Is It Winter Yet?

I don't think it is. On Christmas it was 50 degrees and sunny out here! That's not exactly what I call Christmas weather. Oh well.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! I sure did! My favorite present this year (aside from getting married)? My parents got me a Burberry wallet! I make a big deal every time I get it out to get something. Johnny got a new cell phone. I haven't heard a peep from him since. He's on it downloading stuff all of the time. He now understands why I'm a Droid fan.

I got a couple of presents this year that have changed my life... get ready for it ...

1) I have owned a Chi for about 4 years and have been content. However, I have always had a difficult time getting my hair completely straight and I never understood why it was so hard to do. It's because Chi's suck. GHD is the way to go. I have never ever ever gotten my hair so smooth and straight on my own. There is only one heat setting (VERY HOT), it warms up in a minute (and beeps at you when its ready!), and it's super lightweight. I will never own another brand of straightening iron again. I got this cool little vintage boho bag with mine for easy and safe storage.

2) This is a Sultra brand hairdryer (the Siren model to be exact). You can buy it at Sephora. I have always had hairdryers that were hand-me-downs from my mom (Revlon or some mass produced brand). I found this one online and asked for it because it helps restore damaged hair while drying it. It uses ions and ceramic and some infrared generator to mend your hair back to healthy. It's all pretty technical. All I know is that this hairdryer dries my hair in half of the time my previous one did and my hair was smooth and silky when I was done. It's a little heavy but so worth it.

After using these two tools my hair looked like I had just gotten it done. It's amazing how good tools can make the biggest difference. It's certainly an investment as both are pretty pricey. Both have good long warranties that include replacements if something should happen.

My mom was taking pictures during our wedding ceremony...

 The Vows. I think my big hair gave me an extra inch...not that I needed it, but I love big hair.

 Once again... AMAZING cake. 

Trying to figure out how to cut the cake...we were so confused. 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

We're Married!

This has been quite an eventful week! I got to pick Johnny up on Tuesday and on Thursday we were married! We had a great time! The wedding was very informal but it was just how we wanted it. After the ceremony we went back to my parent's house for some cake and champagne! Then we went out to dinner with his family. We ended up landing in a really nice hotel that my aunt had booked for the night for us! After an exhausting day we were glad to relax. 

My brother took pictures so more will be coming! Until then here is a little sneak peak.

I took the ones above with my rings and the shoes. My perfect perfect wedding shoes!

We were so clueless when it came to cutting the cake. It was kind of funny. The cake was absolutely amazing. My brother's girlfriend made the burlap flower for it! It was perfect!

My rings! I've had the marquis for quite a long time so the gold is a little bit of a different color than the wedding band! Still love it! 

For Laughs.

I decided to google "ugly wedding" and it brought up some pretty horrible stuff. I decided I would add the worst of the worst so you could enjoy!

This is creepy, even to me. 

I'm really not sure what's going on in this picture. I think they're being attacked by an animal. 

Yes, this is real. This is a bikini wedding dress. How proud their kids will be someday.  

I had to double check that this happened. It did.  

(Silent stare) 

 Fancy.

This picture is so horribly embarrassing! That's her bouquet that's supposed to be hidden.  

Sorry Kim K., this ring is horrible. Who REALLY needs a diamond that big? 

 ...

Fluffy. 

From Russia, With Love. 

Yeeeah... 

The Final Count Down.

In approximately 4 days I will be waltzing into the Pythian Castle and getting hitched. As we come down to these last few days I manage to get sick. All I know is that I am miserable right now and can hardly swallow my own spit. If I'm sick for my wedding I will be mad!

The Mr. and I will be going out to dinner after the wedding and cake with the family. I didn't want to wear my wedding dress to dinner in case I got it dirty. So I went on my favorite website (JCrew.com) and found my wedding night outfit! Best part? All on sale! Like, significantly on sale.

My mom got me this necklace from KateSpade.com. I absolutely love it! In real life it's pretty small and is not as easy to read. It's kind of like a little secret. I love love love it and will never take it off. EVER.

The Dress and a Couple Changes...

I found out yesterday that my dress was in early and ready for me to try on. I was on my way to St. Louis and seriously considered turning around to go get it (not really...I was going there for work). Anyway, tonight mom and I went in with my accessories and shoes! The dress fit PERFECTLY! I couldn't believe that I didn't need it altered at all. I was so happy when I tried it on. The length is perfect, the size, everything! My new thicker sash looks fantastic with it. The only thing I was disappointed about was my veil.

Earlier I mentioned I had gotten a black birdcage veil. This seemed perfect at first. Then I started thinking about how I didn't get a very traditional dress and wearing the black veil made me feel even less like a bride. So when I went in to try it on I looked around for another veil. I was worried since my dress is not white or ivory. The sales person pulled out this absolutely perfect one that was the exact length I had seen myself in and the trim on it matched my dress perfectly. What luck! I could have hugged that lady! I put the veil on and got a little teary... that was it.

This is my veil, only the trim is more of a dark ivory/champagne color instead of white. I'm in love with it!

Next was my shoes. I tried on the black ones I previously mentioned with the sparkly bows on them. I wasn't digging the shoes with everything else. I felt like it didn't match and was too much with the bows. So...I came across these beauties on Nordstrom.com and I had to have them.

Are these not absolutely the most amazing shoes you've ever seen!? I can't wait to get them! They're made by Steve Madden. They also come in black. And I am so wearing these everyday after the wedding.

I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted for jewelry on that day besides my rings and a diamond bangle I have. I found these at David's Bridal randomly and they looked really great with the color of the dress...

I'd still like another bracelet but we'll see. I like things simple.

Well, Johnny comes home in 5 days and the wedding is in 7! I can't wait!

Final Details.

I'm ironing out the final details of the wedding this week as I have time. I don't really have a lot of that stuff (time) but I somehow find planning this relaxing so I have been doing it to unwind. This week I have figured out my hairstyle, makeup, and that I need a cake topper or something. At first I wanted roses on the top of the cake (real ones) but after thinking about it I would really like something special as a keepsake. Sadly for me the kind I like are all hand done so it's a little short notice to be ordering it. Perhaps I'll be able to find something this weekend here in town. Anyway, here is what I have come up with...

 I couldn't figure out if I wanted my hair up or down, messy or perfect. This messy bun is absolutely perfect. It's pretty clean and put together but has the mess added to it. Awesome. I am going for the one on the top part of this picture.

 I love smokey eyes and originally thought that's what I wanted. After purchasing a black birdcage veil I decided adding smokey eyes to that would be too dark. I'm opting for this very simple but glamourous look. Perfect foundation, fake lashes, semi-thick eyeliner, white shadow, nude lip.

 I found this idea on Pinterest and fell in love with it. What a perfect way to keep the cards that family and friends send after the wedding. Just make a cover with some thick scrap-booking paper and put some personal touches on it!

This is the most perfect cake topper ever. They are handmade from this gal on Etsy. I would totally make the male bird brown and the bride bird's flowers to match mine. Sadly, it's too late to order this since it is handmade.

Maybe we will get these for when we have our reception after Johnny gets home. Until then, I will continue to admire them online.