Our Proposal...

On this day of love, I thought I would share our proposal story... my side of it at least....
 

 
All I wanted was a letter...

Parker spoiled me our first year dating. He has a way with words and wrote the sweetest letters and love notes a girl could ever ask for! I was smitten. Then... the letters stopped for a few years...

Each birthday, anniversary, and holiday he would shower me with gifts (who's complaining?!) but alas... I still wouldn't receive my letter. I would beg him to forget the gifts and just write me something, anything! Well, the night of December 29th 2011 I got everything I asked for and more.

Parker was away for Christmas with his family and I was home in our apartment waiting anxiously for him to come back. We always spent Christmas apart, but it was still a long 10 days that we couldn't see eachother. We spoke often over the phone and he had been extra "lovey-dovey" the few days leading up to his proposal, but I thought nothing of it. I knew FOR SURE we would not be getting engaged any time soon. FOR SURE, I tell you.

Thursday night came. It was a night that would change my life and I had no idea it was coming. I was too busy complaining, whining, and being a brat because Parker wanted me to dress up. He was taking me out for a Christmas surprise. "Can't I just wear jeans?!?!??" I asked him repeatedly. 

With the patience of a saint, he assured me over and over "yes, you can wear jeans... but I prefer you wear a dress." I thought we were going to a show... he isn't very good at surprises... or so I thought.

A knock came at the door. It was him, finally! When I opened the door his smile was HUGE! "He must be happy I decided to wear a dress," I thought to myself. He told me I would have to wait a little bit longer to get my surprise and he asked if I wanted to open up some of the gifts his family got me.

Of course I did! The first was an envelope with a gift certificate from his mother. It was exactly what I wanted (thank you again, Wendes)! Next, was a big box with an envelope inside. Inside the box were some glass bowls from IKEA that were overlooked because all I could see was that the envelope had Parker's handwriting on the front.

MY LETTER!!!

(I was already crying)

My letter consisted of 4 different index cards filled with honest words of love and tenderness, most of which is too intimate to share with you all. What I will tell you, is that by card 3 I could feel the energy in the room shift. I knew something was happening. Tears will filling my eyes faster than I could read.

Card 4:

"I just want you to know that regardless of whether it is hurried or written, I will wholeheartedly love you for the rest of my life. Be my Partner, My Lover, My Wife. Please accept this ring and marry me. Love - now and always, Parker"

I looked up to see him on one knee, my canary diamond in his hand, asking me to be his wife. 

I have never been as happy as I was in that moment.

I hope to feel that way many more time in our lives together.

xoxo

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Will you be my bridesmaid???

Thank God for Pinterest.

I must say I am a lucky, lucky gal to be getting married in the post-Pinterest world. Other people and their creativity amaze me. They also make me jealous.

I have officially been engaged for over a year and I can FINALLY say that I am getting married this year!!!! WOOOOOHOOOOOO!!

I saw these on Pinterest about a year ago and I knew I wanted to put my own twist on these adorable boxes!

Here is my take:

 3 of my 4 bridesmaids live back east and I don't get to see them that often, so I wanted to make sure I had these done for Christmas! They all knew they were in my wedding, but I hadn't "officially" asked them yet.

 

[Outside]:

I bought the boxes at Michaels (super cheap - like $5 each) over the summer and painted each of them with a flower and my bridesmaids' initials. My base wedding color is navy and my accent colors are orange, yellow, and coral! I think it'll be perfect for my September 20th wedding.

[Inside]:

First, I used my handy-dandy glue gun to line the top and bottom of the boxes with 2 different fabric squares. Inside each box were the following:

Nail Polish - OPI Mimosas for the Mr. and Mrs. (what I will be wearing on the big day)

Orbit gum - for fresh breath

Bracelet - matching bracelets from Francesca's

Dress - example picture; the girls are all picking the style that will look best on them

Personal nick-knack - Each item reflects my main ladies' personalities! Tina: Owl air fresheners for her new car, Kathleen: key cap! She will be getting her license soon and will be sporting a new ring of keys at all times, Shayla: eat, drink, and be merry wine opener, Romanda: mustache iPhone cover!

