My Royal Obsession

It all started with the events on 29 April 2011 which marks the day that Prince William will marry Kate Middleton! I am so very excited!:)

Go figure right? YAY!

Well today at work, we were so slow! :)

and I got to some reading.... on the Royal Wedding and the Royal family life.

First of all, I am so fascinated that the Queen of England is still thriving at the age of 85. She has seen a lot in her life as she was crowned Queen at age 25.

Secondly, I think London is amazing and it constantly captivates my attention. Hence, the obsession! :)

So... in my studying of the Queen I found an interesting story that I have been engrossed in for hours. When the Queen was born, she was the third in line for the prestigious entitlement. However it was not expected that her father would become King OR that she would become Queen. Her fate changed the day that her Grandfather King George V passed away.

The next in line was her Uncle soon to be King Edward VIII. He quickly took on the new role of King despite the speculation surrounding the love he had for a twice divorced American socialite Mrs. Wallis Simpson! Apparently, marrying a divorce was not allowed! And it caused much speculation! He was abdicated and left the throne for his love!

Here is a photo of them after their Wedding and honeymoon! Can you imagine giving up everything for the Love of your life? Even if that meant, the chance to be KING?

Later after Edward's abdication, his brother born as Prince Albert who would become King George VI, gave him the name Duke of Windsor. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor lived "Happily ever after" and avoided the Royal family for quite a while I would say.

Sooooo the point of this post.... IF Prince Edward, at one time King Edward VIII, had not left the throne to be with his love..... Prince Albert who later became King George VI would not be in succession to the throne and then might of had a daughter named Elizabeth, but we would not know her as the Queen of England, then Elizabeth might of had a son named Charles and he might of married a beautiful woman named Diana, but We would not know her as the beautiful Princess Diana ...... ANNNND there might have been a wedding for their son, but we would NOT as Prince William's wedding!!!! I remember him being small and now he is all grown up and getting married!!!!

okay okay, I am a tad crazy! BUT... I think it is so awesome how details work out the way they do! I am literally in "awe" at how all details work out the way they do! I know that my heavenly father orchestrated MY details perfectly and I know that EVERY minute of my life is planned out by him! It just boggles my mind at how detailed details can be!!!

sooo that is that. I love the royal history and I can not wait to read more about the rest of the family! :)

Here are some more royal photos that I found today!

oh please, if this is at all interesting to you... read about it on Wikipedia!

This is a photo of Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and Prince Albert on their wedding day!

Who became the Queen Mother and King George VI.

The Queen gained her name "Queen Mother because after her mother-in-law died, after her brother-in-law was living abroad and her eldest daughter was Queen, she became the senior member of the Royal family and the Family's Matriarch. She passed away in 2002, at the age of 101! WOW! I was a Junior in high schooL!

and the icing on the cake... the Queen of England and I have something in common! She was married on November 20th! :)

and they are still married today! In 2010, on our wedding day, they celebrated their 66th Wedding anniversary! WOW!

and with that... it is time to go!

I hope you enjoyed reading!

Goodbye London!

Hello Hello!

It has been ages since I have posted anything!

I love to share my thoughts and I have missed doing so.

Well since the last time I posted I got married!!! :) Best day in my life!

(This is the first photo taken as hubby and wife!)

It was such a great day with my love and my closest family and friends.

Everything was a dream come true! From there we went to Costa Rica for our honeymoon!

Ammmmazing! :) I'll have to post some pictures on that later. There are so many to go through!

January came FAST and Geoff stared Paramedic School at UCLA's Daniel Freeman. It has been a rough course, but he is doing excellent and scoring about a 90% in the class. He studies through out the week and works all weekends. I don't see him that often but when we are together it is super special.

I Celebrated 6 months at Prudential California Realty. I am not that familiar with Real Estate but I am well learning slowly! Everyday, I am challenged with something new.

We got our kitties fixed. :( It was so sad. Yes, it needed to be done but they looked so helpless. It was nice to take care of them. A little expensive, but it was nice.

Lets see... February went by really fast as well. We celebrated many meals with friends as an official married couple. It was so great to be with the ones who love us most and supported us on our wedding day.

I watched a complete game of the SuperBowl. Geoff and I even had bets on the game... We won $75 bucks! :) It was super exciting. I think next year I am going to watch the entire game again!

We celebrated our first married Valentine's day! It was so special. I made heart shaped raviolis. We had special wine and lots of kisses. I even got TWO cards! With the cute gold seals!

Now that March is here, I just can't believe it! Geoff and I have been doing very good. Taking one day at a time and communicating the best we can. In the first couple months we have had our little fights and our "big" fights. There have been tears, but there has always been a hug and a kiss to follow. Yes I am usually the one crying for something so little, but Geoff knows that I am trying really hard and he appreciates it. :)

Around 7:00 each night we try to watch Jeopardy and have our brains tested. Geoff wins all of the games, but I put up a good fight! Last night was 5 to 8! That is really close!

We love spending time together and I am anxious to go home tonight. I think next week (or next month) I am going to try and make a meal every night. Something healthy of course, but that is my goal for now.

In the mean time, I am in the process of making a list of things to do during my 26th year of life. :) I have my golden birthday in 3 months and I am sooo excited! When I was little someone told me about this special birthday when I turn the age of the date of my birthday. Did that make sense? My birthday is on the 26th and I turn 26. Sound better?

