So yesterday we were biking down this awesome, fun, incredible bike trail that we just discovered right next to our house. The trail consists of these trails through a tunnel of trees which drop down into a canyon and then climb back out.
At the lowest point in the trail, right were R thought to himself "It would really suck to get injured right here," I hit a rock, my foot slipped off the pedal, and the gear wheel sliced open my leg. I got off my bike, took one look at my leg, and sat down to apply direct pressure and wait for R to come back to get me (and bring the first aid kit).
We then had to walk out of the canyon while our roommate raced home to get the car to pick us up. We then spent several hours in the emergency room. Apparently the place was really freaking busy. Anyway, I got two cute little stitches. My first from things other than surgery. I'm so proud!
We've decided that the garter will need to go on the other leg. Glad I have a long dress!
Don't look if you have a weak stomach
Recipe Review: Peanut Sesame Noodles
Here I sit, alone, having spent the afternoon and evening working on the final paper for my masters program (and made decent progress, btw). R has been off on a day-long bachelor extravaganza for an acquaintance of ours who is getting married next weekend, leaving me a quiet house (so quiet) in which to work.
Also, much to my delight, I got to try out a recipe R would probably object to: peanut sesame noodles. Any sort of peanut-flavored dish just reminds him of peanut butter, though this one is so savory and delicious and filled with other flavors that the peanut flavor is not overwhelming. I've actually been tasting the leftover sauce all evening, it is so good. I can't wait to try it with soba noodles (I used somen, like in the picture, which was also delicious). Make this recipe!
Well, as long as you aren't allergic to peanuts.
Because I need to write this down somewhere
As the wedding approaches, I keep finding more and more little things to do. I've decided that I need a little check-off list so that I won't forget anything. I can't believe this whole thing is going down in less than a month. So little time to do stuff!
- Figure out music for ceremony
- Finalize music for reception
- Make time line/schedule for the event
- Get dress hemmed and bustled and buttons sewn on top section (has to wait until my petticoat arrives)
- Get R fitted for his tux (should be happening this weekend)
- Get a haircut
- Give R a haircut (2 weeks out)
- Figure out how to decorate patio for ceremony (Do I want an aisle runner?)
- Paint little containers for favor/seating assignment plants
- Buy plants and plant centerpieces and favors (not until closer to the date, so I don't have to water them for too long)
- Buy parakeet grit to cover soil in centerpieces
- Make bouquets, boutonnieres, and corsages (day before)
- Find stockings
- Figure out the jewelry situation
Brain... hurts...
First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes... presents?
Well, I suppose technically the order is love, engagement, presents, then marriage.
Anyway, our first wedding present was just delivered. R and I noticed a couple of weeks back that a few items had been purchased from our registry. Hey, they like us! We then tried to figure out if the items would be shipped immediately, or if the store would wait until closer to the date. Apparently the answer is immediately, so now we're got a cool (and rather large) mirror sitting in our living room.
Of course, ever since we found out that people were actually buying us stuff I've been obsessively watching the registry. Slightly crazy, no?
In other wedding news, I've started the search for a cake server. You wouldn't think this would be challenging, but have you ever looked at the ones they offer? Hideous! Crystal handles, rhinestones, pearls, hearts, Disney characters, bad jokes... What are people thinking?
I'll probably wind up with one of these server sets, but they still have a little too much engraving for my taste.
Funniest response yet
The reply cards have started to trickle in. I don't think the one I got today was meant to be humorous, but it struck me as freaking hilarious.
Bless you two -- Hope and pray you do better than your mother and [uncle].
Ah, family. You've got to love 'em.
How to make a bottle biome
Aaaand we're back! PACT (due on the 14th) and wedding invitations (for some reason, I have to get them out this week, though I don't understand why I feel that way) conspired to wipe me off the face of the blogosphere, but now that they're basically out of the way I'm free to answer my fan mail.
Okay, so fan mail might be too big of a word, but I did get a request for instructions on making a bottle biome. Hope I'm not too late to be of help!
Step 1: Find 3 clear 2 L soda bottles (the green ones work, too, but not quite) and remove their labels. Cut bottle #1 near the top, after the point where the sides start to curve inward. Cut bottle #2 near the bottom, before the point at which the plastic changes density and becomes really hard to cut. Cut bottle #3 near the top, before the point at which the sides start to curve inward. You'll probably want to start the cuts on all of these with a razor, then continue with scissors.
