In Honor Of Our One Year Wedding Anniversary

Yesterday, October 6 was the Murph and my one year wedding anniversary so we obnoxiously posted all our wedding pictures again on our facebook pages. It was so much fun reliving all the memories.

Today I will be obnoxious once again by re-posting our wedding pictures here on my blog. The photobooth pictures were fun. I still enjoy looking through them.  We have crazy, fun friends and family who will do just about anything! My bestest running buddy, Little L, even agreed to wear a bridesmaid dress although she told me in no uncertain terms that she was too old to wear one. I had her beat though because I'm older than her and I had to wear a wedding dress.

Hey, you're only as old as you feel, right?

I feel great by the way! Better than I did in my twenties or thirties.

I can't believe it has already been an entire year since the wedding. We have had such a fun, busy year too. There have been many changes and many more coming with the new job and the big move.

So exciting!

I sent off my wedding bouquet and the Murph's boutonniere to have them preserved and put in a shadowbox last October right after the wedding. Here it is a year later and I just got an email from the company I sent them to saying the flowers were about to go into "paintshop" or something. It has taken so long to get them back that I am expecting an amazing and awe-inspiring work of art.

Asperger's From My New Husband's Perspective

I tried to convince my husband to do a guest blog post for me on his perspective of Asperger's and what it's like to marry someone who has a child on the autism spectrum.  He had never even heard of Asperger's or been around an autistic individual until he met my son.  I felt he could give some advice or pointers or something to help other step-parents coming into a situation with an autistic child.

The Murph didn't think it was such a good idea.  The conversation went something like this:

Me:  I want you to do a blog post about how you feel about Asperger's and how you've learned to deal with the Boy and his Asperger's and any pointers or advice you may have to contribute to help others.

Murph:  I have no advice or pointers to give anybody.  I don't even know how to deal with the Boy myself.  I STRUGGLE to deal with the Boy.  His personality is not so pleasant most of the time and I don't know how much of that is Asperger's.

Me:   I've told you most of it is because of his Asperger's and he's really NOT that bad!

Murph:  Yes, but I don't know how much of the meowing and biting and pulling your hair and following you around is Asperger's.  I don't think all Asperger's kids do that.  Not to mention at the wedding when we were trying to take pictures before the ceremony and he decided he was hungry and wouldn't leave you alone.

Me:  That was Asperger's.  He has no filter.  I should have made sure he ate something before I left to get my make up done.  (The Murph cringes at this because it was my wedding and the Boy is old enough and able to feed himself)

Murph:  I do see that there are varying degrees of Asperger's and autism and not everybody is the same.   Some are different than others.  I do see that.  When I first met you and you told me your son had Asperger's I didn't know what that was.  I told my sister-in-law that your son had Hamburgers or something and she said "Oh no!  You mean Asperger's!  That's what so and so has! ( so and so is a son of a cousin)"   All I could think was, oh no, because so and so was a strange, weird kid and I wouldn't even let the Girl get around him alone.  But like I said, he was different from the Boy.  Maybe the difference is medication or parenting or just other things he has besides Asperger's.  I will also say that whenever the Boy is around you that you change and not in a good way.  You change whenever he's around.    My only advice to people is that you really have to love the mother and then you will be able to put up with just about anything.  And I do mean ANYTHING!

Me:  I guess  I do change a little bit when he's around.   Just like you did on the wedding day the first time you had to deal with getting the Boy moving since I had already gone to get my make up done.  You looked stressed.

Murph:  I was just frustrated because I told him to get his tux on and we had to leave and he still wasn't ready to go and I had to get to the country club to get pictures and only had 15 minutes left.  Then he kept asking "Where's my mother?" over and over and when he finally saw you, he attached himself to you and decided he was starving to death and we were trying to get pictures done.

Me:  Well, that's me.  I get frustrated.  And he's in my personal space and I've been trying to teach him about personal space since he was about 4 or 5, but it still hasn't sunken in.  I get stressed when he's meowing and biting me and pulling my hair in my personal space.  When he has appointments that I have to get him to then it gets even more stressful.  I think you get it now.

And that's how the conversation went and that's about as close to a blog post as I can get from the Murph!

I will say that when I first met the Murph, I had very low expectations of his acceptance of the Boy.    I warned him more than once that he should think twice before he started dating me (he disagrees with this).

