futuremrsbeck.com

So, if you know me, you’d think I would be totally done with all of the wedding stuff. Well, I am close, but not all the way there. My last few days as a single woman are going to fly by, mainly because there is a lot to pack in! Two more days of work, stuff to do around the house, vows to write (Yes, I still need to work on my vows), maps to print, Costco to hit, and so many other things. And my family starts to arrive on Wednesday evening. YAY! I cannot wait for my family and friends to all converge here to be with us at our wedding. I am pretty sure I have not had any bridezilla moments, yet. Nate may disagree, but I think I have held it together pretty well. I can honestly tell you though, working the hours we work, trying to raise four kids to be good people, having some sort of a life and planning a wedding is rough. Not that I would have let anyone else plan my wedding because I am such a control freak, but I am really looking forward to having some free time and discussions that have nothing to do with the wedding. I just want it to be a great party and fun to be had by all. Oh, and I am GETTING MARRIED on Saturday!!!

The past year has gone so fast.  In 16 days and 20 hours-ish, I will become Michelle Beck.  Over the next 2 weeks Nate and I will be finalizing the last items on the to do lists and making sure all of the details are set. Well, I will be checking everything off in my notebook and Nate asks what he needs to do and then we work on it together.  It strikes me as funny though that on the list for this weekend are trips to: Costco, Ikea, Joann’s Crafts, Camera World and The Dollar Store, when all I would love to do would be to nap and relax, maybe read a book. I guess that is what the honeymoon is for!

I have had so many offers of help during the wedding weekend and for the life of me, I am not sure what I need yet. There will need to be some decorating at the Roadhouse the morning of the wedding and clean up after the fact, but not too much other than that. Friday, there will be putting together of centerpieces and some napkin folding, which I know sounds super exciting. If anyone feels like joining, come on over! At least the hard part of making decorations is done. As many of you know, I am not a crafty person, but I figured I would give it a whirl and made some “kissing balls” to hang inside the barn and add a little color. I only had a few minor incidents with the hot glue gun, but overall I think it was worth the effort!

 Also on the list for this weekend is to pick out some great music, finalize the ceremony details and track down those few people who have yet to RSVP. I am sure there will be something that I don’t think of and will arrive at the Roadhouse on the 21^st and remember what it is, but you know, it probably won’t matter at all. What is really important is that Nate and I, surrounded by our family and friends will say “I do.”

So, the invitations have gone out and now it is up to you! We received our first RSVP today while at work, Joleine handed it over and said “You could have saved the stamps!” We arrived home to find 4 more RSVP cards in the mail today; as silly as it may seem, it is very exciting to me. It means the world to us that all of you want to come share in our wedding day. My sister (a.k.a. “the maid of honor”) called me tonight: “I am RSVPing!” “Well, thanks Sister. Just write the number 1 on it and drop it in the mail.” I realize that for many of you, those I have known the longest and who I have lifelong connections with, it is quite a trip and the only summer vacation for many of you. Thank you. For those of you close by, the wonderful friends that I have made in the past few years and the family that I am gaining, thank you as well, for welcoming me and being amazing people that I now get to share the day to day stuff with.

Okay, enough of the sappy stuff. People – fill out the RSVP cards! Check how many of you are coming or sadly, if you cannot make it and send it back so I can check off my list. If you are coming from afar, book your hotels soon as the blocks get released (TownePlace Suites on July 11 and Residence Inn on July 20). Check out: http://futuremrsbeck.com/hotels for the options near our house, near the wedding and also in downtown Portland. Everything is about 20 minutes from each other, check out the map (http://futuremrsbeck.com/maps), you can click on the map, make it interactive and choose your own routes, etc. to get around. There is also a list of things to do over the weekend http://futuremrsbeck.com/thingstodo.

