Guest Post – Life’s A Beach

 

Happy Monday everyone! Wow! It’s Monday. Which means I am officially a married woman right now! I am now a Mrs.! I am currently honeymooning! Love!

I want to introduce you all to Nicole from Life’s A Beach! A blogger that I found a couple of years ago and we quickly became friends! I knew when I wanted to set up some lovely posts for you all to read the week I was gone that Nicole would be on that list! I am so thankful that she said yes!

Everyone please give Nicole a warm welcome! Thank you Nicole for guest posting! xo

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The Ride Of Your Life

Hi friends of Lindsay!  Hope all is well with you!  I'm Nicole

and I blog over at Life's a Beach, because seriously don't we all kind of secretly wish we were on one?  No, just me?  Ok :).  I was thrilled when Lindsay asked if I'd do a guest post while she was on her honeymoon which I know she's having a blast on!  So when she asked, I said yes, but asked if there was anything particular she'd like me to blog about.  She suggested Marriage advice.

Hmm... Marriage advice.  I've only been married for about a year and a half, so I may not be the BEST advice giver, but I'll share what I've learned so far.

Someone told me just before I got married that the way you react through wedding planning and especially on your wedding day will set the mood for your marriage.  That right there is a real thinker!

• Planning of the wedding: I was calm, cool, and relaxed {not really how I pictured myself being} and pretty much had everything done fast so the process leading up to wedding day was relaxed.
• Rehearsal/dinner: Other than a bit nervous, I giggled and laughed, and even through my mother in law to be a surprise birthday cake surprise.
• Wedding day: I giggled.  I giggled from the minute I woke up that morning through getting my hair done to the actual ceremony itself.  I giggled all day long.

But don't be fooled... I'm not going to lead you to believe marriage is all butterflies and rainbows and roses.  I think marriage is fabulous, but we have our share of bumps in the road.

Now you may think I'm crazy in saying this, but the bumps in the road actually are a good thing.  They build character.  They help you find your groove.  They help you build a strong foundation.  They teach you to rely on each other when you might not have in the beginning.

A lot of emphasis is placed on the wedding and making sure everything is perfect, but truthfully, place more emphasis on the marriage, because the only person who will know the details of the wedding weren't perfect is you.

And your first year of marriage can go one of 2 ways...

• You can be in the honeymoon phase so it'll be all butterflies, roses & rainbows - and then reality hits like a freight train.......
• Reality of living with someone will hit like a freight train, you'll get over that period and move on to the fun part.

Either way... Marriage is a blast, so just hold on and take every day as a team and run full force at it. Take the good with the bad with the pretty with the ugly, because that's what makes a very well rounded marriage.

So that's my advice.  Life is like a rollercoaster, ups, downs and all arounds, marriage is no different!  Hang on, have fun, and enjoy the ride!

Have a blast on your honeymoon Lindsay!  We want pictures!  And please stop by and say hi to me :)  Thank you Lindsay for having me!

Today, I Marry My Best Friend

 

Today's the day! The day that I have been planning and looking forward to for over a year!

There has been a lot of “Ups” when it came to wedding planning. There were a few “downs” as well but now, looking back, they don’t even matter.

What matters is that today, I get to walk down the aisle to Ryan and finally start our lives together as husband and wife!

The next time I talk to you, I’ll be a Mrs!

xo

I’m Getting Married Tomorrow! Wow!

 

Happy Friday everyone! For me, it’s hard to fathom that today is the day before I get married. How did the days seem to pass by so slowly? Yet, how does it feel like they also flew by?

I feel getting asked if I’m nervous yet. To be honest, I’m a big ball of a bunch of emotions. My dad keeps joking that he’s treading lightly when around me because he knows I am so full of different emotions.

I’m nervous. I’m nervous when thinking about everyone looking at me as I walk down the aisle with me dad.

I’m excited. I’m excited for the day to actually be here! To be able to become Ryan’s wife and excited for what is in store for our lives together.

I’m anxious. I’m anxious of all the last minute details and for everything to go right. Part of me just wants the day to get here already!

I’m scared. I’m scared of the unknown of where life is going to take us.

I’m happy. I’m overwhelmingly happy that the time has come for Ryan and I finally to become husband and wife. I am so happy to celebrate our love tomorrow.

I’m naive. I’m still stuck in the mindset that I'm still a little girl. When practicing walking down the aisle with my dad at the rehearsal on Wednesday I felt I was a little girl playing dress up. Is this really happening? When am I going to wake up from my dream?