 I tried to explain to him that my son had Asperger's.  I tried to explain what life was like with a child who had Asperger's.  Even though at that point, the Boy was finishing up his Junior year of high school and things had become increasingly easier over the years, it was still stressful.

I didn't know if the Boy would be going away to college or staying home and going to a two year college.  I didn't know if he would even get into a four year college.  Heck, I didn't know if he was going to graduate from high school the next year.  I thought if he did go to a four year college that I might have to move with him because he would need me close by.

Things could have gone any number of ways.  That's the thing with autism.  You just don't know.  Things will get better, but then worse and then better again (you hope).  You think you've conquered something and then there's a backward slide.

I'm tough so I can handle it.  I didn't know how tough the Murph was though.

I've been happily surprised.

Back then the Murph assured me that he could handle whatever came our way.  That he would be there to back me up with whatever I had to do to help the Boy.  So far, we've been lucky and the Boy has taken off on his own and is doing well in a four year college and is living on campus.  He's doing better than I could ever have imagined.

I have the Murph to thank for that.  I could do it all on my own if I had to, but I'm glad I don't.   I did do it all on my own for several years as a single mom, but it sure is good to have a partner that is supportive.  I wish he could have been there with me through all the IEP meetings at the school and all those times I had to deal with the Boy's dad who seemed to be against me instead of for the Boy.

Or that time when the Boy was 10 and called me a "bitch" because I was trying to make him clean his room so I "threw" all his toys away and he didn't even care because he had paper clips and other random office supplies to play with.

I'm glad the Murph doesn't think the Boy is as weird as so and so, whoever so and so is!  And that he cares enough to know it's Asperger's not Hamburger's and that everyone on the spectrum is different and unique.

I did warn the Murph that I have a weird kid, bad cats and an obsessive triathlon habit, so he came in with his eyes wide open.  I even included that line in my wedding vows, although I changed "weird" to "teen-age" because I didn't want to give the Boy an excuse to act weirder than his normal weird.  He would've taken that and run with it.

Weird is the new normal for the Murph and personally I think he likes it better.

Our Wedding Feature In Alabama Weddings Magazine

The 2013 Winter issue of Alabama Weddings magazine is finally out and our wedding is one of the real weddings featured in it.  We were very excited when Inverness Country Club asked if they could use our wedding in the magazine feature.

Our First Christmas Card

I'm so excited because we received our Christmas cards yesterday.  I downloaded our wedding pictures to Shutterfly and designed these cards with some of the pictures.  I am very pleased with the way the cards turned out and with a discount and free shipping, the cards were extremely reasonably priced.  I also got matching return address labels.

Our very first Christmas cards as husband and wife!

Today I will be busy addressing them so we can send them to our sweet family and friends.

They weren't allowed to come to the wedding because of "behavioral problems,"therefore weren't in any of the wedding pictures, but I included our three furry feline children in the Christmas card too.  Of course!

Hang Loose! Photo Booth Wedding Guest Album

The Murph and I decided not to have a traditional wedding guest book for our guests to sign.  Instead we rented a photobooth from Cool Shots Photobooth complete with some really cool props.  Our guests could take as many pictures as they wanted and keep one copy and put one copy in our photo album guest book and sign.  We now have some really funny shots to remember our guests and our wedding.

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

Art Deco Flapper/Slave Bracelet designed by

Rose Of The Mire

It is traditional in a wedding for the bride to wear something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.  I'm not saying that I didn't think about what I could wear in each of those categories, but I will say it wasn't my top priority.  This wasn't my first wedding and since I did follow all the traditions in my first wedding and well, see where that got me, I was a little skeptical and not at all concerned that I was in my wedding gown about to leave the bridal suite for pictures and didn't have anything blue or borrowed.

My something new and something old was easy to find.  For one thing, my dresses were new as was my shoes, necklace and earring.  For the something old,  I found an Art Deco Flapper/Slave bracelet on Etsy designed by Rose Of The Mire.  It is made with antique crystals making it my "something old", but also my "something new" as well since parts of the bracelet are new intermixed with old.  I loved that!    I also loved that it was one of a kind and there are no others like it.  The minute I saw it I knew I had to have it.

