Ray Bans, got the whole world shaded

Advertising and Sales take on Nashville, one meeting at a time. This is one of the perks of working just 9 minutes from your BFF & her car not cooperating.

Five things

Since I didn't do a Wedding Wednesday post, I am going to combine with with my 5 favorites on Friday. So here are my 5 favorite bridesmaids! (I only have 5, in case you were concerned)

Bailey- Matron of Honor. She has been my best friend since I was 6 years old and we lived across the street from each other. There aren't many childhood memories I have that don't relate to her somehow- some are quite funny. Ask me almost anything about my life after age 6 and it probably includes her.  I don't know a time when I didn't know her which is exactly why shes my matron of honor. It was an honor to be a part of her special day and also to have her a part of mine. It is a precious thing to be able to have a friend through every stage of life so far. I can sit here and laugh at the absolutely hilarious conversations we have had about anything and everything, especially "our" movies. So thankful for the many years of laughter, tears, heartache, pain, and joy shared with this one.

 

Caroline- Maid of Honor. Best friend for 5 years and counting. There are many adjectives that I could use to describe her, practically every quality you look for in a best friend, but I think my favorite is her sincerity. She is the real deal, during the good and bad for either of us. No matter what we are talking about whether its post grad probs, friends, wedding, running, or work... She is constantly making me laugh. And, Yes, I use this picture for everything. 1. Because I love it & 2. That weekend was one of my favorites, ever.

 

Amy- Bridesmaid. Big Sister. Literally and in Greek Life. She was the first person I met in Chi Omega on the first night of recruitment. I fell in love with her, no joke. Anyone that knows her, understands why. She is the big sister that I never had. I could not imagine my college life without her. Like, I have tried, and it just doesn't work.

Kylah- Bridesmaid. Chi O sister. I met Kylah the first month of being a new member at the St. Jude's Children Hospital trip. It wasn't until the next semester that we became close. Let me tell you, she is honestly one of the greatest people I have ever known. She is one of those friends that you could literally sit and talk to for hours without ever realizing it. Her enthusiasm and excitement for the wedding has been such a blessing to me.

 

Andrea- Bridesmaid. Co-worker aka co-ruckus maker. I met Andrea the first week at Dillard's and a month later, we wondered how we had gone this long without ever knowing each other. The managers didn't know what to do with us. We would drive aimlessly around BG listening to Gun Powder and Lead like some angry, crazy white girls. I absolutely love the memories I have with this girl. And I seriously think this picture sums up our friendship perfectly. 

Little Notes

Every one loves snail mail. If you don't, you are totally lying. There is something about an unexpected note in the mail from a friend that just makes your day. Recently, Ashley Brooke Designs ran a sale on a few items. Lucky for me, wedding thank you cards were among the few. Now, not only are they absolutely precious, but their customer service is superior. They only had 4 of the newlywed ets in stock, when I had originally ordered 5 sets. A CS team member quickly emailed me to let me know about the issue and gave me the option of another set or crediting my account. How awesome!? I even got retweeted by @ABDesigns. Even more awesome.

The second picture was a surprise gift from my Maid of Honor! She got me the bridal sets and a new magazine! I can't wait to use them! :)

 

 

How true is that?! 

Wedding Wednesday

Well, I had a fun post typed up and I deleted it. I don't know how I manage to do this. My life is so funny. So, in short, I will just make a checklist of all the tomfoolery that has happened amidst the daily Etsy conversations, constant texts/Gchats to CPekarsk, and the million and one questions to my mother. 

Dress: final purchase made yesterday. I was so worried I would have to go by myself, but thankfully CPekarsk and mom came!!

Invitations: Final request for editing submitted, that should be ready for printing tomorrow!

Cake Topper: clearly an essential part of the planning. Not really, but ours is super cute. Thanks to CPekarsk again.

Bouquet: One day I will be able to spell that without a typo. Lady is making those now (at least she should be).

Groomsmen Attire: Picked out. All that is left is to order!! 

