Favorite Things July Edition

Can you believe it's the last day of July?!? Me neither! I'm not one to wish away summer, but..... I CAN'T WAIT FOR SEPTEMBER. Why can't I wait for September? Because my momma will be here for the WHOLE month! 

Today, I am linking up with the beautiful Ashley from Dancing with Ashley for her monthly favorite things. 

1. Getting to spend time with this girl

If you've been following my blog for awhile, you will know that I absolutely LOVE my sister-in-law! My brother-in-law and sister-in-law came for a visit a couple of weeks ago and we had almost four days full of Bitzer family fun. It was such a great weekend! 

2. Wine nights with the girls

I think we can all agree that ladies nights are the BEST! This girls night was spent eating yummy food, drinking yummy wine and listening to amazing live music. Complete with a toast to Channing Tatum, Melissa asking the bartender who his man crush was, me trying to get the singer to serenade me and me telling the bartender he looked like a woodsman/lumberjack and he needed an axe. 

3. Boy Meets World on MTV2

Who didn't love Boy Meets World? Watching this reminds me of T.G.I.F. on Friday nights when I was in Junior High and High School. Please tell me you remember this. How can you not love Cory and Topanga?

4. Big floppy hats and headwraps

Big floppy hats are perfect for keeping the sun out of your face on a gorgeous sunny day and headwraps are perfect for the days you don't wash your hair (and the days you do wash your hair, they are just perfect). Add a little dry shampoo, put on the headwrap and voila... instant cute hairdo.

6. The Sonoma County Fair

Every summer since I moved here we have gone to the fair. We get there around 11 AM and have our first round of food (turkey kabobs and roasted corn on the cob), then we walk around for awhile seeing all the animals, silly stuff they sell, etc and then we finish with another round of food (corn dogs and a huge brick of curly fries). My stomach hates me the next day, but it is sooooo worth it! 

Head on over and say hi to Ashley and get your link-up on! 

 

He did good...

A few weeks ago, I shared how Jeremy and I met here and mentioned I might share our proposal story too. A few people commented saying they would love to hear the proposal, so here goes... 

It was the last weekend in April 2008, Jeremy and I had only been together a couple of months. Just for fun, we started looking at rings in March. We found this amazing setting at a local family owned jewelry store that we both fell in love with. I knew that even if he did propose, it would be at least 8 weeks. You see, I have a teeny little size 4 ring finger and any ring has to be specially made so it doesn't mess up the prong settings. So, on this particular Friday I was thinking there was no way he was proposing because 1. I figured there was no way he had already ordered a ring and 2. We had only been together two months. 

I woke up and started getting ready for work like any normal day, but when I walked into my bathroom there was a single red rose by the sink. I went to open my drawers to get clothes out and there was a single red rose in every single drawer. I got ready for work and walked out to my car and guess what was there? You guessed it, a single red rose. So, I get to work and a couple hours later Jeremy calls and tells me to pick out a dress for about $100 (I worked at a formal wear store). I had been eyeing a certain dress for awhile, but Beth insisted that I try on a whole bunch of dresses. Beth and I play dress up for about half an hour and I go back to my desk to find a dozen red roses. Apparently, Beth was trying to lure me away from my desk so Jeremy could sneak in the back and leave the roses. The note on the roses said something about me getting off work early and to go home and get all pretty in my new dress. A couple hours later, another co-worker got to work and told me that my car was covered in red roses. All of my co-workers kept telling me he was going to propose and I just kept saying no way. I kept making excuses saying there was no way he had a ring, we'd only been together for two months and he was just being romantic. 

