Double Trouble

Double dates are so fun -- any date is fun, but grouping up with another couple adds...TWICE the excitement. Coleman and I try to get together with another couple at least once a week for supper. It adds a little spice the hum drum of supper at home every week night. Usually we try to have a couple over to go to someone's house for a nice home made meal with some added company.

One of Coleman's oldest buddies and his wife live right across the island from us, and it is so nice to get together with them. Meghan is a tremendous help in preparing me for the life that is to come, and she always has the best wedding planning advice! Last night we switched things up a bit and went out for supper instead of having it at one of our homes -- we ventured down the road to one of Coleman's favorite spots (1 of 4 places to eat on James Island) Smokey Oak Taproom. They have great bbq which Coleman loves and a great selection of wheat beers which I love, although last night was $2 margarita night sooo...we can all pretty much guess what ended up in front of me. Tequila!

That's all for now! Beginning an exciting weekend tonight with a Junior League drop in -- I am so excited to finally have the opportunity to get involved in something again. After graduation and life as a Zeta ended, I kind of didn't know what to do with myself. Cross your fingers I will love these ladies as much as I loved my Zeta sisters.

Spring has Sprung

Happy first day of Spring! With a high of 84 in Charleston today, it is no secret that Spring has sprung up in full force, and with it came the pollen. UGH. It is absolutely awful -- woke up with itchy eyes and a tremendous headache -- took allegra and advil, and this headache is still hanging around. I can only pray that this is not a glimpse into what the whole summer will be like. I don't think I will make it! Spring and I are officially in a love hate relationship.

Nothing new in wedding world for now -- cake tasting this weekend. YUM!

Registry Fun

Who knew making a registry could be so fun?!? For a shopaholic like myself, this couldn't be any better. I get to walk around a store with a magic scanner and pick out all of the things I love and all the things I think Coleman might like.

Cake stands, picture frames, monograms galore. Life can't get much better than this. We are currently registered at Pottery Barn, Bed Bath and Beyond, and myregistry.com, which may be the best invention yet. Myregistry.com links all of your registries to one site for items from smaller companies that do not offer bridal registries. There you can find the most beautiful Blue Mare Vietri plates that go right along with my nautical obsession. Check it out -- just visit myregistry.com and search for Coleman and I, April 6, 2013, and you are sure to find us. Simple as that!

Trying to blast through this uneventful Friday at work, and then I'm on the road with dad to St. Augustine to visit Grandaddy, Aunt Brenda, Uncle Jim, and the cousins. It will be the first time I have seen them since Coleman added this ring to my finger, and I more than excited at another opportunity to show it off for the first time -- new manicure in tow and all. Poor Colemy will be stuck on a yacht in Beaufort all weekend -- what a life he lives.

Have a safe and fun St. Patrick's Day weekend!!

Changing things up

The life of a full-time bride to be is a busy one. I have decided for the next year or so I WILL blog more frequently for no other reason than the pure enjoyment of my dear friend, Marla. However, things will be a little different this time around. Small posts updating you on life -- not all of life -- but what I can find time to share. Hope you enjoy!

Growing Up. It's Hard to Do.

College degree. Check. Full-time job. Check?

Somehow it happened. I grew up, and it seems like it happened over night. Six months ago I was busy with date parties and shopping. Today, I am busy with planning meetings and keeping my desk clear. Where did the time go? Better question yet.Where did my youth go?

I graduated from college in May. In June I became a nanny. I spent two months supervising play dates and making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. July rolled around, and I decided it was time to hit the job search hard. I spent several nights a week combing through online job listings, perfecting my resume, and writing cover letters. I landed a couple of interviews, and thank God, I finally landed a job.

Two weeks ago, I began my first full-time job working as an administrative assistant for a non-profit in North Charleston, South Carolina. I am honored to have been selected for this position, but it still seems like I am dreaming. I swear I am just a kid, but somehow I have opened my eyes, and I have found myself living with my boyfriend, bringing home a paycheck and paying bills. What? Who am I? Where has my youth gone?  

Last weekend, three of my best gal pals from my college years came in town to visit. We have scattered all over the East coast since graduation, and this was the first opportunity we had to get back to our old selves. We headed downtown to our old stomping grounds. We had some dinner, and more importantly we had some two dollar drinks before meeting up with my better half and some of his friends for a night on the town. We dropped by a gas station we frequented in our younger years to pick up some brews for the boys, and well for us too. It was there that I entered into one of the most entertaining conversations I can recall.

As my girl, Chelsy, and I approached the counter with our post-grad appropriate purchase of Mich Ultra bottles, we began ranting about how we had become old hags over night. I’m assuming the fine young lady behind the counter could not help but listen in on our rants. When she carded me she said in the most serious of tones, “Girl, you’re only two months older than me, and I got three kids at home. I know how you feel.”

