Life is CRAZY right now!!! I just wanted to get a quick post up since I haven’t had a chance to blog in a bit. :(

Etsy sales are on FIRE this month and I’ve been busy fulfilling orders. Wedding planning is picking up again with details, details, details. Things are VERY busy at work and last but certainly not least, I’m gearing up for the start of the Fall semester in September, particularly for our capstone project. I’m basically a machine right now. No rest. Ever.

Today is also a very sad day. We’ve given up our dog Edward to a really nice family. My allergies are getting out of control and I’ve had to live with it for the last 3 years because of my love for dogs but it has finally come to a head now and it’s just causing me too much pain and discomfort, so we made the tough decision to give him up. :( Sigh. Sacrifices.

Before I forget, I also wanted to mention the wonderful Jack and Jill that Chris’ parents threw for us last Sunday, July 27th. We are blessed with so much love and are so grateful for all the remarkable people in our lives. I have pictures to post but seeing as I can’t quite keep up with this blog, we’ll have to wait a bit until I get there. I literally still have thousands of pictures from my San Francisco trip that haven’t even been touched and shared; here’s one! I’m so behind!!!

Anyway, happy long weekend!

I spent this past Friday with the General Mills team building wall frames for Habitat for Humanity. It was some seriously tiring work considering I went from having never hammered a nail before (lol) to hammering what seemed like 60+ 3.5″ nails. Each nail must have taken me at least 25 hammers before it went in and it required the strength of both my arms. It was exhausting to say the least; my poor, feeble little arms. I laugh at the thought of this because the supervisor would do no more than 5 hammers with one arm and was good to go. At one point, I was given the option to use a nail gun. I tried it and it scared me. I felt like I was going to end up hurting myself or someone with it by total accident, so I stuck to the good ol’ hammer! Anyway, having said that, it was really quite rewarding in the end and of course, I also learned a thing or two about construction work. Hard work, that’s for sure. And certainly not my forte. ;)

A quick post from my aunt’s home! Abraham Lincoln said it best: whatever you are, be a good one. Do it.

Chris and I had our engagement photoshoot today at Black Creek Pioneer Village. It was so much fun!! We love our photographers; they are absolutely fantastic. I can’t wait to see the pictures. Chris and I continued photoshooting on our own afterwards, so here’s one of ours. :) With a little bit of help with framing, he is getting to be a pretty savvy photographer. ;)

Gotta get back to the family! Happy Saturday!

I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: I love this blog and how it has been able to keep a record of bits and pieces of my life since 2009. Every now and again, I flip through the archives and it’s just amazing to be able to read random posts from 3 or 4 years ago. Imagine this blog in another 5 years and looking back then. What a trip!

I had the privilege of attending an incredibly inspiring marketing offsite with General Mills and it was such a great time. So great that it needs to be captured in this lifelong journal of mine. I’m so honoured to be amidst one of the brightest group of marketers in the country – truly. Such amazing people.

I cannot take credit for these pictures – they were taken by fellow colleagues. It breaks my heart when beautiful memories are captured on phone cameras (I’m becoming more and more guilty of it) because the quality just isn’t there and we have to rely on Instagram to save the day but it’s ALWAYS better than not capturing at all! :)

Chris and I have our engagement photoshoot tomorrow at Pioneer Village with the amazing Amsis Photography. Can’t wait!!!

I also have to note here that we’ve officially applied for our marriage license, so the ante has been upped!! A darn marriage license just kicks things up a notch and makes life just a bit more serious (and exciting).

YAY! Chris and I just booked our mini weekend getaway right after the wedding to Ste. Anne’s Spa! So excited. Thanks to my juicy tax return. The benefits of being a student again, mwahaha. :) My first class in the Fall literally starts the day after but that’s okay.

I’ve also just completed my independent study application form to continue working on this business next semester with Professor Ellen Auster, one of the best professors at Schulich! I get to work on the business while still earning a full course credit – it can’t get any better than that. This MBA program has brought so many amazing opportunities, I can’t even begin to tell you. So excited for so many things.

We spent the weekend at Chris’ parents’ cottage up in the Kawarthas. I just looove the countryside. We spent most of Saturday in Bobcaygeon and roamed around literally picking up vintage cottage chic scraps from yard sales that we could use for the wedding. Also picked up a few cool pieces from multiple vintage shops. There is literally no better place than the country for this. Then we laid on a beach by the lake. Then told stories around a campfire. Then I of course got eaten alive by mosquitoes since they love me. Great weekend all around and even better when I come across beautiful things like haystacks. There is beauty everywhere, you just have to see differently!

Chris’ parents are also looking to buy a boat for the cottage. What a bonus. I can’t wait. I’ve always wanted a boat so I could go fishing or sail to different places, dock, camp for the night, wake up, and do it all over again. I’ve always wanted a pony, too, but that’s a conversation for another day.

It was nice to work from home today. Literally accomplished a million things. It’s amazing how much you can do in a day without meetings. :P

Happy early Canada Day! Happy to have a day off tomorrow! :)

Blogging once a week – I’m doing pretty good keeping that promise.

I thought this photo would be fitting since summer is finally here. Taken in Santa Cruz, California. Oh the great memories. Despite a crazy and chaotic time, I’m really glad it’s all happening in the summer. :)

Since Chris and I are unable to take a honeymoon straight after the wedding (because it’s literally sandwiched in the middle of a million things), we’re planning a little mini getaway to Ste. Anne’s spa that same weekend. Then we’ll do the real big trip early next year to France and Ireland. I’m ALL about the spa right now. Just take me to a spa every day. I’m deprived of relaxation.

Oh, and I’m finally starting season 2 of Orange is the New Black. So far so good. I’m off to a patio now!

Managed to blog despite an insane schedule. I had to blog to capture some of today’s events. Some of my biggest life events are happening RIGHT NOW at the busiest time and as a result, I haven’t been able to capture them all. :( Sigh. Time is just zipping by and it’s nearly impossible to stop and savour everything. Ahh.

Happy daddy’s day. I love you, dad.

Today my bridesmaids and I got together to plan my bridal shower / bachelorette! We’re likely going to do a day at the spa (either Miraj Hammam or Ritz-Carlton Spa), a hoedown and some line dancing at the Rock N’ Horse Saloon, and then party the night away at Uniun Night Club. I have amazing bridesmaids and I love them to pieces.

I have to get back to some work :(. I’ll post again next weekend.

There’s nothing worse than “I plan to do this” and “I plan to do that” and saying that for all time. I once sat in a presentation that said “Shut the f*** up and do it.” And it’s true! Stop talking about it and start doing it. Talking about it isn’t the same as doing it. Planning to do it isn’t the same as doing it. Do it first then we’ll talk. :)

I’m in a wedding planning DAZE. So many details left to tend to. I’m so over it right now and will go up to cottage country to hide instead.

My life is insanely busy, I only have time to blog once a week now. Unfortunate but true.

Wedding planning is growing more chaotic by the day. Our venue layout changed out of the blue and we have to re-plan all of our decor. I’m not pleased. I love Chris to pieces but I certainly don’t love wedding planning.

Chris and I went to an organic meat store for fun yesterday and ended up picking up a couple of small fillets of Salmon for $26. $26!!! I am very confused. This better be the best Salmon we’ve EVER had in our lives.