Last night, while watching the Bachelorette wedding special I heard the Celtic blessing during the hand fasting ceremony. The blessing instantly brought tears to my eyes because it was a shorter version of what was read to Ed and me at the end of our Engaged Encounter. The blessing is a beautiful and moving message that I might incorporate into our wedding but it will definitely be incorporated into our marriage.
Blessing of the Hands
Courtesy of Engaged Encounter of Rochester, NY
Bride please turn and face your groom and hold his hands palms up, where you can see the gift that they are to you.
These
are the hands, young and strong and vibrant with love, that hold yours
on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his
life.
These are the hands you will place with expectant joy
against your stomach, until he too, feels his child stir within your
womb.
These are the hands that look so large and clumsy, yet will be so gentle as he holds your baby for the first time.
These are the hands that will work long hours to earn money for you and your family.
These are the hands that will be nicked and bruised from fixing things around the house to make you more comfortable.
These are the hands that will caress your body through the years, to make the passion of love come alive in you.
These are the hands that will countless times wipe tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow and tears of joy.
These are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and hold you when fear or grief rack your mind.
These
are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your check as
they raise your face to look into his eyes; eyes that are filled
completely with his overwhelming love and desire for you.
Groom please face your bride and hold her palms up, so you may see the gift they are to you.
These are the hands hold yours on your wedding day as she gives you her pledge to love you, and accepts your ring.
These are the hands that are smooth and young and carefree now, but will be lined and rougher, working to make you comfortable.
These
are the hands that will hold each child in tender love, soothing them
through illness, disciplining them when naughty, and wringing themselves
in worry when trouble comes.
These are the hands that will hold your face and wipe tears from your eyes in wonder and awe that you would cry for her.
These
are the hands that will hold you in joy, excitement and hope each time
she tells you that you are to have another child; that together you have
created a new life.
Perhaps these are the hands that will
comfort you when you are told you cannot have a child, and will convince
you that together you will create a new life in other ways.
These are the hands that through the years will caress your body in the passion of love, to enhance your intimacy.
These
are the hands that will enter the Sacrament of Matrimony. These four
hands will be your armor and shield against the evils and temptations of
the world.
These are the hands that will reach out, first to
each other, then united, will spread your love and your sacrament to all
they touch.
These are the hands that will ease your parents
loneliness as you leave the nest, will first teach your own children the
marvels of married life, and will be a sign to friends and strangers
alike as to just how wonderful married life can be.
Through these four hands, God will renew His Church. These hands are the hope of a troubled humanity. These are the hands that will change the world.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Reverb 12, Prompt 11: Small Pleasures
Prompt Courtesy of sunnysideup
I consider myself a very happy person. Goldie Hawn once described this type of happiness as having a little giggle inside always just ready to come out. I got what Goldie was talking about because that is how I feel pretty much every day. I credit this a lot to having a lot of small pleasures that make up every day for me. I am very blessed and recognize the small things make up our lives.
In the spirit of the holiday season as well as an attempt to shorten a very long list, I will just list my holiday small pleasures
* Morning Folgers coffee in a gigantic mug that cups just right in my hands
* Being excited about having a special treat like pumpkin bread for breakfast (my current breakfast of choice during the holiday season) see recipe for it here
* Christmas lights
* Christmas music
* Starbucks Christmas themed cup
* A Christmas tree lighting up the room with no other lights on
* A Christmas Story and the 24 hour marathon on TBS
* Hot cocoa, hot cider
* Christmas commercials (weird I know but I love to all of a sudden have holiday music drifting through the house during a commercial)
* The candles on the advent wreath
* Christmas spiritual readings (in daily devotionals)
* My ultimate favorite: tucked away on a quiet cold Sunday afternoon during the holiday season with Christmas music playing and reading a book while sipping something hot and being cozy and warm.
* Christmas office parties
* Christmas candy
*Enjoying a glass of wine after work with Christmas music playing and the tree lit up
*Going to take a coffee shop break in the middle of a shopping trip and getting a cup of coffee with a holiday treat
*The Square lit up and decorated for Christmas...I get to live in a Christmas village!
*Most importantly during the holiday season and every day, my friends and family that God has given me!
I consider myself a very happy person. Goldie Hawn once described this type of happiness as having a little giggle inside always just ready to come out. I got what Goldie was talking about because that is how I feel pretty much every day. I credit this a lot to having a lot of small pleasures that make up every day for me. I am very blessed and recognize the small things make up our lives.
In the spirit of the holiday season as well as an attempt to shorten a very long list, I will just list my holiday small pleasures
* Morning Folgers coffee in a gigantic mug that cups just right in my hands
* Being excited about having a special treat like pumpkin bread for breakfast (my current breakfast of choice during the holiday season) see recipe for it here
* Christmas lights
* Christmas music
* Starbucks Christmas themed cup
* A Christmas tree lighting up the room with no other lights on
* A Christmas Story and the 24 hour marathon on TBS
* Hot cocoa, hot cider
* Christmas commercials (weird I know but I love to all of a sudden have holiday music drifting through the house during a commercial)
* The candles on the advent wreath
* Christmas spiritual readings (in daily devotionals)
* My ultimate favorite: tucked away on a quiet cold Sunday afternoon during the holiday season with Christmas music playing and reading a book while sipping something hot and being cozy and warm.
* Christmas office parties
* Christmas candy
*Enjoying a glass of wine after work with Christmas music playing and the tree lit up
*Going to take a coffee shop break in the middle of a shopping trip and getting a cup of coffee with a holiday treat
*The Square lit up and decorated for Christmas...I get to live in a Christmas village!
*Most importantly during the holiday season and every day, my friends and family that God has given me!
Monday, December 10, 2012
Marry Me Monday: Holiday Traditions
I was thinking about holiday traditions as I drove into work this morning listening to Christmas music. My thoughts continued on from my holiday traditions to incorporating Ed's family traditions in our upcoming marriage. Since the engagement time is not only a time of worrying over the little details of the ceremony, we have had lots of discussions about the real issues of marriage. One of the topics being holidays. We had the opportunity to discuss family traditions, holidays and what is important to us for the celebration of them at our engagement retreat in October. If you have an opportunity to attend an Engaged Encounter weekend, go for it! You will learn so much about each other from all the discussions. You are forced to stop for a moment in your busy lives and wedding planning to talk about all types of topics that you may or may not have had a chance to discuss like finances, children, hobbies, and family traditions.
Since we are huge celebration people in my family, we have a lot of traditions.My favorites are ones that we have done for years and probably are very simplistic but mean so much to me. The top few that come to mind right around Christmas start on Christmas Eve. My family always goes out to a Christmas Eve breakfast. Being out on Christmas Eve morning is such a special time. People are excited about all the upcoming festivities but since it is still early there is a quiet hush about the morning.
After breakfast, we always finish up the cooking with a crockpot of hot apple cider simmering all day. I usually end up drinking several cups and by that evening wine somehow falls into a mug or two. However, before the wine, we head to Christmas Eve Mass. We aren't a midnight mass family. We use to be but now prefer the early evening Mass. Later that evening, I usually fall asleep to the 24 hour non-stop marathon showing of a Christmas Story.
On Christmas morning, I have to wake up at 5am! I am a little kid when it comes to Christmas but I am not getting up just to tear into presents. There is a peace about Christmas morning that only exists in those couple of hours right before the sun comes up. We make coffee and open presents to Christmas music playing softly in the background with as few lights on as possible so that the Christmas tree can cast a magical glow in the room.
After we get married, I definitely want to carry on these traditions while also incorporating new ones. One that Ed always talks about is seafood during Christmas. His family had seafood dishes a few Christmases and he loved that tradition so we will definitely have to make sure there is a seafood dish or two on the menu. We both love colored lights so our tree will be lit up brightly with multicolored lights and for as long as we can avoid it - no LED lights! They just look so different than the warm glow of the traditional ones.
While we have different ways that our family celebrates the holiday, we have the most important thing in common and that is our love for our families. I am blessed to know in years to come our traditions will revolve around family time as we blend our traditions.
 |
| One of my favorite traditions when I was a child in Jackson, MS. Still love to see the Cross lighting up the building! |
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Reverb12: Intention
Prompt from Sunny Side Up
Prompt for December 6: Intention. What were some of your mantras from 2012 and how did you come by them? Will they remain the same for the next year – if not, what new ones will you set?
I love inspiring quotes. I am instantly motivated by a few enlightened words and will jot them down in a moleskin book I carry in my purse. Sometimes when I am waiting for an appointment or have a few minutes of down time, I will flip through the book and be inspired by words that I had forgot.
Words have always had a lot of power on me. When I was in the 9th grade, I created a drawing that stayed on our fridge for at least a year. The masterpiece was one word done in brightly colored bubble letters because bubble letters were the height of artistic talent for me as a 14-year-old girl. The word was: DETERMINATION. The picture was a daily reminder for my mother and me to be determined to accomplish our goals, no matter how tough our current challenges were at the time. We often reflect back to that word and I believe that refrigerator masterpiece still hangs in our minds today.
