Officially Mrs. "Duke"

Yep I'm a married woman!  "Duke" is what everyone calls my HUSBAND (so bizarre to say that!), it's a shorter version of his uber-Polish last name....which I now get the privilege of using for the rest of my life :o)

Quick summary:
Matt was just the most handsome thing on 2 feet on Friday, I cried like a baby walking down the isle (darn it, I really thought I'd be OK), the vows were so romantic...traditional and unique to us at the same time, our photographer was taking some gorgeous shots ( I didn't even look like myself in his camera!), the weather was hot, but PERFECT, reception was AMAZING, but went too fast!, I danced my tushy off...so did Matt!, I felt the most beautiful I've ever felt, my sister gave the BEST wedding toast I have ever heard (I hope she posts it so you can all laugh & cry like we did,, my super shy brother got on the mic and toasted us as well which I thought was just the sweetest thing....and my feet STILL hurt, lol!!!

Off to Bermuda today!!

2 Days to Go!

I have been reading all of your lovely Blogs, but I really haven't had much time to post anything of my own!

I've been running around like a mad woman!  Ever get that feeling like you are forgetting something?  Ugh, I just can't shake it.  I wrote a bunch of lists, but it just doesn't seem like it's all there.

Anyhoo, on Saturday my sister, friend and 2 of my cousins went out for a little girl time.  We painted pottery and then had a really nice dinner at the Rattlesnake Cafe.  They have things like buffalo, ostrich, and alligator.  I was not that adventurous, I had the chicken tacos...mmm.  I want to take Matt there, he'd really like it.  The watermelon margarita was SO good.  Then we met up with the guys later in the night and hung out at the bar (walking distance from my house...woot).  I had a little more to drink then usual...and felt it the next morning.  But it really was a lot of fun.

The boys are picking up their tuxes tonight and tomorrow is the rehearsal.  I'm looking forward to that.  My best friend SHOULD be in NJ by then. 

And it's looking like the weather is going to be nice after all!  So happy for that.  I know it doesn't matter, but lets not kid ourselves, we all want sunny and gorgeous on our wedding day!

Off to Bermuda on Sunday, I'll try to get pictures up as soon as I'm back!!!!!  xoxo

Hello, My name is...

...Marie, and I'm a Cosmetic-holic.

I just can't stop myself!  I see a good review of a product, or a color that I know would look fabulous on my skin and I HAVE TO HAVE IT! 

Before wedding planning, the only clutter I had on my sink was hand soap, and other usual's like toothpaste/brushes.  And probably my hair brush and flat iron.  But NOW, my sink looks like it threw up a beauty supply store.

In the last 2 days I have placed orders with MAC and ULTA, last week I bought stuff from the Clinique counter at Macy's and a primer from Sephora.  Plus all the other crap I have purchased in the last few months.  This has got to stop already!  In my mind tho, if I just buy what I want need now, it will last a while and I won't have to buy it again until it runs out.

I never and I mean NEVER was interested in make-up up until the last year.  I didn't start wearing anything until well into high school and even then it was just eyeliner and mascara.  Once in my 20's I added an eyeshadow and lip gloss, but nothing crazy, I probably had one quad from the drugstore. 

From this point forward....no more products!  Really.  I swear.

In other wedding news...my best friend/Maid of Honor is on a European vacation until the 2nd (2 days before my wedding) and I'm a tad worried about any lingering volcanic ash.  Happy Thoughts.

Food Glorious FOOD!!

Man, I am so hungry after today!

We went to our venue to choose our menu, cake and table stuff.  I knew they had a lot to pick from, but I had no idea how much we would actually be allowed to choose.  Let me just tell you, we are getting so much for our money!  Everyone keeps telling me to make sure I eat on that day...if I don't get to eat any of the cocktail hour items, I'm going to be PISSED, lol.

Mac & Cheese poppers, mini crab cakes, filet mignon on garlic croustade, herb crusted pork loin, quesadillas, and that's just the tip of the iceberg kids!

For dinner it will be a chicken and spinach ravioli appetizer, salad, chateaubriand and lobster tail for the main course (yes, both on 1 plate!) veggies and smashed red potatoes.  Holy crap!

For dessert of course there will be wedding cake (complete with our cute little squirrels on the top!), and each guest will also get 3 mini pastries on their plate :o)

I seriously can't wait!!!

Later, I discovered this awesome website you can buy gift certificates that you print from home.  Well, I found a promo code that takes 80% off the price!  I bought $120 worth of certificates for a little over $9!  The offer code is ZOO (the website Travel Zoo is offering up this sweet deal) and it's good until 5/13.  Enter it in while you are in the shopping cart..you can pay with a credit card or paypal then print and EAT!  Who knew?!  What a great way to be able to try out a new restaurant. 

