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

Wedding Wednesday

Short and sweet today.

I have only one question.

Who wants to finish planning this wedding for me?!?

Life has gotten crazy lately which means planning has gotten hard.

I know one thing,

more than ever I cannot wait for the next 108 days to fly by.

Come on, Mrs. Hodges!

xo,

Shans

Wedding Wednesday: We're headed to Savannah!

Y'all,

my bachelorette party is THIS weekend!

I can't even believe it.

All my bestest girls in one place under one roof

for TWO nights!

My big sis/ MOH is awesome

and set up an awesome VRBO in Savannah.

Here is the house!

In case I haven't spoken to this before,

I LOVE Savannah!

It is such a wonderful city.

Many many many thanks to all my girls for making this trip.

And extra big thanks to my sis and my bfff Lucy

for putting it all together.

SO blessed.

xo,

Shans

Mondays all about me.

1. What time did you get up this morning? Alarm went off at 7:20. I couldn't do it. Decided to wear my hair curly and got up at 7:40.

2. How do you like your steak? Medium Rare . YUM!

3. What was the last movie you saw at the theater? The Campaign.

4. What is your favorite TV show? Modern Family, Kardashians anything, Two Broke Girls, Girls

5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be? Somewhere in the Caribbean.

6. What did you have for breakfast? Does coffee count?

7. Do you wear glasses or contacts? both. 

8. What food do you despise? Raw onions and eggs (unless the are scrambled and COVERED in cheese) 

9. Favorite Place to Eat? I'm not sure I can answer this? I love Italian but our fave little place (Capriccio's closed a couple of years ago). I also love Mexican (we have it at least once a  week). I also love a good salad from Mellow Mushroom. and Gyro from Manny's.

10. Favorite dressing? Ranch on everything but my salad.

11.What kind of vehicle do you drive? Kia Sorento.

12. What are your favorite clothes? Comfy cute dresses.

13. Where would you visit, this weekend, if you had the chance? NYC to see my bestie, Lucy!

14. How many tattoos do you have? None.

15. Where would you want to retire? That is a hard one too! Out in the country with lots of land please?

16. What is your desktop photo? One of my favorites from our engagement session.

17. Where were you born? Charleston, SC!

18. What is your favorite sport to watch? College Football, Carolina and Georgia.

19. How many siblings? One sister, 9.5 years older than me!

20. Favorite pastime/hobby? Spending summer days on the boat. 

21. Coffee Drinker? Yes!   

23. Are you a morning person or a night person? hmm is afternoon person and option. 

24. Do you have any pets? All of you regular readers probably know all about my sweet pups. 8 year old chocolate lab, Buoy, and 1 year old black lab, Botany, who are my absolute pride and joy. Love them to the moon!

25. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? I am going on my bachelorette this weekend!!

26. What did you want to be when you were little? When I was little, I wanted to be a marine biologist and play with the dolphins at sea world. That last until high school probably when I wanted to be Katie Couric/Oprah. I majored in Communication Media Studies and somehow...I work for a law firm?

27. What is your favorite color? NAVY!

28. Are you a cat or dog person? Dog. No question about it.

29. Are you married? Not yet, I will be in FOUR months!!

30. Always wear your seat belt? Mosttt of the time.

31. Been in a car accident? Nothing too serious.

32. Any pet peeves? A few..like mouth noises. I'm weird I know. 

33. Favorite Pizza Toppings? Mushrooms and black olives. YUM!

34. Favorite Flower? I have no idea. Hydrangeas?

35. Favorite ice cream? Ben and Jerry's half baked.

36. Favorite fast food restaurant? Chick-Fil-A!!

37. How many times did you fail your driver's test? One. I still am not very good at backing up in a straight line :(

38. From whom did you get your last email? My boss.

39. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? JCrew.  

40. Like your job? Yes, love it. I learn something new everyday and that is such a wonderful feeling.

Wedding Wednesday: Updated Checklist

Just a little checklist update for y'all today.
Again, I am sorry for being such a poor blogger lately.
Sometimes life just gets in the way!

Things are moving along rather smoothly!
Lots of things crossed off-
the italics denotes almost being ready to cross off
aka things in the works.

Enjoy!

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 ( a process!!)

Find wedding shoes

Find wedding jewelry

Book makeup artist & hair stylist

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

Dress alterations (1 down at least 1 to go!)

Make ceremony programs ( I have designed them!)

Order invitations (All picked out just need to order)

Mail invitations

Book rehearsal dinner venue

Book RD caterer (Duke's BBQ)

Book RD rentals

Buy RD dress

Buy sparklers for send off

Order matches for sparklers

Get canisters for sparklers

Order koozies

Order cups

Buy bridal party gifts ( 1/2 done)

Get date set for bachelorette party
Go on bachelorette (next weekend in Savannah!)

Bridal showers (one down two to go!)

Purchase wedding bands

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."

xo,
Shans