Catching Up With Me: Updates!

Hello beauties,

Today I just want to chill and catch up with you guys. Alot has been going on lately, so I am going to fill you in!

Firstly, thanks to all who read my blog. The views have been increasing lately, and I appreciate all of the support. <3

So some updates about my wedding: Our wedding date has been moved to July 27, 2012. I am breathing a huge sigh of relief- I still have some time to plan! The wedding has also taken an entirely different course...
We originally planned to do the small ceremony , followed by a small reception at our home. We originally planned on around 30 guests. Well, our "Original" plans went straight out the window this week! And I think the plans changed for the better. My future mother in law and I began to plan the reception this week after we paid for and finalized a wedding date.  While we were planning, we came to some realizations. We have a beautiful home with a good amount of space outdoors, but for a reception? We don't have enough tables, chairs, etc for even 30 guests- and the guest list is at 65.  We would have to rent extra things, which would be a huge cost. We also considered weather. Sure, we hope that it will be nothing less than gorgeous in July, but you never know. We defintely wouldn't be able to move the party inside. You don't throw a wedding without a backup plan-ever. We also considered the formailty. Our original plan was to make all of the food here and grill for the reception. We planned this in an effort to save money. This would require me, my fiancee, and my in-laws having to work on our wedding day ( taking care of guests, cooking, etc.) Also, the outdoor space posed the problem of having no place to dance. So grilling, no dancing? We surely couldn't expect guests to show up in formal attire. Although our at - home reception was planned to save costs, we decided it wasn't worth it. We figured-this is a once in a lifetime event. We want it to be nice- and formal. So we booked a nice reception room at a local hotel. It has a proper dance floor, bar, buffet, etc. We are excited at the change of plans! I will keep you posted as we continue the planning process.

I have really been enjoying not working. Although sometimes I wish I had more work, I also have to remind myself that my fiancee and I will be working more than ever come September. I am trying to make the most of the time I have now. I am able to maintain a spotless apartment, read, paint, workout, draw, garden, bake, anything I please. I know that this fall, alot of these things probably won't happen. I've really just been living life to the fullest, and it has been peaceful.

On another note, I miss America and my family greatly. I find myself wishing I could be at my mom's house for just one day. Or an hour. I would give anything to give my mom and brother a hug and play with my dog Phil. To simply lay down for a few minutes in my old room. I am missing America, but I live insuch a beautiful place here!

Lots of cool events this week. Mother's Day, Father's Day, and my aunt Becky is getting married on Friday! I am so bummed that I cannot be there in New York to celebrate :(

I have to admit, I haven't had the best attitude lately. I have been stressed about the wedding, money, being homesick, family drama, the list never seems to end. I have felt negative and thought "why me?" a great deal. This weekend, I had to step back and reflect, and scold myself. So many people go through horrible things, far more horrible than I, and have positive, hopeful attitudes. I have plenty of food, a roof over my head, nice things, and love. I have it so good. My challenge to all of you is to find the good and the positive in your lives this  week, despite any yucky stuff that is happening.

I hope you all have a fabulous week, and as always, stay tuned for more posts! <3
X's and O's,
Amanda

Wedding Things: Accessories!

Hey Beauties,
Fot today's "Wedding Things" post, I want to talk about accessories for not only brides, but bridesmaids. Accessories are a great way to enhance your dress and overall wedding day look. Here are some key accessories, and how to choose them:

1. The veil. Brides have so many options for veils  these days! Long, short, catherdral length, the possiblities go on. Some brides opt for no veil, and put decorative hair pieces in. Your veil or head decorations should be whateveer your heart desires. If you want to be "traditional", longer veils are bettre suited for church ceremonies, while shorter veils are fine for less formal ceremonies. It depends on your dress style, and more importantly,  your hair style.

