Day 60- Sept 29

YAY! Tonight was invitation night at my house! My mom, sister, aunt Becky, and Kim all came to help! And let me tell you they (the invitations AND the people) are awesome! I can't wait for people to get them in their mailboxes. It didn't take as long as I thought thanks to everyone staying on task and Kim for keeping us organized!

 

Kaytie burned her finger on wax! Yes, I said wax. You will see when you get the invitation! We added an awesome touch! It wasn't until after I took this did we realize what finger she burned! LOL!

My beautiful mother was responsible for addressing the envelopes! She did a fabulous job!

My Aunt Becky hard at work! :)

Day 59-Sept 28

Okay this is a bad picture! But! These brooches came in finally! My cake has huge bows on it and these will be the center! So excited! It's all the little details that make it come together. 67 days and counting! I do have to admit I am getting kind of anxious! I am ready to be married! I did have a moment of panic the other day. TJ was talking about where we were going to put his tv and his this and that and I was thinking "WHOA! Slow down! You don't move in for two more months!" Good thing I am taking some time off work! I will be able to get our home organized after he moves in! Tomorrow is invitation night! Some assembly required! hehe! :) I'll let you know how it goes!

Days 53-57 - Sept 22-26

I spent this week in Colorado Springs for Training Site meetings and the Olympic Assembly. I had a great week and came back with some great ideas on how to improve our program and figure out the direction we should head next! I am totally excited about some of the things we could do! I have to admit I am still kind of worn out from being gone all week and could use an extra day to relax, but tomorrow is back to the grind! We have got to get things done! Plus, I will have time to relax in about 69 days! Boo Yah! Thats when we get married!

I will have to admit. I did not pay any attention to the wedding while I was gone! It was kind of nice! My mind was occupied with so many other things. For example, I was trying to figure out a way to move to Colorado Springs! The weather there is amazing! I LOVED it! Plus, it seems like everyone there is so healthy it's like there is something in the air and I want to be outside and apart of that! Plus, I was thinking about work work work! Luckily, I like my job and like to think about the new possibilities and learn from my peers!

This week it's back to wedding wedding wedding! I have to get my invitations together and ready to be mailed. Plus, I have two flower appointments! I am sleepy just thinking about it! LOL!

The picture above is one I took at the OTC. It was such a beautiful day that I had to snap this shot! :)

Sept 21- Day 52

Today I gave my presentation to the other training sites plus a few  visiting USOC staff. I was surprised by how surprised everyone was with how much work we had to do with the visas. I guess I just assumed it was the same for across the board. They also found some of my stories interesting. I told them how some countries didn't want to ride in a car with a woman driver and how they quickly overcame that in the 100 degree weather! I think my presentation went really well and it led to some great conversations between me and other training sites.

After presentations we went to visit the new USOC headquarters. They were amazing! Then for a group activity we went to the Garden of the Gods (the picture above!). It was so beautiful  and peaceful, it made me want to move to Colorado Springs. The weather was perfect!

Tonight we went to eat as a group at the Blue Star. I so enjoy these training site meetings because you learn so much from the other groups and you can really get to know each other on a different level, which helps when working with each place.

It's been a great day! I love my job and being here inspires me to want to do even more amazing things at UCO!

I leave you with one last picture of the Garden of the Gods. I told my mom we need to visit this place when we come in October and maybe take the segway tour!  LOL!

Sept 20- Day 51

Home Sweet Home for this week! I am at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs for Training Site Meetings. The last time I came to the Training Site Meetings was in 2007! It's crazy how its all practically the same people! It's great cuz even if I don't remember names just yet, I know their faces. I present tomorrow morning. Luckily, it's on a topic I know a LOT about our programs, events, AND WORLDS! I am kind of excited! Plus, I really enjoy getting to see and hear what other sites are doing, it gives me good ideas!

Hehe! One fun thing about attending any USOC event is the cool stuff you get! Check out my new cute jacket with the new logo! Boo Yah! Can't wait for tomorrow!