Excuse me, ma’am? You may think you know how I feel, but I can assure you I have no idea how you feel. I have grown up a little bit, and it does suck, but I cannot begin to imagine what it is like to be in this woman’s shoes. Sure, maybe now I buy Mich Ultra instead of Four Loko, but at least I am buying beer and not baby formula.

I have come to the conclusion that I am not quite there yet. I am still growing up. I have entered the work force and the nine to five slump, but I do not have three children, and I certainly do not plan on having any for quite a while. In the mean time I will enjoy my weekend reunions with my best gals, and I will relish in my college years when life was simple.

Life.

    Sometimes life sneaks up on you without you even noticing.

And it brings with it whatever it pleases.

The good, the bad and the scary.

It has its own plans, and it won't bother consulting your schedule.

It doesn't give a damn what you think about it.

     I was living life according to my own schedule. I had everything planned out,

and I was checking things off my to-do list.

 I was at my annual GYN appointment when all of a sudden everything stopped.

The doctor's hand stopped. My world stopped.

 Life stepped in and took over without ever giving me a chance for rebuttal.

     I never thought my boobs were that great,
but suddenly this doctor couldn't get his hands off of them.

 I couldn't remember the last time I had gotten so much action in such little time,

 but everything was happening so quickly.

Before I knew it I was making appointments with experts at the Medical University for the following week.

     I was in shock.

 I walked out of the doctor's office.

I took a seat behind the wheel of my car, and the first of many tears began to fall.

    

    The doctor had found a lump, but they were convinced it was just sign of a period on the horizon, and I was told to come back in two weeks. Everyone was certain I was far too young for this to be anything serious. Who has ever heard of a 21-year-old with breast cancer anyways? I went back and the enemy was still there -- hanging out right above the left side of my rib cage. They passed me along to the next set of doctors and the next set of hands.

    In a closet-sized dressing room, I am wearing a pink ribbon-robe,

and I am waiting for another round of cold-wrinkly hands to give my boobs a feel.

 A nice lady finally rescues me from my thoughts, and she escorts me to my ultrasound.

An hour passes by, and a weight is lifted from my shoulders and my chest.

     After four doctor appointments and hours of poking,

 it was determined that I am a victim of “lumpy boobs.”

 The ultrasounds showed no need for concern.

I'll take lumpy boobs over cancer any day.

Tears fell again, but this they were tears of joy and tears of victory.

My boobs told life who was boss, and now we are on a mission to not let her get in our way again.

xo,

Shans

How Jenni Got Her Wings

I was 16. She was 14. She was the youngest of four girl cousins all born within two years of each other. For as long as I can remember it was the four of us against the world, or at least against the Davis family. We were a tight-knit group, and I didn't think anything could tear us apart. The four of us always had a special bond, but I could have never guessed how Jenni would change my life.

Her dad called his six siblings for a family meeting at his house. It was an emergency, and we were to be there as soon as possible. I was shopping online for prom dresses, and I remember being annoyed as my mother dragged me away from my laptop. When we arrived  my mother's siblings were  standing in the yard with pale faces, and I immediately knew  bad news was on the way. I can't even remember what happened in the next few hours that we spent together. All I remember is that Jenni had cancer.

Oseosarcoma, or bone cancer, had attacked her knee. After and second, third and fourth opinion all we could do was hope that they had caught it in time to save her. The next few years were full of ups and and downs. The Medical University of South Carolina became the young girl's second home, and our entire family was filled with uncertainty. I still think the three of us were effected more than anyone. She was our baby cousin. We had treated her like our fragile child since we could walk, and now she was fighting a life-threatening disease. There was nothing we could do to help her or to ease her pain. All we could was be there.

The first two weeks of January 2010 were hell. Jenni had been through every treatment possible  on the East Coast, and the doctors finally said there was nothing left that they could do. She made it to her 18th birthday and  through her senior year of high school. She fought harder than anyone could have ever fought, but the fight would be over soon.

She moved from the hospital bed to her bed at home, and hopsice wasn't far behind. For three weeks their home was filled with friends, family and food. All were waiting around for something to happen and praying for that something to be a miracle. Jenni Shae Davis passed away on January 18, 2010. She was 18-years-old, and the most amazing person I have ever met. In the four years that she battled cancer I never once saw her cry, and she was always making me laugh, even the last time we spoke.

I will never forget the perfect baby cousin I was blessed to have for 18 short years, and although we may not have gotten the miracle we were all hoping for, I say we are all pretty lucky to have ever known her at all.