Ugly Christmas Sweater

Nothing says Christmas like a red leather vest. I have a feeling that some guests at the party couldn't decide if Josh was wearing the vest as part of the costume or if the vest was really just a staple in Josh's day-to-day wardrobe. I also have a feeling that when we dined at Tasty Tacos before the party, the customers were quite shocked when they caught a glimpse of Josh in his awkwardly-fitting women's pointsettia turtleneck.

Mission Accomplished

The major part of the basement renovation is over finally! Here's the finished product.

Before

After

The B Team

Every year, the adults in my family do a Secret Santa gift exchange. However, one fateful Thanksgiving night, after not being invited to participate in the grown-up gift exchange, the twenty-somethings and Dean (hehe) got together and decided that perhaps we should do our own. Thus, the "Christmas at the Kids Table Annual Gift Exchange/The B Team" was born.

Josh and I hosted this year's gathering and it was a great success. Last year we did a White Elephant exchange but this year we switched it up and drew names. Naturally, there was a twist. The participant who bought the lamest gift for their recipient would be thrown out of the family. Andrew dubbed it "Survivor: Christmas". Needless to say, everyone did a wonderful job picking out their gifts and no one was kicked out of the family.

Whew! This Baskin Robbins Pralines 'n Cream Ice Cream and Rush Hour board game I got for Dean saved me from being banished from our clan.

Pac(quiao) a Punch

I've never been one for sports that inevitably end in bloodshed, i.e. boxing, UFC, etc. However, my interest was peaked when I found out that one of the fighters in this past weekend's premier boxing match was Filipino. After watching multiple episodes of HBO's 24/7 Oscar De La Hoya vs. Manny Pacquiao (see below for the trailer), I was eager to see the pride of the Philippines, Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao defeat De La Hoya...and he did!

It was an exciting victory indeed, but I was even more pleased to see that the Pacquiao clan has the exact same karaoke microphone as our family. However, I wouldn't put money on them singing anything by Jodeci (Andrew and Josh's choice), or Abba (my aunts' favorite).

Cheers!

The alcohol always seems to be flowing a little more freely in Davenport, not that I'm complaining. Actually, I think that it enhances the vacation-y feel I get whenever I visit. We always try to make it a point to see Josh's high school buddies and our friends from college...it just so happens that we like to see each other at the bar.

Wonio and Josh reenacting a scene from "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia", (note Josh's tiny leg).


Josh, Pat and I at Grumpy's.

Jonna and I at Grumpy's.

Thanks for Thanksgiving

Turkeylicious. The dinner was delicious. I be up at the table licking off my dishes...

Josh and I returned from Thanksgiving stuffed full of tacos and turkey. Good thing we fled our home too, because my family said they were boycotting potatoes this year. I can hear the gasp of surprise echoing around the world. Hopefully, this was a one time experiment and not some sort of newfangled tradition.

"Turkeys don't get that big." I have 28 1/2 pounds of cooked bird that says otherwise.

I...O...W...A!

I survived my first Iowa game and learned a few things along the way.

1) Never underestimate the power of a good thermos. Josh and I dropped $20 on one prior to the game in hopes that it would keep my hot chocolate and Bailey's warm during the two hour drive to Iowa City and the three hours before the actual game...and it did!

2) I'm not above looking foolish in an attempt to stay warm when the temps are falling. That is why I wore seven shirts, two pairs of pants, two pairs of socks, one hat and for a brief moment two pairs of gloves (I discarded one of the pairs when I figured out that I wasn't capable of opening or holding anything, or using the restroom with both pairs).

3) One of the most entertaining things about going to a sporting event are the crazies that you end up sitting next to during the game. We were fortunate enough to stand near a long haired blond fellow who yelled about every call that was made, played a mean air guitar to "Black Betty" and made lots of emphatic gestures/mime motions.

4) In the I...O...W...A! cheer it is not so good to be the W. Way too many syllables so it takes longer to say than the other letters, thus making it impossible to yell as loud as I, O or A. Next time if I'm in the W section I'm switching seats. I think I was born to be an O.

Overall, it was a fun experience and I hope that we get to go to more games. I think it would be a real treat if we could go to one where I only have to wear one to two layers. :)

Here's Grizzly Adams and BJ before the game.



Jill and I trying to stay warm. If you look closely, you can see that I'm sporting some man hands, a special effect from the double glove combo.

Carpet Diem!

'Slowly but surely wins the race' has become the new mantra for our basement remodel. Currently, we're waiting on carpet and the sectional from Homemakers. Next step is a bar and chairs for the game table we found on Craigslist.

July 2008.

August 2008

November 2008-this is just the pad, still waiting on the actual carpet.

