Head over to my sweet friend Mandy's Blog for a great giveaway.
Hurry, it ends tomorrow!
In the Ray world, I will post pictures of what has been going on it our life and our first Christmas together!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
3 months for Thank You's?
There's a lot of wedding etiquette we did follow.
(And a lot of wedding etiquette we didn't follow - such as teaching the flower girls proper 'dress wearing manners' !)
Or letting our mom's light the unity candle. - (Instead one of the groomsmen lit them so they wouldn't be balls of wax by the end of the ceremony.)
or throwing out traditional wedding ways and bringing in our own.
But there was one rule of etiquette I thought for sure I'd never need.
You have up to three months after your wedding date to write thank you notes.
Three months? Really? That's ridiculous. Why would you need ninety days to write a few dozen thank you notes.
Ok Miss Manners,
You were right. Thank you for giving me three months for all things composed. Which means me writing this wedding post now puts me a couple months, weeks, days ahead of schedule.
(Although my thank you notes were finished by week three. Thankyouverymuch.)
So here it goes...
All of our friends and family and wedding party stayed at the Embassay Suites. We had a whole floor to ourselves, it was so much fun!
I didn't sleep much the night before the wedding. I can't say there wasn't a lot on my mind or anything. :) Thousands of things running through my head, making sure it would all go through and then eventually hitting the point where it didn't matter anymore. I tossed and turned and fading in and out of sleep.
Eventually I woke up bright and early to go do my quiet time and relax before the craziness started. I went down to breakfast and ate by myself for awhile and then my mom showed up and we had a nice conversation and enjoyed some precious time together.
The hairstylist came (who was fantastic!) And did everyone's hair and makeup.
Tons of family were in and out of the hotel room the entire morning And talkative Teisha who always has an opinion about everything didn't have a thing to say about anything.
I was really quiet, just taking it all in and enjoying every second of the day.
After we got to the church and started getting ready it all just started rolling along.
Was I nervous?
I didn't get nervous until I was sitting in the room waiting to go down the isle. About 10 minutes before it was my turn I remember just getting this nervousness in the bottom of my stomach, like nothing I've ever gotten before. Sean said he was nervous the whole morning until right before I came down the isle.
What was it like?
Walking down the isle was literally like a dream. You don't feel like that's you up there. It really was an out of body experience that I was watching from above.
Did you cry?
Like a baby. During the vows. I was fine walking down the isle, seeing Sean for the first time. But when I went to make that lifelong covenant I lost it. I guess we had been up there long enough that it was finally setting in and I realized where I was, and that 18 months of waiting was finally over.
How was the food?
Fantastic! (Catered by Eddie Dean's, who occasionally does events for the Bush's). We had several people tell us it was the BEST food they had ever had at a wedding, including Sean's old pastor who has been to a lot of weddings.
What special touches did you add?
Wow, more than I can name. My mom went above and beyond. We had a candy bar that was a huge hit with al ages. We had "just married flip flops" in the bathroom for the girls. We had R pillows, R's everywhere.
We had water bottles with our names on them because it was 100 degrees outside, personalized CDs of songs through the night, R menu cards, R order of event cards, R, R, R.
A memory wall where people wrote well wishes or memories to us. Our guest book was a picture frame everyone signed.
What were some of your favorite parts?
Despite the fact that the ringbearer went disappearing 5 minutes before the ceremony,* the cd played the wrong track, the flowers didn't make it on the cake, my grandfather called Sean "Shane" once, and Sean stepped on my dress ripping it,** it was the absolutely perfect wedding day. I couldn't have asked for anything more, anything else, it was everything I wanted it to be.
*(Apparently he also crawled under the pews about 30 minutes before he was suppose to walk down the isle proceeding to get completely dirty. And then about 25 minutes after that (RIGHT before he was suppose to go down the isle) he sprinted behind the back of the building trying to find his blue backpack. But with a face like that who can blame him.)
**RIGHT as we were walking into the hotel room Sean stepped on the back of my dress and we hear this big "RIPPPPP." Poor guy, his eyes got HUGED like he was so afraid he was dead meat. I looked at him and just laughed. As we both dissolved into laughter, I told him "thank goodness that didn't happen 4 hours ago!"
Everyone said 'your wedding day flies by,' or 'you won't remember it,' or the one I got the most often 'it will all just be a blur.'
