September

I always loved September. Even more so now that it doesn't mean I have to go back to school! I love the way the days turn from sultry and hot, to cool and crisp. And the way the apples turn red on the trees and pumpkins turn orange on their vines. I love coming in from a nice, cool walk outdoors to a lovely hot bowl of soup or pasta to warm me up. Is there anything better than curling up on the couch with a blanket and a cup of tea while the wind is whipping the trees outside? I didn't think so.

It has been hard this weekend to rein in my urge to go totally wild with buying autumn stuff. We did get some great decorations that we'll use for future Falls, but we somehow managed to keep from buying apples and caramel until the weather turns cooler. I'm still regretting that little bit of will-power!

I am excited to see what the city will look like during this season. In winter (especially without Christmas decorations up), the city is very dreary, mucky and cold. The warm summer weather and greenery have improved it some. It's just hard to appreciate the changing of the seasons in a big city when one has lived in the country. Especially in Upstate New York. In a little town called Cambridge. Just a short drive from the Green Mountains of Vermont. Can you tell that this weather makes me homesick?

It's another grey, rainy day in Chicago. And I hate it. The only time I love yucky, rainy days are when I get to spend them at home reading a fantastic book and/or watching a great BBC movie. And for the past two rainy days, I've been stuck at work (and on one of those days, I was stuck at work soaking wet, but we won't talk about that...).

Sigh.

The good news is that I have FOUR days off this weekend! F-O-U-R. I cannot begin to tell you how excited this makes me! And Bart has the three day weekend, too. We have big plans to just settle into our apartment, get some things we need, and just snuggle and love each other. How much better could a weekend get, I ask you???

Being married has been so wonderful. Yes, I know we haven't been married a month yet, but I just love it. I find that I am so much more patient with Bart (he's always patient with me, so not much new there) and that I make a much bigger effort to be kind and loving to him because I'm his wife now. I had decided a long time ago that I was going to take my new job as a wife very seriously. And Bart has made it clear that he is taking his job as husband and protector pretty seriously, too. We've found that we work even better than we used to at being a team, that we feel so much more selfless toward each other, and that we want to give as much as we can to our spouse to make him/her a better person. I know we will keep this up every day throughout our marriage. Maybe not all day everyday, but everyday.

Stone Age And A New Place

Hi! I am writing to you from work--but don't worry, I'm on my lunch break. This is because Bart and I don't have internet in our new apartment yet. Or cable. Ick. Anyway, we moved in on Saturday, though we are still a little bit spread out through the two different apartments right now. Hopefully tonight we will be officially DONE with moving forever. Or at least until this time next year.

It was so hard moving all of our stuff in. We had to bring everything down two flights of rickety old stairs, walk half a block down this back alley, climb four flights of rickety old stairs (a.k.a. Mt. Everest) at least 291957037569 times in 96 degree weather. Let's just say that if I don't lose 10lbs. and my butt cheeks aren't rock-hard by the end of this week, I'm going to be a pretty disappointed girl.

Bart did such a wonderful job with the moving. He was super motivated, organized and (thank God) super strong. The guy did probably 75% of the moving on his own, what with me only being able to carry the light stuff (I'm weak, OKAY??), and Jason only helping us on Sunday with the heavy furniture. I really don't know what I would have done without Bart. And he has been so sweet about helping me unpack and organize our stuff in the new place. I mean, really, could I have asked for a better husband?

All in all, the new apartment is pretty fantastic and the move wasn't so bad, either. I'll have to post pictures later when I a) get internet hooked up and b) have a second to breathe.

A New Engagement!!

It certainly seems that love is in the air! Just one week before Bart and I got married, my younger cousin, Branyn, got engaged to a lovely young man, Braden. I cannot begin to tell you all how excited I am about this! She will make a beautiful bride and, of course, a strong and loving wife.

When Aunt Jayne, Alyssa, Branyn and I went to pick up my wedding gown, I insisted that Branyn try on some herself. They live in California, so when else am I going to get the chance to be involved in any of her wedding planning fun?? Needless to say, she was stunning and may have even found THE DRESS! No pictures of her in the gown, though. We'll save those for the big day!

I do, however have a picture of us in the store that I just love.
Two engaged ladies!


These two are so lucky to have found each other so young. Congratulations!

Just Married!

