I Do Doubleheader

No, this isn't WE wedding week. Or at least I don't think so.

2 weddings, 2 cities, 1 weekend.  And it all starts in 3.5 hours (not that I'm counting).

We're off to ATL for S&B's Saturday afternoon wedding at the church. Hopefully we can squeeze in some quality time with college friends and the H's. Then we're back on Sunday for J&D's outdoor evening wedding. These two weddings are going to be wildly different and perfectly suited for each couple. Stay tuned for recaps and hopefully pictures (yes I realize I never posted pics from the last wedding I blogged...)

5.25.09- Dear Target

Dear Target,

Have I told you lately that I love you? I love you because I am a bargain shopper and you, my friend, enabled me to buy three cute, cotton, summer dresses. Three dresses I do not need that do not fit the occasion I was shopping for. Three dresses that I will wear until they fall apart (which may be sooner rather than later).

Thank you, dear Target, for turning a quick trip to buy navy bathing suit bottoms (which you did not have) and body wash into a full-fledged shopping spree. I always love a less than $100 shopping spree and you delivered again.

Thank you from the bottom of my cotton summer dress loving heart.

Love,
Emily

P.S. I dated this letter because I know it will not be the only love letter I publicly write to you.

"It's stupid to get married young"

Wedding negativity has been bothering me for a few months now. Why do people act like it is a chore to attend weddings? I mean, how can you go wrong with free food, music, and often booze? And then there's the whole celebration of love thing.

A few nights ago, Mr. H and I grabbed a few drinks with some friends after work. One of these friends says she is going to a wedding next weekend where the bride is (gasp!) 22. Now I certainly wasn't ready to get married at 22, but I'm 24. That's not much older. Then someone chimed in, "It's stupid to get married young."

To that, I have to say this: Just because you didn't get married young, doesn't mean its wrong.

Case #1: My parents. Mom- 21, Dad- 23 (just 12 days after his bday). Married for 33 years.
Case #2: Mr. H's parents. Mom- 20, Dad 23 (I think). Married 35 years. And Mrs. H switched colleges after two years so she could live with her husband. Gasp!
Case #3: My sister. Sis- 22, Hubby- 25. Celebrating their 5th anniversary in June. Started dating when she was 17. Were together 5 years before they got married just a few weeks after her college graduation.

The point is people make life decisions that are right for them. So why do others judge so much? Even I often say, why would you want to get married at 21 or 22? Shouldn't I say why not? If you are in love and know you want to spend the rest of your life with someone, shouldn't the rest of your life start as soon as possible?

On our wedding day, our parents will bring nearly 70 years of marriage. All because they were married young. I think that is pretty great. Don't you?

I'm ready for my close up

Today, CNBC is filming a segment about my company. Today is also our company picnic.

Scene: Local camera crew recording an interview with our CEO. Crew approaches my section of the office wanting to get some b-roll footage.

Me: Old Navy shorts, cotton tee from Target. It’s going to be hella hot this afternoon when we head to the park for a picnic. Shivering because the AC has decided to work for the first time in weeks.

CEO: Walks over to my desk. Points at my second monitor, which is blank.

Me: Quick. I need to open something to put on that screen. Minimized windows: venue floor plan, google reader with your blogs open, chat window with a coworker… Blank screen will do.

CEO: Continues to point at my blank monitor.

Me: Smile awkwardly and hope this ends soon.

Who's ready for hotdogs, beer, and potato sack races? This girl!

I'd like to thank Crown Princess

My first blog award! I’ve been awarded Queen of Awesome by Crown Princess Confessionals. Thanks girl! As a recipient, I have to tell you 7 reasons why I’m awesome and pass the torch to seven blogs I find awesome.

7 things

1. 2 of my 3 college roomies and my future sister-in-law share my first name.

2. I hate twitter, but I love blogs, facebook and message boards.

3. I am entirely too excited that 2 of my favorite shows are starting this week: The Bachelorette and So You Think You Can Dance.

4. I had a perfectly productive Saturday without ever leaving the couch.

5. I’ve lost 8 pounds since the end of February.

6. I made chicken salad from scratch without a recipe last night in preparation for the week’s lunches.

7. My favorite movie is Clue and I can recite every line of it. If I ever find out it is your favorite movie too, you will immediately earn my respect.

7 blogs

Blushing from embarrassment. This is like the time you receive the chain letter from your friend who has already sent it to all of your other friends. I’m new to this blog scene and my favorite bloggers have already been “taken” by other recipients. So I’m the girl that sends the letter to people who have already gotten it... To save us from repeating this cycle over and over I resolve to make ne blog friends, but keep the old...