For the better part of this year, written sloppily on a post it note taped to my computer was the saying: You will become what you think you are. I read it daily. Now I see it even though it isn't there and think of it daily. I truly believe in the power of positive thinking. You may call it the secret, a self fulfilling prophecy or faking it until you make it. Whatever the phrase, I believe our thoughts take us to the next step so you better be thinking some great thoughts!
I don't think it is a magical process but more of an enlightening one. If you are thinking about where you would like to be, you naturally start gravitating to sources that will assist you in getting to that better version of yourself. Likewise, if your thoughts are negative you will naturally attract sources that will nurture the negativity such as negative people. These thoughts are life draining. Positive thoughts are life giving. Positive thinking allows you to create new ideas, learn new skills and surround yourself with supportive people that will help you become you think you are. I will carry this mantra into 2013 as I continue to strive to be the best version of myself.
Prompt for December 6: Intention. What were some of your mantras from 2012 and how did you come by them? Will they remain the same for the next year – if not, what new ones will you set?
I love inspiring quotes. I am instantly motivated by a few enlightened words and will jot them down in a moleskin book I carry in my purse. Sometimes when I am waiting for an appointment or have a few minutes of down time, I will flip through the book and be inspired by words that I had forgot.
Words have always had a lot of power on me. When I was in the 9th grade, I created a drawing that stayed on our fridge for at least a year. The masterpiece was one word done in brightly colored bubble letters because bubble letters were the height of artistic talent for me as a 14-year-old girl. The word was: DETERMINATION. The picture was a daily reminder for my mother and me to be determined to accomplish our goals, no matter how tough our current challenges were at the time. We often reflect back to that word and I believe that refrigerator masterpiece still hangs in our minds today.
For the better part of this year, written sloppily on a post it note taped to my computer was the saying: You will become what you think you are. I read it daily. Now I see it even though it isn't there and think of it daily. I truly believe in the power of positive thinking. You may call it the secret, a self fulfilling prophecy or faking it until you make it. Whatever the phrase, I believe our thoughts take us to the next step so you better be thinking some great thoughts!
I don't think it is a magical process but more of an enlightening one. If you are thinking about where you would like to be, you naturally start gravitating to sources that will assist you in getting to that better version of yourself. Likewise, if your thoughts are negative you will naturally attract sources that will nurture the negativity such as negative people. These thoughts are life draining. Positive thoughts are life giving. Positive thinking allows you to create new ideas, learn new skills and surround yourself with supportive people that will help you become you think you are. I will carry this mantra into 2013 as I continue to strive to be the best version of myself.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Reverb (Day 1 for me): What I Will Leave Behind In 2012
One of my friends, Jen, who happens to inspire me with her dedication to daily writing told me about the Reverb Project. I had a moment to briefly look over the blog with the information and found the topics to be inspiring as well as the challenge to respond to the prompts given each day by the blogger. As a person who never passes up the opportunity for personal growth and
loves a good self help book, I find this challenge fascinating.
Hopefully, it will help me as a writer but at the very least it might be
some good, free therapy as I explore these topics during the month of
December in preparation for a very big year for me: 2013! I don't know if I am going to do this in the manner in which it was intended but I like the challenge and it seems like a good way to get writing inspiration so I am starting the project on Day 5 which is letting go.
My friend posted on her response on her blog, PiercedWonderings, to the prompt found on In the Storm:
What are 13 things your life doesn't need in 2013? How will you go about eliminating them? How will getting rid of these things change your life?
I am always thinking of ways to add things to my life but never really thought too much about what to remove. I respect eliminating unwanted, toxic, or unnecessary behaviors, items and habits is an important step in creating a full life but I have to admit it is a lot easier to add then to remove sometimes. So this list is a challenge for me and also written in no particular order of importance, just random thoughts.
1. I am leaving behind worrying. I am a huge worrier and a total hypochondriac. I say that lightly but fears often do consume me especially those regarding health issues. To help you understand the level of my hypochondria just know I keep the WebMD symptom checker in business! I think it is because I have an overactive, overly sensitive mind. Of course, I should use this busy, sometimes crazy mind of mine for writing not researching random diseases. So in 2012, I leave behind worry over things that most likely will never happen and I will allow the WebMD symptom checker to finally have a rest.
2. I am leaving behind single life. I get to marry the man God made just for me in 2013! I am ready to start this new, exciting (just a tad scary) adventure of married life in April. Bye bye single life, hello married bliss!
3. I will quit using my creative energy for finding excuses of why I can't write and actually write on a daily basis. So often I put needless, time consuming tasks before my writing and that novel still sits with 53 pages completed. It is time to write the remaining pages to complete the story.
4. Good-bye being lazy and hello exercise! While I have absolutely no desire to be an avid runner or run at all for that matter, I would actually like to be telling the truth when I tell the doctor at check-ups that I walk or do yoga five times a week.
5. I will eliminate my time invested in time wasters. I have been studying productivity and focus lately. Although my focus still needs to improve because as I read, I am responding to e-mails, answering the phone and sending an instant message. I am a student of focus, not an expert. But I realize that all the tiny distractions add up in one's day and by the end of the day, I feel exhausted from a busy day but not productive. I will figure out how to use my time better, if I could just finish that book about focus!
6. Saying good bye to some reality tv will be the hardest for me, probably harder than overcoming hypochondria! I love my trash tv. I unwind with a glass of wine and hysterically trashy but wealthy, beautiful reality tv stars. I love it! However, I watch it mindlessly sometimes and my half read books are evidence of this behavior. I often leave the television on even when it isn't a show I love and then end up neglecting a book that I want to read. I need to balance the time between the two....no, I can't give it up completely!
7. Looking over the ideas so far, I think distraction has been a major theme. I am distracted with worry, needless tasks, technology, and tv. I continue with this theme to say that I will leave behind clutter. I am a very neat person and most people who know me probably wonder what clutter I am talking about. Life at work has been very busy this semester so I have neat piles of work that surrounds me all the time. However, I was reading today in the focus book about a clean workspace to assist you in focus. The example the author created seemed so serene that I can't wait to get started on organizing and throwing out unneeded clutter.
8. I would like to create space in my life and mind for more mindfulness. I guess the opposite of adding mindfulness would be eliminating mindlessness? I admire people who meditate and wish to be one. I think it would help me with my stress and worry. I also think the practice of mindfulness brings on more appreciation in our lives and creates a overall peace in your well being. Sign me up in 2013!
9. Can I give up creating this list now? I am running out of things to eliminate! I will say goodbye to negative people and thoughts. No, I won't actually say good bye but I will actively remove myself from negative conversations and limit time spent with these types of people. Who wants to be negative when only positive actions and thoughts give us energy?
10. Recently, I have become an extremely healthy eater. My eating habits are not for the faint of heart because they are no where near easy. No gluten, sugar, or red meat. However, for some reason it is not hard for me to eat this way. I like it. I am becoming a better cook and know more about nutrition and pure ingredients. But I have got into a rut with making the same dishes over and over. I love cookbooks but they are not meant to be just collectible items on the shelves. Time to use them!
11. I will give up missing Mass. Before moving to Oxford, I was at Mass every week and for every obligation day. However, the biggest adjustment of moving here has been trying to come to terms with the major differences in the priest here. He is not what I am accustomed to so it has been a challenge for me but at the same time I love my faith and feel better when I regularly attend Mass.
12. I would love to say good bye to about six inches of my hair! I am keeping it long for the wedding and right now I am ready to chop it off! For the majority of my life, I have had and loved my long hair. I think just knowing I want to keep it long for the wedding is making me want to cut it. I guess it is reverse psychology!
13. Yay for 13! I almost made it through this list! And now I am blank. Oh I know - here is a good one! I will give up saying yes to so much. I love to please others so I said yes when I don't have to and probably do not need to. I have to learn to say no to some things so I can say yes to the most important things that I want in my life.
My friend posted on her response on her blog, PiercedWonderings, to the prompt found on In the Storm:
What are 13 things your life doesn't need in 2013? How will you go about eliminating them? How will getting rid of these things change your life?
I am always thinking of ways to add things to my life but never really thought too much about what to remove. I respect eliminating unwanted, toxic, or unnecessary behaviors, items and habits is an important step in creating a full life but I have to admit it is a lot easier to add then to remove sometimes. So this list is a challenge for me and also written in no particular order of importance, just random thoughts.
1. I am leaving behind worrying. I am a huge worrier and a total hypochondriac. I say that lightly but fears often do consume me especially those regarding health issues. To help you understand the level of my hypochondria just know I keep the WebMD symptom checker in business! I think it is because I have an overactive, overly sensitive mind. Of course, I should use this busy, sometimes crazy mind of mine for writing not researching random diseases. So in 2012, I leave behind worry over things that most likely will never happen and I will allow the WebMD symptom checker to finally have a rest.
