tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91703300529112970922024-03-04T22:23:26.201-06:00The Spousal WeThe opposite of the royal we, meaning "you". <br>Used by your significant other to get you to do something.Denise Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686376275382868453noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170330052911297092.post-86246389666678094952009-08-07T10:08:00.004-05:002009-08-07T10:16:18.960-05:00I WANT!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAGOPqttl1YuCNOsmnaj-DoY7ojlZYSQ67Ew1WB1IiDxxH9iejXRhsLdU0eHG5vJZJz4Afcmxf9W3dqQmfy-tIotbprmvG5_iQzcLDbcD8k1j2ET9rkEfNsLdEoHOUlqd4fm5b8kT18Gn/s1600-h/504x_heartchihuahua080709.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 258px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUAGOPqttl1YuCNOsmnaj-DoY7ojlZYSQ67Ew1WB1IiDxxH9iejXRhsLdU0eHG5vJZJz4Afcmxf9W3dqQmfy-tIotbprmvG5_iQzcLDbcD8k1j2ET9rkEfNsLdEoHOUlqd4fm5b8kT18Gn/s400/504x_heartchihuahua080709.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367239104736246306" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">Bridezilla-esque request #1: </span><br />I want 12 dogs with heart-shaped markings to mingle with the guests during cocktail hour. We can start with <a href="http://jezebel.com/5332264/puppy-love">these two</a> from Japan.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> I'll <a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/Why-Dye-Your-Dogs-Fur">paint</a> the other 10 if need be.</span></span>Denise Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686376275382868453noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170330052911297092.post-4186907404811865442009-08-05T13:17:00.009-05:002009-08-05T13:43:04.975-05:00Slimfast Can Bite Me<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyRSZfBDmmmZcXLmXyEgshfiVGM1c3kKx396Xg9mp8WKDTL_mMj3C6fiKJ8d1rEbl3dDZSIB_p6SF8MwcZ8JmSDNJwSG9gCdM9P-Rhjb9GMeIxhLrdtPnJz_ejpdbYeCktrphTKSv_wgH/s1600-h/slimfast.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 516px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyRSZfBDmmmZcXLmXyEgshfiVGM1c3kKx396Xg9mp8WKDTL_mMj3C6fiKJ8d1rEbl3dDZSIB_p6SF8MwcZ8JmSDNJwSG9gCdM9P-Rhjb9GMeIxhLrdtPnJz_ejpdbYeCktrphTKSv_wgH/s400/slimfast.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366546472701250482" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">July has been a long stressful month for me. I've been working crazy long hours at work and have had to attend a number of cocktail parties, so needless to say my diet and exercise routine has been less than stellar. Add to that my Starbucks habit that tends to spiral out of control during times of stress and things only got worse. Not only are the calories unneeded, the espresso makes me crazy. During one caffeine induced bout of anxiety I texted my mom, "I'm worried I won't be able to fit into my dress."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In hindsight, I know I was being crazy. The wedding is still 9 months away and my dress won't even be fitted until 6 months from now. And once I got back to the gym I stepped on the scale and I've gained 3, maybe 4 lbs. As my friend <a href="http://z-thisisreality.blogspot.com/">Zipporah</a> said, "that's just water weight, don't worry." Or as Big Dave more elegantly put it, "I take bigger shits than that, you'll be fine." Point being, I'll get back on track with my regular routine and I'll be back to my good ole self in a couple of weeks. The dress will fit. Everything will be fine. And even if I keep the "weight" on I'm sure I would look great.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />Which is why wedding propaganda like this Slimfast ad from 2001 is so infuriating. Thanks, Slimfast, for trying to make me feel bad about myself. Thanks for feeding into the crazy.<br /><br /></span>Denise Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686376275382868453noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170330052911297092.post-53218587200839335362009-06-23T11:52:00.003-05:002009-06-23T11:55:02.532-05:00Yep, he's Laotian<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPXOJy8sL4O0y7LWXcqvNoq157R_t2VQlLz3q-BqMJoQ_-NpuF6xlX2plICAWvcgxEqGbwAGghwAVSj41uvqbvCrLzamPLea3oEkwI_y8VLZOQyjaDK-0-y5coOmL9Y6qv_pXpA78GAc9/s1600-h/132036.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUPXOJy8sL4O0y7LWXcqvNoq157R_t2VQlLz3q-BqMJoQ_-NpuF6xlX2plICAWvcgxEqGbwAGghwAVSj41uvqbvCrLzamPLea3oEkwI_y8VLZOQyjaDK-0-y5coOmL9Y6qv_pXpA78GAc9/s400/132036.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5350567322250308386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">From a meeting with a potential wedding officiant:</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" ><br />"Do you have any special family traditions? Heritage we need to honor? Mark, um, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I622QkXLk-Y">what are you</a>?"</span></span>Denise Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686376275382868453noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170330052911297092.post-91031075532009417882009-06-17T14:42:00.003-05:002009-06-17T14:46:28.980-05:00Recessionista bride: Bring on the fries!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMIrx_uuxYTssqj5n7TW8YsT9Z3aLjO7k9k0elklxFeintOsACDnOXhB_A-VFtgefop6plpMIYcAji8sR8Gopi_gkI-kvEKuUyb4KBGTuh1yYz7V7A132-SX19ab-dBB4c_RmZ1hjJutW/s1600-h/frenchfries.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 177px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMIrx_uuxYTssqj5n7TW8YsT9Z3aLjO7k9k0elklxFeintOsACDnOXhB_A-VFtgefop6plpMIYcAji8sR8Gopi_gkI-kvEKuUyb4KBGTuh1yYz7V7A132-SX19ab-dBB4c_RmZ1hjJutW/s400/frenchfries.