Flash to the Past

Lately I have become fascinated with 1950s fashion.  I actually am fascinated with the whole era.  Besides loving the fashion, I love the fact that women were women. REAL women.  They were strong, classy, and beautiful.  I want to be like that.

How gorgeous is that? 

You can't get classier or more beautiful than Grace Kelly in my mind.  I love, love, love pearls.  They wore them with everything.  I have a three strand pearl necklace from my grandmother that I adore.  Though they're not real, I think they came from that era.  I need to find the perfect outfit to wear them with. 

Especially with my job now, where I wear khakis and a t-shirt and work with lots of people younger than me, I feel like I look very young.  I don't want to look older than I am, looking my age would be great.  Maybe if I can incorporate some of the 1950s style in my wardrobe, I can look a bit older. 

I found an article on the internet today that describes why I like the 1950s so much. http://modernretrowoman.com/2011/06/07/seven-reasons-i-love-being-a-1950s-style-woman/  

Working on my Photography

I decided to do something with some of the pictures I've taken that I like. So I put together an online photography portfolio.  You can find it here. Check it out. Feedback is much appreciated.

Wedding Update

So where am I in the wedding process?

Wedding venue: Check.  Chapel of Memories at State reserved and payed for.

Reception venue: Check.  Ballroom in the Union reserved.

Catering: Check. Talked with MSU Catering. Will submit order in the fall.

Dress: Check.  Picked out fabric for my dress (only took 2 hours... haha).  I love what we've come up with. Too bad I can't post pictures here (not that future hubby reads my blog, but just in case).  My mom also made a mock up of the patter to see if it worked with my shape (which will hopefully be a smaller shape come December).  It will look great.  So the actual construction of the dress is the next step.

Undergarments for dress: I've got those picked out. Just have to order.

Shoes: I found fabulous maroon shoes. So excited!

Jewelry: Still in the works.

Bridesmaid dresses: Next on the list.

Job!

I am finally employed again after almost three months and many job applications.  It isn't the job I thought I was going to get.  I had interviewed with one company three different times.  I kept calling to see if the position had been filled, and it hadn't, so my hopes kept high.  It seemed like a perfect job for me- entry level, great pay and benefits, and something I could really see myself doing.  But it had been almost two months since my first interview.  Then another offer came along.  It wasn't ideal, and it payed less, but it was more than I was making at the time (nothing).  So I called the first company one last time and explained my situation.  They basically said they weren't able to hire anyone right now.  So I accepted the other offer.  I'm just so glad to be employed again.  I'll work hard at this and hopefully it will be a good experience.

Cheaper than Therapy

I tried at the beginning of the year to start blogging about crafts, recipes, and photography so that maybe my blog would get noticed.  There's a company that shows your blogs to other companies so that maybe they would want you to publish a review of one of their products.  Well, I tried that for a while, but I decided that's not what my blog is for.  It's awesome that other people make money on blogging.  Not many, but some.  My blog is more like therapy.  I don't have many regular followers, but I don't really blog for other people.  I do it for me.  There's just something about venting to a computer screen.  I hope in expressing what I'm feeling or describing what's going on in my life, if someone reads it, it will help them too.  Or at least be entertaining.  But it's really my cheap therapy.

That being said, I haven't been blogging as much as I used to.  I'm not sure exactly why.  It's not for lack of free time.  As of yesterday, I had been unemployed for over 2 months.  I had plenty of free time.  It's not that everything in my life is hunky dory.  I've still got my share of difficulties.  Whatever the reason, I decided it's time to blog again.

Bit by Bit

I've started making more progress on the wedding planning.  I picked up and dusted off that wedding planning binder that I bought and cracked it open.  I actually started writing in it this time.  All I need to secure the reservation at the chapel is to mail in the paperwork.  Ceremony site: done!

I have pretty much decided that we're going to use the student union ballroom for the reception.  It's just across the street and we can really make it look great without going overboard.  It's affordable too!  The only thing I worried about was that MSU dining had to be the caterer.  I don't have many references for them, but it does make another decision very easy!  So I think I'm ok with that.  So I've just got to call them Monday and book it.

Next on the list:  Photographer, Bakery, Florist.

Too Many Options!

Update on last week: Goal failed. The weather kinda put a kink in things. Will try again next week!

Tonight I got on a wedding planning kick.  I started looking at guest lists, venues, bridesmaids dresses, tuxes, flowers, cakes, etc.  I have concluded that there are entirely too many options and ideas out there.  I am a very visual person, so I look for pictures of things I like and add them to www.pintrest.com. You simply must check out this site.  It has so many ideas for crafts, recipes, weddings, clothes, and more. It's addicting.  I have my own "boards" here. Feel free to check those out as well.

I have been engaged for almost five months and I feel like I haven't done much with the planning. I do have almost 11 months left to plan, though.  We finally set a date (yay!) for December 8, 2012.  I booked the Chapel of Memories on Mississippi State's campus.  It's a gorgeous little chapel and it means something to both of us.  We met and started dating at State, so it's fitting. So that's two things down.

My mother and I have been hashing out wedding dress ideas and designs.  She's going to make my dress!  I'm very excited about this.  Even though I will have to wait a while to see myself in the finished product, it will be so special and definitely worth the wait.

Just Do It!

While I'm waiting for the Benadryl to kick in and quiet this noisy brain of mine, I thought I'd take a minute to write.
No, this isn't a post about Nike, but I think their slogan works nicely for where I'm going with this.
Too many times in this life have I over thought and over analyzed an idea or situation and in the end gave up or talked myself out of it. I will never accomplish any goals or get anywhere in life if I keep doing this! I have to "Just Do It!"
Now I'm not saying you shouldn't think about things before you act. God knows this has saved me from embarrassment and mistakes many, many times. But after you consider something, act!
I have been saying far too long that I need to lose weight. I need to cut the high sugar and carb intake, drink more water, and get off the couch. I know this and have weighed all my options, but I fail to act. My wedding is in 358 days. I refuse to not look and feel my best. I will act.
I will set small goals each week so I don't drown in a sea of disappointment and failure. My goal for next week is to walk 4 days and not to drink sodas. I think it's attainable. No, it IS attainable.
I am hoping that this plan will help me feel better about myself and will motivate me to do other things I want/need to do.
Question: What motivates you?

Exciting Changes!

So you might have noticed that I've made some changes to the ole blog.  How do you like it?  I've decided that my blog needs a bit of direction.  I hope that in the process, maybe I'll get a clue about what direction my life is going in.  I want this blog to be less about what's happening to me and more about what I'm doing. Instead of being the receiver, I want to be the doer.  I hope to focus more on my hobbies and talents.  Things like photography, cooking, crafts, and the like.  Anything I happen to be doing at the time.  So, let's hope this works.

I would also like to ask a favor of those reading.  For the sake of a little research, please post a comment if you read this post.  Something as simple as "I read it!" will do nicely.  It can be anonymous if you prefer.  I'm just trying to get an idea of how many of you are out there.

Thanks!