2. I am leaving behind single life. I get to marry the man God made just for me in 2013! I am ready to start this new, exciting (just a tad scary) adventure of married life in April. Bye bye single life, hello married bliss!
3. I will quit using my creative energy for finding excuses of why I can't write and actually write on a daily basis. So often I put needless, time consuming tasks before my writing and that novel still sits with 53 pages completed. It is time to write the remaining pages to complete the story.
4. Good-bye being lazy and hello exercise! While I have absolutely no desire to be an avid runner or run at all for that matter, I would actually like to be telling the truth when I tell the doctor at check-ups that I walk or do yoga five times a week.
5. I will eliminate my time invested in time wasters. I have been studying productivity and focus lately. Although my focus still needs to improve because as I read, I am responding to e-mails, answering the phone and sending an instant message. I am a student of focus, not an expert. But I realize that all the tiny distractions add up in one's day and by the end of the day, I feel exhausted from a busy day but not productive. I will figure out how to use my time better, if I could just finish that book about focus!
6. Saying good bye to some reality tv will be the hardest for me, probably harder than overcoming hypochondria! I love my trash tv. I unwind with a glass of wine and hysterically trashy but wealthy, beautiful reality tv stars. I love it! However, I watch it mindlessly sometimes and my half read books are evidence of this behavior. I often leave the television on even when it isn't a show I love and then end up neglecting a book that I want to read. I need to balance the time between the two....no, I can't give it up completely!
7. Looking over the ideas so far, I think distraction has been a major theme. I am distracted with worry, needless tasks, technology, and tv. I continue with this theme to say that I will leave behind clutter. I am a very neat person and most people who know me probably wonder what clutter I am talking about. Life at work has been very busy this semester so I have neat piles of work that surrounds me all the time. However, I was reading today in the focus book about a clean workspace to assist you in focus. The example the author created seemed so serene that I can't wait to get started on organizing and throwing out unneeded clutter.
8. I would like to create space in my life and mind for more mindfulness. I guess the opposite of adding mindfulness would be eliminating mindlessness? I admire people who meditate and wish to be one. I think it would help me with my stress and worry. I also think the practice of mindfulness brings on more appreciation in our lives and creates a overall peace in your well being. Sign me up in 2013!
9. Can I give up creating this list now? I am running out of things to eliminate! I will say goodbye to negative people and thoughts. No, I won't actually say good bye but I will actively remove myself from negative conversations and limit time spent with these types of people. Who wants to be negative when only positive actions and thoughts give us energy?
10. Recently, I have become an extremely healthy eater. My eating habits are not for the faint of heart because they are no where near easy. No gluten, sugar, or red meat. However, for some reason it is not hard for me to eat this way. I like it. I am becoming a better cook and know more about nutrition and pure ingredients. But I have got into a rut with making the same dishes over and over. I love cookbooks but they are not meant to be just collectible items on the shelves. Time to use them!
11. I will give up missing Mass. Before moving to Oxford, I was at Mass every week and for every obligation day. However, the biggest adjustment of moving here has been trying to come to terms with the major differences in the priest here. He is not what I am accustomed to so it has been a challenge for me but at the same time I love my faith and feel better when I regularly attend Mass.
12. I would love to say good bye to about six inches of my hair! I am keeping it long for the wedding and right now I am ready to chop it off! For the majority of my life, I have had and loved my long hair. I think just knowing I want to keep it long for the wedding is making me want to cut it. I guess it is reverse psychology!
13. Yay for 13! I almost made it through this list! And now I am blank. Oh I know - here is a good one! I will give up saying yes to so much. I love to please others so I said yes when I don't have to and probably do not need to. I have to learn to say no to some things so I can say yes to the most important things that I want in my life.
Monday, December 3, 2012
Marry Me Monday: Pinterest
Pinterest has obviously added a new level to wedding planning. When I first became engaged, I was so excited to finally have the opportunity to create my wedding board and shamelessly spent hours looking and pinning pictures of wedding inspiration. But then I realized that all my friends could see all of my ideas and while some ideas I did not mind sharing, others I wanted to keep as a surprise!
Then a few weeks ago, Pinterest introduced the new function: the private boards. Now I can pin any idea that I want to remember but not worry that all of our wedding surprises will be exposed. While I don't want to keep everything private because I like when others like or repin my ideas, I do want my Pinterest friends who attend the wedding to have some surprises!
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Thankscleaning
Go ahead and admit that you have a secret. The secret is a very dirty secret. It doesn't involve how the turkey was really catered in or just how many slices of pie your Uncle Henry ate. The secret is not about how your cousin made the supposed heart healthy casserole with a gallon of cream and five sticks of butter. This secret has nothing to do with the grocery shopping, travel plans and family rumors. It is the activity that no one talks about but all commit to as part of the preparation panic before the big Turkey day. Yes, I am talking about Thankscleaning!
Everyone has heard of spring cleaning but few rarely ever commit to this extreme level of pre-holiday cleaning during the spring. I don't know why any one came up with the idea of spring cleaning. Like anyone wants to clean when the weather finally lets us comfortably step outdoors again! They want to go outside and play, not shampoo the carpets. No, the real deep cleaning happens this week. The week that sets off all the holiday festivities for the next month and a half.
No one speaks of the pre-holiday frenzy but the signs are everywhere if you look. Retailers are in on the secret by distracting us with a barrage of Black Friday commercials. Butterball is in on it with turning our attention to the hotline for last minute turkey blunders. Pinterest recently got involved with posting pin after pin of homemade crafts, cookies and goodies. All the inviting pins lead to promises that it is easy for us to all create like Martha Stewart. But while everyone pretends we are focused on these little details, we are all really cleaning and pinning those cute pictures to boards titled: One Day When I Have Time. We aren't going to be making magazine worthy crafts any time soon because we are too busy with our frantic pre-holiday cleaning.
Why does no one speak of it? Because we want people to think we always live this way, of course! But in reality, trucks are being backed up to houses to remove the excess junk that has accumulated over the year. Painters are being called. Carpet steamers are being rented. Couches are being moved so the carpet can be vacuumed and enough toys to fill three toy chests are found behind said furniture. Pictures are being blown off with a leaf blower because the average feather duster just won't remove a year's worth of dusting. All the cleaning is done in a harried frenzy because the guests are coming! But when the guests arrive and the house gleams, the holiday hosts just smile a relaxed smile and act as if this is just a regular Thursday with a lot of food. What? The house always looks this way!
I will be having Thanksgiving out of town at relatives' homes this year so I have not participated in this year's annual Thankscleaning. I did, however, do my typical cleaning because I must have a clean house for Christmas decorating. But it was just typical housecleaning, nothing that could compare to Thankscleaning which would involve me on my hands and knees with an old toothbrush giving the baseboards a good spa day. No, baseboard pampering is not something I do on a regular basis.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I cleaned to Christmas music. I am guilty of not giving the turkey his holiday by listening to Christmas music so early. But in my defense, I don't think Pandora has a good Thanksgiving music station. So as I cleaned to holiday cheer, I thought about how thankful even cleaning can make a person. Maybe it was the holiday music, but I never knew cleaning could make me so sentimental. While I cleaned I thanked God for a comfortable home to clean. I was grateful my home is often filled with laughter, warmth and happiness. I was thankful for holiday plans with family and friends that I love. I thanked God for my upcoming marriage and how all the preparation has brought us even closer. I thought about all my blessings of good food, health, my job, my dog that hides from the vacuum cleaner, etc. Thinking of all the gifts that God has blessed me with made cleaning a lot more enjoyable and left me with not only a clean home but a grateful heart.
We will eat on Thursday in our beautiful, cozy homes where even a dust flake no longer resides. We will stay vigilant that all will remain glittery and sparkling clean until the 2nd of January. Then even with the best of intentions, we will forget that couches can be moved, walls can be painted and items can be donated to Goodwill until the next Thankscleaning! However throughout the year, hopefully we will take moments during our regular cleaning where we can reflect on all the things that we have to be thankful for including clean homes filled with family and friends.
Enjoy this season of good food and clean homes! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Everyone has heard of spring cleaning but few rarely ever commit to this extreme level of pre-holiday cleaning during the spring. I don't know why any one came up with the idea of spring cleaning. Like anyone wants to clean when the weather finally lets us comfortably step outdoors again! They want to go outside and play, not shampoo the carpets. No, the real deep cleaning happens this week. The week that sets off all the holiday festivities for the next month and a half.
No one speaks of the pre-holiday frenzy but the signs are everywhere if you look. Retailers are in on the secret by distracting us with a barrage of Black Friday commercials. Butterball is in on it with turning our attention to the hotline for last minute turkey blunders. Pinterest recently got involved with posting pin after pin of homemade crafts, cookies and goodies. All the inviting pins lead to promises that it is easy for us to all create like Martha Stewart. But while everyone pretends we are focused on these little details, we are all really cleaning and pinning those cute pictures to boards titled: One Day When I Have Time. We aren't going to be making magazine worthy crafts any time soon because we are too busy with our frantic pre-holiday cleaning.
