So here is the thing. I don't want to be a bridezilla. In fact, I feel like I have been pretty "cool" throughout the whole wedding planning process.
I picked my dress in a day.
We picked bridesmaid dresses in less than an hour.
I had a bridesmaid diagnosed with cancer. Seriously. And I grieved for my friend, not my wedding. (btw. she is now cancer free, and I am so happy for her!)
I had a bridesmaid have to "step down" or whatever you would call that. Situation was handled, and it is working out perfectly.
We picked a location quickly.
I let my mom and MoH choose our food because we couldn't go to the tasting.
My mom is basically handling the flowers with her friend. (and I went with fake flowers b/c it saved us A LOT of money)
I got my invites all sent out by myself.
The point is...I have been really easy going. All I want is to marry Dan. The other details really mean nothing to me. Don't get me wrong, I am excited to look gorgeous in my perfect dress. I am so happy we are getting married in a beautiful church and are having a reception with delish cheesecake and a beautiful cake.
BUT! Don't push me, people. Seriously. I am really not appreciating the "you have to invite these people" and "well, I'll just go behind your back and invite this person, anyway." GUESS WHAT?! Dan and I are getting married. Dan and I are paying for 90% of the wedding by OURSELVES. With MY parents paying for the remainder. Not everyone that we have ever known can come, let alone people we DON'T know. Sorry. but not really...because in my opinion, a wedding is a celebration of our love, and it is for people that truly care about our relationship. Not to mention, there is this thing called a fire code. Only so many people are allowed at the wedding, so suck it up, buttercup.
I have enjoyed wedding planning, please don't make me begin to resent it, or anyone else, for that matter. This is the only time I will ever do this, and I want to only have good memories.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Monday, March 25, 2013
Shower recap!
I cannot believe I forgot to tell you "all" about my bridal shower! Let me just come out and say, I was NERVOUS. I never realized that showers were so "secretive," and I was NOT a fan. The bride, in my opinion, has every right to share her opinion on food, location, games, etc. With some work, I was able to (mostly) get my voice heard, and it turned out wonderfully! Thanks to my bridesmaids and mother, the food was good, we had it where I wanted it, and it had the most adorable decorations!
Also, in general, I feel like showers are awkward. Tons of women in a room, playing "games" that no one wants to play. Who came up with this?! BUT! Mine was better, I think. Don't get me wrong, there were women I literally didn't know...like when they walked in, there was NO WAY I could tell you their names...but I guess maybe that happens when you marry into some families. Overall, though, the room was filled with my favorite women, and I felt SO much love. There were lots of hugs and laughter, and it seemed like for the most part, everyone enjoyed the games. I also got some amazing gifts, which was really exciting. We can't wait for the wedding to get more ;) oh...and to just be married!
Events like this always make me so grateful. I seriously have the BEST people in my life. My family took time out of their lives to drive to Blono to spend a few hours with me. I had friends drive 3 hours for a 2 hour shower! My bridesmaids and 2 other close friends spent HOURS preparing for the shower. (Who says you don't make life-long friends in high school?! I know I sure did!) It is humbling to know that so many people care that much. I really don't know what I did to deserve so much love, but I will take it!
With the shower over, the wedding is getting closer and closer! We picked out our cake, we finalized our reception layout, and I had my first fitting for my dress! People...I cannot tell you how excited I am to see that thing 6+ inches shorter. I may cry...which is justified because it is seriously the PERFECT dress for me. I can't wait to wear it when I marry Dan...I know I will feel more beautiful that day than I ever have :)
The bachelorette party is coming up, too! We are going to spend the afternoon drinking wine at this amazing winery in Grafton, then we will have dinner and continue to drink at Ragin Cajun, this awesome dueling piano bar in Alton. It's only going to be the best par-tay every!
68 days until I get to marry my best friend :)
Also, in general, I feel like showers are awkward. Tons of women in a room, playing "games" that no one wants to play. Who came up with this?! BUT! Mine was better, I think. Don't get me wrong, there were women I literally didn't know...like when they walked in, there was NO WAY I could tell you their names...but I guess maybe that happens when you marry into some families. Overall, though, the room was filled with my favorite women, and I felt SO much love. There were lots of hugs and laughter, and it seemed like for the most part, everyone enjoyed the games. I also got some amazing gifts, which was really exciting. We can't wait for the wedding to get more ;) oh...and to just be married!
