Whose fiancee is the best?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThUlcRxRV2Y

first

Do you know who can throw a good party? My roommates!
Katie and Kristine threw me my first bridal shower and I was so touched by their attention to fun details and time that they put into this party. It was beautiful.

We played this fun game where people put their first or favorite memories down of my friendship with them. It was SO much fun to have many sweet friends in attendance.

We had fun champagne to drink. (see what I mean about details? cute pink ice buckets! how cute Kristine!!!)

Kristine also borrowed her Mom's punchbowl and fancy cups. Everything was so beautiful and done remarkably well. I was honored!!

On the phone before everyone arrives...

even the patio doors had their own decorations! :)

the yummy food spread!! YUM! (minus the shrimp tempura)

practicing wearing my veil

Emily and Michelle (my future teammates)

Liz and Sarah Joy (UCLA ladies)

I had to play a game where Kristine had questions and answers from Mikey and I had to guess what he would answer or I would get these lovely little zits.

Well, I answered 13 out of 20 correct.

Fun questions like:

Describe you and Joanna's first kiss. Where were you? When was it?

(i definitely got that one right, I waited a looong time to kiss him!!)

What is Joanna's favorite food?

Mikey answered, "In general, she could eat Mexican food everyday"

I got that right but then he went on.

"Her favorite Japanese food is okonomiyaki. She loves chocolate, sourdough bread, and eating raw cookie dough."

He is right but I didn't know he was so detailed. :)

Your favorite food?

I got this right.

Mikey said, "Anything Asian, preferrably Chinese."

and other questions like...

How many kids does Joanna want? How many do you want?

If Joanna were an animal, what would she be?

What animal would you be?

Describe Joanna in three adjectives?

What three would she use to describe you?

Anyway, I got 13 right! Unfortunately as you can see from the picture... I did get 7 zits!!!

What a fabulous party thrown by fabulous roommates. I am so blessed by wonderful friends!!

a rose by any other name...

I've been known to change my name a time or two...

when I go to Starbucks I like to tell them my name is "maribeth" "annie" and any other name that comes to mind.

I don't know why.

I just like to pretend and have a little fun....

well, today... i had a LOT of fun at the dry cleaners!

my man

Mikey is passionate about many things in life...

the Lord, good food (preferrably Asian) and ultimate frisbee... in that order, I believe. :) It's such a joy for me to be able to capture on film the many faces of my beloved... he is really REALLY good at ultimate but if you are a beginner, have no fear~ he will let you know all his little tricks for throwing and catching.

Isn't he cute?

What a hunk!

mmm mmm mmmm......

ohhh baby!

I think I'm going to love marrying this awesome man.

Besides all his other good points, he also just knows how to have fun!

I don't think I'll ever get bored married to an ultimate frisbee player. :)

Chocolate Covered Goodness

I had this desire come over me when I was standing in Ralphs grocery that I should make chocolate covered strawberries. The strawberries are huge and lusciously red looking, so I couldn't resist.

This "recipe" is compliments my good friend Krista Morrison... bittersweet chocolate chips

washed and dried strawberries

a little bit of shortening mixed with the chips and melted in the microwave because as Krista told me, it helps to prevent the chocolate from burning which it happens more often on the stovetop.
Mmm thanks for the tip Krista!!

Dip the strawberries and voila!

You have this!

And this!

Happy Cooking!

did you...

sign me up for a This Old House subscription?

I got the June 2009 magazine in the mail and it has my name printed on it and everything. I have to admit... I'm kind of liking this magazine.

I know, I know that sounds weird but they have all these weird great ideas on how to DIY (do-it-yourself) around the home.

I have a weird liking to different magazines. For example, my favorite magazine which is Country is by far the best magazine a city girl can get. You can keep your Glamours and your Cosmos. I can curl up with a Country magazine any day (in fact, Grandma Icenogle sent me all the fall issues this past year). I just love that magazine because it reminds me of all the wholesome and simple things in life. I'm sure there are people my age who like that magazine but I've never met them. I'm always eager to see the pictures, read the recipes, and hear how the farmers are fixing their different tools around the shed.

