groom[smen] attire

here is the fabulous suit ensamble that my hot groom & his groomsmen will be sporting on our big day [which is, only 59 days away thankyouverymuch].  Men's Warehouse's very own Chocolate Tuxedo:

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groom: ivory shirt & vest with a little "tie"

his men: ivory shirt, latte vest & "tie"

I feel like I keep repeating myself, and my life is not getting any more exciting. Hurryupandgetherefastweddingday.thanks.

 

.:Ashley.Rebekah:.

a groom in boots

My FH loves his cowboy boots.

I remember the very first night I met him, looking down at his feet, like..."seriously?!? what in the H are you wearing on your feet?" I still sorta think that, but I realize that he loves them & their comfort, so I concede.  I do really like that they make him a little bit taller :) I love to feel short next to him!  He's a couple of inches taller than me as it is, but I like to wear flats while he wears his boots.

So these are what we finally chose:

[there is a reason I'm not putting the link & picture source, but I am more than happy to share this good deal with you, if you insist]

After a little shopping around, and trying on...we found the perfect pair.  Of course they didn't have his size in the store...in the color that we wanted.  So I stalked them online [ahem, without the style number or any information] and I finally found them.  I'm so excited to see these beauties peeking out from under his chocolate brown tuxedo pants and adding a few inches to his handsome stature. 

only the best for our wedding day :)

.:Ashley.Rebekah:.

i bought this.

Yesterday I bought this dress for option #2 Rehearsal & Dinner dress.  The first one, that I already received is wonderfully cute, but I'm not sure if it is Wedding Weekend appropriate [more along the lines of girls night out maybe].  So here is option two:

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AAAAAAAAAAANNNDDD it was on sale. My favorite kind.  I will be getting it in taupe [we'll see how how that color works out] and I will be wearing some sort of tank under it because my cleavage is for my FH I'm a classy lady ;)

.:Ash:.

two months from today...

I will be doing this...

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[with my very own daddy, making our way to the altar & my FH! YAAAAAAAAAAAAY!

I kinda wanna scream.]

and I can.not.wait.

.:Ash:.

check it out!

I know I said that I wasn't going to post, maybe I lied.  I just so happened to remember the FABULOUS giveaway over at one of the bridal blogs that I stalk  read regularly. I admit, I may or may not have a problem with following the lives of other brides via blogger. nbd.  Anyway, this is the dream giveaway.  Heather over at Live.Love.Laugh is giving away a ring dish.  I have been swooooning over the ring bearer/ring dishes at Wise Impressions for months. Literally. Months.  I really want one, but have been trying hard to be a good little bride to be [only 2 months away!] and not spend money... However, here is the PERFECT opportunity.

GIVEAWAY!!

WHOOO doesn't LOVE a giveaway? I know I do.  And I'm competitive, so I'm in it to win it! Get yourself on over to Heather's blog and join in the fun!

Have a wonderful weekend!

.:Ash:.

my feathers [are ruffled]...

but my hubby wubby is at the store getting me a bottle of wine.  j.u.s.t. what the doctor disgruntled coach ordered.  I could do without another day like this.  I will spare you details, because I wouldn't want to scare the 7 followers that I do have away...

I will be away this weekend, for classes & to finish enjoying the bottle of wine that hubster is buying now. love.him.dearly. see.you.monday. [today, periods seem to fit my mood perfectly.]

image compliments of google images - wine bottle

the ABCs [of Ashley]

I stole this straight from Heather @ Live.Love.Laugh - check her out :)

I had to take this opportunity to share with you..

drumroll please...

A - Age: 25.

B - Bed size: Queen [need a king!].

C - Chore you hate: folding laundry.

D - : Dog's name: Piper Anne.

E - Essential day-starter: coffee.

F - Favorite color: purple or pink.

G - Gold, Silver or Platinum: silver.

H - Height: 6'1"

I - Interests [other than blogging]: coaching, anything outdoors, working out.

J - Job title: Physical Education Teacher.

K - Kids: two please. [both boys, thanks.]

L - Living arrangements:  we throw our money away monthly rent a house.

M - Mom's name:  Patty.

N - Nickname: Ash, Becky, Ashley Marie, Pookie, Honey, Baby, Sweety [FH never just calls me Ashley, and that's ok with me ;)]

O - Outside or inside: outside for sure.

P - Pet peeve: chewing ice, mouth noises, popping gum.

Q - Quote from a movie: "Don't act like you're not impressed..." ~Anchorman

R - Right or left handed: righty.

S - Siblings: 3 brothers - Austin: 26, Caleb: 22, Cody: almost 21.

T - Time you wake up: 6:21 [well that's when I start pressing snooze].

U - Underwear: AE boy shorts.

V - Vegetable you dislike: lima beans.

