Archive for the ‘Billy and Gwen’ Category

Here are some ideas for showing your honey, your significant other or BFFs that you love them!

Cook in and stay in. Cook something new and decorate your dinner plates with fresh fruit slices. Serve fruit kabobs for dessert. Drizzle sauces — like gravies or chocolate sauce — in swirly designs.

Get crafty. Get a matted frame from Target, Walmart or any craft store. Insert a picture and write nice things on the matte. For example, places you’ve gone together, favorite memories or private jokes.

Make a gift basket that’s useful. I love when Billy wears Axe Dark Temptation Body Spray. I like when he shaves his face too. A toiletry “basket” with all of his favorite (and my favorite) stuff would be perfect!

Go somewhere. My favorite places are Grounds for Sculpture and the Mutter Museum — admission is really cheap! Oh yeah, the grease trucks at Rutgers University are yummy and fun too!

Act like kids together. Build an indoor fort and hang out underneath the covers.

Keep it simple. Order a pizza and watch your favorite movie and your honey’s favorite movie.

Get nostalgic. Gather all your old pictures, movie and concert tickets, matchbooks, etc. to make a memory box. You can also buy a shadow box at the craft store and add your memorabilia there.

Create a rainy-day fund. Give your honey a piggy bank and make plans for how you’ll spend the bank together when it’s full.

Laugh together. Try to get your hands on some old home movies. Yup, Billy has seen video of me at my 5th bday party, my First Communion and me in the Philippines wearing umbros and a Bartman tee-shirt.

Take a couple’s class together. Cooking? Yoga? Pottery? Do your research. There’s a lot out there! Even if it’s not something you would normally want to do — but your partner would — suck it up and do it!

Photo by weenee.

I do love Super Bowl Sunday — and it’s not because of football — I have great party memories. Going to my friend’s parent’s house and eating all their food … “canoeing” on the frozen late behind my brother’s house … every year is a good time. My favorite was a few years ago when the Giants won.

Billy and I had been dating for three weeks or so — and it was a whirlwind romance. On the first date he asked me to go to the Cat Power concert. (I was like … um, ok buddy, maybe I’ll spend my birthday DAY with you — and I did! HA!) But after that first date — Thai food, my choice, of course — we hung out a lot and did fun stuff like wander around Wegman’s, go to Chinatown for dim sum and Reading Terminal Market. We talked, texted, went out to eat … all those good things … then he told me he was going to bring me to his parent’s house for Super Bowl Sunday. AND he told me he’s a Giants fan. Little did I know what I was getting myself into!

There we were, February 3, 2008. We walked around the back of his parent’s house. His dad was out there. He introduced himself and said — I’m Bill Meise — I had the stupidest look on my face because I thought … is he messing with me? That’s Billy’s name!

We went inside and there were all kinds of people there. Billy’s mom, sister and her friend, Uncle Gary, Cousin Karen, her husband and their kids, her husband’s father … Cousin David and his son … Timmy and Timmy’s girlfriend. It was kinda funny. Looking back, I wish I wore that eye-patch and hook like I said I was going to …

Anyway, we ate and ate — Billy’s mom did it up big — and people yelled, screamed and acted crazy. I’m not sure if Billy was “testing” me out that night, but I passed! He told me later that he knew he had fallen in love with me that night. I guess I did too … especially when the Giants scored, I went to hug him … and Cousin David beat me to it. Those two were lifting eat other up and carrying on (while I stood there waiting — like chopped liver!)

Oh Super Bowl … food, friends, family … and love! (And some football.)

Photo by tabgiblehope.

Over the weekend, Billy and I went to the annual “Meise Family Christmas.” Yup! It was January 30. A little late for a tree, Santa, stockings, all that — but that’s what makes it awesome. I love family traditions, and I love that I’m marrying into a family as crazy, fun and big as mine!

So this is what the Meise family looks like … Billy’s dad is one of nine, so Billy has 25+ first cousins. Add in significant others and kids, it’s kinda overwhelming. I don’t feel bad though, because my dad is one of eight and I have no idea how many first cousins I have. I think it’s harder for Billy around my family sometimes since everyone’s speaking another language, and there’s a lot of funky food. Sometimes he has no idea what he’s eating.

Anyway, I really love that we come from big families. And, I love that Billy values family as much as I do. It’s things like this that makes me love him more and more.

1. Send an unexpected package to the office. Get creative with cookies, healthy snacks, funky office supplies, etc!

2. Leave a trail of notes. When I did this, I used scrap paper, and each piece said something different. I can’t remember what I wrote, but it was something like — Know why I love you? Cuz you’re sweet … and handsome … and you put up with me! Remember when we …

3. Email the link to a sweet song. I loved when Billy sent me Say Hey! By Michael Franti and Spearhead.

4. Learn to cook their favorite meal. Now I know how to make shrimp parm! I spent some time in the kitchen with Billy’s mom.

