Just Beachy!

So much has happened since I started blogging and lately, I have not been participating in the blog world.  I miss it.  And you would think this would be the time that I am knee-deep in the blog community, sharing my wedding planning successes and failures and reading about yours. 

Quick update:  I have set the date and location for my wedding: October 2011 in Clearwater Beach, Florida!
Eeek! I am SO excited that I am going to have my dream beach/destination wedding!  I have been going to the Gulf Coast of Florida for the past 20 years with my family and it is near and dear to my heart.  The surf and sand and sun make me oh. so. happy!  And it's where Tim and I were engaged. Actually, if you would, please click here to vote for our proposal so that I can win a trip!  :) It's a pretty great video, too!


What have I done so far?
 - Booked reception site
- Determined bridal party
- Wedding website
- Ordered bridal gown
- Booked photographer
-Booked reception music


I guess that's it.  So I actually do have much more to do.  But I'll get to it.  I'm trying to figure out the colors that I like and I've saved all of these photos and sent them to my decorator and hopefully she can come up with some kind of inspirational layout for my reception. 

~Dining Diva

I'm Engaged!

I'm such a bad blogger, but if anyone still checks in on the Dining Diva, I wanted to let you know that Tim proposed to me on December 23 while on my family vacation in Clearwater Beach, Florida.  It happened around 11 in the morning while we were at the beach.  He hired a small plane to fly over us with a banner that said, "(My name) All I want for Christmas Is You! Will you marry me? <3 Tim."  Then he was on his knee and I was in SHOCK! My dad and our other friends and family members already knew he was going to ask me that morning, and my dad video taped the entire event. I think I may upload the video to share; it's quite special.  My mom was just as surprised as me that morning.  Tim had already asked my parents for their blessing back in October, and my mom was clueless as to when he was going to pop the big question.


Happy New Year!

Dining Diva

Holiday Hostessing

Who else loves Brad Paisley? I was fortunate enough to hear the CMA Entertainer of the Year perform live in concert this past weekend.  He does a fantastic job, obviously.  My co-worker won tickets to the show and invited me to go with.  We had a great time.  My only complaint was that Darius Rucker played so many Hootie & the Blowfish tunes.  Hello! This is a country concert. If you have the chance to see sexy Brad, do it.  My favorite song is Then.  Melts. My. Heart. 

Via.

This week I'm also going to watch the musical Legally Blonde with my friend's mom.  I'm excited!

Have I mentioned that I am hosting a Christmas celebration at our little apartment?  Tim says it's "my party," so he is really just sitting back and letting me dream up my big plans.  Today the invites were mailed, making the party official.  Originally my idea was to have some kind of a small holiday gathering so our families could spend some time together.  (He's coming to Florida with my and my family for Christmas and I wanted to do something with everyone beforehand.)  But now my idea has expanded into a full-blown party.  At this point it's pretty much all of my family and friends and then Tim's parents and sister.  (I have more family here than he does.) Either way, I'm excited. I hope his family enjoys themselves.

I've never hosted a themed party before, so if you have any advice or great party planning links, please send my way. Currently, I'm enjoying Hostesswiththemostess.com.

Have you ever shopped at Christmas Tree Shops before?  If not, try to find one.  It's always an adventure at the store due to the barrels of bargains and bus loads of seniors roaming throughout the aisles. I did pick up some cute holiday themed plates, napkins, cups and decorations on my lunch break yesterday.  Target also had some super cute goodies that I picked up.

Today I ordered homemade Italian cookies from a co-worker whose prayer group is making and selling them to raise money for a family in need this holiday season.  A great idea and I know my guests will enjoy them. 

My co-worker brought this sample platter to work today to encourage orders! 

Now I need to see how many people are coming.  Make sure I have enough seating.  Determine the menu for both food and drink.  Does anyone have a great alcoholic festive punch recipe? 

That's what's up with the Dining Diva.

Happy Humpy Day!

Fanny Farkle is Coming BACK!

Some people grow up with cute nicknames. Others, like myself, are affiliated with sassier nicknames.  Meet Fanny Farkle.  Back in the day when I had braces for six years and was going through the awkward pre-teenage and teenage years, I was a true Fanny Farkle.  Braces have been off since eleventh grade, however, they're coming back!  Yes.  That's right.  At age 25, I'm getting hooked up at the orthodontist for one last time!

