Mason Jars/ Shepherds Hooks

So since we went snow skiing over Spring Break I didn't get to do a lot of stuff for the wedding like I had originally planned

 (That's okay though..I would've rather been in Estes Park anyways. I love it. I want to move there, Darren.)

 

BUT, Mom and I did get the mason jars and shepherds hooks taken care of that are going to line the aisle!

We bought the shepherds hooks, courtesy of Hobby Lobby. (By the way, don't ever buy anything full price at Hobby Lobby. They always put things 50% off!) And being the lovely southern women that we are -AMEN!- we already have all the mason jars that I could ever want! Here's how we made our little hanging jar contraption:

1. Get a Mason Jar

2. Cut a piece of wire. We used 17 gauge.

3. Wrap it loosely around the lip of the jar.

4 & 5. Attach a second piece of wire to the first to make the handle and use pliers to tighten the underwire to secure.

Ta-Da!

These are going to be put on the end of every other row of chairs going down the aisle. Picture the mason jars with a bouquet of flowers. Beautiful.

Riviera Maya/ Mother Teresa

So, along with all the planning, stressing, yelling, and pulling hair out, is another little thing that makes all the pre-wedding craziness disappear...... a vacation! a.k.a the honeymoon.

We'd been thinking about where we wanted to go, and we really weren't having any luck deciding (Darren's as indecisive as I am), so Darren went and talked to a travel agent a few weeks ago.

And then we were able to decide!

(This is a lie. This is what happened in my dream. This is the decisiveness Darren and I are going to strive for in our future.)

So Mother Teresa decided to take matters into her own hands. She said, "You silly kids. Let a pro handle this. I don't know what you're going to do about decisions when you get married." And I replied, "Oh Mother Teresa, I'll tell you what I'm going to do. I'm going to call you up all the time and bug you."

To which Mother Teresa said, "Oh no, what kind of daughter-in-law am I dealing with." The End.

(By the way.....Mother Teresa is Darren's mom in case you haven't figured that out yet.)

Anyways, Mother Teresa did decide for us! Yay! So we will be going to the El Dorado Seaside Resort in the Riviera Maya! Granted, I don't know when we leave exactly, or when we return, and I asked Darren and he didn't know either, but that's ok, that's what Mother Teresa is for! I guess Mother Teresa is kind of like Fairy GodMother Teresa.....

I can't wait to go! It's all inclusive, it's adult-only, it's on a beach, what more is there to love? Thank you Mother Teresa for this great gift!!! 

Bridesmaid Dresses!!!!!!!

So I found my bridesmaid dresses...hooray! My mom and I had seen three dresses, all in a medium, at Lucca about three weeks ago. But I didn't buy them.
I don't know why.
I was dumb.
I wasn't looking for bridesmaid dresses.
I was looking for clothes for me.
For my birthday.
I guess I was being inconsiderate to my dear bridesmaids.
Sorry girls.

So naturally, after leaving Lucca, I kicked myself for two weeks for not trying one on. I constantly asked my mom, "Why didn't you make me get them?!" Of course it was all her fault. Once again, I must apologize. Sorry, Mom. I love you.

So last Saturday after work I went by Lucca, and ta-da! They were all three still there. I took this as a sign that it was meant to be. Yes, I originally liked the ones on Etsy. But Etsy, I am not going to apologize to you. I got three dresses for the price of ONE on your website.
No offense, though, Etsy.
I still love you.

Here are the fantastical dresses (Yes, I realize fantastical is not a word. I got it from Ramona and Beezus. No, Darren and I did not watch it by ourselves. We watched it with Kamy.):

What a beautiful bridesmaid =)
Picture how pretty these dresses will look with a bouquet of coral peonies and yellow wildflowers.
Fantastical.

So Happy

Today I am so very happy. Do you want to know why I am so very happy? 

 (I really don't know if you do but I'm going to tell you anyways):

 I am so very happy because today is my fiancee's 23rd birthday.

And that makes me so happy because today is the day of his birth....hence the term BIRTH-day. 

And I am so very thankful that on this day, 23 years ago, he was born.

I am so happy that his parents brought him into this world so that someday we could get married and start our own life together.

I do not know where I would be or what I would be doing if he wouldn't have been brought into my life, but I do know that I wouldn't be as happy as I am now. 

So this morning I made him some yummy bacon-onion-cheddar biscuits for a birthday breakfast that I took over to his house on my way to work. What better way to start off your day than with bacon and cheese mushed together in an ooey-gooey homemade biscuit?

