Happy Thanksgiving!

I don't think I could ask for a better Thanksgiving- great weather, great husband, and a over all lazy day!

For the past 5 Thanksgivings, I worked as a banquet server at a hotel where I served Thanksgiving dinner to happy families while working kept me away from my own family. The closest thing I came to a family dinner for the last 5 Thanksgivings was when all the servers would sit down and eat off the buffet at the end of our shift. I really did miss spending time with my real family, but when you are in college you do what you got to do to pay your bills, which in my case included working almost every major holiday.

This year I have soo much to be thankful for. First, my family (well both my families). After the big scare with my dad, it makes me really thankful that my dad was able to walk me down the aisle. I know that was something that he had been looking forward to do for many years. 

 (Look how big that smile is on his face- what a happy day!)

Second, I very thankful to even have a job. I'm even more blessed because I have a job that I been working towards since my sophomore year of college. 

 (My office- I'm working on adding my touches to it but I only been 3 months)

I know that so many people are struggling with unemployment or underemployment. I feel so lucky to be in a place in my life where I can start the house hunting process. (Which just seems crazy to me.)

Finally, my husband. After 10+ years together, we still have a love as sweet as when we were in high school.

(Picture for our first high school dance together- Feb. 2002)

I love that I married my high school sweetheart, my best friend, and the person who can always make me smile. I'm so excited to get to spend our first official "family" Thanksgiving together.

Hope you have a great Thanksgiving! And don't eat too much (or do- it is Thanksgiving!).

Recap: The Night Before the Wedding = Stress

I can't believe I've been married for almost a month. Time has that funny way of just slipping right by you.

So Sam and I have come to the conclusion: We had a pretty awesome wedding. However, that awesome wedding came with its share of stress leading up to the big day.

The night before the wedding was pretty crazy; and I have to say I was feeling completely stressed out until the very last detail was taken care of.  I was so stress I didn’t even eat or barely talked to anyone at the rehearsal dinner. I apologize to anyone at the rehearsal dinner because I was being completely anti-social, but I just couldn’t get my mind off everything that was still left to do. But I have a great set of friends who stuck it out with me until almost 1:00am making sure everything was taken care of.

So what had to be done that was making me so stress- 

1.            All of my “fish bowl” centerpieces still had to be made. This included spray painting the base that holds the feathers and the silver ball-thingy (Yes- that the technical name for it). I completely end up with black fingers from this fun project.

2.       I had to make the whole candy buffet.

First, we had to find enough bowls and baskets to hold all the different candy, chips, and cookies.  This included my mom going to the store that night at 9:30pm and buying 7 more bowls for the candy.  (For the record- this is only the chocolate candy pictured.)

Second, we need to make all the bags of chips and cookies look pretty in the baskets, and fill the bowls with the different types of candy. 

Finally, we had to find a way to pack all the bowls and baskets, so they could be brought to hall the next morning.

3.       On top of packing up the candy buffet, all the centerpieces needed to be packed and ready to be brought to the hall.

4.       Finally, I had to make sure I had everything I needed. This included my dress, shoes, veil, bra, underwear, and the under-slip (the thing that make the dress puffy). Because I was getting ready at Sam’s house I needed to make sure everything was moved that night.

I wish I could say the wedding stress stopped there at my mom house but it continued on when I reached Sam’s. 

The list to do when I do to Sam’s was smaller, but it included:

1.       Making the sign for our gift book “thumb print” tree. It said "Please leaf your thumb print"

2.       Making the sign for our cake table.

3.       Making a sign for our “Memorial Table”. This was a sign that just list the names of our guests who couldn’t we with us because they had passed away. It included some of our grandparents and some of the parents of our bridal party.  

However, once all of that was finally done- I just felt a huge weight come off my shoulders. And believe it or not, I had no problems going to sleep that night. (But if you know me- I never have a problem going to sleep. I’m a sleeping champ!) Plus, I know it’s against tradition, but it was nice getting to sleep in the same bed as Sam.



Long Time- No Post

I understand I'm a "bad blogger" because my post are so hit and miss... and I am sorry. Well, kind of sorry. I been enjoying the lazy life after all the wedding craziness; so I'm not too sorry but I'll try to do better.

Also, with the wedding behind me what will I be posting about... I guess that is yet to be seen, but I still have a few wedding things I can still post about.

I know I haven't really shared any wedding pictures or stories, so there's that. I also just had my second reception last Sunday, so there's that. And of course there is still the honeymoon to come. Like I said it's the wedding that never ends.