I wanted to make sure my wedding day wasn't a blur, and it wasn't. I remember every second of it, and it really was perfect. and beautiful.
Thanks Mom and Dad for a perfect wedding.
And thank you for the start of a wonderful life together.
Oh and thanks to YOU Miss Manners for 3 months to write this post. I needed almost every day of it.
(And a lot of wedding etiquette we didn't follow - such as teaching the flower girls proper 'dress wearing manners' !)
Or letting our mom's light the unity candle. - (Instead one of the groomsmen lit them so they wouldn't be balls of wax by the end of the ceremony.)
or throwing out traditional wedding ways and bringing in our own.
But there was one rule of etiquette I thought for sure I'd never need.
You have up to three months after your wedding date to write thank you notes.
Three months? Really? That's ridiculous. Why would you need ninety days to write a few dozen thank you notes.
Ok Miss Manners,
You were right. Thank you for giving me three months for all things composed. Which means me writing this wedding post now puts me a couple
(Although my thank you notes were finished by week three. Thankyouverymuch.)
So here it goes...
All of our friends and family and wedding party stayed at the Embassay Suites. We had a whole floor to ourselves, it was so much fun!
I didn't sleep much the night before the wedding. I can't say there wasn't a lot on my mind or anything. :) Thousands of things running through my head, making sure it would all go through and then eventually hitting the point where it didn't matter anymore. I tossed and turned and fading in and out of sleep.
Eventually I woke up bright and early to go do my quiet time and relax before the craziness started. I went down to breakfast and ate by myself for awhile and then my mom showed up and we had a nice conversation and enjoyed some precious time together.
The hairstylist came (who was fantastic!) And did everyone's hair and makeup.
Tons of family were in and out of the hotel room the entire morning And talkative Teisha who always has an opinion about everything didn't have a thing to say about anything.I was really quiet, just taking it all in and enjoying every second of the day.
After we got to the church and started getting ready it all just started rolling along.
Was I nervous?
I didn't get nervous until I was sitting in the room waiting to go down the isle. About 10 minutes before it was my turn I remember just getting this nervousness in the bottom of my stomach, like nothing I've ever gotten before. Sean said he was nervous the whole morning until right before I came down the isle.
What was it like?
Walking down the isle was literally like a dream. You don't feel like that's you up there. It really was an out of body experience that I was watching from above.
Did you cry?
Like a baby. During the vows. I was fine walking down the isle, seeing Sean for the first time. But when I went to make that lifelong covenant I lost it. I guess we had been up there long enough that it was finally setting in and I realized where I was, and that 18 months of waiting was finally over.
How was the food?
Fantastic! (Catered by Eddie Dean's, who occasionally does events for the Bush's). We had several people tell us it was the BEST food they had ever had at a wedding, including Sean's old pastor who has been to a lot of weddings.
What special touches did you add?
Wow, more than I can name. My mom went above and beyond. We had a candy bar that was a huge hit with al ages. We had "just married flip flops" in the bathroom for the girls. We had R pillows, R's everywhere.
We had water bottles with our names on them because it was 100 degrees outside, personalized CDs of songs through the night, R menu cards, R order of event cards, R, R, R.
A memory wall where people wrote well wishes or memories to us. Our guest book was a picture frame everyone signed.
What were some of your favorite parts?
- Dancing- Sean and I brought out our cowboy boots and did some line dancing.
- Twirling in my "princess dress" (I promised the flower girls for weeks we would get to twirl in our princess dresses...and twirl we did....)
- My brother/cousin/sister preforming Thriller by Michael Jackson. My brother knew the ENTIRE dance to thriller and he put on quite the show. Free entertainment!
- My cake and Sean's cake. We loved them. They were beautiful.
- The little details that made it our wedding.
- My brother singing while we lit the unity candle.
- My sister standing beside me through the entire process.
- Our "Bubble Getaway" pictures! They turned out perfect!
Despite the fact that the ringbearer went disappearing 5 minutes before the ceremony,* the cd played the wrong track, the flowers didn't make it on the cake, my grandfather called Sean "Shane" once, and Sean stepped on my dress ripping it,** it was the absolutely perfect wedding day. I couldn't have asked for anything more, anything else, it was everything I wanted it to be.
