Bridezilla - The RSVP

Ok, before I start I would like to mention that Keith and I have SO MANY GREAT FRIENDS that are genuinely excited to be celebrating our wedding with us.  This post is more so intended to poke fun and laugh at the inevitable when it comes to planning a wedding.  If you don’t, you’ll just cry!  I find it’s best to just laugh it off!  In all honestly, I am beyond excited for the wedding and so grateful to so many for making this a wonderful engagement year for us.

If you’re easily offended, just stop reading.  I’m really not in the mood to see people’s spiteful comments.  FYI, it’s my blog “Life Through My Eyes” so I can say what I want and I say it like I see it. 

ANYWAYS!!!!

Everyone always says that planning a wedding is stressful. Two months ago, Really?!  Why?!  I have been having so much fun with the planning all year.  My sisters, family, friends, vendors and even my in-laws have been so supportive and amazing! We have been so organized and everything seems to be smooth sailing.  I couldn’t possibly imagine anything going wrong. 

Everything is wonderful up here on cloud 9! 

Well, then we hit a month to go!  Time to track down the 35% that felt 2 months wasn’t an ample amount of time to put an “X” on “ACCEPTS” or “REGRETS,” put a self addressed stamped envelope in the mail or take a look at their refrigerator magnet for the online RSVP option.  Who knows, maybe they don’t eat, use the computer or have a mailbox. I gladly accepted RSVP over email or text or face to face! Yes people, the couple would even LOVE to know if you’re not planning on coming! I think it is karma; both Keith and my mother are the worst RSVP’ers in the world.  I am pretty sure they won’t be anymore!

Ohhh, so that what you did with it....  Well, if the drought continues we may find it!

Fast forward, 2 weeks to go. Last weekend some recently married friends of ours said, “2 weeks to go, the worst!”  “You will wish it was over.” Ok, so Keith and I are pretty sure those people we haven’t heard from aren’t coming, hopefully, cause we don’t have a spot for them at a table and the bills (per head!) are paid.  Let’s go ahead and figure out the table assignments and print out and hand stamp the DIY escort cards so that we don’t have to worry about it a couple days before the wedding.  All right, we got this!  We have everything organized, packed into bins and ready for an early trip to Sacramento.  We will be all smiles just bringing ourselves to the wedding and allowing our family and friends take care of the bins and details.

Hmm, Discovery channel already knew about the 2 weeks of hell!

Fast forward 1 week to go! WELL CRAPOLA!  There is nothing like coming home to a 24 day late RSVP after a 10 hour shift.  I took a deep breath, unpacked the bins, shuffled some table seating assignments around, emailed the vendors of the changes, reprinted the escort cards and packed the bins back up.  I had missed all but 2 innings of the World Series Giants game, which I enjoy and would have loved to watch, but at least this wedding hiccup was done and over with.  THEN the cancellations begin!  People’s excuses are seriously THE BEST!  I could have a complete blog post dedicated to those alone.  “I decided I can’t fly- Ebola scares me” or “I have a soccer game to attend.”  You tell them you understand.  However, you know the probability of flying yourself over and kicking person ones ass is higher than contracting Ebola, and your only hope is that a soccer ball smashes “I SUCK” into person twos face.  You again unpack bins, rearrange the tables, call the vendors, reprint the escort cards and repack again! OK, maybe we can still make it to Sacramento to drop off a load of stuff.  We won’t be able to bring everything in one trip.

Enough Said

Special Ebola Flight

Ok, Breathe. I have some downtime so I’ll facebook “ONE WEEK TO GO!” Ok, ya, I am excited.  People can’t just “like” or heck, even ignore it for pete sake.  Instead lets make the 7 day out bride feel bad for not inviting me to her wedding!!!!  I’m a nice person, but you can’t walk all over me like a bug. My family is like a bunch of hyenas, and when one is attacked they GO WILD!  Please, don’t cry to me about how mean they are.  You deserved it. Am I mean?  I don’t care.  We moved our wedding excitement to instagram since there are too many haters on Facebook!

