flower girl dresses – Living, Loving, Laughing….

It started with my new-found passion – photography – on Saturday morning. I was lucky enough to have the joy of a one-year old DOLL as my latest participant. The best part was the hugs I got to steal. Then, showing him how to car dance while we drove behind his mom to the park. He got a kick out of that. There is nothing as enchanting as a child’s belly laugh. It’s really hard to capture a roving toddler (almost like puppies), they move and turn so quickly. I really felt I wasn’t getting any good shots, but when I got them on the computer, I was surprised. His blue his eyes turned out stunning and I ended up with about forty favorites. Here a are a few.

My second venture was to the mall – on tax-free weekend (ahhh!). I wanted to take advantage and buy the girls their flower girl dresses. Yes, they actually got to take them home. Not to mention we got the hair wreaths, hose, and shoes to match. *Today I found matching flower girl baskets for $5 a piece at Party City – squee.*

Then since the day wasn’t over……Jason took us car shopping. Yes! I know, the dreaded car shopping. Except it wasn’t that dreadful for me. I knew what I wanted. I had to get a car since Sydney will be taking my car as soon as she gets her license. She is ready. She is driving unbelievably well and can parallel park like a champ. However, our quest to the DPS didn’t pan out. Too many last-minute rushes to get their license before school and not enough DPS officers available to give road driving tests (required in Texas now). I was in TEARS. We worked soooo hard the last few weeks. Driving and parallel parking EVERY SINGLE DAY. It just killed me that she didn’t even get a chance. But, we will get try again Wednesday! In the meantime we went car shopping for me to cheer me up. Yay!

I had it narrowed down to these two. A black Toyota Prius. A gray Toyota Venza. The whole famdamily test drove these babies. We had to make sure we all fit. We did. Yes, even in the Toyota cracker car Prius. It’s actually pretty big and has a very cool dashboard. The girls LOVED car shopping. They especially loved the Scion in the showroom. It became their personal play car. They only got out of it to test drive with us. Seriously, I asked if they’d throw this sucker in with our car deal for the backyard. Heh! 🙂

After, much indecision on my part, because honestly? My practical side wanted to go with the Prius. Fifty miles to the gallon is a lot of trips home to see mom with very little cost. Gas will rise again to four dollars or more. Do I plan for the future? It’s the number one selling car that Toyota has. Obviously some people are planning. The Venza was luxury. The Venza was smooth and sleek and lush. It fit the family better, roomier; length and width. It wasn’t just good for me, but would be a good car for long family road trips as well. The cost was the same and it was more car for the money, but less savings for gas. Although, it does get very good gas mileage.

I chose…..

The Toyota Venza and it felt good to make a decision for the family. It had FIVE MILES on it when we test drove it. Bigger than what I am used to do, but I love it! Jason financed for me, I’ll make the payments. It bothers me not at all that my name isn’t on it. In fact, I am very proud of myself for being dependent on him. The old me would have tore myself to pieces for NOT taking care of myself, by myself. It takes a lot to let go of that need (fear). Letting someone else take care of me? Well – it feels pretty darn good.

Now, for all you techy geeks like me. Check this out.

A USB plug-in for your iPhone/iPod down in the console.

It then comes up to stand that holds your phone upright.

You close the middle and it’s all hidden. Coolest thing ever. It plays all your music and has blue tooth (call by voice command) in the car. Completely hands-free, you just talk over the speakers of the car. It is VERY swift. I am still trying to figure it all out.

I drove all over the place since I got it. I put 100 miles on the car in ONE day. HA.

Finally, for all you puppy fans. I walked into the living room to see this. My black lab Salem (almost 9yrs old) being used as stool. Of course, I grabbed my camera. What a trooper she is. She wasn’t around little kids most of her doggy life and she takes it in stride. Labs are the best. Love her face on the last shot (ha).

Sunday photo shoot with my Shih-Tzu. I got Brownie a new bow at the same dress shop where I got the girls dresses. Isn’t she stinkin’ CUTE??

Four months old. At least seven pounds already. She is the fattest, fluffiest, most cuddliest pup. I just adore her.

So there you have it, a BIG weekend. A NEW CAR! Enchantment and cuddly fun. What a perfect way to kick off my 39th birthday today.

H-A-P-P-Y that spells any weekend, but especially this one.

I’ve resorted to blogging by iPhone. What can I say? You do what you gotta do. This is where I ask you to pardon any spelling errors – I’m sure I will have.

This week and weekend flew by. All of the sudden I realized – hello? – I have a wedding coming up in less than two months.

