Now that the weddings over......

Since I have a wedding hangover, I'm obsessed with redoing our house. I have 5,0001 things i want to do. For some strange reason, I started with the one that I decided on last minute, and it is an exhausting, loong process---I am painting our cabinets. Since it's a bigger pain in the ass ( I mean process) than I thought, I figured i'd post some pics of our new casa (well, somewhat new, we've been here since Oct.


This is what our living room looked like when we moved in. I love yellow, but this was overkill, and it matched nothing else in the house. So, I got creative, and wanted something different...
(Disregard that weird thing next to the sofa--think it was a seasonal deco, and those brown things bc i made Blake get rid of them....they are the biggest, and most ghetto speakers known to man. I made him get real speakers...ha)

Here is the eat in kitchen thing, and a semi-decent pic of the 2nd color I chose. Now, don't get too used to that stupid table because that is the next thing to go. (glass table=pain in ass to keep clean for super-anal retentive person....) I wish i had gotten pics of the light fixtures before we took them down. God awful ugly is the only way to describe them.

Gah, more freggin yellow. This was the crappy before pic i took, before we painted it greenish.
And here is work in progress....i took out the bottom plates bc i am a messy painted (and from what I have been told since all the cabinet doors are off, that I am super anal, and weird all bc i like things to line up and be in order....geez)
Now, prepare yourselves: the next two pictures are nauseating and quite sickening to view......so those who are sensitive to hideous style, look away!!!

our two hallways BEFORE......

This first one is AFTER i took off 6,004343 layers of hideous borders. WTF is up with the pukey, poopy brown?
I don't have an after pic yet bc we still haven't hung up all the crap we want to yet. but we painted it an almond color. I'll post pics later of it....

After I finish the cabinets (i'll almost done...) i want to stain the deck, and work on the bathroom but first i want to get this TV hung up and replace the stand with something higher. (note, this is Tony, and yes, he is single. Any takers?? he's lots of fun)

So, wish me luck on my first BIG project, and remember, if you are single (i think i might know one or two single girls) or have single friends, Tony is available. :)

Why jenny won't be walking down that aisle anytime soon.....

Jenny my dear, if you want to catch the bouquet, you shouldn't run in the OTHER directions. This picture and the ones im posting are what i have from fam and friends to stare at until we see more from the photogs....this one is just so amusing to me. Especially if you know her..... I can thank Ame for this one....I loved my cake to pieces, and was so sad to cut it.

Remember the blue hat from our honeymoon......greatest speech ever!
Our awesome photog team.....they rock!

Randomness outside the church....
I like this one....look at Blake and Dave, endearing eyes.....lol

Here is your job for the day.....find the bride!

what i learned on my honeymoon...........

Blake and I went to Riu in Ochos Rios, Jamaica. It was beautimus, and the people were beyond nice. We still had fun, even though it wasn't what we thought our honeymoon would be like--and that brings me to the first thing-- this was us on our first day in Jamaica----and basically blake's last.

Always listen to your wife, she is ALWAYS right. Before the wedding, i kept telling Blake to go tanning. Did he listen? NO!

and this is what happened........well, sorry for the crappy sideways pics but his whole body was completely fried after our first day there! He had such a bad sunburn, and was in so much pain, and eventually developed nasty blisters, we finally made a trip to the 'doctor.' well, we go inside, and there indeed is no doctor, but a nurse. We could give them our credit card and a doctor could be called....yes....anyway, the nurse tells him it's bad, and to stay out of the sun. Great. It's our HM we are in paradise, and he can't enjoy it. So, moral of the story is listen to your wife. And don't go to Jamaican docs.

Since Blake couldn't make it to the beach, I went out by myself, I brought the beach to him. (sorry for sideways pic again, i have no idea how to fix it right now....)

I won a bottle of rum by tossing a ring onto it, and oddly enough i was given a coconut too....i can now say that i have drank out of a coconut. sweet.

Notice, how excited he looks, and how he is burnt in an odd way. I think he might have spelt out something with his burn.........

When you ask other people to take a picture of you, random people, make sure you tell them how to work the camera........otherwise you get pics like this because they had the camera backwards.

Jamaican breakfast is awesome....they had crepes--yum, but my three favorites were right here. Fresh mango's, and fried crap (doughnuts, and hash browns...there's fruit so it's healthy)

Here goes the damn sideways pics again, but i need this machine. Anyone know where i can get me one? They make coffee, but the best part is that it makes this mocha thing that is like the bestest thing in the world.

See....even blake agrees!!

