Honest Award

The newly engaged JK over at Wicked Frills tagged me/gave me this award:

The point is to share 10 random facts about yourself and then tag 10 other people.

It's hard to think random, so here's my best shot! :)

1. I gave blood with a previous guy I was dating a few years ago and I was sitting at the snack section where they tell you to "refuel" and as I was putting a gold fish into my mouth, I guess (I don't remember it) I said "UH OH" really loud... and then passed out.  Even more embarrassing is that the guy I was dating had to pick me up off the floor.

2. My favorite color is yellow.

3. I have several fake teeth... as my parents put it... I have a million dollar smile, literally! :)  Well, thank goodness for insurance!

4. When TL and I get married, we will have the same initials! 

5. I am an aries.  I love horoscopes (but only when they're good)

6. I have blankets (3 of them) that I have had since I was little that I am extremely protective of and sleep with every night.  Well, both of my sisters and I have them.  Yes, I will be taking one on my honeymoon with me.

7.  When I was little I used to fall asleep to this tape of music that sang about my name.  I still remember all of the words... "We're gonna sing about "Tracy", cause she's a special girl!"

8.  When my sisters and I were little (I am the youngest of 3 girls) my dad built us this HUGE play house in our backyard.  It was a legit house - with an upstairs and a down stairs, air conditioning, and paintings of snoopy on the walls.  I miss that place... and our house was always the "hang out" for the neighborhood kids.

9.  I have 8 years of cheerleading under my belt... I was the flyer with the same stunt group for nearly all of the 8 years.  I  love being in front of a crowd.

10.  Craziest story ever??  Read here... its long, but I promise, its worth the read.

Here's who I am hoping to learn 10 random facts about:

Summer Wind

Miss Fancy Pants... Proud Army Wife!

Everyday Delights

My Teacups in Peony

Farmgirl Paints

From Me To You

A Girl in Pearls & A Boy With Toys

The Newlyweds

Amanda's Thoughts

I Heart You

BTW:  Got my wedding dress today!!!  LOVE LOVE LOVE it!  Can't wait to show you guys pictures after the big day! :)

Happy Birthday, Maximus & Zeus!

Happy 1st Birthday,

Maximus & Zeus

From the most adorable little pups...

To sweet, loving, and darling little guys... this year has been the best!! 

I LOVE my Maximus & Zeus!  

They make life so playful & fun... not to mention, very cuddly!

(Notice their 1st Birthday "Bow Ties")

I'm a very proud "mommy".

Thankful Thursdays

Time for another Thankful Thursday... already, wow, wasn't it just Thursday??  

Join me... sharing some things I am thankful for.

1. TL's voice.  Something about it just makes me feel so incredible.

2. My Shoe Shower... still glowing from that.  Thanks Kel & Juju!

3. Puppies... and guess what... It's their Birthday!! :)  Post about that soon.

4. Tea.  The obsession that gets me through the early mornings.

5. Family... so excited for my cousin Anna's wedding this Saturday.

6. My mom. The best thing in the world is a loving mom.

7. My bed. Nothing like your own bed, right? :)

8. PICKING UP MY WEDDING DRESS TOMORROW! :)

9. The beautiful city of San Francisco... going there tomorrow (see 8)

10. All of the beautiful gifts I received at my shower this weekend... my goodness people are so generous! Had so much fun putting them away.

More Wedding Stuff

It's getting so close!!  September 5th is the big day...  38 days to go!  

It is starting to get more and more real!  

Yesterday we met up with our photographers to look over our Engagement Pictures and order a few of them.  Our photographer is Rebecca Ford from Ford Family Photography... and she is absolutely fabulous!  Make sure you look at her blog for all of her amazing pics.  (she even blogged about our pics, so exciting!)

My parents and TL's mom have been absolutely amazing, supportive, loving and giving through this entire process.  We feel so fortunate to be able to have everything we could have ever dreamed of!  Everything is going so smoothly!

Another amazing part of our wedding is our wedding planner, Kendra!  She is so fabulous.  A lot of people have asked me why we decided to get a planner... and let me tell you... COMPLETELY worth it.  Here's why:  

*She has practically paid for herself in all of the discounts she gets us on everything.  10% here, 20% here, free this, free that... it all adds up!  

