Five For Friday
May 29, 2009 
156 – You did all the research for our new vacuum
157 – You keep showing me You Tube videos of that new vacuum
158 – You babysat our friend’s 1 yr old son with me
159 – You and I picked the same cake flavors at our cake tasting
160 – You give me all your hamburger pickles
SYTYCD: Frenchie Edition
May 28, 2009 
This past Thursday Papa Frenchie and I went to our first dance lesson. Papa Frenchie didn’t really dance at his own wedding so Mama Frenchie still can’t believe taking dance lessons was his idea. My job was to find the studio and since I only knew of two in our area (Londance and Arthur Murray) I called the closest one, Londance. Pat (one of the owners) set us up with a free trial lesson to see how we liked everything and decide if we wanted to take more lessons.
Papa Frenchie and I had NO CLUE what our song would be going into this lesson, we just figured we picked something we could dance to. When we arrived we ran into our teacher, Lisa, at the front desk and she had our song picked before we even hit the dance floor.
I’m extra happy we’re using a Frank Sinatra song because it is definitely something our band will play well. SCORE! Lisa recommended this song because it’s the song her sister and father are using for their dance in her sister’s upcoming wedding and because it’s Foxtrottable (my word, not her’s). According to Lisa, your can foxtrot to any slower American song.
Lisa started us out with the basics. First up was a lesson in leading – like Ms Perfume, I have a nasty habit of trying to lead. Lisa had us face each other, put our hands on each other’s shoulders and simply walk. We learned that the man should always start with his left foot and the woman with her right.
Lesson two was the basic swing, according to Lisa you can swing to any faster American song. The combo was really fun and even had a turn.
Here’s Lisa showing Papa Frenchie how to spin me around…
Lesson three was the Foxtrot. You may know this one, it goes – slow, slow, quick, quick, slow. (Name that 80’s tune) Here we are mastering the new arm placement, I must have found it really funny.
Lisa, described this dance as walking to music and it prety much is. We take 2 slow steps backward (or forward for Papa Frenchie) and then a quick side step together.
This diagram shows you going back the direction you came from, we didn’t learn that last night, but perhaps we will at our next lesson. Yep, Papa Frenchie and I had so much fun he signed the whole family up for a 25 lesson plan. Now I can go with Papa Frenchie or Mr Frenchie, Papa Frenchie go with me or Mama Frenchie, and even Sister Frenchie can get in on the action. They don’t normally let families share the same plan, but since it is a wedding Sean let us sign up that way because apparently, “Sean does what he wants” and we’re not complaining. Another cool part is that because we signed up for private lessons we can go to any group lesson for free and we can also attend their Friday group lesson/dance party.
A Special Thank You to Miss Bruschetta for introducing me to Lala.
Has any part of your wedding planning turned into a great family bonding activity? Are you taking dance lessons?
Clothes Fit for a “Cherri”
May 27, 2009 
My Fruit Themed Shower is next weekend so of course I’m stressing about what I will wear. I purchased this blue dress after seeing it these posts by Miss Crab Cake. 
Wouldn’t this look really cute with a cardigan or a cap sleeved shirt? Hive what do you think I should wear? The dress? The skirt? (I’m also open to your finds)
Flowers: Take Two
Remember my post full of flower over-stimulation? This weekend the French Bulldog Clan (Mr Frenchie, Mama Frenchie, MOH/Sister Frenchie and I) is going to the winery for the cake testing (more on that to come) and our florist, Joyce, is going to have a mock-up of our centerpieces for us. Turns out is will look a lot less like this…
and a little more like this…
*Sigh* I’ve been absolutely IN LOVE with that daisy ball centerpiece from Amanda Auer and The Treasured Petal in a saw it on EAD Weddings in December, but I cannot justify the almost $25 more a centerpiece price tag. So I am happily and voluntarily (Mama Frenchie offered for the daisy ball) turning to option #2.
I’ve had a little crush on this style since Mr Frenchi and I went to his Step Brother’s wedding almost 3 years ago. FSIL Frenchie won our centerpiece, but because I liked it so much she let me have it.
This also give the round shape I liked from the Daisy centerpiece. I’m really looking forward to seeing what Joyce has put together.
What have you scaled back on in the interest of saving money?
Happy You’re-The-One-aversary
Boy am I glad Mr Frenchie and I decided not to write out own vows. I started to write about our 3rd You’re-the-One-aversary and I’m finding it incredibly hard to put into words how I feel about Mr Frenchie. You see, three years ago on Memmorial Day Mr Frenchie and I drove down to San Diego for the day and while sitting on the grass on Shelter Island Mr Frenchie told me I was “The One”.
That’s it… I’ve tried to write more but it all sounds elementary to me. If you met me I could talk your ear off, seriously I.HAVE.A.PROBLEM. I’m like the little kid in Jerry Maguire, “D’you know that the human head weighs 8 pounds?”, I just have the hardest time writing it down and in a way that makes sense. So, we’ll be relying on the same word many couples have said before. Part of me wishes we were writting our own vows and they other part of me is really excited to be going the “traditional” route. We’ll be saying the same words our parents said and their parents said, it’s kinda exciting actually. 
Have you decided to write your own vows? or are you going the “traditional” route like us?
Krissi + Andrew = Married
Early this month Mr Frenchie and I went to the wedding of my dear friend Kristen to her best friend Andrew. Krissi met Andrew on Match.com a few months after I met Mr Frenchie. I like to think that I set them up in a way because my luck gave her that extra push to try Match.
This was by far the best wedding I have ever been too and the second one I’ve ever cried. It’s true what they say – that the couple sets the tone for the wedding – Kristen and Andrew are so happy in love, you couldn’t help but smile and have a good time.
Their fabulous photographer, Jeffrey Neal, posted some pictures from the day on his blog, here are a few of my favorites…
Five for Friday
151 – When we took that dance class at my church, when we first started dating, you left that old lady cut in and you finished the song with her.
152 – You love Chinese Buffets
153 – You let me pay sometimes
154 – SubMarina dinners
155 – You voluntarily danced with me at Krissi & Andrews wedding
Attention Michael’s Shoppers!
I NEED this shoe!
Dear J Crew,
I finally found the perfect shoes for my Bridesmaids to wear. BM J can wear the flat because she is 6′1″.
Sister Frenchie and BM F can wear the heel.
So, why-oh-why don’t you have the flat in a freakin’ 10!?! I want, I need, I have to have!
Love,
Miss French Bulldog
Hive can you help me out? I need this shoe?
E-Pics
Okay, you’ve seen our lovely Sneaky Peak and you know you’re all super jealousy of the Ugly Hug Face *wink, wink, nudge, nudge*. So, lets move on to the less ugly more glamorous shots.
All photos by the VERY talents folks at Ohana Photography and used with their permission.
Earlier this month Mr Frech Bulldog and I met David, Kimi and April of Ohana Photography at The Montage Laguna Beach, where you may remember Mr Frenchie proposed.
Looking at the photos I am continually amazed with how lucky we are to live in such a beautiful area.
Here are a couple favorites from their blog…
and the glamour shot…
Check out that SKY!
Thank you David, Kimi and April you’ve made two big time “blinkers” look pretty good