Wedding Cards - I stole the titles right from my inspiration and tweaked each card to make it fit for my maids! The text on each card is below.

 

The Big Day:

Parker and I are getting married!!

We will be tying the knot at {blablablabla - address disclosed}.

Our wedding ceremony will take place on

Friday, September 20, 2013.

More details about the day to come…

for now, just remember this date!

xoxo

The Dresses:

Each of you are uniquely beautiful and my main requirement for attire is that you feel comfortable and gorgeous. Who is better to pick out your dress, than you?!

I have made it easy for you because I have already picked the color, length and fabric:

Navy, short, & silk chiffon from JCrew.!

You can go online to their wedding website and pick whichever one suits you best.

 

The Girls:

Kristina, my amazing younger sister, who makes me laugh more than anyone in the world! {Maid of honor}

Kathleen, my youngest sister, who is growing into a beautiful young woman right in front of my eyes! {Maid of honor}.

Shayla, my oldest, dearest, and bestest friend who I share so many of my favorite memories with! {Bridesmaid}

Romanda, my soon-to-be sister in law, who I look up to in so many ways as a smart, independent woman! {Bridesmaid}

I love all of you so much and I cannot wait to celebrate this day with you!

Your Role:

I know weddings can wind up being a lot of work for bridesmaids. I don’t want that to be the case. Do not worry about bridal showers, bachelorette parties, gifts, etc. I truly only have one wish… that you are present on this very special day in my life.

I want you to…

enjoy this day with close family and friends.

look and feel beautiful.

wipe away all my happy tears.

understand how much your presence is appreciated.

What I am trying to say is…

Will you be in my wedding?!

Lots more decisions were made for the wedding including our menu: 4 courses, all delicious and New England/Fall themed! The honeymoon destination is also decided - now we just have to hammer out travel details and payments! Should I call a travel agent or just book online?!? I have never used a travel agent before... but I also don't travel that often! More details with wedding planning to come!

Happy 2013!!

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This is where my brain is...

 

Ever heard of it?!?

Ha!

With a wedding coming in T-minus 339 days my mind is already past the ceremony and onto married life. Parks and I have been together for 5 years already and have lived together for 4. While we haven't been officially married, we've experienced all the fun of living together, traveling together, fighting and making up with one another, so on and so forth. Mostly everyone keeps telling me that when you actually get married it is different... not necessarily good or bad different... just different. I don't buy it, but check back with me in 400 days and we'll see what I say.

That being said, the Parkster and I have had baby fever lately. Yes, him too! We cannot wait to start our little (or big) family and the more I hear of friends' pregnancies and see pictures of my friends' adorable little munchkins the crazier I get about BABIES!!

This baby-fever has led to an over-abundance of pins on my Maybe Baby? Pinterest board. Nurseries, announcements, newborn photos, oh my!

 

 Have I scared you yet? Oddly enough, all the pregnancy photos have also led to an awful lot of food pins... am I getting cravings already?!?

That is all.

As you can see my brain is NOT with school today.

Babies and food. Just babies and food.

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Just Droppin' In!

Ahhhh! 

I have been gone for SO long... 

Doing things like this:

 {Friend's Bachelorette Party}

I'll stop the pictures there.... you get the idea.... 

You can tell by the picture quality what kinda *classy* joint we were in ;)

and doing this:

 

 

 Apparently these are the faces I make when trying on a gazillion wedding dresses.... 

I did find my dress though!!!! Tears were shed by all :)

 (and none of those crazy faces were made when I found THE dress)

Little sister joining in on the fun :)

and then I decided on these:

{Photography - Lightshed}

{Bridesmaid Dresses -J.Crew Bridal}

my best ladies could not BE any more different so they will all be picking the style that looks best on them :) - it just has to be short, navy, and silk chiffon.

and going to a friends wedding, like this:

{The future hubs & I - Congrats Laura & John!}

I just wanted to drop in and show you what I've been up to!

I start school the DAY after I get back from my vacation - yikes - but I am excited to get back to business! Before I go I have 2 things to share:

(1)

This is the LAST day to enter our *SWEET* giveaway:

(2)

The Fab-u-lous Kelley Dolling is having a FLASH $1 sale on her back to school items so go check 'em out!

Be back soon!!

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