tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36247728615275184722024-03-13T02:28:03.925-04:00Champagne Taste......A Budget Bride's adventures in the world of wedding planningBaileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135924709085576135noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624772861527518472.post-38697120343962661702009-09-25T19:35:00.002-04:002009-09-25T19:37:45.847-04:00Drive By Posting...I need to update like whoa, but for now, this will have to do:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.melissasmithphotography.blogspot.com/">www.melissasmithphotography.blogspot.com</a>.<br /><br />I will say this:<br /><br />1. The wedding was perfect<br />2. The honeymooon was amazing<br />and 3. We have a LOT of gifts in our house right now!!<br /><br />If the rain holds off, we will be having a yard sale in the morning to get rid of the old to make room for the new!!!<br /><br />Married life is wonderful so far =)<br /><br />~BaileyBaileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135924709085576135noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624772861527518472.post-45197257077547763282009-09-03T08:55:00.003-04:002009-09-03T09:27:17.952-04:00Two Days To Go...It's not even 9:00 am and I already feel behind with my huge list of things to get done today, so this will have to be short. I just can't believe that our wedding is in TWO days! And kudos to all of you who planned your wedding while working full time (and/or keeping up with a blog!) I feel like my life has been devoted to nothing but this wedding for the last couple weeks! I am SO excited though and ready for all the hard work to pay off. Some of Will's family started arriving yesterday and a few more are coming today. My family starts coming in tomorrow and I am SO excited to see everyone, and for everyone to see each other! My parents are divorced (and have been for 22 years) so my Mom has not seen my Dad's side of the family and vice versa in a very long time! I have one cousin my Mom has never met, and two that she hasn't seen since they were toddlers!<br /><br />Sunday we will spend a little more time visiting with family and friends before heading down to Charlotte to stay in the Westin (for free- thank you credit card points!) and flying out early Monday morning to spend the week in Playa Del Carmen. The weather looks great so far for the wedding and the honeymoon, so keep your fingers crossed!<br /><br />Once we get back from Mexico and settle in, I expect I will feel like I have a lot of free time on my hands (with no wedding planning to do!) but if you know me, you know I never completely relax and always have several lists in my head, so I'll share my thoughts on what I want to accomplish when we get back:<br /><br />1. Find a new job. Seriously. It has now been six months since I got laid off and I am sick of being broke! I haven't had a whole lot of time to be looking for jobs, but really didn't think anyone would want to hire someone who was planning a wedding and about to need a week and a half off right away. But now it is time. This is priority numero uno.<br /><br />2. Thank You's. I<em> hate </em>writing thank you cards. In fact, I'm pretty terrible at doing them for birthdays and Christmas, but I forced myself to for both graduations, and I know that this is one more time where they are neccessary. So my goal is to get at least 5 done a day until they are DONE.<br /><br />3. Organize our house! It has become wedding crap central and I can't wait to get rid of all of it, so I can actually see what we have (gift-wise) and start getting rid of duplicates and making space for our new things. Our neighborhood is having a community yard sale a few weeks after we get back, so that is my deadline for getting rid of the old stuff to make room for the new!<br /><br />4. Scrapbooking! Ohhhhh, how I have missed this hobby. In fact, the last time I scrapbooked anything was the night we got engaged (way back in November!) I am so behind on things- I have Christmas presents from last year that never were finished! I must get those done before this Christmas and I want to scrapbook the engagement/wedding/honeymoon ASAP before I forget any details or lose any of the little memorobilia pieces I have been saving (like the bows that I broke at my showers.... hello, those are my future children we're talking about! Three to be exact!)<br /><br />5. Working out again. I know this is something I should have been doing <em>before</em> the wedding but we canceled our Y membership last Fall when money was getting a little tight and without that, I really had no desire or motivation to work out at home. But I'm not giving up yet! I have gained a good 25-30 pounds in the last 3-4 years, and I am sick of it! It's not really about how I look, it's about how I feel in my own clothes. Even though I can hide it with flowy pretty shirts, I'm just not a fan of how the muffin top FEELS, hanging over my jeans! That's gross, I know, but tell me you've never experienced this!<br /><br />Okay, well there you have it..... my top 5 things to do post-honeymoon.<br /><br />Now for the 5,000 things I must still do pre-wedding!<br /><br />Thanks for all the encouraging words throughout this process! I promise to be back when it is over!<br /><br />Oh, and I should add (since this was supposed to be the whole theme of this blog), that I think we did a pretty good job with our wedding budget. I will finalize it and post the details of it sometime. We may end up going over budget by a little bit, but we did get some AMAZING deals along the way! I'll have to post a picture of me and Will in Harris Teeter with FOUR grocery carts full of beer! (It was on sale- $8.88 for 18 bottles! That's about $1.50 less PER BOTTLE than what the caterer charges! Yes, we will have over 1,000 bottles of beer at our reception, thankyouverymuch!)<br /><br />Bye for now Bloggy friends!!!<br /><br /><em>Edited to Add: For those of you reading this that have kept up with the situation with my FBIL, he is doing great! He's been at Walter Reed for the last few weeks- he got his leg! And he has been learning how to walk on it. He's coming home today (and going to stay with us tonight- yay!) so on Saturday he will WALK DOWN THE AISLE as Will's Best Man. Probably with crutches or a cane, but that is still amazing to me. I'm tearing up right now just thinking about it. In fact, I don't expect there to be a dry eye in the place on the wedding day! I am not a very religious person, but I have prayed harder for TJ than I ever have about anything in my whole life. I know that just to have him alive is a mircale in itself, but considering we almost called off the wedding because we didn't know if he would walk again, and now, just six months later, everything is coming together, all his hard work is paying off, and all the prayers were heard- so thank you everyone for praying for him and thinking about him! I can't tell you how happy it makes me!</em>Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135924709085576135noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624772861527518472.post-26527265607765009332009-08-08T19:22:00.010-04:002009-08-08T20:35:52.966-04:00A few updates!Hello bloggy friends! I know I have been terrible at keeping up with this, but I have been extremely busy lately! I really shouldn't even be on here right now- I have a freaking wedding ceremony to write! But... I do have a few quick updates to share!<br /><br /><br />1) We booked our honeymoon!!! We are going to Playa del Carmen, Mexico! First, we will spend time with out of town family on Sunday, then drive to Charlotte Sunday afternoon and spend the night in the Westin. Then we'll be leaving bright (actually, probably dark!) and early Monday morning, flying first to NYC and then into Cancun, staying at an all-inclusive resort for four nights, and enjoying every minute! Keep your fingers crossed for nice weather and no hurricanes, because I plan to spend some quality time on the beach and at the swim-up pool bar.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367746954588798370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNmhyphenhyphenVqdKIyQo_KyAKaKitQhuRlDcEOX8rZoGfSzFdx0jq66UB5NTsjWkSCF3obZ1oILuJOfZ1JQRFoNtKn_aEMTryaxPir5Rkx78VhPpEFZe3JirvNOD-kZ4vkrhWjOetPj47KS3PxrV/s320/exter%252025feb08pp.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br />2) I have had two great showers in the last two weeks- first a kitchen/recipe shower given by my FMIL's friends, then an "around the clock" shower given by Katie, my MOH. I got tons of great gifts (and recipes) and enjoyed seeing so many friends and family members!<br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#3366ff;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#3366ff;">Me and FMIL</span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367746958696882018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OISMDJN5iddpuvvMWarx0BAgmtA9-uvpducdYCOPyCOJnewDQFKs_yQMdndQwZHxMTeixIrSQjLOlv4eafzGja_yaRYhyphenhyphenP-ekHKA1ZsJxC5EKQ6Yd3axwBxASfExtA9V8zXMdvH7oJNk/s320/July-Aug+2009+060.jpg" border="0" /> <div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367746966291508802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrYuqyWdDbRVSCR1jvAttbNutwXFRbjLhvRLIo2GOjSWwWCCeC_V4IilHH2pOupTjZSHCAGJf0adbg6BXrCOyKCkuVh2cjyv8ng6ZU5hzrzZvS0ZE23nKRayUlOhI_P1fdCcNRgbqtjYnz/s320/July-Aug+2009+152.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#3366ff;">Katie, Molly, Ashley, Me, Kristen and Kelly =)<br /></span><br /><br /><div align="left">3) Invitations were mailed out a week ago and I have gotten so many compliments on them! They really did turn out fabulously, if I do say so myself. I'll try to get a picture of one to post here so my "invisible" friends can see too! (That is what Will calls my friends out there in internet world....) </div><br /><div align="left">4) My Uncle John is going to be performing our ceremony and I am very excited about it! He did such a great job at my cousins wedding a few years ago, and since Will and I aren't very religious, we thought it would be very special to have John do it. Now I am revising and re-writing parts of my cousin's ceremony to make it perfect for us...and it is hard! By far the hardest part of the whole planning process! </div><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">5) We got Will's wedding band, but have to decide in the next week or so what we want to get engraved in them. I like "Love Never Ends" ... thoughts??</div><br /><br /><div align="left">6) We booked our cake! We met with a local woman who is sort of a family friend and she does beautiful work and the price was right- $220! We're going with a 3 tier, square, white cake with ivory buttercream frosting, with chocolate brown swirls and blue hydrangeas on the top. We're still trying to decide on a topper, but I'm pretty sure it will be just a simple, scripty "S" for our new last name. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">7) We did trial runs of the boquets/bouts/corsaiges and they came out great! We're using a combination of blue hydrangeas, white carnations, white freesias, white mini roses and some boxwood and thyme for some green accents. </div><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367744664159193442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi47EeLG4_h58FO613DZtkJqiFNJn64QVR4AO56nXvfiyc0DClP3wrRZxK0bFkhdEHdJ8PNdAnZyapfUnb4nlcBDXvVQmiM7tmYNkT6IG8pkV67aONwyIIlyjSczXZGRD-WcyFNLId5H9Tl/s320/July-Aug+2009+021.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367744668865197938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWxA5ZWx78KNM0ksDR2zdNSU32ytDTky6XPaX0bZheLVqRsbE32jqypgasvnXQeYFBfFWO8adr4o-rnfb7D2ZQ5csDQ7gl9vU24T_tssOIFU_syliB5r7vuc6G9KddilaQaUrWIrLFmQV/s320/July-Aug+2009+020.jpg" border="0" /></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">8) We FINALLY took engagement pictures today! One of my dad's best friends came up to Greensboro with him and we spent all day taking tons of pictures in different locations and I cannot wait to see them all! Hopefully I will have a CD next week and be able to post a few!<br /><br /><br />In other news, TJ is doing well- his new house is awesome and we have gotten to go visit twice since he moved in (once in mid-June to help him move and then again for the fourth of July!)<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367749827216221106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrk93jH0SIHOtN-j4yiJ9c1m7hOOnVZQ1qVPGhXitrlqPwDHGWong2OpH5NFLt_dhJMDOlxmaiUYsQTFx8Qjxf3ehlr4w2cfSj_mCX2ypCyKBYwH_92aB21qsuNwRsBM5WXZC5LOODdWf/s320/June+2009+153.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367753752650074818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoOpsUXfQABk2SZhuaW-YP6LIuDF6Mqv0yWUMHIXHO8kHsWs469laqYSYouVUT4mAJaKNtLe13db3-67zYfV9_ER_dfVJ0o_0c27dXdGA0-YVpD9ouFHpUl3z81N5D512KgFNNKL3Wg3FO/s320/June+2009+151.