Help! ...Rehearsal Logistics

Dilemma...

How long is the typical medical school graduation ceremony? We did research when planning the date of our wedding. The college normally holds graduation in May. We picked June 7th. Next year it's June 6th. Lovely. We thought about moving the date a week later (June 14th 2014) but that's also his mom's bday. Ortho residency would have orientation up to 2 weeks before July 1st leaving us no time for a honeymoon. As we proceed with the June 7th date right after graduation, I'm wondering if the 4 hour drive to graduation, sitting through it, driving back then going to our rehearsal dinner would even work for me and his parents or if we should go with a wedding day rehearsal brunch? My grandma really wants me to do a dinner. His mom who is paying for it wants a brunch. ... What would you guys do ? All my bridesmaids (5), my parents, and even maid of honor's parents have (without me asking or hinting) volunteered to help set it up if we chose a dinner... ugh decisions... HELP! lol

Options 1: Rehearsal and dinner Thursday (but not all the bridal party could make it)
                 Graduation and traveling on Friday
                 Wedding and reception Saturday

Option 2: Graduation, traveling, a very late rehearsal and dinner Friday (everyone could make it but super tired)
                Wedding and reception Saturday


Option 3: Graduation and travel Friday
                Rehearsal the morning of the wedding, brunch, wedding, and reception Saturday
                (Only problem here is being rushed on the wedding day and seeing each other before the wedding)

               

Please comment with thoughts.

Good news though! The actual bridesmaid dress swatch came in! Thank you to my lovely bridesmaid Amber for modeling! The dress is Jenny Yoo Fiona style in Turkish Blue. I tried so hard to get a picture of how it look in person. I swear it photographs so much darker and muted. The in person color is slightly darker version of robins egg blue. When I show people they think it's teal.

Grace, Gratitude, Regret, Forgiveness, Wisdom

I feel sorrow and regret for my written words earlier this year.

I posted sometime (maybe in Feb) that Dr. Fiance has asked for my input on his applications for away rotations. I had told him not to apply to a certain location since he has family there with severe drug problems. I felt that doing his real residency there would lead to complications with family showing up soliciting money and or exposing our future children to another world. He pretty much blew me off and said it was a good program. That was the end of it; thus, I vented online. 

Dr. Fiance's cousin died of an overdoes of heroin this past week. The funeral was yesterday. At age 26 he  left behind a wife and 2 children, 9 and 2. 

I cried a good part of today. I had only met him twice although I've been with Dr.F for almost a decade. I watched his wife cry in the front of the church as the little ones walked about the isle. It hit me that Dr. F's cousin was our age. We could very well have children that age if we made different choices or if outcomes had been different. It only takes 1 choice to change life on a different path. Dr. F's cousin was (to my knowledge) tested in school and was deemed "gifted and talented", just like Dr. F. Again just like my fiance, he had several opportunities to do good. Unfortunately, unlike my fiance, his cousin made the wrong choices.

 In physics you learn that electricity always takes the path of least resistance. Is it possible doing wrong is the path of least resistance for some? I cant help but wonder, why do we make the choices we do? These decisions happen in an instant. Spontaneous. Random. Are people prompted and pre-ordained to their destinies; and if so, for what reason?

In truth, they were raised differently. His cousin bounced from his real mom's house to his aunt's in Colorado. His biological mother suffered from drug addiction as well, leading him to move in with the other Aunt in Colorado. Not much has changed. She, the biological mom, was helped out of her home a few days before the funeral on account of too many Ativan. Google it says it's a very strong anti anxiety medicine that will cause "high" like symptoms if used without concern for the recommended dosage. Why do some people choose to expose children and adolescents to these activities? Constant exposure to adults making poor choices numbs the negative consequences to create the decision to use drugs easy. Why resist the temptation if you know and have seem the outcome. As a middle school teacher in a low income district  I am angered by this daily. In the same breath, I am grateful my job is to help curve the decisions before they are too late.  Morality is stowed by 7th grade. Family is the main hinge of morality. The pastor was careful to tip toe around these issues as she, the real mother, sat separate from her other children sobbing. 

In the greeting processional after the service, Dr. F's mother hugged me with concern, sadness, and appreciation and said, "Listen to the words in the last hymn: Count your blessings. Take care of my baby." Tears filled my eyes as I simultaneously felt the 2 year old brush around my legs. 

It is still echoing and might forever continue.

You have made more an impact than you know.

Bridesmaids Dresses.... Check!

I was so pleased this weekend when my 5 awesome bridesmaids walked into the dress store and 40 minutes later walked out agreeing on a style and dress color! My grandma has a major issue with strapless dresses. I also knew I wanted something short for them to wear again and dance in. I let the girls know guidelines and said "GO". I am very happy they all agreed on a dress that looks great on all of them!

