Josh and I have both been so busy this week that we haven't really done anything wedding planing related at all. And it has been awesome.

My ring came in on Tuesday, and I love it, but it is taking some getting used to. I keep freaking out and thinking I'll never be able to get it off. But a little lotion and it slides right off, so that's reassuring.

It's sweet. It's stainless steel, and It is so completely awesome that even though I was never going to post a picture of it, I have changed my mind.

That is the best picture I could get, something about the bright stone and the black metal make it hard to photograph in focus.

The wedding band is the exact same ring and they look awesome stacked together.

I can't stop saying awesome.

Awesome.

After shopping for our little party tonight I got home and realized I forgot a couple key items. I'm making Sloppy Joe's (for whatever reason Halloween and Sloppy Joe's are go hand-in-hand for me) and I forgot buns (duh!) and American cheese slices (because on Sloppy Joe's, yum!).

I sent Josh a very specific email asking him to get white hamburger buns, American cheese slices, and a particular brand of ginger beer from a particular store because I know he'll grab the wrong one if I am not super specific. It is just his way.

At the store, for whatever reason, he picks up low-fat American cheese slices. When faced with my consternation at home he merely states that I didn't specify so he bought the low-fat.

This, for so many reasons, really chapped my ass. First of all, we are not a low-fat people; especially when it comes to cheese. Secondly, I was so super specific about everything on the list; doesn't it reason that if I wanted low-fat cheese I would have said so?

So we bicker about this for a while, he doesn't understand why I'm annoyed and I don't understand why he bought low-fat cheese. This really boils down to: our two brains work in very different ways, and we are still getting used to that.

So just when we are on the verge of getting really and truly pissed at each other:

Josh: I don't even like American cheese!
Me: Wait, so just because you don't enjoy it nobody gets to enjoy it?

And then we both burst into hysterical laughter, cracking up right there in our kitchen. Because really?

Who gives a shit about American cheese slices?

The other day I stopped on my way home to pick up groceries. I had a basket, but soon realized I needed a cart instead. I walked to the front of the store to make the swap. The carts were located in the vestibule, I walked out what I guess was the official front door and a woman chased me down and started screaming at me that I "need to pay for those groceries!!!!!!" Um, I know, I'm just getting a cart. That isn't really the best customer service.

When I drive to work I head out of my garage and down a one-way street until I hit Diversey. Early in the morning both sides of the street are chock full of parked cars and it's a pretty narrow drive. This morning the SUV in front of me slammed on the brakes and threw the car into reverse. He clearly didn't see me so I beeped my horn and he slammed on the brakes about an inch before running in to me.

Then he gave me the finger.

Last night our neighbors decided to do a little home improvement project. I get it; with apartment living sometimes you just have to give your neighbors a break when they make a lot of noise. But I draw the line at hammering in pictures (or whatever) at 10:15 at night. Dudes, so not cool.

Tomorrow night some of Josh's friends are coming over for food and drink and pumpkin carving. It should be fun I think, but it makes me lonely for my friends. I wish you guys could come over too. If I'd have given it more thought I'd have invited some of the awesome Chicago bloggers I met in September over as well.

Actually, if anybody reads this and has any interest in food drink and pumpkin carving let me know and I can email you directions. (We live near Clybourn and Fullerton if you're interested)

Josh has been pretty swamped with work this week but I kept myself busy in the evenings trying out some new recipes. One thing about work that beats school hands down is no studying or homework. I love being able to come home at night and not have to get right back down to business. Definitely leaves time to read (for pleasure!) and to cook and to knit. Wow, I sound like someone's grandma. I may have to work on upping the excitement level in my life just a bit.

So yeah. Last night I made a couple different kinds of salsas, (which is so easy it should hardly be considered cooking). Now they are in the fridge tempting me and I'd like to gobble them up but I'll restrain myself and wait until Thursday night.

