned to him that I reserve the right to withhold payment if they play anything like Shout, The Hokey Pokey, and most importantly the Chicken Dance. I hate that crap. I mean... to each her own on your wedding, but I personally hate it. Then you're a big party pooper if you don't want to "shake your butt." Nope, none of it for me. Oh- I just remembered that I need to add YMCA to my list.

So anyway, these guys are just being all chatty, they're good sales people. Then he starts giving me an example of how they will host the party and they'll say stuff like " And welcome everyone, we're going to have a great night, feel free to help yourselves to some food and drinks and in a few short minutes we'll welcome for the first time Mr. and Mrs. Padgham". I GOT CHOKED UP! I got a little choked up just typing that. Mr. and Mrs. Padgham. Holy cow. I mean, it's not like I had never thought of it before, I just hadn't heard anyone else say it out loud.

I feel like that's just the tip of the iceberg in sappy moments. There's so many people involved that are really special to us. This whole experience will be a great blessing.

In other news, I am thrilled that my Negotiations class has worked like a charm. I feel like I should invite my professor to my wedding because he saved me so much money. Seriously.

I am getting more and more excited about this wedding. It's going to be a great time. YAY!

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I'm just not interesting these days

Sometimes... way in advance I come up with something I would like to blog about. Something EPIC or funny or something that I need to get out there on the World Wide Web. Lately... nothing. I'm back to the 'ol daily grind. I mean... stuff is going on... we have picked a wedding chapel and reception venue... that's big news. Picked all of my bridesmaids.....that was cool... My cousin got hit by a train. Not just in a car (although that would be bad enough) but no.. just my cousin himself got hit. He's going to live. He actually went home yesterday after 2 weeks. I'd say that's a miracle, and I am very appreciative. I saw inception.. it rocked my world. I could see it again. I even went alone. I had some drama at work yesterday. Seems to be working itself out. Going to a wedding this weekend. Buying engagement picture clothes. That should all be fun.

See, stuff is going on. Not one single subject is really "blog worthy" though. Nothing insightful. I'm just doin my thing. Maybe when football season starts I'll have some blog worthy experiences. Who am I kidding? I don't even watch the games! Maybe I'll blog about how ridiculous wedding planning is. Yes... perhaps I shall. I would read a blog about wedding what not. BUT wait... I'm not giving out details... remember... not into the opinions... I'll think of something. Don't worry o yee faithful followers! I will once again be interesting!

(That reminded me of the scene in Gone With The Wind where she picks up the dirt and says "God as my witness! I will NEVER GO HUNGRY AGAIN!"- see I'm so boring I have to be dramatic about being boring...)

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Weddings and Resolutions

Well I am back to work. The first day was a whirl wind because it felt like everything was everywhere and not organized my way (however, the girls that helped in my place did an awesome job and I really appreciate them). You know how something can be clean, but not your kind of clean? I mean, I spend more time sitting in this chair than I do... well anything else. So, it's reasonable that I am picky about it. Anyway, now it's Thursday and things feel like they never changed.

Now that I am back and had time to talk some things over about the wedding with Matt, we are hitting the ground running on several things such as the engagement party, venues, bla bla. I read on a website, which may be the single greatest piece of advice I have gotten so far is:
"Don't tell everyone the details of your wedding. For one you'll ruin the surprise and two, you're opening up yourself to the opinions of others." Genius! I have been stressed out about just about every aspect so far from venues to prices to bridesmaids, not hurting any one's feelings, making it beautiful when in all reality, it's about me and Matt. I would be just as happy marrying him in front of a JOP and calling it good. But, somehow I think I might come to regret the decision in the future, and I don't think our parents would appreciate it. So there we have it, it's going to be a surprise for the most part. We'll do what we want, and I am sure everyone will love it because they love us... and if they don't.. why are they coming to the wedding? ha ha

Well every bride wants to look their best at their wedding and I am no exception. I want to look "my" best... not what someone else's definition of my best is, which means I am going the healthy route. No crash crazy diets, no malnutrition, just good old fashion diet and exercise. I have also taken then opportunity to realize my major vices... beer and chips & salsa. Goodbye old friend. I'll see you after the wedding... maybe. One thing I am proud of is that I gave up aspartame for New Years and I actually kept it! It's almost September! People have their opinions about the validity of the danger of aspartame, but really it just keeps me from pop all together because I'm not willing to suffer the calories of a Pepsi...unless it's a really stressful day.

