Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Lets Recap...

Happy Tuesday!

I hope everyone had a great long weekend! I feel like I have so much to share and I don't even know where to begin. As usual I will begin with a weather update. We had some wonderful weather in Lexington over the weekend and it was so nice to get outside without heavy layers of clothing. I have been checking the weather in Turks and Caicos (honeymoon spot) daily for about the past week and I am beginning to like what I see. I am so looking forward to lounging by the pool and taking it easy that it is making it hard to even drag myself out of bed in the morning to go to work.

Last week the FIN and I celebrated Valentines Day (yes, I haven't posted about V-Day yet) at one of our favorite restaurants, Portofinos.

Last V-Day as MKH...

We enjoyed a nice meal and it was great to relax and not talk about the wedding. We joked and said that we have eaten at Portofinos every Valentines Day that we have been together (this year makes year 3). The weekend before Valentines Day we were also super busy as we went to UK's Greek Sing. Mallory was dancing and it was great to watch and see all of her hard work. Some of the girls looked more like Lady Gaga than sweet sorority girls, and Mallory was one of them.

Watch the DG's dance...

Speaking of dance, the FIN and I took our first dance lessons last week. I was beyond excited about the lesson and I couldn't wait for Friday to get here, and much to my surprise the FIN was also enthusiastic. We didn't know what to expect as the guy that we spoke with on the phone was VERY peppy about the idea of dancing. When we got to the dance studio I was scoping out the place from the parking lot and the FIN was more concerned with the authentic Mexican restaurant next door and was saying if we come back for a second lesson we could have dinner after dancing. I thought if I didn't get him out of the car that we may get side-tracked and end up eating chips and salsa instead of learning to salsa.

Store-front...

Inside the studio...

When we walked in I think that we were both like, "OMG, there are tons of people and why are they all here?" It turns out that people like to "socially" dance and apparently its popular enough that they have between 150-200 people every Friday night (I asked the receptionist what was going on, and she started giving me the "sell" on the studio and how great it was). I had no idea that Dancing with the Stars had made an impression in Lexington, KY but I guess it has. We were introduced to a super nice gentleman that was about my age that guided us through the beginning stages of a few basic dances. He was a great teacher and he will be teaching us again next week when we go back for our second lesson.

The FIN really enjoyed the dancing... (ignore my lazy eye)

Great form... haha

Overall, it was a great night and I think that we are both excited to go back and learn more. We practiced a little bit on Friday after leaving but I think that a refresher may be needed tomorrow night. Granted we have only been to one lesson but I would totally reccomend taking private lessons before a wedding/or other special event where there will be dancing. Its completly harmless and the hardest part is actually walking through the door.

In other wedding related news.... MY WEDDING DRESS ARRIVED TODAY! I came home to find this oversized lightweight box at my mailbox.

Yes, I moved my foot mat so the box wouldn't 
get the gross cardboard dust on the floor...

All wrapped up...

Still wrapped up....

I was so glad that the dress arrived today. I have made an appointment to take the dress to the boutique seamstress next weekend for my first fitting. I had mixed emotions when I opened the box. The dress that I chose has been featured in several publications and everytime that I see it in print I always wonder if I would like it as much on the day of the wedding as I did when I first tried it on. I usually don't have buyers remorse and I am hoping that it doesn't kick in. I didn't try on the dress because I didn't have anyone to help me with it so I figured that I would just wait. I did take it out of the garmet bag and it is as wondeful as I remember it to be. Don't worry I didn't shed any tears....

The FIN and I are getting our open water SCUBA certification this weekend and I am super excited. We went and got our fins/goggles/masks/and water shoes this weekend and we both cant wait to try everything out in the water. I will be sure to take tons of pictures so everyone can have a good laugh!

Happy Wednesday!
LOVE, MKH

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Blogging Space Needed...

Happy Weekend!

Yes, it is Saturday night, and yes I am blogging at home. I know that sounds borderline sad but its been a busy week and the FIN is feeling fluish (which means GERMS...) so I am trying to steer clear of any bacterial grossness that may be happening. I told myself that I am going to try maintain a better disposition/bed-side manner when it comes to be sickly/icky feeling but all I want to do is Lysol everything and bathe in Purell, and if the FIN would allow I would gladly sanitize/disinfect everything. Even though the Cats lost AGAIN today it has been a relaxing Saturday, I have been cleaning and re-cleaning all afternoon. There is still some snow/salt on the sidewalks and anytime I leave and come back into my apartment I always seem to track the grime in with me. I have gotten to where I take my shoes (in this weather Uggs) off at the door before I get into the apartment so I wont have to continually wipe the floors down. Another reason I am ready for warmer weather, no salt residue to clean off of the floor.