@keithrides and I have ONE WEEK TO GO!! #jkabouttime #offthebook

A video posted by Jennifer Zierke (@jmzierke) on Oct 10, 2014 at 9:21pm PDT

Six days to go, I'm glad you think you can maybe make it, but I'll go ahead and make this easy........no you can’t!!!! RSVP deadline was OCTOBER 1st!  This isn't a hay bail bring your own beer affair! The bills are paid, the tables are set and the bride is 100% tired of people who SUCK!

Five days to go..... the person that awkwardly attempted to invite themselves months ago, calls you for weekend specifics despite already giving them the "I'm sorry speech" and never sending them an invitation!

No Caption Required 

Now we are officially out of weekend time.  It looks like we will be renting a UHAUL truck to hall all our crap to the wedding.

I can’t wait to see how the rest of the week goes.  Anyone else want to tell me anything?  I’m sure I can add it to the blog.

I think I’ll go run circles before I lose it, or have I lost it?  

Thanks for reading

JenniferMarie (aka) Bridezilla

Urban Cow Half Marathon - 2014

A blogpost in October could only mean one thing....... Urban Cow Half Marathon! Archives; UC2013, UC2011, UC2010.  I have limited time these days so I am making this blog post quick and to the point with pictures and captions!  I'm sorry in advance that you won't get the nitty gritty details.

Urban Cow is my typical off season fun run.  This year it was a bit more then that as I took a backseat to cycling in order to spend time with family and friends, save PTO, focus on work and plan a wedding.  This by no means suggest that I have been sitting around on my ass gaining countless pounds before the big day.  I have more so traded the countless hours I previously spent on the bike for hours on foot.  People just don't understand why the sudden switch.  The reality is, the hours of training on foot are half that of cycling.  I can still train, race and have fun in half the time!  It's now gotten to the point that I really have no intention of going back to 2 wheels any time soon.  I am sorry cycling friends!  I am totally enjoying the fun of freedom on foot.  I have my eyes set on a Boston Marathon qualifying time for 2016, so feel free to follow me as I attempt to achieve that goal!

I got myself some new shoes and socks 3 days before the race.... probably should have invested in good shoes earlier. 

Pinned and ready the night before! 

Last year UC2013 Keith had a CX race after the Urban Cow Half.  I recall being completely debilitated as I watched him WIN the race.  This year his CX race was before the Half, so I was able to feed and cheer while he WON the race this year too!!!  I think I am good luck:) 

Urban Cow was super special this year as I got to run with my future Groom (Keith Hillier) and Best Man (Brian Hillier).  I couldn't have asked for better men to be by my side for the run or for life!

Keith's sister-in-law was running the relay and was able to snap a few pictures as we crossed the half way mark.  That is Keith in the gray shorts and white shirt trying to make it look like he is faster than me by running ahead for the picture.

My goal was 1:45:00.... I crushed that! My brother says he want's to see 7:00min splits. ha  

Here is a video of Keith and I holding hands while crossing the finish line.  (check back for the pic)

The best part of Urban Cow is all the family support waiting at the finish line! 

Oh ya, and the COWS! 

Post race recovery in the ICE COLD pool. 

This year I was feeling so good after the race, I was able to walk around the state capital with Amy, Brian and Keith, as well as complete the table seating assignments for the wedding! BAM! 

Next up is Nike Women's Half SF Oct 19th, Clarksburg 20 on Nov 9th and California International Marathon on Dec 7th!

Thanks for reading, 

JenniferMarie

Bridezilla – The Guest List

I really need to write a Bridezilla series, and I may, but for today I am going to focus on “The Guest List.” The invitations are patiently awaiting the three month mark to hit the mailboxes, but with the save the dates already out the questions from guests are pouring in!

