Cute News Story

For those of you unaware, I love turtles! I love all kinds and even had a couple as pets (which my dad is currently providing a home for). And, I collect turtle figurines. I thought this news story was cute!

http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/Sick-Sea-Turtle-Pays-Unexpected-Visit-To-The-Doctor.html

Update & Meet my Bridesmaids

I've been meaning to post for awhile but have still be super busy. I think trying to start a blog right now was not the best idea :)

The weekend before last there was a bridal shower at Dustin's parents church in Jasper. It was a lot of fun! I have pictures that I still need to upload and post. Brandon & Christy were there that weekend for the shower so we got some time to play with the kids.

This past weekend, my work held a party for us at my bosses house. It was a lot of fun! They got us 2 sets of our china and a gift card to Bed Bath & Beyond.

Dustin also ran in the Rumpshaker 5K that morning which was to raise money for Colon Cancer. I slept in b/c it was thundering, lightening and raining that morning, and I was not going to run in the rain! However, Dustin said once he got there the ran stopped and it didn't rain the entire race. Here is a picture that shows Dustin running (if you can find him) and some crazy people in the race.






I felt like a loser for not going since it didn't rain and it looks like it was a lot of fun. But, there is another race at the Zoo in May so we may try to do that. At least my boot camp is starting again this week!

Yesterday, I did something I hate to do and went to the tanning bed. I have never cared whether or not I'm tan so I don't mess with those things. But, I don't want to look too pasty white in the wedding pic's so I thought I would try it. I was only in there for 6 minutes and now my back is pink with a slight burn. I'm going to take today off and go again tomorrow!

Below is a rundown of my bridesmaids. I can't wait to see all of them.

Page (Matron of Honor & sister). What can I say? I've known her my whole life. We had our share of disagreements growing up but have become a lot closer the past few years. I think not having to share a bathroom with each other anymore helps :)




Josie (Friend of 18 years) Josie & I met in 6th grade when I first moved to Katy. I don't remember how we met but we hung out so much in school in junior high teachers called me Josie and her Jacy. We had a falling out the end of 7th grade (you know how girls are at that age) and didn't reconnect again until sophmore year of high school in dance class which we both despised.



Leah (Friend of 13 years). Leah and I met in the 11th grade when she first moved to Katy. We were both on the high school newspaper together. I was happy she was there b/c I had been on newspaper the previous year but didn't have any friends in that class. I invited her to lunch with my friends when I found out we had the same lunch period. After we went off to college, our mom's ended up becoming good friends.



Katy (Friend of 7 years). I met Katy the second year I was living in Oklahoma City after college. Katy was a sorority sister of my then coworker Michele. And, Katy just happened to live in the same apartment complex as me. We became fast friends. I even introduced her to her husband Charles. I was a bridesmaid in her wedding a couple of years ago. We both enjoy trying new restaurants and playing slots.



Melissa (Friend of 4 years)

I met Melissa in the singles group at Council Road Baptist. We became friends quickly! We both like to go out and do things and be active so we were constantly running around Oklahoma City. And, we both love to go to Souper Salad! We constantly are laughing and I'm sure some people think we are crazy when we get together.

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY

AHHH!!! Things are getting so busy. Luckily, I got a lot of things done last week. I knocked my "TO DO" list from about 20 things to about 11 YAH! Some of the things I got done are:

1) Packed up about 6 boxes of stuff to donate to good will (I've got to make room for Dustin's stuff and gifts)

2) Sent a preliminary program outline to my friend Nevine who is designing a program for me. She is so talented and I can't wait to see what she comes up with.

3) Decided on all the songs for the ceremony and reception

4) Scheduled a meeting with Pastor the week before wedding

5) FIgured out all reception beverages with wedding Coordinator

6) Went shopping for swim suits to wear on honeymoon.

I am really looking forward to relaxing on the beaches of Aruba once the wedding is over. And, one cool thing I did this week is scheduled a photography session while we are in Aruba. Dustin & I never really found a good time to do engagements here so we decided not to take any. My sister Page had the great idea to find a photographer and get some beautiful pictures on the beach. I found a photographer who will meet you at the lobby of your resort. I still need to find an appropriate outfit to wear in these pictures. I think once we get back from the honeymoon and we get settled into married life, I would like to get some pictures taken at the Vulcan where we were engaged.

Tonight Dustin & I had our third dance lesson. We are learning a Rumba for our first dance at the wedding. The main thing I need to work on is not looking down at my feet. I think once the lessons are done we will be pretty comfortable with the moves.

