Fun Times....

click on this link:

MorphYourself

to watch a very fun/funny video of us dancing!

Color me Surprised!

Surprisingly(to me anyways) choosing colors has been Shane and I most difficult task so far in the planning process!! We have talked about lot of different combos but really they have roughly the same colors in them so we are talking in circles most of the time. Shane has pulled "groom veto" powers over Yellow and green (not together but as complementary colors). The only color Shane and I 100% agree on in TEAL! The most glorious color every created!

Here is a color board I made:

Rhett Miller - Unplugged

The song that you first here when you come to blog is a band called "Old 97's" and the song is "Question". It is about a guy asking a girl to marry him.

This summer Rhett Miller the lead singer of Old 97's came to Unplugged in the park one of our favorite summer traditions to spend sunday evenings at Park Tavern.

Rhett Miller was awesome! ( so was the black bean dip... B you know what I am talking about)

Here he is performing "Question" (my favorite song) in French?! Random, I know but still awesome!

Ice Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for Soft Serve!

We went for one final visit to Silver lining on Saturday. The retirement point challenge was coming to a close and the Quinley clan had 4th place in a lock!!!

While we waited for the presentation of prizes, B and I tried on Tiaras... because it is fun to dream of having a faithful Queendom at your beck-n-call!

Here is me claiming my glorious prize! A soft serve ice cream maker and server.

To my right if Kathy the most fabulous wedding dress consultant ever, she truly made the experience everything it should be, and my mom and I will always be grateful to her for that.

To my left is Sue, the owner of Silver Lining!

Stop #2: Paper Source... the MOST fabulous store in all the land.

The smell of all the paper is intoxicating!!

Jenny met us for some serious invitation deliberation. We narrowed the playing field down to some manageable decisions. It is a bit overwhelming, I feel like I have to write my life story in these darn invitations.

Jenny wanted to Emboss the world and Bethany found a big paper flower. Fun times.

I did order my very own Return Address Embosser... so exciting!

Choosing a font for that was excruciating... so many decisions!!

I think we are finally making so headway on the color front but I don't want to put anything official out there until I know for sure! Picking colors, I swear, has been the hardest part of this whole thing!

We are also close to sending out Save-The-Dates! Yay, I love progress.

engagement pics (59 photos), by Kristen Quinley

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.

When giving "the finger" can be cute and sweet...

Unofficial Save the Date....

Official Nail Color of the Engagement!

I just painted my nails with:

" I Do" by Sally Hanson - Diamond strength Nail Color!

I said YES to the Dress!

Trying to find the perfect wedding dress was something that was very intimidating for me. I have only ever purchased a handful of formal dresses in my life and looking for those were not what I would call "fun" and with so much pressure on finding the "perfect" dress I was a little worried.

I ended up really enjoying the process and I credit my mom with helping make that happen. We decided several months ago that shopping for the wedding dress was just going to be me and her, and that no matter what - we were not going to get stressed about it. Hey, I guess there is something to be said for the power of positive thinking!

We visited 3 stores: David's Bridal, Silver Lining, and New Natalie's. I Probably tried on a total of 20 dresses give or take, between the three salons. Each place we visited we narrowed it down to our favorite. At both David's and Silver Lining I could take pictures which helped a lot when I looked back and was trying to organize my thoughts.

Oddly enough I tried on a dress at Silver Lining that we all looked at and decided was not "the one" and put it back without even getting a picture of it! (when I say we I mean my mom, myself and Kathy our wonderful bridal consultant!) It was called the "Rain Drop" dress.

I looked through all the pictures over and over, I looked for other Bridal salons to visit, I started planning a trip to Mobile, to go to Rosie's a wedding dress salon with tons of dresses. But I kept coming back to that one dress that I didn't get a picture of.

So I told mom we were going back! I took off early from work on Friday and met my mom and surprisingly my dad at silver lining! ( Side story: I had wanted my dad to come shopping with me from the beginning but he didn't seem interested, so I didn't push the question. So, needless to say I was very excited to see him! I felt like it was a good omen. Speaking of good omens...
Side Side Story: While my mom and dad waited in the parking lot for me to get there a Ladybug landed on their windshield! That was Uncle Rolo saying enough already just pick the dress and get on with it! haha. That is just what we did. )

I tried on a couple of dresses that I did not try on the fist time. They were ok. I looked for the "Marilyn" (see below) and then was told that she had already been sold. Which didn't really bother me too much because I had my eye on that "Rain Drop" dress. The rest is history! Or as a good feminist would say -"herstory".






