I can't get enough of parents being mean to their kids!

In case you forgot what I look like in my extended absence...

...I present you with...our engagement pictures!  Oh, man.  Standing in an abandoned parking lot in a dress when it's freezing cold and making out is something you only do for engagement pictures. 

I promise to be back soon.  With pictures of my first successful craft.  Ever.

Things I loved this week:

1. Open Letter to that 53% Guy

2. I would tell my younger self not to take myself so seriously.   And to dump several boyfriends.

3. Here's to finding someone who makes you laugh.

4. You sneaky Mom!  The two kids at the end are friggin' awesome.

Happy weekend!  We're going to our favorite karaoke bar tonight!  I've been thinking all week about my song selections and I think I've crafted the perfect list.  It includes Mariah Carey and Phil Collins, with a little Disney thrown in for good measure.  When will my talent be discovered so I can quit this silly day job and give the people what they want?

August 11, 2012. Be there or be square.

Consider this your unofficial Save the Date (except for YOU, random blog-lurker from Germany!).  

 

So far we have a big empty room and two cases of wine.  Using my best math skills, I figure that means we can each have half of a glass.  But I really hate math, so don't quote me on that.  In fact, whenever I'm interviewing kids for work and they tell me that math is their favorite subject, I tell them that math is dumb and they should get a different favorite subject.  TAKE THAT, MR. DAWSON.  (Mr. Dawson was my high school geometry teacher and based on my inability to grasp basic math concepts, I don't think he expected me to make much of myself.  I'm getting back at him by ruining math for a whole new generation.)

 

Point is, don't come up to me at the wedding demanding your half of a glass of wine.  I COULD BE WRONG. 

 

Izzy has 315 days to learn how to carry our rings down the aisle.

Turns out, I had to go all the way to Paris to find out that I don't really like macarons!

 

 

That was a shocker!  I was so convinced I'd love them that I insisted we buy a whole box from a pâtisserie (I have no idea what that thing above the "a" is.  You can take the girl out of the trailer park, but you can't take the trailer park out of the girl).  I was just so sure I'd want a whole box of them!

 

I tried all the flavors and then we threw them away.  Macarons are yucky.

 

And that was the most surprising thing that happened while we were away.

 

The end.

 

Sike!

 

There was also this:

My favorite part of this picture is Matt's surprised face.  I can't decide if it's like, "Whoa, where did she get that ring?" Probably more like, "OMG, what have I done?"

Anyway, I'm sure this came as no surprise to any of you, as I was pretty adamant about notifying people so that they didn't find out via Facebook.  Although I hope my ex-boyfriends found out on Facebook.  And then went to bed and cried. 

In all seriousness, we're very excited.  And Matt's somehow under the impression that being engaged "gives him more freedom."  Which is hilariously adorable.  So we're off to a good start.


XOXOXO

Risking our lives to save a buck ($1200 bucks, actually).

Iron Maiden Singer To Pilot Iceland Express Flights

"Bruce Dickinson, perhaps best known as the lead singer of classic heavy metal band Iron Maiden, will be piloting some Iceland Express flights.

The National Post reports that the flights would be between Winnipeg and Reykjavík, on board a specially-marked plane known as "Ed Force One", named after Eddie, Iron Maiden's mascot.

For those concerned about the expertise of the singer to pilot a Boeing 757, it should be noted that Dickinson has logged over 7,000 flight hours of commercial aircraft, and took part in flying 200 U.K. citizens home from Lebanon during the Israel/Hezbollah conflict. He also flew some Iceland Express flights in 2008.

In an e-mail response to the National Post, Dickinson said, "I never intended to become a professional pilot, but as I became more curious about aircraft, and, well, not being John Travolta, I realized that the only way I was ever going to fly a jet was if I got a job!"

Iceland Express is not saying if Dickinson will be piloting the inaugural flight between Reykjavík and Winnipeg, but it did say that he will also be behind the wheel of some flights between the Icelandic capital and Boston and Chicago."

Godspeed.

Holy Christ, it's a piece of paper!

To round out our July of weddings, we hit up Cleveland, to see our friends Jeff and Sarah get hitched.  We had a great time and...get this...they had a photo booth.  It's like they knew I was coming.  I mean, I guess technically, they did, since I RSVP'd and all.  But still.  Congrats, you two!

Then I went home for my Dad's 60th birthday.  We ate and drank and hiked and swam and ate and drank more.

The following weekend, we headed to MI, where we biked in Tour des Lac for 36 miles!  Luckily there was ice cream and pizza and beer, so we were ok.  And Matt and I didn't even kill each other (despite the fact that I sang this for most of the way).

And in just six days, we leave for Europe.  If something tragic happens on Iceland Express airways, I want to make it clear that I don't want all of you to fight over who gets to raise Izzy.  She has enough love to share with all of you!