Also looking forward to: Muscow Mules. Yumm. I finally found a ginger beer that tastes authentic and delicious (and not at all like catsup) and that is going to be my drink of choice tomorrow night. This could be a wee bit dangerous on a Thursday night. Last time I imbibed the Mules I got drunk before I noticed it and spilled a cocktail down my pants. But hey, I like to live on the edge here.

Yep, definitely someone's grandma.

Back in July Josh and I spent a very hurried weekend trying to find an apartment. It was like Goldilocks, but except for thing being too small, too soft or too hot, they were too slum-y, too nice, or too scary. Finally, at the end of a very long day, we walked into the place we now live and we both just heaved a sigh of relief.

Until September; we showed up and the place had obviously never been cleaned and all the cute, funky little nooks I remembered now just looked like unusable space.

After a good night's sleep, a very thorough cleaning, and a fresh coat of paint I am back to my original mind set. It may be kind of a shit hole, but it is super cute and charming (if quirky).

Getting the kitchen cleaned and organized did the most in turning the apartment around.

Fortunately my little kitchen cabinets (which I have dragged to three apartments now) found a home along that back wall.

I've had a real hard-on for gray paint for the last few years, and I was thrilled to find a great palate of grays for the living room and kitchen.

Lots of cabinet space- halleluiah!

I'd still like to swap out the canvases on those bar chairs, but it's kind of a low priority.

I think we did a lot with this funky space. The areas on both sides of the patio (there are two doors, which is gorgeous when the weather is nice) started off as awkward and unusable space.

We set up Josh's office on one side. I think it is nice for him to have an area that is all his, especially since he often works from home.

During the day Murphy will lie on the couch and stare at him for hours while he works.

On the other side is a tiny area where my two great big bookshelves fit nicely. We put them there until we could figure out what to do with them, but I really like our "library" now.

We also stuck my orange reading chair under the spiral staircase so Josh would stop smacking his head on the underside. I set up my favorite table (a green hand-me-down from my mother- my dad jumped at the chance to get it out of their house), my computer, and my knitting basket and now my little reading nook is my home base.

Our bedroom is upstairs, and the slanted ceilings proved to be a real problem.

Problem solved. Josh's reading chair fit perfectly upstairs, and now we have separate areas in which to retreat if need be. Sometime I like watching TV on my laptop upstairs while Josh works downstairs.

This wallpaper was probably the ugliest thing in the place, but it was also the easiest fix.

I picked out this bright teal paint which I love with Josh's red end table and my grandma's antique coverlet. Josh wasn't in love with it at first, but he has since come around.

And I just couldn't resist throwing in one last picture of our in-unit washer and dryer.

Why?

Because I could tell you all about my most awesome weekend.
Or I could finally get around to posting the before and after pics of our apartment makeover.
I could take this opportunity to talk about something timely and political.
Or I could tell you all about the epic battle for ground in our bed and how neither Josh nor I is winning that fight; Murphy is.
I could write about any of the amazing books I read last week.
Or I could tell you about some cool steel-mill things.

But I am not going to, because I'm just too tired, and just the thought of coming up with something witty or interesting to say is exhausting.

Do you know what sounds not-at-all exhausting?

Meeting Jill for rellenos and margs at the Rio.

Waaah.

Every Tuesday night Josh and I set up my computer to watch the week's new episode of How I Met Your Mother. There was a scene this week about all the things that went awry during Lilly and Marshal's wedding planning. We laughed and exchanged smug looks about how trivial those concerns were.

To be that upset about what really boils down to a party seems foolish. And anyway, our wedding planning is pretty much done.

See, what you get for being smug is...

My dress came in and it is too big.
The quote for the venue we've chosen for the wedding and reception came back at double the number we were expecting.
Our invitations, lovingly designed by Josh's best bud Byron- were so beautiful digitally but went awry during the printing stage.

So, yeah.

At least I had HIMYM earlier this week to .put me in the right frame of mind. None of these things is actually a big deal.

