We had our final Christmas get together this past weekend with Ronnie's dad, stepmom, sister and her boyfriend. It was also the last day I got to enjoy my Christmas decorations!! :( Sadly, I took very few pictures while they were here but probably because we were too busy feeding our faces, drinking way too much wine and opening a ton of gifts from his generous parents. It was fun!

Adorable cookie cake that his stepmom brought // Hanging out by the presents, where else? //
Loving her time with Aunt Krissy // A sad day - taking it all down on Sunday :( 

Also fun is that I haven't had to cook a thing this week because we had so many leftovers! Everyone contributed and all I had to make was a side and a dessert - very nice when you're the one hosting! These are the two things I made and they were so stupid good! They're also some of the easiest recipes around so pin em for the future!

The leftovers are gone now and I'm excited to actually cook up something tonight for Ronnie since he's been gone since Monday! Say what? Yup, Ronnie went on a work trip! Much like all those times I've left him behind during my work trips, this week was my payback ;) He had the first part of job training in Tulsa and will arrive back home tonight. And next week, he'll be gone FIVE days in Dallas. This week, he was technically only gone 2 nights and next week he'll be gone Sunday night and return Friday night. That's gonna be a. long. week. I'm feeling pretty nervous about it!

On the mom side, I just have to say how proud I am of our big girl! She's finally starting to say a bunch of words clearly and she's actually trying to enunciate. One of those words is monkey and one is Daddy which she says so clearly now and Ronnie LOVES it :) This past Saturday she added chip, diaper and sock to her vocab and on Monday she called herself "Hyatt" which has been a looong time coming. We've been trying to teach her her name FOREVER and she's finally catching on ;) Then last night, I'm 98% sure she told me "Luh you, mama" as she was hugging me. Can I tell you how my heart basically exploded right then?

We're about a month and a half away now from her turning 2 and I'm trying not to get all sobby about it. Where has the time gone??! For her 2nd, we've decided to not throw a party. Her first birthday party was a bit much for us considering how big my family alone is and without getting too into it, things happened that now make it awkward to bring our families together sooo we've decided it's easier (and cheaper!) to keep it low key. (Until she's older and starts asking for a party!) I'm happy to have a stress free, fun day just the three of us to celebrate her 2nd and if the grandparents want to celebrate with her on their own, then we'll do that too at some point during the weekend. Just no big parties for a while ;)

kissing on daddy the night before he left  - she always makes him wear her play glasses. ha // new fun stuff! //
loooving this polish! Sinful Colors - Endless Blue // cheesing with my girl

Back to reality...

Well, my two week vacation is over and I'm officially back at work. #coffeeme #andhandmethetissues

The only positive I can see about this is that I actually changed out of pj's and put some makeup on before noon. If that's even a positive, really, because what I wouldn't do to be back home right now with my people. It was honestly the best two weeks ever. We stayed up late, slept in, did whatever we wanted whether that was stay cozy at home all day, play outside, go shopping - whatever. we. wanted. Just having that time to relax and not having one impending deadline looming over me, a bajillion e-mails stressing me out, NOTHING - and it was everything that I thought it could be.

The best part was being able to see the changes in Violet every day, first hand. Sure I see her every day but I don't have full days with her so having that time was truly wonderful and I did a lot of crying and feeling sorry for myself last night because I didn't want it to end. She's growing so. so. fast and I just wish I could be with her as it all happens. My practical side knows that's impossible but my emotional side (probably a good 85% of me) knows that this was my last holiday with my "baby". The baby/toddler that we still can't understand clearly, the one who giggles at eeeeverything we do to make her laugh, the one who's obsessed with animals and making animal sounds - she'll be completely different next year at this time. She'll be going on 3 and yes, she'll still be as cute as ever to us but no longer a baby. I know I'm jumping the gun here...I mean girlfriend still hasn't even turned 2! But I'm so crazy and overly sentimental that I can't help but think of these things. 

