One Year Anniversary Weekend In Pictures

Monthly Goals // March 2014

Isn't it crazy that it's March already? This year is flying by so fast. That being said, it's the time of the month that I like to sit down and make a list of everything I really want to accomplish. I don't know if I ever made a blog post on my 101 in 1001, but if I haven't here's the link to bring you to my list. I'll put in parenthesis if any of this month's goals are on my list.

Get my name changed. I know. Shocker. To our government, I am still Kaitlyn Mallory Nelson. I am not a Soroka. Now at first, I know Chris was thinking that I was just trying to be Mrs. Independent and that I didn't have any desire to change my last name. That is not at all true. The truth of the matter is that I'm lazy and I literally haven't found any time to just do it. So my main goal is that by the end of the month, I will officially be a Soroka. (#24) 

Develop a morning & night routine. There once was a (short.... very short) time when I first started working at FHVC that I went to bed at a decent hour and woke up at a decent hour. As of recently (darn you Bachelor!), I got to bed late most nights and wake up with just enough time to get ready. I absolutely hate that. Despite my appearance and mostly grouchy mood first thing when I wake up, I actually love the morning. I love how quiet and still everything is. I love early morning light and sitting at my computer, in my pajamas, reading through blogs while drinking a cup of coffee. Being up early in the morning makes life feel like it's standing still. It's so beautiful. 

My goal for this month is to incorporate those peaceful moments back into my day. I want to go to bed at a decent hour and wake up with Chris in the morning when he gets ready for work. I want to have time to enjoy my day & get chores done so that I can just make dinner with Chris and relax in the afternoon. 

Waste less. This is kind of a big one. I really really want to become more committed to meal planning. If Chris & I don't plan our meals, we end up throwing away a LOT of food. It drives me crazy whenever I clean out the refrigerator knowing that I'm basically throwing my money into the trash. For the past few weeks, we've kind of meal planned. I would print off a bunch of recipes for us to try that week & write them in my planner. However we haven't really stuck to it. We really just make whatever is easiest when we get home after work. Now we have done a lot better for the last couple of weeks, however, we still throw away food and it's just not working for me. Not only would we be wasting less food but we would also be wasting less money. (#61 & #62)

Another area in this category is time. This month I want to focus on wasting less of my time. This kind of goes with develop a morning & night routine. If I could develop good routines, then I would become more efficient and be able to do more of what I like. 

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What are your goals for March? Is there anything in particular that you're trying to work on?

Oh Yeah....

The whole world is probably looking at Chris' and I's life thinking, "I thought they were getting married?" or "Didn't they get engaged like, MONTHS ago? Shouldn't there be some wedding jibber-jabber on the Facebook?"

Please don't misinterpret my lack of enthusiasm as lack of excitement for getting married, but rather my lack of excitement for party planning. Looking back at my giddy unengaged self, I realized I never even had the slightest clue what the wedding dealio was about. You know, you spend countless hours dreaming of the day and then you spend a few hours here and there pinning the most flawless wedding. Now that I'm at the point (PAST the point, as my good 'ole maid-of-honor likes to point out) of actually making concrete plans like sending out rose-scented invitations and eating pounds of cake in search for perfection, I just don't want to (except for the cake part, but I'd probably do that just for fun). Side note, I can just imagine the masses becoming frenzied at that last bit... the bit with the "don't" in it.

I know that's beyond crazy and I imagine that the thought is mostly driven by laziness, but I really just want to be married. I'm looking forward to putting our cereal in the same cupboard more than sitting in a fancy dress for a few hours. Call it what you want (you're probably thinking along the lines of "ridiculous"), but that's what's been on my mind.

The plans are in their infancy stage (cue our mothers cringing) but they'll come together and I'm not worried. March 30th is rollin' around soon so we can't put it off forever. On another side note, I'd like to think putting off wedding planning is like putting off studying: a decrease of time creates an increase of effort. However, my mother would tend to disagree.

And yes, that is what I'm greeted with every time I go to my closet. :)

The Engagement Ring... Fiasco.

Yes, you read the title right. I had a fiasco with my beautiful and well loved engagement ring. If you haven't seen it, here it is:

Yeah, like I said. It's pretty much one of the prettiest things I've ever owned. So what could be this fiasco with such a beautiful object? I'm glad you asked. A few days ago I went from work to Applebees to my house. It was a great day and night and everything. Until I was on my computer. I went to play with my ring and it was gone. No joke. It was not on my finger. What is my response? To run to my room and tear it apart. I looked through all my clothes, my desk, my bags. EVERYTHING. Then I pulled everything out of my car and looked through every crack and crevice. I searched everywhere (the day after, Karla and Anthony went to Applebees and Johnny Rockets and asked around AND searched the parking lots. Can you say, the best friends ever?). The ring was a little loose but I never thought it would actually fall right off my finger!

