FRIDAY.

minskat30

@beanbot2002 - All the hugs.  I'm sorry.

@LaBro - Good for you guys for quitting during the week!  I don't feel a ton of difference either...other than more trouble sleeping but I was always a light sleeper.  I feel great that my clothes are looser though.  I'm sorry to hear about Cheyanne though.

@eilis1228 - Thank you.  I've got my fingers crossed for you for something sparkly, lady. 

labro

ETA: Oh yeah, last night I got my hair did!

Before:

And after!

[Deleted User]

This weekend we have a little bit going on. Tonight we will just stay in. I'm going to go workout and then come home and sleep.

Saturday I plan to get some things done around the house and then we are going out to dinner with some friends.

Sunday we are looking at more houses AGAIN and then maybe going to my parent's house for dinner.

I might also go to the greenway a lot this weekend since it's supposed to be nice outside.

KeptInStitches

Ugh. Looks like I'm losing the battle of "parents-are-not-required-to-meet-right?"

I know it sounds odd, but FI's parents and my parents have not yet met. Without going into much detail, my parents did/do not have an especially good relationship with my dad's mother so I'm kind of all in favor of keeping everything separated; the fact that FI's parents are divorced is adding a new layer of stress for me and all kinds of "do not want." Compounded with the fact that everyone lives 4+ hours apart and it hasn't come up yet. But now with the bridal showers coming up I'm starting to lose the battle of "moms don't have to go to the other side's shower" and I need booze to face this which is probably overly dramatic.

No quoting please. I may DD this later.

labro

@KeptInStitches Just include them on the guest list, it's not requiring them to come. They can still make the choice right? FTR, our parents met only once and it was before we got engaged. They didn't see each other again after that until the wedding. It's no big deal if they do or don't meet.

speakeasy14

@keptinstitches I'm sure they will get along. If they want to attend both showers, let them.  Plus, if you let them meet each other now, it is your test to see if they will be able to be cordial at joint family functions. My mom and my sister's in laws do not particularly like each other, but when they are together for family functions, no one would be able to tell.

southernpeach89 Hope you find a place you love soon, or the builders you like start building where you are looking!

GoldenPenguin

@keptinstitches - my parents & FI's mom & stepdad met this summer. When I tell you that they couldn't be more different... I mean, they COULD NOT BE MORE DIFFERENT. I was nervous, because they are totally on opposite sides of the spectrum. They also live about five hours away from each other.

But, they're adults, and they all love us, and that's the only common ground they need.

My mom's family & my dad's family literally hated each other. Some of my dad's family (he's not my biological father - he adopted me) never fully accepted me as "his." There are still a lot of hurt feelings and dysfunction between everyone, to this day, and my grandmother (the cause of 99% of the problems) has been dead for almost ten years. 

I guess the point of this is to not let the past dictate what can happen with your family in the future. Your parents & your FI's parents don't have to be best friends - but they should be able to handle being there for their respective children and your life together.

Just my two cents. 

KeptInStitches

@goldenpenguin, I'm gonna cry. That was beautiful. You'll have PM later when I have a chance to sit down again after class.

@labro, @speakeasy14 - thanks.

marylab

Hello everyone!It's friday!
It was raining cats and dogs today,I'm guilty but I loved it,the best
time to stay inside and be on the computer.Talking of which,things
are going crazy as I predicted and my day if full of 100 tabs trying to
get together favors/colors/prices and offers.I freaking love THIS!
Cute babies and running with preparations to burn that muffin top is coming!

@Swazzle Yay for the G2G!Have fun!And a second yay for TWD!
You have an awesome busy weekend there ma' lady

@WildMagelet Aww it's so nice to see people being excited for you!

@CocoBellaF Whiskey cake?Omg,I'm even jealous of your pbj,it's been ages since I had one.

@Cu97tiger Birthdays surprises are the best!You sound like a true bbf

@Minskat30 I'm sorry for you dad,John's grandma anniversary is next Saturday,
I feel you.Hugs

@BaytoSa2013 So pretty!

@Twodimes Are you tasting your menu or there's a wedding and you're tasting the whole dinner?

@Imcooper86 Boo.Hope you feel better soon

@Beanbot2002 Aouchs.When it rains it purrs they say,just sending hugs,it will end one day.

@AlPacina All I can say is that kids are easy.I have 2 nieces and 2 nephews that once I was
all around them and now it's been 4 years since I saw them in Christmas.They were all 1-3 years old so I'm like a new aunt again.But hey,a small gift and some candy,along with a game and
a book,and it was like we seeing each other every day.

@Labro oh no!I hope she takes the medication and feels better soon,poor puppy.

@KeptInstitches Ours meeting for the first time in March too.
It will be interesting,and with my whole crazy familia there,help me god.
But in the end..families are different,it's normal.And you'll see as they get to
know each other it will be easier and easier.I prepped my in-laws since I speak
easier to them,what to expect from my crazy uncles who pour shots of vodka for
you haha Either than that..I'm so nervous I don't even think about it.My parents are raised differentlyfrom my in-laws and there is a big cultural gap and my parents are nervous with the language too,but hey!Each love their child,and they want the best for us so?
Some awkward moments will occur but with a glass or two of wine everything is always better!

