Asking my girls....

You know, I'm really liking this blogging business, I mean, even if not one single person reads it, I love expressing my thoughts sorta like a journal, and having something to mark the special events in my life :D

So, my life today is pretty much revolving around planning a wedding! I am soooo excited and over-flowing with ideas, and things I would like. I want to make it personal & have everyone important to me feel super special. With that said, I wanted to share what I used to ask my girls to be my bridesmaids.

I wanted to do something unique, other than just a card (there is nothing wrong with just a card, btw) so I searched for ideas, found cute ones, but this one really stuck out to me. What girl doesn't love lip balm? Seriously, I carry AT least 3 tubes in my purse at a given time, and how cute it would be that each time they need some balm, they pull it out and smile :D So I found this shop on Esty - SensiblyPosh - Stephanie was such a doll to work with! She was so amazing, and made sure I loved it before I ordered. When the package arrived, I was so happy with it. I mean, not only do you get the lip balms each individually wrapped in super cute packaging, you also get a FREE "I said YES" balm for yourself! Who can beat that?

My girls (Adriana, Stephanie, Ellie, Bianca, & Lori) absolutely loved them!!! We met for lunch one day, and I randomly took them out & asked them each. I am so happy with the product & so happy girls loved them! Onto the next detail......

Jess

Too far, no way....

SO I believe I have entered into full force wedding mode. I was putting planning on the back burner because I had some other big pending items that needed to be settled first. One & quite frankly the biggest was getting the house refinanced, and PRAISE the Lord - that is finally done. It was by no means easy, and seriously there were times that I wanted to just throw my arms up and say "I give up", but I pushed through!  The refinance officially closed a huge chapter of my past & I feel so relieved. Now... I can focus on my #1's. Danny & Wedding Planning!

And yes...I know I am still one year out, but I feel like the more I do now, the more I can relax closer to the date! I have been so very blessed to have such a amazing friends/family (new - old) and I am so excited!!!

So we got our order from Shutterfly & Sams yesterday. These were our "kinda" engagement photos, I say that because it was a Valentine's Mini Shoot, which I had scheduled prior to even being engaged - I just wanted some nice pictures of us. Since Danny proposed to me on NYE, I kinda took that & went with it, I may do another session, still debating, depending on what photogs offer me. Anyway! Here are some peeks, I adore them...

Below is the link to Savanah's blog, she is one of the sweetest people I have met, and her wedding & amazing ideas have inspired me! Definitely check her out.

Weekend re-cap in a nutshell...

This weekend went by so fast! However, some very great things happened! Friday night, we went to dinner with my sissy/bro-in-law & beautiful Sofia. We were in the mood for it, so we made the trip up to Sugarland... to Grimaldi's Pizzeria, this is the closest we could ever possibly get to back home pizza, and NEWSFLASH!!! to all my Katy peeps, they are opening a location in La Centera in May 2013!!!! This is oh so good, yet oh so bad... if you have never been, its a must!

 

(Tio Danny & Sofia at Grimaldi's)

(One of our delicious Pizzas)

Saturday morning, I picked up my dad from the airport bright in early, he flew in to see our venue & to meet my future in laws! Eeeeekkk, talk about nerve wrecking! My dad is extremely protective over us, and he is also extremely picky about pretty much everything. Soooo, yea! We started out the day with some Starbucks, and small breakfast, then headed over to our venue, Agave, I am so relieved that he really liked it, of course, he had his share of questions and little comments, but all in all....it was a success!

(Our venue, Agave Estates)

 After Agave, we met with my sister/bro/sofi for lunch at Thai Cottage in Katy. Pretty decent food, and not too bad price wise either. After lunch, my dad & I headed over to Danny's job (he had to work Sat) so we decided to visit him, so my dad could see where he works :)  We caught the last quarter of a Lacrosse game, we won! Then got a short tour & ended up shooting some hoops with dad & Danny, totally cute!

Our original dinner plans were to meet at 7:30pm at Jonathans the rub, we have been wanting to check this place out and figured it would be perfect however they didn't take reservations, and now we know why. When we arrived, we found a 1hr and 45 min.wait, we decided that was too long so we left and headed to Carraba's instead. We were seated almost immediately which was great! I was nervous, I knew that overall everything would be fine, but still, this was the first official time my dad was meeting Danny's parents. They met very briefly back in October when my niece Sofia was born, but it was quick and brief at the hospital one night. We just about shut the restaurant down, we ate, went through 3 bottles of wine & I could not have asked for it to have gone any better! They totally hit if off, and the night was never dull nor silent. Of course, we got the usual stories of each other & things we did as kids, but it was funny, and totally great bonding!

