8/11/13

Well, this has been an interesting week.  Kevin and I put together our guest list.  Yeah, a guest list.

See, the way I think about it is, you can't go anywhere for planning a wedding until you figure out the guest list.  This helps you figure out how big of a venue you need.  Once you find the correct venue, then you can figure out your theme and so forth.

I've been thinking a lot about this.  Apparently, we have a large bridal party.  There is 8 people on each side.  Yeah, that's a 16 person bridal party.  Normally, I'd laugh and make fun of the idea.  Come on now, pick your bestest of best friends.  Kevin, however, has lots of bestest of best friends, and I struggled to keep up.  I got my 8 ladies, though.  This is going to one hell of a wedding.

So our guest list is a little under 200 people.  So, I guess I need a decent sized venue, huh?  This is going to cost an arm and a leg.  I was hoping that by planning the wedding almost 3 years in advance, maybe we would get a discount, or have more time to save money.

That's by next part of trying to plan my wedding is saving money.  I'm broke.  When I tell you I'm broke, I tell this to you in a very honest and very sad tone.  I'm seriously hardcore broke.  I have a large amount of student loans.  An obscene amount, actually.  This has been a big discussion on the radio.  I listen to talk radio on my drive to and from work.  One day, they had callers call in about how much they owe in student loans, and I was in tears.  All of these people talked about they owe so much money, but they owed at least $20,000 less than me.  Parents were calling up about how they help their kids pay the loans.  My parents provide me with a roof over my head, a car, car insurance, a cell phone, and food.  That helps a lot.  I appreciate what my parents do for me.  It just makes me mad that people are complaining about owing so much money, but their parents are paying for it.  On top of that, the kids are still living at home!  Some people just make me sick.

Anyways, I've been trying to come up with clever money saving ideas.  I'm thinking of making a decorated change jar for the family to drop their unwanted change in.  Maybe sell some things on EBay.  This will be thought out further in the future.

This is a problem for future Gen.  Present Gen is going to make dinner.  :)

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8/4/13

I remember when I was 16.  I wanted to have a huge sweet 16 party.  My cousin had one that was out of this world.  It was in a fancy hall, with an outdoor patio with pillars and a trimmed garden.  I remember there being classy white walkway stones and the grass was cut so perfectly that this part of me thinks that it was fake.  The inside of the hall was huge.  The floor was a wood grain, and was as smooth as the floors on a dance studio.  The dj was loud and his lights were typical dj lights.  All the boys were in suits and ties and all of the girls didn't wear a dress that cost less than $100.  I remember wanting a party like that for me so badly.  I wanted to glide across the dance floor with my friends, and having all of the attention on me.  I wanted a big, pretty, puffy dress, with all of the sequins and sparkles.  I wanted a dress with so much tulle it would put most fabric stores out of business.

My cousin is two years older than me.  I had been to other sweet 16 parties that weren't her's, but her party was the party I wanted to have as my own.  So over the course of two years, I went to my friend's sweet 16 parties.  I observed what they had done.  Most of my friends had a small hall.  The event didn't have a hired caterer, but always had a dj and a dance floor.  The birthday girl always had on a pretty with all of the frills, but it always seemed out of place.  Then it was my turn to have my party.

I had a huge, frilly dress.  It was a $400 dress.  I remember it was the weight of a small child.  It was beautiful.  It still hangs in my closet.  It was a teal, off the shoulder gown covered in brilliant beading and sparkling sequins.  The skirt was full enough to hide a small family of four.  I felt like a princess in it.  I fell so hard for that dress.  It's still one of the most beautiful things I own, even though I can't fit in it.

My party was never like my cousin's party, simply because I could never afford it.  I'm no mad about it.  I don't get upset.  I don't cry at night knowing that my cousin had a glamourous sweet 16 and mine wasn't as glamorous.  I just know that if my cousin decides on something, there is a good chance that even though I may love it, I'll never be able to afford it.  Sometimes it's cool to get a small taste of the things you can't afford, and other times, it's disheartening.  

