Life with the Wades

Death Penalty Op-Ed

2012-02-15T12:02:00.001-05:00

Hey all! I just heard of this scholarship opportunity, and for it, I needed to write an op-ed on the Death Penalty. I understand we all have our own opinions, and I am actually really interested to see what you all think about this :) So, here it goes!

The saying goes “an eye for an eye leaves the whole world blind,” but when it comes to the death penalty, I believe a life for a life serves the most justice. I am a strong supporter for the death penalty for several significant reasons: to set an example for other criminals to deter them from committing further crimes, to punish the criminal, and to get some sense of justice and closure for the friends and family of the victim.

Sentencing a violent and repeat offender of heinous crimes to the death penalty serves as a strong example to other criminals, who are heading down the same path: you cannot commit these atrocities against humankind and get a slap on the wrist. If you are going to take a life in a terrible way, than expect severe consequences. States should continue to use the death penalty to help continue deterring possible future criminals.

The only punishment suitable for a criminal who has taken a life or several lives is the death penalty. They should not get the luxury of living out their life, on the taxpayers’ dollars, after committing such a reprehensible deed. Life in prison does not punish the felon for the acts they committed, as being behind bars does not come close to unjustly taking the life of another human being. Living in prison for life does not serve justice for the crimes against humanity that the criminal committed, and they should expect to receive a punishment equal to the crime(s) they committed.

In considering the death penalty, states should also take into consideration the friends and families of the victims of the felon’s crime. Why should this criminal get to live out their life, while the victim lies in an untimely grave? If someone wrongly takes an innocent life, it is only fair and just that the death penalty be used. Cases in which the criminal receives a sentence of life in prison with the possibility of parole leave the friends and family of the victim(s) without a sense of closure and without a sense of security. Instead, they are left with an emptiness in their lives, where that victim used to be, as well as an uneasiness and a feeling of injustice knowing that the felon who took the victim away from them may eventually walk free.

Some may see the death penalty as cruel and unusual punishment, but I see it as the only just way of punishing felons who have committed such severe and heinous crimes against humanity. It provides deterrence to future criminals, punishment to the actual criminal, and a sense of justice and closure for the friends and family of the victim. I see the death penalty as a fair and just way of punishing those who need to be punished.

This blog post is an official entry for the <a href="http://www.joshuapondlaw.com/scholarship">Law Blogger’s Scholarship</a>, sponsored by The Law Office of Joshua Pond, <a href="http://www.joshuapondlaw.com/">http://www.joshuapondlaw.com</a>.

Picture Update :)

2012-02-11T00:31:00.000-05:00

Luis!!

National Cathedral

CPAC

Rick Perry <3

Meeting Donald Rumsfeld

Hello from D.C.

2012-02-04T23:20:00.000-05:00

Greetings from D.C.! Sorry that it's been so long since my last post. It is absolutely CRAZY busy here!! A typical day for me on The Hill looks like this:

0600- Wake up.

0615-0700- Shower.

0700-0800- Breakfast, get dressed, pack my books for class.

0815: Leave for work

0900-1800- Work at HVAC

1800- Commute to class

1830-2200- Class

2200-2230-Commute home

2230- Relax, eat, sleep

As you can see, I have been super super busy! But I am doing a lot of great things in the House Veterans' Affairs Committee. If you ever want to check out the bills and stuff we are working on for our Vets, check us out HERE!! :)

I would LOVE to post pictures, but unfortunately we have dial-up internet (yes, it still exists. I know, I was shocked too), so it's nearly impossible to even check email or anything like that

I just wanted to send a huge THANK YOU to all of you for being patient and continuing to follow me. I am going to try and keep updating on weekends when I actually get a spare second :)

P.S. What is this whole Google Friend Connect dilemma? I see that they are getting rid of it. So how do I continue to follow other blogs and make it so others can continue to follow me? Any help would be great!!

Megan Does D.C.

2012-01-11T16:32:00.001-05:00

Well I apologize for my absence, but I just arrived in D.C.! I have a long week of orientation and then a week of free time and then I will be working full time and taking night courses full time :)

I will update as much a possible!!

A Look Back at 2012

2012-01-03T09:59:00.000-05:00

Hi all! I hope you had a great holiday season :) I got to spend almost 2 weeks with my husband at home and it was definitely much needed!

