Better late than never 30 days of Thanks

At her surprise 60th birthday party.  Me, Sue and Marsha

I know I have been long absent, and I promise more about that later, but I'm going to try this 30 days of thanks thing first!  So I am starting a few days late but these first few days of November I am very very thankful for my future mother in law Sue Donaldson!

These first few days of November have been a little difficult because we found out our wedding venue will be closing at the end of November and we will need to find a new venue and possibly new date for  our wedding.

As you can imagine this was not the best news to receive for any bride.  However, I was with Sue when I came to learn this information and she has been so helpful and supportive.   I can't even begin to describe all of the amazing things Sue does for her family.  She is a wife, mother, grandmother, counselor and friend.  Here is to an amazing woman!!  I am so happy and honored to engaged to her son and a future Donaldson.

Thank you Sue!!!!!!!

Venues and Photographers and Dresses OH MY!

Hello Blogosphere! I know I have been absent for quite awhile, but it seems like I go away for a little in the summer every year and come back in the fall.  So since I last blogged I have been quite busy with the beginnings of wedding planning.  Ryan and I quickly realized that we wanted a summer wedding, and then once we decided to get married in the Seattle area we realized we would need to move fast.  Late summer (July and August) are PEAK wedding months in the Pacific Northwest.  (i.e. must book up to a year or more in advance)  We started our search in the immediate Seattle area, but quickly realized none of these would be for us.  We still really wanted a beach/destination wedding feel but close to home, our answer... The Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine, Washington.  

The Semiahmoo Resort 

Semiahmoo had all the elements that were really important to us on our wedding day.  Outdoor space, on the water, destination/vacation feel for our guests, and of course affordable!  The staff at Semiahmoo  also comes highly recommended as experts in the wedding business.  We went up for our initial visit in late June.  I immediately knew I wanted to marry Ryan and become Mrs. Donaldson on this lawn.

View from our room on our first visit 

Another view overlooking the ceremony space!

How else do you celebrate finding your venue but a little bubbly!

We have been back once to Semiahmoo and saw a small wedding taking place.  It made me even more excited for next year! I am so excited we have found the perfect venue to become husband and wife. And for our guests to have an amazing weekend away.

We have also been quite busy with other details.  Photography was an area Ryan and I both felt very strongly about making a priority.  While we were visiting wedding venues we looked through photography sample books.  Very, very early on in the process we found Alex Rubin of Rubin Photography.  We felt he captured moments and not just took pictures.  We quickly became stalkers to his blog and then set up meetings with him.  Ryan actually met with him first and it was bromance at first meeting.  I later met with Alex and also knew he was the "one" for us.  We are so excited to work with Alex and can't wait for our engagement pictures in a few weeks.

The other major area of planning has been around "the dress".  I don't want to reveal any details here but I can say I have been dress shopping two different times.  Once in Ohio with my mom, grandma a sister -  a very special moment with them.  And once here in Seattle with Ryan's mom and sister.  I think I am getting closer to finding "the dress" but I think maybe I also have watched a little too many episodes of Say Yes to the Dress.  

I promise to be a better blogger and to update you with all the wedding plans!

I said YES!!!

It's true folks... I'm engaged!!!!!! I am so super excited and in love with the most wonderful man and now we are getting married!  I will tell a quick story here and there will be much much more, this may turn into a wedding blog for a while :)  So here is the story...

Saturday was our two year anniversary of when we met here is a post of our one year anniversary trip to Chicago (Back to the scene of the crime ) and gives you all the background on how we met.  Long story short, we met at John Barleycorn's (recently named the douciest bar in Chicago) where I told Ryan no he could not by me a beer.  Anyhoo...back to Saturday.

We had a trip planned to Lake Chelan for the weekend but since it was so beautiful Ryan suggested we go down to the market to get some coffee before taking off on our trip.  So we did and it was beautiful.  So many wonderful memories in the market on my first trips to Seattle and when I first moved there.  We walked out to the pier area on the waterfront and he pulled out his camera and we started looking at pictures from my first trip to Seattle and his first trip to Chicago.  It was so wonderful to reminisce on those times together.  He then talked about how glad he was that I said no at first because it made him work harder to get to know me at first.  And then went on to how glad he was that I moved to Seattle to give us a real chance at being together.  And then he said "so today on our two year anniversary I want to ask you (he is getting down on one knee at this point - and I am thinking OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH OH MY GOSH) will you marry me?"

