Wedding Day Link Up!

I will take ANY chance to share our wedding details, so when I saw this link up, I knew I had to join!

Justin and I were married 2.19.2012 in Key West, Florida.

We fell in love FAST. On our 6 month anniversary he proposed and we vowed that weekend to take our time and plan the perfect wedding.

Big fat lie. We were engaged in September 2010 and we were going to wait until January to start even thinking of plans.

Within 12 hours of being home for our engagement weekend, I was calling venues. Originally, we planned a BIG, 250 guest wedding at home.

Then, we went on vacation in December 2010. While sitting in the sun, I looked at him and said, "Let's go away and get married."

SO, we started planning.

By Christmas 2010, we knew it would be Key West. We picked a date for 2012 to give our family and friends more time to plan for a big trip.

Venue:

We did a private chartered catamaran.

Bridal Party:

I jumped the gun when planning and asked my girls before I knew we'd have a destination wedding. I told them all I would understand if they couldn't make the trip or didn't want the added bridesmaid expense. They all totally still did it! Our sides were uneven. Justin's friends and many family members couldn't get the time off work/afford to come. So he had 2 groomsmen, and our ring bearer.

Colors:

Purple, Teal, and Gold

First Dance:

The Beginning, Alice Peacock

Details:

We arrived in Key West a few days before the wedding. Saturday night we had a Welcome Party, rather than a Rehearsal Dinner. It was a BLAST! There is this GREAT place in Key West called Dante's. It has a pool, great food, and awesome service! We had a blast.

Sunday, we had pictures on the dock around 4:30, then boarded the boat.

We did ceremony and first dance while the sun was setting. Then we had our yummy tropical feast. The rest of the night was spent dancing. It was amazing!

The Dress:

I had my dress custom made by a local seamstress. I called her SIX weeks prior to our wedding because I hated my dress. She and I sketched out what I dreamed of and she made it! It was PERFECT.

Honeymoon:

We stayed a week in Key West and then we departed on a 7 day cruise!

Driving down to Key West from Orlando

St. Martin

What would I change?

Honestly, NOTHING. Our day was PERFECT. There are sometimes I wish I had put more effort into finding cheaper deals for our guests so a few more people could have made it down. But then I think, nahhh, you had a YEAR. Find your own deals! 

I am SO happy we went to Key West to get married. We fell so in love with it, and now it is "our" little place. And for real---this was the view at our wedding!

Weekend Wrap Up

It was a longggg weekend for me!
We had the Great Strides for Cystic Fibrosis walk this weekend!

It was a BEAUTIFUL day! Sadly, I do not have pictures to share! I was working all morning at the registration table. My cousin took a ton, just waiting to see them. We had about 110 walkers, and raised $8500. It is a bit lower than last year, but we still have some outstanding money to be sent it--I'd love to top at least 9k.
After that, Justin and I had lunch with my Aunt and Uncle. For 5 hours. There was a lot of beer consumed. Resulting in this
My drunk husband. This was taken at approximately 5pm. Ridiculous. He slept it off...then woke up and it went down hill.  Lots of...you know. Gross stuff.
It was actually a hilarious afternoon for my Aunt Karen and I. While Justin was sleeping off his beer, my Uncle Daren decided he wanted to have a cookout. We find him later, asleep in his lawn chair, hot dogs and brats exploded on his grill. We are classy folks, and clearly put safety first.
I should mention that my cousin was outside and was ensuring the fire was maintained--no danger, swear. 
We finally made it home around 10pm after leaving our house at 6pm the previous day.
Needless to say, Sunday was spent relaxing.

Thankful Thursday

I used to link up with one of my favorite bloggers to do a Thankful Thursday post.  Unfort, she hasn't posted lately, so I am just going to do a post of my own.
This week I am thankful for:
*My husband--as usual!
Yesterday was my birthday. He woke me with cupcakes in bed and singing Happy Birthday! I'm going to get real with you for a minute, I truly didn't think this much happiness was ever possible. HOW was this guy made?? He is perfection. He is really the greatest part of my life.
*Also thankful for my hilarious friends! I got this little gem in the mail: I kind of love Michael Bolton.
*Instagram linked with Facebook.  I *hated* instagram until yesterday. I used it here and there for the past year or so, but never loved it. Then I realized I never linked it with my facebook (which is probably why when I tried to share my instagram photos they were always private). Then yesterday, I linked and well hellllllllllllllo. Picture mecca. 
*New Fabric!!!! Hello new makeup bags for .West 19th.!! I am in love with them.
It has been a FULL week for me! I am ready for the weekend for sure! I also have a minor sprain in my wrist. It has been like 2 weeks and it gets better, then worse. My crafty side has been taking a hiatus with hopes it heals. Mornings SUCK. I cannot open or close my hand at all--maybe I should get this checked out? Perhaps.

Hodgepodge

I've been a bit MIA in the last week.
Updates:
*The craft show last weekend definitely exceeded expectations!! So many custom orders for .West 19th.! *The Etsy shop is UP and selling! I have only had one "sale" on Etsy, but about 8 custom orders placed from people that are local and are avoiding ship charges. *Last night was the Volunteer Waitress Night for Cystic Fibrosis. My cousin has CF so this is definitely a BIG cause for my family! *Tonight, this handsome guy and I will be seeing Celtic Woman
Cannot. wait.
* This weekend we are celebrating my 28th birthday. So excited to go out! 

Knocking on 30

I'll be turning 28 in two weeks. The birthday kind of sneaked up on me--just a few days ago I realized I would be celebrating soon. 
I've never fretted growing older, until now.
I so wish I could stop time and spend eternity in this part of my life. Just me + him

I cannot imagine things getting better than they are at this moment. 

But it will, I know that.

When I was a kid I never dreamed of having a family and being a Mom. I dreamed of love-marriage-growing old with one person.

Never really had a 2nd thought to motherhood.

Until, recently.

I can completely, positively say that I never had a desire for children until Justin. I saw him, fell in love and instantly had visions of babies, teenagers, becoming grandparents with this guy. 

It was overwhelming.

Then, last year when I turned 27, I started to get really bummed that we didn't have kids.

We were newlyweds, it was definitely not a time to be adding to a family.

But I think what hit me the most was that my own Mom was 27 when she had me. 

I really started to feel I was missing something major.

But it isn't that simple.

Justin never wanted children. 

Until, me. Until, more specifically, my nephew:

He so loves Scotty, and Scotty adores Justin. It makes me jealous, but whatever ;)

So, two weeks outside of turning 28, my biggest thought is, "Am I going to be a mother before 30?" 

I feel that YES, I will. 

But, waiting? It sucks.