Happy Father's Day, to my Dad, who will do anything for me, who always makes me laugh and who will walk me down the aisle; to my Pop Pop, who taught me what good food and family traditions are all about; to my future father-in-law, who helped raise the person I'm lucky enough to be spending the rest of my life with; and to BK himself, best daddy in the world to Bentley!

LOVE this LOVE cake topper. What a treat to top off our delicious chocolate chip cake! It was actually one of the first details we decided on, many months ago when we were just browsing for ideas online. Now this is exactly the kind of detail we're getting into at this stage in the game. We have yet to order it, but it's at the top of my list. When BK and I started dating, we spent much of our time together  in the city. So we like how this replica of Robert Indiana's famous "Love" sculpture in Philadelphia's Love Park will bring a piece of that city element to our suburban wedding. Available on etsy.com!

It always feels good to get things done. Whether it's tackling that pile of laundry that's been building up, finishing a project at work or organizing your messy closet -- the sense of accomplishment that comes when the task is completed feels great. And when it comes to getting that wonderful feeling of "Ahh [deep breath], that's done," checking items off of your wedding planning list is no exception.

A couple of weeks ago I attended an open house and chef's sampling at Normandy Farm. I was rolling deep with BK, MOB, FOB, MOG and FOG. Turns out so was every other bride whose reception is at either Normandy or Blue Bell Country Club during the upcoming fall and winter seasons. The place was a mad house.

At first I was like a crazed woman on a mission: Taste everything in sight, as to be positively sure of our menu selections. Our date is only a week into fall, so having been invited to the venue's fall/winter open house rather than their spring/summer event, we had to get right down to business -- while other couples whose weddings are in February were mostly enjoying the free food and drinks. We had yet to order our invitations, and with reason -- so we could taste the entrees we were undecided on and know what to have them print on the invitations as selections.

Attending that kind of  soiree is key. You're able to taste and see the food, mingle with your fiance and parents at your chosen venue, see a possible setup for your head table. There were vendors there, of course, but I'm past that point, having already selected a photographer, florist and DJ. Besides, the food occupied all of my time anyway. I didn't even get to enjoy the free white zinfandel (Hello, I love that stuff like Ramona Singer loves pinot grigio!) or the (totally out of place, might I add) free spray tan (as if!).

So that same week, MOB and I ordered the invitations. That's a much more involved process than the inexperienced bride would think. First, finding the design you want; then picking the colors and the font from many, many choices; then coming up with just the right wording and figuring out general directions to the church and reception for printing -- whew, glad that's over.

Then I moved onto some miscellaneous tasks over the weekend. BK and I took advantage of the lovely Metroplex, picking up card stock and related materials from Michael's in order to attempt DIY table number cards for our reception; and then grabbing a few items for the cute gifts I'm putting together for my bridesmaids. I also picked up the Vera Wang hair comb I'd been coveting. And, of course, we  re-stocked Bentley's treat shelves with a quick visit to Pet Smart.

I went to bed Sunday night feeling relaxed and accomplished. Recently, most Sunday nights have been sleepless, as I toss and turn thinking of all the tasks I'll need to tackle that week. Last week was a good one as far as getting thing done on the wedding front. Now here I am, just over this week's hump and facing a whole new list of to do's for the "I do."

Note: We have a big appointment tomorrow night: going over all of our reception details with the event manager. I'm hoping to come out of there with a sigh and a bunch of check marks!

I've been feeling bad about lagging behind on my blogging, and I just realized I've been checking things off of my list faster than I can write about them! That has to be a good thing at this stage in the game. For my list, but not my blog.

I'm about to meet two of my bridesmaids for sushi, so I'll do a quick recap of one of my recent adventures in wedding planning. Recaps of the rest are soon to come.

Last weekend we went to the bridal shop where I found my gown, and BK tried on four tuxedo options, two for the groomsmen and two for himself. I knew he'd look sharp in just about anything, because he likes to dress up -- and it shows. I'd never seen him in a tux before this, but he is just one of those guys who can totally pull off a suit or a black blazer and not look like he's wearing "monkey clothes," as they say.

After trying on two possibilities for the groomsmen and one look for himself, he came out of the fitting room in a second groom-worthy style. I never would have thought you could get that feeling of, "That's the one!" I figured that was more for the brides trying on gowns.

But looking at him in that outfit, I just knew that was what he'd wear on our wedding day. He looked good in all of them, but this was special. I thought, Wow, he looks so handsome that I just want to hug him. And then I did.