*(Apparently he also crawled under the pews about 30 minutes before he was suppose to walk down the isle proceeding to get completely dirty. And then about 25 minutes after that (RIGHT before he was suppose to go down the isle) he sprinted behind the back of the building trying to find his blue backpack. But with a face like that who can blame him.)
**RIGHT as we were walking into the hotel room Sean stepped on the back of my dress and we hear this big "RIPPPPP." Poor guy, his eyes got HUGED like he was so afraid he was dead meat. I looked at him and just laughed. As we both dissolved into laughter, I told him "thank goodness that didn't happen 4 hours ago!"
Everyone said 'your wedding day flies by,' or 'you won't remember it,' or the one I got the most often 'it will all just be a blur.'
I wanted to make sure my wedding day wasn't a blur, and it wasn't. I remember every second of it, and it really was perfect. and beautiful.
Thanks Mom and Dad for a perfect wedding.
And thank you for the start of a wonderful life together.
Oh and thanks to YOU Miss Manners for 3 months to write this post. I needed almost every day of it.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Sonic Drive-In
So very rarely do I "review" restaurants, or products, or places, or anything for that matter. But this is one of those instances when I am in the "very rarely" category. Because I have avoided and ignored this issue too long. I have also tried to solve this problem and given several second, third, fourth, upteenth chances.
I love sonic, as much, if not more, than the average person. I think half price drinks from 2-4 every day are the greatest invention ever and that the term "easy ice" will forever change how I order drinks.
But Austin Sonic Drive-In- you have managed to successfully ruin my Dr. Pepper every single time.
I don't know if it's lack of syrup, or too much carbonation or some sort of special concoction you throw in there but it tastes awful. And yet I still go back because I am in utter denial that you could let me down.
For three solid years of high school you were there for me every day after school. And sometimes again before StuCo or church.
You helped me survive years of late nights of studying for AP classes and organic chemistry. And the time when I need you most, as I finish up my educational career, you are continuously letting me down. Day after day.
That's it, you have let me down for the last time.
I love sonic, as much, if not more, than the average person. I think half price drinks from 2-4 every day are the greatest invention ever and that the term "easy ice" will forever change how I order drinks.
But Austin Sonic Drive-In- you have managed to successfully ruin my Dr. Pepper every single time.
I don't know if it's lack of syrup, or too much carbonation or some sort of special concoction you throw in there but it tastes awful. And yet I still go back because I am in utter denial that you could let me down.
For three solid years of high school you were there for me every day after school. And sometimes again before StuCo or church.
You helped me survive years of late nights of studying for AP classes and organic chemistry. And the time when I need you most, as I finish up my educational career, you are continuously letting me down. Day after day.
That's it, you have let me down for the last time.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Not Me Monday!
Pull your favorite pair of jeans out of the dryer one last time before you washed them? Shoved junk under the bed or in the closet right before someone came over to make your house "clean." Served frozen food for dinner one, two three nights in a row? Feel guilty for all of the above? (and more!) Don't be!
This is why MckMama created Not Me Monday! Being brutally honest and living to tell about it!
I did not have so much fun babysitting two (almost) one year olds on Saturday night. They were not all over the place and and I did not let them stay up a little bit later then they probably should have because I was having more fun then they were.
I did not sit on the couch and watch tv for 3 hours straight to catch up on my shows. There are so many other things I should be doing besides watching pointless tv shows.
I have not procrastinated blogging for the past 6 weeks because I can't come up with a good starter for my first "after wedding post." I did not instead write a "Not Me Monday" post like it was any old post, and not the first one after I am Mrs. Ray.
What else did you not do this week?
And I promise a wedding post/pictures are coming soon. I am not wanting to forget a single second of the day (although the longer I wait to write it the more likely that is to happen....)
This is why MckMama created Not Me Monday! Being brutally honest and living to tell about it!
I did not have so much fun babysitting two (almost) one year olds on Saturday night. They were not all over the place and and I did not let them stay up a little bit later then they probably should have because I was having more fun then they were.
I did not sit on the couch and watch tv for 3 hours straight to catch up on my shows. There are so many other things I should be doing besides watching pointless tv shows.
I have not procrastinated blogging for the past 6 weeks because I can't come up with a good starter for my first "after wedding post." I did not instead write a "Not Me Monday" post like it was any old post, and not the first one after I am Mrs. Ray.
What else did you not do this week?
