Fly Around My Pretty Little Mess

You Are Still My Mother, Even If I Am Married

noreply@blogger.com (Prettylittlemess) — Sun, 13 May 2012 17:25:00 +0000

Confidential to Mum:

Happy Mother's Day!

A year ago, we were both stressed as I planned a wedding in DC, and you were in Texas. Ok, so you were not there to help me glue rhinestones onto my wedding program, but you were there for us from the moment your plane landed.

Thank you for all the water bottles ordered through room service and delivered to your hotel room (the upgraded room you insisted on), the cash for taxi cabs, the trips to thrift stores looking for glassware for floral arrangements, taking a pair of scissors to the tulle on my wedding dress, and acknowledging all the hard work Josh and I put into our wedding and sharing your pride with our wedding guests.

Thanks, Mum.

Photos by Katie Stoops

Items I Have Tried To Coat Check or Valet

noreply@blogger.com (Prettylittlemess) — Thu, 10 May 2012 20:22:00 +0000

That probably shouldn't have received such luxury:

ZipCar at Thai Patio in Los Angeles, California (success)
Coleman cooler at Casa Nonna in Washington, DC (success)
Bag full of Donut Vault donuts at the Art Institute of Chicago (failed)

Your Birthday Present

noreply@blogger.com (Prettylittlemess) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 19:38:00 +0000

Confidential to Brad McMahon, (someday) Attorney at Law:

Happy birthday, bud! We had a great time visiting you in Chicago two weeks ago. I'd wait an hour and fifteen minutes to get into the Shedd Aquarium with you anytime.

(No, I actually would not. I would buy advanced tickets online like I asked SOMEONE *Josh* to do the morning of our adventure.)

July 2011

Photo by Katie Stoops

Day Late, Picture Full

noreply@blogger.com (Prettylittlemess) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 01:47:00 +0000

Confidential to Dad:

Happy (belatedly announced to the Internet) Birthday!

Sorry I forgot to publish this yesterday. I'm glad you enjoyed your birthday card. FYI, our toilet isn't working again today. When are you coming over to fix that?

Tabard Inn, July 2011

The staircase to climb up to the penthouse suite at the Tabard Inn was narrow, old and tight. Dad climbed it to deliver some water bottles to my room as the ladies in his life were getting their makeup done. He made one of the best comments of the day: Do you like the room? We had Anthropologie come in and decorate it for you. The mirror above is just one example of the eclectic decor.

Darlington House, July 2011

At the end of the reception, as there was a mad rush for people to line up outside for our grand exit as a couple, Dad came up to us and said "Best wedding I've ever been to, you two. Better than my own!"
All photos by Katie Stoops

Not Included: Soccer Balls & Orange Slices

noreply@blogger.com (Prettylittlemess) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 00:38:00 +0000

The McJohnsons are now the proud owners of a 12 year-old Volvo station wagon. Here is the reaction from a friend when I e-mailed him the below photo of our new ride. The subject of my e-mail was "I bought this. Thoughts?":

It looks kind of like a used Volvo. Are you sure you're really from Texas? I bet the only radio station that it can actually pick up with a clear signal is NPR. You should get some bumper stickers that say things like "Eat Local" or "Free Tibet." Cheers to you, good American car owner. Mr. McJohnson will need all that space in the back for his legal briefs and Driving Mrs. Ginsburg.

Three Things I Don't Do

noreply@blogger.com (Prettylittlemess) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 03:53:00 +0000

Pinterest
Shop at asos.com
Tumblr

It's still 2004 around here.

Automatic for the People McMahons

noreply@blogger.com (Prettylittlemess) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 18:54:00 +0000

Chronological list of cars I remember my family owning 1988-present, with model years IIRC:

Chevy Nova (fifth generation)
Chevrolet Celebrity
Lincoln Continental (eighth generation)
Red sedan, with green interior roof Dad bought in 1994-95 Updated by Mum: this was a Toyota of some sort (I think it was a Camry v10). It was sold to Papa, Mum's dad, before we went to Texas. He drove it for a long time, then sold it to one of my cousins.
1988 Volvo 740*
1998 Volvo ~~s70~~ s90^ (updated with correct model by Mum)
2000 Nissan Frontier^
1988 Acura Legend***
Buick Century
1996 Volkswagen Jetta**
Volkswagen New Beetle
2003 Chrysler Sebring*
2002 Volvo s40^
2012 Nissan Juke^
2000 Volvo v40^