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348384223464424130" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;" >Apparently faux junk food is oh-so-trendy for brides planning during our current economic climate.<br /><br />From a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/17/dining/17wedd.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">New York Times</span> article</a> today:<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">“No one wants to be vulgar,” said Susan Holland, a party planner who has arranged weddings in Los Angeles. “No one wants the perception of abundance. A lot of people, their friends don’t have what they used to and they don’t want it thrown in their faces.”</span><br /><br />Enter the <a href="http://www.dineart.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/french-fry-holder-basketsL.jpg">french fry cones</a>. And the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKyt6ng9X3-fo-ZiJcfousXgXtXll5EqJ3n4lax41zvgNcT5J4oQsY6z5H1Ap3CjrnnYaah6cg2a1Bd-dEkCofdngHVuouILm5u6X8HonTFv7q9YtG2SxfnBEtSq55B5BQfGJiNJm4Pz8Q/s400/vday+cupcakes.JPG">gourmet Hostess cupcakes</a>. And, a selection from my <a href="http://www.limelightcatering.com/">preferred caterer</a>: <a href="http://img.coxnewsweb.com/B/07/05/59/image_5059057.jpg">amuse bouche sliders</a>. Yum.</span>Denise Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686376275382868453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170330052911297092.post-449580714763055712009-06-16T16:39:00.005-05:002009-06-16T16:48:50.752-05:0010 Worst Father / Daughter Dance Songs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6H5AizwqhlNsBXCSvIJdBNF1o20MmTr9-MN6oElnf04D4i5_xpOHSAKJLm4IoYGLins3sqrBrEm_QlkC1v_tn4WKzZ5N1CIysf8RvCVbt6dVMeCo-Vulynu7R1hNEnIoedcPH3QNObcL/s1600-h/A727G-lg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6H5AizwqhlNsBXCSvIJdBNF1o20MmTr9-MN6oElnf04D4i5_xpOHSAKJLm4IoYGLins3sqrBrEm_QlkC1v_tn4WKzZ5N1CIysf8RvCVbt6dVMeCo-Vulynu7R1hNEnIoedcPH3QNObcL/s400/A727G-lg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348044162112223858" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Jezebel.com recently ran an article on the </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://jezebel.com/5288684/top-10-worst-wedding-songs">Top 10 Worst Wedding Songs</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> which inspired me to take it a twisted step further: Top 10 Worst Father / Daughter Dance songs.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />1. "Thank Heaven for Little Girls" Maurice Chevalier</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />The particularly pervy version that comes immediately to mind is from <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110612/"><span style="font-style: italic;">My Father the Hero</span></a>. Gérard Depardieu and Katherine Heigl before she was famous-- check it out. The premise is unsettling.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >2. "Love In An Elevator" Aerosmith</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I know, this one is out of left field, but Mark always brings this up as a suggestion. I guess it's the most inappropriate song he can think of.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />3. "Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon" Neil Diamond</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br />4. "Like A Virgin" Madonna</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">These songs come in handy for very young brides that haven't had "the talk" yet.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />5. "Brown Eyed Girl" Van Morrrison</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br />6. "Tiny Dancer" Elton John</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Two sing-along favorites.... about whorin'.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />7. "Sexual Healing" Marvin Gaye</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Ew. Gross.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />8. "Landslide" Fleetwood Mac</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />This seems to be a favorite song choice on wedding sites, but has anyone actually looked at the lyrics?</span> <span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />Well, Ive been afraid of changing</span> <span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" ><br />cause Ive built my life around you</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />Yes, Daddy, it's all about you.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />9. "Butterfly Kisses" Bob Carlisle</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />Another cringe-worthy favorite for those who don't understand metaphors. I believe the song actually uses the term "Father / Daughter Dance" in the lyrics.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br />10. "Don't Call Me Daughter" Pearl Jam</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />The title is pretty self-explanatory.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Note: For those of you looking looking to keep the vomit to a minimum, Offbeatbride.com has put together a great compilation of </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://offbeatbride.com/2007/06/non-sappy-fatherdaughter-dance-songs">non-sappy father / daughter dance songs</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span>Denise Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686376275382868453noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170330052911297092.post-8559738807660398102009-06-07T14:27:00.002-05:002009-06-07T15:32:31.233-05:00Herding cats: Adventures in wedding planning<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIfCCrOO7p2xh5A3By2FPuKpY5OzIsGObCIPKmlGYI8btNy7bStIujXGfRu25ZLaLk_YD1WY2_13vDzvkCgD9DeG6_lQ0-gE3UV2a-rTvLdFm8I_EUEE1X1vwwdEtMn937Mo7A2jliLKI/s1600-h/crazycat.