Getting married is a big change. Even when you already live together. The biggest of which, actually, is changing your name.

I don’t have that many married friends (the one I had thought I might pester is actually out with a brand new cute little baby … and probably needs a nap). So, like all other wedding questions, I figured I’d just look on the internet ATW. Plus, I kind of knew I needed the official marriage certificate, and I knew you start this epic journey at the social security office.

Plus, it’s easy. I’m not hyphenating. I’m not moving names around. People do this all of the time, and I have a freakin’ master’s degree. Easy, in theory.

I wanted to get on it as soon as we got home from the honeymoon. No foot dragging here! But that first week back was hectic and I didn’t quite get around to it.

Plus, there’s the matter of coordination. Do you change your name before you line up all of your finances, or after? Before, or after you move? I can’t tell you how many times you need a driver’s license with a current address (and a current name!) when you move.

Luckily, the very next week I ran in to a friend who got married a couple of years ago. We’ll call her the wedding planner extraordinaire, because she’s the most organized person I’ve ever seen. Anyway, she offered to send me her list of instructions (always graciously accept any offers of help toward a wedding). I mentioned that I hadn’t gotten around to it yet, because we hadn’t actually gotten the official certificate yet. To which she says, “oh, I had to go pick ours up.”

Say. What.

Sure enough, I look at our marriage license at home. On the back: "You will not be notified that your license has been registered. You do not automatically receive a certified copy."

So … that $70 I paid was for … ? And the extra $13 to file it ... ?

Of course the time I figure this out is 9:30 pm on the one night a month the county clerk is open late.

So my caring husband helps me fill out the form to request copies and writes a check. Yeah, $13 for copy. Oh, and you need more than one, for sure.

I’m hoping it comes soon; preferably before the next late night at the county clerk, because otherwise I just wasted a stamp.

Last weekend Disneyland was so crowded even the overflow parking lots were full.

So we went to the Disneyland for grown-ups.

I don't know what it is but I love going to Ikea. Is it walking through the store with the frozen yogurt? The hot dog? The bright colors? Their furniture isn't the finest, but have you been to a regular furniture store lately? I have yet to see anything I really love, much less would pay over a thousand dollars for, in a "regular" furniture store. We'd have registered at Ikea, if it were a little more friendly to that kind of thing.

Maybe it's just fun to roam around and pretend like your living space was that cool.

And now, despite all of the issues I've been having with money lately (psychological, not physical), I want to go on a $2,000 shopping spree.

Kitchen table, $179

This is where the trouble started. We don't even need a table. We don't even have room for a table. But this is by far, the coolest table I have ever seen. It's modular enough that it might even make our dining ... walkway? room? look less cramped. Compared to other stores, it's ridiculously cheap.

Kitchen Cart, $99

I love kitchens with islands. Well, I love kitchens in general, except ours. Huge living room, generous bedroom, kitchen that is maybe 6" larger than the tiny one in my college apartment (which, by the way, had a similarly sized table as above with four chairs, and still had a pantry). Basically, this is the closest I could get to having an island. All I could think of was putting our new pots on the shelves, which would be ridiculously convenient.

Bookcase, $219

Previously mentioned large living room has one long wall that stretches all the way in to the dining ... no, I will not call it a room. Right now, we have the side table from one of those particle board desks that go on sale at Wal Mart every fall on which to put our keys and my bag(s). I'm not complaining about that; it's worked out really well. That's why we kept it. But this is beautiful and the picture doesn't do it justice. This is where the real trouble started and I started writing down measurements.

TV Stand, $150

I liked this when I saw it before. It comes in the same finish as the bookcase (matching? could we really have matching furniture??). Between the Wii, DVD player, games, controllers, and other stuff, I'd say our TV has outgrown the end table we've used for so long. I'd get baskets rather than drawers for the bottom though. Not a fan of drawers.

Bed, $299

Once upon a time, we were going to get a bed frame. I don't remember quite why we decided this was a good idea, but this is the only one I liked after many, many stores. Excuse me, do you have any catalogs in English?

Dresser, $279

Because this is already a slippery slope. And I'm convinced it would somehow hold more than our current dresser (like the table, nothing wrong with the current dresser).

Comforter, $149

IT SNAPS TOGETHER. We really, really don't need a comforter. Not even a little bit. But did I mention, IT SNAPS TOGETHER?? This must be why I love Ikea.

