Happy Holidays!

First of all, this month is flying by... Second of all, I cannot believe how busy we have been in the past two weeks and have so much left to do!

We are ALMOST done with our Christmas shopping, thank goodness. With my family this year, we narrow it down to eight people who are going to play the White Elephant Game to make it a little easier on all of our wallets. Hey - fine with me! So I'm focusing on the kids a little more this year, and making sure I get my husband something he wanted. It's crazy to think that Christmas is only two weeks away! We still have to get a tree! Ahh! At least I did my Christmas cards. Now I just have to mail them... eeeek!

Xoxo

I now pronounce you...

Mr. & Mrs. Mark Herrick!

Ok, so a little over a month as come and gone and marital bliss is upon us. Mark shared with me that his biggest concern after getting married was that our "routine" was going to change. What? Routine? We were doing the same thing the day after the wedding that we were doing a day before the wedding! Silly Mark... But in all seriousness, if I had to pick one thing that I think has changed, I would say that it's almost as if we're nicer to each other. The title of husband and wife, not to mention the rings on our fingers, has made a difference in the way we speak and treat each other, and I hope we stay that way for a very, very long time...

October 16th, 2010 was hands down the best day of my life... everything was absolutely perfect and I couldn't have asked for anything more! Thank you to everyone who was able to attend, who helped with all the details, who cried with me & laughed with me, who stood by our sides, and who shared in a memory I will never forget <3

Here are a couple wedding pictures for your viewing pleasure!

 



For a bit of an update since its been awhile since I've posted anything on my blog:

Thanksgiving was nice; we spent the morning & afternoon at Mark's grandparents house in Riverside. Chris, my brother-in-law was unable to attend with our precious niece Dallas, but Mark was able to see her a few days later. He cooked his first turkey and we transported it to Riverside with no problems... and it was delicious!! Way to go, babe!! Of course I debuted my famous green bean casserole for my in-law for the first time and it was, as always, excellent ;) ok, ok... I'm tootin' my own horn here, but it WAS fantastic! Not much was left over, so that was a good sign! Unfortunately, this was the first Thanksgiving in Lord knows how long... but Mark and I decided that we'll be spending Christmas with my side of the family.

We are Godparents again!!! On our wedding night, Justin pulled us aside and told us he would he honored if we would be his daughter's Godparents. Of course we said yes! Savannah was born on November 16th, 2010 (ironically enough, our one month anniversary!) and she is just precious... we have yet to meet her but Justin keeps Mark updated via photos :)

We have a busy month ahead of us; Mark's Burnouts softball team has reunited and will be playing again on Friday nights. I'm excited because I get to see everyone again! This weekend we have an Ugly Sweater Christmas Party to go to, THAT should be fun! Then Monday night is my company Holiday party for work, next weekend is the Toys for Tots softball tournament, Kayla's birthday, and Mark's Godfather's wedding in Arrowhead. The following weekend is Donelle's dance show, then Christmas, then New Years Eve... ahh! This month is going to FLY by and next thing you know it will be 2011!

2011 marks my quarter-of-a-century turning point with my 25th birthday mid January... at least I'll be able to rent a car now, right?

Xoxo

One more day...

& then I'll be off for nine days! Woo-hoo!

Today marks one week until our wedding. I can't begin to imagine what I will be doing next week at this particular moment in time because everytime I do, I get those excitement butterflies in my belly and it makes me want to scream like a little girl...

Tomorrow is my last day at work and then I can FINALLY cash in on my vacation days :) I have a feeling that tomorrow is going to go by sooooo ssslllooowww. Monday night my bridal party is coming over to discuss what the week shall hold for us. I just want to make sure everyone is on the same page with plans. Aunt Dini & Uncle Rick come in Wednesday. I am going to buy all the flowers Thursday morning and have the girls come over that night to put them all together. (PS, did you know you treat callalillies like asparagus? You can keep them in the crisper in your fridge as long as there is no apples, pineapples, etc. in there) Friday we are all going to get our nails done in the morning, and my two Aunts come in from Michigan as well, decorate the ballroom, do the rehearsal, go out for a drink, GET SOME SLEEP, and wake up to October 16th, 2010. My wedding day...