I know, I know! I'm a nerd. Actually, writing this makes me think of Miss Sarah Gehrman. Sarah, how's your hummingbird garden this spring/summer? I bet we're the only two old generation youngin's out there!!

Besides Country, I also love Real Simple which is my favorite magazine and other DIY type magazines. And now that I'm leafing through it, This Old House is full of good ideas as well.

Hmmm... I wonder if I'll be the only girl at the pool with this magazine....

editors note: just in case you thought i was lying about how heavenly this magazine is: check it out for yourself and get a free issue. You'll love it. It's to die for!!
http://www.country-magazine.com/

advice

love has no fear and no vengeance
this is from my tea bag to me to you...
reminds me of 1 Corinthians 13 where Paul says that love keeps no record of wrong... i love that thought.

It's a bird...

it's a plane,
nope, it's a hilarious post... click here.

does

life get any better than this?

a junior high moment

there i was... addressing invitations for Mikey and my wedding when i wrote it out... Mr and Mrs. Wang and it occurred to me...

I'm going to be Mrs. Wang!!!!!

And excuse me for having a junior high moment but this has to happen....

Mrs. Joanna Wang
Mrs. Joanna Kay Wang
Mrs. Joanna S. Wang
Mrs. Michael Wang
Mrs. Joanna Wang
Mrs. Joanna Wang
Mrs. Joanna Kay Wang
Mrs. Joanna S. Wang
Mrs. Michael Wang
Mrs. Joanna Wang
Mrs. Joanna Wang
Mrs. Joanna Kay Wang
Mrs. Joanna S. Wang
Mrs. Michael Wang
Mrs. Joanna Wang
Mrs. Joanna Wang
Mrs. Joanna Kay Wang
Mrs. Joanna S. Wang
Mrs. Michael Wang
Mrs. Joanna Wang
Mrs. Joanna Wang
Mrs. Joanna Kay Wang
Mrs. Joanna S. Wang
Mrs. Michael Wang
Mrs. Joanna Wang
Mrs. Joanna Wang
Mrs. Joanna Kay Wang
Mrs. Joanna S. Wang
Mrs. Michael Wang
Mrs. Joanna Wang
Mrs. Joanna Wang
Mrs. Joanna Kay Wang
Mrs. Joanna S. Wang
Mrs. Michael Wang
Mrs. Joanna Wang

except imagine it with lots of little hearts and cutie things around it. :)

tra la la la

i can picture all the fun places in japan mikey is seeing right now...

i shoulda told him about that okonomiyaki place by yoyogi center...
or how to get through the park to get to harajuku...
or where to get cheap cute clothes...
and how cainz teapots are better than daiso...
and how 100 yen sushi is actually now 105 yen...
or how the days are broiling but the nights get cold...
and how movies are actually cheaper at night vs. the day...
and how the yamanote line is a circle and if he gets on the wrong one he can actually just get off and turn around...
or how disneyland is all in japanese so you can't fully understand the story rides...
or about last trains... miss the last one and you sleep in the station or mcdonalds...
or the shortcut from chuo to shuto (if you're walking)...
or the fastest way to ride the train...
or the train website...
or how the line gets really long at tsukiji so he should get there early in the morning...
or the onsen that's the best (not tama center, go to the other one)

Or what if he's driving and he forgets he's on the left side of the road? Or or or....

Well, all the things I want to tell him don't really matter because I'm sure he's remembering everything just fine... and he has great people to help him relearn anything he forgot.

I think I just want to be a small part of him being in Japan... he's never been there without me. It's kind of weird... in a good way. :)

I hope he's enjoying it.
(And don't forget honey!~ salmon onigiri and a rice cooker!)

leaving...

okay, so i'm not leaving but i think it's easier (in my opinion) to be the leaver instead of the leavee....

Mikey and I have often done long distance. We've had our fair share of goodbyes... he'd drive me to the airport, hug me goodbye, and send me on my way...

but today I was the sendee... the one left behind... the one shedding tears standing awkwardly at the security gate until Mikey's backpack and his head and every little ounce of watching him disappeared.

Blast.

27 days until my beloved is home.