Right Hand Ring

This guy is stuck with me. Forever and Ever. I love him more than I ever thought possible. I just don't think there is another soul on this big wide planet Earth who understands me the way he does. So he's got no choice in the matter--He's stuck.



...but I'm pretty sure he likes it that way.

And in other news, I thought I'd share a lil gem I acquired a few weeks ago. I'm not going to post all my wedding day accessories--I want at least a few surprises!! This one is just too good not to share though! A jewelry store here in town was going out of business, so we (my mom and I--partners in crime!!) got this at a steal. A white gold Aquamarine/Diamond ring for my right hand:


And that amazing man I mentioned above? His reaction was, "Why do you need a ring for the other hand?? You are already getting TWO new rings!!" Pooey! I didn't realize my fiance had been taking lessons from my DAD!!

Making My Veil

I have narrowed down my wedding dress to a few choices (the final one will remain top secret!!--but I will post pics when I try on the runner-ups) and I think I know which one will be MY dress. However, I had been at a loss as to what to do for a veil. The dresses I like are pretty expensive and I just don't want to spend that much more on my veil. I know for sure I want a cathedral-length veil, but unless I go for a used veil or the David's Bridal route, they can get pretty pricey. I'm just not willing to add 3-digit $$$ to an already 4-digit $$$$ dress. It's just too much! And then I had the best idea--I will make my own! Or my mom will anyway...

As I mentioned before, my mom made her own wedding dress. She also made her veil! She's a master seamstress and years ago she actually used to help a good friend of hers who owned a custom wedding dress business. Why didn't I think of this before???


Her veil was a lovely finger-tip length trimmed in lace. Not exactly what I'm aiming for but I showed her what I want and she said it would be really easy. Now I am very excited for my custom veil! I think I might draw inspiration from this GAWGEOUS veil Cheree Berry had made for herself:



I love the POUF!! I absolutely still want a cathedral length though, but her veil is stunning! Her whole wedding was amazing; I've seen it on just about every wedding blog, like Style Me Pretty and it was featured on Martha Stewart Weddings. Very inspiring!

oh me

I am having a girl moment. A super emotional i-don't-know-why-i'm-crying moment. I was on the 'Bee earlier and read many moving/inspiring posts as always happens there. Today the real, down-to-earth awesomeness of the 'Bee just happened to collide with my hormones. Seriously, broken engagements, losing loved ones before your wedding and the like. I did see a great idea where a bride embroidered a love note into a pocket square for her groom. Check it out here. Clearly, I *have* to do this! So I started thinking of possible quotes that would be meaningful to my Lovebug. I found the perfect one, and CRIED and CRIED as I read it to myself. Gah! Such a girl! I'm gonna be one hot mess next April. I keep telling myself that I can't cry because my eyes will be all puffy and NOT cute---but I know me, I'm a cryer. I blame my Mom. What's worse, is that together Mom and I are a blubbering mess. I'm going to work on this ASAP.

Besides crying at a love poem, I also have tossed everything hanging in my closet on the floor in an attempt to find something to wear tonight. My legs are so sore from running this week and that awful 2nd job...so no short dresses. But my jeans were hot, and my tops seemed not to look quite right and BLAH BLAH BLAH. More GIRL!

It was just a moment. I found a sassy long dress that looks great, and I pulled it together. Now I can go out and have a great time tonight. However, my silly girly indulgence just reminded me how much I miss my best gals. My dearest friends, with 2 exceptions, no longer live close. They are in Florida, South Carolina, and DC---far away. Too far for them to run over and have a much needed glass of wine with me. My schedule has prevented me from seeing the two good friends that are in town. What little spare time I have is usually spent with Boyfriend. It's frustrating! Sometimes a gal just needs to cry or giggle or gossip and only her *best* friends get it.

The Dress Diet

My wedding is 10 months away (so exciting!!!), and since every woman wants to look her absolute best on her big day --- it is best to start early! I wrote about a month ago about these nagging 10lbs hanging around my backside. Well, they are still there! Give or take 1 or 2 lonesome pounds, on a given day, I am still about 10 over my goal weight. So I plan so post periodically about "The Dress Diet" -- I hope to check in with my progress and what is (present tense verbs!!! time to get going!) motivating me and how I am making my rump its itty-bitty-bikini best.

