This Amazing Life

And another Date Bites the Dust!

2012-02-08T07:23:00.000-08:00

Well, we found out last night that the October 18th, 2012 date is out. "And another one bites the dust..." Sean will be underway again over October of this year, but we should be able to do it shortly afterwards - sometime in the spring of 2013.
Yes, it'll still be in Disney World! Who knows? By then, maybe we'll be able to afford some special treats for our (very patient) friends and family!
Much love -
Jaime and Sean

Honeymoon? CHECK!

2012-01-22T17:00:00.000-08:00

So after MUCH debate, we decided on a honeymoon that makes both of us happy.

A 7 day cruise on the Disney Fantasy - a new cruise ship that is taking to the seas March 2012. The cruise will take us to several islands in the Caribbean. The cruise leaves the Sunday after the wedding (October 20th), and we'll be adding some goodies to the registry this week. Since we pretty much have everything that a household would require (and this is a destination wedding - so we don't want to haul gifts everywhere or worry about shipping), we're requesting that anyone who wants to get us a gift - use the honeymoon registry.

Next week's tasks? Finishing the Guest List and getting the Save the Dates out!

Snow Day!

2012-01-19T12:32:00.000-08:00

Click here to check out a short video of Sean and Clydas playing "Catch" with a snowball!

"So, what did you finally decide on for Bridesmaids Dresses?"

2012-01-18T01:53:00.000-08:00

Having been asked this question several times - I went and bought some of the fabric for the dresses. Yes, they are PRINT. The wedding isn't necessarily a "stuffy" sort of formal event, and every wonderful woman standing up for us has a different body type and comfort level. So instead of picking out one "dress", there are 3 dresses available in this fabric. I suggest going to Alfred Angelo and trying the dresses on in person to get any idea of what length, neckline, ect. works best for you!

Dresses are in the green (clover and creme) color! I grabbed a swath of the black and white for a possible crafting idea.

While we're very excited to have a date, it's challenging to do much on the amount of sleep that's going on over here. See, I work days, and Sean is working nights right now. Which means we get about 2 waking hours together/day - and I'm usually working during one and a half of them. But we'll get over this hump! We make small decision whenever we have time to chat and move forward! Look forward to official "Save The Dates!" coming out next month!

The Pet Took Over This Post

2012-01-15T20:16:00.000-08:00

Clydas decided I haven't shared enough of HIS news lately, so he pretty much decided to high jack this post.

In case you didn't know, my dog is a bit on the... unique side. I mean, every animal is unique, but Clydas came with his own very unique personality - as any Boxer owner knows.

One of Clydas' greatest (and most recently discovered) quirks - is that he never needs to be brushed. And he never needs to be brushed, because he has a special relationship with the Dirt Devil (see above video).

Clydas and I also had a new adventure together today. We woke up at 9am this morning to SNOW! There was 1/2 an inch on the ground and it was actually snowing! Now, this may not seem like a bit deal to many of you readers, but it's a big deal to us! Clydas and I have seen snow before. We've visited it when it's been on the ground for days, but today was our first experience enjoying freshly fallen snow. It was a big, big hit with me. Hopefully Clydas will get more into it tomorrow.

BIG BIG NEWS! WE HAVE A DATE!

2012-01-13T22:43:00.000-08:00

It's official! We have a wedding date now! Wahoo! That is, unless the Navy throws us a curve ball last minute, but let's focus on what know, aye?

I'm so excited to get to work on Save The Dates, invitations, and all the other pre and post wedding events! We're making it a weekend of fun, so feel free to stay as long, or as short, as you like!

Mark your Calendars for October 18th, 2012 at Shades of Green in Florida! Hen/Stag and rehearsal will be 1-2 days before the wedding.
Ladies, that means you should HAVE your dresses in your hot little hands by the end of September. That means altered, fitted, whatever, so I'd suggest ordering around June just to be sure everything goes smoothly. (You will be getting a care package upon arriving which will include a pashmina.) (Ladies, keep in mind you get a discount when you mention that I'm an Alfred Angelo bride!)

Since Sean has duty tonight, I'll be spending the evening tweaking "save the date" cards, and looking at some order of ceremony goodies and options that are out there.

Just thought I'd share the good news!

Vows, Ceremonies, and More

2012-01-01T02:40:00.000-08:00

I haven't updated this blog in so long! It's about time. Actually, it's OVERDUE! I was hoping to post photos of Sean's homecoming, but we're not sure when that is currently, and I've been assured that cameras are certainly not allowed. So there won't be any pictures of coming fresh from the can...er... sub. ;) But I'll be sure to let you all know when he's home safe.

But in other news - we've asked a very dear friend of mine, Jonathon Rossal, to officiate our ceremony. He's been a friend of mine for several years, and life has seen us play important roles in major turning points in each other's lives. It seemed only right that he be involved, and, since I met him through theater, I trust his public speaking skills. Though we're both very busy and don't often chat, he very quickly became like a brother to me. I sang at HIS wedding last year - and did he pick a winner! His wife is a woman who's drive to better the world and make a difference matches his own, and who's beauty inside and out will continue to enhance his life. Seriously, a perfect match, and I can't wait to get to know them better as a couple.


The Newly Wed Rossals, June 2011, Yosemite California

It takes a good friend to be willing to stand up and do this for us, so I want to make sure he's as well prepared as he can be. So here comes the fun part (well, at least for Sean and I), building our ceremony. While Sean is away, I've been doing research on different types of family wedding ceremonies and celebrations of lifetime love and commitment. I'm excited to see what we come up with, as there are so many ideas out there. We're not quite a conventional couple (nothing about a military life is conventional - every day is a new adaptation), so this shouldn't be a conventional ceremony. We've written our vows, so we have some place to start, but we're looking at doing something like a wine box tradition, a hand ceremony, or something else all together that blends it all together.

I'm really looking forward to seeing what we come up with. Which tradition will touch us and be a part of our lives and memories forever?

That's the fun part!

Happy New Year!

A few updates from Port Orchard

2011-10-22T12:47:00.000-07:00

Fall has arrived in Port Orchard!

Here's a long awaited update!

"Why Isn't Sean Getting Back To Me?"

Yes, Sean is underway now. Thank you all for sending your notes, letters, and donating towards his Nook/iTunes fund! He's well stocked with entertainment to keep him from missing home too much. Everything was much appreciated! I do have his cell phone, and will check it daily for any important messages, but if you really want to chat with me, email me or call my phone. Don't forget that I can Skype as well!

"How's Clydas doing?"

MUCH better. His bandages have been off for almost a week now. Okay, so his crazy new foot was a bit shocking to me the first time I saw it, but every day more fur grows back and he seems less and less bothered by it. He still does the Tri-Pawd dog hop (nicknamed "The Clydas Hop" since he's the only dog in the development with his own pimp-dog style - he he he), but he's doing really well, aside from a little stomach upset due to a prolonged stint on antibiotics. Here's a little montage with some updated videos of his hop. Be forewarned! There IS a photo of his re-designed foot as taken in the vet's office when he got the bandages off. It's not so red and angry now. Currently, it's pink and healthy looking. Amputations take a LONG time to heal, and foot amputations are prone to infections, but he's a real trooper - ready to run less then a month after surgery!

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

"How am I doing with all of this?"

Well, thankfully I spent several years living alone. While it is an adjustment, I'd like to think it's not as hard on me as it would be on those people who have never lived alone. I also have a great example of how to stay sane with your partner far away. My dad often travels for work, so my mom managed to raise my brother and I, take care of her mother, work full time, and get her master's degree, while dad traveled the world for work. She's one of the most ambitious and accomplished women I've ever met. I've learned some amazingly helpful survival tips from my parents.

For example:

1) Working from home is great, but you CAN feel trapped and isolated. GET OUT OF THE HOUSE TWICE A DAY. Even if it's just to go for a walk or grab a hot tea at a coffee shop. Interacting with people, though it may seem meaningless, are immensely helpful.

2) GET BUSY. Work keeps me really busy. Clydas has kept me busy lately too, with bi-weekly vet trips. Hopefully his last visit will be next week. I have a few other goals I can focus on without distractions.

3) MAKE PLANS. My parents have graciously offered to kennel Clydas and fly me home for the holidays - Thanksgiving and Christmas. I'm really looking forward to getting out of dodge for a while and spending some quality time with my family and friends in So Cal. I'm also trying to get my best friend to come up and visit for a weekend. Add to that YMCA trips and care packages I'm putting together for the fall/winter for family and friends, and I'm busy alright!

4) SET GOALS. I have a weight loss goal for while Sean is away and 2 writing projects in the works (in addition to the magazine I regularly write for click-here-for-shameless-plug). Since I'm eating out a LOT less, I'm sure I'll drop the unwanted pounds in no time - and it helps that I love working out and hiking and all that. I've found keeping physically active helps the body and mind deal with all sorts of stress.

5) Be GENTLE with yourself. This is the perfect time to do my nails, take bubble bathes, and finish a few books, work on wedding stuff and all that without driving Sean nuts with details.

IF YOU SHOULD NEED TO GET A HOLD OF SEAN, ESPECIALLY IN THE CASE OF AN EMERGENCY, PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

In the mean time, give a wave to the ocean the next time you happen to see it.

Thanks all! Hope you're enjoying a beautiful fall like I am! - JD

Our Harvest Time Adventure!

2011-10-11T15:06:00.001-07:00

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

A Surprise upon Coming home!

2011-10-11T13:43:00.000-07:00

Sean's been taking the car to base lately since he's going to a different base. I was surprised to find that on his way home, he stopped off at Hallmark on Friday!

He knows me so well!

An update on our Furkid Clydas!

2011-09-29T10:41:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow, Clydas goes in for surgery to amputate his 2 back toes on his right leg and get rid of his cancer. The good news is that there is NO sign that it's spread. He's otherwise healthy. It'll be an outpatient surgery. I'll drop him off in the morning, and Sean will come with me to pick him up that night.

We're hoping for a full recovery and another 4-6 years with our boxer buddy.

The USS Pennsylvania Family Picnic!

2011-09-22T13:25:00.000-07:00

Sean and I actually went to this event in August (or was it July? - Summer was kind of a blur!)

I figure I'd post something funny today while we continue to wait for more info on Clydas' medical condition.

Sean's team in the video clips - yup - they LOST! (But the last hour of the picnic was rained out - so even the winners got wet later!)