We had a jazz band playing during the cocktail hour of the reception.  I wanted something jazzy to wear during the wedding, but didn't want to wear a flapper style headpiece in all the pictures.  The flapper bracelet was a perfect compromise.

My Matron of Honor, the former Running Nazi (that's another post!), was concerned that I had nothing borrowed or blue so she took the opal and diamond ring she was wearing off her finger and handed to me.  I knew it would be useless to argue with her that it wasn't necessary, but tradition is tradition and I have to admit I was more than a little relieved to have something blue and borrowed on me.  No need to tempt the fates!

The opal ring that her father had given her before he died was beautiful!  I slid it on the hand with the antique bracelet and I have to say, it was perfect.  I had something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue all on my right hand.  On my left was my engagement ring with one of the bands we had purchased.  The Murph slid the other band on top in the exchange of rings part of the ceremony.  Now my engagement ring is flanked by two bands designed specifically for my ring, engraving and everything.  Perfect match!

Here is me wearing the antique flapper/slave bracelet and opal ring during the ceremony.

I am hoping to get some clearer shots of the bracelet in the professional photos.  It is definitely a statement piece that stands out.

Art Deco Flapper Bracelet/ Slave Bracelet
designed by Rose of the Mire

Not to mention GORGEOUS! 

Back To Normal After The Wedding

The house is back to normal with just the Murph, me and the cats.  We drove the Boy back to school yesterday and dropped him off.  It was eight hours round trip, but not too bad.  He seemed ready to get back to school.  It really has worked out great this semester as far as getting his meds refilled.  Since he's been in school, we have seen him about once a month in time to refill meds for the next month.  Now he's good until he comes home during Thanksgiving.

The Murph dropped his dad off at the airport Tuesday to fly back to Philadelphia and then drive on to New Jersey.  I know he was ready to get back to his usual routine.  He had to get dialysis twice while he was down here and not too thrilled about the new unfamiliar place he had to go to.   I don't blame him.  We were just so happy he and his companion made the trip to attend our wedding.

The Murph's brother and family drove the 15 hours here from New Jersey.  They left bright and early Monday morning setting the security alarm off in the process.  I was really kind of surprised that that was the only time the alarm was set off with the number of people in the house.  Most mornings the Murph and I were the last ones to go to bed and activate it and the first to wake up and disarm it in the morning.  Murph's brother (the other Murph) was one minute ahead of us Monday morning and set it off before we got up.

It was one of those times when just a few minutes before the alarm, we could hear footsteps walking around upstairs, they were getting ready to leave.  The Murph and I usually sleep sans clothing, but I stayed in my pj's the night before since we had a houseful of people and we were in the office on an air mattress with the door open.  The Murph realized I had pj's on and had just asked me why I had my clothes on.  I had just explained to him that I didn't think that under the circumstances that it would be a good idea to sleep nude.  

The Murph, of course, was nude and didn't care, when all at once the alarm starts blasting.  The Murph can't get up without running streaking naked through the house, so he tells me to RUN, go turn it off and HURRY!  Before it woke up up the entire neighborhood.  Murph's brother (the other Murph) was already heading toward us saying maybe we should have come up with a plan the night before.

Good thing I had my clothes on!  I turned the alarm off as The Murph struggled into his pants, just in time to answer the phone from our security company.

The Murph's dad and companion didn't budge.   They didn't hear anything.  

On the way down to Birmingham, Murph's brother (the other Murph) ran over a skunk, so the entire time they were here, their automobile smelled like skunk.   I didn't get near the car to notice, but The Murph did a few times.  I hope they were able to avoid skunks on the way back north.  I don't usually see very many of skunks down here.  Mostly just deer and raccoon with an occasional armadillo.  They a least make for cleaner smelling road kill.  Temporarily, at least.

The house is too quiet now!

Less Than 2 Days To Go!

We have less than 2 days to go before the wedding.  Actually by the time I publish this post it will be 1 more day to go before the wedding because it's almost midnight here.  I'm exhausted!

Today we have been getting the house ready for guests.  The Boy was suppose to be home by 6 pm and get his hair cut.  He and his friend had car problems in the middle of nowhere and it put them behind almost 5 hours getting home.  A belt broke in the car and they had to find a repair shop.  They were still almost 4 hours away so there wasn't an easy way for me to get to them.  Luckily, they were able to find help and get the car repaired and be on their way home.

