Wedding Countdown: Day 18

The time keeps flying by and I can't slow it down! Last night was awesome! I went to Costa Vida with some amazing people for my birthday dinner. So yummy! Then we went home and I wrestled off my Costa Vida weight with my siblings. Of course Derek won. All he has to do is squeeze us all to death with his massive arms. He's such a brat. But I love him! haha 

Then we went over to Blake's parents' house to set up some more lights in the trees for the reception. We learned two valuable lessons: 1) water does mix with electricity and 2) wedges should not be the first shoe choice while working in the backyard. 

After letting the strands of lights sit in the freshly watered grass for long periods of time, we shorted out the extension cord and had to call it a night. So we went in the house and proceeded to fix three stubborn light strands. With the help of some wire tape, pliers, tin foil, several individual functional lights and a lot of Ghormley persistence, we were able to fix most of the strands. We were at that until we were about to pass out. It was a great bonding experience haha. But the backyard is looking gorgeous!!! I'm getting excited!

Today I drove to Africa (Chandler) to pick up some lanterns we're going to try for our decor. I had lunch with my dad today. That was a really great break in my very stressful day! He's so easy to talk to! He makes me feel so good about myself. Thanks for the birthday lunch, Padre!

This evening, I'm meeting with the caterer, florist and baker. They all have issues they need resolved. Super psyched. Then we have to go try, again, to hang the lights in more trees. It's going to be another long night. 

On a more fun note: we got our second present today, yay! We love getting things in the mail! It's so exciting. Also, I got Blake's ring in the mail. Of course, it's too big, but it's gorgeous! I love it. It's so him. 

We are getting closer and closer!! I can't wait! I honestly am getting really excited now. At the beginning of all of this, I was against having a reception. Now that I've had a small preview of the lit up backyard and other little details are falling into place, I'm very excited! Plus, my dress is HOT! haha next fitting on Friday! Yay!! I love weddings. haha did I just say that?? I'm just kidding. But I love my wedding!

Wedding Countdown: Day 19

19 Days to go!! 

Today I did the following:

Started packing for the honeymoon, bought some super cute swim suits and cover ups for our cruise!

Bough Blake's present (shhhhh, don't tell)

Finalized the flowers and reception music

Sent emails to family with itinerary - that was kind of huge

Made sure, for the millionth time, that the boys get fitted for their tuxes... still haven't gone. 

Found super cute decorations online

Still so many things to do! But I'm having fun writing all of it down so that way when I'm sane and don't have a million things going on, I can remember all the fun I had trying to plan this wedding :)

Graduate School Decision

I know you have all been hanging on the edge of your seat for this one, haha no, but I have. It's been a crazy last couple of months. With planning the wedding, applying to eleven different graduate programs, trying to plan a future with my man, I really didn't know how I was going to make it through. If you haven't noticed, I don't handle stress very well. I've tried to keep people updated as much as possible as to where I got accepted / rejected. Things got in the way and I kind of lost track of everything. 

A couple amazing things have happened these past couple months as we've tried to make this decision. Blake was offered a promotion and an increased pay rate at his current job. I was offered a dream job as a cheer coach at my high school Alma Mater. I was also requested as a full time gymnastics coach for a small gymnastics gym in Mesa. We have been given some amazing blessings here and we both have incredible jobs that are stable with great income. So these were all things we would have to leave if we choose to go to grad school. 

We would be going with no money, no set jobs, no place to live and have absolutely no friends / family within thousands of miles. It would be a great leap of faith to be able to go and survive on our own out there, but we were both willing to do that to pursue our goals. It would have been nice to be away from everyone and learn to depend on each other. 

Which brings me to the decision that we've made on grad school. We got accepted to 3 of our top schools. Montana, Florida and Texas. Unfortunately at this time in our lives, we've decided to turn down the offers and remain in Arizona. Blake is going to finish up his education at Arizona State, my Alma Mater, and I am going to pursue a second undergrad at Grand Canyon University so I can finally become a certified athletic trainer. 

We are thrilled with the opportunities that lie ahead and even more excited to stay close to our family and friends as we start off our marriage. We thank you for all the support and prayers in our behalf. It really does take a village. But we are staying in good old AZ for at least the next two years and we are excited to get to share the first years of our marriage in the state that raised us. Here's to the future and the unknown adventures ahead!!!

26th Birthday - It's All Downhill From Here

Haha, I'm not saying 26 is old or anything, but it's definitely not as close to my earlier years as I would prefer. I'm so blessed to be able to share my birthday with all the people I love! I woke up this morning and decided to just sleep in. I wasn't going to miss work or anything, but I wasn't going to rush to be on time. I usually wake up at 7am, but today I got an extra hour and a half! It meant, hair up and no makeup, but totally worth it. (If you're wondering, yes, I still showered). 

