Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful.

Thankful that my husband to be was spared of even a scratch

after a terrible car accident yesterday.

As you can see, C's prized possession, "The Garnet Goon",

was T-boned on the way to work yesterday morning.

A little old man ran a red light while cruising along in his little Mitsubishi truck and

just missed C's driver door.

Thank you, God!

The truck is off the the body shop

and C is driving  a rental for the time being.

Love on those loved one of yours every chance you get.

You never know what might happen when you walk out the door in the morning.

xo,

Shans



Engagiversary!

Happy One Year Anniversay

of the day we got engaged

to my Sweet C.

Because I am a lazy bum this morning

(even though I had chocolate chips for breakfast)

here is a recap of our proposal taken straight from our wedding website.

February 14, 2012

I had specific instructions for Coleman.
 Don't even think about proposing on a holiday, how cliche.

What did he do?
Proposed on the most cliche day of the year -- I was surprised to say the least. 

We planned a low key Valentine's dinner at the house
with a trip to Savannah coming up that weekend.

 I came home from work to find Coleman lounging on the couch watching NCIS --

the normal for 5:30 on a Tuesday afternoon.

 We exchanged our cards, I walked the dogs, and I was playing with them in the living room

while Coleman "got the shrimp ready for supper" 

A few minutes later I hear his eager voice holler from the kitchen,
 "hey why dont you come in here."

I did as I was told and there he was,

 on one knee,

with wine and roses,

pulling a little black box from his pocket.

 I am almost positive my heart stopped, and I have no idea what he said after that.

 All I know is that I was squealing like a little girl.

He slipped the most beautiful ring I could ever imagine onto my left hand

and I ran around the house like a crazy person yelling

"WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!"

Wedding Outfits

I hope I have mentioned that for the next 2 months

(yes, exactly 2 months from today, eek)

this blog will be pretty wedding heavy.

Between busy days at work,

my new obsession with the 50 Shades Trilogy,

and well, life,

I don't have much time to think about anything other than April 6th.

Today,  I thought I would share some outfits I have finalized.

Bridesmaids Luncheon

I think I will probably wear my hair down and straight for this function.

Much like I do every day.

With minimal jewelry and probably Jack Rogers.

and

Rehearsal Dinner

Still trying to decide how to do my hair for this look.

Here are my thoughts right now, tell me which y'all like best?

or

This outfit will be paired with my own makeup skills,

minimal jewelry,

and cowboy boots.

After all, our dinner is a BBQ.

Can't be too fancy, y'all.

xo,

Shans

Wedding Friday?

Here is an updated checklist!

Pink means it has been accomplished since my last update.

Italics means it is a work in progress or on my next to do list!

Set a date

Book venue

Book photographer

Book band

Ask bridal party to be in wedding

Book caterer & bar

Create wedding website

Register

Book florist

Shop for wedding dress

Book rentals

Finalize rentals

Take engagement pictures

Select bridesmaid dresses

Select groom & groomsmen attire

Find veil

Book cake baker
Decide on day of coordination

Buy cake knife & server

Buy champagne flutes (on the registry!)

Order save the dates

Send save the dates

Book officiant

Pre-marital counseling

Order guest book

Finalize guest list

Find a reasonably priced videographer

Engagement announcement in Post & Courier

MOB & MOG dress shopping ( mom is done -- still needs shoes!)

Find wedding shoes

Find wedding jewelry

Book makeup artist & hair stylist

Take bridal portraits / hair & make up trial (March 2nd)

Dress alterations

Make ceremony programs ( designed and in contact with printer)

Help mom and sister find RD outfits and Bridemaids Lunchon outfits

Order invitations

Mail invitations (this will be done by the 16th)

Buy stamps for invites and assemble

Book rehearsal dinner venue

Book RD caterer

Book RD rentals

Buy RD dress(LILLY!)

Buy sparklers for send off

Order matches for sparklers

Get canisters for sparklers

Order koozies

Order cups

Buy bridal party gifts (being personalized now!)

Get date set for bachelorette party
Go on bachelorette

Bridal showers (one down two to go!)

Purchase wedding bands (one down one to go!)

Create wedding day timeline

Put together picture list for photographer

Get marriage license

Book transportation from reception to hotel

Pick out RD invitations

Order RD invitations

Address and mail RD invitations

Final vendor payments

Music selections to band

Order thank you notes

Wedding announcement in Post & Courier

Walk down the aisle.
Say "I will."