BaytoSA2013

Thanks ladies, I hope it comes out as fabulous as it looks in my head.

[Deleted User]

@CocoBellaF - Isn't there a Whiskey Cake restaurant over by Penn Square?  I've wanted to eat there loads of times but I haven't managed to get there yet.

@KeptinStitches - I have no advice either, but I totally won't judge you if you need alcohol to get through it.  I need alcohol to deal with my family at big occasions...I can't imagine throwing Mr. H's into the mix as well.

@beanbot2002 - I am sending ALL the good vibes to you.  I'm sorry things are so rough right now!

To everybody having a fun weekend at @Swazzle's - HAVE FUN!

@minskat30 - I've (mostly) stopped weeknight drinking as well, although the exception seems to be Thursdays, when I have dinner with my parents and it's my mom's Friday so we usually open a bottle.  It has definitely made a difference in how I feel during the week.  And CONGRATS on the clothes fitting better!  That's, IMO, more fun than the scale.  Sometimes the scale is depressing, but clothing fitting better is immediate gratification.

I am SO GLAD it's Friday.  This week has just been sort of "eh," so I'm looking forward to hitting reset over the weekend.

Today at work has been quiet.  I had a Skype interview with a school in Georgia--I think it went well.  I should know in the next week or so if I get the campus interview.  I also stopped by my favorite little International Market because they had their Persian buffet out today, so I have lots of yummy Persian food.  I was going to eat it for lunch, but I also bought baklava and ended up just eating that instead, so I'll have Persian food for dinner.  I'm planning on going home, breaking out the hookah and wine, and just relaxing.  I may read a book, or I may just watch Star Trek on Netflix.

Tomorrow I need to work on my dissertation chapter outlines and clean the house.  It's supposed to be gorgeous weather, so maybe I'll go for a run or work outside.  I'm stupidly excited about getting to use my new vacuum cleaner again this weekend.  Plus, Mr. H bought me all new curtains!!  They're getting delivered today, so I'll start washing and hanging them tonight.  I had mostly sheer curtains before, and these are all blackout curtains, so it will definitely be different.  My house is 70 years old, and so I needed more substantial curtains to help with energy efficiency.

Sunday is church and probably more working on laundry and dissertation outlines.  Once I get them outlined, the writing is going to come pretty easily, so I hope I can get on it!

KeptInStitches

@goldenpenguin, YGPM. Or novel.

beanbot2002

Thank you all for the love. Around lunchtime the plumber called to tell me that while they were done, they couldn't hook up...because the effing meter froze. I wanted to puke. He called the water company and they got shitty with him. So I called the water company and filed a complaint. They got their butts in gear and got the meter fixed. I'm going home to water!!!! And the bill was SIGNIFICANTLY less than I was quoted. 

Then the dealership called and the bill there was less, too. Not by much, but about $25, so I'll take it. 

Now I think I just deserve a call from whatshisface telling me I won the Publisher's Clearing House and I'll be set. I effing earned it with my last 6 months dammit. 

KeptInStitches

@beanbot2002, you sure have earned PCH. I hope things get better.

WildMagelet

@CocoBellaF - We had fun, even though our home team lost  Have fun at your chalk painting class!  That sounds like a blast.

@cu97tiger - That sounds like an awesome work trip!  

@eilis1228 - We are truly blessed with my relationship with his kids and our relationship with his ex-wife and her family.  It's certainly an unconventional arrangement, but we all firmly believe its better for everyone involved.

I got ahead on my work as far as I wanted, but I didn't get my backlog caught up because they dropped another bomb on me.  The thorn in my side since October is being reversed (yay!) so it happily left me with a few hours of extra work to prep for next week.  It'll take a few weeks to get everything turned back around but my job just got soooo much less stressful.

FSS was home sick from school again so he didn't go to the hockey game with us, but we still had a fun "double date" with FSD and her bf.  We talked more about dress shopping and she asked if she was going to be in the wedding (since her dad had only implied it and never officially asked her.)  

FI asked FSS what colors they were going to wear with their tuxes and FSS couldn't get past the fact that you rent and don't buy tuxedos, haha.

Both kids now have suggested that their 3 yo half sister be our flower girl. It's something we'd talked about when we were in general talking about getting married but haven't officially decided anything now that we're engaged  If we chose to have a flower girl at all we'd ask her, since she's the small child that we're closest to.  Ultimately I'm leaving it up to FI to decide if he wants to invite his ex-wife to our wedding or not.  She and I are friendly and given our history of other family events during the time we've been together it wouldn't be all that odd (perhaps for my family, but certainly not for his).  

[Deleted User]

@futuremrshistorian - Yes, there is a Whiskey Cake there.  They have the BEST chicken spinach salad and duck wings.  MMMMM!!!  You need to go!