And he still wants to keep me...

How I tricked Sam into asking me to marry him I really am not sure.
We talked back and forth for over two months before we went on our actual first date.
I was finishing up my very last semester of classes during the summer and was going to meet him after my last final after he got off work.
We had agreed to meet at a Mexican restaurant that we both like and boy was I ever ready for a Marg!
We got there, ordered a pitcher of Margs and started munching on chips and just chatting away.  The waiter came over to take our order and I told Sam that I really wasn't that hungry.  He was relieved because he had a late lunch that day and wasn't either.
I should have eaten.  (always the moral of the story)
Well two pitchers and a couple of hours later, we get up to leave.
Sam comes around the table to help me with my chair.
(these are those metal patio chairs)
He pulls it back and I stumble backwards a little bit....in flip flops.
I had my weight against the chair and really didn't think he was going to pull it our for me.
I tried to laugh it off, but he still laughs at me today.

He walked me to my car, opened my door for me and then we had that awkward ok bye moment.
Then he planted one on me and we started full on making out in the parking lot.
Romantic I know. 
But really everything was great!

Here's the part he didn't know until seven months later when someone spilled the beans...
While we were making out, I started to feel sick.  Sugar and I do not get along. 
Especially daquiris, margaritas, and such.
We finally say good night and he walks to his car.
I wait and watch him start to drive off. 
I go the opposite direction, make to the Stop sign. Throw my door open and barf.
So attractive right.
and right now you're all like you were just drunk. No dude.
 Seriously. I can drink one daquiri and need to hurl.
Anywho...called friends told them to come get me and parked my butt in the Wendy's parking lot to wait.  Went inside and got a chicken sandwich then went to sit on the curb by my car to wait.
AND got eaten alive my ants.  Cool.

Definition of a hot mess.

He found out and seriously just stared/glared at me saying "Really Rachael?!?"

yeah. yeah. I'm an embarassment. I know.

Wedding Wednesday: Engagement Party Edition

Prepare yourself!  Picture overload headed your way!

I planned everything myself, so of course it looks like children's birthday party.  

I can't help it.  I just love bright colors!

We had it at Avondale Brewing in Birmingham, AL. (I told you it was our favorite!)  

With Saw's BBQ for lunch and snacks.

The first picture is when everyone first started arriving. 

Dad brought me scarf back from Saudi Arabia.  And then showing me how to properly wrap it.

Our family photo minus Sam's brother and fiancé who were unable to come.

she made me move so that she could stand next to HER "baby"

Our sweet friends gave us a framed picture from our engagement night

Charlie's Angels is back.

and my favorite! picture of the day

We had so much fun at our engagement party!  We are so lucky to have so many good friends and family that love us. Thanks again to all that came and helped us in celebrating the beginning of this new chapter in our lives!

Event photos by Ginnard Photography

I said Yes to THE Dress!

Last Sunday I gathered mi familia and we trekked up to Huntsville, AL 

to the most adorable family owned bridal boutique!

These girls were amazing!  They were so helpful, patient, and sweet!

This really was the best experience I could have ever imagined! 

hungover and exhausted from a weekend full of wedding festivities.

I have some serious anxiety about making big purchases when my mom is around already 

...and this was like the holy grail shopping trips!  

Last time it was when I was buying a car.  

I got so tired of listening to her that I just gave up and bought the most impractical car possible.  

A VW W3 Turbo Bug.  I drove it for three years.  Loved it and hated it all at the same time.

I was NOT going to let that happen!

She is horrible to shop with anyway so I brought my future MiL along to act as my buffer.  

I am so smart.  I know.

While I was at Kleinfeld with Morgan a couple of weeks ago I saw another bride trying on dresses and every dress she walked out in was more stunning than the last.  I asked the consultant who designed them and she told me they were all by Hayley Paige.  Who is this woman?! 

When I got home I looked up the dresses and found that there was only ONE boutique 

in Alabama or Tennessee that carried her dress lines.  

