a new full-time gig

On Friday, I finished medical school!  I receive my M.D. in May!  I am thrilled, but really finishing medical school is just a stepping stone.  I know that a residency lies ahead ready to whup my tail...but until then I'm looking forward to spending time wedding planning and decorating Aaron's house.  So far, wedding planning has definitely been a full-time job.  Here's what I've been up to-

Invitations are going out tomorrow and I couldn't be more excited.  Aaron is coming over tonight and he and my parents are going to help me stuff all the invitations for mailing.  On Sunday, a few of my friends came over and helped assemble and tie all of my invitations!!  It was so nice of everyone to pitch in and it made what would take me 12 hours get accomplished in 3 hours.  I can't wait to do the invitation reveal in a week or so!

Yesterday, I met Dawn, my florist at the Garden on Millbrook.  We were able to walk through the space with Adelaide (an event coordinator at the GoM) and talk about set-up, linens, lighting, etc.  It's exciting seeing how things are coming together!  We also went to the church and discussed the decor there as well.  The only thing that is not fun is that it seems every time you talk about how fabulous something would be, the budget takes another hit.  Hopefully everything will come together okay.

Here's a mood board I made today :-)

l.o.v.e.

So, last Friday I wrote about showers and how nice people were to throw them for us and give gifts.  However, I thought I knew but I had no idea...people are so loving and generous!  Aaron and I had a fabulous couple shower this weekend.  It was touching to see how happy people were for us even though the majority of them had never even met me, yet they accepted me with open arms.  It was so fun hearing the hilarious stories about Aaron and then things took a more serious note as people told me how highly they think of Aaron, what an amazing person he is and how lucky I am to be marrying him.  It was also really touching to see how close these ladies were, they were mostly elementary school teachers who worked with Aaron's mom who is also a teacher.  They'd known each other for years and the strength of their friendship showed as they all sat laughing and recounting memories together.  They served the most delicious food (red velvet cupcakes, mini cheesecakes, ham biscuits) and the decorations were beautiful.  I can't wait until I'm sent some pics so I can share them with you all.  Lastly, the gifts we got were amazing.  I hate to say it because I don't want to sound greedy, but at the same time I have to give credit where it's due, right?  It would be totally crazy of me not to say that the gifts were fabulous and we are so lucky to be starting out with these killer things for our home.  A third of our Bed Bath and Beyond registry has been knocked out, y'all.  I can't wait to get in Aaron's kitchen, give it a thorough cleaning, pack his hodgepodge away and replace it with shiny, new, quality items.  It will be a glorious day!

Time to take a Bath!

So, our flower girl Grace told her mother that I'm having a bath for my wedding and she and Grandma are going.  A bath?!   Lo and behold, Grace meant I'm having a shower!!!  Aaron's Mom is throwing us a couple's shower this weekend and I'm so excited.  We are so lucky, so many people want to celebrate the wedding.  I'm looking forward to meeting more of Aaron's friends and family this weekend.  Next weekend, my mom is throwing me a bridal shower with her friend's.  It's a little embarrassing, because I don't want people to think I'm on a quest for gifts.  However, it's really the opposite-people have been really enthusiastic about the showers and seem on a quest to give us gifts!  Especially the *ahem* older guests.  I'm definitely learning a lesson in being gracious and I definitely have a lot to give in the future!  Now that Aaron and I are becoming adults it means that we need to more responsible when it comes to birthdays, Christmas and, of course, weddings when it comes to giving good gifts.  I feel like I'm going to have to set up a separate bank account omigosh...

Also, I've got to be more timely.  I'm still finishing up the last of the thank you cards for my shower earlier this month.  I must finish before Saturday or they'll really pile up!

so thankful for great friends and family! Especially the ones coming over to help me tie invitations on Sunday!!!  wahooo

Sick

I woke up this morning with a throat on fire, a tender neck and an all-over feeling like I'd been hit by a truck.  Sick. :-( Since I'm a medical student, I took advantage of the fact that I can stay at home and the hospital will run smoothly without me (sometimes smoother).  I don't know what I'll do as a resident when these things happen.  I don't think you have a choice but to go to work and trudge through it.