With that I will try to post more! I am excited for what 2011 will bring. As of the first couple months, It brought a lot of saddness and death, but I am over that now! Looking to happiness and smiles!

xoxoxo,

Crystal Marie Canty ARAI

Below are some special photos on the wedding day. I have soooo many! :)

Geoff wrote me a letter to calm my nervous on our wedding day! It is such a sweet letter... I might frame it! :)

Rachel did an excellent job at squeezing me into my dress! She is an excellent Maid of Honor!

Our beautiful Flowergirls. Oh my gosh! They are so precious! I just love them!

This last photo is our wedding reception at the Crowne Plaza. Ahhhh a wonderful venue! I was in heaven!

inspired

and I can not wait for our wedding!!!!

When it rains, it pours.

Today. October 19, 2010

Mondays. geesh.

Since our engagement, everyone has told me, "Don't sweat the small stuff." Even I have been at fault for telling my friends and clients this ridiculous statement. Well, I guess the statement is not entirely ridiculous. It is true. Brides should relax and not panic when something small creeps up in the last month before the wedding day. Brides should take deep breaths when dealing with all things. They should. It is not what we tend to do.

The desire to plan a perfect wedding with no flaws actually seems like a fausible thing to do. But that is the insanity talking. That is the lack of sleep. That is the desire to please everyone including yourself. Ah! Silly things that take over when you are a bride to be. Honestly, I am a better bridesmaid. I am better at having someone tell me all the little details and try to actively help HER find a remedy. I, being the bride, am awful at asking for help. I just pile everything on my plate and do it. It is hard to have 8 bridesmaids at my disposal (not including countless family and friends) and ask for them to help me in my time of panic. Instead, I go go go until I am too tired and then in my sleep deprivity I cry... or I obsess.
I am telling you it's not a good look on me.

This weekend, I cried on the way to pick up the groomen's bowties. My bottom lip quivered and then tears just streamed from my eyes... and in 10 minutes I was fine. I am not sure why. Geoff looked at me, and said "are you really crying!" after shaking my head and giving him puppy dog eyes, I sheepishly admitted I was. Then in a couple minutes, I was fine. I am not sure what stopped me from crying. and I am not sure what started it all.
This weekend, I swore that ONE rsvp card was missing. ONE. And after twenty minutes of frantically searching, I realized the "card" I thought I saw was the tag on their wedding gift.

Weddings. geez!

Today, was better. No crying. No obsessing. and then a girl at the office shares with our staff that her Cancer has come back.

I don't know how I could EVEN think of freaking out over such small things when SUCH A HUGE AND SAD thing could happen in an instant! I felt so guilty.
Guilty for being so "lucky" to be planning a wedding and have the opportunity to be soo happy but I chose something else. I chose to let my situation get the better of me. :(

Mondays are not for the faint of heart I guess. I am taking this news as a sign...
"DON'T STRESS THE SMALL STUFF!"

With this ring.... I thee wed

I picked up Geoffrey's wedding ring today and as I held the 6 mm white gold wedding band in my hand I got a teennnnssyyyyy weeeeensssssy bit teary eyed. I couldn't believe that "with this ring I thee wed" my best friend... Geoffrey Patrick Arai!

There is so much significance that goes into that little ring, a circle being endless and timeless. Never ending. It will be a symbol to everyone that we are one. That Geoff and I are forever.

My Nana used to always say that the wedding ring is worn on the Left hand and on the third finger because that finger is a direct line to your heart. Geoff's 13.5 Ring finger is his direct connection to his heart and then to me. :) I have had the honor to look at my wedding ring for the last 2 years of our engagement and with the ring, there has been a lot of emotion. Some days, I was so flustered with our relationship, I took my ring off and left it at home. Some days, my heart was so scared about growing up, I would twist it on my hand and pray for us. Most days, I look at it and smile. I like to think that when it sparkles back at me, Geoff is thinking of me.

I am so excited to give him his ring on our wedding day!

I even had it enscribed "Forever mine and Forever Yours" Geoff gave me a beautiful locket for Christmas last year and he enscribed that saying onto my locket. It sits at my chest. Touching my heart all day. I am keeping the ring and the engraving a secret so that he can be surprised. :)

I am so excited to say "with this ring, I thee wed!"

No flash photograhy.

I am completly bummed. :(
I just recieved confirmation from our church coordinator that there is

NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY ONCE THE SERVICE HAS STARTED!

:( boo.
The photographer in me is so worried about getting all the shots I want! I hate when I can't shoot with flash. It worries me. What if Bridesmaid X walks too fast and I miss her walking down the aisle? Whenever I go to weddings, and I miss that shot, I always feel safe knowing that the photographer got the shot! But now... our photographers can't use flash! :( I know I shouldn't be worried about such a small detail. THat is for Max and John to worry about, but what if? Photographers aren't cheap! I don't want to be disapointed when my parents are spending that kind of money on a detail that can't be just perfect :(
It just burdened my Monday. Honestly, I was dreading hearing those words, so I wanted to put it off but Mom just had to ask! I am glad she did though, this gives the photographers ample time to pracice their quick shots.
I will have to remind everyone to walllllkkkkk slloooooowwwllllyyyyyy.