It was gone. So what does one do when she loses her engagement ring after only 10 days of wearing it? I'll tell you. Cry.  I cried for probably 2 1/2 hours.... over the phone... to Chris. This was a moment where I truly appreciated Chris (even though I know after about an hour of hearing me cry he was starting to get annoyed). When I told him, he was so calm and positive (basically the complete opposite of me). He told me that it was JUST AN OBJECT. It wasn't more than a rock and some metal. He told me there's no need to worry because there are an abundance of engagement rings and he would get another.

Now, to a girl who just got engaged, it was NOT just an object. It was beautiful sparkling treasure that was cherished the moment I pinned it! I was devastated and that was the last thing I wanted to hear.

But honestly, when I thought about it later, I can't be with anyone better than Chris. He is so.... perfect for me. He didn't scream at me for losing the ring. He didn't even blame me. He just encouraged me and helped me move on. Even though he saved for that ring for a long time and then kept it locked away for year, he didn't react negatively. Yes, he was a little upset for it being gone (and that I wouldn't stop crying), but he moved on.

I need that man in my life. The one that carries me along when something goes wrong. The one that's positive when I'm negative. The one that keeps calm when I'm panicking. He is that man and I'm so thankful for God blessing me with him.

On another note, I am getting a new ring. The same one, actually. He loves me that much.

From Being Asked Out To Engaged. Chris and Kaitlyn Style.

THIS IS A LONG POST. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

A little background info, Chris and I have been dating since August 6, 2008. I've known him since freshman year and we met at church. He made me his girlfriend the summer I turned 16 (the day before my birthday actually. He is the best birthday present I ever received) and it was the summer before my junior year. Thinking about it makes me feel really old.

The first few years I knew him, he was incredibly shy. He had actually gone to the church a year before me and no one knew him until we started hanging out a lot. It was no surprise that the way he would ask me out would be shy too. The sixth was a Wednesday and he handed me a plastic bag at youth group and told me NOT  to open it until I got home. So I didn't. By not opening it right away, I had actually ruined his plan. He figured that by saying "Kaitlyn, no no", that I would do the opposite. And if I would have opened the bag, he would ask me right there on the spot. But because of the listening skills that have gotten me many pat-on-the-backs from grade school teachers, I opened the bag at home and got "officially" asked out on the phone. 

What was in the bag? It was cds! (Typical).

The first cd said: "50 Songs That Remind Me of You. Kaitlyn, I was..." 

Second cd: "wanting to know..."

Third cd: "if YOU would... DATE ME. Yes or no."

It was so sweet. Now that I look back on it, it reminds me of notes little kids pass in class, but I still thought it was adorable. Very thoughtful.

Now almost four years later, we've decided to take the next big step and we are engaged!

(and yes, the rats are included)

And once again, another major plan of Chris' was ruined (or modified, as I like to say). The Soroka-Switzer Family Vacation commenced on June 22 and it was supposed to be filled with sun, sand, and lots eating. We still ate a lot, but unfortunately, good 'ole tropical storm Debby decided to sweep in and visit...

Chris and I have been planning to go on a picnic on the beach for weeks and just typical that it got stormed out. Well, Chris is kinda a penny pincher (some fondly refer to him as Mr. Crabs) and he told me on Sunday that we really needed to go on a picnic regardless of the weather because he spent a lot of money on the picnic basket and we were going to get the money's worth! So he suggested that we just have a picnic in the car. It's not as romantic like the beach but at least we could be alone and be on a date.

(BTW we had the strangest picnic food. We didn't have a meal. I chose kiwi, pears, chicken biskets, and the to-go nutella. We also had bottled coke which was cool).

So I'm eating my kiwi and he suggested that we eat dessert. Well, I wasn't hungry for dessert because I was eating my kiwi. Then I ate like two chicken biskets and he asked me again if I wanted desserts. And OF COURSE I didn't because I hadn't eaten my main course! And finally after way too many chicken biskets (this is getting really romantic right? Shall I also mention we're both in pajamas?), I decided that I was ready for dessert.

So I opened the basket and inside it had the sea shells with "Will you marry me?" written on them and the red ring box off to the side.

I was completely shocked. I literally had no idea. Everything was so... normal. I mean we were freaking eating chicken biskets in our pajamas IN THE CAR! I just stared at the inside and finally I was like, "Is this for real? Are you kidding me right now?" And I opened the box and put the ring on. And I gave him a kiss and thanked him and all he responded with was "so.... is this a yes?"

And yeah. It was completely surprising and I honestly loved it. He said I could edit the story to make it more romantic but I really don't want to. It was more perfect than I could ask for. It was us. Just plain Chris & Kaitlyn being ourselves. And that's just how I wanted it.

I started this blog to help me catalog our journey to actually becoming married. The internet is one of the most valuable tools out there and I know I've read a many of blog posts to try and avoid many mistakes that other brides have made. So here I am, documenting all the up and downs of being newly engaged.

Just for kicks, here's a nice shot (lol!) of Chris and I about a week after we started dating.

And also one of us as a newly engaged couple!