The Power of Grammar

As I plan my upcoming wedding, I am constantly surprised to find that poor grammar is rampant. I typically  pride myself on my ability to manipulate words and use the English language to effectively communicate my thoughts, and I sometimes find it difficult to understand why others struggle with that concept. To me, the proper use of grammar is vital in communication in any scenario (read: there is a difference between "let's eat Grandpa" and "Let's eat, Grandpa." Grammar saves lives, people!), but it seems that not everyone shares that opinion. 

When I am meeting with any professional, especially one with far more experience in a field than I have, I expect a certain level of competence. To me, being able to communicate well is nearly as important as the final product or overall service a person provides. For this reason, when someone begins speaking, and in doing so, sounds like an elementary school student who has not completed one single grammar lesson, I start to get nervous. I worry that without the basic ability to speak well, the professional in question may not be able to produce high-quality results. 

As an example, I was looking into different options for flower arrangements recently. When I expressed to a particular florist that I like simple elegance, she responded with, "I seen something you might like." At that moment, I was almost certain I would not be ordering flowers from this florist. While I understand that the use of proper grammar probably has little to do with her ability to create lovely floral arrangements, I simply could not look past the poor grammar. In my opinion, poor grammar is distracting. I have trouble ignoring it, frankly.

Maybe I'm just a snob for proper grammar, and I definitely appreciate someone who is well-read enough to understand my literary jokes, but I struggle to take someone seriously who is speaking to me without a hint of grammatical intelligence. 

I also flinch when commercials air with lines like "less calories" or "less miles." Companies spend millions of dollars on advertisements. Why, then, does it seem that they are so resistant to hiring an editor?

The same is true about the use of punctuation, by the way. As I demonstrated in the example above, a comma placement can make all the difference. 

Come on, people, get it together. Use grammar well. 

I Said Yes...

...To the dress!

It's true. I bought a wedding dress. The absolute, without out doubt, positively WORST part about it is that I can't even describe it because my ever-supportive fiancé reads these posts. So here I sit looking at a picture of the dress, truly wishing I could post it here, but alas, my hands are tied, my friends. 


The wedding planning has begun, and although I have basically planned the whole thing in my mind, we don't have a date picked out yet. I say this because it is definitely the single most frequently asked question I have heard for the last three weeks. I promise I will pick one soon. 

Yes, I also know the colors, and I've shared them with a few people, but those are yet another thing that I'm keeping tight-lipped about for the most part, because who doesn't love a good surprise?!


Until then, my life is nearly consumed with ideas, thoughts, and dreams. There is so much to do, and even though it seems like so little time, I'm determined to enjoy every step of this process, basking in the glow of the post-engagement happiness until they day it changes to wedding day bliss. 

Finding Happily Ever After

This post is one of the most exciting I will probably ever write.

On Thursday, June 21, 2012, Cameron asked me to be his wife, and I very excitedly said yes. Since then, I have recanted the story time and time again, and I have yet to smile less than I did the first time.

We had been planning for months to spend a few days in the Smoky Mountains, and finally, the vacation had come. In the wee hours of Wednesday morning, we packed the car and hit the road for the condo. We spent the day exploring the town and enjoying the much-needed cooler temperatures the pool offered.


Thursday, Cameron suggested we go on a hike, which we had talked about for some time. It was about 14 miles round trip. We began the trek ready to reach our "mystery location," at least, it was a mystery to me. About a mile in, we heard a rustling sound coming from behind us. We turned around to see a black bear lumbering onto the trail where we had just been! Of course, I wanted to snap a picture, but Cameron insisted (wisely, probably), that we move ahead and get out of the path of the bear, which happened to be staring at us. We continued on for a couple miles before hearing the leaves moving ahead of us. Though we couldn't see it, we could tell this was a big animal, and it began to run. All signs pointed to this being another bear encounter. Concerned about safety, we decided to go back down the mountain rather than taking our chances on the trail, especially because we hadn't seen another human in miles.

As we were heading down the mountain, we got close to the point where we had seen the first bear, and naturally, we were both on edge. It was at this moment that a squirrel decided to bolt toward a tree, essentially giving Cameron and I small heart attacks. Eventually, we had nearly reached the end of the trail, and saw yet another, much smaller, black bear!

