...One minute to say goodbye...

I cannot believe that another year is coming to a close. It feels like just yesterday I was graduating from high school...man I am getting old! This year has been another great one...looking back I have a lot to be thankful for...good health, a wonderful job, Chad found a job....My beautiful niece's adoption was finalized and my nephew joined our family...

And we got Engaged!!!
I am looking forward to the year ahead...it is going to be chock full of big events and changes! Hope you all have a wonderful and safe night...I am headed to bed soon...you'd think I'd just celebrated my 60th birthday and not my 25th!!

Groomsmen Attire

I am sure that you just did a double take because I am actually posting about the wedding!!!! I have managed to accomplish a few things this week. I was a little shocked when I found a tie that I think will be perfect for the groomsmen...below is the "look" we have in mind for the groomsmen, the tuxes we plan to rent and the ties that I bought. I only bought ties for the groomsmen I think that Chad will wear ivory to match me and the ushers will wear plain brown...what do you think that the fathers should wear? should my dad match me? 

Farewell Holidays...I will miss you!

My nephew's first Christmas

The family ready to open

My sister and I with stocking stuffers

Stockings...my favorite

My nieces

Santa came!

Toasting the big 2-5

Ingredients needed for a yummy Madame Butterfly

My Grandma and I baking...she is too cute

My aunts, mom and Grandma baking

I L.O.V.E the holidays!! Every year I look forward to the season...the family traditions and get togethers, shopping for everyone, the decorations, baking, watching christmas movies by the fire. This year was great as usual....and also as usual I am suffering from a slight case of post-holidays depression. I hate that it is over...I felt like it snuck up on me and was gone before I knew it!!! I think I just hate to get back to the day to day routine. I like to have "special" things to look forward to...I am a little worried that I will have a little case of the post-wedding blues when we get back from HI! Anyways...hope you all had a great holiday season. Keep a look out for a wedding related post soon....I am actually getting some things done...Whoot-whoot!

My First Award..

I received this very sweet blog award from Jenny at Practically Perfect...

"This blog invests and believes in proximity- nearness in space, time and relationships. These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind of bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated."

I am suppose to pick 8 other people to bestow the award on...but I hate it to be like an email forward so I am picking a few blogs that I enjoy reading that I feel are deserving.

I am passing it on to:

• Megan at a Tales of the Trees. I love Megan's spunky attitude and can completely relate to some of her stories about becoming a little more domesticated.
• Erika at Nautical Wedding and Nursing School. I love tracking Erika's progress toward the wedding of her dreams.
•  Adrienne at For the Love of Weddings...this girl inspires me to get on the top of my game for my upcoming wedding.

A Birthday to Remember

Today is my 25th birthday....this is the first birthday that I have been a little hesitant about being a year older....25 feels like a BIG deal!! I feel like I should have accomplished more already...or somehow be mature, but I am afraid that my maturity level is as high as it is going to get :) My fiance and I came home for the weekend..(since I am not in school next week, I am hanging at home, and he made the return trip....he will pick me up when he returns for Christmas Eve) But that meant that I wouldn't not actually see him on my birthday....we celebrated with Madame Butterflies (my favorite frozen treat) and a game of Wizard (which I won) and presents on Saturday. Chad gave me a sweet new pair of nikes, my parents gave me Jessica Simpson's Fancy Perfume and my sister gave me a purse.....this was great, unfortunately this is where the birthday fun ended......

Today on my real 25th birthday I woke up with the stomach FLU!!! Uugghh...my day of fun holiday errands and visiting turned into a day of many things that are too gross to mention. I am starting to feel better...luckily I think I caught a 24 hr bug.

'Tis the Season

Now that I have finished up finals and only have 4 days of teaching left, I am finally crossing some things off my holiday to-do list!!! I mailed our Christmas cards, put the tree up...It is a 1-footer, it didn't take much. My fiance promised that I could get a "adult" Christmas tree next year when we are married and have a place together and I have the space to store/display it. I also switched all the pictures in my frames on my shelf to Christmas pictures. My dad made me the shelves for Christmas last year, and I decided to display pictures from previous Christmases. I call it my wall of Christmas past...my favorite is a picture of my dad lighting a fire with the stockings hanging down. We almost finished our Christmas shopping yesterday...and while we were out we picked up a very cute puffer jacket for the family pup!!

This sucks...

Yep...it sucks really good! I broke down and bought a new vacuum the other night. I have been dreading it...Of course I value clean carpet, but I really didn't want to spend my hard earned money on a vacuum!! I had been putting it off for far, far to long...and I couldn't take it anymore. I took my fiance along to help me pick it out...when we got back to my apartment he took it out of the box and proceeded to vacuum the whole place!! I was completely disgusted and ashamed of the amount of s*** that it sucked out of my carpet!! I will never go that long again...after seeing that gunk I don't feel bad about the money spent...even if it could have been a new pair of nikes!!

