Wedding

Wow.  I am so happy.  It makes me almost speechless.  I have so many loved ones around me.  Especially, TJ.  He makes me feel so beautiful and so happy.  Planning a wedding, getting ready for the holidays, considering moving, and living my life has been stressful.  However, on Monday I was dying to go dress shopping again.  My first time was at David's Bridal.  I found some beautiful dresses, and it was more so to get my feet wet.  I thought I liked this one by Vera Wang that was a Grecian dress with a sash.  I loved it and I always have wanted to wear Vera Wang.  However, I knew I wasn't ready.  So a month later I heard Priscilla of Boston was closing their business and everything was discounted.  I tried on over 20 dresses!  Everything was a giant blur. However, I learned that I liked high empire waist dresses, and I found a gorgeous dress.  But it was $1700 for a VERY simple dress.  I would've had to add a lot to make it sparkle.  So I said no.  Finally, I decided to go to a boutique in the Springs called Something New.  They had a fabulous selection, and it was kind of last minute.  I tried to find something, but nothing was coming close.  At the second to last dress, I tried on a gorgeous A-line dress with amazing embellishment.  I knew as soon as I put it on.  My heart was warm.  I thought of my fiance, my family, my friends.  Everyone close in my life was on my mind in this dress.  I didn't stop smiling.  I didn't want to get out of the dress.  My wonderful consultant, Lisa, grabbed two bridesmaid dresses, one purple, one sage, and a dark grey jacket, put everything next to me, and that's when I broke down.  It was that moment when I knew I found my eternal partner, and that he was going to be my husband and best friend forever and ever.  My heart dropped and I walked around the store for 30 minutes because I didn't want to get out of that dress.  Saying farewell to my dress, I immediately called my dad.  I explained the dress to him and sent him pictures.  My dress is on clearance so it is a lot cheaper.  And I hardly need any alterations since it has a corset back, just a hem and bustle.  That's it.  And of course it needs to be cleaned.  Plus the fixing of the beading is free and the steaming is, too!!!  After convincing my dad, I was sad not talking to my mom.  She is currently on a cruise in the Caribbean.  How fun.  However, the next day my mom was in port somewhere and texted me!  I sent her pictures.  She said I had to get it and it made her cry.  =]  Today, I went to the shop.  Bought my Maggie Sottero named Nevaya, stopped at work to kiss my fiance.  Now I'm home wearing my dress as I type this.  I feel amazing.  It makes me happy.  Planning the wedding and finding a dress has been difficult, but now I have a symbol of hope.  The dress is proof that this is not a dream.  Now I need a venue and everything after that falls into place. 
My colors are lavender, sage green, and ivory.  The theme is "Fall in Love" since that date is October 5, 2012.  I was thinking of having it at the Fine Arts Center, Red Rocks Amphitheater, or the Denver Opera House.  I'm hoping by the end of the year we will have decided.
We made an awesome wedding website where we will be posting information for our guests over the next year for every detail.  http://madisontyler.ourwedding.com/.  It will have our registry, place of wedding, ideal accommodations for everyone's budget, and fun things to do while you are in town.  Also I might make a FAQ after I get more questions about the wedding.  We are just so excited and it's all TJ and I ever talk about now.  We love our loved ones, and we both can not wait til we share our day with you.

"You know when you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.
-Dr. Seuss.

Total Money Makeover

So yesterday marked the first day of starting Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover.  TJ and I have always agreed on how we spend our money.  We each have our own expenses.  And luckily I have no debt.  So I plan on helping TJ, not financially, but more so keeping him on track and dealing with the debt collectors.  We are sick and tired of being sick and tired.  We may not be married yet, but we want to start investing in our future, and if not for that then just for ourselves.  We made our budget for the month and will do so each month.  We will put together a $1000 Emergency Fund fast, then work on paying off the debt.  We were so happy about making a budget.  We want to control how our money is spent, and how much.  We give ourselves an allowance of $20 every two weeks and that is for anything we want!  So I budgeted for food, and we get about $14 a day to spend on dinner.  If we spend less, that surplus goes into the Emergency Fund as extra.  I am reading the TMM right now.  I am a little more than halfway done.  I have learned and extensive amount of information.  It can be a little overwhelming, but as Dave says, "You have to live like nobody else, so later you can live like nobody else."  It makes sense!!!  DOY!  And TJ and I live a very frugal life, and this plan is going to jumpstart our life and we should be fast ahead than everyone else.  No debt.  No new car payment.  No new house we can't afford.  We are very grounded and we both know what we can afford.  I AM NOT SAYING WE DON'T DAYDREAM or WISH FOR NICE THINGS, but the reward of being smart with money is so much greater that having car payments, house payments, medical payments, etc. for the rest of our lives.  And we want to retire early.  I want to help my parents and repay them for everything they ever did for me and my sisters.  I want to send them on their dream vacation.  I want to pay for their mortgage (Bucket List item =]).  I want their retirement to be easy.  I love my parents so much, and I want to give so much back to them even if it means a few Christmas presents will be cheap.  Maybe one Christmas I can pay for the whole family to go a CRUISE for Christmas.  Then it will be worth it.  For now, FRUGAL is my middle name.

