Christmas Greetings

found here:

http://bradfordandcatherine.blogspot.com/

It's official, we now have a couples blog. We'll do our best to keep it real. Happy Holidays.

California Christmas

Photo by Daniel Sofer

What a great picture. I vaguely miss winter snow, but not nearly as much as I love ocean sunsets. Brad and I are getting settled in our El Segundo bungalow, one box at a time. The question is whether or not we'll be able to fit a Christmas tree.

Happy holidays to you all.

We're Married!!!

Apologies for the radio silence, I've just been enjoying some of the most wonderful moments of my life.

Somebody at work today asked me if I feel different after being married. I thought for a second and responded, "I feel lucky."

For a link to pictures from our fabulous photographer, Jason West, click here.

Getting Ready to Take The Plunge

I just can't wait.

(In this picture, I'm the little head sticking out from behind Bradford's left shoulder.)

CHI-City

Oh, to be a tourist...

Good times to be had in CHI-city! It was oddly nice to have a reason to wear a hat and leggings again. I created a playlist, started walking, and saw Chicago... Magnificent Mile, Tribune Building, Millennium Park, Bean statue, Art Institute lobby, Giordano's, a little shopping, Gibson's steakhouse, and a great view of Navy Pier from my hotel.

One day is not enough time to spend in Chicago, especially when the sun starts fading at 4:30PM. One day, however, is enough time to make a judgment that CHI-town's a pretty fun city!

A really quick review of Gibson's... a crowded, classic Chicago steakhouse with huge portions, loud people, a piano player in the lobby, and a take on Hula Pie that's about four times the size of Duke's version. Oh, and realllyyy good lobster.

Below are a few too many photos...

Posing with Mr. and Mrs. American Gothic on Michigan Ave.

A river runs through it. I would love to take the River boat Architecture tour someday--this was another disadvantage of my visiting the city post-daylight savings time switch. Last boat leaves at 2PM!

The "bean" statue! This looks so odd from far away, but it creates the coolest images of the Chicago city skyline.

This one's my favorite. I look like I'm in a bubble.

Fall colors in Millennium Park

Shopping on Michigan Ave. (aka the Maaaagnificent Miiile!!!) Does anyone else think of Oprah every time they here this??

And....I'm getting married in 12 days!! I'm a weeeeeeeee bit excited.

Greetings from...

...Chicago!

I'm here for a last-minute trip and I've never been here before.

Does anyone have recommendations of what to do or see?? Please share.

Thanks.

"The Reckoning" Book Trailer

My aunt has posted a trailer of her award-winning novel, "The Reckoning" on Youtube. Watch it here, and then buy the book on Amazon or Kindle. The Reckoning is a page-turning, intelligently-written story that brings the obscurity of the Arab world in to a light that any caring or adventurous American can relate to. In my opinion, the best way to develop an interest and basic understanding of hard-to-understand topics is through non-fiction books.

Two Words: Cat Fight

Actually, this is more of a cat beating. A very emotional (and losing) New Mexico Lobo soccer player decided to take out her anger on the entire BYU women's soccer team during yesterday's semifinal match of the MWC tournament. I'm not sure how the refs missed every single instance of Elizabeth Lambert's rough play. BYU, of course, won the game despite sucker punching, slapping, and the hardest hair pull I've ever seen in women's sports.

Witch's Ball

Speaking of amazing women, here are some pictures from the Halloween bridal shower that was thrown for me last night. Yes, we're all in witches hats.

How lucky I am to have so many great female role models in my life. My grandmother, mother, aunts, cousins, future mother-in-law, friends' mothers, and mother's friends -- ALL are amazing women and I am blessed to have them in my life.

Thanks to Sue Paullin, for hosting this fabulous party!
What a fun night.

Terry and Kathleen made a fabulous ribbon bouquet for me.

Aunt Dani, Cheryl, Sue & Diana (aka Lovey Lovey)

Jeffree, Sue, Chris, Barbara, Cathy, Judy

The future and current Mrs. Fishbacks

Cousins: Lindsay, me & Katie

I'm thinking of wearing this hat on the big day. Yay or Nay?

Lovely.

Thanks, Amy, for this picture!

Bryn got married last weekend (see beautiful pictures here), which means I got to see a lot of wonderful friends, some of whom I haven't seen in over a year. I was talking to Rae Rae at the reception about friendship and life (we're very deep thinkers). I said, "friends just aren't the same after college." Her absolute and amazing inability to hide her emotions (a character trait that I LOVE) caused her face to look a little sad, and she replied with a sincere, "I'm still your friend." I looked at her with a half-frown and said, "No, I mean, you just don't make new friends the way you did in college." She looked relieved and said, "Ohhhh."

Thank goodness for the amazing women in my life.