Break Time

     Today I am not “blogging.”  I am looking at wedding pictures and watching Doomsday Castle.  I know…we’re exciting.

P.S. I seriously want to wear this veil every day. 

Eighteen Months Later

     …and eighteen months later…we’re married!  I know long stretches without posts have become something of a regularity around here, but I had a good excuse this time.  On Saturday Keith and I spent the most wonderful day with our families and friends celebrating our wedding.  We are so excited and definitely looking forward to our future together.  I absolutely cannot wait to share pictures with you and will be doing that just as soon as I get my hands on them.  Our photographer, Sarah Linnea Photography, was so much fun to work with and has already posted a few sneak peaks on her Facebook page!

via
(Please do not crop or edit these photos or remove the watermark.  Sarah deserves every single bit of credit for these amazing shots.)

     I am just about to go bonkers to see the rest of these pictures!  Thankfully, I was able to take my mind of the waiting game for a few days while we honeymooned in New Orleans.  Neither of us had ever been, and it was so fun to explore a new place together.  I will be posting about our trip just as soon as I can.  If you’ve never been…book  your trip now.
     I had planned to have a series of posts about the rehearsal dinner, wedding, details, honeymoon, etc., but as is my custom, I forgot to take a single picture of the rehearsal dinner (I had the cutest dress…I’ll get a picture sometime) and spent the wedding day drinking coke and eating a sandwich (we keep it classy) until it was time to walk down the aisle.  I guess all of my posts will be depending on actual wedding photos…oh well, just another excuse to share them!
     I’m going to get to work on the New Orleans post(s) right now…after I eat some cake and hang out with my husband.  For now, I’ll leave you with a little sneak peak:

     I have maybe five pictures of the newlyweds…and maybe a million and five of food and buildings…priorities? 

We Can Do This

     I feel like lately my blog has become “Watch the progress of Allyson’s living room.”  Last week I told you about my new fave store and the rug I scored for less than $20, and after slacking for a whole week…I can finally show it to you!

That pink blob is my purse…not (unfortunately) the start of my throw pillow collection.

     I am obsessed with this rug.  I was expecting it to be kind of rough and not too comfortable to walk on, but it is surprisingly soft.  My next order of business is to find a fun ottoman for in front of the couch.  I really want something like this…

via

     With all the neutrals we’ve got going on, I would love it in a color (maybe blue…or a shade of orange…).  Speaking of colors, I have had zero luck finding cute throw pillows (and by “cute” I mean reasonably priced and not ugly).  I guess moving in without throw pillows wouldn’t be the end of the world, right?
     Let’s switch gears entirely.  Our wedding is in…two weeks!  Shockingly (mostly to myself), I am just not that stressed.  Everything is done (except those things that have to be last minute), and we are just so ready to get there.  I am so excited about my bridesmaids’ and attendants’ gifts, and I cannot wait to share them with you, but I’ll be keeping it under my hat until later.  I don’t think I’m some sort of celeb and that they’re going to stalk me find out (except my sister…I see you, Natalie), but I would still rather wait awhile.  Also…I haven’t written the post yet so…
     Hint, they all came from Tiny Tulip.  I was so impressed with how quick everything arrived, and their prices are so great!  I’ll definitely be making a few purchases of my own I think…

via, via

How cute are these?!  I would carry either (or both) of these in a red, hot minute.

Two weeks, y’all.  We can do this.

1, 2, 3, 4

     It’s official…I win the lame blogger award.  I took zero pictures this weekend.  In fact, I probably haven’t taken a picture in about a week.  So instead of feasting your eyes on some photographic artistry you get to read.  I’ve heard it’s good for the brain or something.  Weekend recap anyone?

1. I love patriotic holidays and food.

With the wedding in T minus 25 days, I should probably at least care a little about what I eat…

2. We have a couch! (Also, I scrounged up a terrible cell phone picture for you.  You’re welcome.)

Hello, bargain!  We found this lovely lady in a consignment store perfectly clean and spot-free just waiting on us!  Ignore those ugly pillows.  I’m going pillow shopping this week.

3. This bag?  Love.

I am practically obsessed with GiGi New York bags right now.  A personalized leather bag is so versatile.  My new fashion philosophy is “Anything is a neutral if I want it to be,” but if that’s a little extreme for you, the black version of this is beautiful too!

4. In case you didn’t catch it the first time, the wedding is in 25 DAYS!  I am so excited!  I have a feeling that the next few weeks are going to absolutely fly.  I’m working a lot and Keith is taking his boards (finally a light at the end of the nursing school tunnel).  We still have things to move into the apartment.  I have more decorating to do.  We have to apply for our marriage license and finalize a few more details and then………..WEDDING TIME!

     I hope all of you had a great Memorial Day weekend!  I love that our summer holidays marry two of my favorite things patriotism and family…and food (okay, three).

