challenge to all those almost newlyweds

[insert reason for absence that no one cares about to read]

To all soon-to-be married couples: ALERT! READ THIS NOW!!
Every single person you come in contact with for months after getting married is going to ask you this question, "Sooo how's married life?" (Warning: it will become annoying after the first time someone asks you.) But the best part is...wait for it...after you answer the question with random adjectives and synonyms for the word 'blissful,' the questioner just stares at you and smiles :) like, what am I suppose to say to you now?? Uh. Awkward turtle.

So my challenge to all the brides + grooms - prepare awesome answers now so that you have some clever, shocking, and may be or may be not so honest one liners to say! Below are some of the answers I'm going to start using. Let me know if you have any other good ones ;)

1. It takes a very strong couple to be newlyweds - lots burnt dinners and sex!
2. Marriage is a lot of work. We all have our ups and downs...right?
3. [In a whisper] Do you know what the time frame is for an annulment?
4. Magical. [then turn around and leave for dramatic effect.]
And finally...
5. What can I say so that you never ask that question again?!

Now I know, I know... people don't ask this to be annoying and answering sweetly instead of being all sarcastic is sweeter but you can't blame a girl for being bored by answering the same question for months and months.

I'm launching a new twitter so if you love my blog posts then follow my twitter for my daily thoughts on life. It's only gonna get better around here so jump on, friends!

what to wear for you engagement pictures

Okay, so I've mentioned in the past that I am a research pro and knowledge hoe! I did SO much research on "what to wear to your engagement pictures" before I had our session. I really wanted to pick outfits that worked for us and really spoke to our personalities but complimented fall and the beauty of our location. So how did I pick these outfits for my GQ model and I?! Keep reading...

I cannot express enough how important it is to define your wedding theme and then stick to it. So what does this have to do with your engagement pictures? Well if you are having a formal black tie wedding then taking engagement pictures of you in a city with dressy outfits is more appropriate. Likewise, an outdoor wedding by a barn means flannels and boots. Most couples choose to include their engagement pictures into their wedding day somehow or use them for Save The Dates so it sets the tone for what is to come.

Pick two outfits for a 1-1.5 hour session and make the outfit change easy. For example, go dressed up in your dress because that is harder to change into in the back of a car. The simpler the outfit change the better. My man kept his jeans and shoes on and just swapped out his shirt. This helps to cut down prepping and changing time so you can get back to the kissing!

Your outfits should compliment but not be too matchy. Use the color wheel below to discover the world of complimentary colors! Make sure to stick to a color palette that works for your season and location. Taking pictures in flannel shirt or structured outfit on the beach doesn't really make sense. Each season brings it's beauty so just embrace the cold with a beautiful coat and scarf or the heat with a bright sundress, ladies! 

But most importantly, be you. Make sure that you don't try to make your man wear something that he would never wear again. My handsome fella wouldn't look natural in a button up and tie so I went for his Sunday best and brought out his laid back personality that I love oh so much! Ladies, do your hair and makeup nice but ditch the fake lashes and go for a more natural look. 

Want props? Bring something that means something to you and don't try too hard. High School sweethearts? Bust out those old yearbooks! Hunters? Pull out the camo and the bow. Readers? Bring your favorite books. Coffee drinkers? Go to a coffee shop and have a cup! 

Don't over do it though. This is about you as a couple and the love you have for one another so make sure you take time to showcase that! Have fun. Laugh. Be silly. Smile. Kiss. Love. This is the one session in planning for your wedding where you get to kiss a lot and focus on each other the entire time. Forget the poses and just be you!! Those are the pictures you really want, not the uptight posed ones in outfits you would never be caught in after the shoot. 

Your pictures will look stunning when you can look confident and pulled together.

When in doubt - ask a friend or your photographer. You friend knows your style and what looks good on you. Your photographer does this for a living and has seen it all!

PS. Yes, these are a few of my engagement pictures taken by the lovely Becka Pillmore from Pill Photography!

before you get the bling

There are lots of different opinions out there about what you should and shouldn't do before you get engaged. Here are my recommendations in order to have a smooth planning process but also a warning to avoid becoming the consumed bridezilla!