2.  Bridal jewelry. Jewelry should show your personality, and compliment your dress. Jewelry should not distract from your dress. If your dress has a lot of intricate detailing, etc, less is more. If your dress is a little onn the plainer side, it's okay to dress it up with some bling. Not too much bling. Alot of brides I know have been opting for a strand of pearls. I am personally choosing a white gold necklace with small diamonds that my fiancee gave me a year ago, and some earrings. A bracelet if I find a nice one, but I am keeping the jewelry simple.

3. Bridal party jewelry. This is up to the woman of the day, the bride. Some brides pick out specific pieces of jewelry they want their bridesmaids to wear. Some brides give their bridesmaids a general style to stick to. If that is the case, you should approve your jewelry choice with the bride before purchasing. Take a photo of the piece you want, or if the return policy allows, purchase it to show to the bride. If she says it's a no-go, you can return it. Bottom line: ask the bride!

4. Shoes. It is so important to consider your shoes immediately, as the type of shoe you decide on will affect alterations to your dress. You need to have your wedding shoes in order to have your dress altered to the perfect length. A few things to consider with your shoes: How long will I be in these? If you have a long reception filled with dancing, etc, make sure your feet can withstand the abuse. Some people can last for days in heels, others are dying after an hour. I personally opted for a white ballerina flat. Your shoes should be everything you dreamed of, just consider comfort before you purchase. Also: you won't be able to change shoe lengths. If you are in a 4 inch heel, your seamstress with alter the dress to the perfect length for those 4 inch heels. If you change into a flat shoe for the reception, your dress will be too long and drag.

These are just some basic points with accessories. Let me know if you want to see more!

Book Review: Gossip Girl

Hello Sunshines!

Reading is an activity I have always enjoyed, and I have recently been reading more and more. An all-time favorite book of mine is Gossip Girl. I have read it 3 times in the past 2 weeks! I wanted to write my thoughts on the book for you, it's an easy, enticing read that would be perfect for a relaxing spring/summer day!

Gossip Girl is the book on which the hit TV show is based. The book tells the story of several teens who were born into lives of extreme luxury (well, most of them anyways). They all live in the Upper East side of New York City in Penthouses. They have several vacation houses, limitless bank accounts, and they all attend private, single sex schools in New York. The girls all go to Constance Billard, and the boys attend Riverside Preperatory School For Boys. Gossip Girl is the first book in the Gossip Girl series. The main characters are Serena Van Der Woodsen, Blair Waldorf, Nate Archibald, Chuck Bass, Jenny Humphrey, Dan Humprhey, and Vanessa Abrahms. The first four listed are the "chosen ones", the super rich, super attractive teens. Jenny, Dan, and Vanessa are regular kids who just happen to attened the same schools as the others.

What is with the title? Gossip Girl is actually a website in the story, that keeps all of the teens up-to-date on the latest gossip. Gossip Girl's identity is unknown, but it is indicated that she leads a life of luxury as well. Gossip Girl writes the dirt on the students at the schools, particulary focusing on the main characters.

This book was fantasitc, in my opinion. The author really pulls you in to the lifestyles of the super rich. I almost felt like I was experiencing the characters lives first-hand. The author used great detail and painted a great picture of the characters. The tv show did a pretty good job with the casting of the rich teens, however I feel that the characters of Vanessa and Jenny were WAY off in appearance and somewhat in character as well. If you enjoy the Tv series, I would highly suggest the books. The book took me about 3 hours to read without interruptions. I am in love with this series, I reccomend checking out all of these books!

What are your favorite reads at the moment?
X's and O's,
Amanda

May 7, 2012 One Year

Hey everyone!
Today I want to do a special diary type post because it is a special day! Today is May 7th, and it has now officially been 1 year that I have been together with my fiancee.  This post is dedicated to this, and I thought I would share some of our story with you!