Weekend Snippets

     As per usual, we had another whirlwind weekend…and since we only have four more weekends until the wedding (eeee!), I’m thinking they’re all going to be that way.

This is our new toy…we are so excited to cook and cook and cook and cook this summer.

Its maiden voyage gave us this fantastic low country  boil.  Oh my – incredible.

These flowers were the centerpiece for my shower this weekend and are really close to what the wedding flowers will look like.  I love them!

     To top it all off, while we were at the shower, Keith got all the big furniture moved into the apartment.  Once we have a couch, we’ll be set.  We are finally in the home stretch.  We met with our new photographer yesterday, and I think we’re really going to like working with her.  I’m already dreaming of pretty wedding shots!  I’ve got a couple of fun, DIY-type projects that I’ll be working on (hopefully this week), and I can’t wait to share them with you…soon.

Happy, Happy, Happy

     Is it cheating if I only use the Blog Every Day in May Challenge when I’m at a loss for what to write about?  Oh well…

Ten Things that Make You Really Happy

1.  This guy.  Cliché to start my list this way…don’t care.

2.  5 o’clock (or whenever I get home from work)…also known as my Coke drinking time.

3.  The prayer series that my church is doing.  We’re getting married in 39 days, and I think this is going to be such a great way to prepare our hearts.

Click the picture for a link to the literature we’re using.

4.  My new (semi-furnished) home!  I am still so excited to be moving things into the new apartment.  I am going to have to show you the kitchen…after this weekend when it actually has a table.

5.  No explanation needed.

6.  The wedding countdown to your immediate left.  I just can’t wait!

7.  The iiincredible weather we’ve had this week.  In a shocking weather twist, we actually got a spring this year, and even though it’s thrown me for a loop, I am loving it!  Flip flops are out to stay!

8.  Honeymoon plans!  I’m going to keep these under my hat for a little while longer, but I am really, really, really looking forward to it!

9.  The 1990s sitcom reruns that are on every day – Frasier, Friends, Golden Girls.

10.  This girl…

Encouragement All Around

     With only forty days until the wedding, I am definitely starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I have been doing my best to enjoy my last carefree days before all the responsibility of being a real grown up gets here, but I’m just too excited!  This Saturday I had my first shower, and we had such a great time.  Keith’s aunts were kind enough to host a shower for his side of the family, and it could not have been sweeter.  I loved getting to meet so much of the family while they loved on us.

I am not lying when I say this is the best picture of me from the whole day…

     I’m not going to bore you with billions of pictures of stuff, but I am so excited to start really building my home!  My kitchen is really starting to look like a real kitchen…I’ll have to get pictures soon.

     As per usual, I’m going to totally switch gears here.  Church this morning was incredible.  We sang “Down in the River to Pray,” which I absolutely love, and even though the sermon was more for mothers, it was so filled with resonant Biblical truth.  The sermon came out of James (one of my favorite books), but to illustrate a point, our pastor referenced a Lamentations 3:22 – 23.

22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

     I know I’ve heard this before, but today “we are not consumed” went straight to my heart.  I spend a lot way too much time saying that I feel overwhelmed, but the truth is that I cannot be consumed or overwhelmed or overtaken.  How’s that for encouragement?  I’m going to spend some time really meditating on that.  We are not consumed.

This one is totally unrelated to the post, but too cute not to share.  I love this girl.

Confessional Friday

     I have this terrible of habit of finding blogs, falling in love with them, and then forgetting to read them.  The only perk is that I rediscover them later and love them again.  I’ve been in such a blogging funk lately that I feel like I’m rediscovering everything.  That being said, I love that I finally am dipping my toes back in the blogging water and rediscovering one of my faves – Leslie from A Blonde Ambition.  I am having so much fun catching up, that I thought I might link up with her Confessional Friday.

I confess…

1.  …that I really don’t feel guilty about my lack of blogging.  I feel very rested, and I’m sure when I have something to say I’ll just say it (…story of my life).

2.  …that our honeymoon is booked!  I am so excited.  Neither of these is exactly a confession, but still so fun.

3.  …I’ve been doing some honeymoon shopping…

4.  …I’m repressing/ignoring all my wedding stress.  When I first got engaged, I made a “no stress” policy about the wedding and clearly everyone took it as a challenge.  We had to ask four pastors before we found one who was available.  He’s 85% sure he’ll be there, but due to some extenuating circumstances, he’s making sure we have a back up (I’m so glad I know all the pastors at my church).  Our photographer realized two days ago that she already had plans when we booked our wedding…so we’re getting a new photographer too.  The bridesmaid dresses will get here about ten days before the wedding.  Shockingly, I’m not as stressed as I thought I would be…

Sometimes all you can do is laugh.  If my wedding were a movie, it would be hilarious.

