Bridal Shower

Last night was my bridal shower. I had a good time and it's good to see some family members that I haven't seen in a while.

Brittany (my cousin/host), started the shower off with one of those games with the mixed up words. Pretty fun. She had me introduce everyone and tell how they are related. I started off fine, but when I got to Brian's aunt, for the life of me, I just drew a blank! I felt so bad. It's not like I don't see her or don't know her. I think it was just one of those things where you get put on the spot, and your mind goes blank. But I still feel bad! I just feel like a terrible person!

After introductions we went onto some questions about Brian (she's been asking for his phone number, and I didn't have a clue why!). I missed 12 of them. I know, HORRIBLE! But they were really minute things in about him (I think there was 26 questions).

I got a lot of nice things for the kitchen, and some good recipes! Here's some pictures from the night:

Present time

Tiffany (Highschool friend), Aunt Ronnie, Taylor (cousin), Brian's Aunt's: Ann & Jane, Jamie (Brian's sister she's kind of hiding), and Sue (another of Brian's Aunts)
The Yummy Dessert - Something with different flavors of sherbet
Me, My Mom, Aunt Tina, Grandma Belka, Erika, Brittany & Aunt Julia
Kimi, Melissa (Friends) & Me

So Offended

So tonight I went to one of my friends wedding reception. I went to show her my support as a friend, but I came out with so much more. I have never been so offended in my entire life!

I left "the church" (the LDS Church) because of my own personal feelings. I really don't want to go into it, because I have respect for other people. I was forced to go to church since I was old enough to comprehend what was going on. When I was younger, that's what my family did, so I went with them. When I was about oh, 10 or 11, I figured I wasn't a religious person, and probably went through what every kid does in whether they believe in a god or not. I figured out that this church was not right for me.

I am really appalled at what people have said and done to me. People are so closed minded, and so judgmental that sometimes I just wonder if they actually love me for who I am, not just because I'm their daughter, sister, cousin or whatever. Tonight I had one of the rudest things said to me that I never would have thought could have come out of this persons mouth. When I was in the youth group at my church, I had this leader. She seemed very nice, very accepting of everyone. Well, I haven't seen her in probably 3 years now. I saw her tonight at my friends reception. As I was leaving, she says to me, "My son Zach left the church because of you. He decided that because you said that you didn't have to go to church that he didn't have to." I walked out of the church with my mouth wide open appalled, and didn't even know what to think of what she said. Well, it sunk in.

I have to say, of all the religions out there, Mormonism seems to be the most judgmental, most unaccepting church out there. I just don't understand how a person can just turn their cheek because they don't believe in something that they do. I find religion as a whole very condescending.

I am a person who accepts people for WHO they are, and NOT what they DO. Just because I don't go to church does NOT make me a bad person. I just feel like some family and friends don't love me for who I am. And it's really sad to say. You go to church? Well, good for you. I won't tear you down as a person just because I don't believe in it. I'm very accepting of everyone and everything.

If you really want to tear down a person, blame me for all of your problems. I'm so sick of everyone trying to push religion on me, and that is not what I'm about. I accept you for who you are, so why don't you do the courtesy of returning the favor!

Shopping + Girls = Disaster

Brittany, my cousin, is throwing me a wedding shower. I thought that was very nice of her. I get this call sometime last week, and she asked if anyone was throwing me one. I told her I wasn't aware of any. It's very thoughtful of her to do that for me since I've been running around with my head chopped off!

I spent my entire paycheck this past weekend shopping with Arianne and Erika. You should never let 3 girls go shopping together! LOL. Although, I did get a lot of the things I needed. I found the flip flops (at Claire's of all places) that are white, and have a sparkly white trim on them. I decided I wanted to make my own flip flops since it isn't that hard and would cost me a lot less! We went to Michaels and found some cute little white hibiscus flowers which I'll be putting on the front, and then I got a few rhinestones as well. I want simple, comfort, and elegance. They'll turn out so cute when I finally get them done!