Tagged!!!

I was tagged by my most faithful commenter over at For the Love of Weddings to share 6 completely random facts about myself...only 6???....here goes:

1. I hate the cold and I run every time I am out in it...from my car to the apartment, from the grocery store to the car...the other day I ran from my car into church. in HEELS! It doesn't matter how much I am carrying or how short the distance is...I'm running!!

2. Everything that I take off ends up inside-out....it adds a lot of time pre-washing to turn them right side out, but I can't seem to train myself to take them off differently.

3. I got my first kiss as Senior in high school when I was crowned homecoming queen...can you say NERD!! Anybody else have their first kiss on video tape?

4. In college I was a student athletic trainer and I once was drilled by a player on the sideline...he couldn't get stopped...I couldn't get out of the way!!

5. I am currently addicted to decaf coffee with peppermint mocha creamer and redi whip...it is my homemade version of the starbucks peppermint mocha...a little cheaper...probably just as many empty calories.

6. I receive at least 30 hugs a day...teaching elementary PE is quite the pick me up!!

So there ya go...6 random facts about me!! This is my first tag ever...I feel like I am officially a blogger now!

The countdown is on...

I officially have 10 work days until christmas break...Yipee!!! I wish that I had a little less to-do. I have managed to complete the majority of my shopping, I just have to find something else for my dad and sister. We are completely stumped on what to get the "in-laws" we have racked our brain for days....we got nothing. I have decided to make hot cocoa mix to give as thank you gifts to my students that bring me gifts. As a PE teacher I never expected to leave for holiday break with a box of goodies....it really made me feel special last year. I like to have something to give them so that I don't spend the break writing Thank yous. I have one final and two classes left for this semester of grad school....I can not wait. Then I can totally focus on getting in the spirit...

Thanksgiving Recap

Thanksgiving Day

2 of my brothers and Chad...what can I say- we are a Mac family

My sister, sister-in-law and I

My beautiful Nieces

My fiance and I

I had a wonderful 5-day weekend- it is hard to believe that I have been back at work for 2 days. I had a great time relaxing with my parents and siblings. I have a lot to be thankful for this year...a wonderful fiance, an amazing family, health and a job a love!!

Ta-Da!!

I have finally done something wedding related...I know it is shocking, it has been months. But in all honestly I didn't do much...I comissioned it to be done, so that counts right?? I had Sarah with Belletristics design on etsy design a monogram for the wedding. I had been trying to do it myself, but I couldn't create anything that looked "professional" enough to me. So here it is...I LOVE it!!! I plan to use it on the invites and the programs, and I am debating on the possibility of using it on the cake. Any other ideas of how I can incorporate it?

Christmas Suprises Ruined!!

I confess, I am a horrible gift giver. I want so badly to pick out something unique, and perfect that I usually end up over thinking the whole thing....but not this year...this year I thought of the perfect gift for my fiance. I decided to get him a Garmin!! It will be perfect...he would love it and it would really come in handy on our honeymoon. So I emailed my dad for details and started looking online at prices. My fiance mentioned that he was going to use our ebay account to purchase a gift and that I should stay clear for a few weeks...no problem, right? Then on Friday I checked my email and found one from ebay thanking me for my purchase of a Garmin??? What the heck?? He stole my perfect gift!!! He purchased one for me on ebay, but the email did not get forwarded as planned and I got it. I guess it is better this way so I didn't buy one too....but now I doomed to repeat my bad-gift-giving history!!! UUgghhh...it is kind of funny...his suprise was ruined by the email, mine was ruined when he bought the same thing (actually a much fancier model) I just wish I still got credit for this awesome gift....

Prayer Request

My best friend and bridesmaid BNLove is expecting her second child early next year, and she is having some complications. She went in for a appointment recently and they are worried that she may go into premature labor....she needs to make it another 7 weeks to make sure that little Truman's lungs are fully developed. It breaks my heart to see her so sick with worry, but she has great faith and is holding strong. I truly believe that God will take care of her, but if you have a second please say a little pray for her and her famly.