On a side note I almost puked on the flight from Denver to Colorado Springs! I can't take that up and down and up and down and vomit!!!!! Hehe! Turned out the guy next to me was from the Pettit Center (a fellow training site)  and he said he couldn't tell I was about to lose my breakfast! :)

Sept 18- Day 49

They have finally arrived! Again Again! It has been an ordeal and a half to get these invites! The first time they came in the reception card was the same size as the response card. The second time they came in the reception card was the right size but the word was in the wrong place! Finally! TODAY they come in and they are correct! I feel like seeing the Hallelujah chorus! The goal is to have them in the mail by Oct. 1. Here is the problem. I am gone from Monday-Saturday next week for work! These have to be assembled and addressed! It's going to take a lot of work to make it happen, but it will get done! I am just so glad they are finally here!

Sept 15- Day 46

So my future hubby had a very productive wedding planning day! He and his friend Tommy went and picked out their tuxes! YAY! They are going to be very handsome! While they were doing this though I got this text. I replied..."Um...No!" LOL! I did say he could wear it to the rehearsal dinner however! hehehe! Then he went to get my wedding bands! YAY! Look:

I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE IT! LLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I want to wear the whole piece NOW and I have to wait a whole 80 days before I can. Oh the sadness! hehe. I shall live! I think its super sweet he wanted me to have two bands. He loves me :)!

Sept 13- Day 44

These boots (or Reebok Easy Tones) were made for walkin... It's official.  The clutch is gone. Finished. Kaput. So because I cost my fiancee so much money. I will be walking to work the rest of this week. Not because he won't give me a ride or that I can't find a ride, but as self-inflicted punishment for not knowing how to drive my car. Maybe I will learn! Here is the funniest part of all this. Today I had my walking shoes on, my bag with other shoes, my lunch, and breakfast in it and my purse, set out to walk and...there was a blasted train blocking where I would cross. For those of you that don't know there are only two places to cross under a train when its on the tracks and neither of those places is close enough for me to walk and get to work in a decent amount of time! LOL! So I drove and will try again tomorrow and by drove I mean went a whopping 20 mph all the way to work. Walking never hurt anyone and luckily I only live about a mile if that from work. So there you have it. I am also using this as an excuse to get a bit of exercise in as well and maybe this will encourage me to walk even when I am not forced! :)

Sept 12- Day 43

True Blood Season Finale Party!!! Shelly and Cheryl came over tonight to drool over Eric and Alcide on tonight's season finale! It has become tradition! This year I ordered some Tru Blood and it is delicious! Especially when mixed with Patron! We made our own drink and dubbed it Tru-quilla. hehehe! The season finale was fine, but the company and drinks were much better! I can't wait til next year!

Party Pics from this evening:

Sept 11- Day 42

Left to Right: Me, Madison, Kristen, Kaytie, Veronica, Shelly

Today was Bridesmaids Dress Day! YAY! I let the girls pick out the dress they wanted! I am so excited because they are all so lovely (girls and dresses both). The only requirement was that they all be the same color, long, and satin! I am so glad that is all done. And I am sure it is going to be stunning with all the dresses in black! I can't hardly wait! Since today was Bridesmaids day I think I will tell you a little about each and why they are in the wedding!

Kristen and Madison: I have known Kristen since Kindergarten. We would go to each others birthday parties and had many sleepovers. We have gone to school together our ENTIRE lives including college. We were even roommates for two years in college. We have had our share of crazy adventures. Including sneaking guys into our dorms, dropping off tv's at ex-boyfriends houses, crazy summer nights of kool-aid, sand volleyball, and pictionary! We will be friends forever. Regardless of where either of us ends up.Madison is a mini Kristen! She is nearly 3 and a crazy fun little girl who is just like her mom! She is going to be our flower girl and I have no idea how its going to work out! She is going to be a hoot!


