freaking out a little...by the numbers

• leave for South Africa in 5 days
• will be away 47 days
• during my stay in Cape Town, I will be 8,145 miles from home
• 1 fiancé I am going to miss like crazy(!!)
• countless family members and friends I am going to miss (and hope they don't forget me!)
• 40 days I will have to wait to try the new spicy chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A (if you think I am crazy for mentioning this, you don't know Chick-fil-A!!)
• 0 flower girl dresses selected
• 2 invitation choices I am really struggling between
• Bobby & I get married in 123 days
• We leave for our honeymoon (woop! woop!) in 124 days

AHHHHHH!!!  

Truthfully though, I am thrilled. God is good, life is blissful...I am a happy and very blessed gal.

and now let me show you....

...our engagement pictures :)

All courtesy of my talented cousin, Lesley.  Visit her site here.

from not enough to one too many

Last week we had no church.  The first church we wanted to use was 'under renovations' for all of September & October.  


Over the weekend we had one church option but we thought it was too small.  


This morning, not only is said 'too small church' in fact, not too small but now the very first church we even wanted is suddenly available because they are holding off on previously mentioned renovations.  


WOW.


So now momma Mel & I are going to go view both spaces, back to back, and decide which direction to move in.  The churches are different.  One costs less than the other.  One is closer to the reception site.  One is quaint and has family history.  One is newer and nicer.  UGH.  My favorite way to solve this kind of solution will be making an appearance in my wedding notebook tomorrow or Wednesday to help me pick ... pros & cons list! 


(do you ever make those? they are THE best and make you really evaluate the full situation.)


Also (as if I needed one more thing on my plate), I leave for Cape Town, South Africa in just 13 days.  My summer adventure in which I will be away 47 days is so close to beginning it's frightening me.  I have so much to do!!  At least my wedding is almost planned ;-)


In other news, BL and I had engagement pictures taken last night with my cousin Lesley.  What a talented gal :) I am dying to see how they turned out...we had a blast!

Favorite Books!

Today on Show Us Your Life from Kelly's Korner it's 'favorite books' day.  I have to admit, I did not like reading in school.  In fact, I am fairly certain I never finished (actually to the last page) more than one assigned reading in school.  Luckily the internet was available to me and I could usually read enough summaries online to pass the test and/or write a good paper.  Truthfully, I am ashamed of this!  Now that I am out of school I love reading!!! Man, I missed out on so many good books!!!  So now it is my goal to finish books I never finished.  I think I may pick up the school's required reading list to select my books to take on the plane to South Africa :)


So, now that I am an adult and a little more wise I love reading, I have a few favorite authors....

• Jodi Picoult -- Legal mysteries written by a woman.  Not that men can't write these but she has the perfect way to keep it interesting...a fun love story plot built in, a great story about family, friendship, etc.  JP is an excellent writer!  Two of my favorites are The Pact  and My Sister's Keeper.
• Emily Giffin -- super fun, girly reads with great 'beach read' story lines.  Her first book, Something Borrowed is being made into a movie :)  
• Nicholas Sparks -- who doesn't love his books?!  I always laugh and cry when I read his books! I love that they are set in the south and I love his characters.  Predictable, usually, but always worth the read! Several have been made into a movie, but none of the movies (except The Notebook) have been as good at the book!

If you have any good authors I should check out let me know!!

New Website, No Venue, Never Been There

I updated our Knot website last night...it's still not final but it's getting there :) You can view it here.  Like I said, it's a work in progress, but so much fun to have it going!  I will update as we have more information.  Which leads me to my next point...


We have no ceremony venue!  I have fallen in love with a reception site that does not have enough space for our guests for the wedding.  They offered us a 'gathering' for the ceremony, but I personally don't want any of my guests standing for the ceremony.  Thoughts?  Now I am in search mode for any and all churches nearby.  Not an easy task, and I am not a fan of churches who do not allow non-members to get married there.  I am a member of A church, just not YOUR church.  Ugh.  More phone calls today & fingers crossed we will find somewhere.  The good news is that I have an excellent plan B venue in downtown Atlanta that has both ceremony and reception space, so we'll use it if we need to.  I just reeeeally have my heart set on plan A.  Any suggestions?


In other news, Delta.com just told me I leave for South Africa in 19 days....what?!? Good news is I was finally able to switch to an aisle seat.  I used to prefer a window, but having to ask two people to move just so I can walk or pee is frustrating.  Especially on a 16 hour flight!  And other good news is that I depart back to the states in just 66 days.  Wow, I don't think I am ready mentally to be away for 47 days.  I won't get into this now because I will get emotional.  After all, I am a wimp have never been gone for this long.  I will be blogging as much as I can so family and friends (blogger friends too!) can keep up.  Truthfully I am really excited about seeing not only a new country but a new continent!  I am very blessed to have the job I have and not a day goes by when I don't realize that...this trip to the World Cup, albeit long and hard, is amazing and I am thrilled to go (and equally as thrilled to return)!


 Did you watch Betty White on SNL this weekend?! She was great, and I was thrilled that the Lawrence Welk sketch made another appearance...see below :) 







XOXO, Chrissi

...and the fun begins!

The wedding planning has begun and there is so much to do!!! I have to admit, I am very type A, meaning I am crazy everything has it's place and I am very systematic in how I get things done. It also helps that I have assisted several friends and two sisters plan their weddings, not to mention the fact that I plan events for a living. So, all that said I am happy to report the following has been marked off of the to-do list:

• set the date
• purchase a dress
• start our registry (pictured below...BL loved the gun!)
• almost find a venue (we're down to two!!)
• book my photographer

(BL scanning my pretty Martha Stewart lasagna dish!)

.....as I said, I am crazy ;-)