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEIfCCrOO7p2xh5A3By2FPuKpY5OzIsGObCIPKmlGYI8btNy7bStIujXGfRu25ZLaLk_YD1WY2_13vDzvkCgD9DeG6_lQ0-gE3UV2a-rTvLdFm8I_EUEE1X1vwwdEtMn937Mo7A2jliLKI/s400/crazycat.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342820252988221298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I am by no means a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmGCD1uCh-g">bridezilla</a>. I'm not that picky about the details. I don't care about napkin colors or flower arrangements. I don't need things to be perfect. SO WHY AM I SO STRESSED?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I've been contemplating this over the past few weeks as I've endured nightmares about venue chairs and <a href="http://thespousalwe.blogspot.com/2009/06/tastes-like-chicken-wedding-hulk-out-1.html">non-veggie empanadas</a> and I've decided it comes down to one thing: Wedding vendors are like god damn, crazy cats!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I need a wedding vendor that's like a dog- happy to see me, fetches me what I want, obeys my every command. Instead I'm dealing with vendors that do what they want, when they want, with no regard to me or my schedule. I want a full vegetarian menu? Too bad, I'm getting some dead birds and I better like it. Need a quote by the end of the week? Well, they'll get around to it. I feel like I'm trying to lure Black Mamba (my cat) out from under the bed: "Please, please, caterer. If you just give me a quote I'll give you a treat." I just wish I knew the wedding vendor equivalent of "getting the broom."</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">It takes a whole laundry list of people to put together a wedding- even a small wedding. You've got the venue coordinator, caterers, photographers, florists, a minister, dj, dressmaker, butcher, baker, and candlestick maker. And from my experience so far, every single one is completely unpredictable. I'm going to end up like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgH4h4KMoGk">these guys</a> trying to wrangle everyone together. I better find my cowboy boots and lasso.</span><br /><br /></span>Denise Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686376275382868453noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170330052911297092.post-770679521286843372009-06-02T15:13:00.007-05:002009-06-02T15:17:47.563-05:00Tastes like chicken: Wedding hulk out #1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_q-1TjzN1mkj8cGXC9IAL3lJ0hik8w0MfnKEIBOOCSard1XqJRK9TzDR8Mg4uZz_fdbwsQRAMBxD9YsmqKyq0_XQx-llU6hf4m2hPoYlJJ6gS63C89tk__LOmoYcaautPxjQ0spv8oQZM/s1600-h/161454__hulk3_l.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_q-1TjzN1mkj8cGXC9IAL3lJ0hik8w0MfnKEIBOOCSard1XqJRK9TzDR8Mg4uZz_fdbwsQRAMBxD9YsmqKyq0_XQx-llU6hf4m2hPoYlJJ6gS63C89tk__LOmoYcaautPxjQ0spv8oQZM/s400/161454__hulk3_l.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342826058805624850" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">At a recent tasting, the caterer fed us chicken. Mark and I are both vegetarian and had told them so several times. Whoopsy.<br /></span></span>Denise Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686376275382868453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170330052911297092.post-22328062561652344102009-05-31T20:41:00.012-05:002009-05-31T21:26:53.211-05:00Finding a minister: It's Tricky (tricky, tricky tricky)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFA5_NMW_CrxHnY8yyKzZbwIiS13fJdfvu9rt3k9czl03rq4G2loAS2yP06pG7bX6wdv1M0td2QRkRhF77ggHHDUxEjS43HQGLJGBg7ufe9R3f6TZWOpjkC0bDhes9sKwSCgKLrrOqBdn/s1600-h/revrun.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFA5_NMW_CrxHnY8yyKzZbwIiS13fJdfvu9rt3k9czl03rq4G2loAS2yP06pG7bX6wdv1M0td2QRkRhF77ggHHDUxEjS43HQGLJGBg7ufe9R3f6TZWOpjkC0bDhes9sKwSCgKLrrOqBdn/s400/revrun.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342169261077921602" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">We have the <a href="http://www.salvageone.com/">location</a>. I have the <a href="http://www.priscillaofboston.com">dress</a>. Now we have to find someone to make this thing legal. Since neither Mark and I are members of a church, or in <a href="http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalContentItemAction.do?BV_SessionID=@@@@0133386472.1243822732@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccccadehgkldhkjcefecelldffhdfhm.0&contentOID=536911021&contenTypeName=COC_EDITORIAL&topChannelName=Residents&blockName=Promo+Item&channelId=-536879023&programId=536879086">good standing with the law</a>, a priest or a judge is out of the question. That leaves us with a ship's captain, a justice of the peace, or ... Rev Run.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Yes, that's right, Joseph Simmons a.k.a. Rev Run: Hip hop pioneer, co-founder of Run D.M.C, and most importantly, ordained minister. Just think- I could book the minister and the DJ in one fail swoop. The only problem is his rates start at <a href="http://delafont.com/music_acts/rev-run.htm">$50,000 for a personal appearance</a>. Ouch. Time to start re-thinking the budget.</span></span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv10FQEbA35uKILI726cms1n4OklhjVrK4dwEjHE1zD02bJnqL8A7P5MetUXOC4YeRylSHVlYhYL7i671UiNwojHuSnxcyK6nHMmEvwzPTsWswjwF-PrBjhPEzZyDxwDEuBEz-AOzLUM7O/s1600-h/rundmc+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 308px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv10FQEbA35uKILI726cms1n4OklhjVrK4dwEjHE1zD02bJnqL8A7P5MetUXOC4YeRylSHVlYhYL7i671UiNwojHuSnxcyK6nHMmEvwzPTsWswjwF-PrBjhPEzZyDxwDEuBEz-AOzLUM7O/s400/rundmc+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342169084618927570" border="0" /></a>Denise Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686376275382868453noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170330052911297092.post-47354548489225306202009-05-27T20:55:00.003-05:002009-05-27T21:10:22.607-05:00"So is the wedding off or what? This blog has been totally quiet, yo."