Well, Matt is now back at Ft. Lewis :( I am hoping to fly out there in mid-February when he returns from a class he has to take in Texas.

So as my first post of 2012, I decided to take a look back at the past year! :)

January

Got our engagement pics taken!

Started my blog!

February

Beginnings of wedding planning

5-year anniversary of being a rape survivor

March

Matt came home from Korea

Took my first international trip to London!

April

Went to a few Red Sox games :)

Took my first trip to Ft. Lewis!

May

Spring semester ended

My niece Mirabella was born

My big brother graduated from college!

June

Found out I made the Dean's List

Visited Matt at Ft. Bragg

July

Matt came home on leave and we had our Jack and Jill

August

Shipped my car across the country to Ft. Lewis

Prepared for the year

Got accepted into the Study Abroad program

September

My birthday

Beginning of a new semester

LOTS of wedding stuff

My Godson Brantley was born

Bachelorette Party

October

We tied the knot!! :)

November

Went to Des Moines and competed in Mock Mediation Nationals

Got an internship with the House Veterans' Affairs Committee

December

Matt came home on leave and spent 11 days here!!

**As you can see, I was very spoiled this year and got to see Matt for at least a weekend during 7 out of the 12 months!!**

Well, we both are not looking forward to 2012 all that much. We decided it's basically just a "springboard year" for us. I'll be in D.C. doing my internship and will be applying to law schools in the Fall, while Matt is across the world in Afghanistan.

Gosh darn I don't like deployments!!

Here's to a safe, happy, and productive new year everyone!! :)

Chambanachik's Christmas Giveaway!

2011-12-17T16:18:00.001-05:00

Dec. 18th [tomorrow] is the last day to enter Chambanachik's Christmas giveaway!

To win a Dress from "Shabby Apple," CLICK HERE!! :)

This dress would be PERFECT for my Washington, D.C. internship, don't you think?

So head on over and check out the other prizes Chambanachik is giving away :)

Finals Season

2011-12-17T14:59:00.000-05:00

A lot of people really dread finals season. As much as the constant studying, lack of sleep, lack of food, and lack of a social life stinks, I definitely see some good in it. There is general camaraderie among fellow students. We are all in the same boat: tired, hungry, and our brains are burned out. With these commonalities, everyone seems to be a little nicer. People are quiet, hold doors for each other, are respectful of others... it's a nice change from the normal hustle and bustle of life here in Boston where people are generally rude, pushy, and inconsiderate.

Well, I'd like to wish all of you in school a productive and successful Finals Season! On that note, I have to hit the books again. Talk to you all soon!

Financial Woes and Surgery?!

2011-12-14T17:27:00.000-05:00

I love the military and am really thankful for all the opportunities it has given Matthew and I, especially Matthew, but sheesh. Can't we catch a break? I have been avoiding writing about this for a while, but if I don't vent somewhere, I am going to explode!!

Back in March when Matt first got to Ft. Lewis, he had to do some training in Alabama. The Army gave him a Government Travel Card [GTC] to put all his expenses on, considering they had to stay in a hotel the whole time. He was also given a food allowance and was told anything he didn't spend, he would get back. My husband is a saver. He always has been, he always will be and I love him for that! So he decided to spend significantly less than his food allowance and was given a bit of money after the trip for what he had saved.

Fast forward to October, where the Army decided to starting taking 15% of his pay without telling him why. We didn't catch it until November when I started actually looking at the LES stuff online. He put in a pay inquiry and was told he was in $3700 worth of debt. What the heck?! How was that possible? Well, I'll tell you how. The Army decided it wasn't going to pay off his GTC. At all. Even though all his expenses were covered. So, husband had to fill out some papers and he was told it would be taken care of and that they actually owed him another $1000 from him saving money during that time, on top of the money they had taken from his pay.

December rolls around and we have bills to pay. We have not seen that money, nor have we seen any BAH since we got married. Turns out that the people who filed the paperwork for both the GTC screw up and the BAH missed a significant amount of stuff that Matt ended up having to do himself after nagging them enough about him not seeing the money. As of January 1st, the Army will owe us over $6,000. That is insane!! We have always been great with budgeting. Matt supported both of us and paid for a wedding all on his salary before promotion and before BAH. Now that we are married, we are having so many issues, not because we can't budget our money, but because the Army refuses to pay him the money he is supposed to be paid.

