I’m a little late on this article, but better late than never.

This halloween we headed to Aurora to spend the weekend with the Leepers. We left our sweet, limping dog with my brother (who was slightly annoyed with all the love she gives). Friday night we went to downtown Naperville which reminds me of a bigger Valley Junction, cute stores, yummy eateries. We ate some mexican food and then did a “ghost walk” around town. The guide took us to the most haunted places in Naperville. It was really fascinating, especially the “smashed bananas/zombie chicken” story, I’m not making this shit up! Afterwards we headed home and I crashed.

The next morning Kari had a wonderful morning planned. Starbucks in hand we headed downtown Chicago for some magenta shoe shopping (for my wedding). We went to bucktown/wicker park and lincoln park, however, we arrived about an hour too early before stores even opened. We walked around a little and it is a cute area, loved it. So, instead of waiting we headed to Michigan Ave/Water Tower Place. We went to all the big named stores and came up with nothing. Everything was brown, black and purple. Apparently we are in the wrong season for magenta. Sad. So instead I did some emotional shopping and bought my first Betsyville bag 70% off. Then we were going to have lunch at the John Hancock building (95th floor), but there was a line just to get on the elevator, so we nixed that and headed into the ‘burbs. We had lunch at the White Chocolate Grill and let me tell you this was the first time I ever wanted to cry over food it was that delicious. First let me say the service was awesome. The atmosphere was very Frank Lloyd Wright. We ordered martinis (mine was a white chocolate martini) halfway through lunch our server brought us over freshly chilled glasses and changed our martinis. That was awesome. Then our lunch came, I had the most delicious prime rib french dip. Holy cow, the meat was perfectly cooked and tender the au jus was so amazing. I wanted to contain myself and be proper just eating half my sandwich, nope I couldn’t help myself it was too good to go to waste. We then headed home.

They don’t do beggars night, kids just trick-or-treat on halloween, so Andie was getting ready when we got home. She was a zombie-prom-girl. Also, it seems that Iowa kids are the only ones who say jokes for their candy. I think this is so wrong! Kids need to earn that candy. After trick-or-treating we went to Eric’s new apartment and watched a little Evil Dead 2. Headed back to Terry and Kari’s where Andie made us a Halloween-themed dinner with dessert. We played some games and then went to bed.

Had a fabulous weekend shopping and spending time with family. Didn’t find the shoes there, however the awesome internet found them thanks to Kari’s searching. So, another awesome wedding item crossed off the list!

Three weeks ago mom and I started the crazy adventure of finding my wedding dress. What I had in my head was something unique with color and nothing traditional…however, what I ended up loving was something fairly traditional, go figure. But, I’m getting ahead of myself.

Our first stop was in Ankeny and the service was really great and the dresses were very fun and unique, but the store really offered nothing to plus-size girls. It was pretty frustrating trying to squeeze my size 16 body into a size 6/8 dress. Not pretty. Even with a good imagination it was hard to see what the dress would really look like in my size.

Moving on to David’s Bridal and I ruled them out completely due to too many horror stories I’ve heard. However, they had this one dress that had pockets that I did want to try. While I was there I tried on three other dresses. To my surprise the service was really nice and the dresses fit to size and they had a lot of selection. However, the dresses didn’t “wow” me or they seemed cheaply made, which I’m sure they are since the prices were very low.

Feeling frustrated and exhausted we headed home. One thing I never realized is wedding dresses are HEAVY and extremely HOT. I was sweating trying these things on.

That weekend we headed to Perry, yes, Perry Iowa. I’ve heard from multiple people this place is awesome. They were not kidding. This was the first time I tried on a dress and felt like I was a bride. I’m not the sappy person, but it felt really good. I tried on about ten dresses and narrowed it down to four that mom and I really liked. However, mom felt a little stressed being the only opinion and needed more support. The call was made. Support was on its way in the names of Jan, Jen, Joy, Dee and Deb (Kari Brooks was there in spirit and gave her honest, good input the night before at dinner).

