Moving Madness

So we all know that I am a really terrible blogger...so I apologize again for a considerably large length of time between posts! But, here goes the last month of my life in a nutshell.

WE MOVED! The end.

Ha!! I wish moving was that easy! In all seriousness, Michael and I found an adorable 2 bed, 1 bath home in the Medical District of Huntsville that is in walking distance of Huntsville Hospital. It is white with black shutters, has a cute little red door, the most adorable door bell ever, and an upstairs that has been renovated and now includes M's new man cave and a 10x20 walk-in closet that will be mine when we are married. Can I get an amen on the closet space? :)

Basically this move blindsided both of us and the last month or so has been an absolute whirlwind. We found this house, I moved back home with my parents to save some money, and M moved into the new house...all in about 2 weeks. I am thankful for my awesome parents/family and our incredible friends for helping us move things all over Madison/Huntsville. We truly, truly appreciate your help, support, and encouragement with this big move!

While all the moving has been going on we have also been in class and I have started a new job at Hunstville Hospital. I will definitely be thrilled when this mini-mester is over. I am ready for some time to relax and forget about projects and papers.Hand in hand with school and moving has come lots of stress and not a lot of time for lots of fun things. Right after we moved the stuff into the new house, M and I shared dinner on the floor (we didn't have a couch or loveseat yet!) and realized how crazy the last few weeks had been. I am really thankful that we have been able to spend time with eachother recently and that we have been able to work through some things that have been thrown at us. This opportunity to move has made me appreciate him so much and it has also made me more excited for our wedding and our marriage. Which....in case you're wondering....is only 385 days away!

In the last 2 weeks, I have gotten a few wedding things done. We have chosen colors (and a bridesmaids dress!) and I am so glad to have that weight lifted from my shoulders! The bridesmaids will be wearing a blue color...it is a cross between a royal blue and a navy. It is a really beautiful color and it should really compliment my dress. Flowers will be whites and light pinks for another touch of color. I am so excited for the girls to get measured and get these ordered in the coming months. I can't wait to see them.

Our engagement pictures have been rescheduled for July 11th. Between orientation at work and moving, there was no way we could keep our original June date for pictures. M and I really looking forward to our shoot with Alyson and can't wait to see the pictures.

We have also decided to have Two Strings and Ivory play at our ceremony instead of our reception. I am super excited about this!!! I think it is going to be a perfect touch to the ceremony. And speaking of the ceremony, during May we had the opportunity to visit our ceremony location, Randolph. I was especially glad that we were able to go because Nina and Laura beth were able to see it for the first time. Here are a few pictures!

Center aisle and old wooden pews

Stage area...obviously a lot of these things will be moved!

The final piece of excitement from the last few weeks is with our website and wedding party. M is getting his guys together and as soon as he is finished deciding and asking, I will have the website posted. I am really looking forward to having that checked off of my to-do list.

Finally, in the next 2 or 3 weeks, we are planning to meet with Barbara of Barbara's Wedding Shop to discuss flowers, catering, cakes, lighting, etc. for our ceremony and reception. We have heard and seen awesome things come from her wedding decor so we are excited to see what she has in store for us! After we take care of this bit....it will be smooth sailing for a while!

Hopefully for my next update there will be pictures of the new house, a sneak peak of our engagement session, and the wedding website debut!!!

Tears, Tulle, and Temptation

As some of you already know, I said "yes" to the dress this past Saturday. It was a stressful but fun and rewarding day. My blog title today? It just about perfectly sums up the events of my morning appointment at The Something Blue Shoppe in Hartselle, Alabama.

Let's face it....we all knew there would be tears because, quite frankly, my mother and I were both involved in the process and we are cry babies. Tulle....it is the only hint that I will be giving about my dress until the day that is unveiled at our wedding. Maybe it is made of tulle.....or maybe not? :) Temptation describes the instance when I tried on a dress that was one I have been stalking for quite some time. I loved it to death.....but it just was not what I was looking for. Tempting? Quite so.

