Finals are almost over!!

Things just don't settle down when you're this close do they?? I've been taking finals the last couple of days. Tomorrow is my last one....yayyy!!!! I can't believe we're graduating this Saturday :( VT was the best. I hope to come back to Blacksburg with Katherine & Shon and Holly & Arthur for many more football games...next time as an alumni!! So this week I've got to work on getting graduation necessities (like cap & gown, that sort of thing) and.......packing for our honeymoon!! Can you believe I'm already packing because I cannot. Most of my clothes are down here anyway so I've gotta pack a few of them up to take home with me this weekend! My goodness time has really flown by. I can still remember freshman year 4 years ago. At this time 4 years ago I was probably studying on the bridge with Ben....and now I'm getting ready to marry him. Cuteness, huh? I hope everyone is having a great Mother's Day!

Sooooo close!!

1 month.

30 days.

4 weeks.

4 Saturdays!!!!

However you look at it, our wedding is fast approaching.  And we couldn't be more excited!!!!!

Back to your regularly scheduled program

Here are a few pictures from Ring Dance this weekend.

Me, Ben, Arthur, and Holly.   The theme this year was "Hollywood" so it was perfect for Holly's Junior Year Ring Dance. 

Your two favorite people ;)  (Ben likes to pretend that he's the same height as me b/c he knows it annoys me.)

I just love bumping into Aicel everywhere on campus.

That's pretty much all the photos I took!  Can you believe that??  I have always been an OCD photographer (minus the talent) just because I love having photos.  They're good for record-keeping.  ;) But I guess this semester a lot of things have had to change in my life.  I have been so flipping busy 24/7!!  Maybe that's the reason for the occasional breakdown...hmmm makes sense.  

Well Ben and I went to Michael's Arts and Crafts store in search of vases for the reception.  The plan is that the bridesmaids will just put their bouquets in the vases once they arrive--because 1) that's a huge money saver and 2) the girls won't want to lug them around anyway once they're dancing and 3) the bouquets are going to be gor-geous.  Just imagine a large bunch of  blue hydrangeas with the stems wrapped in ribbons and pearls.  WOW can't wait :)  But anyway here are the lucky vases!  I was originally looking for a more rectangular-shaped kind but these were the perfect size and I think they'll be pretty anyway.  

And here's where I got the idea:

Ben and I have quite a few busy weekends coming up.  I'm gonna list all the Saturdays coming up between now and the wedding.  See if you can believe this:

(4/4)--THIS weekend

(4/11)--we're going to get our marriage license

(4/18)--2 term papers due the next week!!

(4/25)--is my bridal portrait (by my lovely sister, of course!!)

(5/2)--is Holly's 21st birthday

(5/9)--final exams!!

(5/16)--Ben & I graduate and Ben is commissioned the previous day

(5/23)--holy crap it's the WEDDING

NOW you can possibly see why I've been having such major breakdowns lately.  Usually I get really stressed out and get really nervous (not about anything in particular, just shaken up) then Ben calms me down and I'm okay the next day.   You know, just the norm.  Okay now I have to go fold some laundry.

2 months.

2 months from right now 

I will be getting my hair done...

...and getting prepared to marry the most wonderful man ever...

...and imagining him waiting for me in his white uniform at the end of the aisle...

...and trying not to cry so I don't mess up my makeup.  

Finally Spring

Happy 1st day of Spring!!!

Guess what we did today!?  We mailed the first batch of invitations!!! Yay!!

Update on the giveaway:  I just realized I never put an ending date on it...but I'm gonna go ahead and end it today.  Thanks for so much interest, ladies!!!  Best Part:  ALL THREE ladies are winners!!  How cool is that?!  

Hope everyone has a Beautiful Day!!

GIVEAWAY--Free Photography Session

As my FIRST official giveaway, I'll be giving away a FREE photography session with Katherine Klegin (a.k.a... my lovely sister).