YES, YES,YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lots of jumping around and oh my gosh!  Hugging and Kissing and looking at a BEAUTIFUL diamond ring!

So pretty!!!! I love my ring!

Right after the proposal! We are so excited!

I promise there will be much much more as we start planning our wedding day and also on our great trip to Lake Chelan.  Enjoy these for now!

The Happiest Birthday on Earth

Our last full day of vacation was Ryan's birthday, I wanted to make it special and wonderful.  I wanted to have fun and make it a memorable day.  I had this small feeling that became much larger as the early morning went by that I REALLY wanted to go back to Disneyland.  But I understood it was Ryan's birthday and was willing to do whatever he wanted to do for his birthday.  As we were getting ready to go rent bikes in Newport Beach Ryan looked over at me and said I don't really want to go rent bikes.  With a little hesitation because I knew what I wanted to hear I asked "What do you want to do today, what you make you the happiest?!" He said "I just keep thinking I want to go back to Disney" And DONE! We were in the car less than 30 mins later headed back to the Happiest Place on Earth!  Best way to spend a birthday hands down!!!!!!

Most amazing sign in Disneyland as you enter

First ride on day 2 - Big Thunder Railroad, so fun

Big Thunder! We had such great weather both of our Disney days

I think this picture sums up, amazing fun even when you are getting soaked

Happiest Couple on Earth on Dumbo ride, my favorite from our Disneyland experience

After 2 days I could not resist these Minnie ears, everyone had them and I needed them too.  Sarah Minnie in front of Sleeping Beauty castle

Birthday boy Ryan on California Screamin' for about the fifth time, after my dizzy and seeing stars experience the first day I only went twice, so I stood on the bridge and took pictures and video

The birthday boy himself at the end of the night in front of his favorite ride Pirates of the Caribbean, I think we went on the ride 8 times over 2 days, I love it too!

Needless to say we had an amazing vacation and Disney experience, and we will be back again soon.  We are hoping to go with Ryan's sister and family in November just in time to see the new Carsland at California adventure and to finally ride Matterhorn!

California Here We Come!

After an amazing day at Disneyland, it was time to hit the beach, Huntington Beach- the Hyatt Resort right on the Pacific Ocean.  Time to rest, relax, and soak up some sun.  We also got to catch up a little with a sorority sister of mine from Miami.  Amanda Johnson and her boyfriend John met us for dinner at a lovely place called Javier's in Newport Beach.  It was wonderful to catch up with an old friend and for the  guys to make new friends, we are hopeful they will come and visit Seattle soon so we can return the hospitality.  Unfortunately, I completely forgot to take a picture of the long lost "sisters"but we all had a great time and hope to see each other soon.  On Wednesday, we took full advantage of the spa at our resort hotel 90 minute massages and all the luxe amenities.  

View of the pool and ocean from our room

It's always Mai Tai time on vacation!

Obligatory feet by the pool shot, I almost look tan!

And now for a Pina Colada!  Reading and soaking up the rays is hard work

The almost birthday boy enjoy a foot soak in the Pacific

Huntington Beach Pier

These beautiful birds of paradise lined the "spa grotto" a separate pool area that had multiple hot tubs and views of the ocean to boot, needless to say this was one of our favorite places to enjoy the sunset

Almost sunset at Huntington Beach

The Happiest Place on Earth

I know, I know, long long time no blog.  But here it goes...a few weeks ago Ryan and I took a much deserved vacation to California.  We road tripped down and had a fantastic trip, we discovered we are very good road trippers together.  Pandora radio definitely helped fill the time 80s and 90s pop reminded us of so many times in our past and we got to know each other even better.  What can I say it was great.  But the best part was Sunday night pulling into our hotel across the street from...DISNEYLAND!  I know it is exciting for people, but I have never been to either Disneyland or Disney World and I was so excited for my first time.  I couldn't even sleep the night before and we were ready to go in the park at 8:45am (the park opens at 9 am ).  I am not even sure if I could describe it in words now, it was incredible!  It seriously is the Happiest Place on Earth.  We spent all day at the park from open until past closing, my only hope was that I could come back someday soon.