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| my gorgeous friends (and flower girl) that helped make the day perfect! |
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| best flower girl ever :) love her more than anything! |
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| these ladies have been so amazing throughout the planning process :) can't wait to have them stand up with me as I marry my guy! |
With the shower over, the wedding is getting closer and closer! We picked out our cake, we finalized our reception layout, and I had my first fitting for my dress! People...I cannot tell you how excited I am to see that thing 6+ inches shorter. I may cry...which is justified because it is seriously the PERFECT dress for me. I can't wait to wear it when I marry Dan...I know I will feel more beautiful that day than I ever have :)
The bachelorette party is coming up, too! We are going to spend the afternoon drinking wine at this amazing winery in Grafton, then we will have dinner and continue to drink at Ragin Cajun, this awesome dueling piano bar in Alton. It's only going to be the best par-tay every!
68 days until I get to marry my best friend :)
Friday, March 22, 2013
Getting my sweat on...
When I was in HS, like many other girls around the world, I thought I was overweight. I would have given anything to lose weight...besides eating better and working out! Throughout HS, I fluctuated around 110lbs, give or take. Now, let's remember that I am 4'10...on a tall day...so I don't carry extra weight very well. There really isn't anywhere for it to go! I never really let feeling "big" affect me, but I was definitely conscious of what I wore, and I had very little confidence. Again, I was a pretty typical HS girl...which is a little sad, but that's a pet peeve for another time.
This June, on my wedding day, it will be 6 years since we have graduated HS. 6 YEARS?! Not a clue where those years went, but they definitely came and went...and left roughly 20 extra pounds on me. Yep, you read that right. 20 lbs. People, I am 4'10! 20 extra pounds did not look good on me! I officially had a FAT face, double chin and all. My stomach is/was way too big for my proportions. The whole deal. I would look back at pictures from HS, and I couldn't believe I thought I was BIG at 110. I mean, really?!
Well, when I got engaged a year ago (in 9 days), I decided I was NOT going to weight my heaviest on my wedding day. I was going to do ANYTHING besides eat better and work out for HOURS a day. I did pretty well. I was working out at least 4 days a week from March - Sept(ish). The scale BARELY moved. It was incredibly frustrating, school started, and I pretty much gave up. Don't get me wrong, I still wanted to look better for pictures, so I kept doing some physical activity...maybe 8 days a MONTH...pathetic. Surprisingly, I didn't see any changes. I probably gained a lot of weight, actually. So in January my friend and I decided enough was enough. She is getting married a few weeks after me, which has been super exciting from the get go, but having her as a partner in crime during the last home stretch of the current journey has been great!
Since January, I have lost 10lbs. Yes, it has taken me 12 weeks, but I currently weigh right around 119.5lbs, and I am SO proud of that. I finally decided that maybe I need to look at my diet. My mantra has always been "I refuse to give that up!" Guess what?! I am sticking to it! But guess what else?! I CAN'T EAT ICE CREAM EVERY NIGHT AND BE UPSET I AM NOT LOSING WEIGHT! I can count on one hand the amount of times I have had ice cream since January, and ice cream is my FAVORITE treat. For the first time, though, I have decided that as much as I love ice cream, I hate my body more. It isn't just ice cream. It's candy sitting in my closet, it's buttery mashed potatoes, it's pasta...or anything delicious for that matter. I refuse to tell myself that I can't have it. I refuse to give up any of the things I love because I don't want to give up all those favorites to hit a magic number on a scale, only to gain all my weight back when I feel like I can start eating it all again. HOWEVER...I eat a lot less of all of those things. I am not eating pasta every night. I have only touched the M&Ms and Laffy Taffy in the closet a few times (in 3 months, people!). Ground turkey is taking over the role of ground beef. Little changes, slow progress, big results.
