Wow, it's been a while.

I had a very strong urge to log in and blog today. I hadn't felt that need in a long time and I don't even know if half of my bloggy friends still blog. It's amazing how Jumble Mash use to be apart of my daily life and then life got really busy. I'm not saying I'm making a comeback, but I am saying, I miss it.

I opened up the blog and realized the very last thing I wrote about was introducing my new niece to the world. She's now an amazingly beautiful and smart 1+ year old who I still cannot get enough of. I follow her around all the time with my camera and these are the looks I usually get. I imagine she is saying, "Would you puh-lease stop taking pictures and just play with me?"

Also since then, I of course got married to the love of my life. The wedding was fabulous and as nervous as I was and at most times overwhelmed, it was all so worth it. It did go by in a blur, but the blur is full of happy memories and very little hiccups.

But even before that, in March of last year, our landlord approached us and told us they wanted to sell the house we were living in. So Hubby and I took the plunge and we bought our first house. A one story, three bedroom, two bathroom little house in a cul-de-sac with a huge fenced in back yard for our dog to play. You remember Bowen, don't you? We thought about getting another dog when we moved in for him to play with but then we were given a whole new task. Two little baby kittens showed up at a co-workers house and needed a home. I was just going to take one, until I convinced Hubby that separating them was just cruel. And so, we took them both. 



Now





Then



I am so very thankful that we did not separate them, because after a year, they still cannot get enough of each other. Charlie is the orange one and the cuddle bug. Ash is the little girl who only likes to be petted on her own terms. And don't worry, Bowen took them right under his wing...er...paw.

 But all of that excitement, all of those changes don't even compare to what is in store for us next.

Stay tuned :)

Updates!

Hello all my bloggy friends! I actually have some time today to blog a little and wouldn't you know, Blogger would make my reading list disappear! According to them, I am not following any blogs whatsoever.

Anyways, I miss you all and I hope everyone had a great holiday season. It's back to normal now, which means, I'm back to wedding planning. I don't know what I hate more. The stress of wedding planning or the stress of the holidays.

I do have a few updates for you. My sister is ready to have her baby any day now. She had to go to the hospital yesterday because she thought she was in labor, but baby Neveah just isn't ready yet.

Fiance got transferred to a new location which is much closer to home, so I will get to see him a little more! And we've decided to finally take the plunge and BUY a house. No more renting. One of my good friends doubles as a real estate agent and I've got him on the hunt!

Last week I booked our honeymoon. We were planning on going to Disney and Universal Studios, but since we've decided to buy a house, we're going to save that money for a down payment. But we will be spending the week in a fancy resort where I'll spend time at the spa while Fiance does whatever it is he does.

Happy Thursday!

Jumble Bells

With the help of Amy, my wedding blog, Jumble Bells, is now up and running!

So, for all of you that could care less about my wedding, you don't have to read it!

And for all of you that do care...come on over!

Saving Money

So, no wedding blog yet. Actually I still can't think of a title, but anyways. I have some exciting news to share with you guys.

I am really racking my brain trying to cut costs in every way I can. Weddings are freaking expensive in case you haven't heard.

My awesome dad is covering most of the costs, but the decorations, invitations, programs, and dress are up to me. So how do I save money on flowers?

Step 1.
Decide that fake flowers will be just as nice as real flowers, especially when you have an aunt that is crafty as hell and would absolutely LOVE to put together some nice flower arrangements for you.

Step 2.
Shop around local crafts stores and Wal Mart. Realize that paying $2.00 per FAKE rose is ridiculous and start feeling like a failure.

Step 3.
Call sister and complain. When she seems distracted and acts likes she doesn't care if you can't afford flowers for a wedding, hang up and pout.

Step 4.
Put on a determined face and turn to the interwebs.

Step 5.
Ebay.

Step 6.
Find a seller that is offering 252 red roses for $37.99 with FREE shipping.

Step 7.
Faint.

Step 8.
Realize that it's too good to be true and start researching.

Step 9.
Determine that the seller has tons of positive feedback and the flowers have a 60 day money back guarantee.

Step 10.
Then debate with yourself whether or not it is too early to buy flowers.

Step 11.
Tell self to shut the hell up and click Buy already.

Step 12.
Do a happy dance because you just saved $466.01.

Cha Ching.

Come Closer...I Have Something to Show You

So...Fiance's best friend happens to go to art school and is an excellent photographer.

A week before our vacation/engagement he took our pictures.

I'm thinking....these could totally be engagement pictures. I only have a few of them back so far and I know I never ever share photos of myself, but hey, I love you guys and I think its about time you see us! And once I get them all back, maybe I'll hold a vote and you guys can pick which one(s) will go in the newspaper, save the dates and what not. Yeah? Yay!

And that's only 4 out of 120!

Also, I am thinking about starting a separate blog for wedding stuff in true Steph fashion so that people who could care less about my wedding don't have to read it! What do you guys think? I know...I know...I can barely keep up with Jumble Mash. Shush. :)

The Story

First: THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE LOVELY MESSAGES!!!! They were seriously 20 times better than the messages my RL friends sent me. I was more excited to check the blog than to check my Facebook for comments! Imagine that!

Anyways....

Are you all anxious to hear my engagement story? No? Well too bad, cuz I'm gonna tell you anyway :)

We woke up to an absolutely gorgeous morning on Friday  (Friday the 13th might I add) and decided we would check out the Maid of the Mist.

Source

We got very lucky with missing crowds the entire vacation and the Maid was no exception. We only waited ten minutes before we got on the boat and made our way to the falls. It was freezing and really windy and really wet but it was amazing. A site that cannot be explained with words.

Feeling pretty freaking giddy about the whole thing, we got off the boat, took some pictures of ourselves in our ponchos and determined that we were hungry.

From the very start of vacation planning, I insisted that we just HAD to check out the Top of the Falls Restaurant.

Right behind where I stood to take this photo was the waterfall. Amazing view.

To get to the restaurant, you have to walk across Goat Island which is beautiful. It has trails that lead you right down to the falls.

Looks like you are pretty much in the water! And that bridge you see in the background? That's the bridge to Canada. But we couldn't go across because we didn't have passports. Boo.

Anywho...so upon walking to the restaurant, we happen upon a little trail off of the path that led right down to the water that was getting ready to go over the falls.

That's Boyfriend Fiance (that's going to take some getting use to), checking out the rapids. BUT! He was actually plotting!

I turned around to look at the water and watch it rush passed us. Then I turned around and he was on one knee.

It took my breath and I stared at him. He smiled and said, "Will you marry me?"

And I said squealed, "Are you serious?"

He shook his head and then I started jumping up and down saying "Yes, Yes, Yes" over and over again.

Then we kissed. Then we hugged. And then we cried.

It was truly perfect.

Now, I am pretty certain that I am going to have a heart attack before the wedding planning is over. Everyone is shouting out ideas and telling me things I HAVE to get and what I should skip. Like, I had no idea there were SO MANY DETAILS.

I've only been to two weddings. Ever. And the first one, I was like 5.

So I'm kinda hoping I can afford a wedding planner. Anyone need a job? :)

News from Niagara Falls

I am engaged!!!!
Boyfriend Fiance took me to a little place off the beaten path that was right next to the water on a huge rock. I looked out at the water and when I turned around he was on one knee. We both cried. I asked him if he was messing with me. He said no. And then just like that...we are engaged.