Why does no one speak of it? Because we want people to think we always live this way, of course! But in reality, trucks are being backed up to houses to remove the excess junk that has accumulated over the year. Painters are being called. Carpet steamers are being rented. Couches are being moved so the carpet can be vacuumed and enough toys to fill three toy chests are found behind said furniture. Pictures are being blown off with a leaf blower because the average feather duster just won't remove a year's worth of dusting. All the cleaning is done in a harried frenzy because the guests are coming! But when the guests arrive and the house gleams, the holiday hosts just smile a relaxed smile and act as if this is just a regular Thursday with a lot of food. What? The house always looks this way!
I will be having Thanksgiving out of town at relatives' homes this year so I have not participated in this year's annual Thankscleaning. I did, however, do my typical cleaning because I must have a clean house for Christmas decorating. But it was just typical housecleaning, nothing that could compare to Thankscleaning which would involve me on my hands and knees with an old toothbrush giving the baseboards a good spa day. No, baseboard pampering is not something I do on a regular basis.
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I cleaned to Christmas music. I am guilty of not giving the turkey his holiday by listening to Christmas music so early. But in my defense, I don't think Pandora has a good Thanksgiving music station. So as I cleaned to holiday cheer, I thought about how thankful even cleaning can make a person. Maybe it was the holiday music, but I never knew cleaning could make me so sentimental. While I cleaned I thanked God for a comfortable home to clean. I was grateful my home is often filled with laughter, warmth and happiness. I was thankful for holiday plans with family and friends that I love. I thanked God for my upcoming marriage and how all the preparation has brought us even closer. I thought about all my blessings of good food, health, my job, my dog that hides from the vacuum cleaner, etc. Thinking of all the gifts that God has blessed me with made cleaning a lot more enjoyable and left me with not only a clean home but a grateful heart.
We will eat on Thursday in our beautiful, cozy homes where even a dust flake no longer resides. We will stay vigilant that all will remain glittery and sparkling clean until the 2nd of January. Then even with the best of intentions, we will forget that couches can be moved, walls can be painted and items can be donated to Goodwill until the next Thankscleaning! However throughout the year, hopefully we will take moments during our regular cleaning where we can reflect on all the things that we have to be thankful for including clean homes filled with family and friends.
Enjoy this season of good food and clean homes! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Monday, November 19, 2012
Marry Me Monday: Shoes
I am beginning to understand why girls gravitate to all things wedding. Wedding planning is really another name for months of shopping! There are so many little details to remember and most of those details have to be purchased (ughhhh the budget!). Therefore, constant shopping is required. And of course I am enjoying every moment of it! Although, I do have to admit that the fact that I do not have unlimited funds make wedding purchases more of a challenging game than a shopping spree.
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| Women's De Blossom Isabelle Platform Sandal - Assorted Colors |
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| Gianni Bini Larissa Peep-Toe Platform Pumps | Dillards.com |
Monday, November 12, 2012
Marry Me Monday: The Vision
When Ed and I got engaged, we agreed immediately that we were not going to get swept up in all the tiny details because those did not matter to us with our wedding. We wanted a good time for all with a focus on a meaningful ceremony and a fun reception with dancing, food and drink. The tiny details that add up the costs did not mean anything to us.
Forward a few months to now and I think we have done a good job remaining focused on what matters. Ed even more so than me, because I do tend to listen to other ideas. People are very well meaning but many have opinions that they think will help you but often leave you feeling confused and overwhelmed. Five months after being engaged and I feel like I have studied weddings more than I have studied academics in all of my years of education!
Please don't misread my comments as cynical. The wedding industry with all of the tips, pictures and stories have helped us come up with great ideas as well as enjoy the process of planning. This day is a special day and the planning should be a fun, enjoyable process. You just have to remain focused on what you and your fiance wants. I have to remember that through all the well meaning opinions, that someone's vision is just that - another person's vision!
For every unsolicited piece of advice I have received, there is at least 2 tips of good advice that come along with it. One thing I read today included how to create your wedding vision. I never knew that a vision would be so important but it does dictate every choice you make, even in a low key wedding like ours (or so we tried to make it that way).
From the Pinkbook:
1. Choose five words that describe your ideal wedding. While we did not formally do this exercise but I would say that our five words would be:
1. Fun
2. Meaningful
3. Classy
4. Comfortable
5. Southern
2. Choose three top priorities in your wedding. Ours would be:
1. Family and friends
2. Food and drink
3. Fun
Every soon to be wed couple's list will be different but they all should reflect the couple. I definitely knows ours reflects us. Happy Monday!
Forward a few months to now and I think we have done a good job remaining focused on what matters. Ed even more so than me, because I do tend to listen to other ideas. People are very well meaning but many have opinions that they think will help you but often leave you feeling confused and overwhelmed. Five months after being engaged and I feel like I have studied weddings more than I have studied academics in all of my years of education!
Please don't misread my comments as cynical. The wedding industry with all of the tips, pictures and stories have helped us come up with great ideas as well as enjoy the process of planning. This day is a special day and the planning should be a fun, enjoyable process. You just have to remain focused on what you and your fiance wants. I have to remember that through all the well meaning opinions, that someone's vision is just that - another person's vision!
For every unsolicited piece of advice I have received, there is at least 2 tips of good advice that come along with it. One thing I read today included how to create your wedding vision. I never knew that a vision would be so important but it does dictate every choice you make, even in a low key wedding like ours (or so we tried to make it that way).
From the Pinkbook:
1. Choose five words that describe your ideal wedding. While we did not formally do this exercise but I would say that our five words would be:
1. Fun
2. Meaningful
3. Classy
4. Comfortable
5. Southern
2. Choose three top priorities in your wedding. Ours would be:
1. Family and friends
2. Food and drink
3. Fun
Every soon to be wed couple's list will be different but they all should reflect the couple. I definitely knows ours reflects us. Happy Monday!
Monday, November 5, 2012
Marry Me Monday: Engagement Pictures
I inherited my love for photography from my family of amateur photographers. We love photos. So much in fact, that a couple of Thanksgivings ago, I took a picture of four of my family members staring at their cameras. Some families throw footballs after Thanksgiving dinner, we take pictures. Therefore, engagement pictures were very important to me. Even more special to me was that my mother was the photographer. The pictures are beautiful and the memories made from that photo shoot with my two favorite people make the photos even more special to me.
Also once again, I know Ed truly loves me, because he is not one that loves being the subject of a camera but he fully participated in the photo shoot. He is getting better with getting his picture made since being with me. His mother jokes that in the four years we have been together, Ed has had more pictures taken than in his entire lifetime! While posing for a photo is still not his favorite activity, he is a great subject as the pictures show! A few examples....
Thursday, November 1, 2012
November 1st: National Novel Writing Month
I always look forward to the arrival of November 1st. The weather is the perfect kind of autumn chilly. I can drink as many cinnamon, apple and spice drinks as I can find. Sweaters can be worn in abundance. Festive commercials are starting because the holidays are coming and all the preparation for them may begin. Most importantly, November 1st marks the beginning of my birthday month. Yes, I said month. I love my birthday so why limit it to one day? And no that is not being selfish because other people benefit from a good birthday celebration. Who ever said no to free cake and champagne?
Seriously, I usually don't get away with a whole month, more like a week, but I do like to celebrate my day every year! Today, on November 1st, I will pull out my favorite decorated wine glass that my good friend gave me several birthdays ago. Every 1st of November, I get to drink out of the birthday girl wine glass. It is completely girly with pink and yellow paint, squiggles and glittery stones. I love it! I allow myself to use it until around November 15th so the birthday celebration can continue for a bit. However, today as I wash my wine glass for the annual use, I will also add another ritual. I plan on joining in on National Novel Writing month and commit myself to writing 1700 words per day.
Every birthday, I set my own personal resolutions and goals. Similar to New Year's, I see a birthday as a time to have your own personal New Year's. For the past several years, this list has included something to do with writing. However, life gets busy and work makes it even busier so sometimes the goals that don't have to be accomplished will be put aside until a calmer time period. After seeing a Facebook status from one of my friends this morning challenging others to participate in the daily word quota this month, I realized I needed to accept this opportunity for myself. I encourage my students all the time to strive daily for their goals but sometimes forget to take my own advice. Even though it is not my birthday quite yet, I am starting my new year off a little early by taking on this writing challenge which will hopefully get me back in to the habit of daily writing. I guess the whole point is to probably write on one project the entire month but I have several writing projects that need attention. I will use my blog as well as academic and creative writing to get to this goal each day.