Artsy

Every year at the Des Moines Arts Festival, Josh and I hem and haw about whether to take the plunge and buy something from one of the many artists on display. This past summer though we jumped in head first and walked away with three pictures. Five months later, we bought frames for these pictures.

We're hanging this in our basement eventually. As mentioned previously, we're in the middle of a little home renovation.

These photos were taken in Ireland. They'll be hung in our bedroom...eventually. That's another little home renovation I'd like to undertake next year.

I tried my hand at getting artsy as well this week. That is to say, I printed out a few wedding pictures from our photographer and put them in frames from Crate and Barrel.

These need to be hung somewhere in the living room.

Announcement

Over the past few months, some of our favorite people have made special announcements regarding a "special delivery" that they'll be getting soon. At this time, Josh and I also feel compelled to share our own announcement with all of you. Today we received a special delivery of our own. He's 50" and we expect that he'll bring a lot of joy, not only to our lives, but to all that visit our home. We welcome him with open arms as the biggest addition to our little family.

Note: This is just a temporary space for our little guy. He'll be heading down to the basement as soon as we get carpet.

The Little Boys Room

After a fresh coat of paint, a good scrubbing and a new floor, the downstairs bathroom that was once reserved for "manly men" or fearless souls has been reclaimed and is fit for the needs of all of our guests. Now I'm just counting down the days when I can say that about the rest of our basement.

Perfect for anyone who doesn't want to make the trek to the upstairs bathroom during a Hawkeye/Cubs/Bears game/other fun basement activities.

Buzz Off

Breaking news: In the past year or so, scientific studies reported that the bee population is on a steady decline and that perhaps this species is on the brink of extinction. However, on October 31, it was reported that a swarm of bees took Court Ave. in Downtown Des Moines by storm. Needless to say, this sighting has the entomology and bee-keeping world abuzz with the possibility of a bee resurgence.

Top, left to right: BYOB, Queen Bee, Beehive, B. Real from Cypress Hill, Worker Bee, Bea Arthur. Bottom, left to right: Spelling Bee, Killer Bee, Sweat Bee, B-Boy, Cuban Bee.


A deadly combination: Seek medical care immediately if you encounter the killer bee and Cuban bee.

Outta Control

I'm outta control. Ever since we got our wedding pictures, I have been feverishly trying to figure out how to share the photos with everyone. They came on seven separate CDs so it's too much to email. First, I tried Picasa web albums but that was a bust. Then I decided to use Shutterfly, which works but is still a bit pokey in the uploading photos department. Josh proclaimed that I'm obsessed and that he's lost his wife to these pictures. My rebuttal is that these pictures are our wedding day memories!

In any case, I've got about half of the pictures uploaded to a special photo sharing website provided by Shutterfly. To view the pictures that are up so far, go to Josh and Lora's Wedding. There's a lot (and I've even edited the albums down), so be prepared for a marathon viewing. I'll try to get the last pictures up as soon as possible!

Unexpected

You know how people always say if you stop looking for something, that's when you'll find it? Well, that is exactly how we stumbled upon our new bookcase. Josh was on his lunch break and I had the day off so we decided to share a romantic dining experience at Valley West Mall's Maid Rite. Afterwards, we had time to kill so we went window shopping. We were debating on either going to Banana Republic or Calypso (a home decor/furniture place). Fate pulled us towards Calypso and lo and behold there was our new antique bookcase just waiting for us!

If you look closely, you'll find that three out of four picture frames are empty or filled with picture frame models.

Take a Picture, it Lasts Longer

Hooray! We got our wedding pics!

Kudos to Allison Bryce, she took some really good photos!

You had me at Nutella

Curse you, Nick and Amy for introducing us to Nutella. The first time I tried Nutella, I thought it was good but I'm a strict Skittles and Laffy Taffy kind of girl so I didn't fall so easily under its chocolaty spell. However, Josh and I made the trip to World Market to look at bookcases and decided to purchase a jar of Nutella and some Jules Destrooper Almond Thins. Now, I'm afraid that I might become a Nutella convert because this combination is DELICIOUS. Not only that, but I definitely think that being a Nutella fan or even just knowing that Nutella exists is comparable to being a drug pusher (Jennifer and Kelly-"She was like, 'I'm a pusher, Cady. I'm a pusher.'"). After we purchased it, we had dinner with my cousins and brother and sister-in-law and I definitely invited them to come to our car and try it after dinner. That's creepy.

To read more about Nutella, click here

Shop 'til you Drop

A few weeks ago Josh and I went on a shopping spree to Bed Bath and Beyond and Target to purchase a few of the stray items that were left behind on our wedding registry. I'm happy to announce that we brought home our square plates, the collapsible colander, a picture frame (not on the registry, but it matches the one that was), a decorative vase, plastic bag holder, pizza stone and a few other odds and ends.