If you are going to be in town as early as Thursday, please let me know as we are hosting the rehearsal dinner at our house that evening and you are welcome to come. I did hear that Lady Gaga is playing that night in town at the Rose Garden, so that would might be an acceptable excuse for missing the dinner, however I am missing the American Idol tour stop in Portland because they chose MY wedding night to play here. The nerve! :-) Ah well, maybe Nate can take me next year when they come to town for our One Year Anniversary!

If you have any questions about Portland, the weekend or wedding events, just let Nate or I know. We cannot wait to see you!

XOXO

Last week, I went to pick up my wedding dress. I had to wait a few days longer that I would have liked because the bridal store moved locations, but I went in and was the second customer in the new store and the first bride to try on her wedding gown there. My friend Stephanie came with me and took pictures (none of which you will be seeing here by the way) and we had a great evening – thanks Steph! I tried on the dress and it fits perfect; if I lose a little or god forbid, gain a little weight in the next 2 months, the dress is perfect and will still fit wonderfully! We tested out veils, hair styles and even talked shoes. The dress was slightly too long and most brides would go and find the perfect white (tight and uncomfortable) sandal with a little heel to make the dress just brush the floor. However, as I told the bridal store owner as she was lacing me into my dress and I could not breathe it was so tight “Stop, I am into comfort over beauty!” So, yes, I am going to wear bejeweled white flip flops under my beautiful wedding dress!

So I brought my dress home and my flip flops! Nate only gets to see the shoes, so I hung my dress in the clear bag in the guest closet. Not that Nate needs to go into the guest closet very often, but he was warned! Today, I took the dress out, wrapped a blue sheet around it, put it back in the clear bag and zipped it back up. Now, when he goes into the closet, all that he will see is a blue sheet in a bag. In 70 days, he can see what’s under the sheet!

Thankfully, I have amazing girlfriends who want to throw my bridal showers. Last month, I was so excited to fly home to Simi Valley for my bridal shower which Dawn and Jenny planned for me. Everything was set, the food, drinks, cupcakes were purchased, etc. and HA – craziness ensues. Due to circumstances beyond our control, Dawn’s house could no longer be the locale for the shower and as of the day before the shower, we had to change plans. From Simi Valley to Portland to Irvine, the frantic phone calls ensued and finally, my grandmother graciously offered to host the shower at her home instead. After numerous trips back and forth between the houses (thank you Jenny!), everything was set.

An amazing side effect of my getting engaged is that I have been back home for both my engagement party and bridal shower. I am so lucky to have made great friends and wonderful family, and it is so good to see everyone. Plus, Dawn made homemade carnitas, Jenny made sangria and they had Carrillo’s cater the rest! Good friends, yummy wine drinks and great mexican food, what could be better?

HHMMM, a nice little game of “Kiss the Bride’s …” It was very creative, I must say. Jenny drew (and I use that term loosely) a bikini clad bride and plastered my photo at the top. The shower guests applied RED or HOT PINK lipstick, put on a blindfold and tried to place a lip smacker closest to the heart “tattoo” on my behind. I think my Mom actually won the game; there may be some hidden meaning there, but I am not exactly sure what! J

In addition to the amazing food, Dawn ordered cupcakes from Chanda which were amazing. If you are having an event in Simi, you should look her up.

First we played an awesome game of Memory, matching the candy bar names with the wedding items (i.e. – Hunk & The Groom). Jenny got to be Vanna for a while, which I know she loved!

Then there was the, uh, “Altar to my Singledom.” I felt a bit like Bridget Jones, but only better I am sure. The Jesus candles were a nice touch. Oh and check out the center circle photo on the bottom. Yes, that is me, about 8 years old, curly hair and glasses. I think it is Dawn’s favorite photo of me. Payback is a brutal, that is all I am going to say . . .

Thank you to Jenny, Dawn, my Grandmother and my Mom for making it a super special day for me. I received so many wonderful gifts, some beautiful lingerie and really cool house stuff. Love you all!

(ok, I KNOW there are more pictures out there of me with my shower hosts, Dawn and Jenny – so please send them to me!)

