I'm getting married in 3 days!

... Enough said! I have been so busy (and a little stressed) over the past week that I haven't blogged one bit!

I have a list that I am faithfully following to be sure that I get everything done. I got ahead yesterday, but I remembered a couple more things to do today.

Today's list:
confirm vendors and reservations (CHECK!)
finish thank you notes for showers
get groceries for bridesmaids' brunch
finish laundry and start packing for honeymoon
find something blue
clean shoes (they got a little dirty at my bridal portraits)
get eyebrows waxed and nails filled
pay all bills that will be due while we're gone
wrap gifts for parents and bridesmaids

The last minute details are getting overwhelming, but I know it will be a beautiful day whether I get everything done or not.

Everyone keeps telling me to breathe... Maybe I seem more stressed that I want to admit. I really should've taken off from work this whole week.

Any advice?

Honestly...

Misty at Southern Belle Mama gave me this award yesterday! I'm so excited... She included with it 10 random "Honest Scrap" things about herself, so I'll carry on the tradition :)

1. I'm getting married in 11 days and I've been counting it down for about 100 days!

2. The more I try to eat healthy the more I want to eat onion rings and cheeseburgers.

3. My fiance has a karate/kickboxing/boxing/mixed martial arts school so I took a kickboxing class when I was trying to get him to notice me. (It worked!)

4. All our friends say we're gonna have twin girls, even though twins don't run in our families.

5. I love to drink Long Island Iced Tea.

6. All the women in my family live to be at least 90.

7. My professional goal is to open a preschool.

8. My favorite car is a Range Rover Sport. (in red, please!)

9. The college I went to had fewer students than my high school.

10. I'm lactose intolerant but I LOVE to eat dairy products.


And now I'll tag these lovely ladies for their Honest Scrap Award!

ABC at Life at the Start of the Alphabet

Jarvis Noelle at Life through my eyes

Tay at The Undomestic Mama

Vote for ABC!

My IRL sister and friend ABC has designed a reusable bag and entered it in a contest with Kroger Grocery Stores. She stands to win $1000 and she deserves it! She designed my whole invitation suite and other stationary items for my wedding. She is a very talented designer and a wonderful person. You can vote once a day until May 21st. Just click this link:

http://www.designareusablebag.com/vote-for-designs/bag.aspx?BagId=21405&banner=kroger

Speaking of IRL sisters and friends, two of my favorites will be here this weekend to throw me a party! We have been fondly referred to as 1,2,3 and we claim that title! Here's to a great weekend! Photos and stories will be here for your reading pleasure on Monday :)

Boys pee on the floor

Can I get an Amen from the ladies in the audience? Thank you.

I cleaned the house yesterday, which included giving the bathrooms a good scrub. I never knew until I shared a house with an 11 year old boy that it was necessary to scrub the ENTIRE toilet and the floor surrounding it so often. I love him. I hate scrubbing up urine. This is not a mop and bucket kind of job; this is a hands and knees, cleaning solution directly on the sponge kind of job. I know he doesn't do it on purpose, but there are definitely sprinkles that have gotten away from him and have gone unnoticed. The boys of the house can complain all they want about my hairs that shed and find their way into their sock drawer, video games, or bath towels, but I can honestly say I have never gotten peepee on the floor.

Top Two Tuesday... Beauty Secrets

I'm not one to give a lot of beauty advice... I only wear make up for special occasions. But the couple of things I do use, I will never change.

#1. Bare Minerals makeup - I've converted so many of my friends and family members to this makeup, I should probably get a kickback! It is absolutely the best thing I have ever put on my face. I have super sensitive (and really cranky) skin, and this does not irritate it or break me out. It comes in shades for all skin tones, too.
#2. OPI Nail Lacquer - This is something I NEVER go without. I will always have my toes painted... Every day of the year. OK... sometimes I let them get a little chipped in the winter, but I try! haha Occasionally I paint my finger nails, but always my toenails, and nothing lasts longer or has better colors than OPI. Half the fun of OPI is the names! This is the Spring/Summer 2010 Collection called Hong Kong. The colors have names like Red My Fortune Cookie (bottom right) and Lucky Lucky Lavender (top left).

