The one big difference between Marcel and I is our musical selection. Over the last 32 months (the math is easy with wedding being at the 3 year mark!) we have always disagreed over what station to listen to while driving. Marcel is into the more Top-40 stuff and I'm a huge fan of country. We have generally listened to Christian to keep us both happy.
Well over the last week that has changed dramatically. It was only ever on country music. After a few days I called Marcel on his new musical appreciation to which he replied, "well listening to it can't kill me and if you really like it and it makes you happy, it makes me happy."
I'm treated like a princess and in less than 4 months I'll finally be his queen!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Month Overdue
I feel like I've always done pretty well about keeping my blog up-to-date, but somehow this month has just gotten away from me. I blame it on the fact that the month has been just pretty average.
I'm still working 2 part-time jobs just barely enough to cover expenses. It's definitely teaching me to watch my money more carefully, a skill I already claimed to have, but am learning so much better! The one thing I'm not enjoying about my work situation is the common 4 hour windows in between my shifts. Do I go back to Forest Grove or stay out near my jobs; is it enough time to justify the drive or not?
Wedding planning is fitting in my life here and there. We've met with catering and still don't have a menu, talked with the florist and it opened up question after question about the big day. Marcel has written his vows already, and I haven't started. Invitations have been designed, now onto printing and hand-making them, something I'm really looking forward to! We have plane tickets for our honeymoon. That list makes me feel very accomplished, so I don't want to think about everything else we have left to do. Marcel and I are both trying to find a happy balance on what we want and don't want (we don't want frilly, floofy, fluffy, the 3 F-words). We've decided that we really just care about writing our own vows and attire and although we do realize other things are important we don't want the stress of it.
On a more positive note, I'm finding great joy in scrapbooking our journey. I want to have our 3 years (well it is officially 3 years 8 days before our wedding) scrapbooked to have at our wedding--that's my goal and so far I'm doing really well. The amount of pictures Marcel has been taking of each event has drastically decreased since my birthday and the proposal so it should be getting quicker and quicker to complete.
I'm still working 2 part-time jobs just barely enough to cover expenses. It's definitely teaching me to watch my money more carefully, a skill I already claimed to have, but am learning so much better! The one thing I'm not enjoying about my work situation is the common 4 hour windows in between my shifts. Do I go back to Forest Grove or stay out near my jobs; is it enough time to justify the drive or not?
Wedding planning is fitting in my life here and there. We've met with catering and still don't have a menu, talked with the florist and it opened up question after question about the big day. Marcel has written his vows already, and I haven't started. Invitations have been designed, now onto printing and hand-making them, something I'm really looking forward to! We have plane tickets for our honeymoon. That list makes me feel very accomplished, so I don't want to think about everything else we have left to do. Marcel and I are both trying to find a happy balance on what we want and don't want (we don't want frilly, floofy, fluffy, the 3 F-words). We've decided that we really just care about writing our own vows and attire and although we do realize other things are important we don't want the stress of it.
On a more positive note, I'm finding great joy in scrapbooking our journey. I want to have our 3 years (well it is officially 3 years 8 days before our wedding) scrapbooked to have at our wedding--that's my goal and so far I'm doing really well. The amount of pictures Marcel has been taking of each event has drastically decreased since my birthday and the proposal so it should be getting quicker and quicker to complete.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
My Perfect Guy!
Since returning from Idaho, Marcel has gone over and beyond the call of duty in my house and he's slightly embarrased about me telling people, but like I said before he doesn't read this!
