Bye Bye Brittany Downs.....

Today is Thursday. Aaron is at work until 12, and then he is coming home and we are leaving to drive to our wedding destination, The Hilton Sonoma Wine Country in Santa Rosa, CA. I have been sick for the past week...and I mean bad sick...sore throat with the white puss pockets on the back, and a strong, deep cough that just rips my chest apart every time one comes out! This morning I woke up, and my nose is plugged yet runny. What else could go wrong?! I think stress on top of germs is what got me here. I have been downing medicine and it doesn't seem to be working, so prayers are the only thing that can cure me at this point. We still have so much to do...it is ridiculous. In a way sitting here posting this blog is bittersweet. I will not have access to the computer after today, and so this is my last post as Brittany Cherise Downs. On Saturday, I will become Mrs. Brittany Ibarra...how weird is that?! Although I don't think much will change between Aaron and I, it is cool that I am gaining a husband and a step-son. I always dreamed of who my husband would be, and now that I know who it is, I am super excited! I thank God for where he is taking me, and look forward to what he has in store for us! Saturday I am getting married! AHHHHH...so crazy! Ok, well I better go get stuff done so we can leave as soon as he gets here! Wish me luck!! ~B

Happy Birthday Mish!!

Today is my dear friend slash cousin's birthday! She is one of the most amazing woman I have ever met in my entire life and she inspires me to be a better woman. She is a superb wife, mother, daughter, and friend. I can tell her anything and she always gives me the best advice or simply just listens to me cry. I yearn to be like her more each and every day! Thank you so much for being a beautiful person Mish! Happy Birthday!!! XOXO

80's Comeback!!

On Friday I drove down to the town I miss so so much! Good ol', San Luis Obispo! For those of you who don't know, my friend/bridesmaid Mandy, is getting married August 23, just 21 days after me! So I went down to celebrate her bachelorette party as well as her Naughty or Nice shower. It was an 80's themed bash and I must say it was very fun! Mandy is not a big party girl, so we had a daytime shower beginning at noon on Saturday. We decorated her mom's 1992 Suburban with "Honk for the Bachelorette," "Last Fling," and "Wild Bachelorette Party!" We loaded in the car and paraded around San Luis Obispo in our 80's gear! We went to Downtown Brew for lunch and we got Mandy her first blow job shot! She took it like a champ! Then she has a Washington Apple, a vodka cran, and a kamikaze shot. She consumed this liquor all within 1.5 hours. We left, and she threw up. Then we went to Pismo to bowl, and then headed back to her house for Taco Bell and movies! Then...her Oma (Grandma) and her mom surprised us with the penis cake they baked!! Talk about cake decorating....they were out of control! I will let the pictures explain itself! It was a great time, with great people! Congrats Mandy B! XOXO

9 More Days!!!

Well the clock is ticking away! 9 more days until I am officially Mrs. Brittany Ibarra. Just writing it makes me nervous! I feel like I am spinning my wheels! There is so much to do and so little time! I work from 8-5, Monday-Friday. I sit here all day planning what I will tackle when I get home. But after getting home, cooking dinner, cleaning up, etc., I am ready to pass out for the night! My brain is on overload and my body is exhausted!! I am grumpy and irritable. Whoever said wedding planning was fun, definitely lied! I think my problem is, is that I take on everything myself. I am a control freak...yes I admit it. A few people have offered to help me with certain aspects of the wedding and I kindly decline because......I like it done my way! AHHH That was so hard to admit even though I know you guys already know that I am that way! I hope that things get smoother as the days go on! We got the final invoice on the balance I owe at the venue yesterday. Lets just say, we could have put a down payment on a house...well not a nice house, but a house! Do you ever feel like you take on too much??

The worst Bachelorette Party of all time....

Saturday night was supposed to be my bachelorette party. I have throwin a few of them in my day, and they have always been pretty fun. Aaron's buddies threw him one in Tahoe, and they all left Saturday to go up there. When he arrived, the cabin was decorated in orange and black streamers (Harley Davidson colors of course) and pictures of him and I all over! His buddies made him this cute shirt with pictures of him with a list of dares he had to do. If a girl did the dare, she was allowed to sign his shirt. Then there was a list of words they could not say. Brittany, Marriage, Married, I miss you, I love you, Goodnight,I'm tired, I am going to bed early! If anyone said these, there was a consequence. You would have to take a shot of alcohol and put on a ridiculous clothing item such as an apron, or a fanny pack, or womans clothing. Then they had to wear it around the casinos. Aaron got in trouble for saying Brittany a few times, and was pretty intoxicated. All in all, he had a great time!

