Finally Said Yes to This Little Black Dress

So, as you all know... I have been try to find the absolute perfect bridesmaid dress- Summery and short with a twist of vintage. Well it's taken me almost 6 months to find this perfect dress... and I'm proud to FINALLY reveal it.

TAAAAAAAA DDDUUUUHHHHHHHH!

IT'S PERFECTO!

And I'm excited to finally make a step in the right direction.

I would like to add that the only reason I've even found a dress yet is because mom finally convinced me to switch from brown to black. She is wonderful. I think it will make my life easier.

ALSO..............

MY wonderful bridesmaids have been so patient and supportive of this long process. I'm super lucky. Love you all!

Well here's to a huge check off my wedding to-do list :)

Week 1: My Stomach Rumblings are Registering as Minor Earthquakes

It's been a week since I began my new, highly intense diet...

It's been a week of constant hunger pains, stomach rumblings that register on seismographs, and CONSTANT cravings for sweets.

It's been one of the hardest diet I've ever been on. Maybe it's because Halloween was two days ago, and I didn't get to enjoy ANY of that delicious candy... Or maybe it's because I've just now realized how big of a sweet tooth I actually have. In any case, this is a character-building experience... dang it...

BUT... there is an upside to this misery I experience daily....

I've lost SEVEN pounds.

That is a very amazing feat considering the normal weight you lose a week should be about 2 pounds a week. I'm so excited!!! It sometimes makes it feel worth the uncomfortableness to know that there's sooo much progress being made daily.

Now if I could just stop dreaming of icecream covered in homemade chocolate or the sugar cookie blast at Sonic.

Ace of Cakes

During fall break I've had the opportunity to advance wedding plans in several ways... although surgery did put a damper in some of the planning. But on to BIGGER and BETTER things...

This is a sketch of my custom made cake!!! I'm SOOO excited!!! it is ABSOLUTELY perfect!!!

In other news, I'm starting a new hardcore diet in order to reach my wedding weight goal by Christmas. So if you see me snacking on celery and half a grapefruit, don't tempt me with BDubs and Arbys. My dress comes in in November and I want to start seeing results so that we can get an idea for fitting costs. Bring on the celery...

Besides that, I have found a bridesmaid dress that has sooooo much potential that I'm really excited to see it!!! This is has been the most frustrating and timeconsuming part of planning a wedding and I can't wait to get it over with.

Finally, mom and I did some engagement picture clothes shopping and we've actually agreed on a couple outfits that will be super cute. Now to just get those pictures taken and checked off my to-do list!!!

That's all I have right now. Patho is calling my name and Hitch is on TV.

And So It Begins... Beginning Weight Pictures

Ladies and Gentlemen... Let me present the BEFORE pictures. And there better be major improvement in a month when I do this again... or at least in 9 months.

ANYWAY...

It has begun. The slimdown. The most anticipated and annoying part of the entire wedding process.

Now don't get me wrong... it will SOOO be worth it later down the road, but when Jillian Michael's is yelling at you to do more push ups and crunches, all I want to do is curl up on the couch and eat potato chips.

Today I began the 30 day Shred- the sorest 20 minutes of my life. I have never realized HOW out of shape I have actually become since high school.

I decided to start with jillian because I'm still so far from the wedding date. So, before I get really ambitious and do P 90X, I decided I should try to work up some endurance so I don't actually die in attempting P 90X. So in 29 days we'll see if Jillian is actually worth the money I paid for her :)

That is all folks. It's time to do more homework now. Progress pictures to come.

Dressed for Success... For Tomorrow?

Well, today... I did a bad thing... or a REALLY good thing. Judgment will hold for another week or so until the decision is in.

Anyway, today I went to Academy and spent... more than I should have... on athletic clothes meant to inspire me to begin my work out regime. I mean I look good now... there is no reason why I can't begin wedding bootcamp.

If only OC had ellipticals, treadmills, and workout equipment that sports teams ARE NOT ALLOWED to use. It's a major bummer to get all psyched out to work and then end up waiting at least half an hour to get on a machine. And don't even try to use the weights. Those basketball players don't share. (When does basketball season start again? Do you really need to use the weights every day for at least 2 hours, not including the time you stare at yourself in the window?)

