Plans are on the back burner......

Wow, how things can change in a week! Jim and I are awesome so don't think the wedding is being cancelled because of the title!!!!

We were told last week that we needed to move back to Salt Lake City in order to keep our jobs. This obviously took us by surprise. We are more worried about selling our house and getting there then where to have the wedding. If you don't see any plans getting formalized soon this is why!

We are taking this as something in life that happens and it is happening for a reason. We will miss our family here (we plan on visiting often) and look forward to what this journey will bring us.

Love you all - Jim & Tara

Osborn Farm

After a long talk on Friday night we came to the realization that our wedding had become someone elses wedding. Not on purpose. It just seemed to manifest that way. It seemed that we had fallen in to the "What would make it easy, nice for everyone else?" Although we want our families and friends to enjoy the wedding and want to come to celebrate with us, we also want it to be a reflection of who we are. This small affair had turned into something with a life, an expensive life, of its own. So.... drum roll.

Osborn Farm

We are having our wedding on a quaint little farm, with a pond, and fabulous mountain views a few miles from our home in Loveland. A friend of mine told me about the spot and after looking on the web and going to see it with my own two eyes (when we got Halloween pumpkins there) last weekend I knew that this was us. I had Jim go there on Saturday morning and it just seems right. It is quaint and a reflection of who we are - relaxed, laid back, and pretty simple people who want close friends and family to share an evening with us to celebrate our marriage. Don't expect a DJ, a bouquet toss, or wedding attendants. There will be music, flowers, a great dinner, cake, wonderful scenery, and a chance for us to all catch up and enjoy the night.

We are still discussing the date. We have a few options on the table but are weighing weather conditions and ensuring that Aidan will be here. We have narrowed it down to May 22, June 5, or July 10. I will let you all know as soon as I do!!!

Closer to Home??

As I noted in my last post we are thinking about giving Steamboat Springs the ax. Don't get me wrong the place was beautiful but I would really like something closer to home. We are exploring our possibilities and are looking at a beautiful farm that offers incredible views and seems more like us. It is only a couple miles from our home and seems to offer what we want. I'm hoping we can look at it soon so we can put it on the list as a possibility. There is also a beautiful place along the St. Vrain River that is about 30-40 miles away.

Cross your fingers that we find the right place!! :)

Steamboat?

We are rethinking Steamboat Springs. The place we looked at is beautiful. But......

I've fallen in love with a different place on a lake. I've had a wandering eye towards Red Feather Lakes or Estes Park ...

Sure hope nobody had their heart set on Steamboat!

Ski Trail Lane

Last weekend we made a trip to Steamboat Springs to take a look at where we would like to have the wedding. I was a little skeptical but the home is absolutely beautiful. We only could tour one of them but we looked through the window of the other one. They are connected (huge condos) that can sleep a minimum of 15 people each. We are crossing our fingers that we can get the place but we don't find out until January. Cross your fingers!

Backyard View from the Mountain

View from the deck of the mountainside.

The deck

The kitchen

Steamboat Springs

This weekend we are going to look at the place we want to get married at!! I'm so excited. I'm sure the pictures online don't do it justice and am ready to get a "vision" in my head. I will definitely take pictures and post them. I'm hoping it hasn't turned to fall up there yet so I can see what it will look like when we are there next July!! The only downfall about the place is that we won't know if it is available for our date (July 10) until January! I'm crossing my fingers that we don't have another date change - please cross yours too!

An Incredible Facial

Let me start out with the fact that I L-O-V-E Aveda products.

On my quest for great looking skin by our wedding next summer I have been contemplating on changing up my skin care regime.

Step One: Get a facial. This was perhaps the best facial I have ever had. An hour and a half worth of massaging and exfoliating. I loved every minute of it.

Step Two: Buy the product. I figure a clean start is best and with my newly refreshed complexion I was ready.

Step Three: New makeup. Obviously what I had wasn't working. After the facial (did I mention it was incredible?) I sat down with the makeup lady and voila a new makeup plan that I love!Hopefully, my skin will love it too!

