What's new with you ladies?

[Deleted User]

So obviously I haven't been around much since FIL's passing. It's been an emotional and stressful time for H and me, but we're muddling through it. We've been taking extra care of MIL; helping her get her house cleaned out, figuring out trust/pension/bills, spending some extra time. This whole experience has really been exhausting, and then to top it all off I had to go on a business trip Wed-Fri last week. Yesterday H and I took some time to just be with each other. We turned off our phones, set up a picnic next to our fireplace and enjoyed some wine and cheese together for a lazy afternoon. It was so wonderful to reconnect with him after everything and I really feel like we're finally getting back to some new form of normal.

So what's new with everyone here? What have I missed in the past two weeks? I can't thank you all enough for the T&P...it really meant a lot...but now I want to know what's going on around NEY! New engagements? Anyone chosen their dress? Any big news? I want the scoop!

cu97tiger

I was so sorry to hear about your FIL's passing. It sounds like everything happened so quick. I know it meant alot to your DH to have your love and support.

Nothing new with me... getting ready for a March full of travel, and praying that this ridiculous cold and snow ends soon. I was cut out for palm trees and flip flops... not this crap!

Blackbird230

*hugs* @Allusive007

Life's been pretty good. Started riding again which is a huge de-stresser. 

CLoGreenEyes

Good to see you back, Allusive. I'm so sorry for what you and your H have been through over the past couple of weeks, but glad you guys got to have a nice picnic yesterday and relax a little bit from life. *Hugs*

Not much is new on my end, just lots of school and work. Things for my best friend's wedding are starting to kick into gear, so I've been doing a lot of crafting and planning for her shower this weekend.

Peaseblossom55

@allusive I was so sad to hear about everything you and your H went through, very sad  It seems like you are both handling things ok.

Nothing really new here.  Just checking a lot of things off the wedding to-do list.

[Deleted User]

big hugs, @allusive007!

I was texting my massage therapist this morning and found out her dad had a heart attack and isn't going to make it.  I feel just awful!  I thought I'd send flowers or something to the salon where she works...  is that appropriate?  any better ideas?  she has been losing weight and eating clean, so I don't want to send snacks (unless it's a fruit basket?)...  ideas, anyone??

not a whole bunch new here.  I feel like I'm just treading water in life, but that's about normal for my pre-period week.  ALL THE DRAMAZ AND FEELINGZ.

I wanted to get my carpet cleaned and found out my mom has a carpet cleaning machine in her garage!  hooray for free carpet cleaning!  has anyone done it before?

we are supposed to get into the 60's later this week.  we have one more winter storm coming through tonight and tomorrow, so if I can JUST MAKE IT until Wednesday...

KeptInStitches

Hugs, @allusive007.

Nothing much is new for me except that BF and I are back on the right track. We're connecting better than we have in months, which is good news.

[Deleted User]

oh!  @lmhollister & @southernpeach89 - I guess I am a creeper, because I totally had a dream last night and you ladies were in it!

labro

@allusive007 Hugs! You and your H are in my thoughts and prayers. After watching my mom go through the loss of her mother, I know how hard it is for your H and for you as well. I'm glad you've both been able to find some time to be together and have time alone as a couple. It'll go a long way towards helping you to re-engergized and more yourself again.

There's not a whole lot new with me. Just wedding planning so I can get as much as possible crossed off my list so I don't have to worry about it anymore.

@CocoBellaF I want to hear about this dream!

[Deleted User]

@lmhollister - I dreamed that I got a new job offer on a Friday, and I was going to start that following Monday.  I was getting ready on Monday morning for the job and trying on clothes.  you and your sister were giving me clothes advice for my first day.  we ended up choosing a fuschia pink shift dress with a black cardigan and black heels.  I don't even know where all that came from!

cu97tiger

Oh wait, I thought of something! I got another tattoo! This TTC (trying to conceive) journey has been a rough one at times, and while I'd been thinking of getting this tattoo for 15+ years, last week I decided that NOW was the time. It's down my right side and is about five inches long.

The letters are the first initials of each of my grandparents' names. They have all passed away, the last one in 2008.

Swazzle

Sending you big, big hugs, @allusive007! I sent you a message on FB a while back but I'm not sure if it wound up that "unknown" folder or whatever they created on there. 

Nothing new here, I'm boring. 

labro

@CocoBellaF At least it sounds like we picked out something pretty for you!

buddysmom80

@allusive007 so sorry to hear about your FIL.

Nothing much new here. Getting ready for Europe next month and just plugging away at work!

GoldenPenguin

I'm so sorry to hear about your FIL, @allusive007. I'm glad you & your H are doing well, despite everything. 

