Engagement Pics!

They're finally up! I can't believe all that stressing and not only is it over with, but it was fun! I was so nervous I would look awkward and stiff, but Heather made sure there was never an awkward moment!

The minute we got there she was directing us to pose and at times I questioned the pose...but I came home a few hours later to see them up and couldn't believe how natural they looked! <-- yep, can you believe our session was finished around 5 and I had them by 9pm?! Chris kept sending me teasers and I.Was.Dying.

For the best quality of pictures: click here.

I'll go ahead and post my favorites!!! So pleased with our outfit choices even though I wasn't positive on the drive there I still had doubts! (I was hands off with Ordy's outfits- I told him what I was wearing and he picked his own outfits accordingly!) If you have questions about anything, let me know!

I cannot thank this amazing husband and wife team enough. They have given me pictures I can be proud of and look back on for the rest of my life. I'm so happy with how they came out!!! I love you, Graceology!

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow!

I just realized I haven't shared an important detail with you guys!!! I mean, if you follow me on twitter, you already know... but I can't believe I didn't blog about MY NEW HAIR!

Soooo... here's how impulsive I am (and this is EXACTLY how it happened... if I'm lyin', I'm dyin')...

9:00 a.m. : Woke up. Hated my hair. Texted Emily (the biggest advocate of chopping off my hair...) that I was finally sick of it. She said if I didn't cut it- she would in my sleep.

Noon: Texted my sister's BFF who does hair and said I was fed up with my hair and dying to chop it off. She was more than happy to chop it off and was sooooo nice about it. She made SURE it wasn't impulsive and let me know with shorter hair I'd HAVE to have it straight 90% of the time... That didn't bother me because once it's short, straightening would be a breeze. Plus, ever since I lightened my hair I lost my curls :( Kind of sad, but it's ok. I fried my hair so the texture was awful!

Cortney sent me a picture of the hair cut she saw for me:

2:00 p.m.:  Before Cortney could give me another moment to think it over, I was AT HER HOUSE for her to chop it off! The only person who knew about my spontaneous decision was Emily. Not even Ordy, or my SISTER. I texted my sis when I was on my way that I "felt like cutting my hair"...her response, "don't do it- you'll hate it...and your wedding- won't grow back in time."

Too late. I was in Cortney's driveway. There was no turning back... I walked in Cortney's house half nervous half terrified but faked confidence as I sat down for her to cut my hair. She was super nice and didn't cut as short as I originally said I wanted because she was worried I'd have "cutter's remorse" and she said she'd rather cut less than more. If I wanted more off I could come back next week or so.

4:00 p.m. I had a brand new look. I was obsessed. I am STILL happy. No cutter's remorse here!

Ready for some before and after pictures?!

BEFORE

Long & Dark

AFTER!!!!

That was the picture I sent my sister and she was freaking out. She called me almost crying that she hadn't seen me with short hair in over ten years. She already posted on facebook before I even left Cortney's house- and the notifications were blowing up so much my phone died!! I had no battery to show off my hair cut to Ordy and it was killing me!!!

He loved it. And wasn't even mad that I'd make an impulse decision he had to live with for a while hahaha.

I still love it! I have YET to make it as awesome as she did the day I left her house... so yes, I am pathetic and BEGGED her to recreate the same curl/waves for our engagement photos this weekend. I'm so nervous! Hope it looks as good!

If you're in the Atlanta area you are missing out on an amazing hair girl... She seriously transformed my look. It was much needed and I love love love the new hair!


Cortney specializes in up-dos for weddings and events and I can't wait to figure out how I'm wearing mine for the wedding!

Hello Again...

First off...

In this hard time, I had every single one of my loyal followers stick with me and allow me to take some time off to get my bearings right again... I have never been a "follower counter" so I don't know the exact number, but I'm pretty sure not a single person unfollowed me while I took some much needed time off. So, thank you. Thank you for the flood of encouraging e-mails, messages, texts, etc to let me know my blog posts are missed {who knew anyone read this??!}

I will work on an update post later but for now... let's think of happy things. Things like:

Or did you already forget?! Yep, in all of the craziness of Bandit being gone {yes, the boy is still missing}, and all the other chaos- I kind of put the joy of the engagement on the back burner- well, not anymore. I finally put my big girl pants {don't like the other word, haha} and planned a pretty stinking fun engagement party! I can't wait to share some details with you!

I did the invites myself- they were a play on some I found online but couldn't have shipped in time- so, I created it in PowerPoint all by myself and they turned out GREAT {in my humble opinion}! I absolutely love the limited edition garden stamps. I wanted to buy a ton for the wedding but none of the post offices had enough!

The whole party was DIY. I wouldn't have it any other way since I'm so picky! Here are some of the projects:

Mason Jars + Burlap + Flowers

Tea Stained Doilies 

Moss Letters {just like Kat's}

Doily Banner

14 ft Burlap Ruffled Runner

Enough words... here is how it all came together!!

My step-mom sewed these chair covers and I made the burlap bows

The dessert stations (before dessert!) 

Our cups for the night! 

The food table before the food arrived

the menu!!! Delicious BBQ catered from Cue BBQ

the chalkboard propped up by the drink station 

I loved this idea on Pinterest and did my own- we each wrote lists of things we like about the other. "She" = his list about me, "he" = my list about him :) 

the adorable mason jars with tags

since everyone had a mason jar- the tags made sure they didn't pick up the wrong one! 

Party Favors: Banana Pudding & Strawberry Shortcake w/ our pictures on top

A little detail :) 

the spoons were tied on with a spoon

Strawberry shortcake

the 3 different pictures to choose from 

I don't won't to bog down this one post with pictures but be prepared for more details to come! I was too busy being a "host", so these are all the pictures from my sister's camera- Ordy's mom has the rest and I can't wait to upload those! 

Emily, Me, Leslie

The ONE picture I got of my groom!