I’m humbled. I feel humbled by everyone’s help and support through this whole process. Honestly, we couldn’t have done it without our friends and family. When wedding planning process got hard and excited friend/family member would remind us of what it is really about!

On Wednesday, we had out rehearsal. Although a little chaotic and stressful at times we got through it. We then went to my Mom and Dad’s for a BBQ supper! It was a nice, relaxing and fun evening!

Yesterday morning the decorations for the hall went up! My house looks so empty now without all the overflowing of wedding paraphernalia.

Yesterday afternoon, I got my nails done and got a pedicure! Talk about the PERFECT way to unwind from wedding preparations! Plus, now they look all pretty! :-)

Tonight, I have big plans….I want to do, NOTHING! I want to take a long bath, eat chicken wings with my parents and get a good night sleep!

Tomorrow when I wake up, it will be my wedding day…WOW!

xo

Wedding Wednesday – The Last One…:-(

 

Well first, happy Wednesday! I’m fighting a bit with myself today as to whether or not I am happy that the week is almost over! One part of me is excited that this Saturday is finally the day, I’m getting married!!Another part of me is a little scared. I’m scared at this giant leap my life is about to take! I’m about to become a wife! Wow!

So, even though this is my last Wedding Wednesday prior to the wedding, I don’t think I’m ready for it to be over. I think there will be future “Wedding Wednesday” posts once I get my hands on wedding pictures!

I have to toot my own horn a little bit now. I feel very prepared. My goal while starting this whole process was to get as much done as early as possible. Thankfully, that has worked out. Now, my plans for Friday night? NOTHING. Order food from the local watering hole and chill out with my parents…perfect! I am so looking forward to that last night with them and relaxing.

Speaking of parents, they have been the ones who are stressed. My poor mom gets more anxious the more I shrug my shoulders at her questions. At times she is following me around the office shooting a million different questions at me. I can’t help but laugh.

Tonight is our rehearsal. Woo hoo! I am so thankful that we get to do it the Wednesday before! It really alleviates tension since I am sure there will be lots to do on Thursday and Friday.

Last night, I finished packing for the honeymoon! It was SOO exciting setting out all of my clothes and then putting them in the suitcase! It got me thinking that this will be mine and Ryan’s first time at an all inclusive resort together, fun!

Speaking of honeymoon, I downloaded 3 new books on my kindle for beach time reading. One being 50 Shades of Grey. I have been hearing LOTS of rave reviews and I am hoping it will be the prefect honeymoon book!

 

My going away outfit all set out to bring to the reception hall.

I also got the barnboard signs all painted as well! A small job that I was avoiding doing because of it sucking in of the paint. 20 coats later and you can read what I wrote in paint!

Mr. Weatherman and I are officially enemies! Every morning, lunchtime and supper I check the weather. And every morning, lunchtime and supper he changes it! Chance of precipitation goes anywhere from 10% to 90%. Whatever it will be, will be but I’d just like to know! I hate the unknown!

When I first started this planning process I had an unrealistic idea in my head. That idea was to do a lot of work very early in the wedding planning process so that days leading up to it would be super easy.

As it hasn’t been stressful nor do I feel unprepared, there is still this constant buzz. The buzz around you of people/vendors trying to find out last minute details, trying to think of anything that you could have possibly forgotten and also trying to capture moments before they all pass by too quickly.

Either way, I am SOO glad that I don’t have to worry about programs, seating chats or etc on these final days and I can sit and reflect on the important stuff, our marriage!

Lastly, I’d like to take this time on this last "unwed” Wedding Wednesday to thank you all for reading, commenting and giving advice. It’s been a super fun journey and I appreciate you all following along!

Thank you!

xo

Getting Ready For Wedding Weekend!

 

Happy Monday everyone! Last night, as I was getting ready for bed, I actually stopped mid-tooth brushing to remind myself what had all gone on that weekend! It went by in a blur but it was so full of activity!

Friday night my plan was to snuggle into with a movie and get those wedding favors done. Friday morning, my MOH, Jilly came up the stairs with the biggest grin on her face. You could tell right away she was up to something.

She asked me what I was doing that evening with a giggle. After she told me that I had to come to her house to watch Cocktail with that same grin on her face I knew there must be a shower!

