30 Best Dates

Here is a post of great dates I have experienced over this past 1 1/2 years.
Best Dates in no particular order
1. July 15, 2008 Hazelwood and Oaxaca in Ballard (First date with Paolo, nice choice)
2. Shopping spree to Nordstrom to buy a couple dresses for summer weddings and then Alibi Room
3. Ferry to Alki Beach
4. Bowling on Valentines after an amazing home cooked meal (Wait, this was my planned surprise)
5. Surprise concert at Triple Door to see Damien Jurado
6. Date in a bag. This included a Sarah Silverman DVD
7. Pumpkin Patch in Carnation
8. Date in Winthrop
9. A month after dating, a trip to Vancouver B.C.
10. Birthday weekend, including a party for me at The Loft and St. Nicholas wine tour in Woodinville
11. Asado anniversary dinner (during the dinner we changed our anniversary due to kissing complications)
12. Nutcracker
13. Ballet that was the Director's choice. This included wonderful music by Frank Sinatra
14. 4th of July in Tacoma (It was our first 4th of July)
15. Dinner at Paolo's in Kent, WA (my surprise idea, but I didn't pay)
16. Date under the lilac tree on our patio and 2 bottles of wine
17. Golden Gardens and Paseo sandwiches
18. Pike Place Market always
19. Tatanka Take Out in Tacoma and Point Defiance
20. Weekend in Mazama
21. Chicago everything
22. Palm Desert, CA
23. Mariners game
24. Sunset hike
25. Numerous Italian meals
26. When Paolo brought home different kinds of soup to try from Infinite Soups
27. Black Bottle dates
28.Sounders games
29. Felicity dates
30. The day I got engaged. Started with Dinner at Purple, soccer game, and drinks at New Orleans

Truthfully, I basically have two dates from the past that I remember. I have been blessed with way more than 30 in the last 1 1/2 years, so it doesn't really matter.

The WA reception venue

On Sunday, Amanda and I went to check out a reception venue option that my Aunt Rhonda suggested.

The Aqua Club is way north in Lake Forest Park/Kenmore, but it looks like a good option. The size is right and it's basically one big open room with a nice, retro fireplace and beyond vaulted ceilings.

The big attraction: $250 for the whole day.

Here are the pictures. Use your imagination with the decorations. I think it will be awesome.

Bride + MOH

Hot.

Famous last words from the Best Man

I was talking to Scott today about what the groomsmen are wearing at the wedding.

Scott replied, "My only concern is that I'll look better than the bride."

Ladies, cock those hands back. Release May 15, 2010!

Wedding party announcements!

Green Was My Thang

Green was my color and just to let all of you know, it still is. I just have yellow on my mind a lot these days and I am starting to think about what flowers we should go with for the wedding. I am blessed because my Aunt is amazing at arranging flowers, so she will be a huge help. As I was browsing the internet tonight I found a wedding website that I think will be useful. Let me know what you think. So many shades of YELLOW!

I Want To Be

I want to be a stay-at-home fiancee. I am not going to lie about this. There are a million things to get done around the house and in the house, but I need 40+ hours a week to do them. I think I would be an amazing fiancee and roomie if I only had the time to get everything done.

I am considering a new career and think I want it to be in hospitality management.

I would wake up at 7 a.m. every morning, make coffee, feed Fabrizio, and pack lunches.

Monday would be laundry day and this is how it would go... After the first load of laundry was in the washer I would go on my run. After running, I would put the washer load in the dryer and then shower. After my shower I would enjoy a cup of coffee with breakfast and straighten the house. Just an FYI to everyone, I have stopped putting Paolo's clothes away. He needs to figure out where his clothes belong since he hasn't done his laundry since July of 2008.

Around lunch time, I would eat a light snack and work in the yard for two hours with Fabrizio. After working in the yard I would take a break and read the newspaper. I never know what's going on because I don't have time to catch up on the news and I used to be a news junky. The news is the one thing I would watch on TV.

After the news I would figure out dinner. Either I would get all the ingredients and prep out of the way for one of the boys or I would be on dinner duty for the night.

Tuesday would be similar, but I would volunteer, and then hit the 6th and Pine market around 2:30 p.m. for groceries.

Wednesday, meet with ladies for coffee.

Thursday, another market day and volunteer.

Friday, get ready for a romantic date night.

Saturday, walk to market.

Sunday, church.

Of course on all of these days I would straighten the house, exercise, read a few books each week, and do what is needed in the yard. But a huge priority of mine would be to find places to volunteer. I have a huge passion for non-profits that are doing the right thing. I could give all the money in the world (that I don't have) and not feel like I am doing any good until I am involved.

I know this is a dream, but hopefully this is a dream that will come true a few years down the road.