photographic memories.

Before you ask, no, we still have no wedding plans.  Things for us have been crazy lately.  We are waiting on word regarding J's financial aid for fall 2012 before making a decision on where and when to get married, at this point.  We had started to toss some ideas around but realized we might have to make some dramatic changes if J will be in college come fall-- we'd obviously have very few dates to choose from around the academic calendar, and we'd not have much money to contribute ourselves to the wedding if we had to continue on as a single-income family.  So, stay tuned.  Hopefully in the next 4-6 weeks, we'll know more!

One wedding-related task we DID manage to do was have our engagement photos taken.  We were excited to work with the very talented Rachel of Rachel G Photography for our shoot.  The weather was amazing, as it has been here in Chicago for most of the winter.  Though it was mid-February, the skies were sunny and the temperatures were in the 40s.  We managed to do most of our shoot outside, which allowed us to incorporate Chicago into the pictures-- exactly what we wanted!

Can I just say that I absolutely LOVE the way they turned out?  As a plus-size bride, I was intensely worried that I just wouldn't stack up to the gorgeousness of all of the other shoots I've seen.  I obsessed over my clothes and hair for weeks, trying to find the right look to showcase my best assets AND finding things that were in the same color palettes for both J and me.  In the end, I returned 90% of what I bought and ended up wearing things I've had for awhile.  Our pictures are perfectly us; laughing and in love.  We tried hard to be serious in some photos, but it's just not who we are, and that's ok!

We received over 350 pictures back from Rachel, far too many to post here.  Instead, I'll leave you with a few of my favorites from the session.  All photo credits to Rachel G Photography.  Please do not share without permission.

Set 1: Downtown Chicago-- Chicago River, Merchandise Mart, Kedzie Bridge.

Set 2: Wrigley Field

Set 3: Downtown Chicago-- Lightology

agony of defeat.

VCU's run in the NCAA tournament came to an abrupt ending on Saturday night.  After playing some extremely impressive basketball over the last few weeks, the Butler game was a complete meltdown.  Whether due to fatigue, biased refs or simple bad luck, the road ended.

The Final Four party was a success-- about 20 Chicagoland VCU alumni showed up, and about 8 of my friends.  Everyone enjoyed snacks, pizza and the drink special.  I even got to see one of my favorite people from my time working in the Student Commons at VCU, what a treat!

Opening Day at Wrigley Field was also Friday.  This marks my third year of attending the home opener (obviously, a Jeremy-driven activity!), and the weather was typical-- cold and rainy!  Temperatures in the 40s all day with a steady drizzle.  Adding to the dreary mood was the fact that Jeremy wasn't feeling well and the Cubs lost.  Booooo!

The rest of our weekend was consumed with sleeping and laundry.  We slept for 11 hours on Saturday night-- which felt amazing!  I wish I had that chance more often, especially in preparation for the next few weeks at work.

Speaking of, I'm completely overwhelmed right now.  April is always our busiest time, and this year seems even more stressful than ever.  I'm trying to take it one day at a time, but that's hard when every day is jam-packed, including the weekends!  After the end of April, though, things significantly calm down.  I'm soooo looking forward to that day.

Jeremy has football practice tonight, so I will be home alone.  I really struggle to be alone sometimes-- not that it isn't relaxing, but I'm just so bored by myself!  I'm also an extremely light sleeper, so I tend to stay up until J gets home, which is sometimes almost midnight.  It's a vicious cycle-- I look forward to him coming home, and then I get mad that I'm up late and am subsequently tired and cranky the next day.  It is a good exercise for me, though, because I do need to understand everything doesn't work around my schedule all the time.  I also am admittedly jealous that J has hobbies and friends here in Chicago, something I lack.  It's hard to have a partner who lives in their hometown-- all his close friends and family are always nearby, but mine are 1000 miles away.  I look forward to the day when we are on more even territory!