Marry Me Monday: Wedding Week

In a few short days, the long awaited wedding day will be here.  I will be marrying the sweet guy that my heart knew was the one 13 years ago.   The past ten months have been a mix of emotions.  All happy for the most part but there is always a touch of bitter sweetness with any life change.  We are ready.  We have used this preparation time not only to plan a grand party to celebrate with all our friends and families, but we have prepared ourselves by learning more about ourselves and each other.  We have grown in our relationship. I know marriage changes things and I can already feel it happening. Our relationship is growing stronger. A different bond is starting to form that was not present before.  He looks at me in a different way. He looks at me as his wife. It is a beautiful, sweet thing. No words can accurately describe the difference.  As no one can really touch love - it is just there.

The last ten months have taught us a lot!  Wedding planning in itself is good marriage preparation. We have learned how to negotiate our different perspectives.  We have learned more about our families as we begin to combine not only our lives but merge two families and all the traditions of each. We have discussed and dreamed what our future will be like as a married team.  It is a beautiful, sweet thing.

We have grown in our faith.  We spent a weekend retreat discussing marriage as a sacrament and what that means to us.  We have always loved a good religious discussion but to me these discussions have become even more meaningful because we are about to enter a very holy sacrament.  We are both so grateful that God has blessed us with each other and all the amazing people in our lives. It is a beautiful, sweet thing.

Our Alma mater, Southern Miss, took care of us when the tornado that hit Hattiesburg destroyed our reception site.  The day after the tornado, they were already contacting us to assure us that all will be worked out.  They went way beyond what we expected them to do by providing us with a new reception spot that is beautiful and extra time to prepare the space. So many of the people in the wedding planning process have been so helpful.  It is a beautiful, sweet thing.

We have been overwhelmed with love from all our families and friends.  So many will be traveling a long distance to celebrate with us.  They have showered us with encouraging words, congratulations and gifts.  Family and friends have worked so hard to help us with many details of the wedding planning process. The love that we have felt has been the most beautiful, sweet thing.  Thank you to  all our family and friends. We love you all so much.

The work is done. This week will be a fun (and hopefully stress-free) week of visiting with family and friends who will be with us as we celebrate our love and start a new phase of our relationship together. I will be taking a break from blogging for a few weeks as I enjoy the honeymoon and the first few weeks of married life.  I plan on being back by April 29th to share pictures and details.  Check back then!

Marry Me Monday: Photos I Love

My photographer contacted me today to confirm all photo details for the big day!  She has had me collect photos on my pinterest board so she could get ideas of what I liked. Here are some of my faves that might inspire you too!

Love the linked arms.  All seem so cohesive as friends. From: http://www.stylemepretty.com/2012/03/05/santa-barbara-wedding-by-simply-bloom-photography-llc/

This is so Ed's humor!

We are doing first look photos so we can do all the photography pre-ceremony.  From: The Wedding Channel

I love love love my sweet cousin Sofia, who will be my flower girl. This picture is a must!

Definitely want a shoe pic like this one! From: Brooke Turner Photography Blog.

My mom is walking me down the aisle!  I would love to capture this moment! From: http://abryanphoto.com/weddings/selects.php?id=97

Love this whimsical, happy moment.  From: http://www.aphroditesweddingblog.com/blog/2011/12/01/wedding-photography-must-have-images-for-the-shot-list/

Marry Me Monday: Bachelorette Party

Last Saturday, 12 of the most amazing women joined me for my Bachelorette party.  My Matron of Honor and bridesmaid planned the best evening that made me feel so special and loved.  There have been so many times through the engagement period where both Ed and I have felt overwhelmed with the love that others have shown us.   We are definitely humbled by how much our friends and families have done for us to celebrate with us and to show us how much we are loved. 

Beth and me

My sweet mama, my BFF!

The Career Center Girls!

Some of the amazing women!

Bachelorette!

No one ever said I am not expressive!

Mom, me and Judy!