The Boy got home at 11 pm.

While all that was going on, The Murph and I went to pick up family members from the airport.  The plane was almost an hour late, which we didn't find out until we got there.  They finally arrived and we made it home before The Boy got home.

Tomorrow is another busy day.

I had to reschedule The Boy's haircut for tomorrow morning.  I have to get a manicure too.  And the tuxes have to be picked up.  The rest of the family is arriving from New Jersey.  The rehearsal is at 4:30.  Then the family is coming to the house for dinner.  We decided not to have a rehearsal dinner.  Just regular dinner at the house, very casual so my family and the Murph's can get to know each other and my mom can get her dress.

Another exciting thing that happened today is that our wedding might be featured in Alabama Wedding magazine.   The director at the country club where we are having the wedding, called us today to ask us if that would be okay.

Of course we said, "Yes!"

Now that family has arrived for the wedding, it's made me realize this is it!  No more waiting or planning.  It's time!

I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do

I love ABBA!  Dancing Queen has always been one of my favorite songs from them.  I came across this song in my search of wedding ceremony music.  I love it!

Today when I signed into the knot website, it showed "only 3 more days" until the wedding.  I don't know why, but I panicked!  Then I realized that on our TO DO checklist on that same site, we have checked off 171 items and only have a mere 8 to go.

What a relief!

I got so much done today.  This morning we had our final dance lesson for our first dance, then I headed over to get my hair colored and had a trial wedding hair run.  Then I headed over to alterations to have final fittings on my dress.  They are perfect and wedding ready.  I picked up my mom's dress too.

Then I went ahead and got a pedicure, but am waiting until tomorrow or Friday for the manicure.

While I did that, after the dance lesson, the Murph went to get measured for his tux and then took the swizzle sticks and the final payment with the final head count to the country club where we are having the wedding.

And best of all, The Boy called today to ask me how I wanted him to get his hair cut.  Since he really wanted to have his hair cut by his usual girl here in Birmingham, I called and made him an appointment for when he gets home tomorrow.

What luck!  She is available tomorrow evening to cut The Boy's hair.  And he's willing to do it, no fights, no problems, just like that!  I never thought I would ever get to this point with him.

Thank you Lord!

Five More Days Until The Wedding!

Five more days!  I can't believe it is almost here.  It seems like this wedding thing has been a part of our lives for over a year and 1/2 now.  We set a firm date in July and really had less than three months to line up vendors and plan everything, but it all seems to be falling into place.

This is going to be a busy week with hair, makeup, nails, final fittings in my dress, etc.  The Murph still has to be measured for his tux, but the groomsmen have been measured.   The bridesmaid dresses are all set.  We are still waiting on the wedding programs.  I'm getting a little worried about that because we were suppose to get it Friday and we went by the place today and he said we would get the proof sometime today.

We still haven't gotten it!

I get a little high from the fumes every time I walk in that printing shop.  I can only imagine how many brain cells have been destroyed in the guys that have worked there the past 20 years.  I LOVE the ink smell though!

I still don't know how I am going to fit in a hair cut appointment for The Boy.  He hasn't had one since last Spring.   Yes, it's going to be bad!  The wedding photographer told me to just get a ribbon in one of our wedding colors, pink or gold, and pull his hair back with it.  I think she was joking, but I may have to do that because I only have a day a 1/2 between when he gets home and the wedding to do it.  He's already told me he's not, but I can be very convincing.  He can also be very stubborn.

A gold ribbon would match his tie and vest...

Wedding Plan Update

During our beach trip last week, we stopped by the liquor store on our way home.  Florida has a much lower tax on liquor so we decided to load up for the wedding while we were down there.    Even though we have an open bar for the actual wedding reception, we found out that doesn't include champagne.  That's what's in the boxes, champagne for toasting, not Jack Daniels.  Although you could probably get some very entertaining toasts if you use Jack Daniels, I'm a little more traditional.

As you can see I had a little furry visitor on the table exploring as I was trying to take pictures.  He was being very stubborn and not wanting to get down even though he knows the dining room table is off limits.

A little tail in this picture pointing at the Beefeater Gin box.