I'll get my dress altered, and if it still doesn't fit, I'll find a new one.
We can find a new venue; we do have some back-up plans after all.
All the formatting and whatever else it is called that Byron did for the invites is still perfect, once we figure out the problem with the printing they will be good to go.

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Last night Josh and I had a date. We wanted to spend a little time together before my parents came to town and we were go-go-go all weekend.

We headed down to The Silver Room in Wicker Park to purchase our rings (our wedding bands and my engagement ring- I finally found one that I liked). After that big purchase we went to Bin Wine Café. I loved it! Here is my Yelp review:

Bin Wine Cafe just skyrocketed to the top of my list of favorite restaurants in Chicago. Wonderful and playful wine selection, same goes for cheeses. Couple that with the ambiance- the front is dark, very hip and romantic, the back is warm and open, like someone's cool modern kitchen- and this place is the tops. I love that they also sell the wines they serve, we left with three bottles!

We shared the Bin Wine Cafe Cheese Flight - "6 cheeses you can't live without really!" and they really were six great cheeses. I also had an outstanding Pinot flight- one bubbly, one white and two outstanding reds (I took home a bottle of the bubbly and one of the reds- I can't wait for my mom to try them this weekend). What I really couldn't "live without", though, was a cheese I had our waitress pick for dessert. It was the Nancy Camembert, Old Chatham Sheepherding Company, from Hudson Valley, New York. I swear I was talking about it for the rest of the night. It was subtle and creamy and tasted just like butter. Keep an eye out for it.

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After dinner we decided to walk home; a long walk, but a beautiful night for it. On the way I wanted to stop at the Bookseller and pick up a few books. I was kind of embarrassed because I picked out four books- all from the teen section of the book store; and Josh was teasing me about my immature selections. BUT, as soon as we were checking out, and the bookshop clerk was giving me a bit of the judgy eye, Josh swooped in with a comment about how much my "nephew" was going to love his gift.

It was pretty cute, not to mention good to know that- no matter how unnecessary- Josh has my back. Take that judgy bookseller.

I am too excited for today's work day to be over. Tonight Josh and I have a date and then tomorrow....

I am so excited I can barely concentrate on work...

Tomorrow my parents are coming for a visit!

They are driving out now and staying for the weekend before heading back. I have lots of fun stuff planned for us.

Burgers!
Blues!
Bakery!
Broncos!
(OK, no Broncos, it is a bye week)

And a few things that don't start with B...

Yummy dinners!
Playing with the Murph Dog!
The Lincoln Park Farmers Market!
The Field Museum!

Weeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!

Jill and I haven't lived in the same city for years, but at the most we've been a 45 minute drive away. Usually Jill is the one to make the drive over to my house; I have a dog and she lives with her folks, so it just makes sense for her to come over to my place.

I stop at the store and head home to make dinner, always sneaking in a plan for "surprise appetizers!" (invariably bruschetta), while she picks up a bottle of wine or cocktail fixin's. We might fight about what to watch on tv (I always want to watch Law and Order, she always wants to watch MTV or VH1) before settling on watching what she wants to watch.

I just realized I've been writing in the present tense when I should have been writing in the past tense.

Because Jill lives 1000 miles away now, and she can't come over to lay on the couch and watch tv and talk about boys and jobs and family or nothing at all. And today I really miss her, and I wish she could.

Since moving to Chicago I've been super duper busy. Every weekend has been jam-packed; meeting new friends here, traveling home to see friends in Denver, and meeting my soon-to-be family.

This weekend, however, neither Josh, nor I, had any pressing plans. All week we were both looking forward to relaxing at home, playing with Murph and having a nice romantic date night.

Then I went ahead and got sick.

I think my body was just waiting for me to have a little down time to crash.

Friday night I fell asleep on the couch.
Saturday night I fell asleep on the couch.

I did manage to summon some energy Saturday after noon to go with Josh and take care of some things for this little party we're having in January.

Sunday morning I alternated between the laundry room and the couch while Josh was out working. I 'd begum lamenting the fact that I was living with someone. If I lived alone I would have just tucked in and said to hell with the laundry.