White Dresses in Huntsville.  AND they were going to be having a Trunk Show!

I immediately called and made an appointment!

  It made me feel even better to know that girls I am friends with have modeled for them 

and hearing how down to earth the owner's are.

My mom tried to get me to go try on dresses at another local boutique, 

but I wanted my appointment at White Dresses to be the first time I tried on dresses.

We got to Huntsville, all had lunch at a cute little cafe and then walked down the street to my appointment. They had the cute little chalkboard sign waiting outside with my name on it!  

It was such a sweet touch!

I told the girls the styles that I had in mind and what I did not want and we went from there.  I tried on around umpteen dresses and then went back to choose the second and third dresses that I tried on.

The second dress was really sweet, while the third one was a little bit edgier.

Before I went I asked Sam what kind of dress he would like and his only response was...

boobies.

Well alright then.  You got it buddy!

I chose the third dress!

And I am obsessed!  

The girls did not pressure me at all and really listened to me.

  I loved everything about this experience!

They really understand how big of a decision this is and give you the time to really think about it.

I loved even more that once I had made my final decsion they brought me a glass of wine!

I got to stand on the pedestal in front of the big mirror, in MY dress to be, drink my wine and just soak up the moment.

I am not one of those girls that has been dreaming about my wedding since I was a little. 

 But my dress is perfect! and everything I could have ever imagined it to be! 

It is different than the dresses that you see everyone and their sister wearing.  

It is beautifully simple.  Classy, yet shocking.  Elegant. Couture.  AND it has pockets!!  

I didn't let them take any pictures of me in it because I want to have that moment all over again...

 when I get to go to my fitting in a couple of months to try on MY WEDDING DRESS! 

Did I mention that I am obsessed?!

and so relieved! Seriously! Weight lifted off of my shoulders!  

Puttin' that Baby in my belly...

Heller lovelies!  I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and soaked up some Vitamin D!

We had big plans for our Satuday so Friday night we made a lil trip to Lowes for a ladder and lightbulbs...we did not make it home with either of those.  Instead SamIam got distracted by the grilling aisle.  Yes.  There is an entire AISLE dedicated to all things grilling. 

I felt like I was a grown-up for like two point five.

In heaven.  He would always rather be marinating.

And I made a pretty new planter!

And here is the majority of our Saturday!

We ate sooo bad!! and drank soo much beer at Brewfest!  It was a lot of fun!  I think we tried 32 of the 100+ craft beers.  I was trying to find a new favorite.  I was really having a hard time though and I blame it on my lunch.  We had a late lunch at Saw's BBQ before with everyone and I had a pimento cheese and fried pickle sandwich.  Don't you dare make a face! It was delicious!!I was so full that I just didn't have anymore room.  It was so strange being outside, you could feel the air pressure change as the storm started to come in.After brewfest we all met up with some more of our engaged/married friends for an even later dinner. Then made our way to Bourbon Street "Where babies come from."  It is a hole in the wall Karaoke bar.  That  is a little off the beaten path and one of the best kept secrets of Birmingham .  No. I didn't sing.  It was in the best interest of the audience because I sound like a dying cat. Ok. Bourbon Street makes Babies.  Do you see that Giant jar SamIam and I are drinking out of up there?  That is a Baby.  It is a CostCo sized pickle jar full of vodka, limes, and I don't even know what else, but it is delicious and the best bang for your buck!  The next size down is called and Premie and it is still huge.When you order one the bartender gives it to you with a rag.  And you're like "what the hell do I do with this?"  Oh...you swaddle it.  So that it doesn't prespire all over your table. And then we had to leave because SamIam started having an asthma attack...I guess he was just having too much fun!  On the way home he reaches over, grabs my hand and says, "At least if I stop breathing I will be with the one I love." What a drama queen. We spent Sunday recovering and laid out by the pool all day.  With sunscreen of course! Linking up my weekend with Sami.

