Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Catering to the Men

I have this audacious idea that C and his groomsmen should enjoy this wedding experience as much as possible. I'm getting to have the time of my life planning this thing, so I think they should have a little fun, too. So, in an effort to please my man and his 'men, We're going a little non-traditional with their attire.

First, our guys will all be in navy suits, rather than tuxedos. We did this for a couple of reasons. First, we like the look better. With my girls in navy and white dresses, it just makes more sense to put the boys in navy suits. Second, it's more cost-effective. We'll be keeping an ear to the ground for suit sales and two-for-one deals in and around Knoxville for the guys to purchase their suits. They'll be able to buy (and thus keep forever) for around the same price it will be to rent. Plus, here in Knoxville we're close to a veritable mecca of outlet shopping, Pigeon Forge! I'm sure we'll be able to find some great deals. Third, they'd just rather wear suits than tuxes. Go figure. Here's a gorgeous suit from Jos. A. Bank:






















Next, rather than having traditional flower boutonnieres, our guys will all be sporting embroidered silk handkerchiefs. We'll get white silk handkerchiefs and embroider them with sage thread. They'll look something like this from eBay seller PTS Formal Accessories, but with a more modern font.



































The final non-traditional thing we're doing for the men? It has to do with their shoes. Here's the inspiration shot for our shoe choice, shot by our phenomenal photographer Mark Boxley. (This picture is actually a big part of the reason we wanted to hire Mark! More on him later!)
















You should know this about C: He hates to wear "real" shoes. The first year he was in college, C wore his Chaco flip-flops ALL WINTER LONG! (Needless to say, his feet were a little nasty by the end of the season!) He lives in sandals or flip-flops unless it is absolutely necessary to wear close-toed shoes (that means either I've threatened his life if he doesn't, or his toes are in real danger in the flops!) So, C and his men will be wearing some form of Chaco sandal. He hasn't decided which model yet, but they'll be navy, and they'll be Chaco.

Are you making any special plans to make sure your groom and his groomsmen are comfortable? Is any part of their (0r your 'maids') attire non-traditional? Do share!

-Amoré

A "not-so-special day"

Now I don't expect to have a "platinum wedding" and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on my special day. No, I will be very aware of my budget, but the one thing I do expect my wedding to be is special. I want to plan and dream and celebrate that day because I only plan on getting married once. I can think of few things that deserve to be celebrated as much as finding the person you want to spend the rest of your life with--cause for a celebration in my book!

That's why I was horrified last summer when I attended the wedding of my then boyfriend's (who from here on out be referred to as "bad life choice) best friend in Maryland. I was visiting and the day before his friend joined us for lunch and declared that he was getting married the next day. . . Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. The bride and groom had planned on getting married for some time and had simply decided to finally set the date less than 24 hours before the wedding was to be held. The next morning we woke up early, drove to the town center where the wedding would be held, and joined the few family members gathered.

The ceremony was performed by the clerk of the circuit court (my father holds the same elected office in my county) and the town square was actually very nice. At the last minute the bride realized she had not made arrangements for anyone to take pictures so I was quickly voted the official wedding photographer (having only met her the day before). I'll be honest and admit that my pictures from the day aren't exactly noteworthy.

Following the ceremony the guests went to a local hang out that is a bar, restaurant, and liquor store all in one to celebrate. The only problem was that the hang out didn't open til noon and we were stuck standing outside waiting for the place to open for nearly an hour. After which, happy hour began for "bad life choice" and the others gathered to celebrate.

After eating lunch together one of the bride's friends decided that they were lacking a wedding cake so she went to the local grocery story to pick one up. When the friend returned she insisted that the cake needed congratulations written on it. This became a problem once she realized that the cake was still frozen and there was no icing to decorate it with. Her solution to the problem: write on it with a Sharpie. Now, I learned in the first grade not to eat markers so this cake was tough to stomach.

Needless to say the day didn't feel special or out of the ordinary. I am in no way declaring that one must have a fabulous wedding that costs a lot of money. My grandparents were married nearly 60 years and had a nice courthouse wedding where my grandmother wore a dress suit instead of an extravagant wedding dress. Their marriage is one that I want to mold mine after someday, but I know that their day was special.

So, whether or not I have a designer gown or reception at the best venue I know that I want to plan my day and make it a celebration of the love I share with my husband to be. . . and I want a wedding cake not decorated with a Sharpie.


