two gifts for the price of one

If you know Brandon and me (which I am hoping you do since you are reading our blog…) then you know about Kyle. Stalkers: Kyle is Brandon's cousin who was diagnosed with Leukemia in February. Today when I got into work at 6:30 (yes, that is AM), I did what I do every weekend that I have to work on the OR floor -- I clocked in and went straight to my favorite wedding websites. Today's first website of choice was weddingchannel.com. I am always touch and go with this website, but today this proved to be even better than I thought it would.  Today, for the first time ever, I saw something on the wedding channel's website that actually, genuinely peaked my interest.

Of course, I had to find out more so I clicked on the link to select a charity.  And this is what I saw:

Step one -- yep those are our registries, only missing Bed, Bath & Beyond.  Step two -- hmm... let's go with Health, I thought to myself, hoping that maybe this could somehow come full circle and we could do something for Kyle.  On the next screen I saw exactly what I was looking for!

So, of couse, I selected the Lukemia & Lymphoma Society.

So here is what I am asking from you -- if you plan to give us a gift, please do so through this website.  The WeddingChannel.com will make a donation to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society whenever someone uses their site to purchase a gift from one of our registries. There is no additional cost to you or to us -- WeddingChannel.com will make the donations as their gift to us.  How awesome is that?

To recap: If you want to give us a present, give one to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as well.  Seriously, could it be any easier to make a difference?  Answer: NO!

a bowl, not a pillow

I know traditionally the ring bearer carries a small satin pillow with fake rings tied to it and it's adorable.  Traditionally the ring bearer is also like five.  My ring bearer is more of a junior groomsman who has to gets to carry the rings.  That being said, I knew if I tried to ask Cameron to carry a pillow he would hit me with it.  I wanted to find something a little more practical, a little more grown up for Cameron's sake and really, a little more useful in the long term.  Enter the ring bearer bowl.

I found this idea on the craft website Etsy, which is easily my new obsession.  (Aunt Patti, you should definitely be on there selling your stuff!)  I looked at several different sellers and several different ideas and then really, without any difficulty, I found the one.  I contacted the seller from SayYourPiece, since it was originally a trinket bowl.  Eileen was wonderful.  She said we could absolutely make it a ring bearer bowl.  Added bonus: she is going to add our names and wedding date to the bottom of it.

Now I have my ring bearer bowl that Cameron will carry down the aisle in just 48 short days.  Additional added bonus: after the wedding, I will have the most adorable bowl to put my jewelry in :)  I highly recommend checking out Eileen's Etsy shop!  I know there are a few more things I will definitely be purchasing from her down the road.

Happy Birthday Angie :)

Today is one of my friend/favorite co-worker's birthday.  Angie works in the Surgery Center at SGF.  She is from Alabama and thanks to her husband being in school at Georgetown, she now she lives in Columbia Heights in DC. Thanks Sam for wanting to go to school in DC because it means I get to have that crazy girl as a friend :)  For Angie's birthday I made a no bake caramel chocolate truffle pie.  I was feeling inspired by another (formerly) Columbia Heights friend, Sarah Ruth and her blog Più vino! and so I decided to write about it. 

Step 1: Add pecans (or other nut but you don't have to use nuts) to already made pie crust (I am a cheater... and I went with a chocolate pie crust instead of plain graham cracker).

In one of the pie tins, I put yummy crushed pecans 

Step 2: Unwrap 18 - 22 caramels and melt them

Step 3: Add melted caramel to the pie crust

Step 4: Wash the saucepan, and melt chocolate chips with heavy cream and butter.

Step 5: Add chocolate mixture to the pie crust and then refrigerate

Step 6: Admire how beautiful it is :)

No nuts in this one :)

this one has the pecans :)

We have not yet indulged in this very simple treat, but I will be sure to let my adoring fans know how it turned out.  Seriously though -- with how simple it was, how could I have screwed it up?!



starting to think about my hairs

So today marks two months until the wedding.... holy freaking schnikes.  I mean, I guess I don't really have anything to worry about.  We're just kind of hanging out right now -- we don't have any big things left to do.  I just have little details to get figured out (like what my hair is going to look like) and some payments to make (ugh, whyyyy) but really, that is it.  I mean, I know it seems like a lot but in the big picture -- we're done.

So here are the kind of hairstyles that I am thinking about:

 

This one is, by far, my favorite :)

 Obviously there is a trend... So I have definitely put some thought into this.  I have a very good idea of what I would like to see and I have my hair trial next month, so we'll see how it goes :)  I also know that the day after the wedding, I am going to go and get my hair cut.  This long hair is killing me.

they'reeee baaaaccckkkk

It has been quite some time since I have had a wedding nightmare.  In fact, things have been going really well on the wedding front.  I mean, we have a bunch of welcome bags done, I have had my first dress fitting, and we are meeting with the florist this weekend.  Things are going really well.  But last night, I had a wedding nightmare and I have NO idea where this one came from.

It was 6pm the night before the wedding and I was running around like a mad woman.  I was putting together welcome bags and trying to remember all of the things I needed to take to the reception hall when I realized I was not where I was supposed to be and I hadn't showered.  And I only realized it when my phone rang and it was my father calling me to be like umm we're all here, where are you?  So then I was standing in my closet trying to figure out what to wear and crying because I have no clothes (this won't happen -- I have my dress for the rehearsal dinner already) and because I knew I didn't really have time to shower.  I remember zipping up my dress and asking Brandon how we were going to get welcome bags to the people who had already checked into the hotel.

It was around that point in the dream where, thankfully, Hank kicked me and I woke up.  I can't imagine how much worse my mind was going to make that situation.  What does something like that mean?  Am I not prepared for the rehearsal dinner?  What else do I need to be doing?  Am I not as on track as I thought I was?!? Ugh, and I thought the wedding nightmares were over with!