What does it take to make a relationship work?

I’m going to go all carrie bradshaw on you for a few. Seriously though, as school is back in for the last time and I look around at everyone either engaged or scrambling to be by the end of this forced social situation, I worry about a lot of them.

For example, a friend whose parents aren’t on speaking terms and her mom’s been married umpteen times getting married before graduation? Happy for them, I suppose, but then the way she treats this husband is atrocious–they argue, she slaps him, etc.

Why don’t people stop to wonder if they’re doing the right thing? I mean, if Chad felt things weren’t right, we would certainly postpone/end this–no problems. Don’t worry about the money invested in a ring, dress, venue–it’s your LIFE we’re talking about here. Your happiness.

I write this blog because I’ve made a major shift to stop taking Chad for granted so often. We laugh together–a lot, even if it’s because we dance horribly in the living room or that I’ve stolen his shoes so he can’t go home!–and I have absolutely, positively stopped the whole storming off or pouting thing. I mean, it was immature in the first place, but it feels a lot better to just try to calmly explain what I mean. And you know what? We haven’t had one fight in a while. I feel more than ever that we’re meant to be together, and even if he came to me tomorrow and said he wasn’t sure–I would still be ok.

In the end, everyone has to be happy.

so it’s time.

I mean, I’ve been eating “well”–relatively. We’ve cut out all fast food, save for one taco bell trip that ended in regret.

However, that’s not enough. I will do it. I am going to push myself to do it! I’ve slacked off during the past two weeks (honestly, it’s for a good reason but one you would much rather not hear about… leave it at bloating, the nemesis of all ladies). And I want to do it.

Someone told me to think of my wedding dress, but honestly, I don’t really care about that. What I’m more worried about is my honeymoon pics! So whatever, I’m rejoining spark people and I will will will do it this time!

fourth of july fun.

usually, fourth of july goes the same way every year (well, it has for like the past 5-6 years for me and 4 for chad): we go to my uncle’s house, get in the pool for a couple of hours, eat burgers or hot dogs and get back in the pool. there’s always like 60 people there and it’s fun.

instead, this year we went to my uncle’s son’s wedding. it was beautiful! they got married in a church in Charlotte and then we went to the reception at the Dairy Barn in Fort Mill, SC. It’s this cool old barn in the middle of a bunch of fields and yes, complete with cows and a silo you can explore.

they both looked so great and happy!

but I have to say, that’s not really why I’m writing… I’m writing because the GPS took me through Cherokee county, RIGHT NEAR GAFFNEY! the serial killer murders really scare me, and… just being around there felt scary. definitely kept my eyes open for the car they say he’s driving… ick! I know it sounds SO paranoid but honestly, that was the worst part of my trip… aside from my relatives starting to talk about my wedding. uhh… i said the phrase “Yeah, I’ll keep that in mind” about a million times. haha.

Well, time to make some lunch–STARVING, didnt really eat breakfast. Also, it’s the first time it’s rained in about three weeks, so I’m going to see if its any cooler outside, too.

a proposal.

ha. ironic that the proposal post comes after the wedding post.

but… blog world, i am ENGAGED! and my mom was so gung-ho about planning that she started grilling me for details about 24 hours afterwards!

instead of retelling the story about a trillion times, i think i’ll save that for another day. for now…

i’m so happy!

everyone has been supportive, and both sets of parents apparently want to throw an engagement party…?

this should be interesting.

weddings

ok, this is not to anyone i know. because first of all… everyone i know is a bit classier than this.

Now, I have been reading a fair number of DIY bride websites. Can I just say, there are about 1500 posts of things that look cheap and tacky, and about 5 good posts?

You all know I’m no graphic designer (not professionally, at least–I will say I know my way around photoshop and illustrator) but damned if I don’t know a couple of things that will make your crap look better:

1. Adobe offers free trials of photoshop cs3, paint shop pro comes as a free trial, corel offers drawing software as a free trial… LEARN IT! If you spend a week on there you should learn enough to make your stuff look professional. There are dozens of tutorials and Adobe’s free trial lasts 30 days. Figure out everything you want to make, and make it! If it expires, delete your copy and your cookies, save your work as .jpg  and redownload/reinstall. VOILA!

2. You do not need to use the same shitty ass Palace Script font as everyone else. Go to dafont.com and look at their Calligraphy section. Find yourself some beautiful free fonts and download. Go back to your photoshop. Find the add object and look at all objects, not just default. You’ll find fleur de lis, scrolls, borders and cute dingbats to use.

3. Saving money doesn’t have to be the prime objective, having a beautiful wedding can be, you know. Try your hand at DIYing some embossed invitations from your inkjet printer (google it). Use wax seals to class up your envelopes. And for the love of god, if you have a small budget and a lot of DIY, make sure your stuff stays in the SAME COLOR FAMILY. Lavender comes in about forty three billion shades. Stick to professional colors like Pantone colors (google it) and USE SWATCHES.

4. Line it up, bitches! A paper cutter, a good eye and 3 helpers will make sure your stuff is lined up. You don’ t want your cake looking like its falling (check out cake pictures on weddingchannel.com) nor do you want your invitations to come out blurry because you didn’t use 300 dpi instead of the standard 72 on MS Paint (Sidenote: if i ever see anyone use MS Paint in their wedding, I will personally shoot them… because I think everyone deserves a classy wedding. It’s not to be mean, it’s just to be everything you’ve ever dreamed of. ASK FOR HELP!)

5. You don’t have to pick inferior stuff… just buy on sale! For example, personalized napkins. One website has 100 for $18.99. That’s a great deal, but the font choices look like the dog ate them. Another has 50 for $11.29, and have much better font choices and options. A little more costly, but still cheaper than the ones from the knot, for example.

I think I may have said enough. To check out who i was referring to, see this website:

http://www.weddingbycolor.com/milestones/category/DIY

UGH!

weddingish.

i just want to be married. isn’t that every girl’s dream? well, i mean, to have a beautiful wedding and live happily ever after… ahh.

Isn’t that cake beautiful? maybe not the flower colors, i dont like those at all… but its sooo cute.

i don’t know why i have weddings on the brain lately. i just want to get married! i want to be happy…

 

sigh.

 

 

 

I can’t wait.