Happy One-Year Mark!

Ok... we've FINALLY hit the one-year mark which I have been impatiently waiting for. Now I feel like I can actually start planning (like I haven't already!) and really be a bride without my mom saying "Lindz, you've got plenty of time to think about it". In one year, I get to marry the most ridiculously awesome person I know, and become Mrs. Lindsey Larivee. My sister's so are gagging at me right now. Whatever!

In celebration, I am going to share the best commercial with you. It had Brian and I in tears. You may not have the same sense of humor as us but... I hope you enjoy :)

Hi, Cole :)

My sister, Nicole (pictured above... muhahaha), called me out yesterday because I have been a total slacker with updated my blog. We have a ton going on right now and I just keep forgetting to share it with everyone so I'm sorry, Cole :) Here is an update:

1) Tomorrow is the one year mark. One year from today we will be doing our wedding rehearsal and getting ready for the festivities. And yes, I realize it IS 12 months away... BUT there is alot to do and I have a feeling its going to fly by :)

2) Lots of travel plans!!! Brian just got back from a one-week vacation in NC and next week we head to Chicago for a wedding. I haven't been to Chi-town since last June and I'll get a chance to see my two favorite Megan's and hang out in my old stomping grounds. Warning, I may not come back to Boston. I'm also headed to our lakehouse for Memorial Day weekend to help my Mom + Dave clean and get things opened, and then two weeks later Bri and I are headed down to Charlotte, NC to visit one of his best friends who just got engaged. Then... a couple weeks later we take a long 10-day trip back to MI to have some fun at my lakehouse and attend another wedding (oh... and to take care of a lot of wedding stuff in between!).

3) Work work work. I am nannying 5 days a week and having a blast with Aidan. He seriously is so much fun (and so much work!) but I am loving it. Plus, it keeps me skinny.

4) Our engagement photos are coming up... and I COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED!!!! We have been so busy planning and booking vendors, that this will be our first real "fun" wedding thing. Ben + Mindy Peterson of Studio 6.23, based in Grand Rapids, are traveling out to Boston and will be taking our pics around the city. Yay :)

5) Playoff time. Do I really need to explain this time of year?

6) Last but not least... small business stuff. I am still in the process of getting organized to start my own wedding design/stationary business. I'm hoping to have it up + running atleast part-time by this fall and have been researching, saving, and working to get it all going. (And I'd like to give a special shoutout to Katie B. for starting her own dance company in East Lansing... congrats, B!!!).

So there you have it... a lot of exciting things going on with us. Today I have the day off from work (had a nice 13-hour shift yesterday) so I'm still in my pajamas. But... the beauty of opening my own invitation company? I can design them in my pj's:)

To-Do: Round Two

You might remember the last time Brian went out of town. I ended up tackling my to-do list with no problem and getting tons of stuff done. Well, Brian is off to NC for a week vacation with his friends. He'll be laying by the pool, playing cards, and catching some rays. Unfortunetly, I work the next week so I'm stuck back here in Boston (but hey... atleast I'm making some good money!).

I haven't sat down this time to make a to-do list yet so I thought I'd attempt it on my blog. So here it goes:

- workout
- organize all of our wedding stuff
- clean out my car (its so gross and smells like cheese)
- grocery shop

That's all of got so far. It's going to be 80 degrees here today so I should attempt to enjoy the weather and get a tan since we have our engagement photos coming up in a few weeks. But first, I guess I should get out of my pj's.

Warning: Cheesy Post Ahead!

I'm sorry for this post. If you can't handle cheesiness and all that lovey-dovey stuff, then I suggest you stop reading. Now.

I just had to say that I'm incredibly happy. I was sitting on the couch yesterday and glanced down at my left hand and got butterflies in my stomach. I don't care about having a shiny (and GORGEOUS) ring on my finger, but I care about what it represents. I can't believe that I get to marry someone so ridiculously amazing and wonderful.

Planning our wedding has been a blast. Yeah, it was stressful at the start, but now that we've gotten some big things out of the way, it's so much fun. Every single day, I am thankful for finding someone so supportive, fun, and perfect for me (and may I say, handsome!). Thank you, Brian, for making me the happiest girl in the world :)

Ok, did you barf yet?

Happy Earth Day!

Brian and I have tried our best to "do our part" to help the earth. This past year, we started recycling, using energy-efficient light bulbs, and using reusable shopping bags at the grocery store. Brian was alittle reluctant to recycle every. single. thing. but now he doesn't even think twice before doing it!

Our recycling center (by recycling day its overflowing!)...


I'm also trying to incorporate a few "green" elements into our wedding. No, I'm not wearing an organic silk dress or using a local farm for our food, but I am planning to make our centerpieces from used coffee cans as well as reuse all the wine corks my friends and I go through over the next year. Used coffee cans, you ask? Trust me, I research wedding stuff every single day, so if anyone knows me, after I'm done with them you won't even be able to tell that it was a coffee can :) We're also trying to borrow as much as possible instead of buying all new stuff- my veil, our cake knife, and toasting glasses. I'm also going to attempt to get flowers from Michigan that don't have to be imported.

My large collection of used wine corks... we've got problems!


My coffee can collection... hopefully I'll get 15 more by next May!


So there you have it. In celebration of Earth Day, I thought I'd share a few things that we're doing to contribute. And if anyone drinks wine or Maxwell House coffee (the small can), please save your used corks and cans for me :) Happy Earth Day!

We've Been Busy!

Usually, Spring isn't my favorite time of year... the weather is still yucky, and I'm just busy waiting for summer to roll around. This year, we've been so incredibly busy and have had so much fun doing some amazing things around Boston!

Here are a few pictures of some of the things we've been busy with...

Enjoying dinner in the North End...




Decorating Easter eggs with the Skoogs...




Watching the Boston Marathon...




We have alot more fun things coming up including a wedding in Chicago, getting our engagement photos done around Boston, going away for Brian's birthday, and a BIG trip back to Michigan!!!

Happy Birthday Aidan!

Aidan, the little boy that I nanny for, is turning one today. I started when he was just four months old and can't believe how big he is. I work for such a wonderful family and get to spend my days hanging out with one of the cutest kids I know!




Happy Birthday, Aidan!