The Joy of Reading

When I was in 9th grade, my now husband, gave me his favorite book to read. This started my love for reading. Until that point in time, I had never really enjoyed it because I struggled to read quickly and hadn't found a book that really hooked my attention. To this day (nearly 10 years later) I am thankful for the encouragement of a sweet boy and The Thief Lord.

There is nothing better than settling into the sofa with a cozy blanket, a cup of tea, a cuddly puppy, and a good book. I want to encouraging you to loose yourself in a great story. Being able to to let yourself get sucked into another world is a great skill to have. I have been to Venice stealing from the rich to give to the poor, I have been a student at Hogwarts and battled against He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, I have cried as Bailey found his true purpose in life, and I have laughed as Amy Poehler told stories about her time on Parcs & Rec. If you haven't found that special book, the one that makes you crave reading, I hope you do soon.

Harry Potter transported me to a new world and made me feel like a true wizard. [I am currently waiting on an Amazon order to arrive with the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows.]

A Dog's Purpose made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made my squeeze my sweet Amora girl (Australian shepherd) a little tighter.

Yes Please encouraged me to chase my dreams.

Kira Kira made me look for the beauty in every situation and every person.

4 Months Plant Based

On June 15, 2016 I decided to transition myself from an animal based diet to a (mostly) plant based diet. I had been dealing with some digestion issues and had already cut dairy out of my diet but it hadn't fixed all my issues. I did a lot of research and found that plant based diets supported healthier digestive systems, so I decided to make the change and see what happened.

Also, being a biology graduate, I am well aware of the environmental impacts caused by the meat industry and I believe that one of the best things we can do for our planet is to eat less meat. But I don't really want to get into that today.

When I told my husband that I wanted to start eating less meat, he thought I was crazy but was supportive (as long as I agreed not to make him do it). lol. I was a little concerned that cooking and eating plant based for every meal would be difficult, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was super easy for me. I love to cook, so I really enjoyed the challenge of finding and coming up with new recipes to try. With resources like hot for food blog, the edgy veg, and a couple cooks it was easy to find great recipes. To make the transition easier, I started out making more interesting veggie based meals like butternut squash tacos and Thai baked sweet potatoes. (even my meat eating husband loves these)

Now that it has been four months, I LOVE eating this way! I still eat meat when I go out if there isn't a good vegan option or when I eat at someone house but I don't cook meat for myself. My digestion issues are completely resolved, my skin is clearer, and I have more energy. I really don't think I will ever go back to eating a primarily meat based diet.

I also feel like I have a better relationship with food than I ever have. I don't crave sweets like I used to and when I do, I don't feel guilty after eating a cookie. I am excited to eat because I really love the food I'm eating and I feel like I'm doing something great for my body at every meal.

If you have ever considered a more plant based diet, I would strongly recommend that you try it! But be sure to do your research and make sure you know what foods to eat to ensure that you get all the nutrients you need to be healthy.

Follow my VEGAN pinterest board for inspiration!

If you have any questions please ask and I will do my best to answer!

One Month of Marriage

How is it possible that we have already been married for one whole month?!

In the last month, I have learned a few things.

One: Don't let little things cause stress. For example, how your husband loads the dishwasher does not matter. All that matters is that he is helping with daily house hold tasks. Be thankful for that.

Two: Living in the same house is not the same thing as spending quality time together. You might think that you see each other all the time because you are in the same house, but you really need to make time to actually be together. Our favorite way to do this is to cook dinner together everyday. It is a great time to talk and have fun.

Three: HAVE FUN! Have dance parties in the kitchen. Sing at the top of your lungs. Living with Brandon and being married to him is a dream come true! It is like having a sleepover every day with my BEST FRIEND!

Hire a GOOD photographer! KD Photography captured things in photos that I don't even remember happening and now I have beautiful pictures to look at for a lifetime!

Travel Diary // Honeymoon in San Diego, CA

Years ago, before Brandon and I were engaged or had any wedding plans, we talked about wanting to go to San Diego, California for our honeymoon. We were obsessed with the idea of going to the San Diego Zoo, seeing the beautiful beaches, the weather, and the food. Thanks to wonderful parents, we were able to make this dream a reality!

