... Inspiration

Besides getting all of the necessary things done, Mikey and I are taking an extra step and are actually going to write our own vows. This is our one chance to express how we feel for one another in front of all of our family and friends.

I want my vows to be lighthearted, fun, but romantic at the same time. I'm a very affectionate, romantic person. Mikey is affectionate, but in his own way (aka annoying me is how he shows me he loves me.. boys will be boys).

I think of my vows every now and then, and mostly during car rides to and from work. Side note: Never cry while driving (tearing up, not sobbing). Tears impair your vision. lol End side note.

To get inspired, I listen to lots of love songs. Jim Brickman and Edwin McCain usually put me in that romantic mood. These are a few of my favorite songs.

What are your favorite romantic songs? I need some more 'emo' music to help inspire me with writing my vows.

... My love, My valentine

Before we got engaged, I would always play out our engagement in my mind. I thought he would do it either in front of his and my family. I would play "Valentine" by Martina McBride & Jim Brickman in my head. We would be dancing, he'd twirl me around, and then mid-twirl, he'd be down on one knee.

Our engagement did not go anything like that. But for some reason I'd always associate our engagement with being his forever Valentine. When it got closer to our engagement, I had rekindled my love for New Kids on the Block. "Valentine Girl" was one of my favorite songs. And I then pictured our engagement (which was foggy), but "Valentine Girl" would play in the background.

And what happened.. On February 12 2009 (we're only 4 days from our engage-versary), Mikey asked me to be his special Valentine on a bench under a spotlight in San Juan, Puerto Rico. :)

... I don't mean to discriminate

But even older/old people don't have any etiquette at all.

I invited one person who's friends with my dad as a courtesy invite. Didn't think she'd be coming, but turns out she is coming. I gave her one seat. But I kind of felt bad because she's older. Would she drive all the way to Jersey by herself from Long Island? I shrugged it off, and didn't feel bad any longer shortly after.

So I get her RSVP, and what do I see? She crosses out the number of seats I gave her, which was only ONE. And, she put TWO!!! Ms. xoxo & Escort.

I could see maybe a younger person having the audacity to do that, which would still piss me off to no end. BUT a freakin SENIOR CITIZEN!!!! I wonder if she even asked my dad if she could bring someone.

Oh well, I'll let it slide b/c she's of senior citizen age and she may need someone to drive her.. I'll get over it. But from afar, I will be giving her the eye. The evil 'how dare you cross out the number of seats I give you and add your own number'. I invited you, and not the village.

Grrrrrrrr!!!

... Very close

to our minimum that is.

When I opened up my mailbox, there was a thick stack of RSVPs. I was both excited and scared at the same time to open them up. But I did, and we are at *drum roll*... (insert drum roll)...

197 acceptances

43 declines

We are waiting on a lot more people, but I'm hoping no more than 50 people accept till our deadline which is a week and 4 days away.

So if you're reading this today and haven't sent your rsvp, I beg you to do so now. (Please refer to one of my recent entries regarding my grace period for rsvps.)

Gratzi!

... Nasaan ang ilaw

This post has nothing to do with looking for the light (Nasaan ang ilaw?). But it does have something to do with light. As in candles. Bad transition I know.

Finding votive candles was a fun hunt at first. My friend, Rio, is also getting married in March. She is a great source for finding discounts, giving me coupons when I needed it, and finding random websites & names of distribution places to buy wedding related supplies.

When trying to find candles, she referred me to cudge.net, candles4less, and one other site where the name is escaping me right now. Anyway, after trying to add items to my cart & finding out much shipping would cost, I decided against buying online.

Tonight at IKEA, as soon as we stepped into the showroom, I saw a 4 pack of clear votive candle holders for $1.49 each. I ended up buying 33 packages, which the total amount came up to just over $50.

The hunt for long burning votive candles will continue, and I may just order these online depending how much shipping would be. IKEA did have tea lights, but those burn out quickly. So I'm looking for at least 1 inch tall votive candles at a wholesale price. Not in a rush to purchase them, but would like to ideally have them in my possession within the next few weeks.

The hunt for the perfect unscented white candle begins right now.

PS If you can recommend a place or website, please let me know. Thank you :)

... Twin size no longer

Ever since I moved out of my parents house in 2003, I've had a twin size bed. And till this day, Mr. Twin has been with me.

Yes, can you imagine me and Mikey sleeping in a twin size bed together? It was a tight fit, but we made it happen for the soon to be 6 years that we've been together.

Since we don't own a home yet, Mikey will be moving in with me into my apartment. It's a good size apartment for 1 person, and decent size apartment for 2 people. We ultimately do plan on buying a home this year, but just not now because doing both at once is too difficult. After searching for a home, finding two that we loved, and crunching #s together, we thought it was too much.

The good thing about my apartment is that I'm currently renting month to month. It allows us to save more $ while we search for the home of our dreams.

Anyway, back to Mr. Twin. We decided to take steps towards converting my apartment for 1 into an apartment for 2. First step was the bed. At first we were going to suck it up and stick with the twin. But after thinking about it for awhile, I thought it might be best to start buying furniture little by little for our soon to be new home (which we have yet to find anyway. lol). We aren't planning to buy major pieces of furniture right now because it's not needed. However, we decided to buy one piece of furniture for at least the second room.

We ventured to IKEA, and went straight for the sofa bed/futon area. We hope to make the second bedroom a makeshift office with a futon (and if big enough, music room for Mikey's dj equipment).

Upon looking around for about 40minutes, we decided on a simple sofa bed/futon. We were thinking of buying a regular bed, but we both decided together that we'd get our first real bed at a mattress store rather than IKEA. Not knocking IKEA beds, but we wanted something of better quality.

So tomorrow, after being with Mr. Twin for nearly 7 years, I will be bidding him adieu. This evening, I will welcome Mr. Sofa Bed into my life. And, Mikey and I will temporarily keep it company until we find a new home, and we purchase Ms. Queen Bed.

PS. Imagine fitting all of this plus me into a Mazda 3? I was pretty much laying down in Mikey's car - my lower body in the back seat, and my upper body in the trunk area. I was so scared that popo would stop us, but I curled into a ball & no one saw little me in the back. hehe

... Sooo what do we have to pay for next

It's funny. After booking the honeymoon last night, Mikey asked me "So what do we have to pay for next?"

I quickly answered and said "For me, all I have to buy are the votive candles, and that's it."

Then he said "What about the rings?"

Ohhhh yeah.. The rings. DOH!

I guess it's time to shop for those. We both want something simple, nothing too fancy.. Maybe a little bit of bling. Something that won't cost an arm and a leg to get. Something nice, and will remind us of the vows we'll be taking in less than 2 months.

So we'll see what we end up with. This part of the planning process used to be super exciting for me, but the HM has now taken over as the most exciting part of the wedding process.

PS

140 acceptances

12 declines

18 days away from deadline day!