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Clydas the Cancer patient...

2011-09-16T14:09:00.000-07:00

While I do have some great updates coming the way of this blog (a day at the fair, some center piece discoveries at Ikea, and some more good stuff), I wanted to throw this out there so that the P&P (Prayers and Positive Thoughts) get rollin'.
Click here to get the link to my blog about Clydas' latest medical journey.

Wedding Chronicles - Pause, Reverse it, Back to one

2011-09-08T10:42:00.000-07:00

After many discussions and emails with Disney, sadly, the Animal Kingdom is back to a "no go". The deciding factor? It would have cost a Minimum of $4,000 to have the ceremony there (that doesn't count the reception - that's just for the ceremony, seats, and lights) and if that doesn't make you wince, the fact that we'd have to cut the guest list down to 35 people (including us, bridal party, etc)... well, that ought to do it for ya. And that was the nail in the coffin for us.

We're also hoping to buy a house next year, so we figured it just made more sense to be more cost effective. We'd rather have the people we want there, than spend a small fortune on one day for a handful of people.

So we're back to square one - Shades of Green!

It's still on Disney World Property and the flexibility will give us a chance to use people OTHER than Disney for things like photography, videography, flowers, cake, etc. Flexibility is a good thing. :) No, a GREAT thing. It takes a lot of the stress off since we don't have to worry about how we're going to come up with XYZ dollars. We're now WELL within our budget, and we can put extra savings towards a house. We have some stories of our upstairs neighbors that would curl your hair (including a shouting match at 2am and someone falling off the balcony!) so we're looking forward to getting to the next stage in life.

So that's the latest and greatest! :) We're looking at a brunch reception at Shades of Green with a First Look at the Boardwalk Resort, and a few other surprises in the works.

Mark your calendars for October 18th!

Wedding Chronicles - Location Location Location

2011-08-31T10:26:00.000-07:00

We've been working more and more with our Disney Wedding Planner to try to get the site for the ceremony nailed down. We've requested something they've never done before, so we're hoping it comes through!

The whole sh-bang is still going to take place in the Animal Kingdom park, and we're looking at October 18th, 2012 as a tentative date, so save your pennies! When we have something more permanent, we'll get those "Save the Dates" mailed out.

That said, I thought I'd give ya'll a sneak peak at our Reception Venue! I think we're pretty much settled on a place in Africa called the Tamu Tamu Courtyard. Here's a short video and slide show for those interested:

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
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A few things to keep in mind when using a Disney park venue:

All events must take place outside of park hours. So we're planning an evening ceremony, most likely around 7:30 pm with dinner and the reception kicking into gear around 8pm at the latest. This may change up to a month before the wedding depending on what the actual park hours are. If there are Extra Magic Hours that night, it might be pushed back, or moved to the day before. Whatever happens, we'll let you all know as far in advance as possible.

We will be doing a "first look" at a resort. A "first look" is a relatively new tradition where the bride and groom see each other before the wedding. (I know, I know, 'gasp', right?). It makes a lot more sense for this type of situation. We can see each other and take pictures together before the wedding, so ya'll won't be standing around wondering what to do between the ceremony and reception. I'm actually really looking forward to this moment. We might just end up inviting everyone to come along and take a peek as sort of an early cocktail hour thing, but nothing is set in stone yet. Which leads me to my next point...

We will be providing Transportation to and from the site. You CAN NOT drive yourselves to and from the location. Disney's rule - not ours. Since many people are opting to stay off property, we will probably all meet up at one resort on Disney Property so that our private bus can pick everyone up and drop everyone off at the same time. So if you choose to stay off property and rent a car, that's up to you. If you stay on Disney property, Disney will get you around by bus for free - so there are a few perks to staying on property. So if you are LATE, this could be an issue - once we announce the time, please give yourselves PLENTY of time to arrive at the designated meeting location, or you could miss out!

We're NOT doing a traditional rehearsal dinner. We do have some ideas on what we're going to do in place of it, but nothing is solid yet. We're going to be giving out a schedule of events that are completely optional if you want to hang out with us that week. Please don't feel pressured to show up at all (or even any) of the events. After all, we hope you make this your "excuse" for a great vacation too! I may ask for some RSVPs in advance of these events due to Disney's requirement to make reservations early.

Group Rates May apply and Free Dining may be going on! More about this later, but Disney is opening up a NEW Value resort during this time frame! We may be able to qualify for group rates. This resort also specializes in themed family suites, so if you have a little one and don't want to rent a car or be confined to a hotel room, these have more room, a kitchenette, and more comforts for families with little ones. If you are staying on Disney property, you may qualify for Free dining, which would include your food for something like $35/day/person (excluding alcohol). I can hook ya'll up with a travel agent if you have questions on this one, or feel free to email me (jdarlingmusic@aol.com). Which brings me to my next piont...

Guest list IS FIRM at 50 people. That may sound like a lot of people, but really it's 36. Oh wait, that's just including the wedding party and us. Subtract a few more for immediate family members and the spouses and kids of our wedding party - and that brings us to 24 Guests. So, while we have been blessed with large families and friends who love and support us it's not feasible to include EVERYONE, so please clear any special requests with us prior to inviting anyone via word of mouth. We will make sure those who are unable to attend get pictures and an announcement at the very least. Thanks!

We have to use Disney services for most things. Since it's taking place in their theme park, Disney wants to oversee all the quality and such for this type of event. I trust them so I'm not too worried. However, if you'd like to contribute, we will be posting registry stuff once the honeymoon is booked (probably around Feb/March of next year) or you can contact either one of us privately to discuss.

And that about covers it! Enjoy the Sneak Peek at Tamu Tamu Courtyard!

Tour of the Tamu Tamu Courtyard at Disney's Animal Kingdom from Carly Morgan on Vimeo.

Happy Birthday to Sean!

2011-08-31T09:13:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was Sean's birthday. He's officially 2 years away from 30 now. I can't wait for his 30th.

Anyway, how did we celebrate? Well, it was pretty low key. He'd just gotten off duty, had to study, had a Fantasy Football draft, didn't want birthday cake, and we both had to work in the morning. Birthday dinner was a delicious Papa Murphy's Gourmet Chicken Pizza. Yum! All in all, it was pretty low key, but he did get his present! I got him a 3rd generation Ipod Touch. I figured it'll be handy during deployment! (So if anyone wanted to get him a gift, you can send some itunes money/gift cards so he can load it up before he deploys. His paypal account is the same as his email (if you're in the know, you know, so I won't post it on here) and feel free to email me if you need our street address.

With the insanity that is my schedule and his schedule right now, we're planning on actually celebrating this weekend -most likely on Monday (which we both have off -yeah!).

Silver City Brewery - Silverdale, WA

2011-08-24T10:30:00.000-07:00

We've found a few places we really like out here, and the Silver City Brewery is one of them.

I used to live near the Stone Ale brewery. while I only went a few times a year, it was a beautiful place to visit. While Silver City doesn't have a beer garden so to speak (Stone's garden is stunning), but they do have wonderful food!

This week, we went out to see Conan with a friend of ours and followed it up with dinner at Silver City. We shared a salad and a Greek Pizza (feta cheese, non-greasy crust, artichokes, and other good stuff).

Sean put the left overs in a box - and wrote on the front of it. I thought it was funny and cute enough to share!

Adventures in Netflixing aka Good Times with Bad Movies

2011-08-19T09:10:00.000-07:00

Since this summer has been full of great movies (which we'll no doubt cover once summer officially draws to a close), I thought it would be fun to share a little B-movie awesomeness with you folks. Sean and I love B-movies, and most of them just happen to be horror flicks.

You may already know that Sean and I spent a lot of time long distance. One thing we did to stay close was to have "Netflix dates". We'd dial up some TV shows or movies on Netflix and watch them at the same time, either texting each other through them, sitting on speaker phone, or Skyping one another. When you're long distance, you get creative! At first, it started out with good shows like Farscape, Firefly, with a few random anime's thrown in from time to time. Until we hit a major snag - it didn't take us long to get through most of Netflix's more desirable film library. So I turned to Mail Order Zombie (a fun podcast I listen to regularly - and call in as "The Darling Dead") to find something new and exciting. Some of them were total hits, like the B-movie awesomeness without anything more than the "fun scare" factor. For example, this little Norwegian gem, Dead Sno.

I mean, what isn't amazing about a movie full of invariably clueless college kids, buried treasure, and, oh yeah, Nazi zombies that pop out of the snow like daisies! It was comic genius in some places, and cringe worthy in others - a great B-horror movie.

Another MOZ (Mail Order Zombie) movie recommendation that was a winner was The Horde. We've had some good times with some cheese-ball movies, but even some Golden Oldies (like the 1974 film, The Towering Inferno) made it onto our computer screens. I'm a particular horror movie fan, as long as it's a fun scare, not a true scare.

Anyway, as you can imagine, we've discovered plenty of movies that were just plain bad too. In fact, we watched a streak of them so we developed a 45 minute rule. If the movie still bites after 45 minutes, we turn it off. Life is too short to sit through BAD movies. In all fairness, many independent horror films are pretty awful, so probably more than half of our bad movie experiences have been from films that were my choice.

ANYWAY, one film in particular was so bad, that it's turned into a running joke. Naturally, I felt I had to let you folks in on the joke. Here's the Trailer...

Sean had been wanting to check out this B-Made-For-TV movie since last Spring, so finally, on the recommendation of a fellow shipmate, we decided to give it a try. Now, I'll admit to having been mildly entertained in the past by some of the crazy creatures the SyFy channel has put out there in my youth. Some days there was just nothing like checking reality at the door and getting lost in a world of bad computer generated monsters and even worse acting.

But this film seriously took the cake. It was funny enough in the first 45 minutes to pass our rule, so we figured it would be an okay B-horror movie.

We were wrong.

This film makes Anaconda look like Oscar material...

But it did leave us with a sense of humor. Whenever something bad happens, we say, "Well, at least it wasn't as bad as Sharktopuss."

Board game night - Zombies!!!

2011-08-02T08:25:00.000-07:00

Sean and I have gotten our hands on some unique board games. While we haven't had time to play them as much as we'd like, we did check this one out about a month ago, and it was fun!