We were told that we will start seeing BAH in January. Does that mean we will see all 3 months BAH or just December's BAH? When does back BAH come? We were told we would see the GTC money in a few weeks, but that is AFTER they take the late fee out of what they owe Matt. Why does HE have to pay for a late fee that the Army is responsible for? It just blows my mind that they take money out of his pay with no explanation, but when it comes to reimbursing him all this money, they take their time. What if I wasn't going to school in Boston and actually flew out to WA to live with him? How would we pay for me to live out there with him in an apartment when we haven't seen BAH and his actual pay has been docked? Ridiculous.

Sorry for the rant. We are just so fed up. I know that this will probably happen again. It just makes no sense to me.

Matt saw a surgeon today and is scheduled for January 10th. Please keep him in your prayers or thoughts if you do not pray. He doesn't want me going into detail about the surgery until after we find out what's going on, so I will update you all as I find out more.

A Week's Worth of Pictures :)

2011-12-13T10:36:00.005-05:00

So I saw that Candice over at Mama Madness did a cute little post with all the pictures on her phone from the past week, so I figured that was a nifty idea and I would try it out as well! :)


I have been baking quite a bit with my gals lately. Mostly chocolate chip cookies and brownies. Yummmm :)

One of my closest friends, Ashlee, make these ADORABLE holiday cookies for me for Christmas. Delicious!

This is Ashlee! We were matching because we were wearing our BU colors for the basketball game!

Free floor seats?! I'll take it :) Oh wait.. I pay $60,000 a year to go here. They're not free :P

Val's 22nd Birthday!! :)

Guess what? We bought a car while I was out in WA!! Finally.. Now Matt doesn't have to drive my old car which was a death-trap on wheels! I do miss her though :( She was fun while she lasted!

So you're probably thinking.. umm eww what the heck is that? Well, this is the picture Matt showed me as soon as I got in the car when he picked me up from the airport. I'm sure you Army ladies can figure it out... HE GOT PROMOTED!! YAY :) Haha silly Army traditions.

I am so proud of my man!! He definitely deserved it. They told him he better start studying for the Sergeant's board!! EEEEp :)

Just Checking In!

2011-12-12T23:31:00.000-05:00

So today was my last day of classes for the semester! [WOO HOO!!!!!] We also did course evaluations for 2 of my classes. I always fill the whole thing out, because BU types up our comments and the teachers get to read them. From what I have heard, most professors actually read ALL the comments!! I know, I know.. I was shocked!

I also had my pre-departure meeting for the BU Washington, D.C. Study Abroad program. Only 17 students were selected.. holy selective Batman! I also found out that I am the only one interning on "The Hill" and am really excited for the opportunity. I was informed that I must wear all business suits. Not business casual, but suits. I def. need to get shopping! [P.S. Can anyone invite me to Pinterest? I have been on the wait list FOREVER... megan.wade22@gmail.com. I would be so grateful!!]

I have 2 papers due Wednesday. One is just an edit of my Latin paper and the other is my pub. policy memo on the war in Afghanistan. It's a bit more economic-centered than I wanted, but that was the prompt. I have it outlined and about 2/3 written, so I am in good shape to get it finished and edited tomorrow! Then I will have a Greek exam on Monday and a Latin one a week from Wednesday. It sounds like a lot of time to study, but there is so much material that I am already getting nervous!! Eeep! Luckily, I tend to work ok under pressure :)

Good luck to everyone who is enduring finals season! It's almost winter break, yay!!

I heard stories, but I really didn't know.

2011-12-09T22:19:00.000-05:00

Being a newly married Army wife, I like reading blogs and hearing stories of when other ladies first started out their journey as a military wife. It seemed to be a growing trend that I would read stories from blogger ladies and hear stories from milspouses back home about men, not their husbands, being blatantly disrespectful while their husband was away, whether on deployment or training or what have you. I would read these stories and say to myself well, I don't know anyone who would act like this towards me, so it probably won't happen. Well guess what? Today, that exact situation happened to me!

I was hanging out with a couple of girlfriends baking and cooking so we could attempt to de-stress before finals. They told me my phone had gone off so I figured it was my hubby. Much to my surprise, it was not. It was a "friend" who I kind of talked to in high school but was never really that close with. I haven't spoken to him much since being out of high school, and haven't actually heard from him in a good year or so. Very strange, but I figured he was just seeing how things were on my end so I texted back. Ashlee told me she thought it was a little too strange and that he probably had bad intention. I figured probably not.