And there you have it. The slightly snarky ramblings of my wedding planning thus far. Only snarky because my first post deleted itself. I refuse to accept blame for that.

Things I Wish I'd Known...

Funny story: So, a few months ago I ran BamBam off a driveway of a house that we were looking at. It was just mom and I. We managed to get my car unstuck by her driving backwards, and I was literally lifting the car back onto the driveway. It was hilarious. And kind of scary because I thought I broke my car. Or my axel. I am no car expert. Like, I couldn't tell you the engine from the transmission, nor their responsibility in making a car function. So, the mere thought that I actually knew my axel could be broken was a miracle. We drove off, a little embarrassed and shook up. It rode fine. Until about three weeks after, it started making this horrendous noise when I would start it, apply the brake, or put it in reverse. I told my dad (because dads always "know a guy"). It wasn't until three days later he actually took me seriously that something awful was wrong with my sweet little roller-skate. We took it to the Nissan place, only because we "know a guy." I drove up, and they literally laughed at the noise it was making. I go inside, and meet our guy. I haven't seen him in a few years, so he inevitably said: I hear you are getting married!!! Sidebar- how awkward would it be if he were wrong? Anyways, the older man he was helping interjected himself into our conversation. You can already tell by the way I worded that statement that I was not happy about this moment. He (the random old guy) proceeded to throw statistics at me about college graduates and divorce rates, and how 54% of marriages end in divorce. Like, what was I supposed to do? I just stood there and smiled. When I got home, I literally cried for an hour. I was so upset. Why did this man have to throw so much negativity towards me when I was already distraught about my broken car! Dude, just say congrats.

Fast forward to this weekend: We had our first premarital counseling session last Friday. Let me tell you, I was so nervous. I didn't know what to expect. But, man, I am so glad we went! We had so much fun! However, it became very real that what that crazy man was rambling about is so true. And it is true for so many reasons. Our pastor gave us a book to read that I want to keep reading over and over. You don't really have to be engaged, or married... Even single girls could benefit from reading this as you prepare for "that season" of your life. It is called Things I Wish I'd Known Before We Got Married.

We are obviously reading it on our own, but it has brought about so many conversations already. We are learning more about each other this weekend than we have our entire relationship, and we love it! We are learning what we each expect, how to better talk with each other, how to better love each other. It's awesome! 

Mind Games

Back in January I made a goal to run a half marathon this year. My original goal was to run the Country Music Half Marathon the weekend of my 23rd birthday. Well, my hectic school/commute/work schedule just wasn't flexible enough for me to devote four days a week to 8 and 9 milers. I was able to get one or two in a week, and that just wasn't enough. Then I got hurt while running- this set me back a week. I was so upset. I felt like a failure because I did not follow through with my goal.

I say all that to preface this: On September 28th, I am running my first half marathon. I was randomly texting one of my friends that I have had the honor of knowing since the 7th grade, and we had discussed running several times before. But something led us to decide to do this together.  I started really training a little over a month ago.

Let me be honest, no one is a "runner." If they say that, it means they aren't pushing themselves hard enough. Running is by far the hardest thing you will ever do. No, I lied. Running is easy. It is overcoming the voice in your head telling you that you are about die if you go two steps further. That is the hardest thing you will ever do when it comes to running.  Running is not a physical sport. It is a mental sport.

I run on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday every week with my dad and one of his friends. So am I not only struggling to break my current long run pace, but I am trying to keep up with a 44 and 50-year-old who just had heart surgery 7 weeks ago. Talk about a blow to your ego- if you let it. But that is where I bring my point home... Running is a mental sport.

I don't try to beat them, or run better than them. That is where running turns into something else. I run to be better than I was the day before. I want my run to be better than my run before, not someone else's. Not being first does not meant you are last.

I run for every time I have said the word 'can't' or 'won't'. I run to be the best version of myself I can be. I run to become more than I was yesterday, to go farther than my mind thought my body could go.