Lonestar: the current soundtrack to my life....

I'm missing Allen a LOT, especially these last few days.... I feel like I could cry at any moment, and as soon as I start thinking of the wedding or something, I definitely do. Not that I'm not having the best time planning... I just miss my groom. Lonestar has always been one of my favorite country bands, and I LOVED seeing them in concert a few years ago! These two songs keep playing in my head, so instead of writing a blog post for the day, I thought I'd post them instead. The second one is especially appropriate while Allen is completely Air Force training. 


"Amazed" by Lonestar

"I'm Already There" by Lonestar

Sorry for my sappy posts... as the wedding gets closer, I feel like I'm more and more emotional and just want him to be right here. Can't wait until that day.... only three more months until he is HOME!


Hope you're having a great week!


~Gen

Wedding Details!! Part 2

So I SHOULD be working on a biotechnology website or studying the anatomy of the upper torso... yeah, sounds like fun, huh? But instead, I thought I would post the second part of my wedding plans!! Sorry it took me a little while to get to it!


First of all, a ton of the plans for this wedding come from the inspiration of two great friends and fellow bloggers, Mallory and Lynsie! If you haven't checked out their blogs, yet, you definitely should! Thank you so much to both of you for your awesome ideas and advice from your own beautiful weddings!!


So, here's some more of our plans!

• Booked the photographer! We're going with D Coleman Photography, who is actually who both Mallory and Lynsie used! We haven't had our engagement session, yet, but I'm anxiously awaiting the return of Allen (well, duh...) but also for the fact that we can FINALLY get our engagement pics done!! You should check out his blog!! I'm so incredibly excited!!

         Speaking of pictures, found this on Pinterest, and it looks like so much fun! Allen and I are both big football fans, and since it will be Vikings' colors.... haha

• Found my dress!!! It's beautiful... I'm not going to say much because Allen reads my blog, but it's perfect. Sorry, that's all you pretty much get because I want him to be absolutely surprised. Can not wait to see the look on his face!!!!! He called me the other day at 4 in the morning (TOO early!) to tell me he couldn't sleep because he was dreaming of seeing me walk down the aisle... I LOVE that man and anytime he wants to wake me up in the middle of the night to tell me something like that, it's fine by me!
• Figured out the cake! We really want to do a two-tiered cake at the top with a cupcake tower! Something like this....

The cupcakes will be different for sure, probably just with different flavors of icing to be simple, and we haven't figured out the exact design of the cake, yet, but the layout is similar! We also like the idea of doing the top tier round and then the second tier hexagon or something like that!

• Finished the wedding website! Sorry, there's a webpass (okmo2012), and you have to register, but you can look at it here! We had the webpass on it because it wasn't finished for the longest time, but someone my dad works with told him it may be smarter to leave it on because even if there aren't people in my dad's new job that would want to crash the wedding to ruin the day, there were plenty of people that disagreed with my dad at his last job and would do something like that! Let's just say we met some pretty awful people that way, and for years, one of them had a dummy hanging from a pole in the middle of their yard that was supposed to be my dad because he had to make a decision that they didn't like... how awful is that?! And talk about creepy!! Anyway... check out the website and feel free to sign the guestbook and leave music suggestions!
• Ordered our save-the-dates!! The first round was just sent out yesterday... I have tons more to address, but what do you think?

• Took some "couples" shots with a friend of Allen's, since we have to wait a little while to get our engagement pics done!

• Came up with the flowers for the bouquet... LOVE roses, plus wanted some beautiful accent flowers!

 

LOVE this for my bouquet!!!

 

Thought of something like this for the bridesmaids!!! Gerber daises

 are also my favorite :)

• Decided on the centerpieces.... wanted something simple, so we are going with something like this!

• I know everyone does photo shoots, but I didn't want to copy everyone... I thought instead using Polaroid pictures and doing something like this lovely pinterest idea would be fun!! Then, later, we can scrapbook or frame the pictures! Not quite sure about the idea, yet, but I wanted something original! Any suggestions?