Each day when I've returned from work I discovered something domestic he had done. The first day he had cleaned the whole kitchen: stove, microwave, fridge and counters and even managed to mop the floors! The second day he had vacuumed the living room, did the dishes and even made lunch in time to have it ready for when I got home. Because he is worried about his domestic skills ruining his reputation, he told me to tell my roommmates that I did everything, but I'm not taking credit, because he did everything on his own without my asking!! A few weeks ago at pre-marital counseling, I re-remembered that he'd love to stay at home later in life when kids are in the picture, and after this week I think he'd do great :)
Each day when I've returned from work I discovered something domestic he had done. The first day he had cleaned the whole kitchen: stove, microwave, fridge and counters and even managed to mop the floors! The second day he had vacuumed the living room, did the dishes and even made lunch in time to have it ready for when I got home. Because he is worried about his domestic skills ruining his reputation, he told me to tell my roommmates that I did everything, but I'm not taking credit, because he did everything on his own without my asking!! A few weeks ago at pre-marital counseling, I re-remembered that he'd love to stay at home later in life when kids are in the picture, and after this week I think he'd do great :)
Friday, January 2, 2009
Tradition for Shoemaker Girls
I said in my last post that going home allowed our tradition to continue and the truth is that it is a fairly new tradition but we've enjoyed doing it each year.
We always try to coordinate our outfits, which is harder than it seems because we have to plan it far in advance since me and Hannah both fly home for Christmas and don't have our entire wardrobe to select from...
2008
2007
2006
Christmas in Idaho
Marcel and I were able to go to Idaho the 27th early early to spend Christmas with my family. I did have to leave Marcel behind 2 days so that I could go wedding dress shopping. Needless to say it was productive because I found "the perfect one" (as my sister wants me to say) and it is now at my mom's house waiting to be delivered to me in the spring in time for the big day in May! Going home also allowed the tradition of sister pictures to continue--see the newer post!
Some of the best!
Mom's Christmas tree
Marcel Drew & MaryBeth--again in Idaho!
Sisters having fun shopping
Wedding dress shopping!
It's okay to be on the web because:
1) Marcel doesn't read my blog and now that it is "private" he hasn't been invited yet. Oops :)
2) It is a very ugly dress from the first place we went that had about 5 choices ;(
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Christmas 2008
The Arctic Blast 2008 caused some major plan changes which left me and Marcel alone to spend Christmas together. This was the first time we had spend December 25th together and we had a great first Christmas. I am also looking forward for our first married Christmas next year!!
We woke up to a white Christmas and even received some new flurries! After opening our presents, we made monkey bread, which was breakfast and lunch :) Then we went to the theaters to see Valkyrie. The adventure in that was that we got stuck on my road trying to get there. On our way home we decided to shovel out my road even more so I'd be able to get to work the next morning. As soon as we had finished we lost power. We continued inside to light all our candles and make emergency food in case it didn't come back on soon. After that was completed, the power came on and we started our Christmas dinner: ham, homemade french fries, corn and chocolate pie! It wasn't as extravagant as others, I'm sure, but for our first holiday meal, it was a huge success!
Some of the best pictures!
"Always Kiss Me Goodnight"
Marcel and his coveted new beanie
On our way out to the theater
Proud of our wonderful meal
Monday, December 22, 2008
I'm So Over Snow
I think I jinxed Portland's weather. A week before this awful storm started I said I'd do anything for some snow here and even hoped for a White Christmas. In Portland, I thought it was just wishful thinking that there would be no possible way. Well we ventured out again today--and now Kelly and I hate the snow!
Our story in pictures!
This was where we left off last night, at least with my car. Kelly's did look better but not much.
So after we walked 10 minutes down the road to the store we decided that if we were already dressed warm we might as well try our luck at getting chains on our vehicles, since they are required in our entire county on all vehicles.
Step 1: Measure the snow--this used to be fun, but it's losing the coolness factor each day!
Yeah that's right your eyes are not deceiving you. 15 inches!
Step 2: Begin using some of our awesome winter weather supplies
Again you are seeing correctly, one of our favorite piece of equipment the last 2 days has been our dust pan. Other items used include our indoor broom (why would we possibly have a big outdoor one?), a rake (as much as our parents laughed at us it came in very handy), and lastly a gardening shovel that Kelly had so luckily never returned to her parent's house.
Look its our driveway!