* Destroyed by me
** Self destructed, then resurrected by Dad and sold on Craigslist
*** Yes, the Acura endured both
^ Owned today

Disposed Income: In The Aeroplane Over The Sea

noreply@blogger.com (Prettylittlemess) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:36:00 +0000

$110 for Craigslist Jeff Mangum tickets that were not used;
$95 on tickets that were used

Jeff Mangum touring should probably be put on a list of reasons why the Mayans were correct about the world ending in 2012. When tickets went on sale in November, we were already too late to purchase them. We discussed going to New Haven, since that show was not sold out. But Josh had an oral argument that week in Denver. The scheduling wouldn't work.

The Thursday before the Friday show in DC at the Lincoln Theatre, I saw a Washington Post write-up where the show was not listed as being sold out for either of the two nights. Tickets were only $45 a piece. False. It WAS sold out at the theatre (that spelling started to wear on my last nerve during this 36 hour ordeal).

I did two things 1. went to Craigslist, and 2. argued with my husband. See, the limited information online about this show was very adamant that your name had to appear on your ticket to enter the show. Jeff Mangum/Ticketmaster/the ghost of Abraham Lincoln did not like scalpers. The tickets I purchased from Craigslist had someone else name on them. Josh refused to use them or let me manipulate the pdf.

After arguing about this for a day and a half with many e-mails and phone calls to various ticket agents and the show promoters, we decided to at least go to the theatre and try our luck. But Josh, in particular, thought we had little chance of gaining entry to the show.

Then at 5 o'clock that day, I checked the 9:30 Club's Twitter and saw that they released a few tickets. (During our struggle to verify the Craigslist tickets, we found out that the 9:30 Club was running the show.) So I purchased two tickets with my name on them. Bye-bye another $100.

And of course no one checked our tickets to see whose name was on them. But, the new seats were about 7 rows from the front. The look on Josh's face when we arrived at our legal seats was worth it. Kinda.

Honeymooners

noreply@blogger.com (Prettylittlemess) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:28:00 +0000

Setting: the Cathedral (where we were married and I volunteer)
Scenario: exiting an early morning meeting with the Monsignor and a few staff members

Staff member: I hope you enjoy your week next week with Josh traveling! I hope you don't get too lonely! *Josh has two oral arguments in New Orleans next week*
Me: Oh I won't! That big bed is so nice to sleep in all alone.
Msgr.: JILLIAN!
Me: But it is! I've never slept in a bed that big all by myself. We bought a queen! I still love Josh. I'll miss him.
Msgr.: That's good to hear.

The best part of this is Msgr.'s Maryland accent means Jillian sounds like "Jill-yun". It makes the scolding sound more severe.

2012 Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Prettylittlemess) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:00:00 +0000

1. Bring my lunch to work, most days.
Not striving for perfection, just less tacos from Burrito Brothers.

2. Run the St. Patrick's Day 8K
Inspired by this, I've already recruited Josh and a co-worker to run with me, and (hopefully) a friend will be joining me as well!

3. Visit Bradley in Chicago

4. Go on a vacation with Josh, before this happens (!!!)
I would like to go somewhere tropical; he would like to visit the parts of Texas where our families don't reside (Austin, San Antonio).

5. Go to the dentist
They called over Christmas to see where I've been. Waiting for dental insurance . . . that my husband forgot to add me to during open enrollment. Oops. Out of pocket it is!

6. Get behind the wheel and drive
I haven't operated a motor vehicle since November 2009, when I drove the mile or so from my parent's house to Josh's parents house. I would just like to drive around an empty parking lot to remember which pedal is the gas.

7. Combine my cellphone plan with Josh's.
We need to move on from our parents, maybe. This actually makes no economic sense, and Josh would have to get a new iPhone while his is perfectly good still. But, Katie and Bradley are saying it's time. (My siblings have always been my true parents.)

8. Pick a photo to have put on a canvas & frame our wedding invitation.
I have a LivingSocial deal to use for a canvas print, and I need to probably save some money for the wedding invitation framing.

9. Put an album of wedding photos on Facebook
There is one thing stopping me from doing this, and I need to complete that task first.