*No one at our venue Arden Hills Resort wants to upset us... because that would mean upsetting her... therefore her not referring her brides there anymore!  (It's magical)

*She is so knowledgeable about the best in the area.  She has referred us to some amazing vendors, (including our ADORABLE cupcake baker Carissa... look at her BLOG). We are really happy.

**and most importantly... I am NOT stressed.  After more than 15 years of wedding planning, she knows it all! :)

She has so many cool things on her blog... especially the weddings she does and different ideas she has.  She is the best in the area.  Thanks, Kendra!  We adore you!

38 Days to go... I am so excited to marry TL!

Shoe Shower Love

This weekend... my sisters threw me the most incredible "Shoe" Shower.  Most of you know how much I LOVE shoes... especially my wedding shoes.  It was one of those days of your life that goes by so fast, you wish you could do it over and over again.  The amount of thought and love that went into the planning is phenomenal.  My sisters did such a stunning job - I absolutely love them to pieces.  

It all started with this adorable invitation:

"Before the Bride can walk down the aisle

we must help her celebrate in style.

Wear your favorite pair of shoes &

join us for a shower honoring Tracy."

(written by my sweet sister, Kelly)

The entire theme of the day was shoes!

((Everyone Was Asked To Wear Their Favorite Pair!))

I can't tell you enough how much THOUGHT and LOVE went into this from my sisters and everyone who attended the shower.

The favors were so amazing... 

these are leather stiletto shoe key chains.

and my sister Kelly got all of these "clean linen" (my FAVE scent) candles for the favors too... 

And, my mom's good friend Barbara went to 3 different cookie shops to find one to make the perfect Stiletto shoe for another favor.  (there were 60 of them!) Not only we're they SO yummy... there was a special one in Blue with my name on it!  So sweet!!  Thank You, Barb.

One of my favorite things about it all was the CAKE!

(notice the shoe!  My sister drove very far with my nephew in the car and printed out a picture to get this cake...)  

Isn't it AMAZING?!?

The food was delicious.  My sweet sisters got 

all of my favorites.  And my mom found me this amazing shoe Ornament that was a wonderful centerpiece in the food!

Even the prizes were shoe theme (& adorable).  A stiletto luggage tag, a cake candle to go with a stiletto cake server, and a stiletto bottle opener.  

Notice the black and white polka dotted ribbon they had on everything!

It was so special to me to have friends and family all around me.  Every single person at the shower is so special to me.  Friends from High School, College, Work.  My aunts and family.  My girlfriends mom's were there, My soon to be mom-in-law was so sweet with the gifts she bought for me.  Everyone was so thoughtful with the gifts they gave and the cards they wrote.

It warmed my heart.

Flower Girls, Ring Bearer, and lots of family & friends!

(Mom, Me, Juju, Kel)
Thank You, Kel & Juju,  for all of the thought, love, and time you put into this beautiful day.  It was absolutely one of the most memorable days of my life.  I am so blessed to have such incredible women in my family. 

I love you.

Friendly Fridays!

Nothing better than Best Friends coming into town and staying with me! 

Kelly and Adrianna from the Christmas Picture... and Jenny from the top picture.

All three girls traveled hundreds of miles to be here for my bridal shower tomorrow!!  

I love them so much!

Bottom picture via Kelly's blog!

Thankful Thursdays

I am so thankful...

Each week... I do a list of things I am thankful for... You should too.  It is a great reminder to be love everything we have.  

(and these are in no special order)

1. My wedding planner, Kendra! (Kendra's Blog)  Seriously, she is incredible.  I haven't had any stress about the big day because she always has the answers... and listened to me intently during our 4 hour meeting yesterday! (lots of chatter, hard to get things done!)  

She is incredible... would love for you to support her blog :)

2. My amazing sisters who are planning my "shoe" themed shower this weekend.  They are the absolute best for making me feel so special about the wedding.  Love them to pieces, and I am so excited for Saturday!

3. My health!

4. I get to sleep in tomorrow... YAY. 

5. My friends who are coming into town tomorrow for the shower.  I am so excited... my friends are such a crucial and special part of my life. 

