Linen Love!

So today mom and I went to Distinctive Details, a normally way too out of my price range linen rental shop. BUT, being the oh-so-awesome bargain hunter that I am, I got a great deal that saved us nearly $1,000 in linens! Yep...that's 3 zeros behind that 1. And that's what we saved! Anyway, the lady was super nice and super helpful and she was able to find exactly what I didn't know I wanted! And apparently, these are the same linens Donald Trump used at some event in Houston...and that's "Uge!" The whole experience was painless and easy and both my mom and I were happy...not an easy task!

A Family Divided

...And no I'm talking about who bleeds maroon and who hooks 'em! At this year's Thanksgiving in Schulenburg, a great debate circulated through the booths at Paddy's restaurant. And what was this oh-so-interesting topic that seemed to have divided a normally united family? Let's take a look back...

Yep, there it is. The dress that Meme is insisting on wearing.
I, myself, have come to genuinely loathe this dress. It initially began as a slight resentment but, overtime, it has gotten so far under my skin that the mere idea of this dress makes my blood boil. I love my Meme dearly! And I know that she will not be around forever, unfortunately. So I was really hoping to get a very nice picture with her and Brian and I at our wedding. A picture that we can frame and keep forever. Instead, I will have a picture with Meme in this 40 year old dress that looks more like a costume than something she would normally wear. I blame my mother for bringing the damn dress to her house and having her try it on!
Anyway, let me step off my soapbox. So at Thanksgiving, the word got around that Meme is wearing this 40 year old dress and the bride to be is NOT happy about it! I think I have my fair share of supporters and maybe if enough people tell her not to wear it, she won't. But this is Meme, the matriarch of this large, loud, stubborn family. Most likely, she ain't budging!
TEAM MEME

ANTI-DRESS

7.1

As we all know, I am a HUGE Harry Potter fan! So of course, the Malin girls and I were at the midnight showing on November 18th.

The movie was awesome! One girl was even dressed as HP...we haven't taken it to that level yet!

You've Got Veil!

Wednesday, mom and I made our third trip to Mia. I put on my dream dress and was ready to purchase it. We started looking at veils to go with it even though I wasn't planning on getting one yet. But then, oh my veil! My mom picked up a Lazaro veil, cathedral length, trimmed with gorgeous antique beading! BEAUTIFUL! So the oh-so-beautiful veil was tacked on to the ticket, along with its oh-so-heavy price tag. Had to make sure dad's left arm wasn't tingling when he got the bill for this one! Anyway, got my dress and veil and can check those of the long to do list!

Kelly is Married!

This weekend, Kelly and Logan got married!!! Kelly was one of the most beautiful brides I have ever seen! I lost it after I sent my fellow wedding planner down the aisle. (What a mush!)





The 11 bridesmaids!

And, of course, the oh so lovely wedding planner!

Kelly's Bachelorette Party!!

Last weekend we celebrated Kelly's last night out as a single lady on 6th Street in Austin. So much fun! It was my first time on 6th street and it definitely lived up to my expectations (mucho weirdos!). We went to Esther's Follies, a Karaoke bar, and some dance club. Great night! All of her 11 (yes 11!) bridesmaids are wonderful and great fun!!





The Marcum Ladies!

1 Year and Counting!!

Holy cow!! Just one year left until the wedding!! May seem far away to normal, non-brides, but for those of us living on Planet Wedding...it's crunch time! Trying on dresses on Thursday (yikes!). Bringing Echelle along for moral support! We shall see how this goes!

Hotel ZaZa Bridal Show

Thursday the 14th, Stacy, Corny, and I went to the bridal soiree at the Hotel Zaza. After a little direction debacle, we got to the show and were immediately wowed by the beautiful hotel!

I LOVE chandeliers!

We walked through, saw the displays, chowed down on some GOOD food!




Then...maybe one of us had too many cocktails! I will cut poor Loubner some slack, that door was REALLY clean! Hope your face is okay! :)


It was an amazing show. After we looked over all the vendor displays, we got to go upstairs to the pool area where we could enjoy even more good food, champagne, a dessert bar, and listen to a dj! It was great!

Lord, give me strength!

