April Showers

This weekend is my soon to be sister in law's surprise shower and i am so excited! I could have never guessed a year ago that i would be so excited to celebrate my friend's and loved one's pending marriages but i really am. At this point I'm a little relieved to be able to duck having the wedding questions directed at me and enjoy being a guest and bridesmaid and listen to their stories and stresses and join in their excitement. I'm also excited to have a ladies day with Mike's family, there are a lot of great women that i really don't get to see enough, and because i have a small family the big italian get-togethers are a lot of fun to me.

But, I'm a bit neurotic too. I love wrapping gifts, it's always been a big thing in my family, and in the last year or so i really havent veered too far from brown kraft paper wrapping for all occasions. So why on earth am i worried that my soon to be in laws might think i'm nuts or a cheapo for bringing a craft paper gift instead of one in shiny bridal paper? If it was any other girlfriend of mine, (especially the crafty or earth conscious ones) i wouldnt think twice about it. But here under the fear of judgement by my soon to be family i keep questioning myself, i mean - really Kristy - do you think anyone will even remember what you brought let alone what it was wrapped in? Sheesh the world does not revolve around you!

The maid of honor has been a rock star setting up this shower, she has included so many special touches, photo books, recipes, a mother flown in from the west coast AND has managed to keep it all a surprise. I can't wait to see the brides reaction!

advice

when i was in LA i made a point to have lunch with a certain dear friend of mine who happens to have been married to his high school sweetheart for 7 years now, so i had to ask if he had any advice to pass on to us...

he had three things to say.

1- the seven year itch does exist (may be hard to hear but at least he's honest with me)

2- that advice about not going to bed mad is not just a cliche it's something to live by

3 - read the book his needs, her needs. though an affair is not a concern of theirs he feels that the book is right on. so much so that he read it and then said to his wife, "i'm not sure about the her needs stuff but the his needs are spot on" - his wife after reading had the reverse to say, they have since referred to the book as a reminder not only to know what the other needs to but actively work on it at all times.

Marriage works only when each spouse takes the time to consider the other's needs and strives to meet them. In His Needs, Her Needs, Willard Harley identifies the ten most vital needs of men and women and shows husbands and wives how to satisfy those needs in their spouses.

LA bachelorette weekend

i'm back from my jam packed weekend of fun and girls in los angeles and i'm missing them all so much already it hurts!

being the first real bridal events of my engagement it really seems like the ball is rolling, the summer of weddings is underway - and my life as a mrs. is just around the corner. i had so much fun celebrating with my girlfriend karina - our friend andrea was a master planner and

host making it possible for the herd of ladies to get it all in and still have smiles on their faces.

we started with a sushi dinner on friday night once all of the other travelers landed from new york and seattle at izakaya followed by cocktails at the village idiot.

saturday morning started bright and early with our lingerie brunch at tart (highly recommended by the way, the ambiance is really darling, the service was fantastic, the food was delicious and the prices were unbelievable.)

after the storm of nighties was tamed we made our way to the lounge spa. again, for any girls in the LA area looking to do a spa party i give the lounge spa a big thumbs up. we had our own private little lounge, complete with spread of snacks and drinks (compliments of andrea) to hang out together while two by two girls were whisked away to their appointments, it was a great way to spend time relaxing together in smaller groups, we got to catch up on the gossip from our far away friends, have our tarot cards read and be pampered.

we traded our white robes black dresses and headed off to the hollywood men. the giggles of anxiety and anticipation started early and only became magnified when one we realized that one of our friends sprung for a seat right up front and another let the words "on stage" slip. it was so much fun, we laughed so hard, the boys were cute and the girls were crazy, it felt like a legitimate bachelorette party. part of me is still embarrassed but i think thats part of the point, when else do you subject yourself to such a thing? men dressed in firefighter costumes or like soldiers with back street boy routines? too funny.

looks like a whirlwind? it was! though i somehow also managed to get some great shopping in while i was there ...more on that later!

map II...etc

thanks for the feedback ladies - I'm very happy with the results, check it out:

I realize i've been a little m.i.a. lately but it's because of anticipation and preparation, there is lots in the works...

...on wednesday i go to LA for my first official bridal celebrations, (hooray!) shoe shopping, and dress shopping for the rehearsal dinner and the 4 other weddings we are attending this summer. i will also be spending time with my future mother in law in the OC to check out her dress and spend some qt with her before the whirl wind of events commences (she has a daughter and a son getting married this summer after all.)

i have also recently ordered all of the supplies to make candles out of my vintage mason jars ( a project my sister is helping with on her spring break in a few weeks), designed all of the invitations (still procrastinating printing,) and started buying shower gifts for the aforementioned additional celebrations. i promise to share stories and photos from the shower and girlie activities this weekend and i'm sure with all of these new projects and hurdles will come lots more questions, sharing, and discussions...i'm going to think of this time as not having been m.i.a. but rather the ebb before high tide comes in and transitions into hurricane season!