Engagement Pictures: What I learned

(I was totally trying to schedule this post for later this week... but that didn't work! I guess you get two posts today)

I had meant to finish writing this and post it before the wedding... but it as it turns out your very own wedding WILL turn you in to a crazy person a few weeks beforehand no matter how relaxed you thought you were. So, anyway...

Early on in the wedding planning I insisted on a hiring a photographer and I was going to be incredibly picky with regards to that photographer. Afterall, I graduated with a degree in photography and this is my wedding! There won't be a chance to do it over so I had better get good photos. Well, after hours of tears and searching I finally hired a photographer.

There was much rejoicing! I was going to get my pictures and they were going to be wonderful and we were going to look beautiful and perfect! And then we had our engagement session (a mere month before the wedding) and I learnerd... err... had to face reality.

Yeah, we can sorta look like blog people, but we are still really dorky (out of 50 pictures my photographer gave us I think I like maybe 5, those are the ones you see here) and I guess I don't actually like looking like blog people. It feels fake because it just not who we are. I like our real life.

We are so mushy! It is ridiculous. You would not believe we have been together 3.5 years. But hey, maybe that is a good thing too. I hope we never get sick of holding hands and kissing. I just wish we had some great pictures where were both looking at the camera.

I look so much younger than Dan! I think he looks his age and he is actually three years younger than me. Just yesterday someone thought I was in highschool. I get that a lot, but for some reason I didn't see it until I looked at our pictures. Of course everyone tells me this a good thing too. (I am sure it will be... it is just right now it is hard to get people to take you seriously when they think you are 16.)

So, in conclusion... I learned a lot. We are young and in love and have plenty of time to get our pictures done again. And even if we never do, we have a great life together that I wouldn't trade for a million perfect photos.

Dressers Before and After

We got this dresser and chest of drawer set at a thrift store. All in all they are pretty great. 

They are the perfect size. The drawers have quite a bit of a room inside and slide well. 

They are just kind of an ugly color...

Good thing: the tops, sides and drawer fronts are all solid wood. 

The unique handles really intrigued me. 

(this picture is on a workbench, not on the dresser)

Not so good thing: That trim on all the drawers... it is plastic.

At least the trim actually looks like wood and has a texture to it. 

It just can't be stripped and stained.

Not to worry! We got some special spray paint that fuses itself with the plastic. It took a really long time to dry (more than a week) till it stopped chipping and we had to move in to the apartment before then, but the chips are minimal and next time we know just how much time we need. 

I wanted all black dressers, but ManDan loves real wood. So we compromised and stained the tops and sides a dark brown. Here is the result...

This one is mine. It fits my clothes really well! My last dresser only had six drawers and so some drawers did double duty. With nine each drawer only has to have one kind of clothing and not a one is stuffed!

 ManDan's chest of drawers. 

Many thanks to ManDan who did quite a bit of sanding and also the spray painting! I do not have the endurance and patience required for such a job. I enjoy the staining. Anyway, my husband is great. ;-)

Bacon Grease Eggs

I didn't think I even liked eggs until ManDan cooked them for me. He is really great at making eggs and these eggs were off to a good start...

The good start. Saute onions and bell peppers. 

Also, tomatoes but make sure to do them separate since they tend to get all watery. 

Then fry up 8 strips of bacon and contemplate what to do with all the grease... decide to experiment and leave it all in the skillet. I am not the egg expert but I didn't think that was such a great idea. 

I don't know if all men are like this, but sometimes when ManDan wants to do something he is going to do it. It would simply be futile for me to tell him otherwise. This was one of those of times...

Pour in your eggs and then be amazed at just how much grease is in that skillet. 

Yeah... it is practically covering six eggs. 

Cook on low while stirring. Also, add cheese! 

(I don't think ManDan looks very happy in this picture... but this was after he told me the eggs had to go on the blog)

Look! They have veggies in them now! This means they are healthy right?

Waiit... look at all that grease still sitting in the pan.

Yes, these eggs are fully cooked. They are simply drowning in bacon grease. 

Alright, on a normal day we would be able to eat all those eggs. This time we couldn't even get down half. They were so mushy! And they just tasted like grease.  

Good Idea: Scramble eggs in left over bacon grease. 

Bad Idea: Scramble eggs in ALL the left over bacon grease. 

Oh well, we had a good time together and at least I know we will never be eating eggs like this again. :)

Truckloads of Furniture

One of our loads of furniture. 

Totally recommend the flat bed truck from Home Depot! 

More space in the back, plus the sides go up and down. So neat!

Since we secured an apartment we figured we needed some furniture. Being the poor folk that we are we spent a few days searching CraigsList and visited every Goodwill within a 25 mile radius. We picked out a few things (Craigslist had the best deals overall) then rented a truck and spent a whole day picking up our finds. 

I had to drive the truck since ManDan isn't 21 yet. I enjoyed it! It was the first time ManDan had ever actually seen me in a truck so I asked him how he liked me in a truck and he said, "It fits you. I can't explain it, but it fits you." This made me especially happy since he has been anti-truck since the day we met! 

Me next to the truck. 

My handsome husband.

A perfect plant table once I paint it black and place a tile on top. 

ManDan really wanted these lyre back chairs. I plan on re-upholstering them. 

Lamps. Need new shades. Where do you buy lamp shades???

Table. Needs some work. Will be restained or painted. 

We got this for free! We are thinking of painting it blue... not sure yet. 

Our bedroom dresser! We have already started refinishing this. Before and after post to come. 

The matching chest of drawers. It has a bottom drawer, ManDan was just working on it. 

Our couch! So pretty!

 Had a loose spring and a broken brace, but ManDan fixed it all up. 

I am so happy right now. I just feel that I am in at a really good place in life. I am loving being married.  I don't care that our furniture is used. I am really enjoying fixing it up together. Can't wait to get settled in the apartment! 

p.s. I added Blogs I Follow over there in the side bar if you are interested.