Bridesmaids

I just realized that I stopped with the "Meet the Bridal Party" after Angela my maid of honor! So here is my other two girls that will be standing by me on June 20!

Meet Jessica:
Jessica and I met when she took over a third grade teacher's classroom in January. We were both trying to get our first classrooms under control and didn't really have time to chitchat. A little bit of school drama later and Jess and I were friends. Jess is great and I can always count on her for a reality check and a late night dance party. We have been living together for almost two years now and what a pair we are! I decorate...she cleans. I make dinner...she makes lunch. Not only do we live and teach together, we have almost completely survived grad school, coach Girls on the Run, and get ourselves into a whole bunch of crazy adventures.

Meet Peggy:
Peggy is my next door school neighbor. We met two years ago and I really had no idea how great of friends we would become. I honestly feel like part of her and Ronnie's family. Between weekly dinners and vacations and making Christmas cookies and more her and Ronnie and their family are friends I can't live without. Even though I have only known her for two years...I feel like she has been a life long friend. She makes me smile and laugh. She is always there.

I am very lucky to have these girls to stand by me.

Cake??

I had the perfect idea for my wedding cake...picture this. Box-shaped cupcakes with white icing. They would turn into presents by putting sage green icing and an icing bow on top. In the middle of the bow would be a white chocolate starfish. Scott and I would have our own small cake topper to cut into with the sage green icing and white chocolate starfish around the bottom. I love the idea. Monique (from Sugar Confections in Sunset Beach) was fantastic (And just to let you know, she also does cookies, cakes, and pies for other occasions for those Sunset Beach people). She had wonderful cake for me to taste and got every other type of treat that I wanted to try right then.

She had mentioned one other possibility for my cupcakes, which is the cupcake wrapper, and I finally got the picture of what she was talking about and now I don't know what to do. I think that they are super cute, but I'm not sure it is something that will really be needed...because after all I can't take the cake or the wrappers with me.

At least I have the delicious flavors decided!!!

The Finished Project

So one of my bridesmaids, Peggy, and I spent our day off putting fans together for the wedding. Oh Martha Stewart is going to be the death of me! It was her great idea to make fans and I agreed. I was thinking of all the guests that will be there on the beach and decided that they might need a fan to keep themselves cool. All it took was two pieces of cardstock, a popsicle stick, spray adhesive (the best thing ever) and some ribbon. And they turned out pretty darn cute!!!

Jewelry...

So just a little something that put a smile on my face today...

I was on a birthday present mission and remembered the great jewelry store Hand Picked (maybe I'll get a discount like Mindy for her blog shout out!). So as I walked around the store picking out a birthday present and a little for me, I decided that I should look for my bridesmaid jewelery. A couple of pieces caught my eye. The manager asked if she could help me with anything and before I could answer she said "I love your ring!!!" I spilled my story about getting married on the beach and looking for a necklace for the bridesmaids. Before I got any farther she said the starfish? And that was exacltly what I was thinking.

One More Thing...

The non-bridezilla that I am...decided to make fans for everyone at the wedding. They are super cute...they just aren't put together!! The front says a whole bunch of different things like first kiss, once upon a time, cherish, to have and to hold, wedding, congratulations...all that fun stuff. The back says "Some people come into our lives and quietly stay. Others stay for a while, leaving footprints in our heart and we are never the same"

So I was thinking we could have a fan making party. It would be pretty simple...you know glue two pieces of cardstock with a stick in between and then tie a little ribbon around the stick. Does that sound like a plan?

Borrowing your kids...

My latest plan is to borrow Ma and Pay...dress them up in the junior bridesmaids and flower girl dresses and then have a bridesmaid try on the green and white printed dress and see how it looks...

Do you think we can squeeze that in???

No Bridezilla for me!!!

On the way home from a delish dinner at one of my favorite Mexican restaurants, Jess called me. She is off to a wedding this weekend for her cousin Kate. After this and that...restructuring the bottom of the dress, buying 5 inch high heel shoes and then making the decision to cut a few inches off...Jess called me with the latest text message...all the bridesmaids toe nail polish must be the same color. Oh my! With seriously 4 days til your wedding, you have nothing else to do but stress over the toe nail polish color??? IMPRESSIVE, but maybe a touch obsessive.

So here's my promise right now, Angela, Jess, and Peggy...I will not care about the color of your toe nails, I will not make you wear crazy high heel shoes...I will not be a bridezilla.

