Trash the Dress!

Recently, Jan-Michael and I finally had a trash the dress photo session!
If  you do not know what "trash the dress" is, it's basically a new way of getting rid of your dress and

wearing it one more time. It's a new style of wedding photography that's daring and fun. Originally I wanted to sell my dress after the wedding. I had no intention of keeping it and preserving it. But, as you may know, we had two wedding receptions. The second reception in Pennsylvania really ruined my dress. I would have had to pay quite a bit to get it clean enough to sell it. So it wasn't worth it. I wasn't sure what to do with it after that. But then I came across the trash the dress photo sessions and knew that was what I wanted to do! My dress stayed in a trash bag until we finally got it to California. I knew I wanted to have the photo session at the beach since that was where we had taken our wedding portrait for the guest book. Finding the right photographer that didn't cost an arm and a leg was the next step. Luckily, Domonique's wedding photographer was coming to CA on vacation and offered to take the time to do it!
A few of the pictures were ideas we got on Pinterest.... making a heart in the sand, using a frame, dragging Jan's leg..... But the cake idea stemmed from our cake cutting at our receptions. I wanted to bring it back and be more fun. At our wedding, Jan made the mistake of putting cake on my nose during our ceremonial cake cutting. Then in Pennsylvania, I got him back and smashed cake in his face! So of course, we wanted to smear lots of cake on eachother for the trash the dress session. I ordered the most colorful cake I could possibly get and I think they did a great job!
Our photographer, Kacy Hughes, was fantastic! I love all the pictures and all the edits she did! If you live AZ, you should definitely look her up! She is so sweet and so patient. http://photosbykacy.com/
Finally, here is a photobook I made of our pictures on Shutterfly! Enjoy!
FYI- for those of you who can't believe I would trash my wedding dress instead of keeping it for my future daughter, don't worry, I kept a piece of it to make in to jewelry for her to wear =)

Click here to view this photo book larger

Shutterfly offers exclusive layouts and designs so you can make your book just the way you want.

Boring or Bad?

I don't even recognize this new format of posting..... so that means I have not posted in a long, long time.
I am either very BORING or a very BAD blogger.
We will say it's a little of both.
I don't have adorable kids to post about. My job drains my brain. We are addicted to Netflix and TV seasons. I use Facebook and Instagram to post pictures.
Unfortunately, the lack of writing meant the lack of visiting which meant the lack of reading other blogs. Sorry friends! I guess I saw all your pictures on Facebook/Instagram!

Here's a quick catch up! Since my last post......
Weddings: My former roomie, Domonique got married! High school friend Greg and Mona also tied the knot!

Babies: New California friends, Mele & Siaki welcomed their first, a baby boy! Old California friends, Danielle & Justin also welcomed their first, a baby boy as well! My coworker, Heather, welcomed her second, a little princess. AZ friends Terri & Erik had a second, another princess! And my beautiful roomie Domonique had a princess as well! SO there are definitely babies around us now. Hopefully this helps my husband "get the itch" LOL! (I'm not going to post pictures of these adorable babies, sorry, they're not mine to post!)

Changes: My best friend Janelle and her sister Justine are now working for the Disney Cruise Line! My mail is full of amazing postcards from them! Bestie Summer is living in SWEDEN with her handsome husband! Got check out her pictures and be super jealous with me!

Family: My brother, CJ is officially an adult, celebrated his 18th birthday this month. Where does the time go? My Dad retired and actually STOPPED working- although he still volunteers on the base haha! My brother-in-law Wes, took a job in China with the Olympics! Everyone else is happy and healthy =)

Jan-Michael and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary December 1st, 2012. We took a short trip to Solvang, CA. And we just celebrated 8 years dating this month =p

We actually went on VACATION! First time since our honeymooon! We joined our PA friends, Ellen and Stacey, in Florida and went to all the Disney World parks and Universal Studios: Island of Adventures. It was one of the best trips of my life! If I would have remembered I had this blog, I would have a lot to say about that trip.

Biggest news for me - I turned 30!!!!!! Yep, my twenties are gone. I mourned the loss of my youth for my 30th birthday, complete with a tombstone cake. It wasn't all bad though because I got a Premier Pass! That's Disney lingo for a Coast to Coast Annual Pass. I got it just before our trip, so I didn't have to buy separate tickets for Disney World =)

Hopefully I got everything in.........

My Aunt

I don't know why I forget about my poor blog so much. I used to love blogging. Maybe I just don't have very much to say this year? Anyway, I'm sure I have some adventures that I can post on here soon........