10. Find patience, spiritual growth and new talents through my volunteer activities.
Redux!

2011 Goals: Report

noreply@blogger.com (Prettylittlemess) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 20:53:00 +0000

1. Have that weird mole on my stomach looked at
I went in for my first dermatologist appointment in March. She said the mole needed to go. The biopsy results weren't so hot. So I needed to have additional skin removed to insure all dangerous cells were gone. I now have a nifty scar about an inch long on my stomach

I'm also suppose to return every six months to be examined. Haven't done that yet!

2. Wear a bikini on my honeymoon
I'd like to say it was because of the new scar on my stomach, but I really didn't wear a bikini because I wasn't comfortable with how I looked in one.

3. Be a better shopper and dresser
This really started happening for me in the fall, after the wedding, when I had more disposable income. I'm still working on building my wardrobe, but the move into our shared apartment helped edit my clothing considerably.

4. Blog more
Didn't happen.

5. Prepare to leave my job
There are some exciting and scary things materializing on this front. But, in general, I feel more balanced about my work than I did even six months ago. This is something I'm really proud of in 2011.

6. Make clutches for my maid of honor, mother and future mother-in-law
Happened! Here's a photo of mine taken by our wedding photographer:

Photo by Katie Stoops

7. Grow out my fingernails
Did it! And still doing it! Granted, it's encouraged a now pricey manicure habit that might need to be curbed in 2012.

Photo by Katie Stoops

8. Go to California to see Bradley graduate from USC

BOTTEGA LOUIE!!!

And family

9. Find patience, spiritual growth and new talents through my volunteer activities
Funny. I thought that this is something I should add to my 2012 goals. FORGOT TO WORK ON IT THIS YEAR!

10. Marry the man I have known for 15 years, as of yesterday, on July 23

Photo by Katie Stoops

NaBloPoMo

noreply@blogger.com (Prettylittlemess) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 03:10:00 +0000

It has been so long since I have posted to my blog that I didn't understand the new layout of Blogger.

I . . . I . . . just don't know. I don't know if I can get use to this.

Let's see if I can post more than once this November.

After 10 O'clock

noreply@blogger.com (Prettylittlemess) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 02:05:00 +0000

Setting: the apartment, getting ready to go to bed

Me: I've heard really good things about Moneyball! I didn't know it was written, or at least the book was written, by Michael Lewis.
Josh: Michael Lewis? Really!
Me: Yeah! And did you know he is married to Tabitha Soren? Do you know who that is?
Josh: Of the Soren Foundation*?
Me: Did you just say that?
Josh: I don't know what I'm saying.
Me: No, Tabitha Soren of the mid-90s MTV News.
Josh: Oh, don't listen to anything I say after 10pm.

* I have Googled and this does not come up with anything. He was really making things up.

I Feel Like This Is The Beginning

noreply@blogger.com (Prettylittlemess) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 02:04:00 +0000

Confidential to my parents:
Happy 29th anniversary!

Photo by Katie Stoops, from our wedding

We had a combined father/daughter and mother/son dance to Frank Sinatra's version of Stevie Wonder's "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life". I got very uncomfortable with everyone watching us dance and ended up kind of ruining the whole dance by suggesting an awkward partner switch.

But Mum, in a stroke brilliance, came up to dance with Dad. Because of that, I have some of my favorite dancing pictures from the wedding. And I feel a little less embarrassed about my dancing nerves.

Thanks, Mum!

Photo by Katie Stoops

Was that enough kissing photos in one post for you?

With Their Back And Forth

noreply@blogger.com (Prettylittlemess) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:14:00 +0000

Confidential to McKatie:

Happy birthday to the best Maid of Honor there ever was!

Bottega Louie Los Angeles, May 2011

Confidential to my husband:

Happy birthday to a pretty good groom.

St. Lucia, July 2011

Supplemental Income

noreply@blogger.com (Prettylittlemess) — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 15:22:00 +0000

Setting: new apartment
Scenario: while unpacking boxes, we stop to search through my purses looking for a couple iPods that I stashed in purses

Me: *pulls out sandwich size Ziploc bag containing a powdered white substance from a purse* What is this?!
The Fiancé: IS THAT COCAINE?! ARE YOU SELLING DRUGS?!
Me: I don't know! Maybe? *opens bag, smells substance* It smells like Kool-aid. Why do I have a baggie of Kool-aid in my purse?!*The Fiancé is now laughing hysterically. I move to the kitchen to open the bag over the sink.*
Me: *tastes some of the powder* Oh! It's Benefiber. Nevermind. Not drugs.

