I wanna run through the halls of my high school

Today I went to my high school. Talk about nostalgic. It was very surreal to realize just 6 summers ago I was spending all my time in two-a-days training for senior year of volleyball. In so many ways I wish I could go back to those days. And, in so many other ways, I'm glad I don't have to. I ran into my old principal and he laughed about what I was doing for my career. Not because it's funny, but because it took me so long to accept what I was born to do. As he said, "I think I saw you roaming in the halls and talking to people than I did in actual class. You'd be crazy to not know this is your calling."

Touché Coach, touché.

I was born to talk. I was born to help people. I have this strong desire in me to help anyone and every one I can.

Wedding Wednesday

Yesterday's post was about the stressful moments of wedding planning. Then after every stressful moment, there is a moment where your heart is so full of joy and excitement you can hardly contain yourself. Thanks to CPekarsk, I had that moment just a few minutes ago. I had a completely different blog post in mind for today, until I read the one she wrote yesterday as well. I could not have said it better myself. Check it out here.

Dresses are ordered-- Thank You Sweet Jesus. Mine comes in 2 weeks. Invitations are picked out. Bouquet/Boutonnieres/Corsages are purchased and awaiting shipment in late August. Shower and Bachelorette party are being taken care of by my MOH. Decorations still need to be assembled.

All I really need to do at this point is pick out the groomsmen attire. That should be interesting. I should have done this weeks ago. Lol


Deep breath... because in 108 days we are getting married :)

I get by with a little help of my friends

To preface my Wedding Wednesday that will come tomorrow, I thought I would share how important the stressful times of wedding planning are. You really don't know the stress of wedding planning until you are actually the bride to be. Every one told me that, and honestly, I didn't believe them. I thought no way, I have the best friends and family. ( Yes, I still believe that) No, it is not as easy as Pinterest makes it out to be. There are moments when you want to throw in the towel, give up, and just elope. You feel like no one cares, no one is excited, and people are just selfish. Trust me, you will feel this way one day. And no, you do not understand if you haven't been there. I haven't talked to a bride that didn't feel this exact way. Those times are few, but they are still there, and still make you feel awful. Well, the past three weeks have really been like that for me. I was so absolutely frustrated. Until yesterday. I had three different friends ask me what they could do to help me. Most of the time, its nothing that they can do. But its the simple gesture of offering, and the fact they are genuinely willing to take time out of whatever they have going on & help you. Saying it is one thing, but they actually were asking specific questions to help me. It totally negates all the feelings you were previously feeling. So, no matter how stressful wedding planning can be, just know that it all comes down to one thing: You and your fiance being married.

Manic Monday

This weekend was one of the best weekends I have had in a long time.I was talking to a friend, telling her how awesome my weekend was in the midst of a crazy Monday Morning. She asked me what I did. Well, to be honest. I didn't do anything. We had our first date night in forever on Friday. I did my weekend run, per usual. I went to the grocery store, per usual. And then... I literally spent a total of 16 hours by the pool Saturday and Sunday, reading a book and floating in the pool-- and then topped it off with playing cornhole and grilling out Sunday night.

 

 

She has such a hard life, doesn't she? While this weekend was fantastic- I didn't wear sunsreen. Ridiculous right? I am allergic to all but one type of sunscreen, and we were out of it. So I am paying for that now.  Here's to a fun filled week of work and wedding shenanigans!

Wedding: 113 days

Eeeek. 113 days?! Are you kidding me?! Where has this time gone?! Being engaged is fun, stressful, exciting, and weird all at the same time. It is fun and exciting because it's something different. It is stressful, because um hello, you are planning a wedding. It is weird because you, in my case, have never been engaged before, you have never planned a wedding, and you certainly haven't been married. Everyone gives you advice, wanted or not. Here are some of the things I have been told.

1. Don't do it.

2. You are too young.

3. You find out who your friends are

4. Don't stress, it will all work out.

5. Being married is totally worth it.

6. This is my favorite: When you start to feel overwhelmed- Spend time focusing on why you are getting married. In the end, that is what counts.

I have heard some other pretty funny tidbits that I might share later. It is funny, they say you find out who your friends are. I don't repeat that advice to dig at anyone, but to step back and appreciate the people you don't realize will become the biggest help you could imagine. My sweet, dear friend Rachel just got married last October (the day after our date), and I go to her almost weekly for help. It has been such a blessing to be able to text her and ask her silly questions about anything and everything! Patrick and I are going to have to do something special for her at the end of all this!

I am starting to really cherish this last few months of being a "fiance." Every Wednesday I am going to do a Wedding Wednesday blog. Hopefully, we will be able to look back and laugh at the stressful/hilarious/precious moments leading up to our big day!

Chic Peek

I am kind of obsessed with Lauren Conrad. And you better bet your hard earned dollar that I have some of her new bedding collection on our wedding registry! Sorry, Patrick. So, for those of you that haven't seen it yet- do yourself a favor & go check it out at one of my favorite places to buy stuff- Kohl's.

I know you'd be here today, if heaven wasn't so far away

Everyone has those songs that remind you of a specific moment in time. Whenever you hear it, it immediately takes you back to where you were at that moment. You know exactly what you were doing, who you were with, and sometimes even what you were wearing. I have a lot of those songs. Some songs I have to quickly change or avoid at all costs, simply because the memory attached to them. Some I love when I hear, because it brings back so many funny, happy memories. I could write a book with each chapter being a song title and its contents being the memories that I have associated with that song. Remind me to do that when I am older.

I will never forget two years ago today. I had spent all day driving around with Garic and listening to music, cleaning out his car, getting ready for the big visit, and trying to find a slushee in Bowling Green for 2 hours. We settled for slushes at Sonic. Later that night, we sat outside of the fraternity house talking about anything and everything. For some reason, there is really no telling with him, Katy Perry's "E.T" came up. I have never really loved or hated the song, but he loved it. He began telling me all the things the song meant. I was crying I was laughing so hard. His interpretation is hilarious, and that is a different story for a different day. I had no idea that night when Patrick and I left that it would be the last time I ever heard his laugh, or saw his smile. The next morning, what we thought we had been waiting for his entire visit, he was gone.

Last week was one of those weeks. You know, the ones where you literally think you are going crazy. The ones that just make it seem like nothing can go right. There are so many times I pick of my phone to call him, or text him. He has a therapeutic way of making you feel less crazy.  For those that know him, can agree. He would have laughed at me for getting so worked up in the first place, told me to get over it, and go on about my day. And as much as I would love for him to be standing up there with Patrick and I on October 12, I know he will be there in spirit.

I have had two years tomorrow to come to terms with the fact he is gone. Even now, that hurts to say. Some days are just really sad. Some days are really hard. And some days, like when I hear E.T., I can't help but smile and laugh because I know what Garic would say. He would look at me and say: Don't talk about it, be about it.