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367753747346565330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2FQD9kJcWWZMhyphenhypheny8mxebryO4MfUdeVexXMekS0X4MxslUIwCxLB0vqxa3AedSzokYNIdjxAZuBovrdSiinciaLoGiFUUGKt_4NBi33gnNYnh1gUHyD4KNvxguCMQGX4cMDMpm7nUJMEL/s320/June+2009+213.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367749822051294850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieNHYK3tqjFIcEBsXSgAN1Ondcm27F7yaLksdMDrwhtW35S2LCyU7dR7PoLK7F-6xwvKRk-3BwH9hN8NY9KmB8F3cxlcbQbfkTgrTxi-z9XIGSTuzzIOMRPvdNwJOv81JJBXEJkhNyDgmS/s320/June+2009+141.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367749813352777266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkoJ5cbnBuQDpVRVzG6jW5APVDUGnOSHeHD9-udCbJcXdMP1etqS_O8O3BSVa_YRw9cawbuV5_RtDsOtZ4u7VLYxJJi8KeLxFWZLe3tz4U2cSCDGGjZW-06MURv2ZlzDssCPjtrfUhYAxj/s320/July-Aug+2009+025.jpg" border="0" /> Every time we are there I don't want to leave, but it will probably be a while before we get back down. The wedding is four weeks from today (ahh!) and then it is football season! Maybe we'll go down when there is an away game, because we have season tickets to UNC this year and I am so excited! Will is already making elaborate tail-gating plans, so it will definitely be a fun, busy, newly-wed Fall! I hope everyone is having an exciting summer! I promise I've been trying to keep up with everyone elses blogs, even if I've neglected my own!Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135924709085576135noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624772861527518472.post-32021268265093866172009-08-03T19:17:00.002-04:002009-08-03T19:20:41.353-04:00Cutest Dog CompetitionAlright, bloggy friends... I know I have been super slack with updates, but I promise to be better if you will all go vote for Sadie! She definitely IS the cutest dog ever- pictures don't even do her justice, but I promise personal visits to each and every one of you if she wins! =)<br /><img style="VISIBILITY: hidden; WIDTH: 0px; HEIGHT: 0px" height="0" src="http://counters.gigya.com/wildfire/IMP/CXNID=2000002.0NXC/bHQ9MTI*OTM*MTIyODM3NSZwdD*xMjQ5MzQxNDI2NTgwJnA9NzM*ODIxJmQ9Jm49YmxvZ2dlciZnPTEmbz**NjU5ODNlZDg1MWU*ZTViOTRkNjEwMTZjYWU3YjhjZCZvZj*w.gif" width="0" border="0" /><br /><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" border="0"><tbody><tr><td align="middle" colspan="2"><a href="http://www.cutestdogcompetition.com/"><img height="59" alt="CutestDogCompetition.com" src="http://www.cutestdogcompetition.com/images/ty_cdc_logo.png" width="227" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><a href="http://www.cutestdogcompetition.com/vote.cfm?h=678A768922848E471438529CE9F8B591"><img src="http://www.cutestdogcompetition.com/image.cfm?h=678A768922848E471438529CE9F8B591" border="0" /></a></td></tr><tr><td><a href="http://www.cutestdogcompetition.com/vote.cfm?h=678A768922848E471438529CE9F8B591"><img height="71" alt="Vote for my Dog" src="http://www.cutestdogcompetition.com/images/ty_vote_me.png" width="230" border="0" /></a></td><td align="right"><a href="http://www.aapbrands.com/"><img height="68" alt="Sponsored by All American Pet Brands makers of premium dog food." src="http://www.cutestdogcompetition.com/images/ty_heart_healthy.png" width="188" border="0" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><a href="http://www.cutestdogcompetition.com/vote.cfm?h=678A768922848E471438529CE9F8B591">http://www.cutestdogcompetition.com/vote.cfm?h=678A768922848E471438529CE9F8B591</a>Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135924709085576135noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624772861527518472.post-57091654558759401742009-07-10T17:35:00.005-04:002009-07-11T18:35:25.140-04:00BIG NEWS!!I know I haven't posted anything in a few weeks (shame, shame) and I promise I will share some wedding and other unrelated updates soon, but for now I have some big news to share... My MOH is engaged!!!!!!!!!<br /><br />Katie and I became fast friends in sixth grade and, although we haven't always been as close throughout the years, I can honestly say that she is one of very few people that has remained a close and <em>true</em> friend. She is a wonderful person and I could not ask for a better Maid of Honor. She is smart, funny, trustworthy, sincere, motivated, and truly beautiful- inside and out!<br /><br />I am so happy for her and her FIANCE- Eric and I wish them both nothing but the best! My heart is so full of love and happiness right now that I could just burst! Or burst into tears- and if you know me, you know they are tears of joy!! Haha =)<br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356949521828018882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5RO08wdBKp4Foux8yftU3lXMocUdiSGGAwhJXYMnGmSkeFj8P4bEbRvtm9cchRKOvFMtHk4o1pPRQYpTKcQTPhs2Kma-vbc3zfrPtxnrgeGaXG1MBQQwFzuOKuUw4gwqfcjGk1T3uOkv/s320/ktb+and+ez.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center"></p><p align="center">I love you both SO much!!!<br /></p>Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135924709085576135noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624772861527518472.post-77419726373822356102009-06-10T15:18:00.007-04:002009-06-10T15:55:51.240-04:00Busy Weeks Ahead!Just wanted to post real quick! I am hosting a "Party Lite" Candle Party tonight, and the house isn't quite clean yet... nor have I showered or prepared any food, so this is going to be short! <div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /><div>I am (hopefully) meeting up with a very old friend tomorrow night, along with my MOH, for martinis and tapas and I am very excited! I haven't seen this guy in I think 5 years, but he is one of the nicest I have ever known (aside from Will, of course!) I've sort of kept up with his life from Facebook and mutual friends, but I'm looking forward to hearing more details about what he's been up to! </div><div> </div><div>Friday I have the day off and will celebrate my birthday with my family- lunch with my grandparents and then $hopping with my Mom!</div><div> </div><div>Then we leave for Florida!! TJ is moving this weekend (into a really awesome house on base that I can't wait to see), so to celebrate my bday/help him out, Will and I will leave Fri evening when he gets off work, hopefully stop in Charlotte to have dinner with my Dad, and then drive through the night to arrive in Pensacola at about 3am. We're staying till Monday which means we get to go to my favorite place ever for Sunday brunch- Flounders! I think I have mentioned this place before, but it is A-mazing! It is ON the beach at Pensacola Beach (you can boat to it, which we did before...probably not this time though!), it is open air, they have live music, great food, beach volleyball, aaaaaannnnd the Champagne Jam!! All-you-can-drink mimosas/hibiscus' (champagne and cran) for $5.99!!! That's right.... 5.99. And once you're done eating, you can mosey on out to the beach, sit by the water, swim, play volleyball, lay in lounge chairs, etc.... all while continuing to gulp...I mean sip.... your champagne! Happy Birthday to ME! =) </div><br /><div>Then when we get back Monday night, I have work Tues-Thurs and then Fri morning pedicures with Kelly and the girls, rehearsal Friday night, open-bar rehearsal dinner, then hair/makeup Saturday morning starting at 10, bridesmaids luncheon at 12, wedding at 5, and reception at the O'Henry Hotel!! Whew!!! </div><br /><div>So to re-cap:</div><br /><br /><div align="center">Wednesday: Candle Party</div><br /><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345786934808974082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 121px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 143px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTUXAVmD9mBe3u8lXBahyInrxxHw6DVc2JAe3O6aTVP24Wi-AvcuHaK7JJhxs4tEhnGlSwtxXKS2GTkL5P7SM96rSCTe42vHBZ-Tb1Mfr2WmxplLEFAiMvvmor2m7Zl0LMJ9vgpmTrpd3_/s320/QJCACAFDBOCACJ3MIZCAFTISSBCAY8O63ICAMEP36SCAO1UCJ6CAH6SLPICA9WJ9FXCA2KG0LNCA5JNWCKCAV5BHALCAUBE0HRCABVLR1UCABIRSQGCA9A1Q80CA0T3Q5SCA96X4ZMCAMR6R80CA1UUGJ0.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Thursday: Martinis</div><br /><br /><p align="right"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345785050169912242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 93px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 144px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibi33vDR2B8xfc3oE3u8f6u7so6ZQqUw7gNxxAj4embWPnxmQx-leFQ7Mota4MhnFLKHtIQfdSnQjzzQoooWeDLVCxVXY7B_08XvzCzN-S8v-L2LGscZmvLrWtQ4QgnrEhX-kiVkEKbziH/s320/V9CA4W01U6CATU3XTPCAYFHWXZCA80NGQ6CAA8E8ZKCA6SKAVSCA308OYCCAQLJW6KCABWQS05CA3JFTX5CAFVQDU3CA692R0ZCA5EGQ3JCA33T6GDCAP05JTCCA725PL5CAVGMA16CAW22Z83CA4QV5SR.jpg" border="0" /></p></div></div></div></div></div><br /><br /><br /><p align="center">Friday: Shopping<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345788287571693474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 121px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 121px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBqBzVtUuhvrs21xywtP2PFmKfFlRTztf6T_hhZXBqDv9rRhyKy5zUUNwViBK0iY9wOwikAgxeV2t5DIvavIa3yc9mSmln2EjjKGG25lXPqLW-vQSd0B03fLj_NFfXqFfG_2lrqJhnEIc/s320/1VCAOZ9VEMCA0WR3EACATJAGBXCAVB0BVECATXIMA1CAYSEVQGCAG54168CAM50B76CAZY00O2CA3QXQ73CAFG8BIRCAGK2O8UCAIDISHUCAGB2LCTCAT7V8CJCAZPX1I3CA8UJC3TCAJ49447CAXHD3PO.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><p align="center">Saturday: Florida!</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345786939982278962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 213px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOtKl6CyGRkRx88Sf3L2P1wr6jMe1ZnsWDghVhGncZuxcwF6tnay3FuSCMwvMcvEoXxfUiOsbzwBo90rO4CrdXTZzx-pKJai1rUEcQUUCNpCKgSKCCxo60ZZOeC5n2k8PLOSzx58kRPfo/s320/florabama_beach1.jpg" border="0" />Sunday: Flounders (PS: they have the best Key Lime Pie ever- note Kristen's piece below!)</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345789054161260418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 101px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbbbqO4jSumN02zmTFwadn37u-XHKcl5JEGHIhY5bOs-WXyqEzZBROKs90zOq5VNt-YF5MiLb9BS6MWQH4rFurWANOA-5lHKlxtHpd7g5LllYYXQgbBICYQbqg5cUPjMnOuIRuJFi-ishq/s320/Pensacola-Beach_-Flounders-Restaurant_01.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345786935508913218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkiW0tDoOHZXutOjJMRrNZ1AtJH-HhNr8NHjuSFrylzboGEESkYDroVn1u_l_moEJBtlaOwnkdRlHlo-c9lu1ZPbw2ilgLvtXOTmbdjBC21IeHphxph5oqKg7f-NwzwVRP3mBwqvBO9GV/s320/Feb+08-+April+08+330.jpg" border="0" /></p></div></div></div></div><br /><p></p><p align="center">Friday: Pedicure<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345788293832666386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 137px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 100px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9H0PjzG2YjdDRKcsR_dq9wKrJkdDOO08hF8TUSTofeaGT8xO3jWhbJ8mvGP1ZuqCO93OwPukpI439lc5GA6_DtdhMKHBRbFYtm_w51LIPwm4TDAliAgnSE78s6li_yb8uSMP5mLb3oS0g/s320/W3CAKBG1RYCAQ3MDMTCAPW2R2BCAXYVO3YCA9RROHMCA06DYECCAI9W3HBCA3V66B8CA0YEOMQCADG0EFACAKJ1V5ZCA4FX9V9CAW3KA81CAVZKVFWCAHJ652XCA94QAFFCAB6OGB2CAU8OWDRCAM3J784.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><p align="center">Saturday: This pretty girl's wedding!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345788298119917682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTP2o6rnL0AEVI29F1ahsBrYXPk4jtxQUb5cHvgcy6jx7tsJQ_yFpTDnSWqQAqm_meiK9LKVZ7RgNo-X5Jmjx3mugooL6yhe-vWRys7VLPN8ecOw_-4Oqtze2X99aKYxJLBGBMF2PZ3Yg/s320/May+2009+010.jpg" border="0" /></p><br />So if I don't update for a few days, yall will know why! Hope everyone has a fantastic weekend! I know I will!!! =)Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135924709085576135noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624772861527518472.post-87364350493996454152009-06-04T18:32:00.004-04:002009-06-04T18:58:11.041-04:00Blogging HiatusSo I think it has been almost 3 weeks since my last post... oops! I kept meaning to do one, but just never got around to it. Darn those pesky jobs...always getting in the way of the <em>important</em> things! Haha, okay I'm kidding. I will totally blame my lack of posting on my new job, but I am so thankful for the money!<br /><br />I have been working at a friend's restaurant from 10-2, Monday-Friday, and it is great! It gets me up and out of the house each day, but I still have time to shop/run errands/go to the pool in the afternoons. Plus, the extra cash is handy ;)<br /><br />So what else is new... hmm.... we tasted cake with a local lady who works out of her home and her price was reasonable ($3 per slice) but we want to keep looking. She didn't have a wide variety of flavors to choose from, and would not do some of the decorative things we wanted, like have chocolate brown swirls on ivory buttercream icing. She said the dark colors bleed onto the white. Is this true? Can anyone tell me how theirs turned out if you had dark decor on light frosting? And while were at it... suggest some cake flavors! We tasted all yellow cakes, one with strawberry filling, one with raspberry, and one with orange. They were all good, but just not quite what I had in mind. She asked what we were looking for and I drew a blank, so someone help me out here! What's your favorite kind of cake???