Almost Made It

     Today is a big, big day!  We (and by “we” I mostly mean my nana) have finished addressing wedding invitations.  All they need is a stamp, and they will be ready to go!

128…Nana deserves a prize.

    I cannot wait to get these in the mail.  I think Thursday will be the big day!  Wedding things are just happening right and left.  Last week, in addition to the apartment and the invitation boom, the bridesmaids’ and attendants’ gifts came in!  I can’t tell you about it because my sister (i.e. matron-of-honor) is my most devoted (possibly only) reader.  Suffice it to say that they are perfect.  Also…my guestbook has been shipped.  I absolutely cannot wait to share wedding details.
     On a totally unrelated note, I’ve been cleaning up the fabulous dresser that I got off of Craigslist.

     A little coconut oil ($6 at Kroger) worked wonders.  I’ll be trying to find more uses for the stuff since I have a whole huge vat of it now…oh well.  The hard part is going to be moving this behemoth to the apartment.  I think I’ll leaving the heavy lifting to the men. 
     As per usual, a ton is happening all at once.  I’ll try my best to keep you updated. 

Teeny-Tiny List

     Well doesn’t this seem to be my new routine?  Drop off the face of the earth and then pop back in unexpectedly…only to leave again.  Oh well.  I love a fresh start, so every time I come back I feel like I’m meeting this whole blogging thing all over again! 
     For the past month or so I’ve been filling in at an elementary school for a teacher who is on maternity leave.  I have loved being in the classroom and getting to use what I’ve learned for the past few years, but believe me when I say that it is the most difficult thing I have ever done.  When I get home in the afternoons, I kind of just want to sit down, drink a Coke, and catch up on my shows.

     In other news, I made the most incredible (only a slight exaggeration) cake for Easter.  I’ll be sharing the recipe soon…I actually mean that this time.  Aaaaand, I’ve had my first fitting for my wedding dress and ordered invitations and napkins for the reception.  It really is all coming together!  I absolutely cannot believe that I will be getting married in 83 days!!!  Should I lie and tell you that I’m not stressed at all?  I have just a teeny-tiny list of things to get done (just little stuff like finding a place to live and making sure we have jobs and furniture).

via

     Kidding…mostly.  I’m excited about everything going on, but it certainly is a lot to take in at once.  I promise (and I really mean it this time) that I’m going to do better about keeping you updated.  I have totally lost sight of why I started (and love) blogging, and I’m not going to remember unless I keep the conversation going.  I’ll be back soon(ish) with my cake recipe (possibly a couple of others), pictures from Easter, and hopefully more wedding fun…there is so much going on!

Neither Crowds nor Snow…

     Y’all…March 2nd is registry day in West Tennessee.  Seriously, we saw at least 16,000 other couples (just a rough estimate), but we were not deterred by crowds or snow or the crazy looks I was getting (for dropping things…and talking loudly).  As of this weekend, we are officially registered, and I am still so excited!  Before you get turned off and click away, as fun as picking out stuff was, the most fun is getting ready to have a home. 
     Don’t get me wrong, I am beyond excited to think about the fun things we picked out, but the closer we get to the wedding, the more excited I am about life.  I want to use the dishes and cook with the pans and be a wife, not just play house with cute things. 

But let’s talk about cute things just for a minute.

I am not going to give you a rundown of the whole registry…because I think that’s a little on the tacky side.  I will however show you some of my faves!

Photo Credit: Macy’s
We knew that we aren’t really the fine china type, and I love the look of mix and match Fiesta dishes.  We chose these four (from left) lemongrass, tangerine, sunflower, and turquoise.  I think Fiesta looks classic no matter which colors you pick, and it is so sturdy.  We also picked out some Fiesta serving pieces – so cute.

Photo Credit: Target
I am obsessed with this pillow.  The colors are a little brighter in person and will look perfect with the bedding and sheets we’ve picked out.

Photo Credit: Target
I am also obsessed with this floor pouf thing.  Keith…not so much.  I tried not to pick things out that he wasn’t crazy about, but this was too precious to pass up.  He said later, “I hope no one buys us that pouf thing…”  It’ll grow on him.

     I won’t bore you with the rest, just imagine the most fun list of pots and pans and laundry baskets.  I’m pretty crazy about home things, so a day full of picking out towels and glasses and bathroom fixtures.  One last glimpse into my future home?

Photo Credit: Bed Bath & Beyond
This picture does not do the shower curtain justice.  The colors are much richer in real life.  Because bathrooms are usually teensy, I think the shower curtain can be really punchy…mostly so I don’t have to decorate the rest of the room.

We’re almost there, folks!  Just 110 more days.

Cake is the Most Important Thing

     It’s been a minute since we’ve talked wedding.  There are only about 600 new developments and three ridiculous dreams.  I’ll be starting with the new developments.