In Jamaica, everything is in English---the people that live there are extremely nice. They definitely are more laid back and have the 'no problem' attitude. I bought this and had to give it to blake. it was too cute!

Now, the next lesson is one that we learned on the way back to the airport, we can thank our bus driver for this one. Avoid riding in buses/cars/taxis that Jamaicans drive bc i thought we were going to die! He was driving a bus with about 20 people on it and not only was he on his cell phone, but he also was fooling with this thing, while driving probably 80+..........no wonder we almost got into an accident. (Seriously, he slammed on his breaks and we all screamed, and luggage went flying. He felt the need to report the car in front of him to the police. Apparently, it is legal to drive like a maniac)

So you ask, what movie was so important he had to watch while driving around scared Americans? well, lucky for us, it was more for his listening pleasure than his viewing pleasure.....it was R&B's greatest slow jams. Yes, you heard me right.

Now, this might be a weird coincidence but this was plastered inside of the bus. what do you think of when you think of Bob Marley?

Speaking of illegal things..........

Apparently, this is where you go if you need to purchase them..........

Food cooked on the beach in a giant pan is really really good..... here he is making Paella. Seafood, and rice.

This one has no real lesson other than don't drink and dress up (this hat has a great story behind it and was a part of our best man's awesome speech), maybe ill share it later.....

This salad was scrumptious.....no lesson learned but it was good

Jiggy coffee is not a kind of coffee, well, it kind of it. it's coffee with rum in it--that's why it makes you feel so silly.......

So, your sunburned, its your last day, and you try to make it outside to enjoy your honeymoon. And you wear this shirt........not only is it nice and dark, but it says "Stand back, I don't know how big this thing gets." Makes great jokes for the Jamaicans!

Jamaica really is beautiful........and i found a spot for my new home....

\

Who wants to go with me???

Lastly, one of the most important things i learned, well, it speaks for itself

All in all, it was a blast despite Blake's 'issues', and we got a chance to act like honeymooners. I stole a kiss from Blake while he ha food in his mouth, apparently the janitor thought it was interesting........

Going home sucks........................

It really is like they say.....

I will have to say, that it is true what they all say, it really was the best day of my life. The weather couldn't have been more perfect, and all of my vendors rocked! The Brower's and Meghan went over and beyond....and left looking exhausted (even on Michael's b-day)!!! The ceremony was perfect---i laughed so hard and i choked back tears--i kept telling myself no crying, your falsies (my fake eyelashes) will fall off..... My mom cried like a baby, and somehow i kept it together, even after seeing blake choking back the tears. I was just soooo happy! I was so excited to walk down that freaking aisle...i couldn't hardly wait. It was then that i was like, hmmmm now would have been the time to have a smaller wedding party....lol.

It's funny because i swore that i was going to be a nervous wreck, but somehow i was cool as a cucumber. My flowers were just as i'd imagined, and reception was perfect! Time flew by so fast, even with four hours in between the ceremony and reception we still were running short on time (then again, we got chased out of an abandoned wharehouse by a homeless person and then our trolley barely made it to the reception.......) It definetly makes for a good story and good memories.

We just got back from our honeymoon in the fab Riu Ocho Rios. I will have to go into a whole other post about that.....it was a blast though!!!

I am a wife! I am still getting used to the idea that
a) I am married
b) that im a wife
c) that i dont have to plan anymore......

It's bittersweet...i am so excited that the planning is over, but it's kinda sad. I just want to wear my dress again......hmmmmmmmmm.

here is a sneak peek of some pics. I will post reviews later!

toodles for now!

I am a rollercoaster of emotions....

I am getting married....THIS WEEK! I can't believe it! I seriously cannot believe how time flew. I am happy, excited, nervous, and just plain giddy all at the same time! It's bittersweet because i will miss all the wedding stuff.

I just know that our ceremony is going to be so emotional. Blake admitted to me finally (this is after a year and a half of him swearing up and down that he wouldn't) that he is worried about being able to contain his emotions. He told me that he got teary eyed when we were listening to the organist play! It's why i love him. All of you that know Blake, never doubted in your mind that he wasn't NOT going to cry, but he finally admitted it, and i think it's adorable. I just know that if i see him crying, I will loose it. Hopefully, not enough to loose my falsies (eyelashes that is) LOL!
OH! The limo company called to tell me that our limo bus broke! Yep! BUT---and i say this with utter excitement they are replacing it with this:

Well, not that exact one but you get the idea! I am stoked! We didn't get one before because i was trying to save us money and be cheap, so i am more than happy!