Thank goodness I found someone who has the same ideas on money and allows me to be the budgeter and the one in charge.  I may be in charge, but we discuss every payment and everything we buy and do the math for a budget.  I love him so much and appreciate him more and more each day for it.
So 50% of marriages in America end in divorce.  75% of those divorces are from money problems and not being able to agree on money. Just a little "did you know" fact.

I am ready for this.  I am ready to live like no one else, so later I can live like no one else.  Let's get this Total Money Makeover going!!!


"Broke people giving financial advice is like a shop teacher with missing fingers."
-Dave Ramsey

"It Was 100 Degrees As We Sat Beneath A Willow Tree"

Oh my gosh I love summer so much!!!!  It has been a blast being outside and enjoying the sweet air.  Of course, it has been hotter than heck fire outside!  Plus, our A/C broke about a month ago, and the office is "trying" to fix it.  At least, I have a small fan that can keep me somewhat cool.

TJ and I have been going out and doing lots of things with each other and our sweet puppy, Max.  We kicked off the summer with meeting the one and only Chelsea Handler.  We drove up to Boulder for the day and went to one of her book signings.  She was so wonderfully nice and appreciative, nothing like you imagine you would meeting her. 

This was the best picture I could get of her!!!

She signed a copy for me!!! =]

I taught a baking class at church for the Young Women.  We made frozen yogurt pie and S'mores cupcakes.

We attended Territory Days in Old Colorado City.  It's this giant fair with cool booths with food, crafts, and neat little trinkets.  It was my first time.  Pretty fun, but $7 for a turkey leg?!?!?! Heck no.  One booth that I loved was La Henna Boheme's booth.  They are this awesome store in Manitou.  They did a couple of hennas for me!!  I loved it!  Max did mine and he was awesome!

 "Inner Happiness"

I asked Max if he could just get creative and do what he wanted.  Came out awesome!

We spent a lot of time in Manitou, getting mates (Maht-ays), shopping, eating ice cream and fudge, and the going to Graffiti Falls.  The first we went was with our awesome friends from work Jared and Miles, and then we went again with our awesome couple friends Jared and Laura.

 Miles is crazy!  He scooted all the way across that thing!

 Behind the falls!

 My awesome friend, Laura!!!

 Scared of heights much?

 Eating ice cream and being ever so silly.

My name is Bass Clef.

We went to Florida to visit my family!!  It was one of the best vacations ever!!  TJ immediately clicked with my family.  Within the first hour TJ was carrying Isabelle around the house.

My parents ran out to get some food, and came home to TJ running around with Isabelle.

We went to the beach and spent the week at my grandparent's beautiful beach house.  We celebrated the 4th of July with a golf cart parade.

We played in giant trees!

 

 My sweet sisters!

 Isabelle is so funny!

My handsome fiance and I.

We got free slurpees on 7/11 (in dixie cups).  We went downtown and celebrated Pride Fest with best friend and Man of Honor, Ryan Jones and his sweet boyfriend, Kevin.  Ryan and I got matching hennas to celebrate our awesome friendship.

We went to a Sky Sox game, and realized we were broke and didn't have enough money to pay for food.  So we left and went to Costco and go to hot dogs and drinks for $3.22!!!  Oh by the way, the Sky Sox won.

I had to go to the hospital because I had an ovarian cyst rupture.  I hated it!!!  The doctor prescribed me pain killers and I rested for 5 days straight.  It was hard to get back into the swing of things again, but TJ took excellent care of me, along with all the people who brought me dinner.  Thank you so much Sister Gremillion, Brother and Sister Butcher, and Brother and Sister Stockton!  I began to feel better after I received a blessing from Brothers Gremillion and Stockton.  I do have another cyst on the same ovary, and fortunately it has not given me any trouble.  =]

TJ and I went to Denver to visit IKEA after a week it opened.  It was crazy busy!  We bought for items for $4.97!  That's a steal!!!  We passed the time at Park Meadows mall because we didn't want to go home in rush hour traffic.