My take on New Natalie's:
They had beautiful dresses and good prices but I felt like cattle being herded through the yard. Go here, put your dresses here, wait her until we call you name, throw a dress on, and then stand in front of everyone in the store, no pictures, and then decide if this is the dress of your dreams that you want to get married in, in ten minutes or less and then off with it!

Here is me and dad at New Natalie's. Shane and Dad had a few bonding hours while mom and I tried on dresses here!

The first dress was one that I loved at David's Bridal, but it had no sparkle. I needed to Sparkle!

Wedding Dress Vocabulary/Rules:

Degree of Pouff:(kathy) this is how big or how small your petticoat is underneath your dress and how far your dress is away from your legs.

Angle of Repose: (Jim Quinley) The angle at which the bottom part of the dress falls below your hips. A pleasing angle of repose flows away from you and displeasing angle a repose means the dress trys to come back in towards your legs. (Unless of course you are purchasing a trumpet which would be exempt from this rule!)

NO patting: I had a bad habit of patting the dresses and I kept getting in trouble. This is something I am going to have to work on because Kathy says there will be NO patting the day of the wedding.

French Bustle: a very classy way to shorten your train but still display any bead work or design that happens to be one it for the reception.

American Bustle: Just piling a whole bunch of fabric on your butt while making it look huge in the process!

Here I am looking at myself in the "Rain Drop" dress! Yay! It is done. I said YES to the dress, and now I can check that off and keep the planning train on track and bound for glory.

**Shane said that all the planning has been good, but this purchase makes it feel really REAL like it is really going to happen. I would say..... I have to agree!

Next up:

• Colors... Argh
• Brial Party Attire
• DJ - if you know of anyone that is good please let me know!
  

Idea for Wedding Favor...

What do you think?

a poem....

His hello was the end of her endings
Her laugh was their first step down the aisle
His hand would be hers to hold forever
His forever was as simple as her smile
He said she was what was missing
She said instantly she knew
She was a question to be answered
And his answer was "I do"

~C.Bradshaw

(or probably just a clever writer at HBO!)

July 22nd: A Day of Beauty!

My mom and I had a great day. We shopped for wedding dresses and also went to 3 different beauty appointments to help me get ready for my engagement photo shoot with Heidi, since I am not accomplished when it comes to hair/nails/makeup (especially not this one!).  It took 3 beauty professionals to get me "camera ready"! I am forever in their debt. 

Of course shane took a shower did a quick shave and looking stunning in 20 mins. I hate him and love him all at the same time! I sent him on an errand to get my ring cleaned while my mom and I were shopping. He did good.

Here is one of the pictures from David's Bridal.  I would love to share actual pictures of my in some possible dresses but since Shane reads this blog I am going to have to keep the actual pictures under wraps!

Trying on dresses for the first time was very eye opening. I have been wedding dress shopping with several of my friends so I knew " you never know about a dress until you put it on". You never truly get that statement until you experience it for yourself.  The dresses I thought I was going to love did not flatter me and the some that I had not interest in at all I ended up liking.. it is crazy!

I had a lot of fun and I can't wait to go try on more at some other places!

Coming up:

• GA Bridal Show at Cobb Galeria - Aug 2nd!
  

http://eliteevents.com/

• Our engagement photos! ( I can't wait!)

We HAVE to do this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0



I LOVE IT!!

Wednesday July 22nd's Itinerary

Tomorrow is going to be a fun filled day!

9am - Breakfast with Mom and Shane

10am – David’s Bridal : Kennesaw

Noon- Lunch

1:30 – Bare Escentuals : Town Center for Makeup appt.

3pm – Nikki Nails on Cedarcrest for Manicure

4:45 pm – Panosh for Hair Appt. with Veronica

7pm – Meet Heidi at Henry’s for Photo shoot

Shane and Kristen sitting in a tree...

