Dress Shopping

I went dress shopping for my wedding dress a month ago and ended up ordering one that same day. This was probably the one thing about wedding planning I dreaded the most. I'm not a dress person (I am slowly becoming one though) and I didn't think any of that frilly crap would appeal to me. The dress I ended up with is so far on the opposite end of the spectrum that I thought I would be, but I love it. It's hard not to go in and peek at it everyday.

My dress came in last week due to the magic that is David's Bridal so I thought I would post pictures of all the dresses that I tried on. Sort of like an homage to the dress that never was.

The Wedding Shoppe in Troy

I had such great service here, I felt bad I didn't purchase a dress here. Here are a few I tried on there.

I think this is the very first one I tried on. Sparkly boobs!

These next two are more like what I was looking for, but when I tried them on the lace hit in the wrong spots on my hips and weren't very flattering.

I wanted to try on one with sleeves so I put this one on. The sleeves wouldn't stay up, but I kinda liked it better this way.

This was one of my top two and if David's didn't have anything I liked I was leaning toward coming back and getting this one. It was discontinued and it was only $200!

This one was my favorite when I got it out of the magazine, but when I tried it on I was torn. It had the lace that I wanted and it was form fitting giving it a modern look. But the TULLE! So much tulle. The magazine copy showed the dress only from the waist up.

The back:

David's Bridal

I had heard mostly bad things about David's, so I went in a little wary of my sales lady. She ended up being super friendly and helpful and never really pushed anything on me. She did the required DB thing where they bring you a bra, shoes and veil, hoping you would see the whole package and just HAVE to have everything. I showed restraint though and only got the dress. I snagged the veil I tried on later (Thanks Amber!).

I tried this one on because I love blue. I don't love this gown as you can tell from my expression.

This one was pretty humorous. The back of the dress had these wings that came out the sides...They seriously looked like butt flaps. It was like I could finish with the ceremony and just fly away to the reception.

I can't believe I'm going to post such and unflattering photo of me, but I do it for you guys. I LOVED this on the mannequin. It looked so sleek and modern. On me, it looked like a sausage stuffed in a casing. Also, it was a wee bit too low cut for me. I could do a deep v-neck like that to the bar maybe, but to my wedding? Nah.

This was my favorite from the magazine cut outs I had brought. They didn't have a larger size but even if they did I don't think this one would have been the one for me. I just had to tell myself that these form fitting gowns aren't for girls with booty. I probably would have been really self-conscious all night instead of just enjoying myself.

I really liked the top on this one. Made my boobs look HUGE. I wasn't a fan of the bottom and the train was very plain. I did like the color though. So shiny!

Below is the dress I ultimately chose. I actually walked by this when we were pulling dresses and just dismissed it as too froofy. At the end of the day I was starting to give up since I hadn't had that "aha!" moment. My MOH talked me into trying on more dresses and I'm glad I listened to her (Go Leslie!). I heart this dress.

I can't post the photo's here or talk about it more because my FI reads this blog so you'll have to click the following links.

STEVE NO CLICKY!!!
I MEAN IT MAN!

Some people get chocolate and roses for Valentine's Day. Me? I get great stuff like this:


That is page one from "The Pop-Up Book of Phobias". Don't have dentophobia? How about coulrophobia?


Seriously, *swoon*. This is why I love The Steve. I hope everyone else had a great Valentine's Day!

P.S.: I did get roses also. I know people will go on and on how this is a holiday made up by corporations that forces men to buy stuff for their significant others, but hell, I love getting flowers so you won't see me hatin' on the holiday.

Eyeglasses

I've worn glasses for forever it seems like. When I first got glasses in grade school, I thought my life was over. Of course this was the late 80's, early 90's when all you could get cheaply were the dorky plastic glasses that were too big for your face. Now I can't see myself without my glasses. They seem to have become a statement piece of mine and I feel naked without them. I do wear contacts from time to time, but my eyes tend to dry out pretty fast - especially at work where I'm under flouresent lighting and my face is glued to a computer screen.

When I first got my job after graduating, I decided I could finally get the glasses I've always wanted. It's a dangerous thing to give a girl an engineers salary after she's been poor most of her life. Anyway, I waltzed into Lenscrafters (first bad move) and got glasses off the designer wall (bad move #2). I obviously had money burning a hole in my pocket because I dropped 800 duckets on two pairs of glasses. A black and silver DKNY pair and a green Prada pair which I love.

Now that I've been working a while and I have a wedding to pay for I'm not too keen on spending that much money on another pair or even getting the lenses changed in my old ones. That's when I ran across glassyeyes.com. It's a webblog started by a guy who got fed up with the high markup by the eyeglass retailers. He outlines how to purchase eyeglasses online and gives reviews on different online retailers. I figured I would give it a try and get a cheap pair just in case it turns out to be a bust. Guess how much I paid for prescription glasses?