We found shirts for both Arianne and Erika. We went to Valley Fair mall to look for something but we ended up finding both of their shirts at WalMart! I found these cute red flowers for each of the bridesmaids hair at Claire's. Also, I found my tiara ($13.50 compared to the $160 at David's Bridal), and a matching necklace with earrings. I spent a whopping $60 at Claire's! I couldn't believe it! I still can't believe it!

Arianne decided she wants to get red shoes, and we found some that she liked at WalMart, but of course they didn't have her size. That would've been all too easy! We still have to find a skirt or something for Erika, which shouldn't be too hard, but with the way shopping went on Saturday, I'm not pressing my luck! We might just opt for this cute little pair of gouchos (sp?) that we found at Macy's. They were pretty cute, and look like a skirt.

Other than that, we're still scrambling a little with the wedding. 2 weeks from Saturday. I can't believe it!

Dental Appointment

So I had my dentist appointment today. It went better than I expected. They were able to save the tooth, and I'll be getting the permanent crown on September 5 (yes, the day before my wedding...ugh). Oh well, I want to get all my teeth done with! I've always had this fear that I would be 30, and have dentures. The joys of inheriting my grandmothers teeth! She's always had pretty bad teeth, and she was afraid of the dentist, so she's had EXTENSIVE work done. I haven't gotten to that point, thank goodness!

Anyway, all in all, everything went ok. I'm trying to eat, but I keep biting my tongue from being numb!

Wedding Day Traditions (Interesting)

The Wedding Day-
The bride will have good luck if she dreams on her wedding day.

It is good luck for the bride to throw away bread as a symbol of throwing away her troubles. Even better, for every piece given to the poor on the way to the wedding, a misfortune will be averted.

It is bad luck for the bride to drop her handkerchief while entering or exiting the carriage.

It is bad luck to give the bride a telegram on her way to the ceremony.

It is bad luck for the bride to eat anything while getting ready for the ceremony and until after the ceremony is over. (Did Weight Watchers add that in?)

It is bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her wedding attire before the ceremony.

It is bad luck for the bride to see herself in a mirror completely dressed before the wedding. To get around this, the bride may dress in front of a mirror, but should have a ribbon, flower, pin or other jewelry that is put on just before walking down the aisle without seeing her reflection.

It is said that it is good luck for a bride to cry on her wedding day. All sorrows are washed away leaving room for only happiness.


Going Down the Aisle
The bride is supposed to wear:

Something old,
Something new,
Something borrowed,
Something blue,
And a sixpence in the shoe.

The something old should belong to a happily married womanto insure happiness.
However, not a handkerchief that was used in her wedding.
That is considered bad luck! (and kind of disgusting!)
The something new is a piece of apparel.
The something borrowed was traditionally a gold object to insure fortune and wealth.
The something blue symbolizes the heavens and true love.
The sixpence, or a new penny in the USA, insures prosperity.

Orange blossoms are lucky in the bouquet or décor.

It is good luck for the bride to carry her mother's prayer book.

Placing a bit of salt in a shoe, pocket or glove will bring the bride luck for several reasons. The Greeks believed salt symbolized loyalty and lasting friendship. Also, devils and witches supposedly hate salt so it keeps them away. (Consider not putting it in your shoe. It sounds a bit uncomfortable)

Bouquets were once combinations of stalks of wheat, corn stalks and leaves to symbolize a fruitful crop. Through the years they have also been made of carefully chosen herbs that were believed to keep away the witches and demons. (Are you ready for your bouquet of chives, rosemary, bay leaves and garlic?)

The bridegroom should wear a lucky horseshoe in his pocket. (Or a replica!)

It is considered bad luck for the bride to walk down the aisle during the rehearsal. The one and only time she should walk down the aisle is on her wedding day. Someone else should stand in for her.


The Wedding Rings-
The circle of the ring, without beginning or end, symbolizes eternal love.

As the wedding ring wears,
So wear away life's cares.

In early Rome, through to the Renaissance, only the wealthy wore rings. The one exception was the wedding band.