However, I think this blog is going to refocus on why I stated it in the first place, it will be a place just to share stories and keep memories. Now, I may lose a few readers when this blog loses it's wedding focus, but I asking you to hang in there with me.

There will be big things that will be happening in this blogger's life, starting with the house hunting process. Let me tell you the idea of buying our own house does scare me, but it's exciting at the same time. Scary because of the cost, but exciting because this be part of the next chapter of our lives.

Like my title says, I'm just going to continue "living, laughing, and loving my life", and I hope you'll be there to join me.

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

One Week of Married Life

Can you really feel like you’re married if nothing has changed other than a second ring on my finger?

Life has pretty much gone back to normal since the wedding.

I’m still spending 3 nights at my mom’s and 4 nights at Sam’s.  I’m still living out of duffel bag and have two sets of my bathroom needs (hair brush, toothbrush, tooth paste, shampoo & conditioner) in two different places.  I’m really thinking this whole marriage thing will hit me when I start changing my name (which won’t happen until February), start looking for a house, and finally sleep in the same bed every night.  

However, my wedding is the wedding that never ends because we are having our second reception this upcoming Sunday in Michigan. I hope this one will goes just a smoothly as the first one did.

Yesterday my mom and I went to the store and bought more candy for a candy buffet (got to love after Halloween that there 70% off candy sales) and rounded up the last of the Chinese food boxes for my Michigan guests.  Hopefully there will be enough to go around this time. 

Additionally, I bought 150 “Thank You” cards that will need to be sent out to all my wedding guests. I see a lot of writing (maybe typing) in my future.

Question: To write or to type- my thank you notes? I know writing is more personal but I can get them out a whole lot faster if I type them… decisions, decisions.

I'm a married girl!

The title of "wife" is still really weird and I wonder how long it's going to take to get use to it. But it's a official I'm a wife and I have a husband.

The day went pretty much as planned, and everyone seemed to have a good time.

I love the first dance song Sam picked. I told Sam and the DJ I didn't want to know what our first dance song was going to be, and Sam picked a great sound. I love that it wasn't a common first dance song and that it was a song that has been made special over the years between Sam and I. (FYI- the song was "I'll Catch You" by The Get up Kids)

Also, you got to love the fight over the garter. Most weddings I've seen, the guys try to avoid catching the garter all together; but not at mine. There was a full blown wrestling match between my cousin and one of our groomsmen. It was a sight to see. 

Check out the review & video the DJ was nice enough to post of our wedding! You'll see to these highlights and many details you read about in this blog over the last few months.

I'll be sure to add many more pictures as they start becoming available. (I know I wasn't taking any pictures that day, so I'll have to wait for people to start sending them to me so I can post them.)

Question: What is the craziest thing you've ever seen at a wedding?

It's Wedding Day!

I know I haven't posted in a long time, but being that it's the big day I thought would do give everyone a small peak what all that has happen in the last few weeks and what will be seen today!

Candy Buffet- bought and separated and put into many bowls and baskets.

Wedding favor boxes- I so happy a brought 300 boxes for my wedding because when you spill gravy on 20 of them- you become really happy that you bought extra. Also, thank you to all my girls who spent hours tying thank you cards to the boxes. I love you.

 
Bridal Party & Parent gifts- Spa treatment for the girls and a flask for the guys. Picture frames (not pictured) for the parents.

My wedding jewelry- new earrings and a blue stone bracelet (which was Sam's grandma's- so maybe my something old and something blue?)

Got our wedding rings. We originally weren't going to buy any, but we found money in the budget and got them last minute. We brought Sunday and got them two days ago.

I can't believe the day is here... but I'm feel calm (now... lets not talk about my stress level for the last few days) and ready to enjoy today!

Bachelorette Party!

 
This last weekend was the my bachelorette party. It really did not go as plan.

To sum it up...
Potluck & gifts.
Saw HOT boys.
Went home early.

Because I know many of my family members read this blog (including my grandma (Hi Gram!), I'll keep the details to a minimum. However, here a just a few highlight photos for you to enjoy.

(Me and my sister/ maid of honor)

(College roomie Jen)

(Some of the bridesmaids- Anna, Alison, & Jen)

(My cousin Anna- who came all the way from Michigan)

(Group Pic 1 in the limo)

(Group Pic 2 in the limo)

I hope everyone had good time... if nothing else we will have stories from that night that will last a life time. I love all these girls and I'm so lucky to have some great friends!