So, as crazy as it may seem, it took us over 8 months to take our “Engagement Photos” with our photographer Boone www.gabrielboone.com. We did the shoot this past weekend in the empty 5^th floor of our office and then outside of the Rose Garden Arena where the Portland Trailblazers play. I hate having my photo taken and was very nervous, but Boone is awesome and gave us direction and had us cracking up most of the time. Here are some of my favorites and also a link to a slide show.

http://gabrielboone.com/darkroom/share/?n=Beck_Engaged

You need to click and choose one of the “launch” options.

I booked our honeymoon today! I wish I could say this more eloquently, but DAMN, I am excited!! Nate and I have not been on a true vacation together. We have been away on weekends at the coast, quick trips to California, but anything more than a few days away from work has always been kid time: summer vacations, Christmas break, etc. On Monday, August 23, 2010 at 12:25 am, we board a plane, our cell phones are getting turned off and we do not land back into Portland until Monday, August 30 at 11:02 pm. A ticket to all inclusive luxury has our name on it and it looks like this: Excellence Playa Mujeres is the place, just north of Cancun in Mexico.

We did quite a bit of research on where to go, but we knew that for this trip, we wanted tropical and an all inclusive resort. Originally, I was hooked on one of the Sandals resorts, Antigua to be exact. It is also a beautiful resort and has a lot to offer, also an all inclusive with all of the food and drinks that we could want, activities, etc. Doing some further research, getting to Antigua or most of the Sandals resorts in the Caribbean is just a huge pain in the ass from Portland. To get to any of these places, you have to take 3 flights! Really, I have better things to do than be in airports and on planes during my honeymoon! Hawaii was never really an option even though it is only one flight away, but there are no all inclusives, and we will save that for a 5 day vacation at some point, not our super-duper honeymoon.

We are staying in the awesome room which has an open penthouse above it with its own private deck and hydro pool. I am not exactly sure what a “hydro-pool” is, but I like the looks of it!

This is the interior which also has a Jacuzzi with indoor/outdoor access at the entrance to the terrace.

Did I mention “All INCLUSIVE?” There are 8 restaurants and 11 bars onsite with more food and alcoholic beverages than we could ever want. And 24 hour room service! Do I need all of these food and beverages? Heck no, but I want it! We are going to hit every restaurant and bar during our 8 days and 7 nights and I am sure room service on the terrace deck as well!!

Seven pools and miles of white beaches with crystal blue water also look pretty amazing to me. I am really hoping by the time August rolls around that I will have a tan and do not look like the pasty white girl from Portland as I sit in my hammock over the water.

We will take lots pictures and say a toast to all of our wonderful family and friends. Don’t be jealous – we will miss you!

I mean really, I WANT to get married and don’t need to be given gifts to walk down the aisle! I am sure that the history of gift giving to the new couple was meant to help the young bride and groom furnish their home as they begin their lives together. Well, neither Nate nor I are young, and we have a fairly sizeable home that I would be hard pressed to find a place to fit one more dish in the kitchen. So what do we need presents for? And I am fairly positive that my Dad is not going to give Nate a dowry to marry me, so the traditions are just going out the window!

That being said, we actually had a lot of fun registering and if people want to give us gifts from the registries – BONUS! Nate and I have been engaged for 8 months now; we set the date and location early on and then went quiet on the wedding plans for months as work was incredibly hectic, we moved into our new house 2 weeks before Christmas, etc. In March, I started to have mild panic attacks of “Oh hell, there is SO much left to do!” It is not a lack of desire to work on the wedding plans, it is all a time issue. I would like to meet the couple who works crazy hours and has 4 kids a third of the time and can plan a wedding in their spare time. I have zero spare time. I am lucky that my friends and family still love me and want to come to the wedding since my communication skills are not the best in recent times. All I can say is that the Internet has saved my life and makes the planning so much easier! What did my friends do who got married 15 years ago? I am sure a phone book was involved and a lot of time in the car. It was worth the wait to get married in 2010!

