wedding venue ideas.

yes, i am this obsessed. i've been looking at venues all day. luke and i haven't discussed much yet, but what girl doesn't get a little crazy right after their engagement? i found one that i am completely in love with; the enchanted barn. i cannot even explain how gorgeous it looks, of course things can always be made to look better in pictures. anyways, here are a few pictures from their website.

so stunning.

the proposal story.

Last Wednesday started out just like any other Wednesday. I woke up and went to my only class for the day, and then came back to my apartment to get ready to leave for Thankgiving break. Luke and I drove together back to his parent's house in Big Lake. Luke and I decided that since my parents were in Minnesota, it was about time that our families get together to have dinner. Luke's mom, being the incredible woman that she is, graciously offered to have dinner at their house. Luke and I got to their house a few hours before dinner. It had been snowing heavily outside, and so the temps got very low that night. Luke asked me to come outside with him to play with Vader, the family dog, in the snow. I protested and said that I was just too cold. He begged me to come out, and finally after literally dragging me off the couch I put on my boots and coat. I apparently wasn't done trying to, unknowingly, foil Luke's plan to propose, so I asked his sister to come out with us to. She willingly did, but lucky for Luke, she decided to go inside after a short while. After running around with Vader through the snow for awhile, Luke and I just stood in his driveway talking. We talked about random things, and somehow ended up talking about dogs, and what types we would want to have. I have been trying to convince Luke to let me get an English Bulldog in the future, but he just hates them. After talking for a while longer, Luke said, "I tell you what, I'll get you an English Bulldog on one condition...Will you marry me?"

I stood there in shock. I think I probably freaked him out a little, but so many things were running through my mind. Was this real? Is he really down on one knee? Was he serious? Oh my God! And my ring?!! It was bigger and better then I ever imagined. Needless to say, I said yes. He picked it out all by himself, and even after insisting that we go look at others, I refused. I love that I can tell people that he picked it out.

I am so happy.

Good job, Luke. I love you.

**My mother brought it to my attention that I forgot the part where Luke even remembered to ask my dad's permission, which he did. :) Such a classy fella.

best thanksgiving EVER.

i'm engaged! :D

more photos and stories to come.

xoxo.

**photo courtesy of my lovely future sister-in-law, Kirstin.

snow snow snow

It's snowing, and I couldn't be happier!! Bring on the Christmas music and egg nog. :)

xoxo.

happy veterans day!

this one's for my grandpa jim. he served in the navy during world war II. i wish i could have heard more of your stories, gpa. miss you so much.

i love mayhem.

no, not actual mayhem. mayhem the sexy, destructive allstate commercial man.


:)

life changes.

A few days ago, in my non-oppressive relationships class, we were watching a documentary called The Witness. It's about a man named Eddie Lama, who never had pets as a child, and was raised around people who abused animals. One of his friends asked him to babysit her kitten, and during that time he fell in love with it. He immediately became a vegetarian, and explained how cats and dogs are no different then other animals that society deems as food or clothing. It's the perceptions we have of animals, not who the animal is, that decides which ones die. The rest of the film discusses the disgusting treatment of animals on factory fur farms, and his attempt to get this censored information to the public. It truely is the most influential film I have ever seen. I haven't touched meat for over four days, and don't plan on doing so anytime soon. 

So, my question is, are any of you vegetarian/vegan? I would love your input on recipes, meat substitutes, vegetarian cookbooks, veg blogs, etc.

xoxo.