Now This Is A Story All About How...

Mike and I met when I was a freshman in high school and he was a senior. 

Let that sink in for a minute!!!

He played on the Varsity soccer team-along with my brothers. 

When I first met him he was dating one of my friends but that didn't stop me from telling her he was cute. Long story short-they broke up and he asked me out a little bit later.

We dated for a few months then I broke up with him (I was really dumb when I was younger. And maybe a wee bit boy crazy) but we ended up getting back together that summer. Then we broke up-again.

We got back together my junior year of high school and we were still together when I went off to Tennessee for college.

We ended up breaking up again that fall but continued to keep in contact. 

When I was home for winter break from school I decided the night before I was supposed to drive back down that I was going to drive down, pack up my stuff, and move home. Nothing like last minute decisions. 

Mike and I weren't together, but we still hung out all the time and he kept asking me if we could get back together. I kept blowing him off because I was 18 and single-and pretty hot stuff if I do say so myself. Instead of gaining the freshman 15 I lost almost 60 pounds and wanted to enjoy being single. Which included a lot of girls night at da club. 

 Finally that summer we got back together and things were pretty serious. We were talking about getting married and even went and looked at some rings. In December of 2006 I moved down to North Carolina to live with my sister-in-law (who I really didn't know at the time-what were we thinking?!) while my brother went on tour in Iraq, and I was going to help watch my brand new little niece who was born on December 15th.  

Mike and I maintained our relationship and I drove home in February to surprise him for a visit. He was actually planning on driving down to NC to see me for a week but I conspired with my best friend to drive up and see him instead. On February 23, 2007 I went over to his house and he showed me a scrapbook that he made...

and on the last page he asked me to marry him. 

I wish I could say it was all smooth sailing-but it was a long hard year to make it to the altar...

Show and Tell-Going to the Chapel

 Are you married? If so when did you get married, and tell us about your special day. If not? How would you describe your dream wedding?

Mike and I have been married for 4.5 years. We had a winter wedding on 2/2/08 when I was the ripe old age of 20. We were married in my hometown and then had the reception about 45 minutes away. I was a huge procrastinator when it came to making decisions and didn't even order the invitations for our wedding until the end of December. Which is a good thing because we had to change the date from 2/23 to 2/2. In the middle of December my brother (who was one of the best men) told me that he might be in the field (He was in the Marines) on the 23rd and wouldn't be able to make it to our wedding. Thanks for the short notice....but luckily everything worked out and the only person that couldn't change the date was our photographer (who was a friend of the family) but luckily we had a back-up. We also had a little fiasco with the flowers. I bought some offline that "look and feel real" and I hated them. They were white calla lillies and the tips were supposed to be dipped in a "cranberry" color but it looked more like fuchsia.  They didn't arrive until Thursday before the wedding (the day of my bachelorette party) and when I picked up the grooms boutonniere the "cranberry" part of it rubbed off. The lady shipped out more flowers and they didn't arrive until like an hour before the ceremony. I definitely wish we would have had different flowers. For the most part I am happy with our wedding, but there are 1000 things I would do different now; thanks to Pinterest. Darn you Pinterest. 

Show us some wedding pictures. Either yours or of some that you love.

I told my parents this was the last time they could tell me what to do!

The Flowers. Oh and my adorable niece.

Our wedding party

 How about the engagement? Tell us your story. If not engaged, what's your dream proposal?

I was living in North Carolina when Mike and I got engaged. Mike and my best friend Andrea were going to drive down and surprise me for a week, but little did he know I was planning to drive up and surprise him at the same time. I drove up the day before he and Andrea were supposed to leave and surprised him at his dads house. He had no idea, it was priceless!! I kind of knew that the proposal was coming and I remember waking up the morning of that day and thinking to myself "Am I ready for this? Is this what I want? Is this the day my life changes forever? Is this what I want to be wearing the day I get engaged?" It felt like time was moving in slow motion when I was getting ready to leave to go over to his house. When I got there I went up to his room and he said he had something to show me. He had made a scrapbook of all the years that we had been dating. Which at that time had been over 5 years. I took my sweet time as I flipped the pages knowing what was coming. On the last page of the scrapbook was a picture of Mike down one one knee holding the ring wearing the exact same thing he was wearing that day and the words "Will you marry me. Check yes or no." I obviously said yes and we went out that night with Andrea to celebrate. Mike had actually bought a different ring 6 months earlier and then exchanged it for the one I have now. We had looked at rings and I found one that I loved, but then not knowing he had already bought one, I decided I wanted something a little more timeless.

