Dancing the Night Away for a Good Cause

Last night, Kaylee's dance company hosted an event to raise awareness for Autism. After all, the month of April is Autism Awareness month, and we couldn't have had a more perfect ending to it. All age groups, including the college dancers took part in this event, and danced the night away.

 

 

The Chair of CARD - Center for Autism and Related Disabilities made an appearance to speak on behalf of the Tallahassee center and all that it offers. After learning all that the center does to help individuals and their families; trainings, support groups, research and resources, family needs, etc. I was truly honored to have had our daughter take part in such a good cause, and helping to raise awareness for Autism.

 

I have to admit, I wasn't fully aware of the size of the autism spectrum, and how many are effected by this disability; in large part because I personally don't know of anyone Autistic. Thanks to this event, I'm fully aware of Autism, what it is, and those effected by it. I understand it now, and was really touched while sitting and listening to the stories spoken. Even though we aren't cognizant of anyone Autistic, we want to help raise awareness in any way that we can. K and I donated to the local foundation during last nights event, and will continue to contribute in any way that we can.

 

I'm happy to say the dance studio had a full house for Sunday's event; more people attended than there were chairs for! That's always a great sign. The studio had an abundant turn out for their first year hosting. The Director of Dance Fusion Studios has decided to continue this and make it a yearly event. Our family is ecstatic to take part in this, and watch this event grow in the years to come.

 

 

If you would like to learn more about Autism, those affected by it, what you can do, or would like to make a donation, visit the link below...

 

http://autism.fsu.edu/



Confessional Friday

Today I'm linking up with Leslie, for a Confessional Friday, you can find her over at A Blonde Ambition .

 

 

I Confess...

 

(1) I am absolutely over trying to find a dress for our Engagement party next month. I've ordered and had to return because the dress fit like a T-Shirt! What is with designers making these dresses so short lately? 90% of the ones I have found a liked sell out within an hour of finding them. It's gotten to be more of a burden than fun at this point.

 

(2) I haven't stepped foot in the gym going on three weeks now. Just haven't been feeling it since getting back from our vacation. I definitely have been regretting it. You can accomplish a lot in three weeks! I need to get this booty in gear. Literally.

 

(3) We've ordered and eaten pizza twice this week. Goodbye diet; I'll see ya next Monday. Hopefully.

 

(4) Planning a wedding has proven to be more stress than I signed up for. Eloping is looking better and better by the hour, and I'm only five months into planning this thing! How do people do this for a living? I used to think it was utterly absurd how much planners charged... I apologize ten times over.

 

(5) I'm not looking forward to summer here in Florida. It's almost May, and the temperature is already above 80 and humid as hell; Feels more like 95 to me. I hate the hot humid weather we're graced with around these parts. Absolutely hate it. Can we please just move up North until October?

 

Annnnd, that's a wrap for today's Confessional Friday. I hope you all enjoy and have a lovely weekend!





Wedding... Thursday?!?

Hi Friends! I couldn't dare miss a Wedding Wednesday! Yesterday was hectic to say the least, I never caught a break.  Therefore, today welcomes Wedding... Thursday? Doesn't have the same ring to it, but hey, it will work out just fine for today.

For today's lovely wedding edition, let's talk ceremony arches, shall we.

K and I have decided to hold the ceremony overlooking the lake in front of the barn, and the reception in the barn. Here is a somewhat picture of the view of the lake.

 

So, I originally wanted my hubby-to-be to build an arch big enough to have a chandelier hang from the middle, above where we would be standing. I've found a few that I like, and one that I really LOVE. This being the loved one...

 

 

 

Gorgeous right? You can't help but to swoon over this one! I think it would be perfect overlooking the lake. My only worry on this piece is transporting it for that two hour drive. Hmm... There's still a possibility we could make this work. Somehow.

 

While touring the grounds of the Peach Barn, the owners revealed the storage shed, used for all of their décor items that's included when renting the facility. I couldn't believe all that was stored in this place; wooden church pews, crates, shepherd's hooks, wooden tree slices, wooden signs, etc. While browsing their selection, in the very back corner sat an enormous wooden cross! We asked if that could be used, and were told yes, that their Father built it for one of their weddings as their ceremony "arch". Score.

 

We could easily use this for our ceremony instead of building one. It's completely opposite of what I was originally envisioning, but this might could work. Of course, I went to Google and begun researching "wedding ceremony cross", and I indeed found a few that I really liked, and are so beautiful with the added touch of the flowers.

 

 

I really like the idea of a ceremony cross overlooking the lake, but I really love the wooden arch with the chandelier. This one is going to be a tough choice. I should totally be thinking logically and going with the cross. It's free, already on the property, and we could make it beautiful. I really love the symbolism of the cross.