Around lunch time Josh came home with three different kinds of soup, some gummy candies, the new Bon Appetit, a gossip mag and some dayquil. If that doesn't beat the pants off suffering alone I don't know what does. I guess doing a little laundry isn't so bad after all.

Though, admittedly this is a bit more about the marriage than the wedding itself; either skip it or bear with me.

On Living with Josh:

It's a funny thing, sharing your space with another person. In college I had roommates, but we had our own rooms, a private place to retreat if need be, but that is not so when you live with a partner. We decided to move in together, and upon breaking the news to family and friends the response was mostly "Congratulations, but good luck, living with a boy kind of sucks."

So I'd prepared myself for a bit of a hardship, a transition period where we'd get on each other's nerves, bicker about doing the dishes, and long for the solitude we'd both given up to be together.

Maybe we've been lucky, or maybe I've been lucky, but it has been a surprisingly easy transition. I love being in the same place Josh is; perhaps because our courtship was conducted via phone and infrequent (and short!) visits or because we really don't get to see enough of each other to get sick of each other.

It's not always easy.

Sometimes I am a little jealous that Josh spends all day working at a coffee shop in the company of his best friends while I commute an hour each way to spend a long day in a steel mill.

Not to mention that it would take a bus, a train and a plane to spend a day with my friends in a coffee shop. The real work, for me, is making sure that my little jealousy doesn't turn into a much bigger resentment. It isn't a problem for me now, but I could see it turning into one down the road.

This is the crux of my biggest marriage related fear.

For some people it might be: what if someone better comes along, or never sleeping with another man (or woman). It might be how to blend religion or raise kids or where to spend the holidays.

For me, it is how to balance our different career and lifestyle choices without resenting one another.

I don't have an answer, but I feel like it might lie in being aware that it's there, and talking to each other. Forgive me if that sounds naive, but anything that has made me nervous before talking to him about was diffused immediately once I actually brought it up. I'm learning that most of my strife and drama is in my head (my parents were right!), in a world of my own making, and bringing any of my issues (real or perceived) to light has a way of making them seem about as significant as what we are having for dinner.

So, yeah, communication. Who knew?

On Planning the Wedding:

I've decided that taking only three months to plan the wedding was the best decision ever. I can already see how it could spiral out of control so easily if we let it, and I'm sure that if we had a year to plan it would.

BUT, we've almost finished our invitations, we've almost finished our website (Josh's design, obvs), we've got a budget, a guest list, a registry (which, did anyone else feel super awkward registering for gifts?) we found a lovely and intimate venue in which to have both our ceremony and reception, Josh had his suit altered, two weeks ago I found the prefect shoes that I immediately I knew I wanted to wear, and yesterday I bought my dress!

We are moving right along.

Josh is an intelligent, witty, sensitive, mature guy...

I am a 19 year old frat boy.

Sunday morning we were playing Trivial Pursuit with Byron. It was Byron's turn to answer a question of my asking.

Me: Which whale can dive the deepest?
(I then flip the card over to read the answer and snicker a little bit)

Byron: Based on that reaction I'm going to guess the sperm whale.
Josh: You give her too much credit; it could have been hump back whale too.
Me: Hump back. Heh heh.
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Jill, on the other hand...

At the wedding last weekend Jill and I were seated next to our friend Lisa, her husband Leighton and their two kids Wyatt and Logan. Logan is 4, he took quite a shine to Jill. When he got a little restless during dinner she let him play with her camera. He took quite a few pictures of the rehearsal dinner (sort -of) and then we took quite a few pictures of him.

Jill and I may not be the good, wholesome influence you want around your four year old.

When we took his picture his first instinct was to say "Cheese!"

When he went back to his parents later that night, they learned that we, instead, taught him to smile big and say "Double D's!"

