The Last Christmas

Merry Christmas, ya'll! I hope that Santa visited each and every one of you and that you all got exactly what you wanted this morning.  I know Santa treated me right this Christmas.  Well, I write to you all this morning with mixed emotions.  I love Christmas and am always joyful on the 25th of every December but this year comes with some bittersweet emotions too.  This is my last Christmas as a part of my original family unit.  Next year, Matt and I will be our own little family and I couldn't be more excited but I would be lying if I said I wouldn't miss the way I've spent Christmas for the last 21 years. Our Christmas mornings always go a little something like this.  First, my brother and I take turns waking each other up and grumbling about how early it is.  Then we run downstairs where my mom has already made up our seperate piles of presents from "Santa."  After we open each present and my mom tells us why she thought Santa might have brought the gift or what made Sanat think of us when he made that particular gift.  Then we clean up the paper, put in the batteries, and curl up in front of the fire while Momma makes pancakes.  Then we all sit around chatting and enjoying the company.  Its pretty typical American Christmas but I wouldn't have it any other way.  I have the worlds greratest family.  So what if we bicker and fight and argue the other 364 days a year.  On Christmas we put aside our typical attitudes and slip into something a little more cheerful.  Merry Christmas, ya'll, and a happy New Year!

The Way We Met

Hi there, ya’ll!  I hope everyone is bundling up and staying warm now that it has cooled down a bit in the Deep South! This is such a wonderful time of the year and I find the world just a little more magical when the air is chilly and the Christmas decorations are out.  I think that everyone is just a little nicer to strangers and a little less focused on themselves.  I’m looking forward to being at home with my family and my sweet husband to be.  You see, Matt and I have been a long distance couple for the last 3 ½ yrs.  I feel a story coming on.  Who would like to hear a story about the way we met and how we have come to live 220 miles apart for about 9 months of the year?  I might break it up into parts-I know yalls time is precious and it’s quite a story.

How We Met

Matt and I met at church.  We both did and still do attend College Park Baptist Church.  During the summers when the little kids were having Vacation Bible School, the youth group always helped out the elderly in the church with around-the-house chores.  So on the day when I first met Matt, we were doing yard work at a little old lady’s house.  This little old lady happened to live a hop, skip, and a jump down the street from Matt.  So, in our ignorance, we hadn’t really planned on heavy yard work and this lady’s yard needed some heavy yard work so we walked down the street to borrow some extra rakes from Matt.  He answered the door having just rolled out of bed (It was summer vacation, after all) with a sleepy grin and a cowlick.  I recognized him; we went to school together but I had never ever talked to him or really noticed him either.  So in a few minutes he showed up with a rake and his lawnmower.  With his masculine sensibility, he said that there was no reason we should rake up three feet deep of leaves when he could just pick them up with a lawnmower.  So this would be a good place to stop and comment on the fact that Matt and I didn’t really experience love at first sight.  But you know, sometimes love is just like that!

Side note, but important detail, to the story.  My best friend at the time was a lovely energetic girl that had “that” effect on men.  She grinned and the boys looked upon her tan face, wild highlighted-by-the sun hair, and athletic build and the rest was history.  A few weeks later, the boys hung their hats up heartbroken.  She was a great friend and we had a ton of great times together.  So how does she factor into this story, you ask.  Well, lets just say that Matt was one of the guys.. That’s right, Matt took one look into her eyes and he was in serious like.  I never had a chance.  I hadn’t exactly grown into myself just yet.  I was a little chubby with a sloppy sense of style and glasses.  But all’s well that end’s well, right?

Well, after the youth group spent all day working on this yard, we had to go.   But not Matt, he stayed and finished picking up the leaves and then cut and hedged her yard.  He didn’t have to, but he did.  That was what did me in.  He was kind and funny and he didn’t give me the time of day so I was hooked.  I spent the next 4-5 years, on and off, trying to get his attention.  Eventually, I did, but in between, we grew into best friends.  When that best friend of mine broke his heart, I gratefully picked up all the pieces with a comforting and listening ear.    When I got dumped by a guy that I thought hung the moon, Matt told me I could do better.  I told him about high school drama and he offered the male perspective on life.  We flirted and laughed and over time, I couldn’t imagine life without him.  Fortunately, by then, he couldn’t picture life without me either..

As our relationship has grown, we have had our good times and our terrible times and everything in between but that is a story for another day.  I hope you have enjoyed this little piece of us and I hope you come back for more! Love ya’ll!

Dress Selection

Hi there, ya'll! I hope that everyone is managing to carry on as we make our way through exam week here at the University of Alabama.. I have just the thing to cheer ya'll up.. WEDDING DRESSES!! That's right, today, I'm going to talk about wedding dress selection.  A few weeks ago, my mom and I did a little shopping. And by a little, I mean six hours worth.  I knew that finding the right dress wouldn't be easy, but dress shopping is down right brutal! I took my clothes off more times in one day than any self respecting Southern woman should and by the time we left David's Bridal, I was ready for a stiff drink and a long nap! 
Here is what makes dress shopping so hard: Finding the perfect dress that reflects who you are and what you want your wedding day to be like. In order to find the perfect dress, you have to know yourself. So I had to look deep down on the inside and sort through all the things I think I am, things I want to be, and things I really am.  So here's what I found so far, I am a day dreamer and hopeless romantic who still tears up while watching Shakespeare in Love.  So as of now, with a newfound sense of self clarity, I am in search of a gown that comes with singing birds and mice that lace me into the dress and make last minute alterations! Just kidding.. In all seriousness, I want a dress that is soft and romantic, that has a little glitter and lots of intimate detailing, i want a dress that would make Cinderella herself green with envy! 
As if defining yourself wasn't difficult enough you have to choose between fitted or poofy? lace, beading, plain? cap sleeves, straps, strapless? mermaid, trumpet, a-line, ball gown?  Here are some practical thoughts for choosing the perfect gown.