About ten minutes into the text convo [you know the typical "Hi how are you? How are things? What's new?] he asked how married life was, a pretty typical question that I've been getting these past two months. I told him it is great, so he asked what not amazing? I was like .. umm well being 3,000 miles apart from my husband really isn't ideal, but we are making it work and are enjoying every single second that we get to spend together. That's when things got weird. I mean really weird.

Him: Yeah you must get lonely.

Me: Yeah, I guess you could say that, but he is so worth the waiting!

Him: Or your wicked horny lmao

Done. Finite. Really?! Why the heck would you say something like that to someone who 1) you barely know, 2) you haven't talked to in over a year, and 3) is married to a guy who could snap you in half with his hands tied behind his back?

Seriously. What is wrong with people? I couldn't believe it. I text flipped out on him, told him to never try and contact me again, and deleted him out of my phone. If he tries texting again, I am going to go online and have him blocked from texting or calling [thank you Verizon!].

I attempted telling Matt tonight after he got off work, but for some reason Skype was having problems and he couldn't hear me and I couldn't hear him and he was pretty much ignoring the fact that I was trying to speak to him. Le sigh... Maybe he'll read it on here so he'll know why I was in a not-so-good mood tonight...

Have any of you had similar situations? I really just can't believe that happened today. Out of the blue and totally unexpected.

Why Twitter and Blogger > Facebook

2011-12-09T11:56:00.000-05:00

So I have been straying from Facebook a lot lately because it seems to suck the life out of people and actually consume them. I am not saying it is the worst thing in the world, but I think at times it does more bad than good. Here are some general observations...

FB breeds drama. Caddy fights. Snarky statuses that are about people but claim to "not" be about anyone specific. C'mon. Let's be serious. We all KNOW who you are talking about.
Too many privacy issues!! We recently decided to put our wedding photos up but only wanted our friends to see them. There is NO option or setting to make it so that friends of people who tag themselves in photos cannot see the photo. Really, FB?
People take FB way too friggen seriously!! This is one of my biggest gripes. I mean my MIL threatened to not come to the wedding because I had deleted her off FB. People get in real-life fights because of statuses/comments on FB. FACEBOOK is NOT EVERYTHING!!
Facebook consumes peoples' lives. Whenever I am out and about I like to people watch. It seems like everywhere I go people are talking about "OMG, did you see what she posted yesterday?!" or looking at FB on their phone/laptop.
FB eliminates "real world" interactions. Instead of actually grabbing coffee/going out to lunch with people you haven't seen in a while, it's the social norm to just post on their wall.
You can't actually say/post what you want. Plain and simple. People get so easily offended by statuses even when they don't necessarily pertain to them. People misconstrue and take things out of context. But that can happen with any media, right? Well.. I find it to happen most on FB. On blogger, I write what I want and say what I want because I know it's ok to do that.

I mean, in reality the list goes on an on, but these are my biggest concerns. I am not saying that I am not a culprit of some of these, because believe me, I am. But you know what? I used to wake up and pray every morning right away. For a while, it seemed as if I woke up, checked FB, and then prayed. NOT OK! Granted I don't take FB as seriously as a lot of people I know, I still keep up with people through it. On the upside though, it is great for storing/sharing pictures. I guess I could get a flickr account, but really.. another account?! Between school/blogger/maiden name/last name, I have about 6 email account, a blogger account, twitter, FB, a Google+ account, pinterest, etsy, amazon, ebay, bank accounts, school accounts, and lord knows how many others!

So I guess for now I will be keeping FB around. I mega deleted people who seemed to cause the FB drama and feel a bit better about it. I find Twitter to be more useful, especially since I am constantly following the news and politics gearing up for my internship [P.S. Follow me @MeganWade22]! If FB wasn't so good for pictures, it would def. be gone!

So, blog loves, how do you feel about FB/Twitter/Google+/Blogger? I'd love to hear your thoughts!!