<br /><br />I've been working on rentals, just trying to find the best prices and the most convenient as far as delivery, set up, breakdown, etc. Any recommendations? I'm having trouble getting places to respond to my emails. I know I just need to suck it up and call, but email is so much easier!<br /><br />This past weekend was Kelly's lingerie shower and bachelorette party and both were so much fun! Her shower really made me re-think having one of my own. I don't really look that great (I don't think) in typical lingerie, and would rather have more practical gifts, but Kelly did get some really cute things! Only a few were the over-the-top-sexy things that only get worn maybe once a year and for all of five minutes. The rest were cute, sweet little nightgowns and robes and such- enough to be sexy, but not uncomfortable! Maybe I'll have to mention the idea to Katie....unless she's reading this..... ;)<br /><br />The bachelorette party was great too- Kelly has a really great group of friends and I am so blessed to be one of them! We had a nice dinner at a local, swanky "green" hotel, and then went downtown to dance! I haven't had a night of dancing like that since college and it was a blast! No boys, of course... any that got too close were quickly told "no thank you" and pushed out of the way by a fellow bridesmaid! It's so much more fun that way, lol.<br /><br />That's about all the updates I can think of for now... I will try to upload some pictures this weekend (I have been busy on a couple crafty little decorative things for the wedding, but you'll just have to wait to see those!)<br /><br />Oh, and I promised to mention this fun giveaway- a $10 Starbucks card (you know you want it!) from Brenda at Prarie Tales (<a href="http://prairiebren.blogspot.com/">http://prairiebren.blogspot.com/</a>) <em>Can someone tell me how to make the blog name clicky instead of having to copy and paste the url? I really need an HTML class.....</em><br /><br />Alright, well I hope everyone is having a good week!<br /><br />Shout Outs:<br /><br />Kelly- 16 days till you are a Mrs!! ;) Holy Cow!!<br />Evan- My little cousin is 4 today! Happy Birthday!!! Love you!<br /><br />Prayers:<br /><br />Lauren- A bloggy friend who is having a "blue" day- cheer up chica!! You're too pretty not to smile!Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135924709085576135noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624772861527518472.post-61670400417434897852009-05-17T10:02:00.006-04:002009-05-17T10:40:44.082-04:00Ouch...<div align="center">$3 well drinks (aka a few too many rum and diet's) + beer pong at a friends apartment = not a nice Sunday morning. On my way to Bojangles very soon.... (I'm convinced that is the only cure!). At least I'm getting back "in shape" for the bachelorette parties that are coming up! </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Yesterday was Kelly's bridal shower luncheon (Kelly, my bridesmaid who is getting married in June Kelly) and it was great. I got to meet a couple of the other girls in the wedding party that I hadn't met yet, and catch up with some old friends. I'm SO happy for Kelly and even more excited that we are getting to experience this whole adventure together! We have been good friends since 5th grade... who would have that we'd be planning our weddings together?! </div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center"></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336800791698687810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkORRo4pqRfGNyhAcRJBNXiB03x-fa_-EQRSqRGpuUJC056w57fHe6FnPDuk9AsYNs3o3zPPBVBmTRr6hNveJ4yreQNcKkpCKqmf9dm-FVxFATwjItrTTZGA-4SRrF4XoXg-lm_5mkCFo/s320/May+2009+015.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#3366ff;">Kelly and her new monogram on a red velvet cupcake! Yum.</span></p><p align="center"><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5336800787339849106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvZ8uX-WHptZRyMrkALoCzVTeLvdQ1pRj0ehvgE6Uh0Gg6YPfVch9xCNgs7Ng5zUPSHz8jPxJVN-I4Ntdrxi_bR-zoTolktTln0FA1fanplaUHfO4XJlZvAM038z7iipW6ep4plE4Dclq9/s320/May+2009+006.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#3366ff;">Reading the card I gave her. PS I love my wrapping job! =) Won't Kelly make a gorgeous bride?? </span></p><p align="center">Also.... my best friend and MOH, Katie, is on the verge of engagement status and I am so totally stoked for her! I cannot wait! Her boyfriend is a fantastic guy and they seem to make each other so happy and just be so right for each other. So, if all goes according to plan (or at least what we suspect the plan might be) she will be next!!!!<br /><br /><br />This is such an exciting time in my life, and I'm so lucky to have friends and loved ones to share it with! Especially since I was in tears yesterday and ready to call the whole thing off, but that's another story. (Think wine at the shower mixed with crazy hormonal mood swings plus a stressful wedding planning conversation with my Dad. Nothing is simple with him and I just wasn't in the mood to deal). But that's over now- wedding planning is most definitely still on and I know we'll make it and it will be beautiful and everything will work out and it will be the best day of my life! (A little pep talk for myself there....) </p><p align="center">Okay...seriously... Bojangles now. Hope everyone has a great Sunday!</p><p align="center">Shout Outs to Matt and Ashley for hanging out with us last night, Kelly for being a great friend and a beautiful bride-to-be and Shan and Greg that they have a fabulous first shower today! </p>Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135924709085576135noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624772861527518472.post-45671401275092496672009-05-13T22:27:00.006-04:002009-06-04T19:38:30.205-04:00Success!Just a quick post with a few updates... the meeting with the photographer went well- Melissa seems really sweet and I'm sure she will be great! I got to see some large bridal portraits (printed and framed) as well as some books she put together, which were awesome!<br /><br /><br />Also... I got a job! Well, sort of... just a part-time restaurant job. Remember when I got a free lunch the other day from my friend's fiance's deli? Well we had dinner with them on Saturday and it turns out that he was looking for someone to help out at the restaurant for lunches! So, starting Monday I'll be working 10-2, Monday-Friday (hello, awesome schedule), getting paid CASH, and getting free lunch every day! Yayyyyy! =)<br /><br /><br />So... to celebrate my new job, my successful meeting with the photog, and my upcoming birthday (one month from today!) I ventured over to South Pointe while I was in Durham. I mean... if Victoria's Secret wants to send me a $10 gift card a month early for my birthday... who am I to say no? So I am now the proud owner of this:<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335502038730927906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 238px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtuVJCl-aKfbnCRHVJQXVEw-o7E0lrQFMs1FgbepX3IQvWdMh2Gsaoikf3uYhysLLq0buHoiEAOLmBuedQeogSFkSjzxb6Cz9Ijj8mqZEBMNb4EZ1Pe3oGPT4p7euxdWpu45MfYQ9C0kZG/s320/V281820_D28.jpg" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335502042622213746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 238px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1AmObeqz50bW3daDOqOADK2WlL8DTYKsZ6wLb3gmO1-Y4q_xTsg_qlWrUQGY0Yb5oM2xCTmF_btgfYJ4IX3XKvZMU7eD-NJ0Dk1rLgpVRcKdyAdj5dwOMx7BwjoV2cXjbh13iUcpwmWhS/s320/V283651.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><p>Look at the cute back, too! I just love it! And I haven't "loved" a bathing suit on me, probably since elementary school. Bathing suit shopping is just depressing when you are 55378008 (type it in a calculator and flip it upside down...yep, you remember, I know you do!). If anyone reading this suffers from the same affliction, I highly recommend this type of top! </p><p>The best part? It was on sale! The top was $14.99 and the bottoms were $12.99, so with my $10 gift card, it was less than $10! Totally worth every penny!</p><p>Now I just have to Shred a few more times and get a tan, so I look a little more like that girl and a little less like the Michelin Man....</p><p></p>Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135924709085576135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624772861527518472.post-88174927929805141352009-05-13T09:33:00.004-04:002009-05-13T09:48:31.460-04:00I'm off!To meet our wedding photographer! She lives in Durham and we decided we'd like to meet in person to sign the contract, so wish me luck! I've got to go by Will's office before I leave to get his GPS- getting lost in Durham could be very bad =)<br /><br />SO excited to have Melissa shoot our wedding! Here are a couple of pictures from her blog that I absolutely love!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335304312015329026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 219px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTxmsbrRSTz9aqYq0SRJ79ldel2Wx8iwF6yZl53ZNzKVakQhTXC59XKpf2jXGKEm5QX-hq-QKKj_qmE51sx3oUW_pyYtbFAbNCzkurOkQqKOyH-lcuYf25WZi8SnmQ4Oq_NrJ3e5_h7jUn/s320/IMG_0676.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335304315021117570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 218px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3bWxwGZnW3CEJX5hoyjy-egTQJ_kZb1M8wDbHPCFQWjyKMKx5z5h2sxDnxIpQcKble6N2IqWj9vjwu82mP8ncFhPVyU4wbir_bHzenjIjl1-LuX-c-NbeAT4R8OqUqZVnBLLGfhuZaQwk/s320/IMG_0322-1.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335304312301627266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 220px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqXjc3KnJPlgvtAQGjCUAhqruNScnjTAwGxvUu7AsXWI7EOy6e75kwax390Aw1-T_A75Ec-sWOlu8GAOzzPEcczK8KO2i9IOOTuktserwLoxwovdjEl0bhCzlsDUYATWuQ5gwor8wsEwu/s320/IMG_0025.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">All pictures copyright Melissa Smith Photography</span></em></p><p align="center">I can't wait to meet her!<span style="font-family:Webdings;"> </span><span style="font-family:arial;">=)</span></p>Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135924709085576135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624772861527518472.post-83784329824799070172009-05-11T16:49:00.004-04:002009-05-11T17:06:43.687-04:00Today I had a fantastic lunch date with my sister! <em>(But wait... I thought you were an only child?)</em> Technically, yes- I am an only child and have spent most of my life that way. However, my Mom re-married when I was about 10 years old, and so from the time that they were dating until the time that they divorced (probably 4-5 years?), I had a step-sister, Aaron. We stayed in touch for a year or two after the divorce (thanks to our Moms), but we are 5 years apart and the 5 year difference between 9 and 14 might as well be 20. So we lost touch during that time- chatting once every couple years on AIM and eventually finding each other on Facebook.<br /><br /><br /><br />Well, in Fall of 2007 my sister's Dad (my former step-dad) lost his battle with cancer. Aaron's mom called my mom, and ta-da! We were re-connected. Unfortunately, it took us awhile to actually meet face-to-face, but I did get to see her a couple times that spring, and was actually able to see her graduate high school. (Imagine what a shock that was.... Aaron was probably about 9 the last time I saw her, and I would have been 14, and then to see each other again at 17 and 22- wow!)<br /><br /><br /><br />So, Aaron just finished her freshman year at college and is now home for the summer, so today we had lunch. We talked for about 2 hours- in part because I had so many things I wanted to know, and in part because our waitress disappeared for about 30 minutes- but all in all it was a great lunch! It was so good to see her and to "get to know her" again, and I hope that we have more chances to do that this summer. She is leaving next weekend for a study abroad program in Uganda, but will be back in June.<br /><br /><br /><br />I hate that I missed being a "big sister" for so much of her life, but I'm SO glad that we are back in touch and I hope that we can stay that way!<br /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334675302320800770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj37bR2L42OvW6qDo5x8YgQtrugNh9pLjhgKYmYJfurVW-eCi2NwLfLNdLHwIefIN07H5whRfzamLVd03JLEaVr6K189WYcgYGOf12xp_hnOHuluCQWcNwsE7Zsr9OERWbY9_0dCwwmRd1d/s320/May+2009+004.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><p></p><p>Love you lots, little sis!