Little signs...

We are getting closer and closer to the wedding day! There are little signs all over the place....

I called to make a post-wedding salon appointment the other day. When she asked my name, it dawned on me that my last name would be different by then. So, I booked the appointment with my new name!!

Then this past Sunday as I put my name tag on in Sunday School, I noticed there was something underneath the paper...

My new name was tucked in and ready to make its appearance soon!

Something Borrowed...

Something borrowed symbolizes borrowed happiness. By carrying something borrowed from a happily married friend, the thought is that her friend's martial bliss will carry over to new couple.  Something borrowed also symbolizes comfort and the assurance that the bride will have someone to lean on during hard times.

My Something Borrowed come from my Matron of Honor, Kasi. As stated in the definition above, the item borrowed should be from a "happily" married friend and she is very much that! And although Kasi is a realist and would probably tell you there is no such thing as "bliss", I see her marriage as a great example of what it should be like. Kasi and her husband, Jay are such a great couple. They have fun together, can be real with each other and have created a beautiful family. One of the things I learned early on about these two is that although they have busy lives which sometimes takes them in opposite directions, at the end of the day, they are happy to be at home with just them and the kids. They both have friends and obligations, but would choose each other as their "best" friend any day. Kasi also understands what it is like to know instantly that she had met the person she would marry. Her "courtship" with Jay was very similar to mine with Brad.

With all that being said, I am HONORED that Kasi has given me my something borrowed because she wore it on her wedding day. 

This necklace was given to her as a gift and she wore it the day she married her soul mate, Jay. It is gorgeous and goes with my "wedding day look" perfectly. Although I am not typically a pearls kind of girl, I love these and they match my Ivory wedding dress. The square setting of the diamonds go with my Princess cut engagement & wedding rings.

I couldn't have picked a better necklace and it means even more that it comes from Kasi. The second part of the definition above talks about the "assurance" that I will have someone to lean on during tough times. I know this to be true with Kasi and Jay.

Something New...

Something new offers optimism for the future. Wearing something new symbolizes the union a bride has with her husband and the new adventures they will experience as a married couple. 

My something new was given to me by my fabulous Matron of Honor Kasi and I am so excited to wear it in my hair during the wedding... but first a little background.

Very shortly after I asked Kasi to be in the wedding, her wheels started turning about what she would wear. She looked at me and said, "I have a question for you." I have long since learned that I will never know what is coming after Kasi say something like this. It is typically a moment of pure honesty or to ask my perception of something. Or it can be so random that we laugh loudly after she says it. So, I prepared myself and said, "Okay..." Kasi replied, "Will you let me wear feathers in my hair?"

Now I have to admit that the first picture to pop into my head was Sarah Jessica Parker...

 

But then I remember this was my friend Kasi... a very fashion forward, always adorably put-together person with fabulous taste. So, I immediately responded, "Of course!" She smiled with satisfaction and we went on about our evening. 

Once she showed me the headpiece she was considering, I fell in LOVE with it and decided I had to have something similar. (I won't post it here so I don't ruin her moment of wearing it.) After searching, we found one that I liked and as a gift to me and as my "Something New", she bought it for me. I am so excited to wear it in my hair.

Not only do I think it is the perfect finishing touch to my wedding day look but it has a quiet meaning. The flower is a Magnolia which is the state flower for Mississippi. This, of course, is where my Mom grew and they now live. 

Thank you Kasi for a gorgeous addition to the wedding day! I can't wait to wear it!

Something old...

Yesterday marked one month until the wedding! It is hard to believe- I am not sure where the time went. Oh wait... I know- the holidays, work and planning a wedding.- WHEW! So, with the final countdown beginning, I thought I would do a series of blogs based on one of the oldest wedding traditions and share my "Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue".

First, I wanted to find out a little more about where this tradition came from and its meaning. It is based on an Old English rhyme: "Something Olde, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue, A Sixpence in your Shoe".  For this specific blog we will look at my "Something Old".

Something old represents continuity and the caring and loyalty from friends and family from the bride's past. This item carries with it the love and warmth of many generations.

This James Avery charm bracelet belonged to my Grandmother who passed away last year. I love wearing it because it makes me feel closer to her so it will make me happy to wear it during the wedding since she can't be there. Not only do I love it because it belonged to her, but the charms on it are very symbolic of things that make me think of her.

She LOVED cats and had many of them throughout her lifetime. They loved her too and were drawn to her. Her gentle spirit was comforting to them and they knew she would take time to pet them, brush their coats, scratch in all the right places and play. She always made them toys from household items and made sure they had plenty of attention. Our cats would always go into a state of depression after her visits because we just didn't love them the way she did!

The cross almost speaks for itself. There was no doubt my Grandmother was a Woman of God. She relied on God constantly and trusted Him to take care of her and her loved ones. She studied the Bible and prayed faithfully. There was a quiet peace about my Grandmother and it came from her faith. She was never pushy or overly outspoken about it and yet somehow, there was no doubt she was a Christian.

The hummingbird represents her love of birds. She spent hours watching birds and researching them. A popular gift for her was anything bird related. I have a few of the stained glass birds that she hung in her home and in the assisted living room during her final days. She could recognize most birds by sight or their sounds. Could tell you their habits and where they usually live regionally. She had many bird feeders just outside her windows so that she (and her cats) could enjoy them. I now have a few of them and I am looking forward to setting them up in Brad's backyard so that we can enjoy them as much as she did. 