1. Think about your body type.  If you have some curvy girl hips and want to down play them, draw the eye up with some interesting detail on the bust or choose an a-line gown that won't over-accentuate!
2. Don't forget to ask about color options.  These days, there are several color options.  You can go pure white, off white, ivory, champagne, or light gold.  Remember to take lighting into consideration as well.  I myself look better in champagne than I do it purest white so I will most likely be choosing a off white or ivory option.
3. Have fun! Remember, its your day and no one elses.  Whatever makes you feel like a bridal beauty is exactly what you should go for. 

Thanks for stopping in and reading! More dress shopping plans are in the works and I can't wait to share my next adventure with ya'll! Love ya'll!

Hi ya'll!  Happy Thanksgiving!! This morning I woke up to the delicious smells of sweet potato casserole baking in the oven downstairs.  As I waddled down the stairs, I heard the strains of marching band anthems welcome the holiday season from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  My mom was laughing with my dad over a cup of coffee as they planned who would take what where and when we should arrive at Mama's house for lunch.  I smiled to myself and thought, "Does it really get any better than this?"  Now, of course, like any real family, our day had its rough spots. We fuss and fight, argue and tease but we always love each other!
I can't believe how fast time flies and that Christmas will be here faster than you can say HO HO HO! I usually view Thanksgiving as signal of the Christmas holidays and brush through with more thought to the day after sales and the Iron Bowl than I really do Thanksgiving itself.  But this year, it seemed a little more special to me.  I want to remember everything: the smells, the laughs, the sounds, the traditions.  Next year, Matt and I will start our own new traditions and as exciting as that is, I'm a little sad about not waking up next year and helping my mom in the kitchen.  Matt and I will begin the complicated juggle of balancing his and my families get togethers.  It will be great but I want to make sure I don't forget to experience the reason why we have these holidays.
This year I'm thankful for a kind husband to be, a wonderfully real family who is always there for me, and friends who laugh and share everything with me.  I'm also thankful for a loving Lord who has blessed me in the most gracious way! I hope all of you had wonderful Thanksgiving and that each and everyone of you are blessed beyond belief in the coming holiday season! Love ya'll! Thanks for stopping by!

Makin' Plans

  Hi there, ya'll! I hope this post finds everyone happily wasting away a beautiful Saturday afternoon! Wedding planning update: Today, I looked at save the dates, programs, and bridal stationary.  I ended up ordering some beautiful bridal stationary to keep my lovely guests thanked for all of their support and gifts! Also, plans are in the works to do a little dress shopping over Thanksgiving holidays! I am beyond thrilled about this! I will keep ya'll informed as I begin my quest for the perfect dress to sport down the aisle!
  Today, my momma and I did a little pre-Thanksgiving shopping and in the car on the way home we were listening to one of our favorite artists, Miss Miranda Lambert.  (If by some huge stroke of luck Miranda is reading this post, I just want to say that I love your music! "I'm just like you, only prettier".. jk, but really, we love you!) She has this great song on her album Revolution that says exactly how I feel about my sweet husband to be. It is called "Makin' Plans"  In a way, that is what this blog is all about for me.  It is a place for me to share the plans that Matt and I are making and the highs and lows that come with planning a life together. Anyway, here are a few of the lyrics from "Makin' Plans"

If I wasn’t by your side/I’d never be satisfied
Nothin’ would feel just right/If I wasn’t by your side

‘Cause I’m not easy to understand
But you know me like the back of your hand
I’m your girl and you’re my man
And we’re making plans

  In the light of my new role of wife to be, this song really yanks on my heartstrings.  The song says, "Cause I'm not easy to understand, but you know me like the back of your hand..." I know that there has been more times in the past than I care to admit to that I have been absolutely nonsensically emotional, moody, and just plain crazy.  But my sweet Matt knows me and he knows that I don't always need someone to fix the problem or spout off a list of solutions, I just need someone to listen. Love, at its very simplest, is this, it is accepting the one you love for exactly who they are.  Not who they were or who they will be, but who they are now. And I won't be satisfied unless he is right there by my side, whether he likes it or not! Haha, ya'll, I'm just picking! I mean, who wouldn't want to be by my side :)

    Thank ya'll so much for stopping by and spending a little time with me! Come back again soon! Love ya'll!

P.S. Here is a pic I thought ya'll might enjoy!

Welcome!

Hi there! This is a big event for me and I am so excited about sharing a historic day in Jaclyn history: this is my very first blog. EVER. I suppose the polite thing to do would be to introduce myself.  My name is Jaclyn and I'm a student at the University of Alabama ( ROLL TIDE!). I'm also a newly engaged girly and I'm sure ya'll will be hearing all about that as it occupies alot of my mind. Also, my best friend, roomate, and maid of honor is also engaged and getting married soon as well.
I have been wanting to do some blogging for a while and so, with a little encouragement from my roomie, I took the plunge.  My mind goes ninety to nothing all day long so this will be the perfect outlet for all those thoughts! In this blog, I will probably talk alot about books I'm reading, new things I'm trying, and all about being a bride!! I hope that ya'll will follow along the next several months as I waid through mounds of ideas for flowers, dresses, locations, etc. as I plan my big day! I love crafty stuff and am an avid painter so there will probably be lots in here about whatever new craft project I'm dabbling in! So, Welcome and I hope you enjoy reading about my adventures in reading, crafting, and wedding planning!