Hope to hear some of your top beauty secrets! Happy Tuesday!

McD's Vanilla Iced Coffee

One of the best things about warm weather... This is my favorite iced beverage treat. I try not to drink them a lot, but I love them! If you haven't had one, try it! I used to be a Starbuck's snob, but this drink has me converted!

I stopped on my way to work this morning and got myself one... My taste buds were all ready to taste the punch of coffee goodness with a touch of silky vanilla. I put it down on my desk. I couldn't wait to get settled in and enjoy my drink while I caught up on paperwork. Then... I knocked it in the floor with my huge purse! I didn't even notice I had done it until everything had already drained out... I cried a little. Chris asked me if I was having an emotional day... "What the hell do you think?" is what I wanted to ask, but he was trying to be sensitive.

What a Monday!

But... I'm getting married in 19 days and my best friends will be here for a party this weekend! Things aren't all that bad... but I'm still mad about my coffee.

I want one! Friday

Really... This is what I have on my mind today. We have been wanting a puppy for a loooong time. We both want a Rottweiler, and I told Chris we're getting a girl since there are already so many boys in the family! This little sweetheart is at a Rottweiler Rescue group near where we live and I think I'm in love. It's not the right time for us... We don't have enough time or yard space, but I hope she and her siblings find a wonderful home. One day, I'll have a puppy of my own :)

Happy Friday!

The most stylish cookies available!

(NBC New York)

These may be every little girl's first purse. I know there was a time in my life when they were my favorite purse. And animal cookies don't get any better than these! Don't they bring back memories?

Lilly Pulitizer is now in a partnership with Barnum's Animal crackers for charities to support tiger conservation throughout the world. At the same time, she is making every child a little more fashionable, and cookie packages much more springtime!

In honor of these stylish little packages, what is your favorite spring purse?

Wishful Wednesday

"I wish...
I had the willpower to
stay on one particular diet
and it would be..."

I'm going to stretch it a little bit and say that I wish I had the willpower (and the humility) to listen to the advice of my certified personal trainer fiance. If I did, I would be unstoppable! I'm pretty happy with the way I look now (and he has no complaints) which probably influences my lack of motivation, but I know I could do better.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

I'm back!

Ok ladies... It has been way too long!

In the last 2 months I have planned almost an entire wedding! I am getting married in 25 days (not that there's a countdown or anything...) and I finally have time for the blog world again.
There are pictures to come of all the fun wedding stuff :)

This has a been a beautiful few days in the DC Area... It is supposed to be 92 degrees today! It is totally time to break out the skirts and shorts. I've been tanning, I have red toenails, and I'm ready for this warm weather! The last time I blogged it was snowing!

I am in love with OPI The Thrill of Brazil right now... It's the perfect summer red!


What are you loving now that the weather has warmed up?

Stop Snowing!!!

Oh my goodness... I just read the Winter Weather Warning for my area on weather.com and it says that the storm this weekend has the potential to be like the one we got the weekend before Christmas. And then... just a few minutes ago, one of the ladies in the gym was saying that VDOT is preparing for 42 inches!!! That is up to my shoulders! I do not like snow in the first place, so this winter has been a doosie.
Isn't it about time for some spring weather? I can't wait until I can wear sandals with my toes painted pink again! I'm tired of snow boots and sweaters. Let's ditch the snowmen and make a sand castle!!!
What about you? Are you loving the winter wonderland or wishing for warmth?

Happy Birthday, Mamaw!

