Week #23

I hope everyone had a good week and will enjoy week #23 of my Pic-A-Day challenge!!!


Day 155: Today we celebrated my mom, aunt, and cousin Zach's birthdays! My family got together and ate some cheese fondue, pizza, and ice cream cake. My little cousin Asyra made this picture for my mom using some glue and leftover confetti from her mom's baby shower! Isn't it cute?!

Day 156: I started reading Breaking Dawn for the second time today. I had borrowed the book when I read it the first time, but when I got it as a present for Christmas, I decided it was time to read it again! I'm almost finished with it now.

Day 157: I have been obsessively going through the new WV Weddings magazine since it came out! Love it!

Day 158: I had gone over to Phil's house the day before cause I felt like just being a normal couple and getting to see him whenever I wanted. It's hard just being able to see eachother on the weekends! Anyways, I left from his house this morning when he left for work and it's a good thing I did cause shortly after, it started pouring the snow!

Day 159: Mom and I went here to Nandel's so I could try on some more wedding dresses. The people and the dresses were nice but it just didn't compare to THE dress that I'm going to go purchase today!

Day 160: Dad cut his fingers on a countertop he was moving so bad that he needed 19 stitches! His hand looks like Frankenstein's!

Day 161: I was at Phil's house again this weekend and we went to go eat at the Buffalo Diner. This is who we want to cater for our wedding! The food is sooo good! I got the stuffed chicken, pasta with garlic sauce, green beans, and garlic cheese bread! Mmmmm...

This coming week is looking fairly busy for me, so hopefully I'll have an easy time getting some pics to share with you all for next week!

Wedding Update

Yesterday my mom and I headed over to another place to look for more wedding dresses. My goal was to find a dress that I liked just as much or more than the one I found last week, but for less money. There were a lot of lacey gowns that I loved, but just didn't love them enough for them to be THE dress. So Monday we are going back to the place I went last week, I'm going to try THE dress on again, and we are going to order it!

We are also going to take mom's wedding veil with us so I can see if it would look right with my dress. This is something I really wanted to do, but we are going to see if it looks good and if it could be altered a bit. Instead of one of those comb things that attaches to your head, it has a little hat thingy that would have to be bobby pinned on me and I really don't like that part. The dress I'm ordering is also ivory (which I never thought I'd want) and mom's veil is white.

This afternoon I'm headed off to Phil's house for the weekend! We are going to go eat at the place near his house that we want to cater our wedding. We need to ask prices and what we can get for those prices.

I'm pretty sure we are now not going to have our wedding at Sleepy Hollow like I had previously thought. Some things are just more important than the great name during the month of October. The food we had at the tasting was really good, but alot of things that were told to us before this meeting ended up not being true. Like we could have our ceremony out on the golf course and if it would rain we could have it on the covered patio. Both not true. So now we are thinking that it would just be better to have it all happen in Huntington. Stay tuned on that idea.

Have a great weekend everyone!

PPQ: The Chariot

THE CHARIOT

by Emily Dickinson

Because I could not stop for Death,

He kindly stopped for me;

The carriage held but just ourselves

And Immortality.

We slowly drove, he knew no haste,

And I had put away

My labor, and my leisure too,

For his civility.

We passed the school where children played,

Their lessons scarcely done;

We passed the fields of gazing grain,

We passed the setting sun.

We paused before a house that seemed

A swelling of the ground;

The roof was scarcely visible,

The cornice but a mound.

Since then 't is centuries; but each

Feels shorter than the day

I first surmised the horses' heads

Were toward eternity.

Week #22

This past week was heavily influenced by wedding preparations with a few other activities thrown in!

Day 148: Today was the day I had been waiting for - The Briday Expo! There were many different vendors that came to our civic center such as photographers, djs, wedding planners, caterers, and bakers. The most helpful to me though was the wedding fashion show! They had a few shops from around our region show off their wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, as well as some flower girl dresses, dresses for mom, and some tuxes. They also offered, if you went ahead and made an appointment to go to this one shop, you could get $200 off your dress and 1/2 off your veil. This is how I came about finding my dress on the Tuesday of this week. This pic is of the fashion show, even though it is not that good, it is the best I got.

Day 149: Printed off more resumes to send out today. Yay.

Day 150: So I found a wedding dress today! I haven't gone back to get it yet, but I have until the end of this month to use the special deal I mentioned above. Most likely getting it cause I love it, but it is still a wee bit out of my price range, but making some budget changes to make up for it! I did not realize how expensive a veil really was until I started trying on dresses! This pic is of the bottom of my dress that is lace. This pic (uncut) is of the only dress mom got to take one of before we found out no cameras allowed! Guess we were lucky with that one!