So, I go home to get ready and I start asking Jeremy what we are doing, where we are going, etc. Of course, he wouldn't tell me. He just kept saying it was a surprise. I get all prettied up and get in the car and he still wouldn't tell me where we were going. After about 30 minutes in the car, I realize we are heading toward Branson. We end up at this amazing Italian restaurant. I noticed that the servers all kept coming by our table and everyone was being so nice. Jeremy ordered a VERY nice bottle of wine to go along with our dinner. I'm still thinking there is no way he is proposing, he's just being romantic. We finish our dinner and still had about half a bottle of wine. There was a lounge at the restaurant and I could hear a jazz band playing. I suggested to Jeremy that we take our bottle of wine over to the lounge and enjoy the music. He said no and I got a little upset wondering why we couldn't stay. We leave the restaurant and by this time it's getting late and it's dark outside. He starts heading out of Branson and down some back roads. At this time, I'm really starting to think he might be taking me somewhere to kill me. Ha! What a lovely thing to think right before you get proposed to huh? I couldn't figure out where in the world we were going, there are tons of nice places to stay in Branson. We end up at this little dirt road with a sign, Hummingbird Inn Bed & Breakfast. I had never been to a bed & breakfast before, so I was super excited! We pull up and a guy gives us the keys and tells us our room is ready. We head up the stairs to our room and open the door to find rose petals all over the bed, a plate of chocolate covered strawberries and a bottle of champagne. I barely had time to look around the room before Jeremy was telling me all the reasons he loved me. The next thing I knew, he was down on one knee proposing. I really don't remember all the things he said, I wish I could. I just remember being completely shocked and surprised! Of course, I said YES and then we spent at least 30 minutes calling and texting family and friends. Obviously, I got quite a few "I told you so's" from my co-workers. 

Apparently, Jeremy had went back to the jewelry store a couple days after looking at rings and ordered the ring. They told him it would take approximately 6-8 weeks, but it ended up only taking about 4 weeks. He went to pick up the ring on Thursday and said it was so hard to keep the ring in his pocket until Friday. I also found out that he had taken my mom to lunch one day to ask her permission and that he had also went to my grandparents to ask my grandpa's permission. The man did good... 

Yes, we got engaged quickly, but we didn't get married until the following September. Since I've shared how we met and our proposal, maybe I will share our wedding day. Our wedding day was filled with love, family, friends and fun.

Bitzer Festivities Day 2

I have a massive headache today, so for the most part I'm going to let the pictures do the talking. I think the pictures pretty much speak for themselves anyway. Now, I don't want you think that all we do is sit around drinking, because that's just not true. We drink and play ping pong, we drink and bbq, we drink and play pool, etc... See, we do actually do things besides just sit around and drink. Friday was spent doing all of these things and more!

Yes, I did change my outfit three times. No, I am not ashamed! Friday, was such a great day! One I won't be forgetting any time soon.

And on a totally unrelated note... If you don't already follow my girl Justyn over at Thoughts by a... Petite Brunette, head on over and check out her post today to see just how awesome our blamily is! 

Good to Know

Randy & Christina (brother-in-law and sister-in-law) flew in Wednesday night for some family fun times. We've already seen them three times this year, which is more than we usually see them in the whole year. I'm loving these cheap flights they are getting through Allegiant! 

Thursday morning, Christina and I headed off for a little girl time and the guys hung out at the parents and played ping pong. We got back to the house around 1, had some lunch and drank some hard cider. Our plan for that afternoon was to go to Lagunitas for their weekday 3 P.M. tasting tour. It was such a blast! They don't just give you a couple one ounce pours, they go all out with 5 four ounce pours! All that for free!!!! The percentages range from 6.2% to 9.8%. Needless to say, we were all feeling good after the FREE tasting tour. During the tour, Christina kept saying "good to know", so it kind of became a running joke for the weekend. Randy started making fun of her, so it turned into "well, it is good to know. I'm just sayin..." After the tour, we headed down to the patio for some live music and more tasting. We met a couple vacationing from New York on the tour and they came to sit with us on the patio. We all had a blast! 

After Lagunitas, (we may have stayed there until almost 8 P.M.) we headed back to our house for a little Rock Band session. Christina and I like to do crazy makeup and dress up a little fun to play rock band. Might as well really feel like a rockstar, right?! 

What a great way to start off our fun-filled weekend! 

To be continued...

Me, Myself & I

Apparently, this is the week of link-ups for me. Today, it's the Me, Myself and I link up party with The Life of the Wife and her lovely co-hosts. Which you guessed it, is all about me me me... 

Yay for learning a little more about me! I know, I'm a huge dork. I just think this picture is hilarious! It was New Years Eve and I was super drunk excited!

