A Bridal Shower & Honey Lemon Designs

Last week I had the opportunity to throw a bridal shower for my cute SIL Haley! She's getting married August 9th and I'm so excited! I love weddings.

Pinterest pretty much planned this one for me - Tiffany Blue Lemonade (Blue Raspberry Kool-Aid, Pina-Colada mix and Country Time lemonade), Cake Pops, He Said/She Said and spa-related favors.

 Even a makeshift photobooth!

Fun Anecdote: I was getting a ton of party stuff at the dollar store and the checkout girl is like

"Oh are you having a party?"

"Bridal Shower, yeah."

*She keeps checking me out, I'm just chillin*

"Ummm....?" She holds up the plastic ninja sword I got for the photobooth. "Bridal Shower?"

"Ohhhh. Haha yeah... It's a photobooth prop...."

*scrunches her brow and nods skeptically*


My cute friend Lisa over at Honey Lemon Designs made this adorable print for me to display at the shower and give to Haley for a decoration!

She was great to work with and went through 3-4 drafts to allow me the customization I wanted. She had it completed and shipped to me lightning fast so I had it for the shower on Thursday. I'm planning a giveaway with her for my birthday in October - so get excited for that!

Check out her etsy store for tons of cute prints (it will take you 2 seconds to see all the Star Wars prints and realize why I love this girl).

A Non-Gushy Anniversary Post (You're Welcome)

Today is our 1 year anniversary. This time last year we were cutting the cake, throwing my bouquet, retrieving my garter, cramming into the photobooth with my cousins and sucking down Diet Coke between hugs. The best day of my life.

I'm not going to post the million reasons why I love the Beard. Believe it or not, we talk in person regularly, so we actually share that with one another. The internet doesn't really care.

We are going on a small getaway trip next week, so we just spent our anniversary very low key - attending our new AWESOME ward, watching baseball and making delicious fajitas. A very Holdaway Sunday.

I'm just sharing how amazing temple marriage can be. I feel so safe, happy and reassured that the Beard and I have done everything right and now we can be together forever. Hey, if we made it through the first year, we're good to go, right? That's what they say, anyways. :)

Sometimes, Always, Never - Wedding Rings

The Beard got a new job and has been spending his lunches in the break room getting to know his coworkers. After work yesterday he relayed to me a conversation he overheard at lunch. One of the girls was recently engaged and the girls were admiring her ring. The conversation proceeded as follows:

Girls (collective) - "OMG! sOOOOOooOOsooo pRetTY!!!!"

Engaged Girl - "I told him I didn't want anything too flashy! I figure that in the future, like for an anniversary or something I can get something new and big and fancy or whatever, but for now I really like this simple setting."

Translation: I DO want something big and flashy, but I recognize that I live in Provo, Utah and we're in college and its completely unrealistic. I respect that, and I'm trying to not be vain and convince myself and others that it's fine. But it really is.

Passive Aggressive Friend #1 - "Yeah. I'm really glad you're cool with that. It's really pretty."

Translation: I'm trying to make you feel like you are settling because I'm jealous that you are engaged and I don't want to let go of my dream of a huge glitzy ring.

I don't need to explain to you what the marriage culture of Utah County is like. So you know this kind of thing is regular. Here is my Sometimes, Always, Never for being classy about rings:

SOMETIMES

"Where did he get it?" - Only acceptable if you are close friends, or if you are currently looking at rings yourself. Sometimes the place may indicate price, which is tacky. Also, she doesn't want you getting the exact same ring.

"Did you guys design it?" - Ok if it is a really unique looking ring, or she mentions anything about customization. If it's not custom designed, some girls may feel that you're indicating it is inferior. HE DIDN'T LOVE ME ENOUGH TO DESIGN SOMETHING AS UNIQUE AS I AM!!!!

ALWAYS

"Gorgeous! So sparkly! It looks like a unicorn tear dipped in glitter!" - Compliment it like crazy. Always nice and classy.