I totally slacked on blogging while I was on vacation and I'm ok with that. At some point I might try and post some Christmas pictures and maybe even some of my Christmas decor (because it's still up and might be for another week or so.)...or I may never get around to doing that at all. Lezbihonest. So this mish mash may be the best you get of our life from the past two weeks :) 

1) first teeny bun // her old lady walk // christmas eve love // christmas morning

2) christmas at grammy's // fender bender on christmas evening. ugh. // cutest jam jams ever // first "snow" at sea world

3) coloring's a new fave // sushi with a friend and V // nye nails // "caaaar"

4) bubble necklace wearing // friends to keep a sick girl company // bakery treats // #idontwannatakedownchristmas

A date with Santa

On Sunday I had my first ever "we met on Instagram" date with my new friend Chelsea, from Austin. She and I met through my Instagram shop, she has one also and an Etsy shop too where she sells hand painted leggings (more on that in another post!). There's not a whole ton of girls in our area on the Instagram shop "circuit" so we chatted a lot and we both have girls the same age so decided to make plans to meet up, somewhere between SA and Austin. Chelsea had the idea to meet in Gruene since that's a great spot in the middle for us and we could get the girls' Santa pictures taken there with Cowboy Kringle. (Seriously. So cute, right?)

After two failed attempts (weather related), we finally made it happen yesterday! It still was bad timing with Violet in awful teething, whiney mode but I was determined to make the meet up happen and I'm so glad I finally got to meet Chelsea and Addi! I didn't get any pictures of Chelsea and I but I did get a couple of the girls while we were in line for Santa. The line wasn't that long but it was pretty unorganized so it took longer than it probably should have. Good thing for the abnormally cold day and getting there early so there wasn't much of a crowd!

So, back to when I said Violet was in whiney mode? Yeah, that lasted the whole time. Hence the baby pacifier for most of the day. UGH. And by the time she got up to see Santa, she was already wearing down and I knew it wouldn't be good. I even changed the original picture package I'd signed up for because I figured we wouldn't get a good shot. But I guess if you consider crying pictures to be good ones, then hers was great! Poor Santa still asked her if she wanted anything for Christmas and I told him a doll would be great to which he replied, "I will see what I can do!". I took that to mean, girlfriend's getting coal for Christmas. She's still pretty cute though :)

After pictures, I totally pushed my luck and we took the girls to eat at the Grist Mill. Enter toddler nap time meltdown. I got to eat a few bites and then it all went way downhill. Poor Chelsea packed up my food for me while she and her angel of a child ate and I walked outside to calm down my child. We had to leave soon after but thank goodness for Chelsea being so awesome and helpful throughout it all. It was so great meeting her and I hope we get to do it again soon! Next time though, my kid's staying at home and we'll be in Gruene for another reason - WINE.

you should be...

Obsessing over this.
(Seriously good ideas. What I would do to have an ounce of their creativity!)

Snacking on this.

(I finally tried it and all I can say is death by cookie butter is how I wanna go one day.)

Buying this entire line.

(This planner was just $7.99 at Target and it's perfection. The outside was blank so I just slapped on a glittery monogram from Etsy and then my planner-loving heart just about burst.)

Listening to this.

(I'm going real old school here, well, because I can. And because I'm Morrissey-obsessed.)

Downloading this.
(I look forward to Sarah Hearts' ridiculously pretty wallpapers every month!)

Of course I have a wish list

One week from today, the madness of Christmas shopping will start (unless you're gaggy and perfect and have already started your shopping ;) and I have zero clue what to get anyone. I have my list of people to buy for and that's about it. But being the brat I am, of course I have my own wish list ready to go! ha

I put together a board on Pinterest and it's the easiest way to keep my selfish wishes organized. My mom's been bugging me for a list for a while now so I sent this to her and of course to Ronnie. My mom still gets me what she wants to get me (feeling the love, mom! ha) but Ronnie actually pays attention :) Like the year he got me the one Kate Spade bangle I wanted, or the year we said "no gifts" and he still surprised me with Old Navy and Target gift cards. I'm totally not that person who thinks gift cards are not thoughtful either. If you've thought about me, you know I really just love shopping so a gift card is the perfect thoughtful gift! Am I right?!

Tell me if you've posted a wish list too this year, I wanna see it!

Follow Jessica Wish List on Pinterest

Merry Christmas, Y'all!

Thank you for being amazing friends and hanging out with me here ;)

I hope y'all have a very Merry Christmas!

xoxoxoxo

Cheesy video + pictures of San Antonio Christmas + George Strait = awesome ;)
Enjoy!

Christmas Break

Nice to see everyone still here ;) I'm sure I'm not alone when I say I'm sooo over the end of the world talk/jokes! We'll all still be here tomorrow and for Christmas and for the New Year... and we'll all continue to have to pay our bills. ha

As for me and this blog though, I probably won't be around for the next week. (I say that but who knows.) I scheduled a post for Christmas day and that's all I've got for now. When I get off work today, I'm out until January 2nd and I couldn't be more excited. Sooo much time with Violet, I can't wait!!