There is a point to this story, though, I promise.  My cousin is getting married on 9/28.  Yay!  Congratulations!  I'm happy for you!  I'm not being a sarcastic bitch about it!  I think it's nice that she is getting married and moving on with her life.  It's always happy to see someone get to do that, especially when you feel like you're stuck in the mud.  I haven't told my friends about this blog yet, simply because I don't have a ring.  I know I've mentioned this in earlier posts, but even so, I've got three years.  It's a long time, especially since the last three years of mine feel like they have dragged on so slowly.  

I graduated college three years ago in May.  I was unemployed for nine months.  One and a half of those months I worked about 20 hours a week.  I got a job after six months, but it was an on call job, and I didn't work much when I got called in.  Then I worked a job doing on the phone customer service.  It was awful.  Every day I was insulted by customers one way or another. Mostly, I was called a liar, but sometimes I was personally insulted.  One woman asked me if I was hard of hearing, which I actually am. (I have difficulty hearing the difference between e, t, d, b, p, and c sounds, to start.  Words blur together constantly.)  I was asked if I was so desperate for money that I would work at such an awful place.  I was constantly insulted about the way I spell my name.  I don't spell my name with a G to be hip, it's how it's written on my birth certificate.  I was named after my great great aunt.  Asshole.......

Anyways, so it's nice to see my cousin getting an opportunity that I haven't been able to achieve yet.  It's also an interesting to see what she does at her wedding and learn from it.  How big is the venue?  How many people did she invite?  Who is the DJ?  What does she do her father daughter dance to?

The place she had her bridal shower at yesterday was a place I had seen on wedding websites.  Getting to go in and take a good look at it was really cool, considering that I liked the look on it online.  It's just intriguing.  

So now is my time for a nice shameless plug.  To help in my wedding escapades, I need some extra funds.  If you are interested, please check out my Etsy shops for some awesomely fun jewelry and crocheted items.  I'm also have a crazy summer sale, so take a look!

The World Famous's Crochet and Knit Shop

Pins and Things by The World Famous

Thanks everyone!

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7/31/12 How We Met

That boy.... what am I going to do with him?  I guess my job, as the future wife-to-be, is to make an honest man out of him.  I feel like if I were in a movie, a character played by Kathy Bates would say that to me.  I think we should all take advice from a character played by Kathy Bates.... wait....... I take that back....... Misery....... don't do that!

I told Kevin I that yes, I'm blogging about my experiences at the moment.  I didn't want anyone to know about this blog until a ring is on my finger.  I see it now.....  Everyone I know sees that I post a blog, and they all talk about me because I'm bringing it up too soon.  It makes me look bad.  I can't think of another way to describe it other than saying I sound like a huge spoiled gold-digging bitch, which is not what I'm about.  I'm simply creating a blog to mark the exciting next three years of my life.

So back to what I was getting at.  Kevin knows I'm writing a blog, because I can't keep much from him ever, and now he wants to see it.  I told him no, he's not going to see it, because I'm not ready for him, or anyone to see it.  So what does he do?  He tries to find it.  Story of my life.  He tried everything.  He looked up my name.  He looked up my usual user names.  He even tried to cheat by looking on my computer.  He got my blog name, but still couldn't find it.  Is it wrong that I felt good about it?  But if I'm this hard to find, then no one will read my blog.  Eh, who cares!  I'm doing this more for me than anyone else.  This is my way to mark my future.  So who cares!

As you can see from the title, this post is supposed to be about how Kevin and I met.  I think it's a sweet story, but you can think of it as you will.  This adventure started sometime in March.  If you want the exact date we starting talking, ask Kevin.  I think it was March 22nd, but you might want to double check with him.  I had messaged him about two weeks earlier on OKCupid.  I was a little turned off by the fact he had a profile picture with a woman I assumed was his mother (and I assumed right), but there was another picture of him wearing a cheesehead.  Now for those of you who don't know what a cheesehead is, basically, it's a large foam hat that is shaped like cheese.  This is something you will normally find in Wisconsin (which I'm not from, btw, and neither is he) and is worn at most Green Bay Packers games.  I thought, look, he can't be too bad.  He's a cheesehead!  So I messaged him a very simple message.. "Cheesehead, huh?".

