A Tribute

Some of you may know that my grandmother Gloria passed away over 5 years ago. After she passed I realized I had lost a huge part of my life. I tribute most of my upbringing, morals, safety, & personality to her. She played an outstanding role in her granchildrens life. Instead of putting a career, marraige, or any other self obsorbed act she chose to devote her life to "us". For this I am forever blessed.

When she was diagnosed with cancer & given a short amount of time to live she called me into my parents room (where she stayed & felt most comfortable) & asked if I would just talk to her. She told me that she was afraid to die & felt she was going to miss out on all of the things that she was so involved in with myself, Taylor, Kelsie, & Lexie. She cried to me & asked me how is she to stay strong. This was a moment that is so near & dear to my heart. She knew I was the most strong willed of the family & knew me inside & out. Incredible. I told her before she passed away not to worry about me because I am just gonna get married & live a normal life haha! I proceded to tell her to drop me signs here & there after she passed but not freak me out like the stories the psychic Silvia chick told on the Montel Williams show we used to watch (that made her crack up)! Since that conversation, I knew she was like a mother to me.

Derek & I agreed to highlight her in some way possible during the wedding. We searched & came up with an amazing way to give back & make an impact to our guests through her.

This is a cancer pin that will be in place of our guest favors. The money my family pays for these will go strictly to Lung Cancer Research. Each guest will recieve one on their place setting attached with a card explaining the donation & in memory of "Gram". This couldn't make me happier!

( I couldnt believe the Lung Cancer Pin happened to be gold & ivory which coordinate into our wedding colors! I didnt know until I searched the pins! Its a sign & one of God's many blessings)

Goals Part #1

These are just some random goals that I would love to obtain within the next 5 years:

1. Read the Bible in it's entire & attempt to understand as much as possible.

2. Plan my very first whole wedding for a client outside of Glendora Country Club.

3. Get baptized with Derek.

4. Begin a new close friendship.

5. Go on a mission trip with Derek.. We should at least make an attempt to change lives as much as possible.

6. Graduate college with my BA in Business with an emphasis in Management (im on the 10 year plan)

7. Sponsor a child from another country.

8. Read an actual book besides school texts.

9. Take advantage of every second with family mainly parents, siblings, & grandparents. You can never have too much time with them.

10. Get married, have a child, strive to always be a better wife, buy a home, get a dog, continue to attend church & juggle home with career.

These goals may be on a large scale but definitely obtainable. Fortunately I have had a pretty good start into my 20's & it's only up from here.

A Select Few..

During my high school years I started to accept that I wasnt the most friendliest, outgoing, group of friends type of girl. I chose only a handful (it that!) to really hang out with & stick around. I get along much more with guys then girls.

When I began dating Derek I said uh oh... no sisters... but I have no sisters....

Here I am with one year away from my wedding & I need to choose 4 ladies to take part of the biggest day of my life. This will be the most memorable & I am not the one to choose lightly. I have a very demanding job & did not get the whole college roomate experience. Although I love my friends I was unable to give them all the attention that they deserve. I can honestly say the most stressful part of the 5 months I have been engaged is tightening up who will be the 4!

Derek has chosen his 4 & he luckily has his brother & mine.... oooo im jealous!

Of course there are the obvious girls in my life that have stuck with me & know exactly who I am. I love them for this & regardless if I see them everyday, week, month, or even year I know 100% they are there no matter what.

Just to give you a head start I have already chose my MAID OF HONOR.. we met December 2006! Cant wait!

My Style!

After flipping through a billion wedding magazines including the best one of all.. Martha Stewart Weddings! I found this picture & it is exactly the style I am heading toward!


I love the dress & headpiece..!!! Can't wait to search for these replicas!

Au Natural

I have been a blonde for the last 5 years! I can't believe how time flew by!!! My fiance hasn't even seen my natural hair color & I was becoming brain washed into thinking I was born a natural blonde lol... Prior to those 5 years I have had BLACK, BROWN, RED, & highlights. Lets just say I had to get that out of my system I guess.

I promised myself a couple years ago that when I get married "one day" I will marry my natural hair color. Unaware of how soon I was to be engaged it dawned on me that I promised that was what I wanted. I contemplated because everyone knew me as a blonde including a large cliental at work!

The reason I wanted to go back natural for my wedding was because I did not my beautiful wedding picture hanging in my married house one day looking like I went through a "phase" in my life & wanted to be a blonde.

So here is my new hair color & I love it! So does Derek! Im pretty sure im saving $100 a month & never going back!! Yay!