Earlier today, fellow blogger and friend Caite followed Marcy May's lead and wrote 10 (well, 8) little things about herself. She then turned the table on her readers, and asked them to do the same.
I took interest in this challenge because after college I kept a tiny blog called These Five Things. While I wasn't divulging five facts about myself, I was sharing five things in which I'd taken interest.
One day shy of exactly two years ago, I had taken an interest in Mr. and Mrs. O. More so, Mrs. O's style, but who hadn't from the moment she started wearing belts around cardigans and shopping at Target?
Back to the point - I'm going to play along with Caite, but today I'm aiming to write five wedding-related things about myself.
1. The first time I heard Pachelbel's Canon on the 5-disc changer in my aunt and uncle's Volvo, I knew I'd walk down the aisle to that song. I slaved away to learn it on the piano, which always put a smile on my mother's face, and it's probably the only song I can still play by heart. With that being said, there are no secrets come July 16th!
Admittedly, Adam and I thoroughly discussed using the acoustic intro to Sigur Ros' "ágætis byrjun" off their hvard-heim album. But that wasn't in the cards for our string trio.
2. After a service trip to the redwoods during college, I broke my habit of religiously wearing mascara. These days, my make-up regimen is minimal. I get by with under-eye concealer, blush and bronzer - and when I'm feeling sassy, a little clear mascara on the brows. All that to say, the thought of wedding make-up scares the crap out of me. It's the one time where, "more is more!"
3. When I was the flower girl in my cousin's wedding, I lost my two front teeth at the rehearsal dinner. The daughters of that bride will be handing out programs at my wedding! At the wedding of another cousin, I was snuck my first mimosa. Her red-headed cutie-patootie is my flower girl.
4. My wedding paradigm was shaped by the following cinematic moments: 1) The armadillo groom's cake in the "blush and bashful" wedding // Steel Magnolias; 2) A father in denial befriends the cooky wedding coordinator // Father of the Bride; 3) Julia Roberts' bridesmaid fitting with Cameron Diaz // My Best Friend's Wedding.
5. I have never been a bridesmaid. Imagine that - planning a wedding without ever having been in one!
Enough said!
BTB
This has nothing to do with weddings.
The south was unexpectedly hit by a series of tornadoes yesterday. Tuscaloosa, AL bore the brunt of the storm while pockets of severe weather continued to sweep through South-eastern Tennessee and Southern Virginia. Reports indicate that over 170 people were killed.
I pray that number does not rise throughout today.
This morning we are extremely thankful that our family and friends are safe after such an eerie day in Knoxville.
Adam's brother, sister-in-law and nephew who live in West Knox took cover in the bathroom during a hail storm that shattered windshields and house windows, while his parents withdrew to the basement as a funnel cloud was spotted in Morristown, TN.
We had several friends who lost power for the second time this week, and knew of others with significant damage to their homes due to fallen trees.
My roommate Meghan, Lily monster and I spent most of the night between our house and our neighbors' who have a basement. Meghan is from Alaska and was largely unfamiliar (and therefore super calm) with the storm scare.
However, I was reminded of the time my 12-year-old home alone self hid under the basement steps with our dog Windsor, the Brita water pitcher and my Bible after hearing that a tornado was coming up I-81.
Mind you, that particular interstate runs the entire length of Virginia.
Thankfully, I felt less alone yesterday.
Despite covering the developing storm from the newsroom, Adam kept in touch the entire day. I received funny little texts asking me to "keep an eye on things" and "be safe." But as conditions worsened, I understood more deeply Adam's concern and care.
At one point he even thanked me for taking cover.
My sweetheart.
Contained in this post are several photos Adam took yesterday courtesy of knoxnews.com. Below is my favorite scene which he captured from the top of the parking garage I use for work.
Y'all take care now!
BTB
Many of you have asked for an update on our wedding bands.
Here is the full scoop!
Earlier this month, Adam and I purchased our wedding bands.
Less than 30 days later, we returned both of them thanks to a glorious return policy at a large-scale jeweler where "he" infamously "went."
