Asking the Bridesmaids

I knew I wanted to do something special, but not over the top or expensive, to ask my girls to be my Bridesmaids. I researched different things and found a lot of cute ideas. Perusing etsy one day I saw really cute handmade cards. Real. Life. Honest to God cards, that you send in the mail. *Gasp* I searched high and low for a reasonably but ultimately unique and cute card. This is what I settled with:

 

From this etsy seller 

The transaction was quick and smooth. I was able to choose my colors so I did dark purple, black, and silver. All my favorite colors together. Each card has the girl's name on it in cursive and they came with pearlized envelopes. I also wrote a personalized message on the backs of each. Here's a close up:

 

I'm sending them out today so hopefully I'll get a response soon. I think they'll each like this way of asking.

New Year and all things shoes.

 Happy 2012 Everyone!

Let's begin. I wouldn't consider myself a shoe fanatic. What I really look for in shows in cute, comfy, and flat.

Those kind of shoes aren't that hard to find. So, I have a lot of shoes needless to say.

Finding my wedding shoes was EASY. I saw then at JCPenny one day I was browsing and went back when they sent me a $5 off coupon a couple weeks later. Here is a stock photo of them:

 

"Call It Spring" line.  

My photo!

Aren't they gorg? They have so many colors, and a timge of purple (my favorite color) sprinkled throughout. The bottom line is: I just knew they were mine and I could see myself in them. Yeah, I may have no idea what my dress will look like but this is one small thing, that people can get stressed about, crossed off my list.

I've been wearing them around the house, and once out briefly to wear them in. They're pretty comfy considering so many people wear heels.

 

Another shot.

I was also thinking about getting rain-boots for backup in case it rains that day. It will be October in Ohio. The weather is so crazy, you never know what to expect. Kind of like these:

So if I find some reasonably priced ones I will snatch them up!

Amanda and Craig: How it all began.

I honestly can't remember the first time I met Craig. He kind of just got absorbed in my life. He was my younger brother, Timmy, friend and hung around with the other neighborhood kids. One of the earliest memories I have of him is at school: I had to go up to the art room and he was there working on a project. I specifically went out of my way to go say hello because I thought he was cute.
I went off to college not long after that and we would talk online (AIM! haha) all the time. When I dropped out I came back, we hung out all the time. We went to a Chevelle concert, watched movies like Dazed and Confused, went to Geauga Lake and much much more back in our teens. This was all 8-9 years ago. I know most people have these crazy/funny/memorable first time meeting stories but I like our very organic way of getting together.

Here's a very old picture from the time period I was just describing:

hahahaha. At the Cleveland Zoo circa 2004.

Date is Set! October 13, 2012

Craig and I officially have a date set. Here's the place we booked:

Inside

The back stairs

The front, coming through the parking lot

Best part in that it is a two minute hike to a waterfall. (!!) It was literally the only place I looked at. This means it is a lot of DIY. We reserved it all day, just in case we need to get married on the lawn if we can't find a ceremony location. This is real! It's finally happening!