In the Anglo-Saxon north, rings were among the gifts given to the bride before the wedding. The word "wed" is from the Anglo-Saxon word for "pledge".

Some believe it is unlucky to remove a wedding ring for one year, others believe seven years. There are still others who believe that it should never be removed. Another belief is that it is good luck to slip the ring off and then on your finger before leaving the church so that you will not have bad luck later if you need to remove it.


The Ceremony-
To avoid bad luck, the bride should always use her right foot first when stepping in and out of the church, and when approaching and leaving the altar. She should also make sure that her right foot is placed ahead of the groom's at the altar to insure her future influence over him.

It is considered good luck if your veil is accidentally torn at the altar. (Or is that just said so that the bride won't freak out on the altar?)

If there are cracks or lines on the floor, the couple must stand parallel to them, not across them, or they will have a cross life. (As if you don't have enough to think about on your wedding day!)

It is bad luck for the ring to be dropped before it is placed on the bride's finger or for the bride to try it .. the ceremony.

The master of the household will be the one who sees the other first at the service (sounds rigged for the groom!) and the one who has their thumb on top when their hands are joined. Or the first one to drink a glass of water after the ceremony is also thought to be the boss!

Giving the clergy person an odd amount of money will bring luck.


The Reception-
If the youngest of the daughters is the first to marry, and the older ones want husbands, they have to either dance barefoot at the wedding or in green stockings. If they want to be insured of their luck, they must dance in a hog's or pig's trough! (How humiliating!)

The tradition of garters being taken off the bride began in England. They were considered to be trophies by the young men. Immediately after the ceremony they would literally assault the bride at the altar, often throwing her down to the floor, to win the garter. To prevent this indecent display, brides began to place the garter in their cleavage and hand it over.

When the bride throws her bouquet, the bridesmaid who catches it will be the first to marry. It is bad luck for the bride if it lands on the floor.

It is bad luck to give away a wedding present.


Wedding Apparel -
White has been a symbol of innocence, virginity and purity as far back as the Greek civilizations and was thought to ward off evil spirits. In Rome, the bridal gown was known as a "tunica recta", which was a plain white woolen dress woven by the virtuous Roman bride herself as a proof of her domestic abilities. The sash of the dress was tied in a complex "Herculean" knot to give the groom a challenge later on. The Roman wedding gown was worn with a flame-colored veil known as the "flammeum".

White was not popularized for weddings until the late eighteenth century. Because it could not be cleaned and could only be worn once, white was a color reserved for the wealthy and very special occasions. Before the late eighteenth century women generally wore their best dress for their wedding. White was first popularized by Anne of Brittany in 1499 and later by Queen Victoria in the 1800's.

Red is a traditional color for Chinese brides and was worn by American brides during the Revolutionary war as a sign of rebellion. In India the wedding dress is traditionally red, for good luck.

Green was the traditional bridal color in Norway but is generally thought to be unlucky. The green gown implied a bride of loose morals; her dress became green by rolling around in the grass. Green is also negatively associated with envy and fairies.

In biblical times blue, the color of the heavens, not white, was considered to represent purity and fidelity.

Black Velvet gowns were traditional in Iceland but, since black implies a sad occasion, it is generally frowned upon for a bridal gown.

Not the case today, but in Ireland, it was once considered very bad luck for the bride's dress to be white or green. The color of choice is blue. Their reasoning...The little people like white and green and will steal the bride away if she dares wear those colors on her big day.

Married in blue, love ever true,
Married in white, you've chosen right,
Married in red, you'll wish yourself dead,
Married in black, you'll wish yourself back,
Married in gray, you'll go far away,
Married in brown, you'll live out of town,
Married in green, ashamed to be seen,
Married in pink, of you only he'll think,
Married in pearl, you'll live in a whirl,
Married in yellow, jealous of your fellow.

A widow may wear black if she wears a rose in her hair but if it falls out, her second husband will leave or die.

If a bride wears red, she and her husband will fight before their first anniversary, or he may die soon.