Day 151: I've been addicted to oranges this week. I've eaten one every day which is pretty weird for me. The oranges are just so good this time of year which is the complete opposite for most fruits.

Day 152: Added to my collection of Mason Jars I'm using for my wedding.

Day 153: My cousin's wife is having another baby and today I went to her baby shower! If you couldn't already guess, it's a girl! She is naming it Aysley, pronounced like paisley without the "p".

Day 154: We finally had the tasting at Sleepy Hollow today. We were quite impressed with the food, even Phil since he had had their food before. The only drawback now is that they said we couldn't have the ceremony in the location they had originally told us would be okay. So now there is something totally new to consider and we are on the lookout for another location. If any of you know someone who has a farm inbetween Huntington and Teays Valley, WV that would allow us to have a wedding ceremony and/or reception there let me know! This pic is of a birdcage we are using for cards and just represents more wedding decor since I didn't get a pic at the tasting.

I feel as though there will be more and more wedding prep pics coming your way! We are past the 9 month mark and things are moving fast!

It's Alluring...

So I may have actually found my wedding dress yesterday! I haven't purchased it yet, but I pretty much know that's THE dress! I didn't want to show you a picture and ruin the surprise, so I put together this little picture collage of clues!

Can you guess what my dress looks like???

PPQ: Dream

Picture Edenpics.com-retouched

Week #21

This week was pretty busy, like I told you on Friday! Here are some more details about it!

Day 141: So I broke down and got a 2011 planner. Well, it's not like I don't love them or anything, but ever since I got out of school I didn't think I would need such a thing! Anyway, it'll help me with wedding planning and it was on sale for only $2.48 at Target!

Day 142: I kept close tabs on my phone (my old Samsung, I want a new one soon!) all day because the dentist I interviewed with the week before told me multiple times before leaving his office that he would call me and let me know on Monday. Did I know Monday? No. So unprofessional. I called Tuesday afternoon. Did I get the job? No. Am I terribly upset? No. But do I need a job and money? Yes. Sigh.

Day 143: On Sunday I awoke with a pain in my neck. I thought maybe I had a swollen lymph node or something. I tried applying a warm compress to it multiple times a day and taking Ibuprofen, but by Tuesday it was still getting bigger. I went to the doc and he said it was an infected hair follicle. I guess it is really close to my baby hairs on my neck, but how did it get infected? So now I am on antibiotics again.

Day 144: Decided to switch over to another purse that was bigger. It's amazing how good it feels to go from a small purse jam packed with everything to a nice, big one with plenty of room to spare!

Day 145: Today was my momma's birthday! I took her out to eat and we picked out some cupcakes! Top Left: Vanilla Bean - Bottom Left: Key Lime with raspberry filling - Middle 2: Chocolate with chocolate icing and chocolate filling (my fave of the day!) - Right 2: Italian Cream.

Day 146: Painted my fingernails She's So Glitzy by Milani - probably my most favorite pink polish!

Day 147: Saturday was supposed to be our tasting at the venue we want for our wedding. But on Friday the guy called me back (after I had called to make sure we were still on for the next day) to say that he had something "come up" and had to reschedule. That he had tried calling me many times this past week to let me know. I asked what phone number he had for me and it was wrong. I don't get it really cause we had talked on the phone multiple times before. Maybe he forgot and was making an excuse? Should I even have my wedding at a place like this? Hmmmm... well, I rescheduled for this coming Saturday so we'll see. I also went to Phil's work party this day. It was short and sweet - eat food, give door prizes, mingle, leave. *picture shows schedule in my new planner!*

Now I have a busy upcoming week! Tell ya all about it next Monday!

Busy Bee!

This week has been pretty busy for me sending out MORE resumes and celebrating my mom's birthday. First off, I hate when people don't return phone calls. Especially important ones like about someones future job. Anyway, it all worked out for the best. Yesterday was mom's birthday and I took her out to lunch and we got an assortment of some delicious cupcakes from this place called Paula Vega Cakes. Yum!

This weekend is going to be pretty busy too! I am heading to Phil's house this afternoon. Tomorrow we are meeting my parents for a tasting at the place where we might have the wedding. I hope it's good! Later that night, Phil and I are going to his work party/dinner. I haven't spent that much time around the people he works with since I've usually been away at school when they've held this annual party before. I hope I won't become too shy! Then Sunday I will be going with my mom, aunt, and possibly Sarah to the Bridal Expo at the civic center! I've been waiting forever (it seems) to go to this! I hope I can find some good ideas/vendors for my wedding!

I would also like to say that the new Michael Jackson Album is pretty great!