 

On the other hand, K and I could build our own, it would be meaningful to us, and I could have what I've envisioned from the beginning. This option would also cost us more money that we could use towards other things, and the time to build it. We can't forget about transporting this two hours away, and bringing it back home with us. Then, what are we supposed to do with it after the wedding? Sell it? Store it?

 

We all know the logical thing to do here. Go with the cross. DUH. I'm just not a logical person, and I can be a bit difficult at times.

 

Decisions, decisions.

 

I'll be sure to keep you all posted on the final outcome of this one.

 

Have a lovely Thursday!

 

 

 

 

Baby Babble

Let's rewind to seven and a half years ago... young love resulting in us finding out we were expecting. You remember the K-I-S-S-I-N-G song you sung as a child; first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in a baby carriage. We're taught about tradition as young kids. Well, K and I didn't take the traditional route. We were young, and as much as I hate admitting this, Kaylee wasn't planned. Do we love her any different? Absolutely NOT. She's our world, and the most important thing in each of our lives. 

 

With that said, I've always wanted more than one child, four to be exact. After having Kaylee, I thought to myself, I don't know if I can do this three more times. What was I thinking wanting four children? One is a lot of work, and kids definitely aren't cheap. How could I give four the attention needed? If we're being honest, Kaylee is now six years old... Do I really want to start this whole baby process over again? Needless to say, K and I have been pretty set on Kaylee being an only child.

 

Kaylee has asked plenty of times for a little brother or sister, and then it turned in to a brother and sister. This talk begun around four years old when she started school... so we bought her a puppy. This ceased the baby talk for a good 8 months, then she slowly eased back in to asking again. This time she only wanted a brother. Explaining to a five year old that you don't get to choose what you have was quite the experience; very entertaining that conversation was. Around that fifth year, she somehow managed to get her Dad on board with this whole baby situation. I just wasn't ready; financially, mentally, and emotionally. I couldn't take away from Kaylee, and not give all of my attention to her, solely. She's my baby.

 

Last summer while driving home from the grocery store, Kaylee and I were talking about Jesus, and she said, "Momma you know what I'm going to do tonight?" "What's that?', I say. "I'm going to pray to Jesus and ask him to please, please give me a brother or sister." What do you even say back to that? I can't tell her not to pray, or go against what she's asking of Jesus. I can't deny that request. That's when I really started thinking about the possibility of another baby. I don't want her to be alone in this world. When K and I grow old and gray, she won't have any brother or sisters to lean on, it will just be her, alone. I don't want that.

 

With the possibility of planning for another child, I had to share the plans with my family. All were excited, and thought it was a great idea. Everyone but my Daddy. He told me that Kaylee is too old for a sibling, that they wouldn't be close, it was too late for us to have another baby. So, I then, started thinking we waited too long, and she was in deed too old. I spoke with a few co-workers about this, along with friends, and they completely disagreed. It's all about how you raise your children to be close to one another. A friend of mine is very close to her siblings, and there's an eight year gap between them. Hope. After these conversations, hope had been restored.

 

We were back on the baby subject, weighing our options, the point we were in our lives, and if we should try or not. Then, K proposed. FINALLY. Now our time and money is going to planning our wedding, on top of Kaylee, and her extracurricular activities. So, another year is being pushed back on the baby talk. A year longer. This is where I'm remembering my Daddy's words; Kaylee being too old for a sibling. It keeps playing in my mind.

 

K and I talked over the weekend, and the topic of another baby made its way into the conversation. We brought Kaylee in to talk it over with us, and as a family of three, we decided that we ARE going to try for baby number two after the wedding! Kaylee will be seven when K and I get married, so there will be about an eight year difference between the two. She will be old enough to help out with the baby, and able to understand that the baby will need attention the same as her.

 

 I asked her why she wanted a little brother or sister so badly, and her response was, "So that I can help feed him, change his diaper, and have someone to play with." Melt. My. Heart! How could I ever say no to that?



What Are You Thankful For?

Last night, insomnia took over, and I just lay awake in bed staring up at the ceiling, thinking. Since the first time seeing this quote, it’s stuck with me, and has always been the first thing I think of each night before getting into bed.

 

 

So, I make sure to thank Him every night for all that He has blessed my family and I with. I never ask for more than I already have been given, just simply give thanks.