<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYogwgcsjjx_7-suRgYspia1PbI_pAs2Cezahv6sC030i0HdeBokPVPdY1FzqihO4ghefHFEeZjuAZuE1zVh155JaQYJTfvTlVvahi6soSPeot5DB_bzTtARPp55B1PVjkzrSySg1cqgT/s1600-h/tbslogo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 189px; height: 72px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqYogwgcsjjx_7-suRgYspia1PbI_pAs2Cezahv6sC030i0HdeBokPVPdY1FzqihO4ghefHFEeZjuAZuE1zVh155JaQYJTfvTlVvahi6soSPeot5DB_bzTtARPp55B1PVjkzrSySg1cqgT/s400/tbslogo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5340687801926832258" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Yes, the wedding is still on! In fact, we have officially set a date: <span style="font-weight: bold;">May 15, 2010</span>.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />I apologize for the lack of updates but I've just recently recovered from a a two month infliction of TBS. That's "Tired Bone Syndrome," a condition first diagnosed in 2008 by Dr. Mark Hing. It is defined by a patient's inability to do anything after a long day at work except watch horrible tv, specifically programs involving <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5AbKEklngs">spoiled twenty somethings</a> and <a href="http://jezebel.com/5252379/10-rounds-of-real-housewives-reunion-fights">bitchy housewives</a>. But thanks to my newly prescribed nightly dose of Cherry Coke Zero I will soon be back on my feet and blogging regularly. Stay tuned for updates on my dress, the caterers, and the bane of my existence: the save the date cards.</span></span>Denise Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686376275382868453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170330052911297092.post-23858311332487705142009-03-29T16:56:00.007-05:002009-03-29T17:40:29.889-05:00Will there be dancing?!?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbGNKs4U_wlPRvJ8NVCMxUZ-ykNm8oScVWUwqgFmsrgH_vj-UNkHzm9VGEzDAtsmtAQo2_s8vp7O_DcXD-TNrRmvbSvfq7ZlDe_rLrA7vF5v5wWZUJmHu2AtQSO-lZk71_2x-_Au8d6Ry/s1600-h/dancing2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 251px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbGNKs4U_wlPRvJ8NVCMxUZ-ykNm8oScVWUwqgFmsrgH_vj-UNkHzm9VGEzDAtsmtAQo2_s8vp7O_DcXD-TNrRmvbSvfq7ZlDe_rLrA7vF5v5wWZUJmHu2AtQSO-lZk71_2x-_Au8d6Ry/s400/dancing2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318737177168169090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Of course, my darlings, there will be dancing!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">My friend Josh casually mentioned last night that his girlfriend Dana is concerned that there will be no dancing at the wedding. Dana, you obviously don't know the Gibsons! We have sweet moves and we'll take any opportunity to get down with the get down. Add alcohol to the equation and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMB8vv18ehE">we just gotta dance</a>!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">Case in point, my dear sister here "Gettin' Low" </span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">á</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"> la Flo-Rida in a full length ballgown. </span></span>Denise Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686376275382868453noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170330052911297092.post-3664814265415318842009-03-18T16:08:00.008-05:002009-03-18T19:02:28.651-05:00Our Amsterdam adventure a.k.a. Matt Damon smoked here!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2qcqxDPpKSRkDaQoiLmqEkBd-kGvnXolVd-laGpUM4Aw7fsEFhDPk8q1DzYZ9v5WtA1JTDmBQwff2RRwijeakSZhV9OAIHBtntCNdKd2AOXxwN07398EGkcvaoSfLrFZBNexOQDFoVEk/s1600-h/Amsterdam1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2qcqxDPpKSRkDaQoiLmqEkBd-kGvnXolVd-laGpUM4Aw7fsEFhDPk8q1DzYZ9v5WtA1JTDmBQwff2RRwijeakSZhV9OAIHBtntCNdKd2AOXxwN07398EGkcvaoSfLrFZBNexOQDFoVEk/s400/Amsterdam1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314680544948247266" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">It's been about 10 days since Mark and I returned from our whirlwind trip to Amsterdam. The vacation was my engagement gift to Mark — I got a ring and he got 5 days in the land of legal drugs and prostitution. </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />As we were packing to leave we realized that this was our first real vacation together, or as Mark put it: our first trip without mommies and daddies. We weren't going to either parents house, or a family wedding, we were just vacationing together.<br /><br />Alone.<br /><br />Just by ourselves.<br /><br />While that fact didn't bother me one bit, it sure seemed to bother everyone around us. I received a lot of sarcastic wishes of "Good Luck!" before I left town and I got the strange feeling that everyone thought we'd either 1) come back broken up, or 2) we would final "get to know each other" i.e. new, annoying traits would completely ruin our trip. To the contrary, we actually discovered we're rather good traveling companions! And to prove it, I've compiled a short list of "Good" things we discovered about each other while in Europe:</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />1. We both think french fries and ice cream is an acceptable dinner. And we agree that pancake + pesto = awesome.