Kaytie: Well, Kaytie is my sister and MOH. We currently live together and let me tell you she is the best roommate ever. Why you ask? Because I can tell her exactly how I feel about all those annoying things she does! LOL! Kaytie and I shared a room for 16 years. Our room was our imagination station! We decorated the walls with Backstreet Boys magazine clippings. Plastered an entire wall (literally) with posters of Titanic and when we were younger had about a thousand barbies we played with in our custom barbie mansion that my Papa Frank built us! Kaytie drives me INSANE, but she is my sister after all!

Veronica: I have only known Veronica for a short time. She is TJ's daughter. I get an instant family when I marry him. Veronica is great. She is like any typical teenager trying to figure out and find her way in this crazy world. I look forward to making her apart of my family permanently and making fun and happy memories with her. That is if my crazy family didn't scare her off today! LOL!

Shelly: Shelly is my vampire book suggesting, True Blood loving, OSU crazy, will tell you anything friend! I have worked with Shelly for a few years now and she is actually moving on to a new career as mommy! Peyton is super lucky to get to have her mom at home! Shelly and I went to Beijing together for the Paralympic Games in 2008. Nothing will bring you closer than an 18 hour flight and being in a massive city where not a soul speaks English! Hehe! You want to talk about crazy! She is the kind of person that will dance on the street in front of a Karaoke Bar in China! Where I am like "Shelly don't go there we will get killed!"

So there you have it! My bridal party! They all represent some part of my life and I hold them all dear to my heart! A bride couldn't ask for better girls! :)

My Aunt Becky on the end in the black went with us today and it took her nearly all day to figure out Veronica was TJ's daughter! It dawned on her about lunch time! So there you have it, new family!

When I got home from all the bridesmaid craziness, guess what was in the mail...MY VEIL! It was a happy wedding day! I want to wear it all the time and I think tomorrow if I have time I am going to put on my dress with my veil just to get the full picture! hehehe! SSSSOOOOOOO Excited!

To top it all off! TJ and I went to see Resident Evil: Afterlife 3D tonight! I know this sounds odd, but we are both fans of the series! It was pretty darn good and the 3D was way cool!


Dang that was some day!

Sept 9- Day 40

I'm so excited! I just can't hide it! Look what came in the mail today! AHHHHH! For all my Trubies out there! You gotta have your Tru Blood for the Season Finale PAR-TAY on Sunday! Too bad it didn't come with a side of Eric! LOL!

Some drink options for the night of the Finale include:

The Fangbanger - 2oz Vodka; 8oz Tru Blood
Dead on the Beach - 1.5oz Vodka; 1/2oz Peach Schnapps; 2oz Tru Blood; 2oz Orange Juice
Plasmapolitan - 1.25oz Vodka; 1 Shot Tru Blood; 1/2 Shot Lemon Juice; 1/4oz Triple Sec
Tequila Moonrise - 1 Shot Tequila; 1 Shot Tru Blood; 1/2 Grenadine
Bloody Maker-ita - 1 Shot Tequila; 1 Shot Cointreau; 1 Shot Tru Blood; 1/2 Shot Lime Juice
The Shapeshifter - 1 Shot Tequila; 1 Shot Tru Blood; 1/2 Shot Chambord; 1/2 Shot Lime Juice
Lorena's Revenge - 1 Shot Tequila; 1 Shot Tru Blood; 1/2 Shot White Rum; Splash of Grenadine; Splash of Lime Juice

Hehe! So very excited! :)

Sept 7- Day 38

Okay this picture is not that great, but there is a story behind it! I got my mustang at the end of May. YAY! I love this car! It is the nicest car I have ever owned and I love being in it and driving it. And it was made to blast Britney Spears music. Now here is the catch. Its a standard. Manual transmission. I am uncoordinated. I can hardly walk down the hall without running into the wall! So tonight I thought for sure that I had destroyed my clutch. Burned it right up.I even refused to ride with TJ when I had him check it out for me for fear of utterly awful news that I destroyed my car. Guess what! He drives it like a race car and says yeah the clutch is a little slow. So that means...I just suck at driving this awesome car! Go me! On the bright side the clutch is not super but its going to make it longer than we thought! On the not so bright side I SUCK at driving this car! I can't drive it like its meant to be driven. I feel bad for it really. Poor thing.  BUT I WILL DRIVE IT AND LEARN THIS! I will! I have done much more complicated things in my life I refuse to burn up my clutch (anymore than I already have) and I will be the best stick shift driver I can be! So take that!