This color (turkish blue) in a dupioni silk fabric (obviously not this dress):

 

But this dress pattern:

Bridesmaids will be wearing the same or very similar open toe nude pumps.

I am still in love with these flowers: 

This is the overall look I am leaning towards: 

Venue:

Groomsmen will be in black. 

Getting excited! 435 more days to go! haha

What colors should the mom and mom in law wear? My dress is ivory lace with a champagne underlay. The sash that comes with it is beige. I can switch that out though if needed. This a picture of something similar... but not the actual style I bought. 

My make up since I have the same eye color and hair color :)

Married to Medicine Thoughts and Tweets

I pretty excited that Kari Wells from Married to Medicine tweeted a link to this blog!! (Who knows if this is even her texting or some PR rep.?)

This Married to Medicine show has me interested. Is it realistic? Likely not. I feel like the doctors come from money already. Bah! … Or it might be the little part of me that says “you will be paying off school loans forever and will never get to that level in society.” I mean- who am I to comment!? Not having cable to save for my upcoming wedding (mind you I’m a teacher) has led to reading up online about the show. Thank goodness for the free episode on itunes! From what I gather many people in the medical community have some pretty serious reactions to the show. At any rate, I found it addicting. I will likely be buying the entire season 1 for $15 on itunes. It’s cheaper than getting cable to watch. ;) Day dreaming about luxury houses, purses, shoes, and clothes has become a problem for me. Honestly, what would you expect from an engaged gal in a long distance relationship to a hopeful ortho MS3? I’ve taken up Birkam Yoga to balance my thoughts! Haha. 

In regards to the lifestyle, the clip where Kari worked so hard to have a nice night with her ortho hubby only to have him leave on call was refreshingly realistic. “The chocolates will be gone”. Something I would say. I’m definitely excited to see more episodes. Keep the drama coming!

I said YES to the dress!

Guess who bought a wedding dress today!???? THIS GIRL! :) 

So excited!!

The Jim Hjelm trunk show was this weekend at a dress store in downtown Columbus, Ohio. 

 (Le Jeune Mariee Dress Store Website)

(Jim Hjelm Designer Website )

By purchasing the dress from the designer during the show you got 10% off the dress and a $200 accessory credit. My bridesmaids also get 10% through the same store. 

So happy with the purchase!!! I would love to post pictures but the fiance does check this blog.

Another Reality Check Starter Home

LOOK WHAT I FOUND!
http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/5468-Rothermund-Dr-Canal-Winchester-OH-43110/80912245_zpid/

For Sale: $122,900

Zestimate^®: $151,032

Est. Mortgage: 

$517/mo 

See current rates on Zillow

• Bedrooms:4 beds
• Bathrooms:3 baths
• Single Family:2,760 sq ft
• Lot:6,490 sq ft
• Year Built:2006
• Last Sold:Mar 2007 for $166,500
• Heating Type:Forced air

 

I think this is still above your price range though. If a miracle happened and we put 10,000 down, our monthly mortgage would still be $777. Yuck. I was hoping for around 650.

Exactly 30 minutes from both our work... potentially.

My Life as a Disney Story

Disclaimer: I had to really reach for 10 reasons. lol

Clip #1: 

The Fiance seems to have a thing for staring at me as I sleep. (That sounds odd to type... likely because it is.)

Example 1: He asked me to marry his on one knee beside the bed as I woke up. 

Example 2: He likes to wake me up now by kissing me (see picture above.) This is true especially if he has to work on the weekend but I make the 3 hr drive anyway.

Although really creepy, I actually love it. Sleeping Beauty is one of my favorite Disney movies.
(If Disney does it, it must be "OK" **sarcasm**)

When my mom asked how he proposed, I told her the only thing I would have done different is wear my makeup to bed that night. Mom told me that it's good that accepts me completely and it's great I don't need to be anyone else around him. (valid point)

Clip #2

My college roommate will testify this is me cooking.... 

Clip #3

He asked me out 3 times in High School before I said yes. He actually go my phone number from my best friend who had a crush on him at the time. This did not go over well.

Clip #4: 

I like shiny stuff.

Clip #5: 

I like to pretend like everything is going to be ok and nothing is wrong.

Clip #6: 

The house I grew up in has a wood burner as a heater. My dad would chop wood from our forest for the winter.

Clip #7:

Long distance relationships.

Clip #8: 

My parents have a farm with a pond.

Clip #9: 

He likes to grab for my hand. It's uncomfortable so I normally just interlock my index finger around his since his hands are so big.

And finally Clip #10: 

To be honest though (not sleeping beauty), the almost Dr. Fiance looks a lot like Gaston.

(^ wedding photo booth)