I met Andre in March of 2011. I had been going through an extremely difficult time in my life, and had been pretty down. A friend of mine was good friends with Andre, and she invited him to a party she and I were going to. Truth be told, I didn't want to go to that party. But my friend got me in the spirit, so we went.
When Andre arrived at the party, I didn't take much notice. Of course, I thought he was totally gorgeous right away, but he almost seemed TOO gorgeous, like he was probably aware of how cute he was. I didn't go near him much at the party, but he did come up and talk to me eventually. I don't know what I was expecting him to say( probably introducing himself?), but nothing could prepare me for the first thing he ever said to me. He came up to me, and without even saying his name, said " Hey, do you want to get pregnant?" I was suprised at the boldness of this jerk( who says that?!?!), and responded with something along the lines of "who do you think you are?". Realizing that I was unamused and had taken his statement seriously, he got red in the face and started apologizing, saying he was only kidding and just wanted to be funny, because he had heard me talking to people all night and he thought I was funny. Seeing how embarrassed he was made me feel kind of bad for him, and I did give him my number.
We began talking everyday, and were instantly best friends. We hung out everyday, and talked about anything and everything. We confided in each other from the begining. Of course, I was falling for him the whole time, and he was for me as well, but I didn't know. Late April, early in the week, we had planned on having a super epic weekend together. But some unexpected money on Tuesday changed out plans- I was on a plane to Los Angeles instead that friday. I would be gone for 8 days. Of course I would miss him ( yes, we had kissed at this point), but this was an important family event I didn't want to miss. When I had been in LA for a couple of days, Andre had texted me the usual "Goodnight, I love you" He always told me he loved me, because we were best friends! But something inside of me got the courage to ask him if he meant it as a friend, or if he was in love with me. When he replyed "Im really in love with you, I hope that's ok", my heart skipped a beat. I loved him too. The next 6 days seemed to drag on, I couldn't wait to see him! He suprised me by waiting for me at the airport the day i came back. That evening, we had a date, and he asked me to be his girlfriend. I was thrilled and said yes. Here is the thing , though. Andre was an exchange student from Germany. He would be going back to Germany in exactly one month. We decided that we still wanted to give things a try, and that's what we did. Andre left in June 2011, and I was so scared. Not knowing when or if I would see him again was hard. At the begining of the summer, I booked a flight to visit him in October for his winter break. We started counting down the days, and I worked and spent time with friends and family to pass the time. The distance was hard, but we pulled through, and finally got to see each other. My trip was great, but it had to come to an end. When I flew home, we knew we didn't want  to be apart, and decided that I would move to Germany- In January 2012. That time flew.

I moved to Germany in January, and it has been wonderful. Andre and I got our first apartment and furniture together, and we have loved every minute of living together.
On March 20, 2012, Andre asked me to be his wife, and I said yes. We will be married this summer.

This year has been the best time of my life.  Our love has overcome incredible distances, judgement, and more. We have laughed together, cried together, and grown together. My love for Andre gets stronger with each passing day, and I know his love for me does as well. He is my very best friend in the entire world, and I would be lost without him. He has shown me what it means to truly fall in love and trust someone. He has shown me the world through a different set of eyes, and I am lucky that I will get to spend the rest of my life trying to see the world through his eyes. We have has a fantastic year, and I hope the years to follow are just as fantastic. I love you, Andre. One year down, forever to go. Ever thine. Ever Mine. Ever Ours. <3
<3 Amanda

Packing Tips!

Hey there Beautifuls!
This is going to be just a really brief post about packing. Since Summer vacays are right around the corner, I thought I would share my tips for packing efficiently, and not forgetting anything!

1. I like to spend time in advance planning my clothes. About 2 weeks in advance, I try on clothes I want to bring to make sure things look good together, etc. This way, if I need anything additional, I have time to go out and buy it!

2. Always bring a nice outfit and shoes. Even if you're going on a wilderness type trip, trust me. You never know where your adventures will take you. Perhaps you will find a swanky restaurant or something. Pack some nice heels and a dress! :)

3. Pack light. Hahahaha. I am usually the WORST person at packing lightly. I would pack so many extra shirts, etc in case I felt like wearing something different, etc. My advice for packing lightly? Make sure that some of your pieces can be worn mulitple ways, multiple times. For example, you could plan on wearing the same pair of jeans 2 or 3 times. The lighter you pack, the better.