Your session will include:

*shoot at the location of your choice (as long as it's in Virginia, Maryland, D.C., or North Cackalacky)

*1-2 hours of shooting time

*all photographs provided on a DVD

Check out some of her work here. I think she's pretty good!! I mean...she DID do our engagement photos!!

In order to win, leave me a comment answering the following 4 questions:

1) Who (or what) do you want photographed?

2) Where would you like to be photographed?

3) "Buddy the Elf, What's your favorite color?"

4) Have you ever been cow tipping?

***UPDATE: I just got insider information that she may be willing to offer MORE than just one session!!! So don't be shy!!

My To-Do List

1) Finish this paper due in 4 hours.  --I just love/hate leaving things for the last minute.

2) Find out which ship Ben will get by the end of the day --Basically this information will determine our life together over the next couple of years, including when he will and will not be home

3) Continue researching apartments in the Norfolk area.  Hopefully find a reasonably-priced 2Bedroom with Washer/Dryer in a nice neighborhood so I don't feel scared to go outside when Ben is away. 

4) Get wedding invitations ready to go out--including stuffing, stamping, addressing--the works.  

5) Research graduation ceremony plans

6) Read for tomorrow's class

Ridiculous.

Already back at school.

 I got a lot of things done over spring break--but I was very sad to see it go.  I never even had time to relax.  On another topic, didn't Allison do a GREAT job on my blog facelift???? I'm just in love with it.

P.S. Another thing I'm in love with (besides Ben): my dress!!!  Went to the fitting this week; seriously, every time I put it on I feel amazing.

P.P.S. Went to see "He's Just Not That Into You" with Holly and Ben last night--great movie.  Really funny.  Just don't go see it if you've broken up recently.

busy bride

Wow the past couple of days have really flown by. On Saturday we had my bridal shower (hosted by my wonderful neighbors) and later my bachelorette party (hosted by my wonderful sister), so that was quite a day. My sister already has pictures up on her blog! Ben's 23rd birthday was on Monday so it was nice to have dinner with his family and celebrate the day my wonderful fiance was born :) Tomorrow we're meeting with my pastor, with our cake lady, and with our photographer--so as you can see I haven't even had time to catch up with my favorite bloggers! I'm hoping to get back on here after this week. Hopefully I'll be a little more productive with wedding stuff (i.e. invitations!!! gotta get them together & addressed) in the second half of this week. I will definitely catch up with everyone. Thanks so much for all the sweet comments and encouragements throughout the week! Y'all are awesome.

Spring Break is officially here!!

I finished my last midterm today. Ugh. I am so glad to get all that over with. Now on to a full (and I mean PACKED) week of wedding planning. You know...all the stuff I have to take care of now that I'm finally going home. Could be fun--could be stressful--we'll just have to see what this week brings. One thing I know: I'll be glad when the break's over (isn't that weird to say?) because 1) I'll have TONS of wedding stuff taken care of and 2) if it's stressful, then it will be done. I'm the type of person that if things are truly stressful, I just want other people to make the decisions for me--because I just don't care. OR could it be because I'm so indecisive?? Hmm...I don't know. I can't even make up my mind about that. Truly though, I've never met another person who is more indecisive than me. Let me know if I have a competitor. I'll keep you updated on the outcome of the next couple of days.

Guess who got their rings yesterday?!

Yay!

As of 4pm today....

there are only 99 days. This is weird. I've been watching the countdown for almost one year now (by the time we get married we will have been engaged for 14 months)...so seeing that it's down to 99 days makes it seem soooooo close. :)

One Hundred

Today's number, boys and girls, is 100.


100 for my 100th post! Yay!



And 100 for how many days are left until our wedding!!!!!!



How exciting that they coincided on the same day! (Okay I kind of made that happen...but how exciting that they coincided in the same week!!)



**More news: Go check out my sister's blog. She told me something about herself today that I had never known until now. I about fell out of my chair I was laughing so hard. Since she's decided to share it with the world, I think you should also go check it out.