Days are getting warmer...FINALLY!

 Man! Yesterday was rough!  That Tuesday was totally a Monday in disguise.  But hey! At least today is Humpity hump day! We are almost to another weekend!

How is that whenever you come back from a weekend vacation you wake up the next morning completely exhausted??  The whole point of the weekend away was to relax and you end up being completely wiped by the time you get home.  Does not make any sense.

Our entire slough at the lake now knows the names of both of my dogs because we were calling yelling at them all weekend. 

Riley learned how to swim!  AND he is an even better swimmer than Dakota! 

Proud Mommy moment!  I didn't even have to get in with him to teach him!  He followed Dakota down the boat ramp and all of a sudden he could no longer touch.  And awhat do ya know?! He was swimming! I thought for sure I was going to have to save him at least once, but nope!  Just a swimmin' like an otter!  I guess all of that running he does in the backyard has really built up his endurance because I had to force him to get out of the water.  He was swimming in circles all day and if he saw a duck he was after it!   He swims faster than the ducks too! The only reason he never caught one was because they would fly out of the water!  SamIam had to go and get him on the Seadoo from out in the middle of the slough at one point because he was after those ducks tails and would not turn back!



"Wait for me guys!"

Gotta get those ducks!



 

Those are some tired babies! 

 

  

 Before I went to the lake this past weekend I attended a going away party for a sweet friend.

She will be moving to South Africa for the next eight months to do mission work. 

You guys really should go check out her first post about her journey to get to the journey!

 

Her mom had the cutest cake made!
 There is a little plane flying from the US to South Africa.

Rach you are going to be amazing!!!
 

High Five for Friday! Now Back that Arse on Up!

   

  Ok. I know I am only supposed to do five things for the link up, but I couldn't help myself.  Here are six things I have been obsessing over this week... 

1. By this time next week I will have already been in NYC for a whole day!  My first real MOH duty for this pretty princess is to help her SAY YES TO THE DRESS! We will be going to Kleinfeld's in NYC and  no we will not be filming for the show.

 

2. Dakota has been really snuggly this week for some reason and this is how I found these two when  I came to bed the other night. Sweet lil babies.

 

3. My three day dirty hair top knot.  This dirty hair thing is really working for me so far! I did use a cleansing conditioner yesterday, but that was it besides the wash it got on Sunday night.

 

4. I have been raving about Big Fatty mascara for a couple of weeks now and after the beach trip I know at least three of my friends have now purchased it as well!  It is awesome! Easy to remove. Jet Black. Nourishing oils. I have pretty sensitive eyes and a mascara that doesn't flake off during the day is crucial.  Plus! It makes my lashes so long and full that I get asked if I am wearing falsies all the time! You can get it here.  Urban Decay is offering free shippingon the singles and the duo right now, they always includes samples with your purchase, and usually will send you a coupon for your next purchase!  You should probably stock up now while you can! I did!

 

5. This moisturizer is heaven.  I first tried it as a sample in my monthly Birchbox.  I was instantly in love!  It is a all in miracle worker.  It can be used as a regular moisturizer/primer underneath makeup, as a mask, or concentrated as a makeup remover. So strange I know! It isn't heavy at all and absorbs really quickly!  You can get it here.  It is worth every penny!

 

6. Ok this stuff is addictive.  I tried it for the first time while I was living in San Fran.  My little kids would bring it in their lunch boxes.  It is a healthy alternative to popcorn and other munchy snacks.  Gluten free and low calorie. Just be careful not to eat the whole bag!  Costco as a big bag of Pirate's Booty that is resealable which is what we keep at our house, but you can find the regular and snack size bags it at Whole Foods, Publix, or Target. Walmart still isn't quite up on their healthy snacks game.

 Here is a little oldie Nelly Furtado, that Bassnectar made so much better.  You should take a deep breath press play and just start moving.  I promise you will feel better by the end! Plus it is FRIDAY!So go ahead and... #backthatazzup