Sounds like I am going to have a busy, busy week. So much for "vacation", right?

Xoxo

We're in the homestretch!

So the OFFICIAL countdown has begun: 9 days!!!

Things are going so well right now, and I seem to be keeping my cool. We had a couple of mishaps along the road these past few weeks but it's nothing we can't handle! Our DJ up and moved to another state and with the help of a friend of Mark's who owns a media company, we got that problem resolved quickly. Special thanks to Multimedia Unlimited, LLC who took over our event at the last minute! I have faith in them and am sure they will do a great job!
& for everyone reading, please keep our friend Shaun's family in your prayers. They had a family tragedy this past week and could use all of our thoughts and prayers. Shaun has stepped out of the wedding to be there for his family and we wish them happy thoughts and strength as they get through the next couple weeks. Justin, a long time friend of Mark's has graciously accepted Mark's invite to join us in the wedding party. Welcome, Justin!
I picked up my wedding dress yesterday and it looks BEAUTIFUL! Actually, that word does it no justice. It's absolutely amazing and fits like a charm. THAT was my biggest concern. After all the issues we had with the dress and taking it to the tailors and back to David's Bridal and yada yada, everything worked out perfectly. & I cannot wait to show Mark as I walk down that aisle... truest me, he is anxiously waiting to see what the big hype was all about anyway.
I ordered my bouquet and Mark's boutonniere this week. Another special thanks to Dave Rohr at Desert Floral Importers for working with me last minute. I originally wanted to do all my own flowers, but second guessed myself about my bouquet. Besides, I'm the bride - shouldn't I get professional flowers?!
I am working until Sunday and then have 10 days off to finished up wedding details and whatnot. My Aunt Dini, my mom's sister, comes in on Wednesday for 10 days and my Aunt Marlene & Aunt Micky, my dad's sisters, come in on Friday for 4 days. Words cannot express how excited I am to see my family!!! It's been 4 1/2 years since I've seen Aunty Dini and over a year and a half since I've seen Aunt Marlene and Aunt Micky! Not to mention, the last time my dad's sisters were out here was for my high school graduation (and let's not count the years here...but it's been awhile) when it was the beginning of summer and 105 degrees outside!
Speaking of weather, we have been BLESSED with gorgeous weather lately... I actually wear a sweater around the house in the morning since I've been opening up the windows and doors lately! I hope the weather continues to stay cool and we don't get last minute rain like last week!!! C'MON MOTHER NATURE! WORK WITH ME HERE!

...will update later this week on any new and exciting wedding details. I'm sure I'll have more to share!

Xoxo

PS: wanna hear a funny story?! Mark and I counted our final guest list tally, turned it in, PAID for it, and......... forgot to count ourselves in the total! Who does that?! WE DO.

Dun, dun, DUN DUN! Dun, dun, DUN DUNNN!

3 WEEKS!!! 3 WEEKS UNTIL OUR WEDDING!!!

& tonight is the bachelor/bachelorette party! My girlfriends are sooo excited :) Although, Mark and I are so burnt out, it's safe to say we kind of want tonight to come and go... I'm glad he gets to have a night full of testosterone; I think every man needs a dose of that every now and then, right ladies? Don't get me wrong, I'm excited to go out

I'm not too sure what the exact plan is for tonight. I just asked that all the girls meet at the Herrick residence to start. We'll have a little bite to eat and some pre-party cocktails, and then it's off to downtown we go! My bridal party initially wanted to take me out of town, and I'm so glad we decided not to do that because I am exhausted. These next three weeks are going to FLY by and next thing I know I will be a married woman!

 ...A MARRIED WOMAN!!!

Xoxo

Showered with L.O.V.E

What a weekend!

My bridal shower was on Saturday, and we had SO much fun! On the way down there, I was shaking nervously. I am not one to be the center of attention so the excitement and the nervousness was making me nauseous. But Ashley did a great job putting it all together with the help of my bridesmaids :) We ate, drank, played games, etc. etc. and I couldn't have asked for anything more... It was so great to see my girlfriends, my family, my in-laws, and to meet Mark's two Aunts that I've never met before.

