The Nest

The Wedding Playlist - the Universal Divide

Posted Monday, July 07, 2008 9:38 AM

For my fellow knotties preparing for honeymoons or getaways: Summer Reading List

Posted Friday, July 04, 2008 9:04 PM

Hey,

 

I'm a bibliophile and I wanted to share a summer reading list that I'm working on this summer and into this fall (Thanks to my fav author Jen Lancaster's website).  I can attest to the the Emily Giffin book (I'm reading it now - very good!!!)  I would also recommend Jen Lancaster's books as well

From Jennsylvania.Com 

 "Anyway, Tan Lines isn't officially released until July 8, but sometimes you can find books in the store early.  If you can't get one yet, don't fret.  I've been meaning to write up a reading list for a while, so why not do it right this minute in lieu of getting any further on my manuscript which is due at the end of the summer and which I won't get to for about five days while I'm poolside AND THERE'S NO STRESS HERE?

Thus I give you Jen's Summer Reading Series.  (Now with links that actually go where they're supposed to and one more bit of required reading.)

I highly recommend any of the following for all your beach-read needs:

Bringing Home the Birkin by Michael Tonello - I loved this book SO MUCH.  Tonello describes his pursuit of the Hermes Birkin bag in such beautiful places that I actually felt like I was somewhere exotic, and not just stuffed in a middle seat on my way to Cincinnati.  I would also like him to be my gay boyfriend but I suspect I'd feel all untucked and ungainly next to him.  He's completely FAB.

Girls in Trucks by Katie Crouch - I'm obsessed with books about Southern women and this one does not disappoint.  Southern sensibility plus ennui equals a riveting novel. 

 

Love the One You're With by Emily Giffin - Another great story by Giffin.  I think she's brilliant because she has the ability to make me feel like I'm living inside her character's head.

Chasing Harry Winston by Lauren Weisberger - I ignored the less than flattering reviews and bought the book anyway.  Because you know what?  Sometimes critics are just jealous.  Chasing Harry Winston is big fun and Weisberger does a great job creating three distinct and diverse heroines.  THIS should be the next book made into a Sex and the City-type series.  Loved it! 

 

Are You There Vodka, It's Me, Chelsea by Chelsea Handler - I bought it for the title alone and laughed the entire way through it.  I'd want us to be friends, too, but I'm afraid she'd be the funny one and I just can't have that. 

Moose: A Memoir of Fat Camp by Stephanie Klein - I inhaled this book like a bag of Cheetos.  Fascinating and raw, I was not able to put it down.  (Except to get more candy.)

Driving Sideways by Jess Riley - This is the ultimate roadtrip book.  Jess busts out the word "shittastic" within the first two pages and that alone makes it worth buying right this minute.  (Available at Target, too!)

Half-Assed by Jennette Fulda - A weight loss memoir where the author not only doesn't hate herself, but also loses half her body weight by working hard.  Read it and be inspired!

The Gatecrasher by Madeleine Wickham - Even though I love me some Becky Bloomwood/Sophie Kinsella, I really dig when Wickham puts out books under her real name.  These novels are often a bit darker and she doesn't tie every ending up with a giant, shiny, very American bow.  Definitely worth a read.

All We Ever Wanted Was Everything by Janelle Brown - Oh my God, this one consumed me for four straight days.  I was so wrapped up in it I didn't even use my iTouch on the plane back from Boston, which is really saying something since I had new episodes of both Denise Richards' and Dina Lohan's new shows.  It is an AMAZING novel of loss, redemption, and, best of all, revenge. "

 

Wife - that's me!

Posted Friday, July 04, 2008 9:02 PM

So I have absent from blogging - oh don't worry. I harassed my florist to no avail, convinced my mom to pay me back for the additional room I had to purchase via Hotels.com (A necessary evil). I told my FI's boss that the FI didn't want a big production of the wedding invite (which is SO true - despite the fact that he insisted we have church wedding; me - the beach and ten friends). I have been hauling the last of my belongs from old apartment in Fairfax to my new apartment home in Alexandria and storage unit. I have been coordinating guest arrangements with momma and have been coordinating with my BMs about a trip to NYC.

 

So yeah - I have been busy but even with all that, I could blog but over the last few days my FI has gotten very ill. His head was aching persistently, his muscles were soar, his eyesight was out of focus, and finally his inability to stand or walk for long periods of time. I took him to the doctor Tuesday to find out that he is suffering from a sinus infection. The doctor prescribed an antibiotic and sent us away. Wednesday, I'm at home feeling unwell and taking care of a sick partner. During Wednesday and into Thursday, my FI got consistently worse despite the fact that he was taking antibiotics and pain medication. I took my partner back to the doctor to find out that antibiotic he was prescribed was acting adversely with his body (yikes) so another doctor patiently took time and talked us - got the FI some necessary fluids (he refused food for 48 hours) and medication. So at 2 am this morning, I left the clinic and took my FI home and now presto - he's slowly becoming normal again. I feel bad shirking off girlfriends to take care of my sick partner but at the same time I feel guilty leaving him alone for more than hour (I did so yesterday to go work - yeah I waited by the phone all day scared that something bad would happen)

Although, my worry has been the health of my partner - I'm realizing that my wedding not a way to show off but an public expression of our love and devotion (yeah it took me that long to realize that I'm not merging but converging...I think). I'm off to convince my FI that liquids are necessary and that we DON'T want to go back to the doctor.So in honor of my new found and happily accepted role in life (officially to get the title in a about month) I'm going to don my best pearls (I have several), coach bag, and skirt to Mass tomorrow - very Donna Reed!

