Well then...

*blows 6 inches of dust off the top*

What a laugh, thinking I could keep up with this thing whilst preparations were ongoing and never ending.

We made it. We did it. It's official.

No, photos aren't in yet.

Yes, my dress IS still in the same pile it's been in since we came home.

No, I have not started on all my post-wedding projects.

Yes, I have not decided exactly what I'm going to do.

No, I did not fail my master classes though I did think I was losing my mind during a few key moments.

Yes, I definitely plan to blog about all the good stuff eventually. Loads of good stuff. Plus loads of really cool projects planned with all the goodies I made.

Oh, and yes, I definitely am bringing all my extras to work to leave in the black hole. May they be someone else's space waster now!

Half-year cleared!

What is this business of time flying way too quickly? I don't understand how individual hours can pass interminably slow but then you blink and a month has gone by.

This month was EXCELLENT. We had our first gathering of folks to celebrate the big day and it really cemented in that this is happening! We are getting married! It's kinda a big deal!

That being said, this month was VERY productive along with being fun.

I noted our crafting successes in the prior month and these favors continued into month six. They are fun, very fun, but also a bit time consuming and spatially demanding. Happy to be through with them, come the time.

I bought more fabrics and crafts and fake flowers. I truly love sales.

We finally met our cake lady! Her name is Angela and her street name is Liberation Gluten Free Bakery. Badass. She specializes in allergies and baking goodies without fear for the consumer. Our first bite of what we decided to try, we three looked at one another (me, Tanner and his brother, Hunter...yes, his big, tall, former football brother, Hunter) and were SHOCKED at how good it was. If we weren't already sold on using her, that first bite would have sealed the deal right there! Ultimately we picked our main cake and one of the other little goodies and spent some time afterwards deciding on some others. Very delicious, very fun.

I mentioned his brother, right? Well, awesome big bro that he is, he flew in for our family party! Presence is truly a great present.

The party was fantastic. My dad and mom did an excellent job on the cake (sweet lemon pound cake!) and my sweet sister-in-law made homemade lemon petit fours and gluten free brownies (of which I got none because they were quite the hot commodity). The 1,000 pigs in a blanket that my aunt and uncle made were gone faster than the brownies, though I did at least get ONE of those. Suter parties...I swear...

My cousin's came in from Dallas and Fort Worth and several of my Uncles were there with Aunt's and local family. We were able to squeeze a few more people into the home and it was truly filled to the brim with love and laughter. I have always known how wonderful my family is and it was such a joy to spend the evening with them.

The alcohol haul was also very nice. Smart family members of mine chose great selections across the board of wine and spirits. Lots of Texas reppin' and we are so excited to break into all of these over the coming months and years (if they last!). So so so lucky and blessed for my family and friends every day. EVERY DAY!

The day after the party was Father's Day and we spent it with the family in the really terrible humidity. I tasked my mom and dad with a fun project and I look forward to the outcome! Hint: It's for the reception...dead giveaway, right?

Progress, progress, progress...running out of craft storage space in my home though. Could prove an issue.

UPDATE:
In the final week before this post went live much was accomplished. I reorganized ALL the crafts and got my dining table back. I determined I needed to do more painting before I got to the details. More people = more tables! AND, my good friend, Dahnya, gratefully assisted me in some paper crafting.

I stuffed all the envelopes and addressed the ones which needed it. I updated my to-do list and realized it's still pretty long...BUT, I've determined what cake topper I want and I think I know what cake serving knife set I like and I bounced ideas off my sister-in-law for the game night festivities. Productive, indeed! On to month seven!

A good fifth month...

Belatedly presented, I give you the successes of my fifth month of planning our wedding.

We ordered our wedding bands! I waffled so terrifically whilst trying to decide what I wanted and ultimately what got picked is AWESOME. Big fan, big fan...happy to wear it on the daily.

My good friend Vin, aka Meris, spent 9 hours across two weekends with me creating wedding favors and we had TOO much fun. Perhaps it was the fumes from the rubbing alcohol or even the permanent markers but a good time nonetheless. Can't wait for everyone to see them in all their glory!

We finally met our photographers and they are just as great in person as via email! I know I'll get some great shots from them of our big day.

Other sundry funzies were:
--finalizing the plans for the family engagement party
--making ample to do lists and scratching things off slowly
--sealing and felting the first round of wedding favors
--having lots and lots of fun things arrive in the mail for all the lots and lots of fun things to happen at the wedding!
--ordering more small fun things
--Tanner finally planning our cake tasting (SPOILER ALERT: SO TASTY!)