Square is the new circle.

Josh insisted on adding river rock to the bottom because according to him, the colored glass decorative gems "look like a prostitute".

Pumpkins on Parade

To get everyone in the Halloween spirit, Andrew and Annie invited friends over to carve pumpkins this weekend. My family never really participated in this ritual but I have to say it was pretty enjoyable. I'm generally kind of leery of any activity that involves wielding a knife, however it turned out to be quite fun.

Everyone hard at work at their creations.

Naturally, Josh insisted on buying the biggest pumpkin from one of the local farmers market vendors. I think we might need a pillar candle instead of votives or tealights to make it glow. And what was the design we chose? We decided to forgo the typical jack-o-lantern face and try our hand at something more creative. Still embracing my role as the blushing bride, I suggested our initials. See what we ended up carving below...

From left to right, starting at the top: Spider (Annie), Smushface (Rudens), Cubs (ours, go figure). Second row, left to right: Slap Happy (Ortiguerras), Autobots (Andrew), Scare"d" Crow (Rudens, part deux)

I'm full. What else can I eat?

I confess to uttering that contradictory phrase but in my defense, Josh and I spent our entire honeymoon surrounded by delicious food. Scallops, hash browns, Uno's Chicago Deep Dish Pizza, hot dogs from Wrigley, chicken wings, bread pudding! However, the one food that I think I'll always remember fondly is from our last meal in Chicago. It was at the Grand Lux Cafe that I met "one potato to rule them all". Their menu describes it like this...

Double Stuffed Potato Spring Rolls

Creamy Mashed Potatoes with a Touch of Green Onion, Rolled in Crispy Asian Wrappers Topped with Melted Cheddar, Applewood Smoked Bacon and Green Onion. Served with Sour Cream

Shakespeare couldn't have wrote it better himself.

Josh and I are all smiles after a delicious feast at Grand Lux Cafe.

Josh and Lora Day

Done and done. After months, (and what sometimes felt like years), of planning, Josh and I managed to make our stroll down the aisle and into wedded bliss without too much incident. Of course, there were a few classic moments that will forever be part of our wedding day memories--my photographer playing cut man as he feverishly tried to get my lip to stop bleeding so I could be in family pictures, an unfortunate wardrobe malfunction during pictures with best man and now brother-in-law, Nick and last but not least, "the running man", a dance move that could put a person out of commission for a day or two.

Thanks to everyone who celebrated with us in person or in spirit! We love you all!

Oh, and I'd like to make a public plea to anyone who took pictures of the wedding or reception to please send those my way. I just can't wait for the professional ones, and we all know that candid ones are the funniest. :)

Labor of Love

We had a wonderful wedding day! Thank you to everyone for making this time so special. As many of you know, I had been raving about the slideshow for weeks on end but unfortunately, due to technical difficulties, we weren't able to fully share this labor of love with you. But all hope is not lost, because now you can see it right here on my blog. Click below and pretend you're still in your fancy clothes at Hy-Vee Hall, feeling stuffed full with booze, cupcakes and lasagna.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

End of Summer in a Nutshell

I think it's pretty evident that I won't be blogging between now and the wedding so here's a few snapshots of what's been happening the last month and a half.

Suds is much better at riding in the car. Here we are on our way back to Davenport for our first wedding shower.

As a wife, I intend to rule the roost with an iron fist and the Thiessens gave me a giant whistle to help reaffirm my authority.

Our state fair is a great state fair. I love me some cheese curds, Cup of Cookies and Grater Taters...maybe it's a good thing it only comes around once a year.

Suds celebrated his first birthday, hooray! Here he is with a doggie teacake.

BJ and Jill Day! We took a little mini-vacay for their wedding in Okoboji. Josh must be going for some kind of world record for "Most Times as a Groomsmen". This is his 5th time standing up with the groom.

Get it girl! My bridesmaids threw a fabulous bachelorette party and gave me all the necessary accessories for a night out on the town, including a giant flashing ring and pink furry handcuffs. Unfortunately, I was too busy bellying up to the bar or dancing in circles to complete any of my bachelorette dares.

Project Finish that Basement Before the Wedding is still underway. Overhead lighting, check. Drywall up, check. Textured ceiling, check. Painting, in progress.

You've Got Mail

Generally, the mailman brings a lot of credit card applications (ew), and bills (yuck). However, since the wedding invites have been sent out, checking the mail has become quite the exciting activity for me and Josh. The RSVPs are trickling in slowly. Granted, most of them are from people that are in the wedding or are related to us but still it's all very exciting.