</p>Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135924709085576135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624772861527518472.post-28102727323109668402009-05-10T09:20:00.003-04:002009-05-10T09:28:56.947-04:00Happy Mother's Day<div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#ff6666;"><em>to all of the wonderful mothers, grandmothers, mothers-to-be, </em></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#ff6666;"><em>and those who are praying to become mothers!</em></span> </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334185508690769602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1FOghZVXU433WkfHgDeNZcE7h3lN5oQ7KAk5GYjVUpvtc6vz0WbiQjRsw0WJ3YG39WEHoTnm0ZKUg6aB1zQaKGKluVDZEP21bngzOeWoH0NbkWW2OoTdumxF_56lHZOCl9ail_iXuQJ-/s400/mothers-day-endless-pink-bouquet.jpg" border="0" /></div><p align="center"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:130%;color:#ff6666;"><em>I'm off to have brunch with my Mom, Mima, and Papa, and then back here to cook dinner for Will's Mom! I am truly lucky to have them all so close by. Hope everyone has a fantastic day!</em></span></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:130%;color:#ff6666;">PS: I got a very sweet handmade card from Sadie this morning! I have the best puppy (and fiance) ever! Thanks, guys- I love you too!! XOXO</span></em></p>Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135924709085576135noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624772861527518472.post-24318923746459761782009-05-07T16:12:00.001-04:002009-05-07T16:18:43.494-04:00I seriously have a problem...... I cannot, repeat canNOT walk into a store without buying something! I went to Kohls today to return something, and walked out with gifts for my FMIL for Mother's Day and wedding jewelry! (Pics to come) Then I went to Ross to try to find more of those glass bottles for the sand ceremony...well they didn't have any, but they did have cute ceramic bowl thingies on clearance so I got one for my Mom and one for my Mima for mothers day (I was already done shopping for them, I thought) and a little something for my Eskimo buddy (I couldn't resist... it was just sitting there, staring at me, screaming "Buy me for Shannon! I NEED to have a home with Shannon!!" lol)<br /><br />Okay, so I'm a mess.... 121 days till the wedding, no job, no job prospects, and I'm out freakin shopping! Somebody stop me!!<br /><br />At least I got a free lunch today! (My friend Rita's fiance owns a little deli) Thanks Rita and Jason! That's my justification for a $70 shopping spree.... free lunch and I returned a $10 necklace...lol.<br /><br />Okay, well now I REALLY need to be productive and do some cleaning before Will gets home =)<br /><br />Hope everyone else is enjoying this sunshine today!Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135924709085576135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624772861527518472.post-68364798362107321122009-05-05T17:34:00.000-04:002009-05-06T11:05:40.449-04:00Bloggin fool!<div align="center"></div><div align="center">Man, I am on a roll today! </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Just one more quick post for the day, a few random updates to share:</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">My Mom's 50th Birthday is today! We had a little party for her this past Saturday and it was a blast. My Mom is awesome- she is definitely one of my best friends and I am so lucky to have her close by! Here are a couple pictures of the party:</div><div align="center"><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332464148821762018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpMVkhUZ201tgZgzgetuD52H3SfXTedQWtGH9nY46jeORKYBwEMeXQURvLzHPOhCaR2uQMcAhfXzgxntEvri4_NJus6ZYNONVwWVsXVEKsAGFaJ-iA5VOqzjyRNW8WPw72IEE3xPX43E8/s320/Mom's+50th+016.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">The Men- being pretty!<br /></p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332464154489500690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibDDxAIw2fTbJYYooFddv9L8W300YMgRB03PR98G9I-QYub-7Fs6hSpgPRLdZE1eH-6EzWKi79CyHox9Eq01a_NMbFxm5_BVkGbmPd5FmA7r6Xv_gaUTdF9v14S_VR5z9elag4QG5J_qrE/s320/Mom's+50th+041.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Mom showing off her new Brighton jewelry!<br /><br /><br /></p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332466056046467970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvqXsvqD6sIwW0Ner7gnV2T4UGaKrQE2nDUqJ9hM2rlnqwxb6dOF8grbGOpdsFXyYguYoDY0uCC5JjoHF6ZwFUg17zHiQlnTRBXON7aoOU9TzKzT-pf2C-bb6FEZ_t-w5GxHLK6vyTQDTM/s320/Mom's+50th+067.jpg" border="0" /> Mom, Mima, Papa</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332466054321991106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJgZSR9p4GORhCmgYaOEU2Ok7c6nawyiKZckOI8h3r1bRCXi_g5UGnqAGrc8lR06EEhNXrdAHdLD3ZH0Hdbnyn14Cfbhz5reOVyuGNkFZig2HSDcbXq8bIdtBg_DCGi9GGVTNCEqZH0wR/s320/Mom's+50th+075.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Anne, Mom, Tammy, Karen- watching the Derby!<br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332466064758465954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJD4sRZrbCM4FKztFF14rMF7Si9PFNvj3HtCrreV_zYFFCyiJp4sC1F8411kox3w8gwA2Zel6qVJ56wRDUREf6-sMj5zmWWdWS3aNB7EgVbgvXRYeqGmBDD_fDHwg_3kwNqDBTwbcINT7R/s320/Mom's+50th+078.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Me and Mom =)<br /><br /><br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332723031450680770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 213px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip6ZPpSJGEJ-ViImMCswv6TS__eNzUUtSlW-ff2gUFc7CWVnE41YR3umYDYJCUPqf3MAeylmQkP2Voqubjy8THyz2t95ht_qJfLhZhdywWIoNeHOKGEwToSCKtFvOh5qWYmw5RgXe9WV68/s320/Mom's+50th+084.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center">Being silly!<br /></p><p align="center"><br /> </p><div align="center">Also, I've had a couple good finds on my shopping excursions lately:</div><p><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332723040129220754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBlr1MZvZRQ-rwRlApT4I4ps33qZ0BmfMD1kIhRrW5y5YGtWx1yaXkVTWk-KIwZw2UcQ31KbEyhWH7AI0IXwssci1Jse9fVBwf-jiJJXn4znyiRFSoXpnFtnQfWVb4bf18YR0BaMsIcJw/s320/Mom's+50th+085.jpg" border="0" /> The blue candles I had been eyeing at Michael's were finally on sale- 40% off! I got one for each lantern, and a bag of white/ivory potpourri to fill in the bottom. The candle isn't quite tall enough so it's on a piece of tupperware for now, until I find something better! =) </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332724321870686690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw43udX2hPX105jDQwZi_yq0FrVIcYwUW8Uu0XF2aUQzgby-SrqCscFkJXXBEtdsLELqESN7uliRQJSLZhXObyCqvogqIaB00P6HN7rxU9dtd1N6n90upQjVtaXms9l7ftUmOEtLIT7t42/s320/Mom's+50th+086.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center">Flip flop jewels- to make fun reception flops for the bridesmaids... $1! (Target, my favorite place)</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332724333471601058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRNzQUGljTJCByKl-b-vewVnzCWrlJlvcW2EUi4u6v5k4mgEI2IpaJP-HVRX6fiAgOBejrPrHqio9-bBEigDyFgAMTj4VcYs9TwmtvItncyznu9_iI3pQgf_R-uiCQLb8jYnUeg5Q_ZvzD/s320/Mom's+50th+087.jpg" border="0" />My beautiful new bag- Rosss $16.99! I Just loved the leather and the color, and the lining is animal print- too cute! </p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332724337600340146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRQVoZLuncr5hvJu8VZ9OFaUDZOP9DPRZ3GW3S7K9Al_HL_FviGg-zMtJaDKsodFsf4lvmCXMKu6t8TxwEc68EK4z8UtnAFBZrtQAwT_rZfisImx-6XfHPA7G39EeiQ-0pImpkow28OiN/s320/Mom's+50th+088.jpg" border="0" /> </p><p align="center">Oh, and I got my ring cleaned and inspected for the first time (it's 6 month "check-up!") So shiny! I get so many compliments on it, everywhere I go!<br /></p><p align="left"><br />Shout Outs:</p><ul><li>Mom- Happy 50th!!! Love you!!</li><li>My Eskimo Buddy- Only three days of work left!! =)</li></ul><br /><br /><p>Prayers:</p><ul><li>For once, everyone I know personally is doing really well! I'll keep praying for TJ today though- that his recovery continues to go so successfully! </li><li>And I'm so thankful for all the wonderful people in my life... my friends and my family... I love you all!! XOXO</li></ul>Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135924709085576135noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624772861527518472.post-23069808937866472562009-05-05T14:34:00.000-04:002009-05-05T15:24:43.295-04:00Crafty, Crafty!If anyone is having trouble deciding what to get their Moms and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Grandmas</span> for Mother's Day... I have just the thing! My future-mother-in-law is a Master Gardener and works at the county extension office. Last week she invited me to this workshop they were hosting- making Living Wreaths. It was really easy and they turned out beautiful! Plus I think each one only cost me about $20.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Okay, so <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">here's</span> what you'll need:<br /><br /><ul><br /><li>Grape Vine Wreath (18-24") <em><span style="color:#33ccff;">Michael's has these on sale for $4.99</span></em></li><br /><br /><li>Coated chicken wire cut the length of your wreath + 2 inches <em><span style="color:#33ccff;">Hardware store, Feed store, etc</span></em></li><br /><br /><li>Florists wire (22 gauge/8 oz) about 30 inches <em><span style="color:#33ccff;">Michael's</span></em> <em><span style="color:#33ccff;">$1.99</span></em></li><br /><br /><li>1 plastic bag the width of your wreath (either a grocery bag, or a trash bag if you have a larger wreath)</li><br /><br /><li>1 small bag of Spanish moss <em><span style="color:#33ccff;">I got a huge bag at Michael's for $5.99, they had smaller ones for less </span></em></li><br /><br /><li>Fern Pins <em><span style="color:#33ccff;">Michael's $1.49</span></em></li><br /><br /><li>About 2 cups of potting soil</li><br /><br /><li>A variety of small plants (Suggestion: 1 foundation plant like a 3" Asparagus Fern, 2 trailing plants like Ivy or Potato Plant, 1-6 packs of small blooming flowers like Impatiens or other small greenery like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Dichondra</span>)<em><span style="color:#33ccff;"> I got enough to make two wreaths for $13.28 at Lowe's</span></em></li></ul><br />Here's what to do:<br /><br /><ul><br /><li>Cut the chicken wire the width of your wreath plus 2 inches. Turn back one inch on each end to form a pocket. </li></ul><br /><ul><br /><li>Attach the wire pocket to the bottom of your wreath with your florists wire</li><br /><br /><li>Line the wire pocket with a plastic bag</li><br /><br /><li>Place your foundation plant in the center, your ivy or other trailing plant at each end, and then add in your other plants. Fill with potting soil as needed</li><br /><br /><li>Roll the excess plastic bag in towards the wire pocket and tuck it in the edges. </li><br /><br /><li>Use the fern pins to attach the Spanish Moss to the front of the basket (and back if desired)</li><br /><br /><li>Water as needed. If you tend to over-water plants, you can poke a few holes in the bottom of your plastic bag to allow it to drain. </li><br /><br /><li>Your plants will fill in and the Ivy will begin to grow around the wreath! </li><br /><br /><li>*Beware* Birds love to steal the moss for their nests, so watch for falling fern pins and replace the moss as needed, until the trailing plants have grown enough to cover the plastic bag! </li></ul><br /><br /><br /><br /><p>Here is what the end result will look like! (I made two- one with just greenery and white flowers, to hang on my red front door, and one with pink impatiens to give to my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Mima</span> for Mother's Day!)</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332417177881916226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqvfFplSdwunjiEvGc1nn0oAKAV9P_b-SMnQLVDsNJE4YMA4WDWTglG_V_oYeGxkX6Rkk0ykWtnda7f7ykjlgdZMGLV2hiBGWiaUIggh8ii2Gu1RQ53al5vGz6KaB2c2ppzOPffLYyUejs/s320/Mom's+50th+012.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332421740192186514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-Y8ooQM3KN1e_dwtralRv8lfIgEuZwYr841Lq7YkpybnKrRSYHb1CiBqNKce9DOUSCLaMnN_ljCbq9djIZSo78yi2DI8IeTbusxP-HHl98dMijECglBlJQNSoJIDh2ye9dp44mF2Izvq/s320/Mom's+50th+013.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332417167470547986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQJrFwM8bjf17Qv8Zx-TjqPJKq3Mt7gtOGbNKNilBgwjy50RMxQUi5hQ8ISmwP2lor-pK_5g8nvTWAA46xtPW-NcMu4RqXjvGxrNofXUBxE5ifKUY7NOdr37Zo5qFFgNwNQQzAtxMwYHUv/s320/Mom's+50th+014.