Saturday morning was hectic and I was already a nervous wreck. I stayed at my parent's home in Madison so that Mom and I could swing by and pick up Nina and then head to Hartselle. Laura Beth was driving in from Auburn that morning to meet us at Something Blue. I went to my house in Huntsville on Friday night to pick up clothes, etc. but after a Starbuck's date with some lovely friends...I realized I packed everything but a shirt to wear. Since it was midnight 30 when I discovered this, I decided to drive back to Huntsville in the morning. BAD IDEA! We all know I hate to run late and I was the one running late! Frustrating.

We got to Hartselle, parked, and then had to help Laura Beth parallel park.....and then we went in. I was nervous and unsure of what to expect but I was thoroughly glad to have three of the most important people in my life with me.

We walked in and I met my literal fairy god mother, Robin. She was absolutely FABULOUS. She asked me a few questions and asked if I brought any pictures. I showed her the first picture and she already pulled two gowns, then she pulled the exact gowns in the pictures, etc. She was great!!! We looked through the racks, pulled a few more dresses, and then we decided that it would be time to try some on. This is the part where I walk in the room and see like 15+ wedding dresses hanging. At this point I was just excited so I took off my shoes and got ready to change while Robin brought me some fabulous peep toed pumps with rhinestones and a four inch heel. We were well on our way to trying on some lovely dresses!

The first dress I tried on was beyond incredible. I walked out and stood on the pedestal, held the mirror, had a veil put on me....it was truly a real bridal experience. This dress was so fabulous that it was in the running until the very end-and it became the dress that nearly every other dress was compared to for the entire day. I tried on 2 or 3 more dresses that I liked but not as much as the first. Then I tried on this fabulous Justin Alexander dress that I had been stalking in a magazine and online. It was an incredible dress and we all agreed that it was to be set aside and put into the running with the first dress.

It was when we were walking back to the dressing room that I saw THE dress I had been creeping on. We decided not to try it on because it was a ridiculous price....so we went on our merry way with a few more dresses. I liked some more, but not in comparison to the other two. There were only 2 or so dresses left in my room when Mom decided that I should try on the dress I'd been creeping on. I basically love my mom did you know that?

So I put on this Justin Alexander dress and I was immediately overwhelmed and beyond confused. It was a lovely dress and I was in love with it...it even gave me the butterflies and flushed feeling. Laura Beth, Nina, and Mom all loved it. Tempting. But something just was not right! It was not as flattering as some of the other dresses and it was certainly a lot more poofy. We decided to hang it on the rack with the other two dresses that were to be revisited.

Then I put back on the first dress that I tried on all day. It was lovely and flattering and everyone loved it-but something was still missing for me. I had in my head this picture of what I always thought I would wear on my wedding day and how I would feel...and this dress was not saying those things to me. Standing on the pedestal at that moment in front of the mirror might have been one of the scariest moments for me, as stupid as that sounds. The dress I had on was awesome and the next dress I needed to revisit was equally as awesome....but they were exact opposites of each other. The third dress was mostly out the window because of price and that weird feeling. Two dresses, complete opposites, doubly confused bride-to-be.

As I was standing there, an associate brought out this dress and suggested I try it on. I was not opposed since I was already confused as all get out, so I figured that another dress couldn't hurt the situation any more. Mom and I went back to the dressing room where I just sat and took a break. I really thought I was about to bawl my eyes out due to frustration and confusion. Fairy god mother brought me some water, Mom gave me a pep talk, and I was ready to try on one last dress.

I think that before I even walked out of the dressing room I knew this was my dress. Something was different. I felt different, beautiful, and like a bride. I walked out and stood on the pedestal, feeling less overwhelmed and more confident. Mom was looking weepy, I felt weepy, and Nina and Laura Beth were already crying!

Can I please just interject here and say that Nina and Laura Beth don't cry?! This was HUGE!

Of course since they cried, you know I did too! We all knew it was the dress and before I could even say "yes" LB and Nina had their cameras out snapping pictures-which was a big deal because you have to purchase before you can photograph. They knew just as well as I did that this was the dress. We all hugged and cried happy tears, called Daddy, and took pictures.

Overall my experience was wonderful. I loved the dresses, and although I became slightly confused about my decision during the process, I know that I ended up with the perfect dress. Robin was truly amazing and if anyone goes to Something Blue looking for a dress, I would highly recommend her. I truly believe that this dress was made for me to wear it. I can't wait for everyone to see it-especially Michael! I know he is trying to be sneaky but he is just going to have to wait another 431 days to see it! :)

Keep looking for more updates this month! I am trying to finish up our wedding website and we are scheduled to go back to look at our ceremony location next week. I also have a potential update on bridesmaids dresses as well as colors!