Anyway, I felt like I hadn't posted in a while. Enjoy!

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It's Not Goodbye, It's I'll See You Later

Well, after over 3 weeks of visiting Matt in Midland, TX, tonight will be the last. At least for a little while. I have had a wonderful time! Since I have been here we went to a play, went to a barbecue, decorated the house, went to Ruidoso NM, Had my ahem, 24th birthday, hosted his family, and most importantly, spent some much needed time together. I can't believe I am saying this, but I am sad to leave West Texas. Not really the West Texas part, but the life I have enjoyed while visiting Matt. Cooking dinners and watching movies and just being together has been great. Here's a little highlight reel via pictures.

Matt's Souvenirs from Costa Rica. I drove to Midland almost immediately after I got home. I missed him so much!

Our first home cooked meal together in the new house.

Reliving my Costa Rica experience (and expertise!) I bought a pineapple and cut it up myself! Also began collecting things to put into the composter that I brought with me to give to Matt.

Oh the composter. I hope that Matt keeps up with this while I am gone! I put it together myself and I have been really good about putting things in it. I even got a rake out and "mixed" it the other day. We're gonna have some awesome dirt in a few months. Even more importantly, we are keeping food waste out of land fills, and it's just a fun science project!

Our stop in Roswell NM was priceless. We brought back "Alien Ale" beer. So cute!

Our trip to Ruidoso NM. It was such a wonderful weekend together. That place is beautiful. This is a great memory.

My 24th birthday. Matt made it perfect. He is so wonderful, I felt like a princess for the day.

It started with breakfast and flowers in the morning and ended with an iPhone, Dinner, AND a movie!

Matt's sister, her son Ian (above) and his parents all came to visit last weekend. It was a really great time. It was great to have them all here. His parents were so dedicated that they were even willing to sleep on air mattresses. Hopefully we'll have a 3rd bed by the time everyone gets together her again. Ian is the sweetest baby. I am super excited to officially be an "aunt" in May.

Lisa schooled me at DDR. I think this is a picture of her telling me how it's done. Wine + DDR= great family fun.

I had a wonderful vacation! It's back to reality on Monday, but not before my family has a "reunion" of sorts. We are going to the Illinios river for the weekend with a TON of family. It will be the perfect ending to the perfect summer.

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Ruidoso, NM

Last weekend Matt & I took the 5 hour drive to Ruidoso, NM which is a nice town in the mountains. It's MUCH cooler there, which was was a nice change of climate. On the way there, we had to go to Roswell, NM- yes, the ALIEN Roswell, NM. That was an experience.

Notice that is says "Museum & Research Center". Matt and I couldn't help but wonder... "What on Earth (or not on Earth) ar ethey still researching???" The "landing" was in 1945!

We walked around and still had fun with it!

My new friend and I just hang out at a diner. He was pretty nice. Didn't talk much.

We had to assure them that we come in peace!

After we settled in at our Cabinette (Sweet, I know) we hung out the first night. Matt won a little playing Monopoly at the casino! So did I, but he did better. Go Matt! ha ha

The next morning we took a drive up the mountain. Oh my goodness it was abosuletely beautiful!! Who knew New Mexico was so pretty?

Self Portrait! The Timer is awesome!

Later that afternoon we went "trout fishing" and I say "trout fishing" because it was really just a step of above fishing in a barrel. You just had a stick of bamboo, a string and a hook, eventually the fish would bite. And they did! They used the term "we clean them for you" very loosely. Yikes.

We even went to the horse races and I won! (once). It turns out that picking your horses based on their names such as "Sexy in Stilettos" and "Pretty Eliza Jane" is not really the best strategy. We had a really good time though!

Overall the weekend was great. I have really enjoyed getting to spend time with Matt. Now I need to get after working on some wedding planning. More to come!

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