So. Close.

Guess what?

The contract to our wedding venue is sitting on the kitchen table. Unsigned.

We're 90% sure we will sign it and turn it in but there are a few adjustments that we are going to try to make.... such as the price.

It is pretty steep.

We've already haggled it down but it's still a lot of money. And I think Brian's having second thoughts. I, on the other hand, have no thoughts. It's been a painful experience throughout this whole venue selection process and I am mentally done with it all. I don't care if we get married in a asteroid crater at this point (Actually, that would be pretty cool. Dusty, but cool). It would be disappointing if I left here without a confirmed venue but I guess there are worse things. It just sucks since we've managed to look at so many and the one venue we're BOTH set on, happens to cost an arm and a leg. I'm debating between setting up some more last minute venue options or just letting Brian make the decision himself. I cannot wait til this is all over!! And then I'm not thinking about wedding plans for a long long time!

Anyways, that's the update folks. I'll keep you posted as to what happens next! Hopefully my next post will be on how we FINALLY BOOKED SOMETHING!!!

Another Fab Weekend!

Oh man. Brian is really itchin' to move out of his place.

It's not that there is any real serious issue with his landlady but I think she's just a little bit more involved than we're used to. We're still certain that she comes down to check on the suite when we're away but Brian and I have been making sure that the place is spotless before we leave. That's not too big of an issue. But lately she has been imposing a bit of pressure when Brian decides to cook with garlic or spices or any other odorous ingredient. Which I happen to love. She's never directly said that she disapproves. She just makes comments such as "I've noticed that you've been cooking with garlic a lot." or "I can smell the curry you're cooking from my bedroom. It's very strong." Anyways, on Thursday night Brian was cooking some of his delicious aglio e olio with a jalapeno kick when we suddenly heard the landlady begin to quickly lumber about and pace above us. All had been silent until Brian began frying up the garlic. I tried to air out the suite as much as I could by opening windows and doors and turning on fans but the bear upstairs continued to pace back and forth. So Brian turned the stressful situation into a romantic evening by announcing that we were going to enjoy our dinner on the beach and watch the sunset while we ate our pasta. We packed up all the food along with some fruit and crackers and the remaining pieces of our delicious banana bread and drove down to the Spanish Banks just in time to watch the sun set. It was a beautiful setting for an orgasmic meal.

Pics.

Picnic-packaged meal

Lovin' life.

To die for.

Not a shabby view.

Relaxed and landlady free.

So on Friday I almost died.

I made the stupid decision to have a three hour workout sesh at the gym (1.5 hours on the treadmill and 1.5 hours of weightlifting) and my body definitely felt the pain for the next few days. My calves were on FIYAH. Good thing I had a relaxing weekend in store!

Doug picked us up from the ferry terminal Friday night and we headed straight to our friend Genevieve's beautiful waterfront place where Jane and cutie Arfa was waiting. We indulged in tons of finger food and late night conversations before heading to Brian's parents' house to crash. 

The next morning we all got up to meet Brian's sister and others on Sidney Spit, a tiny island off the island. We had a bit of a late start and we missed the ferry that we wanted to take but we all eventually got there in one piece. It was the perfect day for the beach and minus the freezing water, it was pretty much a day in paradise. 

That evening, Brian prepped a lovely summer roll dinner for everyone that was an instant hit with his tandoori spiced chicken. The meal was followed by some delicious chocolate cake and by then I was ready to pass out. Everyone wanted to watch "River Monsters" and "Hoarders" so my social instincts were to join in but my eyes refused to cooperate. I was in the REM stage of sleep 10 minutes into the show. 

On Sunday, the major plan for the day consisted of an awesome blueberry pancake brunch with Heather and James providing the yummy yummy bacon. As the last bites of pancake were being taken, James generously offered one of his trophy salmon to be the main course for dinner that day so Brian and I extended our Victorian stay for the chance to partake in a sea-derived feast! And it was well worth it! We had pink salmon, corn, potatoes, carrots, quinoa salad, green beans, impromptu fried rice, and Bailey's milkshakes for dessert. I could barely move post meal but we had to get our hustle on in order to catch the last ferry off the island. We said our goodbyes and Heather and James were gracious enough to give us a lift to the terminal. It was 9pm and I was poooooped. But had a GREAT time with some GREAT company.

Visual aid.

Finally on the ferry to Sidney Spit!

Beach camp

Beach baby

Beach babes.

 Pico!

Doggy kisses!

Sibs

Super sibs

Ready to take on the spit

Le spit.

Fiance.

DINNER.

The angler and his trophy

Adventure baby!

HI ARFA!!!

Can we get a decent pic?

Lol. Nope.

Doug joins our predinner walk.

Super mom.

Will Doug eat the salmon eyeball?

Naturally.

Boys will be boys.

