Being a nerd does pay off!

I am so excited! Why??

Because I am going here (for purely academic reasons, too!):

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What for? Well, I'm glad you asked. My thesis advisor suggested I apply to present my research at the Southwestern Social Science Association's annual conference. So, I did that several week ago, and this past week I got the email saying I was accepted!! Awesome thing is it is held in Las Vegas over spring break, so I don't have to miss class (just had to include that so you KNOW I'm a nerd!).

Down side, I have to pay for it. But-- my advisor is amazing and has given me multiple ways to get that taken care of :) 

And, as much as I would LOVE for Matt to come with me, the trip would be at two months out from the wedding. We would be in Las Vegas, the wedding chapel capital of the world

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It just seems like a bad idea for us to go to Vegas by ourselves. I'm kind of looking forward to this whole wedding thing, that we've spent several months planning. Plus, all that money would kind of be wasted. Not the best idea.


So, instead-- my mom and my aunt are coming with me! I really didn't want to go by myself, that just seemed shady. When I was telling my mom about it, I mentioned that it would give us the chance to see this show:

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You see, we are BIG Beatles fans. How big? Well, my mom and aunt saw the Beatles live when they came to New Orleans in 1964. I was raised on the Beatles, especially my favorite (what I called) Dr Pepper Album (AKA Sergeant Pepper Lonely Hearts Club Band). My aunt took me to England after I graduated high school, where we got these amazing pictures:

Yes. That is me walking across Abbey Road

This is John Lennon's army jacket we got to wear at the Hard Rock Vault in London.

CAVERN CLUB!

So, when we first heard Cirque was doing a Beatles-themed show, we knew we would have to go. Then we heard it was in Vegas, we were sad because we are not the biggest gambling types. Or strippers. You get the gist. Not that there aren't other things to do in Vegas, we would just rather go to Disney World.


Now that this opportunity popped up for me to go to Vegas, my mom and aunt are jumping at the chance to go see the show. We are so so so excited!!!!!!!! I'm slightly nervous about presenting my research at a professional conference, but that'll be fine. I hope!

Well that was easy

Yesterday my bridesmaids and I went bridesmaid dress shopping. To be honest, though I was VERY excited to hang out with those girls, I thought this event had the potential to be long and complicated. I mean, 4 different girls, each with their own tastes, picking different gowns that still have to go together. Maybe I just had misconceptions, because it was SO easy and SO fun!

On Friday, MOH Mary, BMs Kara & Lindsey and I drove from CS to my parents' house. We had a pretty chill evening of watching the TLC wedding marathons that they have on Friday nights but I never get to watch because I'm always with Matt. So we had tons of fun watching Say Yes to the Dress & 4 Weddings, along with laughing at some of those women's cattiness and insane weddings.

Yay for all of us fitting on one couch and cuddling under several blankets!

The next day, we drove down with my mom to the David's Bridal near the galleria, where we met BM Brittany. 

We're all together!!

This was the first time for all of the girls to meet each other, and we had a lot of fun together. We're all pretty laid back, so we got along really well. I just love them :)


Anyway, so then the dress searching began! First, they brought us a mini-catalog for us to look over and designate the dresses the girls wanted to try on...

Photo credit: BM Lindsey

Then our consultant brought us the 6 gowns we selected, and the girls started trying them on. We had a quick favorite in this one:

Look at our beautiful model, Kara!

It turns out that my friend Ginny who's getting married 1 week before we are chose this one! We really liked it, too, and the girls said it was really comfortable. But then we found another one we liked. So Dress A vs. Dress B?

Kara's mom had pointed out that we should make sure the backs of the dresses are pretty, too.

So, which one did we chose? My mom conveniently had a picture of my wedding gown on her phone, so she showed that to the consultant. The consultant said she preferred one over the other, especially because it better complimented my gown. The girls' also preferred that one. So without further ado, here's the one we chose:

And instead of being in any of these colors that are posted on this blog, they will be in Wisteria. Click here, and then select our color so you can get a better idea of what it will look like. We are very excited, though we don't get to pick them up until February! What's funny is that we didn't intend for them to get the same gown. I wanted them to get which one they liked best, and they all picked that as their favorite. It works though :)

Since that took less than an hour to do, we then drove over to the galleria. The original plan was for us all to get makeovers at one of the counters, and then get lunch. So we walked up to the Clinique counter first, though they were busy so a consultant from Chanel came and got us. I was first...

Before...

During...

After. Hello amazing skin

And as much as we loved my make-up, that took almost an hour!!! Since we still had to eat lunch and then get back to CS in time for some other obligations, we unfortunately had to skip on the other ones and just went on with the rest of our plan. 


We had lunch at la Madeleine inside the mall, then had to go on our way. Despite having some creepy old men stare at us while we drove back, we had a blast and it was sad to all go our separate ways. But, it was a very successful day and that may just be the last 'big' thing on the list to check off!

I'll fess up... I'm addicted

...to wedding pictures! I see a friend of a friend on Facebook who has some form of wedding picture as his/her profile pic. So then I click on their profile, and let the stalking begin. Then it can progress from there, if they have any friends who have wedding pics... well, you see where this is going.

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Anyway, I was wondering at what point am I stalking their pics for ideas versus just plain interest. I don't think I've gotten many ideas from looking at these albums. A lot of times I end of judging the bride for things like her dress being a bit too low, a bit too scandalous, a bit too non-traditional. Or I judge whoever paid for the wedding for the ridiculous items they included.


