Just Perfect!

That is what the last month has been!
I'm sad I haven't blogged about any of it, but I think I'm going to do 5 follow up blogs: One on the last 2 showers, one on the wedding weekend, one on the wedding, one on the honeymoon and then our new home/married life....

For right now though I am focusing on getting my "life plans" refigured out.  I think I've decided against finishing with my Ph.D.  I'm thinking a masters will be sufficient for what I think I'd do with a degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, which right now is teaching high school or community college science! I just think it'd be such an  honor to share my love and excitement for science with the students.  Also, maybe I can help the cheerleading squad out too ;)

My new long term dream is to open up a Pure Barre wherever we end up.  I'm so in love with the entire company and everything I know about it so I think it'd be a dream come true to open up my own studio!  Although I'm not sure where that fits into the Airforce time/ house buying/ Chris starting his practice :/ But a girl can dream!

I do know that first and foremost I want my life to be lived only as a result of what Christ wants it to look like.  But, I still think it's important to dream big and have a vision of where I see my life going!

It's a big and beautiful world and I'm excited to explore it :)

It's My Wedding Week!

It's my wedding week! I can NOT believe it!!  

The last 2 days have been so much fun and filled with sweet, joyful people.  

Saturday night when I came in we had dinner at my dads house! We grilled out some hamburgers and they were yum!

My cute lil bro's and I ;)

Sunday I had my last bridal shower! Two families so dear to my heart hosted it for me.  They went above and beyond! From the decor to the food, everything was just perfect!!  I was *showered* with love!

I love my K!

The wonderful Hostesses and I by the gorgeous table of food!

Loves!

MOH and her set up presents display

Some of the cutesies at the shower!

It was such a lovely shower and I loved that it was a week before the wedding because it makes it all so real!

The rest of Sunday, I really just hung out at the beach house with my mom and MOH.  Carla and I painted some, but mostly we hung.  K came over later and stayed the night! I got to meet Mr. Leland and he got to play with my Annabelle and my mom's Iris! Too much fun! 

The 3 of them playing!

Today we woke up and did our final meeting with Christina to go over the checklist and timeline.  Let me tell you, Christina is THE MOST amazing planner ever.  I can not begin to describe what a blessing she's been to the wedding.  She handles every little logistical thing you can imagine.  I'm only responsible for listing my opinions and desires and picking bridesmaids ;)  

Seriously though, anyone getting married, hire a wedding planner!

Then Carla and I went to a Pure Barre Class in Santa Rosa Beach and it was exactly what I needed! Then we came back to the beach house and literally just hung out and worked on a few little wedding things, but we mostly chatted.  Then mom went to pick up Momma Chelle!  I'm so glad she's here!!  

Pretty much everything is done... We didn't have much left on the To-Do List to do for this week.  It's such a blessing for me to have the mental capacity to get excited for the upcoming marriage.  It's all because of the people around me who are above and beyond in their graciousness.  My mom had a "wish list" from me of over 14 things that I wanted her to do/make for the wedding.  She finished it LAST Thursday.  Christina made me get things done last month so paperwork and stuff is way done.  Carla is the best Maid of Honor a girl could ask for.  Seriously.  She is present for everything, helps me with everything, remembers everything and when I'm exhausted and turned off, she can take working in silence! She's the absolute best! Lastly and most importantly, Chris has taken over the money side of it all and has made all the payments and things... I was not good at that and it stressed me completely out.  With that responsibility lifted, I'm a new being!  He's also done every last little thing I've asked him to help me with.  

I am so thankful and blessed to be experiencing such a fun, joyful and rich time in my life! I'm so excited and relaxed, I'm giddy!  I CAN'T WAIT FOR MARCH 17th!

This is my moms dog Iris and she's just so cute I had to include her!

Making a Home

Yesterday I got a break from the intensity of wedding "to-dos" and got to spend the afternoon with our "marriage lesson givers" 3 adorable girls.

The big task of the day: To plan a "fancy tea party"!  What could be a better way to spend an afternoon in this hectic season of my life.

They came with me to one of my last wedding dress fittings (Thanks to Pure Barre, I have to have it taken in!) and while I was worried how 3 little girls (ages 3-7) would behave in such a new and quiet place, they were amazing! They sat in awe at a table, looked at Bridal magazines and gave their feed back on the dress.

When we got back, we began preparation for the tea party.  The middle little girl made our to do list and  2 hours later, we were ready to be served.

In the midst of Planning for the tea party

My place setting.  Note that we made our own placemats with pictures from a bridal magazine, and note that my silverware is tied and my name written on it :)  It's all in the details!

The finished product! Ta-Da!

I haven't been exposed much to young couples homes.  I have been in college (where there are no families) and then home with families of children my age or a little younger.  I love being in Beth and Josh's home.  They have done such a good job of making it beautiful, functional and fun for the girls.  Everything has it's place, the girls know where that is, and it makes playing so much fun!

With all of this weddingness, it's nice to be reminded that the wedding is NOT the final destination!

Now on to my HUGE list of to-do's so that my planner doesn't not pull her hair out (and so I guess we have a functional wedding?)

Wedding Festivities Continue

These past few weeks have been FILLED with fun wedding events!

First off, 2 weekends ago we flew down to to Orlando to Chris's hometown for the weekend (Annabelle stayed with her Auntie Jenna and Uncle Jared).

We got in late Friday night and went on an 11 p.m Chillis run with Chris's parents! Who knows parents that can be up eating out til midnight?!  Well the Kersey's can!

The next morning we woke up and went to a pre wedding brunch at the Grooms grandmothers house.  Then we went to the wedding and met Chris's brother, sister in law and nephew!  

Chris is Obsessed!

Oh my goodness Chris is in love with him! The wedding was a gorgeous Catholic wedding.  Afterward we went to the reception where we all even did a little bit of dancing :)

Chris and his Fam!

Chris and I leaving

After the wedding we left to meet my mom and step dad that had drive down from Panama City to come to our shower the next day.

We met the at Olive Garden and had some yummy dessert since we missed the cake cutting :(

Our Families and I together! 

Love him!!

That night I went with my mom and Hal to their hotel room.  We had so much fun the next morning... Hal is a funny funny man and my mom and him are hilarious together.

On the way to Auburndale, we stopped by a strawberry stand!

Hal examining the produce

On the way we stopped by target at I discovered BIRTHDAY CAKE OREOS!!!!!! OH EM GEE The y are SO yummy!!!!

The yummiest things ever :)

Once we got to Auburndale and Chris's house we opened some wedding presents that my mom had brought up from home.

Yay pots and pans!

Then we headed to the shower! We had such a fun time.  So many of the families that Chris had grown up with were there and a few of my friends and bridesmaids were there too!

Us in front of the sweet banner they surprised us with! 

The sweets table! Most important part :)

Carl, My Big and I

Mom Hal and I!

A close up of the gorgeous yummy cookies!

It was such a fun weekend and we were "Showered" with Love!!

15th Pure Barre Class!

Soooo one of the things on my "to do" list for the wedding was to do my best to get back into shape!  I wanted a workout that was fun, motivating and effective and I have found the golden answer:

Pure Barre is almost too good to be true! It's slogan is "Lift, Tone, Burn" and it does so.  It uses small movements and targets the butt, thighs, stomach and arms.  It also stretches each area after its worked so it works flexibility too.  I literally can see my abs again and half gotten both splits back.  Everyone knows that I was an obsessive runner, but I've taken a break! I really think Pure Barre is just as good of a cardio workout.  I am SO glad to add Pure Barre to my workout because I had been reading how important strength training is, especially for women and I just had no desire or knowledge to lift weights or do weight training on my own.

SO, I have found a fun, addictive and effective way to workout before my wedding.  I'm obsessed!  Here's the link so look and see if they have one near you!

Pure Barre Link

**All pictures are from the Pure Barre Website**

Annabelle!

I'm not sure I've conveyed how in love with our puppy, Annabelle, I am!  She's absolutely the most gorgeous, fun, sweet and goofy little girl!  

She's in her Pre-Teen years so she's forgotten how to behave some, but it's ok... I still love her to the moon and back!

She LOVES sitting on the couch looking out the window! She could do it for hours!

She's in her happy place

This is her "Momma, please stop studying and play with me" face :(

Dad's boring her to death trying to teach her teeth anatomy!

I think it's so cute when she sprawls out like this!

Catch Up

So between school/starting in the lab and wedding planning/festivities, my mind has been MAXED OUT! But we have had so many fun events lately!

A few weekends ago we had a wedding-action-packed weekend.  We bought our wedding bands,  finalized our registries and a few other odds and ends.  At the end of it, Chris asked what I wanted to do for dinner and he makes this AWESOME Caprese  Flatbread and so I asked him to make it :)  It was  YUM!

Chris working hard on our dinner!

Caprese Flat Bread!

That weekend I also got to go to a Panhellinic luncheon for the Louisville Panhellinic Association.  It was fun not only to see the Gamma Phi's, but to see all the other Sororities and their sisters...  We had fun and I won 2 raffle prizes!

Christin and I at the Louisville Panhellinic Luncheon

The next weekend was Christin's Birthday so we went to Mojito Tapas to Celebrate!

Christin and I at Mojito Tapas celebrating her *25th* Birthday!

Part of her present that I made! 

This weekend we started it with a *Date Night* at Coals! It's a yummy pizza place super close to our home.  I really love date nights... I feel like for Chris and I they signal for "Ok, talk about whatever deep pressing things you want because there is no time limit here".  We got to talk about our future and where we see ourselves going, how I'm feeling about my school choices, and just what we've been thinking lately.

Love him :)

Date Night Location

Chris has a huge test Monday so he's studying for that and I have a day full of Crafting and a little studying ahead of me!  

I love Saturdays!