Turkey Day Timeline

We finally worked out plans for Thanksgiving. It is always tough to divide our time....I can't lie- I love spending time with my family and can't stand to miss out on get-togethers or family traditions. I know I am "that daughter-in-law" that nobody would wish for.....but I think we have reached a compromise. We will spend Thanksgiving morning and early afternoon with my fiance's parents and grandparents....eat dinner #1 and then rush (it is an hour plus drive) to my parent's house for dinner # 2 at 4:00. We will then spend the rest of Thursday, Friday and Saturday there...not quite an even split...what can I see?? I really try not to be selfish...I do love his family...does anyone else struggle to "timeshare" with families?? Oh, well...I think everyone is happy & can't wait to see everyone!!

The Anticipation is KILLING me!

I feel like I live my life from one major event to another! I try really hard to just be in the moment...but I am always thinking about the next big thing...and what I need to get done, how excited I am....ect.

There are...

10 days until Thanksgiving Break

35 days until my Birthday (Turning 2-5...a whole other post!)

38 days until Christmas

200 days until the Wedding!!

I know my "counting down" is a sickness...I just can't help it!!

The 38 days until Christmas freaks me out....I haven't even begun to shop & I have no ideas!! My fiance did his shopping yesterday, I am jealous! Grrr...but I did get my ornament for the ornament swap in the mail yesterday.

Wedding Bands- check

Last night after dinner my fiance and I stopped at the mall so that I could purchase an ornament for my dad. On a whim I suggested that we stop in and look at wedding bands....I wanted to see what they had that matched my engagement ring. 15 minutes later we were leaving KAY with a wedding ring in hand!! It is not like us to impulse buy, but the ring that was a match for my engagement ring was $200 dollars off the original price. My fiance tried on a Tungsten ring that they had marked at $300...so we went home and bought a similar one off of ebay for $50. I am kinda disappointed that I hadn't put "buy rings" on my to-do list....so I could go and cross it off.

Friday Festivities

I just spent 4 hours learning how to fold paper into wonderful projects....keep in mind that I teach PE people...PE!! Grrrr....Inservices are ridiculous! At break I asked a co-worker to hit me with his car so we could leave...dramatic I know, but you weren't there, so don't judge. Thankfully it is wine and pizza night. Usually we do homemade pizza with whole wheat crust and turkey pepperoni, but tonight we are going to stop ate Papa Murphy's...I heart it! We are toasting my fiance...after 4 months of job searching he is now EMPLOYED! Hip-hip-hooray!! 

Wedding To-Dos

I haven't accomplished much on the wedding front in months, so I have created a Wedding to-do list for my Christmas break:

1. Find and order paper/envelopes for invitations

2. Purchase fabric to have table cloths made

3. Find pattern and purchase fabric for flower girl dresses

4. Register for gifts

5. Stain sand trays

5. Decide on a veil

6. Place engagement announcement in newspaper

It is not a long list, but I think it will keep me busy over the course of my 2 weeks off...

'Tis the Season!!

I am officially in the holiday spirit!! I know it is early, but I can't help myself...the holidays are the only way I can make it through the horrid days of winter. I think I have already made 50 lists of gifts to get, things to bake and crafts to make. I love it!! This past weekend I made my first holiday purchase:

I ordered Claymation Christmas from Amazon...I think that it was a made for TV special at some point, but when I was little my brothers and sister watched it sooo many times that we wore out the VHS. It is so cute and we would laugh so hard... it is a collection of little scenes with characters that were animated and looked like they were made out of clay. Has anyone heard of it? We haven't seen it in years and I am sooo excited to take it home at Thanksgiving and watch it as a family!!

I am also hoping to pick up White Christmas and Holiday Inn this christmas...what holiday movies do you love?

Dear Jake...

Dearest Jake,

Congrats on your big game. The next time that you decide to have an amazing game and score 36 fabulous fantasy football points would you mind letting me know??? I would love to have you in the starting line up instead of the bench!!!

Thanks!!

Meg

FINALLY!!

I am soo excited for tomorrow to come...and go!! I am over the election, let's be done with it already. I want the today show to go back to feel good fluffy stories, and I want to turn the radio on without hearing a million attack adds...grrr...glad it only comes around every 4 years!!

Jack-O-Lanterns...

I had a nice evening "celebrating" halloween with my Fiance...he is headed to St. Louis for the weekend so we had the traditional "jack-o-lantern" cheese turkey burgers and carved our pumpkin tonight. I am not a big halloween person, but I insist on continuing my family tradition of jack-o-burgers. Hope y'all have a festive halloween.

New name, new look

I finally got the motivation and time to "personalize" my blog. When I first decided to start a blog I racked my brain for a name that would be fitting...something that was unique...I settled on simply bliss...but it wasn't quite right. This weekend, after I gave my blog a make over I settled on Glacier-Eyed Girl because when my fiance and I were first dating he use to say I had eyes the color of glacier freeze gatorade...So without further ado I give you...my new and improved blog.