Guest Blogger: Shane Odom (aka The Groom)

Ah, the joys of wedding season and being engaged. After a few hundred weddings over the past six or seven years, it is finally my turn to “tie the knot.” Not only have I attended these weddings, but most of these I participated in and learned so much. Now I know that all of you are counting down the days to what may be the “Greatest Party of the New Millennium,” I want to settle some fears that you might be encountering in anticipation.

1. 1. 1.There will not be a lighting of the candle. Furthermore, there will not be a lighting ceremony featuring the latest country song by a person that is so head-over-heels in love they were having difficulty staying on pitch while singing the song.

2. 2. 2,You will show up dressed as if this is the important social event it is. Do not show up to our wedding dressed like a fool. I will have several childhood friends in attendance that would love nothing more than to toss you out of the wedding and then proceed to interrogate you (using any means necessary) on why you do not know how to dress for a social function. Big Mike gets a pass on this one.

3. I realize most of you are white. I also realize white people’s affinity for songs that tell them exactly how to dance. Kristen and I together make up one full “white” person. The other person would be Hispanic and Black. Never in the course of human history has a Hispanic or Black person needed someone to tell us HOW to dance. If you are having a problem with dancing….. CONTACT US. We will be more than happy to point you to some YouTube videos that can help you in time for the wedding.

4. GUYS: Do not hit on the Bridesmaids. Yes, I know these are very beautiful women. Yes, I know they look exceptionally stunning in their gowns. But let’s take a look at this for a moment……. Jen and Beth are married, and Nicole and Bethany do not want to “hook-up” with you because they are not feeling vulnerable that one of their best friends is getting married. I mean look at them, they could have most any guy they wanted, so why would they settle for your drunken ass???

5. Eat, Drink, and be merry. If you drink too much and act a fool, see #2 and the repercussions you will incur.

6. LADIES: If you are of a curvier nature (and know that I love curves), it is not a good idea to wear a very outspoken red dress. You may look like the Kool-Aid guy, and then all of us have to walk around thinking that and trying to keep a straight face. Also, if you wear very revealing and sexy clothing, do not get mad if men are staring at you and hitting on you! I’m not going to get mad if people assume I am the groom because I am dressed like one, therefore, you shouldn’t get mad if guys assume you are a “working girl” because you are dressed like one!

7. Do not come expecting to hear any country music made after 1997.

8. Keep an eye on your children! Do not think for one second that if they are making a fool of themselves I won’t take them and sell them on the Black Market!! I will!! And then I’ll use the money to extend our Honeymoon.

9. Lastly, just come have fun with us. Know that if we invited you, it was because we thought enough of you to invite you to the biggest event of our lives thus far. If the Electric Slide starts up, jump on in, but remember, it’s the ELECTRIC SLIDE NOT COUNTRY LINE DANCING.

Needing a little Insipiration...

Here are some inpiration boards from one of my favorite wedding blogs:

http://snippetandink.blogspot.com

To loft or not to loft that is the question?

Bethany and I went to the Dogwood festival... which was awesome. Back in Piedmont where it belongs. 

Since we were downtown we swung by The Loft at Castleberry Hill just to see what it looked like and maybe peek in the window. As luck may have it there was an event going on and they invited us in to look around. The event was "Wanna Play?" They positioned themselves as a club alternative. They basically just had a bunch of games set up and it was like a mixer. Seemed pretty cool. The owner offered to let us stay but it had been a long day in the park so we opted out. 

Before we left we had to have a little fun. B's hips don't lie, and I was drawn to the biggest tower of Jenga the world has ever seen. 

As for the venue... ehh..... it could be a fun space for a party or something but not for a wedding. There was no enough room for Ceremony and reception and the space overall really didn't have a good flow, I wasn't feelin' it. 

This is Shane at the Overlook Building in Vinings. This is where Union Diamond is. Kara at work recommended them to use for custom jewelry. So, we went to meet the jewelry designer, Tony. He was awesome. Hilarious. He is going to do a custom ring for Shane that we kind of designed together. I thought I knew what I wanted but then Tony opened my eyes to lot of different possibilities. I needed a visual, so Tony had a wax model made of something a little special. We are still working through the details, but Shane and I are both really happy with our potential rings. www.UnionDiamond.com ! 

Coming soon:

• Rhodes Hall - The castle of Peachtree st.
• Atlanta Botanical Gardens
• An Appointment at Villa Christina with Mom!

NOT your ordinary bridal show... The NOT wedding!