And i spoke with my florist, Rich West, who assured me that my peonies are fine and ready for my bouquet. (He warned me when i booked him that there was a chance that they might not be ready since it happened last year!) I highly recommend him to any brides-to-be!

By the way, please pray for me for NO RAIN. The forecast is very iffy right now. All i want is no rain from 3-7. Please. It can start at 7 or 730 but please don't rain. PLEASE! This is what weather.com says, let's pray it's right. Tomorrow i can get a five-day forcast but who knows, St. Louis weather is nutso!

FriMay 2
Scattered T-Storms
66°56°
50%

66°F
SatMay 3
Mostly Sunny
62°45°
20%

62°F
SunMay 4
Mostly Sunny
69°48°
20%

69°F

With all that has happened to me the last month, I am just so damn excited to walk down that aisle. I might just run....just kidding! I'm not really all that nervous, more excited more than anything! SO FREAKING Excited!

I love my blakey, and soon we are going to be married! WOW! It really is surrel! Next time I post, I will be a married woman!!!!!!

There is a black cloud over me.....

When things get bad, they get worse, huh? I was driving to work this morning, down 270 like i do every morning. Suddenly, i see the truck behind me struggle to stop, and i knew it, i just knew he was going to him me. He did, but what i didn't expect was the second impact---by another car which was 1,000 times harder than the first.

So, it's 18 days before my wedding, and not only do i have hives but now i have whiplash. Both other cars were totalled, and one passenger in the last car had to be taken to the hospital. I luckily drove away. My neck was already starting to hurt, but i knew i had them take me in the ambulance it would be more trouble (and they'd take me to the worst hospital in stl)

The funny thing, and i am glad i am laughing about it (it could be the drugs...lol) but the paramedic who was looking at my neck asked me how old i was. I said, 26! no, wait, 28, i mean 29! Then, he goes, OK...then what day is it? Wednesday. (It's freaking Tuesday!!!) I am lucky they didn't take me away right then and there. Geez. Where did 26 come from? I just turned 29 in March!

Anyway, so i got to work, still ompletely shaken up, and out of it, my white shirt covered in coffee. My supervisor and everyone else basically made me go to the hospital. I have to tell you, that i actually had a great experience in an ER! I know....crazy. They took me right away, and x-rayed me neck and back. They were able to discharge me, and i was sent home! It was great!

This was the worst accident i've ever been in and it really got me shook up. I am thankful that i am okay, and while i might suffer for a few days, everyone was okay! I am getting married, and so excited for that. SO---what can i do...maybe walk around with a few hundred good luck charms, light a candle at church, or donate some money to poor, disadvantaged, crippled kids. I must need to do something, i need some good karma.

Timing is everything......

I swear, I need some good karma. A few weeks ago i started getting itchy. Then it went away and i didn't think much of it. Until, last Monday, it came back with a vengeance. I felt like utter crap since then. I finally got into my allergist on Friday--it's hives! I must be allergic to something, and we haven 't figured it out yet. I need to get some tests run but i am getting married in less than two weeks. SO--he puts me on steroid to knock out the hives. Not working so much.

SO, back to the whole "I AM GETTING MARRIED IN 19 DAYS" thing. Not only does this medicine suck, but it puffs you up. UM--don't people understand i have a dress to fit into?

#2: Blake is at home sick right now with the stomach flu. Awesome--again, bc this medicine lowers your immune system. Just great. I'm not already up to my next in work and wedding crap (not to mention the 9 papers i have due before then)

AND the worst thing about this (well, part of it) is that EVERYONE is saying that its caused by stress. My dr. specifically told me that it is not. It's an allergic reaction. If one more person (and i 've counted today--8 ppl have told me this) i might punch them in the freaking face.

I just have to bitch, moan, and complain because that is all i can do. Any tips on staying healthy?
Other than putting Blake or myself in a bubble. LOL, i did tell him earlier that i needed him to spray the bedroom and himself with Lysol every hour. He didn't like that very much........

I just need some good vibes!!!!!

An open letter......

Dear guests;

Hey, so i spent $1 to mail you an invitation, and even put a stamp on the response card for you. How come you still cannot manage to mail it back? Seriously, is licking the envelope too hard?

Wait? what? You want to know where the wedding is? hmmmmm....well, how about reading the freaking invitation I sent you? If you happen to read it you'd find there is a ton of great information.......



To random people in my life;
Of course i am getting excited.
Yes, i have lots of things on my mind and to do. Stop reminding me!
No, i am not ready yet!
I'd like to think my dress is pretty damn cool. If you want to know what it looks like, well, mail back the response card and come to the damn wedding.
If you didn't get an invite, you probably are not invited to the wedding.

