Leave. the. Registry. Alone?

If I could change the caption on this cartoon, it would say, "I'll be back later -- I'm going to Marshall's to practice my registry buying resistance techniques."

I have a problem. No, it doesn't have to do with shoes or clothes (though that can be a problem). Yes, my problem is that I keep buying stuff off our registry. Our registry is small enough as it is and now I'm buying stuff off it.

I'm a Marshall's shopper (I admit it) and sometimes Ross. For some reason those stores can have an amazing house and kitchenware selection. Seriously. Mr. Joey and I went to Marshall's to stock up on socks and what do I see? Le Creuset dutch ovens in red. I would have bought it if I didn't already own it. Actually, I almost bought it to give as a present. Amazon.com price for the 4 and 1/2 quart dutch oven? $204.95. Marshall's? $65.99. Now you understand my problem.

So yes, we're at Marshall's buying socks over the weekend and I walk out of there with an OXO garlic press ($9.99), 2 OXO Good Grips Silicone Oven Mitt with Magnet ($2.50 each!) and a Kuhn Rikon Paring Knife ($4.99). Help!

This isn't the first time I've picked off the registry. We bought all our drinking glasses because I found them at Ross for $6.99 a set instead of the $29.99 Macy's was charging. I did check the quality and there are no dings, scratches or flaws we can't live with.

I also bought two 6 piece sets of Laguiole Steak Knives for $8.00 a set. Seriously?

These retail between $40-100 a set. So I have two problems actually. 1. I'm cheap. I can't stand to ask someone buy me a present that costs $60 when I know I can find the exact same item for $10. 2. I keep dealing with problem 1 by just buying stuff off our registry when it's on sale.

I have to say, our registry problem isn't limited to Marshall's and Ross. If I see one of my registry items on clearance at Macy's or Bed, Bath and Beyond, I usually buy it.

Anyone else have my problem? And when I think about it I wonder if it is a bad problem to have.

Different Dress Dilemma

No. There is no problem with my dress. I still love it. The dilemma is with sister/MOH Joey's dress.

We bought her dress months ago, way back in September I think. This cute little number was the perfect shade of yellow, came in petite and was on sale.

image

9 months later, we both still love her dress, but now were worried it won't fit. Having just experience an unexpected weight loss myself and being shocked by my own dress being too big, I was worried about her.

MOH Joey moved to Vicenza, Italy in October. Her husband is in the Army. I know that while she may not be actively working out, she's bound to have lost a bit a of weight. He dress fit her when she left, but it's possible it will be too big when she gets back.


Alterations, easy fit right? We're not so sure. The dress doesn't seem like the type that's easy to alter. On top of that, she won't get to Seattle until 10 days before the wedding. I'm not sure we'll have time to get it altered or know a place that can do it.


So I'm left with a few options. I could just buy a few dresses from places with good return policies. She could look in Italy. Or we could just risk it and wait until she's here.


Another option I like is finding her a nice standard black or grey dress when she's here and then dressing it up. We could add pleats (similar to the ones on my dress) on the bottom or I we could dress it up like Megan from Princess Lasertron did. I have tons of ton fabric left over from the table runners. Wierd I know, but it could be an interesting detail.

Lucky for us, she's it. I have no other bridesmaids so we don't have to worry about matching.


What do you ladies think? I'm open to ideas.

Not the Welcome We Were Hoping For

On Monday night I met Mr. Joey at the gym.  I had just finished spin class and was going to catch a ride home with him.  We caught up on each others day and as we pulled up to out apartment he said, "Oh, there's a package for you."  What package?  Hmm...the DRESS!  It was the dress.

I grabbed the package from Liza off the counter and ran to our room.  I busted though the envelopes to find a lovely dress that I was dying to try on.  Of course I was sweaty and foul smelling and couldn't possibly try the dress on right then and there.  So I showered, then had dinner (couldn't try it on with wet hair) and then tried the dress on.  Oh Sh** was my first reaction.  I looked like a Klingon.  The shoulders looked huge and the dress hung on me everywhere.  I took the dress off.  Hung it up and went to bed at 8pm.  I had a monstrous headache!  

In the morning I woke up and since I was working from home, decided to take a few minutes before getting dress (sweats and t-shirt) to look at dresses online.  I knew I still wanted a short dress but something else.  I found one I liked on Ebay and almost put in a bid ($49.99) but then decided I needed to try on my dress on more time.

What's the verdict?  You'll just have to stay tuned.  

The Verdict

Where did we leave off? Oh right, I was trying the dress on again. So yes, I tried it on again and the verdict?