Merrill and me

Marry Me Monday: Marriage License

We got our marriage license today!!!

Roasted Red Bell Pepper and Hummus Snack

Going gluten free has forced me to become more creative and ultimately a better cook. I can't just reach for what is easy and typical because it is usually bread.  For example, one of my favorite snacks is hummus and pita.  I can still eat the hummus but the pita is off limits.  I love hummus but I do not really like the idea of eating it off a spoon so I needed to find a substitute for the pita.  Enter the cucumber!  I love keeping a few slices of cucumber to dip in any type of hummus now.  Much healthier than the bread option and I get in a veggie with less calories!

Last night I still had hummus but no more cucumbers.  I was going to slice my next favorite raw veggie, the red bell pepper, when I got a little more creative. I halved the pepper and laid the halves skin up on a baking sheet.  I then just drizzled a light coating of extra virgin olive oil on the skin and put the pepper under the broiler in the oven (on broil of course) for about 15 minutes until the skin starting to char in a few areas. Delicious and so simple!  I sliced the pepper into strips and dipped into hummus. I want some now as I write this blog.  The new idea gave me a great idea for a party platter in the future too: roasted bell peppers, jalapenos, cheese cubes, sausage, and hummus....you know you want to be invited to that cocktail party!

Marry Me Monday: Bridal Beauty

This weekend, while Ed was on his bachelor party weekend, I got some much needed me downtime.  Lately, we have been traveling almost every week with festivities or wedding tasks so time at home is a rarity.  I organized all the wedding supplies (my bedroom is being taken over with boxes for the wedding) and made some serious to do lists!  But in the midst of accomplishing a few wedding to do list items, I had a  home mini spa day complete with yoga and a hair/face mask.

One hobby that wedding planning has reinvigorated is my interest in beauty tips and products. Since I straighten my curly hair most days, I have receive a little too much heat damage. I am trying to be better with my heat addiction lately but the damage is done.  Since I don't want to cut my hair before the wedding, I have been looking for tips and products to help restore as much health and shine to my hair as possible.  I came across an advocado/honey/olive oil hair mask the other day and tried it this weekend.  WONDERFUL! I highly recommend it.  Yes, it is messy and I would advise not having any one drop by in the middle of it but I noticed an immediate difference in my hair and face.

I was only going to try it on my hair but I had lots of the recipe left over so I thought why not try my face.  So Saturday afternoon, I wrote thank you notes, with my face and hair covered in green goop.  Yep, attractive!  But it worked. My face looks revitalize and refreshed even after all the stress of months of wedding planning and a particularly busy time at work the last two months.  While I am blessed not to have wrinkles yet, I do have a few fine lines on my forehead and they were noticeably minimized. Also, my hair was super shiny and soft after the treatment.  I read where you need to try to do it once a week. Not sure if I will have time to sit around for 30 minutes with green goop for once a week every week but I am definitely going to try to squeeze in one more time before the wedding!

Advocado/Honey/Olive Oil Mask (AKA Green Goop)

             One very ripe avocado

             1 teaspoon honey

             1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil 

             Mash advocado until as smooth as possible incorporating the honey and oil. When the mixture is    completely mixed together, heat in the microwave for approximately 20 seconds to warm.  Work into hair. I focused especially on the damaged areas.  You have to rub the mixture into your hair...otherwise the goop will just sit on top of you hair.  Wrapped with plastic wrap or a shower cap.  Put remaining mixture on your face creating a mask.

            Allow mixture to stay on both face and hair for about 30 minutes.  I then used an exfoliating scrub (Clinique 7 Day Scrub) to rinse the mask off my face. I just used my normal shampoo and conditioner to remove the mask from my hair. I look for paraben free shampoos and conditioners for color treated hair - my fave is Biolage.  Perfect way to have a home spa day!

Marry Me Monday: Back Next Week

I apologize to my readers!  I have been swamped at work and wedding planning so I have not been able to blog the past few weeks. I promise to be back next Monday with a new Marry Me blog! So check back on March 4th!