W - Workout fav: the elliptical.

X - X-rays you've had: my R knee [I completely tore my ACL playing college volleyball].

Y - Yummy food you make: everything I make is yummy! I love cooking!

Z - Zoo favorite: elephants.

i am...[a child at heart]

I give myself stars for working out. Seriously.

I get one today. After a full day's work,

and coaching a volleyball match...

I still worked out.

[and I thought blog-land should be well aware]

.:Ash:.

tomorrow [the workouts begin]

The FH & I got ourselves gym memberships today :)

We are naturally fit people [he is a retired profesh. football player, and I'm a former college athlete & current PE Teacher].  However, South Carolina happened, a move across country, and we got out of our natural routine. We are very healthy eaters, and rarely almost never eat fast food, so I suppose we are off to a good start.

Starting tomorrow, this will be me:

[image compliments of Google Images: workout girl]

I just want to be very toned in my strapless wedding gown.  You know, I don't want to have flabby arms to show up in every picture! [that's not too much to ask, is it?!]

What fitness thingssss are you doing to get ready for your big day?

.:Ash:.

saving face.

seriously. I'm 25 and STILL getting zits.

they always manage to pop up at the most inopportune times,and stay for far too long. Recently, I started cheating on my loyal Clinique lady, and I am currently paying a huge price. zits. everywyere. [gross x10]

so today, I took it upon myself to return to what works. [I have even tried proactiv, did not work.] You know, my big day is about 2 months off, and I need to be on my best regime well before I walk down the aisle! I pay my respects to the loyal Clinique Acne Solutions:

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And my go-to OIL-FREE moisturizer:

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So hopefully from this day forward, we will remain loyal to one another.

What is your go-to facial care?

meet Piper [our puppy love]

I have shown several pictures of her on here...but let's make it official.

Meet Piper: Miss Personality.

She is our full-of-love-and-energy miniature daschaund.

&& she is precious. Most of the time she is acting like a ham, chasing a toy or being cute to earn a treat.  She loves peanut butter, long walks & the puppy park. 

We rescued her from the Humane Society in August of 2008 and she has been a great puppy for us since [I will probably always call her a puppy].  She was a stray, wandering the streets -- who knows what the poor dogs at the HS have been through.  If you are thinking about a dog, look at the local Humane Society!  She was fixed & caught up on all of her shots when we got her [SUCH an expense with a puppy].  We were really lucky to get a purebread, and a dog with a personality that suits us so well!  She is such a joy, we love her so much!

Do you  have any pets?

the dress [bustle extravaganza]

I bought my dress off the floor at David's Bridal.  I'll admit, it's not a place for everyone, but for me & my budget, it was perfect.  I had a great consultant and tried on several dresses.  My mom, FMIL, Grandmother [the only one I have left] and two of my bridesmaids went.  Having the girls there was such a blessing for my moms, they helped me in and out of each dress.  It was a really fun day.  I tried on TONS of dresses at a few different places, but ended up going back to David's to get the one I originally teared up trying on.

So I found the perfect dress, all I needed was a bustle.  PERFECT.  I have a seamstress [hey, when you're 6'1", you need one!].  So this summer while I was in Ohio, we got to work.  I jumped into my dress, with my slip, strapless & wedding day shoes...and we bustled...

and bustled...

and bustled [not gonna lie, I might have been saying a prayer]...

and ran into a length problem.

[[AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!]]

Once I put my shoes on, and paraded around the house, and looked into the mirrors [several times, like a little ballerina] it was too short.  I was in a panic!!  I SWEAR it was long enough before...maybe on the pedistool at the salon barefoot made THAT much of a difference... Anyway, I put my wedding shoes on...[yes, they're flats]...and you could see my toes! Not just my toes, but if I was standing in front of the church, on the end of the step [you know, when they pronounce us husband & wife]...you could see my whole foot.  I could just picture it all in my head.  I almost didn't believe it was happening. [[BRIDAL MELTDOWN #1]] I'll admit: I was frantic! I HATE, HATE, HATE things that are too short. 

THANK GOD I have a good seamstress, and a dress with pick ups & a bubble hem.  Easy fix.

[[deep breath of fresh air.]

Now, I can't wait to get it on and twirl around like a little princess. I am SO EXCITEDDDDDDDD!!!!

.:Ash:.

Myrtle Beach [Labor Day fun!]

so what if it's been a while...

Labor Day Weekend:

My future in-laws came down to visit us from Ohio.  We had a weekend planned in Myrtle Beach.  FH & I have lived here for quite sometime now, and had never been, so we figured it'd be wothwhile.  If nothing else, a relaxing week away from home :)

And it was!

with our puppy love on the beach :) [please excuse the beach hair!]

taking a walk...

Boardwalk at Broadway, Myrtle Beach

All in all, we had a great time and it was a nice little vacation!