The reason behind this decision was that I was having a crisis concerning the prospect of wearing an additional ring, yet I was also caught up in the idea that "bigger is better."
Could that make any less sense?
Of course not.
Therefore, Adam returned my first band and we turned to East Tennessee Diamond - where he purchased my diamond and setting - to find a matching knife-edged band.
The hometown jeweler ordered two sample bands from the same designer as my ring, and we thankfully found a winner between the two.
On top of that, ETD offered a discount on the grooms' band since my diamond was purchased in-house. This not only suited my fancy, it sat well with Adam who preferred to buy the bands from the same (local) place.
What a practical man he is!
So, Adam went ahead and ordered my band on the spot. I returned his original one the next day, and ordered a new band from ETD which gave me the opportunity to have it engraved - something that slipped my mind the first time around.
When the bands came in (today!), the wrong one was accidentally shipped for me. This gave Adam the chance to have mine engraved - something that slipped his mind the first two times around.
We can't wait to share our inscriptions with you!
But until then, here's a picture of the lone wolf.
xoxo,
BTB
I'm a little skiddish as I write this for fear of giving something away. I almost blew it the first time I approached this topic.
On Friday, I had my first fitting since the wedding dress was altered.
And boy, did it fit like a glove!
It's amazing how they can do that. A little nip, a little tuck and voila! You no longer look like a saggy wedding cake.
Believe you me, I never doubted Michelle's ability as a seamstress. During my first appointment, she floored me with her working knowledge of my dress - the dress that I (secretly) thought was the most unique, most special, never-before-seen dress.
Michelle humbled me with the fact that she has altered my dress several times.
And praiza Lord for all those brides who have gone before me!
Michelle had learned that its fabric was actually longer than the underpinning of the dress so she knew what to expect during alternations; she had created both a traditional and french bustle on the gown and was able to demonstrate both options; she even assured me that my EXACT undergarments were a common choice among brides who chose this dress.
I mean, is she good? Or is she good?
In my opinion, she's up there with Cindy.
One lucky bride,
BTB
Having a professional photographer as a fiance is a dream.
He always has his camera(s). Your photos are never blurry. Plus, you end up with quite a stock pile of profile pictures.
(Can you imagine our children's profile pictures?! Pffft.)
However, what also ends up happening is that he barely shows up in any of them! I may as well be single according to half my photo albums.
That's why I'm super excited for our official engagement session this coming Sunday with Texture Photo (see Carrie, it totally works!).
It had been difficult to find a time that worked for all of us; professional photographers have tricky schedules - and we had two in the mix!
To remedy this, I used a helpful online scheduling system called Doodle.
After I selected several possible dates and times, a poll was created and we each voted on what worked best. Before I knew it, we were able to see our common availabilities.
While this may not be my favorite doodle, it is fantastic for efficiently scheduling an event between several people without a headache. It would be perfect for planning bridal showers or bachelorette parties.
Now if I could just find something to help plan my outfits for downtown scenes and dogwoods...
xoxo,
BTB
p.s. - again, thanks to my MOH Sara for shooing our save the date photos back in November!
As much as I loooove all things Google, I had not looked into securing my married email address.
I've doodled my new name all over things for months now (many, many months).
But I hadn't given much thought to my electronic signature.
Good thing I had a bridesmaid lookin out!
Lindsay emailed me yesterday to let me know that she checked the availability of my new name and went ahead and set up the account.
Coming soon to an inbox near you!
BTB
One of my best friends got engaged on Monday.
I had to keep it a secret for a whole 48 hours, and I don't think I have ever been so excited.
I take that back.
I was pretty much itching for my proposal.
Since being engaged, an entire piece of my heart has been beating to a slightly different tune. It's not as though my single friends are out of tune - rather, we've formed a new song.
But I'm overjoyed to have another gal pal join the chorus.
I can't wait to listen to her as she processes, prays and laughs her way through this.
My favorite line from William Shakespeare holds true: If music be the food of love, play on.