A little tail still seeming to point at the Beefeater Gin box.

Finally deciding to jump down now that he's within arms reach and he knows I'll get him.

Ed's checking out the other box that's on the floor.  Ed would never disobey the rules and jump on the dining room table.  He has better manners than Cadence.    This box had various other liquors, for the house since we will have a houseful of family members all weekend, including a brunch and a bar-b-que on Sunday after the wedding.

The house is still a mess and the carpets need cleaning, but we're prepared liquor wise.

I took pictures of my dress to the bakery that is doing the wedding cake.  She is going to match the sparkly design on the top and bottom of the dress to the top layer and bottom layer of the cake.  While there, I took advantage of the opportunity to purchase more cupcakes.  I got an assortment of different yummy flavors.  The blue one is still my favorite.

The bridesmaid dresses have come in and are the perfect fuchsia color.  My favorite color.  I love them!  I gave the Running Nazi her dress when I ran with her yesterday so she could get it altered if needed since she never gave me her measurements.  I don't know if she liked it or not even though she said she did.

 The Murph is now calling tux places so he can get measured for a tux.  We weren't able to get The Boy measured for a tux while we were in his college town and he won't be back home until right before the wedding.

Fortunately, since my ex husband (The Boy's father) just got married in May and The Boy was in his wedding, we were able to call that tux place and found out that they still had The Boy's measurements on file.

Yea!  Problem solved.  Now if we could just convince The Boy to get his hair cut.  He refused to get his hair cut for his dad's wedding.  That was almost 4 months ago and he still hasn't had a hair cut.  At this point I could just loan him a sparkly pony tail holder for the wedding.

Also, since the tux place is a nationwide chain, The Murph's brother, who lives in New Jersey, can get his tux at the same place.

Now we have to finalize everything with the music, florist, officiant, etc. and finish writing our vows.

If Something Works, Don't Change It!

A few weeks ago I was out of my Obagi C Rx products that I use every day, so I went to Sephora and bought some Philosophy products that I was told would work very well.  You may remember that blog post here.

Well, while I did notice some firming and reduction of wrinkles, my face also started breaking out very bad.  My skin tends to be oily and apparently one or more of these new products was clogging my pores.

When I went to get microdermabrasion last week, my aesthetician took one look at my face and pretty much told me what I already knew...  it was a clogged mess!  Collagen breaking down and everything.

She told me I needed to immediately go back on my Obagi C products, not C Rx but the heavy duty Obagi Nu Derm shown above.   Since I am still anti-nu derm products because of the sheer number of products you have to use everyday ( I mean look at them all!), I agreed to go on them after the wedding.  Maybe.

She agreed that since I was accustomed to the Obagi C Rx system and it worked really well, that maybe I should stick with that system.  She also added the Retin A product that is key to building collagen (which she said mine was breaking down) and to clear out pores.  She reminded me 2 dozen times that my use of it was not protocol, but since I had used it before and made my own protocol, that I should be fine to use it temporarily outside of protocol.

She spent so much time doing extractions that I didn't even have time for a full microderm facial and am going back twice more before the wedding.  She assured me that my skin would be cleared up and in good condition by them.

I gave the Murph all my Philosophy products and he's been using them.  He has dry skin and has had no problem with then like I did.  He likes them.

I guess I learned my lesson.  Obagi C products do great on my skin without clogging so I better stick with what works.

In Search of Mother of the Bride Attire with my Mom

Bridesmaid dresses have been picked out and ordered so yesterday was all about the mother of the bride dress.  I picked up my mom at her house yesterday and we went shopping.  Our second stop was a bridal shop in Birmingham, AL called The White Room.  I went there over a year ago to look at wedding dresses, but ended up purchasing my dresses in Charleston, SC.

The White Room does have beautiful dresses from many of the top designers.   They also carry mother of the bride dresses which was our goal yesterday.  After trying on several different styles, my mom decided on this one by Kay Unger.  I think it is beautiful and she looks great in it.

She also tried on several at David's Bridal and they had a good selection, but ultimately this was the one she liked best.  It has a jacket that goes with it.  The jacket is important because it is August here in the south and she was freezing whenever we went inside any store.  Even I wasn't that cold and I get very cold in air conditioned buildings.  I told her she should get her iron levels checked.