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />2. Mark is rather protective of me. He spent the whole trip with one hand attached to the small of my back so I wouldn't dart into traffic. I felt a little bit like one of those toddlers on a <a href="http://www.parenting-weblog.com/imgname--child_leash---50226711--images--child_leash.jpg">leash</a> but he kept me from being run over by a tram once so maybe I do need a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0KzvN-2gaE">bodyguard</a>.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />3. We both find the Dutch version of <a href="http://www.retrojunk.com/details_tvshows/6-ducktales/">Ducktales</a> hysterical.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />4. Our afternoon napping schedules were in synch the entire vacation. What? Coffee shops can be exhausting!</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />5. Mark is more afraid of me than of U.S. customs officials. Good to know. This marriage may work out after all.</span> </span>Denise Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686376275382868453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170330052911297092.post-2162195128409098272009-03-17T21:55:00.003-05:002009-03-17T22:00:02.319-05:00Great Scott!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DZAc845gf4l1kq4mmmsmKwrjXtmFtGbFAaBmxIK0gtdCqu3bNCXJwxU2z6nPpGhwKQUsVkm0XZrDqHpe08fAOPOK_soRVkUSzotmcH4laaSb4g5Td66hIQkP3h_lgYr7rD_eURpCEZa9/s1600-h/Karen+C+.+lw+.+delorean.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 301px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DZAc845gf4l1kq4mmmsmKwrjXtmFtGbFAaBmxIK0gtdCqu3bNCXJwxU2z6nPpGhwKQUsVkm0XZrDqHpe08fAOPOK_soRVkUSzotmcH4laaSb4g5Td66hIQkP3h_lgYr7rD_eURpCEZa9/s400/Karen+C+.+lw+.+delorean.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314356626463907346" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Groom's cake? Hell, yes! From <a href="http://www.cakewrecks.blogspot.com/">Cake Wrecks</a>, my favorite foodie blog.</span></span>Denise Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686376275382868453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170330052911297092.post-47296147098303422662009-03-17T21:27:00.006-05:002009-03-17T21:50:50.567-05:00Engagement Party!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8A731glBqsJPs2errinX_2JJHeAzX31zx69PCUSm9ePqdy7YlW-Xgjd7Q2yNUyom1z3z_GhAnnM3burY0oJ7jYm9LEsKozmoIkF8l6q5w1HPyFGdiN2YYfTXyn0Nyr0V8osIc_bJ1Z_ev/s1600-h/engagementparty.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 135px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8A731glBqsJPs2errinX_2JJHeAzX31zx69PCUSm9ePqdy7YlW-Xgjd7Q2yNUyom1z3z_GhAnnM3burY0oJ7jYm9LEsKozmoIkF8l6q5w1HPyFGdiN2YYfTXyn0Nyr0V8osIc_bJ1Z_ev/s320/engagementparty.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314349108445358546" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Mark and I have amazing friends here in Chicago-- every single one of them showed up for our engagement party on February 10! We haven't had this great a turn out since our 80's prom party back in 2005 (but, really, who can resist a fridge full of </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Jello-Shots">jello shots</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">?)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">For more pics of the great engagement party that <a href="http://z-thisisreality.blogspot.com/">Zipporah</a> and the folks at <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.matilda-babyatlas.com">Matilda's</a> put together head on over to my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/people/Denise-Gibson/856164235">facebook</a> page. I promise to post them up there someday.</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> For now this picture of me and my burgeoning <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20261292,00.html">Michelle Obama arms</a> will have to suffice.</span></span>Denise Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686376275382868453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170330052911297092.post-10320958664972329132009-03-17T21:06:00.011-05:002009-03-17T21:47:56.466-05:00Tiny, tiny cakes: Part deaux<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5IY59XugtBU9ljpwFOxgLQrYNM6xtny3-ZTbyJkbfEZ1P6_V4pbGkZ7Q3B6mqr9EA9aVqRO_dSIDV6ZUfMnTiLv3QpLSEJoyGO8npPVsD4iSdt-DufctiB3DkD4Gt83QNsd-PLYQiBjH/s1600-h/petitfours1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 157px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn5IY59XugtBU9ljpwFOxgLQrYNM6xtny3-ZTbyJkbfEZ1P6_V4pbGkZ7Q3B6mqr9EA9aVqRO_dSIDV6ZUfMnTiLv3QpLSEJoyGO8npPVsD4iSdt-DufctiB3DkD4Gt83QNsd-PLYQiBjH/s320/petitfours1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314345397763016434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Ain't they cute? These little snack'ems took an ungodly amount of time to make but all the guests seemed to enjoy them (as well as a certain <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8mOnCzyuRJ0KwAkM_tvbcej2W0f7BeWnfUqaZ8mSBZuRi3J8oM-UdE4iRmtOaP5EQrymgTBQE634lPgBxNo4P9EbqKtWku8bdS83CBMpxobFhFHpxj3oWpgjDwkQ8hQhLBhRR1BnLH7k/s220-h/lutherball.jpg">little pup</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">.)</span></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> </span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;" >Thanks to <a href="http://z-thisisreality.blogspot.com/">Zipporah</a> for letting me use her kitchen as the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wp3m1vg06Q">dipping station</a>.</span>Denise Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686376275382868453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170330052911297092.post-89062195735027357922009-02-26T14:41:00.002-06:002009-02-26T14:49:25.047-06:00Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELcCGPICVc-9cpaDSvHLkkkxEs__oBRGUA0xjCmJQNftBtlqtldGQobI_rOjPbHoZt6YcNXhhleCGXGCyjo0prbFew_cJmBd7zZfDtRYLFLt7nttdggfAWbXJ6GPzYoNzthObWjxlQFB0/s1600-h/bookcover.