Bridezilla-Proofing my Life

So I've been a bride for 10 days and I'm already really grossed out with the wedding industry.

The vanity.
The excess.
The waste of time, money, and energy on things that don't matter in the big picture of eternity.

I'm committed to making January 16th about a covenant that I am making with the man of my dreams in the presence of our almighty creator. I'm committed to caring more about our family and our love than the shade of white on our place cards. I'm committed to focusing on building and strengthening our future marriage rather than focusing on trivial details that no one will remember. I'm commited to remembering that the world does not revolve around my wedding, but instead revolves around Christ's love for us.

I've asked a few girls to hold me accountable in my quest to NOT become Bridezilla, and I'm claiming Philippians 4:7 and trusting that Lord will guard my heart and my mind and prevent me from becoming a Bridezilla!

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

~Share the LOVE and HOPE of Christ by spreading JOY everyday!

My thoughts on Bridesmaid Dresses

Bridesmaid dresses are stupid. No seriously, they're really stupid. I've been in a lot of weddings (9 weddings to be exact) and I've never worn any of those dresses again. No, no, I did not shorten them and wear them again (and yes, I did have brides swear I would do that! yeah right!) Even after spending $300-$400 on some of them, they were still just as terrible (no offense to any brides out there) So I'm having a really hard time finding any bridesmaids dresses I can imagine making my sisters and friends suffer through.

So in the meantime, I highly suggest you check out this blog post featuring some of the ugliest bridesmaid dresses. And check out some of my favorites below.

~Share the LOVE and HOPE of Christ by spreading JOY everyday!

I'm a bride!

This has been the craziest week ever. I'm a bride! I'm a bride? I'm a BRIDE! I still just cannot believe it. I am planning my wedding---- the wedding I've been planning for the past 20 years when I saw Uncle Jesse marry Aunt Becky on Full House with Michelle as the flower girl! (dont tell me you didn't tape it on your VCR and watch it a million times like we did) I really just cannot believe that in one week so much can change. Last week I was sitting at my desk without a clue of what was to come. Just a girl with a wonderful boyfriend. One week later, I'm a bride! With a fiance--- a future husband! I cannot believe it! And that wedding I've been dreaming about for decades is slowly becoming a reality. We've got the church, the reception, the photographer, the cake bakery, the florist, the band booked, and a wedding dress ordered! I really cannot believe it!

So as I gaze lovingly at my newest piece of jewelry, I look forward to the next 5 months and 23 days (but who's counting?) with thankfulness and gratitude. What a wonderful God we serve!!

~Share the LOVE and HOPE of Christ by spreading JOY everyday!

So blessed beyond Measure

Words cannot describe how excited and thankful I am for the Lord's blessing in my life!! I cannot wait to be Dan's wife!!

~Share the LOVE and HOPE of Christ by spreading JOY everyday!

Getting Crafty: Spray Paint is my new fave

I've been getting really crafty lately while trying to decorate my new apartment! You'd be surprised what a little extra scrap of fabric, some pretty paper and a can of spray paint can do to help you decorate on a small budget! Just be careful of those paint fumes...I nearly passed out the other day from all my painting! Dan is going to help me hang pictures and curtains soon so I'll post some pictures of all my decorating projects. Lots of fun things for my cute new place!

~Share the LOVE and HOPE of Christ by spreading JOY everyday!

Aloha!

Aloha! My company just won a big marketing award and part of the prize includes a trip to Hawaii for a marketing retreat for me (and my guest of choice!)

Crossing my fingers that the Marketing retreat looks more like this:

And this:

Instead of involving a whole lot of this:

Aloha!! Mahalo to the selection committee for choosing our marketing campaign! :-)

~Share the LOVE and HOPE of Christ by spreading JOY everyday!

Love.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote a lot of poetry about love, but I think the line below is her best. I am blessed beyond measure, and couldn't be more thankful.

“God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame.”- Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Thanks, Liz. I couldn't have said it better myself.

If you're feeling lovey dovey today, visit here, here, and here.

~Share the LOVE and HOPE of Christ by spreading JOY everyday!