I Said Yes to the Dress!

I can't believe it...I'm officially getting married now! Now that I have my dress, it truly feels official. I would love to post a picture here for all of you to see but I think my fiance secretly reads our blog so I don't want to spoil the surprise! All I will say is that it is absolutely gorgeous, totally me, and made my mom sob like a baby.

My mom, Alicia, and I spent a Saturday dress shopping. I made 2 appointments with lunch in between so we could have time to discuss what we liked, what we didn't like, etc. I purposely picked Alicia and my mom to come with me as well because I know we all have different styles but all can agree on what looks good, what is flattering, and what makes my Kim K booty look even bigger. I knew I wanted to look like a princess, Alicia wanted me to show off my curves, and my mom just wanted me to try on different dresses.

The first store was great and they had tons of dresses from the designer I liked. Plus I found this one dress online and they had it at the store. The process was exactly how I thought it was going to be. You strip down to your bra and undies and the sales associate completely dresses you. It was tons of fun and I could definitely get used to someone dressing me everyday! I have to say I was a little disappointed when I left though. There were 3 beautiful dresses I was torn between at the end of my 1 hour appointment but none of them gave me the "this is it" moment. Even the dress I thought I would most certainly be buying didn't give me that feeling. I expected to cry or have my breath taken away but that didn't happen. At lunch I was a little down thinking I would never find a dress or that I would just never know which one I wanted.

I went to my second appointment not expecting anything. We picked dresses off the rack that were unlike any of the dresses I tried on earlier so I could make sure to try on every kind of style. I tried on about 10 dresses at the first store and picked about 12 dresses at this store. There was one that caught my eye that I really wanted to try on first. The details I could see peeking out of the bag looked beautiful. I tried it on and pretty much knew that was my dress. I didn't cry but when I saw myself in the mirror I could picture me walking down the aisle in that dress. I was super excited to show my mom and Alicia. I came out and big smiles came across their faces as well. Kim was helping me at this store and she had a really good point to tell us all to help keep us on track. She told us we will narrow everything down to top 3 dresses and at the end of the appointment, I can try those top 3 on again. Once I got my top 3 dresses she would ask if I wanted to replace the current dress with a dress in the top 3. It really helped us narrow things down and figure out how much we liked each dress. This was my first dress here but I knew it was instantly in my top 3. I agreed to continue trying on dresses because I didn't want to sell myself short and there may have been something better for me out there. I went through all 12 dresses and had my top 3. One my mom really liked, one Alicia really liked, and my dress. Unfortunately for my mom, her pick was the first one to go. It was just a little to basic for me. I was torn between my pick and Alicia's pick. Alicia's pick was a little bit tighter to show off my curves but still fairly comfortable to sit in. Both of our picks were elegant and classy but modern at the same time. Luckily for me, my pick won! It was the only dress all three of us agreed upon and had all of the characteristics that we originally wanted. It makes me look like a princess, shows off my waistline, and made my mom cry and be happy for me.

I cannot wait until September 14, 2013 now! I have been excited ever since Jay popped the question but now I can't wait to wear this dress and just feel absolutely beautiful. It will be the most magical day ever. Maybe I'll even show you guys a sneak peak once it gets a bit closer :)

With love and pearls,
Ashley

Laugh Out Loud

A very short post today ladies and gents but this is one to surely get you laughing out loud!

One of my girlfriends found this website and sent it out to about 4 of us. We all know which ones we are (I am definitely the "PIZZA IS LIFE!" one and the "When I Get Ready to Shakira" among many, many others). It puts a smile on your face and a good laugh when you have either done these, or can send them to your friends who have done them.

Sit back, relax, and laugh your ass off!

http://whatshouldbetchescallme.tumblr.com

With love and pearls,
Ashley

Chicken Parm Casserole

I totally am not doing this "recipe" post right but I had to upload this picture of my dinner last night! It was soooo good. My hunny and I made our own version of a chicken parm casserole.

I don't have the exact recipe or pictures of the steps (sorry guys I decided to do this after we made it!) but here are the basics:

Cook pasta according to directions until it is al dente (not totally soft) since it will cook more in the oven.

Cut the skinless chicken breasts into small pieces (nugget size). Bread them using eggs, flour, and breadcrumbs. Then put in a skillet with oil to cook them. They should cook until they are no longer pink inside but not until they are completely done since you will be putting them in the oven.

Heat up pasta sauce.

Once everything is warm, get out a casserole dish. Put sauce in first, then pasta, then chicken, then top with mozzarella cheese & parmesan cheese. Repeat layers.

Cook in the oven uncovered for about 20 minutes (or until the cheese melts and everything is hot).

Enjoy!!

I promise to do a proper recipe post next time!

With love and pearls,
Ashley

The Fine Line Between Love and War

Sometimes relationships can just be so hard. One moment you feel like you're on Cloud 9 and the next, you feel like you are stuck in a black hole that you can't dig yourself out of. Sometimes you don't even know when it got so bad. All of a sudden, a fight about a family event turns into "I'm so bored, there's no spontaneity, this relationship is one-sided, there's no intimacy, I'm not appreciated". Where do you go from there? The person expressing those thoughts feels a bit better after they are said, but the person on the receiving end begins to think everything they do is wrong. That the basic existence of them is now a burden to the other.