• Never ever ever ever ever ever ever (I’m serious) get married on June 22.  I’m not trying to hog the day and say that it should be a national holiday just for me or anything…although I like the sound of that.  This is real advice.  Every single pastor you ask to officiate will be out of town.  Every. Single. One.  Keith and I just asked our fifth pastor to officiate.  He thinks he’ll be able to…I’m holding off on any and all excitement until I know for sure.  It’s a good thing I know every pastor at my church…I wouldn’t have wanted to have to just find any old body.
• We have cake!  My mother and I met with the cake people and talked ideas, and that is set.  We got to sample some too…obviously that’s the most important thing.  I’ve sent a few pictures so they know what we’re looking for, and I cannot wait.  These are the same people who did my sister’s wedding cake, and we knew from the first minute of planning that we wanted the same.  I am not kidding you when I say this cake is sinful.  So. Incredibly. Good.  They don’t do the traditional all white, dry, tasteless wedding cake.  I just think if you pay for cake it should be good.  Really good.  They don’t do shortening and egg whites.  This is a real eggs and butter cake with buttercream frosting…no fondant.  I can’t wait.

via (1), via (2)

Our plan is to combine these two cakes.  The bottom layer will be fluffy like the one on the right and then alternating up – fluffy, flat, fluffy, flat (four layers).  I’m still not sure what our plans are for a topper, but I’m on the hunt.

• I’m heading back to Ballew Bridal tomorrow to pick up my veil.  I still love it.  I’ll be coming home and putting the dress and veil on together.  If only I could wear it every day…
• Now onto these dreams.
• 1.  A few months ago I woke up sad and angry because in my dream Keith had turned our wedding into some sort of laser show.  It was ridiculous.  No one was there that was supposed to be, and there were lasers…lasers. 
• 2.  Several days ago I dreamed that my church booked another wedding on the same day as mine.  I don’t feel like this needs any more explanation.  Also…someone had brought a kite to the church. 
• 3.  Last night, I had probably the worst wedding dream ever.  I had taken my dress to be altered, and they cut the bottom of my dress (which I’m still not telling you about) off and sewn it onto my veil.  My dress was jagged and knee-length, and my veil was cathedral length.  It was all orange.

     The woes of wedding planning.  I’m trying my very best to have zero wedding stress, but it’s been a difficult few weeks.  I’m so excited to see everything come together though that it’s all worth it.  We still have to pick out invitations and suits/tuxes (haven’t decided which) for the men to wear – hopefully soon.  Aaaaaaand…we’re registering next weekend!  I can’t wait.  I’ve been doing lots of research and am so excited to outfit my future home.  I’ll definitely have to recap all of that.

The Big List

     Now that I’m out of school and not so busy, I thought this would be the perfect time to update all of you on wedding plans such as they are.  We knew that having a long engagement would make planning sort of slow, so things haven’t kicked into gear fully…but we’re getting there!  I found this list on Something Blue Book, and I’m just going to walk through it periodically. 
Bold indicates in progress.Strikethrough indicates completed.

After you are engaged…

• Take engagement pictures. (Here)
• Send out engagement announcements; announce your wedding in the newspaper if you’d like. – We’re not sending out announcements, but we will put something in the paper closer to the wedding.
• Have your engagement party. – Not having one.

12 months before your wedding day…

• Pick a date and time for your wedding.  - June 22, 2013 at about 2/2:30ish
• Buy a planner with a calendar, to-do list, and place to put all your ideas, coupons, etc. – We have a file folder.
• Begin to discuss your wedding budget with your fiancé and family. Look at the average costs of some wedding vendors to get an idea of your budget. – The ‘rents have this one under control.
• Research local wedding vendors and write down their contact information. – The bridal show took care of most of this!
• Start looking for sales and deals for wedding dresses & other wedding-related items. – Always.
• Make sure you don’t start off on the wrong foot by making these common wedding planning mistakes. – I’m not doing any of these…I have a strict no-stress wedding policy.

11 months before your wedding day…

• Start interviewing wedding planners if you are going to hire one. – Not hiring one.  That’s what my mama is for!
• Begin a guest list draft. – I have the list from my sister’s wedding, and I keep a running list in my head.
• Enlist your groom to help. If he’s not interested, read these tips for getting the groom involved. – I run pretty much everything by Keith…usually.
• Pick out your wedding colors. – Work. In. Progress. I know the men are in gray and the women are in navy…as for flowers…it’s up in the air.
• Begin looking at ceremony & reception sites. – Both will be be at my church.