--Love

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Love's life update


I love this comic! As a girl who's been planning her wedding through a couple of boyfriends I admit that this has been true on occasion. Not any more. . . B's a keeper!

I feel that a life update is in order. B's dream was to be a high school science teacher and recently that dream has become a reality. He got hired the week before classes started at my high school. That's right B is now a teacher at HHS, which is the small town high school I attended in my small town. Exciting and weird all at the same time. On Friday night, we attended the season's first football game and students rushed to him at the concession stand calling him by his "teacher name," which was incredibly weird for me. Details aside I'm beyond myself excited for him that his dream is coming true. He's the happiest I've ever seen him!

B moved to my small town and I moved back too. So now we're both in my hometown. Just as his job began, mine came into question. No, I'm not headed toward the unemployment line, but the campaign I work for could be over. I will still have a job, but I'm very unsure about the details. This brings lots of questions about my life. I'm sure that things will work out and that I know that God put us in this place for a reason.

The best part about all of this is the fact that I no longer have a timeline. Before I always knew that I had to wait to be married until B got a teaching job or the campaign was over and I was content with that. Now we'll both have jobs and be in a place where we could get married when we choose. Freedom. No longer will so many external influences control our decision. I'm not saying that we will run off tomorrow and elope (what kind of lifelong wedding planner would I be then), but we can decide the timing on our own. It simply feels good to be with the man I love and know that we can make our own decisions.

Ah, freedom!

--Love

Meet the 'Maids!

Now that you know what they're wearing, allow me to introduce you to the four women who will be standing next to me as I say "I do!"

First, my little-big sister, Erin, is my Matron of Honor. Erin is 27 and is 4'10" (thus the little-big). While we spent the first 11 or so years of my life fighting, once she turned 16 and could drive, we became great friends. We're very different in a lot of ways, and in other ways we are oh-so-much alike. I was so privileged to be her maid of honor, and I'm so glad she's agreed to be my MOH, too. Here's a picture of Erin & me from her wedding.



















Next we have my roommate, Natalie. Natalie & I have been friends since 5th grade. We decided the summer after 6th grade that we both wanted to go to Emory & Henry College and that we wanted to live together. Sure enough, 6 years later, we did. And believe it or not, we were friends before we were roommates and we're still friends after being roommates for 4 years! We've often joked that we have the same brain, but different bodies. We joined our sorority together and were pretty much attached at the hip for most of college. I can't imagine sharing college with anyone else, and it was a no-brainer to ask Natalie to be in my wedding. Here we are in our roommate-glory.

















Next on the list (which is in no particular order, by the way, as I could never ever rank these incredible women!) is Lisa, another sorority sister. Lisa is probably one of the most challenging friends that I have ever had, in that she challenges me to become a better person. She challenges the way I think and the assumptions I've lived with my entire life. As a result, I am more educated and more confident. We met at Emory but I think our souls have known each other for much longer. I help her embrace her girlie side, and she helps me not take myself so seriously. We've been a lifeline for one another on many occasions. I was so privileged to be in her wedding just a few weeks ago, and I promised her to make as big a mess opening gifts at my shower as she did at hers! Here's a picture of us at her wedding, before she'd donned her dress.




















Last and anything but least, is Melissa. On my Knot web page I call her my lifelong best friend, simply because there is no other way to put it. I can't put my finger on exactly when we became best friends, but it was sometime in middle school. We were in girl scouts together, had nearly all of our classes together our senior year in high school, and we were editors together on our senior yearbook. She went to NC for college and I went to VA, but you'd never know it. Whenever we saw each other we picked up like we'd been living across the street all this time. I'm so lucky that we're back in Knoxville together now that we've graduated. Melissa is a confidant, a spiritual adviser, and the closest of friends. We've both been planning our weddings since we were sophomores in high school, and since then, Melissa has always been a part of the wedding party. This picture is from our friend Laura's bachelorette party earlier this month.




















How many 'maids are you having? How did you pick them?

-Amoré

Monday, August 25, 2008

Dressing the Maids

I originally titled this post "dressing the girls," but have since decided to save that post for when I decide what undergarments I'll be wearing on my wedding day!

Anyway, on to the bridesmaids dresses! Since I figured out that I would probably be having a spring or summer wedding, I've had my eye on a particular dress from David's Bridal for my bridesmaids. I first fell in love with the dress in clover, but later decided the marine was what I wanted.

