Bridal showers 2 and 3 this weekend....yikes!!

I am soooo trying to be okay with this whole bridal shower thing. I've never been okay with the whole gift getting thing. I know this is tradition...I know that I love buying brides gifts for their showers, but it still makes me feel guilty that someone spent this money on me/us. I keep trying to tell myself that people like to help you celebrate.... I would hope that if someone didn't want to buy me something or felt obligated that they wouldn't come, right?!

 At first, I didn't register for much because I felt like I was asking people to buy this stuff for me. Stupid I know because how else would people who want to buy gifts know what we need or want. But still it just made me feel weird. HOWEVER, I absolutely know that there are plenty more weddings in my future to which gifts I will bestow upon the brides so that thought of paying it forward helps!

On the bright side of it all, I get to spend time with some truly great people I am blessed to have in my life. I get to see some people who have helped shape me and have been rocks in my life. Some that I don't get to see near as often as I would like but still full of love and awe for them.

Today marks 45 days until the wedding

I can't believe in 45 days I will be Mrs. Paakkonen. I can't even begin to tell you how excited we are. We are excited to begin a new chapter in our life and relationship. People say that it's just a piece of paper, a ring, this or that and nothing changes. I disagree. This is a lifetime commitment we are making to one another. A promise that we will always hold each other close. We will always stand beside one another on the same team. A united front...us against the world. It's the beginning of the solidifying of our bond. THAT is what this day means to us. AND I could not have picked a better man as my partner. :) I absolutely adore him and am looking forward to our future together. Our future life, family, adventure's, traditions, trips, relationship, growing old together, etc...all of it. I. can't. wait.

Wedding Dress....

I am finally over the phobia of NOT fitting into my dress.

The week before my first fitting I was FREAKING out. It dawned on me a week before the dress fitting was to happen that I really hadn't dieted. I guess I have always stayed around the same weight but realized that we have definately celebrated our engagement and life together. Ahem-beer and fried foods. :) I got into my dress on my own and tried to zip it as far as I could but to no avail. You can only do so much on your own. I called my maid of honor and she came over to zip me up. She zipped me up and it fit....tightly! I had 6 days to lose some weight. I ate watermelon, lettuce, cuccumbers, tomatoes, etc....I am utterly impressed with the fact that I was able to drop 5lbs of water weight which lead me to get zipped perfectly into my wedding dress at my first fitting. I fell in love with the dress all over again. I forgot how lovely it was. It fits like a glove...almost like it was made just for me. However, I have to keep the fattening foods (and beer!) in check and continue to work out. BUT now that it is nearing the end.... (or beginning?) I don't really have a choice and I think I can deal...