So now, we have my bachelorette party this weekend, and I cannot wait to be out with my girlfriends! It's been awhile since I had a night out with all the girls... we always have so much fun! I'm feelin' a little karaoke?! Mark's bachelor party is the same night. A little nervous? Why, yes, I am. But aren't all future wives when it comes to the dreaded 'bachelor party'?! 90% of the guys at the bachelor party have wives/girlfriends/fiances that will be with me... haha!

Ashley's dress came in...FINALLY. She isn't too happy with it, but I'm sure the seamstress will take good care of her. It's a beautiful gown, but it needs to be taken in, A LOT. It will all work out, I have faith. The color of the girls' dresses is just amazing. It is exactly what I was looking for. Unfortunately, Signature Bridal was the only place we found a dress in that color. I will NEVER buy anything from them again...ever... It seems like no one there knows what the heck is going on. When it comes to planning a wedding, you would think they would have their stuff together and do anything to make things go smoothly, but they don't even seem like they care. The dress is a sale to them, nothing more.

Over the weekend, every time the word MARRIAGE came out of my mouth, Mark grinned... too cute ;)

*Sigh*

23 days...

Xoxo

ONE MONTH!

OK - The OFFICIAL countdown has begun: exactly ONE MONTH until our wedding! Isn't that exciting?!

Monday, Kayla and I ventured out in search for a dress for me for my bridal shower this Saturday. Luck? Kinda. I found a great dress, and a total steal if you ask me, but Ashley said it's not "center of attention enough" or something like that. She wanted me to be a little more girly that what this dress did for me. But hey, it's a Kenneth Cole dress that was on sale. So imma keepin' it. Bachelorette night, perhaps? So Ashley and I decided we were going to find a different dress, of which we actually did. But it's still black ;) and it has some flowery design on it, so it's a bit more girly than my other dress. Oh! And I bought a pair of fabulous shoes! And a new blouse! Can we say spoiled? Yes, we can. And it's about time!

Tuesday, Mark and I went and got our marriage license! He's been calling me his "half-wife" ever since, haha :) He tells me, "you know, we could save thousands of dollars if you just let Josh and a witness sign this..." Unfortunatley, I won't give him that satisfaction.

I'm excited about my bridal shower! And the weekend after that is my bachelorette party, and then three weeks after that is my wedding! Woo-Hoo!!!

Xoxo

Last night I asked Mark if he was excited about the wedding coming up so quickly, and he nodded his head. For a second there, I thought he was only saying that just because he knows I wanted to hear it until I saw him smile. He asked me if I was excited and of course I told him I was, and all of a sudden a wave of emotion came over me and I almost wanted to cry... in a little over a month, everything I ever wanted will be happening. All this hard work, stress, money, time, and everything else we have been working on will soon be worth it. I can't wait to have all of our closest friends and our family in one room on our night. OUR NIGHT. The one night everyone will be there for US. Mr & Mrs. Mark and Jessica Herrick. I couldn't even begin to tell you how many weddings I've been to, or been in for that matter, where I sat there and watched the two people in love dance and laugh the night away. And we will be doing the same thing in thirty six days. Thirty six.

I'm taking my dress back to David's Bridal. I know, I know... I'm stubborn and difficult sometimes, but hey - at least they know how to bustle it. AND they insure the dress just in case anything else happens to it before the wedding day. They spot check it and steam in, ready to be worn, and to me it's worth it. I was going to have to (still) find someone who knows how to do the french bustle and take it out, and then take it to a dry cleaners to be cleaned since somewhere along my tailor journey my train was stepped on. And if I take it back to David's, they will do it for me. All in all, I will be paying the same amount, if not more when all is said and done. And my friend so graciously asked if she could pay for the alterations as my bridal shower gift and I so stubbornly told her I wouldn't dream of letting her pay for the whole thing. Shoot, I was already going to pay for the alterations myself anyway, so we agreed upon going in halfsies...kinda. ;)

Monday I'll be out on my journey to find a bridal shower dress. I used to always get nervous for my birthday parties, only because believe it or not, I hate being the center of attention. So Saturday is going to be a struggle! On Tuesday, Mark and I are going to get our marriage license... exciting, huh?!

Xoxo