The guest list is the number one reason brides may go gray in the course of a 1-year engagement.  If I’m not careful my hair may match the pewter heels my bridesmaids will be wearing down the aisle, and possibly the dance floor.  If you recall a previous blog post, Kay didn’t last a block in heels during our Vegas trip last year, so we’ll see.  I’ll be sure to keep you posted in the “post wedding blog.” Maybe I’ll get a poll started.  Anyway, the reality is weddings are crazy expensive and you can’t invite everyone.  The day after our engagement my mother was already hard at work talking prices with wedding venues.  She quickly slashed her estimated 200-250 guest count down to 100-125. So now that we are elated 100 guests.... wait parents have a say too?  Ok.... we are down to picking 20 friends Keith.

It’s really shocking how many people will come out of the woodworks for a carving station and an open bar, I mean a wedding.  The phone rings of people you haven’t spoken to in YEARS and you are now being befriended on facebook by people you don’t recognize.  All the while you are just trying to figure out how they got your number and if you should click “accept or deny” rather than try to reconnect.  I figure, if you were too busy the past 7 years to get to know “us” please don’t expect to be busy celebrating with us on our wedding day. Sorry. Not even on the C list!  The worst is when people straight up ask you to your face if they are invited to the wedding.  Yes this happens.  Like I said, you can’t invite everyone and therefore feelings will get hurt.  Keith and I went with the philosophy of inviting “our friends” not mine, not his, but our friends that have made an impact on our lives as a couple in a positive way.  There is no easy way to cut the list, but unless you have an endless money tree, it must happen.  People understand that.

You will get asked right away (before you have had time to think about it) whether you are allowing children or plus ones.  Do we want to allow children or “flavors of the week” aka the random cocktail waitress the groomsman met the night before to fill the spot of other friends?  Ok, a cocktail waitress makes for a great story and children have the enact ability to get the party started on the dance floor.  Besides, you realize you are like the last ones on the planet getting married, so majority of your friends don’t fall into the “no ring no bring” category.  You want all of your guests to have a good time and you decide that by allowing the few that are not in a committed relationship to bring a guest doesn’t exactly tilt the budget of “I’m already completely broke from this wedding” scale. Ok, everyone should be happy, right?

So you finalized that guest list.  You have now decided who’s invited and who will never speak to you again.  This is straight up real; don’t think it’s not!  I’m not going to talk about that though, those people aren’t talking to you so it doesn’t matter.  Your hair is spared.  It’s those few that made it on the list that continue to bitch and complain about every detail until you almost blow up and scream “DON’T FBOMBING COME!”  That’s when the poor bride loses it and is coined a “Bridezilla.”  Yes, we paid extra for a Saturday so you don’t need to take a day off work.  No I am not going to reserve and pay for your hotel, but I have set aside a wedding room block for a very reasonable rate.  Info is on the wedding website.  No I am not going to pick you up from the airport, but you can take the blue shuttle van, which is cheaper than the taxi I researched. Info is on the wedding website.  Not sure where things are?  Info is on the website. Yes I have arranged a limo to pick you up at the wedding host hotel and take you to venue where you will be treated to a platinum dinner buffet and an open bar.  Info is on the website.  If the loud music gives you a headache the “oh shit kits” reside in the restrooms with complimentary earplugs and aspirin.  I have also arranged for a mini coach to take you back to the hotel at 9pm right after the cake cutting.  The info is on the website. Yes the cupcakes are gluten free.  Do I really need to put that on the website?!   What is the website you say?  It’s on the FBOMING magnetic save the date I sent you 3 months ago!!!  AHHHHHHH!

Soooo unfortunately you will be forced to invite those guests that make you feel like your entire wedding is a complete nuisance to them.  The only thing they are worried about is what time the Sunday brunch ends so that they can book their return flight home. The saddest part is you have some awesome uninvited friends that you’d love and rather be spending your special day with. Ug:/

Can we all just agree that every bride should be allowed a little “Bridezilla” after dealing with all the “Guestzillas?”

AHHHHHHHH I feel better now!

A Note From Keith

Thanks for reading!