Me with Walt and Mickey and Sleeping Beauty castle in the background

Pulling on the Sword in the Stone

Outside Haunted Mansion

Ryan sipping on a new favorite Disney drink - a Dole Whip Pineapple soft serve with Pineapple juice a little rum and it would be perfection ;)

Me with a Dole Whip

Indiana "Ryan" Jones

So sad Matterhorn was closed, guess I will have to come back after it reopens in July

Turkey Leg time!  A Disneyland food staple very yummy

The Happiest Couple on Earth on It's a Small World

California Screamin' there were very little lines on this wonderful Monday so we got to ride California Screamin' three times in a row, sure I was a little dizzy and seeing stars but it was totally worth it.

We hit the Disney Parade at the perfect time.  I got to see all the Princesses on their float, I have to say, I teared up and cried a little.  There was a part of me as a 5 year old girl seeing the princesses for the first time.  But that is that magic of Disney... you are transported to being childlike thus the Happiest Place on Earth

Snow White

Belle and Cinderella

The end of the night Ryan and me with Walt and Mickey.  This was one of the best days of my life! A few favorites: Pirates of the Caribbean and Space Mountain!

Can I Do This??

So Physical Therapy is going pretty well.  I can stand and walk around without much difficulty now, thank goodness, I was going a little stir crazy there.  But I am getting really nervous about being able to do the marathon.  I haven't run in almost two weeks and my doctor and marathon veteran friends are saying I can still do it.  But I am not sure how.  I realize that it might not be the same race I would have run before the injury, but I still want to do this, I have been training and putting so much effort into everything I don't want to lose this dream.  I may not be able to start running until the middle of next week leaving only about 17 days before the marathon, any ideas for a training plan in that short of time?? Asking for help in the great big blogosphere, hopping to get some answers from anyone.

Running Fashionista

Yes I am a runner, yes I will be running a marathon in Eugene in a few weeks, but yes I am also a work out clothes fashionista!  I need to be comfortable, but I need to look good while running too.  As I was on bed rest last week and running rest this week I have become obsessed with figuring out all the little details of the day.  Is there a microwave/refrigerator in the room, should I get a SPIbelt or  just use pockets, how do I carry enough water, and of course, what should I wear??  This obsession with running fashion is nothing new...

As you can see here Amy, Hillary and I felt the need to get matching running fashion many years ago.

So I needed something to build my outfit from.  I REALLY wanted to wear purple and gold and really represent University of Washington and The Huskies as I ran around Eugene and put it in those Ducks faces.  But I was also mildly afraid that I may be attacked for doing so, but since purple is my favorite color I end up with a lot of purple running clothes so I need to build from something else...

The inspiration.. the shoes a blue and aqua theme

So on Friday I felt like I could probably make a trip to the mecca of running/workout fashion... Lululemon with my friend/running buddy and coach Chrissie.  We really took the aqua and blue to heart and luckily those colors are in the Lulu spring color palate.  This is the adorable outfit we chose...

A super cute and comfy top in lovely aqua with an adorable skirt, the side crunch up to show another pleated skirt underneath, adorable!!! I will probably also wear some arm warmers made by Chrissie too, stay tuned for a picture of the final outfit.

The next day I went out with my friend Karen (another amazing friend running buddy/coach - did I mention both of these AMAZING women have completed IronMan triathlons!!!!!) to shop for "throw away" clothes for the starting line.  These are clothes to have on at the starting line to keep warm and throw away once the race begins (these clothes are then donated to a local Goodwill) so it was off to a thrift shop.  We found some great sweats for the starting line but we also found this "Winner" I couldn't resist for the finish line...

Ummm, need I say more, this is awesome!

How do you strain your Rectus Abdominus?

So this is a little story about how I strained my rectus abdomens aka my six pack.  Yes I am aware this sounds very very odd and in fact it took 2 days to correctly diagnose me but the verdict is in and I have a strained rectus.  Now, let me tell you the story of how this all happened.  

We have to go back week to last Monday afternoon, as a side note (or so I thought) I took Hercules for a bath around noon and he decided to be a little stubborn about getting down into the tub so it took a lot of maneuvering (read pushing, shoving, pulling a 90 lb dead weight dog) on my part. But look at this happy face once he gets in the tub.