We got back to the car, and headed toward the "backup plan," which was a 1.5 mile trail to our mystery destination. As we climbed this part of the mountain, Cameron repeated things along the lines of "I'm so glad you're here with me" and "I'm so happy." I thought it was very sweet of him, but I had no idea what was waiting at the end of the trail.

Once we got closer to the end, I could hear the sound of water, but I thought it was one of the many creeks we had heard along the way. Instead, it was the sound of a beautiful waterfall, our mystery destination. There was a handful of families at the waterfall taking pictures, and as we watched the water cascade down onto the moss-covered rocks and into the pool of water below, Cameron said he had hoped there would be fewer people there. Thinking he had wanted to enjoy the waterfall without the sounds of squealing children, I still thought nothing of it.

Finally, as we were about to leave, a wonderful gentleman asked if we would like a photo together; it was an offer we gladly accepted. As I began walking toward the waterfall, which was the only waterfall in the state park that people can walk behind, Cameron stayed behind. I thought he must have been explaining how to use the camera. Little did I know, he was hinting at what he was about to do so that we could have the perfect picture. He eventually caught up and took my hand. He told me to wait, but I was so stuck on the idea of getting a photo behind the waterfall, that I began to protest, but he insisted. He told me he loved me, and was so happy we were there together, and I told him the same. He then took my other hand, and locked eyes with mine. Almost before I knew what was happening, he put a hand in his pocked and retrieved a beautiful diamond ring. He repeated that he loved me one more time before getting on one knee, holding my gaze the whole time, and those words finally came, "Elizabeth, will you marry me?"

Though I had always thought I would cry, no tears came, and I managed to blurt out a breathless "yes!"

I couldn't have asked for a more perfect location, and I couldn't be happier or more excited to start this new journey in life. As Cameron and I start to plan our lives together, we have been blessed with congratulations from all over the world (literally!), and welcoming hearts. This is a memory I will carry with me for the rest of my days.

Something In The Water

I'm sorry, did I miss something? Yesterday (ish), I was just graduating high school, and by the afternoon, I graduated college, then by the evening, I was moving into my own place. Somewhere along the line, it seems like everyone started doing one of the following:

1) Getting engaged
2) Getting married
3) Becoming pregnant
4) Having a baby
5) A combination of two or more of the above.

I won't say who, but I know of at least five people who are having babies, a handful of weddings to come, and honestly, I have lost count on engagements within the last three months.

At first it was all happy and exciting, then it was "gee, this is getting to be a normal announcement..." and finally, it turned into "I am no longer convinced the timing here is all coincidence, there must be something in the water that is producing rings, flower arrangements, and babies."

 It's making me a little unwilling to get my daily intake of water because I don't really feel old enough to be attending so many weddings as a friend rather than extended family member, and I definitely do not feel old enough to know of people I graduated high school with who have been married, had a couple kids, and then got divorced. 

I mean, honestly, I'm thinking back now on all the summer afternoons I wished would speed up because I was just "sooo booorrreeddd, Mom," and yes, it's disgustingly cliche, but I am feeling like time is now in fast forward and I don't have time to adjust to all the new things coming my way before another comes along.  I say this as I think "the vacuuming and bathroom cleaning needs to happen this weekend, and I should really get to that mounting pile of laundry, and oh, I need to call the insurance guy, and I need to decide what crock pot to use for the chili I'll be making..."
 
Meanwhile, my un-old brain thinks "I am within 20 minutes of three breweries and that snow looks like more than a lot of fun to play in this weekend."

All I'm saying is, while everyone else is either planning a wedding or buying a lifetime supply of diapers that really only lasts a week, I'll be at the brewery, because it appears beer is safe...because something is definitely in the water.

Another Royal Wedding?!

At this point, there is no question that I absolutely love weddings, but a Royal Wedding can send me into a verbal frenzy in seconds.

And then there's Bhutan, a tiny country for which I have a lot of admiration.