Sunday we slept in a bit, finally got up and had brunch with the whole fam at Black Walnut Cafe in Katy. Dad & Danny went to the gym together afterwards, while I stayed home and cleaned up a bit. We took him to the airport around 6pm, dropped him off and caught a quick BBQ dinner. We were both exhausted, once we got home, we fed Ty, and crashed. Great end to a great weekend! Blessed Always.



He asked & I said YES!

Wowzers, today is February 21st, which puts me exactly at the one year mark til our wedding. I am a ball of emotions to be quite frank. I am overwhelmed with how things happened, how I got to where I am, and how lucky I am. Having gone through some pretty rough times with previous relationships, a marriage, none the less a good man was so far fetched. I was one of those girls whose friends were all married, starting to have kids, and wondering when it would be my turn. I had faith, don't get me wrong, but it was tested, and I made my share of mistakes. It wasn't until I finally 100% completely let go, and gave it up that it finally happened. This beautiful man, whom I think God was preparing specifically for me appeared into my life.

So.. here is out story....New York to Texas to Arizona...

Our story is the definition of love having no measure of distance & finding its way no matter the miles in between.We're both born & raised in NY, with families that simultaneously & not knowing of one another ended up making their way to Texas some years back.

He pursued his education in the sports medicine field which moved him to Connecticut, while I entered a full time job and studied towards an Business Mgmt degree back in Houston.

Both our lives went on, still not knowing what the future would hold. He entered into the professional baseball field, and I entered into corporate America. A few years passed as we progressed in our careers. He had traveled the states & country in his, while I remained in Houston & advanced up the ladder in mine.

July of 2011 rolled around, we were both freshly out of relationships & a bit down. He at this point was located in Arizona, working in Minor League baseball for the Milwaukee Brewers, and I was working full time as an Account Manager for one of the world's largest title companies.

Both my friends and his roommate encouraged us to create profiles on Match to get our minds off the recent relationships we came out of. We both were skeptical and not willing.  Then one night came, we were both alone, he in his hotel room in Arizona & me at home in Houston. I thought, what the heck, let me just log on, and look around. Surely enough, he was thinking the same thing. We both started basic profiles, and me, just being silly & having fun started to wink at a few guys as I flipped through photos..lol. Only those who caught my eye of course. Neither of us at this point had paid for the service. He received my wink which intrigued him, a little while after, he subscribed and messaged me back. I too,then subscribed to read his message. We chatted briefly that night on Match...and both left our profiles half done. He stayed on my mind that night; the next few nights proceeded the same, we would log on and chat through Match. After about a week or so, we began to email one another. IMs lead to emails, emails lead to phone calls, and finally at the end of baseball season he made the decision to come home to Houston and meet this girl he had been talking to for two months.

One year, and four months later, he proposed to me on New Years Eve in the presence of both my family and his. Our families have become wonderful friends, and I could not have asked for any more! And it gets even better, my amazing best friend (who knew all about this all along) ended up getting the entire night on video! Thank you so much, Adriana for capturing a memory that will stay with me forever. Here is a link Our Engagement to the video, watch your speakers!

Who would have known...that life would make our lives cross through Match, and that we would have so much in common. Without Match, who knows where his career would have led him, and if we would have ever met. We thank our lucky stars every night for the friends that encouraged us to try it out :)

What makes me smile....

(Danny (my love), me, Sissy & Carlos (bro-in-law)

Today I wanted to share a few things in my life that are a constant reason this huge smile remains on my face. I am overwhelmed by the blessings God has poured down on me within the last two years, and with the love he has surrounded me with.

(me, mom, sissy)

My family means to the world to me, I don't know where I would be without them. They have been my source of comfort through life's struggles, and they have been my celebration after victory was claimed, thank you God for them.  

(My niece, born 10/30/12, Sofia <3>

 Last, but most definitely not least, words could never express the love that an animal brings. If you do not own a pet, you would most likely think I'm insane, or a complete nut. I don't consider him just a pet, I know that God placed him in my life because I would need him. He would be my reason for pushing through, my heart when it was broken, my shoulder to cry on. He is my four-legged son, my joy, my first love.  Call me what you want, but I'm in love with my Ty-Ty (Tyson)

(Tyson)

Ok, let's see how this blog thing goes....

So, today is February 19th, 2013 I am trying this blog thing for a second time, my BFF, Adriana has always had one & followed blogs. She now has me addicted, and well, quite frankly, I think its fun, and would love to have a blog or journal per say about me, and well... my life. So let's see what happens..... I'm new to this, so no comments from the peanut gallery ;)