I had my last boot camp this morning for this session. Now I have a 2 week break until the next session begins. I missed quite a few b/c of the trip to Las Vegas b/c of being exhausted when I got back. I need to make sure to not miss any this next session. I'm going to try and do some running each day until boot camp starts again. Dustin signed us up for the Rump Shaker 5K in a couple of weeks. There is no way I will be able to run the whole thing but I'm going to try and run at least half. Dustin should be able to run the whole thing b/c he has been running 4 miles, three times a week.

I bought the Nike +Ipod Sport Kit a few monthes ago. I haven't used it yet b/c I don't have any Nikes to put the transmitter in but I'm going to get some this weekend. I think this will help me to stay motivated with the running. My brother Kyle uses it and says it's awesome.

I'm getting so excited about the wedding day! It's hard to believe it's almost here. Since I don't have any of my wedding pics to post yet, here are some wedding pictures of friends and family.






Me, family friend Shelby, my sister Page



My friend and bridesmaid Josie and her husband Frank





Page and Reagan's wedding day






My uncle Bobby and Aunt Diana on their wedding day. I'm in the pic (probably about 2 years old)


My parents wedding

LAS VEGAS

I had a great time in Las Vegas. It was so much fun to see my friends Nevine & Neha again. The last time we were all together was Memorial Day weekend 2006 in Chicago.

We stayed at the MGM Grand. If I ever go back to Vegas, I will totally stay there again. The rooms were so nice and there was so much to do in the hotel. The bed there was actually more comfortable than my bed at home. Here's a picture of me with my favorite slot machine, GOLDFISH!!!




But, my new favorite game is KENO which I won $800 playing, WOO-HOO!!! Below is a pic of my winning Keno game! So, my lucky numbers (which I picked randomly) are 15, 16, 18, 24, 25, 35. I give credit to the bartender at Hard Rock Casino who told us we could play less numbers than 10 and that the numbers usually hit in a group.




Some of the trip highlights were seeing the canals inside the Venetian, going up to the top of the Eiffel Tower at Paris casino, lunch buffet and the watershow at The Bellagio, dinner at Olives in the Bellagio, and eating at the Pink Taco in the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, and the David Copperfield show at the MGM. I was not impressed by the New York New York casino. Below are some assorted pictures from the weekend.








Awesome Chihuly display on the ceiling of the Bellagio Lobby. The only reason I know his artwork is because the Oklahoma City of Art has a collection of his work. It's a really awesome collection if you ever find yourself in Oklahoma City.

Men and Purses

So, last night I got a late start leaving Jasper for Birmingham. I headed out about 8:30 PM and got to my apartment about an hour later. I'm unloading my bags from the bag seat when I see GLENDA'S (aka Dustin's mom) PURSE IN MY BACKSEAT!!!!!

I called Dustin to advise him of my discovery. At first, he thought I was playing a joke on him. I wish I was! Glenda's only car keys were in the purse so Dustin & his mom had to drive to B-ham to get it. We met at the Waffle House parking lot near downtown. They got back to Jasper around 11:30pm.

How did Glenda's purse end up in my car? I thought she had left it in there from a shopping trip earlier in the day. But, the real culprit was Dustin. Being the gentleman he is, he offered to take all of my bags out to my car. His mom's purse was near my things and he took it outside with everything else.

I'm not even married yet and I've already learned one good lesson, "Men have no idea what your purse looks like even if they see it everyday". I would have thought he knew that the fake brown Prada bag was mine but I was wrong :)

Rehearsal Dinner

Today, I picked up the invites for the Rehearsal Dinner. They are super cute! The rehearsal is going to be at Swinging Door BBQ in Richomond, Texas. It should be a nice and casual dinner. It will be fun to see what all of the Alabama folks think of Texas BBQ. Below are a few pictures of the room.





We originally had another site booked for the rehearsal dinner but that place went out of business. It worked out perfectly because I think the Swinging Door is the perfect location. It's the first restaurant Dustin ate at in Houston with my family when he came to meet them for the first time September 2006. Here's some pictures from that trip. So long ago! Who knew we would be coming back to this place for our wedding rehearsal dinner :)

Snow in Alabama

This morning it began snowing here in Alabama. It's not a very impressive amount but I'm still surprised it's snowing here in March. Brandon and the kids have already hit the road back to Georgia. Dustin & I are just sitting and watching National Lampoon's Vegas Vacation. I haven't seen it before but I guess it's appropriate since I will be in Vegas soon. Here's a few assorted pictures from this morning.