So 'til then, enjoy the time with your family, enjoy the last of the Christmas events, music and food... And I'll probably see you after it's all said and done! :) xoxo

thursday thoughts - christmas edish

Source: notmartha.org via Jessica on Pinterest

--I'm obsessed with this Christmas tree ornament mobile but let's be real, I would never finish that. I just don't have the attention span (or the time! ;).

--Is having an Elf on the Shelf some sort of requirement when you have kids? I think it's cute but I'm just not creative enough to come up with something new every day and honestly, seeing them everywhere now has got me feeling over it!

--Reading mixed reviews on the #1 item on my wish list, Kate Spade's Glitterball Gia, has me worried. Does the glitter flake off or not? :/ I just want it so badly, I almost don't even care. ha! #firstworldproblems

--Am I the only one who misses her this year?! I'm not sure why Target thought the new guy and girl on the commercials would be better than this amazingness. She used to pump.me.up for shopping!

Source: google.com via Jessica on Pinterest

--I'm gonna be real selfish here and just say it: I'm tired of buying gifts. Ronnie and I have big immediate families and friends to buy for and I sometimes wonder about the things we could be doing to our house (that needs some updating!) with the money I've spent. I know that's shitty. I really do love giving, don't get me wrong. I'm just looking forward to January when we can do what we need to with our extra money. Does anyone ever feel that way?

--I plan to watch at least 2 holiday movies this weekend. Hopefully those two are Love Actually and Home Alone (for the bazillionth time!). One will get me feeling lovey dovey and the other always reminds me of my childhood - good times!

--My amazing friend Elizabeth has offered to take a few family Christmas photos of us this weekend and I'm excited but I'm nervous too. I've never had a profesh picture taken of me (except for that one time in 2000 at Glamour Shots. sex-ay!) and I'm afraid I'll come out looking like this:

Source: giantbomb.com via Emily on Pinterest

--Then I'll be forced to eat my feelings and only make matters worse.

What's on your mind today??

Easy Peasy Christmas DIY Ideas

I'm totally cheating today and re-posting something I wrote as a guest post for Lauren recently. I'm not sure if many of y'all saw it so I thought I'd share it here! 

But first I gotta tell you, I did one DIY project the weekend of Thanksgiving and sure, it was the easiest thing ever (even so, I'll post a quick tutorial soon!) but I basically felt like a god - dang rock star when it was done. Can you believe I'm FINALLY BEING CRAFTY, Y'ALL!? :) Lindsay's DIY post today totally inspired me for my next project too; her glittery ornaments are the cutest! And who doesn't love glitter with no mess?! 

Read on and let me know if you'd try any of these! Or tell me what your next DIY project is ;)

So I don't know about you but I feel like everyone in blog land has become Martha Stewart since Pinterest was invented and I, for one, am totally jealous! Where was I when the crafty gene was being handed out?! Either I missed out or I am just seriously lazy. (But that sounds bad so I'm gonna blame the baby for now, ok? Sorry, Violet.)

I figure the only way to turn things around is to start small. So today I'm sharing some of the easiest Christmas DIY projects eh-ver. So easy even I could pull them off. And I fully intend to. Pinky swear! Plus, Ronnie called me out for talking a big game on my blog about wanting to DIY and never following through so I kinda have to prove him wrong. 

My favorite thing about these projects is that you won't even have to step away from the TV and/or bottle of wine to get these done! What's not to love about that?

Ornaments in a shadow box. 
Oh, I can soooo do this.

DIY Sparkle Garland.
Bring on the glitter!

Hang ornaments and blingy things on fishing line.
FISHING LINE, y'all. DONE.

Spray paint wine bottles then spray on craft adhesive then roll in Epsom salt.
Then drink some more wine.

Place sticker monograms onto an ornament and give as a gift.
I'm pretty sure my 8 9 month old can do this.

Turn paint strips into gift tags.
E-Z and you'll basically look like a genius.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Happy Thursday!

P.S.
I linked up my birth story over at Michelle's blog, for those of you who might be interested in that kinda stuff ;)

Thursday Thoughts

--Thanks to Tara's tweet, I found out that May Books are 50% off today HERE! I'm grabbing one for sure. Especially because it doesn't look like EC planners are going on sale anytime soon. BOO!

--Speaking of, are you following me on Twitter? DO IT.

--Sooo many cute things at Old Navy right now. I bought a flannel top that is the coziest thing ever (I'd show you but all the flannel is missing from their site right now??) and I want one in every color!

