How Sweet It Is

I had a great teacher in high school. His name was Father Stapp. Yes, he was my religion teacher. Others in my high school would probably roll their eyes at this, but I really did take a lot away from his class.

He was unique. He taught us about religion through a different lens. He taught that God lives in the smallest acts and things. He showed us pictures he took every day.

He showed me how beautiful dandelions could be or how beautiful a dairy cow could be (his favorite at the time was named Sue). He could take an average rock and talk about it like it was a diamond. He had something special, to see beauty in such average looking things.

One lesson that I carry in my life from Fr. Stapp is to buy lemonade at every lemonade stand ran by little kids. He told us it does not take much time or money to make a big impact.

Matt and I did this the other day. We were in a hurry to drive to our house and then down to Tucson for the University of Arizona football game. We drove by the lemonade stand at first and I knew we should stop to buy some. On the way out of town, we drove through again and bought two cups of lemonade and tipped them. The two boys were so proud of their effort and of their profits.

It was a simple act, but it was a great act, even though we dumped the lemonade out of sight of the boys. I am so glad we took the time to go back to their lemonade stand and pay them 2 dollars. They proudly told us with our money they made 11 dollars that day.

I am happy I can still live out some of Fr. Stapp’s simple, yet great life lessons. Just imagine if everyone could do one small act of kindness everyday...

- Jen

How Dare You

And how dare you Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC. She asked a Senator Obama spokesperson if Senator McCain’s Pick will change Senator Biden’s strategy because she is a female and he must be softer? Didn’t Senator Clinton make strides in this area? Women are to be treated equally as men. Women should not get a pass because of her gender. Women are just as strong as men on that debate stage.

Senator Biden should not go easier on Governor Sarah Palin. Senator Biden with his incredible credentials against a young Alaskan Governor, I have no doubt that Senator Biden’s experience will shine through. Senator Biden will not let us down. He will be charming and just as hard on Governor Palin as he would anyone.

Senator McCain is pandering to Senator Clinton supporters with the selection of Alaska Governor Sarah Palin and it will not work. She is 44 years old. Talk about experience and Senator Obama? Senator McCain is 72 years old. He is not young.

Being a strong Senator Clinton supporter, this has pushed me closer to Senator Obama. I was always going to vote for him, but this made me want to get out on the streets and volunteer.

From Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, “I know Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin is no Hillary Clinton.”

Is it because…

I kicked all your ASSES last year? You see football season is upon us and people everywhere are signing up for fantasy football leagues including the men in our lives. Last year Jen and I were “allowed” to participate in the “boys” league and well I think my dominance and ASS beating that I gave each and every one of them has caused them to make the decision to not include us again this year. I’m sure the boys say it was just beginners luck but I have won every fantasy football league I have ever been apart of (2 for those who care) so it is more than beginners luck. I am sad that I was not asked to partake this year but I guess it means I am that good that the “boys” don’t want the embarrassment of getting their asses handed to them again. So with that I am done with all Fantasy sports and I will go out as a CHAMPION something that many of the “boys” will never be able to claim.

self explanatory

Buying the Dress

It is intimidating. I do not know why I am nervous about it. This has been the most stressful part of wedding planning for me thus far.

I think I found the dress I want to wear, want to take pictures in, and want to dance in.

It is almost like buying a car or a house. One does no go out and haphazardly buy a brand new house; it takes time to mull over the decision. This is how I am feeling about the dress.

The one thing I am not nervous or intimidated about it marrying Matthew on May 30, 2009. Hopefully I will have a dress by then!

- Jen

Today's Blog is Brought to you by the Letter...

Who would have ever thought that finding “the one” would be so hard? No I am not talking about “the one” as in Barry or “the one” that many boys claim to find when they date a girl for a few months in college but “the one” as in “the one” wedding dress. I will only be finding “the one” because once “the one” is purchased I never plan on putting on another. I guess wedding dress shopping is kind of like finding “the one” who I will be marrying. Once I found him I didn’t need to look any further. And finding “the one” caused me to look at a lot of not so nice (down right hideous) ones.