1. Talk. The proposal should be a surprise but the idea of spending the rest of your life with that person should not be a new idea. Discuss an ideal timeline so that you have a framework to start with once you get engaged. Planning ahead for the future is important but staying on the same page as your significant other is crucial.

2. Expectations. Start thinking about what is important to you and how you've always envisioned this day. You might think certain aspects aren't important to you but have you even thought about them? Do you see yourself getting married outside on a farm, in a church or on the beach? These are all potential and good ways to get married, but think about which one works for you as a couple. Set yourself up for success by knowing what you expect out of the day so that you can start painting the picture for others.

3. Dream. Look at ideas on Pinterest, in magazines, on Facebook, and even photography websites. Then let yourself dream and think of amazing ways to make your special day unique. This day should reflect you as a couple so think about what that will look like. At this point, the sky is the limit!

4. Priority list. Start thinking about what is important to you and what you want to spend your money on. Is the food more important than the dancing to you? Or is photography more important than the venue? Can you still the same wedding day feeling you want without doing a four-course meal? Making a priority list is the first way that you can start figuring out where to spend your time and money once you get engaged.

5. Chat. Chit chatting includes all of the above areas and provides a good gauge as to where you are in the pre-wedding planning category. Does pre-wedding planning exist for you or are you obsessed already? This is the time where you go out with your friends (most likely your female friends) and you chat about what you think the day will look like and how you want to feel.

But here is my warning: DO NOT participate in #5 frequently (aka: weekly or daily). Let other people bring up the conversation first. As a girl, I love asking my friends about their impending ring and wedding day. But if I have a friend who isn't engaged show me her wedding programs, I'm going to think she is crazy. Keep that stuff to yourself, ladies!

Now I'm going to assume that brides are reading this part...
DO NOT become one of those brides that plans the day of your dreams without thinking about your significant other. You want this day to reflect you as a couple, not just you as a bride. You shouldn't have the whole thing planned and then just insert the groom. We've all had those friends and been to those weddings where the event stinks of the bride and the groom is just an after thought. And that is all I remember from those weddings! I don't remember the dancing or the cake or what she wore. I remember that it felt like a one person show instead of a wedding. So stop and think about the other person. Talk to them! I know it sounds crazy but ask what he wants and what's important to him. A guest should be able to feel that the wedding is for both people.

caring for your engagement ring

Again, congratulations on taking the next big step in your relationship! But now that you have an awesome piece of bling on your finger, you need to know how to take care of it! My dad always told me that maintenance and prevention is cheaper than a big repair/replace bill. So here are the top 5 "care for your ring" tips that will prevent you from replacing your diamond or ring!

1. Get your ring sized! I mentioned this in "you're engaged...now what?!" but this is really the first thing to do when it comes to caring for your ring. Make sure that you relax your finger and have to work to get it off your finger. You don't want to lose your ring when it gets cold outside or your hands get wet, so make sure the ring actually fits.

2. Get insurance! If you have renter's or home owner's insurance, call and have your ring added to your policy. You will need to have an official appraisal before you can add it so make sure you get that done when you have your ring sized. Ring insurance sounds scary and expensive but most policies only charge a yearly free of about $9 for every $1000 the ring is worth. Check to make sure the policy includes theft and misplacing/losing the ring. This piece of jewelry is priceless and you don't want to have to buy another one out of pocket! (Prevention is cheaper!)

3. Put your ring in the same place every time you take it off! I put my ring in the ring box whenever I go to the gym, do outside work, or anything else that would scratch my ring. I know exactly where it is when it's not on my hand. I'm careful with it and I don't take it off for everything... I NEVER take it off in a public bathroom when washing my hands for obvious reasons. So remember - make sure you tuck it away in the same place every time so it doesn't get lost.