10 months before your wedding day…

• Finalize your wedding budget with your groom and your families. Need tips for saving money? Read about money-smart wedding planning. – Again…I’m sure the ‘rents have it taken care of.
• Decide on your wedding party. Need help deciding who should be included? 
• Sit down with your family to work on the guestlist.
• Choose a wedding planner. – Not hiring one.
• Decide on a wedding theme if you are going to have one. (Ideas: Romance, Going Green, Winter Wonderland) – No theme.
• Meet with different wedding vendors to discuss pricing options, etc. Read about little known ways to receive wedding discounts! – We should be talking to florists and cake people very soon!

9 months before your wedding day…

• Decide on your ceremony & reception sites and reserve them for your wedding day. – At my church.
• Decide on a wedding officiant, a florist, and caterer. – No caterer…but we’re working on the rest.
• Decide on a DJ or musician. Read about how to choose a DJ that is right for you! – No DJ (just a cake and punch reception)…for the ceremony, we have piano and organ music.
• Create a wedding website so your guests can find all the information they need in one place. – Maybe I should get to work on that!
• Decide on what style wedding dress you want to wear. Not sure? Read about wedding dress styles or take the quiz: Which style wedding dress flatters your figure? – I have the most perfect dress in the world!

8 months before your wedding day…

• Plan your honeymoon and have your groom reserve the hotel rooms, etc. Having trouble deciding where to go? Take the quiz: Where should I go on my honeymoon?
• Finalize your guest list
• Go with your bridesmaids to look at their dresses and get ideas
• Meet with wedding cake designers and go to tastings
• Decide on and hire a photographer. Read about what to look for in a photographer! – So excited for pictures!
• Decide on and hire a videographer. Read about why you should hire a videographer! – Probably not having one…
• Rent any equipment like chairs and tables that you may need – The church will have most of this stuff.

7 months before your wedding day…

• Order save-the-date cards or magnets
• Get all your guests’ addresses
• Order bridesmaids dresses & accessories
• Decide on a baker and order your wedding cake. Need help deciding what kind? Take our quiz: What type of wedding cake fits your personality? – I know what baker I want…but that’s about it.
• Think about what your groom and groomsmen will wear. Suits or Tuxes? – I’m thinking gray.
• Shop around for invitations and work on the invitation wording

6 months before your wedding day…

• Make a final selection for a wedding dress
• Choose your veil and accessories to match your dress
• Decide what your parents will wear
• Finalize your honeymoon details
• Request off work if you need to
• Send out save the date cards
• Purchase or rent groom’s and groomsmen’s suits or tuxes
• Finalize the menu with the caterer
• Register! All your wedding registry questions are answered here.

5 months before your wedding day…

• Order or make your wedding favors. Here are some unique ideas.
• Reserve hotel rooms and make accommodations for out-of-town guests
• Start thinking about your make-up and hair
• Order your wedding invitations
• Create a wedding day timeline
• Make your wedding night plans & reservations
• Begin thinking about the rehearsal dinner

4 months before your wedding day…

• Plan your rehearsal dinner; decide on a location, menu, etc.
• Reserve a car, limo, or your desired wedding transportation
• Think about your wedding music (first dance song, father/daughter dance song, etc.)
• Book a hair dresser and make-up artist
• Help your maid of honor make a bridal shower guest list
• Shop for your wedding bands

3 months before your wedding day…

• Have your wedding shower
• Make sure your dress is tailored
• Finalize your wedding music
• Address the envelopes for your invitations
• Buy your wedding rings
• Have the maid of honor and best man make sure the wedding party has purchased their outfits and accessories
• Designate people to give toasts at the reception
• Make sure you have started an exercise routine and diet if you need to lose a few inches before getting into your dress! Here are some tips to tighten your tummy before your wedding day.

2 months before your wedding day…

• Buy your wedding party their gifts. Check out some cool wedding party gift ideas.
• Write your wedding vows if you so desire. Read about the secret to writing great vows!
• Send your wedding invitation 6-8 weeks before the wedding
• Start making a final guestlist as you begin to hear back from guests
• Fill out any documents needed to change your name
• If you are going to have your rings engraved, do so
• Fill out any documents needed to change your insurance information after married
• Create and print wedding programs
• Buy lingerie or undergarments before final dress fitting
• Send thank you notes for gifts received at your shower

1 month before your wedding day…

• Work on your seating chart
• Make or buy placeholder cards
• Get anything you need before your honeymoon (passport, shots, etc.)
• Do a final fitting for your dress; begin a diet and exercise routine if necessary
• Confirm all the details (arrival time, cost, etc.) with your wedding vendors
• Get a marriage license
• Send rehearsal dinner invitations
• Order alcohol
• Buy a guestbook

2 weeks before your wedding day…

• Take care of all the details like what you will use to cut the cake, toasting glasses, etc.
• Prepare welcome baskets for out-of-town guests
• Purchase thank you notes
• Finalize the menu, etc. for the rehearsal dinner.
• Finalize your seating chart.
• Give final headcount to caterer, etc.
• Do a hair and make-up trial run.
• Plan the activities for the night before your wedding.
• Help your wedding party plan the bachelor and bachelorette parties if they need it.