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 205px; height: 318px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELcCGPICVc-9cpaDSvHLkkkxEs__oBRGUA0xjCmJQNftBtlqtldGQobI_rOjPbHoZt6YcNXhhleCGXGCyjo0prbFew_cJmBd7zZfDtRYLFLt7nttdggfAWbXJ6GPzYoNzthObWjxlQFB0/s320/bookcover.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5307209339603360306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I've been neglectful of my poor little blog recently. I have updates to share but have been rather tardy in posting them. So while photos of my petits four success and the engagement party continue to sit on my desktop at home, I will distract you from my laziness with this book by Susan Jane Gilman.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />I'm a fan of both memoirs and short stories so <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hypocrite-Pouffy-White-Dress-Gilman/dp/0446679496/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1235681023&sr=8-1"><span style="font-style: italic;">Hypocrite in a Pouffy White Dress</span></a> was a fun, easy read for me. Her personal essays reminded me a lot of myself in that both Ms. Gilman and I find humor and absurdity in our typically unremarkable lives. And we both struggle with contemporary feminism— thus her tale of being shocked by herself when she falls in love with a big, pouffy white dress at <a href="http://www.davidsbridal.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplayView?storeId=10052&catalogId=10051&categoryId=-49995498&currentIdx=168&subCategory=-49999486%7C-49995498&catentryId=2001191">David's Bridal</a>. That's kind of the stage I'm in right now, too; who knew I would love weddings so much? The rest of her essays range from tales of growing up with wacky parents to adjusting to life abroad. Not just about weddings, it's definitely a book worth picking up if you need a giggle or two.</span></span>Denise Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686376275382868453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170330052911297092.post-84811550224695092142009-02-16T14:08:00.006-06:002009-02-16T14:13:38.120-06:00We heart cats<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8H6UvOwDgZIXXF0rNyV8-ZRzuX1x5hSlsdw1ey0-0GcsQMnEwmHu1rzVgNOPDrrFet2MIqL0SI7IjTkoXa2BqYn64zSPnvVf5z42wLbJkM_g_QuNnyW7XTL8K3zGOpHjlPUSw2IVlqPC/s1600-h/caketoppers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 220px; height: 165px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8H6UvOwDgZIXXF0rNyV8-ZRzuX1x5hSlsdw1ey0-0GcsQMnEwmHu1rzVgNOPDrrFet2MIqL0SI7IjTkoXa2BqYn64zSPnvVf5z42wLbJkM_g_QuNnyW7XTL8K3zGOpHjlPUSw2IVlqPC/s320/caketoppers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303489856835090018" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Mark and I saw the best idea for a cake topper yesterday-- <a href="http://www.tokidoki.it/">Tokidoki</a>'s Skeletrino and Skeltrina. For those of you that don't speak dork, I'm talking about the quirky little cat figurines/toys pictured to the left. So much cuter than bride and groom figurines, right?! We'll definitely be shopping at <a href="http://www.kidrobot.com/">Kidrobot</a> soon.</span></span>Denise Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686376275382868453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170330052911297092.post-58961698023527673512009-02-04T14:57:00.003-06:002009-02-04T15:08:25.768-06:00Tiny, tiny cakes = tiny, tiny anxiety attacks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2M8z4QlzI6_pK7887-MImJoAHvog-D1ti6Po57p0lruHeNxuyiQg2S7xOLnFhX-o9XWwLo3UoiZFPnBFSdMkto7sp4aMzoiPFQH107KkZXqxKgz2H-Mw4ZX82LRrDRXOS0uoABxde37C/s1600-h/il_430xN.55823253.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 234px; height: 154px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA2M8z4QlzI6_pK7887-MImJoAHvog-D1ti6Po57p0lruHeNxuyiQg2S7xOLnFhX-o9XWwLo3UoiZFPnBFSdMkto7sp4aMzoiPFQH107KkZXqxKgz2H-Mw4ZX82LRrDRXOS0uoABxde37C/s320/il_430xN.55823253.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299049589953086994" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">For our engagement party next week I've decided that I'm making the guests little packages of <a href="http://sweetlittletreat.blogspot.com/2006/04/martha-stewarts-april-almond-petits.html">petits fours</a> as favors. That's right, I'm making dozens upon dozens of tiny, tiny heart-shaped cakes that all need to be hand-dipped in icing and individually decorated. When I concocted this idea weeks ago it was the greatest idea ever! I love cupcakes and cake decorating so making petits fours is just a natural progression, right? Well since then I've realized that 1) I enjoy <span style="font-style: italic;">eating</span> <a href="http://www.thebleedingheartbakery.com/">cupcakes</a> not necessarily making them, and 2) cake decorating was fun when I was little and my mom was on clean-up duty. </span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />So, this weekend may turn into a heart-shaped disaster. Wish me luck!</span></span>Denise Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686376275382868453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170330052911297092.post-48968864325822745932009-02-03T11:22:00.003-06:002009-02-03T11:24:34.940-06:00And so it begins...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14r6lhBV7gksgjwsfr4CaD_d2G8OwRC_h5b71DUFHJz34h0dzjnO3vvUxeXr-S9_BckOw8mIOosSDNdegNOhbcMLv8c0rVFx4C8b7G7B70ks2UZOC-LVFvWsXrdEMFteA56FmSGt-E-eI/s1600-h/wedding-day.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 114px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14r6lhBV7gksgjwsfr4CaD_d2G8OwRC_h5b71DUFHJz34h0dzjnO3vvUxeXr-S9_BckOw8mIOosSDNdegNOhbcMLv8c0rVFx4C8b7G7B70ks2UZOC-LVFvWsXrdEMFteA56FmSGt-E-eI/s320/wedding-day.