• So, we also came up with a few ideas to honor Allen's mom and sister who passed away in a car accident 6 years ago. One idea was to put a place setting out with a description of the symbolism in it. Another was just to have photos setting at a table, but I'm not sure which Allen wants to do more. He's been having a hard time with figuring out the best way to honor them. I thought something simple like this with a few photos around might be a good idea, and so far, I think this is what we are going with. Any of you in a similar situation with ideas?

Most of the photos are from pinterest, and if you want to see more of my wedding ideas or ideas that I would really love to incorporate into the wedding, go here:

http://pinterest.com/genlynne/my-wedding-day-august-11-2012/

I LOVE that site!!

More to come, but it is mostly just little details that are being figured out. I really want to do as many DIY things as possible, so Pinterest has become my best friend as far as that's concerned. :) I'll touch base with any of those ideas later! 

Hope you had a great Monday, and have a great week!

Love, 

~Gen

Crazy, Busy, Beautiful Week... and Life!

It's been one of those weeks... not necessarily the best with school and some rough days, but I was lucky enough to get to hang out with a few amazing people! 


Monday, I had a full day filled with a biochemistry exam and then a lab, but after, I headed to Kansas City to be there for a dr.'s appt on Tuesday. That's where the first annoying part of the week happened... it turned out that the date on the appt reminder note was written down wrong, so I was up there a day too early. Frustrating? Yes! However, I got the chance to go out to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory in KC with some of my favorite KC girls!!
Even after missing a couple of classes, which was a little annoying and hard to make up, I finally made it back on Wednesday and went to the Memphis Ballet performance with my friend from the CMB program. It was an amazing performance and a ton of fun! We also always catch up with PA school talk because it is the dream of both of us to go on to PA school and practice. :) Here's a pic from that night!!

 Thursday, I ended up working a morning shift, going to class, and then since Allen and I have not had a chance to finish our registries, a friend from work went with me to work on one of them and get some of the basics scanned, so Allen and I could just edit and add online. :) It's actually kinda fun to do the registries via Skype--more laughing and joking is accomplished than actual decisions, but it happens. :) That's what he's the best at--making me laugh! However, it turns out my friend knows TONS about different products and their qualities, and she helped me make a ton of decisions that I think Allen will also be happy with! Here's a pic of the two of us after a fun night!

Friday, I was basically ready to just be done with school, and I had a whole day of work after my morning classes. Got off just in time to head home and be there when my best friend, Liz, arrived! It was just what I needed... a whole weekend with her! Friday night, we made manicotti and then went to Mud Lounge here in Springfield. 

Saturday, we hung low, and she focused on studying for a test that she has today... good luck! We did, however, head over to the mall and browsed around... there are some really cute styles out! I just recently bought some items online at fifteendollarstore.com. Have you ever heard of it? It has a ton of items that are marked down 80-90% because of inability to sell, and this place sells and ships it! RIDICULOUSLY cheap--every thing is 15 dollars, which for the dress I just got for Allen's graduation banquet, is amazing because I found the same dress at Dillards for $90! 


We were going to go out that night, but we were feeling exhausted and decided to get dressed up for dinner, but then we came home and watched a marathon of Supernatural on Netflix... it was the perfect low-key night!


Unfortunately, Sunday, she had to leave early to go home and study (and I had to later that day), and I also had to leave for work, but I couldn't have asked for a better weekend, and the KC trip earlier in the week meant that I haven't had to go long without seeing her or catching up! This upcoming Sunday is the bridal shower I am throwing for her due to her upcoming wedding in June (it's also so much fun to be getting married in the same summer--she's in mine and I'm in hers! and we get to share ideas!), so I'll be seeing her again soon! BTW-if you have any cute decoration or favor ideas, please share! I think I have it pretty much figured out, but I would appreciate any feedback anyway!


Hope you had a wonderful weekend and have a great week this upcoming one! It's going to be a crazy one for me (midterms), but I'll try my best to post!
Love,


~Gen

Wedding Plans!! Part 1

So, since I have barely been back on the blogging scene, I figured I should play a little catch up with my life.... Since the most exciting part of life for me right now is wedding planning, here's some of the first items we accomplished, and I'll post more later!!

• Well first the obvious.... Got the groom... he's pretty great! :)

• Found the ceremony site! It will be at my church that my family and I have attended for years in our small town!

• Reserved the reception site! It will be at the beautiful, historic Opera House in my home town!

• Asked the wedding party to be part of our big day!! Here's just a few of those special people:

There are mannnnyy other people, but these are just a few of the pictures I have on my flash drive! Featured above: Ashley, Allen's youngest sister and my junior bridesmaid; Kyrie, my best friend and bridesmaid; Nikki, my little sister and maid of honor; Liz, my best friend and bridesmaid; Chris, my little brother and Allen's junior groomsman; three people in the last picture: Michael, Allen's best friend and groomsman; Joseph, Allen's best friend and best man; and Kevin, Allen's friend and usher.

Not pictured (but I'll post the website link later and you can see pics there!!) are: Shelby, Allen's little sister and my bridesmaid; Drew, Allen's little brother and our ring bearer; Janelle, my cousin and friend and my personal attendant; Isabella and Leilah, my 2nd cousins (Janelle's daughters) and flower girls; Joe, my older cousin and usher; Matt, Allen's step-brother and usher; Ryan, my brother and Allen's groomsman; Kelsey, my cousin and candle lighter; and Emily, my cousin and candle lighter! YES that is a HUGE wedding party, at least I think so, but we love EACH and every one of them!!

• Asked the priest! Thank goodness, he said yes!
• Started wedding prep, so we can be married in the Catholic Church!
• Picked the colors! I bet no one is surprised that they're Vikings' colors (haha not on purpose!): purple and yellow - purple for the bridesmaids and yellow roses for their bouquets :) Most likely, a bright yellow for the candle lighters' dresses, but we want to make sure they look good together (any thoughts?)! More specifically:

This color for the bridesmaid dress!

And probably this shade of yellow for the candle lighters' dress! 

So... that's about all the time I have for now.... we have finally figured out all the big decisions and are doing very well as far as wedding planning is concerned now, so I will have tons more to post tomorrow and probably the next day! 

Hope you had a wonderful hump-day! THANK GOODNESS there are only two more days this week!

~Gen

Love... Even Through the Distance

*Warning: This post may be sappy. I can't help it!

I have turned in to a lovey-dovey, can't think about anything else but my guy, don't even want to plan my wedding because it makes me miss him that much more (don't worry--that has changed since the first part. Now I just want to make this the most special day on earth for the both of us), hate that I don't talk to him a ton, girl. Never thought I would rely on a man as much as I do, but he's my best friend. Don't get me wrong, I have my girl best friends. And I don't know what I would do without them. Liz, Kyrie, and a whole ton of other wonderful, beautiful girls have been with me through A LOT. But, he's the one I rush to call when something big happens. He's the one I long to talk to after a hard day, and he's the only one, at least anymore, that can make me feel 100% better when I was at my lowest point.


This photo, in my opinion, is PERFECT. Allen and I are obviously long-distance since he is completing Combat Controller Training for the Air Force. I am sooooo incredibly proud because first, he made it into the program; second, he's one of 17 out of an original 36 that is planning on graduating from the 35-week program at the end of this month; and third, he's pushed through soooo much and even recovered from an appendectomy in the middle of it to make it to this day, and you can bet, I will be the most proud, teary-eyed, loving fiance in the crowd on graduation day. But, above all, not just because I wanted a relationship or anything, it's because I have found the one that makes me happy, and I can't live without him. It hasn't been easy. In fact, everytime I see him and then can't talk to him again for a little while, I probably turn in to the happiest girl for the first couple of days and then the most depressed for the next until I talk to him again. But it's worth it. So worth it.


For all those that have done long-distance, I have SO much respect for you. You put in the time to make something work that wasn't easy, but you knew that person meant enough to you, and you weren't going to give up, no matter how hard. That's what this picture means to me. 

Okay, enough of the sappy post. Hope you have a wonderful Saturday, and thanks for reading!!


-Gennie

It's been forever!!

Don't ask me why, but I fell off the face of the planet. It may have something to do with that being busy thing, or the fact that writing about my life made me miss my fiance that much more, but it's time to come back. I loved blogging, and I'm going to start it up.


In that case, here's what's been going on...

• Wedding planning is in fulllllllllll swing. Cake, check. Dress, check. Honeymoon, check. Invitations.... getting there. Bridal party, check, and their attire, semi-check. I know there's muchhh more to mention, but more on that later. For now, we just got our save-the-dates in (and they're beautiful if I do say so myself), and they're being sent out this upcoming week!! YAY!
• School is..... there. And it's school. I don't get to graduate until December now (I hate my thesis/research with a passion), but it happens. We'll figure it out.
• Allen and I are getting ready to look for houses in Florida! Yes, Florida!!! He will be stationed there next October, and I'll be moving just as soon as that degree is officially mine. I'm. SO. Excited.
• I started a job at Toys R Us, and it keeps me busy. Just decided to do it for the Christmas season last year, but turns out, they kept me around. It's actually nice to have a little money now and then...

Other than that, I'm not even sure. I have soooo much to catch everyone up on, and I will, I promise, but right now, I should get back to addressing save-the-dates and studying biochemistry. Yes, such a good combination. 

Well, I LOVE being back, and I hope you will read again! :) It's going to be a crazy, busy, ridiculous, amazing year, and I'll try my best to post lots.

For now, have a happy weekend!

-Gen

So, I lied...

So, in my last post, I said that I wouldn't be posting anymore for a couple of days, but I'm taking a short break from packing and getting ready to go umpire a couple of t-ball games (omg.. these kids are HILARIOUS!! One kid peed on the pitcher's mound last week-yes a little gross!!--and all the players run after the ball when it's hit!), but I was looking at my plane reservations and I am getting SOOOOO excited to see Allen!! I just had to share it with all of you!!!!

So, tomorrow, though, I baby-sit for two ADORABLE little boys (2 & 4), Brody and Parker, in Kansas City, and then I get to spend a WHOLE WEEK with my best friend and her fiance in KC!! I also get to see some of my other amazing friends. I think we're doing dinner on Sunday, yay!! It just made sense to stay up there since that's where I was flying out from, and I have dearly missed Liz!

So, on the schedule is....

KC: dinner with the girls!!, watching the Hangover Part 2 (Liz and Travis even waited for me to come up so we could see it together! I just love them :) ), pool time!, shopping (or window shopping for those a little short on cash..., making some delicious meals, and just hanging out!! I'm just ready for best friend time!

And then....

MYRTLE BEACH!!! Allen gets a 3 1/2 day break. He leaves Japan tomorrow morning, which means he will be back stateside by the 12th! And I will get to talk to him for short periods, but that's definitely better than now! He was barely even able to keep up with emails. :( But it's completely understandable, and I am BEYOND proud of him. :) I have no idea how I got so lucky to be marrying such a selfless, caring, respectable, handsome, loving man!!!! As you can see, I'm definitely excited and in love. :) So.. he will be at the airport on Friday waiting for me to fly into Myrtle Beach (he is at Shaw AFB for the week but we're trying to get away from the base for our vaca!), and we will get to spend three glorious days in the sun, just catching up and spending time with each other!!! On Monday, we'll be going on a two-hour drive to Sumter (where Shaw AFB is) that the AF will provide for us, and I will get a tour with other military family/girlfriends/fiances/wives (each person is allowed two people to visit during this time) and we'll welcome everyone back from their deployment officially!! Unfortunately, the car ride back to Myrtle Beach will be lonesome because Allen has to report back in to Shaw by 11 pm on Monday, but I'm grateful for ANY time I can get!! I will probably not get to see him again until December when I fly to Riverside for his week off before Christmas because it's an intense 35-week program. But, at least after the first few weeks (8-12), I'll get to skype with him, talk on the phone, email, and write. :) Plus, send fun packages, and speaking of, please leave a comment if you have any ideas for a fun monthly package!!

Shaw AFB

Thanks for reading!! Hope you all are enjoying the summer weather!! Any big exciting vacations or trips?

I'll recap when I'm back so check back around June 23rd!!

Take care,

-Gennie