Next vacation [or break from work & stress]: OUR WEDDING!!

holy 73 days! [i remember when it was 376!]

sunday cookin'

I got a few cookbooks for my wedding shower.  I LOOOOOVE to cook & bake! Today, I opened them, and decided to try something new.

Today's random recipie: Orange Teryaki Beef with Noodles

 so easy. so tasty.

My FH & I don't eat much beef [we prefer venison] so I substituted chicken.

it looked like this:

and was totally tasty!

get the recipe here! 

(picture from the betty crocker website)

try it. it's wonderful!

today [is the reason]...

that I LOVE the fall...

nothing better than the couch, a cold one & some Michigan football!

wishing I was here with my dad!

He is a season ticket holder, and i'm SO jealous I won't get to make it to a game this season...

Enjoy your saturfootballday!

shower time!

I decided a long time ago that I only wanted one shower.

Yes, we're having a HUGE wedding with lots of family & friends, but I still only wanted one shower.  Maybe I just don't like to sit up in front of a bunch of people with that strange smile on you face... [you know what I mean??] like you're thoroughly enjoying something that is so usual...but don't want anyone to get offended if you aren't excited enough about the gift they spent time purchasing?? I don't know, awkward.  Anyway, I had my shower in July while I was spending my summer in Ohio.  My MOH & mother worked hard to plan the event with help from my fmil & other family.  I think they did pretty well!

each table was decorated a little different, you get the idea...

...and I'm so lucky to have such wonderful bridesmaids!

and my fh made an appearance at the end to help with clean up [at which time I was totally exhausted from opening so many gifts & look like complete poo. please excuse.].

What a man!

I decided to spare you pictures of food, cookies & me opening gifts. You know wha that looks like!

All in all, my shower was WONDERFUL! I got lots of new things & am enjoying having a decorated house!

I'm not gonna lie...I'm blessed!

I take this opportunity...

...to say rest in peace my sweet Pete. 

My parent's dog died yesterday.  He was the lil guy that we grew up with, you know, the family dog.  My family LOVES dogs.  I mean my parents do [or did]  have 3 of them that have conveniently fallen into top spot in my parent's house now that my brothers and I have grown up & moved out. 

My dad text me today and said that Pete [Petey as we often called him] died yesterday.  My mom came home from work to him fading fast & had to take him to the vet...his liver failed last night & my dad went and picked him up to bury him today.

He lies in the back yard at my parent's house, under his favorite -- the blueberry bushes.  Dad buried him with his favorite toy and a new rawhide [also his favorite].  I am so happy to think that he is in doggie heavend, frolicing in the sweet green grass, diabetes free!

losing a pet really is the pits!

[crazy] the past few days...

I have so much to tell you all in blog land! Myrtle Beach, dress bustling, [more] shower pictures.

allllllllll to come.

sorry ladies, i'm over tired.

12 hours at school teaching & coaching middle school volleyball will do that to you.

trust me.

catch you tomorrow, hopefully.

oh [what a week]

right about this time last night...

i was feeling exactly like this:

Thank goodness for some patience [and maybe a little begging].

I was having a rough time getting time off of work for my wedding...what a nightmare.

long story short: i got a couple [yes, a couple] of days.

[that's what I get for being a teacher.]

Anyway, I guess that is now behind me and I should have just plain got married in the summer.  Or maybe that's what everyone else thinks...I always wanted a fall wedding, and that is what I'm having [dammit].

on a more positive note:

I am enjoying a glass of wine & my hair flower [that I ordered Monday @ 11pm] has arrived.

Please, Please, Pleases visit Sunnybrook Farm Designs Etsy store!

She has cute stuff, and ohsoreasonable prices!

On an even better note: football season is here!

I love, love, LOVE the fresh breeze of fall, the awesome temperatures & the changing leaves.

I can't wait to hop into Bath & Body Works and purchase myself a new pumpkin spice candle!

mmmmmmmm...I can smell it already!

The [future] in-laws are heading in tomorrow night...we are going to spend our long weekend in Myrtle Beach.  I'm not even sad that it might rain [i need a break]. I live in SC and I've never been.  I want to check out the little shops and just have some time away from home...to relax!!

[the new] hair flower.

Last night, about...ohhhh... 11:00 pm, I decided to etsy.

if you know anything about etsy, you KNOW it's fabulous.

I was on a mission for a hair flower.  I have tried to create my own, but failed twice. 

I just couldn't get what I wanted, and decided to go on the hunt.

[in swoops Sunnybrook Farm Design]

The ever fabulous Rebekah was remarkable, and very quick at getting back to my messages.

I purchased the flower beauty above for $7.00. YES. SEVEN.

now quit resisting and go visit Rebekah's Etsy Shop!!