We decided to book an Airbnb for the first time, rather than a hotel. We rented an apartment in the center of Little Italy. It was surrounded by wonderful food and a great atmosphere. Our favorite places we ate were Indigo Grill, Bluewater Seafood Market and Grill, and Petrini's. At Indigo Grill we would recommend the Salt and Pepper shrimp. At Bluewater Seafood we ate fish tacos and they were delicious. Petrini's had incredible Italian Wedding Soup. (we actually ate it twice during our stay)

We also visited the Maritime Museum. It was so much fun walking through all the old ships and submarines. We wanted to do the U.S.S Midway Museum but never got to it...it is on our list for the next trip to SD.

The day we spent at Coronado was probably one of our favorite days of the whole trip. The scenery is astounding. The atmosphere is calm. We walked a few miles to the beaches on the opposite side of the island that the ferry dropped us off at. The island is covered in flowers and beautiful homes which made the walk enjoyable. After the long walk, we found a shade spot (under a palm tree) and laid on the ground to enjoy the beautiful weather. It was the perfect.

The San Diego Zoo was everything we hoped it would be. There are so many animals and the enclosures are nice and large. We went in the middle of the week and got there a little before the zoo opened, which we would highly recommend! The normal 30-45 minute wait for the pandas was nonexitant when we got there.
My tips for the zoo: Take a few minutes when you get there to plan your route through the zoo. It is huge and without a plan there is no way we could have seen everything. Wear comfortable shoes because like I said, the zoo is huge. Pack snacks and lunch. We didn't know that you could do this, but we saw a bunch of people that did. Zoo food is so expensive...

We also enjoyed visiting La Jolla Cove and seeing the sea lions and otters. The beaches are absolutely beautiful!

I am so thankful to be married to my best friend and I am excited to start living life as husband and wife!

Wedding Week Thoughts

ONE WEEK from today, I will marry my best friend! Over a year ago, when we picked May 21, 2016 as our wedding date, I remember thinking "oh my gosh that's so far away". Little did I know, that year would go by faster than any previous one.

As this week approaches I am trying to remain focused on one thing...I AM FINALLY MARRYING BRANDON!  I don't want to get caught up in all the little details. I know there are things that need to be finalized this week in order for the wedding to go smoothly and as planned, but I am doing my best not to stress about them.

On August 28, 2007, Brandon asked me to be his girlfriend. We were 13 years old. Nearly 8 years later, Brandon asked me to be his wife. We were 21 years old.

I have been dreaming of being Brandon's wife for about 6 years. I have never been more excited for anything in my life. People keep asking me if I'm nervous and every time I wonder what I'm supposed to be nervous about. I am marrying the man of dreams. The man that I want to spend the rest of my life with. A man who loves me, not despite, but because of my flaws. A man who supports and encourages me no matter what. A man that makes me laugh when I want to cry and who holds me together when I feel like falling about. A man who will sit in a park for 30 minutes while I swing on a swing set because it makes me feel like I'm flying.

The only thing I might be nervous about is falling when I walk down the isle...

[photos by KD Photography]

I'm excited for late nights of finalizing decorations and food. I'm excited to wake up Saturday morning surrounded by my best friends. I'm excited to spend all morning laughing and having fun while getting ready for the day. I'm excited to see Brandon's face when he sees me in my dress for the first time. I can't wait to walk into the church full of friends and family who are excited to celebrate with us. I AM EXCITED TO BE A MRS!! 

Bring on this crazy, wonderful, busy wedding week!

I Am A College Graduate!

On April 30, 2016 at 10 am, Brandon and I both graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with Bachelors of Science in Biology. We spent the whole day celebrating with our parents and grandparents. It was a great day!

Through four years of college and studying biology I learned a lot about myself and the world around me. I moved 202 miles away from my family, friends, and everything I had ever known. I got homesick and found ways to overcome it. I recovered from scoliosis surgery and realized than I am stronger than I ever thought possible. I learned to love cooking. I made new friends. I fell more and more in love with Brandon every day (I really couldn't have gotten through the last four years without his help). I cried a lot but I laughed more.

I learned to truly appreciate the Earth and the life that is on it. I learned that, despite what my small home town had taught me, religion and science can and do work together. I learned that every living organism on this incredible planet plays a vital role and that if we don't start taking better care of it and stop destroying it, we won't have anything left.

At UCA I had professors introduce me to new ideas. I had professors help me while I was trying to go to school and recover from surgery (which was more difficult that I expected). I had professors push me to overcome fears and try new things. I will be forever thankful for this.

I feel like I have accomplished something great. I AM A COLLEGE GRADUATE!

And for those who are wondering what I'm doing next, I really don't know right now. Its terrifying and thrilling at the same time.

 

Thank you to everyone who has supported and encouraged me along the way!