To the groomsmen who have no idea what is going on;
I have told you several million times when the rehearsal is. I will not tell you again
No, you cannot bring a random girl to my wedding.

To my mom,
No, your dress does not make you look fat. Wear it and like it!
No, you cannot invite all your friends to the wedding--unless you'd like to pay for them.
Your stressed? I'm going to pretend it didn't hear that.

To my dear fiancee,
i love you. of course i do, but no, my grandma doesn't like rap.
No, we need more music selections than rap and 80's hair bands.
No, our wedding party is not dancing to 50 cent,


Dear french fries, brownies, and everything yummy,
why must you taste so good. Don't you know that i have a dress to fit into soon? Seriously, just give me one month!

Thanks and leave me alone,
Amy

I wish i could be that blunt all the time, because damn that sure does feel pretty darn good! Anyone else want to sound off?

Since i can't sleep......

I had my first shower March 8th at Villa Antonia Winery in Hillsboro, Missouri. It was a blast! I love my MOH/Future-Sis-In-law for setting it up for me! The wine was amazing! Now, I have to warn you, there was a lot of wine involved (which i still felt the after effects days later....)

Here a closeup of my darling cake!

The monogram matches my invites!
Some of the girls:

Me likey Crate and Barrel:

And me being Vanna:

Then, last weekend I had my hair and makeup trial with Danielle Erb and my Bachelorette party! I definetly felt that the next day!

Before Sake Bomb......

Some of us at the Drunken Fish. Let me warn you fellow brides-to-be....their motto for us is that before you walk down the aisle, you must stumble out of there! I was definetly close......

















Our pimp limo....ha!










My momma...i think she had fun! She is almost 50! Doesn't she look good?



All in all, it was a blast! I love my girls for planning this...especially my MOH! Thanks sis!
My last fitting is tomorrow! WOwZa!

Monday Tidbits

I've been MIA from here for a while! I am trying to keep my head above water!

• Blake started his new job today! WoOT! He was really nervous but excited! I hope it goes well for him! (and i can't wait for the paychecks to start rolling back in! lol)
• The wedding is in 33 days. Yikes! I have had a shower, and a bachelorette party in the time since i haven't posted. I will have to post pics ASAP! Ooooh, and i have a shower this weekend!
• I have become very crabby person lately. I don't know if it's the wedding, school, work or everything. I have stopped putting up with people's bs! We are grown-ups (though i hate to admit) so act like it!
• I want another doggy, but Blake stands firm on saying NO Way! We watched my mom's Yorkie for a week and i feel in love! I am going to steal him back and then hide him from Blake. lol
• Jamaica....here we come! We finally booked our honeymoon! We are going to Riu in Ocho Rios! I am more than ecstatic since we didn't think we'd be able to go on one. I cannot wait. I just requested off today for work and that was a wonderful feeling. No more planning and more more school. Just me, my new hubby and the ocean! I am also excited about the in-room liquor dispensers.
• Crap! I have two projects/papers due this weekend! I still need a PT to interview! Anyone know one?
• I miss the sun. Where did it go? Seriously, i thought i saw it the other day. Which makes me worry about PEONIES! i know weird, but my florist warned me that last year they died because of a late freeze and well, it's not warm yet!
• I am trying to figure out programs and for some reason they have me stressed. I could easily do simple, easy ones but no! My inner Martha says, "that is not acceptable." Stupid Martha!
• Work is definetly gone to the crapper. I have no motivation for anything work or school related. That probably isn't good. There should be some kind of form that you can fill out that excuses you from anything during the last few weeks to your wedding. Actually, better yet, we should be allowed to take a year off to plan it and get paid! It was a good thought......
• Congrats to my dear friend, Jaime! She found out today that she is having a girl! YAY!
• One last thing for today, seriously? How did time fly so fast? 33 days and i will be married. it seemed like yesterday the ring was just put on my finger. Now, i know why all you married gals said to enjoy it while it lasts, because it's gone before you know it! The past 14 months have taught me a lot about life and those in it. It really has and in a way i am happy for all that (even the negative stuff) It really has been a long journey, and there were some really hard times. I am so happy though that in a few weeks, it will be all worth it!

Ok, i'm it!

I was tagged a few times or so! I have been crazy busy so i will post my 7 things...and i am too lazy to tag anyone so if you read this.....YOUR IT!