What's up next in the half year mark, you ask?

Well....cake tasting! and a party! all in one day! The first thank you's prepared and sent and more crafts galore! Envision miniature versions of things...it's gonna prove epic.

But could someone please go help out the time machine? It's drunk and needs to go home.

A good fourth month...

Days without donuts: went back to zero. I just can't resist the temptation, it seems. But I forge ahead...

This month I made some good progress on little details, which excited me very much! The big stuff is always the easiest, from an auditor's perspective, and it's always the tail end scraps and odd ends and bits that take the longest time and create the most frustration.

This month I...
...painted my table placards and it was SO much fun creating new shades of various colors

Does it scream peacock? I really want it to.

...sought and found two inexpensive end tables to be used at the reception for various goodies. Subsequently painted them annnnnnnd wasn't a fan. Going to have to rethink these bad boys...

I'm thinking it's the shades of blue and green I dislike. Need to go darker...

...put up my second of two gallery walls of engagement photos...

Three more 5x7's to the left and it'll be complete!

First wall. All 12x18's.

...finished little preparations for the engagement party. Basically just involved telling people we love red wine and Jameson.

...finalized the wedding weekend timeline (it's loose, ultimately, but now all parties are aware of the goings-on).

...second trip as an engaged couple to an old friend's parent's party pad in New Braunfels hill country. It was perf...

...started working on the last invitation for the friends' and cousins' event. NO PARENTS ALLOWED!

...practiced some hair and makeup, trying to determine what I want to do being very difficult presently.

More little sundry fun things in life, like taking Milo to the beach and game nights with friends and family. I also started planning our epic pseudo road trip for July and couldn't be more excited about it! This trip needs to go down because it's supplying three more table names and I'm currently fresh out!

Here's to another fun and productive month. I'm a big fan of little things on the daily...

Somedoggy really loved the beach!

Somedoggy was so tired he fell asleep against the front window on his lookout perch.

A good quarter of a year...

Wow, time is FLYING!

Wedding planning has significantly slowed and I am immensely glad for that. I had set my goal for April, and I met it! At least for the biggest stuff. Now it's down to the "fun" little things...

Officiant: booked!
Turning an artist into a day-of coordinator who happens to be married to said officiant and who also is an awesome artist: YAS QUEEN!
Commissioned artwork from said coordinator extraordinaire: yup!
Clean-up crew foreman picked: Yes and she's the best.
Family Engagement Party planning: done and done, my Aunt Cheryl is amazing and I love that we are having it at her house to have the spirit of Kelly with all of us too!
Save the dates: addressed and sent! (Sorry if you read this and didn't get one, my family is very, very large and they make lots of babies who have lots of babies)
Wedding invitation design: nailed down and sticking with the travel theme. Ditched the travel theme and landed among the stars...
Table name decor: started! No judgment on skill...I'm no artist though I love to pretend to be.
Seating cards: um....eventually?
First trip as an engaged couple: CHICAGO (post to eventually come)!

The table decor and ideas are slowly coming together and I am enjoying all of it. I've put my mom on a mission to find four leaf clovers which is the only clue I'll give to some of the table favors that may be present. It has been fun to reflect on our trips and travels to share with our tables and to pick who will be in what city/location. With each city (or place!) we plan to have some fun little things planned so choosing must be done wisely!

In this coming month, the final preparations for the engagement party will go down (gotta keep my dad pumped about making the cake because even though he psychs himself out he always does a great job and ends up loving it!) and I'll continue my quest to quit donuts. Successful so far but the temptation is there nearly every day. Doesn't help I can see a Shipley's out my office window...

A good second month

Another month has passed quickly and several new items can be checked off the list!

Engagement pictures: Check!
Save the dates: Ordered!
DJ: Got 'em!
Decorations: Started!
Fun had: Sure!
Cool self-inking stamp: Purchased!
Wedding invitation design: Begun!
Invite list: Nearly complete!
Wedding diet? Still donuts and cake. Cheers!

Planning and preparing for a wedding is quite a feat. There are scads upon hoards upon masses of things to be done, gathered, decorated, primped, primed and other words like that.

I have my trusty notebook though.

Let the addressing and stamping begin to alert the masses (who have all already been alerted, but who doesn't love spending a ridiculous amount of money on stamps to do it?) and get everyone in a tizzy!