6. TL. enough said.  That is permanent on this list.

7.  So is my family.

8. A very thoughtful and sweet soon-to-be Mother in law.  I am one very lucky bride to be!

9.  All of my blogger buddies that I have met - I have been dying to get on to all of your blogs this week and comment, but am struggling to find the time, you understand though! :)

10. The warm summer sun that is brightening my spirits!

Love you all, thank you for your continued support on my blog.  Something will randomly happen to me and I will think back to a post on one of your blogs and smile!  Love getting to know all of you!

Special Shoes

This Saturday, my sisters are throwing me a bridal shower all about shoes (you've seen the wedding shoes, right? ;) )  Well, they were my first and only pair of Manolos - and I think they are the most beautiful shoes in the world.   You can read the story behind the shoes here.  So for the shower - everyone was asked to wear their favorite pair of shoes!  (and the invitation was an adorable stiletto - more shower details soon)

My mom is the type of lady who never does much for herself.  She has always been the most selfless and giving person in the world.  She is a beautiful woman with a compassionate & loving heart... I am so thankful for her.  TL loves her dearly, as well... and tonight 

he gave her a pair of Manolos for the wedding! 

Aren't they beautiful??  They look stunning with her dress!

Needless to say, my sister, Juju, and I were both there when he gave them to her and it was SO special.  We were all a little teary eyed as she carefully took them out of the white box and delicately put them on her feet.  She never imagined herself wearing such beautiful shoes and has never owned anything like them her entire life.  Lucky bride, lucky mom.  It was so cute watching him wait for the package in the mail - he was so excited to give them to her.

There aren't many words to describe how special two pairs of shoes could be to a bride and her mother... but it sure says a lot about the groom. 

Summer Steals

As I mentioned in my last post, TL and I did our part to stimulate the economy this weekend at the Nordstrom Semi-Annual Sale.  I got some great steals!  Especially a pair of Hudson Jeans:

These suckers usually cost upward of about $200 - and they are on sale for $119!  I also managed to get 2 new shirts and a jacket (jacket was $40!)

Well worth waiting for!

Now I am trying to plan out an outfit for my bridal shower this weekend!! 

(post about that coming soon)

Hope you are having a fabulous week!

Stimulating The Economy

Happy Sunday!

Today TL and I will be digging the country out of the recession and stimulating the economy at Nordstrom for their

Semi-Annual Sale. :)

Guess what! Hudson Jeans... on sale, everything... on sale!!

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend.

"Happiness comes from the capacity to feel deeply, to enjoy simply, to think freely, to risk life, to be needed."

-Storm Jameson

Be happy!

xoxo

picture via we heart it

I'm A Total LUSH!

Okay, well maybe I am not a Lush... but I promised in my last post that I would talk about my new Lush products... so here we go!  First off, Lush is not your typical store.  It looks like a deli to me.  Everything is out in the open and hand made by people of natural products.  This was my first experience in the store.

There are very few items "pre-packaged".  Its hard to explain... but even there shampoo looks like a big bar of soap!

I only bought the ocean salt but ended up with a couple when I left. Ocean Salt.  (Left in pic). This stuff is amazing!  It is bright blue - and it exfoliates better than anything!  She did an example for me in the store and my hands were softer than they have been... ever!  It can be used on your entire body and your face.   Then... a sugar scrubber came for free. (right)  You break that apart and put it all over your body for more exfoliation and softness!  The last thing you see is a sample of their make-up remover moisturizer.  I didn't buy it at the time because I didn't want to over spend... but it is awesome.  You use it dry - and you rub it over your eyes, and it takes off all of your make up. I still need to test it for a little longer to make sure it doesn't affect my sensitive skin!  

Give Lush a try if you walk by there store.  If anything, you'll leave smelling good! :)  What are your favorite products?

top pic found here; other pics are mine.

Thankful Thursdays

Miss Honeydew at Life After I "Dew" does something called "Thankful Thursdays".  I love reading her answers... so I decided to start doing it myself, and I hope you do too! :)

Here are some things I am thankful for today:

1. sleepy puppies.  they are cuddling all over me, I can't get enough!

2. Snail Mail... how else would I hear back about who is coming to the wedding? So exciting!

3. My health.  Lots of people have been getting sick lately.  You never appreciate it until you don't have it.

4. My mom.  She always makes sure I have a good dinner. I just love her.

5. A job. Seems like more people are losing theirs everyday.

6. Sleeping in tomorrow - (if I am not called in to work!)  Very exciting.

7. The air conditioner ... its 100 degrees outside.

8. Gelato.  If only I had some.

9. My new Lush products... i'll blog about that soon!

10. Fun blogs to read... I stalk all of your blogs... and LOVE it!

11. The comments you all leave.  I constantly check and love how thoughtful you all are!

What about you?

