Thankful Thursday

Today, I am especially thankful for......

1. My soon-to-be-hubby....I woke up to breakfast in bed this morning.

2. My mama.....I asked her last night if I could have a piece of her wedding dress sewn into the inside of my wedding dress. She was nearly in tears on the phone. We have always had a special bond.

3. A roof over my head. I cannot imagine those on the east coast who have been affected by hurricane Sandy are going through. My heart goes out to them and they have been in my prayers ever since.

4. Old friends. I received some very special and encouraging messages yesterday. Messages of excitement and pure happiness for me and my upcoming nuptials. It is an amazing feeling to know you have people who love, care and are supportive of your future.

Have you stopped to think what you're thankful for lately?

Wedding planning update

It has been awhile since I last gave an update on our wedding planning. 

Here's a picture of my life these days...

Matt and I are big on budgeting. We have an excel spreadsheet outlining our estimated costs and our actual costs for the wedding. We are saving all receipts, so they can be entered into our spreadsheet. A little OCD? Maybe. We just want to be in the know with all the details of our wedding, especially since we are paying for pretty much all of it ourselves. We are totally fine with this. It has been fun planning and figuring out the best way to save money and where we can afford to splurge, like our reception. Coupons have become my best friend. Michaels and Hobby Lobby see a lot of me....like on a weekly basis. 

Here are a few ways we are saving money:

1. artificial flowers (Hobby Lobby has some of the best ones and they even feel real)

2. making our own wedding invitations. (I used to scoff at this idea, but they have turned out beautifully and I had no idea I had such a creative side).

3. COUPONS

4. postcard response cards (to save on postage cost)

5. stocking up on forever stamps now before the cost goes up late January 2013
6. my dear friend, Lyndsay, did our engagement photos for us as our wedding gift.
7. She is also making my veil, so we can pass it down to our daughters and keep it in our families. 

8. picture save-the-dates (Walgreens + coupons = one happy bride)

9. our centerpieces will be multipurpose (not going to tell you what they are yet!)

10. saving every other paycheck for the wedding

11. setting a budget from day one. I cannot stress this enough. Put it writing, don't just talk about it. Decide what you want to splurge on and what you can spend less on or do without.

12. shop around for the best prices...with everything.

13. Make payments on things (i.e. photographer, DJ, etc) as you go, rather than waiting until right before the wedding. This will save you so much stress and anxiety about who you've paid and who you haven't. 

14. Two words: dollar store.

15. What has really worked for us....having enough time to plan and save for our wedding. I would have loved to marry Matt sooner, but we knew before we got engaged, we would be paying for it, so we needed ample time.

Any additional wedding saving tips??

I plan to share what our total wedding cost was after the big day. I think it's important for people to find ways to have the wedding of their dreams without breaking the bank or going into debt.
Stay tuned....

For now check out this couple's low cost wedding....
 YoungHouseLove

Christmas in a red bag

 This is just another reason why I ♥ my church..... 

Gracepoint's Christmas in a Red Bag initiative to help those in need on the east coast.

500 RED BAGS are being filled this year for Christmas to help with hurricane relief! THANK YOU TO THE HUNDREDS OF YOU WHO ARE HELPING MAKE A DIFFERENCE! The response has been simply overwhelming. 

Red Bag Ad from GracePoint on Vimeo.

Cheaters Never Prosper

I hate cheaters.

I know hate is a strong word, but cheating is one thing I will not tolerate. I don't get it. I don't mean the kind of people who cheat on diets or workouts. I mean people who cheat on their significant others.

Some people debate about what constitutes as cheating. To me, it is anything that is suggestive, flirtatious, hurtful to your significant other and family, anything questionable. If you have to ask yourself "is this okay to be doing?" then it is probably wrong. Stop. It.

I have witnessed the pain it causes people and even experienced it myself. It is something I would never wish upon anyone. Not even to those who have done me wrong.

Why do people cheat? Why do they think the grass is greener? It's not. They eventually learn, but it's usually a lesson too late. Or is it too late?

Can a cheater change? I would like to think so, but they have to WANT to change. And I don't mean they simply say they want to, but they have to feel and live that want to change. Cheaters have to change their lifestyle completely in order to truly change.



The moment you choose to put yourself in a situation that is questionable, you have started cheating. I know you might be thinking, No way! That's crazy! Is it?

Cheating always starts off as something so innocent. A friendly lift home....a drink after work....a deep conversation over coffee/lunch....a hug.

When you find yourself complaining to someone else, especially of the opposite sex, about your marriage or relationship, you are crossing the line. Why ever would you want to talk poorly of your spouse? Why would you want to put them down? Call them crazy? Or super jealous? Theyobviously have a reason to be if you are doing what you're doing and they are calling you out on it. Own it. Of course, if there is abuse involved, that's a different story. But if you're just griping about your spouse not cleaning up after themselves or nagging you all the time to do something, you are playing with fire.You are seeking attention from someone else.

If you don't remember my post from fall 2011, a letter to a hero who has let me down, you can read it here: "Dear B..." Writing that blog post was one of the hardest things I have done. I wrote it with tears rolling down my cheeks. I am sure he has read it. We haven't exchanged many words since then. It still breaks my heart to this day.

The choices you make not only affect you, but those around you. Remember that the next time you consider an innocent cup of coffee with someone of the opposite sex or who isn't your significant other.

Here's another blog post about the boundaries this couple made....Learning To Be A Wife

Days of Thanks - Not Just for November

30 days of thanks is a great concept. I don't think it should only take place during the month of November though. We should be thankful for what we have...every day. So, I have decided to designate Thursday as "Thankful Thursday" for my blog. I don't do a regular weekly post like this, so I thought what better one to start?

For my remaining three days of November, here are my thanks.....

Day 28: I'm thankful my wedding dress came in....I was able to visit my hometown girls last weekend. Yay!

Day 29: I am thankful for my mentors. It is a great feeling to be given praise, encouragement and motivation to be successful and grow professionally. Followed by singing your favorite songs at the top of your lungs in the car. What an awesome way to end the day. :)

Day 30: I am thankful for my book club and the friendships I have established with these women.