I Found a Reason - Cat Power

Enroute to Canada!!!!

We fly out Saturday June 19Th at 11:30 am.....we arrive in Toronto, Canada at 7:30pm!!! Woo HOO! We feel like we're running a marathon at this point. Moving apartments, writing reports, finishing up at school and running around the city doing last minute things! We're almost there! BREATHE! I'm trying to enjoy all these chaotic and lovely moments. I was recently at a little bachlorette party put on with all my work friends and the question "What advice do you have for Kristy as she enters matrimony?".....the married women at the table paused, thought.....and then said "Marriage is hard, it is hard, hard work." As Andrew and I walk into our 11Th some odd year of time together I think back to the beginning, the middle and now this new chapter.....and yes there are moments that can feel trying, but as I sit here now I know I wouldn't change a thing. For it is those moments of trials and tribulations that have strengthen us in becoming what we are now. I feel blessed to have met Andrew in University....his days of figuring it all out. We're so lucky to have met each other when we didn't quite know what we individually were yet. Figuring it all out and wanting to be together still....pretty amazing! What we valued then, the ability to party, great taste in music and sense of humour are still characteristics we appreciate now, but more so much more has sprouted from those initial seeds of this relationship. We've grown up together...and here we are......almost home!

It's all Coming Together!

Yesterday I went for another fitting and the dress is finally coming together. I was a little nervous last week when they had to remove the whole skirt of the dress and re do it.....gulp! So some girlfriends and I had a few bottles of champagne to curve the anxiety....through a haze of bubbles and strawberries I tried on the dress again. It's lovely....a few fittings to go and we'll be packing it up for the flight home! The picture has been distorted to give you a peek, but not the full monty.

The Reds are blocking the dress shop!

It has been almost 2 months of political turmoil in Bangkok. During April tension escalated when the Reds moved into the high end shopping district. Shopping is a favourite past time here in Bangkok and blocking the locals from their Louis Vuitton is a major NO NO! So this move to the shopping district was quite a stand. BUT it was also blocking me from my bridesmaids dress shop.....ahhhh! I'm on a time line.....but no worries the dresses are almost finish and last week I was aloud in. So without further ado I'm about to give you a little sneak peek..... I have always loved the movie 'Gone With the Wind'....can anyone say theme wedding!!! WOO HOO!

The Westin Prince Hotel

Here is the hotel we have booked. We have reserved 20 rooms under the names Hillis/Kloosterhuis wedding. Rooms will be held at a discounted price until June 15th. After that date rooms are only available at regular price and availability. There is all day parking available at hotel.

All reservations can be made individually through reservations at 416.444.2511 or through worldwidereservation - 1-800-westin-1

Types of rooms include

Traditional King $119

Traditional Double $119

"You fatter, yes?"

Well I finally had my first fitting...... and it was interesting ...... what is the one thing a bride to be just doesn't want to ever hear? The ultimately most ridiculous comment that could be said to a woman preparing for her wedding day????? Four months prior to her wedding day, after months of new yoga/pilate memberships, countless facials, shake meal replacements........ does not want to hear........"You fatter...yes?" As soon as I walked into the store I was slapped in the face by my cute little TINY dress maker with this unsettling question. As my mouth draped open, I found myself searching for excuses..... ummm it is that time of the month, oh I just returned from a long weekend of drinking and eating...... ummmm really... you think I am fatter????? Then the anger set in.... why am I explaining myself to this lady...I am NOT FATTER! Just get out the dress will yah!!! I lightly walked to the back room to try on this shell of a dress that would somehow become the dress of my dreams...... at this point I have to take all my clothes off in-front of "You fatter, yes?" not the first thing I wanted to do at that moment., but I did it... proudly ....I pulled the giant white bag over my head, because a bag is what it looked like at this point and stepped out........ at that moment I was feeling like a giant, squishy, puffy marshmallow bride! Stay puff was peaking in the window ready to take Ak out of the running as groom to be. Uneasily I asked "Can we please ummm look at the picture again......I just don't know if this is heading in the right direction." The girl grabs the picture from my file and I go through explaining how I want the dress to look exactly like the picture.... no straps, no crystals, no bows.... no no no no no! Please picture me in you head right now all puffed out and white in the middle of 3 teeny tiny Thai ladies as they pinch, pin, prod and speak THAI! I just held on to my picture.....I squeezed the picture, I hugged the picture, I pushed the picture in their faces. "Just like the picture!" All they did was smile, yes yes just like the picture.....I have been assured. Well I am to return Wednesday for another dose of Thai honesty to my weakening ego. Till then...... love you. Miss you all!

Day 1 Diet: Shake for breakfast:) water for lunch!