So obviously I'm a lousy blogger....

I have not posted in forever! There are a few good reasons why....so I am going to take a minute to share them with you. Hopefully in the future I will become more consistent with my blogging skills.

Firstly, M and I have been absolutely swamped with school. Between tests, case studies, MyNursing Labs, clinicals, etc. things have just been crazy. We only have about 2 weeks left in this semester and I could not be more thankful! So very ready for a break during the month of May....then it is off to more classes in June and July. May is much anticipated and will be warmly welcomed with lots of sleeping in and spending time at the pool....and wedding planning!

The next reason that I haven't blogged in a while is because there hasn't been a lot going on wedding wise because I honestly have not had a lot of time. Thank goodness for my awesome mom and close friends who have been keeping on track with numerous magazines to thumb through, planning notebooks to compile, and tons of web links to check out. I'm currently loving the job that my MOH's are doing.... so a huge shout out to Nina, Laura Beth, and Mom!

In the last two months I have been seriously working on our wedding website. It will debut in MAY! So be looking for that in the future. I am really excited about it because it is going let everyone learn a lot about us, our wedding party, and our wedding itself. I can't wait for everyone to see it!

Another big thing that M and I have accomplished is completing our registries! We have chosen Belk and Bed, Bath, and Beyond for our registries and we are so excited. I have to give my mom another HUGE thanks because she really helped us decide on some things and gave us some really good advice. if you want to see our registries you can go here for Bed, Bath, and Beyond or here for our Belk registry. For the Belk registry you have to type in one of our names. Check them out and let us know if we are missing something that you think would make an awesome addition to our future home...where ever it may be!

We are also in the process of booking a date for our engagement pictures. I am really looking forward to our session with our photographer Alyson. I am totally in love with her! She sent us some monogrammed stationary just to say "thank you" for choosing her. We all know I LOVE monogrammed things...so of course I was really impressed and excessively excited. Check out Alyson's work on her website Eternal Reflections Photography by Alyson.....she is awesome!

I have also gotten together with some wonderful ladies in my life and we have chosen a date to go wedding dress shopping. I am really looking forward to spending that time together with my mom, sisters, and a few other special women in my life. I'm not giving any more info about this....so you'll just have to check back for more posts :)

The last thing that I wanted to blog about today is my WONDERFUL fiance, Michael. He just started a job at Huntsville Hospital  today and I am so proud of him! He has been blessed with an awesome and exciting opportunity and I am so thankful for him. I just had to brag on him for a second! The other thing that I want to mention is that this Wednesday is the 3 year anniversary of our first date. WOW! I can't believe it at all! The last three years have been incredible and I cannot wait to see what the next 53 or more years are like with M by my side. I am truly thankful and blessed to have such an awesome guy in my life....for the rest of my life!

One of the first pictures that Michael and I took together....my high school graduation! This was May 18, 2008.

That is about all for right now. I am just trying to procrastinate some of that school work I was talking about earlier. Be sure to check for updates during the month of May.....I promise it will be more exciting than this post!

Free Honeymoon + Photographer = Awesome Week!!!

Well the last week or so has been nothing short of eventful for Michael and me! Lots of exciting and fun news to share in this post, so I hope you're ready!

Last week I got a phone call saying that we won a free honeymoon! We were so excited! We went on Saturday to a presentation and got all of our information. The trip we have chosen is all inclusive....TO THE BAHAMAS! The package pays for 2 nights/3 days, so we are going put in the extra money to make it 5 nights/6 days and get out of town for the week. We are so thankful that we had the opportunity to have this happen to us!

Bahamas? Yes, please!

This afternoon after we went with my mom to Hartselle to meet our photographer. This might actually be more exciting to me than the honeymoon! We have chosen to use Alyson with Eternal Reflections Photography and I could not be more happy about it! I am absolutely in love with her photos and her! She seems so fun, creative, and flexible. I think she is going to do a wonderful job with our engagement and wedding photos and I cannot wait to work more with her. To me, the photographer may be the most important person of our big day. She is going to give us the pictures to put in our new home, to give to our parents, to hand down to our children and even our grandchildren. After all the craziness of the day is over, we only have pictures (not food or flowers or whatever) to help us relive and remember that day and just how wonderful it was. Check out her website above or her Facebook page!

