One year ago today...

Charlie and I stood in front of the rabbi I grew up with and almost all our family and friends, and ate the best truffle mac and cheese I've ever had.

I love you husband. Me and baby can't wait til you're back and we're in your arms!

By the way, I realized I never blogged about the wedding (way too late to do it now) or my wedding tips. I should do that. I'll make it a goal to do it this week when I'm procrastinating doing a masters assignment :-)

Some wedding preparations

We are taking dance lessons. Of course Charlie wants to learn how to throw me in the air. We settled for dirty dancing at the end of the lesson.

I'm also losing weight. How, you ask? Well, I don't eat breakfast, and I have a green smoothie (will post recipe next) for lunch, and then a big dinner. Yes, I know, you're not supposed to do that, I have it opposite. I've tried that. Doesn't work for me. But I've lost weight! Woooo! 

In the mail today was my PJ library book of the month "Room for the baby". I think PJ Library is giving me a hint.

Look what Birdie "scent" me!!!! She's the best, miss you and baby!

Oh what's that? a scentsy BRICK the size of my computer. In love.

Cake cake cake!

Craving: Cake apparently...and comfy sweat pants on Wednesday night

This was my Wednesday:

-Walk the dogs

-Make a cake for my mom's birthday. Not any cake - an Israeli pastry. Eat a slice. Mmmmm. Recipe will be posted later.

-Meet my friend Nikki who was killing time right by my house until her next commitment. Go to Manon bakery with her

-Taste Cake. Have a latte. Taste more cake. 

-Nikki leaves Manon and Maya arrives. Talk to manager about wedding cake possibilities - not their specialty, but they have the best cake. Not the best cake I have had, just the best cake. Period.

-Go home, 2 miles in run/walk intervals with Haley

-Have a cake tasting with "It's a Piece of Cake" bakery. MAJOR tasting.

Thank you Mom, Katy, Rose, and Haley for your help! 

Ughhhhhhh, my tummy hurts.

Take a look:

Best cake pops! I HIGHLY recommend you contact Cindy if you are looking for some - they are not too rich, not too "doughy" - just right!

I am conflicted about what to do, but at least I know that whatever I decide it's going to be good!

My mom went to dinner w/my dad tonight and I dressed her and put on a touch of make up - look how pretty!

Ugh, skinny bitch!

Katy stayed a bit after the cake tasting since I am leaving in a couple of days - and of course we watched Jeapardy. This is Maya being her typical cloying self while Katy tries to ignore her:

She literally sat there taring at her like this with her tail wagging for several minutes. Awwww Mayala.

I can't wait to show you the post about the Israeli pastry I made for my mom's birthday. Coming this evening.

Randoms on Monday

Craving: randomness. And a videographer.

1. I miss Charlie. He left on Friday. I am so pathetic.

I sent him that picture when I realized I missed him. I told you, pathetic.

2. I had a diet sprite with strawberry from sonic and it made me very happy!
My teeth are probably red.

3. Went to Springs Preserve with Alison and had lunch there.
Pictures to come.

4. Decided I prefer unsweetened vanilla almond milk a million times over unsweetened coconut milk. yummmmmm

5. WAAAAAH I can't find a videographer that does highlight reels that is available on our wedding date. Help!

Girls are coming over to watch the Bachelorette. Going to the store to grab some yummies for us. See you later for a post about Em's bday dinner and baby shower!

Bunco and Babyshower

Cravings: Marshmallow fondant, bunco, a Sunday of girlfriends showering Jaren and babygirl!

Saturday started with going to Whole Foods with my mom and volunteering to sign up for FUPI - Foreclosed Upon Pets. I had been volunteering with the Humane Society a few times but the adoptions are over 30 minutes from my house. Both organizations foster out their dogs and seem great.

We then met Katy at Cafe Manon, the French Bakery that made my birthday cake last year. If you live in Vegas and have not gone there, drop what you're doing and go now. NOW!

On our way home we saw there was a bridal show at the Marriott so we went in. Most of the vendors were a bit too "catering to the masses" for my taste. I don't mean to sound snotty at all, I just have a very specific idea of what the wedding will look like. There were a few great ones, and I got a good videographer rec. Unfortunately, they are totally booked on our date, so if you know of a videographer that does good reels please let me know. I found a baker that uses marshmallow fondant instead of regular, so that it's edible and yummy. She also can do exactly what I am looking for in the cake, woo hoo! Now if only Manon bakery could make it....Have you gone there yet? GO already!

