Summer Daze

I hope everyone had an amazing, long weekend like I did. If you didn't, I'm sorry I just shoved it in your face. Although I did have to get some work done, working on the pier with a margarita in one hand surely is better than being in my office. Although when I had to work inside, Luigi was relentless which resulted in zero work getting done...I have a grade A toddler furbaby. "Mom...moommmmm....pet me...feed me...please?...Nudge...NUDGE NUDGE.

The weather was absolutely perfect which allowed me to run every single morning without groaning first. I kind of need to step up my game since I have a race this weekend. I somehow manage to forget these things. I prepped my playlist for it and I rocked my average pace each morning. I'm hoping for a repeat for race day! Come onnnnn best PR! And for sweaty post run pics....

We had some rain on Memorial Day, but luckily it held out until after the parade and early afternoon festivities. Memorial Day is such an important holiday to celebrate and honor those who are serving, are going to serve and especially for those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom with their lives. I'm quite proud to say that I'm a granddaughter to a retired Marine who spent SO many years serving his country. I celebrated with family of course by barbecuing, swimming and by drinking too much.

It was also a weekend full of scary movies...for some reason a group of us found it necessary to not only watch the director's cut of The Exorcist, but we also saw Insidious, Insidious 2, and some other creepy movie that will scar me for life. Apparently I had a goal to never sleep soundly ever again...or for at least the next several nights. Every unexplained noise had me biting my nails down to the damn cuticle. I'm that person who always talks to the dumb, weaponless person on screen. I mean come on, if I heard several unexplained noises, I'd arm myself with every knife in the kitchen without question. Prior to the scary movie marathon, Josh's fam lit the first bonfire of the season and made some smores. YUM. And I even paired it with a tang and tonic. Health and fitness were obviously on my mind that night. Let's shock my liver AND my abs...I'm all for multitasking.

I also worked on a fun Shutterfly album since they were kind enough to send me a special offer for a free hardcover photo book! Score! They also have 40% off right now and 101 free prints for all of you who have albums and frames to fill like I do! I'm thinking I definitely want to order one of these on canvas too.

I can't tell you enough how happy I am that I didn't skimp on photography when it came to the wedding budget. Whenever I have a bad day, I can look at photos like these and relive the happiest day of my fricken life. I mean look at this! Look!!

My older sis helped me SO much during the wedding planning process, I couldn't thank her enough. I couldn't have asked for a better MOH and bridal party!

How was everyone else's weekend?? Cheers!!

Five Favorites: Wedding Edition!!!

It's been three weeks since the best day of my life and I felt like it was fricken Christmas morning when our photographer emailed us to say that she will have our wedding photos well before the eight weeks! She sent us low res highlights via email and I squealed so loud from my office, everyone probably thought I was engaging in extracurricular activities...ANYWAY....Here are my five favorite highlights that were sent! It was hard to choose...

::1:: Prep

My sister-in-law said this photo makes me look like a Disney princess and I fricken love her for saying that. Hello? Life long dream to be a Disney princess.

::2:: Introduction

Obviously feeling like rock stars. I don't think I could have smiled any bigger.

Okay I have to sneak another one. This photo is easily one of my favorite photos.I'm sure I'll also be saying that about every single one I look at...

::3:: The First Dance

I feel like this photo was taken from a movie or something. Did I cry while seeing these photos? You betcha! It was like reliving that whole day.

okay sneaking in another one...

 

::4:: Reception

Remember when I said that we danced to *NSYNC? This photo is quite possibly the most epic photo ever of myself and my ladies rocking out to "It's Tearin' Up My Heart" I do believe.

::5:: The Balcony

The photographer pulled us away for a few moments to go up to the balcony and it gave us a chance to be alone and soak everything in.

I'm in love with these photos and I can't wait to pick up my flash drive with all of them!! A great photographer is definitely worth the higher price. Looking at just the few photos she sent along was like reliving the best day of my life. TGIF everyone!

Confessions: Wedding Edition

Time to hook back up for a short confessions with Kathy since I'm still on island time and moving very slowly....but let's wedding things up a bit with these confessions!

+ I confess that really nothing went wrong at the wedding aside for a couple of people getting a little too white boy wasted and only added to the stories to laugh at later.

+ I confess that I couldn't get into my dress fast enough....and was staring it down while calming my nerves with many glasses of wine..on an empty stomach.

But when I finally did slip into it...game on.

 + I confess I needed a drink...or two...right before the ceremony...

+ I confess that I had the best bridesmaids a girl could have. From needing a drink, to pinning things where they needed to be pinned and such...they were awesome. Seems like only yesterday that the rehearsal took place!

+ I confess that the officiant could have been speaking in Japanese and I wouldn't have noticed since I was so fixated on Josh and so lost in the moment.

 

+ I confess that I really wanted to punch Mother Nature in the boob for making it rain all week and the morning of the wedding day so we decided to take photos inside. I still can't wait to the professional photos though! 

+ I confess that I have zero regrets about any of the decisions I made during the planning process and the venue and staff were AMAZE-balls throughout the whole night. If anyone is having a wedding in the Chicago area and looking for a reception site, The Abbington Distinctive Banquets is your place!!

+ I confess that I almost pulled a Jennifer Lawrence up the stairs BUT I survived the walk up and didn't end up tripping over my dress! Success!!! Even though my dad was walking too fast and I stepped on my dress several times, I couldn't help but have the  biggest smile on my face.

+ I confess that although I didn't cry a waterfall of tears when my dad gave me away, I did shed some tears and smudged awesome foundation on my dad's tux during the father/daughter dance.

+ I confess that I smashed cake in Josh's face first and boy did he get me back. It wasn't planned at all, we just went for it. I'm glad we did too since it was delicious and I didn't have a chance to stuff my face with a slice of it later on.

+ I confess that while I was all nervous and crying about changing my name, I couldn't be happier to hear "Mrs. G" everywhere I go now. Josh and I have the best families that show nothing but their love and support! 

+ Oh and one last confession...yes I along with my bridesmaids danced to NSYNC's "Bye, Bye, Bye" and didn't skip ONE choreographed move during the reception. Again, I love them so flippin' much. :D

I'm also linking up with my girl Fitness Blondie for Hump Day! Go check her out!!!