Also in the works this week is some musical entertainment. When Mom and I went to the bridal fair we found out about this group of sisters that play the violin, piano, and cello. It is beautiful! I am so excited about incorporating them into our celebration!

Finally, I have officially become undecided about the color of bridesmaids dresses. Pretty much any input or opinions would be more than welcome at this point because I am drowning in my own indecisiveness! This is the next thing that has to be taken care of...so send on the suggestions!

Lastly, I am so excited for this weekend because Laura Beth is coming home! I can't wait to see my little sister and spend some time with her....when I'm not studying!! haha. But I guess that is all of the exciting news for right now. I'm sure that there will be more exciting news later!

Study Break!

All afternoon I have been doing homework and studying for our test on Monday.About an hour and a half ago I took a study break to meet Mom and Becca in downtown Huntsville.....and we have booked our reception location!!!! I am SO thrilled.


A few posts ago I said that we would be having our reception at GaN, where my dad works. After some thinking and a couple of difficult decisions, Michael and I decided that it would be better to have the reception elsewhere. Our guest list was growing, and to be quite honest, the space at GaN was not! We started looking around at other places and after Mom and I went to the bridal fair 2 weekends ago, I knew that the Grand Hall at Early Works was the place for us. We have some AWESOME plans for covering up those tacky Alabama seals on the walls and other ideas as well. I am very excited that we found a place that can be just what I had hoped for.


And the bridal fair.....oh my! Very overwhelming. Everyone knows I love lists...so here it goes!
1. I realized just how expensive weddings really are! Of course you know that the big ticket items (dress, locations, caterer, photographer, etc) are outrageous, but the little things add up too. We are back to the drawing board on a "budget" with Daddy.
2. A few weeks ago I was positive I had made decisions on a few things....and now I just don't know! I have become very indecisive about a few key items and I am interested to see which way I will lean with them.
3. Like I said before, so overwhelming! Some things you can live without on your wedding day, but there were things that I had not thought of that made me think more. See #2 about being indecisive? This is why...


As far as all things wedding are concerned, I recently began the registry process. I think that it is so very exciting! While it is not the "things" you are given that make up your marriage, a lot of great memories can be made from these things. For example, my mom has a set of plates that she registered for when she and Daddy got married 25 years ago. Ever since I was a little girl I can remember eating off of those plates at the dinner table....and dinner at the Fraley household always involves some crazy, funny memories! I am excited to go with Michael and see things that he deems "needable." It should be fun and interesting!


One of the things that I am most excited about recently is a class at church that Michael and I are planning to attend. It is about marriage and I think that it will be a great eye-opener for us. I also believe it will be great for us to take a break from everything that is every day life and really focus on us and our relationship with God. So exciting!


Nothing else new is really going on....just getting along with school and work. Beyond ready for Spring Break because I cannot get that dress out of my head.....!

I promised myself not to....

But promises are made to be broken sometimes, right?


During the weekend, Laura Beth (my sister and one of my MOH's) and I found a bridesmaid dress that we liked. We looked to see where the brand was carried. Luckily enough, Madison Town and Country carries the line. We decided to go with Mom to look at the dress and maybe get some more ideas of things we liked.


The understanding in the three of us going to the bridal store was that I WAS NOT trying on ANY wedding dresses. I didn't even want to look at them! I made a deal with myself months ago to lose a certain amount of pounds before I would try one on. Not an outrageous amount, but a certain amount nonetheless.


Of course we got there and they didn't have that particular bridesmaid dress in stock. We perused the other racks of dresses for the 'maids, wrote down a few we liked, and talked. We were done looking and ready to go when Mom said, "Don't you just want to look at the dresses for a minute before we leave?" I was positively against the idea and said no, while Laura Beth insisted that she knew I wanted to look. After some more persuasion, we were in the bridal room looking at dresses. And I was beyond overwhelmed.