Every turn, players play a "Map Card" that has buildings/streets on it. Each Map card has a few numbers on them. These numbers dictate how many Zombies appear on the card, as well as how many health units and bullets appear on it. The player of the map cards adds the appropriate number of Zombies, bullets, and health units. (Above, the Zombies are the gray/green figures, a health unit is a small orange tab, and the player appears in blue.)
Players roll a dice to see how many squares he/she can travel.

Our map by the time we were done! (The small black chips are bullets.)

The winner either reaches the Helipad square (which would eventually be played by someone, so it's never in the same place twice) OR the first to kill 25 Zombies.

In case you didn't now, you REALLY SHOULD tag along with Sean, should the Zombie Apocolpyse ever come to pass! He killed 15 zombies in record time! I can't wait to play it with more people. There are LOTS of different installments to this game. We also picked up the version that takes place in a multi-level mall instead of a town. Hopefully we can break it in someday soon.

Enumclaw Higland Games and Clan Gathering 2011

2011-08-01T11:33:00.000-07:00

The Craziest event ever...


Getting some Vitamin D! It felt AWESOME!

Last Saturday, Sean and I actually had a FULL DAY OFF together! It doesn't happy very often these days.

So we hopped in the car and took the trek to the other side of the sound and saw some beautiful country. And then we found the kilts! It was a BEAUTIFUL day (in the 80's! A high for us!).

Though they were out of Haggis (yes, out, we looked) they did have some delicious meat pies! Sean tried one of them and I opted for cinnamon glaze pecans (a FAVORITE snack of mine). We nibbled on the pecans the whole drive home.

Hurtling! It's like Shotput, only cooler.

Adventures in Climbing and Cooking!

2011-07-24T09:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we took the morning to head over and explore Vertical World.

Sean and I were planning on going last weekend, but exhaustion got the better of us. Between his duty schedule and my work/rehearsal schedule, we haven't had a weekend (much less an entire day) together in weeks. So we try to make the most of the time we have. We sneak in a movie out here and there (and this has been a GREAT summer for movies), but this weekend we took Saturday morning and the hit the ropes! Or the wall, more appropriately.

This was all Sean's idea and I have to admit, it was intimidating at first. It just seemed like one of those things "other people" (aka people who aren't me) do. But I promised to go along, so go along without complaint I did - and, like most things I've done in my life for those I've loved, it was great!

Sean made quick work of 2/3 walls. He climbed to the top and made a goal to conquer a certain route next time.

And yes, there will be a next time!

As for me, I'm completely satisfied with my performance on my very first time climbing. I made it up my first 2 walls without falling! That felt pretty awesome. By the time I reached the bottom after wall #2, I found myself nearly drenched in sweat. What a great work out! If you're following my Personal Blog, you'll know that health and fitness is a big deal with me.

The third wall did get the better of me and I didn't quite make it to the top, but I got very close! Next time...

Friday night we also had our first cook out experience!
Grabbing some charcoal and one of the community grills, we made some delicious steaks, complete with a wine and cheese appetizer. Delish!

It's turning out to be a great summer in the Pacific Northwest, despite the crazy schedules. Now, if only we could figure out a camping trip....

The Wedding Chronicles - LOTS of Good News!

2011-07-21T11:18:00.000-07:00

Last night, I got 3 pieces of really good news!

1) Heather, one of my best gal pals and a gal I'd love to have in our wedding party IS PREGNANT! This is number 2 and their last one. It's really exciting! She's had a couple high risk pregnancies. The first one resulted in their still born son Dirk. The second was high risk, but resulted in a beautiful baby girl, Elena. And now they have another on the way! I'm really excited for them. What does this mean for the wedding party? DOES IT MATTER? My 'sister' is having a baby! We'll think about all that later - like when we have a date. A life is so much more important than a 'day' (even an important one) in a life.

2) My mom started on the Hidden Mickeys!
My mom is AWESOME with a needle and thread. When I said I wanted Hidden Mickey's sown on my gown, she was honestly the first person I thought of to do it. Knowing she's very very busy and it's not a small undertaking, I never outright asked though. I hate for those that I love to feel pressure when she's already under so much from work. However, with the date proving to be "sometime next fall", it gave her LOTS of time to work on it. Last night she surprised me by saying she's been working on it. YES! I'm so excited that she's contributing to this unique experience (and ya'll will have fun looking for it, I'm sure). While the gown is a popular style, I wanted to really have something unique to make it "mine", ya know?

3) Venue and Time Change!

So Sean and I looked into different venue options, since it's SO FAR out there, our budget has changed as well. While Shades of Green would be lovely I'm sure, we've FINALLY settled on a place and a theme, which helped me settle on bridesmaids dresses. I've narrowed it down to 2 right now, so I'm going to ask a few ladies to try them on and send me photos before I decide for sure. It's a HUGE relief to find a location that encompasses all we both wanted for the wedding (Asian influence, Disney, natural, and COMPLETELY unique) without sacrificing anything. We were both instantly excited by the prospect. This is bound to be the best wedding ever - even if it means we have to par down our guest list to 40-50 people.

There are 3 things I can tell you:
*It's in Disney World.
*It's in the evening. The location does not do daytime ceremony's and that actually makes me very happy. On a personal level, I love this change. I feel like it'll really give Sean and me a chance to enjoy the day without a 5am wake up call. We can explore a park during the day or get a spa treatment, before having to be ready for everything. My girls won't have to wake up insanely early. Important occasions always fly by so having the entire day to relax, spend with family and friends, and get ready sounds much better than a 5am wake up call for hair and make up.

As for the exact venue, I'm keeping it a secret. When we have a little more information we might announce it, but that will be Sean's call. I'm tempted to keep it as quiet as possible until the actual day. It'll be the surprise of a life time! Don't get me wrong though - I'm ITCHING to blow it WIDE open! I'm sure everyone will think this is the coolest thing ever.

What's the third thing?

*Wear comfortable shoes! ;)

If you THINK you know where this is, please DON'T say it in your comment! Thanks!

What Makes This Life so Amazing?

2011-06-30T23:17:00.000-07:00

When Sean and I decided to start a blog to keep family and friends up to date on all the changes going on in our lives, we thought long and hard about a name for the blog. It took me a while to finally settle on "This Amazing Life".

Tonight, as I read the title on my blog dashboard, I wondered "What makes This Life Amazing?"

I think the answer is as simple as the silver and crystal ring I said, "Yes" to over six months ago.

We decided it was going to be amazing. Yes, we had some hurdles to overcome - just living in the same time zone was a huge one! The Navy being the next big one we're learning to cope with day by day. But we decided long ago that it was going to be amazing. And ya know what? I'm not disappointed. It's still an amazing adventure.

It's not always an easy journey, but it is an amazing life.

Super Busy - but a great weekend!

2011-06-29T12:10:00.000-07:00

Sean and I had a great weekend last week- but things continue to be very busy out here.

Last weekend, we got to go to my first Disney Fan Convention! Now, I won't say I'm in Disney withdrawl up here, but I do miss being within driving distance to a park (and having an annual pass in my back pocket). This was so great! We were able to recapture those feelings from our first trips together last year (Disneyland over Christmas, and Disneyworld over my birthday last January). It was a blast! We got some artwork from Robin Hood SIGNED by one of the animators, so I'm looking forward to getting them framed and putting them up! We scored a bunch of free movie posters too, and got to do some networking.
Click on this link to check out the highlight reel I put together in the Disney fan blog I contribute to.

Things are still busy - that was our first full day together in weeks, but we make the best of the time we have. :)

A Sunset Walk on Summer Soltice 2011

2011-06-22T11:15:00.001-07:00

We took a stroll down by the Marina on the longest day of the year. And what a lovely night it was.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

"Dread" Lobster

2011-05-30T22:17:00.000-07:00

So Jaime and I were trying to find someplace different to eat the other night. We just wanted to split an entrée and an appetizer. Seafood at the time sounded wonderful so we opted for Red Lobster over Olive Garden. Yes both of those places are chains but neither are places that we normally frequent (We have only been to one Olive Garden together and never before have we gone to a Red Lobster.) and both were right off of the freeway. Well as we entered the place we both noticed that the only people eating there had either white or grey hair. That should have been our first clue to just leave. Not saying that the elderly are bad people, in fact many are absolutely delightful, however much is left to be desired when you talk about their taste buds, or lack there of.

Well against better judgment we opted to stay. We were already here and while I was ravenous, Jaime was just slightly hungry. We searched the menu for “safe” seafood choices and we figure on shrimp. I mean how the hell does one mess up shrimp? So we got the Cajun shrimp, shrimp scampi, and the potato crusted shrimp and for our appetizer we got calamari and stuffed mushrooms.

Well as our appetizer comes out the first thing we notice is that the stuffed mushrooms are just layered in cheese, and grease too (There was a noticeable pool on top of the cheese). We try it and wow, greasy is right. Blech…you could barely taste the cheese. Well hopefully the calamari was better. Chef Ramsey would of cried because it was undercooked and didn’t have much of a taste at all. You could tell that it was squid but it was almost as if it sat in water for a really long time. At least the meal couldn’t be this bad right? It is shrimp after all.

Well our food finally arrives and after this disappointment that was the appetizer I couldn’t wait to eat something good. This was not it. We had thought that the mushrooms were greasy… The shrimp scampi was in a pool of butter. A no shit pool of butter complete with skim. It was as if there was at least 2 cups of butter melted and drenched the shrimp with it. They must have been trying to cover up the saltiness of the shrimp with it because it seemed that kosher salt was a regular item in their ingredients list. One down and 2 more to go. Well the Cajun shrimp was a little bit better. At least you could taste the attempt at Cajun seasoning. Okay when you think of Cajun shrimp it is skewered and char grilled to blackened. You can just taste that smoke flavor and yeah, this was a disappointment. Why you might ask? Well besides not being spicy enough, yep the elders would love this one too, it was sautéed in a Cajun butter mixture. The shrimp was on a pile of rice pilaf and the rice was saturated with some form of orange grease. Up until now you could tell the grease was of the yellow butter type. You took one fork full of rice and it was oozing complete with beads of congealed grease on the plate. Yep, absolutely delicious looking, right? Finally down to the fried potato covered shrimp. Surprisingly enough the deep fried shrimp were the least greasy…wow, they must have one good fry cook, obviously not the calamari cook…the sauté cooks need to learn from this guy. This was the best shrimp of the meal but at this point we just didn’t want to eat anymore. The biscuits finally came out at this point. They obviously were not hot and fresh, so why it took 45 minutes was beyond us. We each took one and wow, dry as can be with not a hint of the cheddar flavor that we remembered as a children.