Wear earrings for your wedding and you will always be happy.

It is bad luck to make your own wedding gown, to tear it or spill wine on it.

A bride must have her hair styled and her headpiece and veil put on only by a happily married woman.

Wearing your grandmother's veil, or having part of it incorporated into your headpiece, will bring you wealth. It is bad luck for the bride to show her headpiece and veil to anyone except her family before the wedding.

Unless the bride approves, it is bad etiquette for anyone besides the bride to wear white.

Most cultures cherish pearls on the wedding day as a symbol of wealth and purity, but according to Mexican traditions each pearl worn symbolizes the tears the bride will cry in her marriage.


The Groom-
Change the name and not the letter,
Change for worse and not for better

It is bad luck if the groom's last name starts with the same last name as the bride.

Some believe that it is bad luck to marry someone born in the same month as you.


The Mother-in-Law -
The bride will have mother-in-law troubles if she breaks something on her wedding day.

The mother-in-law test of the bride's housewife rating is to place a broom on the floor. If the bride moves the broom to the side, she will be a good housewife: if she steps over it, she will not be.


Month to Marry-
Married in the month of June
Life will be a honeymoon

As far back as Roman times it was believed that marrying in June would bring prosperity for the groom and happiness for the bride. Juno, the wife of Jupiter, was the goddess of marriage and the patroness of youth who was celebrated at this time of the year.

Marry when the year is new,
Always loving, kind, and true,
When February birds do mate,
You may wed nor dread the fate.
If you wed when March winds blow,
Joy and sorrow both you'll know.
Marry in April when you can,
Joy for maiden and for man.
Marry in the month of May*,
You will surely rue the day.
Marry when June roses blow,
Over land and sea you'll go.
Those who in July do wed,
Must labor always for their bread.
Whoever wed in August be,
Many a change are sure to see.
Marry in September's shrine,
Your living will be rich and fine.
If in October you will marry,
Love will come but riches tarry.
If you wed in bleak November,
Only joy will come, remember.
When December's snows fall fast,
Marry and true love will last.*

In Roman times the month of May, named for Maia, goddess of growth and patroness of the elderly, was a time to honor the unhappily deceased.


Day to Marry and the Weather-
Wed on Monday, always poor,
Wed on Tuesday, wed once more,
Wed on Wednesday, happy match,
Wed on Thursday, splendid catch,
Wed on Friday, poorly mated,
Wed on Saturday, better waited.
(What happened to Sunday?)

There are thoses who think that bad weather on your wedding day is a sign of a stormy marriage but in some cultures rain is considered to be a good omen and means that you will have many children. Snow means fertility and wealth.

Rain on your wedding day is also said to symbolize the tears of all of your ex-boyfriends.


Time to Marry-
Marry between the growing moon and the full moon because the rising moon will follow your fortune. Marry in the time between the full moon and diminishing moon and your fortune will fall with the moon's size.

Marry between the half hour and the hour because the rising hands of the clock will follow your fortune. Marry between the hour and half hour, your fortune will fall with the clock's hands.

Similarly, marry between the rising and the high tide.


The Honeymoon and on-
The honeymoon got its name from the Anglo-Saxon tradition of drinking mead, a sweet honey wine, for the first month of marriage.

Throwing an old shoe will bring the newlyweds luck. The tradition dates back to Anglo-Saxon marriages when the father of the bride gave the groom a shoe taken from the bride's foot to symbolize that he was turning over his authority and ownership of the girl to her new husband.

It is bad luck for the honeymoon if the bride's former sweetheart is not happy for her and then kisses her on her wedding day.

All pins holding the brides apparel together must be discarded. If the bride keeps any, she will have bad luck. If a bridesmaid keeps one, she will be unmarried for at least a year. (This dates way back to when dresses were pinned on.)

When the bride removes her wedding attire a stocking should be thrown over her left shoulder. If it lands straight she will have continuous luck. If it lands bunched her luck will be variable.