Amber, a sales associate, directed us to different designers, dress styles, etc. We looked through the racks of one designer in particular because there was a dress that I saw online that I thought I would like. They didn't have that one, so we looked for another. One dress that Mom loved they did have. Amber pulled it out of the bag and hung it up for us to look. It was beautiful. We continued to look...until I found this one dress. It was elegant and gorgeous. I pulled it out from the rack...but not off the rack. My mom took it off the rack and hung it separately by itself....and this is where our trouble starts.


Next thing I know, Amber is telling me that she's starting me a dressing room, Laura Beth is saying "I told you so" and Mom is asking if there are any others I want to try on! I don't know what happened in that few minutes....but my stomach was in knots and my hands were clammy and I was a nervous wreck!


While we're at it, let's get something straight. I have NEVER been shy about shopping or trying on clothes. Never ever. This was a very shocking feeling for me, and I think for my mom and sister too.


The first dress I put on. I don't think words can describe how I was feeling...but I will try anyway. My heart was pounding. Not only because I was nervous, but because it was the most beautiful thing I think I have ever tried on....way better than any prom or homecoming dress. For the first time since Michael and I got engaged, I think I really realized that I am going to be a bride. For me, putting on that first dress made those little girl dreams of being a Princess and having a Prince Charming come true. It was an amazing feeling!


But the first dress was nothing short of magnificent. If there was ever a dress to scream my name at me, this is it. The second dress wasn't me at all, and that's ok. I know that in the future there will be more dresses to try on....but I know that dress number one will be terribly, incredibly hard to top. There is a possibility that it may be the dress.


Earlier today I posted on Facebook that I tried on my first dress. A former teacher of of ours left a comment giving me a wonderful piece of advice. She encouraged me to document, as much as I can, everything about wedding planning and our time of engagement. I am so glad that she suggested that. I hope that this blog will be an awesome way to help us remember everything that is going on in our lives, and not just that one day when we get married.


I guess to finish, last night Michael and I went to get coffee together. Usually coffee means loads of great conversation...and I am thankful for that. So many times we are so busy with school and work and other things that we don't always have time to talk about things. Last night was wonderful because it just added another reason to the list of millions of reasons of why I am so thankful to have Michael in my life and how blessed I am that we will be able to spend the rest of our lives together.


I am so excited about the things to come! More later.

Where to begin?!

I guess I really should be asleep right now because I know I have a long day tomorrow....but I have been dying to start this blog for weeks! I'll start with a little background info and work my way from there!


Michael and I started dating around May 2008. I left for Knoxville in August and came home to go to UAH in May of 2009. We were both accepted into the UAH College of Nursing in April 2010.


August started our first semester of nursing school....which is a completely different world from any other types of class! It is rigorous, ridiculous, and rewarding all at once. I am proud to say that the semester finished well. Christmas break has been an awesome breath of fresh air and I know that starting back in Jauary will be so hard!


In September, Michael proposed in Knoxville! I was so excited and so shocked, and I wouldn't have had it any other way. I am so excited that I am going to spend every day of the rest of my life with the person that God made just for me! It is an amazing thing to think about.


Since September it has been difficult to make any wedding plans....but they are coming along. So far we have.....
-Set a date! FINALLY! We will be married July 14, 2012
-Found a ceremony location! The ceremony will be held at Randolph Church of Christ in Downtown Huntsville. It is a beautiful, old church that was built in the late 1800s. It is complete with stained glass windows, beautiful wooden pews....and a center aisle!
-Found a reception location! The reception will be held at GaN Corporation in South Huntsville. GaN is where Daddy works as the Director of Operations. The building is the former site of the historic Mr. C's Restaurant and Tavern. It is complete with 4+ chandaliers, beautiful staircases, and stained glass windows, among other things.
-Chosen my bridesmaids! I am so excited and very pleased with the ladies that I have asked to be a part of our special day!


Before school starts back I am hoping to contact the photographer that we like, finalize colors and flowers, and finish researching caterers and florists.


I have also started a wedding website! This is something that I just thought was SO fun and I could not pass up the chance to make one. It is still in the early stages......so there will be more about that later!


Enough wedding stuff-it is almost Christmas! I can hardly believe that we only have 2 more shopping days left and I still have a few gifts to buy. I am not normally this behind! Tomorrow and Thursday will be full of getting ready for spending lots of time with family, eating lots of food, and giving lots of gifts!