--Also, why must my body shape be the absolute worst for skinny jeans?! I wish they worked but they just.dont.

--I used Mod Podge yesterday for the first time in years and I can say I am fully addicted. I even did a simple little DIY project! WHO AM I?

--Every year I buy a few things from the Bath & Body Works Winter Candy Apple line and I finally stocked up yesterday. I am obsessed and loving how I smell today ;)

--Who else is freaking out about Christmas gifts they still have to buy? I'm clueless about a few of our relatives and I'm afraid I'll end up just gving them gift cards. Which I personally love to receive but I always wonder if people think it's an impersonal gift? Thoughts?

--I heard this Christmas song yesterday and looove it. It's a tribute band singing Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer but set to the Beatles' I Saw Her Standing There (one of my faves!!).

Now for the mom thoughts. (Just warning those of you who don't care to read this stuff ;)

I feel like the worst mom EVER for not keeping up with Violet's monthly updates. I really could kick myself for not keeping better records. Time just flies and I feel like I've missed out on such a great opportunity that I'll never get back. But I'm going to pick it up again. I'm promising myself this.

So where did all this crazy talk come from? V turned 9 months old yesterday and I feel like it's all happening too fast. I focus on cherishing every smile, every cuddle, her scent, her giggles, everything. I know it's a good thing to live in the moment but I feel like total nutzo mom, trying to cope with her baby growing up. Please tell me I'm not alone? :/

happy 9 months, toots :)

Today

Is much better than yesterday, thank the lawd for that!

I'm not sure why the hell I'm blogging so late. I don't even have much to share...This is all I could come up with but ya know, memories and stuff. That's what my blog is made of.

Today the local "soft rock" station started their 24/7 Christmas music! Exact same day they did it last year too. This is awesome.

Our office center put up some Christmas decor! (Last January that fountain froze over. Which was totally amazing to us South Texans ;)

and the bosses have been gone all day, we may or may not have partaken in Happy Hour during lunch and it's effing Friday, y'all. LIFE IS GOOD.

This Friday dance is totally going on in my head right now too. (Every time I see a gif. now I think you of Marcy! hahaha)

What are your plans for the weekend?

The Shabby Apple giveaway is open until Monday at midnight. Enter to win $50 credit!

Thursday Thoughts

Happy Thursday and Happy 59th Birthday to my daddy!

I don't have any recent pictures of us on this computer so I just grabbed the latest one I had on Facebook which was taken on my due date! Crazy. The old pictures is one of my favorites of us :) I love this man so so much and I really don't know what I'd do without him. I'm opinionated, hardworking and passionate because of him and I also owe my sense of humor and potty mouth to him ;) Love you, Daddy!

--We have so much going on this weekend! Saturday we're having a garage sale and then having Ronnie's fam over for a BBQ that night. So much for trying to sleep in that day. Oh wait, I'm a mom. ha! Sunday, my amazing photographer friend Elizabeth is taking Violet's 8 month pictures - V's first ever profesh shoot! :) (since I'm a bad mom and haven't had any done until now).

--I've been a Christmas shopping fool lately and I love it! I'm most excited about a little something I bought for my sister. Since she doesn't read my blog (or know about it actually) I can tell y'all that I bought her this. I'm soooo excited to get it and I really hope it's decent quality. I'll keep you posted!

--It's incredibly bad that Starbucks is offering their Caramel Brulee Latte again. I have an addiction and it's not looking pretty for my checking account.

--Can someone let me know if you've seen any deals for Erin Condren lately? I know last year at this time she was new and all over the place but I really want a planner for 2013...and I'm afraid to pay the full amount. I have a Starbucks addiction to feed, remember? Oh, and a baby to feed.

--I'm excited for new followers (hi! Thanks for being here!) and grateful for all the opportunities this blog has brought my way. Speaking of which, I have another giveaway starting next week and about 3 product reviews coming up in the next month or so. Get excited!

--Today's the last day to enter my Tiny Prints giveaway!! There's a $50 credit up for grabs!

Ok that's all I've got. You're dismissed :)

Novembah

I always get so excited for November 1st because that means I can no longer be called crazy (well, maybe I still am) and start my focus on Christmas!!

Pandora's Christmas music station is already going, I'm holding my coffee mug as if it's absolutely freezing outside (80 degrees. Brrr!) and I'm writing my wish list as well as my Christmas gift shopping list!

I'm just so excited that NOVEMBER IS HERE!!! But before we move on to all things Christmas, I'm gonna talk about Halloween one.last.time.