We went to the Shops at Briargate (where we work) every Thursday night and watch a free movie.  Everyone would bring chairs and blankies and curl up with some dinner.  The movies included, Despicable Me, Megamind, Back to the Future, Toy Story 3, Shrek, and How to Train a Dragon.  We got rained out at a couple, but it was such a blast.  We would set up, eat dinner, and watch the sun set.  It was very romantic, especially with hundreds of kids running around!!!

Today is Saturday.  The last Saturday before school starts on Monday.  I know that I'm going to be a lot busier, but I hope that all the things I did this summer, I will continue to do in the Fall.  I am most looking forward to getting to see my sister, Emily, for Thanksgiving!

TJ and I requested today off to spend time with Max.  We went to this dog day event at Briargate.  They had tons of fun booths set up with lots of yummy treaters.  =]  After being there for a while, we laid back in the grass under the shade and people/dog watched.  Max got lots of compliments on his blue/white eyes.  This one woman came up to us and asked if he was up for adoption.  I said no, he was ours.  She said, "Too bad, I would love to have this pretty boy."   Max loved all the dogs and people.  He was so tired he would go under booths' tables and just lay there.  We are so proud of him.  He is a total Mama's boy though. 

 Little Happy Family.

 My sweet boy.

 Pretty Boy.

My boys.

 The quote in the title of this post is from the song "Crooked Teeth" by Death Cab for Cutie.  I like to say that this is the theme song of this summer.  From adventures to romance, this song defines it.

"It was one hundred degrees, as we sat beneath a willow tree,
Who's tears didn't care, they just hung in the air, and refused to fall, to fall.
And I knew I'd made horrible call,
And now the state line felt like the Berlin wall,
And there was no doubt about which side I was on.
Cause I built you a home in my heart,
With rotten wood, it decayed from the start."

-Death Cab for Cutie

Love is in the Air

I can not wait to spend the rest of eternity with TJ.  Everyday I feel happier with him.  There is no other person like him.  We agree about money, how we spend our time, and that we need to be hard working people.  I love him so much.  Only 341 more days!!

Boobs

Why I dare ask, why everyone is obsessed with being the best and having the best?  Is it from what we are told when we are young?  Is it pressure from high class society?  I am sick of everyone being competitive and cut throat.  It's just disgusting.  Also, I am sick of everyone obsessing about their appearance.  I admit, I give it a bit of effort to look nice and presentable, but I'm not going all the way for a stupid boob job.  Seriously, what is that going to accomplish?  Everyone will see your big, fake, plastic knockers, and not realize you are a complete airhead.  You think people don't notice because of your looks, when in actuality, it's because you are boring!!!  Did you know that women with implants are twice as likely to commit suicide?  It's because after a while, they realize their deadbeat husband truly doesn't love them, just the jugs, and they want to end it all.  It is so sad that girls who have no confidence are going straight to the bank for a loan or asking "Mommy" and "Daddy" for money to help pay for them.  A boob job can cost about 3 grande.  A good boob job can cost up to 7 grande.  That kind of money can be donated.  Remember Japan?  Remember Haiti?  Remember Katrina?  There are people who are suffering in the world and you care about your insecurities so much that you have to make yourself feel better by making you B's to DD's.  People need to check themselves and others.  So many people don't do anything but pity.  Truthfully, those third world people don't want your pity.  They are the ones who pity you because you can not find happiness in yourself.  Loved ones died, houses washed away, cities destroyed, but people still find hope and love in life, in themselves.  I bet you some Haitian women don't care about their boob sizes after the earthquake. 

Women today in Modern times have to embrace their "flaws".  Cellulite, show it off.  Gross birthmark, who cares?  Big butt to no butt, wear those juicy jeans.  The point is that when a woman embraces these so called "flaws" she feels confident.  And nothing, I repeat, nothing is sexier than a confident woman who loves herself and the way she was made.  People were made a certain way for a reason.  It is to challenge our inner feelings, and we don't want to listen, we just want to take the easy way out.  The unnatural way.  If you hate your body's flaws that can be controlled, then it is your fault.  But don't be lazy and get lipo, eat healthy, exercise, do more fun activities out of the house.  Those are the kind of things that lead to loving yourself even more.  Scientifically, having a healthy lifestyle releases endorphins, and makes you happy, thus loving yourself and others around you.

