Sunday Fun

Well, I think I'm coming out of my weird "my body is trying to be sick" funk. My sinus are a little blah but I regrouped on workouts and eating healthy this weekend and finished up my mileage and ate well (minus that bottle of Pinot Noir Matt and I tackled while catching up on New Girl Friday night).  I even dragged Arnie out for my 3 miles on Saturday.  What a cutie. 

It has been a great weekend.  We have our engagement pictures this evening so that means I can demand that Matt come home from work at 3 pm today! I haven't seen him much this month -- he is either in a tournament or working 13+ hour days.  I almost feel bad about complaining that I'm stuck here with all the housework.  Almost. I think Old Navy ended up saving the day with a blouse to wear for our pictures that cost me around $20-$25.   Although I do feel like I spent a ton of money this week - but we had the townhouse pressure washed along with the back patio/driveway and it looks super fantastic.  I just keep staring into the back yard and I'm SO glad the side of the house isn't green with mildew anymore.  I was even inspired to update the front porch a bit. My thumb has gotten a bit "greener" but I still kill some of my plants immediately. 

In other news -- if you have been searching for some calf hair pumps like I have for the last year, you may be interested in these Ann Taylor beauties that are 50% off this weekend.  It's the best deal I have found -- and I love the zipper detail on the back.  They are $74! Code: FASHION50

I even braved our new Whole Foods at the Avalon development (I'm addicted to big salads right now.  It's better than cheese dip, right?) while I was out picked up the rest of my fabric that is needed for my chair recovering project and the only thing I left to do on my pesky bathroom floor project is to seal it! It's a good thing I wasn't commissioned to paint the Sistine Chapel because hey...I'd still be doing touch ups 10 years later.  

How is your weekend? 

~the engaged gal~

Wedding Wednesday

Is it too late for Wedding Wednesday? I know I'm almost out of time! I had a weird day and I feel a little sick.  I am not sure what is going on -- but it needs to go away. I decided to skip the gym tonight, take the dogs to the park with Matt, and eat lots of Thai food and Twizzler bites.  (Note, the sugar did not help my headache.) 

I feel like I'm really down to some fun details now.  The only thing I'm a bit worried about is hair and make-up but I'm hoping a good trial run will make me feel better.  I have been cruising cake toppers this week! They are cute and they make me smile.  

I had no idea there were so many different things out there.  Here are some that I thought were...um...interesting and some that I really love. 

Buck and Doe - this one is sold out but more from the Esty shop here if this floats your boat. 

Here are some cute, modern people for the comic lovers. 

These guys are sold but more from this Etsy shop here. 

Really liked the ones from Better Off Wed on Etsy, too! 

Something simple...

You knew this one was coming! Pugs!  Too bad it's $125. (really?!)

I'm taking votes! Happy Wednesday! 

~the engaged gal~

Monday Items and Obsessions

I'm so bummed I had to run home today after work! I actually attende my Monday night gym class 3 weeks in a row -- and now I have missed what should have been my fourth.  Matt is out of town and against my better instincts I opted not to schedule the dog walkers since he would be home at 6.  That was a great plan until he had an hour and a half delay.  Sigh.  Trust your instincts people.  Even for menial items.  Lucky for you I've scrapped the gym and Matt and I are having a quick date night now so while I wait for him you are stuck with my internet presence.  I guess your either horrified or glad about that.  

I'd really like to do some online shopping but hey -- the house needs to be pressure washed so again I say -- "Hooray Responsibility!".  But I don't really mean it.  I keep trying to wrack my brain for some really cool stuff to post here but I am in a bit of a shopping slump so I can't find much -- because I feel like I keep seeing the same things over and over and over again and by the time I want to order something I'm not even into the item.  I love a good bandwagon but lately I can't commit.  

I am, however, dreaming of one of these bracelets for wedding day and beyond. 

small sarra cuff - loren hope $58

I would also like to force the dogs into some costumes for Halloween.  But I am trying to curb what I call 'ridiculous spending'. 

But something like this may well be worth the money! 

I'm really obsessed with wanting to order Erin Gates' new book.  It's so beautiful on the outside, she seems beautiful on the inside and the outside -- it just seems like something I really need to read and display in my home. She was in Atlanta just over a week ago for a book signing at Ballard Design.  I didn't make it.  Did anyone go??? 

You can grab her book on Amazon Prime for $22.14

How was your Monday? 

~the engaged gal~

{october R & R}

Happy Sunday, my friends! I've dubbed today "do nothing of real consequence Sunday" because I have a day trip to Columbia, SC to see my sweet niece baptized so it didn't seem right to even get into any projects this morning.  And really, after a 10 mile run and numerous home items taken care of yesterday I fell into bed at 9:30 completely unable to finish the FSU v. ND game and fell asleep.  Also - how amazing is it to fall into that bed of freshly washed and bleached sheets and blankets? It's my favorite.  If only someone would go get some groceries for me since Matt isn't coming home from a trip until tomorrow...