How can one partner have so much ill-will towards the other? Why do these feelings develop? Can they come overnight? Can stress from your job affect your outlook on your relationship? Can that stress overpower the good things you have? How can one side have all of these things brewing while the other has no idea? Is it common to go from one feeling to the next? Does everyone in the world have these relationship problems or is it just me? Am I really that awful of a person where everything I do seems to be the wrong decision? Is it even possible to recover from this or is it the beginning of the end? Will one partner always be walking on eggshells afraid to upset the other? Will every fight from this point out continue to be this bad? Will things ever go back to happier times? How long does the entire relationship just feel like an act?

So many thoughts, emotions and results play around in your head. You don't know which ending your story will have. You hope for the best but should you prepare for the worst? One day you seem to be fine and coping. The next day you can't help but cry continuously. Is reality setting in or is it the fear of what will happen?

Clearly now I am in a dark place. I'm sure there are others out there as well going through something similar. Hopefully these thoughts will help us get through this tough time:

playing mother AND father

Where do I begin?  How about the episode that went down yesterday between boy and woman! So a little background...my son's father doesn't work, well works long enough to quit and then collect unemployment, got his car repossessed, had two AMAZING girls and screwed it up, lives in his dad's basement, smokes weed daily, plays PS3 all day long and doesnt know how to cook, clean or do his laundry.  Oh and did I mention he's 30.  So needless to say I have been battling with trying to make my son the complete opposite of his father, and thought that I was doing a great job until this football episode happened yesterday.  To me, a great parent sees their child's strengths and runs with them. My son is extremely athletic and one of those kids who it just simply comes natural to.  And if you know me at all you know he didn't get one inkling of it from me.  Hell I can't even walk a straight line or do a juming jack sober.  So thank God for that.  Anyway my son last year, all 6 years and 49lbs of him, played tackle football and looked so damn cute while doing it.  I thought he enjoyed it but unfortunately he was a rookie and couldn't start.  So this year I assumed he wanted to play this year and be the little sta,r so I signed him up.  First week of practice we were on vacation, so he missed it.  Next week he went Monday and then Tuesday rolls around and he cries his little pathetic eyes out saying he hates it, its hard and I'm the worst Mommy for making him go...get over it kid.  Then Wednesday his father was supposed to take him bc I had to go get my birthday outfit obviously for AC that weekend and the little bitch didn't go, father said he didn't want to.  Thursday I made him go and said he wasn't going to turn into a quitter and a loser and that was that.  So come Monday, oh and yes AC was off the chain that weekend and I am STILL hung over in case you were wondering, this little fairy decides to throw a hissy fit again saying he hates football and wants to quit all together.  Stuck with a dilemma.  I allow him to quit and he becomes his failure of a father or make him play and he hates ME forever.  What to do, what to do?  My thing is that I do not want him to quit just because it is hard.  I want to teach him to stick things out so he becomes proud of himself for finishing.  It's more than a sport, it teaches him teamwork and respect and devotion.  Another thing I have to take into account is that when a woman is told she is having a little boy she immediatley bestows upon him every apprehension and affliction she has towards a man and decides on that very day to raise him a certain way so that to her he will be the perfect man.  I get that and I take that into account yet just as when a woman fights with a man and the man does not do or say EXACTLY what she wanted him to, we become even more infuriated. So what am I to do if he turns out to NOT be that perfect man I envisioned 8 years ago? Do I become disappointed and resent his father or myself? Or do I accept it?  That is exactly where I am right now! To be continued......

Book & Wine Club

We have decided to start a Book & Wine club! I know, we're getting old :) We both love to read and we both love to drink wine so we figured why not combine the two!  

Our idea behind the club is to read the book, comment (obviously) and pick a date to meet, talk about the book and bring a wine and/or food item related to the book. This is just a great way for us to keep in touch with our girlfriends and to do something different. We'll keep updates on here too in case any of you need some new reading material.

It was impossible to choose just one book for our first choice but we decided on Girls in White Dresses by Jennifer Close. The insert encompassed to us what we are going through as 20 some year olds and it seemed like a fun, easy to read book to start off the club. Have any of you read it? What were your thoughts?

With love and pearls,
Ashley

Philly, You Should Be Ashamed!

I cannot believe I am actually posting about this right now. Philadelphia should be so ashamed of itself. A very close friend of mine is friends with the person who alerted the media (and police, and mayor, etc) about this situation so I am getting it all firsthand. I am saddened to say that NO-ONE is doing anything about it. This is a complete and total disgrace and no wonder why people say Philadelphia is one of the dirtiest cities in the United States. I am completely embarrassed to say I (used to) call that city my home. You would think, after the press this situation is getting, someone would have rushed out to clean this up, to be the hero and say "Yes, I care about my city and I am just as shocked and appalled as you all are" . But no, countless hours later, it is still there untouched. I am not even hinting to you what I'm talking about because it is just so shocking you need to see it for yourself...

http://www.rightthisminute.com/video/philly-cabbie-leaves-little-dookie-behind

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/video/#!/news/local/Caught-on-Cam--Cabbie-Defecates-on-Philly-Street/162677056

I am sorry to those of you not from Philadelphia. I promise we are not all like that! I swear I use the toilet (99% of the time anyway) and I take pride in my city. I just spent the weekend downtown missing it and wanting to come back. But, unfortunately, none of the people in authoritative positions apparently feel the way I do.

With love and pearls (and no poop),
Ashley