Step Four: Fork over the dough. Thank you Jim for paying for my day of beauty and rejuvenation. I love ya!

I made the wrong decision!

Saturday
Last Saturday I woke up and decided I was going to buy my wedding dress. One thing down, a million to go, right? I got Aidan around and headed to the David's Bridal in Fort Collins with the promise of McDonald's for being good at the dress store.

I had narrowed my choice down and was prepared to try on the dresses in my size (although European sizing sucks) and make my decision. I made Aidan take more photos and settled on one dress. I really couldn't convince myself I needed two dresses as I had previously thought I could. I tried on each dress with the accessories I wanted, let Aidan take pictures, and put the dress on layaway (I didn't want to bring it home for Jim to see).

After lunch and a little more shopping I got home and unpacked my purse. Interested in Aidan's photography skills I looked at the photos that he took of me in the dresses. One glance and them and I looked to Jim and said, "I picked the wrong one." I was so mad at myself that I started crying - of which Jim still doesn't understand. How on earth could I pick the wrong dress? Seeing the photos I realized that the first one I tried on that day was the one and it was cheaper. I had made a terrible mistake. Luckily, I though that I had placed the dress on layaway. Whew. I called the store and asked if they could swap it out over the phone. She had to get her manager. I was told, even though I was in there 2 hours earlier, I still had to pay the 10% restocking fee - a little over $50. That just pissed me off. Although I wanted to let the lady have it Jim calmed me down (how is it that he is the calming force) and told me it was only $50 and I would have the dress I was meant to have and to just fork it over and move on.

Sunday
Resolved that I knew which dress I really wanted I marched into David's Bridal on Sunday afternoon, Aidan in tow (again). I asked for my sales lady. As they got her the manager began to hear my story. She tried to rope me into waiting until after I paid the dress off to change it but having read the fine print I knew that I could only exchange it for a dress that was of equal or lesser value and the veil was discontinued so I wouldn't be able to exchange it all. There were two problems with this:

• The dress I wanted was cheaper
• The veil was now going to be in the wrong color

She wasn't going to trap me in that snare. She continued that all sales were final. Did she think I was an idiot. I hadn't purchased it yet - it was on layaway and I was cancelling it so I didn't fall into the first trap they layed- why would I fall into this one? By the end of the back and forth she was so frustrated that she couldn't figure out how to charge me the restocking fee! Ha! One battle down. Next, the decision (again).

My sales rep is awesome and brought out all of the accessories, dresses, etc. that I had the day before and got me all dressed up again in the dress I hadn't chosen. When I walked out she looked at me and said, "You're right this is the one." I knew it was the one when I looked at Aidan and asked him. The little stinker smiled and smacked his hand on his forehead! Yep, he loved it.

So, there it is, one item on the wedding list down. Granted it was with a little more drama than originally planned. Now, onto the next thing!

The Dress

There has been a debate regarding the dress in our home for about a week. Last weekend we went to South Denver and looked for dresses - I mainly wanted him to show me what he liked and for me to do the same. It ended up with us at David's Bridal trying on a dress. He didn't like it but then I finally had to tell him that I didn't want him to see it. Is that too traditional??? Anyway, as a compromise we cruised the David's Bridal website and picked out several dresses that we both agreed on. Jim told me the "rules" and I think I did pretty well. The deal was that I had to get one of those in lieu of him going with me. It's a little odd having him so "involved" but he really wanted to go pick out the dress with and that just wasn't going to work for me.

Saturday, list in hand, I went dress shopping. I figured I would try one on and just know. However, I had Jim in the back of my head making comments. I think I've figured out what I'm going to do. I think I'm getting two dresses.

1. One a nice honeymoon dinner. This one just doesn't seem "wedding dressy" enough but is still gorgeous.
2. One for the wedding. This is very simple with color. Just what I was looking for.