Here's a shot of the dress itself:
( from David's Bridal)
























And here's a bridal party shot of the dress:
(from Danielle Bryan Photography)

























The color Marine is a dark navy, and it can tend to look like black. However, I think having the bouquets wrapped in navy ribbon will really help you see the navy color. Plus, the men will be in navy, so I think everyone will get the picture :)

And lest you think these dresses were a cut-and-dry part of the wedding, have no fear! I called the store to see if the dresses would, by any chance, be discontinued sometime soon, and the woman at David's said they were...in three days!! I scrambled to contact all of my maids to have them call and order their dresses, lest they be discontinued and we come up one dress short! Hippy Bridesmaid even had to order hers while she was on vaycay at the beach! Talk about dedication.

And when I went back to David's a few weeks ago to look for a veil, guess which dresses were still in the store, hanging on the racks, ready to be ordered at any given time...

At least my girls all have their dresses now...

Did you have any drama or close-calls in your BM dresses? Did you know early on what you wanted?

-Amoré

Sunday, August 24, 2008

And we have flowers!

Mom & I spent the day yesterday doing wedding things. It was so nice to take a break from all the crazy traveling I've been doing and just think about my wedding. The first stop on the list was a florist, Susie's Pretty Petals. The website's not that great, but her prices are phenomenal, and I love what we came up with for my florals. 

The quest for gorgeous florals has been an interesting one. First, I wanted all whites.
 Period.
 No greens. No nothing. Just whites. Then Momma Amoré brought up the point that all-white flowers wouldn't show up well against my all-white dress. Then, once I saw Financial Bridesmaid wearing her dress, I realized that I needed color in the BM bouquets as well. So, I started looking for something I liked. Knowing that my palette is navy & sage, and knowing that "navy" is not-so-much a flower color, I decided to stick with greens and whites. Fo
r good measure, I thought some yellows might be nice to add. Still analogous, soft, and
 hopefully gorgeous. However, I just couldn't find "my" bouquet in photo form. Here are some of my inspirations. 



















































(all from the knot)

So, going off of these general ideas, Momma Amoré & I met with the florist. I felt like such a huge pain in the butt, because I kept changing my mind in the course of the meeting. I had sent her an image that I said I really loved, and by the time we go there, I had decided that I didn't really love it anymore. Plus, we are not using boutonnières for the wedding party (more on that later). But, half way through, I realized that we needed bouts for the dads and my grandfather. And I've since realized that I'll want bouts for the cousins who will be helping with the guest
 book and programs. So I've got to call her and add those, too :)

But, Susie was incredibly nice and very helpful. She's a wedding coordinator, too, so she had lots of helpful advice. She was able to make some great suggestions, and I'm really happy with what we've come up with. Since we just sort of worked from photos to piece a bouquet together, I don't have anything that will show you what the bouquet itself will look like. However, I'll try to paint the picture for you using these two images. 


The bridal bouquet will have white hydrangeas and green coffee berries, just like this photo. (source) Mine will also include light cream roses, yellow "Judy" roses and a single bright white rose. I'll also have some pearl sprigs to add a little luxury.  (source)














The bridesmaids' bouquets will have pale yellow gerber daisies like in this. They will also have the same cream roses and green coffee berries that are in my bouquet. (source)










Two of my bridesmaids are also sorority sisters, so their bouquets, like mine, will feature a single bright white rose, which is our sorority flower. It was very important to me that their bouquets have these flowers because of the symbolism we associate with them. All of the bouquets will be wrapped in the same navy ribbon that we're using on the pew bows (more on those later, too!)

Corsages for the mothers will feature three cream roses, coffee berry, and pearl sprigs with ivy. Corsages for the grandmothers will be two cream roses, coffee berry and ivy.
Corsages for the reader (that's Love!), and another sorority sister who is helping will each be one bright white rose with ivy (again, the sorority symbolism).
The corsage for the female guestbook attendant will be one cream rose with ivy.

The fathers' boutonnières will be cream roses with coffee berry and ivy, as will the bout for my grandfather. The male program attendants and guest book attendant will each have a cream rose with ivy for their boutonnières. 

Susie will also be crafting an altar arrangement and a memorial arrangement, but we still have to pin down the details on those. 

And we'll be able to do all of this for under $800. I call that a victory.