Unfortunate to say the highlight of our meal was the salad we had right before our entrée was served. This ceasar however was drenched in dressing and the croutons had little flavor to them. When the waitress finally came over and asked if we wanted to box our food, there was plenty left, both of us spoke loudly and clearly a nice resounding “No.” At this point she just brought us the check. We paid and left our not so merrily way. Seriously this has been one of the worst restaurant experiences in our lives and if we ever decide to try it again it will be in the very distant future. It was such a failure that we couldn’t even fathom to glance at the dessert menu. If you can screw up shrimp so badly we shudder to think what the chocolate would taste like. The service was really slow (we even had to ask for drink refills) and at the end of the meal we were rushed out. This didn’t make any sense to us seeing that there wasn’t even a wait (the place was empty.) Chef Ramsey you really need to make this place less of a “Dread” Lobster and more of a real seafood place.

Wedding changes - mainly THE DATE

2011-05-23T15:55:00.000-07:00

Alright - so here's the skinny:

At a BBQ/Poker night with some of his shipmates, Sean and I learned that he will most likely be "unavailable" during the month of November. In fact, it was more like, "Don't make any plans after September. Hopefully you'll see him over Christmas." Alrighty then. That changes things a bit.

The vendors have been contacted, the families have been notified, as has the bridal party. So what's the fall back plan?

Well, we're going to get the legal part of the marriage out of the way before he deploys. It makes sense in every way.

HOWEVER - we don't want to be one of those couples that elopes and never gets around to celebrating with family and friends.

SO with that in mind, we are creating 2 plans of action to be decided on fully in 2012:

Plan #1:
Still do a Disney event (either coast, but we're still leaning toward Florida due to the finances of it).
We'll set this plan into motion IF we can confirm something for off-season. Even me, the ultimate Disney fan in this relationship, DOESN'T want to fight Florida's heat, humidity, or peak season crowds/prices in the summer. So we'll either catch it early in the year, or in the fall. Neither would be bad.

Plan #2:
Do an event in Washington. There is a 100 yr old opera house available for events that we certainly wouldn't mind renting out. It can be truly beautiful up here. This is the summer time plan. If we're confined to the summer time, then we'll probably invite everyone to our neck of the woods, as it is BEAUTIFUL out here during the summer months.

So that's the latest and greatest. This blog will focus less on wedding for now - and more on our adventures in Washington.

Discovering Gig Harbor

2011-04-30T20:43:00.000-07:00

Friday night has become "Date Night" sort of by accident and sort of on purpose. We wanted to have at least 1 night a week just for us to go out and enjoy. Last week, date night was Hale's Alehouse for dinner, followed by African Cats to celebrate Earth Day.

This friday, it was going to be Seattle, but we didn't get all the way there. We were starving so we ended up in Gig Harbor at a tiny Thai dinner. And I mean TINY. The place seated probably under 20 people. The food was good, the price was reasonable. We followed that with a walk along the waterfront. We found a Coffee and Clay house . While we didn't paint anything, we enjoyed hot chocolate and looked around. We'll probably be revisiting this. I've always wanted to try one of these things (even though my painting skills are pretty much on par with a 3rd grader).

But the best discovery of the night was a wine bar called Morso. We just stopped in for a drink and dessert, but they had lots of great, reasonably priced things on their menu (flat breads... yummy...). We tried a local cider (Westcott) and were treated to a sample of another local cider (Spire). The Spire cider on tap was on par if not better than any of the UK ciders I've tasted (a personal favorite is Strongbow on tap). I can't wait to go back and enjoy a full glass! Their wine list was extensive (as expected) with lots of local goodies. Dessert was delicious (mine was apple pie with Madascar vanilla ice cream and Sean had a chocolate fudge chip ice cream), the view of the harbor couldn't be beat, and a $5, the dessert prices couldn't be beat! I can't wait to show it to any guests that come visit!

We ended the night with a few hours of Super Mario Brothers on the Wii.

Unforuntately, the clutz in me got the better of me last night though. Before our date night, I ended up taking a Pete Rose in a parking lot. I managed to scrape up my knee, hand, and elbow. Tonight Sean tweaked his hip. But we're managing to have some fun. You could say we extended date night a bit. We got out again today, grabbing "linner" (late lunch/early dinner) at Hale's again, and then heading off to a movie - FastFive. And it was great.

Now back to an exciting evening of nursing our aching bodies, folding laundry, and playing with Clydas. Who could ask for anything more?

Toilet Paper Woes

2011-04-25T19:43:00.000-07:00

Recently Jaime and I bought toilet paper for cheap, it was double ply, and I was reminded of why I never buy crappy toilet paper. I, for a number of years, have firmly believed that no matter how much or how little money I have had that I would never skimp out and buy cheap tp. It can be the difference between a gentle cloud caressing you or a piece of rough sandpaper. Well the stuff that we got feels more like the latter, which I thought was impossible with double ply. Well luckily for us it will be a short lived mistake for both Jaime and I have started cycles of Dr. Natura's Colonaide. And boy does that stuff work. It works rather well and suffice to say it a good portion of my morning does reside in the rest area. This has obviously been the wake up call I needed to remind me of how an amazingly soft toilet paper can just make your day. I mean I do prefer my arse to, you know, not bleed. I would hope that others feel the same. Kind of makes you wonder how those cheap Toilet Paper companies stay in business. Well I do have one theory...with the thousands of high schoolers and drunk college students out there I am sure that many of them have gone tping at least once, if not many more times. Why waste spending your little and hard worked for (begging daddy and mommy) cash on expensive toilet paper to throw over peoples houses and trees, but I digress. I, for one, will never buy cheap toilet paper again.

He's here!

2011-04-21T22:52:00.000-07:00

Sean arrived on Sunday of this week. I took Monday and Tuesday off work to help him settle in and to spend time with him and Louise, his friend who helped with the road trip/move. We celebrated his safe home coming with a visit to Safeco park for a Tigers/Mariner's game. The Tigers whooped the Mariners, and the fans were very gracious to us (fans of the other team).

Great food, great game, great company - who could ask for anything more/

We also did dinner at The Pink Door in Seattle near Pike's Market (which sadly was closed, so we'll have to save it for another day). The dinner was great! Literally, a hole in the wall, The Pink Door is located in an alley, across the alley from a chocolatier's shop. The food was all fresh, seasonal, and a mix of American Italian. The wine list was incredible - as was the antipasto. It's worth a return trip (and we'll be trying the local chocolate too someday soon)!

Wedding Chronicals- The Great Bridesmaid Debate

2011-04-14T11:00:00.000-07:00

This post is more intended for my bridesmaids than anyone else:

Ladies, originally I had said "just wear a black dress that you love". Well... it turns out 90% of you don't actually own a "little black dress" and will be buying a dress anyway.

I'm trying NOT to influence your decisions, as you're already having to travel to be part of the wedding party, BUT I need some feed back.

This is the color (not style) we're looking at:

It's called "Clover", according to Alfred Angelo (the designer of my gown). Accents would be Ivory and/or Gold, and we'll work the peacock feather into hair accessories that I've already got someone working on.

Check out the links below to get some ideas of what types of dresses I've been leaning towards. I picked out one in each length and a few different neckline styles.
Long/Halter - http://www.alfredangelo.com/Collections/ProductDisplay.aspx?productID=54933601-1453-4ae6-a212-a5a2aa863b49&categoryID=772f03c9-de43-4942-bfa0-da77e21ebd65&pg=5&colorId1=009735a7-07a9-4a59-8a4e-d5e6ed509ac9
Tea Length/Strapless (Price is Right! Under $125 plus 15-20% discount) - http://www.alfredangelo.com/Collections/ProductDisplay.aspx?productID=64fef8ae-84fb-4fbb-8859-b200aa2a56a5&categoryID=772f03c9-de43-4942-bfa0-da77e21ebd65&pg=5&colorId1=009735a7-07a9-4a59-8a4e-d5e6ed509ac9 (Trim options: Ivory, Harvest Gold, Champagne)
Short/Halter - http://www.alfredangelo.com/Collections/ProductDisplay.aspx?productID=0fb9a8c5-e7a8-460d-af70-309fa2658761&categoryID=772f03c9-de43-4942-bfa0-da77e21ebd65&pg=2&colorId1=009735a7-07a9-4a59-8a4e-d5e6ed509ac9

Short/Tank - http://www.alfredangelo.com/Collections/ProductDisplay.aspx?productID=5144e5a5-967c-4c6c-ad99-96355501a6c5&categoryID=772f03c9-de43-4942-bfa0-da77e21ebd65&pg=3&colorId1=009735a7-07a9-4a59-8a4e-d5e6ed509ac9 (Most likely Champagne accent)
Short/Strapless - http://www.alfredangelo.com/Collections/ProductDisplay.aspx?productID=e20c87e4-ea86-4f3e-a34a-cc8d928f6f39&categoryID=772f03c9-de43-4942-bfa0-da77e21ebd65&pg=4&colorId1=009735a7-07a9-4a59-8a4e-d5e6ed509ac9

Short/Strapless - http://www.alfredangelo.com/Collections/ProductDisplay.aspx?productID=49987b23-385d-4ef9-8700-0afdc5b1c8bd&categoryID=772f03c9-de43-4942-bfa0-da77e21ebd65&pg=4&colorId1=009735a7-07a9-4a59-8a4e-d5e6ed509ac9

Keep in mind that everything strapless does have a spaghetti strap option, and wraps (which can be pinned on to over upper arms/shoulders) will be provided for you, no matter what neckline/sleevelength we go with.

Why is everything Alfred Angelo?

I'm leaning toward Alfred Angelo because (even if you order black dresses), we get 15-20% off through them since that's where I got my gown. They are NATIONWIDE and it offer every dress in every size without charging more for plus sizes. And most of their dresses are available in Junior sizes as well, which is vital since my kid sister is part of the gang as a Junior Bridesmaid.

Here's the deal - check out some of the polls at the bottom of this entry. Feel it out and please, ANSWER HONESTLY. Don't worry about what you think I want to hear. Seriously - if you know me at all, you know that I genuinely want to know what you think when I ask your opinion.

We found a great pervayer on Etsy that will most likely be handling the flower girl's dress.

