Happy Thursday friends! Once again my week as FLOWN thanks to a lot of projects and events taking place at work. I got on to read some blog this morning while I enjoyed my morning coffee and decided to throw up a confessional post.

I confess...

-Today is my Friday! Holla! Drew & I are headed to a wedding this weekend and we're headed out tonight.

-I can't help but laugh at my dog Max. This poor baby get's awful anxiety when the suitcases come out and we start packing. Last night as we were packing he was jumping into the suitcases, trying to prevent us from getting the job done. It was so adorable but sad at the same time. -- For the record Kolby & Max are coming with us --

-I became the bad Mom for laughing at that poor baby. Maxi worked himself up into such a tizzy, he woke Drew up around 3:00 a.m. needing an immediate trip outside (which is something that never happens). I married a good man, he was worried that Maxi was going to get sick again so they both stayed in the living room and slept on the couch to be close to the door and so Kolby and I could sleep. I walked into the living room this morning to find Drew still asleep on the couch but Maxi was on top of the suitcase asleep, holding his ground.



- I realized this morning I was out of a travel size body lotion. So I might have pumped some form my big bottle into a tiny tupperware container to bring with me this weekend.

- I almost left a passive aggressive note on someone's car yesterday for their inability to park. I had to shimmy in between my car and theirs to unlock my car, shimmy back out then climb through the passenger side to get in.

- I secretly wish I could play the banjo. I listen to a lot of alternative music, Alt Nation on XM is a fixture in my station line up. I'm currently obsessing over this band called Judah & the Lion and they incorporate banjos into all of their songs, yes please!

- I whined to my Mom like a small child to persuade her to bring me pizza this weekend. Back story, where Drew & I are from in Illinois there is a  pizza place with several locations owned by different members of a family. It is our favorite and we haven't had it since our wedding rehearsal! People, that was over a year ago.  I might have begged her to bring us a small one just so we can get a little taste of heaven to hold us over until we're home at Christmas.

- I'm ready to Christmas decor. I know I'm one of those crazy people.

- I loved taking a trip down memory lane and looking at wedding photos yesterday. If you haven't already check out my blog post on Our First Look.

So what do you confess?

In honor of attending a wedding this weekend I figured I would recap one of my favorite parts from my wedding, the first look.

First looks have become very popular within the past few years and for me, it was one of the biggest debates I had with myself when I was planning our wedding. As someone who was not a traditionalist when planning their wedding, I was confident that I did not want to do a first look and wanted to do the traditional thing and not see Drew until the big moment came of walking down the aisle.


However when the time came to set my timeline for the day, I soon realized that it was not going to be possible. Since we had our ceremony beginning at 5:30 and I wanted certain sunlight shots, we were going to have to take photos prior. I may have had a small bridezilla meltdown at this moment but when the day came, a first look was the best decision I ever made.


Drew and I arrived separate to our venue, him with his best man and me with my maid of honor. I decided if we were going to do a first look I didn't want any of the bridal party or family around to see, I wanted it just to be us, the photographers and our BM and MOH, for primping purposes
. When I got there Drew was already in place standing amongst the vines and I couldn't wait to see him. The first photo above is my most treasured photo from our first look. Drew caught a glimpse of me in the photographer's sunglasses and started to become emotional and was trying to pull himself together.

As I tapped him on the shoulder and he turned around I was greeted with the biggest smile. After 8 years together, a year and a half engagement the day had finally come, it was real, we were getting married.



There were tears, laughter and excitement. It was just the two of us and it was perfect.

Once the wedding festivities commence you don't get that much time to just enjoy each other and by doing the first look without others around, we got to do just that. It also allowed our photographer to get so many more wonderful photos, photos we would not have had time for if we had waited.



What are your thoughts on doing a first look?

Linking up with Jessi

This past weekend was the first weekend so far this month that Drew and I had a day to ourselves. We have been quite the social butterflies this entire month and I was excited to just hang out with my favorite guy. I wish I could say we did exciting things but we did what we do best and that's run errands, have lunch together then lounge at home and it was absolutely perfect and exactly what we both needed. Saturday we ventured out for some fall decor and then to find a tie for Drew to wear this weekend at a wedding we are attending. While shopping I found this amazing sleeveless blazer at Nordstrom Rack. It's the perfect fall piece to wear in the south.

The rest of the weekend was spent doing laundry and relaxing. I'm currently OBSESSED with Glee and have been binge watching on Netflix every chance that I get. I can't believe that I never watched it while it was on air. I love singing and musicals so the fact I never watched before now is shocking to me. FYI - don't ever watch the episode in honor of Finn (Cory Monteith) while on your period. I was sobbing while watching it yesterday. Full sobbing, snot running down my face, couldn't catch my breath sobs were happening.

I mentioned on Friday that my sweet niece Harper was turning 4. Since all my family lives in IL there was just no way that I was going to make it home for her birthday party but no worries, Aunt May always sends gifts. My mom was able to Skype me in to watch her open her gift from us & then sent pictures and needless to say she was SO excited! Every time I'm home she will sit in the bathroom with me and watch me put my makeup on, so she got her own vanity and makeup (play of course). I Skyped her again yesterday while she was at my parent's and she had brought it along with her and we played virtual makeover.

