Get Creative!!

Think about it...before you were married and you were in the dating phase::did you sit around, cook dinner, and say, "let's call this a date, k?"?

Well I sure hope not! Most likely in the early stages of dating you flirted. You probably hinted to wanting a date and waiting for somebody to ask. One probably called the other and said something like, "would you like to go in a date with me?"

Hehehe. Even thinking about us first dating makes me blush. 😊

So get creative on how you ask your spouse on a date. It can be as simple or as extravagant as you'd like! Just vary it...

We started out creating e-vites and sending to each other. Anxiously awaiting for the other to reply: yes, no, or maybe!

I'm loving the invitee option on events on my iPhone calendar.

Write a little post it note asking your spouse on a date. Create an invite with a date night theme and leave it in your spouse's car. Invite your spouse on a date, but each day of the week give them hints to what the date entails.

Just keep it fun from the moment you ask your date out! 😉

Date Nights

My husband loves when I blog about our daily lives. For being just us--our lives our quite eventful.

My last blog was about our rehearsal. I still have many blogs to write about the wedding and honeymoon. That's what kept me from blogging about what's happening now!

I'll do that one day when he's working. ;)

My friend, Courtney, told me I should blog about our date nights. So...here I am!

In the Purposeful Engagement class we took our church they emphasized the importance of date night. We've continued this WEEKLY!

The significance of date night is HUGE in your marriage. Now I know we're not as seasoned as most, but I can say that weeks are much better with an intentional date night.

When I say intentional I mean there is a purpose. It's not just a dinner out or at home called date night. There has to be something you want to get out of that specific date night.

I have chosen to serve in the Home Pointe Center at our church. We serve members who are looking for resources to build their families and marriages around Christ. We're not a counseling center but I can testify how important date nights are for our marriage.

So my plan is to share our date nights and their purpose. I do have to confess that the home pointe center has begun their new campaign called Rekindled. In the kit we were given lots of date night ideas. So most of what I'll be blogging will be ideas from them. :)

I encourage you to have at least a twice a month date night with your spouse.

Cheers!

Rehearse to PIVOT!

Our bridemaids & groomsmen will totally get that joke...I've been in 5 weddings (I think) but never realized the tediousness of a rehearsal. Our poor wedding party had to rehearse pivoting after I walked down the aisle to face me ABOUT 50 times! haha!

My stress level was a little high this day...I started the day getting my feet and hands done with bridesmaids. My MOH, Missy, then took me to a very nice lunch at Zanata's in Downtown Rockwall with a much needed glass of wine! I explained to her one reason I was stressed was because that morning the dog chewed up the hair piece I planned on putting in my hair for the reception. He was so mad at us...he knew we were leaving sine we were packing for the honeymoon. After lunch Missy and I made a final wedding trip to Hobby Lobby where we got materials to make another hair piece!

The stress level continued to decrease once I got home and Marcia & Kris and Austin were at our house! I knew the fun wedding festivities were on their way! We got ready for rehearsal, and headed to the chapel. After about an hour of rehearsing with many laughs...we were on our way to Primos for our rehearsal dinner.

Thank you to Bailey Ferguson (our Jr. BM's friend) for putting together my rehearsal bouquet! Thank you to Uncle Danny & Aunt Kathy four our Unity Cross. Good thing we had it for rehearsal because we definitely needed to rehearse putting that together! It's such a beautiful piece that will forever remind us of our unity. :)

Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties

Don't be confused by the title...we did not celebrate together, but on the same day...I'm pretty sure Ryan was looking forward more to this day than the wedding! He was really looking forward to the honeymoon too, but that's a later post!

We had our last flings before the rings the week before the wedding on a Saturday night. Ryan had to work the night before so thankfully they weren't up all night...I unfortuantely was...our house alarm went off, scared me like crazy! I thought I'd be pretty tired for the party, but after I saw our hotel room I didn't care!!

We stayed at the Crescent Hotel in Uptown Dallas. After waiting impatiently for our room to be ready we were no longer impatient to see that we got upgraded! Our room was 2 story, full kitchen, dining area, living area, study (which also worked as a bedroom), guest bath, guest room, master room, master bath, and master closet (which could also work as a bedroom)...and a doorbell!! We started the day at the pool...as did Ryan at his hotel in Downtown Fort Worth.

After the pool my girls and I went back up to the fabulous room to get ready for a night-o-fun!! We had dinner delivered by a super good pizza place and ate while Brandy did a Pure Romance presentation. That was a lot of fun!! We were then ready for a night out on the town! About 20 girls...in heels...walking up and down McKinney Avenue! I'm so thankful to have so many friends who were sure to make me have a good time!