So let me know what you think- sleep on it, whatever. It's important to me that each of my girls feel as beautiful and confident as they can! It's why I love each of you. Thanks!
I'll be making the final call on this one probably next month, depending on the results (and confirming the date of the wedding).

If you like one of the dresses linked above, feel free to comment on this blog! Feedback is always welcome!

Almost back together!

2011-04-11T15:10:00.000-07:00

So the other day I stumbled across a picture of Sean in his uniform, and I have to admit, it's one of my favorites. He was in a friend's wedding last December (just before he came out to see me in California). So far, it's probably my favorite picture of him in uniform - showing the relaxed, confident, fun-loving guy I know.

I'm so glad Sean and I are hams for the camera. We've been apart since late February. It's been ROUGH. Lots of big changes have been happening and not being able to physically be there for one another leads us to be very appreciative of our families help and support. I really feel like they are all a part of making our dreams come true. And, aside from being flooded with excitement at seeing Sean again soon (next week), I'm also saturated with gratitude for all of our family members who have made my move and our huge leap as a couple possible. He's a really great guy and I can't wait to explore the Pacific Northwest with him.

Climbing Down

2011-04-01T09:07:00.000-07:00

Jaime, and her wonderful determination, has lost yet another 1lb this week which is quite an accomplishment considering all the stress from having to finish packing, saying her goodbyes, and dealing with quite a few last minute details before her big move. Right now she is on her way to Port Orchard, WA and I only hope that with having to eat out most the weekend she can continue her downward trend. She is an inspiration to behold. I, on the other hand, have finally gotten over my plateau. Losing 2 lbs this week I feel quite accomplished at 205 lbs. 25 more lbs to go until I hit my goal weight. I have a feeling that in a few weeks when I will have more cookware at my disposal and can actually control exactly what is in my food intake things will start moving forward a little bit smoother. Hopefully another plateau can be avoided and in a 2 months or less I can be at or at least very close to my goal. So all in all things are looking good for us. Overall we have both lost weight and I know that personally I feel much healthier than a few years ago. I can say that Jaime probably feels the same way. Pretty soon we can keep each other more accountable since we will basically be living together. When I move I will start using www.MyFitnessPal.com to keep track of my calories. So to all of you who are trying to lose weight have heart there are plenty of tools out there to use, you just gotta take a few minutes to look.

Farewell California!

2011-03-31T00:06:00.000-07:00

In under 24 hours, I'll be making my way north to Washington State. More importantly, in under 10 minutes, I'm going to bed! I can barely keep my eyes open, but wanted to express that I'm looking forward to being one GIANT LEAP closer to seeing Sean again. February feels like FOREVER ago.

I can't wait to be home -
Which is where ever Sean and I can be together.

Port Orchard or Bust!

2011-03-27T12:49:00.001-07:00

Well it has been a while since I made a post and so here it is. I found out in the past few weeks that my graduation date is actually April 8th instead of the 15th. What does this mean for Jaime and I? Well for one thing instead of leaving the 21st of April for WA now I get to leave the 15th. We get a whole extra week together! And on top of that I don't have to report to my next command until May 2nd. This means I get 17 days off of work and only 4 days are charged leave. It is going to be really nice to just relax and get used to the WA area before I get to my crew, the Pennsylvania Gold. As far as helping me with the move is my friend Louis and hopefully my friend Andy. After the ridiculous 38 hour drive and unloading the U-Haul we are going to spend a few days treating them around Seattle. Both of them are really helping us out a lot so we agreed that they deserve some time to see the area and have some fun. I also plan on paying for their plane tickets on the way back, which we have to buy soon.
As far as the front with how things are going with Jaime and I things are rather well, well as good as you can 2500 miles apart and with a 3 hour time difference. Even though we have this huge hurdle we try our best and set aside at least a few hours everyday to either talk or have our Netflix dates...with a few shows from Hulu plus thrown in every once in a while. After months of watching movies and shows though even this became stale so what did Jaime do for us last night? Bought a copy of "Would You Rather" of course! It was a nice change of pace. We had a few good laughs and it sparked some conversations that we probably never would of had. Once the move is all done and settled and she has a bit more free time I hope that we can find a book that we both want to read and read to each other before bed. I just look forward to a time that we can finally do all this in person.

The Wedding Chronicals - The Dresses that Didn't make the cut

2011-03-21T10:38:00.000-07:00

Last month, my mom and I went dress shopping as we stumbled across and bought "the dress"! (THANK YOU MOM!!!!!!)
We went to Alfred Angelo because I thought I knew what I wanted.

As it turns out, the dress I came in to try on has been discontinued... In fact, the sales person had never heard of it when I was describing it, and neither had the manager. I'm thinking it must have been an on-line exclusive. Well, wedding dresses are non-refundable, so I wasn't about to order something I couldn't try on. LightInTheBox carried a similiar one, and I was interested in trying it on before ordering (or winning) their version.

So I tried on some other colored gowns.

We started out with a simple option:

WHAT I LIKED:This dress was VERY light, despite it's "full" appearance. A sash/bridal belt gave me more control over the color choice. Oh yeah, it also had pockets! The price was right too. I liked the straps too. Definately something customizable that could be passed on as an heirloom peice.WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:The fabric was taffeta, which isn't soft to touch. I like a dress that

"feels" as lovely as it looks.

WHAT I LIKED:This was a VERY sliming dress. I loved that aspect! When you looked from the side, I looked 20 lbs lighter.I like the very top of it as well.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
No train. The color you see is all of the color what would be on the dress. It felt very "business like", nothing "fun", "classic" or especially "bridal" about it. I felt like a pretty girl in a nice dress. If Sean were wearing his dress uniform, maybe this would work, but he's not, and it's not exactly the look I'm going for...

WHAT I LIKED:Honestly, I expected to like this one the best. I expected to LOVE this one. What I can say is that I liked the fabric a lot. It was a very soft, rich, comfortable satin. I expected to LOVE the huge splash of color on the train. My colors would be Ivory and Clover Green.WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:The band of color at the neckline. I felt it was too small and contributed to a "wider" look from the front. This also has a completely zippered back, which is unforgiving as far as sizing/alterations go.
Oddly enough, I didn't like the HUGE splash of color on the train. I thought I'd LOVE this feature, but after trying on "the dress", this one seemed 'common'. I also feel that this isn't an heirloom peice. (Yes, future-daughter, I'm thinking about you!) I felt it lacked that attention to detail that I love so much, and was very "cookie cutter". I felt as though I'd seen this dress already, on a 1000 brides and it lacked originality. Mine would have been in Ivory and Clover. With that in mind (and the peacock feathers I'll be using in my hair) it just seemed like color-overkill. I felt that I could be more bold with my accessories if the coloration on the dress was bit more subtle. I LOVE loud color, but this was just too big of a leap for me. It's a BEAUTIFUL gown, don't get me wrong, and I almost felt bad turning it down when I told the sales lady that, surprisingly, I had fallen in love with the previous one.

HOW DID I KNOW I'D FOUND THE ONE?When they put the veil on and my mom and I both caught our breath. That was pretty much solid. (Of course, it didn't help that I turned to her and said, "Can you see me marrying Sean in this?" I already could.

I can't wait to visit this summer after my dress comes in! My mom will be taking good care of it in California until it's all ready and it's ready to make it's Florida debut!

Honoring the Blogger Day of Silence

2011-03-18T08:56:00.000-07:00

Until April...

2011-03-10T10:26:00.000-08:00

Last week we found out Sean is officially stationed in Bangor, Washington. What a relief! It means I'm making the right move when I head up to Washington in 2 weeks (well, 13 days).

However, it's going to be a bit longer than we expected before we get to see each other. The Navy is keeping him on Georgia for just a little longer, and then he's driving over to Washington (after a visit with family). I may even get to meet his sister (one of them) if she is able to come along for the ride!

Since it's going to be almost 7 weeks before we see each other face to face, I put some spit and polish on this little montage. (The opening song is a J. Darling original.)

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Good memories are always there to carry us through the tough times.

Nonsense and Non-Stress

2011-03-08T22:23:00.000-08:00

Bergamot Day Spa

Last weekend, Sean gave me an amazing gift!

Actually, it started before Valentine's Day.

See, I'm moving to Washington (the state, not the DC) to be closer to him. And while I'm excited about the new chapter in my life, I'm also just a little stressed. USUALLY I handle it pretty well, but moving away from your hometown for the first time EVER isn't easy for anyone. Add a stressful job, where if I screw up, the FBI comes a-knockin', writing deadlines, and regular everyday life stuff, and it's enough to make anyone go crazy.

Sean knows me VERY well. We knew back in February that there would be a LONG stretch (most of Feb and all of March and April) where we wouldn't be able to see each other. He knew that I'd need a break, but that he couldn't be here to help with that, so he told me to send him a list of local spas.

I did.

And he set me up with an amazing spa morning for the first weekend in March, figuring it would relax me before the move. The package included a massage, manicure, and pedicure.

Going one step further, I have to say that I've never been entirely comfortable being touched by strangers. I'm not cold towards others, and I don't fear contact, but I've never been the touchy-feely type. I'm big on meaningful touch I guess. So when I found out that Sean had booked a massage I wondered if I'd be able to truly relax for it.

Well, I did -nearly completely anyway. A WONDERFUL, completely organic and natural head to toe massage. It took place in a little bamboo hut with soft music playing inside, and a fountain running by outside. In fact, I think he created a monster. I might have to try to do this more often. I felt so refreshed afterwards.

This place also gives the best pedicures in North County, CA. Ladies, forget about those little swirling jet thingys. You haven't lived until you've had a Bergamot pedicure. Hand done massages while your feet soak in a bowl of warm water with orchids floating in it and warm stones on the bottom of it. Only organic, fair trade substances are used in their massages (which made the tree-hugger in me feel great).

For my toes and my fingers, I ended up going with an opalescent lavender color. (I paint my nails so rarely, so it's a real treat for someone to do it for me - and do it evenly w/ all the undercoats and hardening sprays and such.)

The day continued to be great as my mom and I headed to Alfred Angelo to check out a wedding dress design similar to the one I was hoping to win from a LightInTheBox Facebook competition. (Click here to find out how to help us win!) More on that day to come...

Honestly, I've never had someone look out for me the way Sean does. While I miss him terribly and wish he could be here to help with the move, I'm so blessed by the way he takes every chance he gets to let me know that I'm loved.

