Weekend Seven: First Bridal Shower

Friday after work, I met Adam and his parents at Maggiano's for a rehearsal dinner tasting.  They'd driven all night from Iowa and arrived earlier that day.  It was a fun way to catch up and eat great food! 

We got to try a ton of food, and my "eating like a bird" habits really paid off.  :-)  {I usually only eat a very small amount of most things, but snack several times a day.}  By the time we got to dessert, I had just enough room left, and it was delicious!

Saturday, July 16 I had my first wedding shower!  Adam's parents drove down pretty much just for the tasting and my bridal shower.  It meant a lot to have Norene there, and I'm so glad she got to meet so many friends in my wedding party and other people that are so dear to me.

{Norene, Me and Mom}

{The decorations were over the top!}

{Beautiful flowers and peacock feathers...totally a "Shay" thing!}

Fabulously delcious desserts made by Chef Sarah.  She even added pansies...just a subtle touch of the official Tri Delta flower.  :-)  It sounds sooo cheesy to type, but it was a sweet gesture that I didn't want to forget!

{Chef Sarah, beautiful inside and out}

{Mattie is off to college at OSU this year!}

{Hostesses: Donna, Elaine, Amy, Teresa, Susan, Tammy,

Kathy, Mom, me and Sarah} 

They made me feel incredibly special, loved and honored. 

It's a bit strange to walk in to a house and have it be "all about Shay!"  (Not that I minded, haha!)  

{Delicious food}

{Cousin and Bridesmaid, Anna}

{Gentry and her mom, Terri!}

{Lauren and Kristin were so sweet to come.  Kristin's getting married the weekend after us!}

{Baylor Girls}

{Maid of Honor dutifully takes notes of all the gifts...on her iPad!  Everyone thought she was just so hip, and then she just emailed me the list the next day.  Amazing.}

{Mom cooing over this sweet baby, Emma.}

{Opening gifts!  It took me an hour and a half to open everything.  Fifteen minutes into the shower, Ms. Teresa came and found me and informed me that I needed to sit down and start opening gifts.  I literally sat there unwrapping for the next hour and a half!}

{My wedding party rated all the bows and were always thrilled when we had a big bow to include in my dress rehearsal bouquet!}

Adam's parents gave us an entire set of new pots and pans because they know we enjoy cooking together!

Wedding Party Love!

{Lyndsy, Gentry, Me, Sarah, Anna, SMoo and Katelyn}

{All of our many, many gifts}

I seriously felt so loved.  Not so much because of the gifts, but the notes people wrote and their genuine excitement and well wishes for us.  I cannot wait to see them all again on our wedding day.  What fun that will be! 

Saturday afternoon, Norene and I went to the Wedding Suite at Nordstroms and found a Mother of the Groom dress.  She looks beautiful!  And I think she had a lot of fun trying on dresses they brought to her, along with shoes and jewelry to accessorize.  If only we could do that every time we shopped!! 

It's official: invitations are mailed!

{Feeling a little relieved, excited and disbelieving about getting these into the mail!}



Of all the things we're doing for the wedding, the invitations proved to be the most challenging, I do believe. 

I finally decided on invitations after visiting 3 or 4 times...I really can't remember.  Then we had to get the type and spacing "just right."  We went back and forth with the printer about 4 times as well.  But designing invitations and programs are something I really enjoy doing, so it was kind of frustrating to me that I couldn't just do it myself and get it right!  :-)  But we did, eventually get it juuuuuuuust right.

Aunt Laura and I addressed all the invitations, and she did waay more than half.  We couldn't have done this without her. 

When Mom picked everything up from the store, she noticed the inner envelope wasn't lined.  They told us we'd have to insert them ourselves (what a pain), and they would be delivered in a few days.  Well, we went on our merry little way, addressing inner and outer envelopes (Adam wanted to know why we needed two, and then changed his mind.  I'm glad, because I'm not sure I could provide an explanation for this strange phenomenon.)

Mom went back to pick up the liners, and it turns out they misspoke, and they had, in fact, shipped envelopes with liners already included.  So Laura and I re-wrote all the inner envelopes, just in time for a stuffing party.  {The people at the paper store felt awful, and gave us several discounts to make up for this mistake!}

These sweet girls came over, and they had all the envelopes stuffed, stamped, sealed an alphabetized within an hour.  Often times I don't like to ask for help because I don't want to bother people, but I asked anyways, and they came right on over.  I was so grateful!  And we had a fun time catching up over brownies and sangria.  :-)

{Claire, SMoo, Mom, Anna, Sarah

Lyndsy and Me}

Then I went out of town, and we were still gathering some addresses and whatnot. It's been almost three weeks since the stuffing party, and we have now triple-checked the invitations three times to make sure we've not missed someone. 