Phew!  Still hungry, lol.  I think I'll go to bed now...to dream of steak and lobster.....

One Month to Go!!

I can't even believe it!

There is a lot happening already in these last few weeks.  We are having our pre-wedding meeting with our photographer to go over all the pictures we'd like taken...and final payment too.  Our ceremony/reception site has been trying to get a hold of us to make menu selections, but we've been playing phone tag.  I hate that.  And I got the call that my dress is ready to go!  I made an appointment for next Thursday so that my sister can come with me to learn how to do the bustle. 

I can not wait to see if it fits with the alterations that were done.  It should be fine, I thought that I had lost that "last 5 lbs" but apparently the new scale that I got has been lying to me this entire time!  I got on 2 of my mom's scales this morning and I am exactly the same weight.  Which is fine, but I really thought I had been working hard!  Well I have been, but just not with the results I was hoping for.  On the up side, I have calf muscles...I've never had calf muscles, lol.

Matt and I decided last night that we will not exchange wedding gifts.  We were going to, but the more we talked about it, the more we realized that we'd rather save the money and start putting it towards our dream home.  We hope to start looking next year.  Condo living is just not for us anymore.  We want a big back yard and a garage and it'd be nice to not hear what our neighbors are doing at all hours of the day.  OH and we are surrounded by smokers...and with this lovely Spring weather and open windows, our condo smells like an ashtray, nice, right?  If you want to smoke, that's fine, but I have a problem when it enters our smoke-free home.

Anyway, enough of that...there are happy things ahead!!

It Was a Beautiful Day for a Shower!

It really was.  It was a little overwhelming, but overall I loved every minute.  I wasn't sold on the idea of a shower and registering for things, but I was happy my mom talked me into it.  There was laughing and crying and EATING.  I got some amazing things that I wasn't expecting at all.  My mom and sister went above and beyond the call of Shower Planning Duty.

They had a sort of Kitchen themed party.  So Tina sent out recipe cards with the invites so that everyone could bring me one of their favorite recipes along with a non-perishable item for the wishing well.  I scored HUGE here...Matt's grandmother gave me her recipe for this Polish cookie she makes around the holidays with the fillings for them.  I can not wait to make them!  This is the one cookie (among a million other Polish dishes she makes) that I drool over while at her house!  There were a good mix of main dishes, soups and desserts.  I can't wait to try some of them.

My family and friends were so generous to bring such nice things for me.  Among the usual's were lingerie, pots and pans, bake wear.  My sister totally surprised me with a sewing machine!  I can not even tell you how excited I am to learn how to do this with her!  She made me the coolest aprons and oven mitt! 

I don't want to go on and on, so here are some pictures from the day!

I had just opened a locket with a picture of my grandmother inside (I can pin it to my bouquet).  She's been gone for almost 4 years, but we miss her everyday. 

The cake is was white cake, raspberry mousse filling and chocolate buttercream...it was awesome.

I couldn't have asked for a better day!

40 Days and Counting!!!

Yay Weekend!

Over all it's been a pretty good week...other than my poor Devils getting knocked out of the playoffs last night with their horrific display in the last 2 games.  I'll get over it just in time for the season to start up again in October.  Until then I will cheer on my aunt's team, the Detroit Red Wings...all season long we have a great time poking fun at each others teams, but when one of our teams loses in the play offs we graciously root for the other.

On to other things...My shower is tomorrow!  I'm really excited!  It's going to be really small, nothing fancy.  But it will be nice to have a get together with the girls in the family.  Unfortunately, my best friend who is my Maid of Honor (Tina is my Matron of Honor) will not be able to attend.  She lives in North Carolina and is in her last semester at college.  She has finals so she needs to stay and finish up.  I can't lie, I was a tad upset when I found out she wouldn't be there, but I understand she has school.  And in her LAST ever semester, she needs to do well.  It's not the end of the world I guess.

My mom and Matt's mom chatted on the phone yesterday.  His mom is so cute.  Matt is an only child, so this is a pretty big deal for his parents.  She is so excited and wants to help do anything she can.  I am so lucky that I ended up with a man that has a great relationship with his mom.  It makes it so easy for me to get along with her.  She told my mom how much she and her husband love me and that they are so happy to have me be a part of their family.  Which, in my current emotional state made me a little teary!  

I can't wait to post after Saturday!  I'm going to take as many pictures as I can.  I'm used to being the photographer at every event, so I'm not sure how this is going to work, but I'll find a way :o)

Have a great weekend!!!