We Have....

KEYS!!!!

(Matt sent me this picture today after he picked up the keys to our apartment)

Home Sweet Home

This last week I drove up to Palo Alto for a job interview at a Children's Center. It will take a couple weeks  to hear if I will be offered the job or not so I'm crossing my fingers until then.

While I was up there, Matt and I decided to go over our finances and really think about where we wanted to live, what features we wanted in a home, and what we could afford so we wouldn't be house poor and could still plan fun trips and such. We started feeling a little frustrated that we would end up settling and at the last minute we decided to go check out one more place. We had tried to tour this apartment complex before but weren't able to tour a unit. To our surprise when we got there we were able to view three units and found one we thought was PERFECT for us! Because it had immediate availability we had to scramble to put all our paperwork and finances together but we were approved and Matt should be picking up the keys tomorrow! Here's the floor plan for our new home in Sunnyvale (there is a washer/dryer in unit too):

Matt will be moving his things in slowly, between trips to China, and will start living there in May. I will move up the furniture I have been storing in my garage sometime in April so Matt will have what he needs for now. The only thing we really will need is a larger bed than the Full's we both have now. 

So lots of changes. We are both really excited about this new home together. It is remodeled so it has granite countertops in the kitchen and bathroom, new cupboards, new carpet, a great patio and storage closet, and feels cozy. 

Kitchen

Washer & Dryer

Shower/Bathroom

Sink/Bathroom

Patio (with security glass for extra privacy/safety)

Happy Birthday Best Friend!

Today is Matthew's birthday. We are now both 27 and it is so fun to think about meeting each other when we were 19-20 and reflecting on how far we have come. I always knew I wanted Matt in my life for forever. He was someone I always felt comfortable with, and someone who made me feel like I was somehow home when I was with him. We struggled for a long time with me telling him he should keep me and him telling me it wasn't going to happen. Sometimes I can't believe we're actually where we are today and somehow my best friend decided he wanted to keep me after all. :)

Unfortunately life has just been so busy lately that I feel it has steamrolled right over us. Matt came down south for his birthday this weekend (as well as for some wedding appointments) and we were both so exhausted that I felt we didn't really get to talk or accomplish much but it was still so wonderful just being in each other's company. We had an appointment to pick out his tux for the wedding and were both frustrated over the lack of help from the stores we went to, so we brainstormed what looks we liked from catalogs I had collected and decided he would do some more shopping on his own in the Bay area. We had our cupcake tasting (after our original cupcake person suddenly emailed me to say they were canceling our order and closing the business) and found four amazing flavors to serve from a wonderful vendor. We also said goodbye-for-now to my cousins Dani & Brian on Saturday night with our other cousins in downtown Ventura. They are headed to Texas tomorrow and we will see Dani next at our wedding and Brian later in the summer when we hope to visit and see one of his baseball games. We also made time for several delicious meals and a good movie (Just Go With It).

I feel horrible that we were in such a daze for our few short hours together out of the month but it is so good to know it's not forever and the end is in sight. I am such a blessed girl to have a best friend who treats me like a princess, has the patience of a saint, and knows me better than myself. There are a lot of changes coming up but one thing I know is constant: Matt is an amazing man, an amazing friend, and will always take care of me to the best of his ability.

Happy birthday my friend! I look forward to celebrating so many more birthdays together!

My New Nephew

Well I knew it would be hard to move away from my family. I also knew it would be hard to move away from my nephew. But wow, now moving away from this new cutie is now going to make it even harder!

Nathan James Stone was born on February 16, 2011 at 9:29am. He is a healthy 7lbs 13 oz and just over 20 inches. When Ben was born I wasn't able to be in the room and I was pretty devastated about it. This time I not only had the honor of being in the room but I also got the honor of taking pictures for my sister of this very big moment. I hope I got the pictures she wanted. :)

Nathan has a full head of dark hair and is quite the sleeper. He is very quiet and when he opens his eyes he just seems to want to observe and take it all in. Ben loves his brother, although he is a still confused about the name switch of Owen and Nathan, as well as the fact that the baby is no longer in Mommy's tummy. He always wants to hold the baby and kiss him, which is cute but you have to be careful because he also wants to try and carry Nathan around like a doll. Haha!

