Since the lilies that Mr. Bean gave me for our seven-month-a-versary were finally in bloom, I thought I would try and take some fancy ring shots. Here’s my favourite:

Apparently my rings really don’t like being in focus – they’re camera shy!

Have you tried to take photos of your ring? Let’s see them!

With the masses of cards you receive from all your showers, parties and wedding guests?

Why is there always such a battle between sentimental things and clutter?

What would you do?

Was Yesterday! We didn’t do much special for our first 1/2 anniversary last night, but we did go out to Field on the weekend. For those of you who didn’t know, Field was the location of our honeymoon. I think the Rockies are a great place for a honeymoon or a romantic weekend getaway!

Us by Emerald Lake (hidden in the background) on our somewhat wet honeymoon. (It rained a lot. But we still had lots of fun!)

Where is your ideal weekend getaway?

I received this coupon from PhotoinPress in my inbox today, so I thought that I would share:

From February 2 to February 14, 2009
Get 15% discount
on your book order
Enter Coupon Code:
FEB15

 You can see my experiences with PhotoinPress here. PhotoinPress is especially good for any Canadians out there given the exchange rate and that you don’t have to pay customs!

… or at least your girlfriends.

NINE WORDS WOMEN USE

(1) Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

(2) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house.

(3) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine.

(4) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don’t Do It!

(5) Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.)

(6) That’s Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That’s okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

(7) Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or faint. Just say you’re welcome. (I want to add in a clause here – This is true, unless she says ‘Thanks a lot’ – that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say ‘you’re welcome’ . that will bring on a ‘whatever’).

(8) Whatever: Is a woman’s way of saying F– YOU!

(9) Don’t worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking ‘What’s wrong?’ For the woman’s response refer to # 3.

* Send this to the men you know, to warn them about arguments they can avoid if they remember the terminology.

* Send this to all the women you know to give them a good laugh, cause they know it’s true!!!

Have you ever been guilty of any of these? I know I am. Especially “Fine,” “Nothing,” and “That’s Okay.” Perhaps I should show this to Mr. Bean to stop the disconnect?

So as most of you know (or know now), Mr. Bean and I bought a condo together before we got married. Now, it’s coming time to decorating things and I desperately need help! Any opinions would be wonderful!

Thanks!

… and created a newlywed blog. It probably won’t be super exciting, but I’ll try my best. It’s still “under construction”, but what isn’t?

http://www.withoutadornment.wordpress.com

I will probably do some kind of wedding recap. Then perhaps a few more wedding related things to help me deal with PWTS and show off my wonderful husband. Or if I am feeling creative.

As a peace offering, I will give you this cute picture with my dog:

That's Lucky being held by Mama Bean.

Just for the record, I love my dog.

I was reading something and I came along this game called “Love, Hate, Friendship or Marriage?”

Here are the rules:

“The origin of this game is unknown. In olden times, the game was played as follows: A curious lass (though we don’t suppose there would be any harm if it were a lad) would write down her name, and the name of the lad (or lass) to whom her heart belonged.

She would then examine every letter in her name, and if it appeared in his name she would cross it off in each name. She would then label the remaining letters with L, H, F, and M (for Love, Hate, Friendship, and Marriage), repeated from the beginning of her name, to the end of his. Whatever letter was used last was said to indicate the kind of relationship the two of them could expect in the future.”

- Villainy Amusements

Happily, I played this game with both my married name and my maiden name and it said that we were destined for marriage. That’s good, for the damage has already been done

(Note: I blocked out our last name for privacy sake )

You can find out what your destiny is with the person of your interest here. What is your result?

Mr. Bean and I received a gift from my great aunts this week (actually delivered to Mama Bean’s Office, I’m not sure why) that wasn’t on our registry. That might raise some ire from some people, but this gift was really cool: A handcrafted 16th century memory bench.

This is what the tag on the bench said:

“This Memory Bench was requested and carved especially for you. It is a reproduction of a 16th century English joint stool whose pieces are joined together using a method known as mortis and tenon, with the bottom rails allowing the user to keep their feet off the cold stone floor.

Some of the original stools built 400 years ago are still in use today. In their day, these stools were the common form of seating at a time when the chair was reserved for the lord and lady of the house.

Often they were decorated with carvings of repeated patterns and shapes, or years or initials. This custom has evolved into what you have received today.

May it serve you well for many years.”

Our carvings, as you probably guessed it, are our names and our wedding date. How cool is that?

Pretty, no? I’m sure it’ll make lots of memories

Both Mr. Bean and I really appreciate this gift and it will be a good “heirloom” type item, but given that we’re both fairly practical people, we’re not entirely sure what to do with it. We don’t want to ruin it, which puts it out of daily living use and we think it deserves a bit more love than being just an end table. Any ideas?

That’s me. But I’m done 3/4 of my formal education of my post secondary degree! Woo! But guess what that means? Unhindered wedding planning! …until I start work on Monday. (But the best thing about working is no homework = free evenings!) It also means that I can actually update this blog *and* get things done so that I can look like this

instead of this.

(The funny thing is that I have the same hair as the latter.)

First thing on my list (after cleaning my room, of course) is to finish our second round of invitations and send them out. (I know, I know, I’m breaking the rules of etiquette, but I think that sometimes convenience > etiquette. I know, I’m a rebel.)

More updates to come soon!