We were so proud of ourselves for being 2 girls and shoveling all day and finally get chains on a car and we excited to finally leave our house (even if only for .25 mile!). We made it about 5 feet before we couldn't go any further. Kelly's car got a bit high centered on our snow piled driveway. Then began more shoveling with our infamous supplies. An hour later we left like we had finally made a dent in how our driveway looks so she tried to move her car. Lucky for us, our work had paid off and she was able to drive again. We were yelling at the snow for the entire 3 hours we were outside trying to unbury our cars and finally decided that for now we don't want to see anymore snow. It even decided to snow some more while we were struggling so much. I hope knowing we were out there for 3 hours makes this blog seem like what we went through. I thought the step 1, step 2, thing made it seem really easy when it was far from that way! Our goal for the day was to get chains on both of our cars and to drive around the block in each car so we're able to resume life tomorrow, but in the end we got chains on 1 car and didn't make it out of our driveway. I still feel really accomplished! In the end, I'm never again going to wish for something weather-wise again.
PS- This is now officially the worst storm Portland has had in December since 1968, and the 4th most in a season in the last 30 years. We are very grateful that we could be here to be a part of history!!
Our story in pictures!
This was where we left off last night, at least with my car. Kelly's did look better but not much.
So after we walked 10 minutes down the road to the store we decided that if we were already dressed warm we might as well try our luck at getting chains on our vehicles, since they are required in our entire county on all vehicles.
Step 1: Measure the snow--this used to be fun, but it's losing the coolness factor each day!
Yeah that's right your eyes are not deceiving you. 15 inches!
Step 2: Begin using some of our awesome winter weather supplies
Again you are seeing correctly, one of our favorite piece of equipment the last 2 days has been our dust pan. Other items used include our indoor broom (why would we possibly have a big outdoor one?), a rake (as much as our parents laughed at us it came in very handy), and lastly a gardening shovel that Kelly had so luckily never returned to her parent's house.
Result of Step 2:
Look its our driveway!
Step 3: Put on chains
This part actually went pretty easily, no complaining here except Kelly did it without gloves on...Brrr!
Step 4: Drive 1/4 mile in order to get chains tightened...
This is where we stopped taking pictures, but the rest of the story goes like this:
We were so proud of ourselves for being 2 girls and shoveling all day and finally get chains on a car and we excited to finally leave our house (even if only for .25 mile!). We made it about 5 feet before we couldn't go any further. Kelly's car got a bit high centered on our snow piled driveway. Then began more shoveling with our infamous supplies. An hour later we left like we had finally made a dent in how our driveway looks so she tried to move her car. Lucky for us, our work had paid off and she was able to drive again. We were yelling at the snow for the entire 3 hours we were outside trying to unbury our cars and finally decided that for now we don't want to see anymore snow. It even decided to snow some more while we were struggling so much. I hope knowing we were out there for 3 hours makes this blog seem like what we went through. I thought the step 1, step 2, thing made it seem really easy when it was far from that way! Our goal for the day was to get chains on both of our cars and to drive around the block in each car so we're able to resume life tomorrow, but in the end we got chains on 1 car and didn't make it out of our driveway. I still feel really accomplished! In the end, I'm never again going to wish for something weather-wise again.
PS- This is now officially the worst storm Portland has had in December since 1968, and the 4th most in a season in the last 30 years. We are very grateful that we could be here to be a part of history!!
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Snow Storm in Forest Grove
It has been snowing since I got up this morning and since my work shift got cancelled I have thoroughly enjoyed doing nothing but staying dressed warm and scrapbooking my day away all while enjoying the snow storm. Every few hours me and Kelly go and very officially check the snowfall with our ruler. This last time we decided to take pictures to document the adventure it was!
Our "official" measuring shows 10 inches in our front yard, well more like sidewalk since I wasn't going to put my feet into the pile while being in my warm pajamas
Kelly's car (with mine and Amy's in the background) covered with snow. We are finding it very funny and ironic that Amy is in warm weather while her car is getting covered with snow.
My attempt to keep up with Kelly for artistic pictures! I like how my flash captured the snowflakes so well...