4. Make a list. When you are planning your outfits, write everything down! Yes, this includes socks, underwear, etc! Write each item down specifically, and don't cross it off until it is in your suitcase! I can't count how many times I have realized I forgot a piece WHILE I WAS ON THE PLANE! :p

5. Your carryon. Carry-on luggage shouldn't be too heavy. You don't want to drag around too much stuff. However, I do reccomend that your carry on include an extra outfit( if you're wearing jeans to the airport, an extra shirt, underwear, socks) and essential toiletries. Things happen. I have been on flights where my luggage was misplaced, and I had to wait to recieve it until the next day. I have been delayed for hours on end in the airport. And there are those situations that flights are so delayed that you could end up in a hotel. Be prepared! Any important documents, medications, chargers, other items you'd hate to loose, etc should be in your carry-on luggage.

6. Give yourself time before you head to the airport. Allow yourself a 20 to 30 minute time slot before you leave to double check everything. Make sure that everything you wanted/ needed is packed in your suitcase, and make sure you have all medicine, docs, etc. It doesn't hurt to double check yourself.

I hope some of these tips  were helpful to you. The biggest thing is packing as lightly as possible! Have a great trip, and leave me your tips below!

X's and O's,
Amanda

Getting Ready: Time Savers

Hello Gorgeouses!

One of my favorite parts of every day is getting ready. Getting ready is thereputic for me and I really enjoy it. But like alot of people, I don't always have alot of time to spend getting ready for the day. That doesn't mean you have to comprimise looking great! Here are a few of my tips to save you time getting ready, without sacrificing the glamor!

1.Plan your outfit in advance. Sounds pretty obvious, right? But alot of us spend so much time trying to decide what to wear when we are getting ready. My advice is to pick your clothes out the day before, so you just have to throw your clothes on and go! Set the outfit and accessories out so you don't forget anything. Another piece of clothing advice? Have a few go-to looks, and ditch things you don't feel great in. Having a few go-to looks for a variety of occassions will give you an option when all else fails. Go to options should make you feel confident. Sometimes when I am getting ready, I avoid clothes that I percieve to make me look "fat". I would spend time going through your wardrobe, and get rid of anything that you aren't 100% confident in. That way, you'll only own clothes that make you feel beautiful.

2.Practice with your hair. Spend time on a weekend or lazy afternoon practicing some fast, yet stylish hairstyles for your hair. Look up youtube tutorials, etc and get 3 or 4 hairstyles down that you can do in just a few minutes. This way, when you're running late, you just have to pick one!

3. Practice with your makeup. Like your hair, get a few quick makeup looks down that can be done in a flash, or on the go. Usually fast makeup is more natural, but if your daily routine is a little more complex, you can still do it fast. The more you do a routine, the quicker you become.

4. Shower the night before. Most people I know take their showers in the mornings. I have always been an evening showerer, and it saves alot of time. I also feel like it is more hygenic. If you're out and about all day long, working out, etc., waiting until morning to shower is...gross in my opinion. Think about it: you are sleeping in your own ickyness. Showering the night before also saves time. You don't have to wake up extra early to shower and then blowdry your hair, etc. You can either sleep in, or use time you would normally shower to get fancier with your hair or makeup.

I know. All of this is so obvious, but so many people don't consider these things! Trust me, they have saved me more than once! :)

X's and O's,
Amanda

Wedding Things: Being a Good Guest

Happy Tuesday!