He responded shortly, clearly not sure how react to that message.  I can't blame him, however, men are short, sweet, simple, and to the point.  Why was I going to spend all of my efforts sending a creative message that he probably wouldn't have responded to anyways?  I didn't hear from him for two weeks after that, so I assumed he wasn't interested in me.  I was ok with this.

I went out to lunch with a (now former) friend that day.  He and I were chatting about online dating, which was something we both did.  We tried to find people on the internet and see what happened with them.  He and I both wanted relationships, so we both looked for them and then told each other how it went.  My friend went to drop me off, and I explained to him that guys on the internet aren't interested in dating a job-less, tubby girl.  I wasn't going to get very far.  He reminded me that his pool was also very small, considering he was looking for a good-looking man that didn't smoke or do drugs.  He made a very valid point.  This was the moment I gave up on internet date.  I said that's it!  I've had it!  The only messages I get are spam, and guys don't respond to the messages I send out unless they're a total creep!  (Well, some of them.  Out of my online dating experience, I did meet someone cool besides Kevin.  But just one.)

I walked in the house and went to my computer to delete my OKCupid profile, when I saw I had a message.  It was Kevin.  He apologized  for not messaging me for the past two week.  He just got dumped a couple of weeks prior to me messaging him, and he didn't want to get involved with me until he was over her.  He felt like he was, and he wanted to get to know me.  So he did.  We had similar tastes in music.  Apparently, I say all of the wrong things.  He admitted to me that I set off some red flags a couple of times, such as saying I internet date as a hobby.  I did!  Apparently, you're not suppose to admit to that.  That's bad.

Kevin and I talked for a couple of days, almost all day.  We added each other on Facebook, we gave each other our cell numbers.  Finally, on Thursday, Kevin had asked to meet.  Normally, I'm terrified of my first date.  I tend to find that when I meet someone for the first time, they don't want to meet me for the second.  Or if they do, they're crazy.  I'm not about stage five clingers.  We agreed on Saturday at my local Starbucks.  Friday was a training session at my new job.  This is the first job I've had since I graduated from college, mind you, and it sucked.  I had plans to go out that night with two (former) friends.  Kevin and I were texting all day and then he informed me that his plans feel through.  I, to be polite, offered him to come out with my and my friends, thinking he would never take me up on it.  Then he did.  ::screams every swear word known to man::.

Now I had to make sure that I looked nice, had my makeup done, the whole nine yards.  I couldn't fail him.  And to be honest, I couldn't have asked for a better set of people to be with.  I'm sorry if this sounds mean, but out of the three of us girls, I was the prettiest and the most mature.  The two of them made me look so good!  Also, the one got sloppy drunk.  Needless to day, we had a great time.  Then the sloppy friend wanted a grilled cheese from IHOP.  I mean seriously, who goes to IHOP for a grilled cheese?  Eh, whatever.  This is where our magic moment happened.

I had to do some awful things in the bathroom.  So I did what I needed to, and went back to the table.  The girls and I were giggling and whatnot.  So he had the "What where you girls up to?" comment, just like any other guy would do.  I said something witty about how it smelled in the bathroom.  This is the part when I got real with him.  I'm a real girl.  I tell it like it is at any time.  I flat-out said "I fart, I burp, and I talk about poop."  His response was "I send pictures of my poop to my friends."

That's all he had to say.  That's it.  My eyes glazed over.  I batted my eyelashes and gloated "You do, too?"

That was the moment I knew I found someone I wanted to be with forever.  He didn't say "Ewww".  He didn't cringe, cry, groan, or run away.  He told my parents he was going to marry me.  And I will love him for all eternity.