The Wedding Chronicals - Destination Wedding

2011-03-01T17:54:00.000-08:00

Sean and I have batted around hundreds of wedding venue ideas since our engagement this January.

Source

And we finally found one we're really excited about.

Yes, it will mean our guest list will be less, and our turn out may be less.

But in the end, we decided to do something within our budget, that's fun, exciting, and has special meaning to us.

We're getting married at Disney World!

But we're not paying Disney's prices to do it.

See, Disney Fairytale weddings are stunning and low hassle. There is no ifs-ands-or-buts about it.

BUT there are 3 resorts on property that are NOT Disney owned. The Swan and Dolphin owned and operated by the Sheraton company, and the military inn, Shades of Green.

The Swan and Dolphin are owned by the Sheraton company.

I've had some pretty good experiences with Sheraton hotels in the past, which leads me to believe this could be a very, very positive experience for all involved. (Not to mention a dream come true for us!)

Can you be both a Sad Panda and Happy at the same time?

2011-02-26T09:06:00.001-08:00

So It has been almost a week since Jaime left Georgia and it was one awesome weekend, despite me getting sick and Jaime consequently getting sick in turn. I am sorry my love! Anyways I digress we have some amazing pictures from the weekend and we should be sending out "Save the Date" wedding announcements sometime late April. This brings me to why I am sad. Jaime and I now don't get to see each other until after I graduate, book a flight, and fly to my new home base. Hopefully in Bangor, WA. This means that we can't see one and another for around 6 weeks. 6 WEEKS. Honestly this sucks, a lot. I love Jaime with every fiber of my body. She makes me the happiest man in the world but it sucks living some few thousand miles apart. Well at least time will change that. Pretty soon we get to finally live together and life can finally move on. Anyways my tentative graduation date is April 15th, and I should, hopefully, be getting to pick my orders soon. I know where Jaime and I would love to go, already helped her pick out an apartment, and now it is just a suspenseful waiting game. Yes right now I am 3rd in the class with a 93.40% and should be getting a great pick, but the truth is we never know what the split it going to be between Bangor and Kingsbay. For the most part the billets right now are going to Bangor, last class had a 10-2 Bangor split, but the reality is that something could come up and things could change. Welcome to the military I suppose. Anyways with all this stress and the stress of throwing a wedding in under a year things are going to be very interesting for us the next year. Anyways I know that everything will be fine in the long run because Jaime is such a wonderful and caring person and honestly things are great right now too, just because I get to talk to the person I love most every day of my life.

The Wedding Chronicals - "The Dress" Experience

2011-02-24T10:29:00.000-08:00

When most people think of a wedding, the first thing to come to mind (besides lots of love and sappiness) is "the dress".

I'm not one of those girls who has planned her wedding from the time she was a little girl. I was too busy mountain biking, playing sports, climbing trees, or singing at the top of my lungs (often from a tree top) in order to dream about who would be bridesmaids, what they would wear, what kind of flowers I'd have, much less what I would wear!

I didn't start thinking about weddings and attire until I was well into the journey seeking the man I would share my life with. In the past couple years, several of my friends have let me look at wedding gowns with them for their impending weddings. When I started to follow Carly's blog, I started to give the topic more thought.

Yes, as a kid, I was a pretty solid Tom-Boy in a lot of ways, but things also changed as I got older.

The only man I'll ever share my Mickey Bar with.

See, my parents introduced me to theater early on. It's a passion I keep even today by voulenteering for Community Theater whenever I can. So I've also had a chance to experience costumes and dressing up.

This is where I feel a wedding dress is different.

A wedding dress isn't just "dressing up". It's not another costume. Bring a "bride" isn't a scripted role I'll be playing. It's not a character someone else invented.

It's me.

It's me marrying my best friend.

And a wedding isn't just an expensive party.

It's a celebration of over a decade of friendship, growth, faith, and love that has lead us to the point where we are ready to step into whatever the future may hold hand-in-hand.

It's an occasion I know I will cherish the memory of when he's deployed under the sea and far away from me, out of contact for months at a time.

So for me the dress is part of a memory I know he'll embrace as well when he's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and missing his wife. (Due to the highly classified nature of his work, we can expect 2 90-day deployments each year, with little to no contact during this time.)

In picking out the dress, I decided I wanted something unique, and startling enough to surprise my friends and family, yet keeping that timeless, classic flavor that best reflects the love Sean and I share.

Yes, every bride wants her groom and her family to think she's beautiful when she gets married. I'm no exception to that. But have you ever heard a groom get to the altar and say, "I... don't. I'm sorry. I just can't marry you in that because I realize how ugly you really are... in that dress. Sorry. Wedding's off until you get some something with more lace."

I sure haven't. And I'm confident that Sean won't run in terror either.

That said, here are a few things that I've been considering when it comes to dresses:

*Budget - We are trying to pay for this even ourselves. I can't justify blowing our entire budget (which is currently WELL under the average wedding expenditure) on a gown I'm going to wear for 1 day, and then store. By the same token, no one in my bridal party is well off either, so I've exchanged having a matching bridal party for having everyone attend. They will have to travel to our wedding, so I've asked my bridesmaids to find a black dress, roughly knee length. I'll spring for matching wraps or accessories or something to tie them all together. The up side? They'll wear these dresses again, and may already have one in their closet. I wish I could sponsor all of my ladies to travel to us AND not have to worry about what to wear, as they've all been so wonderfully supportive over this last crazy year. They deserve a little vacation as much as I do, and their willingness to help so much with their time and talents for this wedding is truly touching. The least I can do is let them wear something they may not have to buy, and can still feel as beautiful in as they are in my eyes.

* Feeling good in my own skin is up to me - not a dress, but a flattering cut can still help. - I scar. Badly. From everything. It's something that is just part of my DNA and not something I can fight. The most prominent scars are on my left shoulder blade and right shoulder. I could use make-up to cover them or get a gown that covers these areas, but instead I've decided not to give these "flaws" an special attention. Sean knows me for all of who I am, the good, the bad, the beautiful, and the scarred. A wedding is a public commitment to acceptance of all Sean and I have to bring to the table.

*White, while never out of season, isn't for everyone. - The idea of the white wedding gown is fairly new, and Sean and I have something timeless. I tried on a dress accented with strong colors and have decided I love this style. So a true white isn't on my color palette. Ivory, Dark Green, and Gold are in the color palette too.

So in selecting my gown, I'm going to flatter my hour-glass-ish figure, feel beautiful in the colors I've chosen and really just be "me".

Help me win my dress! Click here for instructions on how you can help. All you need is a Facebook account and some kind words.

Wedding Chronicals - Our Wonderful Amature Engagement Shoot

2011-02-24T10:16:00.000-08:00

Last weekend, I got to visit Sean for the last time until April. Afterwards, we said goodbye for 52 days - roughly. This is assuming the Navy transfers him immediately to the Pacific. So we saved up to make this trip something really special.

I flew in on Thursday, Feb 17th, and stayed until Tuesday, Feb 22nd. He got some free time due to President's Day Holiday.

Most of the visit, we spent on base at the Navy Lodge or the Navy Gateway lodge. Not especially romantic, but great rates - and I won't turn down any chance to be together. Being with Sean seems to make the most ordinary things special.

However, on Friday and Saturday we changed scenery a bit. We spent it at on the beautiful Amelia Island in Florida.

It was only a few minutes from his base. I'd correspondanded with the innkeeper of a B&B and she worked within our budget to set us on with an amazing a romance package. It included a beautiful room, a horsedrawn carriage for the evening, and dinner at a local cafe. (And, of course, her amazing breakfasts for 2 days!)

It was a wonderful experience. Sean and I have never stayed at a B&B before, but after this experience, we'll be looking for a hospitable B&B in the future.

The innkeeper grabbed our camera and really went the extra mile for us for this engagement/wedding/save-the-date shoot. She let us enjoy the carriage ride to ourselves, but met us at the peir so we could enjoy the sunset and shoot a few photos. What I love about our photos is that they aren't posed. They are just "us" being us. Since Theresa was so welcoming, it was easy to feel like we were in the presence of a good friend. There was lots of laughter and a touch of romance.

He makes me laugh.

I'm working on a montage of photos from that trip, but here is a little teaser of me with the man I love.

When I get tearful about how baddly I miss Sean, I look at this one and remind myself that, compared to happily ever after, a few months apart is just a drop in the bucket....

Happily Ever After

The Ring Story - Part 2

2011-02-23T18:08:00.000-08:00

The Ring Story – Part 2

I’d been hearing for some time about the ring that Sean picked out for me. We’d spent a fairly significant amount of time browsing online, so I knew he had a feeling for what I like. Though I love the Mickey ring he picked out, there isn’t a lot of respect for Mouse shaped jewelry in this world (which is really a shame, but that’s a tale for another blog). He did a great job keeping it under wraps once it was in his possession.

When it comes to jewelry (like most things in life) I like things simple. I’ve never craved a rock so big that it would be a point of envy to the outside world. I don’t care about things that come in a “Tiffany” blue box. I’m interested in quality, or things with history to them. Most of my favorite pieces of jewelry came from antique/consignment shops, and all were under $100 (including a beautiful carved ivory rose necklace). When it came to engagement rings, I was thinking of something a little different than the basic round diamond solitare in a yellow gold setting, but I never had my sights set on anything by Tacori or Harry Winston. I was thinking something simple, more along the lines of a gem stone ring (Alexandrites are my faves) with diamond accents, or an eternity ring. I didn’t need or want anything big.

I knew Sean was planning on giving me the ring Thursday when I arrived at the airport. He just couldn’t wait to show it to me.

I found him at the baggage claim.

He was already waiting for my bag to come through to grab it for me. (What a gentleman!) We decided to wait until the privacy of the rental car for him to let me see the ring that I would wear on my left hand for the rest of my days.

But that plan back-fired, just a little.

See, though my itinerary said that the car was located inside the airport terminal, it was wrong. We found the shuttle stop fairly quickly. It was the over 30 minute wait for the shuttle that seemed like an eternity. Now, don’t get me wrong. There is no one I’d rather wait on a curb with, but it was starting to look like they’d forgotten about us.

Unable to wait any longer, Sean produced a beautiful white gold diamond ring.

Resembling an eternity ring, the main attraction are 3 marquis cut diamonds. There are 6 smaller stones resembling hidden Mickeys on the sides, and 6 smaller rectangular beside them. 3 Karats total in a tapered raised setting. The detail in design makes it all work without feeling too big or bulky.