Step 2: Bottle #1 is going to be your aquatic section, so if you want to take any measurements or mess around with it later you should cut a hole in the side. The easiest way to do this is to stick a small piece of lumber into the bottle and cut out a square of plastic using the razor blade, cutting against the wood so that you don't cut your hand off. Keep the piece of plastic and tape it in place, so that the compartment can remain sealed while you're not taking measurements.
Step 3: Using a decently thick nail (not those tiny ones from Ikea), hammer a hole into the cap of bottle #2 (you should probably take the cap off for this and hammer the nail into that piece of wood you used in step 2). Thread a pre-soaked piece of cotton string through this hole. This will serve as a wick, carrying water from the aquatic chamber into the terrestrial chamber, so you need to have enough string to reach the water below and still make a decent loop above. Using a thumbtack, poke some holes in the part of bottle #2 near the cap, so that water will be able to drain out of the terrestrial section (but not so far up that they will be open to the outside world. Put all the pieces together, fill with some dirt, water the soil, and let it drain prior to putting the whole thing together (if you don't, your water will be really funky).
Step 4: Put all the pieces together. Fill bottle #1 with water (dechlorinate if needed), and then add aquatic plants and fish. Place bottle #2 on top and tape the two together. Plant terrestrial plants and add any bugs or tiny animals you might like. Finally, cap with bottle #3 and tape the whole thing shut, forming a nice tight seal (packing tape is good for this). Place in a sunny spot and enjoy!
Disclaimer: This project involves a razor blade and a hammer. I take no responsibility for your actions or safety. If you cut yourself or smash your wee little fingers, it's your own damn fault.
The Growing Challenge #8: Repotting
I started this post last week, but was incredibly unproductive until today. Blogging? Meh. Work on PACT? A squidge. Those wedding invitations I meant to have addressed? No way.
The one thing I did manage last week was repotting my seedlings. In the beginning of the week, I was filled with a sense of urgency. I needed to move those plants! The roots were growing into the egg carton I was using to hold cocoa-fiber pouches, so I filled the containers I had at hand with dirt and moved the plantlings.
Unfortunately, the containers were in no way deep enough and I was left with a lingering fear for the long-term survival of the plants. I wasn't quite sure what to do, until I saw the bathroom cups that one of the other Growing Challenge members was using to start their seedlings and inspiration struck. Aha! I may not have tiny bathroom cups, but, being a recent college graduate, I do still have a large stash or red plastic cups. You know, the ones that just scream, "I'm drinking some horrible punch made with Popov or Everclear and am probably not of age." As it turns out, the aforementioned red cups are the perfect size for growing plants. What joy.
The Growing Challenge #7: Learning from the master
Having traveled up to NorCal to have the top of my wedding dress fitted, I had the opportunity to hang out with my best buddy S and her father, the expert veggie gardener. It was great being able to ask all of the questions that gardening has fomented and to see how someone very practiced grows their crops. I also got to take a look inside his compost bins at his beautiful rich compost. I'm so jealous!
What I have learned:
- The wire used as cement molds and big metal rods are adequate supports for tomatoes. One should tie the tomato to the rod as it grows.
- Peppers also like some support, so those flimsier stakes and standard tomato cages I bought last year will not go to waste.
- Peppers are good container plants.
- Most seeds are good for a while, but the germination rate goes down over time. S's dad throws his away after 10 years.
Now the planning begins in earnest
R and I talked with the caterer today. At least, we thought we were there to just talk about the food. It turns out that the university catering basically does all the wedding planning as well. Very helpful, but a little overwhelming.
Our contact is a woman who has organized many a wedding, leaving her much wiser in the ways of "setup" and "flow" than R and myself are. We've decided to take her recommendation and make a seating chart, even though that was one thing I really didn't want to do. I suppose it makes sense, but it seems like torture. I make enough seating charts!
I'm thinking we might go for this invitation in ore. I had been thinking green, but the green offered is a little too yellow. The ceremony is probably going to be in earthy blues and greens, so I suppose I could go with either without a problem (as an interesting aside, I really recommend this article on tetrachromats).
Phew!
I called the coordinator at the university and, thankfully, the hall is free the next weekend. She's going to be making up a contract and sending it to us tomorrow. I feel like a weight has lifted from my shoulders. Time to get on with the rest of the details, like food... and plants... and invitations... and dresses... and suits... and decorations...