What a bummer! I thought for sure I could sell the white powder for profit. Now, I'll just have to resort to selling things on Craigslist to make extra money for the wedding.

Six Years

noreply@blogger.com (Prettylittlemess) — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 15:19:00 +0000

Setting: Last night, his house
Scenario: We had a fashion show with his complete wedding look.

Me: Hey *yelling at him in the closet* when this is all over, can we plan a wedding? Just for fun? With all the things we want?
Him: No, you can do that for profit if you want.
Me: Ok, fine then. Let's just fantasize about our dream wedding then.
Him: *ducks back into closet*
Me: It would start with guests receiving a quatro-fold -- no it would have five folds -- what's the word for something with five folds? Cincofold? Anyway. They would receive a multifold, letterpressed brochure outlining the events for the weekend. First up would be the golf scramble on Thursday afternoon.
Him: Why would you have a scramble? If you are going to play golf, just play golf.
Me: You know I don't know what a scramble is, and I'm just using that word. It's either that or a competitve volleyball match on the beach that is overlooking the ocean.
Him: Fine, golf.
Me: And I want a white tent, a Sperry tent!

At this point the fantasy was interrputed as I instructed the Fiancé to try on his wedding day socks as well with his suit. And he looked at me like I had completely lost my mind.

Happy six year dating anniversary, Josh! I can't wait to marry you in 30 (!!!) days. I hope the U.S. Open ticket I got you last weekend makes up for the lack of wedding related golf outings next month.

Photo by Katie Stoops

Father of the Bride

noreply@blogger.com (Prettylittlemess) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 02:04:00 +0000

Happy father's day, Dad!

Dodgers Stadium, May 2011

All the photos from our family trip to California for Bradley's graduation here. This is the last time we will travel as a family as five, before I get married. Last time I have to sit in the middle of the backseat of the car.

Upside of marriage!

It's Kidney Stones!

noreply@blogger.com (Prettylittlemess) — Mon, 23 May 2011 03:50:00 +0000

Monday before last, I woke up at 2 am to go to the bathroom. This is the first time I can ever remember waking up from my sleep because I had to pee. I went back to bed and woke up at my normal time for the day. When I went to the bathroom then, I was struck with such a pain that it sent me running back to my bed. My entire left side was in searing pain, and I couldn't get control of it.

I had a kind of important work project to tend to that day, so I sent an e-mail to my work saying I wasn't feeling so hot but I'd rally and be into work in a few hours.

Well, a few hours later I was in the emergency room of George Washington Hospital being diagnosed with a kidney stone, my first ever.

I only went to the emergency room after the doctor at urgent care said she couldn't determine what was wrong with me; based on the location of my pain, she thought it was my liver. Later, I asked a PA at GW where my liver is. It's mainly on the OPPOSITE side of my body.

I called my dad as I walked from the doctor's office north of Dupont Circle to Foggy Bottom. He didn't answer. Bradley was the first to find out what happened via the above picture that I tweeted as I was being discharged from the hospital. He bbm'd me: jillabean? are you ok? You might want to call Mum. Later, he asked if I got so excited about my impeding trip to California later that week for his graduation that my kidneys malfunctioned.

That's exactly what happened.

I eventually passed the stone sometime on Tuesday afternoon, but I wasn't able to catch it. Such a waste of the cute little specimen jar they gave me at the hospital.

Oh, and if you were wondering what the pain feels like, it's like Joey's reaction in that Friends episode times about 10. And I got morphine at the hospital!

Chashley Wedding: Professional Photos

noreply@blogger.com (Prettylittlemess) — Tue, 03 May 2011 14:09:00 +0000

With less than 80 days to my own wedding, the details are starting to get to me. I ordered a sample out of town tote last week, when I had already decided I wasn't going to have out of town totes. There is a simple, yet labor intensive escort card display to assemble. All of these projects are just to prove to the Wedding Industrial Complex that my wedding has the all important "details".

But as we all know, I can do wedding details. Below are a few pro photos from Chashley's wedding photographer Nathan Kula highlighting the little touches I created to make their New Orleans nuptials unique.

I can totally use these photographs as proof of my ability to create wedding details, right? But really, I should be asking who I exactly need to prove my wedding skills to . . .