More often than not, though, I get jealous. They're married already, and I'm not. Yeah, I know we will be in 7 months (and one week!), but sometimes that feels so long to wait. Then I can get caught up in the details of their wedding, and how they have some cool thing I won't have in my wedding, and more jealousy. 

Basically, I can get caught up in all the details that I forget about what matters. I think this is the problem with the entire wedding industry that fully caters to the little bridezilla in every engaged woman. Put a pretty ring on her finger, tell her it is HER day and she deserves it to be just perfect. Have bridal shows that have insanely priced photographers, videographers, bakers, caterers, wedding coordinators, florists, transportation, table linens, lighting... you get my drift.

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Instead, I need to remember that this isn't MY day, it is OUR day. It is not about me looking gorgeous or having the flowers and cake just so. It isn't about the wedding, but IS about the marriage. For us, a marriage is a man and a woman coming from their own walks pursuing God, and converging to a walk together [Thank you Ben Stuart @ Breakaway Ministries for that beautiful metaphor]. We're joining both of our families together, and I cannot wait for the day (7 months, 6 days!) when our friends & families are there with us, celebrating our commitment. 

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So, when wedding planning is kind of in a lull right now (though the bridesmaids & I are going BM dress shopping tomorrow :) ), and I constantly look at wedding pictures, I just need to remind myself of this. It isn't about a big party or impressing people. It is about the relationship, though, and preparing ourselves for this large step.


[PS- it seems every wedding blog tends to have a "I hate the wedding industry" post, but yet I feel we all give in to it in some degree. THAT'S something to ponder]

Yay for high-res discs!

We got our CD yesterday with the pics from our engagement session, taken by the amazing Kasey of Kasey Lynn Photography! I love how they came out and now that I can print out copies, I get to indulge in the little narcissistic tendencies that I have (as does everyone else, as I learned in a psychology class). If you want to read about the actual experience of getting the pictures taken, click here. 

And I would love to share all 90-some-odd pics with you guys, but that would probably get excessive. So, I will post some of my favorites from each location. If you want to see more, I posted a decent number on Facebook.

All photos by Kasey Lynn Photography


First location: Evans Library. Yup, you better believe we took pictures in the library. We study a lot, so it seemed fitting. These are some of my favorite pics, too, so I'm so glad we did this.

Yes, we actually own those books. He's reading an orbital mechanics book (that silly rocket scientist) and I'm reading a criminology book.

And next location: the Administration Building. This place has beautiful columns and steps, as you shall see. (And not to mention the not-so-pretty decomposing bird we found)

I'm not sure what my skirt is doing here, but I like it!

Gotta have the ring shot

Definitely a favorite

And the other, just as important, ring shot.

The next place: Military Walk. Pretty benches, trees, and walkway

I really like this one, not sure why

Gotta love the foot pop

And one clothes change and now we're at the spot where we got engaged. 

And like any good Aggie, we had to get pics under the Century Tree. The lighting was just perfect though-- Ask Kasey!

And the last location (promise, almost done!)- Kyle Field (WHOOP!)

One of my favs

So I know this was long, so thanks for sticking in. Do you have a favorite?

Happy news!

Guess what? I have 1 application done!!!!!!!!!

Well, I have the online part submitted. That does not include the:

• Statement of Purpose/Admission Essay
• Official Transcripts
• Official GRE Scores
• 3 Letters of Recommendation 

 To be fair, I have several of the transcripts taken care of, just have to get one from A&M. The GRE scores are sent already. I will be picking up the letters next week. So, just have to do the scary statement of purpose.


Oh, and this is just one school. University of Connecticut to be specific. I may or may not have had a conversation with my roommate about how I should use Gilmore Girls as inspiration for my life and move to Connecticut. But, I don't think Matt would really like this plan. Plus, we don't really like the cold.


So, most of one app done, 5-6 more to go!

My life as of late

I feel I have been slacking in my blogging, so here is me giving a quick update!

With school, I've been busy with my thesis and the world's easiest test ever (yay for multiple choice & T/F questions!).

On Saturday, a couple of friends and I drove up to the State Fair of Texas in Dallas, home of the world's most awkward looking cowboy, Big Tex:

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 It also holds what is probably the world's largest collection of fried foods. Fried Cheesecake, Fried Snickers, Fried Beer (disgusting, BTW), Fried Bacon, Fried Butter, Fried Peaches 'n Cream... you name it, they fry it! Here is a random assortment of pictures of such food:

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Source; Yes that is a fried PB & J & Banana sandwich

 So yes, it is the place to get a heart attack, it seems. Fried beer- definitely not worth the $5 it cost. It was these little raviolis fried with what tasted like hot oil inside. Not appetizing... But, along with being surrounded by a copious amount of Texas Tech & Baylor fans (they were playing in the Cotton Bowl stadium that day), we had a lot of fun.  For the bargain price of $6/person, we got to ride the world's tallest ride in the western hemisphere, standing at 282 ft-- the Texas Star!

Me, BM Kara, and Maddy-- before we were terrified

 This thing moves fast. The first revolution you stop every so often so they can load the next set of gondolas. That was the worst part, because you would have these moments to pause and look around. For some reason it was much better when you were moving continuously... 

See those red shirts? Tech fans...

Dallas skyline

Ha, the girls being terrified

At the top

 It was a lot of fun, though, and offered a great view of the city and fairgrounds. 

Anyone else been to the Texas state fair? What crazy fried foods did you eat? What other state fairs have you been to?