I went to the ortho yesterday with my mom and Tim and left with an appointment to get ceramic braces back in my mouth.  Of course I made the date for after Thanksgiving so I can eat like a piggy without the pain.  Apparently it should only take about eight months to get my teeth back to perfection.  Just in time for corn on the cob. Yes!  Too bad they are freaking expensive. 

December 6, 2010 I am getting my braces. Wear your retainers, people!

XOXO 
Dining Diva

Lucky in Love

Tim and I always let each other know how much we love and appreciate one another.  I love our relationship.  I love that it's been slow and steady and full of wonderful things.  I truly am SO thankful that we met.  I have no idea where I'd be today.  But I do know that I have basically run a marathon when it comes to the personal growth I've accomplished in two years.  I still say, to any ladies who are in an unhealthy and unhappy relationship, run. You deserve better.

This weekend was exceptional.  Friday night we relaxed on the coach with cocktails, candy, chips and queso.
Saturday we went to my old stomping grounds to cheer on the team. Then we went back to the restaurant where we originally met to celebrate two years of bliss.

Sunday I had my family over for a day of laughter, football and dinner.  I wish I took photos of the chicken marsala I made.  Everyone was impressed, including me! It's so delicious. I need to share the recipe with you.

Over 40,000 packed the Dome. It was fantastic.  And our seats were, too. Tim's boss gave us the tickets, a parking pass and two admission tickets to the V.I.P. party before the game. :) (He obviously knows that we're very important people.)

Leaving our humble home for our date.

Happy.

Happy and full.  Right here is where I met my love muffin two years ago.  The restaurant is a really funky Mexican place.  (In my hand is leftover steak fajitas.  Yum!)

XOXO

Dining Diva

Remember Me?

The Dining Diva has been a bad blogger.  I'm going to do my best to re-cap all of the wonderful events that have taken place over the past few months.  I just can't believe that it's November.  Apparently summer has been finished for awhile now, fall is on its way out and the holiday season is basically here.  As my grandfather told me the other day, "Time waits for no man."  He's right.  And it seems like the past two years have just flown by since I've met Tim.  Actually, tomorrow, November 6, 2010, marks the two year anniversary of our first date!  So sweet and exciting, I know!  :)  And to think, I almost didn't go on the date.  (It was a Match.com date and I was nervous and wondering why I was forcing myself to go on a date with a could-be killer on a Thursday night when all I wanted to do was sit on my coach and relax.  Three glasses of wine later, I was on my way to meet the love of my life. Crazy.) So we are going to celebrate tomorrow by going to a college football game and then enjoy sangria and mexican at the restaurant where we first met. (Back story on the importance of sangria: Tim ordered it on our first date and I had never heard of it before, {I obviously don't get out much} so I was impressed with his knowledge and assumed he was cultured.  Which he is, actually, and continues to teach me new things on a daily basis. I think intelligence is so sexy! Okay so that's what we're doing tomorrow.

So back to the past few months. Every weekend we had something going on ranging from sun bathing and booze cruising at my parent's lake house to bridal showers and weddings.  It was a fun-filled summer and early fall!  I want to post photos from all of the weddings for you.  But at this point, I don't have any of those photos on my work computer.  I couldn't post this without something good for you to look at, so here are some random photos. Hope to get back into the blogging game and upload some photos from the summer for you.  (BTW, I never stopped reading your blogs.  They get me through my work days.  And I love them all.)

XOXO

Dining Diva

Here's Tim with my sister's doggy, Bella. She is the sweetest muffin ever and everyone loves her.

This is the most beautiful and wonderful mother in the world, mine! We celebrated her big 5-0 birthday this September.  Isn't she a babe?  And she really is the greatest mom anyone could ever ask for.

Here's the gang outside the restaurant we went to for her birthday.  From left to right we have my parents, sister and her now X boyfriend, me and Tim.

 

 

Vacation!

Tomorrow kicks off my long awaited vacation! Tim and I are going to Charleston, SC and I am so excited! He has quite a few friends that life there and we are all going to hang out. I love exploring new destinations -- and this is a new destination for both of us. So excited! See you later!

~Dining Diva