So, what do you think? Who are you honoring with special flowers? Are you forgoing flowers in favor of something less traditional?

-Amoré

Friday, August 22, 2008

I've missed you!


I've been out of town on business for what seems like years, but I promise to come back to you! Love & I have some great stuff up our sleeves for the coming weeks, and we hope you're as excited as we are. We'll do a couple of "banter posts" where each of us will give our 2 cents about a topic. That way, you'll begin to see just how different we are!

Also, I have some fun wedding things to update you on, including my veil and headpiece, a visit to a florist, and my insatiable sweet tooth, just to name a few. Plus, there are weddings galore to recap. We'll be busy around here, so be sure to check back often!

Until then!

(image source)

-Amoré

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Why I'm wearing white on my wedding day--or--Amoré' the Prude (Part 2)

Last time I told you about C's & my decision to not drink. This time I'll tell you about our decision to remain virgins until we're married.

For both of us, faith has played a huge part in our decisions. We were both raised in the same church, and we were taught that "True Love Waits." I decided that I would wait to have sex until I said "I do" when I was 13 years old. The reasons for keeping my virginity have changed, but today, for me, I believe that God created sex to be a beautiful gift, but one that is to be shared with only one person. And to me, if I've found that one person, it's logical to wait until I've married that person to share that gift.

I want to pause here and say that like drinking, I offer no condemnation for the people around me who have made different choices. I am in no position to judge another person. I can only offer my own experience.
C & I knew that we would one day get married fairly early in our relationship. Before I went away to college, we had already talked about getting married and that we each felt that the other was "the one." And over the past 4+ years, the opportunity and temptation to have sex have both been there. But each time the question or possibility arose, we both have always known the answer is "no."
I love C with every ounce of my being. I have never felt the same way about another person on the planet. As such, I want to be able to share the entirety of myself with him and only him. And out of respect for that decision, I will share that with him for the first time on our wedding night. I know it may sound crazy to some--to marry without knowing if the sex is good. My response to that concern is that since I've never had sex before, it has to be good! Besides, for C & I, our relationship is more about a friendship and profound respect for one another than it is for physical satisfaction. We look forward to giving to one another the one thing we have never given to another person, and the one thing we will never give again.
The next question is probably, "If you already knew, why wait?" Why not wait? If we're going to get married, we'll have the rest of our lives to have sex. And though we knew early in our relationship that we would marry, that didn't mean that we were ready to be married. Sex is more than a series of actions to achieve a result, sex is a commitment. And for us, that commitment is just as important and carries the same weight as the commitment we will make when we stand up in front of our friends and our families next May.
A final reason, though this one is admittedly far less important, is that C & I desire to live the kind of live we want the youth we work with to live. C is on staff at our church working with our youth, and I volunteer with the youth group. We are in front of the same students every week, and they know all about us. I simply could not talk with these youth about relationships--a hot topic among middle & high schoolers--and be in a sexually active, non-married relationship. It would just plain be uncomfortable.

C & I are primarily concerned in guarding our hearts, and in waiting until we're married to have sex, we believe we are doing that.

C & are looking forward to our lifetime together, and we believe that saving sex for our wedding night will make that day that much sweeter.

Any other virgins out there? What difficulties have you encountered? Why have you decided to wait?

(image from August wedding #2 by yours truly. more on it later.)

--Amoré

In my red high heels


I love fabulous shoes! After a tragic incident where B's dog chewed up my brand new Nine West red high heels I recently purchased a new pair. I'm in love. It has been like reuniting with a long, lost love. I think that a fabulous pair of red high heels brings spice to my normal black wardrobe and can make even the worst of days a little brighter (don't get me started on how painting your toenails can change your life).

I think my wedding day will be the happiest day of my life and I want to feel that happiness right down to my toes. So that's why I will insist on wearing brightly colored shoes with my wedding gown. Now I know that red or pink heels will not perfectly match my white (or ivory or champagne or whatever shade I choose) dress, but it's my wedding day and I want my feet to be happy.

My grandmother passed away from breast cancer, but as she fought the disease she always wore her "happy shoes" on the days that she went for chemotherapy. Her happy shoes are proudly displayed in my parent's house today as a constant reminder that life should be lived to the fullest (and in fabulous shoes)!

Wearing happy shoes on your wedding day is not a foreign concept. In fact, a recent cover of Brides magazine featured a bride dressed in white and showing off her bright pink heels. Just think of all the fun pictures you can take of your happy feet on your happy day.