MilSpouse Friday Fill-In #66

2011-12-09T11:21:00.000-05:00

So this is my first week ever doing this!! So for those of you stopping by, hi! I look forward to getting to know you all :)

My favorite song of the season is "Oh Holy Night." Absolutely heartwarming.
My mom is someone who inspires me because she has provided for me and my brother for so many years, has always supported us 110%, and has been my best friend and biggest source of support my whole life. I love my mom!!
If I had $100,000 to give to a charity, I’d give it to St. Jude's Children's Hospital for Cancer Research. So many people in my family [including children] have been affected by Cancer. I would like to see a cure in my lifetime!
If I had a theme party, I’d make it 80's themed! I love the big hair, bright colors, and awesome music :)
If I had one wish for my kids/future kids/some young person I care about, it would be to not lose hope and faith in humanity. Hopefully they can one day turn this world around!

What a Rough Semester

2011-12-08T17:36:00.000-05:00

Well, the end of the semester and coming up. Today was my last day of Greek! Thank goodness. I have had this professor for 2 semesters and he is just terrible. He was supposed to teach next semester, but they switched him out with another one. Needless to say, I did not have the nicest things to say on my review sheet today, nor did the rest of the class!

I have my final draft of my Latin research paper due next Wednesday, my final public policy memo due next Wednesday on the costs of the war in Afghanistan, I have a final on 19th and another on the 21st! It is crazy to think that in less than 2 weeks, this semester will be over.

Usually, the end of a semester seems a bit bittersweet for me. Not this time. I am ready for a change of pace. I am so excited for my internship in D.C. next semester. I am itching to get out of here! I will miss my new friends so very much, but we are living together my senior year, so that will be a blast!! I don't know what it was about this semester, but it was really rough. I mean just 3 months ago, I wasn't a Godmom yet, I wasn't a wife, and I was just starting my Junior year at BU. Now, I am more than half-way done with my college career, looking at an upcoming deployment, and getting ready to study "abroad." Between the wedding and all the military stuff, classes, and Mock Mediation, this semester has definitely seemed the longest. Grade-wise, I believe I am doing fairly well. I am guessing 2 A's and a B. Not the best, but hey, I think that is pretty good considering the time I took off in the beginning of the semester to get married. I am ready to start from scratch!

So, over break which I will get to spend part of with Matt, I am going to be prepping for my internship, visiting friends, cuddling lots :), and starting to look into a study plan for the LSATs, which I plan to take next October. Holy cow! Where has the time gone?

Washington Trip and Military Monday Blog Hop!!

2011-12-05T16:23:00.000-05:00

Wow! I can't believe it has been two weeks since I have posted!! Sorry, blog loves!!

The past 2 weeks have been crazy for me! I had Thanksgiving "break" which was really just 4 days of homework, because last week was my BUSY WEEK!! I had an exam, an oral report, and a research paper on top of class and normal homework. I literally spent every spare second reading more material for that paper! I ended up writing about Cicero's Pro Marcello. I don't know if you all know this, but I am a Latin junkie! Haha. I absolutely love it! So while last week was a lot of work, a lot of HARD work, I enjoyed the research that I completed.

Then on Friday, I left Latin class and headed to the airport. Yes, that's right. This past weekend I spent out in Washington with my husband! It was very much needed :) That was our first visit since the honeymoon! And... we bought a car!! Yay! Now Matt won't have to worry about his safety [because he was using my old car which was essentially a death trap waiting to happen]. We got a 2007 Toyota Camry, and Matt is in love! It was one of the only cars that his crazy long legs would actually fit it haha! We didn't get to sight see much because I was only there for less than 48 hours :( But we made them count and had an amazing time! You know, it feels like home out there. I absolutely love it and I miss him now that I am back across the country! It always seems hardest when I have to leave him :(

If you are here from the Military Monday Blog Hop, leave me a comment and I'll definitely stop by your page!! :)

Here are a couple quick facts for anyone new stopping by :)

I am a 20 year old college student living in Boston, pursuing my dream of finishing my undergrad and going to law school while my husband is off at Ft. Lewis, WA in the Army!

I have a niece and a Godson, and LOVE Jesus, but I don't talk about religion all too much on here.

I love my school work and will actually be spending next semester in D.C. working for the House Veterans' Affairs Committee!!

I look forward to following you back and getting to know you :)

Military Monday Blog Hop!!

2011-11-21T12:54:00.000-05:00

Hi all! I have a super busy day today. I have Latin class and a panel on the surges in Afghanistan and Iraq! It should be a great day :)

For those of you stopping by from:

Hi!! I look forward to getting to know you all :)

Here's a little about myself:

My name is Megan and I am a 20 year old college student and recently married Army Wife.