Last night after dinner with my parents, Adam and I dropped the invitations off at the post office.  It was rather monumental!

Dad thought I looked rather June Cleaver-ish.  {Adam agreed.}  Thanks.  And he also kept referring to us as "the kids," as in, "Where are the kids?" or "Where are the kids' plates?"  I found this quite humorous. 

Finally,  we headed to the post office....

Very focused on getting the invitations in the mailbox.

Here we go!

This was most definitely a team effort, and I'm so thankful for all the helping hands we had along the way! 

Only 45 days to go!!!

In the Country

We went up to Celina for a wedding back in May.  Adam was a groomsman, and it was out at a vineyard up there.  It took about an hour to get there, but once we did, it felt like we were in another country.  The sun was setting as we made our way from the rehearsal to the rehearsal dinner Friday night.  Adam got out of the car and took these for me.  I love the light in them.

{In the vineyards with Mr. Handsome}

Weekend Letters

Dear Royal Wedding, I enjoyed watching you on Friday night while doing my nails.  To see a common girl become royalty is pretty fascinating, and I really liked Kate's bouquet.  It did bug me, though, that they kept making references to Charles and Diana's wedding day.  Does anyone remember how that worked out??  Just sayin'.  Dear AMP, you came and found me on Saturday afternoon in the most interesting get-up, including black socks and sandals.  Thanks for going to great lengths to make me laugh.  

Dear Girls' Night Out, you were much welcomed.  I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't more than a little sad about not having girl roomies after September 24.  I mean, it's not like I can wear Adam's necklaces and heels.  I'm thankful there will be plenty of opportunities for Fireside Pies and movie nights, still.  We will have to find a way to swap wardrobes on a regular basis.  Maybe we can build an underground tunnel?  King's Speech, you are the best movie I've seen in a very long time.  I'd watch it again in a heartbeat.  (And that's saying something.)   Sunday, who knew that May 1 would bring weather cold enough to welcome chili and cornbread for dinner?  It was a great ending to the weekend.  AMP, so excited we've booked our honeymoon to Hawaii.  Can't wait for beaches and Jeep adventures on the island!

The Wedding Singer

Friday night I ended up going to my high school homecoming football game.  Chef Sarah invited me to come along, and although never in a million years did I think I would willingly return to campus (ha!), it was quite nice to catch up with old friends.  One of the things that I most enjoyed about high school was when Emily pulled three of us together to meet each week.  I stayed in touch with them in college, and we got to reconnect again Friday night.  

{Lee Ann, Chrisey and me at the football game}

There were about twelve of us from the class of 2005 at the game, and we all gravitated toward the Alumni tent.  Strange to think we've been gone five years!  It was great to see where everyone was and what they were doing.  Facebook has made it easy to "stalk" people, so I knew generally what they were up to, but it was really nice to see them in person.  

Saturday night I sang in a wedding for a friend-of-a-friend.  I'm glad I got to be a part of the wedding, and I also got to bring Adam along as my date.  Quite a treat, since not every invitation invites me and a date!

{Self Portrait!}

Instead of going and knowing practically everyone in the room at a wedding, I went knowing only about ten friends.  It was kind of nice to feel "anonymous!"  They opened up the dance floor after all the toasts, and there were about three couples, including us, on the dance floor.  I should've known this since we met two-stepping, but Adam is a dancing machine!  I haven't had that much fun in a long time.  We danced all night.  (Hence why my hair looks a little flat in all these pics.  But I know that's a sign of a good time!)

  I sang at Natalie's wedding in Austin earlier this summer.  We've been friends our whole lives, and it was great to see this Austin-ite.  

{Natalie, me and Gentry}

I sang at Gentry's wedding two years ago.  (Seems I just keep making the rounds!)  They just moved back to Dallas, and I'm so glad!  I knew Gentry from Natalie's birthday parties growing up, but we really became friends when we pledged Tri Delta at Baylor.  So much fun! 

And here I am with my most fabulous dance partner and date, who makes me laugh all.the.time.  Perhaps a new favorite photo.  (I seem to have a lot of those!) 

PS.  Happy 10.10.10! 

Crazy Nails and Other Random Things

I walked outside this morning for work and stopped dead in my tracks.  And shivered.  It was a cool 71 degrees when I got in my car this morning, and it was glorious.  I even rolled the windows down and turned on my heated seats.  (Seriously.)  The best part was that it was completely unexpected.  Just last week, I was wishing for Fall.

I haven't been running regularly since the two-mile relay a few weeks back because it has been SO unbearably hot.  (And I was still a little scared to run outside, since the last time I ran, Lyndsy scared me half to death.)  But I decided today that it would be a great day to lace up my running shoes, so that's exactly what I did.  Who knows how long this weather will last, but I'm grateful for it while it's here!