4. Get it checked! Talk to your fiance about the insurance policy that came with the ring and read the paperwork. If it says you must get it checked every six months, then go every six months! I highly recommend getting it checked once a year. The prongs are crucial to check in order to prevent the diamond from falling out after the wear and tear of life. You can also check it at home by inspecting the prongs and security of the diamond by simply tugging on the diamond. If your diamond wiggles, take it off and store it in a safe place and take it to get it fixed as soon as you can. Better safe than sorry!

5. Get it cleaned! Your diamond will always look better when it's been cleaned up. Get rid of the soap and lotion build up by cleaning your ring regularly. Do not put any harsh chemicals on the diamond though. I recommend having a ring policy through the jeweler that includes checkups and cleanings. They know what they're doing. There are wipes made specifically for diamond rings but I haven't tried them yet. 

Maintenance and prevention is always cheaper than paying to replace the ring!

you're engaged...now what?!

Congratulations! You're engaged and planning the biggest day of your life. But what do you do next?! This question hit me within 24 hours of being engaged. I knew what had to be done but what do you do first?? So I started researching but it was hard to know what was really important and what could wait. Here are some tips that I found helpful from my own experience!

1. Tell your friends and family...duh! Call them, stop by to see them or text them. But get the word out there that you are engaged. And then celebrate! This kind of news doesn't happen every day so go out and celebrate! Slow down and enjoy this milestone before you post on social media and have to answer all the questions. This isn't just about planning a wedding. This is a time in your life when you're making a commitment to grow old with someone who loves you to the moon and back so enjoy that! Toast your engagement and eat the cake girls!

2. If your fiance didn't have your ring sized, call the jeweler and have it done as soon as possible. I know you wanted it back yesterday but you will have to part with it for a few days to ensure you won't lose it in the future. However, asking the right questions in the beginning can prevent you from being without it longer than you have to be. Ask when the jeweler comes in and when would be the best time to drop your ring off. Sometimes you can drop it off and pick it up later that day or come back the next day - just ask the questions! (Tie some string around the back if it's really too big and that will keep it from falling off.)

3. Questions.... people will start asking about your date, venue, number of people invited, if they are invited, what dress you'll be wearing and everything else in between. If you can give them a ballpark answer on the date, they will be happy. Something along the lines of "early next summer" is fine and you aren't locked in to anything you tell people until it's booked! Or if you're planning a longer engagement, be honest and say that. Own it and people won't keep asking you weird questions. Also, don't be afraid to tell people you are still working the details out. You just got engaged so people don't know what else to do but ask questions. Be gracious, smile and keep your nails done as you engage in the early conversations with people.

4. Decide what's important - the date, venue, and number of people on your "must have" list are all important factors. If you realize that only one date will work with both your families, start narrowing down venues based on that. If there is only one venue you've dreamed of getting married at, then base your date on the venue. Asks the moms to start a must have guest list to help you ball park the amount of people you will have at your wedding because that number will impact your venue selection. A priority list is crucial for helping you make decisions!

5. Have the tough conversations about money and what people really want to happen. This day is very important to your parents, relatives and friends so be mindful of what is important to them. However, this day is about you as a couple so make sure that everyone understands that as well. For example: you find out your mom really wants pictures at your childhood home so do your best to accommodate that because that is something that is important to her but might not matter to you. Or you realize that your friends want to be included in planning a surprise shower for you, so connect them with your mom and let them figure it all out.

6. Dream a lot. Go crazy over Pinterest ideas, The Knot, and every bridal magazine you come in contact with! The sky is the limit so enjoy finding new ideas and being creative. Rip out magazine pages, start pinning away, and make notes in your phones about what inspires and captures you. Settling on a theme and sticking with that is important but you don't need to figure that until you've spent some time dreaming of your perfect day!

7. Have fun! Go out on a date with your fiance. Leave the phones, planners and wedding ideas in the car and spend some time with the love of your life! You'll be surrounded by lots of people and ideas for the next few months so make sure to spend time with each other. Get a massage, go on a hike, hit the dance floor or enjoy a quiet dinner. The important thing is that you're together!