Gals will be lovely.  :)

So Brian and I have made it back to Vancouver safe and sound although I slept 75% of the way home. I was supposed to go kayaking today but it is probably the worst day (weatherwise) we've had in Vancouver since my arrival. It's gray and rainy and cold and just plain yucky. Melissa and I have postposed the kayak trip for another day and also scheduled in a girl's night out for Saturday. It'll be nice to go out with some gals and make some friends in the city before I leave so I'm definitely looking forward to it!

BIG NEWS!

Brian and I have an appointment with the events coordinator of the Vancouver Art Gallery this Wednesday in hopes to finally SEAL THE WEDDING VENUE DEAL. Holy cow am I ready to do this! And Brian is as well! And then I am not thinking about the wedding for a VERY long time! :D

As for my insomnia, I have been taking two melatonin pills for the past few nights and it seems to be helping. I wake up at a reasonable hour (6ish) and I try to go back to sleep but I still have these annoying fits of restlessness. What is up with that?? I'm still tossing and turning a bit in the mornings but Brian has learned to sleep through it. I'm glad my sleep duration has been lengthened and so far, no side effects of grogginess. Keeping my fingers crossed for full recovery! I am seriously considering getting a massage this week. Brian's insurance company has already agreed to let us use any medical resources necessary to  alleviate any physical symptoms and I'm thinking a deep tissue massage could definitely help my restlessness. I'll keep you posted!

Only one week left before I have to head back to another semester of craziness..... Sigh. Gotta enjoy the remainder of the summer! 

Frustrated!

So okay.

It's July 26th, 2011 approximately seven months after Brian proposed to me in Central Park and we are still venue-less. Why? Whyyyyy???


Because I am CURSED. CURSED with this innate dream of having a grandiose fairytale wedding full of unicorns and dancing elves and skipping fairies. I want the glitz. The glam. The whole shebang. And I can't have it.

Ugh.

I don't want to be entirely negative. Brian and I have seen many lovely places and a few are still in the cards but I can't help but feel like I still haven't found the one. I know, I know. All I seem to do on here is bitch and moan about finding the damn ONE. The dress, the venue, the flowers, the hair. At least I found the man.

It's gotten to the point where I probably don't even know what I'm looking for anymore. A view? A patio? Outdoor? Indoor? Clean bathrooms? I really don't know. I'm just hoping to walk into a place and just feel a stirring within my soul that accumulates into an orgasmic sensation that screams "THIS IS IT! THANK THE LORD ALMIGHTY, THIS IS THE ONE! BOOK IT! BOOK IT, YA DUM BISH BEFORE YOU BEGIN TO SECOND GUESS YOURSELF AGAIN AND PUT YOURSELF THROUGH ANOTHER ROUND OF TORTURE!"

I guess I'm starting to lose hope in this city. I still have a couple more venues to scope out here in Vancouver before I decide to turn to Victoria and other neighboring islands but honestly, HONESTLY, what I'm really ready to do is a book a cheapie place in Hawaii and call it a day. Small, intimate 50 people wedding on the beach with leis and coconut cocktails for everyone. Sounds perfect right about now.

But I'm not going to give up just yet. I want to check out the Orpheum Theatre downtown, a place called the W2 Storyeum, and then the Vancouver Art Gallery. Maybe there's still some magic in this city waiting to be revealed.

Anyways, I'm back to the drawing board and I'm hoping that I can get this place booked within the next few weeks. Keep your fingers crossed peeps.

Or else the venue will end up being someplace horrendous like the Cracker Barrel in Elkton, Maryland. EEK!!

North Carolinians... Check out this Pimp-ass Venue!!!

The Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina.



Yeah, Hi.

W. T. to the freakin' F!
This mansion was completed in 1895. It's George Vanderbilt's 250-room French chateau. It is America's largest home and totally wedding rentable. Insane in the membrane.

Terminal City Club and the Magic Cruise

I am finally able to post on Brian's and Miss Carol's visit to the Terminal City Club. The location is ideal and I think this is Miss Carol's favorite. Check it out.

The building.

Lobby

Terrace

View

More terrace

The set up

We have a piano, yay!

The dance floor, me thinks.

Chairs and floor.

Fancy shmancy.

Looks like a lovely place. The price is reasonable as well.

Then the venue hunters went to see another wedding yacht. This one did not get as good a feedback.... It's called the Magic Cruise. Brian thought that it just wasn't as good of a venue as the first yacht they saw. Here are the pics from that visit.

Looks like a nice boat from what I can see but I'll take Brian and Miss Carol's words for what it really was. It was also half the price as the first boat so I can believe that this ship ain't all that....

In other news, I wasn't able to zumba it up yesterday because they were having technical difficulties with the music and such. So I just gymed it up, hit some balls on the tennis courts, and ended the evening with a hilarious round of Wii Fit. I love Wii Fit! So today wasn't too shabby on the activity scale. Gonna try to start running this weekend. Goal for this weekend: Run a half mile without passing out.  :)