Not much new with me either! I might make engagement chicken for Valentine's Day, so maybe I'll have news soon  

bethsmiles

My thoughts and prayers are still with your and your H *hugs*

There's not a lot of new in my life right now. I'm just doing school and I can't wait for it to be done! I have to take my comprehensive exams a month from today so I'm sort of freaking out about that! BF is still looking for a job. He did get a contract job at the state which is great for the money but it's not in his field and I know he's getting really discouraged.

bethsmiles

@TwoDimes - His field is in Biology and he's only been looking in Colorado. We don't really have the money to move out of state.

He had an interview in December that went really well. The guy said they would have a position for him in February and that he'd love to give him some volunteer time in his lab starting in January. We were so freaking excited because BF could really use the volunteer time to get experience and this lab is the exact type of research he wants to do. The guy was super responsive to all of BF's e-mails in December working to set this up. Then January rolls around and he drops off the face of the earth. So awesome opportunity, bright light at the end of the horrible job search tunnel - gone. It's extremely frustrating.

[Deleted User]

I can't thank you all enough for your thoughts, prayers and messages these past couple weeks. They really have gotten me through some tough stuff. What an awesome group of ladies we have here!

 

@Peaseblossom55 - What's next on your wedding checklist? I want the deets! I can't believe you're only 4 months away. Are you getting excited?

@LivLeighton - We are thankful that FIL was able to be at our wedding and that we have so many wonderful recent photos of him. We actually used one of the pics for the alter at the service and I made copies and had them framed for everyone. On a side note - I just wanted to say that I friggin LOVE your tattoo! I don't know if i've said that since you had that completed. So beautiful!

@CocoBellaF - I think flowers are a wonderful gesture. We received tons of flowers at the service from friends and coworkers. They've been in my house ever since and it really does lift your spirits...and made me feel better about my messy house while we had visitors in and out. I also had a girlfriens who gave us some wonderful calming items in a basket like lavender essential oil, eye masks, a candle, some bath salts, etc. Also, H has cleaned my carpet for years with the machines you rent at the grocery and it works great! Takes a little muscle, but really does the job. 

@cu97tiger - love the new tattoo! How nice to remember your grandparents that way. H and BIL have actually been talking about getting matching tattoos to remember their dad. I'll have to show you what they come up with whenever they get them done.

@Swazzle - I did get your message - Sorry I hadn't gotten back to you! I had so many emails, calls, texts and FB messages that I knew I hadn't responded to everyone. Please do know that it meant a lot though. Reading all those messages over the last couple weeks really helped keep me strong for H and the family. I really can't thank you enough for reaching out!

@TwoDimes - Keeping my fingers crossed for your BF's job search. I went through that with H not too long ago so I know how stressful and frustrating that can be. Just know that you will both get through it soon!

@Buddysmom80 - Where in Europe are you traveling? I'm so jealous! If you're anywhere near Italy, have an extra scoop of gelato for me!

@Brisox81 - mmm...engagement chicken...

@BethSmiles - I just know you are going to KICK SOME BUTT on your exams! Also crossing my fingers for your BF's job search as well - After going through all that with H, I know how stressful it can be.

Peaseblossom55

@allusive007 it's so weird being only 4 months away it feels so surreal.  I have hair and make up trials beginning in March. Right now I'm working to finalize the drafts of our invites to order those, we're using Cards and Pockets- an off white shimmer paper for the actual invites with a light pink shimmery pocket & a dark gold belly band.  I also need to find gold vases for the centerpieces.  I love all of the wedding planning it's been fun.

phira

I'm really glad that you and your husband had some time to just be together, no distractions. Family deaths are unbelievably rough and unbearably sad. The paperwork end of things, and clearing stuff out are both awful but necessary. When J's grandmother died, the first thing we did was clean his grandparents' house and redo the furniture layout. It had been set up a particular way because of his grandmother's disabilities, so setting it up differently was practical from a layout standpoint and an emotional one.

Not much new here. Scheduling cake tastings, being super offended and bridezilla because one bakery DARED to suggest carrot cake instead of spice cake. AS IF I WOULD FALL FOR THAT.

[Deleted User]

@peaseblossom55 - have you checked out saveoncrafts.com? I got a lot of my wedding items from them. They have great prices and tons of vases/baskets/candle holders, etc. I don't know if they have gold vases or not, but you might take a look!

[Deleted User]

@CocoBellaF- That's funny we were in your dream! I think I had a dream once about NEY but I can't remember what it was about or who was in it. I do remember though that I was calling y'all by your SN's haha.

Peaseblossom55

@allusive007 so I just checked out the website, it's amazing and has some great gold vases, just what we were looking for. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Deleted User]

@Peaseblossom55 - I'm so glad they had what you were looking for! A woman I met on one of my business trips last year shared that site with me and I found so many things for my own wedding there. In fact, I still browse it for household items sometimes because the prices are so great!

RWS2011

I just wanted to reiterate that I am sorry for you and your husband's loss, but I am glad to hear that you have been taking good care of each other through it all.

As for me, I was asked to increase my hours at my new job.  Also, I have been busy taking A to swim meets and auditions and with wedding/honeymoon planning.