JenniferMarie aka Bridezilla

P.S. Thank you for returning your pre addressed and stamped RSVP prior to the deadline.

Just A Little Wedding Humor

And Another!

"The Proposal - Our Engagement Story"

Keith just created our wedding website.  We only purchased the site for one year, so I will be posting the stories on my blog so that we can enjoy them in writing forever:)

Keith’s version: DISNEYLAND

Family Picture

Jen’s version: Yes Yes I know........ How did this FINALLY happen?!

Keith was scheduled to race the UCI (means big deal) CXLA cross after dark event in LA over Thanksgiving weekend.  I wanted to support him with a smile, cowbell and a handmade sign. However, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to sacrifice time with my family (aka my mom’s AMAZING Turkey dinner and pie).  I suggested to Keith that we make a mini vacation out of the CXLA adventure, and head to Disneyland to visit Mickey and Minnie (and his sister Kathryn that lives in the area).  To my disbelief he AND my sister AND my parents agreed.  The excitement in my eyes was un-describable as the beautifully lit and decorated land of magic flashed through my mind. I am such a sucker for Christmas lights and holiday sweaters.

I made the SIGN

Holiday at Disneyland– Check
Family - Check
Bikes – Check

Disneyland started with me rallying the family for a 7:45am meeting (15 min before opening) in front of CA adventure.  I assured everyone that we CAN NOT be late because we needed to get in line for the CARS fastpass. Ya, Keith made us late! He was fiddling and fumbling around all morning.  I had to rush him through his breakfast and tell him to pick up his feet and walk a little faster as we shuffled over to the park.  Luckily my sister’s fiancé, Steven, was already standing in the pouring rain to get us tickets as my parents and sister huddled under a tree.  I was the ONLY one to bring a rain jacket, and the polite thing to do was to offer it to Steven as he stood in line for all of us.  My mom decided to go buy Disneyland ponchos for the rest of the family; I bet they were a small fortune.  I mean, it was pouring!!!  Steven eventually returned with the 12:35pm-1:05pm fastpass tickets.

I told you she bought them!!

Our first stop was Toy Story Mania, a personal favorite.  We had almost made it through the entire line before Keith realized he didn’t grab any 3D glasses and had to scurry back to get a pair.  I leaned over and whispered to my mom “this is what I have had to deal with all morning.”  She assured me, “your father is the same way.”  We enjoyed the remainder of the morning at CA adventure and ate some lunch before heading back to CARS.  To our disappointment the ride was temporarily CLOSED.  We were ensured that our fastpass would remain valid for the day and instructed to return in a couple of hours.

Keith did get his glasses!

With that news, we decided to head over to Disneyland to enjoy all it had to offer before returning to the CARS ride at CA adventure that evening.

The ride suffered continuous malfunctions as we waited.  Keith suggested getting out of line to watch the WORLD OF COLOR water show, my Dad agreed.  In a stern voice I assured them I was going nowhere as I have been looking forward to this ride ALL DAY!  Everyone remained in line with me, and YES we FINALLY got on!
Luckily there was another water show scheduled in the late evening.  The crowed was much smaller and we were able to get a front row “splash zone” spot. Keith awkwardly held my hand and spoke softly into my ear as we gazed over the pier.  It was out of the ordinary and I suppose I was a little confused.  That was until he got down on one knee and asked me to MARRY him.  I was SHOCKED! SPEECHLESS! Keith had been carrying a ring (MY RING) in his pocket, in the rain, and on all those rides for 16 hours!

Proof!

First Picture as an engaged couple!! 

There on the pier at California Adventure during the WORLD OF COLOR water show, in front of my family, he PROPOSED.  It couldn’t have been more PERFECT.  I am one VERY lucky girl and I am beyond excited to become Mrs. Keith Hillier on 11/01/14.

Ring – Check

Called MC at midnight and this was the pic I showed her for proof!!

Please check back for more wedding stories!

Engagement Basket From MC