On top of my food, I am working out consistently. I aim for 5 days a week, and it doesn't always happen, but it does a lot! We got a treadmill in January that has really helped...on THAT treadmill, I have ran OVER 50 miles in 3 months. That is probably more miles than I have ran in my ENTIRE life. It is amazing to me that in January, I could barely run a fourth of a mile without dying, and to date, the furthest I have gone non-stop is 1.5 miles. Typically, I will get in a little over 2 miles, but I do a lot of intervals b/c this lady cannot RUN that far (yet). Also, I am incorporating more strength training into my workouts. This lady wants smoking "wedding arms" and a toned back for my strapless dress!
I still have a long way to go before I will be completely pleased, but hopefully I will get there eventually. It is incredible to notice some changes so far! My face looks thinner, in my opinion. I don't notice the double chin as often. Also starting to rock some biceps, which is AWESOME!
This June, on my wedding day, it will be 6 years since we have graduated HS. 6 YEARS?! Not a clue where those years went, but they definitely came and went...and left roughly 20 extra pounds on me. Yep, you read that right. 20 lbs. People, I am 4'10! 20 extra pounds did not look good on me! I officially had a FAT face, double chin and all. My stomach is/was way too big for my proportions. The whole deal. I would look back at pictures from HS, and I couldn't believe I thought I was BIG at 110. I mean, really?!
Well, when I got engaged a year ago (in 9 days), I decided I was NOT going to weight my heaviest on my wedding day. I was going to do ANYTHING besides eat better and work out for HOURS a day. I did pretty well. I was working out at least 4 days a week from March - Sept(ish). The scale BARELY moved. It was incredibly frustrating, school started, and I pretty much gave up. Don't get me wrong, I still wanted to look better for pictures, so I kept doing some physical activity...maybe 8 days a MONTH...pathetic. Surprisingly, I didn't see any changes. I probably gained a lot of weight, actually. So in January my friend and I decided enough was enough. She is getting married a few weeks after me, which has been super exciting from the get go, but having her as a partner in crime during the last home stretch of the current journey has been great!
Since January, I have lost 10lbs. Yes, it has taken me 12 weeks, but I currently weigh right around 119.5lbs, and I am SO proud of that. I finally decided that maybe I need to look at my diet. My mantra has always been "I refuse to give that up!" Guess what?! I am sticking to it! But guess what else?! I CAN'T EAT ICE CREAM EVERY NIGHT AND BE UPSET I AM NOT LOSING WEIGHT! I can count on one hand the amount of times I have had ice cream since January, and ice cream is my FAVORITE treat. For the first time, though, I have decided that as much as I love ice cream, I hate my body more. It isn't just ice cream. It's candy sitting in my closet, it's buttery mashed potatoes, it's pasta...or anything delicious for that matter. I refuse to tell myself that I can't have it. I refuse to give up any of the things I love because I don't want to give up all those favorites to hit a magic number on a scale, only to gain all my weight back when I feel like I can start eating it all again. HOWEVER...I eat a lot less of all of those things. I am not eating pasta every night. I have only touched the M&Ms and Laffy Taffy in the closet a few times (in 3 months, people!). Ground turkey is taking over the role of ground beef. Little changes, slow progress, big results.
Feb 3 and Mar 16 :)
Saturday, March 2, 2013
91 days!
Until I am a married lady! I can't believe how quickly it is all coming up :) A week from today, I get to have my bridal shower, and I am so excited! My bridesmaids have been pretty amazing planning it all for me, and I feel so spoiled. :) A lot of lovely ladies will be attending, so it will be nice to see everyone! I also get to do some cake-tasting next week at home...you people have no idea how excited I am for this! Butterfinger, chocolate chip cookie dough, dark chocolate raspberry, banana, and strawberry! oh my ;) (I may go over my calorie count that day!) Also on the agenda is going to ISU to finalize our layout. I met with catering, and we have our menu figured out...Dan is super excited about the Shafley beer (sp?) we are getting a keg of...while I am stoked they are getting some moscato for me ;)
Also. Also. Invites are in the works! (so much work...) I have been stamping our return addresses, putting stamps on, printing address labels, etc. Hopefully they will look good, but more importantly, I sure hope they get the point across and people show up to this shin dig ;)
I'm not really sure what else is going on...I suck at updating this thing. We are on Spring Break this week, which means I get a few days to make up some much needed hours at prac. woo! A few weeks ago I was in Seattle at a conference for the National Association of School Psychs. It was nice, and I learned SO much!