Ryan and his guys had dinner at Chuy's (my favorite!) then went out in Downtown Fort Worth...before heading out they had my brother (Anthony AKA Allen) lock on Ryan's old ball and chain made by Davy...Ryan had to carry this around all night unless he found somebody (ahem...a single girl) to carry it for him! Pretty good idea!

We were excited to see each other the next day, and had a nice brunch with my MOH, Missy, at Primo's. Really...thanks again to all our friends who came in from out of town or somewhere farther away than my comfort zone to spend this time with us! We love you all!!

Rest & Ribbon

Once school was out I was able to rest for about a week while working constantly on last minute things for the wedding. This including finishing up bridesmaid gifts, little kid gifts, and tying cute tags and ribbon on 150 lottery tickets! I can't post this picture without giving a shout out to my girl, Megan of Sassyrae Expressions. She is responsible for EVERYTHING that was printed at the wedding. She will forever be my paperist as I call her! Here's just a little sample:

P.S. No ribbon was wasted during this project...until Amy came over to help! ;)

Crunch Time

The next week was major crunch time with finishing school projects & finishing out the year. Since we used 5 snow days this year we had to go to school on the Friday before Memorial Day which was marked on the calendar as a make-up day. I'm actually pretty thankful we did go to school this day because there was LOTS to do!!

The next week was only a 3 day week for the kids! So it was a must everything got finished the week before! Tuesday was Field Day, and my lovely (at the time, Fiance) once again volunteered to help. Last year he was assigned to a station, but this year he got to travel with me and my class. It was a lot of fun, and nice to see him rooting on the kids! Not only is he the best for volunteering BUT this was also his BIRTHDAY!! When we left school we got home to quickly get ready, and I took him to dinner at Mi Cocina. Being new homeowners Ryan's wishlist was a lot of stuff for the house...I wanted to get him what he wanted, but I also wanted to get him something more exciting than a ladder! Soooo I got him the shot glass case he's always been wanting! I filled it up for him too. He already needs another one! I'm proud of his collection (he has 2 TEXAS TECH glasses!) My daddy is also a shot glass collector...whoever said you marry somebody like your father may have been a little bit right!

That reminds me! For my birthday I blogged about Ryan getting me the bracelet I wore in my bridal portraits & on wedding day, but couldn't post pictures because nobody could see me in my dress...well now that the big day has passed I can share! Here's just a few to see the jewels...and shoes of course! ;)

Bracelet from Fiance

I love my matching earrings...all to go with the add-a-pearl necklace my Grandmother Born started for me

Something Blue

Last Bridal Shower

I am truly blessed to be surrounded by so many friends, family and co-workers who chose to throw me a shower...my 5th was my last one! I hope it's this fun when we have babies!! :) My 1st grade team gave me a shower at school & boy were we showered!! Lots of gift cards which were really fun to shop with after the wedding!! They did a beautiful job making sure everything was PINK! :) I love my team!!

My Junior Bridesmaid was Julie D. who is the daughter of Joann. Joann was my mentor teacher & team leader my 1st year of teaching. We instantly connected, and became great friends! Amy is another teacher friend who student taught with another 3rd grade teacher while I was in 3rd grade, and then was our #1 sub...until she got a job teaching 1st grade. I'm very happy for her, but at the same time sad that I lost my best sub!

::Side Note:: Amy was on pins and needles hoping for a job opportunity this past year...the Friday before school started about 2 hours before Welcome Hour she was hired to teach 1st grade at another school in my district. Thank the good Lord for that! Not only am I happy Amy got her dream job, but also that she had weeks before to help me get my 1st grade classroom together. So needless to say...she's a great friend!!::

Joann, Julie, and Amy hosted a shower for me at Joann's home. We invited friends from school & former parents of students I had in the past. They did a beautiful job with decorations (hard to keep alive PINK plant) and yummy food! They know how much I loooove playing games at showers so we played a "Dress the Bride" game. Not to be confused...my dress nor me, myself, was involved in this game! I was the judge! 2 teams had to dress Julie (the Jr. Bridesmaid) and her friend, Bailey in wedding dresses...using TOILET PAPER!! (I'll post pics as soon as I get them...ahem:: MOM & JOANN!!) ;)

Julie's team was the winning team! I promise I wasn't being partial...it was a tough decision to make! Both teams got pretty creative with their dresses...including accessories! They had rings, bouquets, and even head pieces!

Since our wedding was "small" (we could have had 500 people)...it was nice to have the opportunity to celebrate with the people I spend every day with!