so beautious

I really want to wear a fun pair of shoes with my wedding dress...no white pumps for this lady. I found these today on a website that said they were available on Piperlime. So I figured if they were on that website, they must be affordable and I had to have them....

...and then I saw the price. I think I actually said "oh good lord." Since when does Piperlime sell shoes this expensive?! I thought this was a Gap company.

Needless to say, the search will continue.

O Christmas Tree

This Christmas had special meaning...with the engagement and all. We put up the Christmas tree together on the night we got engaged and last night we took it down. awwww.

We also sent out a Christmas Card for the first time together this year. I thought it was appropriate since we wanted to announce our engagement anyway. I had an idea to do a photo booth type greeting. I thought this was a unique idea, but then as I was looking at different wedding blogs, it turns out a lot of other people have done this also. Oh well. So way back in the beginning of December, I set up a photo shoot in our living room and we took a ton of pictures. This was the end result:

...and here are some of my favorite outtakes

a month in pictures

About a month ago I got a new camera. I researched cameras for quite some time and finally went with the Canon Powershot SD850 IS. I got it because I have taken an interest in photography and would like to become better at taking pictures, but I wasn't quite ready to take the plunge into getting a DSLR quite yet. This one suits me just fine so far. Its got a lot of fun bells and whistles I've been trying out. I'm not very good yet, but it takes some decent pictures. Check it...

Here is little Madison curled up next to the fire.

Have you ever heard about how when an orb appears in a picture, it is actually a ghost/spirit? I wonder if that's true. If so...creepy. (this is Gina & Todd's tree)

Gina...preggers with a baby boy

The girls surprising me at dinner with champagne in celebration of the engagement.

...the message written on my plate. (note: the dulce de leche cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory is the best)

Jon was done with school back in August, but the graduation ceremony was in December.

facelift

I decided to give my dull blog a little facelift. It was looking like a sad, deprived child and now that I think I have a little more inspiration and reason to write, I wanted it to be somewhat interesting. I was trying to figure out how to do an all over background (that isn't just a color), but couldn't figure it out. If anyone knows how to do that, let me know!!

I also updated my blogroll because the last one was rather outdated.

The color scheme is what my world will revolve around for the next 8 months. We are going with black, white and green for our wedding colors. I love the starck contrast of the colors and hope to incorporate some patterns as well (maybe the damask as shown above...) There might be splashes of yellow also, but that is just an idea because there could be a fine line where it could look like a Packer wedding...which is obviously not what we would like.

Now that I know how to jazz this space up a little, I think I'll change it up often...just to keep everyone on their toes.

things are moving along

Wedding update.

The date is set for August 9, 2008. (08-09-08, I like the sound of it. Not as good at 08-08-08 would have been, but we didn't want to have a Friday wedding)

The church is reserved and we are meeting with the priest next month. We ended up going with St. Jude after getting rejected from a couple other places. I was sad for a second, but then decided that it will be sweet getting married at the place I grew up going to...and where Jon and I met! Yes, we met there at Gina and Todd's wedding rehearsal. It will be perfect.

We paid the deposit for the reception spot yesterday. I couldn't be happier with our location. Their prices are within our budget, the food is going to be delicious (Saz's, yum!), the location is great for both our Milwaukee and Madison guests and being on the golf course it is going to be beautiful.

I found a photographer. I think her pictures are stunning and she has great rates, which is great for our budget. I found her through this little blogosphere I lurk around in too!

Next on the agenda is a DJ...

the big news

It happens in the movies and you hear about it happening to other people all the time, but it actually happened to me! I am getting married!! On Saturday night, December 1st, as the snow was coming down and we were holed up in our apartment, Jon asked me to marry him! It has been a little over 4 years in the making, but was still a total surprise. Well, I guess it's wasn't a total surprise....we had both talked about getting married, we had discussed what kind of rings I would like and we live together for gosh sakes, but I had no idea when he would ask me. We are so flipping excited! So I guess it's time to get this show on the road...

Kerri's Wedding

Mrs. Hall and the work girls

10/20/07

30 year old graduate

Saturday we celebrated Jon turning 30 and graduating by having a party in his honor. I am SO proud of him for going back to school to get his bachelor's degree. It was not easy and it was a lot of work, but he did it! And well, you only turn 30 once, so a party was to be had. Coincidentally both things happened within about 2 weeks of each other too, so I sent out invitations to all his closest friends and family with this image on the front requesting their attendance:

Conveniently, his diploma came in the mail about 2 hours before the party started. So I framed it and added it to the decor for the day. It was a beautiful day. We watched the Badgers win, played some yard games, ate food, drank beer, walked to the bar at about midnight and managed to get home in one piece. It was a great time with great friends and family.

Birthday Children

30

Not 30

Still Lovestoned

A year later, I still can't get enough of it.

Summer 07

Memorial Day to Labor Day = the unofficial start and end of the summer.

For me, nicely bookended by Brewer games

May 07

Sept 07

graduate

9 hours old

Here he is!

uncle Jonnie

J.D.