Anyway, the jacket is tweed so she will be very warm at the wedding if she wears it.  We were unsuccessful at finding shoes.  She likes low heels and it seems like all the shoes were flat or very high heel.  I love high heels, but that is not going to work for her.  We plan to look again tomorrow.

Cadence obviously approves this style.  My mom said I should give him treats.  I say he needs a spanking for chasing Ed under the couch!

My mom is such a good sport.  Not once did she point out that I should just go to the courthouse and get married since this was not my first rodeo and the first wedding was big with dresses, flowers, receptions, rehearsal dinner stuff and everything.  I'm sure she remembers that bill.

Well, maybe once she told the girl at The White Room that she wished I would just elope.  She laughed when she said it though.  My brother and his wife just went to the courthouse to get married and they've been married forever.  They were easy.  I have always been the difficult one.

I'm also a terrible romantic, but having a small wedding with our closest friends and family is actually the Murph's idea.  I agree 100% though!  This may not be our first wedding, but it will be our last. The Murph and I feel the same way about that.

Tomorrow it's wedding cake tasting time and my mom turns....   "29".  She probably wouldn't like it if I posted her real age out here, but let's just say she is starting a new decade so this is a very important birthday!  We were going to give her a big surprise birthday bash, but she found out and vetoed it so we are taking her out for a special birthday dinner Saturday and tomorrow more shopping for her and cake tasting with me.

I am really glad she agreed to go with me to the cake appointment.  The Murph is totally uninterested in cake!  He doesn't even know why we need one.  I told him I really don't know why either, but you just do.  You have to have some kind of cake.  There would be a riot among every guest over 40 without cake!

Products - I'm Addicted To Sephora!

I went in Sephora the other day looking for something to firm and tone my skin and get it wedding picture ready.  I can't get out of that store without spending a ton of money on products.  I am addicted to products!  Below are a few of the things I purchased.  Three are new ones I'm trying out.  One I have been using for a while.

The sales associate at Sephora recommended Philosophy's When Hope is not enough.  The name says it all!  I dab it on my face every morning after cleansing.  I can already tell a difference.  I am using this in place of the Obage-C serum I usually use.  I like the Obage-C, but I have been using it for years and I felt like my skin needed something different for a little boost.

To find Philosophy When hope is not enough click Here.

I substituted this Philosophy Help me for the Obage-C cream I usually use.  It isn't as strong, so I'm not peeling.  It seems to be doing a good job.  The sales associate at Sephora recommended it for firmness and wrinkles.  I dab a little on my face every night after cleansing.

To find Philosophy Help me click Here.

I am very excited about this serum.  I don't have time to get laser resurfacing on my skin before the wedding and am a little bit chicken to go to that extreme right now anyway.  This serum is an excellent substitute.

Can't afford laser or want something less invasive than laser, click Here.

This DDF stuff is my absolute favorite.  I have been using it for a couple of years now.  I use it before I put on makeup, after I work out or anytime.  I love not only the way it makes my skin feel, but also the way it makes my skin look smoother and more radiant immediately.

Want to try one of my favs,  DDF Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer serum? Click Here.

All of these products can also be found at Sephora.  They are going to discontinue the DDF Wrinkle Resist Plus serum soon.  I guess I will have to start ordering it online.

Choices

This past week I have been looking around wedding/bride web sites trying to decide on wedding invitations, head wear, jewelry, etc.  I have found some things I like, but really am just more confused than ever!  My favorite wedding blog is by Bride Chic.  She always has such beautiful dresses and pictures on her blog.  Some really great ideas.  She recently did a post for Onewed on bridal head pieces and veils.  Here is the post by Bride Chic on Onewed.  I really love the head piece below but don't know if  1. I could pull it off (I'm not 20!) and 2. it would go with my dress.  


Hopefully, we will be able to set a date and get married soon because the more I browse the Internet, the more confused I get.  There are just too many cute options!!  Here are some of my favs.

Batcakes Couture

Laura Jayne Couture Accessories

I think this is a close up of the first pic.  Not sure, but I love it!

BeSomethin new on Etsy

Love both of these cakes especially the one on the left.
Alabama Weddings Magazine

Love the sparkly cake on the left above!

Another option for the cake topper -Simply Beautiful.

