happy weekend!

^^ Dave drew this monogram for our invites. I'm in love!

This weekend Dave and I have some wedding-oriented tasks to work on. We're getting our engagement pictures done, shopping for wedding bands, finalizing the groomsmen suits and getting the invitations ready to mail out on Monday. Hopefully we'll be able to fit in some much-needed relaxing!

What are you doing this weekend?

Yum.

That's all...

Autumn.

My favorite season.
The temperature outside may be 85 degrees, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying the leaves crunching under my feet.
All of this...

Makes my heart happy.

I'm so excited...to go to a football game with brother at his college...to dress up for halloween...to put on tights and boots...to get to wear my scarves and hats and jackets...to drive to the mountains and pick apples...to see the changing of the leaves...to drive my convertible in the cool, crisp air...to stuff myself at Thanksgiving...and to marry my best friend in the heart of the season <3

Wedding stuff... {Dave, do not read this post}

Wedding prep has been going really well! I'm such an organization freak, I have everything outlined and scheduled, with lists to tell me what to and when to do it - and we're still 64 days out! 

I just received my veil in the mail and went for my second dress fitting. Oh my word, friends, it's coming together so well! I'm a little nervous about sharing pictures on here, just in case David decides to look at our blog...but I'm like 99.9999% sure my dear fiancee won't look...sooo here's a sneak peek for my blog readers!! 

My dress is still in the alterations phase and needs a couple other details fixed. But I am SO in love with it. I bought the original dress for almost nothing at a consignment shop, knowing that it needed a lot of work. I've invested in an AMAZING seamstress to make all the adjustments for me. It was "the" moment for me...realizing that I had the dress of my dreams.

My veil:

It's a chapel length drop veil with a blusher, with a floral crown. I never thought I'd be a veil person...but the idea of the magic behind it and the fact that its as totally BRIDAL made it irresistible.

I don't want to give TOO much away...so I better stop here. Though I'm dying to talk about all of my plans! I guess you'll have to wait for wedding pictures!

Oh and PS here's our wedding website: David and Elisa

Much love! 

Kind of missing Culinary School...

Especially days where we toured such beautiful vineyards. 

So stunning...

I maybe would love to own a vineyard one day, and make delicious wines and jellies.

 To sit on the screened-in porch of my elegant stone house, drinking wine and eating bruschetta.

 To be harvesting grapes as a gorgeous thunderstorm rolls up, forcing the harvesters inside to eat, drink and be merry.
To live in a Chateau, with beautiful rolling hills of grape vines.

Wine Appreciation class definitely contained quite a bit of daydreaming.

Puppies...

Once upon a time there was a girl in love, who wasn't a huge fan of animals. I mean, they were ok...but not something she would ever own, or think of owning. 

She got home from school one day and her mother said, "Did you see what David brought home?" (David was the name of her Love, you see)
"What is it?"
"Go look outside..."

 And the girls heart melted completely away and she fell even more in love with that wonderful man of hers.

(Update: the dogs ran away during the night, so sadly David didn't get to keep the dogs after all)

today the mailman brought me...

this beautiful birthday present from mom and dad :)

I cannot wait to have this as my name!