This past sunday Shane and I went to the most unique and fun bridal show. It was called the not wedding. No vendor booths like other shows it was more of a mingle and party atmosphere. 

Our labor of love was there! They are these really amazing photographers that I am in love with! I basically went specifically to meet them! I was a total groupie. I was embarassed for myself, but Heidi was so sweet and put up with me! Our Labor of Love

Check out the smile booth pictures from Our labor of love. Click Here! Shane and I are on page 4. So fun!

We also got to see Slip Tripman this totally cool band! Click here to check out their website! Lets just say we loved their rendition of Akon's "I want to love you" was awesome! 

Clockwise from the top Left corner:

• This was the Not Wedding Officiant. He looks great in his white dinner jacket! ( Side Note: I have twin aunts and both of their husbands wore white dinner jackets at their respective weddings!) He lead the "not" wedding ceremony. He did this really cool lyrical poem that was great. 
  
• The Next is an outdoor shot of the W Buckhead.
  
• The Not couple - They were so cute. 
  
• Shane and I on the patio. We matched!
  
• Great bouquet!
  

This was the "not" aisle that everyone walked down. 

This couple was in the "not" bridal party. We loved the guys suit it was a light tan and he had a great teal tie on!
On the way home we were driving to Peachtree St and we passed Rhodes hall, which is a wedding venue.  I thought that the "Castle for Rent" sign was Hilarious! 
I took Shane to the Vortex... again! It keeps him happy and wanting to come to bridal shows with me! It is all about the sacrifices we make for each other. 

Next on the Docket:

• The Loft at Castleberry Hill - Click here to check out the website

Ladies Night with my MOH!

Last friday night Jen and I hit the town at a Ladies ONLY party at Opera.

Bachlorette Boutique was throwing a party! Website ( this is group that you can hire to plan and execute your Bacholorette party for you!)

They were serving free drinks... Pink Champagne! There was a nail station where you could get a polish change or a hand massage. They also had a back massage station.

The Girls from PoleLaTeaz were there and did a demostration of how to "walk sexy" and other assorted movements that apparently every girl should know!

Around 10:30 they started letting regular club goes join the party. It must have been 80's night because DJ Mike B was only spinning 80's classics to a club beat... which was Awes!

It was a fun night! Jen and I did our fair share of dancing before we headed back out to the 'burbs! It was a serious flashback to the good 'ole days.

A Square, A Park, A Villa, Oh My!

Shane and I did some more location shopping this past weekend! We didn't have any official appts we just did "Drive By's" of a few places that we have talked about. 

We started the day by scouting the Marietta Square ( Glover Park). This idea came from my co-worker Wendi. We were talking about the Marietta Art Museum and I was expressing my dislike for the "Ceremony" site and she said why don't you get married on the square! 

We wanted to see what that would look like and then the other issue of getting everyone to the Art Museum after the ceremony is over:

Clock wise from the top left corner:

1. A shot of the park standing on the corner. It is undergoing some remodeling right now. 

2.The gazebo in the park

3.The corner with my back to the park. This is the road you walk down - 1 block- to get to the Art Museum. 

4. Me in a train... CHOo CHO0!

Conclusion: I am still very worried about working the logistics of everyone getting to the square and then to the museum. Also I have a very difficult time envisioning a wedding ceremony on the square? Feeling: confused

Next Stop: Peidmont Park, beautiful, but not the place for our wedding.

The great ceremony site is way to far away from the the sub-par reception hall. There was no wow factor that I could see to Magnolia Hall ( not pictured - there was nothing to show).

The top is a great shot of the Park, it really is a city oasis!

Bottom Lefthand corner:  The awesome ceremony location - Clara Meer Dock

Bottom Righthand corner: Historic Visitors center just up the hill from the Clara Meer Dock.

Villa Christina was the last location that we were able to visit. I LOVED it. I think that it has a lot of potential!

It is just inside the perimeter where 400 and 285 cross.  It is half restaurant / half event venue.

Clockwise from the top left hand corner:

1. Me in the dining room. Very modern, I love the look and feel of this area. Lots of bright colors and abstract art!

2. Outdoor pavilion. This is the ceremony location, this has been my favorite "aisle" set up. I love having a straight shot. 