So I am already concerned about the dress my mother will be wearing to my wedding. *Just to recap: It's a long black, satin gown, with a dramatic ruffle collar, a VERY open back with a sheer mesh and crystals on it, and a slit up to her hoo hoo!* Don't get me wrong, it's a stunning dress but....the hoo hoo slit and the fact we will be in a church now, yeah not so much. AND it should be all about me (honestly) and no one will be able to look past her dress.

Anyway, my latest concern...
Exhibit A

O M G
Yes, that is Meme. And yes, that IS the same dress she wore to Aunt Diane's wedding back in the 70's!! I'm all about vintage and nostalgia but this is just overboard. My mom seriously believes this has come back into style. When did my damn family get so cheap they can't go out and get a new dress.
Imagine my wedding, the family being escorted down the aisle...You've got groovy grandma rocking the mauve and MOB with the hoo hoo slit! Oh, Lord, give me strength!!!

Houston Wedding Showcase

Yesterday my mom and I went to the Houston Wedding Showcase at the GRB. Our (My) main goal was to meet with the dj, LG Entertainment, I wanted to see if we could get a better deal...and to see if he forgot about wanting a hotel room. We walked around the show..."No I don't want a new mattress" "No, I don't want to have a dirty girl slumber party" "YES, I want those shoes!!" Oh, yes, the holy grail of shoes made a reappearance!

As we were walking, I noticed a different dj with turntables. I'd never heard of them so it made me kind of weary but we talked to the guy for awhile anyway. I noticed his name on the business card and it sound familiar. I asked how long he's been in business, he said he has been dj'ing for over 10 years but the business was only a few months old. Long story short, this was the dj I wanted who used to work for LG. So we got the dj I wanted at a better price and NO hotel room or his shady boss! YAY!

We continued to walk around, revisited the shoes a couple of times, and were getting ready to watch the cheesy fashion and leave. We walked past a makeup artist whose before and after pictures were amazing! We got to talking to the artist, Leigh Ann, and I just fell in love with her! She's getting married October 23 (exactly a year before me), Old Hollywood is her specialty, her business card has a pinup girl on it, and her prices were great! I just had to book her!

So now we just need a baker and a dress. And don't get me started on my own personal dress problem. What do you do when you fall in love with a dress that doesn't love you back?!

You can dance, you can jive.....

Saturday was Brittany's baby shower. Special shout out to my mom and Aunt Diane who had to put all my decorations and cookies and cupcakes while I was at work! Everything turned out soo cute, I was so happy with how it looked.





She got some great gifts and some really cute clothes! It was also great to see some old friends back from PALS days! Crazy how much has changed in 5 years!




The night concluded with the mother/daughter sleepover with me, my mom, Corny, Loubner, and Debbie. Fun but next time we decided we are wrapping the neighbors house! :)

Sunday, me and mom went and saw ABBA!! No, not the real Abba. It was a tribute band, but they were great! The opening act was a bit of a freak show. A man in blue eye shadow did singing impressions of Cher, Diana Ross, and Eartha Kitt...entertaining, but weird. ABBA was great! I could see them again and again!!

Galveston Boutique Bridal Show

So on Sunday me and my girls went to the Boutique Bridal Show of Galveston. We ate at Monterey's (so good, my favorite margaritas). This is when the drinking began...well for the two of us that weren't either pregnant or underage! After some muy bueno Mexican food, we headed off to the bridal show.


The Galvez is such a pretty hotel!

There weren't many people there at all. Stacy and Courtney have now seen the two extremes of bridal shows. The nutzo Extravagnza and the calm, champagne filled Boutique Show. The vendors were all really nice except the dickhe@d dj! Ruh-ude! And the first cake we tasted...tasted like sour butt! But everything was nice...especially free champagne! AND I won $50 to the cake lady! We thought Courtney Malin won something, too, but it turned out Courtney Mulin won something!

After the show, I took the girls to see the church. They like it and Bernie got to see where her reading podium will be!


After the church, Stacy, Courtney, and I joined my fam at Top Water. Fun and, yes, more drinking!

THEN we went to Loubner's softball game, where they sell really big beers! Fun, Fun, Fun day!! Rough, Rough morning!