March 2016 Goals

How is it already MARCH? In less than 80 days, I will be graduated from college and married!

For the last two months I have been setting small goals and updating the blog with those new goals and my progress to keep myself accountable. So, since it is the beginning of another month, it is time for new goals!

February Goals Update:

Out of the 29 days in February, I did yoga or some other form of exercise 16 days. I'd say those are pretty good stats considering I had a few months of zero exercise days! I can tell a huge difference in the way my body feels just from a few weeks of activity.  I ache less, I have more energy, and I feel stronger.

As far as drinking more water goes, I think I said I would try to drink 50-70 ounces a day... for the month I averaged about 35-40 ounces per day. Unfortunately, I did not do a very good job sticking to this goal so I'm carrying it over into the new month.

March Goals:

1. Eat less sugar. Sugar doesn't fuel your body, it can cause blood sugar fluctuation, skin break outs, headaches, digestive issues, etc. I want to focus on eating foods with more nutritious value that will provide me with steady energy.

I think I mentioned in my last goal update that I really enjoy recipes from Mind Over Munch. Almost, all of their recipes and nutrition advice focuses on eating whole, natural, unprocessed ingredients, so I plan on continuing to use Mind Over Munch for meal inspirations.

2. Clean out my closet. I have SO many clothes. This month, I want to take out all the winter clothes I have not worn in the past few months and get rid of them. I want to simplify and declutter my wardrobe.

What are you goals for the next month?

The Little Things

Happy Sunday Friends! As you go through this week, I encourage you to take time to appreciate the little things in your daily life.

You know, those little things that happen through out a normal day that may seem insignificant, but are actually the very things that make life great. I have made an effort to do this the last few weeks and it makes the routine of going to school all day and doing homework all night a little less miserable.

I thought I would share some of the 'little things' in my life that make me thankful to be alive...things that make life fun and can turn a crappy day into a great day.

• Coming home from a long day, to a puppy that is UNCONTROLLABLY excited to see me. 

• Getting a hand written letter in the mail from my grandma. (My nana started sending me letters when I moved away for college four years ago and I have saved every one of them)
• Cooking dinner with my Fiance. 
• Peeling a cutie and keeping the peel in one piece.
• Finding princess parking when I'm running late.

These are just a few of my little things from the last week.

What were some of yours?

A Thank You Letter to my Future Husband

Dear Future Husband,

I want to thank you for last (nearly) nine years of our life together. You have been by best friend, confidant, dance partner, study partner, motivator, and so much more. When most people talk about a significant other, they say "I can't imagine my life without them" but I can imagine my life with you---Its sad and lonely and unbearable and I NEVER want to actually experience that life. You make my life great and I want to thank you for a few of the ways you do that. I could make a list of a million things.

Thank you for massaging my back without any hesitation. Every time my back hurts (which is unfortunately, most days) you don't even wait for me to ask, you just offer to help.

Thank you for scraping ice off my car in the winter so that I don't have to stand in the cold. You know that my hands get too cold and I can't reach the center of the window.

Thank you for letting me cry and wiping away my tears.

Thank you for your unwavering support and encouragement though four years of college and reminding me before every exam that "you can't have no in your heart". I don't think I could have done it all without you.

Thank you for having dance parties in the kitchen with me while we cook.

Thank you for making me laugh everyday. As they say, laughter is the best medicine.

Thank you for getting me chocolate when its that time of the month and I think I'll die without it. Also, for heating my heating pads and making me tea.

Thank you for telling me I'm pretty without any make up on.

Thank you for not judging me when I put on pajama pants at two in the afternoon.

Thank you for loving me at my worst just as much as you love me at my best.

Thank you for singing with me at the top of our lungs during road trips, despite the fact that we are quite bad at singing.

Thank you for always sharing your food with me even after I tell you that I don't want any of it. Especially when I decided I want to try the last bite...

Most importantly, Thank you fore being YOU! I love that you research everything, you make your own decisions (even if they are against what some people think), you work hard at everything you do, and you love me for who I am.

Love, Your Future Wife

February 2016 Goals

You may have seen my post at the beginning of January about setting new goals each month rather than setting a single large goal for the new year. (you can read it here)
Though out the month of January, I found that setting a couple simple goals and more importantly, writing them out, made it much easier to stick to them.

Update on January's Goals...