My husband and I have been friends since 6th grade, when we met during chorus!

I am Republican and am fairly active in politics, but don't blog about it a TON.

I will be interning with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs in the Spring!!

I really love One Tree Hill and am sad that this is its last season :(

I am a dog lover, chocolate lover, and coffee lover :)

I am leaving a lot out, but feel free to take a look around! I did a series of posts last week called "Wedding Week" which showed details of my October 7th wedding! Leave me a comment and I'll be sure to stop by and say Hi as well!

It's Not Always Sunshine and Rainbows

2011-11-20T23:54:00.000-05:00

I feel like I write a lot of positive posts on here. More positive ones than negative ones. I guess it's just that when something good happens, my first instinct is to write about. When something bad happens, my first instinct is to pray about it. Well Bloggers, I am going to try and be better about Blogging about EVERYTHING, good or bad.

So I have a question for you.

What do you do when someone you care about, someone you love and respect, is struggling? I don't just mean "had a bad day and is bummed out" struggling. I mean full on questioning the purpose of life struggling. Someone I love, someone I care about so very much is having a really hard time. They try so hard at everything they do and put in more effort than most people I know would put in. They take a lot of flack from others about just about everything they do. But they take it while they grit their teeth. But a person can only take so much, right? Where is that point? At what point do you just feel like giving up and throwing in the towel? At what point do you decide that all your extra effort is going unnoticed so why do it anymore?

I think this person is at this point. They do so much for everyone else and keep everything bottled up inside. When this person came to me, so upset and just not getting the point, I honestly did not know how to react. I wanted to be encouraging and supportive without sounding too optimistic. I wanted to be understanding but at the same time I wanted to just stop and tell this person that

I care. I notice all the little things you do for everyone. Someone will see all your hard work and extra effort. It does make a difference. You help so many people. You are selfless and kind. You put everyone first, and there are so many of us who are thankful for that. I care about you so much and am so sorry that you are struggling.

How do I know if I am helping this person in the right way? I don't know what to say or do. Do I ask how they are dealing with things every single day or will that just make things harder? Should I go on like normal and let them come to me when they need to talk, or will they think that I don't care and am not concerned if I don't continue to ask?

I care about this person so much and would do anything to take their pain and insecurities away.

So if YOU are reading this, know that I care so much about you. So many of us do. I am worried about you and will continue to every single day. I am praying that God gives you the strength to pull out of this situation stronger than ever. I ~~want~~ need you to know that the important people in your life see how hard you work. We are proud of you, whether you are proud of yourself or not. We recognize your accomplishments and are so thankful we have you in our lives. Please try and keep this all in mind on your hardest days filled with any insecurities or doubts in yourself. You are an amazing, selfless person. You mean so much to so many people. Remember that.

Bunches of Exciting News [and pictures!]

2011-11-19T17:11:00.000-05:00

Greetings all! I hope you enjoyed Wedding Week!

As you know, I recently competed with five of my closest friends in the INADR Mock Mediation National Championship in Des Moines, Iowa. Before I left for the competition, a friend said to me:

"Megan, you killed it last year. It's time to bring fame to your new last name!"

Well, after four long days in Iowa, here are the results. [I erased my teammates last names for privacy]

All-American Mediator [individual]

-Megan Wade [3]

-Valerie [12]

All-American Advocate/Client [Pair]
-Megan Wade/Rosie [7]
-Ashlee/Megan Wade [11]

Mediator Finalists [medals, compete in final round, team award]
-Megan Wade, Ashlee, and Rosie

Advocate/Client Finalists [medals, compete in final round, team award]
-Megan Wade, Ashlee, and Rosie

Final team standings in both the Mediator and Advocate/Client Standings: 4th Place overall! Great job everyone :) We certainly did "best efforts" ;)

Me, Rosie, and Ashlee #teamawesome :) Love you ladies!!

Cissy, Matt, and Val!!

Gotta love our coach, Dean Stern!

Besties :)

Medals?! Sweeeeet

Yeah, we definitely had a great time at Drake!!

In other news, I got offered an internship for the Spring in D.C.!! I am so thrilled. It is with ... The House Committee on Veterans' Affairs!!