Time is speeding by way too fast for my taste. I could go on and on about what I need to, and have to do, but somehow I think you understand.

So let’s just get to the juice of it. What’s going on with the wedding?!?!

First off, the Church and pastor we’ve had from the beginning. It’s Jason’s childhood Church and where his mom and the little girls go. We’ve had the date and time set, since day one.

Sunday 10-10-10 at 3:10pm

Both cakes are being made by Jason’s mom. I can’t tell you how honored I am. To know our wedding cake will be made with love from a mother – it is humbling. She is also cooking the finger foods in her catering dishes with the help of a friend.

Photographer booked almost BEFORE the proposal. My dear friend I met through blogging – Kellene of Bella Lucia Photography.

Wedding dress – yes! Finally. I had to make myself go shop. Well, that and my maid of honor dragged me. I kept waiting – until I lost weight, until I had money, until, until, until..I couldn’t put it off any longer. And it was fine! I found a beautiful dress, that I can’t show you, because Jason is super traditional. He is downright terrified of seeing it before hand.

I was going to hide it at his moms, but no need. I’d have to pry his eyeballs open to look.

It has a long train, which is more formal than I had planned, but Jason wants to rent tuxes instead of doing suits. The tuxes upped the standard in my opinion and I guess it was meant to be.

We also got two bridesmaid dresses at the same time I bought my dress. One side is off the shoulder, its black taffeta, with gathers to the left on the waist. Really nice and definitely something they can wear again. Quite honestly, I couldn’t stomach the colors of some of those regular bridesmaid dresses. Black is really popular anyway. My sister will get a matching black taffeta pants suit. I have to admit they are going to look incredible.

My colors are peach, pink, and cream. We will have silver and black accents. Lots of ivory tulle, because I love it. The Church itself needs no decorations. It has gorgeous stained glass, deep wood beams, and pews. Simply elegant and lovely. It means so much to the girls and his mom to have the wedding there, makes it even more stunning.

We went shopping for flower girl dresses on Sunday. I wish I had thought of it sooner in the day. We didn’t have much time and they loved trying on dresses. It was so much fun. They would twirl and dance. Prancing on their toes and gazing in the mirrors. I was maybe a little worried they would freeze up at showtime. Eh, Naah! Not anymore.

Why yes those are pink plastic dress up heels. Don’t you know every girl needs some of those in their backpack when flower girl dress shopping (lol).

I don’t think they get “shopping”. They were a little upset we didn’t BUY their dresses. I promised we would get dresses, just not yet, we had to figure out what we liked first. And we did. That was successful. Of course, my favorite was too expensive. Finding four dresses I love and in the right sizes may be the most challenging part.

You read the right. I will have four flower girls. Molly, Bridget, Jason’s niece, and my maid of honor’s daughter Nicole. I love flower girls and this is a little dream of mine. If I could have twelve, believe me I would. There is something magical and charming about little girls, flowers, and brides.

They will be escorting me down the aisle. Both my dads have passed. I want my mom to be mom-of-the-bride; not flower designer, punch maker, or any other duty. Just mom. She has been through a lot of weddings and believe me needs the break for her sanity.

The music is set as well. I have a DJ friend or an iPod. I still have some things to order online. I want to do the sand ceremony, not the unity candle. I have a favorite in mind, it’s a keep-sake glass heart. I, also, need to find two doves for the cake topper. I have found those too, just need to make sure they are ivory. Lastly, I want in memory of frames or candles for my dads. I get emotional knowing physically they won’t be there. To have them honored in some way would mean the world.

I got the invitations on Sunday. Bonus, they had matching programs. Now just to print and mail. Sounds like a party to me (I think tracking down snail mail addresses will be the hardest part).

Not wedding related; packing, moving, and getting Sydney through her second driving test attempt (oh boy!). A little black chapter is closing Sep. 7th, finally an end in sight.

The honeymoon is done. I got my passport papers sent off on Saturday, so I can go to Canada. All I need is a rental car. The car and one night hotel (greatly discounted) is all we have to pay for. Airfare, and all nights in downtown Vancouver – completely free. What a blessing!

Well, my eyes are iCrossing. Hope you enjoyed my iPost Wedding Update.

Here is a song in the wedding. I have LeAnna from Stadium of my Heart to thank for introducing me to it. I heard it on her blog and knew it was perfect. After failing in marriage, we are still daring enough to move forward with tremendous hope, and tremendous love.

I think it takes a lot of guts to brave love again, don’t you?