Happy Herc!

Anyhow...so I had returned home with my clean dog and rushed around to get ready to go with Ryan to a doctor appointment.  At 1pm as I was running down the stairs to put the dogs away I noticed a very sharp stabbing pain in my RLQ (right lower abdomen for my non nursing peeps out there) I immediately thought appendicitis vs ovarian cyst rupture but I knew I had to go to Ryan's appointment so I let it go.  I could only let it go for so long, once home the vomiting started.  I had to call Ryan to come home from practice to take care of me.  I very begrudgingly went to the ER.  They too were pretty worried and immediately thought of appendicitis or ovarian cyst. So I got an IV, Dilaudid, and Zofran (i.e. major narcotics and anti-nausea medicines) then at this point once I was quite loopy they did a pelvic exam, LOVELY!  I was pretty loopy but they ruled out ovarian torsion and cyst.  (Yippee!!) So... I went off to CT to look at that appendix.  It was negative but I was still in crazy amount of pain and the nausea was OUT of this WORLD!! So more pain meds, more nausea meds and more IV fluids (apparently Ryan, Sue and I all watched Dancing with the Stars but I don't have much memory of this) Ryan and Sue were both amazing, rubbing my back my feet and then itching me everywhere when the pain meds side effects starting kicking in.  They sent me home thinking it might be early appendicitis and a follow up the next day with my primary doctor.

Which brings us to Tuesday... trip to the doctor, still thinking it's early appendicitis, more blood drawn, sent home to lay around and wait.  By 8pm I have a massive headache and completely dehydrated, vomiting and nauseous like I can't explain and the pain is still there.  So back to the ER we went.  I really thought for sure it was the appendix and they were going to just whisk me off to surgery for an open procedure, which would mean no marathon and no work for a while.  I was not happy I cried the whole way there.  But I saw a new doctor who listened to me as they started another IV (more fluids, Dilaudid and Zofran) and then examined me but he had a different thought.  Then he asked me if anything else happened before the pain started.  I told him about the dog bath, but nothing hurt when I was there.  He said he had a very similar case when he was a resident and it was a strained rectus abdomens (aka - six pack).  So they gave me a muscle relaxer (10mg Valium), pain med (1mg Dilaudid) and nausea medicine (8mg Zofran) and sent me HOME  20 minutes later, they dared to ask if I needed  a wheelchair, UMMM yes please!!!

So on the good side, no surgery! But I am banned from running for about 2 weeks.  I have started PT, Kinetics to be exact and they are doing some amazing work.  They are doing graston therapy, KT taping, and stretches and exercises.  I am allowed to get on a bike tomorrow and hoping to be aqua running or on an elliptical at the end of the week and still running Eugene Marathon!  Which really is saying a lot considering I was on bed rest and in the fetal position all of last week.  I was pretty much going out of my mind with boredom when I was sleeping.  Thank you for all my friends and family who have kept me sane over the last week through this injury I know I have been a horrible patient.  Before I go here is a picture of my tape job, please excuse the mess in the background. 

More Spring Springing!

It seems like everyday there are more and more signs of Spring!  Although it is true it has been quite rainy here in the late winter and early Spring (more so than normal) it also seems like we are starting to have more sunny days.  Nothing like my friends and family have been experiencing in the midwest and east coast... sunny and 75 on St. Patrick's Day??? No fair, it snowed here that day!!  But alas, we are enjoying the weather now!!! And here are some pictures with the proof.

Hercules and Roscoe posing by some daffodils after a walk around the lake

Local crew team practicing on GreenLake

Beautiful azalea tree in a neighbors yard 

Plum blossoms on my street!!!

Our tree (magnolia??) getting ready to bloom, I know it's going to burst open any day now

Other pretty green plants in our yard

Daffodils on the side yard

What I think will be tulips next to where our crocuses lived before someone ruined them

We also have high hopes of planting a garden in our yard in a few weeks with peas, squash, zucchini, carrots and who knows what else, I am hoping for a dahlia or two!!  I will of course be blogging about this adventure in the coming weeks.  Ryan's mom says that perfect planting time is Mother's Day weekend here so we still have a little bit to decide what and where to plant, or where we can put a garden the dogs won't eat/pee on ;)