Fourteen fucking dollars. Boo. Yeah. I even got prescription sunglasses for the hell of it and I think those were probably $20. So now I am a convert to online eyeglass shopping. And, hell, at those prices I can afford to get several different colors too.

My super cheap glasses. I've gotten more compliments on these than any other pair I've owned. It's a bad pic, but they are black and red. I ordered the blue and black pair as well. If you wear glasses I highly suggest checking out glassyeyes.com.

Rings

I went out with the ladies from STLWed last night and I had a blast. It's been a long time since I've been out with a group of girls so it was very refreshing. I mean, where else can you talk about nips and peens in public?? Those girls are great, I can't wait until the next outing next month.

I'm writing a post about my mega-cheap eyeglasses I got off the internets and I suspect it's going to take a while. So in the meantime, here's a picture I took at work:


The light wasn't very good, but I thought the background for the rings was pretty nifty. The top one is my engagement ring and the bottom band is a ring my fiance made out of scrap titanium at work. The scrap metal came from the wing hinges for a F18. So cool!

History

Here is something I wrote a long time ago when I was living alone and bored. Amazing what boredom can bring huh?

PART 1

Wednesday, January 22, 2003

22 January, in the Year of Our Lord 2003:

The village has been under siege for three weeks now. The enemy has taken out our food supply in order to force us out with starvation, but we will endure. We don't know how they get past the stone walls, but they have left behind their trademark after every strike. This enemy is no ordinary foe, for they are the Ninjas of the Mausu. They move only when darkness falls and their attack is as silent as the wind.

We have surprisingly caught 5 of their numbers, but true to their code, they would not talk. Being a peaceful village, we let them go with a warning...but this is proving to be our downfall. They strike back with even more ferocity than if we had killed in cold blood.

The council members have come to a decision today. Outside help must be brought in. Normally we detest the hiring of mercenaries, but we are left with no choice. The survival of our clan is at stake and we can no longer fend off the attacks.

Here is a photo of the merc, named Kamisu, who arrived this morning. He has a slight problem with keeping saliva in his mouth and tends to stare off with a blank look, but he is the only one close enough that has the skills necessary. Let us pray that he can deliver us from this evil.

God save us. - Councilwoman Seberu

Yep. I have a mouse problem. The little buggers broke into my brand new loaf of bread, chewed up one of my chopsticks (just one! why not both??), and pooed on my computer desk. Since the live traps aren't working and I can't bring myself to set up the spring-loaded traps, additional action had to be taken. So, I called up my sister and I am borrowing Kami The Mad Mouser until my situation is under control. Seeing as he is a bit...um...slow, aggravates my brother-in-law to no end, and hates to have his tail touched (a favorite target of my nephew) we both figured it was in Kami's and my best interest to have him at my house for a while. I figure him catching mice is a bit more natural than the death-traps and even if he doesn't catch any, just his presence in the house should keep them at bay.

He also has a slight drool problem - it's better than it used to be though. Due to a mouth ulcer, he's lost most of his teeth so he tends to leak from time to time. I think he's picky about his tail because, when he was at his sickest that was the only place that didn't hurt, so he's a might bit protective of it.

I'm just happy I have a roommate now (an invited one, the mice don't count), even if it is temporary.

PART 2

Thursday, January 30, 2003

Listen to me young ones, as I tell a tale. A Tale that took place very recently - A Tale about Samurai Kamisu, the defender of our village. Though slow witted and hygienically-challenged, he single pawedly fought off one of the Seven Demons of Rodenticus. The Ninja of the Mausu had sent One of the Seven, the one they call Hamtaro. Here is the story, told by Councilwoman Seberu as she recorded the event: From the safety of the surrounding brush, I was able to record the Demon Hamtaro in his evil act. He was attempting to cut the telephone wires so all communication between the village and the outside world would be severed. Despite my best efforts to stay hidden, the Keen Eyes and Sharp Ears of the Demon could not be deceived. Damn our traditional garb and it's decorative bells! With a single leap, Hamtaro covered the ground between himself and the ledge I was perched upon. I attempted escape, but he was too fast for me. I was afraid for my life. Just when things were looking bleak and I had resigned my fate to hamster food, Kamisu the Savior leaped from the trees! Ever the cautious warrior, Kamisu scoped out his enemy before engaging. And the battle begins! The two fighters moved with such speed, I could barely keep up with their whereabouts. Just as fast as the battle began, it was over. Kamisu successfully drove the limping Hamtaro back into the forests and away from our village. My Hero.