1. My mom and I have the same birthday. I tell her that I don't owe her any presents because I gave her the best one of all.....am i lame or what? I bring this one up because my birthday was Thursday, and I am still reeling from the depressive fact that i am another year older. My 20's are almost over. That is not cool.

2. I almost died when i was 2 1/2. I was in a coma for a while...and i have a nice scar on my head to show for it. (oh and on my thigh too.) My mom was young when she had me (She just turned 49, and i turned 29) and didn't know about the whole kids can't have aspirin thing. I was sick with a fever on Halloween and later my eyes rolled back in my head. I developed Reyes Syndrome, and a lot of kids don't make it. Luckily, I'm still here today! :)

3. I hate clowns. Enough said. I can thank my grandma for this. Anyone seen Killer Clowns from Outer space? Hmmm...try watching it when you are 5!!!!! I am scarred for life.

4. I love magazines. Love. My obsession is kind of weird. Anything in a magazine form excites me. Catalogs. Anything. Actually, i just love getting mail period. Except bills. Those suck! :)

5. I am in grad school getting my masters and certification in Early Childhood Special Ed. I am so burnt out, and contemplate quitting but i hate not finishing things so ill finish just for that reason. I love my job now, and wonder why i went back in the first place. The sad thing is that before i went back to school, i actually missed it.

6. Speaking of missing things. I still miss college. I love my life here, and i love my friends here but there are times when i would love to go back for a few days or so. I miss my friends that I don't see the most. Email sometimes isn't enough. I have become a huge sentimental sap since leaving college, and i have come to terms with that part of me now. lol. Go tigers!

7. When i was little, I was a big tomboy. I loved to hang out with the boys and get dirty. While I don't mind getting dirty, I am girly girl throughout. I love anything girly--pink, lace, shoes, purses. I love it all. My wost obsession is jeans. I swear i have 6,000 pairs. Well, not really but i have a lot. Hopefully, my ass will get to the gym so that i can fit into them again, lol.

EEEK! Invites in already?!?

Holy moly, talk about fast! I ordered my invites last week, and tada--here already.....

I took a few pics but of course my pic taking skills are way below par, and my camera is craptastic.

Here is the front:

Now that i have these babies in hand, it is really starting to hit home how close it is getting. Most of me is happy, but a little bit of me will be sad when its all over! The funny thing is, what will I do with myself? I'm taking two classses this semester, and working full-time, and planning this wedding in my spare time. Well, when i take the summer off, and the wedding is over, what will i do with spare time? Hmmmm....i might need to take up a hobby. Maybe, just maybe ill have time to read a book, like for fun--NOT a textbook that i am forced to read and makes me want to gouge out my eyeballs. OR maybe i'll enjoy my new hubby for a while! sounds good to me!

Good times...bad times

I have seriously neglected posting lately! I hope to stay more on top of it, but the next few months have basically been planned out for me! I have 3 showers, my bachelorette party, and what seems like a millions papers due! I have had a lot going on the past month or so--life has had its share of good times and bad times lately.....and i think its allowed for blakey and i to grow as people, but also as a couple.

I will spare you all the long, drawn-out drama filled story, but Blake is now unemployed. I know that with the wedding about 2 1/2 months away that this couldn't be the worst time for this to happen. Somehow, I have remained calm, cool and collected. Somehow.

When someone is unemployed, there is a lot of stress, that is a given. While it is scary, since we now have a mortgage to pay, I really think that it is for the best. Blake is one the best people I know. He cares so much about those in his life, and would literally do anything for them. He deserves to be treated with respect, and most imporantly--be happy! this is all for the best! Ok, I am done now! :)

Blake has had a few inteviews already and we think that this whole thing is for the best! It's already so nice to have him home--and without his work phone constanlty ringing! I love it! We have been out to dinner more in the past week than we have in a loooong time!
The wedding plans have been rolling right along! I have accomplished a lot over the past few weeks! Most imporantly I ordered our invites, and they should be here any day now! I cannot wait to see the finished product. Here is the the style, but the colors will be different!



We picked out tuxes too! Blake demanded that he didn't care about the tuxes, and that they all looked the same, but later decided that oh, wait, he really did have an opinion! HA! He picked out a nice little number: black shadow stripe tux.

Ah.....the bridesmaid dresses came in! After a few months, and several bad dreams (in one of them the dresses came in and were hidious--pink, purple and green!!!) Here is a horrible pic of one! I love them! I ordered them through RK Bridal and I will have to say, they turned out great!

I also got my first invite to one of my showers! I am so excited! My MOH arranged for all of my friends to go to the winery in a few weeks! WHOOOO HOOO! I wuv me some wine!