Dresses, Dresses and More Dresses

So I'm having some issues with what the bridesmaids and the jr. bridesmaids, and the flower girl are going to wear. I got the cutest dresses in my colors for the jr. bridesmaids and flower girls at a fantastic price...the problem comes in when I had to have a dress for the bridesmaids. I love the idea of something different. So I have found two dresses. The upside is that they are both gorgeous and don't necessarily say bridesmaid which means that they could be worn again. The down side with the solid one is the price...the downside with the print one is that I think it might be too much going on. So advice experts...take a look and help this poor bride out!!!!

Pre-Wedding Counseling

So Scott and I met with Pastor Ed on Saturday afternoon. Oh my love, Scott, he is amazing and wonderful. I was nervous and he wasn't. He held my hand, smiled, loved me and that is all I could ask for.

Pastor Ed is the perfect choice. Scott and I are both happy. He is well spoken and caring. He gave us two rules:
1. A marriage is a celebration before God. Honor him.
2. As long as you don't break rule number 1, your ceremony can fit you and Scott.

What more could a bride ask for? I am happy and at ease (at least for now).

Engagement Party Fun

All You Married People...

I need your help. I have to decide on who should be the officiant at my wedding. I have two pastors in mind. One that was my neighbor a long, long, long time ago and holds a very special place in my life...but doesn't know Scott. The other is the current pastor at my church and a very eloquent and passionate speaker.

I'm not sure how to decide on which one to use. I am really torn between the two. I just attended one wedding where there were two officiants and I didn't love it.

Anyway, I'm not even sure what questions to ask to help me decide between the two. So help...what are things that I need to know?!?!?! Any suggestions? Helpful hints? Advice?

Bad things don't really come in 3's...do they?

So I was feeling the pressure to blog and can't believe I forgot to blog about this...

When Scott was in town I let all the wedding stuff slide (minus the engagement party) for a bit. I changed all the plans of meeting with the pastor and working on the registry and honeymoon discussions and our first dance song and decided with just a short visit we should have us time. The only thing that we had to get done was get Scott's ring sized. So Saturday after lunch, we stroll up to Whitehall Jewelry. (I was getting my ring sized and they were having a great sale so I decided to get his there too! We both have like a 3 year warranty on our rings.)

I walked up to the nice lady and said "I would like to get his ring sized." The nice lady said back to me..."We don't do that anymore since we are bankrupt." WHAT????? The nice lady then said, "Yeah it was kind of surprising for us too...you know one day you have a job and the next day you don't."

So do bad things really come in 3's?

What Happened?

I was so excited about my engagement cards. They looked beautiful online. A picture of me and Scott and the beach, a cute little phrase, a beautiful blue background...and a great price! I ordered them and they were waiting on me when I got home from school today. I was soooo excited until I opened the box.

And what to my surprise do Scott and I look like...oh just like we have orange faces. Our faces are seriously the color of that hat!!! So just to let you know we are both completely healthy and we are not tanorexic (love Project Runway).

What to Do?

I have a little decision to make. I can't decide what to do for a wedding favor. I know that most people don't do anything with them other than throw them away. I love the idea of supporting a charity. Scott and I are huge animal lovers. In fact Sawyer is a rescue cat. I would love to use the money to donate an animal care center.

But at the same time...these magnetic snowglobes are just about the best thing ever! I love snowglobes! There is just something about them that brings a smile to my face. And even better...I can slide a picture of Scott and I in there Seriously...who wouldn't want that????

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Plans and Suggestions

Alright Mindy and Ashley...hit me up...what ideas do you have up your sleeves? I can't wait to hear these wonderful suggestions!!!!

The First Party

This Saturday Scott and I attended our first wedding party! My mom and dad threw an engagement bash for family and friends. Leading up the the event, I was a little worried that Hurricane Hannah would ruin the plans. Hurrican Hannah could have prevented Scott from getting here or it could have put a damper on the outside party. But no worries...it was a beautiful, gorgeous, fantastic day! Pictures will follow soon.

The whole evening was perfect. My dear friends Eowyn and Erin were there. I have known them since middle school. Julia, another middle school friend, was there is in heart because she is now living in Chicago. Crystal and Angela (maid of honor) were there! The Godmother Mafia was in town and didn't let me down. They brought delish food and their bubbly personality. Other family friends that were in attendance were Sally and Jeff, Kim and Byron, Peggy (bridesmaid) and Ronnie (ofiicial wedding driver), Jess (bridesmaid), Casey (official usher). It was so great to have everyone there!

