Showered with love

Months ago my MOH asked me what I wanted to do for my bridal shower and bachelorette party, I think I responded with "Chicago" and "wine".  The shower concept is kind of weird to me - I mean isn't the wedding enough of people showering us with gifts and attention?  Do I really deserve another entire day?  I was cautiously optimistic about the whole concept but it felt weird.  I like to be the one planning and executing, I like to do this stuff for others and the thought of others doing it for me made me frankly a little uncomfortable.  I obviously had zero idea of how absolutely amazing the weekend would be... be ready for some exclamation marks and gushing because it was one weekend I will never ever forget!

Mom, Crissy and Alice came to Chicago on Friday.  We started on the wedding seating chart, did a little shopping, watched a movie and went to dinner.  They surprised me with a book they made for me where my family/wedding party wrote letters to me and submitted pictures - Oh man was I a big pile of emotions reading that!  What a beautiful surprise!

 With my wonderful friend and Maid of Honor - Crissy.

 Mom and I.

With my sister in law, Alice.

Dinner was wonderful and we got to catch up and spend some time together.  Saturday morning we got ready, went for brunch and headed over to prepare for the shower.

My friend Allison offered to host the shower at her house.  Between the decorations and treats and food and wine, it was my kind of party!  Allison was even sweet enough to hire Cory, he was there to educate us about wine and keep our glasses full.  He was a wonderful surprise!  Every put in so much time and effort and made this day so special!  I know more people helped than I even know about - so thank you to you all!!

 My family traveled from Iowa and Missouri to be there.  I really appreciate them so much!

Aunt Shelley, Aunt Kelly, Grandma Rosie, Mom and Alice.

 Have I mentioned how much I love my momma?  Isn't she so pretty? 

 The wine set up... or as I like to call it... HEAVEN

 The family listening to Cory talk about wine... more heaven!

 Ok I LOVE LOVE LOVE me a monogram!!  Courtland made these cookies - so ADORABLE!

 Allison and Crissy - I think between these two girls - they could run the world!  I really appreciate you Crissy for all your planning and everything you did for the weekend - BEST MOH EVER!  Allison - thank you for making this such a memorable day!

 So for Crissy's shower I made her play a game where I asked Jeff 10 questions and then asked them to Crissy, for every one she got wrong she had to put a piece of bubble gum in and chew it - like not a stick of gum, those BIG chunks... well it was pay back!!  Thank GOD I only got 3 wrong! 

 Bart's cousin got me this hat - it says "I love my polish husband"!  It is so freaking cute!  I love that girl!  Oh and Bart loves this picture even though I look like a chunky monkey!!

 Stephanie, Elvin and Crystal.  I loved seeing friends who didn't know many people meeting new people and making new friends.  This is going to be even more fun for the wedding!

 Kristine and Cristie :-)

 My future MIL :-).  My soon to be aunt was also in attendance but I missed a photo op with her :-(.  They also traveled to be there!

 Sweet Chelsea!  I told the story at my shower but it's funny because Chelsea is one of Bart's friends and you never know when you meet your man's female friends - but Chelsea and her husband and babies have been so welcoming and great to us!

Nancy and Jenn - these are two of the funnest girls I know - both laugh and have so much fun all the time!  Just being around them makes me happy. 

As I was opening gifts, I kept thinking how lucky I was.  All of these people that I love in one room, here for me.  People traveled and took time away from their families just to make my day special.  I don't think you really realize the overwhelming feeling until you're in that situation.  I was not prepared for the emotion of it all but I will tell you it made me even 100x more excited for the wedding.  The shower went by so fast I don't know if I talked to everyone or got pictures with everyone but it's a good reminder for the wedding day and that it's going to go so fast and I need to take that same moment to just feel - feel the emotion, feel the love and just remember every second of it.

Next, a quick wardrobe change and off to the bachelorette party... (sappy time over)...

 Dinner at Mastros

 I think I drank the equivelant of all those bottles of champs combined :-( :-( :-(

 This pic is amazing

 Amazing pic of Elvin - terrible of yours truly 

 At red head piano bar - got the VP area - it was so so so fun!!  

And change your pose...

By far one of the best days of my life.  I cannot thank everyone enough for making the weekend so wonderful!  From the traveling to decorating to planning to baking to appetizer making to showering me with love - a weekend I will never forget.  

I love all you ladies so much - can't wait for the wedding!!!

