From Ms. to Mrs. {{Getting Ready & Photos}}

The day of the wedding, I got up and worked out, loaded my car (cough, Jen's car I didn't have a car, cough) full of food in coolers, and off we went to the venue to help set up and decorate. Mostly, I just did what my Mom told me to do. It's safer that way. I was so incredibly lucky that many of my parent's good friends, my family and my two good friends came to help with all this. At 2pm, Jen, Kala, and I went to the hotel to get ready.

This is the only photo from the hotel time. We didn't have a photographer during this time and I got ready with Jen and Kala.  Leslie from Classically Chic Designs did our hair and makeup. My mom also came and got her hair done after a bit. The girls and I ordered pizza, listened to guilty pleasure music and had fun! My goal was to have big, bouncy hair with lots of volume, so I totally used clip in extensions. I also wanted to make sure my eyes popped and my makeup stayed on all day, so I had air brushed makeup done and lashes applied. You guys, if you ever are on the fence about extensions, air brush makeup, or false lashes JUST DO IT! They are all totally worth it and make a huge difference. 

At 5pm, Gabriel showed up so that we could go take photos with Barbara Danielle. 

My bouquet is something I will keep forever. I made it. Blood, sweat, and a whole lot of hot glue later I had a bouquet that I love. 

Our bling. This is also one of my favorite photos. Gabriel did such a good job picking out my rings. For his, he chose a brushed platinum band. 

I really loved the time that Gabriel and I had taking photos, we just walked around Westport and it was really easy going. We didn't have any specific shots that we wanted, so much as we wanted pictures of each other having fun. 

(Kissing is fun, right?!)

This was a candid shot as I was doing touchups. It is such a great picture because that's my dad standing in the reflection of the mirror. How cool is that?! 

What's your favorite wedding photo?

What You Love Link-Up

Tia from Hands on. Pants off. has started a new link up. It is to promote positivity out here in the blog world. I.e. people get all Mean Girls and go burn book style on bloggers and it can make you feel like crap. So, enter in the Promote What You Love Link-Up. It's all rainbows and sunshine. No joke. It's all about sharing with others who you have been loving lately--- a blogger who inspires you or that you just love her clothes, it doesn't matter. It's just about spreading the positive vibes.

Obviously, I got to throw Tia out there. I mean girl decided to bust balls and put this link-up together because of some douche-lords who make people feel like crap. Tia is legit. She puts it all out there, all the while drinking a cocktail. It doesn't hurt that she has a big ol English bulldog, who reminds me of the boxers. She has an awesome sense of humor and always puts a positive spin on everything. Go check her out, right now!

Bloglovin   Pinterest   Facebook

 I'm also going to share with you a blog that I love to creep on, just because this bitch is mad feisty and is always saying what's on her mind. She doesn't have a picture or button up for me to post...so all you get is a link. Kathy over at Vodka and Soda is one of my main reads. She always says the things that I wish I could and lives life with no fucks given. Which is how we all should live. She also hosts the Humpday Confessions link-up that is my favorite link-up. As much as I love to see crock-pot recipes and how to wear a plaid scarf link-ups, I get down on hers. It's all about admitting those dirty little secrets in the back of your mind, that you wouldn't ordinarily admit to. If you haven't checked her out, get on it!   Twitter   Instagram   Bloglovin

 

Who are you loving right now? Share below!

Life Happens

 

After my last post, I realized that while I did need my cry fest, life happens. Shit happens in real life and I don't hide it. I get happy, sad, angry and I am not going to hide it as this is all about my everyday life. And my everyday life right now is hectic, but I am choosing to see the positive in all of this big pile of doo doo. Here are some of the highlights of the past few days.

To make myself feel good, I always put on makeup and take a little time with my hair. I mean, one I meet with people all day (kids are people too) and two I like to feel good. And hearing, "Ms. Tracie your eyes are sparkly! They pretty!" does make me feel good. And when the guy at the McDonald's drive thru, whom I see once a week for my egg white d-light, tells me "you lookin good today!" it boosts my spirits. I'm pretty easy to please just feed me and tell me I'm pretty.  

 

 

My uncle scored some of the coveted chocolate ale. YUM! He also had us over for a delish dinner that he cooked and sent us home with a bottle of our own. If you have never had Boulevard Beer you NEED to try it. It is brewed here in Kansas City and is the shiz!

 

My boo thang sent me the most gorgeous flowers to work. He said he sent them to work to make all the other beavers jealous... He sure knows the way to a girls heart.

 

 

Anyone see something wrong with this picture? Just look until you figure it out, then leave a comment letting me know. Cuz this shit wasn't too funny.

 

And then Gabriel does this, while I am fixing the sink. He is such a douchnozzle sometimes. And yes, the date is correct--- It was Valentine's Day and I changed to fix the sink. The moment of glory in this moment is that I FIXED THE SINK and IT WASN'T MY HAIR CLOGGING IT! I get shit all the time about my hair being all over the bathroom and how it logs drains, but it wasn't me! In yo face!

 

 

 

I had a great hair day on Sunday and was feelin pretty fancy so I put on blinging earrings. My mom and I went and rented some vintage party decorations from a local company. This wedding shiz is coming together!

 

Monday, was a holiday so there was no work! I went to the specialist my doc referred me to and they think I have a torn meniscus, so I go for my MRI on Wed morning. Hopefully, it is a strain and nothing more severe. The positive in this was the awesome paper pants I got to wear. I mean nothing is sweeter than paper pants that give you a moose knuckle.

 

DOES ANYONE KNOW GOOD WORKOUTS THAT I CAN DO WITH THIS INJURY? That is an all important one. If you do have any knowledge of ways I can stay active without putting  pressure on my knee, I would love to know. I can't do squats, ride the elliptical, or stretch... So, what does one do?

 

We are still working on figuring out the kitchen. Currently, we are living with a black hole in our wall as they dry it out. We also have a hole in the floor as they dry it out. I will post some pictures asap :)

Wedding Wednesday... How I Met the Mister

This post could also be titled "Hey, boy, hey."The story will explain a little better as to why I say that.

The beginning...

Four years ago, I was in grad school, working full time, and an intern at a high school when I moved from a house right near my job and internship into an apartment in a nicer neighborhood (that's a whole diff story that includes opossums!). A few months later, I quit my full-time job and had A LOT more free time on my hands. So, with all my free time I would sit on my back patio with the striped dog (cough... drinking wine... cough). After a few days, I noticed this really cute guy walking his own two boxers the same time everyday. I would wave and he would wave back. Then, he started walking shirtless (it may be because it was warm out or it may be due to a slightly buzzed girl waving a lot). In response, I started wearing low cut shirts and tank tops. After a few chats, I started walking the striped dog with the two blonde dogs almost everyday.  While wearing my low cut shirts.

 At this point, we hadn't gone on a date, exchanged phone numbers, nothing. One random day, I totally got a weird crick in my neck and it wouldn't move, so I went over and told the Mister no dog walks for me indefinitely. A little but later, the Mister shows up at my front door and asks if I want to go for a drive to the bookstore. We went, talked and had fun. All with a weird crick in my neck and wearing sweats. Cute.  Then, the Mister started accepting my invitations to come over for dinner almost every day. We exchanged phone numbers to make it official. Love at first sight, right? Essentially, I was all "Hey, boy, hey" in my low cut shirts and he was cheap and easy. True Love.

All the boxers.