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><p>Beautiful, organic, decorative, handmade, and thoughtful! What more could Mom ask for?? =) </p><br /><p>If anyone tries it, please post pictures and let me know how it turned out! I am in love with these things and my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">FMIL</span> and I are going to make 4 more in late summer to use on the 4 giant wooden doors of the Barn! I'm so excited- I think they're going to look great with lots of greenery and some white flowers, and maybe even with wooden letters of our <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">initials</span> hanging in the center! Too cute!</p><br /><p>Speaking of cute... here's Sadie in the window watching Mommy take pictures outside =)</p><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332417187097055554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0H7HCnQNsK7WS4K64M68WhGNH9BpyBw4jK3TZkpVqst37RQK3r6uCS1Xt_D4WIfNV-ocb9DvATBbJe8Ik07ABORS5GX-s52kyWhSG75Fk5yfs5pyGAdVOxPuyr-tyglZgrMxTlraQZv_E/s320/Mom's+50th+043.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><br /><p>So I really enjoyed making these, in case you couldn't tell, and I'm hoping to blog more about some of my other crafty projects I have in mind, so stay tuned! </p>Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135924709085576135noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624772861527518472.post-38753560804941574512009-05-05T13:36:00.000-04:002009-05-05T17:20:41.661-04:00I've been tagged...by Grace from Grace's Ramblings- <a href="http://wolfiemitrestone.blogspot.com/">http://wolfiemitrestone.blogspot.com/</a> ! Anyone who knows how to make that a clicky link, please tell me!<br /><br />Okay so here goes...<br /><br />1. What is your current obsession? Shopping for wedding deals<br /><br />2. Which item of clothing do you wear most often? Flip flops! Do those count? Mostly my rainbows =)<br /><br />3. What's for dinner? Pizza and cake and ice cream with my family for my Mom's 50th!<br /><br />4. What are you listening to? HA! Actually....my Dad on the phone.... he'll talk your ear off if you let him...and I am.<br /><br />5. Say something about the person who tagged you. Grace is such a sweet, loving, and creative person .<br /><br />6. Favorite vacation spot? Anywhere at the beach!<br /><br />7. What are you reading right now? Night Journals... a random book I picked up off the clearance table at Barnes and Noble.<br /><br />8. 4 words to describe yourself: emotional, creative, thoughtful, ...lazy! :)<br /><br />9. Guilty pleasure? Sleeping in late, shopping when I can't really afford it...playing on the internet!<br /><br />10. First spring thing to do? Sit in the sunshine every chance possible!<br /><br /><br />I tag... Carissa from <a href="http://www.gregandcarissa.blogspot.com/">http://www.gregandcarissa.blogspot.com/</a> and Melissa from <a href="http://www.feathersnpearls.blogspot.com/">http://www.feathersnpearls.blogspot.com/</a>. Have fun!Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135924709085576135noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624772861527518472.post-47919832514114926942009-05-01T15:49:00.000-04:002009-05-01T16:01:09.501-04:00I need some help!<div><div><div><div>Okay, on my shopping trip today I went in Ross and found these great bottles for really cheap. I had just recently decided to do a sand ceremony, using something like these, after seeing some of my photographers amazing pictures! But I need help deciding which combination of bottles to use.... </div><br /><div>Option 1- clear glass</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330947022545715122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJDCuO7bAwGigQTMK8wNrPtUk79JfpRNqYJJC8q98GXY4atghit9YZ-tDeolB0JHhfV_JAHea57RRzGW0eSCvp5AMqdf-pxYsxxv_rSw-6n4I4wHS_cm5HcPu6W4TrgOBpMOSGpRdt68g/s400/Wedding+stuff+080.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>Option 2- slightly green glass</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330947034273214258" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zRo3O-HR4G8Db0Gg-StoCpIt03qgy95LTgnACFApBXjFkw8f5TfhFmd-qTT3PTy0Czr5bKsfGvTWShrnDskkXXR7bHgobtaWxvFj66-e9ILIG4iC7ZTDiydMcHx8meW0BX2-bi1bpr_C/s400/Wedding+stuff+083.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>Option 3- slightly green</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330947025387968738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZTjZLz-VTHkYMDx-XhqkwpQsjBBnYymOf9KKVYOtVUpGit6dtTRsIOuJ4F2pSztY7HAl_03gCV1hGyMp3yMZZ_P02aik0DySXm_uLbr62ILszmpxqnEYozmHFPCaqWmQ7i9iD07FxhZY/s400/Wedding+stuff+082.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>Option 4- slightly green</div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5330947038162651426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Fn_854oMcr9ewy7weesdevUSXK2YjFwhm-PBdpk_iQb0zbQLIZvJoxhaSK-KD9xWBENFNiNCjezBFOt6VZdH3lDHdNw-Hz9-t0_9CWDFUQDDap23nfTuYP2XhxB1B1OsX3xWRO932Lfa/s400/Wedding+stuff+084.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>With options 2 and 3, I really like the middle bottles, but both are smaller than the two outside bottles. Does anyone know if you're supposed to pour the WHOLE bottle of the two "family" bottles into the one "us" bottle, or just some? I've never actually witnessed a sand ceremony- only the unity candles, but since we'll be outside, that won't really work too well. </div><br /><div>With option 4, the middle "us" bottle has a sun-face thing on it, which doesn't fit with our wedding theme at all, but in the long run, I'm thinking it might go well in our "fiestaware/Mexican" kitchen, but I'm not sure if I want to limit it to only being used for decoration in the kitchen. I kind of think the clear bottles might be best (option 1), but the green glass seemed cool to me too and each of the green bottles is more unique than the clear ones, which are just square with no decor at all. So I don't know what to do! I'm going to ask Will's opinion tonight, but knowing him, he won't have one, so I need your help!! Please leave comments with your vote/opinions!! Thanks ladies!! </div></div></div></div>Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135924709085576135noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624772861527518472.post-9207621207611655882009-04-30T11:46:00.000-04:002009-04-30T12:04:35.059-04:00Check!We have our photographer! FINALLY! I am so excited to have this settled- it was one of our last major things we had to get done!<br /><br />A quick re-cap of our photography issues..... A good family friend is, or was, a professional photographer and my Dad and I both assumed that he would shoot our wedding, as a gift to us, so in our original wedding budget we only accounted for the cost of materials ($500 or less). About 3 months into planning, my Dad actually got around to asking him about it, and he said he'd really rather not do it. Since he doesn't do it <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">professionally</span> anymore, he doesn't have a lot of the equipment he'd need and I wouldn't be happy with his work, and he would rather just come and enjoy himself at our wedding, considering he has known me my whole life. So we go to Plan B.... Will's parents <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">recommend</span> a family friend of theirs, saying that he does weddings all the time and they were sure he'd be more than happy to do it. A couple more months go by.... he basically says the same thing. So now it is almost March and we still have no photographer...... Plan C: I ask a friend from college, who was a photojournalism major, if her and her roommate, also a photographer, could do it and how much they would charge, explaining that we basically have NO photography budget. They email me back a quote, which seemed a little high, but I assumed it would be the best we'd find, since she was giving us a price break from what she normally charges, because we're friends. Will is shocked at how much photography costs and suggests that we just have friends and family email us their digital pictures..... <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">umm</span>... hell no? Sorry, but I am too obsessed with pictures and memories and scrapbooks to have no one there to photograph the most important day of our lives!<br /><br />So, now I'm on a mission to contact other photographers and prove to him that the quote isn't bad, considering what others are charging... and low and behold... I find Melissa Smith! I had some business cards of photographers in a file, from various wedding events I've been to, and I just started contacting them. Melissa got back to me right away, and once I told her about our photography struggles, and about our wedding/honeymoon budget getting slashed due to the trips to Florida and me being laid off, she agreed to shoot our wedding for $500! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT??? I couldn't! I was so excited yesterday, I could barely contain myself!!! I probably shouldn't be advertising this, because it is not something she normally does. Most of her packages start around $700, but I think that's still a lot more reasonable than most of the others out there. To me, she is an angel, and if there is any money leftover when September rolls around, I will definitely be spending it with her! Her work is amazing and I absolutely cannot wait to have her be a part of our big day!!<br /><br />Check out her work! <a href="http://www.melissasmithphotography.ifp3.com/">www.melissasmithphotography.ifp3.com</a>Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135924709085576135noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624772861527518472.post-1523305230826021922009-04-27T18:55:00.000-04:002009-04-27T19:58:47.206-04:00Hanging Rockwas incredible! Will and I left Friday after work and had a great time! Matt decided not to come because he didn't want to be a "third wheel." I told him it wouldn't be like that, but he insisted. So we got a nice weekend together, with Sadie of course, without phones and computers and TVs...it was wonderful!<br /><br /><br />We decided on Hanging Rock instead of Julian Price Park because it is closer (only about an hour and 15 minutes away) and there was no chance of rain there. So we got to the park around 7:00 and were able to get pretty much all set up before it got dark. Then we cooked bratwursts (that I had boiled earlier in beer for over an hour!) on skewers over the campfire. They were delicious!<br /><br /><br />Saturday morning we woke up and had bacon and pancakes cooked on the camp stove and then headed out for a hike. First we did the main hike up to the actual "hanging rock." The trail map said it was only 1 mile, but I think they were lying! Either that or we are incredibly out of shape and slow! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329513648583560706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFW6diaR_3z4sThX82IxaiEKF0LMVmeeHERtVBEi2kAwk0WdRTqWhiGhDbWdSe2oU7QimNHCs883lyUiOT0lvr5mAEbEqFgePDz3JmwLP9ZkDWRY7B1ggypptSU9PLTyzn3X3rclaNLlun/s320/DSC01553.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329521490909018402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ6VCeln0fpwbY4voIn2WEw4C_cUKPqYY7yH2pcWvHiung8aXuXSrno2BnVFYIBit8R3OtZFunY5WQk-R0uMoGbM_NlfxBSF6psJ4WdecWHMmpOIotqeSOyzOkVnv83cjbMqZodrNuCm0M/s320/DSC01561.JPG" border="0" /> After a brief lunch break back at the campsite, we headed over to the lower cascades (a .2 mile hike...much better! lol) and took Sadie swimming!!! She's part lab, part beagle (we think), so she should like the water! But so far we hadn't had much luck. This time were successful at getting her to swim- Will carried her out in to the water and put her down! But she immediately headed for shallow water... she didn't seem to mind getting wet though- and willingly went as far as she could still touch. I think if the water had been warmer, and Will and I were actually swimming too (not just wading) she might actually enjoy it. We'll have to try again this summer, when it's warm enough for us to swim with her!<br /><br /><br />That night we actually got to eat before it got dark, which was much better, and we had the most delicious steaks ever! Marinated in one of Will's special concoctions since Thursday night and grilled over the campfire- YUM! But after our hiking and that big dinner, we were exhausted! Call us lame, but we crawled in the tent pretty much as soon as it got dark.... so like 8:30 LOL! I think we may have read for about 30 minutes, but that was it! Man, we're old.....<br /><br />Sunday we packed up camp and went for one more short walk around the lake before heading home. The great thing about Hanging Rock is that we still got home around 1:00! We had plenty of time to unpack everything, and even got to sit out on the patio and grill out for lunch!<br /><br />It was a great weekend and I think we all thoroughly enjoyed it. Sadie is still exhausted though! And I am too, since I didn't really sleep that well either night. I think I was so worried that Sadie wouldn't sleep, that I stayed up listening for sounds that might disturb her! Ha! Oh boy, motherhood is going to be such a challenge..... lol.