And I promise a wedding post/pictures are coming soon. I am not wanting to forget a single second of the day (although the longer I wait to write it the more likely that is to happen....)
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Happy Anniversary BecomingOne!
I just happen to look back on my first posts I had ever written and realize it was a year ago today that I started my blog with this post titled "Silly Wedding Fantasies."
Funny, what the last year has brought. Trials and patience testing moments. Lots of happiness and laughing and realizing that there are some silly wedding traditions I can't wait to participate in.
It's been a whirlwind of a year, with job hunts, apartment hunts, and a final year of "singledom."
I'm about to start a new, exciting chapter of my life, and have one of the most memorable, life changing events I'll ever have (except maybe a baby and becoming a Christian).
Life as both Sean and I know is about to change and it's so neat. But not going to lie, it's kind of weird too.
Not traveling every weekend to go see him. Sharing a bed. Sharing a bathroom. Sharing food and space. Just sharing in general.
Learning to live with annoying quirks and habits that we both have. Having my best friend around all the time. Always having someone to lean on, run too, and laugh at stupid stuff with.
I think what I'm looking forward to the most is that when I'm having a bad day, or those days when you feel like the world hates you...that there's another human being there that will be by your side no matter what. It's no longer me vs. the world. It's US vs. the world.
I've had a lot of emotions in the last few days. It's finally here, and I can't tell you how crazy that is. Maybe it's because we had such a long engagement and I thought our time would never come. Maybe it's because I had done all this talking about the last few weeks before the wedding and all the logistics we would have to figure out and now we are for real figuring it out. Maybe it's because I keep saying, next time I do "such and such" I'll be MRS. RAY.
There's been anxiousness about everything coming together.
Nervousness about living with a boy. (ewwwwww!) :)
Excitement about spending the rest of my life with Sean and never having to say goodbye again.
Overwhelmedness (?) about finishing up school and winding up the wedding and running out of time for either/or.
Happiness about all the new "firsts" I get to experience with Sean.
Confusedness about merging my Austin life with our married life.
Now it's nothing. Just an overwhelming sense of peace that this is right. This is where I am suppose to be and who I am suppose to be with. A sense of peace that it's going to work out. All of it- school winding down, living with a boy, and introducing Sean to my weekday Austin life.
So for the people that actually read this- thanks for walking through such a pivotal interesting year of life with me. Here's to 50 more :)
Funny, what the last year has brought. Trials and patience testing moments. Lots of happiness and laughing and realizing that there are some silly wedding traditions I can't wait to participate in.
It's been a whirlwind of a year, with job hunts, apartment hunts, and a final year of "singledom."
I'm about to start a new, exciting chapter of my life, and have one of the most memorable, life changing events I'll ever have (except maybe a baby and becoming a Christian).
Life as both Sean and I know is about to change and it's so neat. But not going to lie, it's kind of weird too.
Not traveling every weekend to go see him. Sharing a bed. Sharing a bathroom. Sharing food and space. Just sharing in general.
Learning to live with annoying quirks and habits that we both have. Having my best friend around all the time. Always having someone to lean on, run too, and laugh at stupid stuff with.
I think what I'm looking forward to the most is that when I'm having a bad day, or those days when you feel like the world hates you...that there's another human being there that will be by your side no matter what. It's no longer me vs. the world. It's US vs. the world.
I've had a lot of emotions in the last few days. It's finally here, and I can't tell you how crazy that is. Maybe it's because we had such a long engagement and I thought our time would never come. Maybe it's because I had done all this talking about the last few weeks before the wedding and all the logistics we would have to figure out and now we are for real figuring it out. Maybe it's because I keep saying, next time I do "such and such" I'll be MRS. RAY.
There's been anxiousness about everything coming together.
Nervousness about living with a boy. (ewwwwww!) :)
Excitement about spending the rest of my life with Sean and never having to say goodbye again.
Overwhelmedness (?) about finishing up school and winding up the wedding and running out of time for either/or.
Happiness about all the new "firsts" I get to experience with Sean.
Confusedness about merging my Austin life with our married life.
Now it's nothing. Just an overwhelming sense of peace that this is right. This is where I am suppose to be and who I am suppose to be with. A sense of peace that it's going to work out. All of it- school winding down, living with a boy, and introducing Sean to my weekday Austin life.