I don’t know how all of my closest girlfriends were able to keep that shower from me for so long but they did, bravo! It was a SUPER fun evening with lots of yummy shower food, gifts and gab with all wonderful ladies who I get to call friend! It was so nice to be able to look around the room at all of the friends, from different stages of life. I am so lucky to have such amazing girls in my life!

Saturday morning I was up WAY too early! Being up at 4 AM on regular work days really screws up your schedule! 5 AM, Saturday morning I was wide awake and ready to start the day! Of course, no one else was so I just had to lay there quietly and watch T.V.

Once the day got rolling, we got the bottles of wine labeled and my car cleaned out from the evening before. By 9 AM, I was beat and while Dad and Ry worked on a construction project. I napped for an hour. I woke up so refreshed and immediately got to work on planting all of my new plants for the year! I am so excited to have them all done so early! With a wedding in early May, my flowerbeds/garden/pots are all in tip top shape for the rest of the season!

One of my potted plants in a new pot from Sarah and Brenda at my shower the night before, LOVE!

I cleaned up all of the soil and then headed inside to get more wedding projects done. One being our family heirloom windows which you can read about on Wednesday.

That afternoon, Ryan and I had to head to the city to get him a new white dress shirt for the wedding! We also picked up stuff for the pool (getting it ready for pool party season!), and then off to supper at the Lonestar.

I actually think this was a random but wonderful idea. Just me and Ry our for supper exactly 1 week before we tie the knot. Let me clear something up for you all. If you think planning a wedding brings you closer to your guy, you are wrong! I don’t think we have ever spend more time apart! But on Saturday we were able to sit, reflect and talk about what we will be doing at that exact moment next week!

And Lonestar does make the best Caesars and fajitas! Yum!

Sunday morning Ryan and I walked to and from church. After church, Mom picked me up and we headed to a bridal shower in honor of my first cousin and friend, Shannon! It was fun chatting with the girls

Jilly holding Tanner

and watching Shan open all of her gifts!

After the shower I got home and got to work on putting all of those wedding favors together! I am very pleased that I was able to finish them all up this weekend! Last BIG project before wedding! Woo Hoo!

For supper, Ryan and I really didn’t want to cook so we opted for Mae’s! After Mae’s we were driving around Quyon and spotted Maddy playing outside. We stopped and we had fun playing with her in the car for a while! haha!

Overall, it was a super fun weekend! It was so full of activity and I was able to get so much done for the wedding! My last weekend as an unmarried women! Wow!

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

xo

1 Week From Today…

 

Holy Moly!!!

1 Week from today I’m getting married!

Can’t wait!

xo

Friday Wedding Randoms

 

Happy Friday everyone! Usually, I am super excited about Fridays…this week I am too but also a little sad that the days are passing by so quickly.

This weekend will be a busy one as far as getting some last minute wedding things accomplished. Ryan and I have this master list (I know, I’m obsessed) and each day of the week up until Monday, has a list of tasks to accomplish. If we complete every item on said list, we will be able to focus next week on the now! Let’s hope it happens!

Some of the things we were able to get done…

WINE – Check

Last week, my brother and I picked up all 168 bottles of the homemade wine that will be used during diner.

We had to bottle it all our selves. I was the bottle cleaner

Jared filled them up

And of course we had to sample the final product!

Love is sweet banner – Check

When I had decided to do a candy buffet I also decided to make something I never had before. A bunting banner!

It was SO simple. With some inexpensive burlap, left over blue ribbon and black paint we have a candy buffet banner! 

Cookie Signs – Check

For the caterer for a special little reception treat….:-)

 

Candy Signs – Check

Speaking of candy buffet, I also decided to make some matching candy tags to identify each kind of candy! Left over card stock from the programs, white printer paper and modge podge! 

Toiletries Baskets – Check

I’ve been to MANY weddings and events that had toiletries baskets in the washrooms. I always love seeing what is in there, especially when I need something! I had fun at the pharmacy picking up items for both the girls and men’s washroom toiletries baskets.

Final Dress fitting – Check

On Tuesday, I went for my final dress fitting. What an exhilarating feeling. When trying on MY dress for the first fitting there was still this disconnect. The thought of it being “my dress” hadn’t hit. Tuesday, while standing in front of the mirror with MY dress and MY veil…it hit me. It hit me hard. This is what I will be wearing on my wedding day, wow! The even better news? I felt great in it! I felt beautiful and still oddly comfortable. Love!

Happy Friday!

xo