It took me forever to realize this.  I love my body.  I love myself.  I know my family loves me for me.  I know my fiance loves me for me.  I know Heavenly Father loves me for just being me.  I may wish my stretchmarks were smooth, but I accept them as a part of me and I embrace them.

I am tired of seeing girls complain on Facebook about being fat, hating their noses, tired of being tall, and of course, small-big boobs.  Get over yourself and your body issues and grab a tissue.  Think about others before yourself.  You will see that maybe not the world, but your world will start to change.

A true woman who showed true sexiness and confidence.

And my favorite quote by my favorite woman.

"Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent."
-Eleanor Roosevelt

Pie Shop

I found this picture after my last post.

"I am taking you to the bakery of your choice, and serving you a big, hot slice of humble pie"
-Rachel Berry, Glee

Poor Little Rich Girl

I'm so tired of being poor all of the time.  I can afford food and going out to eat once a week to 2 weeks.  I have been so use to it, I didn't even realize it.  But I am happy.  At this age, I'm not suppose to have a lot.  I am happy with no cable, old clothes, Max, and especially TJ.  TJ and I have learned how to make up for those things.  We love to watch Netflix.  It's like crack.  "Say crack again...crack."  We like to go out and find free things to do in the community, like the fair, movies showing for free, going to Manitou, graffiti falls, and having fun at the dog park with our beautiful dog.

 We love to cook for each other, however I think TJ enjoys it a little more.  He's loves everything I come up with.  At Costco, I bought a thing of mashed potatoes and I still have 5lbs of rice left.  So one night I am planning on making Tandoori Chicken with rice, Lemon Garlic chicken and mashed potatoes, and another night of making Shepherd's Pie.  Can not wait!  I just need to get my but to the grocery store.  Lately, it's been a lot of frozen pizzas and quesadillas, so I am hoping to get a little protein and veggies in our diet these next few days.

Oh I thought of another fun free thing we did!!!  Last Thursday, we went up to the new IKEA in Denver.  We got lunch and split some Swedish meatballs, and just wondered for 2 hours.  Of course, we had to get a souvenir!!!  We left with a flower shaped ice tray, a mug for TJ, and coasters, all for $4.97!!!!  We wanted to head home, but it was rush hour so we passed the time at Park Meadows.  I never realized how many fancy schmancy stores were in there!!!!  They did have a Lego's store.  I loved Lego's when I was little and now Isabelle is obsessed, too.  I took a picture of myself outside of the store and sent it to Isabelle, trying to make her jealous.

This is the picture I sent to Isabelle.

She was jealous, but not as jealous as I was when she told me she took a cooking class of Oprah's vegetarian chef that morning!!!!  She was in San Fransisco with my Dad and he just so happened to be able to take her!!!  WHAT REALLY?!?!?!  GAAAHHHH!!!!!  Oh well.  It's funny, because Isabelle wished she had been to the Lego store more than going to a cooking class with Oprah's chef!

Back to the point.  We are very wise and careful with what we spend.  It's hard, sometimes I want to go clothing shopping, but I can't afford it, not even Goodwill.  I want to eat out more often, but I can't.  I want to buy nice things, but I have to save save save.  I am happy.  Very happy.  I like my life.  I like earning things and working hard for it instead of it being just handed to me.  I know one girl who moved to a big city and her parents pay for everything, and all she does is party and complain about sleeping in.  I appreciate everything I own.  I work hard.  I make sacrifices.  But I am so happy doing it and willing.  I had some extra money when we went to IKEA and I have dying for a casserole dish, and this one at IKEA was $12! You can not beat that! I was so modern and pretty looking.  But I knew that saving that extra $12 could buy us dinner one night, even if that casserole dish can make us dinner.  TJ has been donating plasma, and we are saving up to buy a Wii so we can watch Netflix on there, and ask for video games by Christmas.  It will be a symbol, I think.  Here is something very nice, that we both worked hard for and saved up for a long time.  I'm proud of him.  I'm proud of us.

Oh and this is not a pity post.  I just felt like saying ya I'm tired of being poor, but I am grateful for it, too.  Humble and Happiness.  That's what matters.

"It's better to be a lion for a day than a sheep all your life."
-Elizabeth Kenny