Fitness is one area that I have neglected since being engaged and it's also one area that I care greatly about. I want to make sure that Oklahoma is good to me this year, and I don't gain excess weight while here.

So, now that I have my yoga pants, running cold gear, running shorts, and sweat-wicking t-shirts, I'm ready to go work out... AFTER I do homework and eat dinner. I'll get to it eventually :)

Embracing Mother Nature's Beauty!

This is my venue :)

It's PERFECT!!!

I can't wait.

The. End.

Maneater Gone Romance-eater

This cartoon ----------------------------------------------------->

Yes that one right there is the summary of my life.

I have the WORST memory known to man (thanks mom... I think it's hereditary).

Poor Andy is really getting the worst end of this deal.

You know how girls complain that guys are so unromantic and forget aniversaries or first kisses or first date... and God-forbid first hand hold ?

Well... That's me in this relationship.

Andy asked me the other day about how much I loved my valentine's day present... and I couldn't even remember what it was or what we did. I really am a romance killer.

Call me a MANEATER. Well, better yet ROMANCE-EATER.

I mean what's wrong with me!!! I'm about as romantic as Scrooge. How did I become so cynical!!!

Here I'm about to get a fairy tale wedding and a perfect "once upon a time"... and I'm thinking about how I'm going to have to touch his socks!!!

I mean when he says something sweet I tell him to quit being cheesy... it's a little harsh considering we, as a woman population on average, ask and beg for them to be prince charming... and then laugh when they try.

Ok, I need to. So, to all those who read this, I'm on a new quest to try to find a romantic bone in my body. Cheers

Perfect Finish!!!

BAH I FOUND THE BEST HAIR PIECE IN THE WORLD!!!!!!

As you can see, I have made what looks to be my final purchase for wedding day accessories!!! I'm so excited!!! this hair piece is the perfect final touch to my wedding look!

The lady at the store wanted me to get a birdcage veil to go with it... hahaha thanks taryn for making sure my mom would be happy :)

Anyway, I'm super excited I got another done before going back to school for the year!!

"Etsy"session: Why I Am No Longer Allowed to Get Online

Sooooo, my friends, the time has come to now make a confession. I have just discovered the wonderful world of Etsy. And I'm more obessed with it than I am with Taylor Lautner. AND THAT IS A HARD FEAT!

Anyway, I spend a lot fo the day looking at this website, falling more and more in love with all these hand-made crafts that are about as adorable as charlie. about. This is an indredibly bad deal for me. I literally am going to have to stamp my budget on my forhead... and then to my desktop so that I remember I cannot even be tempted by Etsy.

In other news... mom and I have been working on centerpiece numero uno these last couple days and I'm so excited for them! A vintage-style inspired wedding is so incredibly awesome to plan and put together! The ideas are endless! Also, I have found the main bridesmaid gift so that's taken care of! I'm feeling more and more accomplished!

OH! BIG NEWS! Brunch is what we are serving at the wedding! I'm so excited about it! There'll be all sorts of fruits, breads, quiches, brushetta....etc., all served family style! And do you know what that means???? NO BUFFET LINES! You can hold the applause :)

Finally, mom and I went to hobby lobby and bought them out of their ivory Christmas pearls tree decorations. hahahahahahaha They are PERFECT for all the things we have planned with them! Hobby Lobby is probably going to never let us enter again but at least my wedding will be beautiful.

Ok, it's late and I have to be up in not many hours. Beauty rest time!

Gentlemen, Start Your Engines!

So, because I'm going with a vintage style theme for the wedding, mom and I thought it would be really cool if andy and I drove off from the ceremony in an old car! I LOVE the idea!!! It would even be great for some pictures! the only problem is we're having trouble finding an old car to rent from someone we know or some thing. But, I love the idea and know it's gonna work out in the end. An idea this good will not go to waste!

"AND THEY'RE OFF!"

You Know You're Getting Married in Colorado When...