Josh and I spent last weekend in Beaver Creek attending my friends Suzie and Mike's wedding. I was one of her attendants, so we got to come up to the mountains a day early and participate in the festivities with the families.

I have so many pictures I wanted to pick just a few of my favorites to share today.

The orange aspen trees in the background and afternoon light make Ivory, Jill and Nicki all look so beautiful in this picture.

This one cracked me up because Ivory is always on my case about posting "bad" pictures of her...

this one is a little better!

Here is one of my favorites from the reception. It was so much fun spending time with friends. Some of these girls I see all the time, and some I haven't seen in six years, but I swear everyone looked exactly the same as they did in college.

I don't know if it's just a wedding thing or what, but couples everywhere looked so in love, like Nick and Tanya in this picture.

And not just couples, Lisa and Laura were both glowing as well.

Speaking of glowing... Suzie looked gorgeous in her amazing dress.

I didn't think my dress was too shabby either. Josh is about the most fun person I've ever been to a wedding with. It makes me look forward to a lifetime of goofing around together.

And speaking of goofing around... Mak and Kate came down for the wedding, and we were all lucky enough to be seated together during dinner.

Our friend Sameera also got thrown into the mix. She did Suzie's make-up, and stayed for the reception. It was an extremely pleasant surprise to spend the evening with her.

I got some quality time with little Emma who is so happy and so good and so cute she makes me want to bite her. I won't. But I want to.

I wish this picture was better, but I suppose that's why people hire photographers for their weddings. Suzie and Mike made quite the striking couple dancing their first song.

After the speeches and formalities we all moved to the dance floor. I was particularly excited to finally meet Suzie's friend Lynn. Suz had been telling us for years how awesome she is, but she way outdid our expectations. Lynn was actually made of awesome.

Josh finally got to meet the rest of my friends. Everyone absolutely loved him. Duh.

And yes, more dancing still. Word.

I love weddings. Why? Because weddings are fun. Don't believe me? Take a look at Byron, he's having fun.

Weddings are great for spending time with old friends and making new friends.

Dancing with your fella'; good stuff, I'm telling you.

This reception was a great party, and from the looks of the pictures, we brought our own little party to the party.

I thought I was on my best behavior...

But I guess I just can't help it

Sheesh. Can't take me anywhere.

While I don't want this to turn into a crazy, wedding-obsessed blog it is starting to feel a little dishonest not saying anything about it at all. We are planning a wedding in three months time, so "wedding stuff" has actually been on my mind a little bit lately.

I don't want to get nuts about it, but I don't want to treat it like a non-event either.

And, contrary to popular belief, I am actually excited; sometimes I'm just awkward about showing it.

So I've decided to compromise (with myself) and give one day a week here wedding attention (and really that will only shake out to be about 15 wedding related posts).

So I guess first things first.

The number one thing people have said to me since Josh and I got engaged is "I just assumed you guys would elope." To be perfectly honest, I'd always thought so too. And if we lived in Denver we probably would just elope.

I've always been really close with my family and friends (I know, who isn't) and it has been really hard for me to make these decisions to start my life so far away from them. When it was just me moving to Chicago people kept saying I'd be back to Denver, probably sooner than later. I would protest that my industry doesn't exactly have a foothold in the southwest, but frankly nobody wanted to hear it.

Now that we are getting married and planning a future that includes (hopefully) kids and living abroad and more school it has become more important to me to find a way to get my parents involved in my life here, in Chicago, and not to keep putting that all off until I move back someday. I am not saying that won't ever happen, but it certainly isn't happening anytime in the foreseeable future.

This leads me (finally!) to the topic of our wedding. Neither Josh nor I believe in contributing to the wedding industry monster. We would both be happy heading downtown and signing on the dotted line. But, we do believe in our families and our friends (who are family, really) and we have decided to take this one opportunity to get all of my friends and family together for one weekend with all of his friends and family to celebrate what really is kind of a big deal.

And to answer the number 2 question: no, I'm not pregnant.

This Saturday, October 11, one of my favorite girls is getting hitched to a great guy.