1 week before your wedding day…

• Get checks ready to give your wedding vendors.
• Make sure you have something old, something new, something borrowed, and (most importantly to us) something blue.
• Make sure you have a garter.
• Get a manicure, pedicure, hair cut, eye-brow wax, etc.
• Pick up your wedding dress and the bridesmaids dresses
• Confirm all the details with your florist.
• Give the members of your wedding party their tasks for your special day.
• Pack for your honeymoon!

The day before your wedding day…

• Go to the spa to get a massage!
• Hold the rehearsal dinner.
• Give your wedding party and parents their gifts.
• Attend the bachelor or bachelorette party.

     Wow…that’s quite a list.  I tried not to delve too far into the sections that were closer than six months (where we are now), because I have plenty of time for those things.  My mother and I went up to the church today to meet with the lady who helps coordinate weddings.  We were able to get a few more details nailed down (yay), and talk about the particulars of the sanctuary and the fellowship hall, times to be there, etc.  Every time we do even a little something I get more and more excited!  I’m not saying I’ll repost this list monthly or anything, but you can definitely expect me to check in more often now that things are in full swing. 
     Well…I’m off to go look at my dress again.

156 Days

Not so many pictures lately…I’ll work on it. I promise!

Big Steps

     I’m just popping in to give you sweeties an update!  I have been going nonstop for the past week (hence the nonposting) with student teaching, lesson planning, my first observation, helping Keith with Rush, and realizing that it’s the middle of September – woah.
     First things first, my observation was wonderful I scored right where I should have, and I couldn’t be more pleased!  One down, one to go for this placement.  Lesson plans are totally done for next week, and I can rest for just a minute. 
     Aaaaaand the most exciting thing going on right now?  We have a date for engagement photos!  On October 14th, the same photographer who took my niece’s two-year-old pictures will be doing our engagement pictures.  Look how great these are:

     We don’t know exactly where yet, but I am so excited for this next (huge/fun) step!  Also…I have no idea what I’m going to wear.  I’ll have to get on that soon!
     We’re also looking into a time to talk with a florist – which I am so excited about.  I am sort of flower stupid, but I am ready to throw some ideas out there.

Okay…
I know this has been sort of all over the place, but that’s me these days…oh well.

I have a few fun new things coming up soon, and I hope y’all will stick around.
First on the list?  A fun guest post from my sweet sponsor Kristen!

Two. Weeks.

     I have two weeks of work left.  This is blowing my mind.  Following that there is one week off and then the beach!  I enjoy my job, but with the sand and water thiiiis close, I’m just about ready to be done.  I can’t complain really.  I only work four days a week, and the way I created my schedule my schedule is set up, I don’t have to do too much after lunch. So nice.
     If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times – I. Love. The. Beach.  From now until we strike out for Ft. Morgan, I will be in beach mode 100%.  I’m working on lining up some lovely ladies to guest post while I’m gone, so I hope you’ll stop by to hang out with them! 
     I’m hoping that in the next two weeks I’ll also get my student teaching assignments.  I have a sneaking suspicion that the school already knows and is just choosing not to write the email…which is sort of a bother for me.  I’ve gotten some great teacher clothes recently, and I keep thinking of fun classroom and lesson ideas, but I can’t use any of this stuff until I know which grades I’m going to be with!  I can’t wait to find out, and I am just on pins and needles over here.
     Aaaaand in two weeks I will (hopefully) probably have a wedding photographer.
     In two weeks, it will be August, and I’ll have a whole new round of sponsors (shoot me an email to get in on the sponsor star treatment).

…this is the only thing in my brain right now.

     I don’t know if I’ve ever had such a busy/not busy/waiting/doing two weeks.  I can’t wait!  How do your next few weeks look?  Big plans?

It’s My Party

     Happy Tuesday, lovies!  I hope the week is off to a great start for each of you.  As far as Mondays go, mine wasn’t terrible…and we’re already one day closer to the weekend!  I have a full week of posting planned, and I am excited about all of them.  First things first -

Congratulations
to

Kathie McAuliffe
for winning Cupcakes and Candy Canes’ first giveaway!

     I’ve sent your contact info to Kelsey Bang, and I hope you enjoy your adorable elephant.  Big, big, big thanks to each of you who entered.  This was a huge step for my little slice of the blogosphere, and I am so pleased with how it went. Thank you!
     Onto the real reason for this post – Keith and I now have a fully formed wedding party!  This is not huge news to me as I always knew it would be a small group, but it’s so nice to have it all decided and share it with you.  Keith will have his brother as his best man and one of his fraternity brothers as a groomsman.
     I will have my sister as my maid of honor (technically matron of honor) and my super-bestie, Tiffany, as a bridesmaid.  Tiff and I have known each other since we were three, and even though we aren’t at school together anymore, she is still one of the first one’s I call/text/whatever with news.  Plus she’s the type of friend that I can just hang out with no matter how long it’s been (and isn’t that the best kind?).  I wanted to do something a little cute to ask, especially since I hadn’t seen her in forever.