We started our registries over dinner one night at the kitchen table. Macy’s was a given; for me that was just the place to register. The only thing that I knew was that I had no desire to register for china. At our parties, we tend to eat off paper plates and with plastic silverware and hope that the kids don’t trail crumbs around the house. So we scrolled through each department and chose things which would be great to have (turkey roaster so that I do not have to borrow Joleine’s every holiday, a panini maker – who doesn’t need one? and this really cool herb saver thing so my basil won’t go bad!) and also some new sheets and towels. This past weekend, we hit the store in person and I told Nate that I was going to have an open mind about the china. I have been having a long animated conversation with my grandmother about the need, or in my case “I do not need china!” I am sure know where this is going; we registered for some very simple, elegant china and also flatware (I did draw the line though – NO crystal goblets!). I may only use it when my grandmother comes to visit, but she will be happy!!

Our friends Jodi and Chris inspired us to register as well at www.HoneymoonWishes.com. We are currently in the midst of planning our honeymoon and while we are leaning towards an all-inclusive resort in Cancun, there are so many cool things to add on at the resort which would make it even more special and memorable for us. While Nate and I have been able to take a weekend here and there over the past 2 years, all of our longer vacations (aka time off of work) have been with the kids. Our honeymoon is going to be the first time that we get to spend 8 days together, relaxing and doing nothing but spend time with each other. In a tropical place with a cocktail in hand. And NO Blackberry. I think it may actually be heaven . . . WOOOO!!!!

The last registry was at Bed Bath and Beyond and we focused on outdoor items, other than the random china accessories that match what I found at Macy’s. In our new home, we have a great deck and backyard and plan to entertain a lot. So, this is again an open invitation – come visit so I can throw lots of parties. J My favorite item however, on this list was a yard sprinkler for the kids which is shaped like a globe. I hope we get it; if not, I am totally going to buy it myself cause it looks like a lot of fun.

I think Nate’s favorite part of registering was using the scanner gun at the stores but he did share; he scanned at Macy’s, I got to do BB&B. I am sure there was some Princess Leia moves with a ray gun thing going on, but thankfully there are no pictures, so it did not really happen. Right?

Last weekend, Nate and I made the trip down to SoCal, to Simi Valley, my hometown.  The trip was originally planned so that we could attend the first communion of my goddaughter, Kyleigh.  Once we confirmed to my grandmother, Marilee, and one of my other mothers, Ruth, that we were coming down for Kyleigh, they put their heads together and immediately went into planning mode!  An Engagement party, that is what was needed!!  Not that they need an excuse to throw a party; they could throw together an event to celebrate “days ending in Y” and it would be fun and everyone would be well fed!   

All that I can say is that I am truly blessed with wonderful family in friends in my life.  As I looked around at all of the people who had come to share in the joy of our future wedding and to wish us good luck, I felt truly honored.  As each new person or group came to the door, friends I have not seen in a year or more, family from a few hours away, and even those I talk to almost every day, it reminded me that even though it took me a long time to find the man to share the rest of my life with, before Nate, I had a very full and happy life surrounded by amazing people who I laughed with and who made me smile. 

Of course, I know that those who had not met Nate yet, totally came to check him out.  I mentioned to him during the party when I was trying to get him to mingle: “Everyone here knows me – they want to meet YOU!”  Despite the fact that he was a bit nervous (I tend to bring him down to SoCal and just throw him into the fire and have him meet at least 20 new people on each visit), he was great!  I hope everyone could see how happy that we are together and that I have chosen a great guy who can fit in with my life, as we make a life together. 

While he was trying to mingle, I was also trying to spend time with everyone, which was incredibly hard.  I definitely did not get enough time to spend with most (I was told that the wedding will be the same way and to get used to it – thanks Joy!), and I felt that it was a challenge to be a good hostess when there were so many groups of people there.  That said, I am extending an open invitation to you all – come up to Portland and spend a weekend with us so we have more time! 