And I'm reading a new book called "One Day" by David Nicholls and it is not part of a series! So far it is okay, just starting out slow, but it is getting much better! Someone I know that blogs had written a review of this book and that's how I found out about it. I can't remember who it was though! Was it any of you bloggy friends? When I finish, I'll try and write something more about it.

Have a great weekend everyone!

PPQ: Snowflakes

Snowflakes

©Mariah Smile

Beautiful sight
Before my eyes,
Glitter is falling
From the skies.

If I breathe
Some will die,
Making them extinct,
Each, one of a kind.

They won’t get the chance
To reach the ground,
They are so pure and innocent,
Not making a sound.

Between my lips
Hot air is exhaled,
A cloud is formed,
Their mission has failed.

Week #20

The first week of the new year ended up being pretty eventful...

Day 134: My parents made a huge pot of beans and some other fixins and invited the rest of my family over for a New Year's feast! It was quite delicious, but I don't think I've been that full in a really long time.

Day 135: I decided to get out my new sewing machine this evening. To tell you the truth, it kind of intimidates me! This is a pic of my new sewing box I got with it!

Day 136: Today I had an interview and got to wear my new suit jacket. I think the interview went pretty well except that they dwelled on the fact that I don't have much experience. I tried to let them know that I don't know how I am going to get the experience unless someone gives me a chance to prove that I can do the job. Not too excited if I get it since it is about an hour from my house, would have to hurry to find an apartment a little closer, and it only pays okay (because of my lack of experience, according to them). I do need the job, money, and experience badly though.

Day 137: The nephew of my old babysitter, Anna, emailed me today to tell me Anna wasn't doing very well. We went to visit her and it was sad cause she isn't the old Anna I'm used to seeing. This is a pic of my 3 grandmothers, Anna is in the middle with me on her lap.

Day 138: My mom, maid of honor Sarah, and I went wedding dress shopping today! It was a lot of fun but felt very strange trying on the dresses. The girl that was supposedly helping us didn't do a very good job. I felt like I was being rushed and she didn't care about me finding my right dress, just trying to make a sale for herself. This pic isn't the dress I liked the best (I didn't buy anything today), but this is the dress Sarah liked a lot. I didn't like it because of the tulle and the fluffiness.

Day 139: Sarah and I got to hang out again today since she was still in town. We went to eat at Cam's Ham, one of our favorite places. Then we went up to the mall to look around.

Day 140: Phil and I went to eat at Bellacino's for the first time and it was pretty tasty. I found it funny that there were so many of these lights all grouped together in a small area.

Well, that was my week! It was busy, but I got a lot accomplished. Hope you all have a great upcoming week!

Goals for 2011

I've decided to make goals for myself for the new year. They really can't fall under the category of "resolution" since they aren't really things I need to change, although I do have few resolutions too.

11 Goals for 2011

1. Find a dental hygiene job!
2. Find an apartment/house for me and Phil after finding that DH job!
3. Learn to quilt - by year's end I would like to have finished at least 3 quilts: My t-shirt quilt, a baby quilt (for my new little cousin due May 1st!), and a quilt for me and Phil.
4. Continue eating healthy and working out.
5. Use my crockpot.
6. Plan mine and Phil's wedding and have fun doing it!
7. Make tooth-fairy pillows for my little cousins/nephews.
8. Get a kitty.
9. Continue to read for pleasure as often as I can.
10. Start paying off my loans.
11. Continue to blog!

Resolutions

• Begin going to sleep earlier and waking up earlier - This will be a hard one to start and I'm afraid that it won't happen until I find a job I need to get up for.
• Start writing down what I eat everyday - I was doing this really well for the first part of my weight-loss program I joined at the Y, but lately I haven't at all.
• Be more patient.
• Hang out more with my friends!

Last year my resolution was to call my family/friends more often and get over my phone phobia. This resolution didn't turn out too well cause I never did. Bad Mariah! I hope this year's goals/resolutions turn out better than last year's!

I've also added the 11 Goals for 2011 to the left sidebar so you can track their progress with my other lists!

• Do you have any goals/resolutions for the new year?
• How did you do with last years resolutions?

PPQ: Anonymous Poem

I am beautiful. Look at me.

I am intelligent. Listen carefully.

I am faithful. Tell me all.

I am steadfast. Dare to fall.

I am giving. Ask away.

I am loving. Dare to stay.

I am funny. Share my smile.

I am patient. Stay awhile.

I am courageous. Trust my heart.

I am gentle. Come apart.

I am playful. Try my game.

I am waiting. Call my name.

I Didn't Know I Was Stylish!

I want to thank my friend Miranda over at Hanging Loose With The Tucci's for this award! I didn't realize I was considered stylish, but I'm glad to find out that I am (just don't go through my wardrobe!).