     I decided a little notebook and a frame would be perfect.  Tiffany is a really great writer, and the notebook was just too cute for words!  I almost wrote “reserved for a picture of me and my bridesmaid” in the frame, but I figured this was pretty classic.  In case you’re wondering, the notebook and the frame came from TJ Maxx.  Get this…when she opened the gift bag, she said, “I thought you weren’t having any bridesmaids!”  We haven’t talked about that in a long time, and she remembered because she knows me.  That was almost my favorite part of all of it – aside from her saying yes.
     I cannot wait to go dress shopping for them now!  I’m definitely still thinking navy blue…possibly with a nude shoe.  I’m also having lots of thoughts about cute bridesmaids gifts, but I can’t tell those to you because my sister reads this.  We’re another step closer; so excited!  Next on my list is booking a photographer and then meeting with the flower guy to really get some concrete ideas about looks and colors.  

In unrelated news…I’m ready to go to the beach.

Wedding Pictures

     …I wish this post’s title was more accurate!  Of course I don’t have wedding pictures (and won’t for the next year), but since I just met with a photographer, I’m even more anxious excited everything.  Also, I just read this gem of a post over at Suzels Says (In addition to being one of my fave bloggers, Susan is also a photographer in the Virginia area.  She shared the tips on her professional photography site here), and it could not have come at a better time for me!  Once we’ve booked the photographer I will obv (that’s how I abbreviate obviously…in writing and in speech) tell you all about her.  For now, let me just say, that she was so sweet!  My mother and I met her at Starbucks to discuss all things wedding, and I feel even more like a real bride now.  She was so helpful and really seemed to have her head on straight.

Love this! via
Photo Credit

     Here are some of my must haves in the photography department:
          - Common sense!  If she walks in staring off into space and has no ability to corral people for photos that’s a deal-breaker.
          - Organization – it may seem obvious, but I would never want someone just randomly snapping shots of every little thing (however good they might be) without taking the important ones with family, friends, etc.
          - Knowledge about the field…because I have none.  I am definitely going to get a wedding album (like this).  Although she does not include this in any of her packages, the photographer knew exactly what we were talking about and said that we could in fact order through her.  If she had looked at me with a blank expression and not known what I meant I probably would have gotten up and left.
          - An open mind.  While I need the photographer to have some pretty concrete ideas, it is also so nice to be able to share inspiration (…Pinspiration) and add some more personal touches to the day.

     I love photography, but I kind of need someone holding my hand through the whole process.  Once we finalize a few details, I feel like we could have our wedding photographer nailed down, and that is so exciting to me!  Another exciting tidbit?  We’re probably going to do our engagement photos sometime within the next few months.  I am 98% sure of who is going to do those, and her work is incredible.
 

     This is all we have right now – snapshots.  I like them, but how fun is it going to be to take real pictures?!  As per usual, I’m already over-analyzing and trying to plan our outfits months in advance.  Ideas, tips, anything?

P.S. Don’t forget to enter my Kelsey Bang giveaway – it closes Monday!

Almost Weekend Recap

     Well…I was going to do a weekend recap, but wouldn’t you know it, I didn’t take a single picture this weekend.  I did however get a lot done.  I cleaned out a closet, finally put my wedding dress in the closet (as opposed to hanging on the door), ran lots of errands, and went to a wedding – outside.  In case you’ve been living under a rock, it has been 100°+ here for the past several days.  Don’t get me wrong, I love weddings, and this one was totally adorable, but it was hot.  Really, really hot.  The bride did much better than the rest of us at not looking wilted or sweaty. 
     Naturally, the wedding did nothing but add to my own wedding fever.  On that note…I’m sure most of you have heard of ChipIt (the new paint color tool from Sherwin-Williams).  While most people have been uploading pictures to extract paint ideas for their homes, I decided to put it to use in choosing wedding colors!  A few of you may remember this post where I shared my wedding inspiration.  While I have to say that I’m not so much feeling the peach idea anymore (although I loved it), I can’t say that I have any concrete ideas as to what I want now.  If you have ever visited my Pinterest, you have probably seen about a thousand different bouquet ideas.  Last night, I uploaded a few of my favorite bouquet pictures to ChipIt to see if I could find colors that I liked.
     Mostly I just need to find good colors for the women in our families to wear.  I know that my sister will be in navy, and the men will be in grey, but between the two of us we have five grandmothers…that’s a lot when you count them and both of our mothers.  I’m not some sort of crazy bridezilla, and I definitely won’t tell anyone that they “have” to wear anything really specific, but it would be nice to have some ideas.  I do know that I want my flowers to be sort of a spring mix – not too formal and definitely not tied to one color.  Here’s what’s floating around in my head now:

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     I like this minus any of those brown colors (which are clearly not even in the picture).  The pinks are very pretty.  I’m thinking I might steer the grandmothers toward shades of pink.