Here goes!

1. WATER. I have said it before and I say it over and over to anyone who asks how I stay in shape or how I try to lose/maintain weight. Most people I know (my former self included) do not drink enough WATER. Every function in the body works better when you are properly hydrated. From the bowels to the brain, your body craves water. Often when we think we are hungry, we just need water.(Ummm, not soda, not tea, not coffee, not juice, not flavored water, JUST PLAIN OLD WATER--throw in a lemon or two if ya want!). I first made myself attack my lack of water-drinking habit about a year ago...and I had to approach it like a chore. I used a measured 32oz water bottle and forced myself to drink 3 a day. Can I just say I used to have awful skin problems and I don't any longer? I firmly believe that water is the cornerstone to glowing, clear skin. Anyway, just drink lots of water! There isn't as much room for all those yummy, tempting snacks either...

2. SUPERFOODS. I do my best to incorporate these powerhouses into my diet daily. My motivation is not only for my dress, but to be the healthiest I can be from the inside out.

Apples
Avocado
Beans
Blueberries
Broccoli
Cinnamon
Dark Chocolate*
Dried SuperFruits
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Garlic
Honey
Kiwi
Low Fat Yogurt
Oats
Onions
Oranges
Pomegranates
Pumpkin
Spinach
Tea
Tomatoes
Turkey
Walnuts
Wild Salmon **

*I eat 85% cacao. I believe it is recommended that chocolate be 80% or higher for it to be truly beneficial. It naturally lowers blood pressure! I eat a little square in the morning to get my brain going.

**ok, I hate, loathe, despise all fish, so I don't do the wild salmon. But the Omega 3 fatty acids are essential so I instead add ground flax seed to smoothies, cereal, over fruit and in salads. But I honestly wish I did eat fish, it is soooo good for us.

Check out .www.superfoodsrx.com to find out more about why these particular foods are so good for us.

So here's to the Dress Diet! and the post-Dress lifestyle!!

COLOR!

My Wedding Color Scheme:

Aqua-Fuchsia-Pink-White with Silver


I worried--for about 2 minutes--about my colors. I was concerned that the Aqua/Pink Combo was too overdone. I quickly realized that I don't care if the colors I chose are common and were trendier a year or two ago (yellow is 2009, ya know)...they are still colors that I love and that represent ME well. When I had thought we would have local wedding I wanted Carolina Blue (Clearly!), Navy, Plum and Grey. But after relocating our shindig to the tropics, I didn't think those colors were as appropriate. However, I still wanted light blue. I knew that in the sun, sand and by the ocean, no color would be as perfect as Aqua! My other small hang-up with my proposed color scheme was that Boyfriend would not agree to pink. Amazingly, he said he would be happy with whatever made me happy and didn't care at all if I wanted pink. As a Tarheel, he loves light blue too. In ye olden days Carolina Blue was much more of an Aqua blue. My grandmother even refused to ever tolerate the modern baby blue we wear as "Carolina Blue." So all afterthoughts aside, I have my COLORS!

And I already covet this:

The David Yurman Blue Topaz/Diamond Noblesse Necklace


So now can anyone find me kitten-heel bright pink shoes???

FOURTH of JULY!

The 4th is one of my favorite holidays! It's smack in the middle of sticky summertime, which I looove, and usually involves vacation time and pure relaxation. To me, the 4th is all about family, BBQ, the beach and lots of sun and fun.

Only not this year. Boyfriend and I both worked, and it wasn't the wonderful celebration of our proud country's birth that we are used to. We did sneak in a few beers yesterday and made a pact that henceforth all Fourth of July holidays will be better than this one! It won't be hard to beat, and years from now I know we will laugh at what a joke of a "holiday" the 2009 Independence Day was.

My puppy boys did get to have some fun, however, and at the end of the day they were both tired and happy:

Happeeee Doggieee!

Happeee? Look closer...

I iz sleepin under ur tummies.



***Since the 4th fell on a Saturday this year, I'm sure some lucky couples tied the knot yesterday, and I hope they had fireworks!! I also secretly hope some cutie wore this show-stopper:



oh the hotness...