What are you doing to "spice" up your happy day?


--Love

Monday, August 11, 2008

Why I'm wearing white on my wedding day--or--Amoré the Prude (Part 1)


Wikipedia defines the word prude as "a person who is described as being overly concerned with decorum or propriety. They may be perceived as being uncomfortable with sexuality, nudity, alcohol, drug use or mischief.

"The name is generally considered to mean excessive modesty, and hence unflattering, and is often used as an insult. A person who is considered a prude may have reservations about nudity, participating in romantic or sexual activity, drinking alcohol or consuming other drugs, or participating in mischief. These reservations may stem from shyness or strict moral beliefs. Actions or beliefs that may cause someone to be labeled a prude include advocating or practising abstinence, advocating prohibition, advocating censorship of sexuality or nudity in media, disapproval of being nude in public, avoiding or condemning public display of affection, or exhibiting unusual levels of discomfort with sexuality, alcohol, drugs or mischief."


(image source)

Often times, the image conjured up when you think of the word "prude" is that of a Puritan.

Two things you should probably know about C & me.
1. We don't drink. At all.
2. We are both virgins.

Unheard of, right?

My father is a recovering alcoholic. He has been sober for nearly 15 months now. That means that for the first 21 1/2 years of my life, he was a practicing alcoholic. For me, this meant that my father was emotionally absent for most of my life. He was often embarrassing when around my friends--making inappropriate comments. He always had a beer, and to this day, I cringe when I hear a can open. Dad's alcoholism left me with several scars, including a hesitation to trust men mixed with a strong desire for approval from men. Nice combo, right? His alcoholism has also led me to research the disease further, to try to understand it better. One glaring piece of information I've come across time and time again: alcoholism is inherited. Children of alcoholics are much more likely to become alcoholics themselves. And because of the family dynamics present in alcoholic homes, children often seek out similar personalities and find themselves married to addicts in their adult lives.

As a result of this knowledge, I have decided to simply not drink. The only way I can know that I won't succumb to this disease is to never let it have the chance to take over my life. Similarly, the only way I can know that I won't end up married to an alcoholic is to marry someone who has decided that he doesn't and won't drink either. C has seen the heartache that has resulted from my father's alcoholism. He was a part of my life at the time of my parents' separation, and he has witnessed the miracle of my father's sobriety. He has also had to deal first-hand with the issues having an alcoholic father have posed in my life. He made the decision long ago, and on his own, to not drink.

For the record, I have no problem being around alcohol or around people who drink, or even being around drunk people. I was in a sorority in college, and I certainly have seen my fair share of intoxicated individuals. I have no judgment for people who drink. I don't think they are going to Hell, and I don't think they are bad people. For me, however, alcohol is simply not an option. And I'm at peace with that.

Next up: Still carrying my V-Card.

-Amoré

Old Maid?


I am an old maid. Yes, at 23 years old I am considered an old maid by most of my friends. Call it an Appalchian tradition or simply the way things are done in my hometown, but nearly all of my friends are already married.

Shortly after high school graduation, I began attending the weddings of close friends. I served as maid of honor for my best friend the summer after our freshman year in college. It was then that the questions began to come about when I would marry and why I didn't have a beau. In fact, the questions never cease. The next summer as a bridesmaid for another best friend I tried to count how many times I was asked when I would marry or my turn would come, but I soon lost count because the questions were unending.

At college, I subscribed to my local newspaper and every week turned first to the engagement and wedding annoucements to see which of my friends it would feature. Almost without fail it would feature a classmate or at least an acquantance that was "tying the knot."

I still consider myself young, and despite the pressures surrounding me, I am not in a hurry to follow my friends down the aisle. I will. . . in my own time. I think that the worst thing a girl can do is to be in a hurry to marry simply to have a wedding or because it just seems like the thing to do.

Don't get me wrong I do not subscribe to the belief that all girls who marry young throw their lives away. My best friend, who has already been married for years, will finish her pharmacetical degree this spring and has pursued a career along with her marriage.

All women in the South used to marry young. My grandmother married at 18 (and was old for her time) and my mother married at 19. Despite the fact that they both married young they do not want the same thing for me. They want me to choose who and when I shall marry. In fact, my grandmother made me a wedding ring quilt this fall, but insisted that it had no symbolism and that now that I had my wedding quilt I could marry whenever I chose.