Equally important to me, Nate finally got to meet so many of you that I talk about all the time . . “When I went to Cabo with Mary and Judes,” “That’s Melissa on my iPod,” “OMG, Marcia took me on the Portland bar crawl,” “My aunts Cyndie and Dee in Riverside and my ‘Krcmar’ aunts,” and the list just keeps on going.  I am the person I am today because of the many experiences in my past, and it is great for him to be able to connect the dots. 

I cannot wait for our wedding and for everyone to share in that day and weekend with us.  It means the world to me that so many of you are planning on making the trip to Portland for the big event! My worlds are really going to collide as all of my friends and family, pre-Nate, get to meet and mingle with all of our awesome friends in Portland! I really think of the wedding as a big party which is taking place somewhere other than our house.  And I will be in a beautiful white dress and the center of attention – sounds fun to me!

It was such a great weekend, starting with a visit to Bob’s Big Boy with my sister.

Hanging out at my Dad and Janet’s with that part of my family house to celebrate my brother’s birthday and ending with Kyleigh’s communion,

and a final dinner with my Dad, Janet, my grandparents, my sister, Nate and I.  It was 2 1/2 days surronded by friends and family.  I plan on the wedding weekend to be the same way - maybe then I will actually get to taste the cake!

Hope to see you ALL soon!

P.S – did I mention that Nate helped decorate?

Well, not really, but close enough!  We just figured out this past week that we booked our wedding the same weekend as the Oregon International Airshow.  Normally, this would not be an issue, but the airport where this takes place is a mere 4 miles from our OUTDOOR wedding site!  Hhhmm, outside vows taking place under F-18’s flying by is not my ideal wedding day.  Thankfully we checked the schedule of events for the day and the flying is due to be over by 5 pm, with 30 minutes leeway on either side.  So, I guess we will be starting at 5:30 pm and the fly-bys can take place as a precursor to the “I do’s.”

Nate and I have actually made a lot of progress in the last two weeks on wedding plans, and while I am the driving force in the equation, he is definitely pulling his weight on all of the to do’s that we have on this list.  So far we have:

- found and ordered dresses for the girls and my sister, the Maid of Honor, is going to get her’s this week;

- picked out and made the reservations for all of the guys tuxes;

- secured a block of rooms at a hotel near the house for those of you who will be staying longer, Residence Inn – Marriott in Portland South/Lake Oswego, for $99 per night.  They are studio suites with a kitchenette, sitting area and bed/bathroom.  Plus a continental breakfast and indoor pool.  The hotel is less than 3 miles from the house;

- still working on a hotel that is close to the wedding site as the one we wanted would not give us a block of rooms due to the darn airshow!

- booked a hair stylist to come to the house the morning of the wedding to perform magic on myself, MOH and the girls so we all look fabulous at the event;

- decided on the food for the rehearsal dinner, which will take place at our home on Thursday evening, 8/19.  Buster’s BBQ will be on the menu; we went for dinner last week to sample it.  While it may not be as amazingly good as Bear Pit, for all of you SoCal people, it is close and will be a big hit!  If you are in town on Thursday, plan to be here.

- ordered and received “Save the Date” magnets which will arrive the week of April 5 to all of your mailboxes!

- set up online registries at both www.macys.com and also www.honeymoonwishes.com.  Next week we are headed to Macy’s to register for the rest of the goods in person.  It is actually hard to do; I mean really, we are in our late 30’s and have a very big houseful of stuff and then some.  My grandmother is adamant that I register for china despite the fact that we mainly entertain on paper plates and in solo cups, but we are going to look and see if anything strikes our fancy.  Now Nate just needs to build a hutch in the dining room so we have a place to put the china!  For those of you who want to help us have a wonderful honeymoon, that is what the honeymoonwishes website is for!

It seems like we still have so much more to do, and really, we do, but at least we can check some things off the list every week.

I think next is the bakery crawl for cake/cupcake testing.  I am not sure how this will fit into my “slim down for the wedding” plan, but someone has to taste the desserts, right?