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7/29/13 My Hypothesis

Today officially marks one month until my birthday.  One more month, and I will officially be 25.  I'll be a quarter of a century old, and no longer have any awesome birthdays left.  I can rent a car, which I might just go do so I can say I have.  I'm also excited about my car insurance decreasing.  I like paying less money.

This got me thinking, though.   He's going to propose.  But how?  I don't want him to tell me, but I actually don't have a clue.  I've decided, though, that I would like to document my guesses, so when it actually happens, I have written proof that says "I guessed it!"

Here is what I know:
1)  He actually has the ring.  I confirmed this with him today.
2)  He told both parents, and my parents may or may not have been choked up.
3)  He told his female co-workers, and they cried, too.

This part of me loves him more that he is such a monster that he enjoys making women cry.  I guess you can call me sadistic.  (Ok, this is a joke.  If you don't know this already, I'm very sarcastic when I write.)

Kevin and I also don't live together.  It takes him a half hour to get to me, but since I apparently drive too slow, it takes me 45 minutes.  Mapquest says it's a 45 minute drive.  Take that!  Us not living together makes it so much easier on him.  This way, he can plan surprises for me and I never get to know about them until it actually happens.  Then I get surprised.  YAY SURPRISES!!!!!!

How is it going to go down?  Here are my guesses.

1)  I'm having a party at my house on 9/1.  It's for my birthday and Labor Day.  Everyone should have a beer on labor day.  It's important.  I think Kevin may get my best friend from western PA out here (and her birthday is 9/2.  Fancy that!) and propose to be right before or right after they sing Happy Birthday to me.  That would be cool, right?

2)  On the cruise, he's going to take me to the back of the boat and propose to me Titanic style.  Nothing is more romantic than almost dieing by stepping on your dress while leaned over the edge of a boat.  Maybe Jack will catch me.

3)  Right after the cruise.  He won't propose on the ship, but instead, the moment we get off the boat.

4)  The day after my birthday.  My birthday is on a Thursday.  I would love him forever if he stole me after work, took me to Maryland, and got me fresh crabs.  Yes, crabs.  I love crabs.  But right after, we drive off into the sunset or some shit and he proposes.  Again, really romantic, right?

That's all I've got.  I don't have any more guesses.  I can't wait, but at the same time, I don't want it rushed.  I want it done perfectly.  It's the way it ought to be.

I'm not one of those people on Facebook who every single day goes on and tells everyone how wonderful my boyfriend is.  I usually keep it to myself.  I know how wonderful he is.  I know how thoughtful and sweet he is.  I know how much of an awful person he can be.  I love him for all of it.  I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with my best friend, and the man I love.

So, I've also decided what I want our engagement photo to be.  I think it describes us perfectly.

What so you think?  Are we a cute couple or what?  Also, please check out the links on the right hand side of this blog.  I'd love you forever.  This is how I'm paying for my awesome wedding you guys are hearing about :)

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7/28/13

Today, I start my blog.  I don't have a ring on my finger, but I'm starting my blog.  Why?  Because I can, that's why.

I'm starting a blog about my wedding.  My future husband hasn't proposed yet.  I just want to get ahead of the game.  Unfortunately, I do this all the time.  I try to get ahead, get ahead, get ahead.  I used to do it in college.  I'd get all of my books as soon as the lists went up.  I'd start reading before I even got to school, not finish the book, then fall behind when I actually stepped foot on campus.  I'm not doing that this time.  I'm going to (hopefully) seriously think this through.  I need to start somewhere.....

My name is Gen.  Yes, it's spelled with a G.  Yes, my full name is longer.  No, I will not be posting that on the internet.  I'm 24 years old, about to turn 25 in a month, and I'm ready to get married.

I met someone, obviously.  His name is Kevin.  We met online, but I think I tell that romantic tale at a different time.  He's 27, going to turn 28 in November.