Since I'm at home today, I'll be spending my time working from bed preparing my invitation suites.  I pick up all my envelopes this weekend and couldn't be more ecstatic!  I'm trying to get everything ready to I can simply stuff and mail next week.  As long as they go out by Friday they'll be going out a little over the 6 week mark...which is not late people!  The Knot and a few other websites told me the traditional time to mail invitations is between 6-8 weeks.  So I aimed for 8, knowing I'd be a little slow and make it by 6.  With people sending out invitations earlier and earlier these days, so many people have asked me about mailing invitations, hotel accommodations, blah blah blah. I know they may be 'excited' about the wedding, but I'm really just getting sick of it, I just want to tell these people Hey! Have you ever stamped 400 envelopes, tied 200 invitation sets and mailed them?!  No, I didn't think so.  Some days I really wish I had a wedding planner because my mom and especially my aunt are not so helpful.  

Here's a picture of how wedding planning goes...

June

I've booked Fairmont UMC for the wedding ceremony.  I state I'm going to call the Fairmont organist and ask her to play for us.  My mother and aunt go up in arms over should I get an organist I know to play (I don't know any organists) and they'll find one for me.  Uh, okay.  

December

No organist yet.  My mom calls one she knows.  Who keeps saying maybe, maybe, maybe.

January

Organist says actually she can't play.  I tell my aunt who says, "oh no Lauren...finding an organist will be hard.  I wish you luck with that."  -_-  

Conversation with my mom 1 weeks ago

Mom: Have you found an organist yet?

Me: No...I've contacted 3 people.  2 had never played a pipe organ before and were intimidated, the third was busy.  The Fairmont organist hasn't contacted me back yet and it's been a few days.  Everyone gives me references though so now I'm working on that list.

Days pass, and I'm making phone calls...

Mom: Have you found an organist yet?

Me: No....

Mom:  Well, a teacher I work with, her husband's an organist at a church in North Hills.  Want me to ask her?

Me: ....dumbfounded my mom has been watching me work hard at this when she had a connection to another organist all along.  ***head steaming***

Thankfully, like so many things with the wedding, things all fell together yesterday when the Fairmont church organist emailed me and apologized for being MIA and yes, she could play the organ for our wedding.  Which is better, because going with my family's references have all bombed and a family reference is actually a warning sign at this point.  My mom's friend who said she could do my wedding hair and make-up?  After failing to tell me she had the "flu" and not showing up to our trial appointment, I've never heard from her again.  So I got the joy of spending $500 on hiring a hair stylist and make-up artist, but at least I know they are good, professional and trustworthy.  

Forgive me folks.  I'm literally sick, and I'm also getting a bit sick and tired of wedding planning...but still excited. :-)

Girl Crush

As you get older, your interests change.  I still love fashion, but I am losing interest in looking at fashion blogs of girls that seemingly do nothing but wear expensive clothing each day with no source of income and no purpose in their lives.  Do something more people!

I've also found a new website, TheEveryGirl.com, and as the name implies, it talks about everything.  Food, fashion, jobs, politics, decorating...things that matter in my life right now.  They do house tours and I saw this gorgeous home-

and it belongs to this girl, Meg Galligan.

However, I really fell for her when I saw her jewelry designs.

L-O-V-E at first site.  The bangles retail around $88 each.  Since I won't be getting Ippolita anytime soon, I would love to instead splurge on a set of these, 3 maybe?  They're so gorgeous, I don't think it would even feel like  I'm settling.  I think this will be the perfect graduation or birthday gift this spring!

P.S.  You can buy the paintings in her dining room at this Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/GreenAndGrand
I'm definitely keeping them under my favorites for home decor!

Valentine's Day

Just like every other girl, I love Valentine's Day.  It's a girl's holiday.  We get to get dolled up and treated like a queen...it is the best holiday!  On Wednesday night I had to work late in the Pediatric Emergency Room, but Aaron was also in Chapel Hill celebrating a friend's birthday.  We both met up a little after midnight to exchange kisses and a say happy Valentine's Day.  Aaron gave me a gift certificate to Uniquities!  It's a super cute clothing boutique in the Triangle.  I'm always whining about medical school making me raggedy and not having enough time/money to shop, so I'm pretty ecstatic about this gift!!!