OH! We found out that Justin and Lauren are having a little lady! Brenna Claire will be joining our family in July. I can't wait for a new little one to snuggle and love ;) I may have already ordered her something today...I swear, email coupons will be the death of me. I will definitely have plenty of gifts by July at this rate ;)
So many exciting things in the works!
Also. Also. Invites are in the works! (so much work...) I have been stamping our return addresses, putting stamps on, printing address labels, etc. Hopefully they will look good, but more importantly, I sure hope they get the point across and people show up to this shin dig ;)
I'm not really sure what else is going on...I suck at updating this thing. We are on Spring Break this week, which means I get a few days to make up some much needed hours at prac. woo! A few weeks ago I was in Seattle at a conference for the National Association of School Psychs. It was nice, and I learned SO much!
OH! We found out that Justin and Lauren are having a little lady! Brenna Claire will be joining our family in July. I can't wait for a new little one to snuggle and love ;) I may have already ordered her something today...I swear, email coupons will be the death of me. I will definitely have plenty of gifts by July at this rate ;)
So many exciting things in the works!
Saturday, January 5, 2013
but...break just started!
Sad day, people. It is my last weekend of freedom. :( Class starts back up on Monday, and naturally I am excited (hello!!! I am a NERD) because this semester I get to take psychopathology, advanced bio psych, and behavioral assessment (and I have to take our second stats class...yuck!). I am stoked stoked stoked. Unfortunately, though, classes don't just stay in class...I will have a TON of work to do this semester, which is a little depressing, but if I survived my first semester of grad school with a 4.0, I can do anything ;)
Moving on...WEDDING UPDATE!
Dan and I went to look at wedding bands today :) The band that matches my ring wasn't available, so the jeweler is getting a sample this week for us to go check out next week. Then I will have to send my ring away for 2+ rings so they can make the band to line up / match it perfectly. idk what I am going to do without it, but I cannot wait to have Dan put it on my finger at the wedding to complete the set :) He is having trouble deciding on his, but he narrowed it down to 3 today! When we go back next week, he will decide for sure. It was fun :)
What else? I ordered Aidan's flower girl dress :) When we went to pick out her dress for the other weddings she was in, I saw her disappointment when she wasn't able to get the dress she wanted. Thankfully, I am her aunt, not her parent, so I am able to spoil her a little and not feel like I am raising a brat! I told her she would be able to pick a dress for my wedding because I really don't have a strong opinion about what she wears. When we were deciding between white or purple, she said "um..I think PINK!" ...ok, so I apparently had a strong opinion about color ;) When we got that cleared up, she tried on a few beautiful dresses (and one very ugly one...thankfully the consultant helped me out of that pickle!). All she was really concerned with was the dress touching the floor "like the bride!" We had one picked out, but we had to convince her she would be happy with where it touched the ground by getting a dress in her size to try on. The consultant walked over the dress, and Aidan's eyes got so wide! The dress skirt was fluffier than any dress she had tried on, and she fell in love. she was spinning all around, swinging that big ol' skirt. I couldn't say no (hey! I am the aunt!) So that's the one she got! It will be ivory tool on the bottom (a huge skirt) and a lavender on the top. She will look gorgeous!
We also have all of the bridesmaid dresses ordered, the tuxes picked out, food was tasted by my mom and MoH. I still need to go talk to ISU to finalize food / decor, but it's practically done! We will be cake tasting ASAP, and we have our second (read final) marriage prep class for the Church coming up this month. We are pretty excited to get this stuff taken care of. Receiving the sacrament of marriage in the Catholic Church is a huge blessing :)
Also! There are dates set for my bridal shower and bachelorette party! WOOOOOO! So excited for this stuff! We have less than 5 months until we tie the knot...this is getting real, people!
If you don't hear from me for awhile, it's because I am under a pile of books ;)
Monday, December 31, 2012
year in review
It has been so long since I have had any updates! School took over my life the past few months, so I didn't have a lot of free time, but I figured the last day of 2012 is a good time to summarize!