In January, one of my goals was to read more for pleasure. I have been reading Yes Please by Amy Poehler and it is EXCELLENT! I love the way she writes and the content of the book is great. It's insightful and hilarious at the same time! I would recommend it to everyone! I also wanted try new recipes and I have really been enjoying it. I love to eat and searching for new, healthy recipes each week has been a lot of fun. This has also helped me accomplish my goal of eating more veggies. A few of my favorite places to find new recipes are Pinterest (of course), Yummly, and YouTube (specificity, The Domestic Geek and Mind Over Munch).

New Goals...

During the month of February, I plan to continue working on January's goals as well as adding in a few new ones.

1. Exercise More! This is my main goal this month. As you may know, I have scoliosis and have had correctional surgery. This has resulted in some chronic pain and I KNOW that being in better shape helps me to have less pain. I have done Yoga with Adriene yoga routines in the past and loved them, I just need to start doing them again. In addition to feeling better, I'M GETTING MARRIED and I want to feel and look my best on my wedding day.

2. Drink More Water! The amount of water you drink effects your energy level, digestive health, skin, and so much more! Various water intake calculators suggest that for my body size and activity levels, I should drink anywhere from 55 ounces to 70 ounces of water per day.

I hope that each of you have a great month and good luck if you are setting new goals!

How to Make the Perfect Cup of Tea

If you have read this blog since it started, you will be familiar with my love for tea. It is rare for me to go a day without a cup of hot tea. And while I have a ton of different types of tea and I thoroughly enjoy all of them, there is something about the perfect cup of plain black tea that is my all time favorite.

For me, drinking a cup of tea is about much more than just the delicious taste and energy boost. I love the process of making the perfect cup. Waiting to hear my kettle whistle when the water starts boiling, picking out my favorite mug of the day, seeing the color of tea seep out of the tea bag, the beautiful swirl of white as I pour in my almond milk....I know this sounds crazy but I really do love it. And after all of that, the best part is still holding the wonderfully warm mug in hands and relaxing.

Today I'm letting you in on a secret...my method for making the perfect cup of tea.

I am by no means an expert, I simply know what I like and I hope to help some of you enjoy drinking your tea as much as I do. 

What You'll Need:

PG Tips Black Tea Bags
Your Favorite Mug
A Tea Kettle (or a microwave)
Locally Grown Pure Honey
Vanilla Unsweetened Almond Milk

The Process:

Boil FRESH water in the kettle.
Let it cool to about 208 degrees Fahrenheit. (If the water is too hot it can burn the tea leaves making it taste bitter)
Pour the hot water over a single PG Tips tea temple and leave it to steep for 4 minutes (I cover my mug with a lid or a small plate to reduce the amount of heat lost).
Add a small amount of pure honey-about 1/2 teaspoon.
Pour in about a tablespoon of almond milk and watch the beautiful swirl of white as it mixes with the tea (this is my favorite part).

Finally, grab a few ginger snap cookies for dunking and cozy up with a blanket and your perfect cup of tea!


Tea Kettle/ MacKenzie Childs(the tea kettle of my dreams) Mug/ MacKenzie Childs Tea/ PG Tips

A New Year

Now that we are nearly two weeks into 2016, I thought it was time for me to share some of my thoughts. I'm not particularly fond of setting 'new year resolutions'. There is something about setting year long goals that is really intimidating to me. So, I thought that this year I might try setting new goals for each month (I guess that's kind of a resolution isn't it?) I also had the idea that if I put each month's goals in writing and on the internet for others to see, I might be more successful in sticking to them.

So, here are my goals for January 2016!

1. Read more for pleasure. I used to love reading but the busier college gets, the less outside of school reading I do. After spending hours reading and doing homework for school, all I want to do is watch Netflix. But, I think reading would probably be a better way to spend my free time.

2. Eat more vegetables. (and not just green beans) You know, more of those real, delicious, healthy, interesting vegetables.

3. Try new recipes. Brandon and I cook 5-6 nights a week but we have gotten in the habit of just rotating through several meals that are easy. I want to be more adventurous in my cooking!

4. Blog more. This kind of goes along with reading more; I need to spend my free time doing something besides watching Netflix.

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS ABOUT 2016...

This is going to be a HUGE year! Brandon and I are both graduating from college with bachelor of science degrees in biology. We are GETTING MARRIED!!! We are hopefully starting graduate school and possibly moving to a new city.

I am so excited...and nervous...for the year ahead and I can't wait to see how it all unfolds!

I hope your new year is off to a great start!

Gift Guide // For the College Aged Ladies in Your LIfe

This may seem sort of early to some of you since it isn't even Thanksgiving yet, but if you are like me, you have already started purchasing gifts for people. Starting your Christmas shopping early is a great way to keep from becoming overwhelmed when December actually begins.