V's First Halloween didn't turn out as fabulous as I thought it would but what can you do - at least she won't remember. Ronnie got stuck at home with a paper so he had to miss her first Halloween! :( First bummer of the night.

Second, it was warm and kinda humid out. Yuck.

Third, Violet wouldn't crack a smile for anything. She was just not feeling it. (Did my boredom with Halloween wear off on her already?!). And daddy not being there DID NOT HELP. She finally snapped out of her funk but not until we went back inside, stripped her of her costume and she got to just sit and play with Grandma. Homebody like her parents, I think :)

No matter what though, it was just so fun to do this with her for the first time and (being the biased mom I am) I think she was the most adorable baby ballerina ever. Her outfit was one my co-worker handed down to me from her daughter so my mom altered it a little (V's a shorty), added ribbon to shoes I already had and then made her a tulle bow. Easy peasy and it was just precious.

 

Once I squashed the ballerina into her stroller (ha!) my mom and I took her up and down the street and we had fun just being a part of the crowd. A lot of people in my parents' neighborhood go all out with the decorating so there's always a huge crowd of trick or treaters. We had fun handing out candy, visiting with the neighbors and taking tons of pictures. We didn't actually trick or treat (people know the candy is for the parents!) but it was still fun!

The neighbor's house across the street and V in her stroller looking bored. ha!

My mom and her neighbor friend took lots of good pictures but this is the best of what I had on my phone. I really need to get a new camera since ours crapped out on us. After we went back inside, we ate some pizza, drank some wine and my brother and his girlfriend stopped by to hang out. Lots of laughs and overall it was a good first Halloween for V!

So now that Halloween is over, who's with me on the crazy train for Christmas?! YES!!! Come back tomorrow for a Christmas-ey giveaway!

Christmas Break

I hope y'all had an amazing Holiday weekend with your loved ones!! We had 5 different things to be at this past weekend and despite it all being so freaking tiring, I'm just grateful that we even have our families to spend time with...and that they all live in town! I'm also SO happy to be on vacation all this week. We slept in yesterday and today and that's probably my best present ever!

Speaking of presents, baby girl is already a spoiled little mess! I guess that's what happens when she has two obsessed grandmas and a total of four spoiling aunts! Ronnie and I really enjoyed our last Christmas just the two of us and we just feel lucky that our girl is already so loved!!

Check out her loot!

My fave out of these is the "I Heart Dad" onesie because the back says "I Heart Mom".

She got some winter outfits, a swaddler, her first doll and her first Easter outfit too. Cute!

Yet another Christmas outfit (she can never have too many! :), some adorable shoesies and more cute outfits! My mom (and tons of my family) work for Southwest Airlines hence the SWA onesies ;)

Now we begin the cleanup because it looks like wrapping paper and gift bags have thrown up all over our house. Ronnie's making us waffles in his new fancy waffle maker my parents gave him (yum!!) and we're off to enjoy the beautiful sunny day! Have a great week, y'all!!

Christmas Card Mode

Now that we're in November, it's acceptable that I start talking about Christmas, right?  

I'm glad you think so because it's been on my mind for MONTHS now! :)

This year I'm extra excited about sending out Christmas cards! Not because I'm exactly thrilled about taking pictures with extra preggo weight but I know it really is a special year for us and I want to share that with our family and friends! This will also be our last Christmas card sans kiddo! :p
Ronnie and I sent out our first Christmas card together when we got engaged in 2009. Seriously one of my first thoughts when we got engaged (not even about the wedding planning!) was that we HAD to send out a Christmas card! ha! I chose Tiny Prints because they had such a wide variety of choices and were super affordable! This was our card in 2009:

(sorry for the awful picture, I took it with my phone. lol!)

The colors and the quality of the entire card was so great, we got tons of compliments that year! Then for 2010, I was lazy and had last minute cards made elsewhere. They were cute but not the same quality as Tiny Prints. So this year, I'm going back! I'm even thinking about getting some festive address labels too! SO cute!

These are my favorite cards this year in order starting from the top.

(They even have the matching print on the back which I love!)

I'd really appreciate your vote because I know I'll have a hard time deciding!

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

Thanks for your help, ladies! 

And if you're sending out cards this year, check out Tiny Prints for sure!

and then be sure to send me one, ok? ;)

Disclosure: In exchange for writing this post, Tiny Prints has offered me 50 Christmas Cards.

