Surprise!
Last weekend, Matt and I flew out for a quick East Coast trip to finalize some wedding details. We had very little time and a lot to do. Unbeknownst to me (am I allowed to use spelling bee words?), Miss Effie and the bridesmaids cohorts planned a fabulous bridal shower (and bachelorette that evening) for me. Saturday was my only free day in Connecticut, and Mike Zannetti called me the week before to make plans for “lunch”. I should have seen something coming, as Zannetti NEVER calls me and have we really become 80 year olds that have lunchtime engagements and won’t make nighttime plans?! But I was so focused on all the wedding stuff that it didn’t even strike me as weird, even when I walked into Mike’s house that day and saw favors on a table in the sitting room. I just thought it was more of Mike’s mom’s stuff that Mike was selling or throwing out. Why would I think there was a party in the other room?! I was shocked–not the screaming or crying kind of shocked…just jaw dropping silence sort of shocked…I have the hardest time getting people together, especially now that I live on the West Coast, and this was perfect. My grandma Josephine was there, with my aunt Mary Anne. My mom flew up from Florida, Ally, Lauren and Kaitlin (my cousins) were there, which was amazing, since I haven’t seen them in, hmm, maybe four or five years, and I used to spend every weekend with them growing up. My godfather’s wife was there (it’s been 10 years since I’ve seen her). Newly engaged Erica was there, along with 7 month pregnant Amanda, and of course, my bridesmaids (Abbie, Abbey, Roslyn, Effie). There was so much to say to everyone and so much FOOD to be eaten.
What more could a girl ask for? Good company, food, wine, and the giant stuffed swordfish hanging over Michael’s mantle. There were some games and some card/present opening (which wasn’t too girly, which is always my fear with all that overwhelming estrogen in the room). The best gift was a recipe book that was a compilation of pictures and recipes from a lot of people (friends, family, soon to be family). I’m happy Amanda put her rhubarb coffee cake recipe in there. She made it for the shower and eating it once was NOT enough. I will post the recipe to share. I think there just aren’t enough rhubarb recipes.
After the shower, Eff, Roz, Abbie and Amanda took me to the mall to get a makeover (I’m such a girl 
) at Aveda and Roz bought me all the makeup they used so I can look better than my personal attempts and failures at using the makeup. The girl who did me up had a gold tooth, so I was a little worried about what she was going to make me look like—but no worries, I was really happy with what she did and now everyone can look forward to seeing me all painted up in September. Plus, I get to cross that off my list of wedding to-dos.
I can also cross off the picnic location, which will be described in detail on the wedding website. FYI, we’re having a picnic the day after the wedding, about 20 miles south of the wedding location. It was a productive but fun weekend and I am so lucky to have such wonderful beautiful people in my life. It makes me want to start a commune and make all of you live on it with me. Any takers?
PS. If anyone has pictures from that day, I’d love copies. The only pics I have are when Matt was allowed to join us in the evening.