You can participate in the challenge too! Even if it is not your birthday and obviously not New Year's Eve, positive change is always timely. Even if writing is not your goal, there is probably something that you have to put aside often to accomplish the necessary daily tasks. But steal some time back and choose a goal that you can work on every day for the month of November. Make this month YOUR month too. If you wish, let me know what you decide to take on as a daily challenge. Wish me luck in mine (and of course, wish me Happy Birthday!).
Seriously, I usually don't get away with a whole month, more like a week, but I do like to celebrate my day every year! Today, on November 1st, I will pull out my favorite decorated wine glass that my good friend gave me several birthdays ago. Every 1st of November, I get to drink out of the birthday girl wine glass. It is completely girly with pink and yellow paint, squiggles and glittery stones. I love it! I allow myself to use it until around November 15th so the birthday celebration can continue for a bit. However, today as I wash my wine glass for the annual use, I will also add another ritual. I plan on joining in on National Novel Writing month and commit myself to writing 1700 words per day.
Every birthday, I set my own personal resolutions and goals. Similar to New Year's, I see a birthday as a time to have your own personal New Year's. For the past several years, this list has included something to do with writing. However, life gets busy and work makes it even busier so sometimes the goals that don't have to be accomplished will be put aside until a calmer time period. After seeing a Facebook status from one of my friends this morning challenging others to participate in the daily word quota this month, I realized I needed to accept this opportunity for myself. I encourage my students all the time to strive daily for their goals but sometimes forget to take my own advice. Even though it is not my birthday quite yet, I am starting my new year off a little early by taking on this writing challenge which will hopefully get me back in to the habit of daily writing. I guess the whole point is to probably write on one project the entire month but I have several writing projects that need attention. I will use my blog as well as academic and creative writing to get to this goal each day.
You can participate in the challenge too! Even if it is not your birthday and obviously not New Year's Eve, positive change is always timely. Even if writing is not your goal, there is probably something that you have to put aside often to accomplish the necessary daily tasks. But steal some time back and choose a goal that you can work on every day for the month of November. Make this month YOUR month too. If you wish, let me know what you decide to take on as a daily challenge. Wish me luck in mine (and of course, wish me Happy Birthday!).
Monday, October 29, 2012
Marry Me Monday: Address Stamp
I love these address stamps for the back of wedding invitations. Also, you can use them after you are married! I found a lot on Etsy that are great prices. Here is one of my favorites:
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| Etsy |
Friday, October 26, 2012
A Yummy Food for the Weekend!
Happy Friday Y'all! I am posting this yummy appetizer idea for any weekend festivities. Actually, I saw it on one of my former student's facebook page and I decided to blog about it so I would have the recipe saved for when I want to try it (completely selfish reason).
I have been on the hunt for some new good recipes because I have recently started the gluten free diet. I am attempting this new way of eating to see if I can clear up some stomach issues. The issues are improving and the wonderful side affect is I have lost 6 1/2 pounds when I wasn't even trying! So far the diet has not been hard for me because I just need to eliminate wheat, rye and barley. Taking out these items from my diet leaves me with a healthy regime of fruits, veggies and lean meats. Hardly anything controversial! However, many recipes, especially party type recipes, call for some type of bread. Our society seems to revolve around flour! Thankfully, I am getting creative and finding some new ideas out there. While this recipe is hardly healthy, it is gluten free and one that I will attempt soon. Enjoy!
Stuffed Sausage Mushrooms (thank you Claire for posting this recipe on Facebook!)
1 9x11 glass casserole dish
2 boxes whole white mushrooms (medium or large)
1 8 oz. bag shredded mozzerella cheese
1 large tomato (diced)
1 lb. pork sausage (mild or
I have been on the hunt for some new good recipes because I have recently started the gluten free diet. I am attempting this new way of eating to see if I can clear up some stomach issues. The issues are improving and the wonderful side affect is I have lost 6 1/2 pounds when I wasn't even trying! So far the diet has not been hard for me because I just need to eliminate wheat, rye and barley. Taking out these items from my diet leaves me with a healthy regime of fruits, veggies and lean meats. Hardly anything controversial! However, many recipes, especially party type recipes, call for some type of bread. Our society seems to revolve around flour! Thankfully, I am getting creative and finding some new ideas out there. While this recipe is hardly healthy, it is gluten free and one that I will attempt soon. Enjoy!
Stuffed Sausage Mushrooms (thank you Claire for posting this recipe on Facebook!)
1 9x11 glass casserole dish
2 boxes whole white mushrooms (medium or large)
1 8 oz. bag shredded mozzerella cheese
1 large tomato (diced)
1 lb. pork sausage (mild or
hot)
Preheat oven to 350. Cook sausage untill completely brown & drain. Wash mushrooms off. Remove stems. Place mushroom caps upside down in casserole dish. Stuff caps with sausage & sprinkle remain sausage over mushrooms. Sprinkle diced tomatoes over that, then sprinkle all the cheese all over that. Then bake for about 10 min. until cheese is melted Serves about 4-6 people.
Preheat oven to 350. Cook sausage untill completely brown & drain. Wash mushrooms off. Remove stems. Place mushroom caps upside down in casserole dish. Stuff caps with sausage & sprinkle remain sausage over mushrooms. Sprinkle diced tomatoes over that, then sprinkle all the cheese all over that. Then bake for about 10 min. until cheese is melted Serves about 4-6 people.
Monday, October 22, 2012
Marry Me Monday: Back Next Week
The week has been busy with work and wedding planning but next week I will be back with details of bridesmaids dress shopping!
Monday, October 15, 2012
Marry Me Monday: Productive Weekend
Ed and I have been going nonstop lately between work, fun activities, and family gatherings. So we decided to isolate ourselves this weekend and just be. However, we rarely just find ourselves doing nothing...okay we have never found ourselves doing nothing. This weekend was no exception. But it was on our own terms in our own time without a plan or an obligation.
Friday night we ate at one of our favorite restaurants, Rice and Spice, then headed back to the house to spend the cool autumn evening on the patio sipping wine. Saturday we headed to Tupelo to check off an item on the wedding to do list - the tux! Tux shopping was quite a different experience than my wedding dress shopping. The entire process, including the fitting, was done within about 30 minutes. A couple of times during the barrage of questions about style and color, I blanked out because the questions were coming so fast that I could not think. Ed loved the shopping experience because of the swiftness while I was left feeling a little confused. I guess they knew their intended audience was the male population who typically shops in a vastly different manner than the females.
While the process sped along, I took a moment to soak it all in while Ed tried on a tux. This was one of those special moments about being engaged that I wanted to capture. We were getting his tux! Each task completed takes us one step closer to the big day and each task is so special.
After the tuxes were selected for Ed and the groomsmen, I was in "marital bliss" as Ed called it. I didn't want to stop so we headed to look for our wedding rings. We just wanted to get ideas of styles but I am pretty sure that we have found them. The experience of seeing Ed wearing a ring was not really surreal like I thought it would feel. Instead, his ring seem to be right where it belonged and that thought makes me smile.
Planning a wedding is a huge task but I think we are making the most of it and enjoying the process. Now as we get closer, it seems like each week has something wedding related that needs to be accomplished. We were suppose to take engagement pictures this weekend but they were postponed because of the threat of rain. So next up on the list: bridesmaids dress shopping (next week!), order invitations, book the honeymoon and then try for those engagement pictures again. Each task taking us one step closer!
Friday night we ate at one of our favorite restaurants, Rice and Spice, then headed back to the house to spend the cool autumn evening on the patio sipping wine. Saturday we headed to Tupelo to check off an item on the wedding to do list - the tux! Tux shopping was quite a different experience than my wedding dress shopping. The entire process, including the fitting, was done within about 30 minutes. A couple of times during the barrage of questions about style and color, I blanked out because the questions were coming so fast that I could not think. Ed loved the shopping experience because of the swiftness while I was left feeling a little confused. I guess they knew their intended audience was the male population who typically shops in a vastly different manner than the females.
While the process sped along, I took a moment to soak it all in while Ed tried on a tux. This was one of those special moments about being engaged that I wanted to capture. We were getting his tux! Each task completed takes us one step closer to the big day and each task is so special.
After the tuxes were selected for Ed and the groomsmen, I was in "marital bliss" as Ed called it. I didn't want to stop so we headed to look for our wedding rings. We just wanted to get ideas of styles but I am pretty sure that we have found them. The experience of seeing Ed wearing a ring was not really surreal like I thought it would feel. Instead, his ring seem to be right where it belonged and that thought makes me smile.
Planning a wedding is a huge task but I think we are making the most of it and enjoying the process. Now as we get closer, it seems like each week has something wedding related that needs to be accomplished. We were suppose to take engagement pictures this weekend but they were postponed because of the threat of rain. So next up on the list: bridesmaids dress shopping (next week!), order invitations, book the honeymoon and then try for those engagement pictures again. Each task taking us one step closer!