Dental Problems

So last night as I was making dinner, I was snacking a bit on some chex mix. I was eating one of the pretzels when I realized that I couldn't chew something in my mouth. One of my teeth had broken. Don't get me wrong. I am one to brush my teeth and always have. I have weak enamel, so I always seem to have some sort of problem. My first root canal was when I was 6 years old, so if that tells you anything. My mom should have known that I was going to be one to go to the dentist every 3 months or so. Anyway, the tooth that had broken was one that has already had a root canal. I've needed 6 crowns for quite some time now, but money has been a huge issue. I applied for a Care Credit credit card for like the 3rd time, and I got approved today. It makes me happy that I'm going to be able to get my teeth fixed (and who knows, maybe down the road I'll be able to get veneers!).

I got so depressed last night. I was laying in bed last night, and just started crying. Brian was trying his best to comfort me, and tells me that everything will be ok, but I just have a hard time dealing sometimes. It just seems like I'm having health problem after health problem. I've always had dental problems, when I was 17 I was diagnosed with a stomach condition, I suffer from depression, and then last summer I was diagnosed with a heart condition known as Mitral Valve Prolapse. I've also recently been dealing with a planter wart (I know, gross, right?). I'm just constantly having doctors appointments left and right, and there's only so much I can handle. I'm sure my boss gets pretty frustrated, but my health comes first.

Sadie is Turning 2

I feel a big relief having invitations sent off now. I hope a lot of my family can come because I feel as if I don't see them anymore. Oh, the joys of growing up!

Brian recently got a promotion at work. I'm really excited about that! He deserves it so much. He's been there a little over three years now, and has advanced as fast as a person that's been there for 6 or so years. Another guy at his work was applying for the same position too, but he hasn't been too loyal to the company. He's quit at least 3 times, and has bad mouthed the company in past job interviews. Brian works for a sign supply company just across the street from where I work at a tile store. At least someone is getting a promotion! I've been awaiting something, but there isn't much room for advancement within my company. Maybe later on.

On a lighter note, Sadie is turning 2 tomorrow! I can't believe we've had her for almost 2 years now. She was so tiny when she was a puppy! I want to get another dog, but really don't want to go through the training again especially with the new carpet. Of course I would have to choose between 12 different dogs anyway!


Brian and I are both trying to sell our vehicles. Brian's car has been having a lot of problems lately. It's sad really because I LOVE his Trans Am. He bought it right before he met me, and it's pretty rare to see one on the road that's in good shape. He doesn't think his car is very ideal for him anymore. We can't go anywhere in it during the winter when it snows! I keep telling him I don't want him to trade it in unless it's for a Corvette or the new 2010 Camaro. But I want him to be happy. He's test driven a couple of Acura RXS Type S's, and he really likes them. We've got to fix up his car a bit first though.

As for me, I'm trying to sell my Ford Ranger. I want something with a lot better gas mileage, and I've test driven a couple of Toyota Corolla's. I really want a brand new one. I know there's some con's about buying a brand new vehicle, but with the accident Brian's dad was in almost a year ago, I want something safe and reliable. I realize an air bag or better seatbelts or whatever might not save your life, but I wouldn't mind the extra confidence! Also, I'm interested in having a baby in the next couple of years. You can't exactly be comfortable with putting a baby in a truck with no back seat, or a Trans Am with bucket seats in the back.

Anyway, I'm going to try and keep up on this blog thing! I'm on the internet all the time anyway!

Wedding Planning

If you all didn't know, we are getting married on September 6, 2008....about a month away! I never knew the stress that would go along with planning a wedding until we dove head first into it. I wanted to make the wedding as inexpensive as possible because I am really independent, and hate people spending money on me. All in all I think my wedding will cost less than $2000 including my dress! It's pretty amazing.

I decided on making my own invitations because of how pricy they are! All in all I've saved over $100.00! I put in about 20 hours printing, cutting, and all the fun stuff that goes along with that.

We're about 4 weeks away from the wedding, and it's definitely crunch time! It's crazy how fast this has come! I can't wait to call Brian my husband!