Heading to Chicago!

I'm sitting in the airport right now, waiting for my fight to Chicago!  I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone!!

Not THE Dress and Forth Year Appointment News

I'm so glad that September is finally here and I'm actually home a few weekends!  And, that's given me time to get going on the wedding plans! 

 

Before I get into that, though, I wanted to tell you that I had my fourth year band checkup last week!  My fourth bandiversary isn't until October 23rd, but I went in earlier because the timing was better for me.  I also have been feeling a little freaked out that so many bandsters have been having problems with their bands, and wanted to talk to my doctor.

 

With Steve at a wine tasting out in the Hamptons over Labor Day weekend

 

 

Here is what my doctor told me:  She said that there is no reason to expect that I'll lose my band (which was a relief.. I thought she might tell me that I'd need to replace it before Year 10 or something, but she did not).  She also said that most problems that cause people to lose their bands are brought about by "self-abuse" (her words, not mine -- I'm just repeating here).  She said that what she meant by "self-abuse" was people keeping their bands overly tight, and pushing it on the eating front so that they were frequently having to vomit.  Obviously band loss can also be caused by faulty bands and bad installation, too -- but at four years out, if that was going to be an issue for me, I'd likely know it by now.

 

Another thing she told me, which I hadn't realized, is that I've been at my current fill level since June 4, 2010!  I had no idea -- that was over two years ago!  I also went back to look at my post about that adjustment and saw the nicest comment from Jackie, who told me that I "WILL FIND MR. RIGHT and he will adore you!"  Jackie, I can't even tell you how happy I am that you were right!!  It was so nice to go back and read that!

 

I also let Dr. Ren know that I've been having reflux sometimes at night, including while I'm sleeping.  I've been monitoring it, and realized that it only happens when I eat or drink close to bed time.  Guess what the solution is?  Um, don't eat or drink for 30 minutes before bed.... Doh.  She also said that I could take Prevacid to help with the reflux as well.

 

OK.... ON TO WEDDING TALK!!!  My mom was in town last weekend, and we went to "visit" two dresses that I'd liked (both shown below), and we went to two other bridal shops as well.  AND... I think I found my dress!!  I'm not going to post pictures of it because I don't want anyone to see it before the wedding.  But, I'll post two of the ones that I did like!

 

Here is the first one -- this was my no. 2 choice!  The "Lucy" by Le-a An-n B-e-l-ter

This may shock those of you who've read some of my more decadent shopping posts, but I am hell-bent on not spending a fortune on my wedding dress.  In fact, I pledged to myself not to spend more than $2,600, with a firm cap at $3K.  You'd think that would be a perfectly decent budget, but you should have seen how the shop girl (wearing a very cheap outfit, I might add.  Meow.) reacted when I told her my cap!!  You would think I'd said $50!!  Welllllll..... as it turns out, Shop Girl brought out several dresses that were close to what I wanted, but not right on.

 

Here is another one by Le-a An-n Be-l-t-er that I really liked.  None of these are from the store I'm talking about in the post... they had a STRICT (!) no photo policy!

At one point, she brought out a dress that was almost what I wanted, but the bottom was too pouffy.  So, I asked if she had something similar, but A-line.... and she brought out this great dress that she hadn't pulled for me earlier.  The minute I saw it, I knew that I was going to really like it.... and I got nervous ... just how much was this dress?!?  I asked, and Shop Girl said....... wait for it ........  $1,200!! It was by far the least expensive dress I'd tried on at that store, but I liked it by far the best!  How awesome!!

 

And, the best part??  I shopped around for that dress on-line, and found it at another store here in NYC for even less.  They have two versions -- one is $1090 (super long train, which I don't want), the other is only $900 (shorter train, which I probably do want)!  I'm going to go and try it on in a few days -- the shop is right by my office!

 
 A cute pic of my mom at our dress-shopping-day brunch!

What else??  Well, we've got our florist (Steve's talented cousin, who works with I-n-a G--ar-te-n) locked down, same with the cake (family friend who used to be an editor at G--o-ur-m-et is going to make it), and I found a great photographer, too!  So, we're getting there!!  It's really a lot of fun, and I'm enjoying it a lot!  It's nice that Steve is interested and involved, too.  He's such a wonderful guy. :)

WHEEEEEEEEEEW!!!

I'm breathing a major sigh of relief. I talked to my dad last night, and it turns out that he's going to be fine. No spread of cancer, thank God. He'll still have to undergo some treatment for the bit they found, but it does not sound life-threatening at all. (Er, Dad, I hope it's OK that I'm posting this on my blog.. let me know if not..)

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers... and please, keep 'em coming! :) xoxo

BC3 - CHICAGO!!!

I am SO GLAD that fall is here. I spent last Sunday in my apartment organizing, doing laundry, catching up on work and doing some wedding planning with Steve. It was so nice to spend the whole day in close proximity to my sofa... and Max, my cat!

That said, I do have some upcoming travel plans that I'm excited about! I decided to join the crew of bandsters -- and sleevesters -- in Chicago for BC3! I'm really looking forward to seeing the folks who I've gotten to know through the past (nearly four!) years of blogging, and the last two years' fun in Chicago, and can't wait to meet the people who are joining for the first time! I have some serious blog homework to do before the conference....