Friday, October 12, 2012
A Monday Night in Oxford
When I moved to what I thought would be a so called sleepy town five years ago, I imagined plenty of down time that I would fill with writing and more contemplative activities. I envisioned a writer's retreat of sorts, but I don't know how I ever expected an extravert like myself to stay retreated too long. My idea of Oxford was completely false as the constant busy and exciting life that I get to live here is far from the small town idea I had in mind. I may be in a sleepy town but it is only when I, myself, am sleepy from doing so much.
On any given night in my Southern town, there is an arts event, show, concert, party, sporting event, or a reading. Even a simple visit to The Square can turn into a special event with friends and family. I have to often make a night to just be at home because there is always an opportunity to do something. For example this week, there was a concert, Caroline Kennedy visited Square Books, and the town is busy preparing for Homecoming. While I did not get the chance to meet Caroline Kennedy, I did see a talented band and got to spend Thursday evening with the best group of women at our monthly Bunco game. Life is definitely not dull in this little college town.
Ed loves music and is rarely disappointed with the caliber of musicians that visit Oxford. Silversun Pickups, one of his favorite groups, performed in The Lyric Monday night. The space and crowd was a small, intimate one with a happy energy. We arrived during the opening act and were still able to stand about three rows back from the stage.
The group proved their talent by sounding as good, if not better, as their recorded cds. They performed a mix of the new and old favorites. I am relatively unfamiliar with the band so while I could not recall a lot of their songs easily, I liked what I heard. There unique sound was a good combination of enchanting and mystical with an edge. But since I had no background knowledge of the band other than what Ed tried to expose me to prior to the concert, my favorite parts were probably different than the true fans.
Performance wise, I loved how the lead singer was a captivating performer. Many lead singers expect just their voice to entertain. Not him. Everything about his performance seem to really live the music so much that even an unfamilar audience member like myself got it. The gestures were suddel but powerful. A look with his eyes, a flick of his hand, or a quick turn of his head were all authentic movements that said to me he was a natural, talented performer. I was inspired by the charisma and the passion of the entire band. An experience like that for me is not just about entertaining but I take it with me as a reminder to continue incorporate that type of passion in my daily life.
My most favorite part of the performance reflects my love for my Southern town. The band is from California and while talking to the crowd, they told us that they had never been to Oxford. The lead singer went on to say, "and aren't you lucky.....to live in this amazing town!?!" Of course that played to the pride many Oxonians have but he added more. He, along with the rest of the band, had dinner at a favorite restaurant in town, AJAX. He also knew about landmarks in the town and traditions. Obviously, the charm of Oxford had taken in this guy and I loved that. Maybe it is my Southern hospitality and pride, but I love it when others have a great time in the South and see even a small glimpse of why our South is so special.
On any given night in my Southern town, there is an arts event, show, concert, party, sporting event, or a reading. Even a simple visit to The Square can turn into a special event with friends and family. I have to often make a night to just be at home because there is always an opportunity to do something. For example this week, there was a concert, Caroline Kennedy visited Square Books, and the town is busy preparing for Homecoming. While I did not get the chance to meet Caroline Kennedy, I did see a talented band and got to spend Thursday evening with the best group of women at our monthly Bunco game. Life is definitely not dull in this little college town.
Ed loves music and is rarely disappointed with the caliber of musicians that visit Oxford. Silversun Pickups, one of his favorite groups, performed in The Lyric Monday night. The space and crowd was a small, intimate one with a happy energy. We arrived during the opening act and were still able to stand about three rows back from the stage.
The group proved their talent by sounding as good, if not better, as their recorded cds. They performed a mix of the new and old favorites. I am relatively unfamiliar with the band so while I could not recall a lot of their songs easily, I liked what I heard. There unique sound was a good combination of enchanting and mystical with an edge. But since I had no background knowledge of the band other than what Ed tried to expose me to prior to the concert, my favorite parts were probably different than the true fans.
Performance wise, I loved how the lead singer was a captivating performer. Many lead singers expect just their voice to entertain. Not him. Everything about his performance seem to really live the music so much that even an unfamilar audience member like myself got it. The gestures were suddel but powerful. A look with his eyes, a flick of his hand, or a quick turn of his head were all authentic movements that said to me he was a natural, talented performer. I was inspired by the charisma and the passion of the entire band. An experience like that for me is not just about entertaining but I take it with me as a reminder to continue incorporate that type of passion in my daily life.
My most favorite part of the performance reflects my love for my Southern town. The band is from California and while talking to the crowd, they told us that they had never been to Oxford. The lead singer went on to say, "and aren't you lucky.....to live in this amazing town!?!" Of course that played to the pride many Oxonians have but he added more. He, along with the rest of the band, had dinner at a favorite restaurant in town, AJAX. He also knew about landmarks in the town and traditions. Obviously, the charm of Oxford had taken in this guy and I loved that. Maybe it is my Southern hospitality and pride, but I love it when others have a great time in the South and see even a small glimpse of why our South is so special.
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| The picture of the audience that Silversun Pickups posted on their Facebook page. |
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| Us at the concert |
Monday, October 8, 2012
Marry Me Monday: 10 FUN Things About Being Engaged
10. Getting to shamelessly search Pinterest for all things wedding.
9. Shopping for dresses to wear to special parties and events celebrating the engagement.
8. Participating in bridal events at stores.
7. Staring endlessly at the sparkle on my left hand and feeling the need for more manicures.
6. Having a thousand excuses to gather with your closest friends and family. Making memories at every one of these occasions.
5. Wedding dress shopping. Bridesmaids dress shopping. Mother of the Bride dress shopping. Mother of the Groom dress shopping.... did I mention shopping?
4. Months of constant celebration....what can I say? I love an excuse to celebrate!
3. Receiving e-mails from The Knot and Wedding Channel full of fun ideas.
2. Engagement pictures...we take them this upcoming weekend!
1. Most importantly, knowing at the conclusion of this engagement period, I am marrying the man my heart knew was suppose to be my husband 12 1/2 years ago. We are growing even closer during this time because we will be more than just a couple, we will be family.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Marry Me Monday: Enjoying Engagement
Only about 6 more months to go until the big day! When we first got engaged, the count was a few days over 300 and now we are around 187. I enjoy seeing the number go down because of course I am excited but at the same time, I want to relish this part of my life. The engaged life.
I have always been one to not wish away a time period. In high school, my friends could not wait until graduation. I did the opposite and loved every minute of high school. In college, those same friends could not wait to get out to the real world and start working. I loved college so much I stayed until I got a PhD! I have never felt the need to rush but instead enjoy each sweet moment of life. After all, these phases make up our lives. However, in the midst of being excited about our upcoming marriage, I am anxious for the wedding day to be here! I love seeing the days go down but I don't want this engagement to just be a countdown until the big day.
Obviously, a lot of people want to rush through the engagement as there are a lot of articles out there on the topic. Some tips I found for enjoying this time and staying focused on what matters:
1. Remember engagement is more than a countdown but a time to strengthen the relationship. I love that idea. I love the times I feel we are growing as a couple. For example, when we are working through our ceremony readings and discussing our dreams and goals for the relationship. I am especially looking forward to the engagement retreat where we will focus on these topics exclusively for a weekend. Yeah, he must love me to agree to spend an entire weekend talking about feelings!
2. Ask yourself each month, "What do I want my engagement to be about this month?" Some of the focus will naturally be on wedding planning but the other focus should be on growing as a couple. This idea gives each month of the engagement a special place and helps me focus on the present moment that I need to enjoy.
3. Continue to strengthen the relationships with your future in laws.
4. Use the time to continue to nurture your relationships with your family and friends.
5. Take good care of yourself. You want to be healthy and feeling great for the next phase of your life!
6. Don't forget to step away from the to-do list and have a "wedding free" night. I love this piece of advice because I have known too many couples where the wedding planning became all consuming. I wondered what they even talked about after the wedding was over. Remember to be the couple you were that brought you to being engaged.
7. Have fun. Enjoy all the festivities and excitement that the engagement period brings. Anticipation and the building excitement can be fun just in itself.
8. Dream about the really BIG day(s). The day after the wedding when the marriage begins which is far more precious than one single day.
Of course, part of the enjoyment will still be seeing the day get closer but I will make more of an effort to enjoy the engaged days that are far more than just a countdown.
I have always been one to not wish away a time period. In high school, my friends could not wait until graduation. I did the opposite and loved every minute of high school. In college, those same friends could not wait to get out to the real world and start working. I loved college so much I stayed until I got a PhD! I have never felt the need to rush but instead enjoy each sweet moment of life. After all, these phases make up our lives. However, in the midst of being excited about our upcoming marriage, I am anxious for the wedding day to be here! I love seeing the days go down but I don't want this engagement to just be a countdown until the big day.
Obviously, a lot of people want to rush through the engagement as there are a lot of articles out there on the topic. Some tips I found for enjoying this time and staying focused on what matters:
1. Remember engagement is more than a countdown but a time to strengthen the relationship. I love that idea. I love the times I feel we are growing as a couple. For example, when we are working through our ceremony readings and discussing our dreams and goals for the relationship. I am especially looking forward to the engagement retreat where we will focus on these topics exclusively for a weekend. Yeah, he must love me to agree to spend an entire weekend talking about feelings!