I can't believe how long it has taken be to blog that Bart and I are FINALLY and truly married! I guess things have just been pretty crazy around here. You know how it is--you finish one huge project and wind up with two more. Or something.

Anyway, the wedding was just wonderful! August 14th turned out to be a sunny, warm-with-a-cool-breeze kind of day, which is perfect wedding weather, if you ask me. But I probably would have thought a hurricane was perfect wedding weather just because I was going to become Bart's wife! I had a wonderful afternoon getting ready with my sister, bridesmaids and best friends. And you know the best part? I WAS COMPLETELY CALM. I mean, like nothing was going to freak me out. And the only thing I felt was this huge sense of excitement, just like I used to get on the mornings Mom would be getting ready to go to the Great Escape (sort of crummy theme park for those of you non-upstate NY-ers). Like an urgent, ankle-tingling I want to scream, but I'll keep it cool kind of excitement. It was great. And the things I will cherish for the rest of my life are the beautiful note Bart sent to me that morning and the dill pickle that he had delivered to my room after I had brushed my teeth. That boy sure does know the way to my heart!

Everyone got a kick out of the fact that Iwas SO ready to marry Bart, that I actually forced all of my BMs to get me to the church 30 minutes early. That's right. For those that don't know me well, running late is what I do. It's just in my genes. And I was so pissed that NO ONE ELSE WAS READY FOR ME WALK DOWN THE ISLE! I know that's a little self-centered, but it was my wedding day and I was excited, okay?? Bart is still teasing me about it. I told him that me being early was his wedding gift haha.

Anyway, our wedding day was perfect. It was, in fact, the best day of my life. Seeing all of our friends and family having such a great time celebrating our special day and loving us so much was just SO worth all of the planning stress. Here are a few pictures that family and friends captured. Warning: picture overload!

A beautiful dress certainly does help a girl feel like a beautiful bride!

Me and Dad walking down the aisle.

Saying our "I dos." This was by far the best part of the whole day!

JUST MARRIED!!!

"You & Me Together" DMB

"I Loved Her First" Heartland

So excited.

No Shoes? No Veil? No Problem!

As of right now, I have no shoes to wear to my wedding, or a veil or any sort of barrette or hair piece. And you know what? I'm alright with that. Obviously, wearing flip-flops down the aisle with my hair styled simply is not the worst thing that could happen on my wedding day (unless you're my Grandma, then it's another story). I am just TOO excited to share that day with Bart, and the people that we love most, and SO thrilled that the planning is done, that I just don't care! Of course, I am going to spend today shopping at Water Tower Place downtown to try to remedy at least one of the two minor situations and to try to find a nice (cheap) outfit to wear to my bachelorette party.

Of course, those are only two things on my huge list of "To-Dos" for today since we are leaving at the crack of dawn tomorrow to catch our flight to NY. Laundry, packing, and cleaning are just a few. And I'm happy to do them all because it means that I will be on my way back to the East Coast to visit my family, celebrate and marry the love of my life!

A Roof Over Our Heads

The big news today is that we have finally found an apartment. Not just any apartment, mind you, but our FIRST apartment together. Where just the TWO of us will live. Together. Married.

And I think the best part of all is that I am the one who found it, called the landlord (who happens to be the same one we have now, but that is neither here nor there), and set up an appointment with the currant occupant to view it. And it is lovely. It's much smaller than the apartment we have now, which is fine by me. There is a sweet master bedroom (and his/hers closets!!!!!!!!!!!!) with french doors that open into the living room/eating area and even another second room that Bart will use as his "office" when it's not being used as a "guest room." The kitchen is adorable--almost like a play house kitchen, but for a grown up. There are windows on BOTH SIDES of the apartment, which is something you really don't see out here in Chicago. The walls are a soft white, the trim around the windows is natural wood in a beautiful buttery shade. It almost reminds me of the Cape house--no wonder I love it!

I am just DYING to decorate. I'm so sick of having crappy IKEA furniture that falls apart every time you try to use it. I don't want to live like a college student anymore. My goal is going to be to decorate the whole place, slowly and on a budget, through craigslist.org. I love that site. You can get the best stuff for dirt cheap since most people who are desperate to sell things get rid of their stuff there. The only tough part will be finding a vehicle to get the goods back to our new place!

Anyway, we move, hopefully, on August 30 or 31. It's going to be so fun and exciting to live alone with Bart for the first time in our relationship--and just in time for our marriage!