Day 9...master cleanse

Day 9 started out great. I weighed myself as I mentioned yesterday and lost more weight, so I'm down a total of 15 pounds. I had to make enough servings of orange juice to last me through the afternoon. Earlier this evening I had my first bowl of vegetable soup. About 3 hours later, I felt unfulfilled, so I had another bowl. No hunger, I feel great.

Tomorrow is the last day and I'm so glad. I get to have a salad, legitimately. I'm so looking forward to it. I'm going to try to hit the gym but I have so much to do since we're leaving Saturday so we'll see how it works out.

In wedding news, my DOC got the huge box Mike sent her with all of our ceremony and reception stuff as well as our parents and bridal party gifts. Just waiting on the programs to arrive and she'll have everything. We met with one of guests tonight who's purchasing our alcohol off a military base to go over everything so he knows what to get. I just hope we have enough. I would hate for the alcohol to run out before the party's over.

So basically, we're all set. On my to do list tomorrow is:
Pedicure and Manicure
Hair
Getting my e-ring dipped and cleaned
Picking up our fathers' and Mikes' suits
Packing

That's it. I sort of finalized our seating chart, although there are still some questionable folks in there that we're not certain about. Luckily, I refused to count them in the 1st numbers we gave to the caterer. Just in case they decide to come, I can add on but I can't take off.

8 more days as Ms.....

Day 2...Master Cleanse

Day 2 is going well. Started out this morning just making the lemonade because I didn't have time for the SWF. As of right now I'm not hungry. I worked out today and felt great. Energy level is through the roof. Bonus is I weighed myself this morning and I was down 4 lbs! I don't know if my scale is lying to me, but I'd like to believe it's not. We'll see when I weigh myself in the morning before I head to the gym.

After working out, I headed to my parents house to freshen up and take a quick nap before heading to work. When I woke up, the aroma of Salisbury steaks was coming from the kitchen. My mother had to cook when I'm there and on this cleanse. Damn that food smelled good! I hightailed it outta there before my mind told me I was hungry. That's what it is, a psychological thing, I believe when it comes to hunger. Anyhow, I got to work and had some lemonade.

Tonight when I get home I plan to take the laxative tea and then the SWF in the morning.

All in all, so far so good.

In wedding news, we paid most of our catering bill, paid off the florist, the cake lady, the photographer and the DJ. The only thing left is the videographer and the DOC. Feels good to get this stuff done but I hate to see the bank account dwindling down. 15 days to be a Mrs.!

Happy Birthday Mommy!!!

Today is my mom's 65th birthday! Yay! I just gave her a gift card to treat herself to something. We'll probably take her to dinner this weekend or something. Blessed with another birthday with Mommy. =)

On another note, my videographer called me yesterday to get out baby pics together for our video. It was so ironic because my parents haven't been able to find my photo album for MONTHS. I was just telling my mother the day before yesterday I really need them to find my album. Then he calls. So, I went into panic mode and was ready to tear up their living room looking for my album. The problem is my album was safe and sound on top of a bookcase in their apartment. The bookcase fell (too much crap in it) and my father and brother decided to pack everything up in boxes and bags. Who knows where the album was packed?

So yesterday after talking to Seth, I got ready to hit every last box and bag in their. After about 15 minutes of looking my mom finds the album buried behind another bag on the first level of a smaller bookcase. Whew! I have my album. Both of my parents breathed a sigh of relief because they said I was about to drive them crazy about that album. heehee. I have it now.

Mike already has his pics so we just have to decide on pictures of us dating up until the engagement. Since we're not doing a slide show at the wedding of the pics I don't need to rush the pics to Seth, I can give them to him the day of the wedding. What a relief.

1st dress fitting!

It's official. The wedding is next month and I tried on everything for the first time yesterday. The jewelry, the shoes, oh the pink shoes, the veil from Occansey Designs, everything was perfect. I still have about 6 weeks to go so it's on at the gym! Because the dress has a corset back, I can still lose some more weight and not compromise the fit of the dress.