My beautiful Mamaw turns 89 today! This is the woman who has nurtured me and taken care of me my whole life. I lived with her until I was 8 and she has always been the woman I look up to the most. It is by her example that I learned almost everything I know. She taught me to be a graceful and caring woman, she showed me how to love unconditionally and without judgment, and most of all she led me to be a strong Christian woman.
On a less mushy note, we share a little bit of the airhead gene, and she taught me to be able to laugh at myself for that. She taught me to cook and to garden, and to take care of people. She's the mother of nine, a mamaw to nearly 50 grands and great-grands, and an "adopted grandma" to many more.
Isn't she precious? She is a ton of fun in a very small package. I'm so happy to still have her in my life and glad to share her with my bloggy friends!
Happy 89th Birthday, Mamaw!

Wishful Wednesday - No More Drama

You all know that Mary J. Blige song right? You gotta love Mary J. Well it just seems like there are people trying to cause drama in my life everywhere I turn. That's why I haven't blogged in a week! I just didn't want to get on here and complain about people. It would not be productive, not be positive, and its boring to read.

But since I brought it up, Doesn't it drive you crazy when someone will lie to you knowing that you know its a lie? I'm not stupid. I check people's stories. Especially when they've been drama in the past. It is a pet peeve of mine to be lied to.

I am so thankful for the people I can count on.. My best friends and my fiance are such blessings. They've been especially wonderful lately, listening to all my frustrations and giving good advice. So I'm wishful today that the drama will leave my life, but I'm thankful that the people who love me and support me will never be drama. :) I guess I'll continue this tomorrow and call it Thankful Thursday!

Our daily scripture at my church for today is perfectly fitting for this post:

Isaiah 40:31
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

Mmm.. What a peach!

I was in a waiting room a couple of days ago and I read this recipe in an issue of Southern Living Magazine from about a year ago.

Peach Sangria

• 1 (750 mL) bottle of white wine
• 1 cup peach schnapps
• 1/2 cup frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
• 2 nectarines, sliced
• 1 cup green or red grapes, sliced or whole
• Combine, cover, and chill at least 2 hours or overnight. Stir before serving. Makes 8 cups.

Does this not sound amazing? I plan to try it the next time my ladies and I get together. :)

Peach is one of my favorite flavors (and scents). Have you tried the Juicy Peach candle from Yankee Candle? I highly recommend it!




Also, there are the peach flavored Dum-Dum lollipops. I will always scour a bowl of these for a peach one! And of course, peach pie or peach cobbler, and of course... drum roll please...

Peachie Tea from Pal's (a small chain of fast food restaurants near where I went to college) THAT is probably my very favorite peach thing!

What is your favorite flavor? Do you love peach as much as I do?

Some rambling to make up for the weekend away...

I swear, I haven't had a moment to sit down at my computer all weekend! I really thought about blogging several times, but I never did have a chance. I never thought this would be something I would miss when I was away from it.

We had a surprise birthday party for my fiance's oldest son who just turned 11. He was completely clueless... That was so much fun! We invited all his friends and our families that are in the area. It was a great party! There will be pictures in a following post :)

On Sunday afternoon we took the birthday boy to spend some of his birthday cash and I took my engagement ring for its semi-annual inspection and got it cleaned. It is blingin' like it is brand new! I think I found the perfect wedding band while I was there (it's about time!) It matches the band of my engagement ring perfectly. It's 1/2 cttw channel set diamonds in white gold. I wish I could find a picture of it on the internet, but do not worry, there will be pictures when I have it on my hand!

Also, tomorrow I'm going to look at a potential wedding reception venue. If we can book the place for this Spring, we will have our official date! It is a beautiful Inn in the downtown historic district of our city. I think it will be perfect. If there is enough space, we may have the ceremony there too, in which case I could enter from the stairs! I think that would be fabulous. I am thankful for my fiance for many reasons, but today I'm especially thankful that he is happy to go with me on these wedding expeditions, especially since my mother is less than enthusiastic about the whole wedding situation and has been particularly unreliable lately. But thats another blog.

Anyway ladies, my work duties are calling... I am about to use my bachelor's degree to unjam the copier. Happy Tuesday!