<br /><br />Shout Outs:<br /><br /><ul><li>Mother Nature: Still doing great- this weather has been absolutely gorgeous! </li></ul><p><br /></p><ul><li>Will: I'd camp with you anytime! I love you and I had such a great time with our little family this weekend!</li></ul>Prayers:<br /><br /><ul><li>Our country, and the world in general: I've heard so many awful, terrible news stories related to senseless violence lately and it really makes my heart ache. I just pray that people will learn to put their differences behind them, love their neighbors, and live in harmony. </li></ul><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329513662940540338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg8BSST9gu5kClxk84z4uaPSHWr1Su2rZtB1L2nCh65YgKmJWEop1_Zgx333isHq5BPGOqV96pKbjqmWlGhrsy-gUK3Bc9Q4nCx8v6d4INJib2VEI6Up3EvfEVb4dvByMZjgJvg-0BLGt8/s320/DSC01601.JPG" border="0" />Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135924709085576135noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624772861527518472.post-49193491051499555572009-04-23T17:44:00.000-04:002009-04-23T18:15:08.939-04:00No phone call...<div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">...from the staffing agency. I'm hoping that just means that the director-lady was busy and didn't answer the staffing agency back, and not that the staffing agency didn't contact the director-lady. Haha... got all that? </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">Anyway... since I haven't heard back yet, I think I should probably not leave town tomorrow, just in case she calls and wants to meet tomorrow or Monday. Plus, like everyone has said, that's a long drive just for a couple days and I'd rather go when Will can go too. And I'll see Owen some other time, when I can have him all to myself =) So.... camping it is! I'm so excited for Sadie- she is going to love it! Hiking and being O-U-T (yes, we have to spell it because she knows that word and gets excited, lol), and sleeping in a tent with her Mommy and Daddy. And today has been so gorgeous, I'm hoping the weekend is the exact same way! I spent most of today running around doing errands and shopping with my Mom, who took today off to get ready for her trip to Florida tomorrow! She is going to Ft Lauderdale to see her best friend from high school. They both turn 50 this spring- friends for 38 years! </div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center">I have a prayer request for today too... I have a cousin (third cousin or once removed or something) up in NY who is in first grade, his name is John, and he has been in the hospital since last Friday. I'm not clear on all the details but it started out as a fever and nausea Thursday night and Friday morning he woke up with a large lump on his neck. So far it sounds like they haven't determined what it is, only what it's not. It's not strep, it's not meningitis, and it's not a few other things. A CAT scan was done and showed some sort of abcess (sp?) on his throat and tonsils. He was moved by ambulance to a bigger hospital last night. He's still running a high fever and can't keep food down because the antibiotics are strong and keeping him nauseous. Basically, he's a very sick, scared little boy. What makes it worse is that before John was born, his parents, Peggy and George, had another son, named Skipper. Skipper died when he was 11 months old from shaken baby syndrome. His Nanny shook him, not hard and only for a few seconds, but was sentenced 3-10 years in prison for reckless manslaughter. It took Peggy and George a long time to even be ready to think about having another child, and now their second little boy is in the hospital and very ill. Please send some good vibes their way, I know they need it. And please, PLEASE.... don't <em>ever</em> shake a baby!!! I know it sounds like common sense, but it happens more often than we realize. They are such fragile, precious angels and it doesn't take much to do serious damage to their little bodies.</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328012200993741922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 146px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 143px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCsekAO9hA68Rfmkcd9cNggswKZ3RF-xMdLaehY9HWTAL3j4WNY5sgTLcUdkFrtc57zCBpLKuvG5VO7boe6WMkaLX8vDjaDiu_zv2netZE9WqiX6n7et5o846CpCbNiHRKp_YbBEjt3sMA/s320/skipper-3.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#3366ff;">George "Skipper" III</span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#3366ff;">Dec 24, 1999 - Dec 3, 2000<br /></span></p><p><br />Shout Outs:<br /><br /><br />Mother Nature: Great job today, keep up the good work! =)<br /><br /><br /><br />Prayers:<br /><br /><br /><br />John, Peggy, and George, and our extended family: I love you all and am thinking about you and wishing John a quick recovery. Stay strong, little man, I know you're going to be okay!! XO<br /><br /><br /><br />Mom: Have a great trip to Florida, and be safe!!! </p>Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135924709085576135noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624772861527518472.post-33176522528408853692009-04-22T19:30:00.000-04:002009-04-22T20:04:02.541-04:00*Interview*I had an interview today! First one since I got laid off at the end of March. I was really just glad to know that someone was actually looking at my resume, since I have applied for several positions and heard nothing back! Well the "interview," if you can even call it that, was with a staffing agency. I was not impressed. I've never worked with a staffing agency so I guess I just wasn't sure what to expect, but my interview was at 2:00 and it was at least 2:15 before anyone acknowledged me. The receptionist was on the phone, so finally she asked if she could help me with anything. I told her why I was there and she handed me a stack of papers which took THIRTY freakin minutes to fill out! By the way, I hate when places make you fill out an application listing all the exact same info that's on your resume. So, I fill out most of the paperwork, even though it includes tax forms and an I-9 and stuff and I don't even know anything about the job yet. I felt like handing the papers back to her and saying I would wait to fill them out until I had actually accepted a position! But, like I said, I've never gone to a staffing agency before, so I didn't know if that was the norm or not. So I sit and wait while this woman hollers all over the office asking if anyone wants a soda cause she's running to the vending machine. The woman comes back and hands out the drinks. 5 minutes later, she comes back out to the "lobby" area to get me.... <em>this</em> is the woman I have my "interview" with. So by this time it's almost 3:00. I sit in her office while she basically reads me my resume and asks the same two questions that she asked me on the phone yesterday. So she says she is going to set up an interview for me to meet with the employer. And that's about it. Seriously. That was the extent of my "interview." Oh, and PS: She was on the phone with other clients for about half the time I was in her office. Rude?? I think so. I can't believe I bought a new outfit for that!<br /><br />Anyway... I should hear back from her tomorrow about setting up that interview with the actual hiring company. The position sounds pretty good- The director of some sort of counseling center has been handling all the HR stuff herself, but is getting overwhelmed so she wants to bring in an HR Generalist. I love the fact that it is with a company that does something I'm interested in (hello, psych major), and that it is located near Friendly Shopping Center! But, the down side is that she is only looking for a part-time HR person for right now. 2-3 days a week, flexible scheduling. The pay rate is about what I was making before (hourly), but with only being 16-24 hours a week, I would be making less there than I would if I continued to collect unemployment. So, I'll do the interview and see if I like her and like the place and then decide. If I did take it, at least it would be experience to add to my resume, and would look better than having a large gap, and the staffing agency did mention the possibility of getting a salary increase/benefit options, so we'll see... I'll keep you posted.<br /><br />In other news... I'm having trouble deciding what to do this weekend. Do I,<br /><br />A) Go camping at Hanging Rock with Will and his friend Matt, and get to be with Sadie (the puppy) on her first camping trip; or<br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327668952293900226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibA8sX5kDq-WqYKymBamDPVVV-gLXn6z0p0i_Tiu7M5xinwI_Bt0WoQQJ8MEUrkHeHRpGMv7hZOnyyV-CPGHZaeJuW2I14bIYvdw5kxL_kT1C4w0ew6rloSUUnPVFxyj9gj-r4qpoSjcmA/s320/Empty+Camera+10-31-08+309.jpg" border="0" /></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#3366ff;">Me and the Sade-ster, cheerin on the Heels!</span></p><p align="center"><span style="color:#3366ff;"></span><br />B) Leave Fri to drive 5+ hours by myself to see my extended family and be there for my nephew's first birthday party?<br /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327668957717238130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHcRbwmrtITV9HDanMNW6LHQpUjtqcBx56bE_g3hK3c5DA-F09QLmKL5JnTNVHeN9bDCvn8nn6392o5bvYb6m2hqqkao6r5lFI07ByE_5gM4-33TQZN5WQwrc9HEefNYh9yOnElzdQvH0c/s320/Empty+Camera+10-31-08+301.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:courier new;color:#3366ff;">That's me and Owen on the right, and my Mom and the nephew who is 7, Mason, on the left. Mason was being camera shy and trying to squirm away!</span></span></p><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:Courier New;color:#3366ff;"></span><p align="center"><br /></span></p>WWYD? I'm almost hoping that my interview is on Friday so that will make my decision for me. I would love to be there for Owen's birthday and get to see all my nieces and nephews (ages 7, 4, 4, 2, and 1) but I also really want to take Sadie camping! She'd have so much fun =)<br /><br /><p align="left">Shout Outs:</p><ul><li><div align="left">Katie: So glad we got to catch up today! Everything is falling into place for you and I'm so excited!! =)</div></li></ul><p align="left">Prayers: </p><ul><li><div align="left">Kelly: Hope you feel better soon! We'll do wine night some other time</div></li><li><div align="left">Molly: I miss you and I hope that you are happy and safe, wherever you are! </div></li></ul><p align="left">hmm...all three of my b-maids today, weird =)</p><p align="left"><br /><br /><br /></p>Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135924709085576135noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624772861527518472.post-86836384560672505602009-04-20T14:40:00.001-04:002009-04-23T19:17:17.422-04:00I'm a bad blogger...<p align="center">I know, I know... I've been TERRIBLE at keeping up with this... it's amazing how much more "computer time" I had when I was working! Now I just feel extremely lazy if I spend an entire afternoon blogging/emailing/facebooking! Not to say I haven't done it....<br /><br /><br />Anyway.... I'll try to re-cap:<br /><br /><br />Tuesday March 31st was my last day at my job. My boss and one other co-worker, both good friends, took me out to Chili's for lunch and I had a giant margarita! After lunch, I packed up what was still in my office and left. I went over to my Mom's office to hang out with her for a few minutes while I tried to figure out what to do with the rest of my day. I guess she took pity on me, because she ended up leaving work early to take me shoe shopping! No luck, but it was still fun and took my mind off work. Although, Friendly Shopping Center is full of nothing but Mommy's and small children at 3 in the afternoon on a Tuesday! Several times I thought "If I'm not going to be working, I wanna be pregnant!!" Haha... not really, I know we will wait a while on that, but that's just how I was feeling that day. Although we didn't find any shoes, I did find jewelry for the bridesmaids! I won't post pictures because it is part of their gifts from me, but I wanted them to know not to worry about jewelry, cause I got it covered!<br /><br />Wednesday and Thursday I pretty much did nothing- some shopping and errands and laundry. Then Friday we left for Florida! We drove through the night and made it to TJ's at about 3 am, local time. We spent the week taking TJ to PT and OT appointments, doctors appointments and just hanging out. It was so nice to relax and enjoy the couple sunny days that we got. We watched the National Championship game with all the roommates and some other Navy/Marine friends.... it was great to see the Heels take the title again, but was definitely NOT as exciting as 2005. Michigan never had a chance. If it had been a close, exciting game, Will and I planned to run down to the beach, since rushing Franklin wasn't an option, but since there was very little excitement, we high-fived, sang the alma mater, and then went to bed! Haha. </p><p align="center"> </p><p align="center"><br /> </p><p align="center"> </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328023835818124386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8DnkWcuhzhjq2qL_Cd4q3PDFaIE-cTs8M2ozQtWz6Z86Q6zUx7bSC2rpxzYjz38CxmhfF4QSav1S_1-IGi6C_5MIzuuaiDAh6mUs_L2DTZdXv_VgiN_5G9SoRv5rLcOyc_l9u_Y0hRScK/s320/March+22+2009+138.