In today's wedding things post, I want to discuss being a good guest. Yep, nothing about being the one planning today. We are talking about attending a wedding. If you're like most people, it isn't everyday that you have the pleasure of attending a wedding. Far too often, I witness girls( and guys) poorly dressed with even poorer behavior at weddings! Weddings are a very special occassion, and should be treated as such. So here's How to be a Good Wedding Guest 101:

Being a good wedding guest begins from the moment you recieve your invitation. It is important that you respond promptly, as it is essential for the wedding party to get a headcount for food, etc. Furthermore, upon recieving an invitation, you can clear up anything necessary ahead of time. For example: have you been seeing someone new (or your current boyfriend didn't recieve an invite?),  and thinking about bringing him to the wedding? You need to call the bride and ask permission first. Do this upon responding, and take a "no" with grace. A wedding is not cheap, and the more guests, the pricier the event. More and more couples are adopting "no random dates" and "no kids" rules for their weddings. This is their perogative, and needs to be respected. So you better ask about your kiddos, too. More than likely, the bride will have the common grace to know that she must invite live-in partners, fiances' and husbands/wives to accompany her guests. But when it comes to Bobby you have been seeing for 3 months, that might not fly. A gracious guest is understanding of these situations and doesn't take it too personally. If the bride doesn't want kids/ random dates present, don't ask to be an exception. The couple has this in place for a reason, and if they allow one exception, they will either have to allow more or hear from some very angry and offended guests. Find arrangements for your children, and if you can't bring a date, hang with friends at the wedding! The bride probably won't forbid you a date if you don't know anyone at the wedding.

Probably one of the biggest aspects of good guest ettiquete is what you wear to a wedding. You should pull out all the stops on this one- a wedding is a formal event for which you should look classy. Unless of course, it is a specific theme or a redneck wedding. But in general, you should look classy and well groomed. Ladies- probably the biggest and most offensive thing you could wear to a wedding is white. There should only be one woman in white that day- the bride! It is considered highly offensive to wear white to a wedding (unless the couple is hosting an all white wedding of course). Hints of white are ok- i.e. a white pair of shoes, a small little jacket for over your dress, just make sure the white doesn't stand out too much! Another color to avoid? Black. You are at a wedding, not a funeral. I would say some black is okay, but I don't reccommend showing up head to toe in black.  Other things to keep in mind? Keep it appropriate. No extreme plunging necklines, extremely high dress slits, fishnets, exposed private parts, or dirty articles. You are at a nice event, not a strip club. Plus, the brides grannies and other elderly relatives will probably be there. No need to scandalize the bride's grandmother. As for grooming, do something with yourself. Not a girl who wears makeup? Fine. But you better make sure your face is clean, brows groomed, etc. Wash your hair every other day? I would avoid second-day hair here. Wearing shoes that expose your feet? Those feet better be well groomed. I personally like to go all-out for weddings, they are a chance to get done up!

So you've been a proper guest and responded in a timely fashion, found arrangements for your children, and gotten ready. You look nice, and are ready to head to that wedding. It goes without saying, but leave in plenty of time. Plan to arrive 30 minutes prior to the bride walking down the isle. Be sure to come bearing gifts- a card/ gift card will do if you are in a tight pinch, but you need something to recognize the couple and their special day.
Take this advice to heart when it comes to good guest behavior- today is not about you. Today is about a couple who is beginning the rest of their lives together, and thinks enough of you to want you present for their big day. Many guests (primarily women), get it in their minds that they need to look and act so impressive at weddings. Some people dress in a way t otry to steal the attention from the wedding party. Today is not your day, so don't try to make it such. Don't excessively bother the bride with silly questions like "where should I put this?" The bride spent so much time and effort planning, and it was probably stressful. After all the stress, she deserves to relax and enjoy the day. Never, under any circumstances ask how much the wedding costs. Because frankly, it's none of your business. Have a complaint about the venue, etc? Hold your tounge. Nothing but gushing about how awesome the wedding is when  the bride asks you. Do not gossip with other guests. Know your alcohol limits, and stick to them. Don't embarrass yourself or the wedding party by getting totally hammered. It's not attractive, and is extremely poor guest behavior. Also, a wedding is not a club. It is not a place to try and find someone drunk enough to have a one night stand with. It is not cute to throw yourself all over other guests. I know far too many people who use weddings as places to hook up. I think it's gross. Save that for Friday night at the bar.

Those are the main points I wanted to touch on. Keep it classy, people! What poor behavior have YOU seen at weddings?

X's and O's,
Amanda