Sept 6- Day 37

LOL! Today my lovely family decided to have a "cook-out" at my house...I don't have a grill. So it basically turned into mom making lunch at my house and me telling Kaytie how I do NOT like things that are not planned! I didn't even have toilet paper or anything to drink at the house! What kind of hostess does that make me? An unprepared one! It was nice to get together though. Jacob my brother is moving to California to live with my dad!  I couldn't be happier! He needs to get out of Oklahoma for awhile and see something other than just this little space we live in! I am excited and I think dad is excited as well! It will be good for both of them! He leaves Wednesday. LOL! This picture is funny, we are one strange family! And we only let few really see how crazy we really are...

HAHA! It looks like we just decided to pile on Kaytie! And I am wearing my glasses which I do not like and I am ready for my new prescription to come in!

Sept 4- Day 35

Tonight was Kim's wedding! She is finally Mrs. Stuck! I couldn't be happier for her! The wedding was very sweet and Kim made a grand entrance down a staircase and all! It's funny to think that she is married. That is such an adult thing to go and  do! We had to get a picture because after I get married we are going to make a photo book  about the adventures of Kim and Leigha. The last pictures will be of us at each others weddings! I can't wait! I wish them all the best in the world and many happy years and lots of babies!

Three months from today it is hard to believe we will be at our own wedding. We will say vows and pledge ourselves to each other and dance the night away as husband and wife. I like the idea of being a wife! It seems to fit me! I must say, I couldn't be more excited to marry my cowboy!

Sept 3- Day 34

Fall is in the air here in Oklahoma! So I pulled out all of my fall decorations! I love to decorate for the seasons! I also put some cute things outside and it makes the front of my house look so welcoming! So come on over!

Sept 2- Day 33

The fun mail week continues! I got my cake topper and this months issue of Brides!! I love love love mail! And isn't that cake topper Fabulous!??! I think so!

On another note tonight while taking my contacts out one of them disappeared! Vanished! It was hanging on my eye lash, I blinked and its gone! Kaytie and I both looked for it and nothing. This would not be that big of a deal but...I have a contact check up appointment in the morning where I am supposed to WEAR my contacts (plural meaning two). That would only happen to me! Geez! It is kinda funny though!

Sept 1- Day 32

Look what came in the mail today!!! My flower girl basket! I threw the petals on the floor to see how it worked and it was lovely! I love love love it! AND I have found a musical surprise for TJ and I think he will be so excited! I just have to keep my mouth shut for 3 months AAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! I am so so so excited! I can't stand it! Seriously!

Day 31

All day today I was anxiously awaiting when I could go pick up our Wedding invitations! I was so excited. Well when we arrive I have this sinking feeling something is going to be wrong! I just know it! Sure enough I walk in and of course I am looking first to see the over all appearance. They have one put together for us. Something is not right. My mom is looking for any typos etc. (yes we got a proof before so there shouldn't be any but you never know) The response card and reception card are the same size. Hmm...not a huge deal unless you ordered pocket invitations where one is supposed to be bigger than the other. Well we still have a little time before we need to address these and send them out so I didn't go Bridezilla on anyone, but I did point it out and asked to see the example in the book. The manager came over and promised to fix it. They should be ready next week. I must say. I love my invitations but it was such an utter disappointment to see them incomplete and not get to take them home. All the way to my mom's house I kept saying I was feeling "Utter Despair" LOL just because it felt right. She snapped this picture while driving home, there were storms in the state so it fit my "Utter Despair" mood! hehehe!