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;"><span style="color:#3366ff;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Go Heels!! =)</span><br /></span></span></p><br />While we were down there we went on a couple double dates with TJ, which was entertaining. We saw "I Love You Man," but missed the last few minutes since some idiot decided to pull the fire alarm in the movie theater. In trying to get out of the theater, TJ had a little fall on his crutches, but he handled it well and managed to catch himself before he did too much damage. We went home and checked things out, but it was okay, so no trip to the ER or anything. Just a little scary! I'm SO glad that he is out and doing things and going on dates though- proves that he hasn't changed a bit! There's actually another girl in the picture too, a nurse from the rehab clinic, that I am very excited about, but more on that later...<br /><br />Anyway, TJ is doing really, really well with his PT and I can already tell that his balance has improved dramatically. Here's a test for you, just to prove what I'm talking about... Try to put a t-shirt on while standing on one foot! Yea... harder than it sounds! As soon as I close my eyes, I'm done for. It's little every day things like that where I could really see how far he's come.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328024520193192162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDaj9IvaXUmusXCe8uxH0jWxAlDIBRECm8H8DIaDb5xcnTZJtkjUUOwwiQVagd0WGXUfykk2eofp_nS4QLCbZtvIEcy-cGxp3NFY47w0Fk_6f1gTBFtUlhiDmRDDfL27-1PQ9CORSYWqvM/s320/March+22+2009+152.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#3366ff;">Will and TJ at the dog tracks!</span><br /><br />In wedding news, I picked up my dress from Bridal Mart the day we left for Florida- with only minor drama! Basically, when I tried on the size 10 sample in the store, it fit really well, so even though I measured at more like an 8, the consultant had me order the 10. Well on Thursday I went to pick it up and when I tried it on it was HUGE! The straps did not fit at all, it didn't fit my waist, and was several inches too long (whereas the sample wouldn't have had to be hemmed with 2.5" heels). The consultants measured my dress against the sample and it turned out that the sample was just plain wrong. It measured at an 8-10 in the hips, a 6-8 in the waist, and a 4-6 in the bust, even though the tag said "10," which is why it fit me perfectly!! So, they agreed to have the sample cleaned and to fix any loose threads and beading. I went back first thing Friday morning to try it on one last time and make sure everything looked right. They did a good job and I got a small discount for taking the sample (only about $25, but still). So I have my dress! There are only a few things that I will need to have done to it- the bustle, hopefully taken in a little at the waist, and I might add buttons down the back (over the zipper), but that won't happen until later.<br /><br />Will also got all the suits ordered! I was impressed- all the guys got their measurements done really quickly and they all really liked the suits...so much so that they decided to all get the vests too! Originally I thought just Will would wear the vest, but it really makes the whole suit, so now they all have them and Will's tie will be different instead, and probably a different bout. I thought finding ties would be our next big challenge for the guys, but I stopped by Stein Mart the other day and found some I liked for 14.99! I bought all 4 (three the same and one a little bit different) and showed them to Will that night. I think they're going to work, but he wants to try them on with the suit before we decide for sure. (I left my camera at my grandparents house, so I'll post pictures when I get it back!)<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328026874025489522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJahYbW1XDylFqeq5jmOiXvuWz_R5_etFy_0etyJgzVU1ZoCPi_fsvSO5Uo2g_EH3xroYE7zIC0p9hhgyqnicHAQwxGRA6h1NRvAeh1WNvpEco2uP_JzSgeOKryi7VtNxGMzSe5jdYPUuE/s320/March+22+2009+153.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;color:#3366ff;">Groomsmen on the left, Will on the right! What d'ya think? =)<br /></span><br />I was lazy again for most of the week last week...lots of sleeping in and watching HGTV. I did spend Thursday with Carissa though- we had lunch at Friendly and then when I dropped her off, she realized she'd locked herself out, so we were <em>forced</em> to spend the rest of the afternoon shopping! Haha, we had fun though- we looked at houses, we stopped by the park where we're having the rehearsal dinner and found out about some possible "volunteer opportunities", and then looked at furniture and dresses in Graham! Oh, and I found reception shoes in Graham- they are exactly what I was looking for- platform white flops with pretty beading on the top, by Nine West. Once Greg got home to let us in, I totally crashed their dinner plans (sorry, guys!) and we had chips/dip/margaritas for dinner! (Will was having dinner with clients).<br /><br />Friday night we FINALLY went and started our registry! It was so much fun! We went to Macy's at 7:30 and didn't leave until close to 10! We only wanted every day china, not formal, so we went with Fiestaware! Not what I was originally thinking, but since we have very different tastes, this was a good compromise. We're going to have a very bright kitchen someday! Cobalt blue, Peacock blue, and Ivory with accents of Scarlett red! I'm thinking weathered oak cabinets and a mexican tile backsplash.... =) </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328029238113265586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 173px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUK_lULYakqcuGDFlRAEWn8eDVICYnXRk1TISNXN7QfLKMaRX4_stnL7zPcWpEZlRWUCCJo2pguPoc400xKJ1pg68Kt2HyNZYUeEezx_Ob4aGcTZF5TaF4g0SJjt8GcJRlum9V_bQCtTxv/s320/fiestaware!.bmp" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">Saturday we spent a few hours outside in the gorgeous WARM sunny weather and then registered at Target before going to Box and Jill's engagement party! It was a great day! And Sunday we did absolutely nothing...didn't leave the house and didn't even change out of PJs until about 6:00PM. =) I love days like that every now and then....<br /><br />WHEW! Okay, well bless you're heart if you are still reading this! I promise I will add pictures soon to break it up, and I will try to be a lot better about posting!<br /><br />Shout Outs:<br /></p><ul><li><div align="center">Carissa- thanks for a great afternoon!<br /><br /></div></li><li><div align="center">Shannon- congrats on everything!!!!!!<br /><br /></div></li><li><div align="center">TJ- for being so strong and never losing your great sense of humor!</div></li></ul><p><br /><br /></p><p align="center">Prayers:<br /></p><ul><li><div align="center">Karen- I love you and I'm so sorry for all that you are going through right now<br /><br /></div></li><li><div align="center">Cathy's family and friends- I'm thinking about all of you and praying for strength; Cathy was such a wonderful friend and mother and she had a very full life, but I know that doesn't make this any easier. </div></li></ul>Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135924709085576135noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624772861527518472.post-30666379798558239492009-03-29T12:28:00.000-04:002009-03-29T13:05:26.925-04:00Suit Shopping!So I was finally able to drag Will out shopping with me yesterday, and it was almost too easy....we pulled up to Mens Wearhouse and saw a great suit in the window right away. We both thought that that must mean that there are tons more, so we let a salesperson show us around. The one in the window was linen so he immediately by-passed that since September 5th was "too cold for that" (seriously.... that's 5 days away from AUGUST in NC!) and he showed us a few others. He really didn't seem to get what we were looking for though, so eventually he led us back to the original linen one and it was perfect!!! It's a medium tan color Calvin Klein three piece suit and it looks amazing on! The inside of the jacket and the back of the vest are made of a cotton material that is a darker brown with baby blue stripes- how perfect!!! The best part.... BOGO! Haha....I thought BOGOs only happened at the grocery store and at payless....not on a $500 Calvin Klein suit!!! We called all the boys to make sure they were all okay with linen (I told Will the decision was ultimately up to him, but since we are asking the guys to buy them and not just rent them, we thought it would be best to make sure they approved). So, as of now I think Will is going to get the vest but the other guys will just wear the pants and jacket. Unless TJ wants a vest, since he is the Best Man. I guess we'll let him decide....if Will buys a vest, we'll get one free, so someone should take it, even if they don't wear it for the wedding!! So... for the guys pants and jackets it's only going to be about $210. We'll buy their ties for them as part of their gifts and they'll just need plain white button down shirts. I know renting can cost up to around $175 or so, so I don't think asking them to pay $210 to OWN a Calvin Klein suit is too bad...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I'm so excited to have this done!! Everything really seems like it's coming together now =)<br /><br /><br /><p align="justify"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318651490641463682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHHKkZb4SjBaCNTOSPyW7Roz05mA2AYO6uLniAmv5E4xnlctcevKmE0Y_5SVaseOycA6g7tDQizozWkWPraBTvMPgJkuNYaV06QoJVgHB4B36kFf1fr4q-7Md2iLKiIyTSqbOAioglACoR/s200/DSC01500.JPG" border="0" /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318651499504518146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRffSdlXcXHzsiQbooQY51ZSvGDzU9c0UkiOuPhpr3by-IsaSMtEvk4-pY_DChYaoXR_ypK8ye-8hFzabhILYjJY3Grz6Wn_Px_CC7bA7hxutonRBOHteKfzpYN3Ko0H-c1iFtD-0JJ8fd/s200/DSC01498.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318651511306137106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4USJrvWWLxsF8LKJanBatARUqc7P5zGwhJ4rrfC6TFDp2ZtwhSmIswtqxRnSEfdl1D4tTK28UMujRpAq4zHu4lWkw_VWPvsrjNtM1QosIdw8jSmkeOlCxObLpNJIwEA7Jvr2IAghy91-/s200/DSC01503.JPG" border="0" />Haha....ignore the goofy smile on that last one ;)<br /><br />Now to just find ties similar to these but that DON'T cost $40 each..... And also I need to figure out what the Dads should wear.....<br /><br />On a different note.... my dress is here!!!! I get to go with my Mom and pick it up this week- that sounds like the perfect thing to do on my last day of work!!!<br /><br />Shout Outs:<br /><ul><li>Will- for finally going shopping with me- see? I told you it would be fun! I know you're more excited about the wedding now!</li><li>Sadie- for being the cutest puppy in the world and keeping me company for the next couple days while Will is at his "outing" for work.... aka 3 days of eating, drinking, playing golf, and staying in a nice hotel. Lucky duck. </li></ul><br />Prayers:<br /><ul><li>Chris- (My future-mother-in-law) that she has a safe trip down to FL tomorrow </li><li>TJ- that everything goes smoothly getting out of the hospital this week</li><li>Shannon's Papaw- that he hangs on and pulls through these health issues</li><li>Kelly- for a safe trip to LA and back!</li></ul>Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135924709085576135noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624772861527518472.post-72171842726108153042009-03-26T15:41:00.000-04:002009-03-26T15:54:15.907-04:00The Perfect ShoeSo I have been on the hunt for a great pair of Carolina Blue shoes, or ones that I can have dyed. Not as easy as it may sound.... some of the dyeable styles are cute, but I haven't found anything I *love* yet, and I've never had a pair of shoes dyed, so I'm not sure how it works....like are they totally ruined if you walk through damp grass? Comments on this topic are welcome! <div><br /><div>Anyway...yesterday a fellow knottie posted a picture of her wedding shoes and I fell in love....hers are hot pink, but they also had one in "china blue" that looked perfect! Although the picture doesn't look quite as fun and fabulous as some others I've looked at, I think this one would be perfect with my dress since is has pleating that matches the "roushing" (or however you spell that word) on my dress, and the strap that sort of swirls across the front, which is similar to my dress. I also thought I would have more of a chance to wear these beauties again (I'm thinking future Rams Club/Alumni events possibly? Although I have no idea with what dress....) than some other dyeable ones. </div><br /><div>So- I called my mom right away and she was going to order them for me right then and there....but they only have a size 8 left. There is just no way my size 9 fat foot is going to fit in it =( . So now I am on the hunt to find it at a department store, either in the china blue, or in the plain white and have it dyed, since I really really just love the shoe that much.