And for those of you who are interested in seeing the magic behind the creation of the invitations see below...

The gluing, stuffing and envelope seals were handled with care by Dawn, Kelly and Annie. Thanks, girls!

Josh, Tom and Dean balked at using a glue stick so they took care of the postage.

Phoenix, it's 104...but it's a Dry Heat

I've been very delinquent with my blogging but my excuses are three-fold; first, I've been spending most of my time on the computer googling and shopping online for wedding related things, second my camera's broke and third, I was in Phoenix for a work conference for an entire week.

Typically, I don't blog about work because I feel like I spend way too much time thinking about it as it is. However, since a non-profit organization only sends a girl like myself to Phoenix once in a blue moon, I thought I should share a photo or two to honor the special occasion. And what an occasion it was, complete with celebrities, karaoke and an awards ceremony.

During our first day at the conference, the Iowa Chapter was honored with a "Chapter of the Year" award for Communications-yea! However, I didn't realize that they would be blowing up our faces for all the world to see while we were on stage accepting our award-boo.

OMG, is that Dee Snider from Twisted Sister?! What can I say? The March of Dimes knows how to rock.

Damn Hippies

Josh and I went to 80-35, a two-day music festival during July 4th weekend. We saw The Flaming Lips, The Roots and our local favorite The Envy Corps. Overall, a fun time was had by all. My only complaint is the large crowd of hippies at the festival. I know this is kind of their scene but honestly, do they have to take up so much room when they dance? And don't get me started on the hula hoops...

The Flaming Lips put on a good show. However, I believe their show is also the scene of the crime where my camera screen broke. Boo.

Josh and I got folksy with it and listened to Ingrid Michaelson on Friday afternoon.

Sudsdini strikes again

I believe that Suds has used his magical powers and giant paws to discover how to get out of his kennel. He has been found not once, but twice roaming the house freely after a few hours of being kenneled. The good news is that he hasn't entertained himself by chewing up sweaters or undergarments and he has remained "accident-free".

You know, I had no idea that when that lady handed me that 8-week-old puppy in the parking lot of the Oskaloosa Wal-Mart, he would turn out to be such a magical force...

Here he is using his power to tame one of man's greatest fears, the snake. Even Indiana Jones hates snakes but the Great Sudsdini doesn't even bat an eye.

Water, Water, Everywhere

The Floods of 'O8 have done quite the number on many Iowans' homes and businesses. While Josh and I have been lucky that our house hasn't had nearly any damage compared to others, we're sad to report that our basement did not go completely untouched by the heavy rainfall. We endured a large puddle in the lowest corner of the basement and as a result, our plan to remodel the basement has been expedited. We tore up the rest of the carpet and because of some lovely mold that began to grow on the walls by the stairs, Josh tore down that section this weekend. So this is what being a homeowner is all about, huh? Sweet.

No more mold, just a nice view of the structural integrity of our house.

Tick Tock

The countdown is on! I just realized that Josh and I only have 14 weeks until our wedding. How did that happen?

Get "Carrie-d" Away

My most exciting news is that Jennifer, Kelly and I were finally able to see the "Sex and the City" movie. After anxiously waiting for Jennifer to get back from Taiwan and Kelly to get back from Arkansas, we were finally able to reunite and travel to Jordan Creek's theater to take in the show. It was awesome! I loved every minute of it and cannot wait for it to come out on DVD so then I can complete my collection.

My coworker's son works at the theater so she gave me this poster (below). Before I had actually seen the movie, I wasn't sure if I really wanted to hang it anywhere but now that I've "seen the light", I can't wait to find me a frame and hang it proudly in our house. Josh isn't too thrilled with the idea and has banned the poster from "his" basement but don't you worry, I'll find a place for Carrie Bradshaw soon enough.

Dean and Dawn Day

Dean and Dawn got married this weekend! Everything turned out beautifully and we were so happy for them. The ceremony was perfect, the reception was fun and they were such troopers, they even followed us out to the bars afterward.

For some reason I was a nervous wreck prior to the ceremony and I really thought that Josh was going to call off our own wedding since I was driving him crazy with my own craziness. My temporary loss of sanity at Dean and Dawn's nuptials made me question what kind of nutsy bride I'm going to turn into on the day of our wedding.

In the end, a few drinks in the limo turned out to be the cure. If this is a preview of what I'm going to be like for our big day, then I might suggest that my bridesmaids be armed and ready with a bottle of Strongbow for me. Or maybe I could just get a baby blue flask and fill it with some other form of liquid courage and strap it to my thigh? That way it could be my something blue too! Just a thought. ;)