DIRECTORY, THE FIRST

Let it be known that today, Tuesday, June 12, 2012, will go down in history as the Lopacs' first church directory photo op. Oh, I've been in plenty of directories through the years with my family! Maybe two? (They don't update very frequently.)

But this is my first as a married lady!

You see the importance of this, yes?

The day started off quite normal.

mini-wheats (not frosted) + bananas + blackberries

(+ Khloe and Lamar... not my favorite Kardashian, but she'll do)

Daily To Do lists keep me organized.

Then I straightened my hair and picked out possible outfits. They were both on the list.

Look, no glasses! (First time since February! But that's a story for another day.)

Should I wear this?

Or this?

I went with the pink. The top left picture will be in the directory!

The bottom left picture was cute, but Christopher said we had enough recent professional pictures.

(plus we like less-posed pictures with real scenes in the background)

The bottom right picture will be blown up and given to everyone on our Christmas list.

Merry Christmas!

(but I really want one!)

(my mister is very handsome!)

29 days until The Day / 25, 26, 27, 28

I hardly had a chance to catch my breath this week, let alone see Christopher. My week was filled with report cards, parent-teacher conferences, writing thank you notes to my wonderful friends and family that attended my (other) bridal shower, and applying for a summer Writing Project. Christopher had buddies in town over the weekend. One stayed a few days extra, so he was busy as well.

Tomorrow morning we are headed to Pre-Cana Class. We'll be meeting with a group of couples also preparing for marriage in the Catholic church. I don't know what to expect, but I'm looking forward to it. My dad will be in the area tomorrow, working on the farmhouse. He requested we drop Telula off so he can doggysit her. Too cute!

Though I've been long done with the 30, I'm still trying to finish posting:

Outfit 25

Sweater: Forever 21

Dress as shirt: Target

Belt: Forever 21

Skirt: Old Navy

Tights: Walmart

Shoes: Target

Earrings: Charlotte Russe

Watch: JC Penney

Outfit 26

Shirt: Target

Scarf: JC Penney

Skirt: Anthro

Tights: Target

Shoes: Target

Outfit 27

Shirt: Forever 21

Dress: Old Navy

Belt: Target

Shoes: Target

Outfit 28

Dress & Belt: Forever 21

Leggings: Kohls

Boots: Steve Madden

Crazy Hair Day / day 20

I've been taking a little bloggy hiatus to focus on wedding plans and decorations...but I've been busy with other things as well.

I celebrated St. Patrick's Day with my love. We're both Irish, so we get into the holiday. My grandma Nonie is 100% Irish, so my family has always celebrated St. Patrick's with lots of green and cheer.

Outfit 20

Dress: Old Navy

Cardi: Forever 21

Belt: Came with a dress from Forever 21

Leggings: Kohls

Socks: Target

Boots: Steve Madden

I participated in Crazy Hair Day the day after St. Patrick's Day:

Does someone look ridiculous?! Guilty!

Not a 30x30

T-shirt: Old Navy

Cardi: Target

Jeans: Kohls

Boots: Steve Madden

day 7 / Desperation Weekend

If you hang on How I Met Your Mother's every word (like Christopher and I do), you'll understand Desperation Day. If not, just know it's the day before Valentine's Day and it's the day all the singles get out to have a good time before the "dreaded" V-Day.

Neither of us dread the day of love (we're duffers like that), and we celebrated all weekend.

We celebrated Bryan's (Christopher's brother) 31st birthday, went snowshoeing, watched movies, took Telula to the doggy park, picked out chocolates from the shop we took some of our engagement pics, and went out for a Thai dinner. Christopher surprised me with pink roses and I surprised him with breakfast.

What we wore... Hearts' Day Edition:

A celebration recap...

...cause it was my birthday on Saturday! :-) This weekend was pure happiness. Here's a little recap...

My dad arrived at my place Friday night. The King of Crisp and I made apple crisp together - his specialty.

Saturday morning, Dad and I chatted over some coffee until Christopher arrived with flowers and cake! This was the second cake he made me this year! Christopher made a cake for my class for a birthday treat on Friday. (Forgetful Angela left the remaining cake at school, so he made me another one. My kids enjoyed an extra birthday treat on Monday.)

I turned 72... obviously.

The three of us went to my students' first basketball game of the year. They won! I was so proud of the kids! My dad was so excited to meet my students and their families.

Dad, Christopher, and I went out to brunch at the local bagel shop. I told Christopher that all I wanted for my birthday was for him to drink coffee with me. I think it's romantic, but he doesn't usually drink coffee. He obliged my birthday wish.

Then we picked up Lula and headed to the dog park.

My eyes aren't closed! Promise. They're just squinty because I thought my eyeballs were going to freeze.

It was fun, but it was frigid. After a lap of my dad walking in silence (very unusual for him!), we knew it was time to head back inside and eat cake.

Christopher sang to me while my dad snapped pictures.

We ate (my favorite) funfetti cake.

I opened presents from my family.

Dad's card almost made me cry.

We took pictures before my dad left.

Christopher tangoed with Telula.

He posed for a cute butt shot... later, I realized I somehow snapped three butts in this pic, one including my father's. Awkward. :)

After Dad left, we headed to the gym to get a good workout in, got ready for a night out, and opened more presents.

Christopher brought me out to dinner.

Christopher's (pasta) dinner was 23984987234x better than mine (whitefish). Being the sweetheart he is, he offered to switch with me. I chose to keep mine and steal every other bite of his.

We shared my green beans with our fingers...classy.

Christopher's a master at mixing prints. Love the checkered shirt with the paisley tie. He's good!

It was a lovely birthday. I was so blessed to have my dad in town, and I am so happy with the fun day Christopher planned for me. Ah, love. xoxo

On Sunday, HJ came to visit for the day! She took me out to lunch. Delicious. Personal pizzas and waffle fries. We caught up on Grey's and life. One thing we did not do was take a picture. So this is us. Years ago.

HJ, Angel (nope, not Telula!), and me (our snowpeople are based on my brother and his curly fro and JLo in her low cut dress)