1. You prepare for both sunshine and snow on wedding day.

2. On your honeymoon, you still have the parka you drove off wearing.

3. You're concerned about the environmental hazards of having guests toss rice at you.

4. You provide a vegetarian buffet.

5. Your wedding gifts to your guests include a bottle of water, advil, hand warmers, and "deer poop".

6. Your guests ride the ski lift to your reception (those who don't refuse to ride at the bottom that is)

7. The fee for violating environemtal laws is twice what your wedding costs.

8. Finding guests smoking reefers doesn't surprise you.

9. You have to address your invitations to all in the house, including the family dog.

10. You feel more comfortable wearing uggs than high heels.

11. Your dress looks very similar to your yoga outfits.

12. You go on a run the day of your wedding because you're worried about the food you're about to eat.

13. Sexy lingerie includes flannel shirts and wool socks.

14. You attempt to climb a massive rock in your dress in order to get that perfect nature and mountain shot... and manage to do so without ripping your dress or breaking a sweat.

15. You make back up honeymoon plans incase your airplane is snowed in.

Bahhhhhhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!! i love these :)

And the Winner Is...

Ok so after many, many hours of searching and visiting and calling, I have finally found some potential bridesmaid dresses. Who knew gold would be such a HARD color to find!

but! I've finally appeared to make a bit of progress, and I'm super excited about it. Thank you lightinthebox.com! You have been a lifesaver! BTW are these not the cutest dresses ever?! And at such cheap costs!

So... now to actually pick which dress... that's the new thing I can't figure out! So apparently my obstacle isn't that much smaller. But I do feel more accomplished!

And to all who have had to deal with the bridezilla in me in relation to bridesmaid dresses, thanks for your patience and hopefully this bump in the road is over with!!!

until next time!

Ode to the Rainbow

These are my wedding colors. Yes, it looks very much like a distorted and slightly "special" rainbow. However, I LOVE them! They are incredible vintage looking, which is why they are perfect for my wedding. Gold and brown are sort of the "main" color and the rest are accent colors... and by accent i mean ALL the decorations and flowers and such are the green, purple, and pink colors. My vintage wedding is shaping up remarkably beautiful :)

Hey all.

I can honestly say that I have never had a blog before nor ever even considered having one. But somehow I developed something known as "blogger breakdown" and decided to try it.

Where did summer go? It is HALF WAY THROUGH JULY!!! I can't believe it. Time is flying... and I REALLY need it to stop. Today marks 11 months left until the wedding. BAH!!!! Only 11 months!!! I've already been engaged for a month and a half. My list of wedding accomplishments in respect to my yet-to-do list looks measly.

On the upside, I DO have a dress!!! That's a BIG check off my to-do list. Oddly enough it was the very first dress I tried on and none after compared to it. And it was thanks my wonderful mom that I found the perfect dress so quickly! She knows me better than myself I think :0)

Other than my dress, the whole attire art of the wedding is NOT going so well. Mom and I thought we had found the PERFECT bridesmaid dress to go with my dress. It was gold, lacey, and CUTE!!! It was the perfect dress... until I looked at it in the store. IT HAS SILVER ON IT!!! Why on earth would you put silver on a gold dress??? I have no idea but now I'm back to square one... and it's not looking like I'll be moving to square two any time soon.

However, Mom and I are not letting dress drama get us down. In the midst of such disappointment, we have managed yet another amazing feat. We have the guest table planned out and ready to go. I know I know, you are thinking "What on earth?? That's an amazing feat??", but it was the first of our check list to be completed down to every detail! We were so excited to get SOMETHING done, whether or not it was important :0)

I'm so excited for the next 11 months, but what I'm most excited about is to finally being able to call Andy mine and know when I wake up in the morning, he will always be there. This is my final countdown, and as much as I'm looking forward to reaching the end, I'm also hesitant to leave such a perfect and complete chapter in my life. To actually put the period on the end of this chapter in my life is going to be a very hard thing for me to do, but I know God has even better plans for me and they are just being put into place :0)

There's only one thing left to say: Here's to the Journey and where it takes us :0)