Storage Boxes, $26

Why double the price? Because I've decided I must have two. These are not so much an imaginary wish list item as they are an "I might go back and get these this weekend" item.

Drying Rack, $40

Quite possibly the most expensive drying rack ever. But if you live in a large apartment that somehow has no space, this is brilliant. Now if we just had any intention of putting anything on the walls...

If you're a nerd you'll add this up and say, "that's only $1,440!" Of course it is. But there's tax. LA County sales tax will make you cry. And then there's the "oh, wait ... we need to buy this shelf separately?" And some kitchen gadget I will suddenly be unable to cook another meal without.

And now you know why I don't have a house.

Hysterical, especially when you consider it's from my new husband! LOL!

I could spend a lot of time describing, in detail, the past month.

The week leading up to the wedding was so much fun. Having both of our families here, and everyone so happy, is something I'll always remember.

The day itself did go by fast, but not so fast that it was all a blur. I remember every happy moment.


The honeymoon was entirely a surprise. We cruised the eastern Caribbean for the first week, then spent a week at the Ti Kaye resort in St. Lucia. It was just as perfect as the wedding.

For now, though, I'll let it be. Life was good before the wedding, and I can't wait to get back to that!

*if you want to see all the pictures, holler and I'll send over the info.

I have no words.


Except that I will be making this. And you can too if you read these really funny instructions.

There is about a week until the wedding. I am not stressed out, and I am excited.

That said, everything I have done lately is somehow wedding related. It's time to get this stuff done. I think I've been putting some things off because once they're done, it's wedding time and it'll be over. That's kind of a bummer. Not that I'm not excited about going on vacation and then just living normal life for a while. I'm just so lucky to have two families who love me and get along and all. Not that they won't after.

Anyway, my mom and I were talking yesterday about "after the wedding." There are so many things that have to wait until "after the wedding," because there's just so much to take care of between now and then. But "after the wedding" is what life will be like:

• I read this article and it horrified me so much (tearing tissue?? ew!!) that I am going to immediately get rid of the sports bras from high school and get ones that fit. So, back to wearing them to the point of nasty. Plus I need decent shorts. And a new yoga mat. Did you know they crumble and STINK after a while? Me either. Oh, you thought running and yoga were in preparation for wearing a wedding dress? Cute.
• Then there's the wardrobe. Just this morning I thought, "wouldn't life be simpler with fewer options in the morning?" I wear basically the same thing all the time. I have clothes that are out of style or don't fit right. I have clothes from coughmiddleschoolcough that I still wear. I hate to get rid of perfectly good clothing, but I don't want to move it.
  
• Moving. Our neighborhood is awful. Convenient, but scary. I want to move to a fun neighborhood - think downtown El Segundo, Main Street Huntington Beach area - and live it up for a while. But thinking about it is overwhelming and I hope that's just the bride talking.
• I hope they finish the IMAX across the street before Star Trek comes out. Yes please! Except the actor who plays Kirk looks a little bit like the moody Twilight pictures I see all over. I guess pale, emo, and tight pants are the "in" thing.
  
• Maybe now I should come up with a more definitive career plan. I'm hesitant because I've tried a few times before, and I never would have thought I'd end up where I did, and I'm not all that disappointed about it. But "seeing what happens" isn't very professional or MBA of me.
  
• Did you know I graduated? I finally get to have a big graduation in May. Although I already have the diploma. I'm still super excited about it. Bet you didn't know I like parties.
• I need a hair cut. Bangs and layers but long enough to pull back. Period.

But all this is "after the wedding." Some of you I will see soon, some of you I will see later.

The other night I made Stir Fried Shrimp in Orange Sauce.


I don't remember where I saw the recommendation to try this recipe but I got it from Cooking Light. Sounds right up my alley.

Of course nothing I make from one of these frou-frou recipes ever goes the way they say. Cornstarch? Eh, I can skip that (even though I have some). The honey has crystalized because it's a few years old - regular sugar will work. What is sambal oelek? You're getting regular chili powder, buddy.

All told it came out really well. I made half shrimp and half chicken and the chicken was good with it too. And the sauce did thicken up in about three minutes, but that was in super-high heat. I think I used too much OJ.

But this has got to be way better than Panda Express.