**One last thing: A Southern Accent is giving away 2 free headers for her 400th post!!! How sweet! I sure hope I get picked.

You ask...I'll tell....

So here's what I'll have on my finger for the rest of my life:

I admit it. Ben spoils me :)

By the way.....

Ben and I rented Fireproof the other day and watched it with some friends.

(We went to Blockbuster and they only carried 5 copies...which were all sold out...and we eventually had to stalk the poor employee restocking the shelves.) But the point is, it's an amazing movie. (Even Ben liked it.) I'm thinking about buying it sometime soon. I completely recommend it.

Wedding on the Brain!

Hopefully, Ben and I are going to pick out & order our wedding rings tomorrow (exciting!!!)....so I've kind of had "wedding" on the brain all day. Here is a little preview of my wedding (in 3 months & 17 days)... Are you excited?? Because I am. If you can't tell already.

PHOTOGRAPHY

image from My Photographer!! Ben Rasmussen Photography

Wow. What an incredible picture!

4 images above from Grazier Photography

CAKE

Want to see a preview of our cake? I got the idea from my photographer's website. This is basically what I chose (except blue ribbons & a blue hydrangea topper....and maybe our monogram on the middle tier).

image from Ben Rasmussen Photography

BOUQUETS & WEDDING PARTY

Here's a little something like my bouquet (mostly hydrangeas but also other white flowers):

image from Google Images

The girls' beautiful bouquets:

image from Google Images

Who ever thought I would choose black bridesmaids' dresses?? Not me. But they just look so classy, don't they? I think the blue flowers will really be set off by them as well!

image from Google Images

I love this picture of the bridal party---minus the L.A.-ness. We'll definitely have to do something like that...

image from Google Images

HAIR

Seeing as how Katherine will be shooting my bridal portraits in about a month...I've been searching desperately for pictures of hair that I like. I L.O.V.E. these two pictures (that I actually found from The Perfect Pair.) So I think it's safe to say that one of these two babies is going to be my hairstyle of choice.

image from the Knot

image from hair by juliet

GOING-AWAY DRESSES

Aren't these 3 dresses from David's Bridal just gorgeous? ...And can you tell I love blue? :)

all 3 dresses from David's Bridal

LEAVING THE RECEPTION

I'm thinking of using sparklers outside of the reception once we leave. I really like the way the pictures turn out at night.

image from Grazier Photography

Ahh! I can't wait.

Playing catch up

So I went home this weekend for a short visit. It's only been 2 weeks since I've been down here in Blacksburg for school, but it felt like I hadn't been home in a long time. I've been really stressed lately--I don't think I'll ever really get "on track" with both school and the wedding. So the last two weeks have basically felt like I had a huge concrete block on my shoulders. I would come home from class and almost cry because I didn't know what I needed to do--study or plan. So that was why I wasn't writing very much. I didn't really want to be a Debbie Downer. I'm not feeling any better in that aspect (yet), but I did want to get back on here and join the world again.

I finally got to meet my niece this weekend! She's now two weeks old and is truly one of the most beautiful babies I've ever seen. She'll just look at you while you're holding her in your arms. And she's so tiny!! I suppose she's rather tall for an infant but still so tiny! Her little fingers and little ears were so precious. I just loved the way she'd just stay quiet and grunt every once in a while in a cute little infant way. Tom and Julie are both in love with their little girl. It's been a difficult first two weeks for them, I'm sure, but it's easy to see how much they love her. I most likely won't get to see them for a couple of weeks due to my being at school, so (Tom and Julie) please feel free to keep me updated :)

I also made a trip to the public library while I was home so that I could cheat and check out a few of my "textbooks" instead of buying them (oh the joys of being an English major--please don't kid yourself I have to read 27 books this semester alone. I kid you not. Oh yeah and plan a wedding.) But anyway while I was rushing in to get the 2 books I knew they had, I passed the "New" section with all the library's newest books...and one particular book caught my eye. There was a picture on the front of a Navy man (in uniform of course) kissing his new bride.