Today's thoughts on this crazy life :-)

I haven't blogged in a little while, I feel like so much is going on that this is the last thing on my mind.  Let's see what first?  Wedding planning... well we are 55 days away.  That feels really surreal, like is this actually happening.  We've been planning and planning and it's almost here and I still don't know if I really believe it's going to happen.  The majority of the planning has been pretty easy, I started kind of panicking a bit ago so I started a task list, assigned owners and due dates and take it one step at a time.  I also made Bart read it, step by step... afterwards he thanked me over and over again for everything I've done for the wedding. :-)  Oh, I also started having really weird irrational fears... what if I planned this entire thing and no one comes?  What if everyone hates it?  What if I go to try on my dress and I hate it?  Or it doesn't fit?  What if I forget to pick up my dress?  Such random and dumb little fears but I still have them.  So far out of 180 people, we only have 67 people coming - EEKS!  Oh and then I found out that a lot of my mail is being returned to sender randomly, I have a case open against my mail carrier but it's just ridiculous.  DELIVER MY DAMN MAIL!!

In other news, I'm still teaching kickboxing.  I really love it except they have a new theory where they want us to teach the exact same class every single class... not sure how long I'll last with this new theory but I will try it first.  I still love it and think it's one of the best work outs ever.  I did start the Advocare 24 day challenge the beginning of the month.  I'm not doing nearly as good as I did last time - I need to kick this up into high gear.

I also accepted a new position at work.  I'm really excited to get back into leadership and take on a new challenge.  It was really weird when they sent out the announcement, I got so many emails that said it was a much deserved promotion - I think that is maybe the best compliment ever!  I mean I know that I work my butt off and do my best but I didn't know other people saw that too.  It's a really good feeling to work hard for something, have it pay off, and have other people notice - it doesn't always work out that way, I feel very very lucky.  I also feel really lucky to have the mentors and support system that I have.  I may have driven a couple of you crazy while I was making this decision but your guidance and advice is so so so appreciated!!!  Of course my babe made sure that I felt very special and let me know how proud he was of me.  He's just the best man ever!  

Of course only I plan a wedding, begin instructing kickboxing, and take on a new job all at the same time.  Let's see how many life changes can happen at once!  I mean, if you're going to do it, do it right?  A friend of mine at work told me her perspective of me and how I will never be happy or satisfied just "living" I always need new challenges to keep me excited and motivated and going.  This conversation opened my eyes because it's true - I don't like to let things happen to me or sit around waiting, I prefer to make things happen.  Ok - enough of this "I am woman hear me roar" crap. :-)

Next up is my shower and bachelorette party, everything is going to move along so fast.  I can't wait!!  LOVE YOU ALL :-)

The Number After 29

Well it's official... I'm that number after 29.  I don't know what it is about that number that I don't love but I will continue to refer to it as "the number after 29."  I wanted to be far far away on that day so that no one would even mention that number.  Some friends of ours got a really great deal in Myrtle Beach so we followed suit and planned a long weekend getaway.  Work has been a little hectic lately, add wedding planning and people's drama to the list and we needed to get away.  We spent a lot of time on the beach.  I did learn that my version of "relax" and Bart's version of "relax" is a bit different.  We did purchase him a boogie board and it was the best damn $14.99 we ever spent, kept him entertained for HOURS :-). 

Some pics from our trip...

When I got home there was birthday surprise after birthday surprise.  My wonderful co-workers got me new kickboxing gloves.  My mom and Joe celebrated birth week and send me something new every single day!  My brother, sister, nephew got me my first ever lululemon - an awesome jacket.  I have a feeling this will be a new obsession.  The cards and birthday wishes and bottles of wine were so appreciated.  My friends and family are the BEST and I'm so grateful to have you all in my life.

So I know that the year after the number 29 will be a great one.  I know there is so much to look forward to.  I get to marry the love of my life and experience all the firsts of being a newlywed.  I get to go on our honeymoon to the beautiful St. Lucia.  This year is going to be truly amazing, I know it... not going to lie, I still don't really love that number.

My Latest Obsession - KICKBOXING

I remember when I was young, I hated that my parents had me in softball because I hated to sweat. My mom still tells people that to this day. I think it was more the fact that I sucked at it and when you have a brother that grew up to be a professional baseball player, you find something else to do that you’re good at… I mean come on, how do you compete with that? I got really into dance when I was little because of my best friend, Crissy. I loved dance class. Throughout high school I was really into cheerleading and running. I loved to run, I was terrible at it but didn’t care – I just loved it. Over the last few years I’ve tried a number of new regiments such as spinning, boot camp and most recently kickboxing.


I’ve been kickboxing since about last October, so for about 10 months now. It is my new obsession. You get that cardio/boot camp stuff – we run and do jumping jacks, push up , burpies (if you don’t know what burpies are call me – everyone should have to endure this kind of pain) and you also get out some aggression with hitting and kicking and punching and yelling – it’s pretty awesome! I mean not that I’m going through anything stressful right now that I would need to get aggression out (like planning a wedding, or being on 28 projects so far this year).

I go to a martial art’s studio for kickboxing. To me the benefit to this is you are surrounded by trained martial artists who know about form and technique. I feel like kickboxing at a lot of gyms isn’t a whole lot different than a boot camp or aerobics class. I also love that we have the actual bags to train on. Master Lanre at my school thinks of it as more of a pre-Tae Kwon Do class (with burpies).

