The big event!

A beautiful couple, delicious food and drinks and a packed dance floor made for a super great wedding this weekend.  Congratulations Scott and Becky!

Celebrating with the Four Eyes

V woke up the day of the wedding and thought. "I think we should have a mojito zone." and he made it happen.  On the way to the wedding set-up he realised he'd forgotten the muddler so we stopped at a local restaurant and they offered to let him borrow theirs for the weekend.

Pretty ladies in pretty dresses.

Natalie, the wedding planner.

Out of town friends

Glowy ceremony

Ties removed, beer spilled.

Dancing!

Cutting rugs!

Date-iversary

Ta-da!  It's our dating anniversary today! It's also our 5-month wedding anniversary. xoxo

Good luck

This paper crane wedding cake is amazing!

Flippity flop

Flip flops always feel too casual for me unless I'm at the beach or in the backyard.  My casual California lifestyle transformation is not quite complete.

.  

I like sandals that have a heel strap for summer bike rides and the ones I've worn for the past few summers are starting to fall apart.  I'd been browsing online for a new pair for a few months but then I got bad blisters from getting sand in my black flats at the beach last weekend and had to wear flip flops IN PUBLIC because I couldn't wear real shoes.  Now I am getting more serious about my search.

(Side note to husband and family members: I have also been spending equal time in my job search.)

All these styles look the same, I know.  I like them because they're secure but look a little dressier than flip flops.

Fossil makes shoes?  I like this neutral style but the ankle strap might be too thick.  I like the little lift in the heel.

I like this style and the variety of colours available in this sandal.  I think if I wait a little bit longer there will be something like this at the Rack soon.

I like the metallic and neon combo in these shoes but I'm not too sure about the heavy heel cover.  

Do you shop for shoes online?  When I do, I like to shop at zappos.  They ship for free both ways on their regular site and have free returns for up to a year.  You can also request a vip membership for free and get next day shipping.  I bought my silver wedding shoes from zappos a week before our wedding. (awww)

In other fashion news, I love, love LOVE this polka dot top from J.Crew.  88$ though?  For a cotton blouse?!  Please let nobody else love this so it goes on super sale.  This model has me rethinking coloured jeans.  Again.

I took a break from sewing the bird wraps for V last night to watch J.Simp on Fashion Star.  What a weird show.  All the designs are boring and kind of trashy.  Kind of like the show.  The winner of each (?) episode has their designs in either H&M, Macy's or Saks the next day.  It would be an interesting concept if the designs were better.

If not sooner

In June we started looking online and locally for our wedding bands.  We visited shops that had security at the door and shops where the sales people had bright white teeth and plastic surgery - shops where the rings cost over $10,000 dollars.  There was nothing out there that was unique enough without being over the top gaudy (a look I am guilty of, occasionally).  I was starting to stress that I wouldn't find anything I liked.  Poor me.

Harry Winston, price upon request.  No.

No.

Etsy had some very pretty designs but nothing that I was sold on.  V would come home to find me with my eyes semi-glazed, clicking through page after page of internet websites looking for the one.  

One afternoon I visited a local jewelry shop where the owner has been a goldsmith for over 30 years.  The selection in the shop was a little old fashioned but the owner told me that if I brought in a design, any design, he would make it for me.

After getting design ideas from library books V and I went back to the local jeweler on  October 18th with the design I had (crudely) drawn for my wedding band.  The shop owner and master goldsmith (that's what it says on his card!) said he could make the design and the ring would be ready by December 18th, if not sooner.  We've learned that "if not sooner" is his catch phrase because I have called every two weeks to see how the process is going and after some very friendly chit chat, my ring is always promised by Tuesday, or Thursday, or Saturday of next week, if not sooner.  Every single time. 

V and I visited the shop last Friday to give some final input on the ring before he puts it all together and he said it would be ready either Saturday or Tuesday, if not sooner.  

Today is Wednesday.  

Until the ring arrives I've been wearing my Grandma Smith's thin gold band as a place holder.  It has small rubies and diamonds and was my "something old" and the ring we exchanged on our wedding day.  I usually don't wear dainty rings but I'm starting to get used to wearing it.  If the ring isn't ready soon I may have to get one of these beauties below.  

1. Sara Westermark 2. Jen Lawler Designs 3.Nangijala Jewelry 4. Monica Branstrom 5. Monkeys Always Look 6. Danielle Jewelry 7. Jen Lawler Designs 8.  Izzie's Tales 9. Unknown 10. About Jewelery

V's ring is very similar to #5 with the date of our first date on the exterior and our wedding date on the interior.  It was an etsy find and needs to be resized, which seems to be a common problem when purchasing rings online.

Unique, masculine ring by Lyuve for the medical professional in your life.

A ring etched with your or a loved ones fingerprint by Chris Parry

Are you engaged, married?  Did you partner pick out the ring themselves?  V and I had some discussions about this.  He wanted to pick the ring out himself and I wanted to be able to give my input.  In the end we looked at designs together and agreed on a style that would work.  I feel like the ring (once we get it) will be something we both put a lot of thought into.  I can't wait!

Overstay

I received notice that my bio metrics exam has been scheduled for February 3rd (at 8 am!  Whaaa!) where they'll take my fingerprints and photos.  After that I believe the next step will be vaccinations of some sort and a possible a medical exam to make sure I'm not bringing any new diseases to the U.S.... all the way from Canada.

Gulp.  Homeland Security, this is serious!

I decided to file all the immigration paperwork myself to save what I imagine could be a lot of money instead of hiring a lawyer.  The first portion of the application was submitted on January 9th.  I sent it overnight to the USCIS department in Chicago.  You can sign up for text and email alerts for updates on your case, which I did, and was notified on January 11th that my application had been received.  Things seem to be moving along fairly quickly so far.  I included as much information as possible to prove that our marriage is "bona fide" (their words, not mine.) I sent copies of photos with dates and locations of where they were taken, hotel receipts of our trips to the coast, flight receipts from when we visited Miami and copies of our joint bank accounts with the date I was added to them.

The fun part!  Getting married!

Vann is excited about our potential interview.  I am a little nervous.  There are discussions on immigration websites where people share some of the questions they were asked.  Most of them seem easy; questions about birthdays, family members, jobs, activities.  If anyone remembers how V and I met, let us know.  We've narrowed it down to sometime between December 2006 and March 2007.  It's all very romantic.

Would a woman dress like this in front of anyone but her husband?  I think this is enough proof of a bona fide marriage.

Cinderella Masvidal