Lifestyle Change...

Everyone told me marriage would be a huge adjustment... so far it is.

In college I lived in a sorority house with my best friend Carol Anne. We liked to decorate with Zeta things, Anthropologie and pictures. Over breaks, I would go home to a house decorated with Pottery Barn, Tassels, etc. When I wanted a bed spread from Anthropolgie, Andrew looked at me like I was crazy. He told me, "Your not a middle schooler anymore." I don't know why Anthropolgie screamed "middle - schoolish" to him, but that was the first fight we had as a married couple. Not really, but it kinda made me mad/question his taste. I asked him what type of bed spread he wanted. He said "a navy blue one." Well I told him, "You're

not a bachelor anymore." We decided on a bed spread at Macy's and we are both very happy with. Even though it is not Anthro, it's still really cute.

It was about a week ago, we were watching TV on the floor, when I put my foot down. We NEEDED a couch. No more waiting. My first thoughts were, "Baby, let's go to Ethan Allen, Pottery Barn, or Ashley Furniture." I wanted to look for a couch there. Andrew told me that we are extremely poor and that we couldn't. So, he drove us to (get ready for this) Salvation Army. I was a good wife and didn't complain. We looked around

at all the 1960ish looking couches until we found one that looked like it was made in the 1980's (not as bad as 1960's). We sat on it. It reeked of cat pee and the cat hair on the couch made my eyes start watering. Andrew's allergies started to flare up. I stopped pretending and told Andrew, "I can't do this." We had to adventure to another store. Our next stop... World Market. It was over - priced and we didn't like anything. We then went to the one and the only.. Big Lots. It was the first time I had stepped foot in a Big Lots. Andrew "heard" they sold furniture. Well they did and well we most certainly... BOUGHT A COUCH. And we got it delivered by Big Rick aka our new bestie. When the couch came wrapped up, it was a little confusing, but we got over it.

See it is literally wrapped up.

After we got it unwrapped, we sat on our couch that WE paid for. Not Mommy and Daddy, but us. We are growing up, peeps. And I like it.

The adjustments have been huge, but the adjustments are really fun when you do it with the person you are madly in love with, that happens to be your best friend. Being married is fun. I have learned two things:

1. How to compromise

2. How to cut coupons

Our couch is a great addition to The Love Nest.

The couch... tell me you love it. I don't care if you don't.

Okay, I see you MY BOY.

BEST FATHER DAUGHTER DANCE EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I still can't believe I did this!

There it is, folks. THE father - daughter dance. I know what you are thinking, "Katie, you got that idea from YouTube." You are exactly right my friend.

This all started on Spring Break 2010. While everybody I knew was getting a tan (still bitter) I was home doing wedding plans. I mean, it was amazing, don't get me wrong, but you know how I am about being tan :).

I was watching YouTube videos on the couch in the kitchen. My dad had to see what was so funny to me. This is where it all began, this is where we got our inspiration. Let me tell you a little background info about me and my dad. I'll start with my dad.

Ronald Lee Albertsen: Ronald's nickname is "The Rizz," "Rizzle" or most commonly known as "Rizz." He is the friendliest of folks. He is a human teddy bear. My dad is my best friend. My dad has a humorous side (obviously), but the serious side takes reign most of the time. My dad is the financial advisor for UPS. Ron is big time. He travels all over the world for business. Ron likes the same foods, same TV shows (and when I say TV shows, I mean FOX news), he wears the same outfit when he gets home from work, and he loves the same woman every day. He is a family man. He is a typical Type A personality. He is NEVER late. If we are NOT 15 minutes early to church, so he can read the bulletin leisurely of course, he is PISSED. He still can't grasp the idea of designer jeans. He thinks that paying more than $40 dollars for denim is, in his words, verbatim, "ludicrous."

... so my dad WILLINGLY wanting to do this bust out dance, well, surprised me aka threw me out of my chair aka made my die laughing aka had me confused. WE HAD TO DO IT.

Me: I love to be goofy. I LOVE making a fool of myself. I love to dance. If I have anything to drink, I IMMEDIATELY start to dance. I love to have a good time. Laughing is my middle name, yadda yadda you get it!

... so me wanting to do this dance, well I'm sure none of my friends were surprised. I WOULD do something like that.

So the week before the wedding we started to practice. The DJ at our wedding has been one of my best friends since high school, so he was so excited. When I started teaching Rizz the steps to Soldier Boy's "Crank That", I thought he was a lost cause. But, he came around. He was determined to get the steps. I even tried to simplify the steps for him... still tricky, but nonetheless, I told him to just "freestyle" if you forget. If you watched the video, you'll see some :)

The day of the wedding arrives. I get a knock on my bedroom door at 8:00am. knock, knock. It's my daddy. He wants to hug me and of course... wants to practice. We do an acapella version of "Crank That" as we practice the dance in my bedroom. We do it very quietly because there are a million relatives in my house. I feel good. Rizz feels good. We are ready for reception time!

Reception comes... we do a successful bust out!

PS - It was a complete SURPRISE. Andrew (the groom, if you're stupid) didn't even know!!!

Well, Rizz, you were incredible and I will always be... your little girl. Promise.

And so it begins...

I'm blogging. I never thought I would blog, but I'm really into blogs, I'm unemployed, and my life is really interesting right now. Now before you start to read, you must understand two things:

1. I am not an award winning writer. Well, who is? That you know personally? Email me with responses (not really.)

2. I will probably have typos. I hate to proofread. It just gets on my nerves. BUT I will try to proofread my blog before I "publish" it. And... I still get confused when to insert commas and when to not insert commas. I went to college and hold a degree (not in journalism) but it still tricks me, so get over it.

So with that being said, the blogging commences. Enjoy my friend (unless I don't like you).

"Oh what a day is today, nothing can stand in my way." - Ingrid Michaelson