And I'm generally creeped out when people take pics of their feet, but I had to show you my blue toes. (And I figured people tend to read posts when they have photos in them.)  No, they are not blue from the cold.  Ha.  I actually chose that color from roomdog's ever expanding selection of nail polishes.  It's really loud for me, a typical pink/red girl, but she told me that color was "so in," and what's a girl to do but listen to her little fashionista roommate?!

{Blue toes and running shoes = first run of "Fall"}

And I was recently tagged in this strange/funny/fabulous picture on Facebook from Natalie's wedding last month.  

{There was A LOT of dancing that night.  And some crazy facial expressions, apparently.}

And in other news...Claire is back teaching at school, which means that we have a typical evening routine again.  I'm really enjoying it, because it means more chances at having dinner plans together in advance, and also I tend to go to bed earlier because she's already asleep, and it's not fun when you don't have someone to talk to!  

Her class this year seems to be much better than last, and I'm so glad for her.  It's amazing what having a year of teaching under your belt will do.  I am so impressed with how she has grown as an educator in just one year, just from things I've heard her say and different ways she's leading her class this year.  Way to go, Claire!  Those kids love you already, I'm certain.  (After all, who else rocks purple nail polish on the first day of school??)

In the style of Today's Letters

I'm writing in the style of Today's Letters this Monday morning.  Check it out--it's my new favorite blog.

Dear AMP, having you with me at the rehearsal and dinner this weekend in Austin was a de-light.  Truly.  Mrs. Czimskey, you make a beautiful bride.  I'm so thankful for our lifelong friendship, and that I could sing and stand beside you on your most special day.  What an honor.  Smoo, dinner and gelato with you last night was superb.  Your wisdom and insight so encourages me.  I'm so glad you're back in D-town.  I'm hoping your adventures in home ownership become less stresstful soon.  :-)  Dear three suitcases that are still packed from various trips: if I could pull a Mary Poppins move and snap my fingers and sing a song, that would be great.  It looks like something exploded in my room.  Mom, our slumber party and the ride back from Austin yesterday was quite fun.  Thanks for the girl time. Adam, here's to my last week of training before my first 5k.  I couldn't have come this far without you!

The Laughing Pic

Armed with my college roomies, I'm fairly convinced I could do almost anything.  We might even be rather intimidating when combined.  {Or so I've been told.}

Katie came in town from Nashville, and Smoo from Fayetteville (but she's moving here this week--woohoo!), and we all went to a wedding together on Friday night.  

{Front Porch Pic}

I had a blast getting ready with them before the wedding.  There's just something about getting ready with a bunch of girls that is so fun.  And just for the record, all three of us showered, dressed and were out the door in one hour and 20 minutes.  That's quite a feat for three girls simultaneously.  And we didn't even run out of hot water.  Victory.  Thankfully, Claire let us take over her double-sink bathroom while we got ready--thanks, Roomdog!

Before we moved in to 12th and Wood, I had Katie and Smoo out to the lake house.  I told them to bring a black shirt and jeans, and we would have a little photo shoot so we could have a few pics of us for our new a-p-t.  At some point, I said, "Let's take a laughing pic!"  They thought I was crazy. (And that was only the beginning of my madness, I'm certain.)  And then they began to laugh.  So now the "laughing pic" is a must-have when we're together.  

The reception was at the Downtown Sheraton, and the food was delicious and the dancing was fabulous.    I may have found my new favorite wine there as well.  Katie made sure to keep the water coming, though :-)

{Wednesday Lunch, plus one: Drew, Me, Brian, Samantha and Katie}  

Somehow (probably thanks to Katie) during finals of our junior year, we got involved in a prank war with the groom, Brian, and his 5 other roommates.  When we started it, we barely knew them.  By the time Christmas rolled around, we had all become good friends.  

In the spring when we got back, it ended up being the four of us pictured above eating at various Waco restaurants every Wednesday.  We had the best time, and it often turned from lunch to hanging out at our apartment for several hours afterwards.  Samantha (Sam) came into the picture in the late spring that year, and now we've added her to our lunch bunch as well.  

I think this could be a Baylor ad.  This is one of the best parts of campus--Pat Neff Hall and Judge Baylor.  And this is typical Katie-and-Brian craziness that always ensues when we're together.  And as usual, Drew and I are the normal ones.  :-)

Drew is in LA, I'm holding down the fort in Texas, Brian and Sam are in Seattle, and Katie is in Nashville now.  It's crazy to think how all-over-the-map we are now.  Good thing we have some great places to go visit!