The best way to describe me is um...... brutally honest?  I laugh, I joke, and I tell it like it is.  I really don't get offended easily.  I'm plus sized.  I don't hate my size because of what others tell me.  I just hate going clothes shopping, you know?  Shopping plus sized really breaks the bank, and I don't have that kind of money.

The best way to describe him is.... the same as me, just a male and less angry about everything.  He's a really easy-going guy who gets along with almost every person he meets.  Everybody (I think) likes him.  Maybe he knows how to charm people, and I'm as charming as a billy goat.  Who know, right?

I'm starting this today 1) Because I have time and 2) This has been a crazy week for us.  Kevin and I have talked about getting married quite a few times.  He makes me happy.  He's all I think about.  He's my other half, and when he's not around, I feel so lost.  It's the way it should be.  So back to the point I was making, over the course of the past two years that we have been dating, we've been to three different weddings as a couple, and he went to a different wedding solo.  All of these weddings are for his friends, and in two of them, he was a groomsman.  Every wedding I go to, all I think about is "What cool things did so-and-so do that I can do?".  It leaves me wanting more.

So last Wednesday night, Kevin had dinner with a friend.  I've been asked not to disclose this conversation (Maybe a later date, just not at the moment), but apparently, Kevin felt inspired.  This led Kevin to hold a meeting with his "financial adviser", a.k.a, his father.  Kevin let me know about this because he declined a free dinner (and seriously, who declines free dinner?).  On my way home from work, he shared his worries about the conversation ahead.  I did nothing to assure him.  In fact, I pretty much told him that his dad is going to tell him that he can't afford to get married because of his spending habits, and his mother.....  See, I thought she didn't like me.  I'm pretty sure I read her wrong.  Kevin is her first born, and he also met me off the internet.  I'd be a little weary, too.  Anyways, the conversation was completely different than I had anticipated.  Great for me, right?

Kevin talked to my parents as well.  Because my mother hates everything about the internet (She doesn't have a Facebook.  She almost never buys anything online.  The list goes on.), I will leave my parent's reaction out of my blog.  I apologize, but if it comes to my mother about anything, I have to keep it of the internet.  I still live at home, and I don't have a door to my room.  She can do whatever she wants.

Saturday (yesterday) he and I kinda browsed the internet for the ring.  I know exactly what I want, and that's a problem.  I want a pear-shaped diamond, and the ring to be about 1 ct.  Again, I'm a pain in the butt and I know what I want.  I have been finding, though, that Etsy has been having some great prices for what I'm looking for.  I also have an Etsy addiction, but that's not the point I'm making here.  Yeah, I want a diamond, but something about having nothing but diamonds doesn't sit well with me.  I have a couple of rings in mind.  I searched all over Etsy, and while Kevin was having his "Man's Day", I emailed him links of rings I liked.  Then he says yeah, he bought the ring.  Stop sending me links.

So now is an appropriate time to start this blog.  He didn't propose yet.  I don't know when he will.  This is what I do know.

1) Kevin and I are going on a cruise to the Bahamas 9/7-9/14.
2) I have guidelines.  They are as follows:
    a) No food involved
      1)This means no restaurants.
      2) This means no putting the rings into something that I'm going to swallow.
    b) Nothing circumstantial.  My life is Murphy's Law.  The whole thing will be ruined and I'll be upset.
    c) No parents!  Not mine, not his.
3) My cousin gets married on 9/28.  It will be before then.
4) I may have stated to Kevin multiple times that it really should happen on the cruise, if it is going to happen at all.  I can't guarantee that I have sweet and pleasant about that.  His response was "Well, since you're making such a big stink about it being on the cruise, I'm purposely not doing that now."

Otherwise, I don't know how he's going to do it.  I just want to feel legitimate about posting wedding ideas on Pinterest now and not looking like a loony-bin.

So here is the first post into my hopeful future.  I plan on updating at least once a week. So.... here it goes.  My Non-Normal Wedding.

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