Memory Preservation

Really wanted to share some beautiful moments from my brother's wedding.  Click the link below to see.

http://vimeo.com/102047940

Hurricane In-Season

I'm here at a Hurricane Grill in PSL and it looks like I have six blog posts to make up for. Of course you all understand why and are wonderfully forgiving of my absence. I know you are all also eager to hear more about my brother's wedding and the cruise. So here I am working on catching all of you up.
This post is to make up for Sunday's post. You may have seen a post on Sunday but that one was making up for Saturday since I was busy with wedding stuff that day.
I woke up to go get hair and makeup done by the stylists selected by Jenny. They were both very nice and talented. They opened up my eyes and made my hair gorgeous.
(Quick note: I don't have any pictures really of this special day because I was a bridesmaid and there are no pockets on a bridesmaid dress. I was indeed mushed around the hotel with the other girls and Jenny to take pictures in the Florida sun so there will be pictures eventually. The families also got photos so I just have to snatch 'em.)
While we're on the topic of beauty stuff, I want to share that I have gotten compliments about me looking like a model. A very generous compliment if you ask me. Jenny was the most lovely I've ever seen her. Thinking of it now, she's the prettiest bride I have ever seen (and I've seen a lot on TV). Her fun and loving personality made her beautiful appearance that much more radiant. A true bridal beauty.
Her and my brother did the "first look" thing before the ceremony and it was lovely. It was so special that I'm happy I got to see. I know my mom wishes she could've been there too but so much was going on I was just following instructions. Luckily my amazing partner Alex stayed with her while everyone else was doing photos and running around.
There were a lot of tears on this special day-- as is appropriate. All happy tears. Mine were a mix of happy and worried. I'm getting to why. I'm not worried for Jenny and my brother-- they are wonderful together and I'm so happy to have Jenny and her family now a part of my own. I was all smiles and happy praises throughout pictures and the ceremony. It was at the reception that I cried. The tears came fast when my parents danced to their own wedding song as their wedding anniversary was the next day. Seeing them together like that was so beautiful, so special-- a good omen for my brother and Jenny's own marriage. After almost 30 years, my parents are still somehow together. The tears came because I hadn't seen my parents look at each other like that in a long time. After the initial beauty of the moment I became worried-- how long will it be until I got married? (That seemed to be the statement of the night: "You're next." As in, I'm the next to get married). Will my parents make it to my wedding with all the health issues they've been having? I don't want to have one of those days of sad mixed with happy. I want my wedding day to be one of the happiest of my life, not one without a parent. I want them to take better care of themselves but they've denied any of my help and suggestions. It's up to them whether or not they make it.
That was the only time I cried.
I wanted to cry a few times while on the cruise but I'll get to that in coming posts.

The Just A Formal Gown Effect (JAF-GE): Ten Reasons For Pockets

There are many reasons why pockets need to be added to fancy gowns. Some are cosmetic while others are just for capturing memories.

Reason number one:
When taking very important photographs, you don't want to be having to worry about forgetting your phone on a ledge somewhere in a garden but you also don't want to be that person that has their phone so attached to their hip that the bride remembers ten years down the road when viewing her precious memories.

Reason number two:
You don't want to be the one to ask the bride's mother to leave her daughter's wedding just to go back to her room to get your phone and/or camera (which you left there because the photographers promised you would have time to go back).

Reason number three:
There will be pictures-- ALL night-- and it's better to have floss than some broccoli or spinach in your teeth for the rest of that captured moment's life.

Reason number four:
You're going to regret not taking photos of your brother's wedding yourself. If you don't have your camera/(smart)phone, you will end up waiting who knows how long until you can see photos. Not to mention they will be the professional ones-- not the ones that captured all the moments that were close to you.

Reason number five:
Your parents will dance and be the most lovely display of long-term marriage romantic-ness and you will cry and want pictures because it is indeed beautiful. Getting repetitive but this is a personal blog so I can do that.

Reason number six:
Your hair will fall out or move out of place due to joining the party on the dance floor.

Reason number seven:
You may need some drugs (i.e. ibuprofen, lact-aid, tums, etc.).

