our first tree

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R and I got our first Christmas tree the other weekend. It is a very cute Noble!

First we chose the littlest tree at the lot, strapped it to the car and brought it home.

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Marceau sniffed the tree and took to it just fine. He now enjoys sipping tree stand water, a kitty delicacy that we don’t understand…

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RJ hung the lights and I decorated.

Since we don’t have a Star for the top, I used my Dancing Pig ornament…

It turned out well, if I don’t say so myself…

Hooray for Christmas trees at home!
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let the planning begin

Filed Under bride-to-be, love | 1 Comment

it’s been just over a week since RJ and I have been engaged and we’re still over the moon…

we were so thrilled and amazed by the outpouring of love and support from our family and friends. thank you! what an exciting time! i had no idea that being engaged could bring us even closer together. we’ve begun to try out the word ‘fiance’, but we’re not sold on it yet. maybe we’ll get used to it?

we have also begun to think about our wedding day and are hoping to hold it sometime in late Spring 2010. you will be able to check back here for musings on my experience as a bride-to-be. so far we’ve researched locations (which is so hard in Los Angeles ~ i don’t know how people do it) and i’m beginning to scout them out. i’ve zeroed in on a possible color palette, asked some of my married friends a bunch of questions & looked at over 1000 gown photos online. luckily, my taste is consistent.

we’ve thought about honeymoon destinations, looked into a band (also rough in LA), brainstormed favors, enlisted my amazingly creative mom to help with planning and decided against an engagement party. i’ve also begun to entice my amazing friends kim and adam of la vie photography with the possibility of being our photographers for the day.

so, as you can see, the early planning is already well underway. and at the moment i’m still having fun…
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oh how it sparkles

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Over the weekend, R and I drove up to Carmel for my friend Amanda’s wedding celebration! The wedding was beautiful and Amanda was beyond beautiful…

She was gorgeous, actually.

Sadly, I took only one interesting photo of the whole occasion. The lights at the reception. Luckily, they were splendid…

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On Sunday, August 2nd, RJ woke up early. (5am to be exact). I remember him whispering “You’re beautiful” in my ear as I slept. A couple of hours later, I awoke further to the sound of the shower turning off and R rustling around in the room. He saw my eyes barely open and told me that, since he couldn’t sleep, he had text messaged my Dad who he assumed would also be awake early. He was right and they arranged to meet for coffee. (My parents had driven down to meet us for Brunch). I kept sleeping for about 2 more hours…

Later that afternoon, after we’d all been to brunch ~ my Dad, Mom, RJ & me ~ we said goodbye to my parents and we got in the car to drive back to LA. The weekend was wonderful!

As we were driving away from Carmel, R suggested that we take a final drive down by the ocean, so we wound our way along the beach front. Finally, we came to Carmel River State Beach where we parked and got out to take in a last deep breath of fresh, salty, ocean air.

Upon arrival at the small beach we began to stroll along the sand toward some rocks that went into the ocean. We soon determined that the rocks were much further than we had anticipated and so R suggested we sit on the steps close by. Once settled onto the steps, R snuggled up closer than I ever thought possible while I chattered on the beauty of the water, the sand, the scenery. A few moments later, it went something like this…

HIM: So this morning, when I went to coffee with your Dad I asked him for his blessing in marrying you. And then your Mom arrived and she joined in the conversation also. They were happy and your Mom confirmed that I had their blessing…

ME: You did baby? Aw. {still oblivious that there might be something special about to happen}

HIM: So do you want to get married to me? {as he slid something onto my lap}

ME: Well, yeah I do. {having not registered that this wasn’t a rhetorical question}

HIM: {gesturing subtly to the item in my lap}

ME: {looking down to find a small box} Oh my gosh!

HIM: {looking at me expectantly}

ME: {opening the box and discovering my ring} Oh, baby, it’s beautiful. Yes, I would love to marry you!

HIM: Yeah?

ME: Yeah!

*US*: {the most unforgettable kiss}

ME: {filled with so many emotions that made me giggle-cry}

HIM: {grinning} Should we put it on your finger?

ME: Yes, we should.

*US*: It looks so beautiful.

*US*: {another kiss}

ME: We’re engaged!

click here for more photographic detail
That’s how it happened. At about 2pm. And a small detail I’d like to add here is that I almost declined the invitation to drive down to the beach…
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