Jen has blogged a lot about our journey to finding “the one” but let me tell you it is taking its toll on me and I now know why Pam got married in a white bikini. Don’t bridal shops understand that MOST brides work and we can’t make it to that 1:30 appointment because we are WORKING? And closing at 5 doesn’t help either when your last appointment time is at 4pm. You see Jen and I went into this nice bridal shop in Chandler and I kind of looked at the racks and found one dress that I want to try on, yes only ONE. So essentially this will take all of 10 minutes maybe 15 if I like it, so why do I need an hour appointment? I don’t want to waste your time or mine but when you are the only store in ALL of Arizona to carry this designer and thus this dress can you please cut me some slack and let me come in to try this dress on when I have sometime?

Another thing I would like is if wedding dress shops would tell me how much it will cost before I decide to buy. I understand you have rules and policies but in this economy people need to watch what they are spending and if I have to I will order my dress from a bridal shop near my hometown and I’m sure they wouldn’t mind telling me how much it will cost after taxes and any other hidden fees. Enough of ranting but I am trying to schedule some appointments while my mom is in town to see some dresses but I am having no luck except for the place who doesn’t tell you what you are buying or how much it costs before you sign the dotted line – and to be honest that scares the SHIT out of me. Here’s to hoping everything works out and it usually does.

Oh yeah in other news, wish me luck today as today starts the workouts with my brother as my drill Sargent ummm I mean personal trainer. Maybe when he is done with me Pam's idea might work.

Barry would approve but not grandma...

xoxo

britt

Wedding Dress Extravaganza

Since my return to Phoenix, it has been wedding-eventful. I picked up the save the dates and they look great. Now it is just time to put addresses on.

Brittany and I had an eventful bridal shop experience. Brittany got off early on Friday and we went dress shopping. We first went to Azteca Bridal Shop, which is in downtown Phoenix. It is an interesting shop. I signed the requisite forms, as I am now probably signed up for about a hundred bridal shops... We sifted through dresses and I tried on a few. Each dress got better as I tried them on. The last dress was beautiful and I loved it. But the problem is I have no idea what the dress name is because Azteca has removed the designer and dress name from the dresses! I can not find it online. Azteca was good for the experience, but I will not buy my dress there because it seems very busy and it is in downtown Phoenix, which is a jaunt from my house.

Next we went to I Do, I Do, which is also located in Phoenix. Brittany and I both tried on dresses and found some winners. Brittany found two great dresses; one she has already tried on and a new dress. But there is a problem; we do not know the name of the dress! I Do, I Do has also removed the designer and dress name! This is frustrating.

I understand the policy, the store wants you to buy the dress there, but it seems like consumer entrapment or something (yes, I did make that up). But it really does not pass the “smell test.” If a bridal shop wants to win over customers, they should do it with their service or clean shop, not be entrapping a bride.

Finding a wedding dress is stressful enough. And it causes problems for us because neither of our mothers lives in the area. Why would we buy a dress that we can not find online to show our mothers?

I did find a dress I really love there too, but there is a bridal shop in Gilbert that has it, so I probably will not be buying at I Do, I Do as well. Not to mention that they will not tell you the total amount for the dress until you make the final purchase. This is shady. There is no telling what charges they will include.

But it was a fantastic day. We are making wedding process. And Friday night we went to a University of Arizona Alumni banquet here in Phoenix for free, due to a friend. We met Coach Stoops, Wilbur, among other Arizona Alumni, such as the swimming coach who had just returned from Beijing for the Olympics. It was a great night with friends and great company. I can not wait for the football game this Saturday. Until then, I will be signing Bear Down Arizona!

Just hanging out with Wilbur.

Brittany and I giving Coach Stoops some advice.

-Jen

Love and Politics

My fiancé Matt created a new political blog for us. It is appropriate for us because discussing politics is how we became friends and eventually found love. Our claim that our first date was attending a Democratic rally after a 2003 primary debate in Phoenix. We have been discussing politics since.

I will continue to blog about current event topics here, but I will also on the new blog. I feel bad imputing some of my opinions on Brittany. :-) Matt is fully aware of what I think and although we do not always agree, he knows what he is getting.

Since we are done taking the bar and awaiting results, we have time to blog. We share a lot of the same opinions, but yet vastly differ in certain areas, as I am sure it will come out in time.

The new blog: foraloveofpolitics.blogspot.com/

-Jen