Starting your engagement off on the right foot is important and the less stress the better!

living with my ring

Last year I started writing posts on my blog about "living with the ring!" But I wasn't talking about my ring, I was talking about living with my friends who were engaged. I never really took it anywhere though and opted out on all the juicy stories because they weren't mine.

However, now I'm living with my ring! Yes, you read that right - I'm engaged to my High School sweetheart and love of my life. [Aww!] Throughout my engagement, people have been telling me that I should blog or write a book about being engaged, planning a stress-free wedding, and having the time of your life with the love of your life! So here I am bringing you into my world of "living with the ring."

I'm a bride who is obsessed with organization, simplicity, and details.
And I manage to stay this way thanks to spreadsheets, timelines, and pinterest.

Buckle up, friends. I'm about to bring you the stories you've always wanted to hear with the advice that you never thought you needed.


And since you waited patiently and will continue on this journey with me, here is the beautiful ring that I get to live with every day! It sparkles in the dark and blinds my friends. Strangers gasp at it and I stare at it all day. It's my blinging engagement ring!!

Soul Searching

[this was written as a New Years post but it got lost. So here it is half way through the year to remind us all about those things we promised ourselves to change during this year.]

I have done a lot of thinking the last few days. I took some time to really reflect on my life in 2012 and come up with ways to make it better in 2013. I want to change some things in my life because I want to improve the lives of those around me and that means sacrifice. Some of the changes that I'm making might not be forever and some may turn into forever but its my life and voted on these changes.

1. Peace out Facebook. I have really become less and less of a fan over the last year and this year I cut ties with the alternate life. It's a wise professional decision for me but I also don't have time for it. I deleted the app months ago from my phone and I haven't missed it. I honestly don't want to spend minutes (aka hours) looking at other people's lives via social media. It's a pointless waste of time. So I'm cutting ties with no plan on ever coming back (and if I do...don't judge). If you get engaged, get a new puppy or do something cool and wanna tell me personally, I will jump up and down with you. But I'm not gonna read about it and look and hundreds of pictures on your wall or his wall anymore.

2. Goodbye high school clothes. I cleaned out my closet and officially said goodbye to all things Hollister and such. I had to clean it out partially because I had too many clothes in general but also because that stage of my life is over and I need to get ready to dress the part for my next stage in life. So I packed up all my high school and middle school clothes (basically the same stuff) and took it to some of my favorite girlies who are loving them just as much as I did!

3. Friends. I had to let some go over the last year and looking back I can see it has made me a much more positive person. I am a very loyal person so letting go is hard. We all fight with friends but sometimes people are only in your life for a season, and I need to let things stay that way. So this year I'm building so many new ones and I'm loving the fresh start! I also love continuing on friendships that I've had for years or decades :)

4. Clean. I'm embracing the clean lifestyle. If you know me, you know I'm organized and a neat freak. But this year I'm getting back to my roots of a clean diet and lifestyle all around. No more of this college living crap. I'm working out harder and eating incredibly clean these days. One thing I'm doing is giving up one thing I love for one month. So I picked 12 foods that I love or am tempted to eat too much of and for one month I won't touch it. After that month I'll be able to eat it again but this is to break habits and remind me I don't really need it.

5. Travel constantly. I'm packing my bags in about two months and heading to Europe for my last placement and semester of student teaching. This is one of my many ways I hope to travel this year. I want to constantly be traveling by reading books from all over the world on culture and lifestyles and languages and even some good fiction stories. I love to read and this year I'm attempting 52 in 52. Aka 52 books for 52 weeks of the year.

So these are just some of my working yearly commitments. Other ones are more personal and since I don't have Facebook you won't know about them now;) just kidding. But really- you won't because I'm not posting about them.

I hope you all take time to not only try to make your life better this year but the lives of others around you.

[Reflection: I'm not doing that bad. I picked realistic aspects of my life that I wanted to change and focus on. I'm still off Facebook and don't miss it one single day. I love all my professional clothes and get way more compliments on my style. I'm eating clean and training harder. And I've done my fair share of traveling around the world physically and through books. So how are you doing?]