I never imagined a tuxedo could get me so excited, and even a bit emotional. But maybe it's because I could visualize BK standing at the altar, waiting for me. And it was nice.

As much as I've agonized over the impending loss of my family name, I had a eureka! moment while tossing and turning last night. It's so trivial, but somehow it made changing my initials seem slightly less heartbreaking. Slightly.

So BK and I spent the majority of our Sunday shopping. I was going over my purchases in my head when, rather suddenly, in popped an image of the monogram-style Michael Kors wallet I'd considered buying but left behind for a solid, leather Kenneth Cole.

Melissa Kukulka, I thought. Funny, I didn't see that in the store. Obviously because I don't think of myself as MK yet.

While I've never been big on fashion accessories soaked in designers' monograms (I'd much sooner choose an item in solid colors), at least when I buy one of my favorites in the near future, the hanging logo charm on my handbag will be my initials.

Silly, I know.

It will probably take a while before I totally remember to stop saying or writing Melissa Brooks. Kinda like when you've just had a birthday and tell someone that you're 26, forgetting you're actually 27. Or in the beginning of a new year you can't stop dating documents with the previous year. But now I know it'll be OK to get mixed up. Because I can just look in the mirror at the logo on the side of my sunglasses.

I was standing by the stove last night, bringing a pot of water to a boil, when BK walked by on his way to the grill, grabbed a pasta noodle out of the serving dish I had sitting on the counter and popped it into his mouth.

As he crunched the spirally fusilli between his teeth, I shot him a look. "What are you doing? You realize it's not cooked, right?" I was bewildered.

"Yeah," he answered nonchalantly.

"You do that?" I asked, "eat uncooked pasta?"

"Sometimes, yeah."

Hmm.

He went out back to cook our hot dogs on the grill and I stayed in the kitchen, stunned, pouring the fusilli into the boiling pot.

It has no flavor! The texture is not appealing!

I also thought to myself, we've been together for nearly three years, and I never knew of his occasional desire to eat uncooked pasta? I guess you really do learn something new each day.

And then I realized: In marriage there will likely be many more moments like this, when one of us will look at the other and go, "HUH?" And then we'll get back to whatever it is we're doing.

It's been a while, and my plans -- and thoughts -- feel like they're all over the place right now, so I'll just get right into it.

"Bridesmaids" was amazingly funny. My eyeliner was shot to hell when I emerged from that movie. If you're getting married, go see it. If you're in your friend's wedding, go see it. If you want to laugh-cry, go see it.

Let's see, the "big" things are all booked at this point, so as I move through each day appearing to be totally sane (hopefully), I feel like inside my head is spinning in a million different directions. So excuse me if this post is somewhat random, but that's how things have been lately.

My Badgley Mischkas arrived at my doorstep last week and I was gitty with delight. I went with the Lacie in platinum. Much to my dismay, Mr. Badgley and Mr. Mischka have a different idea of what the color platinum is. I was expecting shiny silver, I got gold. Luckily the customer service at Nordstrom is phenominal and my second pair is already on its way. I'd been debating over three different colors of the same shoe anyway, so I went with the next choice, which I now believe is the right choice. Luckily I called when I did, because there was only one seafoam left in my size in the entire company. It was meant to be! I've searched this shoe so many times that on every website I visit I'm greeted with pop up ads of it.

BK and I went to the church last week to meet with the music director/singer and organist and select our ceremony music. We're having a traditional, Catholic Mass, and it's going to be beautiful. As they were playing for us I kept glancing at the aisle. I'd look at the back of the church, then the altar. I was trying to figure out if that walk will feel like an eternity.

Yesterday I made a few additional salon appointments. It's looking like I'll be there once a week in the three weeks leading up to the wedding. I'm so happy my sister/Matron of Honor will be home from Guam when I go for my makeup and hair trials. I love having her by my side. I'm also looking forward to spending a few hours at the salon on the day before the wedding. At that point, everything should be ready to go and there will be nothing to do but sit back and have our nails done.

I ordered this bowtie of Bentleys. Just kidding, my friend created it in Photoshop to make fun of me for wanting to see what my dog would look like in a bowtie. Get it, he's literally IN the bowtie.

We have some important dates coming up, most notably an open house/chef's sampling at Normandy Farm on Monday and our "details" appointment with the Normandy event planner the following week. In the mean time I'm trying to tie up a bunch of odds and ends that go into planning a wedding, while managing to breathe and enjoy this wonderful time.