On Valentine's Day we had a wonderful dinner at home which consisted of-wait for it-pulled pork lasagna.  It was delicious!  Aaron didn't make it, but that made it even better-heating up food, drinking wine, no stress.  I got gift #2 of the day - a Fitbit!  It's this really cool podometer on steroids-it tracks your steps, calories you burn, level of work-out, it has a GPS and can tell when you're moving.  It's pretty awesome I can't wait to incorporate it with my fitness routine.  It even syncs with My Fitness Pal.  I've been pretty good at keeping my new year's resolution about getting fit.  I usually eat a really light breakfast and lunch, I'm also working out at least twice a week (zumba!).  I lost a few pounds that I put on and all my college dresses fit again. :-)  I think it's important to weigh yourself regularly and make sure life doesn't creep up on you so I was happy to nip the weight gain in the bud.  I may need to take in my wedding dress one more time but that's one bill I'd be ecstatic to pay!

To keep on the fitness note, I got Aaron some sessions with a personal trainer!  The first session is free, so he gets to see if he likes it and then I'll buy him a package.  He's trying to get in-shape as well so I think this will really help him learn to exercise in a safe and effective way.  

How was your Valentine's Day?!

the veil kiss is definitely on my shot list :-)

2 more months

4/13/13/ <3

P.S. My friend Sarah and fellow bride Ying gave me some Southern Weddings buttons to put on my bachelorette sash!  They read Love Never Fails <3 and Yee-haw!  They love SWMag too!

Bridal Shower and Bachelorette!

Y'all.  I am so lucky.  Seriously!!!  I had my bridal shower and bachelorette last weekend and they were fantastic.  My sister was awesome and did most of the work, so I didn't have much to do, but I did stress a bit about where we going to do dinner, hotel rooms and the number of people in our group (16!).  Everything totally worked out though and was worth the stress.  Hopefully the wedding will be like that too. :-)

The bridal shower was Saturday morning at my house.  Having the shower at my house meant baking cupcakes and late night Walmart runs the night before. :-)  A few of my friends came over early and helped set up and everything turned out beautiful!!!

We played some of the popular wedding games, like making bridal gowns out of toilet paper!  Don't we look fabulous??

Natalie, on the left, won :)

Then it was time to open gifts.  At first, my friends told me which gifts were "adult" and to save them for later that night.  However, the gift my aunt gave was pretty skimpy, so it opened the door to all gifts being opened...lots of fun but a little embarrassing too, especially with my mom there!  Everyone was thoughtful, I'm pretty lucky to have such awesome friends and family!

Yup that's a Tiffany box but the gift inside isn't from Tiffany haha

After the shower, most girls went home but some of us stayed at the house.  We were so tired, we took a nap!  After that we headed out to the Marriott downtown where we got dressed and the pregame party began.  The bachelorette games were bit raunchy :) and after couple drinks and a round of shots we were ready to head out!

At the Marriott

Heading off to dinner with my fellow Hamptonians (college friends)

Dinner at Dos Taquitos Centro,
we got upstairs to ourselves!

After dinner it was time to dance!  We started the night at Architect, which was so much fun.  My friends were especially great at finding random guys for me to dance with - 2 birthday boys and then just some random fellows.  It was pretty funny because they all acted so honored and excited to be dancing with the bachelorette.  I was afaid some people would find a bachelorette cheesy, but most people were excited and girls in the bathroom even let me skip the line!  lol.

hopefully I'll collect some partying pics from my friends.  

Until then, I'll put a picture here to thank my sister, maid of honor and
hostess with the mostess Allison!!!  I had sooo much fun thank you sis :-)

We finished the night at Zynda.  At around 1:30 we were pretty exhausted since we'd been celebrating all day.  But no one was more worn out then our neighbor at the Marriott....

Key card in hand...so close!

don't worry guys...he was able to walk out of the hotel the next day!