Baking Disaster

I have had the urge to do some fall baking lately...the weather is cooler, the leaves are falling and I just have the urge to be all Betty Crocker....one problem...I don't have a knack for baking. I really want to, I guess I am that kid that has a lot of heart for the game, but no talent. I can read and follow directions, but I always seem to pick bad recipes. I realize that part of the problem is that I usually attempt to make something semi-healthy...I feel guilty making something really bad and then having it around the house or giving it to friends. Tonight I tried a recipe for pumpkin muffins from allrecipes.com....they were dis-gust-ing!!! Grrr....my fiance tried to ease my frustrations by saying, "It's okay, I know your not a good baker...atleast we won't get fat" I guess as long as he knows what he is getting himself into....

Engagement Photos

Yippeee!! Here are some of my favorite shots from our engagement photo session. I am really excited about how they turned out!! I really don't feel like I am all that photogenic, but we have a lot to choose from. I am glad that we went with very casual outfits...it just feels like us. Our photographer, Kevin Brown, did a great job and has been very accommodating.

If you like his work you can check him out at: www.kevinlbrown.com. (I am a total blog-idiot, I do not know how to put the links within the text.)

Engagement Photos

They are up...I got word this afternoon that our photographer, Kevin Brown, had posted the pictures from our session a week ago Sunday. I have to admit that I had checked the website what felt like a million times....anxiously awaiting their debut. I was a little nervous...I am that girl that builds everything up in her head...creating ridicoulously high standards...only to be disappointed....but I WAS NOT. I was very pleased...they turned out really well. I can't wait until I can post some for your viewing pleasure!

Shout Out

I have to send a shout out to my little brother!!! I am so excited for him, he just called to tell me he got a medal at his league cross country meet. He is a 7th grader and this is his first year running. Last week he missed a medal by one place....it was heart breaking. He said he was afraid he wasn't going to live up to "my legacy"....I am positive he will leave a mark of his own (a much bigger one!) way to go AJ, I am sooooo PROUD of you!

Bridal Party

The girls will be wearing this dress in expresso, and the men will be wearing this tux, hopefully with a chocolate brown/aqua tie:

We love the casual suit feel of this tux, but I am a little worried because I bought an ivory dress...do you think that ivory shirts would look okay with the taupe? Any ideas? Also any ideas on wear to find ties?

My sister (MOH) would like to be a little different...how have you seen MOH recognized? A sash?

I would love any helpful hints!!!

Wedding Details

I am finally getting around to posting about my wedding. After I got engaged in July I got a lot of the big items out of the way, but since the school year started I have stalled out!!! Here is what we have accomplished thus far:

Date: June 6, 2009
Location: Home town church for both ceremony/reception
Caterer/Menu: We will be serving hor dorves and having a champagne toast
Colors: Chocolate brown/Aqua blue/shades of taupe & ivory
Photographer: Kevin L. Brown
Cake: Put a deposit down
Dress: Got it (NO details, sorry)

Because it is an early ceremony/reception (1:00) we are not going to get a d.j., and instead do playlist on an ipod. We are also not serving alcohol...we just not big drinkers and thought it would be nice place to save a little.

We also selected the attire for the bridal party...4 each....more on that later.

*** Because we got engaged on a beach in Oregon we have decided to incorporate a beach feel...I know sounds crazy in the middle of Kansas...but we love it. We are going to do boxes of sand with sand dollars and candles on the tables and a sand dollar motif on the invites. We are also getting sand dollar cookies instead of a grooms cake. I don't want to go over board or be too theme-y but a think a few simple sand dollar themes through out will be really cute.

Enough for now!! I will work on figuring out how to include more pics next time!!

Unexpected Evening

Yesterday, my fiance and I were suppose to drive 6-hrs round trip to watch my little brother's last cross country meet. Unfortunately the weather was not great and the meet got canceled. I was disappointed to not see little bro run, but I had a wonderful evening!!! My fiance is usually only in town over the weekend, and I always have clients or class on the week night...so, it was a wonderful treat to put on my new old navy slippers and fix dinner together. I also made apple crisp for dessert and we watched a taped episode of One Tree Hill...my favorite!! It was a wonderfully relaxing evening!!

Tuesday's Training Tip

Here is the second edition....

This week's tip is again related to wait training...SUPER SETS. Super sets are a pretty simple technique that involves doing exercises back to back with little rest. Super sets can involve the same muscle group or opposing muscle groups. 

My favorite super set is for triceps:

• Cable push-down
• Bench dips
• Tricep overhead press

I usually rotate through all three exercises three times, completing about 12 reps of each. It really fatigues them!!