I'm such a joiner
Thanks to Heavy Petal, I've decided to join The Growing Challenge. Here is the challenge:
1. Grow one additional type of fruit or vegetable than you did last year, and grow it from seed.
2. Post about gardening once a week.
Although I haven't really grown anything from seed before (with the exception of rice during an activity in a social studies class), I've spent a lifetime drooling over seed catalogs. High time I tried it out myself!
In order to not go insane, I think I need to install a drip system. Luckily, I have two weeks off for spring break, so even though I will be spending some of my vacation up North visiting family and trying on a wedding dress, I should still have plenty of time to pimp out my garden. I'm so excited!
Baby got back
During the break for halftime, R's mom, a former seamstress, was kind enough to take my measurements for my wedding dress. I wrote them down, but before we left she did the hip one again, because she was sure it wasn't right.
"I never would have thought," she said. "You carry it rather well." Really, it's all in the butt. In the words of the famous Sir Mix-A-Lot, "36-24-36? Only if she's 5'3"."
Now I just need to wait until 7 to start calling parents again. Freaking Super Bowl! Oh, wait... Thanks to watching the video for Baby Got Back, it is 7 now. Great...
Well, crud
I got out of school today and checked my messages, only to discover that our wedding location was going to be busy on the day we had selected. Seeing as they told us they would know by February, and we were still first in line in December when I last checked, some university organization must have decided to slip in at the last minute and claim our spot. Unfortunately, when I called back the lady I needed to talk to had left 9 minutes previously, so I have to wait for Monday. Hopefully we'll be able to get the hall for the following weekend (I'll be sending R over to put down a deposit Monday morning as soon as I have called her), but, if not, it's going to be a pain in the ass. See, relatives, this is why I wasn't giving a certain date for the wedding. The date wasn't secure!
Brains!
We were very productive today, on this damp and wonderful day off. R and I had been thinking of perhaps going mountain biking again, but due to the rain (and lingering soreness), we called it off. I then decided that it would be the perfect day to go wedding cake tasting. Being the decisive people that we are, we wound up buying the cake. The place we visited was recommended to us for being and excellent bakery and offering very good prices, so I don't think we could have done better if we had looked all weekend.
We decided to get a chocolate cake with butter cream frosting, with tiers filled, alternately, with chocolate and white chocolate mousse. The outside will have white squiggly lines all over a white base, which reminds me of a brain coral. It should be interesting and tasteful, just what I was looking for. Success!
You are invited
Now that I've met with a photographer, found a dress pattern, and decided on a place to go cake tasting (something R is definitely looking forward to), it's time to start figuring out what to do about invitations. I had bookmarked some places that seemed reasonable (you'd think that assembling them yourself would be inexpensive), only to realize that the printing fees would double the cost of the invitations. I know it's my wedding, but spending $500 on invitations seems slightly ridiculous. It's a special day, but it's not like I'm winning a Nobel Prize (not the Nobel Peace Prize is worth much these days).
Luckily, with a little effort I was able to find a website with invitations that are in my taste and price range. My current favorites are this invitation in moss and this invitation in ore. I'm going for a green-blue color palette, so either one would work. I don't have my heart set on one just yet, but these are the contenders at the moment.
Once I figure out which invitation to use, I've got to figure out the wording. I'd like to mention our families, but my family situation makes it a little awkward. I don't want to offend my mom, but at the same time my dad and his parents are the ones paying for this whole affair. Plus, I don't want to leave my step-mom out of the mix. Perhaps we'll wind up going with the very modern "Together with their families, A & R would like to invite you to celebrate their marriage," but I'm not sure R is big on that wording. Of course, we could just bypass this whole affair and go with "You are invited to the wedding of A & R," but I really do want to mention our parents in some way. Oh, diplomacy, you are a touchy mistress.
A dress pattern!
Finally! I've found a dress pattern that looks nice. I've basically given up on the idea of keeping my tattoo covered. Apparently fashion these days is all about showing off your back.
What do you all think?
A look forward
Happy 2008 everyone! I suppose it is time, once again, to figure out my goals for the new year.
The goals:
1. Try one new recipe a week. I started doing this a few months ago and have really liked the result it's had on my diet. Variety! Interest! Definitely something to be promoted.
2. Eat more (and different) vegetables. Although I like the plant matter, I feel I've fallen into a veggie slump. I've got a few ways of preparing them that I like, but I grow weary of eating the same veggies day in and day out. Most of the people I work with think I eat an abnormally large amount of vegetables, but that mostly has to do with the fact that I tend to eat the majority of my vegetables for the day at lunch. This year, I'd like to try new veggies and learn some new ways of preparing them. What I'd really like to do is get one of those weekly baskets from local farms, but I don't think I have the time to do that much cooking right now. Perhaps after school is over...
