wrapped with love on our wedding day

I've asked tons of married couples, engaged couples and single people their opinion on wedding gifts. As in from the bride to the groom on the wedding day and vice versa. I've gotten a host of mixed reviews on what people have done, are doing, would do if they were in the position. Regardless of what is spent, what matters to me when we made this decision is that we'd both have something that we would associate with our wedding day.

Mike and I decided to exchange gifts. Like most gifts we do, well its not a surprise. We set a limit of a few hundred dollars and decided not to "over spend". We both picked out things we'd like and that would be useful/important to us. What did we pick you might ask? Well, I'll let you in on a little 'non' secret!

Mike, being the crazy triathelete that he is, wanted something for his new race bike. I ponied up the cash and wrote him a check so that he could pick the best thing for him. He choose his new deep-dish front race wheel. While this will not get used everyday (it'll be used in races), it'll still go noticed for sure. My motivation, when he is racing his first full Ironman in November, he can look down and see the wheel and think of me and the support and love and encouragement he needs...hopefully to spin the extra mile and go further than he thinks he can.

I picked a ring. Why yes, I'm getting my wedding band also on our wedding day, this will be my right hand ring. I've always wanted one and well, this one will serve as a memory of our day. I picked out a gorgeous David Yurman ring (which I get to pick up today) that has not only a pearl, but some diamonds too. Nothing to blingy or flashy (my left hand has enough of that), but something gorgeous that I can wear daily as a reminder of our important big day. Also, I think this would be a great piece to pass down to our (future) daughter or (future) son for his wife ... you see my point.

While we both know what we're getting, we wont be able to use/have the items really til our wedding day. I've also got a special surprise for Mike that he has no idea about. This will also be something to keep him remembering our big day and the vows we'll make in just under a month.

What did you do on your wedding day? Did you give a gift? Or would you if you were getting married?

Dolphin Event Recap

The Dolphin Tales exhibit/show opening I went to last night was amazing! The aquarium was decked out, the food was stellar, drinks were flowing and the crowd was awesome. The show was about 30 minutes long and can be compared to a Sea World/Broadway/Dolphin extravaganza mix. Post dinner, we headed back to the ballroom for dessert and coffee. It was a fabulous night and I was very lucky to get to attend! Next time you are in Atlanta, or if you live here, make sure you visit the new exhibit/show at the Georgia Aquarium.

dolphins during the show

how cute is this!?

one of the dolphins in the exhibit

coolest dolphin around!

dolphin cookie I brought home for Mike

one of the 'Parade of Dolphins' - Conan O'Brien

Do the Dolphin Can-Can

Atlanta is home to many things of awesomeness. Home Depot, Coke, Braves, Hawks and Georgia Aquarium to name a few. Okay, there's a ton more but this is the first 5 that came to mind! Given my job as a Product Marketing Specialist, I do events here and there (more there these days than here), but I quite often get invited to event locations for "showings" or "private events" to meet with planners and check out event spaces. 

Luckily, one of those places is the Georgia Aquarium. Late last year, Mike and I attended an event and 'Behind the Scene' tour through an invite I got at work and tonight I'll be heading back down for one of the opening events for the Dolphin Tales, the newest addition to the Georgia Aquarium. Sadly, I can't bring a guest so Mike will be staying home for this one. I'm pretty stoked to be honest. Usually the food is pretty good and the drinks are flowing, not to mention, I get to hang out with Flipper...or at least a distant cousin to Flipper! I'll be sure to do a recap later this week about my adventure! 

Sorry for the blurry image of the invite...it's definitely from my blackberry!

Update on Stella

I blogged last week about my dear friend, Devon and her puppy, Stella. Since then, Stella has had surgery to amputate her front left leg and will start chemotherapy in the coming weeks. Stella is in great spirits and is learning quick how to manage on 3 legs instead of 4.

When we all found out about the news of Stella and the surgery, we were heartbroken to hear how much money, emotional pain and struggle this would cause both Devon and Stella. Thanks to our amazing group of friends and a few emails of encouragement, a group of us was able to raise almost $700 to give Devon. She was blindsided by this generous gift this morning and her reaction can best be described as awe, shock and overwhelmed by generosity. Not only did she get a check, Stella got a goodie bag full of things (shout out to Erin F. for a fun shopping trip to PetsMart!)