I was searching for some great pictures of her and came across these oldies-but-goodies.

Before Suz met Mike we spent a really fun winter-summer-winter making the most of our single girl status.

It was during this time that two of my best pals became great pals themselves.

We drank hundreds of bottles of champagne.

Among other things (and yes, I had bangs. Baaad bangs.)

Some of these nights (which we collectively refer to as FunWinter) are some of my most treasured memories, and probably the most fun I've ever had.

Here's to Suzie. And maybe even a few more late night games of caps.

In Denver we seemed to have two seasons- hot and cold. What a pleasant surprise when fall showed up here in Chicago last week. Josh and I took advantage of the beautiful weather, blew off the household chores we'd planned, and headed out into the crisp morning. We took a walk down to the farmer's market at Lincoln Park to grab some breakfast and a hot cup of joe and then took a winding stroll home. We ended up in Bucktown, and neighborhood to the west of our apartment searching for a bar and a nice cold beer (hey, it was a long walk).

We stopped in the first bar we came across that had college football on the tube, ordered a couple of beers and spotted Battleship behind the bar. We spent the next two hours sharing a bag of potato chips, sipping a couple of cold ones and sinking each other's battleships.

We capped off a perfect autumn Saturday by taking Murph to the park around the corner and letting him run around for a while.

Murph is such a trusting dog, he can be sweet talked into just about anything.

He slid down the slide and played chase with Josh.

Never keen on being left out he even wanted to get on the swings with us.

After the park we headed home to get ready for the evening. Kel and Byron came over for dinner (sorry I burnt everything! Martha Stewart I am not!) and then we four headed to the wedding of one of Josh's friends.

While part of me wants to tell you all about Suzie's bachelorette party, the other part of me knows that it was more fun than I could possibly describe. Yet another part of me knows that after that much champagne my memory is a little hazy too, and I'm sure I'd leave a lot out.

I'd planned on hanging with my girls, drinking too much, making too much of a ruckus, and flirting wildly with too many very young boys.

Check, check and check.

I expected Suzie to be exuberantly, unapologeticly DrunkSuzie. I love DrunkSuzie. I love when she spills her champagne and when she falls down and when she slaps men across the face for being out of line.

I expected Jill and I'd end up dancing our butts off at the Rockbar at the end of the night.

I didn't expect Ivory to be dancing her butt of right along side us.

I knew we'd all be dressed to the nines...

I didn't count on Ivory's jugs being that huge! Holy breast milk batman!

I expected to stumble home from the bar barefoot at 3 in the morning (you can do that in Denver, not so much in Chicago).

I didn't expect Jill and I to have an impromptu camp out on Suzie's front lawn. Another thing you can't do in Chicago. Not to say that you necessarily should sleep on the front lawn in Denver; I can only imagine what Suzie's neighbors thought when they got up to get their papers first thing Sunday morning and saw two girls sleeping in th grass.

I knew I'd have a blast and how much I needed some Lady time.

I didn't expect to be so close to tears all night because I was so happy to see my girlfriends. I've been so happy in Chicago that I'd almost convinced my self I didn't miss them terribly. Oh, not true.

Miss you girls. Can't wait to see you soon!

The pictures above are just my favorites; the rest of them can be found here.

The pole dancing class we took to kick off Suzie's Bachelorette Party was the most fun I've had working out in a long time.

It was a really fun thing to try with this group of girlfriends- all girls I've known for a decade.

There was no need to worry about looking silly or not being good at it. Our only worry was how much fun we were having...

How much fun Suz was having...

And how much height we could get!

Jill was a natural!

Tanya too!

But Ivory was able to hold her own.

I even got the hang of it before the end of class.

I've got to give bona-fide pole dancers some credit though, they make it look easy.

I think Suzie was plesantly surprised when she found out the plan...

I know the rest of us had a blast.

And while none of us are considering a career change...

Next time I feel like strapping on my stripper heels....

I know just the place!