Nailed it, Engagement Style

For as concerned about the awkwardness that Tanner was, he did a great job and made it through fairly unscathed! We did it! We got some stellar pictures from my good friend, Dahnya. She's cute, bubbly, adorable and just snaps away while we were being us. It was exactly what I wanted. Now what you, reader, want, is just a smorgasbord of pictures, so here you go...

Our little family. Look at handsome Milo!

This will be over soon, I promise. I lied.

Green Acres style. Don't we look so freaking happy? I'm sure I was being called hipster for the 20th time at this point. You'll thank me later is all I kept saying in retort.

We're pwayin! Dis is da best, mommies and da'e!

"Clearly he takes after your side of the family," Tanner commented when seeing these smiling eyes.

Because I'm vain and look real good in this one. And my boys are looking at me.

Hipster for the 50th time?

THE Bench.

Without a doubt, my absolute favorite.

Libraries are good for more than just books!

Isn't he so handsome???

Because the other one is going on the save the date.

Second favorite.

Love is in the air, doo doo doo doooooo.

A good month

Four years later and February 15th now bears a new moniker: Engagement day.

With a sweet spot picked (our first date), and a sweet letter written (all in one go, he said!) and the blessing of my parents Tanner and I are on the path to making it legal. Milo is the most excited because finally his daddy will have his and mommy's last name too! (I can't tell him otherwise, he'd be heartbroken).

One month down, yesterday. A very full month indeed.

Date: Check
Venue: Check
Food: Check
Dress: Check (I should point out I bought it OFF THE RACK. It's IN MY POSSESSION. Nailed it.)
Sundry other planning items: Check
Forgotten ring on day 1 of month 2: Check (FREE WOMAN!)

Things are looking good. We are very excited. And in a few short weeks we will have a sweet and cute photo session with my good friend Dahnya. She's basically the Queen of shot-framing and I love ALL her photos. Should prove excellent.

With love and happiness abounding, Tanner and I embark on the next eight months with a might of trepidation, a modicum of frustration (with others, ha), and a ridiculous amount of excitement for a killer party to celebrate our great day.

Let the games begin and the may the odds be ever in your favor!

Vegas, baby, we love ya!

My fourth time. His sixth time. Our second time. Vegas, we love you. Along with NYC and Washington D.C., we could go here annually and be just fine with that. Now, where are those lotto numbers I was going to play...

I had never been when it was cold so I was EXTRA excited about that. Didn't really consider the fact until partway through that this meant the following: lugging around a jacket inside of every casino and also having to wash said jacket and all scarves upon returning home because they absorb smoke like none other.

Worth it!

Our first night after arriving, we went to an off-strip casino where the in-house restaurant had the most amazing homemade, from scratch, food you could ask for. They have a microbrewery too and it was GOOD! Go to Ellis Island, everybody! It's directly behind Paris off the strip. DO IT!

She's a beaut, she is. Over in Paris, too!

The next morning we went to Hash House a Go Go, a stop I missed the last time, and it was worth the wait. The pancakes were the size of Mt. Rushmore and the serving size of everything else wasn't much smaller. Was I back in Texas? Everything was HUGE!

Worth the wait, hands down. 

We rolled out of there and picked up a Deuce ticket to head down to Stratosphere. Places were never, "just right there". Or really, they were, but Vegas defines that distance in 10's of miles rather than 10's of feet. Just right there = 5 miles away AT LEAST.

The view from atop Stratosphere, my first place I ever gambled!

After here we gambled. Best part about that was being introduced to the only privately owned casino on the strip, Casino Royale. Tanner played there the last time he had come and had a great time at Craps. I found an excellent Black Jack table and proceeded to NOT LOSE ANY MONEY. Legit! I played for hours on end both Thursday AND Friday and never lost a dollar. Big thumbs up to Casino Royale. Then we did the usual touristy thingy at night before our Blue Man Group show...

Where's there's fire...

I've seen fire and I've seen rain....

Blue Man Group has got to be one of the funniest shows. Tanner had never been so it made it even better. Don't stay at Luxor though because those elevators are TRIPPY! They move SIDEWAYS.

The next morning was our last full day so we planned to gamble, play in a poker tournament (him not me!) indulge in a 24 hour buffet pass (belly full!) and then see another show. Vegas is fantastic. Three hours can pass and you don't even realize it until your boyfriend calls and throws off your luck and then you have to wait around until he finishes HIS lucky play. That's ok...he actually WON money. Take that, Vegas!