We have been taking a lot of pictures so I am sure that when Mommy feels more like herself she'll be posting and sharing them and then I can pass some on too.

As far as wedding plans... I have ordered the invitations and am working on getting desserts. When Matt comes down next we are going to pick out his tux and the suits for the guys. So far we have bridesmaid dresses for 3 of my 5 girls. Sometime next month I will go with my sister to shop for her dress. No way to do that when 9 months pregnant! This weekend is my bachelorette/shower and I am super bummed that everyone I thought could probably come now can't, but I am still really excited about girl time with my cousins and Kristina.

That wraps things up for now. I am so happy to hear you all wanted an update and enjoy catching up through my blog. Thanks for letting me know and I'll work harder on updating everyone. :)

Breathing After the Rush

Christmas, and Birthdays, and Showers, Oh My!

Christmas was filled with the hustle and bustle of, well, Christmas. Which was followed by my birthday. Which was then followed by my sister's baby shower. During all of that I was busy working on booking wedding things: photographer, florist, DJ, buying my dress, picking colors and flowers, buying Matt's ring, an purchasing some of the little things needed (at super great deals). My amazing florist (and family friend) took myself and another friend (who is getting married in March) down to LA to shop in the fabric, flower, and jewelry marts. What a day! We got a ton done and I learned a lot.  Here are a few of the things I picked up:

Flower Girl Basket for Keira

 Ring Bearer Pillow for Ben 

Garter Belt

Here are some of the flowers we looked at:

Our photographer is going to be be Anna Joy Photography which Matt and I are really excited about. Anna has a great eye, is super easy and fun to be around, and we are really looking forward to having her be a big part of our day. Anna's website is: http://www.annajoyphoto.com/main.html

Our DJ is going to be Kyle Taylor. He is someone I went to high school with and who now has a very successful business in the area. He is always booked well in advance and we are so excited to have him helping to keep the flow of the wedding and setting the mood. Kyle's website is: http://www.djkyletaylor.com/

Sandy Fuller is a close family friend who is going to be doing our flowers. She is an amazing lady who is full of so many talents. I am so blessed to have her creative eyes and hands making our centerpieces, bouquets, and more!

This month I am going to be looking at invitations, desserts, places to live after we move, jobs, and bridesmaid dresses. Somewhere in between I plan on remembering to breathe and enjoy the moments!

My First Bridal Show

I work with a guy who also owns his own business and works in the wedding industry. This morning he came by my desk and told me about a bridal show going on in town that he was working. My mom and I decided to go, so he put our names on the list, we showed up (paid no door charge- hooray!), and had a great time! I received a ton of information, ideas, business cards, and even some gifts! There was a fashion show, snacks, music, and lots of fun. I can't wait to go to more!

It's Here! It's Here!

Matt's grandmother passed away several years ago and very recently his grandfather passed away. I never met either but I have heard many stories that bring laughter and memories. I traveled with Matt and his family to Virginia for the funeral right before Thanksgiving and during that week the family had the opportunity to go through Grandmommy and Granddaddy's house and collect a few special things each. As I was following along something caught my eye- in the corner, in a cupboard surrounded by other objects, were 12 blue glass goblets. Now if you know me, you know I LOVE sweet tea, and when I saw these glasses I saw Matt and I entertaining after we're married and offering our friends sweet tea in these blue glass goblets. Silly, I know. But I have dreamed of doing that for years and I suddenly couldn't imagine anything better than making that dream come true with a piece of Matt's family history. As I wandered I also found a gorgeous lead crystal bowl and silver platter. Matt and I ended up tucking the pices into the trunk of our rental car, taking them to a nearby UPS store, and shipping them to myself in Ventura to store till after the wedding. Soooooo after a week of waiting, today my UPS package arrived!!! I am so excited to have these pieces of history to put in our home as we start our marriage. To use with friends and family, to remind us of Matt's grandparents, and pass on to our family. So please, come and visit after we're married and I'll be sure to make you some sweet tea!


The UPS man came by!

Looks like everything came safe and sound...

Lead crystal bowl:

Silver platter:

Blue Glass Goblets: