Wedding issues

When I was younger, I wasn't really one of those girls that planned my wedding. I mean yes, I always wanted to get married, but I always knew I wanted some kind of career. My parents have always been certain that I would never have children, because I was just never one of those girls that dreamed about being a mom. 

I loved Disney princess movies, but admired the princesses more for their beauty and wit than ability to snag a debonair prince charming. The closest I ever came to wedding planning was the copious amounts of wedding dresses I used to design. I would seriously have themes and design dresses and outfits for the entire wedding party. 

When you're an only child, you find interesting ways to entertain yourself. 

I did want to be a fashion designer until I discovered I could neither cut nor sew in a straight line, and resigned myself to spritzing on Chanel each morning instead of trying to be the next Coco Chanel.

I am however, absolutely thrilled that I have met my cowboy-boot wearing, truck-driving, prince charming and can't wait to marry him!

Wedding planning has been a little more stressful than I would have thought it to be. I'm sure being in my first year of graduate school only exacerbated things, but so many times I have begged Chase to just elope with me!

I'm still trying to tie up a few lose ends and we are taking our engagement pictures next Monday which I am very excited about! 

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 I will say the biggest source of my stress has been trying to lose weight for the wedding. Which, those close to me tell me I'm crazy, but of course, I don't believe them! Like any relationship, I gained a few pounds when we started dating. I met this wonderful man that loved me for me and I settled into the happiest relationship ever (seriously, I hope everyone ends up as happy as I am with him!). 

And, settling into a relationship meant eating whatever I wanted and eating like my fiancé. At first, it was great. We would often make dinner at my apartment and had two favorite meals that we cooked. One was barbeque chicken, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, and yeast rolls. The other one was Caesar salad, spaghetti, and garlic bread. (I’m cringing as I write this!)

My love of Chase and carbs took over and I abandoned green things in favor of true love and man food. For the first time in my life, I was truly happy. I let my guard down and I felt as though my heart was bursting at the seams. Unfortunately, so were my jeans.  

However, three years later and I am close, but still not to where I was when we started dating and I kind of hate that.  I am nine weeks away from the wedding and definitely not where I want to be, but I am slowly becoming more comfortable with that (I guess). 

My dress looks gorgeous on me and I really don't want to pay a lot of money for alterations anyways, haha. I'm trying not to be too hard on myself, because graduate school was no walk in the park and I am an emotional eater. I eat my feelings, whether I'm happy, sad, stressed, upset, excited, angry...well, you get the idea. 

Obligatory "Mean Girls" (aka best movie ever made) quote... 

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And I know "blah, blah, he likes you the way you are," but I still  need to log a few hours on the treadmill and shove some chicken and broccoli down my throat, but the fact really is...I'm just a curvy girl and I'm pretty sure I could never diet or exercise these hips away! Trust me, I've tried, haha. I tend to eat a (mostly) healthy diet, but definitely don't exercise as much as I should.

I hate that we girls put so much pressure on ourselves for things such as weddings, that should be the happiest days of our lives. Or maybe I'm alone whatever. It's just been a constant thing in my head and I wish it would go away. I seriously lie awake at night afraid I'm going to look fat in my engagement pictures or worse, on my wedding day.

Trying to just embrace every moment and not beat myself up for not being more active and eating better since I've been engaged. It's been a lifelong thing for me and for just once (especially during my wedding!), I want to be able to sit back and enjoy things without worrying about my weight. 

But anyways, I could go on and on about this issue, but that's for another post. :) I hope one day I am able to help younger girls overcome these kinds of issues but for now, I'm still working on myself.

*life changing moments.

Last night while lying in bed, it occurred to me that I did not do a makeup post yesterday. I apologize, but like most Okies, I was glued to the news for the better part of the day. Watching the events of the deadly tornado unfold in Moore, Okla., was absolutely heartbreaking. Even though I spent 12 years of my life in Alaska, I've always referred to Oklahoma as "home." This is probably because all of my family lives in the Sooner State and it is where I spent the first 7 years of my life. Now that I'm marrying a guy from Oklahoma, this is probably where I will spend the rest of my life.

Moore has always had a special place in my heart. My dad was stationed at Tinker AFB while in the Air Force and some of my earliest memories are of living in the first home my parents built on Teresa Drive in Moore. I attended preschool and kindergarten there and still feel a twinge of nostalgia whenever I drive by the city. When my family left Alaska in 2006, we lived in Moore for a year, not too far from that first home. Side note: During our first month or so after we moved back to Oklahoma, my mom flew to Alaska for my dad's retirement ceremony. I was attending the University of Oklahoma and had class the day she left, so my mom asked a lady to watch my brother and sister until I could pick them up. Surprisingly, the lady lived in the home my parents built. I'll never forget the feeling of picking my brother and sister up. I saw the window of the room that had contained my pink and white canopy bed that was across from my Little Mermaid bathroom. I saw the fireplace where I used to dress up and regale my parents and relatives with all sorts of shenanigans.

But yes, Moore holds a special place in my heart. Last night, I thought about the little lives that had been taken too early by the tornado. I thought about the parents who didn't know where their children were and the people who had lost everything. While watching the news yesterday, my eyes teared up every time they interviewed a survivor. One lady's eyes were misty and, obviously in shock, she kept saying how she and her children had been in the bathtub and now her house was gone. Another guy had also survived by getting in his bathtub with his two dogs. He was pushing them around the tornado stricken city looking for his wife and kids.

I am still in disbelief when I see the neighborhoods that were completely obliterated by the tornado. It has been said that Moore looks like a war zone and I agree. I'm not going to post any images of the destruction on here. I can't wait to hear more stories of the heroism and selflessness of Oklahoma residents in the aftermath of the tornado. Moore has been stricken by three major tornadoes in the last 14 years and if the people of Moore have displayed anything, it is amazing resiliency. Even though tornadoes keep descending upon their beloved city, they continue to rebuild.

It has warmed my heart to see an outpour of love, encouragement and support from across the nation. But, what I love most is how the state has bonded together and everyone has rushed to the aid of those affected by the terrible tragedy. Oklahoma has had its share of horrific events, but each time, the people of this great state have come together in support of each other and the love and sense of togetherness is something truly special and can only be experienced by those that live in this state.

I'm proud to be an Okie.

Please pray for the people of not only Moore, but for the state as a whole, as many places have been devastated by tornadic activity the past couple of days.

Getting crafty

Well, Saturday marks the 10-week mark until our wedding and two weeks until my first dress fitting!

I just really can't believe how fast time is flying by! I still have tons to do. We have yet to take out engagement photos and plan on doing those soon. I'm struggling though, because I'm picky and like simple things. I can't think of any other outfits I want to wear other than jeans and black shirts. Suggestions? I will do my own makeup for our pictures, but will more than likely get my hair done. I want big, Southern girl hair. The higher the hair, the closer to God and I need all of the heavenly guidance I can get right now.

Our venue is beautiful by itself, but there are some personal touches I want to add. Pinterest has some adorable signs and I plan on getting crafty this weekend! It's been awhile since I've made anything. I like doing crafts, but if I can buy something already made, I will. But, in the case of the signs I want, I figure I will have fun making those myself.

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I absolutely love this one! Two of Chase's nephews are ring bearers and I want one of them to carry this sign. I think it's so adorable.

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I really like something like this to set near the beginning of the aisle.

 

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And this!

 

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And, in Oklahoma, country music lyrics are always good!

 

I'm also looking at making a few other things, including my bouquet. We also haven't figured out the catering situation. We're having an afternoon wedding, so we just want something light. And, I also need to finalize what I'm wearing and bridesmaids' accessories...and flower girl dress and invitations...and my hair...

 

So much to do! I never realized there was so much involved with weddings. Luckily, our venue supplies a lot of things, so that helps! I'm also not much of a flower girl, so there won't be very many flowers in my wedding. 

 

Any tips or tricks for plannng the big day? 

  

Makeup Monday: Surprises and wedding countdown

So, I did it.

I completed another semester of graduate school and *humble brag* I did it with straight A's. Not quite sure how I did it, but I'm not going to argue with my professors either. I've already been done with school for almost two weeks and I can't believe how fast time has flown by. There's only a little over 10 weeks left until my wedding and to say I'm freaking out would be an understatement! I've been looking at wedding stuff today, making lists, and got back on the clean eating train after a weekend full of indulgences. I paid for them by feeling gross and bloated; after a day of clean, paleo eats, I am feeling like myself again. I wasn't really very hungry today, so I just had some coffee, bacon, an egg, and chicken and veggies. Nothing exciting, but I have to strut my stuff in a wedding dress in 10 weeks. Boring = effective.

Chase and I picked up some more of our shower gifts this weekend and it is killing me that we agreed not to use anything until after we're married and all moved in. So for now, all of our gifts are stacked up in my apartment and tempting me daily. One of the gifts we picked up is our Kitchen Aid mixer and I absolutely love the color. It took us forever to decide on it, but the matte black is perfect.

I think I'm going to gain 20 pounds after we get married, because we received a lot of neat things for the kitchen and I'm going to be cooking, baking, and eating up a storm. Good thing there's a gym at our apartment I guess!


I received my first assignment today for a new writing job I have and am excited to get started, even if the type of writing is not my forte. But, I get to do it while sitting at home in my pajamas drinking coffee, so I can't complain too much I guess.

I've decided I'm going to devote an entire day of the week to one of my favorite topics: MAKEUP. I talked to my mom on the phone for an hour and a half last night, and over the duration of the call, I instructed her on nutrition, healthy snacks, and which foundation she should buy. She also tells me that I should have been a nutritionist and a makeup artist, but I chose the path of a writer. Sigh. I guess I will have to settle for writing about nutrition and makeup.

Anyways, today will be the inaugural posting of Makeup Monday. Basically, I will discuss a few of my current faves. Feel free to leave your own in the comment section!

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 I. love. this. foundation. I usually wear L'Oreal True Match, but I wanted to try something new. I went to Makeup Alley, one of my fave sites, and read some reviews about foundations. This little gem of a foundation scored very high, but I was still skeptical, as I am a makeup snob and this is Covergirl. I did a little more digging and makeup gurus were raving about it, so I decided to try it. I usually wear the first or second lightest shades, but since the ones for this foundation were very pink and I have golden undertones, I went with the third. Covergirl boasts that this foundation is "All-in-one foundation with a long-lasting formula that fuses primer, concealer, and foundation in one easy step! The 3-in-1 formula provides a flawless look that lasts all day long." I would have to agree! I've been using this foundation for about a month and I love how easily it slides on my skin, how it covers without looking cakey, and how it really does last all day. I tend to have very dry skin, so I do use a bit of BB cream underneath and I don't use any powder on top. I'm interested to see how this foundation holds up in Oklahoma's notorious smoldering, humid summer heat. 

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This moisturizer was a bit of a splurge that was purchased shortly after Christmas (Christmas money is the best). When I was a teen, I had that annoying skin that was broke out, yet still dry. It was a vicious cycle of using drying products to clear up breakouts, then over-moisturizing to clear up dryness. Thankfully, I've learned the virtues of drinking water and a healthy diet (when I slack on water consumption or consume too much gluten or sugar, my skin shows it!), along with getting older and I only have to deal with the occasional breakout. My skin has, however, become drier, which means that all of those fun fine lines that show I'm a living, breathing human being, i.e. laugh lines and expression lines, show up more. Maybe it's all in my head, but I swear that this moisturizer has helped make the lines less noticeable. It's not as creamy as my usual nighttime moisturizer (L'Oreal Youth Code), but leaves my skin looking smooth and fresh when I wake up. I haven't tried the original Hope in a Jar, but I highly recommend this one!

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OK, so I just realized I said I would be writing about makeup and technically, my last item wasn't makeup. Neither is this one. Forgive me. Just let me say, I despise facial cleansers. I'm not sure why. I guess I feel as though they really dry skin out, or they burn my eyes. Even though I usually use coconut oil to remove my eye makeup, sometimes I'm just tired and want my cleanser to do the job. The term "cold cream" usually evokes images of old women in rollers and housecoats with a face covered in white gunk. I was hesitant to try this product due to those horrific images, but Internet reviews convinced me to give this cult fave a try. I'm so happy I did! Like I've mentioned, my skin is dry, so this may not be best for you oily-skinned gals, but I love it. My eye makeup slides right off and the cleanser leaves my skin feeling soft and moisturized. It does leave a slight film on your skin, but the instructions say that you don't have to use water when washing the cold cream off, so I just liken it to extra moisturizing power! Pond's also makes a Cucumber Cleanser that is in a container like this one and it claims to be light and non-greasy. I have yet to try that one though. 

I could talk about makeup all day! I'm afraid I'm going to be an old lady wearing bright blue eyeshadow and shockingly pink lipstick. 

What are some of your makeup favorites? 

Summer time!

Wednesday was the last day of the first year of my graduate school education. To say I'm excited would be an understatement...I'm halfway done, whoooo!

It's always exactly 12 weeks from today that I become Mrs. Scott.

                                                                     Future Mrs. and Mr.


Even though it's 47 degrees outside (what the heck is up with that?), I still consider it to be summer even though the first day of summer isn't until June 21. School is over, therefore it's summer. Although, I've been wearing my pea coat for the past couple of days outside. It's very strange weather for this time of year, considering it was nearly 100 this time last year. But, chill, doomsday theorists; the record low was 37 degrees in 1954, so I think we're all safe.

I've spent the past few days job hunting, going to interviews, and enjoying not worrying about literature reviews and case studies. I have tons to do this summer, including taking teacher certification tests and um, GETTING MARRIED!

Twelve weeks???? Um, wow. I have my first dress fitting next week and everything is becoming so insanely real. I have a ton of stuff to get done and I would be lying if I said I was super motivated about it. Not that I'm not excited to get married....I can't wait. This past semester has been one of the most stressful times in my life. So much has gone on these past few months and my mind has been on overdrive. It's nice to not worry about things at the moment.

And about my Whole30...wellll, I've been eating mostly paleo, but it's been difficult with finals and everything. Yes, I'm making excuses, but oh well. I fell off of the paleo wagon after finals (hello, celebratory tacos!) and I feel the effects of it. I was feeling awesome abstaining from sugar and grains...now I feel gross and lethargic. I've noticed that when I don't eat gluten for awhile and then I eat it, my skin gets itchy and my heart starts racing. I plan on getting back on the paleo wagon....ummm, now! I'm also planning on dropping coffee, but that wasn't going to happen during finals. I have managed to give up soda, however. Baby steps!

As far as the next few months, I plan on working, working out, soaking up some sun, wedding planning, writing and (maybe) working on the literature review for my master's thesis.

Right now, with everything that's going on, my mantra is "pray about everything, worry about nothing." Easier said than done, for sure.