Wedding & Honeymoon

53 Days until Our Wedding Day!

The invitations are out.  I can't believe it.  Time goes by so quickly, and I haven't taken one day for granted.  TL and I are so lucky.  We are really loving being engaged. (engagement pics here)  Everything has really fallen into place with our wedding.  We both have supportive and loving parents who are excited and helpful in all aspects (I swear - we are so dang lucky), we have fabulous family & friends who are going to make the day so memorable, and we know everything will be just fine... because it's our wedding day, the celebration of our new family - 

the two of us. 

Here is what I haven't blogged about yet... 

the HONEYMOON!  

We are going to Europe - Barcelona, Venice, Geneva, Interlaken, Lucerne, & London.  (Also, a 7 night Mediterranean Cruise... Capri, Rome, Naples, Florence, Nice, Provence)

Have I mentioned enough how truly blessed we are?  I have never been to Europe.  TL has quite a few times.   We have over 3 weeks to get around - it will be a perfect first journey for us.  We are flying between countries instead of taking the train to save time (with the exception of Switzerland - we are taking the train through those three cities).  

Any suggestions?  If you live in Europe, what are the must - do things?  Relaxing spots? Romantic spots?  

It's the honeymoon of a lifetime with the guy of my dreams... I am one lucky girl.

A New Chapter

(dad and grandson, Ry Guy)

For my DAD

My dad is a fireman.  He has been for over 30 years - and it is through his career he taught me what it means to have a passion and a work ethic.  I have never come across anyone in life who whole heartedly loves what they do like my dad.  As a child, (and still to this day) my friends know my dad as "Fireman Mike" because he was the fireman who toured all the schools and educated children in fire safety.  My dad defines passion.

I have always noticed the thrill he gets when the tones go off for a call.  The look of determination on his face, the spark in his eye.  Its incredible.  For my dad, its never been about money.  He's never worried how much he made or compared it to other careers.  In fact, my dad has been in the position to retire for a couple of years now, but he hasn't - because he still loves going to work.

I found out this week that my dads last day is in the first week of August.  It will be an emotional one for him and my entire family.  In fact, it puts tears in my eyes just thinking about it.  Fireman Mike is a symbol in my life - something I have looked up to forever, and I don't know anything different than my dad being gone 10 days a month to do what he loves and provide for our family.

He's the bravest guy I know.  I gleam with pride when I think about all he has accomplished in his years there.  You know, he is well into his 50's and he is still the most athletic, driven, powerful man i've come across in life.   I don't know how he will do with this retiring thing - even with the thousands of other things he does in the community (see here).  He is a busy body. 

He still makes me feel like that little girl with big blue eyes and chunky baby arms reaching for her daddy, her hero - I don't think I will ever grow out of that stage.  

Since my dad has been on my mind for the last few days - I thought I would share.  I find myself having moments selfishly not wanting my dad to get any older or move on from this part of his life.  Have any of you gone through something like this?  Please share.

Starring: Me? Why not.

I was tagged by The Juice Is Worth The Squeeze in a fun post where I am supposed to tell you 10 honest things about me that you may already know.  

Scary, right!  So, here goes nothing!

(they love taking baths)

1.  I have an obsession with cleaning my ears.  I have since I was a little girl.  I remember I got the end of a Q-Tip stuck in my ear when I was tiny, and my dad told me never to stick anything smaller than my elbow in my ear.  My mom had to clean them for me for about 2 years after that incident.  I still have the obsession - and didn't listen to his advice. oops.

2. I have a flat out, psycho fear of vomit.  We all hate it, right?  Well, my fear is probably like yours of spiders, snakes, or heights.  Its that real.  I turn into a nervous wreck and I have missed out on a lot of things in life because of this fear.  Amusement Parks, airplanes, bars, anywhere with lots of people, I get nervous.

3. Up to this point in my life, the hardest thing I have ever gone through was losing my mom's best friend "my second mom" Barb my senior year of HS.  I remember being there the night she died - those memories are the most vivid ones I have ever had.

