Turkey time means wedding time
In the 5 days I was home for Thanksgiving I managed to make serious wedding progress. Added to the “mission accomplished” list were the bridesmaids’ dresses, the hiring of a day-of wedding coordinator, a hair stylist and makeup artist, and the choice of both the bakery and style of wedding cake for the big day.
To accommodate my friends’ busy schedules and travel plans, I made two visits to Vera Wang Maids – Friday at 5 and Saturday at 5. I came close to pulling a bridezilla attack on Friday when a snotty Vera salesman refused to let me into the showroom to show A.S. and K.P. the selection. Luckily my new bff on the inside, Campbell, spotted me in distress in the lobby and whisked me and the ladies into the back. “Welcome to the bridal sauna!” Campbell greeted us as we entered the 100 degree showroom packed with demanding brides and maids. We flipped through different styles and fabrics and I showed the girls my favorites – 3 pale pink, silky gowns. Both girls looked amazing in everything and it was such a treat to be there with them. It was the ultimate girly experience.
My girly experience was repeated on Saturday when my mother and I met my maid of honor, S.M., and one of my cousins back at Vera Wang. This is the same high-powered lawyer cousin who barely had time to attend a fitting for her own wedding dress. The fact that I got her to try on a bridesmaid dress brought me to laughter and tears. S.M., who has influenced my fashion choices since our middle school adventures to Loehmanns and Woodbury Commons, approved, and looked stunning.
The “cutest of the weekend award” goes to my 3 year old cousin Katie. Every day Katie asks her mom when she is going to get to be a princess at my wedding. At dinner on Sunday Katie said to me, “Cousin Toooori, why is your wedding taking so long to come?”
More on everything else later….
Total buzz kill
With a few minutes before our teleconference was scheduled to begin, my boss and I began chit-chatting with our D.C. colleagues on the video screen. We touched upon all the typical pre-meeting topics: the weather and our workload. And then my boss let the group know I’d just celebrated my 27th birthday. Through the video screen I can see their eyebrows rise and almost in unison, two, 50-ish year old women tell me that 27 was the best year of their lives. I tell them that I expect 27 to be a wonderful year for me too – I’m getting married in June!
With that, I see blank stares. Followed by a cynical laugh from colleague x, “Tori, glad to see you’re so optimistic. Ha. Ha.”
Why does the topic of marriage always elicit so many weird responses from people? Obviously she got screwd...
Rather annoyed by her comment, I just shrug and give some pathetic answer like, “Well, uhh, I’m excited.”
“Well, I hope you’re getting a pre-nup, Tori,” colleague x tells me. “You know, all ‘sophisticated’ young professionals are getting pre-nups these days. There’s just too much at risk.”
“Yeah, I got a pre-nup,” colleague y chimes in. “I’ve been married for 29 years now so I can probably tear that sucker up!”
The conversation between x and y goes back and forth and all the while I can’t help but feel that the status of whether or not I’m getting a pre-nup is slightly inappropriate for a work conference call. I’m not getting a pre-nup. If I did it would read something like, “In the case of a divorce, Tori’s sacred baby blanket belongs only to Tori; with no visitation rights permitted.”
Members of my book club found this story particularly entertaining. Unfortunately it led to everyone telling depressing stories and facts about love and marriage. Supposedly after 5 years with the same person a hormone changes in your body and you no longer feel as passionate about your partner. This is not what I want to hear right now! Please, just let me be a bride…
Oops
Here's some advice: When at a wedding, don’t text a friend telling them how rude/obnoxious/annoying another guest is. You might end up actually texting the person the text is about.
No worries. This stupid slip up did not involve me in any way! But it did happen at the wedding I was at in NY last weekend. And the victim did happen to be the very person I was sitting next to at the reception. The girl who sent the original text was friend of the bride’s from college, notorious for always freaking out about something. She was dressed in an attractive black cocktail dress and bright red patent leather shoes. The boy who received the accidental text greeted the girl early in the evening with something to the effect of “Hello, Dorothy!”
Not long after, the boy receives a text from the girl. The text says something to the effect of: “I just saw X. He’s so obnoxious, blah, blah, blah.”
We’ve all heard these stories. And yes, they really do happen.
Boy texts her back something to the effect of: “Are you serious? Blah, blah, blah.”
Girl: “Ha, I was joking.”
Yeah right.
The texts go back and forth from there. And after a quick round of the hora, the girl is never to be seen on the dance floor again. The boy laughs it off, continues to drink and drink and forget for the night that the episode ever happened. Everyone else seated at table 22 continued to drink along with him, which made for one memorable night of dancing and debauchery. On a side note, for the inside scoop on the bride and groom, check out their announcement in the Sunday Styles! Lucky ducks...
As for my wedding, I spent some time looking at invitations with my mom. We debated black writing versus gold; square shape versus rectangle, etc, etc. If it were up to her the invitations would go out tomorrow. She’s very serious about her A and B list.
Many reasons to celebrate in November
Not only is November my birthday month, it is also American Diabetes Month. What a coincidence! This November 12th will mark my 19th year as a Type 1 diabetic. I've certainly had my share of ups and downs but right now I'm doing better than ever. Through the support of my fiance, who so calmly deals with my outbursts and gets me OJ at all hours of the night, my family, who made me realize that diabetes could never stand in my way, and my friends, who have always been there to pinch my arm, I am doing "awesome," according to my endo (who will hopefully be at the wedding!).
Did you know that as many as 3 million Americans may have type 1 diabetes? Each year over 13,000 children are diagnosed with diabetes in the U.S. Want to help?
1. Donate to JDRF
2. Purchase a gift from my registry through weddingchannel (a donation will be made to JDRF)
Did you also know that all these very cool people are diabetic? Mario Puzo (I LOVE the Godfather), Arthur Ashe, Walt Frazier, Jackie Robinson, Halle Berry (hottest woman alive), Mary Tyler Moore, Sharon Stone, Johnny Cash, Tommy Lee, Aretha Franklin.
And in case you want to celebrate American Diabetes Month (why not celebrate?), here is a fabulous sugar-free recipe, which in moderation is also allowed on the bridal diet. Enjoy!
Sugar Free Oatmeal Peanut Butter Raisin Cookies
Ingredients:1/2 18 oz jar peanut butter chunky best, 4 cups Quick Oatmeal, 5 cups flour, 1 pint sugar free applesauce, 3/4 cup Splenda ,1 egg, 1/2 tsp each cinnamin, ginger, ground cloves, 1 cup water, 3/4 cup raisins, 1 tsp soda, 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions:Add peanut butter, egg, spices, vanilla, water, applesauce, soda, Splenda to mixer bowl. Mix at high speed for 1 min. Add oatmeal and raisins, mix for about 2 min at medium speed. Push down any sticking to bowl sides and mix in. Add flour and mix slowly to prevent running out of bowl. Mix just enough to be uniform. Dough should be wet but not juicy. If too wet add a little more flour. Spray cookie sheets with cooking spray form dough into balls about 1 inch diameter. Mash down on cookie sheet with fork. Dip hands and fork in flour to revent sticking as necessary. Bake at 350 degrees for 18 min. Remove from cookie sheet and let cool on paper towel. Best to store in refrigerator or freeze for long term storage. Makes 40-50 cookies depending on diameter.
Nutritional Information:Per Serving: 97 Calories; 4g Fat (32.5% calories from fat); 3g Protein; 13g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 5mg Cholesterol; 32mg Sodium. Exchanges: 1 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 1/2 Fat