There were so many memories but one of the best had to be the party game, How Well Do You Know Scott and Stacie? The questions ranged from when and where did Scott and Stacie get married? Where did Scott spend the first 5 months of our dating? How did Scott save Stacie's life? What phrase is most likely to come out of Scott's mouth when he is watching football? By the way, when Jodi O. read the multiple choice answer, Scott almost spit his beverage out! It was hilarious! The answers were almost as funny and so many of them brought back memories. Team UNC (Erin, Evan, and Eowyn) remembered that my favorite movie was My Best Friends Wedding-which we used to dance to at our weekly sleepovers. Team Sally and Jeff answered his wife when asked the question what is Scott's favorite pet. And I will just let your imagination run with the answers that were given to the question What is a typical date for Scott and Stacie. To keep with the Seal (my soon to be last name) theme...there was even a prize of Red Seal Beer!!!

I can't forget a very special phone call from my Great Aunt Betty, who toasted long distance with Scott and I.

With food, friends, family, games, cake, and even a few presents, the evening was a total success!

Do You See That?

Ummm...take a look to the side and down a little...Do you see it? The wedding countdown...292 days. 292 days. When it was in the three hundreds it seemed so far away. But now it's in the 200's. That is so hard to believe. I can't believe how much there is to do!!!!

I'm a hearbreaker :(

Poor Andy. Poor, Poor Andy.

I never knew that agreeing to be Andy's girlfriend one spring afternoon would ever lead to this. After an eventful shopping trip with the Horner boys, Andy popped the question. Will I be his girlfriend???? Of course. Who could resist that cute cute CUTE kid! And what a great boyfriend he is...he helped me pick out a dress and then he even got me a matching purse on his own for a gift!!!

Then when Scott popped the real question, I of course called Mindy. And that is where the heartbreaking comes in. I called to tell Mindy and Maci that I finally got engaged. Well the news spread to Andy and it turns out that while those two were excited...Andy was not so much.

I got a phone call thinking it was Maci and it turns out to be a conversation something like this...

"Osborn, I was going to marry you."
"Oh, Andy I love you to pieces."
"Osborn, I was going to marry you."
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I still love you!!!"
But nothing that I said could make him think that me getting married was a good idea.

And then I stopped by and normally, I get knocked down with hugs. Andy just looked at me and said, "Are you still wearing that love ring"

Oh, but be prepared...I continue to break his heart. I ran into the Horner family at the gas station. As I scooted over to say hello, Andy was quiet again. Not a single peep. I found out later that after I left, Andy told Mindy (his mom), "I was going to marry her. I should've asked her sooner."

So there it is...I have officially broken a four year old's heart. It's been a over a month and he still hasn't forgotten. Mindy has promised that she won't teach Andy the word Object!!!!

Meet the Maid of Honor

Do you think that we'll still be friends when we're little old ladies?
That we'll still get the giggles and laugh till our bellies ache?
Do you suppose that we'll still talk for hours and tell each other anything and everything and share worries and gossip over cofee and tea?

I do. I think we'll be friend forever.

We have been friends since our freshman year at UNCW. She is amazing, wonderful, spectacular, compassionate, driven, fun-loving...the list really goes on and on. I can't imagine having anyone else but her being my maid of honor. From chocolate milk and Krispy Kreme doughnuts before class everyone morning to Chick-fil-A lunches to basketball games to good old Walter's class with trips to Squiggley's to Sandbar adventures to beach days and so much more, Angela and I made so many memories at UNCW.

But our friendship is so much more than college memories. At times we get busy and go a while without getting together, but no matter the time or distance, we can pick up like it was just yesterday that we saw each other. We laugh and cry and laugh and listen and laugh and laugh. Angela is my best friend and I'm so very lucky that she said yes and is my Maid of Honor!

My Future House

I just got back from a way too short trip to Florida. I can't wait for the day that I don't have to say good-bye at the airport! Everytime I'm at the airport I always thinkg of the movie Love Actually...one of my favorites!

Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspision love actually is all around.

So anyway, here's my house. And boy do I have plans! Paint, new cabinets, maybe a set of columns...

Of course it looks a little different now with three guys living in it!

The Proposal

It all started a couple of years ago, on one of the many trips back from the airport. We drove by a Charley's, a famous steakhouse is Tampa. Scott just happened to mention that he had taken a couple of prom dates there. Of course, I said, "When are you going to take me there?" He said, "That's not a restaurant for a date, that's a like an engagement dinner place." So that was that and I was pretty sure at that point that it would be a long, long, long, time before I ever got to go there.

The day before I left to go to Florida, Scott called me and said bring a dress. Anyone who know anything about Scott is that he doesn't dress up, so immediately I asked what was going on. He told me we were going to Charley's. What??? Charley's??? Of course my mind was racing...is he really going to propose? Does he remember saying that?

I tried very hard not to think about possibly getting engaged, because I didn't want to get my hopes up. My brother helped me to decide that Scott was getting a "promotion" at work and wanted to celebrate with a nice dinner out. I tried to let that be enough but I just had to ask his mom a few questions...or maybe a little bit more than a few...but she gave no sign of knowing anything. The one piece of advice from Carla was just to enjoy the dinner and to try not to think about Scott popping the question.

