For the women

In traditional weddings, the mother's, grandmothes, and important women usually get a corsage. I think they can be really pretty. Like this orchid one.

But at our resort, the price for single corsages START at $42 and goes up from there. That's crazy expensive. So instead I'm giving the women bracelets.

My sister will get this pink one in the middle, with a "J" engraved on the charm. (It also happens to match mine, which is the white one on the end.)

And my mom, grandma, and Mother-in-law will get this cuff bracelet in a color that matches their dress.

It ended up being about half the cost to get bracelets over fresh flowers, and now they can keep them forever!

Reached my breaking point

I told off SIL and it felt SO DAMN GOOD! ha!

What brought it on was last Sunday when we were visiting Tom's dad. His dad started bringing up the wedding mess, asking us why Tom's brother isn't coming to the wedding. We told him, AGAIN, that it isn't up to us. SIL is the one "forbidding" him from going. His dad kept going on and on about it! He sat down and told me that SIL was saying stuff about me behind my back when she was there and that she told Tom's dad she "didn't know" why I don't like her. She also said they weren't invited to our wedding. REALLY?! That is a flat out LIE. She has said so many awful, horrible things. Her actions have proven that she is an evil human being.

And I lost it.

(I do have to add that after she visited on Memorial weekend and caused all that drama by saying I couldn't go to the zoo and Tom had to go alone if he wanted to see his brother and niece, Tom called her a few days later. He told her he wanted to talk it out, and resolve our issues. That was a month ago. She never called him back.)

So.......I sent her a text that said, "Tom called you a month ago wanting to talk to you to hopefully resolve whatever we have going on. But you don't even have the decency to call him back? That shows you don't give a shit about making this better so Tom and joel can have a normal relationship without having to worry if you will pull something psycho like banning me from a public zoo. Then I find out you don't have the balls to talk to me, you run your mouth behind my back like a coward. You wanted Bob (toms dad) to find out why I don't like you? You are a complete psycho bitch and have been from day #1. I have NO respect for you. And the fact that you won't let Joel go to his own brothers wedding, to be out of your grip for 3 short days, further proves how controlling and evil you are. I'm honestly saddened by the fact that I will share a last name with you in 6 months."

She had it coming. I couldn't hold it in anymore. I was so sick of people telling me "that's just how she is, she has always been a bitch, just ignore her, let it go." NO MORE! Why let her continue to ruin people's lives? Screw that. She deserved everything I said to her. And I needed to tell her for my own sanity. I was so stressed over keeping everything inside when it came to her. And I really do feel better.

Of course she texted me back and said that she is a "grown up" and can decide who and when her and her family will spend time with someone. And she chooses not to spend time with me. And it was MY FAULT tom didn't get to see his brother and niece at the zoo because I should have "let" tom go to the zoo alone. (NEVER ONCE did I tell tom he couldn't go without me. It was 100% his choice not to go if I wasn't welcome.) She told me to "stop making a big deal out of it" and that I should just let Tom see them alone from now on. (including taking a weeks vacation time and going down to Texas without me?! I don't think so.)

I told her that she needs to accept me as a package deal just like we all have to accept her and deal with her because she is married to Tom's brother.

Her answer? That I was psycho if I thought that was going to happen. And the only way Tom will ever see his brother or niece again is if I'm not in the picture.

Well that sums it up. Tom's brother called Tom and started bitching to him about what I said to SIL. But I am proud to say Tom stood by me 10000%. We are united when it comes to this. But hey, I guess I don't have to worry about seeing her anytime soon, huh? YAY!

P.S. It floors me that this happened. Never once did I do anything, or say anything bad to her. (before now, obviously) There was never any "bad blood" between us until I got engaged and she started trying to ruin my wedding. WTF.

Activities in Jamaica

When we're in Jamaica we plan on doing some activites (other than sitting on the beach and drinking fruity drinks!) The week our family is there we were planning a renting a boat and going deep sea fishing and going on a horseback ride in the ocean. My little sister isn't going fishing, but she was going to go horseback riding. Well, I found out today that they have weight limits. And they range from 200-230 max. I asked my mom what my sis weighs and she thinks around 240. Which means she's pretty much too big to go on the horseback ride. I'm heartbroken. I don't even want to tell her because I know it will hurt her feelings! I don't know what to do! But at the same time, she still has 6 months to lose 15 pounds so she can be under the weight limit. :( This sucks big time.

I'm also planning what activities Tom and I are going to do when our family leaves, but I don't have the heart to do it anymore. I can't see us going off on all these fun adventures while we leave my sister back at the resort because she is "too big."

With this ring...

We bought Tom's wedding band on Saturday! He was way pickier than I thought he would be. The ring couldn't be too wide, or heavy, or plain, etc. (part of the problem is he has really skinny fingers and most of the men's rings looked stupid on his little fingers!) But I'm happy to say we found one that looked good on his hand! And he even got me to spend more money than I was going to because he liked the ring with diamonds! haha what a girl...