</div><br /><div>Wish me luck!! </div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317585922664060722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGL8jMdbBlS5ZvgHOlZaMeoN8I0vp7t1VFKhjVmYHJo3OTz8QY25W-yly65N0Ipcqtapi5Iv6CNza7pY6PLFJ-PYZjS1FZBkmAsex0wG6KWjmiq7w7NnE-LoFrf4n1gZWJGbaoBLzq7z4/s320/VITORIA-LS_CHINA-BLUE-LUSTER-SATIN_large.jpg" border="0" /></div></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317585925704905122" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnxeG8wuNty_mlkP2cK217hW5wb6GboUL5Cd8_rwrfjc0gMMxJDkCim42C5fBH8ElTQm6T-E4C2l7KTXjxgy6fhddVsSdeqetMvNV7814JX4qEEH8fq6D843sWTvFekKAec8jLOIWm9-PT/s320/VITORIA-LS_CHINA-BLUE-LUSTER-SATIN_front-large.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p>Almost forgot....</p><p>Shout Outs:</p><ul><li>My Mom- for keeping me excited about wedding planning, through all the stress right now!</li><li>My MOH Katie- for being a great friend...and YAY the dress fits!!! =)</li></ul><p>Prayers:</p><ul><li>Shannon's Papaw- for a speedy recovery and all that he has left to look forward to! </li></ul>Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135924709085576135noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3624772861527518472.post-31135575514554573542009-03-22T16:39:00.000-04:002009-03-29T13:06:31.544-04:00A great shopping day and finally downloaded pictures!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQF96Mie9v1vsTYcgBQ-s3ENUGzCjS5fE7-xj1XmwEuI9vahLpugpYvuLUbRe_D1zlvV4BpWsdWL0ekkE-DvVNhkDrIuZ9Q7GCmsy022GcNBqYmio9Bd0Q2XHBaWU8EUK7gTan3YLtnTQo/s1600-h/March+22+2009+132.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316124564428762338" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQF96Mie9v1vsTYcgBQ-s3ENUGzCjS5fE7-xj1XmwEuI9vahLpugpYvuLUbRe_D1zlvV4BpWsdWL0ekkE-DvVNhkDrIuZ9Q7GCmsy022GcNBqYmio9Bd0Q2XHBaWU8EUK7gTan3YLtnTQo/s320/March+22+2009+132.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yesterday a "new" girlfriend invited me to go shopping at Concord Mills and we had a blast! We left around 11:00 and ended up going to another shopping center while we were down there and didn't get home until almost 8:00! Then we went to dinner at Olive Garden =) It was a great day!! And I managed to do it without spending too much money! I bought this dress from Anne Taylor, just a comfy cotton one. I'll need a few dresses this spring/summer between Kelly's 2+ showers, Kelly's reharsal, my 2 showers, our rehearsal, Box and Jill's wedding in July.... whew! The only other things I bought were gifts for my BMs, so if you wanna see pictures of those, you'll have to ask ;)<br /><br /><br />I shouldn't really say Carissa is a "new" girlfriend- we actually met her and her then-fiance Greg about a year and a half ago I think- they used to live across the street from us, but now they live across the street from Will's parents! Anyway- we've gotten together with them more and more over the last few months and Will and I are both SO happy to have more "couple" friends! They're great and I look forward to many get togethers in the future! =)<br /><br />So it's Sunday afternoon and *gorgeous* outside! Will left to go play golf around 2:00, so I took Sadie for a long walk and then sat out in the sun playing on the computer and I finally downloaded some more pictures!!! Let's see what I can show you......<br /><br /><br /><div align="right"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0g4tvJrvRe_iAYOv7xrhLyF_hPPPfoGLlbJ66iGMRdggu9MxSpf_ojEhcHEbzoM9hLME6ABN8xuLUZivC-Wz-wfOwfL7R1SP-MMTb8HneUjowxkIrSdYYY0nwkfwi4uUI0WoinRkKq99j/s1600-h/March+22+2009+105.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316122771975379458" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0g4tvJrvRe_iAYOv7xrhLyF_hPPPfoGLlbJ66iGMRdggu9MxSpf_ojEhcHEbzoM9hLME6ABN8xuLUZivC-Wz-wfOwfL7R1SP-MMTb8HneUjowxkIrSdYYY0nwkfwi4uUI0WoinRkKq99j/s320/March+22+2009+105.jpg" border="0" /></a>Mia's flower girl basket! Just have to add some blue and brown ribbons- probably just bows on each end of the handle. Can you see the price tag? Yep- $3.. I'm still proud of that!</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="right"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgjgeVKPdd06VbukGi_0ZVm73PqK-7v6KvAOIUToYkpyF6BfOItKDWizHcTew6MbPw9c0vJEVeOBuF9WYe1TuNY_6z9DDkI5y4dAEMrEtizHuxQ9CBnEns_sI24jsD1D3m0EbHMpPvnWw/s1600-h/March+22+2009+111.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316123564421861330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibgjgeVKPdd06VbukGi_0ZVm73PqK-7v6KvAOIUToYkpyF6BfOItKDWizHcTew6MbPw9c0vJEVeOBuF9WYe1TuNY_6z9DDkI5y4dAEMrEtizHuxQ9CBnEns_sI24jsD1D3m0EbHMpPvnWw/s320/March+22+2009+111.jpg" border="0" /></a>Here are the bubbles that I've done so far. Still need to finish about 30 of these, and figure out what sort of container to put them in so that Mason can hand them out before the ceremony (galvanized pail? basket?). I want to include instructions in the programs that guests can blow these at us as we walk back up the aisle after the ceremony. Since the wedding and reception are in the same place, we won't "walk out the church doors" or anything like that, so I thought this would be a cute way to still be able to do it- I love bubble pictures!</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="right"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGs-JLHJw4KAD03tCzoQDH2rpztKbdsG5vnsYD_S8Nevddat6rgLsUqyAPhpE3YppNyL0oif9pj_6j1-yCt4UvxoHd0B5os6Z99qrf4dgQleyaJQ3gvEuqEka-RffPnre68lHJnf-DTluU/s1600-h/March+22+2009+113.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316125411300861362" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGs-JLHJw4KAD03tCzoQDH2rpztKbdsG5vnsYD_S8Nevddat6rgLsUqyAPhpE3YppNyL0oif9pj_6j1-yCt4UvxoHd0B5os6Z99qrf4dgQleyaJQ3gvEuqEka-RffPnre68lHJnf-DTluU/s320/March+22+2009+113.jpg" border="0" /></a>Here are two lanterns I got from Kohl's after Christmas- I can't remember exactly how much they were, but I want to say they were less than $20 combined, so it was a great deal! (They're huge- the larger one is probably 16-18 inchese high). I want to use these somehow- possibly on the bar, or maybe on the guest book table. (Please excuse the dust on the top...two words- DRY WALL. Ugh.)</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="right"></div><br /><div align="right"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSGib7lvlNn3pgQv3vijP4JrzkeG60OWyD7VY-ZL_iqLx73KDXB3g_62I-9ymB_Ja1yeF20ZhOU9TvsjGu2WswCiEUMz_A_yQmFXriMZXF6ARa7CyyJvJ4UNZLbKVWh3UO6uTWbJZyq7B/s1600-h/March+22+2009+118.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316127182379277778" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFSGib7lvlNn3pgQv3vijP4JrzkeG60OWyD7VY-ZL_iqLx73KDXB3g_62I-9ymB_Ja1yeF20ZhOU9TvsjGu2WswCiEUMz_A_yQmFXriMZXF6ARa7CyyJvJ4UNZLbKVWh3UO6uTWbJZyq7B/s320/March+22+2009+118.jpg" border="0" /></a>I also got a TON of these candle 4-packs from Target after Christmas. They're about 2 inches high- silver mercury glass holders with little white candles inside with silver glitter on the top. I'll probably use a few of these on each cocktail table and scattered around on the cake table, bar, etc.</div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="right"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="right"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQrS7W6jk12dJgpJ6UGKfTIujSMgKAz4tFIfybgAcbfqlTVjmUfKrb_xNGEoF8LRQlzprVm2iJ_HnlD83VJi8wZ0hSFDIzXHMKIC5uOZV3BptB3HacTfXkF5jycZW_XDb4nRxEnRN-QBu/s1600-h/March+22+2009+119.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316127193530810290" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQrS7W6jk12dJgpJ6UGKfTIujSMgKAz4tFIfybgAcbfqlTVjmUfKrb_xNGEoF8LRQlzprVm2iJ_HnlD83VJi8wZ0hSFDIzXHMKIC5uOZV3BptB3HacTfXkF5jycZW_XDb4nRxEnRN-QBu/s320/March+22+2009+119.jpg" border="0" /></a>These confetti-like flowers (in blue metallic and pearl metallic colors) I got from Michaels and will scatter around wherever I use the candles above.</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="right"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="right"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="right"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="right"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="right"></div><br /><br /><div align="right"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzaUBgk1FaPwZIGi0NjxC92NT0R8Pargb9SBZX9drLouilpQS4oHhFdKGmhcV0k4ObS-86NtrEHUJy4dXIj6xcNAvWBm4U5uBrgyMpa8BCcWknJMux1Iq5WwQKr_BFdzYp7f9ZWggZ3se/s1600-h/March+22+2009+134.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316127202113121250" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzaUBgk1FaPwZIGi0NjxC92NT0R8Pargb9SBZX9drLouilpQS4oHhFdKGmhcV0k4ObS-86NtrEHUJy4dXIj6xcNAvWBm4U5uBrgyMpa8BCcWknJMux1Iq5WwQKr_BFdzYp7f9ZWggZ3se/s320/March+22+2009+134.jpg" border="0" /></a>I got this tank top from the trash to treasure board on the knot- it's from the VS "Sexy Little Things" line and I hope to wear this, with the VS "Sexy Little Bride" hoodie the day of the wedding. Our ceremony isn't until early evening, so I hope to have some girl time in the morning- possibly brunch together and then we'll probably have someone come to the hotel to do our hair/makeup. I can't wait to get some cute pictures of all of that!</div><br /><br /><br /><div align="right"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="right"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="right"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="right"></div><br /><br /><br /><div align="right"></div><br /><br /><div align="right"></div><div align="right"></div><div align="right"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAF1cLOZArPsrYewlJLxOESM-IIE4vttqyq8KaUO9S3EzagKsxesCxJ3Cu4EA6l_cJ4gG9Xt0qTGVD8GCaXZF08Ijq-dfmlzkKca-ABxcTpKQC-kMUAWIjbx8hAe_1xvAgyNJ9A4LbCXP-/s1600-h/March+22+2009+073.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316129192995210770" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAF1cLOZArPsrYewlJLxOESM-IIE4vttqyq8KaUO9S3EzagKsxesCxJ3Cu4EA6l_cJ4gG9Xt0qTGVD8GCaXZF08Ijq-dfmlzkKca-ABxcTpKQC-kMUAWIjbx8hAe_1xvAgyNJ9A4LbCXP-/s320/March+22+2009+073.jpg" border="0" /></a>Speaking of....here's a pic from the day we all went dress shopping! This is not my dress, BTW, but these are the BMs- L to R is Molly, Me, Kelly, and Katie (MOH). They are 3 very different girls and I have very different relationships with all of them, but they're all awesome and I am so lucky to have them share my special day with me!</div><div align="right"></div><div align="right"></div><div align="right"></div><div align="right"></div><div align="right"></div><div align="right"></div><div align="right"></div><div align="right"></div><div align="right"></div><div align="right"></div><div align="right"></div><div align="right"></div><div align="right"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Alright, that's all for now... I have a lot more pictures to share, but those will have to wait! I've got to get ready to head over to Will's parents house for dinner. His Dad got home from Florida today, so hopefully we'll get an update on TJ. </div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">I caught up on Carissa's blog today and liked how she is ending each post: shout outs and prayers. (I'll call them prayers because it's easier than typing out best wishes/positive thoughts/good vibes, but you can call it whatever you want!) So here goes...</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Shout outs:</div><ul><li><div align="left">Carissa- thanks again for yesterday!</div></li><li><div align="left">Shannon- for encouraging me to start a blog</div></li><li><div align="left">Will- even though he won't see this (or he better not, anyway! Not till after the wedding)- for being a great brother, a wonderful fiance, and my best friend</div></li></ul><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Prayers:</div><ul><li><div align="left">TJ- you're doing great, keep up your positive outlook, your strength, and your sense of humor and you'll be just fine. I love you!</div></li><li><div align="left">Shannon's Papaw- hope the recovery is going well! </div></li></ul>Baileyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12135924709085576135noreply@blogger.com1