3. Continue to post (on average) every other day and comment more on other people's blogs. Sometimes I want to comment but never wind up doing so, due to the fact that my blog reader is attached to my personal Gmail address and I would have to sign into my blog Gmail address to comment on Blogger blogs. Lara, I apologize, but this probably affects you more than most. I'm still reading, even if I don't comment!
4. Eat fast food less often. I never used to eat out much, but I suppose it's a hazard of going to school while working, as I don't really like preparing two meals in advance for me to carry around. It would save some money if I tried to do it less, however, so I think a goal for this year will be to try and not buy dinner those evenings when I go to class.
Hmm... I can't seem to think of any more goals. That's probably a good sign. I suppose a final goal would be to keep doing the good things I am currently doing. I'm saving, investing, and paying off my student loans. I exercise fairly regularly (it's one of the few good chunks of time I get for reading for pleasure these days) and am not going insane planning my wedding. Aside from an inordinate amount of stress, life really isn't too bad right now.
This next year is looking to be an exciting, life-altering year. Lots of changes on the way. On the horizon...
Finishing my second semester of teaching - The prospect of returning to teaching in less than a week keeps causing my body to release tiny bursts of anxious adrenaline every time I think about it, so I need to keep reminding myself that I've already finished the (purportedly) worst half of it. One semester isn't forever. As they say, this too shall pass, but not soon enough for my taste.
Finishing grad school - Ah, so close! Even though I will probably never use the M.Ed. again, completing it will still be very exciting.
Getting married - Well, as much as people call this a life-changing event, it probably isn't going to change R and my daily life that much (having lived together for 4.5 years now). It will be a name-changing event (for me anyway), an awesome party, and a fine time with all the relatives.
Finding a new job - So, I finish school. Then what? I'll need to find myself a new job and/or career. I'll probably wind up back in school eventually, but I'd like to find an enjoyable career to guide my scholastic ambitions. I'll be looking for jobs in San Diego, but I'll also be looking up in the Seattle/Tacoma area to help us along with our goal of...
Moving to Washington - This may not happen this year, but R and I will start looking for jobs up there once we finish with all the wedding and honeymoon hoopla. Obviously, we could just move up there without jobs and live off our savings for a bit, but I don't want us to have a gap in our health care coverage because I aim to...
Get pregnant - This one just makes me want to squeal like a cheerleader and then pass out from shock. Not exactly the most dignified response, but one could hardly pretend that having babies is a dignified process. I was actually getting a bit nervous about the prospect of having children, having had such an adverse reaction to my students, but being around R's nephew for a week has really got me looking forward to the whole thing.
So, yeah. This next year looks to be very exciting for me. Lots of changes in the picture.
The celebratory New Year's Eve post
Here in the A&R household, we've resolved to see in the new year with risotto, mead (the champagne of beers, though it really isn't a beer at all), and video games. I was going to make baked oysters, but one look at the supermarket convinced us to put it off until later in the week. Shopping madness. I was gone all week! What's their excuse?
Being the last day of the year, it's time to look back on the goals I set for myself at its beginning. To recap:
The Goals:
1. Continue exercising several times a week, and don't slack off when school gets busy. Just think of all the complements you got this Christmas, and also keep in mind Grandma's quip about how she hopes they can also expand the ring when you told her about how you had to get it re-sized smaller. Grr.
2. Continue doing the readings for class on time. It really paid off last quarter, so don't get lazy.
3. Get a firm figure on how much money Dad will be contributing to the wedding. We don't want a repeat of what happened when we went of to college, now do we?
4. Reserve a ceremony and reception location and a caterer this summer for next summer's wedding, so that these tasks don't have to be done during the school year.
5. Post, on average, every other day. I think I'll be shooting for every day, but life just gets in the way sometimes.
6. Send people cards on their birthdays.
How I fared:
1. I've actually been quite successful in this endeavor. I slacked off a bit after moving to the new house, but have since recovered since becoming the owner of a nice new treadmill. Our continuing passion for mountain biking, snorkeling, and other outdoor activities has also helped. I haven't really lost any more weight, but have changed shape a bit. I'm just prone to adding muscle, which masks any changes in fat mass.