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298622881727019090" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I had my first wedding related nightmare last night. The nightmare was rather bizarre simply because I'm so early in the process that there's really nothing to stress out about. And yet, I woke up in cold sweats-- over the horrors of having to wear a pink lace mermaid gown.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />For those unfamiliar with the mermaid gown, let me explain: it is a look that can only be pulled off by 7 foot tall drag queens performing on stage nightly at the Golden Nugget. The mermaid gown is cut so that it is form fitting through that bust, butt, and thighs and then flares out with a big poof below the knee. So, basically, it's a style of dress that makes you look a foot shorter while enlarging your hips and can only be balanced out by a big bouffant hair-do. It's the fashion industry's big F-U to all normal sized women.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />And not only was the dress a mermaid gown, but it was made of sheer, pink lace. So sheer that you could clearly see my black granny panties because, of course, that would be my underwear of choice for my wedding day.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Oh, and bonus, my professionally done make-up ended up more like war paint than a wedding day glow.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />As Tim Gunn would say it was a lot of look. </span> </span>Denise Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686376275382868453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170330052911297092.post-39834181481572587422009-01-30T13:52:00.009-06:002009-01-30T14:05:35.442-06:00You know, that dude<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAs0L2ivPN9mIA3ZVH40m6O-X4LUonP9PvJs_7urcX7bka4yszf-RnaVWKTtjc2CQMpzK6z5vq9GWBTHV-jbh_TrXrpWB0h95Hry5wArwHdlaGxwmssorxNP7KnvIYl-CmGbJMkfg3xSZ/s1600-h/dandy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 189px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAs0L2ivPN9mIA3ZVH40m6O-X4LUonP9PvJs_7urcX7bka4yszf-RnaVWKTtjc2CQMpzK6z5vq9GWBTHV-jbh_TrXrpWB0h95Hry5wArwHdlaGxwmssorxNP7KnvIYl-CmGbJMkfg3xSZ/s320/dandy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297177518913052194" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Despite the addition of a fab-o ring on my finger, Mark is still my "boyfriend". Since I am neither french nor a <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=dandy">dandy</a> I will not be using the word "</span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://jezebel.com/5097803/is-there-a-better-word-for-fianc"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">fiancé</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;">". It just seems so awkward and pretentious, like when people add random foreign words into their lexicon to seem cool.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Bonjour</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">chicas</span>! Let's go to mi <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">casa</span> for some vino! And tor-tee-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">yas</span>. Ciao!</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">¡<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Ay</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">dios</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">mio</span>! It's too much!</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />The closest I've come so far is by referring to Mark as "My boyfriend, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">fiancé</span>, whatever, you know, that dude". Doesn't quite roll off the tongue, does it? So he will remain my "boyfriend" until he officially becomes Mr. Mark Hing-Gibson.</span></span>Denise Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686376275382868453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170330052911297092.post-36756949160143551422009-01-21T09:16:00.004-06:002009-01-21T09:21:29.835-06:00I said WE?!?<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I was trolling the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">internets</span> for Kristen <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Wiig's</span> "I said WE" skit but ran across this instead:</span></span><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/49773b8cca8f9482/4741e3c5156499a7/99b12178/-cpid/593d0bea9c8ad78c" id="W4727a250e66f972349773b8cca8f9482" height="283" width="384"><param name="movie" value="http://widgets.nbc.com/o/4727a250e66f9723/49773b8cca8f9482/4741e3c5156499a7/99b12178/-cpid/593d0bea9c8ad78c"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="allowNetworking" value="all"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></object><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Hopefully our anniversaries will be this full of song...</span></span>Denise Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686376275382868453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170330052911297092.post-65475055636347695082009-01-18T18:23:00.020-06:002009-01-20T09:10:23.499-06:00Traditionally Nontraditional<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIV06Itn_SSoTeLlmecfHwb-uE_glHynIVsQ35J7X8e5vtQiZy8Rphs16XncKVfwNPUIw5HcrAU6I0FcDJ3LtZUENljW1z39FFlCiSSW2uRT-TUO9sZ42uDdIi1oFfK9R-o8lmrYyx1uGY/s1600-h/antiquejewelrymall_2038_132792504.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 179px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIV06Itn_SSoTeLlmecfHwb-uE_glHynIVsQ35J7X8e5vtQiZy8Rphs16XncKVfwNPUIw5HcrAU6I0FcDJ3LtZUENljW1z39FFlCiSSW2uRT-TUO9sZ42uDdIi1oFfK9R-o8lmrYyx1uGY/s320/antiquejewelrymall_2038_132792504.