2012 has been very good to me!
-I decided to apply to grad school, got in to the only school I applied to, and have started coursework that is leading to my master's degree and specialist degree in education. It has been overwhelming at times, but I already feel that I am learning a TON, and I can't wait for more learning experiences in 2013!
-I got engaged to my best friend, and I have started to plan/prepare for our wedding and marriage! Some days he drives me absolutely crazy, but I cannot wait to "start our lives" together this year. (Though, I am not convinced our daily lives will change all that much, it is still exciting to know we will officially be married!)
-Two of my best friends also became engaged! I am enjoying hearing about their plans, and I am so lucky to be a part of their days in 2013!
-Another one of my best friends became a mother for the first time! It is so amazing seeing her parent, not to mention the amazing love even I get to feel when I hold that beautiful girl!
-My brother became a husband, and we recently found out him and his wife are expecting a baby. I can't wait to be an aunt again in 2013!
It has been a great year, but I am excited for all of the changes that 2013 will bring!
2012 has been very good to me!
-I decided to apply to grad school, got in to the only school I applied to, and have started coursework that is leading to my master's degree and specialist degree in education. It has been overwhelming at times, but I already feel that I am learning a TON, and I can't wait for more learning experiences in 2013!
-I got engaged to my best friend, and I have started to plan/prepare for our wedding and marriage! Some days he drives me absolutely crazy, but I cannot wait to "start our lives" together this year. (Though, I am not convinced our daily lives will change all that much, it is still exciting to know we will officially be married!)
-Two of my best friends also became engaged! I am enjoying hearing about their plans, and I am so lucky to be a part of their days in 2013!
-Another one of my best friends became a mother for the first time! It is so amazing seeing her parent, not to mention the amazing love even I get to feel when I hold that beautiful girl!
-My brother became a husband, and we recently found out him and his wife are expecting a baby. I can't wait to be an aunt again in 2013!
It has been a great year, but I am excited for all of the changes that 2013 will bring!
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
fall breezes :)
Well, I am officially in the full-swing of school stuff! I have turned in a paper, done a presentation, and I have a WISC-V kit sitting in my kitchen! WISC-V is an intelligence measure for children, and I am SO excited to learn how to give it and the many other cognitive assessments throughout the semester. It makes it feel so real :) I am really enjoying being in classes again and already feel like I am learning a ton. There is something different about being a graduate student, and it is wonderful!
Even though school is in full-swing, life keeps happening, as well. Some good, some bad.
A wonderful thing is that my older brother became a husband! And I officially gained my first sister! (Though Ali will be claiming the title soon, as well!) It was really cool to see my big brother make that commitment and see their love. I am very happy for them. An added perk of the weekend was seeing little Miss Aidan pretty much all weekend. Always a good time! She is growing and changing so much. I cannot believe she is officially a kindergartner. Where has the time gone?! I am so proud of the little lady she is becoming, though, and I really hope I can continue to have a close relationship with her as she gets older.
I also got to meet the most precious baby girl! Cecelia Robson was born August 15th, and I am so lucky to be a small part of her life! She is adorable, sweet, and cuddly. And an added perk of hanging out with her is seeing her beautiful mama! I can't wait to watch this girl grow!
See?! Could she be any cuter?! I certainly don't think so!
Unfortunately, during the same weekend full of so much love, we lost our first dog, Bella. Dan got Bella the summer before our sophomore year of college. She was a cute American Eskimo. Don't get me wrong, I had my moments with Bella. She was extremely stubborn, for instance, and hated taking her pill, which she needed so she didn't pee all over herself/the house. She would also bark at absolutely every sound, and I hated it, but she was 4.5, and we did not have any intention of saying "goodbye" to her that early in her life. We don't know what happened, but her health went dramatically downhill, and when we took her to the emergency vet, they took her to the back room, and she began to crash. They attempted CPR, but they were unable to bring her back. It was a huge shock, and it was hard to leave without our fluffy white pee-machine.
I should also say how great of a dog she really was. Bella wanted nothing more than to please me and Dan (besides taking her meds...she wouldn't go that far just to make us happy). She was calm, and loved nothing more than getting petted/cuddled. Our house is definitely not the same without her.