2. I did my best for the first half of the year, but have since given up. I almost didn't buy the books for my classes this past quarter and somewhat regret doing so (or at least buying all of them). However, most of my classmates have similarly given up, as the books, while containing useful information, have little to do with what we are doing in class and take up valuable time that could be spent planning or sleeping.
3. Not only did I get a figure from my dad, but the money has been sitting in my bank account for the last six months collecting interest. Score! I'm really relieved to have it conveniently accessible for when I actually start making reservations and the like. Oh, February, you can't come fast enough for my taste!
4. I've done the best I can at this one, but unfortunately the place we've picked doesn't finalize its booking schedule until February. We're on the top of the list, but could get bumped by a summer camp or some other big event, however the lady handling the whole affair says that August is normally a calm time so it shouldn't be a problem. The place requires us to use their caterers, so that will be two birds with one stone. We just have to wait a little longer (can you tell I'm slightly antsy for this all to be put in writing already?).
5. Success! I've got a total of 259 entries for the year--more than meeting my goal. Even breaking it down month-by-month, I've still posted (on average) at least every other day. Go me!
6. Medium. I did better than last year, but I still think I could be better at this.
Of blogs and shoes
NaBloPoMo Wrap-Up
Although I failed in the original intent of the challenge (post every day for the month of November), I think I was fairly successful in my other goals. I posted five Fridge Friday pictures (though not all on Fridays), reviewed five recipes, and wrote on three of the topics on this list (here and here). On top of that, I made some new blog friends. All in all, a pretty successful month.
The only this I didn't do that I said I would was talk about my wedding. So, for all of you out there dying to know what is up with that, here it is. I had been thinking that October/November was when they'd be finalizing the schedule on the hall I want to rent. It turns out that I actually won't know for sure until February. I'm still at the top of the list (or, more likely, the only one on the list), but it won't be guaranteed until then. At the moment, we're planning on making the other arrangements during winter break (those two days I have off before I leave for Missoula are going to be really busy), such as finding a photographer, ordering a cake, and clothes for the guys, based on our current date. Since we will know if the date will be changing six months in advance we figure it will be fine if we have to adjust(if we're bumped, we're figuring we'll first try for another spot on campus on that day, then possibly some other date in August).
During my trip up to NorCal, I spoke with my grandmother about wedding dress plans. We both lamented the fact that, in the last few years, dress patterns have almost disappeared from stores. We both plan on searching some more, as we still have plenty of time, but I think I'm going to look for something around here as a back-up.
As for colors and bridesmaids' (well, co-maids of honor and groomsmaid) dresses, I'm thinking black, white, and dusky blue-green. Black dresses will make the whole wedding party look more coherent, while eucalyptus bouquets will look awesome (and eliminate the need for flowers). As nice as flowers are, I just don't consider myself a flow person (which I'm sure would just break my grandmother's heart, being extremely active in her local floral arrangers guild). Flowers are nice, but I really just like them best on plants. My inspiration is the picture below (I can't remember where I originally found it), which just looks awesome. I think I might go for black planters, but this is what I want my wedding to look like.
LaBloShoeMo
Today also happens to be the first day of LaBloShoeMo. For those of you who are confused ("Wait! NaBloShoeMo was last month!"), feel free to look at the story of its origin.
Today's shoes are classic San Diego footwear: black Reefs. Prior to moving to San Diego, I had always preferred those little J. Crew ones that always give you blisters at the beginning of every summer, however I was soon convinced of the error of my ways. These sandals are the most comfortable things I have ever worn. The soles grip, the subtly grooved foot bed ensures you won't slip out of the sandal when wet, and the cloth strap has never given me a blister. Even now, several years old with hardly any tread and emitting a noticeable odor when moistened, I can hardly bear the thought of replacing them (finding these, my second pair, was a pain in the ass. I think I'll just order online next time). The only downside to these shoes is that the kitties find them irresistibly delicious, so I have to be very careful about where I leave them.
Planning people
Speaking of needing a plan, R and I are deep in the throws of planning our honeymoon. We're going to Disney World.
Well, when I say "we" are planning the trip, I really mean R. He's doing everything. He doesn't want to spoil the surprise for me, so I've been instructed not to read up about Disney World. He's planning out our itinerary, researching where we should stay, learning the routes we should take around the park. It's really sweet. I'm quite excited. My only job is to figure out which restaurants are good and which ones are bad, so that we can make reservations (some need to be made 6 months ahead of time) and have a list of the sucky ones with us while we're there. Apparently the food there is very hit and miss.