• I'm thankful for being blessed with another day on this Earth to spend with family and friends.
• I'm thankful to have a job, love what I do, and the ability to provide for my family; even as much as I hate waking up early every morning, and wishing I could sometimes sleep the day away instead.
• I'm thankful for my fiancé, my very best friend, and confidant. I feel undeserving of him at times, but he has stuck by me through my flaws and all. I've found myself thanking God, often, since getting engaged, for placing him in my life, and loving me through everything.
• I'm thankful for our daughter. She can be so sweet, and does the littlest things that just melts my heart. I catch myself staring at her sometimes, thinking, even though we were young, she was made out of love, K and I made her, and she needs us. We live our life for her. Even having the worst of days, seeing her, hugging and kissing her, will make it all disappear. She truly is my happiness.
• I'm thankful for the friendships I have and had in my life; the old, the new, the lost, and mended ones.  Each one has taught me, shaped me, and helped me in their own ways.
• I'm thankful for my family. God really blessed me with a good one. There's no other persons that I would love, argue, fight, and laugh with, than my own. They're a crazy rowdy bunch, and I love them more than anything.



What are you thankful for? Have you thanked God today?



Wedding Wednesday!

Today's Wedding Wednesday will focus on a boho inspired engagement photo session.

Last fall, I stumbled upon this adorable little blog, Pillow Thought, and have been following along since.  I've always had this idea of how I wanted to style our engagement pictures, but had yet to come across a similar styled photo shoot. That is until Lindsey blogged her family pictures... which just so happened to be the day before K popped the question! Talk about perfect timing at its best, or this little thing I like to call fate. I really do believe there's a reason I stumbled upon her blog, and I'm so happy I did. 

For our engagement pictures, I will be pulling some inspiration from Lindsey's boho family pictures. She was so creative in the use of details; she really had a vision, and ran with it. I love the fact that hers are family pictures because we plan to have Kaylee  with us in some of our engagement pictures.

Here are a few of my favorites from their session; ones that I've pulled some inspiration from for our engagement session...

 

I've been looking for bell sleeve dresses, and have had a little bit of luck at finding some. Our engagement pictures aren't until the fall, sometime between September and October. Therefore, I still have time for finding the perfect dress. I think I will have better luck after summer. Meanwhile, this is my favorite of the few I have found.

 

Stacked bracelets are a must. I have to confess, the accessorizing part is going to be the most fun buying. The options are endless for bohemian jewelry.

 

If you haven't guessed, I'm beyond excited for our engagement pictures this fall. Thank goodness I have ample time for planning. I'm going to need it due to all of the details going into this photo shoot. It's going to be well worth the months of planning I have ahead. The pictures are going to be so much fun, and I can't wait to see what great memories our photographer captures.

 

I would love for you to share any boho styled pictures that you may have. Happy Wednesday friends, and I will leave you with a few more inspirational boho pictures that I've found and love... Enjoy.

 

 

 

 



Easter Attire... It's April Already?

As you all know, Easter is fast approaching, and this Momma is behind schedule. I have yet to make a trip to the Mall in search of Kaylee's Easter attire; this is usually always done a week or two in advance. Meanwhile, I'm sitting over here wondering how it's already April! Could time just stop, just for a little bit, please? The days are going by much too fast for me.

 

For once, I've got a morning free of meeting's, so naturally, to the online stores I went, in search of Easter dresses. The last couple of years I've gotten her dresses from The Children's Place. I don't shop there for much anything else, but they do always have cute dressy outfits for Easter.

 

This year I'm not really smitten over any of their stuff. I found a few cute things, but nothing that pulled me in, and I HAD to have for her. You can look here for these dresses that I found and liked. If I had to choose a favorite of the four, it would definitely have to be the first one pictured. Love, love, love the crocheted back, and the tribal like print... but is it Easter dress material?

 

 

As much as it pains me to say this, Gap was a big disappointment in the dress department. This is where I buy 80% of Kaylee's clothes, so it was a let down when looking online, and finding these dresses.

 

Old Navy was my next stop, and I was able to find a couple of cute outfits, and they just so happen to be having a huge sale... SCORE! My findings here were two dresses with cardigans, a romper, and shoes for each outfit. I'm a big fan of the rompers, but Kaylee not so much. As much as I think it's the cutest little outfit, I highly doubt she will wear it, but still had to add it to the list.

 

Old Navy Outfit #1

 

 

Old Navy Outfit #2

 

Old Navy Outfit #3

I, personally think the dresses I found at The Children's Place are much more dressy, and the outfits from Old Navy, BUT I think the Old Navy picks could certainly be dressed up for Easter brunch and egg hunting at the church. What are your favorites? Did you wait to go last minute shopping like I did? I would love to see outfits you chose for your little one(s) to wear this Easter.

 

 





Embracing a Peaceful, Young, and Free Lifestyle

While on vacation last month, I decided to venture out during our shopping day, and walked into this quaint little hippie store. Bad idea. I fell in love with EVERYTHING! No joke. My Mom has been trying for years to convert me to her hippie ways. I wasn't having any part of that. Looking back now, I'm asking myself... why? It's such an eclectic lifestyle; so peaceful, invigorating, and freeing. Not to mention, the music, it calms and soothes my soul. I've always loved indie and reggae. So, I guess I was always halfway there; on the verge of this style, and didn't even realize it. 