In other good news, Mike's cousin Jr. opened his eyes the other day. =) He now knows who's around him; before he was in a medically induced coma and on a respirator. He still needs the respirator because his heart isn't strong enough yet but we'll keep praying that he gets there.

I'm jumping back and forth here, but we also finally found a dress for my mom. Finally! She has an ivory 3 piece suit with gold embellishments on it. Very regal and classy. This weekend we're going to check out a dark brown suit for my father. Pops picked out a spiffy dark gray suit with white shirt and coral colored tie and hanky on Sunday at the men's store. The guys suits also came in and Mike tried his on with his ivory shirt. Looks rather good in it too if I must say so myself. The groomsman's shirts and brown.

Everything is coming together nicely. =)

2 months to go!

2 more months! The time flew by; it feels like I was just in July and hadn't even ordered my dress yet. The invites went out yesterday. They cost more than I expected but what the hell, I love them. This is the finished box we sent them in, stuffed with raffia:

We wound up using the return address labels that we used on the save the dates and the clear labels that I intended to use for the save the dates but didn't. So it worked out.

Funny story: I wanted to use the burned edges parchment paper for the address labels on the boxes to match the invitations. So about 2 weeks ago, I'm sitting in the family room with a candle, a bucket of water just in case the fire gets out of control, and of course the parchment paper. So I start burning my first piece. I'm slowly working my way around the paper when one side gets out of control! I can't blow out the fire quick enough so in a panic I toss the paper in the bucket of water. My mom is laughing at me and Mike is in "I told you so" mode. Needless to say, that's why the clear labels are there, lol.

Catch up!

Whew, it's been a busy few days! I haven't posted since Thanksgiving, I think. We had family up from North Carolina and we had one heck of a weekend. So much has happened since my last post, I don't know where to begin. On top of everything else, I'm back to work and playing catch up from being off since last Tuesday.

Let me see, I'll start by saying that I am now bridal party drama free! Haha. It feels good to have the negativity away from me. I'm not going to go in to detail but it was definitely for the best. When you realize people are not for you, they must be against you and I don't need that mess around me. Peace to the haters!

On another note, Mai ordered her dress! Can you believe it? Everything that girl has been through over the past 5 months and regardless to my protests, she still made it her business to order her dress and be a part of the wedding. I'm amazed, happy, ecstatic, all in one. She really wanted to be a part of our day, no matter what. I love her =) Awww, let me not get emotional here.

Next, I went shopping with Mike's niece and his nephew's girlfriend over the weekend. I was able to get their tank tops from Old Navy for $5 a piece! I plan to use the rhinestone iron-ons to individualize each tank. For instance, his sister is married, so hers will say Mrs. XXX. His niece calls herself "Ms. Boss", so that's what her tank will say. I'm so excited! Hopefully, the rhinestones will come in soon so I can get started. I also purchased them the mini reed diffusers. They smell great; I'm just going to give them a goodie bag, basically with a bunch of stuff in it and then get them each something else. I don't know. I'll keep looking and see what I come up with.

I also received a coupon from eBay for 40% off on December 1 only. I used the coupon to get my garters. Total price wound up being $12! They are Philadelphia Eagles garters, one keepsake and one toss. Mike should really like them =0)

My invites came in, both sets! The VistaPrint invites as well as the 13 bottles that the lady replaced for me. They all made it in one piece, thank goodness! So this weekends' project is to put the boxes together, address and stamp them, and get them ready to be sent out on the 13th. Everything is right on schedule.

I designed my rehearsal dinner invites but I haven't ordered them yet. Well, actually not invites but menus. Next project is the brochures to go in the out of town boxes, which I'm purchasing from another knottie for an excellent price.

Whoo! That was a mouthful! I'm done for now and I'll return on Friday with pics of everything new. Goodnight. ^-^

Oh, I almost forgot, I received my My Publisher photobook. Love it! I used our engagement pictures and I got 2 for the price of 1! I'm thinking about gifting one to my parents. The quality is amazing and so many knotties recommend them. I see why. Definitely making a parent's wedding album with them. I'll post pics of it in the near future. Goodnight, seriously this time.