I was able to ween myself off of coffee for about a month because the coffee in my office was terrible, I don't have a coffee pot at home and I'm too cheap to buy coffee every morning. Well let's just say, I'm back on my coffee kick thanks to creamer but to be honest, I'm not mad about it.

We finally  made it to Friday though after what felt like the longest week ever. Let's get into some Friday Favorites.

one.
Thanks to Blogger, it stores all the photos you've ever used in a blog post. Let's just say I took a nice trip down memory lane the other night.



1.Kolby used to go everywhere with me. Then we got his brother Max and now he has to stay home.
2.Drew & I at my Mom's wedding.
3. My little brother and I when our sweet niece, Harper was born.
4.  When friends & family come together for a day at the wineries in southern IL.


There's seriously nothing better than looking back at photos throughout the years and remembering all the fun memories.

two.
If you haven't watched THIS video that Nev Shulman and his fiance made about the lack of (none) paid maternity/paternity leave in the United States. It's so sad that when couples are trying to plan a family they have to make sure they have built up enough vacation and sick leave. I'm not having a baby anytime soon but this is something that definitely upsets me.

three. 
This recipe I made Tuesday for dinner. Anything in the crockpot is automatically a win in my book.

four. 
This weekend we will be prepping for a quick trip to St. Louis next weekend for a college friend's wedding! We're so excited to see everyone from college and to see my parents for the day! Also, when your husband wakes up and says he wants to go shopping for fall decor and buy pumpkins this weekend, you know you married a good one.

five. 

As someone who works in education, work days become long and tiresome once school begins. Over the summer I had all these great blog ideas mapped out ready to be put into action and well, school started and when you sit at a computer majority of the day, the last thing you want to do when you get home is stare at one again. Le sigh...but I wanted to recap some things I've been loving lately.

|CELEBRITY|
It's football season and to be honest this is the first year that I am totally loving it! This past weekend I went out to enjoy some Tiger tailgating and met a celebrity!


There is a Netflix Original Series called, Last Chance U that "follows a group of young men on the brink of becoming NFL stars. The players are the most recent recruits at East Mississippi Community College." The lady standing next to me is Brittany Wagner, the academic advisor for the team. You guys, she made the show AMAZING! I typically don't watch sports documentaries but sat down on the couch one day while Drew was watching this and got completely sucked in because of her. Even if sport documentaries aren't your thing, give this one a try, you won't regret it.

|SKINCARE|
I have been having some serious skin issues lately and I think I've finally found some products that are working for me. The FORMULA 10.0.6 face scrub has minimized my pores so much and then the poor cleanser burns so good.




Washing my makeup brushes and switching out my pillow cases continuously has helped so much as well. What type of skin care products do you use? I'm getting to the age now where I'm starting to notice the wrinkles and fine lines and I'm becoming obsessed with skincare products so any recommendations are wonderful!

|RECIPE|
I came across blogger The Recipe Critic and let's just say I'm obsessed, especially with her organized Pinterest page. I was the in the mood for a crockpot meal this week and found the easiest, most delicious one thanks to her!


Yesterday morning I got up, seared both sides in a skillet, mixed up the sauce and threw it all in the crockpot. When I got home, the meat was falling apart because it had cooked so perfectly. I threw some asparagus into the oven and dinner was set. Seriously YUM - try it, you won't be disappointed.

|FALL|Is non-existent in the south. It's still in the 90's and I'm miserable. However, we are headed to St. Louis next weekend for a wedding and right now the high's are in the 70's, I CAN'T WAIT but I'll be that person freezing with a jacket on. You better believe I'll be backing a sweater and rocking it at some point since I won't get my sweater fix until December here. 

|BLOG|
THE LADYGANG, all day everyday. Checkout their podcast too! A new episode comes out every Tuesday and it's the perfect thing to listen to & from work.

|FAMILY|
My sweet niece, Harper Paisley turns 4 this weekend. It's hard to believe she was 2.5 years old at my wedding and now she's going to be 4. I'm so sad I won't be able to make it home for her party but don't worry, Aunt May May sent the best gifts! I'm so lucky I have this precious girl in my life to love and of course spoil.

This weekend was nothing but football and you know what, I loved it! I haven't always been the biggest fan of football only because I didn't understand it. When you grow up in a small town with no football team, there's no such thing as Friday Night Lights. BUT when you're married to a sports obsessed man who does sports for a living you can only imagine what my life is like.

Since I'm from the midwest, SEC football is brand new to me and let me just say, it did not disappoint! We managed to find a tailgate spot to set up our tent and we were set! We were lucky enough to score some tickets right on the 50 yard line (pretty perfect for our very first game in Death Valley), with a hot dog in hand I was ready to cheer on the Tigers.







Thankfully I've seen the movies to know that SEC football games are basically a big fashion show. I scored this cute ruffled dress from a cute boutique in town and loved it! This weekend though I'm choosing comfort over cute.

Sunday, Drew had some coworkers over to watch the Chicago Bears game and I frantically ran around all morning trying to gather stuff to cook. I hate hosting people over without having some sort of snack/drink to offer them. 1 crazy Sunday morning trip to Target later and I was all set to make some bacon wrapped little smokies & queso, of course with a bloody mary in hand.

If I'm being completely 100% honest, football used to annoy me but as I've gotten older and I've been exposed to it I'm kind of falling in love with it.

Cheers to college & NFL football season finally being here & GEAUX TIGERS!