Our "official" measuring shows 10 inches in our front yard, well more like sidewalk since I wasn't going to put my feet into the pile while being in my warm pajamas
Kelly's car (with mine and Amy's in the background) covered with snow. We are finding it very funny and ironic that Amy is in warm weather while her car is getting covered with snow.
My attempt to keep up with Kelly for artistic pictures! I like how my flash captured the snowflakes so well...
We've never remembered to do anything with our borrowed lawn chairs, like maybe put them in our garage, because we NEVER go in the backyard, but that is the very reason we went back there tonight.
These are Kelly's footprints in the snow when she was trying to measure the pyramid on our table, kinda seen in the picture above! It doesn't show very well either that with about another inch of snow we will officially be snowed it, at least through our back door.
Maybe for the first Christmas I'm not in Idaho I'll actually get a White Christmas!
Christmas Decorations!
So in keeping with the holiday spirit I decided I'd take a picture of how I'm decorating my house for Christmas this year. I am finally in the Christmas spirit after Zoo Lights and am listening to nothing but Christmas music, which is huge for me, and am loving all our snow!
As some of you may know, I won't be returning home to Idaho for Christmas until the 27th (I got an extra day off, it was supposed to be the 28th!) so I'll be having my first Christmas away from my parents and sisters. Marcel, his mom and little brother are headed back here in the next few days to spend Christmas with me so I'm not completely alone. They will then drive to Idaho on the 26th and we'll all drive back on the 30th--hoping the roads aren't closed between here and there. One of my roommates is already at home and the other will be going home Monday so it is up to me to supply the Christmas decorations. I did buy some stockings for me and Marcel but after I got them home and realized they weren't going to be Christmas presents from Santa I decided I don't really like them. Marcel and I are going to hit some big after Christmas sales so we have stuff to decorate next year even if I have to do it twice (we'll hopefully be moving back to Idaho mid-December 2009)
The big decorations:
I colored a Christmas tree with the little kids at work, even had so few kids because of our snow storm that we got to glitter so it even has Christmas lights and a gold star at the top! I think before Christmas I'll do some rearranging of the furniture so that our presents look pretty but for now my house has the presents for Marcel and what the 2 of us got Snoh & Coco.
P.S. If you click on the picture it makes it really big and you can look at the tree up close :)
As some of you may know, I won't be returning home to Idaho for Christmas until the 27th (I got an extra day off, it was supposed to be the 28th!) so I'll be having my first Christmas away from my parents and sisters. Marcel, his mom and little brother are headed back here in the next few days to spend Christmas with me so I'm not completely alone. They will then drive to Idaho on the 26th and we'll all drive back on the 30th--hoping the roads aren't closed between here and there. One of my roommates is already at home and the other will be going home Monday so it is up to me to supply the Christmas decorations. I did buy some stockings for me and Marcel but after I got them home and realized they weren't going to be Christmas presents from Santa I decided I don't really like them. Marcel and I are going to hit some big after Christmas sales so we have stuff to decorate next year even if I have to do it twice (we'll hopefully be moving back to Idaho mid-December 2009)
The big decorations:
I colored a Christmas tree with the little kids at work, even had so few kids because of our snow storm that we got to glitter so it even has Christmas lights and a gold star at the top! I think before Christmas I'll do some rearranging of the furniture so that our presents look pretty but for now my house has the presents for Marcel and what the 2 of us got Snoh & Coco.
P.S. If you click on the picture it makes it really big and you can look at the tree up close :)
Monday, December 15, 2008
My first coffee
Yesterday I redeemed my gift card at Starbucks for a Peppermint White Chocolate Mocoa, after having a small sip of someone's a few weeks ago at work. I've tried sips of people's coffee drinks for years and have never found one I thought I'd buy for myself knowing that I'd never drink the whole thing. This one is absolutely delicious and I'm particularly grateful to have found a caffeinated beverage that I enjoy. I will be working an over night shift at Banana Republic tomorrow from 9pm-6am, after working 24 Hour Fitness from 4-830pm. It will be a long night tomorrow but one that should be lots of fun with the help of what will be more than 1 cup of coffee!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)