Another family member was born this morning!

Jamison Douglas

8lbs 10oz.

20 inches.

We'll meet him later today...

a night out

Last night:

Went to Quinton's (pronounced kwin-ton's, NOT keen-ton's) with Shari and Nanc for some free beer sponsored by the Onion. Had some delicious Spin dip. Maybe the best I have had.

Saw a bum peeing on the street. He did not spare anyone from the view. Why did he not go into an alley...or at least face the building? Too drunk, too tired, probably didn't care anymore. Wow.

Went to Frida's on State for dinner. Ran into Barney. Yummy salsa, yummy guac, yummy margaritas, yummy food. Muy delicioso. I will be back.

I like trying new places in Madison.

I like having more friends in Madison.

I can't get enough Mexican lately. I want it every day.

Watched Big Brother when I got home. Amber is finally gone. Now I don't have to see her cry or talk about people being selfish anymore.

Maxwell Street Days 2007

This year marked another Maxwell Street Days that has come and gone. Jon and I arose bright and early as we always do, to get downtown, walk around the Farmer's Market and check out the Paddle and Portage. We left around 9:45, the race started at 10, which left us plenty of time to get down there, park and make it to the square to see the runners. However, we did not account for the horrid traffic we ran into, thus missing the paddlers portaging their way through downtown :( This was the first time we've missed it in 5 years I think. We were bummed for a short while, but then realized there were deals to be had on State Street...

I scored. I got a winter coat (which I am still debating about), a bag full of merch at Urban Outfitters for about $20, and a few designer duds from Bop. Urban Outfitters was chaotic like usual and had mostly winter clothes like usual. I ended up with a couple sweaters and hats and a cute summer skirt after all the digging I did.

Every year I find VERY good deals at Bop, however, it is so frusterating shopping there, because it is a tiny store and the lines to try things on and check out are always ridiculously long. This year however, they had a bouncer at the door. At first that made me not want to even bother going in, but I couldn't resist and the line was only about 3 people deep. I stood in line for about 2 minutes and was let into the store where I found about 20 people and a completely picked over inventory of clothes and shoes. (I dont think the bouncer was necessary at that point in the day, but Jon and I agreed that it was probably a really good idea on their part when it is super busy early in the day) I still perused the racks and finally ended up with a Rachel Pally dress and shirt. The dress was 90% off and after the discount only cost $25 and the shirt, $15. I was also debating about getting yet another pair of Uggs, but I passed. I was proud of myself for that.

..And I know I catch shopping fever this weekend of the year, but it turned into actual fever/cough/cold. Being sick in the summer stinks. So now I sit home, sipping OJ and watching Big Brother After Dark.

Wow

Oh my goodness. I finally figured out what my username and password for this thing. Since transferring over to Google, I just havent been keeping up with this and completely forgot what they were. But usually your username and password are pretty much the same...with some variations if the password needs a number or a capitol letter. True, and I tried every username and password I could think of that I ever used, but none worked. ????? I know, I was completely confused too. I finally got it though. So now that I am in, I will update some things I suppose...It has been a while...

2 months recapped

It's been 2 months. I know...I know. I've been busy I suppose (and a little unmotivated). I've been watching a lot of new tv shows too (surprise, surprise) Here is a recap in pictures of whats been going on the past couple months:

My first Christmas Tree!

Christmas

Meghan's 26th Bday at the Alehouse

New Years Eve!

Hanging out in Milwaukee with M & T

Us at CPK

We got together on Saturday night at the new California Pizza Kitchen at Bayshore. We waited a LONG time, but that was alright...we were there more for the company than the food. Don't get me wrong though, I was definitely excited that Milwaukee finally had a CPK. I had been there in other cities and was excited that Milwaukee was finally getting "big city" with all these chains. Although I have to say, my food was not how I remembered it to be - I got a shrimp scampi pizza...too onion-y for my taste. I would've liked to taste the shrimp. I doubt I will run back there again...I will however run back to the mall at Bayshore. It was spectacular! It was clean and new with music piped in on the streets and so festive with all the Christmas decorations. I felt like I was in a different city for most of the night - as if I was on vacation. It was great, but unfortch I did not get to shop much...so I will be back soon. Don't worry, Bayshore, I will be back.

December 2006

1. Waiting on the World to Change - John Mayer
2. Christmas is All Around - Billy Mack
3. My Love - Justin Timberlake
4. Take Your Mama - Scissor Sisters
5. LoveStoned / I Think That She Knows - Justin Timberlake
6. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen - Barenaked Ladies & Sarah MacLaughlin
7. Cupid's Chokehold - Gym Class Heroes
8. Wind It Up - Gwen Stefani
9. All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey
10. Lovely Day - Bill Withers
11. The Lioness Hunt - The Lion King Musical
12. Santa Monica - Everclear
13. My, Oh My - The Wreckers
14. Before He Cheats - Carrie Underwood
15. Christmas - Darlene Love