Disposed Income: Fail Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Prettylittlemess) — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 14:35:00 +0000

$10 to have neckline fixed on dress for engagement photos

I recently purchased this Max and Cleo dress in green from Rue La La:

It eventually became a forerunner for engagement pictures. But the neckline wasn't modest enough. So I took it to the dry cleaner in my apartment building. Their alterationist did a fantastic job on my roommate's bridesmaid dress in the fall. I was completely confident in their work.

When the dress came back, it didn't lay properly at all causing a gap to form at the wrap portion of the bodice. I ripped out the stitches. With the help of Mum and McKatie via a video chat, I used a safety pin to raise the neckline to its proper place. The pin showed a bit when we were taking photos, but our photographer said "That's what Photoshop is for!"

$115.82 at my hair salon to have a "trim" + $7.49 for a curling iron

I have a situation going on with my hair salon. Long story short, I switched stylist one day last fall because my stylist was unavailable and my hair was the pits. My salon specializes in curly haired gals, so I wasn't worried about the skill set of the new stylist. Then, because I have the backbone of a jellyfish when it comes to beauty services, I continued going to the new stylist, even though my original beloved stylist was available.

So last weekend I went for a blowdry so my hair would look nice for our engagement photos. Usually they make my curls look fantastic. The day after, I just rejuvenate them with some product, like I did for Chad and Ashley's wedding:

Instead on Saturday, I received this blowdry:

That is a BlackBerry photo and yes, I did cry!

The "cut" was $65, which the stylist said she wasn't going to charge me for but the front desk did (there was a flurry of activity as they were closing for the day and also, see above for spineless jellyfishness). The rest of the money was for a jug of product that was 1. more expensive than the price tag listed and 2. not the smaller container size that I usually purchase.

The Fiancé thinks there is an easy solution to my hairdresser dilemma: go to the new stylist for color, which I think she does well and go back to the old stylist for cut, which I think she does better. I don't think this is how it works, especially in a small salon.

This uncertainty has sent me looking for a stylist for the wedding day that will come to my hotel suite. But given my love for my kidneys and want for them to stay in my body, I might have to make peace at the salon for my wedding day.

Oh, and the Fiancé went shopping with me (at Marshalls of all places) after this disaster to purcahse a curling iron to rejuvenate my curls. I'll be sure to post engagement photos to show my hot tool handy work.

$43.94 at Lands End Canvas on a skirt I will never receive

I waited for this skirt to go on sale, and then I waited for a coupon code for free shipping.

When I realized a coupon code wasn't coming, I bit the bullet and ordered the skirt. I chose to pay with PayPal, mostly because it didn't require any effort on my part to leave the computer and locate my wallet. Somehow, PayPal and Lands' End had a glitch as I pressed submit on my PayPal order. I paid for the skirt via PayPal, but couldn't finish the order on the Lands' End site.

I called Lands' End and PayPal with no resolution. The money is just floating out there, and the transaction will expire in October. The worst part is that the skirt is now sold out in my size and color. I had so many adorable summertime outfits planned with that skirt in mind. I'm heartbroken.

Ground Control To Major Tom

noreply@blogger.com (Prettylittlemess) — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 15:00:00 +0000

There is a gentleman at my office who has the social graces of a hippo. He wonders past my desk multiple times a day with episodes of awkward chit chat often ensuing. Occasionally, too frequently for my liking, he asks "So, what's the countdown?".

Who says that to a bride? Especially me, a bride who has no clue how many days until her wedding. I usually just say "It's coming!" or "July will be here soon enough!".

But yesterday, I wanted to end the conversation quickly. I said "I don't know, but Macy*s can tell us!" Macy*s.com keeps a countdown clock on our registry page. I pulled it up.

100 days.

No longer do we wonder if we're together

noreply@blogger.com (Prettylittlemess) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:56:00 +0000

Setting: The Fiancé's apartment after dinner last night. He made chicken, asparagus and rice on his own!
Scenario: We sat down to look at our calendars and budgets. I opened his Google calendar and scrolled to June looking for a wedding balance deadline I had calendared on our shared Goin' to the Chapel calendar.

Me: Why are there so many things on your calendar?
Him: Because there are sports. *he has several different teams' calendars*
Me: Ah, ok. *still searching for what I was originally looking for* What is this?! *On June 19, there is a reoccurring appointment: Engagement Anniversary*
Him: Well, yeah.
Me: I didn't even know what date it was until I saw this! You are cute.
Him: This way I don't forget.