And that's exactly what I plan to do. I will stand proudly as the only girl "of age" at the bouquet toss and answer the unending questions with a smile. I am just fine being an "old maid."

Have you ever felt pressure to marry?

--Love

Sunday, August 10, 2008

It's all about you!

I am an Appalachian. This means I talk with an accent, live in the mountains, am proud of my place, and have traditions that are distinctly different from other cultures. . . . including wedding traditions.

I also come from a very small town. Where I come from there are not many "platinum weddings," but instead many are held in local churches with the receptions in the fellowship hall. This also means no alcohol at most weddings. We still participate in bouquet tosses. There are certainly not five star hotels or caterers to provide a luxurious spread, but weddings are unique and personal. I believe that the most important part of any wedding is that it fits your personality and culture.


My new wedding read agrees. I have been reading Somebody is Going to die if Lilly Beth doesn't catch that bouquet: The Official Southern Ladies' Guide to Hosting the Perfect Wedding. This book is not only hilarious in pointing out the uniqueness of southern weddings (including recipes for dishes such as sausage balls, which are a staple at many of the Appalachian weddings I have attended), but also very true. I promise many posts to come from questions raised from the book, but it also points out the importance of making your wedding personal:

"We think the best advice for a successful wedding is: Be yourself. A wedding offers an opportunity to be somebody you aren't. This is a temptation to be (for the most part) resisted. If you can afford a big blowout, by all means, do it. But if you can't afford a band from Memphis, a small wedding reception in the living room with mints and nuts is just as lovely. . . A good rule of thumb: Don't spend more time planning the wedding than the marriage is expected to last."


Amore and I recently attended/participated in a wedding of our dear friend, L (formerly "our bachelorette"). Her wedding was wildly personal and I loved it! She and her husband did the two-step for their first dance to a mountain song: "I love you just the way you are." As an avid hunter the groom's cake (made by his grandmother) had a deer on it and the groom also hit a few golf balls during a break in the reception. The bride, who celebrated her bachelorette part at the Carter Family Fold, insisted that guests flat foot. The decor included rocks from a local river in the flower arrangements. The celebration was classy and personal--exactly what a wedding should be.


How will you make your day personal?



--Love

Friday, August 8, 2008

My New Favorite Bachelorette Game

Last night was my second-ever bachelorette party, and like the first, I helped host this one. I've got lots of details and pictures coming, but I wanted to write about a game that we played that is my new favorite. I'm particularly proud of it because the MOH and I came up with it together.


After scouring the internet for fun and not-terribily-inappropriate games, we came up empty-handed. We just weren't fans of the raunchy games that were deemed bachelorette party material. So while we were wandering around at a party store buying decorations, we stumbled upon a Magic 8 Ball knock-off and got inspired.



MOH ran around all day Thursday looking for a Magic 8 Ball, and was finally able to buy one at Toys R Us. Who knew they'd be so hard to track down? Armed with the 8 Ball, we explained to the girls at the party that we'd pass it around, and each in attendance would ask a question about the bride's future sex life and/or wedding night. Boy did we get a kick out of this!


Q: Will it hurt?
A: Don't count on it


Q: Will the bride be satisfied?
A: It is certain


Q: Will the bride be knocked up within a year?
A: Ask again later


after a "mmmmm" noise from tasting a good sip of her margarita:
Q: Will the bride make that noise on her wedding night?
A: Without a doubt


Without fail the Magic 8 Ball answered our questions in the best possible way. I even got asked if I had rigged it somehow--I hadn't! We're hanging onto the 8 ball for future bachelorette parties (and just girl get-togethers in general). How fun!


Have you made up any of your own bach. party games?
-Amoré

Sentimental to a fault

As of today, C and I have been engaged for 2 months. It's our two-month engagement anniversary, if you will. Now, I realize that C and I have been together almost 5 years, and I stopped counting our monthly "anniversaries" around year2. However, there is going to be something special about the 8th of each month now. If for no other reason than because I clean my ring on the 8th. I also clean it on the 23rd. Call me silly or too sentimental, but I enjoy commemorating our engagement date and our to-be wedding date with a little soak in the jewelry bath for my princess.

Two months of engagement down. Nine months and 15 days to go.
























Sorry for such a blurry shot, but my nails were freshly done!









-Amore'