5. Do little things to make their life easier. Leave the house first? If it’s snowing, clean their car off too!

Photo by Stefanvds.

There’s a big difference between “need to have” and “nice to have.” Growing up, I went to Catholic school (kindergarten through high school), so I was always in a uniform. I didn’t always have the nicest stuff, but I had everything I needed. Back then, I think things were a lot easier too. We weren’t into the name brands and makeup and what not like kids are today.

I remember when I discovered Dunkin Donuts®. I had to have been like 7. SERIOUSLY. I’m pretty sure that I found a coupon in the Sunday paper and showed my mom. She said we could go after church! We got a dozen!!! Point is, life back then was all about “need to have.” The “nice to have” stuff I had to figure out on my own … and I did.

And so it begins … In college, I didn’t have to wear a uniform! I didn’t have much money, but I was as stylish as I could be. I had those platform sneaker things, dark jeans, Saucony® sneakers, etc. I bought it all myself. I waitressed and taught kickboxing (in addition to dancing on the SJU dance team).

After college, I made a decent paycheck! My wardrobe got a major upgrade. I didn’t have to save up for a pair of $20 LEI jeans at TJ Maxx® anymore. The shoes piled up. So did the “baby doll” tee shirts, knick knacks, you know.

And now … I’m planning a wedding and it’s expensive! Not only are we in a crazy economy, I can’t just buy what I want when I want it. Right now, Billy and I are trying to get our finances together and be smarter, save more and pick and choose how we spend our money. I promised myself that I’d do more research on money management. I’d read the books I have. Find out whatever I can … and get back to the “need to have” thinking.

With that being said, below is a list of things that would be “nice to have.” I’m not buying any of this for myself! But, since I have an anniversary, 30^th birthday and Valentine’s coming up, it’s just nice to put it out there for fun!  

• Under Armour® Compression Capri (Heat Gear) Tights 
• Ugg® Dakota shoes 
• Simple® CARat shoes
• Psychologies magazine subscription
• Color Me Mine/pottery gift certificate
• Mani/pedi gift certificate
• Large Coach wristlet
• Comfy sweatpants

Photo by pixiesticks23.

I knew when I’d meet my fiancé. I knew where too.

I had this gut feeling that once I had things accomplished in my life — got my own place, started moving up the corporate ladder, was surrounded with good, positive influences — there he’d be. I wouldn’t have to look to far, I’d meet him doing my thing, at a place where I’d love to be.

And there he was … I spotted him once, but thought it was just by chance. But then, I saw him again. Hello, cutie at my gym! Then I started figuring out when he would be there. So yeah, that’s when I went to “workout.” I started giving him “eyes” — like, hullo? It’s ok to come up and talk to me. NOPE. Nothing.

Finally, I knew I wouldn’t be able to get there at 5:30-ish for awhile. So, I thought to myself, I’m going to do something. (He did something that night too —he was next to me on the leg press machine. But, of course, he didn’t say anything.)

So, Billy goes and does his abs. I know it’s time! His workout is almost done. I gotta say something.

He’s on the mat. I slide in RIGHT next to him. Waaaay in his personal space. Elbow to elbow, hip to hip. All I said was – HI. That was all I was going to say. Girls aren’t supposed to chase boys!!! But that was it. We talked, he asked me to hang out that weekend, texted me that night … and we’re getting married on October 23, 2010!

Pretty sure (while on the mat) he told me how he ate so much provolone cheese on Christmas he puked. That’s love.  

PS – Apparently, he didn’t want to be the “creepy guy at the gym” talking to me! The anniversary of when we met is today! We met January 22, 2008!

The paparazzi catches this big moment!

Billy and I are official! For the abbreviated version, skip down to “At the house.”

How it happened:

Earlier in the week, Billy said he wanted to go out to dinner on Friday night (12/4). He asked me where I wanted to go … and I told him to just plan something, anything, and I’d be cool with it. I was proud of him – he picked the restaurant, made the reservations, everything! (Usually I figure out all the logistics, so I was very happy that I didn’t have to do anything.) At that time, it was a surprise that we were going to Capital Grille. He let it slip the night before !

He told me I should get dressed up – which really meant that I should do my hair and not wear sweats (you know, my usual). I was getting a bit suspicious and excited, but I didn’t want to get my hopes up.

Anyway, I took the day off and was crazy busy getting my hair cut and blown out and getting my nails done. Pretty much I ended up getting ready in 15 minutes. I was starting to feel sick in the car … was it the two pieces of pizza I ate (that was left out the night before)? Nerves? His driving?

At the resturant: Read the rest of this entry »