(Thank you for this recipe, Pioneer Woman. You may be my new hero.)

Anyways, to get back to my point...

Here's to you, Fiancee. 

Here's to your wonderful, glorious, spectacular birthday. I hope it was a great one!

And I can't wait to spend many more of our birthdays together.

Love- Your Future Wife

Yummy Yummy Yummy I've got Chicken and Dumplins in my Tummy

Blizzard 2011 has hit. And while I'm sure there are many people out there who are going to hate me for saying this: 

I LOVE IT!!

 I love the way the snow looks in my backyard. I love the cozy fireplace. I love staying in my pajamas all day 

(yes, I'm still in my pajamas and I am not ashamed).

But you know the thing that I really really really love?? I love that my fiancee and my family get along so well. 

Let's face it, we've all heard horror stories about the in-laws, but I know that I couldn't ask for a better family to be marrying into, and it makes me so happy that Darren likes spending time with mine. It was simply meant to be. My mom even had Darren stay the night at our house last night so we could all hang out today...how sweet is that??? 

(CAUTION!!!: Leah and Steve, if you are reading this, I am very sorry, but Darren is slowly working his way up to favorite son-in-law. Beware.)

So Mr. Snow Day, I gladly welcome you. I love you. Make yourself at home. I want you to stay forever. But could you ask the wind to die down please? I would like to build a snowman but I am scared I will be blown away. 

As for Blizzard 2011, I have everything that I need.

mmm....big'o pot of chicken and dumplins....these are comforting my tummy at this very second.

Playing cards ALL DAY. The name of the game is Shang-hi-rummy. Learn it, love it, play it.

Making Banana Bread...de-lish.

Ahh, future hubby. My love.

And a little bit of ELLE. Just because I'm a chicken-and-dumplin-filled Okie who is locked in her house during a blizzard doesn't mean I can stay caught up on my fashion.

P.S. Darren, when we are married and there is a snow storm I may want to drive to my parent's house to hang out with them all day. Thanks.

Lemonade Dress

A simple, cotton, summery, casual, non-hideous bridesmaid dress. It doesn't sound that hard does it? Yeah, I didn't think so either. I was wrong. Or maybe I'm too picky. Or maybe it's the color I want. Or maybe I'm a big tight wad. Or maybe.....ok...this could go on forever.

I want dresses that my bridesmaids wouldn't be embarrassed to wear again. And since it's a backyard wedding I don't want anything too formal. I want something like this:

Only I want it in the lemonade color (the website's color title..not mine. Although, "Lemonade" is a nice color name for a backyard wedding in June). So, I found the perfect dress!  

WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

I love my bridesmaids, but I really do not want to break the bank on you guys..sorry.

Therefore, if anybody knows where I can find something similar (or if anyone really loves to sew lemonade colored bridesmaids dresses....), please let me know! Help a bride out. Before I freak out/stress out/try to sew them myself....all three scenarios spell disaster. 

To Do List

It is 2011. The year of my wedding. Not only that, but my wedding is actually 5 months from today. Exactly. Why am I not more stressed out? Why am I not freaking out about wedding plans? I do not know. But it kind of worries me. So much to do. A rather short amount of time. But I'm not worried, which, ironically, worries me.

BUT

I think the main reason I am not freaking about wedding plans is because they really do not matter. What matters is that on June 11 I am marrying Darren Kirk Townley. And really, what is more important than that? Yes, I want the wedding to look beautiful. Yes, I want my guests to say, "Wow, you really did all this yourself?!" But in reality, Darren and I could go to the courthouse and I would be perfectly happy (my mom probably would not be). I know that our wedding is going to be beautiful no matter what, because Darren will be my husband and I will be his wife, and that is a beautiful thing. 

NEVERTHELESS 

I will continue to engage in wedding plans, and believe me, there is still a lot to do. My wedding "To Do List" for 2011:

1. Bridesmaids dresses
2. Invitations (this....I am dreading)
3. Antique-ing for glass vases/jars for center pieces
4. Mason Jars/Shepherds Hooks for aisle
5. Nag Darren about grooms cake or cupcakes or ice cream.....I'm rooting for ice cream
6. Pick out pictures for picture tree
7. Chalk boards
8. Talk Adam into painting wooden signs ;)
9. EVERYTHING ELSE!!!!! (this post would be entirely too long if I honestly posted everything I have to do).

Wish me luck....I'll need it. I'm sure the stressing/freaking out will soon sink in.