I really love these invitations, but they might be a little too expensive.  Since we are having a small wedding and don't need many it might be an option.  There are just so many really attractive invitations available now.  Yikes!

Karen Bartolomei for Grapevine

Other than that I have been totally sick with this asthma/pneumonia or whatever thing that's going on in my chest.  I am going to have to just give it up and go to the doctor because it doesn't seem to want to clear up by itself despite advair, mucinex, claritin, and singulair.  I think I would have pulled through all right if I didn't keep having anxiety attacks which seems to have some connection with my asthma and breathing.

What's even more amazing is the anxiety attacks are have nothing to do with having to deal with the Boy's Asperger's or anything related to Asperger's and it also does not have anything to do with wedding planning, racing or my relationship with the Murph.  That's all good!  

This is actually the first time I've had back to back attacks and the first time my inhaler doesn't seem to help and I can't control it on my own.

I feel like crap.  <sigh>

Diving Into Wedding Planning

I have been diving into wedding planning again since we got back from the beach.  We are looking at a late June or early July wedding, but no dates set yet.  I picked up the spring/summer Grace Ormonde wedding style magazine at the grocery store today.  I love this magazine.   It's one of my favorites.  I have a huge collection of bride magazines on hand that I have been collecting since the engagement a year ago.  I am still just as confused and undecided as ever on how to pull it all together though.

I've been looking for wedding invitation ideas.  I don't know why it's so hard to decide on one.  There are just too many options.  I like all the vintage wedding ideas that are on the Internet, but somehow I don't think that is me.  I am more traditional, but I don't want to be boring.  I need something that is a combination modern and glamorous with just a touch of vintage and traditional. I also like sparkly and pink.  Is that possible?  And if it is, what the heck would that look like??  The last time we looked at invitations I thought the shop owner was going to throw me out.  That was almost a year ago.  I've been afraid to go back until I get a more concrete idea of what I'm looking for in an invitation.

Not having a clue about what kind of wedding invitation to order is not a problem yet, since we haven't set a date.  Once the date is set, the invitations will have to be ordered immediately.  There will not be much time.  We haven't reserved the country club where we plan to have the wedding.   We do know we want an evening wedding with the ceremony held outside on the patio overlooking the golf course and have the reception inside.  Cocktails first, then dinner and dancing.

Since June and July are poplar wedding months, we realize we might have to have the wedding on a Friday or a Sunday evening instead of on Saturday and that's fine with us.  We still haven't looked at bands or photographers.  We met with one florist last year and really liked their work, but even that is not decided.  Everything will be last minute.  I hope we can pull it off!

I purchased my dresses last year when we were visiting my friend S styleodyssey.blogspot.com in Charleston, SC.  I am really, really glad she was there to help me out.  I was totally clueless about what I wanted.  Well, ok that's not true.  I had an "idea" of what I wanted and that was the problem.   Sometimes when you have an "idea" and you can't find exactly what fits into that "idea", it can get extremely frustrating.  That's where Bridezilla starts to emerge.  That's what happened at the wedding invitation place and I didn't have S there to help me make a decision.

Back to the dresses, I decided on a  Reem Acra strapless silk gown with a tulle overlay for the ceremony and will change into a short Ann Bowen silk gown for the reception.  The Reem Acra dress was purchased at the Gown Boutique of Charleston and the Anne Bowen was purchased at Maddison Row in Charleston.  I got great deals at both places.  Maddison Row was having an Anne Bowen trunk show while I was there and the Gown Boutique was discontinuing Reem Acra designs.  I don't know why.  I love her designs!  I think it had something to do with Southern brides wanting something a little more conservative, less edgy.  I got the dress for 1/4 of what the original price was.  The dress isn't edgy.  It's a very traditional sort of wedding dress.

My shoes are strappy Jimmy Choo's in champagne which look more silver to me.  I might get a different more comfortable pair for dancing in later in the evening.  The dresses and the shoes have been sitting in the closet for almost a year.  I can't wait to get to wear them!

I still haven't picked out the bridesmaid dresses.  They will be either fuchsia or silver and short not long.   I have no idea what I will wear in my hair or what jewelry and accessories I will wear.  Too many options online.  It's hard to decide.  Once the date is set, it will get super hectic around here for awhile.  I can't wait!