I LOVE it. I don't know if it was my headache or the lighting or just being tired. It's perfect and it looks great with my shoes. The only thing is that it's too big. Yes! TOO BIG. I was measured for it in February and come May, it seems I've dropped a dress size or two.


So here are the pictures. I must warn you that they aren't great. I tried taking a picture of myself in the mirror but the flash blurred me out. I had to come into the back room and take the shots with iphotobooth. So I'm running back and forth from the computer while trying to hold my dress back. Then I tried to take a picture with my shoes, but that didn't turn out great. You'll see.

I definitely needs to be taken in a size or two. But I love it and am feeling not so Klingon-y anymore. Did you have second and third thoughts about your dress after you bought it?

Here She Comes!!

When I got home Friday night, I opened my email and saw this note:

"Hello Catherine,

I hope you are well! I just wanted to let you know that your custom pearl gray cotton sateen ruffle dress was shipped USPS Priority Mail today, 5/8. To track your package, you can go to www.usps.com and enter your tracking # 0307 xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx.

Your dress turned out so lovely! I really hope you enjoy wearing it on your wedding day!

Thanks again for supporting my designs! It was such a pleasure meeting you."

best,

liza rietz"

OMG!  It's on it's way!!!  The dress is on it's way.  I know it won't get here until Monday or Tuesday but I keep logging in to the USPS site to check.  Is it crazy that I kind of want to work from home next week so I can be here to welcome it when it arrives?

What wedding delivery did you stalk?

Can I handle it?

The passing of my beloved dog Mieko (PENGY - Can you please link to the Good Dog Down post?) got me thinking, can I have kids? Losing Mieko was like losing a sibling. It hurts so hard and so deep. My parents cried for days before and after -- so did I. He was part of our family and losing him is really, really hard.


Losing Mieko made me think about kids. If this what it's like to worry about the health of a dog, crap, what's it like with kids? Mr. Joey and I aren't 100% sure we wanted kids. When we first started dating he didn't want kids and I was sure I wanted them. As time passed, he's come around. His brother wasn't sure he wanted kids either. Both FBIL Joey and his wife were focused on their careers. FBIL Joey is a Professor and his wife is a Neurologist. But FBIL also came around and now Mr. Joey is uncle to two very cute little boys.


I, on the other hand, have gone the other way a little. I was so sure I wanted kids and then I got a job where I travel a lot. Could I really be a Mom and travel? Could I give up traveling? I know it sounds selfish but traveling is a disease for me. No joke. I get fidgety and tense if I haven't traveled in a while. My Dad worked on a Greek merchant ship for 10 years and traveled the world before he married -- it's in the blood. I've been actively traveling internationally since I was 16 years old. Could I really stop? And if I didn't stop, would it be fair to leave Mr. Joey to care for a child alone for weeks at a time?


I tell myself that if we decided to have kids, we'd figure it out. All parents do, right? But then Mieko gets sick and passes away and I wonder if I could handle a little Joey. Could I handle a little one getting sick? I'm not so sure. Could I even handle having another dog?


For all of you with kids, pregnant or sure you are having kids, how did you know? How did you know you could handle all the blessings that children bring and all of the heartache that is possible? For those of you who have lost a pet, how did you know you could love another furry?

A Good Dog Down

Mr. Joey and I don't have any pets. I really want a dog but we can't have them in the apartment. Mr. Joey is lobbying for a Vietnamese Potbelly pig. He says if they are good enough for Clooney (as in George) then they are good enough for us. Even though we don't have a dog together, I do have a dog -- Mieko. He's been part of the family for 13 years. He's half shar pei and half lab. Think of a dog that looks like a lab but is the size of a shar pei -- that's him.

When we picked out venues for the reception and ceremony, we didn't really consider having him be our ring dog. He hates crowds. Turns out that both our venues don't allow animals inside. No big deal since he wasn't taking part in the actual big day. The rehearsal dinner was another story. When we visited the house where the dinner is going to take place, I thought to myself, 'Hey, Mieko can come too.' The group will be small and he'd know most of the people there. I don't have to worry about him jumping into the lake or the pool because he hates water. He'd be happy just smelling all the new smells and rolling around on the pretty grass. Perfect.

Mieko enjoying Thanksgiving a few years back

Well, this happy evening isn't going to happen as planned. Our beloved dog has passed away this week. It was hard. It was sad. It was kind of sudden, but it was time. I really wish he could have been part of all the excitement of the wedding but I'm really glad he's not suffering anymore. When he passed, his liver was only working at 13% of its functionality.

I don't have a question for this post, just a request. For all of you who are lucky enough to have pets in your life, give them an extra rub, scratch or hug tonight.