In other news, I have been perusing my favorite home magazine websites lately and apparently being a "blogger" is fairly trendy and is now requiring adequate space. I know that I blog from my corner chair but thats out of necessity since my apartment is a spacious 540sq feet. Sure I could sit on the couch or lay in bed to blog but I have taken a strong liking to my patterned chair.

Wonderful memories...

On some of the home websites I found some wonderful blogging corners/cubbies that I would love to occupy at some point. I joked with FIN about him having an office in our future home and that I would also need a space that I could work quietly and collect my thoughts while blogging/crafting/reading. I had no idea that home office spaces had become so trendy, and it gives me inspiration to put my previously un-discovered decorator talents to use.

LOVE the animal print rug and white claw foot table...
Closet office, literally. Small but very functional...
Clean and practical...
Roomy and bright... 
I'm not a huge pink person, but I could "blog" in an office like this.
Family friendly...
A lovely little corner... 

I have been saving magazines snippets from home catalogs for years (literally since freshman year in college) in preparation for home-ownership one day and I have since started a folder on my desktop of online photos. I am a browser by nature (the FIN isn't always fond of my dwadling) and if I am not careful I could get lost looking at home/interior design magazines. Since the wedding is less than 5 months away I should be reading books "Cooking for Dummies" but its hard to get past the first few pages and there aren't any pictures.

I hope everyone has had a great Saturday!
Happy Weekend!
LOVE, MKH

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Will You Be My Bridesmaid?

Happy Tuesday!

I've been neglecting the Daily Days as of late and I am blaming it on the weather and the weather only! The FIN and I have been super busy with wedding plans and making arrangements for the next few months. We are going to get SCUBA certified at the end of this month and I am getting really excited. I will be sure to document the water training as best as possible. We are also scheduled to take dance lessons which I am SO excited about. I took dance for over 13 years and I am so so glad that the FIN is being a trooper and wanting to learn for the reception. We have TONS going on in the next few weeks and time is ticking away to June 25th.

After becoming engaged one of the first things that I crossed off of my list was asking my dearest friends to be Bridesmaids and share in our special day. All of the Bridesmaids are girls that I feel I have a close personal connection with and I have shared wonderful memories with each of them. To show them how much I care for each of them and how special they all are I sent each of them a "Will You Be My Bridesmaid" box.

The BM bag is really an organic lunch basket from Target. 
It was the perfect size for the items inside.


Bridesmaid Invite in the color scheme of the wedding... 
The card says it ALL. Courtesy of Mary Ellen at Mostly MEllen

Personalized M&Ms in the color scheme of the wedding...

Yes, those are our faces on the M&Ms....
 Our initials and wedding date are also were screened on the candy!

I LOVE Lilly Pulitizer, and I thought a nice springy 
water bottle/coffee mug would be a nice addition to any collection!

**Let the photo montage of the BM's begin**
MOH: Mallory
BM: Emmy
BM: Caitlin
BM: Catherine
BM: Ashley
BM: Courtney 
(family picture in Dallas last April, please ignore the mess on the table)

I also included my flower girl, Anna Laura with the pre-wedding garb. Even though she is only four I wanted her to feel included.  I sent her the card below along with something more age appropriate. I would hate to give her chocolate and have running around like a wild child and she doesn't work out or drink coffee so I had to be creative!

Flower Girl Invite...

Ms. Peony (wedding flowers that we chose) from Build-A-Bear...
Yes, I stuffed the bear and helped dress/name her...

This weekend we (my Aunt Juli and Aunt Brenda) were able to scout out a few places for the BM's Luncheon. I am so thrilled that we found a place and I am so excited for everyone to be together in a relaxed setting before the wedding. I can't believe how fast things are passing and soon MKH will be MHG. 

I hope everyone has had a great start to the week, and at least tomorrow is Wednesday!

Its halftime at the CATS are currently beating UT (Tennessee)!
GO CATS!
LOVE, MKH