It’s quite a ring when compared to my pint sized fingers. It’s definitely more ring than I ever even would have considered owning. The weight is going to take some getting used to, but this definitely strikes me as an heirloom piece – and I like the thought of jewelry with some life and history poured into it.

I will be getting it sized once I get home and I can’t wait to see how it feels when it’s paired with the perfect wedding band from the guy perfect for me.

The Wedding Chronicals - The Dress Contest!

2011-02-23T18:01:00.000-08:00

I've found the dress I'd love to marry Sean in and the makers are currently having a contest and the winner gets the dress of her dreams!

Helping out is simple! You have to have a facebook account. Click here and "Like" the page. Then find my comment and comment on it, stating why you think Sean and I should win, as well as any special memories you have about us.

Also remember to like my posting and share it with your friends! The more great comments, the better our chances! Thanks so much!!!

Wedding Chronicals - Themes

2011-02-16T17:40:00.000-08:00

Nearly every wedding consultant encourages couples to pick a "theme" and build the wedding celebration around that theme. If it's something that represents an interest the couple have, it can be a fun way for guests to get to know the bride and groom a bit more.

So Sean and I have been kicking around some ideas for themes.

Source

Here's what we've come up with:

Hidden Mickeys -

I'm a huge Disney fan, and Disney has grown near and dear to Sean's heart as well.

That said, this idea fell by the wayside. We decided that we'd have a few "hidden Mickey" touches, but we'd reserve them for ourselves, rather than trying to throw an entire Disney themed wedding that isn't in a Disney Park. (We would have LOVED to have throw it in the Disney parks, however min. expenditure for a group our size is $10-$12k, which is sadly out of our budget - we may reconsider this venue if any sizable contributions come in, however, for now, we're planning a home based reception/wedding). I'll be wearing a fairly obvious Mickey myself that I couldn't be more excited about, but that's news for another post.

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Asian Inspiration -

Sean has always been intrigued by Asian cultures, Japanese to be specific. A few of my favorite things just happen to be of asian decent as well (orchids). And I like the idea of paper lanterns as well, however this, again, may be out of place, depending on the venue. So we may be working this in the same way we are working in the Hidden Mickeys theme - by just adding a few touches here and there. (Possibly floral, possibly center pieces, etc.). Sean has suggested using cherry blossoms as well. I'm not really to into pink (the color of cherry blossoms), and we're not sure what the cost would run since they are pretty hard to come by, but it's an idea that's out there.

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Celtic Inspiration -

Sean and I both understand and appreciate symbolism. This would also fit our color scheme (green, ivory, and gold) very very well. There is a strong Irish line in my family, Sean's family has some Irish in it too, and my parents have visited Ireland on many occasions. The symbolism of a wedding and Celtic knots seem fitting. I also feel that this motif could work well at almost any venue.

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Peacock theme -

I love colors, especially rich, deep colors. But I think I'd easily get sick of peacock stationary, peacock accessories, peacock themed center pieces, etc etc... so while I definitely want to sport one of these little babies (which will look AWESOME with the dress I've chosen), Sean also doesn't like the idea of more than 2 primary colors. I feel, to really do the peacock theme well, accentuating the beautiful sparkling rich blue is as necessary as the green and bronze/gold tones. So we're not completely sold on this either...

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Natural theme - This one would be a no brainer - IF it were outdoors. However, Washington state in the outdoors? A "rain" inspired wedding might be more appropriate. November is one of the wettest months of the year.

We've still got plenty of time to figure things out, and probably won't have anything settled for a few months.

Who knows? Maybe we can find a way of combining a few of our favorites yet.

Source

2011-02-14T14:02:00.001-08:00

Well, this Thursday Jaime and I will see each other for the last time before our move, hopefully to Washington...the state not the city. We would be living together in Port Orchard, a mere 45 minutes away from Bangor. Bangor being the base that I would be stationed to. I feel reassured that Jaime already flew up there and seemed to really like the place. It seems that we would be living in a smaller apartment for a 6 month lease, not too small, and from there decide if we want to stay in that apartment, in that same complex in a bigger apartment, or to move to an entirely new complex. Honestly I am really happy about the move. We are finally going to be in the same area code and most of the time under the same roof. It will be an amazing leap in our relationship, we no longer have to book monthly trips to see each other, because we finally get to see each other almost every day. Sure there will be the a few kinks in our relationship, a few tiffs here and there but what relationship doesn't have its quirks. I know that we will make it through anything because we have fought long and hard to make this work. I am just glad that I finally have the opportunity to be with the woman that I have always loved, even if at times I didn't know it. This is by far the best thing that has ever happened in my life. Jaime I love you so very much.
~ps - Here's the visual run down of the trip to Washington!~

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Wedding Chronicals - The Trick is The Timing

2011-02-13T15:16:00.000-08:00

Sean and I would LOVE to send out “Save the Date” cards to our prospective guests. Since just about everyone will have to travel no matter where the wedding takes place, we want to give our guests as much notice as possible.

The ticker is currently set for our hopeful date of November 5^th, 2011.

However there may be a snag with that date.

See, we don’t have a location yet. Lucky for us, we’re booking “off season”, which ‘should’ save us money, but also limits our locations. Washington’s weather is known to be rather cold and unpredictable in the fall. In fact, it could be a white wedding!

But the biggest snag (apart from coming up with a few thousand dollars very quickly) is this –

We don’t even know if the Groom will be able to attend on that date yet.

Until we get Sean’s deployment schedule, everything is etched in sand (other than our enduring commitment to each other, of course).

Building our lives around the needs of the Navy isn’t easy. Being constantly surrounded by the love of our family and friends makes it tolerable.

We appreciate your understanding – prospective attendees (and attendants). Look for the Save the Dates in the mail in the beginning of May!

The Ring Story - Part 1

2011-02-13T15:12:00.000-08:00

In 2008, I landed the best job ever.

I became a regularly published author.

And not for just any old newspaper or rag. I began contributing for a brand new regularly published ground breaking specialty magazine. I took up a position as a contributing author for Celebrations Press, a magazine catering to Disney World fans of all ages.

In case you didn’t know, I’m a lifelong Disney fan. In fact, I began to rely on Disney travel podcasts (as well as a few choice others, like Mail Order Zombie) to help me get through my regular work day. Due to the high stress nature of my job, a sense of humor and wonderment is a necessity to keep from becoming completely jaded to the human experience. One of my favorite podcasts is Lou Mongello’s WDWRadio. It’s a podcast mostly appreciated by hard-core fans who are interested in enhancing their Disney Park experience by learning Disney trivia, fun facts, and stories behind the attractions/lands/characters we’ve come to love.

When Lou started taking about doing a Disney Fan magazine with his co-host, Tim Foster, I was immediately interested. I’ve been a Disneyland fan since I was about 2 years old. (According to my parents, that was the year of my first trip to the Park and my eyes just about popped out of my head. Here I am, 28 years later, and they still haven’t gone back in. In fact, I’m more marveled by the place each time I learn something new – and let me tell you, there is ALWAYS something to learn. ) So I submitted an unsolicited blog post to Tim Foster, one of the editors/owners/producers of the magazine. (I know. Gutsy move – and one that is not usually rewarded.) The article was about my experience at the 2007 Danskin Women’s Sprint Triathlon – which just happens to be the one and only Triathlon to take place on Disneyland Resort Property.

Tim was impressed enough to hire me on as a regular contributor to the magazine. Though it’s a Disneyworld based magazine, Tim gave me a 2 page spread in every issue. I use it to highlight the history and trivia of some of Disneyland Resort’s best and most unique attractions.

My first real writing gig - and I get to write about something I’m passionate about.

Does it get more perfect than that?

It has been a wonderful experience and it created a need for me to do more and more trips to Disneyland. Since I’m a Premium Annual Passholder, and Disneyland is (currently) only a short drive away, I’m able to slip into the parks whenever I need a break from the real world, or when I need a “research trip”.

Research trips involve a lot of walking around, talking to Cast Members, and waiting for the perfect shot of whatever attraction I happen to be researching.

Unfortunately, last summer I had major surgery. This severely limited my trips of any sort, whether they were to Disneyland or to the grocery store. As soon as the MD cleared me, I went back to Disneyland one weeknight after work for a more casual Disneyland trip…

This is where The Ring Story comes in.

It was a cool September evening in Anaheim. Walking around the parks had a joyful, meditative feel to it this time.

I began my usual “research” patiently waiting for the opportunity to take the perfect photos and to meet up with one of my trusted Disneyland informants. I strolled into the neon-lit Tomorrowland and into the Star Traders store. I was investigating any changes going on since Star Tours. So far, there wasn’t a story to be had there other than what the fan world already knew – that Disney was about to close the attraction for a serious (and LONG overdue) upgrade. Star Traders doubles as the exit to Star Tours, so I started my hunt there to see if there would be any tips regarding the changes to come.

The merchandise was largely the same as it had been on my past visits. There was a rack full of candy and snacks, a room filled with Disney Star Wars merchandise, and another room filled with what most tourists would expect to see at a theme park gift shop. Mickey Mouse t-shirts of every color lined the shelves. Plush characters of every shape and size dominated an entire wall. Near the checkout area were small racks with jewelry.

There were sliders for bracelets, children’s jewelry, and a myriad of other nick knacks. As I browsed the racks, a specific ring caught my attention and wouldn’t let it go. It was a silver ring with a crystal Mickey head in the center. On either side of the Mickey design were 2 colored stones. They had rings with stones representing just about every birthstone. For some reason, the blue stoned ring jumped out at me.

I look it off the shelf.

I tried it on. A 6 was too small, but a 7 was just a bit too big.

I turned it over to check the price. It was definitely affordable, but the thought of spending money on something so optional when significant medical bills were looming gave me a moment’s pause. Also, the ring wasn’t available in half sizes. Assuming I’d lose it, as I’m prone to do with jewelry from time to time, I settled w/ taking a photo of it on my cell phone. I put the ring back on the rack for some other lucky tourist to take home.

I sent it to a few of my Mouse-friendly friends, saying something like, “This might need to come home with me at some point.”

I would visit The Ring on subsequent visits, but it never made it into my modest Disney jewelry collection.

Fast forward to January 16^th, 2011.