Until then, I have something to say about my Aunt!
You're not supposed to have favorites when it comes to family. But, maybe, just maybe, you share a special bond with one of them more than the others...... Maybe that person has been around when you were growing up.... Maybe that person shares a lot of your same hobbies or likes.... Maybe you've spent a lot more time with this one person.... So, although we can not say favorite, I do think we can say "very special".
I have a very special Aunt who loves tea parties, reading, Disneyland, history, and just about all the same things I do. The reason I wanted to talk about her today is because she's a very talented writer. I have had the privilege of reading several of her books that I hope are published some day soon!
Anyway, this very special Aunt has a blog!
http://somewhereintime-az.blogspot.com/
Check it out when you have some free time =)

Kyle and Stefanie's Wedding!

I am absolutely the worst blogger in the world this year. Sorry!
But I have some exciting news! My little brother is MARRIED!!!!!!!!!!
Here's their story (from their wedding website):

Stefanie is a sophomore Child and Famiy Studies major at John Brown University. She enjoys scrapbooking and spending time with her family. Kyle is a sophomore Biology major at John Brown University. He aspires to be a surgeon upon completion of school. In his spare time he enjoys playing video games and spending time with the love of his life. (Awe). We met on the first night of Freshman orientation at JBU. It was "game night" and we were both playing Ninja in walker student center. The next time we ran into each other was at dinner sometime over the next couple of nights, where he called me (Stefanie) New Mexico, because he couldn't remember my name. We waited at least a month to start officially dating, but we went on several dates during that time. On September 30, 2010, Kyle took me on a date to a really nice restaurant in town, and afterwords we went to the soccer field at JBU and watched a movie under the moonlight. After midnight that night, Kyle asked me to be his girlfriend, and we have never been so happy in our lives! Engagement: All through out our relationship, Kyle seemed to know that we were meant to be together. He told his mom that I (Stefanie) was the one, before we even started dating! He had very high hopes for our future. One night when we were dating, we had a conversation, and I described the perfect proposal to him. Apparently he listened very well! We had been shopping for rings all month, but didn't find one that fit in our budget, and looked the "the one!" So, I had no idea that he had another plan in mind. Kyle and I had planned on going out one night, and it was supposed to be a simple "date night," or so I thought. We bought a brand new dress for me, just for this date! The drive wasn't too long, but long enough for me to look at him several times to check and see if maybe he had a ring box somewhere on his person. I couldn't find it anywhere! So, I wasn't expecting a proposal that night, although I was a little anxious, because we had been talking about it for awhile. We ate dinner at Olive Garden, and he invited some family to sit near us, but it was family I didn't know. They were able to get some pictures of us throughout the night, but I kept looking back wondering why they kept staring at us! (Not knowing there was something else going on!) When it was time to go, Kyle stopped me, and said "Wait, I need to let things settle, I feel sick to my stomach." A few minutes passed, and I kept asking what we were waiting for. He then pointed outside and said "Its raining!" But he was really waiting for traffic to clear so he could "make his move." Next, I tried to eat the chocolate that we got from the waiter, and Kyle snatched it out of my hands! (He didn't want me to have a mouth full of chocolate when he kissed me!)  Eventually Kyle was able to calm down and pull out the ring box. He said "I have something for you." (Then he got down on one knee, and popped the question) "Stefanie Kristeena Stewart, will you marry me?" Of course I said yes! 

Stefanie's bridal shower was in March during their spring break. I had so much fun helping with the games and planning!! Kyle's Dad did an amazing job on decorations, as usual. He is a pro!! Her shower was beautiful! Here are some pictures:

After the shower, Stefanie asked me to be a bridesmaid =) So the following day, I got to hang out with her family and was able to go to her dress fitting. Then I tried on bridesmaid dresses with her sister and ordered my dress and shoes! I just love weddings =)


The last of the wedding festivities were this past weekend! Unfortunately it was a HOT May weekend! My Mom and youngest brother, CJ, flew in from Indiana. CJ and Jan-Michael were Ushers in the wedding.
Kyle's Mom, Christy, took all us girls to a nail salon the day before the wedding. We were pampered with mani/pedis!

I love this pic of my Mom and Christy- they look like sisters!

Then it was rehearsal and rehearsal dinner! The rehearsal dinner was at the Spaghetti Factory. YUM. Kyle and Stef did a "ring reveal" where they finally showed eachother the wedding bands they picked for eachother. Cute =) The bridesmaids got jewelry to wear for the wedding that Christy made! It was so pretty.

The wedding day was Saturday, May 12th at North Phoenix Baptist Church. I don't have very many pictures, obviously since I couldn't take them! But here are a few sneak peaks!

 Christy, my Mom, Sister and I also helped to decorate their honeymoon suite before the wedding!

The day after the wedding, we got to watch them open gifts!

It was also Mother's Day! So we had brunch and hung out with my Grandma Charlotte and Uncle Curtis =)

Sorry in advance to all my friends/family I didn't get to see while visiting. It was a pretty jam packed weekend, as you can see! It's not every day that your brother gets married!!!!!!!!

Congratulations to Kyle and Stefanie! xoxo