Reason number eight:
It is possible you will want to write down new phone numbers of family members you rarely ever get to see.

Reason number nine:
If you're mushy or you think you will be, it's the perfect spot for tissues.

Reason number ten:
Extra underwear and a panty liner. You never can tell what's going to happen. Whether you're close to that time of the month or you found yourself sweating off not only your makeup but your current pair of undies, extra undies will help you stay fresh down there.

Snatched these pictures from one of Jenny's college friends. I'm telling you, HAVE A CAMERA!

We weren't even sorority sisters but now we are bound by her and my brother's union of love. It's so nice to have more family. Love you Jenny, my new big sis! <3

Men Do Stress But Deal Well

I realized today that I won't be able to post anything while I'm on the cruise. To use the Internet is a rediculious charge per minute. So I will need to just make it up the week after. I will do my best to take loads of pictures and take notes of everything so I don't forget. 

Speaking of forgetfulness it astounds me how much I forgot to bring home with me this trip. I am not allowing myself to pack while chatting with a bestie ever again. I loved talking with you Colie but you know how I can get scattered brained and such. 

I ended up forgetting pajamas so I'll need to get a couple pieces tomorrow. I also forgot my yoga mat which really disappointed me but luckily Colie is awesome and is lending me hers to do yoga on the cruise. (YAY!) I can contain the excitement just slightly-- within parenthesis. Im happy I'll get to see her and Marry tomorrow. Lunch, Jammie shopping and Just Dance Wii U time will be splendid! ^_^

Just an update, I didn't get to spend time with Kaitlin because she got sick (I hope you're feeling better!) but I did manage to get one of my assignments done and turned in  (go me). 

It's only two days until the wedding and I can feel the stress from my brother because he wants it all just right. I made sure to be a good sister and reassure him that he's going to look handsome and the wedding will be lovely. It turns out men do feel the pressure of everything being just right for a wedding. 

Bridesmaid Numero Dos

I finally got to bring my bridesmaid dress home today after three fittings and then a final adjustment today when I went in. I know you're probably all dying to see it but I don't currently have a picture of me in my actual dress. I believe the image above is the exact dress. Mine is purple.
This was the second time I've gone to a seamstress but it was the first time I had to get so much done. Like I have mentioned in past posts, the dress was exactly a size too small but luckily there was enough fabric to let it out. The reason I had to have it fitted three times was because it was let out a bit too much, then the under layer was too snug. Now it's finally done and I'm happy to have the worry of someone tossing it into a giant blender full of mandolins parts off my mind. If you live in Tampa and you're looking for a good seamstress who will work with you until your dress fits AND you're happy, go to Emelina's off of Busch and Armenia. I worked with Emelina herself and everything went well. I told her the deadline and she made sure that I got to take it home with time to spare. The shop also sells dresses for more than just weddings: proms, quinces-- you name it!
I'm happy it's all done with. Now I can just get my hair trimmed and my nails done then relax while someone else does my hair and makeup for my brother and Jenny's big day.
Their gift is still in process. I have all the parts; I'm just waiting on one to dry. Oh no I've given it away! There's only so many things that can be dried! I will share the gift and the reasoning behind it after the wedding (and the cruise because I'll be lucky if I get a moment to sit down and just write a post. I'm sure I'll have lots of lovely pictures to share, though).

As for other news, I continue to go to the gym and work out pretty much every day. Cutting out all the unnecessary sweets has been a challenge but I think I may have gotten to the actual point of no-more-sweets-until-my-brother's-wedding. Because, come on, there's going to be a ton of delicious dessert options!
I'm a bit bloated today because of TOM but I weighed myself and measured my trouble area.
This morning I was at 132 lbs and my waist is 26.5 inches while my lower abdomen is still in the 35.25 inch area. I know that my lower tummy is going to be the biggest issue for my cosplays. I have to dedicate myself to very limited to minimal sweets along with smaller portions.
Has anyone tried those portioning plates? Do they actually help or do you just end up letting your food crawl up and over the portion ranges? Maybe it's worth a try?
Here are some new pictures; it's been forever:

Gosh that strap is bothering me...