Lions and Lambs, Showers and Flowers

noreply@blogger.com (Prettylittlemess) — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 14:03:00 +0000

March was always going to be a busy month. Everyday in March, I was grateful for its almost five full weeks. I needed each of those days to accomplish everything on my to do list. And for the most part, I feel successful.

I recruited almost 150 volunteers for Taste of the Nation, whose $20 volunteer donation netted our event roughly $2500. In addition to helping spearhead a ministry for parents with young children (don't ask), I organized two Lent soup dinners at the Cathedral on Friday nights. My effort to partner with a local restaurant resulted in having the soup, bread and spoons all donated. Making gallons of soup was not possible in March.

It was also not possible to not be rude. I left a restaurant during a birthday party because I couldn't handle the crowd, the confusion and my time was too precious that night. I still feel bad and hope a friendship isn't effected.

The wedding took a backseat in March. We printed our invitations and shopped for clothes for our upcoming engagement session. The only freak out in March revolved around the wedding, but that's not totally accurate. It was about the rehearsal. The rehearsal issues are worth their own post, because it has caused more stress than any other element of the wedding, hands down.

I learned how to delegate for the wedding in March. Or I learned how to communicate about the wedding in March. There was a period where I kept telling people (the Fiancé and Mum) that they needed to help me with the wedding. Eventually the Fiancé responded with "You keep saying you need help but you won't tell me what to do!" I took a deep breath and asked if he had accomplished the few things I'd previously asked him to do in regards to the wedding. No.

That is fine! I'm not holding it against him! Really, I'm not. But I'm also not going to give him additional tasks to accomplish. He is busy, and I can do things faster anyway. I set out an expectation in March that if you (the Fiancé, Mum, family) want something for the wedding (a shower, a tea, a bachelor party, and at this point, a rehearsal dinner) it is up to you to help me. I will not be disappointed in my wedding if those things don't happen. I am just too busy to get emotionally involved.

By the end of March, rooms were booked at the hotel where I wanted rooms booked, our first wedding gift arrived, and my dress was taken to the tailor for its first fitting. Most importantly, I want to spend every March for the next 60 years with the Fiancé.

That didn't change.

Weddings Are Good For Health Deductibles

noreply@blogger.com (Prettylittlemess) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 19:53:00 +0000

One of my favorite days as an engaged person so far was the last day the Fiancé lived in Boston. I had two appointments at bridal salons in downtown Boston, to try on dresses that I could only find in Boston. So that Friday afternoon, I left him and a friend to move sofas and beds into the moving truck. I had a really wonderful time trying on dresses by myself at both Bella Bridesmaid and Priscilla of Boston. I was even measured for a dress that looked like July 23 at Priscilla of Boston.

The dress was $2800, which I thought I could afford. You have to remember that this was the end of July, and we had been wedding planning for barely a month. I sent photos of the dress to Mum, and she was pleased. Then I went back to the Fiancé's apartment that night and proceeded to freak out. See, I received an e-mail that day from a wedding photographer who quoted her basic services at $6500.

$2800 + $6500 = me awake all night rocking in a corner

No, literally. I couldn't sleep in the Fiancé's room, and he needed to sleep so he could drive to Virginia the next day. So I went into the other bedroom that was now empty since all the furniture had been moved out and laid flat on the carpet. My brain raced with ideas on how to afford a wedding.

Needless to say, my wedding dress did not cost $2800 and our photographer is not the woman who sent me the e-mail that day.

But I love my dress and my photographer.

* * *

Have I mentioned that there are four young women other than myself engaged in my office? And another woman was just married in January. Someone commented that our office is now like the WE channel: all weddings, all the time.

One of those women went to a truck show on Friday, where the designer was present. I told her to keep her wits about her. Trunk shows are notorious traps for brides. Salons will offer you percentages off to entice you into buying a dress right! then! even when you might not be ready to purchase a dress.

She sent me an e-mail at 5:30 Friday with a link to a dress and a message "I think I found the one!" But today, we had three separate discussions about if it was "the one". Because this "one" woke her up Friday night and kept her up for three hours. She felt like such a sucker.

I told her at least she didn't have to go lie on the floor in an empty room.