Crawling under rock now...

Zihuatanejo

We finally booked our honeymoon after countless hours of internet research. We're going to Zihuatanejo, Mexico for 7 days and 6 nights. It has everything we're looking for-- beach, snorkling, fancy pants hotels, Continental flights, and relatively inexpensive activities. We couldn't decide between 2 hotels so we're staying 3 nights at each.

First, The Tides. They have 2 restaurants, bars, activity tours and more. It's like an all-inclusive except everything is a la carte. We think it will be the perfect place to relax and stumble from the beach to restaurants for dinner.
When we're ready for a little more adventure we'll head to Hotel Cinco Sentidos, a tiny 5 suite hotel with no bar or restaurant on site. Why are we staying there? Each suite has a private infinity plunge pool. Private. Infinity. Plunge Pool. Hell yeah!

I'm Still Here

Hello dear reader. I have not forgotten you. I have just forgotten to post. What a week it has been. Here's a little recap:

Monday
Wet T-shirt Contest. At least, that's what I'm calling it. I showed up to the gym for Body Attack (interval cardio training guaranteed to burn at least 600 calories just for trying) only to find the air conditioning was broken. Completely and utterly broken. The only breeze we had was what little air the ceiling fans gave off. Never have I ever felt so smothered by a thin white cotton shirt.

After my work-out I met up with some college friends who were passing through Austin on their cross-country road trip. El Chile was a hit!

Tuesday
Exactly 4 months until the big day! We met with the catering manager at Habana during lunch, got some food samples, and checked out their private event space. Hello rehearsal dinner!

Thursday
Mr. H and I finally took our engagement pictures. We ran all over south Congress with our fabulous photographer, Whitney Lee. I cannot wait to see our images in two weeks!

I checked out a new place for happy hour after work. Union Park. Rooftop lounge with $3 mojitos on Thursdays. Can't go wrong with that!

Friday
Rudy's and dancing downtown to bid farewell to a friend who was visiting from out of town.

Saturday
We booked our honeymoon!! Where to? Well I think it deserves it's own post so stay tuned!

See, I've been busy. Do you forgive me?

Heavenly Day

As I've blogged earlier, my future sister-in-law was wed on May 1. The wedding was beautiful as weddings are wont to be, but the details (oh the details!) in this wedding have set me on a mission for equally unique, so very us details that will make our wedding OUR wedding, not anyone else's.

Let's start with the ceremony. The K's got married in a garden under an orange and green lantern clad maple tree. Family is very important to the K's, so the processional began with Emily's older brother and his wife, followed by little bro (my Mr. H) and me. After the bridesmaids and groomsmen processed, the groom walked in with his parents and brother. The bride was escorted down the aisle by both parents as her friend sang "Heavenly Day" by Patty Griffin. I cried the whole time. It was so touching.

The reception was a blast. I apologize for not having any photos to post of the details, but you can go to their photographer's blog to see teasers from the Smilebooth. Anyway, back to the details...

* Mrs. H made 1000 origami cranes to honor the father of the groom's Japanese heritage. They were scattered about the tables, buffets, and cake table.

* The wedding didn't have "colors" so to speak, but rather was generally spring. Each table had two vases of varying shapes and sizes with flowers of all one kind and color. There were gerberas, lilies, birds of paradise, hydrangas, tulips... In between the two vases on each table was a Japanese fan. Did I mention the bridesmaids carried fans instead of flowers?

* The couple has very musical friends so all the first dances were performed live by professional musicians. The couple's first dance was an original song by a friend from 7 years ago (when they started dating) that they listened to at the beginning of their relationship. Sigh.

* The groom is a tuba player and has lots of brass playing friends. After the father/daughter dance, the groom and various other brass players entered the reception hall while playing "Oh When the Saints Go Marching In." The bride danced with her groom as he grooved with his tuba. Yes, that's possible.

Photos coming as soon as they are posted!

Thank you, Perfect Palette

Thank you to The Perfect Palette for having MY perfect palette. And for having so many other plum palettes.  I look and look for inspiration boards in my color scheme and have been tempted many times to switch to blue and green or yellow and slate because there is so much out there. But no, I’m staying strong and ignoring the judgy eyes I get when I say that my wedding is going to be a bold plum, orange, and red extravaganza. And I love it.

The Perfect Palette