Thankful Thursday #2

Oh my, we can officially say we are getting married NEXT month!  That is so exciting while simultaneously being terrifying that I can't even begin to explain it.  But that's not what this post is about, it's Thankful Thursday #2!

This Thursday I am thankful for a boy.  A boy that can make me laugh in about 3.5 seconds even when I'm really upset.  A boy who supports me through everything.  A boy who indulges my requests even when he thinks they are silly.  A boy who my parents love and who loves my parents.  A boy whose spontaneity drives me crazy (but makes me smile at the same time).  A boy who will be my husband 50 days from today.

The last few weeks of wedding planning have been increasingly difficult for reasons best left unsaid here, but it has left me all the more thankful for the strong relationship we have that has and will enable us to weather the storms.  It is a comfort to know that even through the challenges we have been facing we are still as committed (and excited!) as we have always been about getting married.

Photo by Clary

And to piggyback on my picture here, this is something we will be including in our ceremony that is very special to us.  I originally was introduced to the idea by Megan, but have since somewhat crafted my own version from various internet sources.

Blessing of the Hands

Jamie and Doug, as an expression that your hearts are joined together in love will you please face each other and hold hands, so you may feel the gift that you are to one another. These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever. These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future. These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other. These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind. These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and tears of joy. These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children. These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one. These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it. And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours.

Dear Father, bless the hands that you see before you this day. May they always be held by one another.  Give them the strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the dark of disillusionment. Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their love. Help these hands to continue building a relationship founded in your grace, rich in caring, and devoted to reaching for your perfection. May Jamie and Doug see their four hands as healer, protector, shelter, and guide.  We ask this in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you now and forever. Amen.

First Vendor Review: Necklets Jewelry

So, when I posted about the gifts I bought my girls here, I mentioned a little white box.  Now that my girls' necklaces are safely in their hands, I can give my first vendor review!

Christie from Necklets Jewelry is sooooo awesome! I first ordered the below necklace for all three of my girls as well as a necklace for myself that you'll have to wait for our wedding pictures to see.  The ordering process was great and delivery was even sooner than she quoted (and with a hand written thank you note which is always a major plus in my book!)  My picture below doesn't even do these justice- they are beautiful and just perfect to go with the bridesmaid dresses.  Then when I had my first dress fitting my seamstress suggested that I needed a bracelet.  Even though Christie didn't already have a bracelet designed to go with my necklace, she was happy to custom design something for me and she did so the same day!  It is the perfect blend of the girls' necklace design and mine and I love it as well.  I will definitely be recommending her to everyone for her jewelry and she also has some other adorable items she makes.  You can see some of her items here in her Etsy store.  Definitely check her out!  Rating: A+

Thankful Thursday

I'm borrowing this idea from Blair who I believe borrowed it from Neisha.  For now, I'm not sure whether this will be a short lived thing but I've been feeling so very thankful lately that when I saw this on Blair's blog last week I knew I had to join in for at least a bit.  I think everyone can use more gratitude in their life,don't you?

From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.  - John 1:16 (NIV)

And so, on this first Thursday I am thankful for the three beautiful women who will stand next to me on our wedding day just under 60 days from today.

First, I'm thankful for my sisters Kristi and Audra.  We may not always get along but in the end we will always love and support each other.

And then, I'm thankful for my best friend Alyssa.  More to come about her soon in another post.

I've got a really long mental list of items I'm thankful for so look for this to continue at least for a few weeks! :)

(And I've currently got at least 6 half written posts waiting to be finished, so look for my first vendor review and other wedding related details soon!)

Gifts for my girls

Now that these items are safely in the hands of my girls, I can reveal what I got them.  Clearly nothing is enough to compensate them for being there to support me on the biggest day of my life so far (or for that matter, for the daily support they provide) but I did my best to give them some cute and useful items.

Yesterday was my shower and at its conclusion there was a pink bag with our monogram as a tag waiting for each of them.  They each had already received their wedding shoes from me when they got their dress.

Each bag had within it 4 items and one IOU for a Coach wristlet that will match their dresses perfectly but didn't arrive in time.

First, there was a bag of wedding day essentials: Shout wipe, Kleenex, bobby pins, cotton swabs, blotting papers, deodorant, a pocket mirror, and Burt's Bees lip shimmer.

One bridesmaid got a cd (of the artist whose awesome concert she and I will be seeing) and the other two received iTunes gift cards. 

And each girl got a nice little white box whose contents you will have to check back in the next few days to see when I post my first vendor review! :)

Finally, each girl got a pair of flip flops that match their dress!  This was one of the most important items to my Maid of Honor and sister Kristi who absolutely hates heels and doesn't ever wear them.  Mom has required that she wear the heels for the ceremony but I have a feeling that these will be meeting her feet asap after the ceremony.

I love my girls so much and could never thank them enough for the daily and wedding sanity they bring to my life.  They threw me an awesome shower so look for a post about that soon to come!

A little color for this cloudy day

We had such awesome weather here in St. Louis last week.  Unfortunately we haven't been as lucky the last few days.  I hate rain, but would rather it rain now than in May of course! ;)

Here's a little gorgeous fall color from our engagement pics to help with this cloudy day.

Photos by Clary

Happy (albeit a bit cloudy) Monday everyone!!!  Hopefully this post will help in getting Mr. Sun back out in STL!

Speaking of Invitations...

While we are speaking of invitations, I got an adorable one in the mail the other day.  And it was to my shower!!  Sorry I had to add the ugly black boxes to this picture, but my copy of Photoshop was unfortunately on my computer that Doug killed about a month ago.

The text on the top of the mixer reads: "The ingredients for a successful marriage, A whole lot of love, a dash of spice, And lots of answers to 'What's for dinner?'"  The invitation came with three equally adorable matching recipe cards and asked guests to bring them to the shower filled with their favorite recipes. 

This is so great for me because I could definitely use the recipes.  My kitchen répertoire certainly leaves something to be desired.  That is unless, of course, you would like to eat the same six dinners each week.  :)  I am excited to have some new ideas to try.  I am even more excited for (and hopeful that I get) many of the family recipes from both my family and Doug's.  My stomach is growling just thinking of the possibilities: corn casserole from my Aunt Sharon, hash brown casserole from Doug's mom, my Grandma's mashed potatoes, my Aunt Janet's chocolate chip cookies, my Aunt Karen's fruit dip, and my mom's lasagna and meatloaf (which I already make but call her almost every time since I always write down the recipe and then lose it.)  Mmmm.... I'm so hungry now, not good for my need-to-fit-in-a-wedding-dress-soon diet.  In case those aren't enough, I may have also put 10 cookbooks on our registry.  This is not only a reflection of my lack of skill in the kitchen but also that I am a pawn of The Food Network, as 8 of them are authored by chefs from that channel.

Even more than the recipes, though, I am just excited to see everyone.  I am incredibly blessed to have so many great women in my life and I can't wait to spend some time next Sunday with a large group of them!

Invitations: Attempt #1

Way back a long time ago (my guess is 2008, but I'm not sure) my friend Sarah and I were "working" and she made the first draft of my invitation.  While I especially love the part where it says "Please" with two exclamation points, we will be going for a bit more sophisticated look.

So in all seriousness, as of Wednesday afternoon I am now in possession of all necessary invitation products with the exception of response card envelopes.  Since 1) I now have almost everything I need (including a new toy that I can't believe I haven't opened and tried yet) and 2) my goal is to send invites out at the end of the month and I need to get started.  Operation invitation making domination commences on Sunday! :)

This is what's important.

This is what's important.  In 74 days we will be married.  We will have made it through all of this drama that seems to have attached itself to our wedding no matter how hard we have been fighting it.  We will have survived.  We will meet at a chapel that sits half way between where we each grew up and we will leave it having vowed to be together for the rest of our lives.  Doug will be my husband and I will be his wife.  For better or for awesome, for I have decided to accept nothing less.

Responsible for the photo that reminds me why we are doing this thing is Clary

First Dance?

Doug and I have frustratingly been talking for months about what our first dance would be.  We came up with nothing each time.  We also have some pretty differing tastes in music.  We do have "a song" but it isn't really a first dance-y type song so that's out.  I kind of gave up on thinking about it and when I least expected it (isn't that how it always works?) I think I found one.  A few days ago I was in my car and I put in a Michael Bublé CD because I recently just bought two tickets to see him again when he comes to St. Louis.  And there it was, Michael Bublés "Hold On."  I think it will work just fine and am happy to have checked another thing off the list, as long as I can get Doug to agree!



Also, if anyone might be looking for two tickets to his show in St. Louis on June 25th, let me know. I might have extra. :)