I've been doing really well with my vow to be very un-scheduled this month and I feel so much better.   It's really harder than you think it would be! I feel like there are always people you need to see, birthday parties, family events, etc. happening.  Rested, able to focus on my running, able to keep the house in order and spend some quality time with the dogs on the days we are not at work.  

A few things I perused this weekend that I thought I would share with you. 

1. Jess Graves of The Love List put up an October Spotify playlist that is really decent.  Always nice when someone who has the time to devote to music makes me a great playlist because I can't even begin to make time to keep up with the music universe.  

2.  All my runners out there -- you can still register for the Atlanta Thanksgiving Day Races -- they do a 5K and a fun run so don't feel like you have to work too hard on a busy holiday. My pace has been super slow lately but regardless of time it has been fun to get back in really good shape and spend Saturday mornings with The Housewife.  It has also helped keep me honest for the wedding.  

3.   I know my Pug obsession is already out of control but Matt showed me this video one morning before work.  Like one person said -- you may never know as much joy as this man. 

What are you doing this Sunday? I feel like if I wasn't leaving on my day trip it would be a great baking day.

Love you. Mean it. 

~the engaged gal~

Friday Five

Happy Friday! We made it! It's been a weird week. Part of it seemed agonizing slow but the other part seemed to have flown by.  I don't know if I was a crazy and hormonal or what but we went through all the highs and lows this week at my place.  I said this on Twitter and stand by it - if you think you are above losing your shit over something seemingly small (but not to you) for your wedding I have news.   You are not.  A tuxedo just may do it.  It happened to me.  True life. 

Anyway...five things.  I shouldn't deviate from programming.  

1. In light of the above -- this was seen on Pinterest and struck home.  For real. 

Except that I want what I want for my day, yo.  #thestress

2.  I've been really good about resisting weeknight drinking in honor of fitting in my wedding dress but this week I was glad we actually had some in the house.  Actually I wish we had more. 

3. Do you think my dentist knows how annoying it is to floss twice a day? I'm usually done with life as soon as work is over so anything I do after that is extra - workouts, making dinner, walking the dogs. I mean, washing my face is chore enough.  

4. After boyfriend jeans were all the rage for the last 3 years -- I finally got some during the GAP sale.  Extra 25% off of $30...why not? 

find them here

They run big.  I probably could have even gone another size down but I figured they are supposed to be baggy and it wasn't worth the exchange. I really do like them! 

5.  At least we finally booked our Honeymoon/Scotland trip to see Matt's extended family later on in December.  I feel like we got a decent deal on Expedia for flight + hotel together to London.  I am really excited to see everything decorated for Christmas and to go to "high tea".  We are staying at the Waldorf! (Aren't we fancy?!)

Love you. Mean it. 

Happy October!

I know, I know we are already 11 days in -- but I'm here and welcoming October.  I have assumed supreme Golf Widow status since Matt has tournaments the rest October on the weekends.  We have very few social plans on the calendar so far for the entire month and it is a blissful feeling.  September was really wonderful and busy but I can't deny how nice it is to just relax.  I'm hoping to get caught up on blogging but maybe that never happens? 

I have to say that we did a great job of getting some wedding items knocked off the list in September.  I sent off my passport to be renewed (it just came back -- goodbye horrible photo of me),  we had our shower, I had my Bachelorette, ordered wedding invites and stamps (sent them out last week -- so that's technically October), ordered my wedding band (!!!), wrote copious amounts of thank you notes, took copious kitchen items to Goodwill to make room for the new, sent our deposit to the restaurant for our dinner, ordered and sent our invites to Matt's parents for our reception in Scotland in January.   

Wedding planning reflections so far -- the To Do list is long but lately it hasn't been that bad.  The beginning was stressful -- so many decisions but other than the debacle with my wedding dress (more on this later) I haven't shed any tears and we haven't had any big arguments.   I have been incredibly overwhelmed by the love and support we have received from friends and family -- especially some friends of mine that I am not able to invite to the wedding but have sent us a gift and well wishes.  I could have cried with happiness. I was so touched.  Every day I wake up and I am so happy with our decision to keep it small and intimate even if it hurts to miss some family on our big day.  Also -- I placed two orders with Wedding Paper Divas and I want to take a moment to say their customer service is amazing and my invites were beautiful and well done.  I had an issue with switching a shipping and billing address for our invites that were shipping to Scotland and they were really on top of this issue and corrected it for me with no problems.  Also -- LOVE that they ship overseas.  That was a big plus.  Super happy customer right here - I would highly recommend them! 

I picked up my wedding band yesterday. I want to wear it every day. I think Matt is going to have to hide it from me.  This is what I looked like last night according to him: 

I wanted to add some other pictures but I'm taking the plunge and updating my phone this morning.  I hope it survives.  

Love you. Mean it. 

~the engaged gal~

Currently...

reading...

thinking... 

- I really need to run at some point

- lamenting the fact I let a book hold go at the library because I had to work late

-pining for new work clothes

looking...

-for a mirror to put in my bedroom 

- some fall work clothes (but finding nothing I want) 

loving...

this newer, larger crock pot that arrived today as a wedding gift.  someone find me a recipe. 

~the single gal~