1. What is your biggest phobia?

Bridges... well, the Bay bridge and the Richmond bridge actually.  Any bridge that is multi-level. A couple years ago, my friend Art flew my mom out here for a visit. On our way back from the airport, we had to drive over the Richmond bridge. I told my mom and Art that I hate being on the bottom level because I'm afraid if the top level fell down I would get squished. Art very politely said, "Honey, I think that would be the least of your worries." Which then made me laugh and laugh that instead of thinking of the huge drop down into the cold water, I thought of being squished. So maybe my phobia isn't really bridges, it's being squished. 

Via: Dan Heller

2. If you could relive any day of your life, what would it be and why? 

I know it sounds cheesy, but I'm gonna have to say my wedding day. It was such a fun day filled with love, laughter, friends and family! Yes, things went wrong, but looking back on it now it was still a perfect day! 

3. If you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what would it be? 

 Honestly, there really isn't any age I would love to stay. There has been something that I have enjoyed about each year of my life and I look forward to seeing what the rest of my years have in store.  So far, I'm loving 30! 

4. Which celebrity do you get mistaken for?

Sophia Bush. A few years ago, I was out with some friends and my friend Chris told me I looked just like Sophia Bush from One Tree Hill. I had never seen One Tree Hill and had no idea who she was, so I started watching the show and got hooked. I'm so sad OTH is gone now.  Chris still calls me Sophia or Brooke Davis. 

Via: Vampire Book Club

5. What songs are included on the soundtrack of your life?

1. Springsteen - Eric Church

This song just makes me think of so many great memories throughout my life

2. My Best Friend - Tim McGraw

Our wedding song

3. Like My Mother Does - Lauren Alaina

This song makes me think of my mom and all she's done for me

4. Boondocks - Little Big Town

"I feel no shame... I'm proud of where I came from... I was born and raised in the boondocks" My friends and I changed this to "I feel no shame... I'm proud of where I came from... I was born and raised in Seneca"

5. Pray out Loud - Jessica Simpson

This song reminds me that no matter what happens, God is always there to listen. Don't be afraid to pray about it

There's a little bit about me in a nutshell. 

Head on over and link-up and learn a little more about some fellow bloggers

Weekend Update

Today, I'm linking up for weekend update. What an easy way to share the weekend and to find new blogs. 

 

Friday:  

Jeremy and his dad are suckers for finding what they call a good deal on trucks. I seriously could not tell you how many trucks have come and gone in the 4 years I've lived in California. Jeremy is always researching all different kinds of trucks; Ford, Dodge, Chevy, Tundra, gas, diesel, etc. They buy something and say "this truck is the ticket" and then it turns out not to be the ticket. Jeremy has flown to Montana to pick up a truck and drive it back here, they've had trucks shipped here from Florida, New York, Wisconsin. It's an obsession! So... they found the new "ticket" in Southern California and Jeremy was nominated to fly down Saturday to pick it up. Needless to say, our Friday was very low-key since he had to get up at 4:30 AM to get ready to go to the airport. 

Saturday:

Since Jeremy was gone for most of the day, I called my friend Lacey to see if she wanted to go to Target and of course she did. Neither one of us really needed anything, but who doesn't love going to Target for no reason. It took all my willpower to steer clear of the clothes, accessories and shoes. While walking through the food aisles, I realized that wine & bread are in the same aisle. This really excited me and I said (rather loudly), "Wine & bread in the same aisle?!? Jesus was here!!!". Lacey and I laughed so hard for about 5 minutes. 

     Jeremy's mom had knee surgery on Friday, so Saturday evening I cooked dinner for my in-laws. Jeremy finally made it back with the truck around 7 and we had leftovers for dinner and relaxed on the couch. 

Sunday:

It was a gorgeous 85 and sunny day, so we decided to head to Sonoma for lunch at The Red Grape, a nice walk around the square and some wine and cheese tasting. It was a perfect afternoon. Sunday evening, we played cards with Jeremy's parents. 

It was a nice, relaxing weekend. But... I'm looking forward to some party rocking with Randy & Christina (brother-in-law and sister-in-law) this weekend. They will be here Wednesday night - Sunday afternoon and we have some fun stuff planned. I am so excited!!! 

Hope everyone had a great weekend!