On the 99 days left!

Well well! I missed the 100 days countdown yesterday. But, today marks the 99th day before our wedding day! In anyway, we like the number 9 better :)

I am going to make the most out of these 99 days. Stress-free and pretty much get everything else ready! Happy Wedding Prep!

On what I'm reading

Currently I am reading Dracula by Bram Stoker. I am aware that this is an older book that probably everybody has read. The first reason why I actually got this book was because it's free for my Kindle and the second reason was that if it's a popular book, why haven't I read it? I also know that the story is very popular that again probably everybody has seen some sort of its portrayal (movies, etc). But I want to read it. So here I am reading the book which I just started 2 days. Usually I read my kindle on the bus, in the morning, for about 10 minutes. But I know, with this one, it's not gonna be enough. Another thing is that I really like it so far (not too far, I can tell you that). The flow is really nice, the words well put, and the description is really nice. So, I am for sure going to spend a good mount of time enjoying this book :)

On what I'm giving up

This may be a very late post indeed. But, for Lent, I am giving up a few things:
1. Facebook
2. Coke
3. Style Me Pretty

I think I understand the idea of Lent to give up something that we really love to do and instead we can use that time to get closer to God or just to pray for the strength to not be tempted and thus get the relationship closer together. Well, I can tell you that I've been bad and away a bit from God. But, as my root is pretty deep down, I can't just ignore and choose not to do Lent (I give up meat on Friday). I'm not a Facebook fan, I don't post or check my FB like crazy, although I go to Style Me Pretty like crazy (every minute probably). It's just nice to actually then use that time to do something more useful. Or at least to create a new habit which I don't have to depend on them everytime. It's been good so far.

I also finished my book by Rosamond Bernier. I am just currently reading weightless-free-romantic story that I won't even bother to share. I am looking for the next book, though.

On our little concert adventure

That's right. I may sound old now, but who cares. We are going to watch Elton John's concert. He is coming to Madison on March 22nd, 2012. I am sooo excited.

I know Elton John since I was growing up (he doesn't know me, though). My mother is a big fan. Although his music might not be my #1 back in the days (I grew up in the 90s and high school time was early 2000, it was just the mix of pop boybands or early hip-hop), I have always liked him (I have always loved The Beatles, no doubt). My friends from high school would call me weirdo. I mean, in Indonesia, high school time, nobody was a fan of The Beatles or Bee Gees. I'm not trying to judge, some of them might have as well.

So then, fast forward to junior and senior year of college, I was already living in Madison. Different setting, different environment. I got to know and listen to more and more classic rock or just oldies easy listening. My Indonesian friends still judged me (This was the time of hip-hop, etc etc, I still feel it is nowadays). But not my American friends. They appreciated it as well.

Now, I am a fan of Elton John, The Beatles, and every legendary classic rock  musical figures there are. Well, I am still a fan of Third Eye Blind and Blink-182. I have watched 3eb and B-182 in their concerts (I've seen 3eb 3x), but never went to classic rock/pop concert (Wait! I went to see Tom Petty in Summerfest!). So, I was very excited when I heard on the radio that he was coming and have then declared that no matter what, I had to go and see him.

Tickets were on sale last Friday at 10 am. I went to Ticketmaster at 1pm and the cheapest price that I could get was $40, but the seat was the obstructed views. Darn it! I should have known that it would take more effort. So I went to StubHub. Of course, more expensive, but can't do anything else. I was too lazy to look around and the urge was sooo bad. The second and first level was just not affordable anywhere. Eventually, I bought these 2 tickets for section 317 (aligned with the center of the stage, but of course far away). I was a happy puppy :)

Woo Hoo!
Many many kisses,

On what I'm reading

What I'm reading:
Rosamond Bernier - Some of My Lives. The first time I knew about this book was when I was reading NPR. I have always liked a memoir, biography, or autobiography type of book. Since it's based on true story (if they're telling the truths, of course), it is very exciting. I read the review of this book there and realized that I had not read anything related to art. I was also impressed (probably 'amused' is the right word) on how many famous people she knew. The life of a socialite has always intrigued me as well. I was thinking to myself, it must be nice to be born to a family with many connections, and such and such. I am about 30% into this book (according to my Kindle) and I like it so far, although I would prefer that she tells the story through time, rather than by categories (She divides her life into categories; music, fashion, etc and from there re-tell the story through time. But sometimes I want to know what's going with her in that year with all aspects. Not sure if what I mean is clear). This book has added to my knowledge more and more about famous art or musical figures (I had probably 0 knowledge previously). It also makes realize that back then, people are nicer and appreciate things more.

On having (a) flower girl(s)

One of the most excited part about my wedding (at least for me) is that we are going to have 4 flower girls as well as 2 pageboys. Three out of four of the flower girls are my cousins' kids and one of them is my MoH's niece. The pageboys are J's cousin's boys.

With the flower girls, I have found the perfect dress for them. It just looks so pretty. Although, the effort to get them is not. I found the cheapest place is at festivalapparel.com. I asked my cousins and my MoH for their measurement and bought them the dress. The dress for my MoH's niece is perfect. The dresses for my cousin's nieces were fit just right so that she was afraid it would be too small for them in June. So, we were planning to exchange them with one size bigger. Except, it took me a while to reach the freaking owner of the store to ask for the return form. I called them e.v.e.r.y.d.a.y. but never got to talk to the owner and the due of the exchange is approaching. Eventually my cousin called him up and was able to talk to him (what is wrong with my luck?). So she then sent the dresses with promises that the new dresses will be sent to her in February when it's available. I would not buy from them anymore. Also, I think I found the shoes for them. It's from Payless and the color is just right. It's not expensive either. So, I could buy them or ask for my relatives to buy them. For the wedding day, they will be carrying a pomander ball. They should look really cute >.<

As for the boys. I am no sure. Of course I would like them to wear a mini boy suit. But, 1.) It would be expensive to buy (~$50 or $60) which I don't probably mind, except, 2.) they may not wear it again. A dress for a girl will more likely to be worn again, not a tux or suite for boys. But, I may be just buying them a tux shirt, a bow tie, with or without a vest (not sure what color either). What do you think?

On Jason Wu Target Collection

I guess I am very naive. I watched the commercial on TV that the "cheap" version of Jason Wu collection will be on Target on February 5th. I was excited and I started looking at the lookbook online. See, I know that Target has been doing this for a while, but I did not really care before. I mean, if I can't afford the expensive one, I feel weird buying the cheaper version. But, the last designer before Jason Wu was Missoni. At that time, I missed the opening day (of course) and I just happened to go to a new Target and checked them out. Not a lot left, I can clearly see people already grabbed their favorite ones. So, I decided then that I was going to get on the next designer (if I like the collection, of course).

So, yesterday, I went to Target at noon. And I was really c.o.n.f.u.s.e.d. There is no such thing as Jason Wu collection. I did not see it anywhere, no trace no whatsoever of anything ever present there. So I walked around just once and still did not find anything. Then I left and went to Macy's instead. When I was back home, I went online and check out Target website. Well, I couldn't really buy it from there. It said "available in-store" But! when I checked it, it's out of stock in every stores in Madison. I gave up. Lesson learned: Find out more about what to do beforehand in an unfamiliar situation!