3. The bar and more examples of decor

4. They have a great patio area and beautiful gardens with a cute little water feature.  I would really want to take advantage of this outdoor space. 

5. That thing in the middle is a piece of art that was hanging from the ceiling - I loved it! 

Shane has already spoken to the Sales manager, and has gotten some more details, we are planning on setting up an appt. with her and bring Mom and Dad along for the ride!

Next on the List:

• The Trolley Barn in Historic Innman Park ( for Keri!) www.thetrolleybarn.com 
• The Not Wedding this sunday at The W hotel - I can't wait!! Click here to see the website! 

Signed, Sealed, and we will see if it Delivers...

I am officially signed up for my session of Operation Bootcamp!

At 5:30 am on April 13th, 2009 I will report to my first day of bootcamp! Oorrahh!

Wish me luck!

March Babies are the Best Babies!

Here is our Birthday annoucement in Around Town Acworth! ( They know by name there now!)



I want to give some shout outs to some other March babies:

Bethany! celebrating yesterday on the 10th

Andrea! Who will be celebrating on the 28th

Pisces Rule!

I got my wedding flowers for my Birthday!

My co-workers are soooo wonderful. For my birthday they called our fabulous florist in Acworth and asked him for an arrangement that includes the Purple/teal orchids and other colors that I have been kicking around as possible wedding colors. They tipped him off that he was "auditioning" to get possible wedding business from the recipient so he really out did himself. Below is the end result:

I love the bambo thrown in there, it was a cool contrast to all of the petals and colors.
Just a truly stunning arrangement. I am thinking  that I am just going to save these pictures then go back to Acworth Florist when it gets close to the wedding and just ask him to create the same arrangements for my centerpieces. 
Breathtaking!!!

He is a floral Genius!

www.acworthflorist.com

They provide fresh flowers for our office on a regular basis and I have never seen such innovative and interesting arrangements. They use very unique textures, colors, shapes. 

I told him months ago ( even before I was engaged!) that I wanted him to do my wedding flowers! 

Again, thanks to my girls in the marketing department I feel so lucky to work with such wonderful people!

Feliz Cumpleanos, Ita

Today is my grandmothers birthday. She passed away last year the weekend before her 95th birthday. I miss her, and think about her a lot.

I wish that she could be there for Shane and I wedding. She loved Shane. She loved him from the first time she met him. She was already frail and lacked a lot of strength and I think she felt safe when he would help her in and out of the car, or down the stairs. She would affentionatly called him "Guapo" which means handsome in spanish ( like he needed someone to stroke his ego!).


She will definilty be there in spirit, along with the Winberg family that she built a maintained, that is her legacy. I know that a part of her lives on in me. I would not be who I am today if it wasn't for her.



Ita- Te quiero mucho mucho.

Uno, Dos, Tres....

3 Locations - 1 Day!

#1 Flint Hill 

Top : The outdoor ceremony location. It had plenty of room but it lacked the "wow" factor. They tried to keep the flowering plants to a min. for a neutral palette, but I would prefer lots of flowers plants. 

Left: The bridal suite also doubled a cosy dinner for two for the newly married couple! You eat a quick bite right after the ceremony, it is a quite minute for the newly weds before greeting their guest at the reception. (I love this!)

Right: This is the "Last Look" Mirror above the stairs just as you walk out of the bridal suite. 

Overall feeling: I liked it, it is the best "historical house" setting we have seen. I am not sure if a historical house setting is the right place for us though. It just feels so traditional and old fashioned, it doesn't feel like us!

#2 The Atrium

Clockwise starting from the top left corner:

This is a shot from the mezzanine level down into the main ballroom. The windows are great everything else is pretty much like any other ballroom.

Top right corner: The fountain in "the garden". The garden area was very small, not much to it. 

Bottom right corner: This is the "Grooms Closet"  where the groom in sequestered while the bride is photographed in "the garden" (the windows!). Tiny room. Weird. 

Bottom left corner: Shane and his future In Laws in front of the Atrium. 

Overall feeling: Small, disappointing garden area, tucked away, would be hard to find. Creative photography could avoid some of the weird stuff about the location ( isn't that true of so many things!).

#3 Marietta Art Museum

Left side: Shane and I in front of the museum. 

Top right corner: My mom on the stairs. 