Sean is scouring the jewelry in Mouse Gears in Epcot while I look at t-shirts, sweatshirts, and kitchen goodies, considering bringing something home.

Later that night, he proposes. Unable to see The Ring in the subdued lighting, I say yes.

On our way out of the parks, I stop under a lantern in the Mexico pavilion to check it out. Even in the yellowish light, I know recognize the ring on my finger and start to laugh.( In fact, I think I had just stopped crying and the laughter brought tears to my eyes again!) The ring on the finger, the one that he said just seemed to be most “me”, was the exact same ring that over a year earlier, I had picked out for myself.

This ring will always have a special place in my heart and may just be my “something blue” on our wedding day.

Well done, love.

Stay tuned for Part 2 – when the more traditional ring comes in!

Our Journey in Vows

2011-02-12T11:34:00.001-08:00

His turn:

Jaime and I have decided that we are going to write our own vows. In some ways this task was very easy. I know how I feel about Jaime and I knew many things that I could say about her. In this lies the difficulty. There are just so many amazing things about her and yet so little space to say what I want to say. Well I finally think that I have finished writing them, but who is to say that I won't change my mind on a few items. Revise them just a little bit. I mean, a wedding is a huge task and you want everything to go perfectly. Of course there will always be a few things here and there, a few little mishaps, however the vows are the one thing that you can control. You can not control a crazy aunt, or a baby crying in the background. You also can not control what flowers are in season and how everyone else thinks that you should of done this different or that. So the vows have to be perfect, right?

Well as I sat there trying to nitpick and choose what to write it dawned on me. I really am finally going to be able to spend the rest of my life with my best friend. Over the years Jaime and I have had an interesting journey. We didn't quite know what to make of our relationship. We went through periods where we were just friends and comfortable knowing that no matter what we would always be in each other's lives. To wanting to be in a relationship and just not finding a way to make it work. We also had the challenge of dating other people and then suddenly on of us would become single. Yes, life for us was a challenge in many ways but we have always loved each other. I take comfort in the fact that, finally, we are together the way it is meant to be. Destiny finally has caught up to us. I for one know that where love is concerned I have finally made the right choice. Jaime I love you and I vow to always cherish the love that you have shown me.

Her turn:

Sean and I are both fairly prolific. In fact, that is responsible for what brought us together in the first place!
But, for me, stating my most intimate feelings about the guy who knows me best in front of an audience was daunting. Yes, the traditional vows covered the basics, but writing our own vows seemed the write thing to do - but also, for me, a daunting task.

Having acted in front of audience for a good chunk of my life, I can memorize lines with the best of them. But this is very, very different. Not only would I be writing my "lines" for the wedding, but these aren't just "lines" in the script that is our budding wedding ceremony. These are the most important words I may ever say. They have to be right.
But how on earth do you begin to encompass over a decade of friendship grown into love in a matter of a few minutes?
And even more, how am I going to get through gazing into his eyes, standing before family and friends, and saying what I need to say without bursting into tears?

The truth is, I probably won't get through it without crying. This is not a pledge I take lightly.

Today, I wrote my vows.

I wasn't sure how to start, but I knew the jist of it. The point of vows is to clearly state what you are promising. I turned on some soft music (from Disney's Wedding Album - which is largely Disney love songs done elevator-style - not great for weddings, but great for tuning out the world and getting into the romantic mood), booted up the Acer, and started writing. I figured I'd start the way I'd start a letter to Sean.

"My beloved Sean," I started. Soon the words just started flowing and it was hard not to repeat myself when I say how much I love him, how proud I am of him, how I have full confidence that we'll get through life together no matter what it throws at us...

I guess I never realized that "vows" are really a love letter, and a love letter is really an agreement between two hearts, and marriage is the contract that solidifies what the heart already knows.

Her Turn - First Flowers!

2011-02-04T09:51:00.000-08:00

Sean has been counted as one of my best friends for nearly half my life. You know, the type of person you can't go through a single day without talking to. The type of person who you can really be yourself around, and who makes you feel sane when you're a little crazy. That said, there really is nothing better than being in love with your best friend. So being in engaged to Sean has been a wonderful experience that I'm sure I'll treasure forever. I've always treasured how in-step we seem to be. That said, Wednesday was a LOUSY-day for both of us.

Our schedules just could not seem to get on the same page. See, it can be challenging to connect with each other when you're on different coasts and in different time zones. We do our best to schedule at least a good 2 hours a day where we have some uninterrupted Skype time. But some days, it just seems like that's not in the cards.

Wednesday was one of those days. Between my work, the Navy (on his side), and errands I had to run, we were barely able to talk on the phone. On top of that, I had to get my license renewed at the DMV. Their next appointement was after my trip to Seattle (next weekend) and Jacksonville! That wouldn't work, so I went in during the middle of the week, hoping to be in an out of the DMV quickly. Afterall, who goes to the DMV during the day in the middle of the week?

Apparently everyone. 3+ hours later, I FINALLY left with my new temporary license. California is so behind, that they've outsourced the manufacturing part of licenses to a company that is running SIX to EIGHT weeks behind! That was really bad news since I have 2 round-trip flights this month and NO VALID GOVERNMENT ISSUED PHOTO ID to show for it. Frustration is probably putting it mildly.

Now, my fuse is usually pretty long, but that day it was shorter than usual. His day was pretty lousy as well due to some crazy scheduling. But Sean, being the wonderful guy that he is, helped me find a solution to my problem - and sent me flowers!

They arrived the next day, an early Valentine's Day gift.

Now, any man can send a woman the obligatory roses on Valentine's day. An especially thoughful man will send flowers "just because". But only a man who truly knows and loves a woman will send her FAVORITE flowers from the BEST florist in town - from all the way across the continent.

Favorite flowers - Dendrobium orchids in purple! Other favorites? Bi-colored roses and exotic flowers!

Good job honey.

A New Begining - The Proposal

2011-02-02T21:49:00.000-08:00

We had just finished walking around the World Showcase pavilions at Epcot one last time. We tasted the treats of Norway, took some photos of Japan, and indulged in some Kaki Gori (Japanese shaved ice dessert) before the big show...Illuminations. Heading back to Italy to grab a spot, we walked together hand in hand, taking our time. I stole glimpses of her face as we walked. She was undeniably beautiful with her enchanting smile. Her entire face seemed to glow with the magic surrounding us. After all, any place seems more magical when we are together. How could Disneyworld be any different? Soon we arrived at our spot.

It was perfect; no trees or buildings to obstruct the view. Just another family nearby to chat with. One of the kids was also celebrating a birthday, and was very eager to chatter on about her family’s adventures in the parks. It served as a good distraction for Jaime. I wrapped my arms around her waist in a nice embrace, keeping her warm against the chilly night air. The children nearby eventually lost interest in conversation as the show time grew closer. I rested my head on her shoulder and then there was an announcement, 15 minutes until show time.

I dug my hand into my pocket pulling out a small ring, one I bought earlier that trip. Unfortunately for me, I didn't have the ring that was originally picked out, but that is a whole other story. That said, I knew this was the perfect moment and I just couldn’t propose empty handed. It just wasn't done. Another announcement echoed over the speakers. The aged voice announced 10 more minutes. Has it been 5 minutes already?

I was getting ever more nervous, clutching the ring in my fist. I kissed her softly on the cheek glad for the darkness. She couldn't see the obvious nervousness written all over my face. During the fireworks was the perfect time. In fact, ever since the trip to Disney World was planned it just clicked in my brain. What woman wouldn't like to be proposed during a romantic fireworks show on her birthday?

But when to ask her.

My worries grew.

5 minutes until show time.

Suddenly my mind went blank. Everything that I had planned just flew out the window. I had planned this moment for over 3 weeks. For years I had wondered what I would say at that moment… But I suddenly found myself at a loss for words. We chatted for a few more minutes as anxiously I turned ideas in my head. What was I going to do now? When in the show would be the perfect moment? Would I even know?

Suddenly, lights went down and the huge torches flanking our position sprang to life. The heat of the flames warmed her face. The narrator began, telling the story of mankind sharing the stories of their lives by the fire. An audible breath seemed to blow out the torches, cooling the air around us for a brief moment. I hugged her a little tighter as she leaned against my embrace. She’d been waiting to share this experience with me for a long time as well. With a little luck, we would take a more leading role in each other’s stories after tonight. But when to ask? I could tell she was engrossed in the display unfolding before us.

A blindingly bright white rocket arched through the sky like a shooting star. Illuminations had officially begun. An explosion in the air and all speech was forgotten, not just for us, but everyone in the crowd, even the smallest of children. The fire barge, as Jaime had called it, had a way of jarring an audience into complete awe. It was just so magical. Suddenly all nervousness was gone. In that instant, the night was perfect. I’d bide my time. I knew that the perfect moment would present itself. I just held her enjoying the amazing spectacle in front of us.

Flashes of colors soared through the air while music chimed in perfectly on cue. Pixie dust taken to a whole new level.

Then, the music changed into a more romantic tune. Here was my moment to act. I leaned over and whispered in her ear, "Jaime, will you marry me?" She half turned, not sure if she could believe her ears. We’d talked about this moment for so long. I will never forget what she said, "Does this one count?" with a smile in her voice. She could not see the ring I held in my hand or the seriousness in my face in the subdued lighting. It wasn’t a traditional proposal. I wasn’t down on one knee. I had no long speech. What I offered was an honest heart to heart connection and a simple question that lingered in her ear.

"I really mean it," I replied, and moved my hands, drawing her attention now to the ring I offered. Her answer came without hesitation. She answered back in a whisper, “Yes.”

I slipped the ring onto her finger. Illuminations had become background noise this moment, despite the explosions and grandeur. All that mattered was the perfect kiss that followed. Our first kiss as an engaged couple. Everything was as it should be for finally we where we belonged - together forever.

When the show finally came to a close, we spent a few moments just gazing into each other’s eyes, Jaime giggling and crying, nearly squeezing the life out of each other with hugs. I took her by surprise, leading her to a waltz to the closing number, entitled “Promise”. It couldn’t have been more fitting. The audio crooned , “Promise, you will take my hand as tomorrow comes, we go on. We go on, growing closer through the years. Moving on, through the good times and the tears. Ever on, another thousand circles ‘round the sun. If two can be as one, we’ll go on.”

We walked out of the park, talking and laughing – and then The Ring Story came to light – but that’s a blog for another day.