We ran into Mrs. Nevada and approached her because I kid you not her ring was about a 10 carat center stone with probably about 10 carats of embellishment around it, and of course Katy and I wanted to admire it. She was super nice and mentioned that Three Square was her platform when she was doing the pageant. She wants to feature our wedding in the press because of the fact that it's benefiting them etc. :-)

Saturday night I went to Jaren's to pick her up for a spouse social at Alison's house. I got to see Roger and Clara for about ten minutes, and then the best part - Clara started crying "AGGIE!!!!!!" when we were leaving. I must be heartless, because the fact that she had a fit while I was leaving was the biggest compliment you can get from a 2 year old!!! I was so happy. I told you - heartless.

Alison had the place all set up for bunco:

In the kitchen, she had a cute food display set up including a cake of 3 pink dice!! And guess what she used? Marshmallow fondant!! I took a picture but she asked me not to post it, so I will respect that. Lame, Alison! The cake looked amazing and it was so delicious. Go marshmallow fondant.

Turned out I wasn't that great at bunco. I kept rolling absolutely nothing. It was probably statistically impossible how poorly I did, but I proved them wrong! One of my friends Nikki (the girl we went hiking with) won two prizes and felt so bad for me for how "hard" I was trying that she gave me one of her prizes - a very cute wine stopper. Perfect, because one of mine just broke!

I met back up with Katy that night for a drink at the Three Angry Wives Pub. It was fun to go out, but I am so glad that party of my life is mostly over. I am a homebody and love it!

Sunday morning I made several batches of "O.M.G." cookies, 

and mom helped make a veggie tray. We cut out a cabbage and a pepper for dip, 

and headed over to my friend Becca's house for Jaren's babyshower.

Becca is a therapist, and should be a party planner on the side. She did such an amazing job. Everything was beautiful and nothing was overdone. It just looked perfect.

She made those pink poms and all the food labels and ordered the flowers from a wholesale florist, and made a very cute diaper cake (below).

We played a couple games, including this one:

which almost made Jaren cry! I tried to make mine a bit funny, and of course she guessed it was mine. What can I say? I'm hilarious!

This is my favorite - look how gorgeous she looks! This is the most pregnant Jaren has been (33 weeks), since Clara was born at 32 weeks. Jaren Jordanais Rabe - you better either have this baby in the next week or after July 19th. I want your uterus to hear me - no baby laboring while I'm in Alabama!

Wedding dress fitting fiascos are for real life too!

Cravings: Cooler weather!
Random fact of the day. Apparently in NV, you have to undergo more training etc to become foster parents than to adopt kids. I had lunch with great friends today who are becoming Daddy and Daddy to two wonderful kiddos in the next few weeks!

So. Back to topic. Ever seen that Sex and the City Episode where Carrie gets a major panic attack in the wedding dress she tries on with Miranda? Or the episode of Greys Anatomy where the exact thing basically happens? Or in Bridesmaids where the unspeakable happens?

Well this is what happened in Vegas today:


That's right, it's only May. Ugh.

Well, yesterday and today I wasn't feeling 100%, but not "sick" per se. Just sort of headachy, allergies type of things.

At my fitting today, I decided to keep my leggings on. I have a very small waist but my body more than makes up for it in booty/thighs. Last time I wore it, my thighs got a bit "glowy", so I decided to see if "biker shorts" on the wedding day would be a smart idea (stop eating cheerios at night and lose your thigh fat, Avigail!).

Well, we were in the main display room where everyone walks in and the front door is, and all of a sudden I felt extremely HOT, and very slightly dizzy. I asked my mom if I could have my water bottle and she said no, not to risk spilling (I had my favorite Arizona Iced Tea mix in there). I sort of pouted in the typical Avigail fashion and carried on with the alterations. Less than a minute later all the color drained from my face, and thank goodness my seamstress just called it, because I would have probably cracked my head fainting! I caught myself with her help and that feeling quickly passed - but I felt like I was going to throw up all over my dress!!!

Geez I am so difficult.

We pulled up all the layers and took my leggings off - somewhat of immediate relief. Poor mom, felt so bad not giving me my water! They ran to get me COLD water and we went to a private room in the back of the store, away from the front door bringing in 110 degree weather. My poor mom was freezing through the rest of the appointment, but I felt super! I guess super besides the humiliating experience of being a fainting bride. At least I have the 110 degree weather as my excuse, because I know marrying Charlie in that dress is the best decision I will ever make! (Better even than my Brazilian blowouts!)