2. Ask yourself each month, "What do I want my engagement to be about this month?" Some of the focus will naturally be on wedding planning but the other focus should be on growing as a couple. This idea gives each month of the engagement a special place and helps me focus on the present moment that I need to enjoy.
3. Continue to strengthen the relationships with your future in laws.
4. Use the time to continue to nurture your relationships with your family and friends.
5. Take good care of yourself. You want to be healthy and feeling great for the next phase of your life!
6. Don't forget to step away from the to-do list and have a "wedding free" night. I love this piece of advice because I have known too many couples where the wedding planning became all consuming. I wondered what they even talked about after the wedding was over. Remember to be the couple you were that brought you to being engaged.
7. Have fun. Enjoy all the festivities and excitement that the engagement period brings. Anticipation and the building excitement can be fun just in itself.
8. Dream about the really BIG day(s). The day after the wedding when the marriage begins which is far more precious than one single day.
Of course, part of the enjoyment will still be seeing the day get closer but I will make more of an effort to enjoy the engaged days that are far more than just a countdown.
Monday, September 24, 2012
What makes a southern wedding "Southern"
Several weeks ago, on episode of Say Yes to the Dress - Atlanta, I watched a bride, originally from the North, try several dresses on in pursuit of a perfect Southern bride look. Now I guess growing up in the Deep South where everything I ever touched was considered most definitely Southern, I never considered what exactly makes a Southern wedding or a bride a Southern bride?
I forgot about my musings until a few days ago I told someone our wedding reception theme and the response was an enthusiastic, "Ooooooh that is so Southern." I liked that I had mistakenly picked a Southern wedding theme so I quickly started telling others that we were having a true Southern wedding. Truthfully I had no idea what an all white wedding theme had to do with being Southern but everyone seem to agree that it was indeed Southern. And why doubt me? After all, I am the Modern Day Southern Belle!
Well even this Southern Belle needs to do a little research from time to time. Therefore, I turned to the highly scientific search method of Google and entered the search terms "Southern Weddings." The first result to pop up was Southern Weddings Magazine. I was a little dismayed that I have never even heard of this magazine and I try to call myself an expert on all things Southern! Seriously, I now know where I will be finding even more inspiration. So for all you girls out there, Yankee or Southern, who want to have a true Southern affair you need to go to this website. No, they did not pay me to advertise (although that would be nice), I simply found a great link that I will be using in the future and think it might be a great resource to others. Now if I could only send it to that Yankee bride on Say Yes to the Dress! Does anybody know her?
I forgot about my musings until a few days ago I told someone our wedding reception theme and the response was an enthusiastic, "Ooooooh that is so Southern." I liked that I had mistakenly picked a Southern wedding theme so I quickly started telling others that we were having a true Southern wedding. Truthfully I had no idea what an all white wedding theme had to do with being Southern but everyone seem to agree that it was indeed Southern. And why doubt me? After all, I am the Modern Day Southern Belle!
Well even this Southern Belle needs to do a little research from time to time. Therefore, I turned to the highly scientific search method of Google and entered the search terms "Southern Weddings." The first result to pop up was Southern Weddings Magazine. I was a little dismayed that I have never even heard of this magazine and I try to call myself an expert on all things Southern! Seriously, I now know where I will be finding even more inspiration. So for all you girls out there, Yankee or Southern, who want to have a true Southern affair you need to go to this website. No, they did not pay me to advertise (although that would be nice), I simply found a great link that I will be using in the future and think it might be a great resource to others. Now if I could only send it to that Yankee bride on Say Yes to the Dress! Does anybody know her?
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| Southern Weddings |
Friday, September 21, 2012
Always Try New Things
I work with college age students helping them determine what their career path is as well as how to pursue it. One common problem among this group is the fear that the fun in life ends when they graduate. Some struggle with sadness due to the belief that these are the last years before they have to become a "boring" adult.
I understand. I went through a slight depression or quarter life crisis when I was around 26. At that age, you have gone through so many of life's exciting milestones that you are left being an adult without really feeling ready to be one and wondering what is next. I am fortunate that I went through that time period so I can relate. I was also very blessed to have had a few role models already in their 30s who could relate to what I was going through. These people were positive role models who let me know that it only gets better. I entered my 30s excited and they were right - my 30s have been far better than my late 20s. I feel younger and happier. I try to communicate this same message to my students through not only my story but various examples in class and in sessions. However, not everyone is like me. Unfortunately some adults do turn out to be just boring adults. But maybe they were boring kids too.
I read an article this week that made me think of staying young. Jamie Lee Curtis was interviewed in Good Housekeeping about life in general but there was one of her philosophies that really stood out. She recently wrote a children's book about an exciting year of firsts. Writing this book made her think about how as adults we tend to not try new things as eagerly as we did as children. She is right. Many of us as children enrolled in a variety of after school classes, learned new hobbies, and were eager to meet new friends. Somewhere along the way to adulthood, a lot of us stop enrolling in new classes and trying new things. We simply get caught up in the responsibilities of being an adult. Maybe that is why 20 somethings get the idea adulthood is boring. With this insight, Curtis decided to try new things. She started out with a 5k because running scared her as a child. Then after successfully completing the 5k she moved to working her way through a cookbook series that she loved.
This article excited me. I am fortunate enough to work on a college campus where I am constantly exposed to new ideas and activities but it made me want to do more. As mentioned in a previous blog, I am attempting to learn calligraphy so I can personally address our wedding invitations. In addition to the calligraphy, I like Curtis's idea about working her way through a cookbook. I am going to start on a Southern Living cookbook that I have been staring at for over a year. Time to try new recipes!
What are some new things you want to try? I would love to hear your ideas!
I understand. I went through a slight depression or quarter life crisis when I was around 26. At that age, you have gone through so many of life's exciting milestones that you are left being an adult without really feeling ready to be one and wondering what is next. I am fortunate that I went through that time period so I can relate. I was also very blessed to have had a few role models already in their 30s who could relate to what I was going through. These people were positive role models who let me know that it only gets better. I entered my 30s excited and they were right - my 30s have been far better than my late 20s. I feel younger and happier. I try to communicate this same message to my students through not only my story but various examples in class and in sessions. However, not everyone is like me. Unfortunately some adults do turn out to be just boring adults. But maybe they were boring kids too.
I read an article this week that made me think of staying young. Jamie Lee Curtis was interviewed in Good Housekeeping about life in general but there was one of her philosophies that really stood out. She recently wrote a children's book about an exciting year of firsts. Writing this book made her think about how as adults we tend to not try new things as eagerly as we did as children. She is right. Many of us as children enrolled in a variety of after school classes, learned new hobbies, and were eager to meet new friends. Somewhere along the way to adulthood, a lot of us stop enrolling in new classes and trying new things. We simply get caught up in the responsibilities of being an adult. Maybe that is why 20 somethings get the idea adulthood is boring. With this insight, Curtis decided to try new things. She started out with a 5k because running scared her as a child. Then after successfully completing the 5k she moved to working her way through a cookbook series that she loved.
This article excited me. I am fortunate enough to work on a college campus where I am constantly exposed to new ideas and activities but it made me want to do more. As mentioned in a previous blog, I am attempting to learn calligraphy so I can personally address our wedding invitations. In addition to the calligraphy, I like Curtis's idea about working her way through a cookbook. I am going to start on a Southern Living cookbook that I have been staring at for over a year. Time to try new recipes!
What are some new things you want to try? I would love to hear your ideas!
Monday, September 17, 2012
Marry Me Monday: Special Touches
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| My cousin Kimbrell attached my grandmother's brooch to her bouquet. |
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| Christy, mother of the bride, wore the bracelet from the brooch/bracelet set. |
If I can successfully create one, I am going to use a few family brooches on my bouquet. Even if I can't make a whole bouquet of them work, I will attach a few meaningful ones.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Marry Me Monday: The Dress
I found my dress! Last Sunday, I started what I assumed would be a lengthy process of going to numerous stores and trying on a few dozen dresses but the process came to an end on just dress number three. I am not much for cliches but in this case" the third try is the charm" truly fits.
After being a faithful watcher of "Say Yes to the Dress" I knew how I wanted the dress shopping experience to go. Starting with I did not want an entourage for the initial shopping. While I am not one to shy away from being the center of attention, I have watched to many horror scenarios play out with way too many hateful opinions. Not that I felt that the ladies I would choose to accompany me would ever be like that, I knew I needed only one person to assist me with a decision that should be carefully deliberated. So the one person I chose to share this special experience was, of course, my mother. Wedding planning is filled with so many meaningful moments and I am so happy that I shared this special moment with the woman that originally taught me about fashion.
