Thanks to fellow blogger Preppy Bride, and this fantastic creator on Etsy I am going to make sure that my Pop-Pop is with me on my wedding day! In fact, he will be walking me down the aisle along with my Dad and Uncle like I always wanted. I am going to hang this charm from my bouquet with a picture of us!

While searching for wedding invitation etiquette i found this:

Wedding invitations were once delivered by hand. If you were a bride back in those days, your footman delivered your invitations to your guests’ homes. Their servant received the invitation and removed it from its mailing envelope (an envelope much too pedestrian for your guests to handle themselves). The servant then presented the invitation to your guests in its pristine inside envelope. Because the invitation was already at its destination, the inside envelope had only the names of your guests written on it. The address was no longer needed. It just had to be directed to the appropriate members of the household.

You learn something new everyday!

Today was a good day! I’m finally back in my groove at work minus the bitches I still have to put up with… lol, an ex-friend emailed me to tell me how well she wishes mine and Angel’s wedding to turn out, and I was able to go grocery shopping after work with both boys in tow and neither one had a meltdown =) Mood: accomplished!

Onto other topics…

Last night Angel and I sat down to start working on our invitations…and they are still a work in progress. Nobody tells you how time consuming, and how much “wedding invitation etiquette” slows down the process of putting together the invites! Ugghh it was an exhausting and overwhelming experience, and not a very productable evening either. All you see are peoples final product of their invitations, not the sweat shop process it took them to get to that point! Nonetheless I’m hoping a little work every night between now and Thursday will allow us to get them all in order and in the mail by Friday morning.

Next topic: Wednesday we are off to Men’s Warehouse to check out suits for our groomsmen.

It’s not such a wonderful life anymore…

I’ve been dreading sitting down to write this post, but here it goes. We lost my Pop-Pop last Tuesday. A week ago from today. Life has been a blur and all my days have melted together since then. He passed away in the hospital with family gathered all around him, at 92 years old. He was my buddy. We were inseparable and I don’t know how I am going to go on without him. Not a day has passed that I haven’t cried about losing him. Life will never be the same. The viewing was yesterday and I think that was possibly the worst day of my life. I was asked to give his eulogy, and hope I made him proud of what I said. While figuring out how to write about a man I’ve known my entire life (24 years) on a few pieces of paper I came across this poem that fit perfectly for how Pop would have wanted us to feel.

To Those Whom I love & Those Who Love Me

By Mary Alice Ramish

When I am gone, release me, let me go.

I have so many things to see and do,

You mustn’t tie yourself to me with too many tears,

But be thankful we had so many good years.

I gave you my love, and you can only guess

How much you’ve given me in happiness.

I thank you for the love that you have shown,

But now it is time I traveled on alone.

So grieve for me a while, if grieve you must,

Then let your grief be comforted by trust.

It is only for a while that we must part,

So treasure the memories within your heart.

I won’t be far away for life goes on.

And if you need me, call and I will come.

Though you can’t see or touch me, I will be near.

And if you listen with your heart, you’ll hear,

All my love around you soft and clear.

And then, when you come this way alone,

I’ll greet you with a smile and a ‘Welcome Home’.

I love you Pop!

Yesterday was our oldest son’s 3rd birthday! I can’t believe time has passed so quickly. We celebrated with a Spiderman themed party at our house with close friends and family. Now that I have children I actually feel as though I appreciate the celebration of birthdays so much more. When you’re a teenager you don’t understand why your parents want to take you to a special birthday dinner, or still have family over for birthday cake- even if it is your 17th birthday and you’d rather be out driving with your friends, or buying new clothes at the mall. Every year on Angel’s birthday I make sure to take a few minutes to think about the day we brought him into this world. I feel like God has really blessed us, and we are able to appreciate life’s moments so much more now that we are a growing family! Here are some pics from yesterday’s festivities to enjoy!

Party table all set up!

Enjoying his cupcake cake!!

Present time!!

Angel and his Godsister, more presentssss!

Pinata Time!

Last night I attended my first Tastefully Simple party at my cousin’s wife’s house and all I can say is YUMMY!! I can’t wait to receive my Bacon Bacon dip, and my chocolate covered cheese ball mix (not that those are the only two things I ordered)! It was very nice to be able to have a girly get together, get out of the house, and gossip with other moms. Thank goodness I need to stay tiny in order to fit in my wedding gown, otherwise I would have ordered everything we tasted at the party! There was so much food to sample that I don’t think anyone left the party hungry! I had such a good time that I’m actually thinking of hosting my own party =) Thanks Heather!

Since my camera is cooperating with me today and I’ve been meaning to post pictures of our wedding bands. . .here they are!

Yesterday one of my MOH’s and I ventured to a local bridal boutique in search of some things for the wedding. I have to say I have always been skeptical of small boutiques because from the outside they look very shaggy, out dated, and are most of the time over priced. Well, this boutique was anything but! The owner, Tesi, was so helpful and so was her staff. I was able to find my head band/ tiara for my wedding up do and will definetly be going back for a lot more stuff! I finally got my camera working so here are some pics of it!

As of Tuesday we are within 4 months of our wedding!!! That’s only 16 weeks! I am so excited! There are so many things I am looking forward to like my bachelorette party, my bridal shower, our rehearsal dinner, and most of all the BIG day!!! Did I mention I was excited, lol!! Soon we’ll be putting together our wedding invitations that we bought and I’m hoping to make it into a girls night with most of my bridesmaids! Wedding invitations, a bottle of vino, and hopefully this is how it all turns out!

Find pic here.

I just can’t do it! For the life of me I cannot make myself diet. I’m tempted by everything bad for me, and the idea of the gym has gone right out the window. I need to get back on track ASAP. What is the trick- someone please let me know. I need to fit into my wedding gown in almost 4 months!!!!!