I love reading and looking at gift guide posts this time of year. They can be a lot of help when trying to come up with a gift for someone because they may share something you didn't know about or hadn't thought of.

After all, one of my favorite things about the holiday season is coming up with special gifts to give to the special people in my life!

I thought that as a 20 something, college student I would share a few things that I would enjoy receiving or would give to my friends in hopes of helping those of you with 20 somethings in your life. The best thing about these gifts is that they are all under 25 dollars so they are perfect if you are on a budget! 

So, lets get started!

One $18: Kate Spade travel mug for the 20 something who is always on the go and running low on sleep. 

Two $25: Sephora Favorites Give Me Some Lip set for the beauty lover who won't spend their own money on lots of lip products.

Three $22 : Kate Spade notebook for the list maker or journaler in your life. (is "journaler" even a word?)

Four $19 : Beautiful and simple stud earrings for the girl with a minimalist attitude. 

Five $13.50 : Republic of Tea holiday sampler for the tea lover. 

I hope this helps you in your holiday shopping endeavors and MERRY CHRISTMAS!  

Happy Friday // Life and Blog Update

Hello and HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

I'm sorry I have been so absent from this blog lately. I really don't know why I haven't written anything, I guess I just haven't had any good post ideas. BUT, no need to worry, I have a few posts in mind for the holiday season!

I thought for this Friday post I would give you all an update on life lately.

We have been loving life with Amora. She is growing so fast and she makes us laugh every day. Her favorite treat is peanut butter. Her favorite games are hide and seek and tug-of-war. She does NOT like having baths and hardly ever sits still. 

Brandon and I had engagement pictures taken at the end of October by the FABULOUS KD Photography. She is so much fun and does amazing work!! I can't wait for her and her husband to shoot our wedding in May! 

Thankfully, we were out of school for a couple days in October for fall break so we got spend some time at home. I cherished every second with my parents and grandparents. Also, the weather at home was wonderfully fall like and I thoroughly enjoyed wearing my fall clothing. 

I hope you have a beautiful weekend and stay tuned for some holiday related posts coming soon! 

September 2015 Favorites!

I love September!

The transition from summer to fall means the weather starts to cool off, fall decorations get put out, long sleeve shirts and jeans start getting worn, apple cider is more enjoyable, and darker nail polishes start coming out!

I love everything about the fall season and this past month I have really started feeling festive. I am loving all things maroon and dark green. I have started drinking my favorite fall teas and pumpkin spice coffee and I can't wait to start making plans for the upcoming holiday season!

Here is a look into the things I have been loving this month!

Revlon Gel Envy nail polish in High Stakes 

Maybelline Color Sensation in Magnificent Mauve

Clinique High Impact Mascara 

Kate Spade New York 2016 Agenda

Green Mountain Pumpkin Spice K-Cups


What have been some of your favorite things this month?

Puppy Update!

Amora is now THREE months old!! It doesn't seem possible.

I'm sure people get tired of seeing her pictures and hearing me talk about her, but she is just so much fun! I love watching her learn and explore new things!

Amora Q. Puppy (as our niece calls her) is fully potty trained and has been for about a month! She sits at the door anytime she need to go outside. She loves playing fetch, dancing with Brandon and me, eating peanut butter, having her belly scratched, watching out the window, and playing in water.

Amora is a pro at 'sit' but is still struggling a little bit with 'down'. She is also getting pretty good and 'stay' and 'off' (for when she is biting).

She has so much personality and makes me laugh everyday!

Fall Wish List

If you're like me, the time between September 23 and December 31 is your favorite part of the year. The wool socks, the sweaters, the cozy coats and scarves, the beautiful colors, the FOOD, the smells, EVERYTHING about it is fabulous! I am so looking forward to the day that it cools off enough outside that I can comfortably wear jeans and boots!

Thank being said, I am dying to go shopping for some new fall "essentials". Here are just a few of the things on my current Fall Wish List.

Lip Stick-Teddy Berry // Eye Shadow // Nail Polish // Lucky Brand Boots // Fossil Purse-Maroon

3 Things I Learned in 3 Years of College

As I prepare to start my fourth year of college, I am realizing that I have learned a lot about the world around me, what is most important in life, and who I am.

Freshman at OSU-2012

I started my first year of college at Oklahoma State University. I feel in love with the school the first time I stepped foot on campus. It was everything I imagined my college campus would be...but...this brings me to my first life lesson.

