I FOUND IT!

I found it! The most wonderful kitchen tool anyone could ever hope for...and no, it's not a creme brulee torch.

It's THIS:

A Saladmaster Food Grater!

This lil' baby has been used in my house since I was....probably a baby. I'll have to check with my mom on that one. We use it to grate/shred anything: cheese, carrots, potatoes, almond paste...Oh, it's heavenly.
You have to hold other graters steady, and move your whole arm up and down while applying pressure to get whatever it is to grate. With these, all you have to do is push the food down onto the grater cone and turn a handle. Voila!

They seem to have been around forever, or at least the '60s, so when I looked them up on ebay they were listed as a vintage kitchen appliance. Maybe I just like vintage things...

My only question now is How the heck am I going to get my hands on one of these??? On ebay they range from $12 to $300+!

Rumor has it that my aunt Julie found one at DI once, so keep an eye out for me! (Even if you don't want to give it to me, keep an eye out to get one for yourself. They are

Registries and Receptions

Even as school progresses and I start a new job (assistant executive cleaning lady) the wedding plans are moving forward. As they should be; there are only 87 days left!!

Our current project is creating a wedding registry. We registered at Bed, Bath and Beyond because we don't know any other place, really.
My question to you marrieds out there: What was the most interesting (bizarre) gift you got? Which was your favorite that you registered for? Which was your favorite that you didn't register for?
Right now I'm excited for a salad spinner. It just sounds so nice to be at home with my nice little husband and my nice little salad spinner. Perhaps I'll always cook in heels, a dress and pearls, also. ;)

My constant daydream is the reception. It just gets better every (almost) time I think about it. Last Sunday Russell mentioned that a girl in his Spanish class had had a carnival themed reception. It was so hard to concentrate in church after that as I imagined light pink cotton candy, personalized popcorn bags, and those funny body frames.

Like this one:


Except with a bride and groom instead of cheerleader and football player.

Marriage Movies

You know those last few scenes in The Parent Trap when Elizabeth and Nick decide they are meant for each other and give it another go?
It's beautiful.
So darn beautiful that several of my roommates and I (well, Shayla's practically a roommate) decided that we had to watch as many romantic, marriage-y movies as we could before my big day. Without jeopardizing our sleep/school work/social life, of course. I think one a week would be reasonable.
I think that'll give us 13 weeks. 13 weeks equals 13 movies. Which shall it be?
Maybe Ever After and Sweet Home Alabama.
Man, I love those ones.

Anyway, this is just a silly little ramble to make up for not journaling tonight.

Much love,
Eri

P.S. Angela, if I'm getting married in 13 weeks, how many weeks till you do???? ;)

Dresstastrophy

Is it cruel of me to want my bridesmaids to wear green?
Whether or not it is, it's cruel of the fashion industry to make it so darn hard to find cute modest dresses!!!
Time to share secrets, ladies. Where did you find your dresses?

And so it begins...

That's right. I'm engaged! What an absolutely exhilarating, terrifying, exciting, nerve-inducing, fantastic word. State of being.
I'm getting quite a few requests for the story, and while it is a completely cute story (How many girls are proposed to in front of six buffalo??) I have other things on my mind right now.
Ha! Right now? Try always. For the last week there hasn't been a moment when I haven't been thinking of colors and bridesmaid dresses and venues and reception food and the cake and the flowers and getting the dress restored and fitted and taking engagement photos and finding shoes (2 pairs. 1 white and 1 in my fun color of choice)and where to register and.....you get the idea. The worst day dream session was probably in Sacrament meeting when I got distracted for a couple of minutes wondering how I would do my (short) hair for the sealing.

That's just the beginning, I think. Mom has called every day with more things to keep in mind. Her advice is priceless; she's helping me figure out what of the thousands of things to do I should do first.

Of course, this is what I do instead.

I tried to make her look like me, but I kind of think she looks more like Kate Middleton. Perhaps because there weren't good short hair options. Perhaps because the Duchess is my wedding idol.

Russell is being really helpful throughout it all. I've kind of always thought that the groom just sits back and enjoys the ride while the bride works herself and her female relatives into a frenzy, but he's been here for every little thing I want him for. (This makes me happy. He's survived the first seven days of being engaged to me. Only 101 to go...)

He's got other things on his mind, though, too. He's in the process of selling his car and buying US a new (to us) one. He told me months ago that if I'd marry him he'd sell his stick-shift to get an automatic. While I'm actually getting better on stick, we do need another car since the driver's seat in his doesn't move and I have to ride with a six inch cushion behind me so I can reach the peddles.
It will be hard to watch his go. He loves that car like nothing else, except people, I guess, since he wouldn't sell it if I weren't in the picture.

Man, I love him.

Hope you're all well and sleeping. More to come. Much love.

Guess What!

WE'RE ENGAGED!!!