Writing it out like this makes it much easier for me to see what I have accomplished!

Here is my minimized to do list for THIS weekend:

1. Purchase stamps for wedding invitations and reply envelopes;

2. Begin assembly of wedding invitations;

3. Take my veil to a dry-cleaner to be steamed for portraits;

4.  Possibly purchase Coleman's wedding band;

5.  Watch my mom create beautiful bows for the dogs portraits with me; and

6. watch the Ravens win the Super Bowl! (Fingers Crossed!)

Happy Friday, y'all!

xo,
Shans

Flash Back Friday

I have been digging through old photos the last few days.

Trying to make some selections for our rehearsal dinner slide show.

I could not help but share some of my favorites here.

Enjoy!

ps - I am sparing you the ridiculous photos of C and his friends over the years :)

Claire and I fishing freshman year in the Keys.

Claire and I walking back to our spring break house in the Keys sophomore year.

Actually, walking home from where I met Coleman :)

At some date function, junior year? Must have been Draft-A-Date!

My girls Marla and Claire loving up on C.

Who knows when this was! Some crazy summer day on Morris Island!

C and I at Senior Crown Ball. Love this picture!

Before Senior Crown Ball...

Fishing Freshman year

Claire and I, CofC Graduation May 2011.

C and I at a wedding last March.

ZTA House Girls 2009.

Sometime Senior year.. shooting off the dock at Pon Pon.

Bid day...senior year?

Me, Chelsy, Paige and Alex, CofC Graduation.

What a fun little walk down memory lane.

Happy Friday!

xo,

Shans

Bachelorette Recap

Say hello to a very photo-heavy Bachelorette Weekend recap.

We ventured down to Savannah back in December for a crazy weekend

Friday was low-key as we awaited everyone's arrival.

This included a great lingerie shower and a game that went something along the lines of

"Complete Coleman's Thought.." very interesting.

I am such a lucky girl to have friends come all the way from DC and NYC!

Saturday morning I treated the girls to brunch at the house then we headed out to explore.

Here are all of the girls Saturday morning -- bloodies and mimosas in hand for a walk around the town!

Gotta love having no open container law!

Some random lady of River Street made me this.

Two different rose to represent Coleman and I.

Three hearts to represent our three years together.

Too bad Buoy ate it shortly after my arrival home. Surprise! Surprise!

My girl, PKG and me.

We ran into SO many Santas.

We headed home for our adventures to shower and prepare for the night.

Here I am before dinner.

All of the girls at Garibaldi's. If you are ever in Savannah, I highly recommend. It was delicious!

My seester, MOH, and I!

After dinner we headed to Rocks the rooftop bar atop the Bohemian Hotel.

I ran into this fellow bride on my way in.

Gorgeous view of the river with my sweet friend and bridesmaid, Courtney.

My high school bestie, Lucy, and I at Bay Street Blues, the sketchiest karaoke bar ever.

We never even got to sing!

The highlight of the night, Savannah Smiles, a dueling piano bar!

If you head to Savannah for a Bachelorette this place is a must!

Some crazy friends I made...

who didn't know what soda water was!

Dancing the night away with Claire!

ALL of my girls on stage requesting a ridiculous song for these guys to play.

Making my way up!

It all gets a little fuzzy after that!

Happy Tuesday people.

PTL for a short week.

xo,

Shans

I'm Back!

Well sort of...

slowly but surely, right?

It has been a crazy few weeks/month/ I can't even keep up anymore!

New job!

Wedding on the horizon.

More to come on both of those a little later,

in the mean time, a little bit about why I am starting back today.

To remember that today, three years ago, our family lost someone very special.

My sweet baby cousin Jenni

who I have written about before here and here.

I really think that timing is so funny,
 recently I have seen/ heard about not only one but  two young people fighting her same disease, Osteosarcoma, on national television.

First, the story of Sam Grewe,
 a loyal Notre Dame fan
aired just before the BCS championship game earlier this month.

Sam is just around the same age Jenni was when she was diagnosed.
His cancer appeared in almost the same exact place.

And again, on Wednesday night, American Idol shared the story of Evan Ruggiero.
A one legged tap dancer, dancing his way through remission.

Both of these guys are fighting the same good fight Jenni fought.
They make me miss her even more, but in the same moment, they make me so happy for her.
So happy that these guys are still fighting.
So happy Jenni doesn't have to fight anymore.

Be grateful for your lives and the lives of your loved ones.
Take nothing for granted.
We are all SO blessed.

xo,
Shans