There are 4 duties to perform to accept the award:

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award:


2. Share 7 things about yourself.


3. Award 15 recently discovered great bloggers.


4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award

So here are 7 things about me:

1. I technically have gone to 3 different colleges: Marshall (B.S. Biology), WV State (just for 1 class - Organic Chemistry II), and WVU (B.S. Dental Hygiene).


2. I'm getting married on October 15, 2011!


3. I love to scrapbook, but don't think I have actually finished any one project.


4. I need to find a DH job soon!


5. There was a huge spider in my laundry room today and thankfully my parents found it before i did. I wanted to vomit after seeing it and was scared to use my toilet after dad flushed it.


6. I've lost 10lbs. since I have started my weight-loss program at the Y. It seems like it has taken a long time, but I consider maintaining my weight during the holidays as an accomplishment!


7. I got a Christmas card in the mail today! haha

Now I'm going give this award to 15 bloggers I've recently (or not-so-recently) discovered. They may or may not be a follower of mine.

1. The Country Chic Cottage
2. A Girl In Pearls & A Boy With Toys
3. Apothecary Fox
4. Be Awesome Instead
5. Color Me Katie
6. Crazy Shenanigans
7. I know, right?
8. In Between Laundry
9. It's Blogworthy
10. Knock Knocking
11. Lavender, Leopard, & Lace
12. Making Stuff Is Fun
13. Princess & The Blog
14. The Fickle Nickle
15. Thoughtful Day

Week #19

So this week I'm sort of cheating on my Pic-A-Day challenge. Instead of posting a pic of something I did for each day of the week, I am showing off some of my Christmas presents! I am too spoiled for Christmas by both my family and Phil's family and consider myself extremely blessed to have them. I would be happy if I just got hugs :-) There are also a couple pics from NYE and New Year's Day.

Day 127: I got Michael Jackson The Experience for the Wii! This weekend we tried it out and had a lot of fun learning some of Jacko's dance moves! It's pretty funny cause it comes with the MJ sparkley glove, but the packaging that it comes in says "IMPORTANT: Glove is not to be used during gameplay". I find this strange as well as the fact that the glove, when worn, feels like it is not fit for a human to wear.

Day 128: One of the gifts from my parents was a DH (dental hygienist) bead to add to my bead bracelet!

Day 129: Phil's parents got me a dental nutcracker! Possibly called a Toothcracker? ...nah! He's very cute and holds a toothbrush in one hand and a tooth in the other!

Day 130: Phil got me some loose leaf tea from the new tea store that opened up here! It is pretty pricey so I had put off buying it myself, and hadn't found it anywhere else. I've had a little tea pot that I have been wanting to use for a while now, so finally I can! And it's mint chocolate chip flavored!

Day 131: Phil's grandmother got me a sewing machine! I couldn't believe it! She is going to teach me how to quilt but I never thought I'd have a machine of my own to use! I am going to go watch the instructional dvd it comes with right after I finish this post!

Day 132: For New Year's Eve, Phil and I went to the dog track and casino with his parents for the 3rd year in a row. Unfortunately, they do not allow you to bring in a camera so I got this picture of my pretty, sparkley, silver eyeshadow before I went.

Day 133: Happy New Year! Phil got me this baby bottle of champagne to ring in the new year with! I doctored it up a bit to be a little more festive!

I wanted to post a few more pics of some gifts I got for Christmas:

• Phil got me this beautiful necklace and earrings.
• My best bud Adam got me a giraffe mug with a giraffe actually in the the mug! So cute!
• I got some Michael Jackson CDs including Off The Wall, Dangerous, and his new CD called Michael all from Phil and his family. I also got Josh Groban's new CD called Illuminations from my parents.
• I got some random DVDs including Mr. Bean's Holiday, Square Pegs (the complete series), The Sound of Music (only ever had it on VHS), and My Fair Lady from my Aunt Cheryl and my other aunt, uncle, and cousins.

And finally, a Christmas pic of me and Phil being dorks decked out in our red and green! ...planned of course! I can officially declare the Christmas posts over until Christmas 2011! And Happy New Year again!

1-1-11

And to ring in the New Year is one of my favorite quotes, from one of my all-time favorite movies When Harry Met Sally:

*Harry attempts to describe the meaning of the song Auld Lang Syne (Scottish words, meaning 'Old Days Gone By') - the actual plotline of the film itself:

Harry: What does this song mean? My whole life, I don't know what this song means. I mean, 'Should old acquaintance be forgot'? Does that mean that we should forget old acquaintances, or does it mean if we happened to forget them, we should remember them, which is not possible because we already forgot?
Sally: Well, maybe it just means that we should remember that we forgot them or something. Anyway, it's about old friends.

Happy 2011!!!