"It's so YOU!" - If you can personalize the compliment to her, it's a great way to make her feel special.

"He did such a great job! You're so lucky!" - giving the fiance credit is always super classy.

NEVER

"How much was it? How many carats? Is it real?" - Duh.

"Is that the REAL ring or just like the placeholder?" - Ouch.

"Oh my gosh! I tried that ring on!" or "My cousin has that ring!" - She wants to feel like its the one and only.

"Is this the same one he gave his last fiance or a new one?" "I'm really glad he gave the family ring to you and not his slutty ex-girlfriend." - Now you're just ruining everything.

"I saw that on the WILK board!" - If he really got it from the WILK board, the last of her worries should be a passive aggressive friend.

Thumper taught you that "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all," right? Well the new motto?

"Always say something nice."

This is What Marriage Looks Like:

At least for us.

The Perfect Day

They always say the day will go by so quick that you won't remember a thing.

Well I do.

They always say the day won't be perfect.

But it was.

Bridezillas: The Epidemic

Don't worry. I'm not turning this into a wedding blog, a place to vent or a glorified to do list. You guys know me better than that. So you can keep reading.

It is a prevalent stereotype (and I feel like an accurate one) that weddings induce crazy stress and infect young girls with the Bridezilla virus. As it courses through her veins, her blood pressure rises. Her resting heart rate jumps. Her pupils dilate. The ringing in her ears can not be identified or halted. Paranoia ensues. And that's it--she's at the mercy of Bridezillitis, to be released no sooner than the day of the wedding.

I've been anxiously anticipating my imminent infection and subsequent mutation. [Unfortunately not cool like X-Men.] I knew that if anyone was prepared with skills of planning, comparing, coordinating, organizing, making rational decisions and creating lists like a BOSS, it was me. But that wouldn't save me. That's not the inoculation. Sooner or later it would hit me.

But it hasn't. It should have. Especially with a 2-month engagement and an empty classroom with my name on it waiting for me immediately afterwards. Especially since I'm the least creative, crafty, design-y person you know or will ever know. Especially since I'm only about half way through planning. Why hasn't it hit me? Why haven't I freaked out? Why am I still a "gush geyser" (as Ryan so lovingly calls me)?

At dinner with our friends last night, they asked how the wedding planning was going. I updated them on our plans and remarked how fun it had been. Everything had been falling into place and I hadn't been stressed at all. I was just excited and happy. Then Becca said something that made so much sense.

"There are two types of brides. And only two. There are girls who are excited for and preparing for the wedding, and then there are girls who are excited for and preparing for the marriage."

I would say the second is true for me. I'm definitely excited for the wedding and our party is gonna be BOMB. Seriously. You're all invited, obvs. Don't miss it. But we're getting married for the right reasons and the wedding is just means to an end. That's why everything is just a fun addition. THAT'S THE INOCULATION!!!!!

But really. I meant it when I said this wasn't a wedding blog. This was real inspiration stuff. What Becca said reminded me of a catchphrase used by Brother Goodman, my freshman year Mission Prep teacher.

"Why am I doing?"

Grammatically incorrect (sorry Cristina). Yet poignant. He said that we should always ask ourselves "Why am I doing ___?" That's always stuck with me. Our underlying motivation matters, and the thought really does count. Awareness of our motivation protects us from bad decisions, prevents us from wasting our time, and ensures our maximum satisfaction.

I may have this figured out in the wedding prep sphere. But the challenge will be to continue to focus on what matters. In other spheres of my life, I definitely don't have this principle figured out. Why am I at work? Because I have to be. Because I need to get paid. But it should be because I want to help the Library Administration Office. Because I take pride in my work. Because I want to develop good work habits and skills.

Why am I hanging out with my family? Why am I going to church? Why am I drinking so much Diet Coke?

Why are YOU doing?