The final charm is a new addition...

This was given to me this past Christmas by Brad's parents. I mentioned I wanted it to symbolize my new last name so it is fitting that it be worn during the wedding. It can also stand for my new husband Brad and guess what...? My Grandmother's name was Bernadine... funny how that worked out. 

Coming soon... my "Something New"!

Wedding events begin!

This past weekend was packed full of family, pre-wedding celebrations and fun. Friday night my parents drove in from Mississippi. After Brad and I had dinner with them, my Mom and I took off for some shopping. Somehow, shopping for Mother of the Bride dresses can be harder than dresses for the Bride!!

The next day, Brad's family (parents and brother) drove in. My Dad was whisked away for a "Boys' Day". They were going to shoot stuff at the range, eat BBQ and then bowling with a group of Brad's friends. Meanwhile me, Brad's Mom Dorothy and my Mom went off for a Girls' Day...aka a shower at a day spa!

My shower was hosted by my Matron of Honor and very close friend, Kasi. From the minute I asked her to be in the wedding, her mind started working overtime on a shower. She worked SO hard on the whole thing and I couldn't have been more pleased. Since Brad and I had done a registry for our honeymoon instead of household items, it was decided it would be a Honeymoon Shower to help contribute towards our big trip! With that, Kasi went with a travel theme and carried it all the way through!!

The shower was held at a day spa called Embellish and this place was alllll about being girly. With pink wallpaper, a huge chandelier, pedicure chairs that reclined and big screen TVs playing nothing but "chick flicks" it was estrogen heaven. I got a pedicure that included a pomegranate foot soak and a vanilla cupcake scented paraffin treatment and it was DIVINE!!! My Mom opted for a facial and when I saw her come out, she looked beyond relaxed and she said it was amazing. We were given heated shoulder pads that smelled like cloves and an endless supply of Mimosas to drink. These are the times it is wonderful to be a girl! Who needed guns, BBQ and bowling!?! 

Me and my co-worker Stephanie enjoying our pedicures.

Fun, girly place... L to R: Shaunna, Laurie & Tolva.

Mary at the Manicure Bar.

Dorothy and I.

Kitt and I.

We had a designated area in the spa that was for us. Kasi had gone out of her way to provide amazing food and goodies and they were all within the theme! She had food representing different places we are going on our honeymoon. All the decorations had an international touch and all of the candy had labels made from luggage tags!! SOOO CUTE!!!

The banner read "Complimenti!" which is Italian for Congratulations!

Friends left Brad and I advice and well wishes.

YUMMY cupcakes and a candy buffet. Notice all the labels are luggage tags!

Quite the spread of French and Italian goodies!

(One side note about the food... the Italian selections came from Mandola's. That is a restaurant dear to me and Brad... we went there the night we got engaged!)

Me, Mary & Laurie enjoying some of the cupcakes!

I was joined by friends from high school. church and work. Kasi's mom and sister joined us too. It was a great day and I thoroughly enjoyed it all! I can't thank Kasi enough for all of the hard work she did for my special day. And I thank her in advance for everything she is doing for "the big day"!

Kasi- The Hostess Extraordinaire!

Dorothy, me and my Mom.

After the shower ended, Dorothy and my Mom hit the mall in hopes of finding Mother outfits for the wedding. With no success and exhaustion setting in, we headed home for a quick rest. Once the boys were done with their day, we met and went to dinner at Monument Cafe in Georgetown. This was the first time our families had met. We enjoyed a lot of laughs over dinner and enjoyed each others company. Brad and I both feel very lucky with our families and that we don't foresee any "in-law drama".

L to R: My Dad & Mom, me, Brad's Brother Doug, Brad and Brad's Mom & Dad.

On Sunday, my parents joined us for Sunday School. We are currently attending a 7 month long class called the "Nearly & Newly Wed Class". We couldn't have planned that Sunday's topic, if we had tried... "Dealing with the In-Laws"! HA!! My parents were great sports and we enjoyed the class. 

After the church service, we took my parents to The Winfield to see where the wedding will be. Then we enjoyed a nice lunch in San Marcos before saying our goodbyes. My parents began their long trip home. 

It was a great weekend!! As soon as I have some pictures from Brad's Boys' Day, I will share those as well. For now, we begin the final countdown for the wedding... one month to go!!!

Tim & Martha...Part II

So, after seeing the fruits of our labor with Brad's half bathroom and liking what we saw... we decided we would tackle the two other bathrooms in his house. All last weekend. Yes, we are crazy... and judging by how exhausted and sore we both were on Monday, we really were nuts. 

However, other than flooring, we got them done and the end result is great! So, behold... before and after pictures...

Master Bath- Before

Master Bath - After

Two new colors of paint... a very light gray and a charcoal accent wall. The cabinet was painted black. There is also a new faucet, light fixtures, towel racks and decor.

Brad even made me a wooden box to use as a step into his garden bath tub... it was a little high for my short legs!

Flooring will be the next phase (probably post-honeymoon.)

I love this frame.

Guest Bath - Before

Guest Bathroom - After

Two new paint colors... a pretty taupe and pumpkin orange. New faucet, light fixture, towel racks and decor.

This will probably do it until after the honeymoon but we already have a growing list... flooring for these bathrooms and living room, painting the living room and kitchen and some projects in the backyard. Lots to do!