Randomly, this weekend was 1) the international rodeo championships, cool. and 2) coincidentally (I think not) a NASCAR weekend where the cars go up and down the strip and do spinouts and burnouts and other outs that I don't know about.

I don't know much about NASCAR but stereotypes exist for a reason.

Later that day...

Tanner got picked on for being a tall, white male for a street performance. 

Then we saw the Jabbawockeez. Honestly, this did not thrill me as much as expected. Gotta quit it with those expectations, ha.

Vegas had treated us well with weather, luck, food and relaxation. Too bad our last morning was marred by a Security filled hallway courtesy of our neighbors.

Hello 3:30AM, haven't seen you in awhile.

Thankfully security did arrive before any (more, supposedly) blows occurred and eventually the man and woman were quieted and we eventually fell back asleep for a few hours before our flight home. Oh Vegas...you always leave us with at least one story.

Hail to the Chief

I told you Universal was a bonus trip and that's because 3 days after I returned, I hopped on a flight to Washington D.C.!

Let me start by saying how much I love Washington D.C. Everything about it. And above all of that is my love for this country and how I tear up every time I hear the National Anthem. And always will, I hope. To visit the seat of our country, and see the history therein, is a trip I could take a thousand times before I ever tire of it.

Thankfully Tanner is also into history and our country. WIN!

I had wanted to visit D.C. the prior year but didn't make it a priority so instead it became number uno for this year's travel! Yes, it was preceded by Mexico and Napa Valley but...whatever, it's an important trip for me so...you get the point!

With a little research, I found a cute walk up apartment in an historic home in Dupont Circle. Perfect! Within walking distance of Foggy Bottom Metro, a Whole Foods and a Starbucks, and just off of Pennsylvania Ave (you know...THAT street), we couldn't have planned better. We being me, let's be honest.

We arrived midday, dropped off our luggage and hit the streets for some walking. About ten minutes in I realized that my initial layering to prepare for the cold weather was now detrimental to my enjoyment of said walking. It was much warmer than anticipated!

Sunshine and blue skies, couldn't have asked for better!

Washington Monument had finished it's repair work from the last time I visited so you could see it in all its...glory. It really is quite a feat but also seems so strange. One more earthquake and it might come tumbling down, right onto the WWII memorial.

One of my favorite memorials, definitely. 

Every time I visit!

We kept walking down this part of the mile, enjoying the walk past the reflecting pool of Lincoln Memorial. I am always struck with the beauty of this memorial. Not only for the man being revered, but also the view from the steps back towards the monument and capitol hill. It is breathtaking and not just from taking said steps.

The sun was beginning to set so we decided to make our way back to our apartment, stopping at Whole Foods to pick up food for the weekend along the way. I opened the balcony doors to let in the fresh fall air and we settled in to watch some Netflix. Never forget, my friends, that vacations should BE a vacation and relaxing should be on the agenda!

The next morning was perfect. It was sunny, crisp, and we were headed for our day of capitol tours and memorial visiting. Museums were for the weekend, yo.

The Eisenhower building is truly one of the more beautiful in the capital.

I couldn't have been more excited to go where we went next...my first time visiting the White House!

She's a beaut, she is!

The tour is brief, really just wandering room to room, but still amazing. I was there! IN the building where our President works and lives. I saw the red carpet and the seal! LIVE!

I can say I've been here!

Funny aside, there is a Red room, a Green room, and a Blue room so Tanner asked, "I wonder if they called them that because red, blue and green make white?" FOR THE WHITE HOUSE!

Just one more pic...

I really do love the White House.

After wrapping up our tour, we headed to the House of Representatives' building in hopes of sitting in on a Senate or House hearing but alas, they were not in session by the time we made it into the Capitol. No matter, we had sights to see before said tour, so let's get to steppin'!

We hoofed it all the way back down the mile and then went off roading to see the Jefferson Memorial across the Tidal Basin. While the Washington and Lincoln memorials are great and all, Jefferson's be stills my heart every time. It is grand. The words they have chosen to engrave on the walls will move and inspire you. The view is undeniably beautiful.

Amen!

With a few silent moments to absorb the words and the atmosphere, we decided to swing back to the mile via the FDR and MLK memorials. FDR's is tucked away from the water and you don't realize you've entered the area until after a few stone walls have passed.

I often forget he was elected a third term.

"Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope."

The MLK memorial is only a few years old and it is quite powerful. Now on to the capitol!

Tanner's favorite picture style to take. Sigh, I guess it's better than nothing?