Bottom right corner:This the foyer area.  This was actually was the original post office in marietta, and the wooden door is actually the original revolving door from the post office. The docent was telling us that pretty much everything in the building was original. I love a building with some history. 

Overall feeling: I liked the space a lot ( mainly because I love museums). I did not like the 2nd floor where they hold ceremonies. It has tight long hallway just to get to the gallery. 

I did love the downstairs though. I just think it would be cool to be surrounded by beautiful works of art, but still have a nice big open area, in a historic building.  There are some logistical things we would have to sort out, but for me this was the winner of the day. 

Stephanotis Vibes

Shane and I Purchased a Madagascar Jasmine also know as a Staphanotis floribunda.

I thought they would give off a good vibe as we plan our wedding.   

Meaning: Marital Happiness

Best for : Bouquets and arrangements

Scent: Very Fragrant

In Season: Year-round

Floral Fact: These trumpet-shape blossoms are traditional bridal flowers, no doubt due to their meaning.

Click here to learn the meaning behind other popular flowers!

The not so Foxy Bridal Show...

Sunday, Shane and I went to another Bridal show at The Fox. It was hosted by Chic Occasions, the same company that hosted the one is Marietta. I was told that it would be different vendors and an overall better show. This was not the case. It was a lot of the same vendors, and they all recognized us from the Marietta show, and questioned us on why we had not called them yet??? Awkward. There were a couple of different vendors including a dance studio that specialized in Pole dancing, Strip tease, and lap dancing. You are not going to believe this but they actually had a pole set up at the bridal show and a girl was doing demonstrations!!! I couldn't make that up if I tried.

Shane and I talked to Savvi formal about some different options for Shane and the groomsmen. We got a picture with a guy in a offwhite/tan colored suite next to a white tux (which is what Shane wants to wear)

On the way home we stopped at Sam Flax on Northside and took a quick look. I didn't see nearly as many options as I did at paper source, and they didn't have a specific kind of die cut paper that I will need so in the battle royale of papers I think Paper Source may have won out this time! (sorry Sam!)

We need to re-gain focus on the hunt for a location. Currently setting up tours at:

• Anthony's http://www.anthonysfinedining.com/
• Marietta Art Museum http://www.mariettacobbartmuseum.org/facilityrental.html
• Villa Christina http://www.villachristina.com/index.php
• The Atrium http://www.the-atrium.com/

I will keep you posted.

"Paper Source is Marthatastic" ~ Nicole T.

Nicole is a huge Martha Stewart fan, and she has officially given Paper Source in the Virginia Highlands the Martha Seal of Approval!

Saturday we went to a wedding event at the store and as we walked through the threshold the smell, of paper, glue, and rubber stamps was intoxicating. They were doing demostrations and also we did one Make and Take project.

We learned how to emboss, wax seal envelopes, stamp emboss return addresses, line envelopes with matching paper, and so much more!!

I always knew that I wanted to make my own invitation and I had some idea of what I wanted to do but Paper Source has completely opened my eyes to new a wonderful things.

http://www.paper-source.com/

Here I am practicing my embossing technique:

Since we were in the area afterwards we popped over to the Carter Center to take a quick peak. It was very pretty, and I can only imagine what it looks like in the full bloom of spring, but I am still not sure that it is the right place!

Do something creative every day!

He said YES! (well, technically he said, Sure!)

For Valentines Day this year I decided to propose to Shane.... yes I know what you are thinking we are already in engaged, you already have a ring, yadda yadda yadda. But I say, who makes the rules?? Shane had expressed interest a couple of months ago in wearing a ring leading up to the wedding (since I get to wear a ring leading up to the wedding). So I purchased him a Manly engagement ring of sorts. An "EngageMan" ring if you will (I should have that trademarked!). Or maybe I should call it a Man-gagement Ring.

Side note:

{My parents actually did something similar when the were separated while my dad went through boot camp. He gave my mom a silver band of his that she wore around her neck, then once he proposed she gave the band back and he wore it during their engagement as his commitment ring.}

So after I bought this band I was just going to give it to him as a present, but I figured an EngageMan ring deserves a proper proposal. I brainstormed lots of crazy ideas with help from a couple of my bridesmaid ( they thought it was a little strange but didn't want to upset the Bride!). We talked about sky writing, sport arena mega tron, movie theater preview... all of these ideas were great just a little out of my budget! So I settled on a fun scavenger hunt around Acworth. Nicole helped me the night before brainstorm places, hints, clues, etc and we planted all the clues around Acworth.