1. The beautiful, fancy school isn't worth the student loans. I can't tell you how many people told me this but I didn't listen. I NEEDED to be at OSU! For one year of school I took out enough money in student loans (AFTER scholarships) to pay for almost 2 full years at my current university. And to be honest, I like my less fancy, less expensive school better!

2. Cherish all your time with family. I have always loved spending time with my family but after moving three hours away from home my appreciation for those things has only grown stronger. Now, when I go home to visit for a weekend, I want to spend every waking minute with my parents and grandparents. You can't fully understand how important they are in your life until you are away from them.

3. It is OK to feel lost!  You might feel lost in your new town, at your new school, and around all the new people. It is ok to have no idea what your life after graduation will look like or to be confused about your major. NEWS FLASH! almost Everyone around you is feeling the same way! IT WILL BE OK!

I am so excited to start my SENIOR year of college...It doesn't seem possible!

Good Luck to everyone starting a new school year. Enjoy it because it goes by FAST!

We Got a Puppy!!

On Friday July 31, Brandon and I adopted a precious, beautiful, HYPER, ball of fur, named Amora!

Left-5 weeks old
Right-7 Weeks old

Amora is an 8 week old, full bred, blue merle Australian Shepard. We have been wanting a puppy for quite a while now and we fell in love with the aussies. They are smart, beautiful, and FULL of energy. We are so excited to really start training her and watching her learn new commands and tricks. So far, she is getting really good at "sit", she is learning to "fetch", she will lay "down" if there is a treat involved, and sometimes she responds to her name!

We are having so much fun watching Amora run and jump around, learn new commands, and discover new things.

7 weeks old

Now, I knew that having a puppy would be a lot of work and I knew that having a breed as energetic and smart as an Australian Shepard would be even more work...but this little girl can wear me out FAST! Thankfully, after a few nights of sleeping 1 hour at time and howling/barking/screaming to get out of her crate, Amora has progressed to sleeping almost ALL night!! In ways I'm looking forward to her getting a little older, but I'm sure I'll miss her cute puppy stage. 

One of the things that really sold us on the idea of having an Australian Shepard was a therapy dog we met at Dell Children's Hospital when I had scoliosis surgery. One of the very few things I remember about my 7 days in the hospital, is the beautiful aussie that gently crawled up in my bed and laid beside me. According to my mom and Brandon, it was pretty much the only time I smiled during my first week of recovery. Because of this experience, Brandon and I want to work hard at training Amora to be a therapy dog so she can someday spread joy like the one I met after surgery.

If you have any puppy training tips, we would love to know them!! Especially if they are for biting or walking on a lease ;)

Wedding Thoughts

Warning: this post will include my totally random and unedited thoughts so it might not make a whole lot of sense.

So, if you haven't heard, I'M GETTING MARRIED!!!!!!!!!!  (See proposal pictures here)

As far as wedding plans go, we haven't done a whole lot so far. We have set a date, booked a photographer, and reserved the ceremony and reception venue.

We have also decided on a color scheme but we have no idea what we will end up doing for decorations. To see what we are thinking you can follow our wedding pinterest board!

Follow Holly's board Brandon & Holly are Getting Married! on Pinterest.

{If you are planning a wedding, I would highly recommend The Knot wedding planner. It has a timeline, advice, contact sheets, and it is a great way to keep everything wedding related in one place. It is perfect for the overly organized bride. The only thing I don't like about it is the fact that the budget it goes by is way more than mine.}

Now, lets move on to more important things...

As we plan our wedding, I want focus on the fact that in less than one year I will become Brandon's wife! This something I have been dreaming about for years. I don't want to become overwhelmed by planning the perfect wedding.

Sure, I would love for every detail of the day to go perfectly, but I know that may not happen. It might rain, the flowers might be the wrong color, decorations may not be what I envisioned, someone I'm counting on may let me down, and who knows what else may happen that day. But all that really matters is that Brandon and I show up and vow to love each other for the rest our lives!

Also, everyone, literally every person I talk to, says that they don't remember very much from their wedding day...this makes me so sad! I don't know what I can do to keep this from happening, but I am on a mission to figure it out! I want to remember the look on my groom's face as I walk down the isle towards him; I want to remember who is there to celebrate with us; I want to remember what it feels like to kiss Brandon for the first time as his wife; I want to remember what my daddy says to me before he walks me down the isle to the man of my dreams; I want to remember ALL of it!!

Thanks for letting me ramble! I can't wait to marry my best friend!

If you have any advice for wedding planning, please let me know!