Combine the two, and it's a very exciting day. I'm happy to report that the beloved king of Bhutan enjoyed his own royal wedding this week, and he, too, married a "commoner." Could this be a new royal trend? It certainly appears to be!

The bride is a pilot's daughter and has been treated to a tour of the country recently, as she prepares for her new role as Queen. She will be the King's only bride, he says, which is in stark contrast from his father, who has four wives. King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, is the son of the famed king who, in the 1970s, revolutionized the way leaders worldwide think about their countries' success by measuring gross national happiness, rather than gross domestic product.

Granted, this wedding was a far cry from the huge buildup and incredible excitement of the Royal Wedding of the century this past April, which saw viewers from around the world. This wedding only included members of the royal family and the country's onlookers.

Ahhh, weddings. They're such joyous occasions, and I love, love, love the benefits of modern media which make it so easy to follow the weddings of splendor that I'm quite sure I will never have as I don't have millions of dollars at my disposal. However, if it is possible to achieve some level of happiness through another's, I believe these two weddings have provided just that- a reason to celebrate a beautiful union, with full support of those around them--and around the world.

Congratulations Are In Order!

The bride's sister took this great photo

This weekend, I had the honor of attending the wedding of a beautiful couple. The blushing bride was my "Big Sis" in Pi Phi, and was an amazing friend and mentor to me as I grew through times good and bad. Needless to say, I admire her in many ways.The dashing groom proudly sported his Marine colors, and makes a perfect match for Julia.

Julia is one of the most beautiful souls I've ever met. She constantly amazes me with her grace, patience and commitment to her faith. These qualities, of course, are paradoxical with the intensity with which she supports the Bears, and she can certainly make her displeasure known when they are losing.

I haven't known Matt long, and I can't say that I have had a chance to really get to know him, but Julia has told me enough about him that I feel quite comfortable saying that he is perfect for her. Just in the way they interact, anyone can see how much joy he brings her (and she, him), and how comfortable they are together. They share laughter easily, but naturally just click on the more serious matters in life.

Their ceremony was solemn, personal, and so heartfelt. Similarly, the reception was romantic, yet fun. I, of course, had no shortage of tears during both.

During the reception, arguably one of the most memorable moments occurred during the traditional father-daughter dance. I was seated with a group of other former Pi Phis who had made the trip. As the music began and the bride joined her father on the dance floor, our entire group nearly instantaneously burst into tears. We all began to look around the table and noticed that each of us was crying (minus one Pi Phi's husband, who had the misfortune of being the only male seated at our table), and giggled a little.

Then came the moment that defined the reception for us. As the father-daughter dance ended, the bride took the microphone and asked her dad to return to the dance floor. She explained that she had one more song to dance with him since she had long regretted not dancing with him during a high school dance (I missed the explanation here, but I'm guessing he volunteered to chaperon the dance). The song "Stealing Cinderella" by Chuck Wicks came through the speakers, only this time, our table was rendered near inconsolable. We cried, wiped our tears, and cried again, but noticed again that everyone at our table was doing so. This inspired a fit of laughter on all accounts, but the laughter didn't stop the tears.  In case anyone at the reception had been wondering where the "sorority table" was, there was no longer any question. The server looked bewildered with a side of concerned when he spoke to the next table and pointed to us, saying, "that whole table is laughing and crying...I don't know what to do!"

I have heard of people laughing and crying at the same time, but I never actually thought it could happen. I'm sure my brain was incredibly confused as to the proper response to such emotional contradiction. Leave it to Julia to show me anything is possible!

So here's to a beautiful wedding, an inspiring couple, and a very happy, blessed married life together. Congratulations, Matt and Julia!

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things

We all have quirks (come on, admit it, you know you do too), and of course some may argue I have a few more than others. In my recent less-than-busy days, I have been able to fully enjoy the things I love most. There's a silver lining in everything, right?

I've compiled a list of some of my favorite things, and I'm curious, do you enjoy any of the same things? Share some of your own favorites by leaving a comment!

1) Reading. I read all the time, like my life depended on it. I read "beach novels" that would definitely not be considered classics, but are still just so entertaining. I read the classics, of course, and I definitely enjoy them (in fact, I'm often accused of speaking in phrases that society has long since retired). Sometimes, I even read books that are considered textbooks, and yes, I know how much of a nerd that makes me, but there's just so much to learn out there, how could I pass that up?!