Anyway, here it is! The ring that will make Tom go from fiance to HUSBAND!

4 years

Yesterday was our 4 year dating anniversary. June 17th, 2006 was the day I met my future husband! :) Yesterday I woke up to a card on my nightstand (telling me he's excited to marry me and start a family together! awww) stuffed full of salted carmels (yum!) Then last night we went out to dinner at Red Lobster. It was a really nice night. :) In some ways I feel like we've been together forever, but in others I can't believe how fast those 4 years have flown by. I have changed SO MUCH from 21-25. (thankfully for the better!) and Tom was there with me every step of the way. He's grown and changed too. And I'm glad we were able to grow together and become better together. Each year we've been together has been better than the previous year and I hope it stays that way!

P.S. It was also bittersweet that this is the last "dating anniversary" that will be really special. Because from here on out our wedding anniversary will take it's place.

Time Flys

First of all, how can it be June 10th already? There is only slightly more than 6 months until I get married! I am SO glad the first half of my engagement is over! It was horrible. Not at all like I pictured it would be. It was stressful and left me really sad at all the bad things being said about it. But now, all the trips are booked (and not everyone is coming, and we're ok with that!), we have the money to pay off our trip, we applied for our passports last night, and everything is moving full speed ahead and I am FINALLY HAPPY AND EXCITED about the thought of my wedding/getting married. Ah, I've been waiting for this feeling! :)

Second, my one-and-only baby brother is graduating high school on Saturday! I can't believe it! (That also means I graduated 7 years ago! Where the hell does time go to?!) We will be heading home tomorrow after work for the weekend to see him graduate. He put our whole family through hell the past few years. I think he made my poor mom age about 10+ years! But I am very happy that he is still here, maturing (as much as an 18 year old boy can, anyway!), and graduating high school. :)

My brother, Patrick. I can't wait for him to walk me down the aisle in December!

Updates & more SIL drama

So, long time no update! A few major things have happened recently...

1) My great-grandma passed away at the age of 94

2) My grandma decided she IS coming to our wedding now that she doesn't have to worry about leaving great-grandma (her mom) for a week.

3) We switched our resort from S.a.n.d.a.l.s to B.r.e.e.z.e.s

4) Sis-in-law visited from Texas and caused major DRAMA!

***

So first my great-grandma, Goldie, passed away the end of April after she had a stroke. She was still in her own home with my grandma & my mom by her side. She had a good, long life. My grandma was the one who was taking care of her. Because my grandma didn't really want to leave my great-grandma for an entire week, and didn't want to deal with the hassle of traveling with oxygen, she decided not to come to my wedding. It really, really sucked but I understood. Well, since my great-grandma passed my grandma doesn't have to worry about her anymore. And she decided to come to Jamaica with us! I am really, really happy my grandma will be there to see me get married!! :)

Speaking of wedding, we switched resorts. S.a.n.d.a.l.s increased their prices and it was too expensive for my family. So we switched. This other resort isn't as fancy by any means, but it's still on the beach, the had my wedding day available, and my family can afford it. We'll make the best of it either way!

Last weekend Tom's brother, his wife, and their daughter came into town. (dun, dun DUN!) I was dreading this visit for weeks! I'm not kidding it was causing me major anxiety! So on Saturday I spend all day cleaning my house, baby-proofing, and even bought SIL (sis-in-law) special food since she can't eat any lactose. So on Sunday they were supposed to be at our house at 9pm to go out for breakfast. They don't show up until 11:30. (which isn't even breakfast time anymore! I had been up since 6:30am!) But anyway, we go out to breakfast and everything is fine. There is some slight tension, obviously, because we can't stand each other, but everything seemed to go ok. We get back to our house around noon and she takes her daughter and says she has to run to "Target" real quick. She doesn't come back until 6:30 PM!!! Then she drops off her kid and says she has to run to the "grocery store." WTF. (Apparently she was at a friend's house all day) So while Tom did get to see his brother all day, he was really looking forward to seeing his 14 month old niece who he just met for the FIRST time! But she was gone all day! So when SIL finally makes it back to our house we have dinner and then they leave since it was so late and the kid was getting cranky. We had plans to all meet up at the zoo the following morning.

An hour after they left SIL sends Tom a text that says, "Danielle isn't invited to the zoo tomorrow. She can't come." And when Tom asks why? She says, "She wasn't friendly or welcoming enough. I refuse to spend anymore time with her. If you want to see Joel or Katie you will have to do it alone from here on out."

EXCUSE ME, BITCH! REALLY?

So needless to say Tom did NOT go to the zoo on Monday and didn't get to see his brother or his niece again before they left. I didn't tell Tom he couldn't go, but I am glad he decided to stand up for me and not give into SIL's crazy demands. It shows that we are united and she can't break us apart no matter how hard she tries.

I would like to take this moment to say how glad I am that she isn't coming to our wedding! She would ruin it somehow, I'm sure. While I'm sorry Tom doesn't get his brother there, her actions this past weekend have proven she is completely PSYCHO and there is no stopping or pleasing her.