A couple of months ago, one of my instructors told me I should teach class and I jokingly said let me know when you have an open position. He brought me up to Master Lanre after class and said “talk to him”. Since then I’ve been working with Master Lanre to train and improve my instructing skills. This started off with teaching portions of the kickboxing class to the Black Belt class. Talk about INTIMIDATING! The first class I had a little mouse voice and was shaking like a leaf, come to find out they don’t do these basic steps much anymore and by the end of 15 minutes, they were sweating all over the place and absolutely exhausted (Monica – 1, Black Belts - 0).

In addition to the instructor training sessions, I’ve also been taking some Tae Kwon Do classes. It is an interesting experience to go from practicing being in front of the class and the “expert” to going to the back of the class where I know NOTHING. It is much more difficult than I anticipated. I love the fact that I’m learning the “right” way to do the kicks and punches but the forms are SO CONFUSING – I feel like I’m just flailing my arms and legs hoping that I’m faced the same direction as the rest of the class. As dumb as it may sound – the hardest part for me is the “yes sir” aspect. Now, my mother raised me right, I say Mr. and Mrs., even a sir or ma’am every now and again. But having to say “yes sir” after every command makes me feel weird. It makes me feel like it is years ago before women’s rights and when men ruled the world or something. I believe in respect and understand that you show respect to those higher than you so I’ll go with it, still feels weird.

So far I’ve taught about 20 minutes of the Black Belt class 4 times and about 3/4 of the kickboxing class that I take. I’m really excited about this opportunity and can’t wait to grow my skills, so much to learn and practice. I also hope I can help people achieve their fitness goals – the part I’m most excited about is to start with a new class and watch them transform over time, giving them motivation and support. I’ll keep you posted on the progress.



A few months ago, we had a class outside on the street.  Bart came and snapped some shots, thanks to Crystal for coming and trying it out with me!  

These bags are my favorite and kicking is my favorite

This is a front block.  The man in front in all white is Master Lanre. 

This is a front jab.  Make sure you are hitting with your first two knuckles, keep you arm straight out but don't lock your elbows. 

Keep your arms up to protect your face :-)

Engagement Party - Summer Soiree Style

Kicking off the wedding celebrations, my wonderful family threw us an engagement party in Iowa this past weekend.  Mom and Joe have been preparing their home for weeks to make it look just perfect.  Mom and Alice did an amazing job of decorating and adding all those special touches that made the party feel extra special. 

We all traveled home Thursday night, on Friday Mom, Joe, Bart and I went into town and got some big things accomplished!  We got Joe a suit for the wedding, Bart a suit for the wedding, stopped and saw the dress mom picked out and officially ordered it, and Bart and I got our wedding rings!  I was soooooooo excited to finally get the rings as this is something Bart and I have been researching and looking and looking and researching and FINALLY found 2 perfect rings :-).  Couldn't be happier!  Michael at Shamrocks is even giving Bart a great idea for our one year anniversary (gotta love having a family friend that is a jeweler)!!  After a nice lunch at the view we went home to start setting up for the party.  Crissy and Miss Elly came out for a visit - that little baby is so freaking cute, walking and all!!  The boys set up a tent which after taking a couple hours to complete, Joe promptly decided he didn't like it and took it back down (man I love a perfectionist!!). 

Josh and Boogie got in a little pool time

My furry nephew lounged in the sun watching his little brother.

Saturday morning it was time for the final touches and setting up for the big party!  Everything looked absolutely wonderful!

 True Iowa style, we have a huge trough of beer... I'm pretty sure this was Bart's favorite part of the decorations :-)

Josh kept saying that there was a homeless man that kept hanging around... he ended up staying for the party.

This was the first time that our families met!  It was so wonderful that everyone was able to join the party and meet each other. 

Bart, Andy, Ala, and Monica

My parents, Bart's parents, Bart's Aunt/Uncle, Josh/Alice, Bart/Monica

Bart and I (before it got cold)

 My wonderful maid of honor Crissy! 

 All of my bridesmaids were at the party - look at that pretty bunch!! 

Alice, Me, Crissy, & Amanda

I cannot thank them enough for coming back to celebrate - it means so much to me that they were all there and kicking off the wedding celebrations.  I am one lucky girl to have these 3 ladies stand up with me on the big day!

Bart and I (after it got chilly)

So many relatives and neighbors and lots of people I may or may not have known came and drank and joined in the celebration.  Bart and I are so lucky to have these people in our lives, this experience would not be nearly as special or memorable without these people around us!  Bart's cousins Andrew and Laura surprised us by making the trip - not sure how I didn't get a picture with them - but we really loved the surprise and we're soooo glad they made it!!!

A huge huge huge huge thank you to Mom, Joe, Josh and Alice for throwing this summer soiree and making us feel like the luckiest kids in the world!