I was honored to be 1 of 2
Maids of Honor in the
wedding of my best friends!

2) Weddings. I love everything about them. The flowers, dresses, lighting, vows, the look on the groom's face as his bride walks down the aisle, everything. For a time, I considered being a wedding planner, but the realization that bridezillas are absolutely terrifying to me sort of put that idea on the back burner.

The UM vs. MSU game is
by far our biggest
disagreement

3) Fooball. Yeah, it's true. I love the atmosphere at a game, and I love the rivalry that comes with disagreeing on the better team. My boyfriend and I have a football season tradition: every week, we bet on the winning team. The winner could get anything from picking the next movie we see to making the loser wear the opposing team's colors in public (it's cruel and unusual punishment, really).

4) Duchess Catherine. Oh come one, you didn't think I would leave her out, did you? I love the simplicity and subtle beauty she brings to today's celebrities. Her hair is completely attainable for anyone, and so is her style. It would be impossible not to love her, in my opinion.  

5) Exercising. I never really feel awake until I've gotten a good workout in. Even if it's just a walk around the block, I need to get my blood moving or I will feel completely sluggish all day. For me, it's all about feeling energized and healthy, and really that's what it's all about, right?

Maybe this list was less surprising than you thought it would be, but then again, I'm not usually vocal about the football, at least. Eh, there are more things that keep me going, but those are for another day, stay tuned ;) What's on your list??

Decaf? What does that mean?!

Ah, the beach. A beautiful breeze, the hot sun, perfectly warm water... And about enough sunscreen to choke a horse. My family isn't exactly known for the ability to tan, so instead we load up on our SPF 70 sunscreen (50 if we feel like living on the edge), and off we go. After sprinting across a busy highway to get to the beach (5 kids in tow, of course, makes it a little more challenging because that also means all the sand toys we're carrying), we set up the two umbrellas. Yes, two. We can't have our freshly sunscreened skin out in the sun!

After a while of building sand castles (which are routinely knocked down by the only boy in the family...ahem...), I have the pleasure of giving approximately 400,000 underdogs, by my count. Of course, once my arms can barely lift a feather and my head has gotten a few swift kicks, it's only natural we should splash around in the water.

When finally everyone was winding down an the kids (really more like the adults) were ready for a nap, we trekked back to the cabin, cleaned off, and started dinner. The "big kids," otherwise known as the 20-30 something year olds, settle down with a good book, take a short nap in the sun (who is the traitor who brought the decaf coffee?? How do they expect us to be alive without regular coffee?? Obviously they are not really part of this family), and chat about boys, weddings, and babies-- our favorite topics, duh!

By the end of the day, though, we were all glad to be together again, even if we have to disown someone for the terrible, even disgraceful, choice in coffee.

Duchesses, Dreams, and Dresses

Today's topic? The wedding.

Don't get all excited just yet. Not my wedding. No, I couldn't subject all this thinking on a male-type full time just yet.


The Royal Wedding. The wedding with which I was (not so) secretly grossly enamored for the better part of the first 7 months of 2011. I'm sure anyone who knows me who happens to be reading this post is undoubtedly rolling their eyes as I have successfully found ways to mention the wedding, Kate, or Wills in almost any conversation (it's almost a talent, really). I won't go into the typical "but it's the classic princess fairy tale" routine, I promise (even though I totally believe every disgustingly sappy word).

I'd have to say that my ultimate, deepest, most urgent wish for a career is to be the official biographer for the Duchess. Heck, at this point, I'd be her official shoe buffer, let's be honest. I have a lovely picture in my mind of us painting our toenails and discussing the latest hosiery and hat trends. It would be perfect. I would love every acetone and nylon filled minute. Every. Single. One.

I suppose until I land this completely perfect job...no, career...I will have to settle for looking at photos of that perfect dress and all her other perfect outfits for hours on end.

So, here I sit. Dreaming of the Duchess Who Wore The Perfect Dress, as she is now officially titled...at least in my mind.