Getting our tour on. We had a great docent! I always love learning about the building and hearing new snippets from each docent each time I go.

After our tour ended it was late in the day and the museums were closing soon, so we stopped at the closest one to walk through, the Native American museum. I can tell you, this one is hard to go through no matter how many times you do. It is quiet and calming but when you think of the turmoil and loss of native Americans it becomes less so. I admit I struggled more than I anticipated to see what displays were up and how empty the place was and how old and forgotten it felt as we walked through.

We left as the place was closing and made our way back home, stopping for pizza at Whole Foods along the way. You see a pattern emerging?

Our first stop the next morning was...wait for it...Starbucks. Daily on the daily, yo. Then off to the American History Museum! I was very excited about this because I had never been in any of my visits before. I'd get to see THE flag. Oh, and the first lady dresses! Spoiler alert: both were amazing and blew my mind!

Sadly, no photos allowed of the actual flag but they have created a beautiful resting area for it and even placed seats in front of it for those who would like to sit awhile and reflect.

They had an incredible exhibit of America through all its wars, starting with the Revolution and ending with the Iraqi war. It is incredible, filled with artifacts and tidbits of information never learned before. After wandering through there much faster than Tanner, who considers this area his favorite to learn about, I promptly took a nap on a bench. It was pretty stellar. Once he had caught up with me, we went to see the first lady dresses. I went through it three times. The dresses are stunning. Mary Todd Lincoln was ABSURDLY tiny. Michelle Obama's dress in person was jaw-dropping. The style arcs from beginning to end were incredible and I fell in LOVE with Eleanor Roosevelt's dress.

There's just something about it...

Three times back and forth, y'all...couldn't get enough.

Fun fact: the title of First Lady is not by writ or law, it wasn't even used until this past century. Therefore, if a female is elected president then they would just come up with a new name for the husband/partner (covering for the future). Another fun fact: the office of First Lady can be held by any family member of the President, not just the wife. There have been more First Ladies than Presidents!! ...The more you know!...

Got our 3-D viewing of D-Day as narrated by Tom Brokaw.

Five hours under our belt we moseyed over to my FAVORITE museum, National Air & Space. Don't worry folks, with only a few hours to indulge we had the full intention of returning the next day for a proper visit.

With a visit by my aunt scrapped due to a marathon occurring all along the mile, we forged ahead with our plan to visit the museum early the next day. We may or may not have jogged across the marathon on both sides of the esplanade...sacrifices must be made! But we did try to time it to where we wouldn't ruin anyone's run time. I may or may not have been nervous the guy in fatigues would arrest me. Tanner said I was silly for thinking that.

Our docent did not disappoint. He was lively, knowledgeable, energetic and had a voice I didn't mind listening to for nearly three hours. We began with the Wright Brothers in the early 1900's and ended with our exploration in space and its ongoing adventure. So much information in that span of time, so much enjoyment hearing all of it.

Kite!

Jet to space! Doesn't orbit though...but space!

Broke the sound barrier!

MOON! THIS WENT TO THE MOON AND BACK!

I definitely geeked out for the entirety of this. Who knew I loved space that much? Not this kid!

Though our dogs were barking (feetsies!), we decided to stop in to see the Constitution of the United States, Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence. There is NO WAY Nic Cage would have been able to steal this because even just leaning too closely got you a sharp retort from one of the THREE police officers in there.

The room they were in was high ceilinged, chilled and dimly lit. The Declaration has nearly faded entirely away and it was amazing to see the increased level of preservation taken just a few decades later with the Constitution and Bill of Rights. I couldn't believe that I was standing near these documents, let alone attempting to read them. These documents represent this country in its fledgling state, its infancy, and I am moved beyond words to see how far we have come and what we went through to get here. Yes, we have issues. Yes, we aren't perfect (WHO SAID THAT? LEMME AT 'EM!). Yes, we will continue to change and progress. But by golly, I believe we live in the best country on this planet. Bonus for me: I live in the best STATE in the union. ;-)

Our last day filled me to the brim with love of our country, our history, our perseverance and preservation. We left the Archives and headed slowly back to our apartment to enjoy one last evening soaking up the east coast air. With the balcony doors open, I could see the fading sunlight through the red-leafed trees and the chilled air that blew in was refreshing from the ocean, rather than drenching from the Gulf.

We had an incredible trip and it met my expectations and then some. I believe if I could go here once a year every year I'd be quite the happy camper. So who's up for funding that? Until next time, D.C.!

Bonus rainbow!