The funny thing is the Navy man looks a LOT like my fiance. The title of the book: The Military Wedding. Did I pick the book up? No. I snatched it like I was in a race and took off to find my other books. I couldn't help but smile. These last couple of weeks have introduced all the many things I don't know about the military--so I was really beginning to worry about minute things that you can't find out in a general wedding planning book--like when is the sword arch performed?? Before or after the pictures?? Inside or outside the church?? With all guests present or without?? I found most of my answers in this little book. Believe me, for the next 110 days (or 3 months and 21 days) I am going to study this book like it is goin' out of style. Oh and by the way--the author specifically states that the book was written for civilian brides who are marrying military grooms--and the book was published around the time when I got engaged. Meant to be?? :)

A late night post

I have finished printing the invitations! What a job! I thought it would be easier because they came with a link to a website that had online templates--but of course that didn't work!! So I had to make my own templates--measuring how far from each side it printed on 8.5 x 11" paper--then taping each individual invitation onto the 8.5 x 11"--then running it through the printer hoping the printer wouldn't momentarily go crazy and eat the paper (which it did 3 times!!) It was a very intricate process, but I am glad (and proud) to say that it is finished. And quite a job well done. I'll show them on here later when I can figure out how to retouch the pictures (aka when I can get back on my own computer at school).

Speaking of school--I've only got a few more days until I go back! I'm excited (and sad) to go back for my last semester in college. I've got a lot on my plate this semester (finalizing graduate school applications--taking the GRE--finalizing wedding plans--working to get $$--oh yeah and keeping my grades up!) but hopefully I'll find a way to manage it. I'm just glad I got so much of the wedding planning done over break.

I'm also quite excited to see Ben again. We'll have been apart for 2 weeks and talked on the phone all the time (which is extremely surprising if you know either one of us--we're not big on phone-talking!), but I still missed him. I'm afraid I'm going to be such a terrible Navy wife--I can't even live without him for 2 weeks!!

Oh. My. Gosh.

We found the bridesmaids' dresses!!! How lucky am I? Wow. One (full) day of shopping and we finally picked a winner. And it really looked great on everyone!! Then we went home and tried them on next to my dress. And for a moment I felt like I was going to get married right then..I think I had a little taste of my first butterflies.

***P.S. If you want to see the dresses click on the link on the left***

I'm so excited!!!

Wanna know why? Because all of the BIG things I have to get booked for the wedding are DONE!!! As of tonight I have the Ceremony site, Reception site, DJ, Photographer, Cake Baker, Florist....they're all done!!

Oh...right. I forgot about the bridesmaid's dresses. Yeah I'm pretty sure my maids might be a little ticked at me for not getting around to this sooner--seeing as how we're 4 months away and I have no clue what to tell them when they ask me when they're gonna be fitted!! Hopefully, tomorrow I will fix that. Look out shopping malls & dress boutiques--I'm on a mission!

It's 2009

And a Happy New Year to you all! (This only coming 5 days late.) Today is my favorite sister's birthday! Happy Birthday, Katherine! We had a birthday celebration for her with the whole family this past weekend, and it was really nice to spend the evening with everyone.

Tom and Julie are going to be parents pretty soon! I'm pretty excited to have a niece or nephew, and it's expected really any day now. Hopefully I'll get to meet him/her (my bets are on a girl!) before I go back to school in a few weeks.

Ben left today to go back to Bburg. He went back early for his job at school. He says he'll travel back up here either this weekend or the next, so I am already looking forward to seeing him again.

Wedding plans are coming along great. Almost everything is booked, so now it's off to the minute parts of the wedding. Right now we're debating on when to do the saber arch: immediately after the ceremony inside the church so all the guests will be sure to see it--or outside of the church (before or after pictures??). Has anyone been to a military wedding before? Any suggestions on that would be really helpful.

outside the church

inside the church

I hope y'all have already had a great first week in the new year.