It's About Time

It's about time I write a new blog, since it's been almost 2 months since the last! A lot has happened since the last time I wrote...

Brandon and I got engaged!! We drove to Denver and picked out the ring together. After a couple weeks of wear, we took it in and had a larger diamond placed in the center! It's very pretty and very princessy. Brandon picked it out and told me to try it on. We knew it was the one right when I placed it on my finger!

My mom gave me money from my grandma's will almost a year ago. I wanted to save it for something special that would last a long time and could be passed down to future generations. Finally it dawned on me that a ring would be the perfect thing. Yay!

Just before the engagement, I went to St. Louis to visit Jen for a week. Kyla flew out, too, and we had a marvelous time, filled with shopping in The Loop district - where I found the most amazing white, high-heeled cowgirl boots in the whole wide world!, a tour of the AMAZING Saint Louis Basilica,





the arch at night,







Greece at the Fox Theatre, with special performance by American Idol Winner Taylor Swift (LOL),








lots of good food and bars in the Central West End and a live African tribal performance at the St. Louis Museum of Art.



Kyla, Xander, Ben and I had a jam session in Xander's room. We were all singing silly songs and playing our toy instruments at an unreasonably high volume... 'Twas quite fun, really!



After playing like we were rock stars, we decided to take it to the next level and get our noses pierced! Here we are at the left with our body piercing guru. Yes, I know, we're hard core... ;)


... Jump ahead a few weeks, and... A couple days after B and I got engaged, I went to Houston to help my mom sell her house. As soon as she sells, she's moving from Houston, back to Owasso. :) We both got a lot done while I was there! I packed up a lot of her trinkets and unnecessary-at-this-moment items, and Craig came up to celebrate Valentine's Day and then drove the truck full of Mom's stuff back home to Owasso.

Many days, many tears of frustration *sniffle* and an Excel spreadsheet later, I finally booked our wedding venue! Tarp Chapel in Broken Arrow is the spot to be on July 24th, 2010! I am so relieved because they take care of everything: chapel, dressing areas for bride and groom, lots of photo ops, reception hall, complete with tables, chairs, tablecloths, and center pieces, food, non-alcoholic drinks, and the wedding essentials: mints, nuts and punch! This is the prettiest, most care-free venue I could find! It's just what I wanted!

B and I are so lucky to have so many good friends and family in wedding-friendly occupations. :) My amazing friend Helen is going to make the wedding cake. DJ Steve Cluck is going to be the reception mix-master. My Aunt Cindy is going to be our wedding coordinator, florist and officiant. B's friend Dustin will be our photog. Old co-worker and friend, TV's own Joe Cappa is doing the video. And last, but certainly not least, Tulsa entrepreneur, the talented Jonathan Justus will be doing the wedding party's hair!

My best friends Shannon, Jill and Sharon will be my Maids/Matrons of Honor! The rest of the wedding party to be announced at later date. :)

Now back to ME! My mom and I went dress shopping the day before I came back home to Breck. After looking through and trying on like a billion dresses, I found the perfect frou frou fairytale princess dress! The boutique that I found it in was beautiful and our sales gal (who helped me put on and lace up the dresses) was really sweet and not pushy!

I probably tried on about 30 dresses in all. Every time I came out of the dressing room (seriously every time!), Mom would say... "Oh Andrea. Oh Andrea... That's just so beautiful. You look so beautiful" ...


It's funny... I have never been much of a girly girl, but I had SO. MUCH. FUN. trying on those huge, heavy dresses!

... more to come!