Doggy prizes and NYC ♥

Thanks to my good bloggy friend Kara over at Lovin' A Farm Boy for holding such an awesome giveaway! I won a custom gift basket for my dogs, Niles & Frasier! She did such a good job in finding toys and treats for them and they are fully obsessed with their new toys. Who knew I'd be more excited about a giveaway for my dogs than for myself? ;) Go check out her blog, she is the sweetest and is expecting her first baby {a precious girl!} this August!!

 

{sorry for crappy quality. Ronnie took this with his phone since I was at work when it arrived}

Niles hogged the blue ball almost the entire time while Frasier was his usual patient self, waiting for his chance to sneak in and steal it away! They both love their monkeys {I LOVE no stuffing!}, their Chilly Bones and they scarfed down their gourmet treats! :) Thank you again, Kara!!

 

 

 

 

 Niles has already set aside HIS toys. ha!

In other news.....Go New York!!!! I am so ecstatic for my GBLT friends and family! I actually just got a text this morning from my oldest BFF saying to "Save the Date" because she and her girlfriend are already planning their wedding! I couldn't be happier for them and everyone else who finally has the chance at something I feel should be allowed for everyone!

Source: neffsays.tumblr.com via Jessica on Pinterest

I'd also like to mention that today, June 25th, marks SIX MONTHS until Christmas!!!

For crazy people like me, that just gives me more reason to live. 

For the rest of you, you may start freaking out now. 

Have an awesome weekend, you guys!! 

And so it begins...

I love the crap out of Christmas but for once in my life, I am beyond glad it is DONE. I only feel that way because I get a lot of stress put on me by my mom and her side of the family. Even though they *act* like they aware of this fact, a lot of the time I feel that they don't realize Ronnie actually has a family too. So we had to spend time with my extended family on Christmas Eve, opened gifts on Christmas morning with my immediate family, then go to Ronnie's mom's in the afternoon, and then after that we had to go back to my Mom's cause she has her own party. Seriously? It was just too much. My family is tight knit and while I used to enjoy a lot of my time with them as a single girl, I have to move on as a (almost) married woman. Not that I completely want to get rid of them, but seriously - I'd like my own life now please! But try telling my Mom that - the queen of guilt trips.

Anywho, I know that's not the point of this blog but in saying that, I'm worried about all this wedding planning stuff with my mom. I dealt with her overbearing ways as a single girl, but I'm afraid now to completely let her in and help me with the planning. We've both dreamed of sharing that together but I just didn't think way back then, that our relationship would feel this strained at this point in my life. So yeah, lots of crazy emotions in my neck of the woods. I know I sound completely depressing but it really is stressing me out. I'm sure you may have not dealt with family like this but do you have ANY advice?

Thanks in advance to all you awesome girls! I hope your Holidays were wonderful :)

Champagne taste on a kool-aid budget

So a friend of mine put this crazy idea in my head this past week. He's a pastor and said he would be performing (is that the right word? ha) a wedding on the Friday after Thanksgiving, downtown at a RiverWalk hotel and it would be right at the the time of the Christmas tree lighting and when all the lights along the river get turned on, along with the River Parade.. How perfect, huh?!! So I thought, what better of a day and place for US to get married next year! I've always loved downtown so I was shocked that I never thought of the idea myself. Especially with how much I love downtown during Christmas time!

So Ronnie & I had plans for a double date on Friday to actually go downtown for the Christmas River Parade so we were excited to have the chance to really look at which hotels had the best view, etc... Once we got there, I took note of all of the hotels that face the river, lighting, etc.. And I started researching pricing as soon as I could..and just as I suspected, with a wedding my size, to have it at one of these hotels would be around $20,000. Yeah, not so much.

So my dream was short lived and now I'm on the lookout for ANYONE who has connections at these hotels. Because what I'm hearing is that the Friday/Saturday after Thanksgiving is a perfect time because it's usually wide open availability. (Which would mean changing dates but that's OK w/me!) But as far as pricing? I need help! I either need to hit the lottery, find a hook-up or just move on.. I have a feeling it will be the latter.. I will be sprinkling some fairy dust or maybe some fake snow in hopes that we can find a way to pull this off!

I want so badly to get married downtown at that time...because of this:

(Source)

and this:

(Source)

and super romantical things such as this:

(Source)

These are all pictures I found of our downtown and just looking through all of the ones I found really sealed the deal.

WE.MUST.GET.MARRIED.DOWNTOWN....

ON 11/26 OR 11/27/2010 :)

I'm hoping for a Christmas miracle!!! :)