Outline of Scavenger Hunt:

1. Hand delivered by me: Set of Keys and verbal clue "Hannah Montana holds your next clue and she loves Mohawks!" A few months before Shane had coached Terri's soccer team at Barber Elementary. Terri loves Hannah Montana and Shane debuted his awesome Mohawk at her final game I thought it was a no brainer, but it stumped him a little. We taped a Hannah Montana locked journal under the bleachers where we sat every game.




2. Inside the Journal it said: " Naomi Watts holds your next clue, but don't worry 'she never sleeps' " It also said your next clue had to be "rented". One of Shane and I's favorite scary movie is "The Ring" with Naomi Watts and one of the lines from the movie is "she never sleeps". Also I thought it was a fun double entendre that he would be getting a "ring" at the end of the hunt.




3. There was a card hidden behind "The Ring" in our Blockbuster that we frequent. The card had a dog on it and the next clue was "Let Rudy lead you to the next clue; Thomas W Bush sings to the rafters; 'Wood' you like to sit down" It was a three parter: We always walk Rudy at Logan Farm Park; We hid the clue at a bench dedicated to Thomas W. Bush; the bend happens to have a roof with rafters where the clue was actually taped, and the bench was wooden.




4. In the Rafters of the bench a Logan Farm Park was a box of chocolates that has a train on the front and it said "Cho Cho Choose me" I also drew a little street sign that said Main street. The written clue inside the card said "A little man holds your next clue".




5. The Acworth train car on Main St. was his next stop where he found a garden gnome reading a book. Inside the book it said "I am no Dummie" and the bottom of the gnome said "Where can you find enough books so you can read until your hearts content? Remember our first visit?" On Shane and I's first visit to the Acworth library Shane check out "Landscaping for Dummies" So the gnome himself was a big part of the clue.




6. At the library I hid a singing card in "Landscaping for Dummies" I wanted him to open it in the library and have everyone glare at him for making noise! The card said "It was fun watching fireworks in Acworth 2 years ago but now the area is under construction so be sure to look "under" to find the next clue".




7. The little grassy knoll where we watched fireworks has some constructions cones around it so I hid a little bunny with a fishing pole under one of the cones. We also fish at Cauble Park (better known as Acworth Beach).




8. That is where I was waiting with his EngageMan ring ready to pop the question.

Nicole filmed the whole thing and created this awesome video that I will try to post on here as soon as I can!

It was a fun day, and I think I truly surprised him with the conclusion of the hunt. (video to come...)

Terri the Artist!

Terri drew this lovely picture for me, of my engagement ring and other assorted love related doodles! I wanted to share!

SMOOCH!!!

Shane and I discovered this cool company at the Bridal show called Smooch. They were founded in the UK and are now growing to the US. They do not have a store front but instead they come to you! It was an enjoyable and extremely fun, relaxed process. We had a lovely jewelry consultant named Dominique! Originally from Washington State (yes I asked her about Forks! I am a nerd.) We hit it off and just talked about everything under the sun, as we looked through tons of ring options. They had a lot of cool rings and a lot of custom options. The possibilities were endless, which can be a little overwhelming. 

She helped Shane and I work through our completely different tastes in jewelry.  Shane likes yellow polished gold and I like silver matte! She helped us find a ring that we both liked that had elements of each of our tastes to symbolize us being together but still individuals. I loved it! I know I am a sucker for symbolism. 

It was a fun night! We didn't make a final selection, we are going to shop around a little more, but Smooch is going to be hard to beat!  www.smoochweddingrings.com

Who knew that ring shopping could be sooo hilarious!

Bling Bling! My fingers were throbbing after trying on so many different rings! ( and Yes! I have done some hand modeling you may recognize some of my work like Allstate commercials and hand washing signs in Primrose Schools!)

These were the final two rings that we finally boiled it down to: drum roll please.....

Mine is a white gold band with channel set bagguets that are set in the same direction that my diamond is set. 

Shane's was a two tone with polished yellow gold bands on the outer edges and a white gold band in the middle, we had also talked about including a bagguet in his ring to match mine.

The search continues....