So we headed to lunch first at The Radish in Grimes, it was a cute little place. We took some embarrassing photos while people honked at us. Finally, we headed to Perry. I tried on all four again and this dress seemed to be everyone’s favorite. However, I ruled it out right there. I think it made me look short and the belt made me think “80′s” and I don’t know why. Taking that one out of the equation left Jenni’s favorite (which I don’t have a picture of). It was very extravagant with a very full bottom. It seemed she was the only one who loved it, so it got cut. That left the “unique one” and “the winner”. The unique one was a very flowy, empire waist with a big bow. No one loved this dress. I could hear crickets. Now the “winner” does have some unique features, but also brings in traditional flare so Grandma Rose won’t hate me forever and it is very flattering. Let me tell you the stress lifted on finding this dress is phenomenal. However, I could barely talk on the drive home I was so mentally exhausted trying to make this decision. I got home, told Nick not to speak and promptly took the most amazing nap I’ve ever had.

So there it is, I found “the dress” and I couldn’t be happier. I must thank the ladies who joined me on this journey and being such good sports, I can be such a pain in the ass, I am not comfortable being the center of attention. And a BIG THANK YOU to my wonderful mother who supported me no matter what I chose and dealt with my frustrations, you’ll never know how grateful I am for you.

Pictures from Perry

119
Fast Car | Tracy Chapman
What a song about a hard life, you feel it when she sings. And I belt this song while driving. I am sure I look like a fool. “We gotta make a decision, leave tonight or live and die this way” to “You gotta make a decision, leave tonight or live and die this way.”

118
You Wreck Me | Tom Petty
Tom Petty is pretty amazing and I love a lot of his songs, Mary Jane’s Last Dance, You Don’t Know How It Feels, It’s Good To Be King, but this one, Wreck Me, is just simple, fun and groovy.

117
Please Remember Me | Tim McGraw
So here is where I admit I like some country songs, in fact a good part of late nineties all I listened to was country. I like songwriting and some great songwriters are in country. Tim McGraw is kind of a crossover and this song is so heartbreaking. Good lord, the pain in his voice at the end “Remember me when you’re out walkin. When the snow falls high outside your door. Late at night when youre not sleepin. And moonlight falls across your floor. When I cant hurt you anymore.”

116
Santeria | Sublime
This song is me working at Sam Goody. Bradley Nowell died shortly before I started there. And I remember stacking a shit-load of Sublime cd’s and pumping this song through the house system. Singing (yelling) “Believe me when I say that I got somethin for his punk ass.”

115
Do It Again | Stroke 9
This is why I love recommended songs for you from iTunes. I found this gem just that way. I knew of Stroke 9 (Kick Some Ass), but this song is pretty crazy and a little dirty and I like it. It is all about sex and a relationship built just on sex and then it turns on you and says something serious, “I think you’re fine, I think you’re hot, this what I‘ve always dreamed of, one thing I forgot was to get to know you”. This song is not for everyone, but I enjoy the hell out of it.

114
Leather and Lace | Stevie Nicks (with Don Henley)
Well, I love Stevie’s voice and this song is so cheesy, yet so awesome. The duet is pretty fabulous. I flippin’ rock this song in the safe comforts of my house. For some reason I could put this song on repeat and keep the love going.

113
The Joker | Steve Miller Band
“Some people call me the space Cowboy. Some people call me the gangster of love. Some people call me Maurice.” Hells yeah. This song is why I wished I grew up in the seventies. This is good music. Seriously, what more can you say?

112
Damn I Wish I Was Your Lover | Sophie B Hawkins
This is slightly embarrassing, but as a dramatic teenager who crushed on a boy who had no idea I existed I would listen to this song on those love song request radio shows and feel what Sophie was singing about. Good lord I was clueless. However, it did make me love this song to this day. And it is a pretty naughty song. “Damn I wish I was your lover. I’ll rock you till the daylight comes”

111
How To Be Dead | Snow Patrol
Love Snow Patrol. Saw them live at Lolla and it was awesome. I love their lyrics and the tone of their songs. Beautiful.

110
You Will. You? Will. You? Will. You? Will. | Snow Patrol
This is actually a Bright Eyes cover, but I enjoy this version more. So, this is just a weird relationship/acoustic song and I can’t get enough of it.