"Wanted" and I don't mean myself

Posted Monday, June 30, 2008 9:49 AM

Wanted": one sense of security and sanity in this crazy nine months of wedding planning.  I just want to reflect on the haze that has been my weekend - insecurity and all.

 

Friday, I went to David's Bridal ready to do battle - when I got there, serene and calm was the atmosphere.  I asked to see my dress.  Beautiful and pressed with its single button bustle and all.  In fact, the nice woman who took my measurements came and ensured the dress was perfect and she put back into its packaging.  I was scared straight by another's Knottie's experience - no such luck in finding medicority in my experience with the seamstresses - only the sales staff.

I returned home with my dress when my parents called - nothing strikes fear into me more than that right now.  Fortunately, the gods were smiling because the rents were happy and willing to pay for programs contigent on the fact that they were printed on fans-huh?  Whatever, bring the old lady style on!

Later on that night, I went to dinner with friends to celebrate my 26th birthday at the Union Street Public House in Olde Town Alexandria.  So nice and good drinks - my FI was happy with the large rum and cokes and bar scene was pretty hip.  Dinner was nice, girls on one side, guys on another.  Our discussion took a fruitful turn toward sex - funny.  A few years ago (college - so five years ago), I played DIRTY SANTA with my sorority sisters and their dates at a friends Dirty X-Mas party (that should say something).  Me, being the every faithful virgin, decided to bargain for the Karma Sutra.  After 2 hours, I walked away with my prize - 300 plus pages of pictures, positions and "guidance" on the art of love.  So cut to five years later, moving in my FI and my book was lying on the bed (I swear it was prize, I have NEVER USED IT) and my friends were touring new place.  My friends walked in the bedroom and stopped and stared straight at the bed where the book was.  Needless to say, my afternoon nap took on new meaning.  So my friend was teasing me about napping - Oh, Kristen, you LOVE TO NAP.  My FI, coworker, and her friend stop their conversations and join in saying how much they love to nap - not understanding my friend's meaning.  When explained, we coined a new meaning for the popular sleep break. 

 

After the dinner, we walked back toward the car when my friend quickly said she wanted to go....HUH?  I'm not sure if she was uncomfortable with my FI's outward and frequent shows of affection which I believe to be the case.  Either way, the FI had to be subtly and quietly informed to tone it down while we had coffee and desert up King Street.  We parted ways and headed home.

 

Saturday, I had to bust a nut (C&C music factory style) and go my old FFX apartment to gather a few bins, some small boxes, and to have my jewelry cleaned.  I got to the mall and the girl literally took one look at my FI's ring and said "It's okay" - yeah, she can't do anything if it hasn't been worn but I still had to bring all the set in for the warrranty to be in place - WASTE OF GAS.  I headed home, took a nap (literally - don't laugh), and set out to find my new storage unit.  Very nice and we got  deal - we don't pay rent for 2 months!!!  We hit the grocery store and then went to an apartment mixer that our leasing company threw for the residents.  I got to meet my neighbors - very nice.  Later, I went to Mass, where I found out that the source of my stress may increase or decrease due in part to community deciding that the responsibility is not what he wanted - I'm proud that he realized that he couldn't do it but at the same time he did state he could do it two weeks ago - better now than a year from now.  While heading to Mass, I get an email from my dad stating

 

"Kristen....I tried to tell you that where you are having your wedding is too far for my family.  They wont even drive to Opelika yet along to Washington DC....Its too far for them to travel.....Hell anywhere outside of Alabama is too for them to drive or fly.....I have told all my relatives about your wedding plans and none has agreed to come or consider coming...dad"

 

Which upset me but at the same time validated my reason to have a wedding on MY TERMS.  Why should I make something available to people who don't really care?  My FI told me that if we did have the wedding in his hometown, the same thing would happen.  Which is so funny, my family expects so much (or at least my parents do) in order to support them but when its time for me to shine - where is everyone?  Funerals, family reunions, so and so needs money or my case needs my furniture - nothing reciprocated.  When people ask who is going to be at my wedding, I tell them, the people who need to be there will be there.  Nuff said.  I ignored the comment by going to a pub (yeah I know after Mass) and indulged in some drinks (one for me) with the FI then home to watch National Treasure 2.

Sunday, I got my hair done!!! 

 

 

Nice huh?  The stylist couldn't do either Mariska or Rihanna (earlier post) b