Too Many Ideas!!!

This picture makes me happy inside. Why, you may ask? Because for the first time in the last couple of weeks, I'm seeing what I've been picturing in my head outside of my head.

So I'll be the first to admit that this whole wedding planning bit isn't my thing. I like helping people that organize the events, but I struggle with being THE person in charge. There are just too many cool/cute/unique/[insert adjective here] things you could potentially do that it's very easy to get overwhelmed. VERY easy.

I've been looking at some books and magazines to try and narrow down things a bit and to be honest, it only sort of worked. There are so many ideas floating around in my head that I've been dreaming about wedding details for the past 3 nights. Not the most restful sleep I've ever had.

So thank you to my friend's friend's picture for giving me some hope that the ideas in my head might turn out better than ok when actually executed... Maybe tonight I'll even dream about running away from aliens who are trying to take over the world!

P.S. Guys in the families get ties. Girls get ______ ??? This is what I'm thinking for the girls... Emily, Julia, Sarah, Tara - What do you guys think?

Wedding Plans

When?
Thursday, January 6th, 2011

Where?
Wedding
Newport Beach, CA
Receptions
1. January 8th, Provo City Library at Academy Square
2. January 15th, Cape Girardeau, MO

An Ode to My Car

Often at the end of the day I try to think about three good things that happened that day. After completing the 1,230 mile trek from Provo, Utah to Columbia Missouri in a 17 hour driving marathon yesterday, the performance of my car was on my list of three good things.

After thinking about it a little more I realized that my 2002 Honda Accord has had quite the year. Last August it carried me (and everything I owed packed into the back) from California to Missouri (1,749 miles). In December it transported Daniela and I to Washington D.C. and back (1,702 miles). In May it made the trip back out to Utah (1,200 miles). Over the summer it spent lots of time on I-15 cruising from Provo past Las Vegas to Newport Beach, CA and back (1,288 miles). And then yesterday it carried me from Provo back to Columbia. By my count, it has been on roadways in 16 different states in the last year.

So kudos to my car. It has been a great car to drive the last five years. And because of its dependability, the biggest question when planning a road trip is whether I can find a good audiobook to which to listen.

My Before and Afters...

So when Mark and I made the decision to continue our relationship long-distance last August, we had 3 goals we wanted to start working on. One of them was to start then and get healthy and lose whatever weight we felt we needed/wanted to. I tried for those first couple of months to exercise and watch what i ate, but i didn't see the results I wanted. In fact, I still managed to gain weight...hence my 'Before' picture. (So that's where 20 lbs can hide!)

February was the turning point. Thanks to a little thing called Livestrong that Mark had just found out about, I started tracking my calories and losing the weight-FINALLY! It's amazing how that made all of the difference! Because I had a calorie number to work towards and I could look up and see exactly how many calories were in that cookie, cupcake, or sandwich, I thought twice (and sometimes 3 times) about what i put in my mouth. When you have only a few calories to eat during the day, you don't want to waste them all on one meal, or one treat. (Another thing that is amazing - how many calories those treats pack in!!)

Like Mark, I also have a few last pounds to get rid of before the 'Big' day, so I'm also going to issue the invite for you all to join the two of us. Mark and I did this together the first time and it was great to have him give me advice and to motivate, encourage, and celebrate the little victories - because really that's the only way to do it - one pound at a time.

Let Round 2 begin...

Join Us In Shedding A Few Extra Pounds

One rewarding experience that Daniela and I have both had over the past year is losing a few pounds. Hopefully the difference between fat me (left - January - 184 lbs) and skinnier me (right - March - 164 lbs) is illustrative. We've learned that exercising is important but counting calories is a much more effective way to lose weight.

With our wedding on the horizon we have both resolved to lose a few more pounds. To do so we are returning to our tried and true friend, the calorie counter at livestrong.com.

If you would like to join us in slimming down over the next few months we would love it. Plus you'll look great for pictures!

The Surprise...

It WAS a surprise! Mark had sold me on this story that his fellow intern (and accomplice), Aaron, had invited us to come along with his family to St. George. We were meeting them bright and early at a golf course, so we left Provo at 4 AM. It wasn't until we are driving past St. George that I realized that something else was going on. I asked Mark where this golf course was and he tells me it is just past the city - we were almost there. Now, I'm not a golfer, so for all I know, there really is a golf course just past St. George, but from what I recall from that drive, there is nothing but desert and rocks. A few minutes go by and he finally gives me a box and tells me to open it. Surprise! We are headed to California and he's got the whole weekend planned. Now this was a tipoff that something special might happen this weekend, but at the same time, I could easily think up of reasons as to why it wasn't going to happen then. I decided to opt for Mark's philosophy and keep my expectations low and just enjoy a quick weekend getaway.

The rest of the weekend went mostly according to plan - we spent more time at the Chilean consulate than I would have liked so there was no San Diego Zoo - but it was great to be in California with Mark again! I got to meet some more of his friends, see fireworks up close and personal, and spend time at the beach. I couldn't ask for better. Mark really treated me all weekend. So Saturday came around and based on "the plan" we had a bike ride, dinner at BJ's, and watching the sunset at the beach scheduled for the day. Now, if I was to bet money on when he would propose based on when I first saw the weekend schedule, I'd pick sunset at the beach, but again, I was trying not to get my expectations too high, so I tried not to hope too much. The bike ride was wonderful...people in southern California are spoiled!! I can think of no better way to spend a morning, afternoon, or evening than riding along the beach with the sun, ocean, and palm trees.

So sunset comes around and we're hurrying to the beach so we don't miss it. We find a parking spot, walk past the crowds having bonfires, get our feet wet in the waves and find an empty lifeguard tower (tower C). While we watch the sun disappear and the sky turn from pink and yellows to blues and grays, Mark gives me a letter "written in anticipation of this moment." I open my letter and start reading. I force myself not to see too far ahead but my eyes are itching to get to the end...I think I know what's coming...and sure enough, the letter ends with "Will you marry me?" I turn to Mark and ask him, "Really?" and he tells me "Yes." He brings out the ring and I'm completely surprised that it's really happening. I remind him that he needs to put the ring on my finger and tell him "yes, absolutely, of course." (Why wasn't it convincing, btw? I told you 'yes' in 3 different ways) We made our way back and had a great dinner at BJ's. :)

The Engagement Story - Location, Location, Location

Growing up my family went on vacation to the Oregon coast and visited a rural beach town named Neskowin. Just off the beach in Neskowin is a rock that you can walk to during low-tide, climb up the back side of (a fairly steep short hike), and enjoy the beautiful view at the top looking out over the Pacific Ocean with the waves crashing against the rocks below. The rock is aptly named Proposal Rock. From the time we first visited Proposal Rock it had been my intention to propose there.


However Neskowin is a 15 1/2 hour drive from Provo and besides taking long walks on the beach and watching the sunset, there isn't a lot to do in the small beach town. So instead I decided to propose on the beach in Orange County, California. It's closer (only a 9 hour drive), the weather is wonderful, and Orange County is the place where Daniela and I first met. With the location decided, then it was only a question of how to pull off the surprise.

It Begins

In high school I played around with creating websites, in college and beyond I have been on Facebook (but as my Facebook friends can attest, I rarely visit the site more than once a month), and so now that Daniela and I are engaged I thought it was time to move on to a Blog.

And hopefully this will help planning and coordinating the big event a little easier... We'll have a date to plan around soon.