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292798229976160626" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">BIG DAVE (aka my dad):</span> "Well, you don't want a dress..."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DENISE:</span> "Yes, Dad, I do. I'm not wearing a bathrobe down the aisle."<br /><br />That's the problem I'm already running into with this whole wedding business. Expectations that I'm going to be a <a href="http://offbeatbride.com/">total <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">wack</span>-a-do</a>.<br /><br />Granted, years ago as a budding feminist, I had stronger "views" about marriage/weddings/getting engaged. I used to be dead set against engagement rings. I mean, it's the same as having a man put a big 'ole bought and paid for sign on you, right? <span style="font-style: italic;">Well</span>, I loosened up on that view when I realized I'd be missing out on a really nice piece of jewelry. Some of my other views about wedding traditions have loosened as well-- I definitely think my family will be surprised by many of my choices:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">ENGAGEMENT RING</span><br />For many reasons, I was still against a diamond engagement ring. My compromise instead was to 1) choose a sapphire as the center stone, the traditionally nontraditional way to go nowadays, and 2) give Mark an engagement gift in exchange. I got a ring and he got two tickets to Amsterdam-- now we're equally in debt!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">WEDDING GOWN<br /></span>The color will be....WHITE! I bet that surprised a few of you. But any objections to a white gown are completely overshadowed by the fact that I DO NOT want to look like I'm going to <a href="http://offbeatbride.com/2008/10/my-halloween-costume">my prom</a>. I've never seen a <a href="http://offbeatbride.com/2008/12/the-fallacy-of-offbeat-trends">non-white dress</a> that's worked at a wedding, so my fashion senses tell me to stick with tradition.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GIVING AWAY THE BRIDE</span><br />Wow, this one was a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">toughy</span>. While I hate the idea of being "given away" (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">hellooo</span>, I'm not a piece of property) at heart I'm a daddy's girl. Why hurt my father's feelings because I'm afraid people will read too much into my walk down the aisle? Plus, it was such a touching moment when my father walked my sister down the aisle that I can't imagine passing this up.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">TAKING HIS LAST NAME</span><br />I have to admit, this is still up for discussion. I like my last name- I've become quite fond of it over the past 28 years! Of all the traditionally nontraditional possibilities- hyphenating, legally going by Hing but still publicly going by Gibson, having Mark change his name (!)- I think I still may go with the ultimate traditional-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">nontradition</span>: not changing a damn thing. We'll see...<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><br /></span></span>Denise Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686376275382868453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9170330052911297092.post-77262558049667756742009-01-18T15:58:00.006-06:002009-01-18T16:05:17.354-06:00We're Getting Hitched<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Yes, Mark and I are engaged! He proposed via blog (how appropriate) on December 23, 2008. It's been somewhat interesting telling people. I mean, Mark and I have known for quite awhile that we would be together forever. We've lived together for about 3 years and in a lot of ways we're already an old married couple. Case in point, The Spousal We:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DENISE:</span> "We need to clean the dishes this weekend."<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MARK:</span> "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ok</span>, I'll do them after I finish my stories."<br /><br />So when people scream in reaction "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">OMG</span>, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">OMG</span>!" and jump up and down I'm somewhat surprised. Who knew a piece of jewelry would get everyone so excited?<br /><br />If I'm only a few weeks into this process and already surprised and confused, wow, this is going to be quite a journey. Probably one worth recording.<br /><br />I promise I'll keep the romantic drivel to a minimum. And hopefully my posts about the planning process won't seem like a transcript from <span style="font-style: italic;">My Super Sweet Sixteen</span>. But definitely check back to see how the wedding is coming together! And if you want to see the blog that started it all, check out Mark's blog <a href="http://www.wolfgnards.com"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">wolfgnards</span>.com</a>.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsV_p-a8BaqvrXlAy73vDQPUjPrHh9cbXXMbyHa87WsfQgAMcfj6XXbBHOPmhLF8n5nAFZpYovqxYtK-YImEs5Z2J9jL7S-i4sUVTA9fl-kV65D2vvb8jQcRYYIoXFzPjAglA0xUSdYBq/s1600-h/propose2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 331px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsV_p-a8BaqvrXlAy73vDQPUjPrHh9cbXXMbyHa87WsfQgAMcfj6XXbBHOPmhLF8n5nAFZpYovqxYtK-YImEs5Z2J9jL7S-i4sUVTA9fl-kV65D2vvb8jQcRYYIoXFzPjAglA0xUSdYBq/s400/propose2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292758019039483618" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></span>Denise Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05686376275382868453noreply@blogger.com0