We decided to shorten the heavy silk lining of my dress so at the bottom, only a lace layer shows. This way you can see my hot pink shoes, and I don't overheat. We also shortened it in the back, but it's still long and elegant with a great lace train.

Mom snapped several pictures which I obviously won't post, but I did edit one of me sitting down cooling off so you can see just the bottom (a sneak peak) and my shoes and the lace layer over the lining!



Well, what can I say? Beauty is pain; in the movies, it is humor; in my case, beauty is fainting and almost throwing up on your dress! Can't wait for October 20th, you ready bridesmaids?

This and that Thursday

Yesterday I went to pick up some Taste of the Nation tickets from Jen at LaCave. It was my first time going to the Wynn in a while and I forgot how beautiful it was! Look:




Mmmm my overnight oats tasted just like apple pie this morning. I swear I woke up so excited to eat them. If I celebrated Christmas I'm sure it felt something like that. My sleeping habits have been really weird with Charlie on nights. I am going to sleep around midnight or 1, waking up at 5 or 6, eating breakfast, and then falling back asleep at around 7 or 8 for another hour. What the heck?  I used old fashion oats, chia seeds, apple-cinammon chobani greek yogurt, one packet of stevia, a bunch of cinnamon, and almond milk.  I have a good metaphor for those who are confused by overnight oats. They don't taste raw, just like ceviche doesn't, because the acid "cooks it". The chia seeds absorb the liquid and thicken it up to make them thick and mushy and yummy, almost like the chia seeds "cook" the oatmeal.

I woke up feeling motivated and put on new workout clothes but when it was actually time to work out I kept delaying. Enjoy this exchange between me and Jaren:


Notice how it's past noon and I still hadn't gone? I ended up doing a 20 minute interval run. Not bad but not great. At least I got some sun! I need to start going to body pump again and doing the stairs/elliptical for an hour on alternate days. I've been slacking a bit.

I have a medical procedure at 230 because I had some abnormal test results. I spoke to my sister who said that my results were the least worrying of what "abnormal" could be, so I am not that nervous, although I think I will be when I sit in the doctors office. Hopefully it's quick and painless. Mom and I have a meeting with Pietra at threesquare after to discuss some wedding stuff :-)

In happy news, Charlie came home and put his food leftovers directly in the fridge! I didn't need to remind him, I didn't need to find them in his car 2 weeks later, or in the gym g-d knows how long later. I was so excited to find them this afternoon. Thanks sweetie, it's so the little things!

Spoke to Pat (Charlie's stepmom) last night for a while. I am excited to spend some time w/them this summer finally. Hurray!

Gotta shower before the doctor. Wish me luck.

Israel Trip April 2012

One day I'll get the hang of blogging. I feel like I do it like most people go to the gym - i'll go strong for a while and then stop for like 6 months. At least I've been working out regularly!

Lots been happening here. Right now all I can focus on is Maya snoring REALLY loudly.



Went to Israel.

Me and Moran (my best friend that was born one month before me) drinking "shoko beh sakit" aka chocolate milk in a bag. So good.

Sit up straight, Charlie!

Had amazing food:

Had a great engagement party.






Saw some cousins that I have missed!


Took a tour guide in the North. Charlie learned a lot. It was all verbal and I am not an auditory learner so I felt like a child w/autism on overload. I say that and people laugh but I'm dead serious, I can so relate to those kids I used to work with!

We also had a great time in Jerusalem. There's a great story about how I rubbed 9 crosses on the stone Jesus was lain on after his crucification - there's a picture of all the apostles with him, and although I don't believe Jesus is my lord and savior (that would sort of contradict my devout faith in Judaism), I clearly believe that he existed and that he is millions of people's savior, and that was profound. We got the crosses in the market and rubbed them on the stone to infuse them with holiness for devout Christian friends. What do you do with your face when you are Jewish, rubbing crosses on a stone next to people having the most holy moment of their life, and your fiance is taking pictures of you doing 9 in a row for friends to see? Yeah, I'd be embarrassed if it weren't so freaking hilarious.


Oh hello there....Someone's in my way


Do I smile? Wait, this is very holy and profound...


No, don't smile, just act "natural"


But I guess I should look at the camera....

And my all time favorite...Are you ready?


I think by that point I was just like, Charlie, where do I look????

But, I think that for our Christian friends and family, we got them the most profoud gift they could ever receive, and I am so glad we did it.



We had some great times with family as well. Profound for Avigail: