WILW and Guest Posting

Today I'm linking up with Jaime

I'm loving... my wedding dress. I played dress up this weekend and gosh it's so beautiful. I love everything about it and can't WAIT to share it with y'all. 

It's perfect!

I'm loving... that my wedding day is soooo close! SEVENTEEN DAYS! EEEK! It's almost here. WOW, can't wait. So excited wahoooo!

I'm loving... the fact C and I decided to have a short engagement. It maybe have been stressful for a bit, but I get to marry the man of my dreams so soon. I'm so glad we didn't prolong the process, I wouldn't have lasted.

I'm loving... the responses from friends that are getting last minute invites. I've mentioned before how BIG our wedding became [invites to 250 people] because of large families on both sides, but never mentioned how few friends we were able to invite. Now, with certain family members unable to attend, we are able to give LATE invites to good friends. I was worried people's feelings would be hurt, being on the 'B list' but everyone has been super gracious and understandinh. My friends ROCK!

I'm loving... that my BACHEY party is this weekend. We are going wine tasting then dinner/gifts/pinky roasting at my place and then OUT IN DC! It's going to be a blast, I can't wait.

I'm loving... how easily I've been able to purge old clothes. I'm a sentimental fool and usually it's hard to get rid of clothes or items, but I've been rocking it out this week. I also feel good that I'll be helping others that need warm/clean clothes. 

I'm loving... that I've lost INCHES and lbs. Not quite where I want to be, but hey, I'm not gaining so that's a great thing.

I'm loving... that my makeup trial is this weekend. I'm super excited, because I've never TRULY had my makeup done. The artist my mom hired is MEGA talented [worked on prezzzy G.DUB] so I know I'll be in good hands. I'm hoping we can combine the following looks [minusredlips] for a perfect weddingesque face.

[source]

[source]

[source]

 I'm loving... MY BOFF! xoxo and feel better!

*****************

Today I'm also guest posting on Jax's blog

while she's honeymooning in Rivera Maya. 

Lucky lady!

 Jax is such a sweetheart and I've loved watching her

plan her wedding. It's so fun seeing someone

go through what you're going through,

but ahead so you know what to expect.

I hope your wedding day was perfect girl!

GO read my do's and don'ts while wedding planning.

Flower Power Wedding Edition

Saturday morning I met with a florist for

a consultation for my wedding. 

I met with a consultant from BrookHill 

here in the NOVA area.

I'm an uber lucky girl because one of my

best friends from high school's mother

[did you follow that]

is the co-owner of BrookHill.

I knew when the day of wedding planning arrived

[eeeek it'ssss here aaaaaaaah]

Brookhill would be my florist.

And y'all, they do AMAZING WORK.

Do yourself a favor and check out their

photo galleries, straight gorgeous. 

My friends mother is the sweetest lady,

 but 100% honest when you ask her opinion. 

Unfortunately, she is slowing removing herself

from working at Brookhill, but she said 

she would help out for my wedding!

 

 I'm LOVING that I will KNOW

the people creating my wedding arrangements.

The mother was pretty much my second mom

during my junior and senior year of high school,

so she knows me and what I LOVE!

EEEEEK! I'm so excited. 

Ok, now that you have some back story,

on to the consultation.

We spent the first hour going over 

times, dates, colors

and looking at swatches, my wedding shoes

and talking about the overall feel for the wedding. 

 He really understood my vision and  
I'm LOVING all of his great suggestions.

After the logistics it was time to 

pick flowers for bouquets

I'll be 100% honest,

other than the colors for the bridesmaid bouquets

I REALLY had NO IDEA what I wanted.

[tell me you're surprised ;)]

I mean, obviously PINK and fun and happy,

but I walked in there without

ANY IDEA of what I wanted for MY bouquet.

I've gone back and forth recently,

with the color of my bouquet.

There was a time I want an

ALL WHITE BOUQUET.

Source: stylemepretty.com via Waukesha on Pinterest

Source: michellevandenbosch.com via Michelle on Pinterest

There's just something so romantic and magical

about an all white arrangement. 

But, I've also envisioned myself

[being the pink girl I am]

having my bouquet being a 

show stopping pink arrangement. 

Source: Uploaded by user via Laura on Pinterest

My favorite flower has always been 

the Star Gazing Lily

so I've thought about using that

as my main flower in my bouquet as well.

Source: 3.bp.blogspot.com via Hannah on Pinterest

I mentioned ALL of this to my florist
and then basically said
"What do you think?!?!?"

He suggested going the pink route,
since I'm a pink girl
and then showed me different pictures
of some of the soft pink bouquets.

I did realize that I want a bouquet
with a bit of texture instead of
just a big circle of one flower.

After lots of pictures and talking
we came up with an arrangement
using some beautiful flowers.

Of course NOW I'm LOVING

Soft pink roses

Source: hitched.co.uk via hitched.co.uk on Pinterest

Medium Pink Spray Roses

Source: thefrenchbouquettulsa.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

Blush Pink Areca Orchid Dendrobium

Source: fiftyflowers.com via Barbara on Pinterest

White Lisianthus

Source: flickr.com via Mrs. on Pinterest

I'm still not 100% sure WHAT my bouquet will look like,
but I envision something similar to THIS in color
[NOT PEONIES though]

Source: weddings.theknot.com via Heather on Pinterest

There will also be some pretty pink and clear bling [duh]

and I will have just a bit of a greenery collar. 

The bouequet will be wrapped in a beautiful ivory ribbon

and I'll have my KIA bracelet and a brooch

of my late grandmothers attached to the handle.

I'm LOVING all the flowers we picked and
CAN'T wait to see what they create.

I know it's going to be GORGEOUS.

Next we worked on the bridesmaid's bouquets.

I've mentioned before that our colors are

Pink and Green

with accents of orange.

With that in mind, we put together 

an arrangement of the following flowers:

 Mini Green Hydrangeas

Source: google.com via Erica on Pinterest

Orange Spray Roses

Source: Uploaded by user via Trig's Floral on Pinterest

Light Pink Titanic Roses

Source: wholeblossoms.com via Genevieve on Pinterest

Shocking Versillia Roses

Source: Uploaded by user via Sherry on Pinterest

Basically I envision their bouquets looking similar to this,

but without the orange orchids

Source: thefullbouquetblog.com via Pinky on Pinterest

Super fun and bright right?!?!

I'm LOVING how happy those colors look together.

Annnnnd they aren't SUPER pink

so C will be happy. 

I'm LOVING all of the ideas 

the florist and I came up with and how
fun the whole process was.

I'm LOVING the fact we're UNDER BUDGET

with extra things added in I didn't expect.

WOOOO to the HOOO!

Oh man, I can't WAIT to open those boxes

on my wedding day. 

I'm LOVING that I'm one step closer

to walking down the aisle

weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

 Linking up Jaime

and Michelle 

The Sun Shines BRIGHTEST after the Rain

And yesterday it did rain. 

Not in DC, but in my heart and my life. 

I felt pain and sadness and it hurt. 

I was upset and didn't want to talk to anyone. 

AT ALL!

I'm still grieving the loss of my great aunt

and also my grandmother [5 years later]. 

Yesterday I finally crumbled. 

It took all day, but it happened. 

We're talking CODE RED. 

I know everyone grieves their own way

and that sometimes grieving is delayed. 

I also know I could have talked to someone,

anyone, some of you even.
[and THANK YOU to those that reached out yesterday,
after my super late post. I appreciate the thoughts
MORE THAN YOU KNOW]

But that would have only made it worse.

I didn't need to hear the:

it gets better

she's in a better place

she'll always be with you

your birthday is special

you will be okay

blah blah blah.

THIS I KNOW!

THIS I UNDERSTAND!

BUT, I was still [and even now am] MAD!

And very very very sad. 

I couldn't get past the depressed feeling on my own,
so on my way to my hair appointment
[which I DID NOT WANT TO GO TO]
I called Babyspice and just bawled.

I felt so badly doing that to her though,
because having a loved one crying on the phone
is probably the hardest thing ever.

So, SORRY Babyspice, I just had to cry.

She listened, let me cry and understood.

Once the floodgates opened, the pressure was released
and I was able to enjoy the sunshine
and ACTUALLY SMILE
for the first time that day.

Am I back to normal, NO!

Am I feeling better and closer to myself, YES!

I expect to have my emotions up and down for a bit.

That's how I operate.

For now though, I'm choosing to be and happy to focus on
the wonderful life that was lived
and the milestone I'm about to reach
in my life.

TODAY, I'm LOVING...

...my new haircut. It's fresh, it's fun and it's fly.

Inspiration

...how much C likes my new DO

...my family. We fight a lot but in tough times we rally.

...the fact that my bday party is FRIDAY! WOOT

...the idea of BIRTHDAY cupcakes

Source: thehiddenlist.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

...that I bought my wedding dress last weekend.  

...the fact that my hair/makeup wedding appointments are booked.

...these easy and tasty chips.

Source: tablefortwoblog.com via Pinky on Pinterest

...my new Clarisonic and the fact SportySpice likes hers.

 ...the fact C bought me one for my birthday, but lost it in his apartment. YES, that's just funny and I LOVE the fact he remembered I mentioned wanting a Clarisonic once in passing conversation. He's a good one I tell ya.

 

What I Love to Pin

This week has been a tad busy,
so below are pins that I"m loving.

That way I can knock out two linkups in one!
WOOT to the WOOT!

These WILL be made sometime this month!

Source: recipebyphoto.com via Pinky on Pinterest

I WANT this print...the THREE SISSYS!

Source: oohlafroufrou.blogspot.com via Pinky on Pinterest

Perfect for birthday month

Source: thefancy.com via Pinky on Pinterest

 First MARRIED DIY project

Source: theideadoor.com via Pinky on Pinterest

For the Rehearsal dinner

Source: kojo-designs.com via Pinky on Pinterest

She's a THINKER, prego friends TAKE NOTE!

Source: 24.media.tumblr.com via Pinky on Pinterest

Perfect for winter to spring

Source: simplyme091909.blogspot.com via Pinky on Pinterest

 

WILW slash OHP

Time to link up for

Very interesting read, check it!

Source: ulookhaute.com via Pinky on Pinterest

love vintage, love it.

Source: nyheter24.se via Pinky on Pinterest

PINK PINK PINK

Source: etsy.com via Pinky on Pinterest

GIMME.THAT.BODY

Source: growingup-gettingfitter.tumblr.com via Pinky on Pinterest

Sleep and stretches....yes

Source: fitsugar.com via Pinky on Pinterest

Hopefully my contribution for EASTER

Source: recipebyphoto.com via Pinky on Pinterest

Smoooooooores

Source: thecakeblog.com via Pinky on Pinterest

PREEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAACH!

Source: Uploaded by user via Pinky on Pinterest

I mean, for the LOVE!!!

Source: takeanapnap.tumblr.com via Pinky on Pinterest

WILW and Hello Spring: Spring Cleaning

HAPPY FIRST DAY OF SPRING FRIENDS! 

WOOOOHOOO!!!!

I'm loving... that today is the first day of spring. Winter cold be gone, hellllo warm/bright sunshiney days and helllo THAT MUCH CLOSER TO MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR.....SUMMER!

Source: weheartit.com via ♥Vicki on Pinterest

I'm loving... how well my MOH/BM craft came out, and that the girls loved them! DIY post coming tomorrow!

I'm loving... THAT I FINALLY HAVE 200 FOLLOWERS!!! Thank you lovely lovely friends and followers, y'all really really really made my day! :)

I'm loving... that today is my SECOND wedding dress appointment! YAY FUN!

 I'm loving... this awesome meal I found on Pinterest. Get your tastebuds ready, I'll be posting the recipie next week.

Source: recipebyphoto.com via Pinky on Pinterest

I'm loving... the return of morning workouts. I rocked it out last week and have been rocking it this week. I am determined to make the Tough Mudder in April my....well you know ;)

Source: carbtripper.blogspot.com.au via Pinky on Pinterest

****************

The Spring link up topic for today is 

Spring Cleaning WOOHOO! 

Yeah, sikabooboo!
Who REALLY enjoys spring cleaning? 

I do enjoy the after effects of a clean home,

but man, spring cleaning really takes

it out of me sometimes. 

I don't really have any of my own tips or tricks to share.
I subscribe to the one room at a time during the week theory,
otherwise I burn out and create an even bigger mess.

Thank goodness for Pinterest, or this post would be
mega boring and uninformative! :)

Source: livingwellspendingless.com via Eric Delcroix on Pinterest

Some Quick Tips and Tricks

Source: blog.homes.com via Randi on Pinterest

Great Spring Cleaning Check List

Source: askannamoseley.com via Janice on Pinterest

Fun Spring Cleaning Play list

Source: songza.com via Paige on Pinterest

*********************