Turkey day!

Happy Thanksgiving! I am so thankful for today; so much that I can't be mad at those who try to bring me down. Thankful that we are truly blessed, no matter what happens. Family has arrived and we are cooking something up! All in attendance are Mike's brother, his wife and their grandson from North Carolina, my MOH's son (MOH had to work, :( ), Pops, Mike's brother from Florida, and his cousin Jr. Unfortunately, my mom came down with the flu, so my parents are unable to attend :( I'll save you guys a plate, don't worry!

Mike started the turkey and homemade stuffing this morning and he should be on his way back from picking up his other brother from the airport. In the meantime, I'm working on the cabbage with smoked turkey, baked macaroni and cheese, and the potato salad is DONE. Whew, I can't wait.

The only thing left is the yams with pineapple and the cornbread, which I'll start last.

On another note, I decided to call shiit starter bridesmaid and let her know there was no need to think about whether or not she wanted to be in the wedding. I was making the decision for her; I told her very nicely, just come to the wedding, if you still intend to do that, and have a good time. I wished her a Happy Thanksgiving and told her to enjoy her family before ending the conversation and that's that. I feel relieved because the women I have left truly want to stand next to me and they belong there. If you have to think about whether you want to participate, like you're doing me a favor when you started all the drama, thanks but not thanks.

So on to enjoy the holidays with loved ones and true friends. To all of you, Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm emotional...

and I can't let go, I am trying to...okay that's enough of Carl Thomas.

Seriously, I did have an emotional moment or two. We took my parents out tonight to celebrate their anniversary and my father's birthday. Pops came along with us too. We had a nice dinner and conversation; there was some reminiscing of Momma and the things she used to cook because Pop had commented that the mashed potatoes he ordered weren't his wife's. We all laughed and I felt myself reflecting on how empty the dinner table felt without her and how odd it really is to see Pop every single day without her. I held back my emotions and continued talking and trying to enjoy the rest of dinner. We finished up and heading out.

Once we got comfortable in the house I went back to finishing up the aisle runner while Mike and Pop were settling down. Pop came into the family room and I stopped to put on the television for him. That's when he started talking, he told me he wasn't going out anymore because he sees these couples, mostly seniors who remind of the years he won't have with Momma, and starts thinking too much. Then he broke down. I talked to him and listened to him talk and then the phone rang, bringing a welcome distraction. The phone was for him, so he stepped to his room to take the call.

Even though the 7th of this month will be 4 months since Mommas' transition, it still seems so unreal. I'm sitting here typing this now with Pops sitting not too far from me, Snapped playing on the TV, thinking about how we should've had more time with Momma. I don't want to get upset again so I'm going to stop now.

I just know the wedding day is going to be a joyous occasion but her physical absence will be a lot to handle.

Goodnight.

Celebration of Love!

Today is my Parents' 42nd wedding anniversary and Daddy's birthday. Yes, he was vain enough to get married on his birthday. Because it's the middle of the week, Mike and I opted to celebrate with them on Sunday, since I'm off work. So, more than likely, we'll take them to dinner where ever they want to go and of course get them each a nice gift. I might be able to talk Mike into getting a small cake, but I'll settle for dessert at the restaurant; still trying to watch what I eat, somewhat, the big day is right around the corner.

Both of our parents represent something that isn't seen too often nowadays when it comes to marriage. When Momma Kay passed, her and Pops (my affectionate name for Mike's Dad) celebrated 51 years of marriage. Unfortunately, Pops was in the hospital on their anniversary so they didn't get to actually celebrate that day, but when he got home I'm sure the sparks flew! Between our parents that's almost a century of anniversaries! They have truly taught us what marriage is all about and we have them to thank for it. I can only pray that we will be blessed to have so many years together as well.