Honeymoon!!!!!!!!

I'm getting more and more excited for the honeymoon as the wedding approaches. I can't wait to go on a great adventure with my new husband, off to see a new corner of the world, zip lining through the forest, playing in waterfalls, horseback riding on the sand, watching sunsets in a hammock, touring a volcano, snorkeling with turtles and dolphins, eating until I can't possibly eat anymore at our all-inclusive beautiful resort, and most of all I really can't wait to live with another culture for a week. I'm so excited to meet people that are nothing like me, to hear stories, to barter at the local market, to have someone show us all of the local spots.
Seriously can't wait!!!!

Waiting on emails from the other side of the world = no sleep.

But I have had fun going through old pictures of me and b.
I forget how long he's been around. How much he is a part of me, my family, my memories...
I can't believe as of this Saturday it's forever.
How cool is that?!?!?!
Pretty darn cool if you ask me.
Then it's more memories, growth, laughter, love,..
forever with Brett sounds like the best thing EVER.

Forever is coming quickly but for now.. it's time for bed.
Wedding details with my beautiful and amazing momma in the morning.
Then it's my last day at work before the big day. WOOHOO.
Good night Hong Kong. Thank you for emailing me back.

Oh and here are a few old pics (because a post just isn't a post without some eye candy)

Engagement Photos

I'm losing my mind.
I made this post on May 27th.
You would think after spending forever uploading pictures it wouldn't take me 2 months to notice I never actually hit the post button.

Now that we're 5 days away from the wedding.. Here are our engagement photos.
Hey.. better late than never! Enjoy:)

It's July 10... 12:32 am

We're 8 days away. SINGLE DIGITS!!!
oh. my. heck.
Brett tried so hard to stay up and work on some last details with me.

He woke up about 20 minutes ago and shrieked "they've arrived!"
I said "Brett who's arrived?"
He says "the guests! they've arrived with the remote!"

... then his head flopped over and he was out like a light.
My little pooper is pooped.
Can't wait for that vacation!!!

Romance

Romantic nights in a season of wedding planning...
9 months ago our nights were full of adventurous dates, fancy dinners, roaming San Diego.

Fast forward. We're now a skip and a hop away from the wedding and our nights consist of things like...
Tangling ourselves in christmas lights as we label, test, and organize them.
or, cutting and melting fabric to make flowers.

Actually, I must admit, I'm totally loving it:)

^^^ That's SIX boxes of christmas lights in the background!

YAAAAHHHooooooooooo!!

We're officially less than a month away!!!
Everything is falling together perfectly and I'm feeling extremely blessed. I've been itching to update but were in full force operation wedding and every spare moment is filled... I LOVE IT! I'm doing my best to fully enjoy the little time I have left of being engaged. We're having a blast on this wedding roller coaster... updates soon:)

Bon Voyage

B and I got our passports!
Now we can get married, quit working, pack our backpacks, and travel the world.
...I wish

I guess we'll just have to get married, and go on a totally sweet 7 night honeymoon.
Wait... I never made a post about the honeymoon did I? Oh boy thats-a-comin!

Who woulda thunk?

Almost directly in the middle of this picture is a building. An apartment complex that I lived in when I was really little. The place I met Aubri, the place Genieva lived first, the place where home videos of me throwing tantrums on the floor were taped, the place where my fondest memories of my Dad were made, the place where Tony was introduced into my life, the place where I remember watching lightening in the parking lot with my grandpa.

Fast forward 18 years..
I'm standing on a hill looking into the past, playing all these memories in my head. I stand and smile a moment longer before I turn to the house behind me. Today's the day. My wedding dress is ready. A girl only wears one wedding dress in her life and mine is ready and waiting for me. Waiting in the house on the hill. The same house that looked over those same apartments and chubby cheeked girl 18 years ago. Who would've thought?

I'm such a sentimental sap lately.. I just can't help it. My chubby cheeks couldn't help but smile.

Countdown

I can't believe it... we're getting married!
Now don't worry, this isn't my first realization of our marriage...
It's just so around the corner now that it actually feels like it's happening! I'm so excited!!!!!

The dress is bought, save the dates are sent, decorations are collecting, new furniture is being stored...

I now give you an STD..
short for Save The Date:)

14 and weeks and 4 days left... but who's counting? ;)

Bates Nut Farm

We took our parents to the farm and showed them around. We had a lot of fun planning, looking at animals, walking through the fields, and buying some loot from the general store. I'm getting more and more excited about the wedding! It's all starting to fall together and I'm more in love with the farm every time we go there. It's perfect... It's us. I can't wait to go up again.

Ceremony Option #1: Oak Tree

Ceremony Option#2: Aisle of trees w/ two touching trees that make an arch at the "altar"
(these trees are going to be huge and green in July)

Reception (inside hedged area on left) and the fieldPolk-a-dot chicken!

The most beautiful peacock I've ever seen!

Baaah

eyeheartbargains

Anyone that knows me knows my love for finding a good bargain.

Something in me just won't let me buy $60 jeans and jackets and $20 shirts and $30 pairs of shoes. Bargain hunting is in my blood. I remember being young and shopping with my mom as she hunted for the best bargains. I would follow her around the store watching and learning the art and rejoicing with her in our finds. I don't remember the last time Ive spent over $20 on jeans. I don't even think I've tried on shoes that were over $15 in years. The last jacket I bought was $4. Actually most things I buy are in the $5 range the goal is always under 10. I understand this may seem extreme but if you set the goal it works. I know what I want and how much I want to pay for it before I shop. If it doesn't meet the criteria.. move on! I will always find it somewhere else and it will always be within my price range. Honestly I've never wanted something that I haven't been able to find somewhere else and that still met my goal. Shopping has slowly become a sport over the year and I love the challenge of spending the least amount possible on it. I don't know... with all the people in this world that only have one set of clothes to their name.. with the knowledge that clothes are for nothing but to cover our nakedness... with a job that says you have look like money in order to be successful... with the awareness of how materialistic of a culture I live in.. I just can't succumb to it and I love the challenge of a good bargain hunt!

All that to say... Today was the bargain hunt of all bargain hunts. My mom and I had a shopping date and when you combine the forces of two thrifty women... oh the damage that can be done. Now that the time has come to plan our wedding I knew it would be no different...

Today's Mission: wedding decor
Store's Visited: 4
Item's Bought: 19 different vases, 3 vintage birdcages, and one bundle of wheat "vibe" stuff
Total Cost: $25.23

Wedding Party

We popped the question...

and asked some of our closest friends to stand by our sides on our big day!