We made it to dinner and I was on the look out for every little thing. We ordered an appetizer and I saw Scott staring at the plate. Oh...maybe he put it on the plate and I missed it. I started to look on the plate and Scott said what are you doing? Guess I will have to wait...Then the waitress came by and I thought maybe she had it...nope! Dinner was fantastic! At one point Scott reached to his pocket and I thought "IT'S REALLY GOING TO HAPPEN NOW!" but he said that he was glad he remembered to grab his wallet. After dinner he asked if I wanted dessert and I was thinking of course I do...this is when people get the ring in the movies. But dessert came with no ring and I was beginning to get really sad! The fudgie brownie vanila ice cream yumminess did help a little.

We left the restaurant and I was pretty much done for the night. As hard as I tried not to, I got my hopes up! We got in the car and Scott didn't want to go home yet. I told him I didn't care what we did. I just looked out the window. I jokingly said...Let's go on all the bridges in Tampa. (I have a serious fear of bridges, so I thought that would be a great topper for the night!) So we went drivng around the bay and tried to go to one of the many parks to watch the sunset and they were all closed. We continued to drive and I continued to stare out the window. He kept asking me what I was thinking because I was so quiet and I just couldn't tell him that I was thinking how I was disappointed.

We made it out to Clearwater Beach and the rain had stopped. We walked out to the beach and it was a perfect view. A beautiful sunset was right in front of us and on either side of us was a a lightning storm. We talked on the beach, kissed a little, and watched the ocean, the sunset and the storms.

When I was ready to leave, Scott starting hitting his pockets and said "I don't know where my keys are!" Now, watching the sunset had put me in a little bit of a better mood but those 6 words completely threw that mood out the window. First of all there was a storm coming and we were on the beach and there was no cover! Second of all it would take anyone at least an hour to get to us! Third this was just what I wanted to hear after I thought I would get engaged and didn't!

I turned around to retrace our steps, hoping that I could find the key. After I took a few steps, Scott said "Hey!" I turned around and there he was down on one knee with a ring outstretched. It took me a few seconds to realize what was going on. Then there were those words from the love of my life..."I love you! Will you marry me." Sunset on the beach with the one I love...It was perfect!

The First Time We Met

It all started with one phone call. A roommate called and said, "My friends are back from Japan, want to meet up at BW's (Buffalo Wild Wings) with us?" Being a gi-normous fan of the buffalo bites, I of course, said yes. I walked in and sat down at the table and was introduced to Butter, AJ, Corey, and Skippy. It was an adventure. They were loud and crazy!!! All except Skippy. He was glued to the televisions showing every sporting event as well as the all the news about all of the sporting events. So as the evening went on, we left BW's and went back to the apartment to play cards. Somehow we, Skippy and I, ended up on the couch beside, watching the games. Slowly, everyone went to bed, but the two of us. We were up talking about family and football and everything and anything all night long. The thing that I will never forget about that night is how he looked at me...like he wanted to never forget one detail of my face. Could a girl ask for anything else? As the light began to creep into the apartment, he asked me to go to breakfast. We strolled into McDonalds and ate our breakfast together. After breakfast we left, me for work and he for base and both with a smile on our face!

A Bright Idea

I just happened to be searching the web for ideas for the wedding. I saw these and thought how cute and wonderful they would be with the rest of the beach theme. I finally found the pans to make these delish looking cookies. The pans are in and soon I'm going to go through a test run. Just wanted to say thanks to Martha Stewart because without her there would be no scallop sea shell cookies at my wedding.

Thanks Mindy

I have to give her all the credit! Mindy...the blog expert...had me up and running before I even knew what was happening. I even have one of the new backgrounds, that is in the wedding colors. She is just so smart!!!

This will be fantastic for keeping the out-of-towners up-to-date latest details.

I had my blog training today, after a little work with editing and deleting. I learned to add a playlist, add a slideshow and so much more. So it's up and running, and I have a feeling that with all the stories to tell about the planning and the people involved and of course Scott and I that my grad school and school school are going to take a back burner!

Ocean Ridge Plantation

After stops all through Brunswick County, we rolled into Ocean Ridge Plantation. It is at the center of five golf courses and absolutely fantastic. I was sold when I read hot crab dip with pita points and manicotti on the menu...but what really, really, really sold the place was the stairway. Upstairs will be a private room where the bridal party can relax and then when we are ready....we will be announced as we come down the stairway. Not to bad for the teacher who convinced her third graders that her middle name was Princess Sleeping Beauty.