The Scrapbook

Celebrating with lunch at Buffalo WIld Wings

Oh to be so skinny...

Show us your wedding rings or an engagement photo! If not engaged/married ... show us your "dream" ring.

Tell us why you think marriage doesn't work out for so many? What can we do to make things last?

I think one of the reasons that marriage doesn't last is because no one thinks of it as a forever commitment anymore. If it doesn't work out you can just try again with your next husband. We are all so selfish in nature and have to learn to put our spouses needs and wants before our own. Along with marriage comes A LOT of compromise. I personally had to learn to pick my battles-instead of picking every.single.one. And we have to remember the vows that we made. For better and for worse. Not "only when I'm happy and things are good". A good marriage takes work, it doesn't just happen overnight. 

Going To The Chapel...

Two Saturdays ago I threw my friend Erin a bachelorette party and we went out to Novi and hit a few of the bars. We went to Carraba's for dinner-amaze balls. I made all the girls little goody bags and whipped up a cake for the bride to be.

And this Saturday I was one of the (maids) Matron of Honor at Erin's wedding. 

{My gorgeous hair, courtesy of my sister}

I have known Erin since our junior year. We spent just about every weekend together. We were the life (lives) of the party. I have so many great memories with her. There was never a dull moment, that's for sure. And I have known her {now} husband Brent since 7th grade. 

Don't judge the pictures-of-a-picture. Some of these were before digital cameras. 

And don't judge my newly-wed grandma couch. 

Erin and I senior year.  

I believe it was our Junior year (before Brent and Erin were together) when Erin and I "bought" Brent and his friend at the Student Auction. We made the boys wear collars all day and do some pretty embarrassing things. Brent was quite the Mr. popular in high school. Once the two of them finally got together Erin and I would always joke that she was dating THE Brent C-----. 

And now she is married to THE Brent C---- and she is THE Mrs. C----

We have all had some pretty good times together!

These two are such a cute couple, and are so in-love. You can't help but smile and have a good time when you're around them.

Erin was, of course, stunning. 
The ceremony was perfect. Watching tear up Brent as Erin was getting ready to walk down the aisle was the cutest thing I have ever seen. Brent wrote most of the ceremony and we all listened as the minister told their love story. It was so sweet,  I'm sure everyone was a little choked up.

The reception was gorgeous, and the food was ah-ma-zing. Filet of beef and salmon; don't mind if I do! 

During their reception they all surprised us when half way through their first dance {Edwin McCain's "I'll Be"} and half way through broke out into a choreographed dance to Michael Jackon's "The Way You Make Me Feel". If blogger wasn't being stupid I would upload the video.

We had a blast at the wedding and I am so honored that the let me be a part of their big day. 

Here's to the next 50+ years!!

   

Our Love Story

Linking up with From Mrs to Mama to share our love story

How long have you and your significant other been together?

My husband and I have been together for a total of 10+ years. We have been married for 4 years.

How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?}

We actually met when I was a Freshman in High School and he was "going out" with one of my close friends and I told her I thought he was cute. She actually introduced us and told me she would break up with him so I could "go out" with him. Oh silly teenage girls! Mind you- I wasn't allowed to "date" so there wasn't much "going out" until I was 16.

If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding? 

We were married in my hometown church by my Uncle. It was in the beginning of February and we had a pretty big snow-storm the Thursday before the wedding. Everything went perfectly, I just wish I had spent more time taking it all in. It went by so fast! It wasn't a huge wedding, but I would say there were probably 200+ guests.

Do you have any nick-names that you call one another?

He calls me Shell (along with all my other family members) and sometimes I call him Suze. Sometimes there is a random babe, hon, etc thrown in there.

Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

He is such an amazing Father, He is hard-working and always provides for us, and he is always there to help anyone.

Tell us how he proposed?

He made me a scrapbook that commemorated all the years we have been together and the last page said "will you marry me." I was 19 and he was 22.

Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

I would have to say he is more of a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy. He just came home on his lunch break with a card and a 6 pack of Reece's. He knows the way to my heart :)

Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

Typically I would rather stay home and relax together, but I am never one to pass up a romantic evening out!

Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day.

I would love to take a Mediterranean cruise with him and travel to different countries.

Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.

We went to dinner and a movie last weekend, so today I am spending it at home with my sweet daughter. (Who was kind enough to throw up all over the carpet this morning. Happy Valentine's Day to me!)

Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?

All I ever want is for him to do something showing that he was thinking of me. A card is all I need. But I would never say no to diamonds!

Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.

Don't sweat the small stuff, pick your battles carefully, and always make sure to show how much you appreciate your Husband. Remember that no matter what you are responsible for your actions, love him no matter what.

Show us a picture of what love means to you.

I can't wait!

Tonight we have a wedding reception to go to for my cousin. This is wedding number 3 out of 4 for the summer. We have one a month from June-September. I feel like all we do on the weekends is go to weddings or other family events.

busy.busy.busy.

BUT TOMORROW...

Tomorrow I get to drive across state to....

be at the birth of this little baby!!!! At, as in, be in the room!!! My sister(in-law) is being induced in the morning and my mom and I are driving over first thing tomorrow!

I am so honored that I get to be there. They don't know the gender and to be a part of this special moment in their lives means so much to me!

Pregnancy and birth are the most amazing thing.

I loved being pregnant, I miss having that special connection with my daughter.

I knew her. In a way that no one else did.

I am a little anxious about the fact that this is the longest time I will be away from Ellie. She is staying home with her dad, and I know she will be just fine because Mike is such a good dad, but I still can't help how I feel. I can't just turn off the "mommy worry" that I've carried around since the minute I peed on a stick. But I think it will be good for both of us.  

One of the reasons that I am so excited to be there is because I would love to be a doula. I love the idea of being an advocate for the woman and being there to fully support her in anything she needs.

I know that-at least for this stage of our lives- becoming a doula isn't a reality. I couldn't leave at a moments notice during all hours of the day or night.  

Maybe one day

but for now

I just can't wait to meet my new niece or nephew.

Going Crazy and A Wedding

I swear I am losing my mind. Yesterday was the weirdest day ever. These were the events of the day:

I took a shower to get ready for the wedding. While I was in there Mike asked me to help get his hair straight. So I got out and hair sprayed/combed his hair then Mike left to meet the groom because they were riding to the wedding together. I got everything around for Ellie to stay at my moms house and packed her (and everything including the kitchen sink) in the car. I planned on getting ready at my moms house so that I had someone to keep Ellie entertained so I could focus on hair/makeup. I drove to my moms house and on a road I've traveled at least once a week for the past 1.5 years I have a mini panic attack because I don't know where I am and can't remember where I'm going. Once I remember where I am going I have to remind myself that just because I know where I'm going now doesn't mean I don't have to stop at stop lights/signs. As soon as I get to my moms house and put E's car seat in the floor-instant hysterics. Awesome. So as I'm trying to put the effing piece of crap pack and play together she's wailing in the background because she doesn't want to be anywhere but my arms. Double awesome. Finally I get the stupid thing put together and my mom gives her a bottle and puts her down for a nap. I proceed to get ready and paint my toe nails. I look over and realize I missed a spot while I was shaving....oh wait I missed 2 spots....wait, what the...I missed a whole freaking LEG! Really? How does that happen? I borrow a razor from my mom and fix the situation and finally head out. I have another mini panic attack on the way there because I'm worried Ellie is going to be freaking out the whole time I'm gone and then I'm driving on a road I've driven on a million times and suddenly don't know where I am or what direction I am heading. I just keep driving and hope that I figure it out. I seriously think that something is wrong with my brain.

I end up at the church forty-stinking-five minutes early and stand around like a goon all by myself. I would have waited in the car but it was 800 degrees out and gas is too expensive to keep it running. After the ceremony I drove to the hall for the reception (which was the same place we had ours...ahh memories) and sat at a table where I didn't know anyone and they were speaking German for the most part. Then they went outside and I was really all alone. When the bridal party got there an hour and a half after I did and after I had a few cocktails in me I started to feel a little less....lonely. Dinner was amazing, and the reception was so much fun. I felt a lot more comfortable once my hottie hubby could come down from the head table and spend time with me. We had a B.L.A.S.T.

These two are so in love it is adorable!

I have to say this was the best garter removal I have ever seen in my entire life. That man has some moves!

Yes ladies, he is all mine!

The boys in their shades.

I can't even put into words how amazing their cake was. I had a chocolate piece that melted.in.my.mouth. It was fudgy deliciousness

loved loved loved the color scheme and the decorations

Mike and Ryan have been friends since middle school and I met the two of them my freshman year in high school. We go way back!

Congratulations Ryan and Carranda. We had such a fun time celebrating with you!