4. I pop my knuckles.  Bad.  Not even when I am nervous - I just always do it. 

5.  I talk to myself.  I think it has something to do with my really strong inner consciousness.  I talk myself into things.  I am extremely spiritual.

6. I love kissing my weenie dogs, especially on top of their little ears.  They are so soft - and sometimes I will go for 5 minutes just giving them as many kisses as possible.  I am that crazy dog lady.

7.  I am so unoriginal.  I am the combined artwork of everyone I know.  I love finding things I love in others and copying them.

8.  I am scared of the dark.  I get all shaky at 3 in the morning when I leave for work.  I turn on every light in the house - and I always think the headlights in the car behind me are after me.  Dork, right?!

9. My parents are my favorite people in the whole world.  I am comfortable saying they are 2 of the most incredible people in the world - for their very own unique reasons.  Honestly, I wish they would write a book so I could raise my kids the way they raised my sisters and I.  They are pretty dang close to perfect.

10.  When I was running the yesterday, I was thinking about my wedding dress and veil and I got goosebumps.  I spent the whole run thinking about TL and that special day - I forgot I was running.

Okay - enough about me!  

I want to know about you!  I hope you ALL do it... but here is who I tag:

Iva @ Iva Messy

Tamela @ A Brunette Making It One Day At A Time

Ali @ The Way I See It

Brown Girl Blogs

Kimberly @ My Wooden Heart

Carol @ Everyday Delights

Kate @ Be Happy Anyway

Holly @ Zucchero, Zucchero

Heather @ Alis Grave Nil

Kelly @ From Me To You

* If you've already done it - share 10 more things about yourself!  There's plenty I don't know :)

Peace OUT, Wes!

Is anyone as happy as me to see WES hit the road????

Geeze LOU eeezzzzzee... I never thought Jillian was going to open her eyes.

I hope the guy doesn't think he has a chance in the music industry - or in society for that matter.

He is a big fat jerk!  (and not even that cute)

Sometimes I think the whole show is a bit unreal.  I am not in the situation, but I do not understand how you can fall in love with someone with cameras all over the place, make up artists, wardrobe people, competition and pressure.

Especially after being in love now - I feel like this can't be true love just yet for any of these people.  It is just a leap of faith for them! 

Jillian has her hands full - I am not sure about any of them really being in "love" with her. yikes.

Who do you think she'll end up with?

picture of dirtbag found here

Gaga over GaGa

I'm not the biggest fan of Lady Gaga... but I was really impressed with this performance.  With all the musical and technical changes to her songs - it's hard to hear her actual voice.  You do here, and I love it - jazzy, sophisticated, and deeply pretty.

  

What do you think?

What gives you confidence?

I just posted a new blog at my work site, and I am asking your advice for people who have recently lost their job: What Gives You Confidence?  Please go to the post and leave a comment for everyone to read!  Thanks for supporting me and encouraging thousands of others who are struggling with out a job - almost 10 percent of the people in the country are unemployed!

 

Comment HERE.  You do not have to put in your email address!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Engagement Pictures!

Our Engagement Pictures By:

FORD FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY

Rebecca Ford

fordfamilyphotography.com

Some of the 700 pictures Rebecca at Ford Family Photography photographed.  She is amazing.  

Visit her blog to see more of our pictures!

Which one's should we order? Your favorite?

please do not copy without permission

New Obsession

I have always LOVED tea... pretty much all flavors.  And I only love it when it is UNsweetened.  I think it is fabulous... however, in the last few weeks, I have been on this kick where I am absolutely obsessed with it.  I drink it everyday - the people at the starbucks on my way to work have my order memorized!  I drink it hot before bed, and cold all other times of the day! It is so yummy... mmm, I am drinking it now!

What are your obsessions?

starubucks pic found here

Time...

It is already July 1st... 2009 is over half way done - unbelievable!  Doesn't time go so fast?  Every year goes faster. I love this quote about time, so I thought I would share! 

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life.  Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking.  Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice.  And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.  They somehow already know what you truly want to become.  Everything else is secondary."

- Steve Jobs

My family and I are currently in Carmel for vacation - so I apologize for my lack of reading your blogs... I'll be back in the next few days! :)

clock found here