I am so thrilled. They only picked two, and I accepted yesterday!! Yay :)

Also, less than 2 weeks until I see that handsome husband of mine ;)

P.S. -- I now have a twitter!! Follow me @MeganWade22 :)

Thought Provoking Questions Thursday [#31-50]

2011-11-17T18:56:00.000-05:00

Questions #31-50

31. If the average human lifespan was 40 years, how would you live your life differently?

I would focus less on a career and start building my family. I would have kids in the next couple years and move out to Ft. Lewis to spend as much time with my husband as possible. I would be much more family-oriented than career-oriented.

32. What do we all have in common besides our genes that makes us human?

The desire to live. The desire to find our other half. The desire to be productive and leave our mark on society.

33. If you could choose one book as a mandatory read for all high school students, which book would you choose?

A Separate Peace by John Knowles.

34. Would you rather have less work or more work you actually enjoy doing?

I would love more work that I enjoy doing. I like keeping busy and feeling productive.

35. What is important enough to go to war over?

Protecting our God-given rights. Protecting our safety.

36. Which is worse, failing or never trying?

For me, never trying is worse. Yes, I hate the idea of failing and I hate the feeling after failing, but I hate the feeling of not knowing if I would have succeeded or failed if I never tried.

37. When was the last time you listened to the sound of your own breathing?

Last night when I was trying to go to sleep. I haven't had a good night's sleep in a really long time.

38. What's something you know you do differently than most people?

Make decisions. When I need to make a decision, big or small, I immediately make a pros/cons list in my head, then on paper, then ask the people closest to me, then pray about it, then decide. It's a process

39. What does "The American Dream" mean to you?

Being able to do anything you set your mind to. Living with the freedom to think your own thoughts and believe your own beliefs.

40. Would you rather be a worried genius or a joyful simpleton?

I would rather be a joyful simpleton. Happiness is so important, so if I spent all my days worrying, I would be wasting precious time and moments that I wouldn't be able to get back.

41. If you could instill one piece of advice in a newborn baby's mind, what advice would you give?

I would tell them to be true to themselves and pursue their dreams no matter what obstacles and adversity they may have to face.

42. What is the most desirable trait another person can possess?

Selflessness. I love this most about Matt. That he puts me and his family first. That he cares so much for others. I would like to think that I also possess this trait, and care for my friends and family no matter what.

43. What are you most grateful for?

This is a tough question. I originally was going to say my husband, because I am extremely grateful to have him in my life. However, I am most grateful for God and my relationship with him. He led me and Matt together and through his love, I am able to be strong for Matt through all life's ups and downs.

44. Is stealing to feed a starving child wrong?

Yes. I am all for helping disadvantaged youth, but there are better ways of doing that. Take them to a soup kitchen or a church. Buy them dinner yourself. Stealing will just set a bad example for them.

45. What do you want most?

To graduate, go to law school, and be able to provide for my family. To have a family with Matthew sooner, rather than later. I am not saying tomorrow or anything, but within the next several years would be nice. I want to actually be able to settle down with my husband and have a place we call home.

46. Are you more worried about doing things right, or doing the right things?

I am more worried about doing things right. When I question whether I am doing the right thing, I pray about it. I feel that I have strong morals and do the right thing, so in that sense, I don't really worry about it. However, I worry about doing things right ALL THE TIME!! School, relationships, life. Everything.

47. What has life taught you recently?

That hard work pays off. And that nothing in life comes easy. Whether it is a good grade, an award, a friendship, or a marriage. Everything takes effort :)

48. What is the one thing you would most like to change about the world?

The fighting. We are all human beings. Stop making things so complicated. Stop killing innocent men, women, and children. Have common respect for one another.

49. Where do you find inspiration?

In music. Every sound, every word. I can always find something in a song that I connect to. Music inspires me and lifts me up when I am going through a rough time.

50. Can you describe your life in a six word sentence?

It is not luck, it's determination.

All you need is love!

The Winner of My First Giveaway!!

2011-11-17T18:07:00.000-05:00

Thank you to those who participated in my first giveaway! It was fun for me, and I really enjoyed getting to share pictures from Matt's and my special day..

So the winner is...

Semper Wifey!!

Congratulations! Please contact me in the next 24 hours via email so I can send you your $25 Amazon Gift Card!! [email: mhaapala18@gmail.com]

Wedding Week Recap!