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     Again, minus the browns.  Actually, this one might be my favorite bouquet.  You can see from the picture that it looks good with a blue dress, and there are so many colors to work with!

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     …I really like this one too.  I kind of like the paint chip colors from this one best…but I wish the bouquet itself had a little more pink.

     I feel like this has been sort of a confusing peek into my brain.  I hope you’ve been able to follow along fairly easily.  I’m not worried at all about what the flowers are going to look like (although you couldn’t tell it by this post).  The guy we’re wanting to do them did my sister’s flowers at her wedding and they were beautiful.  He was also really good about piecing together what she wanted without tons of concrete ideas…and not having concrete ideas is what I specialize in.  We haven’t set up a meeting yet, but I cannot wait!
     We do have a meeting with a photographer next Monday, and I really hope that we love her as much as we love her pictures.  Of all the wedding-y things, the pictures are one of my biggest focuses.  They’re the only thing that will last from the day, and I’ll enjoy looking back at them. 
     Do you have a favorite bouquet (of these or a general style)?  What was your favorite part of the day to plan – dress, flowers, pictures?  I can’t wait to hear from all of you, and I really can’t wait to keep you all posted on my plans!

     P.S. New sponsors on the sidebar – please go check them out and leave lots of sweet comments for them!

Big Hair and Stupidity

     Before we begin, this is not an indictment on beauty queens, newscasters, or anyone else who typically has big hair…it’s an indictment on myself and my total inability to “do good hair” (ten points if you can guess the movie).  You may have heard me mention that I love big hair and that I’m totally incapable of doing my hair.  In fact, my last several “I Know and I Don’ts” have mentioned my situation.  While I do my best to ignore my pitiful-ness, when I receive an email like I did today, I get to face my problems head on…and hopefully win something fabulous.  I got an email from Misikko Beauty detailing their current giveaway.  Three lucky bloggers are being offered a chance to win $350 worth of products from their site!  How could you pass up that sort of opportunity?!
     The prompt suggests that you detail what you would buy and why if you were to win…and as someone who is a total drugstore beauty product/implement girl, this is like being in a candy store!

      My hair looks like this…every. single. day.  Is it an awful look?  No.  Is my hair terribly  unhealthy?  No.  Is this extremely boring day in and day out?  Absolutely. 
     To give you a little insight into what I do now:  1. wash hair with volumizing shampoo 2. blow dry with a regular old hair dryer 3. brush.  That is all.  On rare occasions I throw it in a ponytail.  While I am pretty hair implement clueless, I loved looking at all the goodies over at Misikko.  If I were to win, I would treat myself in a big, big way.

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    First things first, a dependable hair dryer is a must.  You would think that with baby fine hair, I wouldn’t spend a lot of time drying…and you would be wrong.  For some reason I my hair holds onto water like a cactus in the desert.  If it can get it, it won’t let go.  The Hot Tools Professional Ionic Hair Dryer has amazing reviews and sounds like it might be just the thing for my mane.  (It will surely do better than the thing I have now…which has no brand and has been in my cabinet for years.)

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     Let  me be honest…I don’t really straighten my hair a lot.  Like I said, it’s super fine, and my current straightener is very bulky and leaves my hair really limp.  This UNIL Infrashine flat iron with it’s 1” ceramic plates sounds perfect for my mess.  I love the look of curls done with a straightener and the smooth look of straight hair, but what I have now just isn’t doing it for me…  What I need most of all is some motivation, and some fab-o products like this are already making me excited!

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     I have been dying for a decent curling iron, and I have heard nothing but good things about the Corioliss Clipless Wand Ceramic Curling Iron (.7”).  The curlers of the old days with a spring-loaded clip are just not doing it for me any more.  This little gem seems to give great curl without crushing half of it…or getting it stuck in the spring – ouch!

     Because I’m about to start student teaching (and then job hunting), I am really wanting to put my best foot (or hairstyle) forward.  The same old stuff just isn’t going to give me that edge that says, “I put extra effort into my hair…and everything else I do.”  Aaaaand, because I’m jumping head first into wedding stuff, I need to be looking my very best for engagement pictures and other wedding-y fun things.
     I always say I’m going to start doing something to my hair…just look at my 101 in 1001, but I never seem to drum up the motivation.  I would like to give a big, huge thank you to Misikko Beauty for lighting a fire under this girl.  I could definitely use a little sprucing up…or maybe just some sweet words of motivation!  Fingers crossed!