wedding inspiration

I realized that I've never shared the inspiration board I made for our wedding. Which, by the way, is 178 days away! That's 177 days too long. But we know the Lord is teaching us and preparing us in this time. His work is evident!


Aaand sometimes lengthy.


Anyway, preparation for the wedding is immensely less important than preparing for marriage, but I am certainly enjoying it. The pre-August 6th to-do list is long, and I love every checked and unchecked box on that list! I'm a planner, can ya tell??


Here's the overall look for the big day. Everything I put on here makes my vintage-loving heart beat fast!

[click to enlarge]

i love love

No school and no work?! Sounds like the perfect morning for a craft project.


I'm a big fan of wreath-making. And the best part is there is always a reason to make one. This time: Valentine's Day.

Yes, these pictures are taken on my bed. I plugged my hot glue gun into an extension cord and used it while nestled in between my sheets with a big cup of hazelnut coffee on hand.

I layered the doilies by taking the pleated doily and layering it with one that I had not cut but that was a size smaller than the pleated one. The I added some pretties to the tops and hot glued the life out of them onto the burlap.

 

Gotta love a little frill!

finders keepers

Since the capitol was a ghost town thanks to below-freezing temperatures, my awesome boss man let me leave. I headed to the mall to pick out something for Nat off her registry. That was successful and quicker than expected so wandered into one of my favorite clothing sections. You see, I had absolutely no intention of buying anything for myself.

And then I got the vibe.

Do you know what I'm talking about? I think it may be genetic because my mom, my sister and I can all walk into a store and know if there is something we like in there or not. I'm real sorry if you weren't born with that. Guess you can't have it all. Like us - we obviously traded in a fast metabolism for this inherited gift.

Anyway - a combination of my good shopping vibe and big, red sale signs led me to my new favorite article of clothing. Check it out:





Doesn't it just make you want to snuggle?

I gotta say, this whole taking pictures of myself thing was pretty awkward. And these are the only two decent ones in the bunch. I'm thinking it'll just take a little practice.

But I don't know if Ram will get used to it. This is her, "Why are you taking pictures of yourself in the blistering cold" face:



That little bit of shiny hanging around my neck is a birthday gift from Meg [Ram's mama].



Oh yea. The new last name. I figured, since we're engaged, it'd be ok to go ahead and break out the J initial. It's not like I'm scribbling "Meagan Jenkins" all over my binder.

Just in the margins of my notes.

Needing these 183 days to FLY.

Happy snowy day!

eleven.

I'm a fan of chivalry. My dad still opens every door and car door for my mom. My grandfather, once a strapping Marine but now a somewhat frail 91-year-old, won't let a woman open a door if he can help it. Even if it's not his easiest task. And I think it's awesome. Call me old fashion or behind-the-times, but I like it. And that's a big deal for this i-n-d-e-p-e-n-d-e-n-t girl.

Today at the capitol, a nine-to-fiver held the door open for me. And a suited man held the shiny copper elevator door. And it's true that that's not too much of a shocker here in the Deep South.

But you know what's really great? It's when someone glances over their sholder, sees that you are a socially acceptable distance away for them not to have to hold that door open but holds it anyway. They don't ruin the gesture by acting slightly impatient. And when you pick it up to a slight jog to get their faster (and to cut down on the awkward I'm-walking-towards-this-stranger-holding-the-door-open-for-me time), they tell you to not hurry. Maybe because they don't want to have to spend more of their day hauling me to the emergency room after a dangerous combination of marble floors, high heels and running takes its toll. Or maybe it's because they are a beautifully subtle example of putting other's needs over their own. And though their job (and therefore the majority of their time) might be more focused on phone calls and messenger mail instead of feeding the hungry, they are still able to give of themselves. I should learn from them.

And I bet it has something to do with their mama raising them right. Right being relative, of course.


This kind fella that held the door despite my location outside the socially acceptable distance to let it casually shut behind him, went a little further to make some small talk and commented on the weather. Which, if you didn't know, rocked the lives of Baton Rouge residents today. Rain? No. Tornado? Nope. The coldest wind I've ever felt in South Louisiana? OH YEA.

Sorry Punxsutawney Phil, looks like your long awaited non-shadow-sighting is a miscalculation. There's no way winter is over here. Or anywhere else in the country, obviously.

The roommates are currently refreshing their email every three seconds to see if LSU has cancelled class for tomorrow. Just give us kids who normally where shorts in March one snow day, will ya?

I'm not too much of a snow expert, but these clouds look snowy, don't you think?

Oh yea. There's totally snow there.

Go get yourself an awesome mug, a chunky sweater, and a snuggle buddy.



several.

So, habits aren't my strong point. But we'll blame this blogging break on a trip home for a wonderful weekend complete with road tripping with the fiancé, a best friend reunion, time with the fam, a catering consultation (can you say YUM) and a long-awaited wedding.

But, thanks to UPS, I have something so beautiful that will make up for all those missed blogging days. Not that you missed them. There's a dose of humility. 

Anyway, I'd like you to meet the newest member of my family. Or it might just become a fifth limb.

I'm not saying that something materialistic can replace five days of beautiful happenings. Nope, not saying that at all. But have you seen how lovely this brand-spanking-new Canon T1i is?! I obsessively watched for the UPS man all afternoon. And he came!