Stella with her goodies!

Thanks again for all the puppy prayers and words of encouragement to Devon. It sure did brighten my day to see people care and I know Devon was blown away by the support, love and generosity of our friends.

Bachelorette Round 2

While I don't have all the pictures to share just yet, my Atlanta Bachelorette party was a total success. Dinner at a favorite Mexican place in the Virginia Highlands, 14 of my good girlfriends, booze, lingerie and some bar hopping ... oh and torrential rain! 

after a few too many at dinner and preparing for the rest of the night at Dark Horse Tavern!

I'll be sure to do a post once I get some photos from the girls who were there! Thanks again to all of you for making me feel so special and celebrating with me not once, but twice!

Peachtree Road Race Lottery Update!

I blogged a bit ago about the changes to the 2011 AJC Peachtree Road Race. I submitted my information on the first day and waited patiently for my email letting me know that I either got in or didn't. To my surprise, this morning I had an email waiting in my inbox. Good news. I got in! Thankfully, Mike and a few more of our friends did as well.

According to 11 Alive News, 2,000 people were not selected in the lottery. I happen to at least know of 2 people who didn't get in. The good news in this situation is that there will be a number transfer system from April 8-May 8 for people who got in the race but can't run, etc. to transfer numbers to the 2,000 not so lucky individuals who weren't selected.

Looking forward to lacing up my shoes and running my second Peachtree Road Race! Here's to hoping that BLAST and my future training (I have until July 4th) will allow me to PR in this race.

Happy training and if you entered the lottery, did you get in?

Funny Email Friday

I got this from a male coworker today and thought I'd share!

THE  FEMALE  MERIT / DEMERIT  SYSTEM

In the world of romance, one single rule applies:

Make the woman happy.

Do something she likes and you get points.

Do something she dislikes and points are subtracted.

You don't get any points for doing something she expects. Sorry, that's the way the game is played.

Here is a guide to the point system:

SIMPLE  DUTIES

You make the bed (+1)

You make the bed, but forget the decorative pillow (0)

You throw the bedspread over rumpled sheets (-1)

You go out to buy her what she wants (+5) in the rain (+8)

But return with beer (-5)

You check out a suspicious noise at night (+1)

You check out a suspicious noise, and it is nothing (0)

You check out a suspicious noise and it is something (+5)

You pummel it with iron rod (+10)

It's her pet (-20)

SOCIAL  ENGAGEMENTS

You stay by her side the entire party (0)

You stay by her side for a while, then leave to chat with an old school friend (-2)

Named Tina (-10)

Tina is a dancer (-20)

Tina is gorgeous (-80)

HER  BIRTHDAY

You take her out to dinner (+2)

You take her out to dinner and it's not a sports bar (+3)

Okay, it's a sports bar (-2)

And it's all-you-can-eat night (-3)

It's a sports bar, it's all-you-can-eat night, and your face is painted the colors of your favorite team (-10)

A  NIGHT  OUT

You take her to a movie (+1)

You take her to a movie she likes (+3)

You take her to a movie you hate (+6)

You take her to a movie you like (-2)

It's called 'Death Cop' (-3)

You lied and said it was a foreign film about orphans (-15)

YOUR  PHYSIQUE

You develop a noticeable potbelly (-15)

You develop a noticeable potbelly and exercise to get rid of it (+10)

You develop a noticeable potbelly and resort to baggy jeans and baggy Hawaiian shirts (-30)

You say, "It doesn't matter, you have one too." (-8000)

THE  BIG  QUESTION

She asks, "Do I look fat?" (-5) (Yes, you lose points no matter what)

You hesitate in responding (-10)

You reply, "Where?" (-35)

Any other response  (-20)

COMMUNICATION

When she wants to talk about a problem, you listen, displaying what looks like a concerned expression (0)

You listen, for over 30 minutes (+50)

You listen for more than 30 minutes without looking at the TV (+500)

She realizes this is because you have fallen asleep (-4000)