As the guy in the store told me, "There are far worse things out there to be, than being a hippie." Touché my friend. I absolutely agree.

So, to the incense, décor, and clothes racks I went. We spent well over an hour in this store, and I loved every minute of it! It's like my eyes have been opened to this whole new world of wonderful. I left there with a new outfit, new attitude, and an entirely new outlook on life.

I couldn't decide on a top, so I got two, and the shades of blue/pink bottoms. The picture doesn't do the pants justice. They're multiple shades of blue with pink throughout, and THE most comfortable bottoms I've ever worn! Silky smooth as my daughter stated.

You can find these clothing pieces along with the new spring collection, home décor, jewelry, and accessories here.

Unfortunately, we don't have many stores in town that carry a variety of this style of clothing. To the intraweb I went, on the hunt of finding more of those pants, and some cute lacey dresses. Google did not disappoint, y'all. I fatefully stumbled upon two of my new favorite clothing sites. Great for me, very bad for my bank account. K isn't going to be too pleased when he beats me home, and FedEx packages are awaiting my arrival.

Moving along to my favorite finding of the two being URBANOG. They carry the fabulous pants I bought and mentioned above. Pages and pages of cute dress, accessories, shoes, jewelry, you name it. ALL at affordable prices that won't break the bank. So many options and styles to choose from. Yesterday, I found my Engagement party outfit on UrbanOG; spent $50 on a dress and new pair of heels. Most places, you will spend that on one item. I thank the heaves I fell upon this gem of a place.

 

The second of my new go to clothing sites being Freepeople. I have yet to really come across something I don't like on this site. All of the lace and tribal just pulls me in. The downfall to their clothing... it can get a bit pricey. I don't know about you, but my bank roll definitely isn't big enough to spend $550 on a dress. There are a handful of things that I've found and can justify the price, but most things, not so much. This girl isn't raking in the doe like that just yet!

Super cute clothing, right? It's so hard telling myself I can't buy it all. The colors, the prints, the fabric, I adore it all. I'm embracing and marveling in this new lifestyle.  


Wedding Wednesday!

I'm happy to say that last week's color pallet dilemma has been resolved. You can read all about that "What do I do" moment here. K and I have decided to go with the blush and aqua/mint color scheme for our wedding. What I'm not so happy about now... Pinterest has struck again. Dammit! Stay away, I tell myself; don't do it; just remove the app from your phone. Did I listen? Of course I didn't. Any why is that? Because I do what I want. I'm an addict. I'm weak. End of discussion.

 

This week's dilemma is geared around bridesmaids dress length. Such a simple thing; the length of a dress. Should be an easy decision, one would think. Well, it's not so easy for that indecisive part of me. Not. One. Bit. Why can't there just be an Easy button for everything? Seriously. Sign me up for one of those babies! I know it would help make my life so much easier. I'm sure everyone would be chopping at the bits for one of those little gadgets. Chopping at the bits or is it chomping at the bits...  Regardless, what does that even mean?

 

Anyways, back to the topic at hand, and this new dilemma thing I've got going on; bridesmaid dresses and their lengths. When I got engaged, I vowed to never be one of those ridiculous bridezilla's through this whole planning process. I planned to communicate the color, and give the girl’s free reign to choose a dress that they could and would wear again under $100; I like the idea of them having different styles of dresses in different shades of pink. I’ve never really been partial to those expensive bridesmaids’ dresses in the Bridal Shoppe’s that you can only wear once.

With spring arriving, I’ve been browsing boutiques online for blush/light pink dresses. There are so many cute ones that I’ve come across this week. I guess I always assumed short or tea length dresses would be the case with our wedding being held in March. These are the pictures that hooked me on Pinterest, and has put the idea of long dresses on my mind. I love the idea of a strapless floor length dress with champagne chunky pearls to set it off. It's so elegant.

 



 

 

 

If I were to go the floor length route for bridesmaids dresses, THIS is the dress I'm swooning over. It isn't strapless, but it's fabulous. The back is my favorite part. I die every time I look at it.

 

The negative to a long dress is being limited, and I think I would want the girls wearing the same dress, as opposed to different styles.

 

I really love the idea of letting the girls have free reign like I mentioned earlier; I like the diversity factor of different style dresses and shades of pink, and each girl choosing and being comfortable in their dress. I envision something similar to these with nude heels...

 

 

Although, I'm really diggin' this lace look, but would it be too much if my dress is lace as well?

 

 

So, do I go with the elegance of a floor length dress using only the one style, or should I stick with my original plan of letting the girls choose their own style and colors? I love them both equally which makes this such a tough decision for me. What would you choose?