So for the people that actually read this- thanks for walking through such a pivotal interesting year of life with me. Here's to 50 more :)
Friday, August 7, 2009
Bachelorette Pad
I moved into Sean and I's place a little under a month ago.
A party was even thrown in honor of my own place for 30 days.
(Not really- but I did have a great time at my bachelorette party!!)
The first few nights by myself I was terrified.
Now I am doing a little bit better and even check the shower every night before I go to bed just to make sure the boogy man isn't back there to get me am able to sleep through the night peacefully. (Although, please tell me what would I do if I found someone in my apartment? I mean really? It's not like A) I am big enough to defend myself, B) would know how or C) have anyone that would come save me if I did scream.)
At first I thought I wouldn't like living by myself. We all know I love to talk, both my old roommates can attest to that. I was convinced I would be bored to tears. But I really am not. It's nice to come home and throw your stuff on the floor. Or leave your dishes in the sink without feeling guilty. Or dance around in your kitchen singing into your spoon at the top of your lungs
Or curl your hair in the living room simply because you want to watch the Secret Life marathon you Tivoed.
Bad idea. Real bad idea. Especially when you drop your curling iron on your thigh and now you have abeautiful purple bruise that will totally accent your wedding dress and accessories perfectly .
Ok, so honestly no one will see it in 15 days. BUT I will be lounging on the beach in 16 days, and that will match my new bathing suit perfectly.
Lesson Learned: There are some things you shouldn't do even if you do live by yourself.
Such as curl your hair in the living room, or leave your wet clothes in the washer for 4 days. (not intentionally!)
A party was even thrown in honor of my own place for 30 days.
(Not really- but I did have a great time at my bachelorette party!!)The first few nights by myself I was terrified.
Now I am doing a little bit better and even
At first I thought I wouldn't like living by myself. We all know I love to talk, both my old roommates can attest to that. I was convinced I would be bored to tears. But I really am not. It's nice to come home and throw your stuff on the floor. Or leave your dishes in the sink without feeling guilty.
Or curl your hair in the living room simply because you want to watch the Secret Life marathon you Tivoed.
Bad idea. Real bad idea. Especially when you drop your curling iron on your thigh and now you have a
Ok, so honestly no one will see it in 15 days. BUT I will be lounging on the beach in 16 days, and that will match my new bathing suit perfectly.
Lesson Learned: There are some things you shouldn't do even if you do live by yourself.
Such as curl your hair in the living room, or leave your wet clothes in the washer for 4 days. (not intentionally!)
Thursday, August 6, 2009
17 days
I think my phone hasn't stopped ringing today. Seriously. I have been on the phone with every person between here and DFW. And my mom 16000 times.
16 days I get married. In 17 days I will be laying on a beach in another country without a cell phone or emails next to a handsome redhead.
It's all coming together so well, and so perfectly. I'm just waiting to hit a brick wall. Because surely it can't be pulled off this beautifully without something going wrong right?
Maybe it can. Wow. We are continuously finding money we are saving, and I'm quickly realizing it's about me and Sean, not about keeping everyone else happy.
It's our day. And I can't please everyone.
Disclaimer: Not intentionally ticking people off either.
School...ahh school. Is kicking butt right now, but 7 days and that one will be over.
The wedding dreams are coming on stronger and stranger, but more vivid every night.
And believe it or not, I'm overwhelmed, but not stressing.
Just getting in there and knocking it out, and well, if doesn't get done then who will ever know?
It's going to be gorgeous and we will be married.
But I might be paying off this month's phone bill for the rest of my life.
16 days I get married. In 17 days I will be laying on a beach in another country without a cell phone or emails next to a handsome redhead.
It's all coming together so well, and so perfectly. I'm just waiting to hit a brick wall. Because surely it can't be pulled off this beautifully without something going wrong right?
Maybe it can. Wow. We are continuously finding money we are saving, and I'm quickly realizing it's about me and Sean, not about keeping everyone else happy.
It's our day. And I can't please everyone.
Disclaimer: Not intentionally ticking people off either.
School...ahh school. Is kicking butt right now, but 7 days and that one will be over.
The wedding dreams are coming on stronger and stranger, but more vivid every night.
And believe it or not, I'm overwhelmed, but not stressing.
Just getting in there and knocking it out, and well, if doesn't get done then who will ever know?
It's going to be gorgeous and we will be married.
But I might be paying off this month's phone bill for the rest of my life.
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