I am going to think about it over the next week and make a decision so it can be ordered in my size - they said it could take up to 5 months to get here. Oh, and I have to rationalize buying two dresses. They are both on sale and less that $600 for both so I'm not feeling too bad but really - two dresses???

To ease in making the decision, I took photos. Yep - I already deleted ones of the dress I decided against but those two dresses are just etched in my mind and the decision is agonizing. I'm a little ahead of myself here buying a dress already but I figure we have to mark something off of the list and I'd rather spread the money over the next ten months rather than the last three!

FYI - I'm not posting the pix - the final decision will be a surprise for everyone!!!

When & Where

Jim and I have talked at great length about where we want to get married. At first I was thinking at our home but after talking we want to make this a memorable "wedding" weekend for everyone not just for us. We are hoping to have a "destination" wedding in Steamboat Springs, CO and rent a two gorgeous homes for us all to stay at. We don't want our family / friends to miss this because it's too expensive to travel and pay hotel costs. We want you there! We have missed weddings because of this and don't want someone to have to make the decision not to come because of this.

Our tentative plan is to have the wedding in July. The date all depends on when we can get the homes. Since I have never been to Steamboat Springs the date also depends on whether or not I like the place! Jim assures me that it is beautiful and a great place to begin our marriage and for some reason I trust him! :)

I am really excited about the planning and think that we have a true vision of what we want. We want something simple, small - close family and friends only - and something memorable for everyone. I actually started crying the other day (rolling my eyes) because the idea of planning and the excitement is so overwhelming. I have never felt this way before and am so excited!!!

Our Families

I was very anxious to call and tell everyone I knew that I was getting married (as well as posting it on Facebook) but Jim wanted dinner at Bonefish first. It nearly killed me. First of all I couldn't stop looking at the ring and then it seemed like dinner took forever even thought it was awesome. I was just too excited.


Before dessert I had already talked to my sister, Jim's mom, and my mom. After dinner I called my dad and grandma. That took care of all of my immediate urges to blurt out that I had a big shiny diamond on a very important finger. I think that everyone was excited (I know Jim's mom was since she had a big gasp after I told her) but my excitement pretty much overshadowed everyone else and it didn't really matter by the time the phone call was done.

The Proposal - July 31, 2009

Let me begin by saying I am still shocked that I am getting married. So, let's set the stage. Jim came home in the afternoon with his new "keg fridge" and asked if I wanted to go to dinner. I said sure - not unusual at all. I figured I should be ready by about 5:15 so I wrapped up working just as Jim was walking in the door with some gorgeous flowers. Since he brings home fresh flowers all the time this wasn't unusual. I went to the bedroom to change and just as I was picking some socks out he came into the room. He was standing there kind of odd and reached down to his pocket just as he said that he got me something else ...... DRUM ROLL .... then I saw the little black box.

A million things raced through my mind. We had talked about this not a month earlier and at that point I was thoroughly convinced we were never getting married so.... he must be teasing me and have a pair of earrings in the box. Then.... he opened it and the floodgates came. I immediately started crying.

I know that I said, "Really?" as I was crying and he was asking me to marry him. I must have hugged and kissed him a million times before he asked if I was ever going to put it on. It was amazing (and I was still holding my socks in my hand).

Every time I tell the story he says that I have to include that he tried to ask me more "romantically" but I wasn't cooperating.

• #1 - My birthday - I contend this wasn't my fault because the jeweler had a death in the family and couldn't have the ring ready.


• #2 - The following weekend at Red Feather Lakes - We talked about going there but we slept in and went to a Rockies game. I contend he could have gotten me up to go there but nonetheless we slept in Saturday and Sunday.


• #3 - The weekend he asked me - He asked me earlier in the week if I wanted to go to Hot Sulphur Springs. I checked out the website and wasn't so impressed. I gave a thumbs down.

He did try to do a beautiful mountain proposal but to me, this is just as good. No matter how he asked it is something I will never forget. I am so glad that I was completely surprised and am marrying my favorite person.