So on Sunday we made our way to what I thought would be just the first stop - David's Bridal. It is funny in wedding planning that everybody seems to have an opinion. I have noticed several women have issues with David's Bridal - it is much too chain for these ladies and not boutique enough. I say whatever! A great dress is a great dress no matter where you go. And if the price is good then even better!
I was greeted by the sweetest sales staff who made me feel just as special as the brides featured in the wedding shows. I knew what style I wanted and had my budget in mind. I also knew that realistically everything I wanted (and the list was quite long) may not be all met within my budget. Yes, those shows have made me an expert in wedding dresses. Or so I thought....because I was wrong.
My mom and I selected about eight dresses to start. The first one was one that I had picked out prior to coming and new would be my favorite. Wrong! I have never put something on my 5'2 frame that weighed more than I do! The dress was so heavy that in order to walk I had to heave it up with both hands. There was no way that I was floating gracefully down the aisle in this one. If I chose this one, my groom would have to walk to me!
I looked fine in it and then a slight fear struck me - what if I looked just fine in all of them? If any of them could work, the decision would be difficult with no stand out. But that fear disappeared as my mother helped me in to my second choice. Much lighter, this dress was gorgeous! I was so excited because it had many of my wants. The sales staff knew from the look on my face that I had found the one and rushed to put a selection of headpieces on me so that I could see myself as a bride. I was done. I knew this was the one I wanted. Little girls that were trying on their flower girl dresses were oohhing. But what if?
I looked at my mom and knew I really wanted to try the next ones on to make sure. The sales staff put the top pick aside for me and in the dressing room I went. Out I came in a dress that had every element I wanted. I did not want it to be my favorite as I turned to look at myself because it was the most expensive in the bunch but as I saw my reflection I realized this was the dress. The sales staff mentioned the back was what the guests would see and all of a sudden I had chills. An odd sensation of cold and hot came over me as I could really see myself at the front of the church with Ed. I never gave much credit to that feeling they say you will get but it is true. Not only did I feel it but my mom did as well. And the flower girls were seriously oooohing over this one. Out came the headpieces and I knew that even if I kept looking no other dress would compare. This is the dress I get to marry the man of my dreams in!
The sales rep put up the second dress because the third was now my favorite. However, given that the third trumped the second I knew I had to try on the remaining dresses just in case. I stepped out in the 4th dress and one of the flower girls had taken her seat to see what I had on next. She oohed but not as enthusiastically as on the third. It was beautiful but not my dress. I asked the little fashionista what she thought and she gave me the blunt but polite opinion of a 9-year-old Southern girl. She liked the 4th one but the third one was so much better.
The next 4 dresses were a white, fluffy blur. My mom and I were moving quickly. Each time I stepped out, it was an instant no. None of them compared to my dress. Lastly, I put my dress back on to make sure. The headpieces came out and pictures were made. I confirmed this was my dress. The store then made the moment even more special by following their tradition of announcing it on the loudspeaker and giving me a golden bell to ring. My mom said her heart fluttered as she took one of many special pictures that will be captured in my dress.
After being a faithful watcher of "Say Yes to the Dress" I knew how I wanted the dress shopping experience to go. Starting with I did not want an entourage for the initial shopping. While I am not one to shy away from being the center of attention, I have watched to many horror scenarios play out with way too many hateful opinions. Not that I felt that the ladies I would choose to accompany me would ever be like that, I knew I needed only one person to assist me with a decision that should be carefully deliberated. So the one person I chose to share this special experience was, of course, my mother. Wedding planning is filled with so many meaningful moments and I am so happy that I shared this special moment with the woman that originally taught me about fashion.
So on Sunday we made our way to what I thought would be just the first stop - David's Bridal. It is funny in wedding planning that everybody seems to have an opinion. I have noticed several women have issues with David's Bridal - it is much too chain for these ladies and not boutique enough. I say whatever! A great dress is a great dress no matter where you go. And if the price is good then even better!
I was greeted by the sweetest sales staff who made me feel just as special as the brides featured in the wedding shows. I knew what style I wanted and had my budget in mind. I also knew that realistically everything I wanted (and the list was quite long) may not be all met within my budget. Yes, those shows have made me an expert in wedding dresses. Or so I thought....because I was wrong.
My mom and I selected about eight dresses to start. The first one was one that I had picked out prior to coming and new would be my favorite. Wrong! I have never put something on my 5'2 frame that weighed more than I do! The dress was so heavy that in order to walk I had to heave it up with both hands. There was no way that I was floating gracefully down the aisle in this one. If I chose this one, my groom would have to walk to me!
I looked fine in it and then a slight fear struck me - what if I looked just fine in all of them? If any of them could work, the decision would be difficult with no stand out. But that fear disappeared as my mother helped me in to my second choice. Much lighter, this dress was gorgeous! I was so excited because it had many of my wants. The sales staff knew from the look on my face that I had found the one and rushed to put a selection of headpieces on me so that I could see myself as a bride. I was done. I knew this was the one I wanted. Little girls that were trying on their flower girl dresses were oohhing. But what if?
I looked at my mom and knew I really wanted to try the next ones on to make sure. The sales staff put the top pick aside for me and in the dressing room I went. Out I came in a dress that had every element I wanted. I did not want it to be my favorite as I turned to look at myself because it was the most expensive in the bunch but as I saw my reflection I realized this was the dress. The sales staff mentioned the back was what the guests would see and all of a sudden I had chills. An odd sensation of cold and hot came over me as I could really see myself at the front of the church with Ed. I never gave much credit to that feeling they say you will get but it is true. Not only did I feel it but my mom did as well. And the flower girls were seriously oooohing over this one. Out came the headpieces and I knew that even if I kept looking no other dress would compare. This is the dress I get to marry the man of my dreams in!
The sales rep put up the second dress because the third was now my favorite. However, given that the third trumped the second I knew I had to try on the remaining dresses just in case. I stepped out in the 4th dress and one of the flower girls had taken her seat to see what I had on next. She oohed but not as enthusiastically as on the third. It was beautiful but not my dress. I asked the little fashionista what she thought and she gave me the blunt but polite opinion of a 9-year-old Southern girl. She liked the 4th one but the third one was so much better.
The next 4 dresses were a white, fluffy blur. My mom and I were moving quickly. Each time I stepped out, it was an instant no. None of them compared to my dress. Lastly, I put my dress back on to make sure. The headpieces came out and pictures were made. I confirmed this was my dress. The store then made the moment even more special by following their tradition of announcing it on the loudspeaker and giving me a golden bell to ring. My mom said her heart fluttered as she took one of many special pictures that will be captured in my dress.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Marry Me Monday: Kimbrell and Rich's Wedding
My sweet cousin was married in Gulf Shores on August 25th. Her wedding weekend was a family reunion for many. The ceremony was beautiful and moving. I rarely cry at weddings but this one was the exception because the tears were hard to hold back. The pictures do a much better job describing the beauty of this moment.
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| Private beach at the wedding site |
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| Sweet mother daughter moment |
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| Beautiful |
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| Here she comes! |
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| Love her dress! Look at all that sparkle! |
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| Mother of the Bride with son |
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| Serious flower girl work |
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| Gorgeous Matron of Honor in stunning dress....I love sparkle! |
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| The grand entrance |
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Summer 2012
Wow! What a summer! Five beach trips, another amazing 4th of July party, first spa massage visit, boat time, a family wedding, a friend's wedding, my mom turned 60, and just in case you forgot - I got ENGAGED! So add wedding planning to all the festivities and it has been a whirlwind of a fun summer! With this weekend being the official end of summer and the sounds of football filling the air, here is a look back on some of the moments of the summer of 2012.
Great summer! I am so blessed. Now on to an equally great Fall!
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| Beth and Ryan's wedding....Beth you still owe me Ya Ya's! |
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| Mom enjoying our favorite vacay spot - The Beau Rivage. We really enjoyed the Beau spa for the first time this year! |
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| Gulf Coast Sunrise |
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| Love the Beau (aka "The Mother ship") |
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| The MS Gulf Coast....toes in the water! |
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| Gulf Coast time |
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| Gulf Coast time |
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| YES! |
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| YES! |
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| LOVE! |
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| These aren't just my cousins...they are my siblings! ;o) |
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| Love my family...but watch out - we will go "Lu lu's" on you! |
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| Love my family! |
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| Having fun at Orange Beach |
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| Dancing |
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| One of many deep conversations |
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| One of many gorgeous Orange Beach sunsets! |
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| Love the view from Jubilee Landing! |
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| I pulled off a surprise party for my mom's 60th!!! |
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| Happy Birthday Sassy Susie |
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| The Girls at Boure for my mom's 60th Birthday Party! |
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| One of the many wedding planning to do items. Picture of the back of the reception site and potential dance floor! |
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| Ed's Birthday- 38! |
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| Another gorgeous Orange Beach view |
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| My sweet cousins....what little girls dream of... :) |
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| Congratulations Kimbrell and Rich! |
Great summer! I am so blessed. Now on to an equally great Fall!
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