Then there was mine....I will not go into any detail because I do not want to re-live it. But nothing was planned for me and it was horrible. It was to the point where I was ready to kick 2 girls out of my wedding that were supposed to have a key part in it all. It showed me who my true friends were. I spent all day yesterday balling my eyes out because I felt so depressed about it. I guess that I had too many expectations for this entire wedding planning process...nothing has been fun expect my showers. I really pray the marriage works out better than the planning has......

Rest in peace sweet friend!

I was going to wait and post this tomorrow but I just can't. Tomorrow marks the 4 year anniversary of the death of my best friend/roommate in college. Her name was Jessica Leigh Romag and she was a beautiful person inside and out. She passed away in a car accident driving from San Luis Obispo where we lived to Moraga, CA. She died in Gonzalez, CA. People who have never had someone close to them die, think it is so weird and act so awkward around you if you speak about the deceased. They act as if you shouldn't speak of them because they are dead and it is over....but I don't want it to be over, and it is still so hard to let her go. Even though it has been 4 years, I feel like it was just yesterday. I get sad as my wedding approaches because I recall the conversations Jess and I had years ago, while walking Pismo Beach attempting to plan our futures as adults. She would have been a gorgeous bridesmaid and it kills me that she won't be there. She always said she was going to dance to Bob Carlisle's Butterfly Kisses at her wedding. Everytime she heard it, she would cry! I wish she could meet Aaron and tell me what she thinks about him...I miss our days of watching endless episodes of Sex and the City and Sopranos. I miss how she made me smile. She lightened up my life in so many ways. We were the perfect match....I have had an argument with everyother girl friend I have ever had....but not with her. It was sooo different. She crosses my mind each and everyday over random things. I always want to cry but I have to hold back the tears. I found myself home alone a few weeks ago balling as I sat there eating Tostitos chips and cheese dip....it was just OUR thing...I always want to watch the dvd from her funeral....Aaron says I just like to torture myself but thats not it...I like to see her......I like to remember her. Please pray that Jessica is at peace and pray that she knows how much I truly miss her! RIP JLR!! Here is her obituary so you can learn a little about her:

Aug. 23, 1983-July 17, 2004
Jessica Leigh Romag, 20, of Poway died Saturday. She was born in Englewood, Colo., and was a senior at California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo. She was a member of the Alpha Phi Sorority and was executive treasurer of the Panhellenic Board.
Survivors include her parents, Michael and Mary Romag of Poway; brothers, Matthew Romag, David Romag and Brian Romag, all of Poway; grandparents, Arnold Rayome of Port Edwards, Wis., and Paul and Doris Romag of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.; and great-grandmothers, Marie Romag and Martha Kauth of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
Viewing: 5 to 8 p.m. today, with prayer service at 7 p.m., St. Gabriel's Catholic Church, 13734 Twin Peaks Road, Poway.
Mass: noon tomorrow at the church.
Interment: Dearborn Memorial Park, 14361 Tierra Bonita Road, Poway.
Donations: St. Gabriel's Building Fund, 13734 Twin Peaks Road, Poway, CA 92064; or contact the family.
Arrangements: California Funeral Alternatives.

Weekend Wedding

This past weekend I drove to Bass Lake, CA for Dena's wedding. (I think of Dena as a sister because my dad dated her mom for 11 years.) She had 5 bridesmaids and we had so much fun getting ready together! We felt so pretty and glamorous!! She was a stunning bride and had the most beautiful gown! The heat was tough, but we all managed to make it through! Congratulations Ryan & Dena!!!

Bridal Shower #2

On Saturday June 28th, I had the best bridal shower ever!! My Aunt Cinders & Cousin Mish did an absolutely amazing job!! I had such a blast!! It was at Bella Pasta in Fresno!! I ate Lobster Ravioli's, lemon & chocolate cake, bruschetta, etc!! My favorite part was the adorable cake! It was an exact replica of my wedding cake so now I have to change what I ordered! HAHA! 7 of my bridesmaids traveled from all over Cali to be there! Unfortunately, 2 of my bridesmaids couldn't make it! :( I had so many people there that I care so much about!! The turn out rate was awesome! Over 45 woman came to celebrate me!! Can you believe that???? I got tons of fabulous gifts too! I have never felt more loved!! I am so blessed to have those 2 woman in my life! I know that no matter what, they will both always be there for me! Thank you all so much for being there to make my day so remarkable!