I checked my phone and got my grandparent's message. They always sing me happy birthday and leave the sweetest message for me. I also got millions of texts and a call from my dad this morning. I don't get to talk to him much so it meant the world to me that he called me first thing in the morning. 

My mom gave me my second present (the first one was a camera that she gave me a couple weeks ago). My second present was the Rapunzel Barbie from Disney. Yes, I do collect Barbies, especially Disney Barbies. She's so pretty! Definitely one of the prettier Disney Princesses. Obsessed! My mom knows me so well!!

Saturday night, my amazing fiance took me to my number one favorite restaurant, Cheesecake Factory. He is so good to me! He took me out on the town afterwards and we had an amazing night. I can't wait to be able to spend birthdays as a married couple. 

My in-laws sang happy birthday to me on Sunday evening after dinner. I was having a particularly bad night because of wedding planning stress, but that was the best possible thing they could have done. They have a tradition of singing in the worst way possible. I mean literally, it's the worst thing possible. One of these days I'm going to record it. I couldn't help but laugh at their awful singing which put me into a much better mood. That, and the indescribable coconut cupcakes my sister-in-law made. She's so talented when it comes to cooking. 

Today I got to have an awesome lunch from Olive Garden with my co-workers. My boss gets us birthday lunches anytime there is a birthday in the office. He's so good to us. I got a killer chicken parm and we picked up some Krispy Kremes. My favorite. 

Tonight I get to spend more time celebrating my birthday with some of the most amazing people on this planet. My family and friends are celebrating with me at Costa Vida and I can't wait! Again, I am so beyond blessed to have such amazing friends and family to celebrate these special days with. It was a nice day to be able to talk about something other than flowers or cake or pictures or lights or tables. 

I'm still sad that I'm now 26, but I have to start practicing lying about my age for the future, so I'm still 25 if anyone asks :)

Wedding Countdown: Day 22

As these past couple months have gone by, I noticed today that I can't remember one distinctive thing that's happened. It's quite sad actually because they were leading up to the happiest day of my life, and I definitely want recollection in the future. The ups, the downs, the waaaayyyy downs, the laughs the cries, the stress, the joy, and the in betweens. Planning this wedding hasn't been easy or fun to say the least, but it's taught Blake and I lessons that we could never learn otherwise and I wouldn't trade these last 4 months for the world! (Except if that world was a world of sleep, then I'd consider it.)

So I've decided to start keeping track of these last couple days before the wedding. I'm going to try to write something down for the next 22 days so when I look back, I can remember all the wonderful / awful experiences we went through trying to prepare for what will be one of the greatest days of our lives. I'll start taking pictures too so it'll be a little more interesting and colorful.

Today, Friday the 13th.

It finally hit me that there are 3 weeks until the wedding. It keeps getting closer and closer and I can't stop it. Don't get me wrong, I'm more than excited to marry my best friend and soul mate, but I'm kind of overly stressed with the finances and planning of the reception so it gets a little overwhelming at times.

8am: wake up and realize that I'm about to be late to work.
8:30am: realize that I don't care what I look like at work and go with no makeup or hair done. Great way to show up to a legal office.
9am - 3pm: pretend to work, but really be thinking about the wedding.
3pm: pay of a million dollars to the photographer on my first credit card. That will be a fun bill to pay back in the future. Finalize flower arrangements for the reception. Realize I haven't eaten anything except 2 kitkats for the last 6 hours. Realize I'm still not hungry.
3:15pm: Dress fitting - find out sleeves and hem aren't done and I can't see her until next week. Freak out because that's two weeks before the wedding. Calm down because regardless of how the sleeves turn out, I look fabulous in that dress. Without trying to sound conceded or cocky.
4 - 7pm: Coach gymnastics and try to take my mind off of the wedding. Doesn't work.
7pm: get shower; go pick up pictures for our DVD, receive Victoria's Secret stuff in the mail (YESSS), buy Blake's ring, go to dinner with Krystal and Devin at Costa Vida.
8pm: Visit Taryn and Brock at the hospital to see their new baby. Find out I'm super baby hungry and that Blake looks even sexier holding a little baby. Crap. That's $600 down the drain for this stupid IUD.
10pm: Have an hour long conversation with Blake in the parking lot of Costa Vida about babies. Yay!
11pm: Watch Back to the Future III snuggled up next to my man. Remember how awesomely stupid that series is and enjoy the crap out of it because it's with Blake.
2am: Drive home and fall asleep.