My Own Words of Wisdom

Ok ladies... Here is where I get a little opinionated...

Last night after Bible study at our church a middle-aged man and father of a young child in our church was giving a teenage girl a very hard time about her lip piercing.

Pastor Chris had given everyone the opportunity to ask questions and we had just been discussing with the several teenagers in the room why their tattoos and piercings are not going to send them to hell. Pastor Chris explained to them that it is what is in their heart that matters, and that the people who say negative things to them about the way they look do not necessarily know their heart and are not the ones to judge in the first place. It is only God who can send us to heaven or hell. We discussed that our body is our temple and that we are instructed to care for it, but that a piercing or a tattoo (with a clean needle) is not harmful to our bodies. Drinking in excess, smoking, or doing drugs were the examples we gave the teenagers as things that would harm their temple. Furthermore, the body we have on earth will not be present in heaven.

So anyway, this guy who apparently was not listening to anything for the last 30 minutes of Bible study approached this young lady of 15 years and asked her if she thought it was respectful for her to have her piercing in during church. UHH... hello??? Why on earth do people in church so often do things to make people uncomfortable in church? Isn't church supposed to be the place to come and be restored? People don't come to church after they're fixed anymore than someone would join a gym after they got in shape!

These are teenagers, several with some form of gang affiliation, in church on a Wednesday night because they choose to be. Not because anyone is forcing them or because we're bribing them to be there. These kids are serious about making changes in their lives and getting on the right path. They've started bringing other kids from their neighborhood and even their parents to church.

We need to love people where they are and accept and overlook the little things that we may not always agree with and see the heart of the person. I know too many young people who do not want to go to church because they have been hurt by older people in their church. Young people need to come to church to get guidance and to learn about themselves and develop their faith. Older Christians cannot use the name of Jesus to talk to teenagers (or anyone) anykindaway (as my mother-in-law would say.)

Thank you, Julie!

Thanks to Julie at BrownEyedBelle, I am the proud and very flattered recipient of this lovely award!
The rules are simple: Tell seven interesting facts about yourself and tag seven or fewer blogs. So... here are 7 things about me. :)

1. I hope to own 2 pet cows one day.
2. I am the future wife of a pastor.
3. I'm allergic to just about everything that can float in the air or grow in the ground.
4. I have a 4 year-old great-nephew who calls me Princess. (and I LOVE to answer to that!)
5. My Mamaw is my favorite woman in the whole world and I strive to follow her example in every aspect of life.
6. I tend to look mean unintentionally. (We call it the Meanface.)
7. In kindergarten, I had a pet jellyfish named Strawberry.


I'm tagging these Beautiful Blogs:

ES&D
Southern Belle Mama
Tales of a Short Southern Mama


Happy Wednesday lovelies!

My First Entry

So, my two best friends have been telling me I need to start a blog. I really didn't even know what a blog was until I started reading Julie's at BrownEyedBelle. I'm not very techy.. I don't tweet or twitter or whatever the lingo is. I don't understand what it means to 'bing' something and I certainly don't want to be poked. But I think I'm getting the hang of this.
Last weekend, my girls and I had a reunion weekend. We hadn't been all three together since June! So of course, there was lots of catching up to do. We talk every day, but its just not the same as seeing each other every day! Lauren (her blog is coming soon) and I braved the wind and snow to get to Julie and of course it was all worth it. We went shopping on Saturday, and in a quest to help me be more fashionable, Julie and Lauren helped me pick out some fabulosity. My favorite find from the weekend was this trench coat:


I think it is very fashionable! What do you think?

The other best things of the weekend are food related. If you're on any kind of diet, skip this section. Julie made the BEST dip I have ever eaten. It is Harry & David Pepper and Onion Relish mixed with cream cheese. The other thing I highly recommend is White Merlot wine. I know, I know, it is not the most sophisticated of wines, but it is absolutely delish!

What do you and your best friends do when you get together?