Dan, though, decided he didn't want to wait long for another dog. I could have waited another few weeks, but he found Reese, a Border Collie / Aussie mix, and Dan fell in love. We (including Riley and the cats) are adjusting to having such a hyper puppy in the house. He loves to play (read attack) the cats and Riley, and they are taking it like champs! Riley is really beginning to enjoy having a constant playmate. He is a great fit here, and we are excited to have him in our home for a long time!
Wedding plans are moving right along, as well. My dress came in, and it was pretty awesome trying it on! There is something different about putting your OWN wedding dress on! Can't wait to have it altered in a few months and see the finished product :) Dan and I have one of our two pre-marriage classes for the church on Oct 6. We are excited to get these taken care of, and I am sure they won't hurt our relationship! Finally, we are doing engagement pictures this weekend! I am stoked. I have no idea what either of us is going to wear, but I am stoked! I am more stoked about the final product, I guess. I can't imagine taking pictures for hours will be tons of fun in itself, but having awesome pictures to hang up/send out is awesome! It will be great!
And finally...even though Fall doesn't officially start until Saturday, it feels like FALL! I have the windows open, and I am loving the breeze! So excited for all the fun fall stuff to come :)
Even though school is in full-swing, life keeps happening, as well. Some good, some bad.
A wonderful thing is that my older brother became a husband! And I officially gained my first sister! (Though Ali will be claiming the title soon, as well!) It was really cool to see my big brother make that commitment and see their love. I am very happy for them. An added perk of the weekend was seeing little Miss Aidan pretty much all weekend. Always a good time! She is growing and changing so much. I cannot believe she is officially a kindergartner. Where has the time gone?! I am so proud of the little lady she is becoming, though, and I really hope I can continue to have a close relationship with her as she gets older.
I also got to meet the most precious baby girl! Cecelia Robson was born August 15th, and I am so lucky to be a small part of her life! She is adorable, sweet, and cuddly. And an added perk of hanging out with her is seeing her beautiful mama! I can't wait to watch this girl grow!
Unfortunately, during the same weekend full of so much love, we lost our first dog, Bella. Dan got Bella the summer before our sophomore year of college. She was a cute American Eskimo. Don't get me wrong, I had my moments with Bella. She was extremely stubborn, for instance, and hated taking her pill, which she needed so she didn't pee all over herself/the house. She would also bark at absolutely every sound, and I hated it, but she was 4.5, and we did not have any intention of saying "goodbye" to her that early in her life. We don't know what happened, but her health went dramatically downhill, and when we took her to the emergency vet, they took her to the back room, and she began to crash. They attempted CPR, but they were unable to bring her back. It was a huge shock, and it was hard to leave without our fluffy white pee-machine.
I should also say how great of a dog she really was. Bella wanted nothing more than to please me and Dan (besides taking her meds...she wouldn't go that far just to make us happy). She was calm, and loved nothing more than getting petted/cuddled. Our house is definitely not the same without her.
Dan, though, decided he didn't want to wait long for another dog. I could have waited another few weeks, but he found Reese, a Border Collie / Aussie mix, and Dan fell in love. We (including Riley and the cats) are adjusting to having such a hyper puppy in the house. He loves to play (read attack) the cats and Riley, and they are taking it like champs! Riley is really beginning to enjoy having a constant playmate. He is a great fit here, and we are excited to have him in our home for a long time!
Wedding plans are moving right along, as well. My dress came in, and it was pretty awesome trying it on! There is something different about putting your OWN wedding dress on! Can't wait to have it altered in a few months and see the finished product :) Dan and I have one of our two pre-marriage classes for the church on Oct 6. We are excited to get these taken care of, and I am sure they won't hurt our relationship! Finally, we are doing engagement pictures this weekend! I am stoked. I have no idea what either of us is going to wear, but I am stoked! I am more stoked about the final product, I guess. I can't imagine taking pictures for hours will be tons of fun in itself, but having awesome pictures to hang up/send out is awesome! It will be great!
And finally...even though Fall doesn't officially start until Saturday, it feels like FALL! I have the windows open, and I am loving the breeze! So excited for all the fun fall stuff to come :)
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