2011-11-14T09:20:00.003-05:00

Well, I hope you've all enjoyed seeing a glimpse into Matt's and my Special evening! I can say that it was the best day of my life! Our photographer was amazing and took over 1200 photos for us to remember all the small moments.

We had ups and downs throughout the planning process and the day of, but in the end, love prevailed. It was an amazing day shared with our friends, family, God, and one another.

Matthew: Here's to looking back at the first day of the rest of our life together! I love you so very much. Thank you for giving me the wedding of my dreams!!

Don't forget about the Wedding Week Giveaway that I am currently hosting!! The contest ends at 11:59 pm on Nov. 15!! :)

I'm back! And a reminder :)

2011-11-13T18:31:00.000-05:00

Just a reminder that the end of my

BLOG Giveaway!!! is 11:59 pm EST on Tuesday!!

Get your votes in :) $25 Amazon giftcard, just in time for the holidays!

Remember, you have 3 possible entries on EACH "Wedding Week" post :)

P.S. Mock Mediation went GREAT!! More details to come after Wedding Week! :)

Wedding Week Day 8: Reception Party Shots

2011-11-13T10:30:00.003-05:00

Day 8: Party Shots

Our guests were so much fun! We had dance circles, conga lines, and so much fun!

Dj Dan doing trivia!

My chorus teacher!

Photographer and DJ Dan!!

Oh no! Fudge down the dress :( Good thing my mom had a tide-to-go pen! That's my MOH and photographer getting it off the dress! Thank goodness for everyone!

Don't forget about the Wedding Week Giveaway that I am currently hosting!! The contest ends at 11:59 pm on Nov. 15!! :)

Wedding Week Day 7, part 2: Details Shots

2011-11-12T16:17:00.001-05:00

Day 7, Part 2: Details Shots

Here are some more of our favorite shots from the day!! :)

Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Bar!! :)

The shadow of our rings making a heart on Corinthians in the Bible

Don't forget about the Wedding Week Giveaway that I am currently hosting!! The contest ends at 11:59 pm on Nov. 15!! :)

Wedding Week Day 7: Details Shots

2011-11-12T10:30:00.000-05:00

Day 7 Part One: Details Shots

So, as you all know, Matt and I put so much work into this wedding. Nearly everything was do-it-yourself! Plus, my photographer did a great job of getting all the details of our special day, which is why there will be 2 posts today!! Picture overload :)

Pearl necklace Matthew gave me as a gift [as well as a pearl bracelet]. I gave him a new watch.

My something blue :)

My "something old" was his set of dog tags that were tied into the ribbon of my flowers

Don't forget about the Wedding Week Giveaway that I am currently hosting!! The contest ends at 11:59 pm on Nov. 15!! :)

Wedding Week Day 6: Reception Main Events

2011-11-11T11:36:00.002-05:00

Day 6: Reception Main Events

We had a TON of fun at our reception. Here are some of the typical "main" events, like the first dance, parent dances, garter toss, bouquet toss, and cake cutting :)

Don't forget about the Wedding Week Giveaway that I am currently hosting!! The contest ends at 11:59 pm on Nov. 15!! :)

Wedding Week Day 5: Couple Shots

2011-11-10T13:32:00.004-05:00

Day 5: Couple Shots

We had a lot of fun with these! It was so nice to just have some time with my husband after all the ups and downs of the wedding. I loved this time together!

Don't forget about the Wedding Week Giveaway that I am currently hosting!! The contest ends at 11:59 pm on Nov. 15!! :)

Just a little reminder!

2011-11-09T12:41:00.000-05:00

that I am hosting a giveaway!! You have 3 possible entries for

every post during wedding week!! That is a lot of possible entries!!

For the complete details, check out my post here :) !!

I hope you all enjoy wedding week :)

Wedding Week Day 4: Post-Ceremony Formals with Both Families and Bridal Party Shots

2011-11-09T10:40:00.003-05:00

Day 4: Post-Ceremony Formals/Bridal Party Shots

These took a long time to do, and this is when we discovered that the bridal salon did not add my bustle clips on my dress. Luckily, my bridesmaids/photographer/pavilion coordinator pinned the train in place

Don't forget about the Wedding Week Giveaway that I am currently hosting!! The contest ends at 11:59 pm on Nov. 15!! :)

Wedding Week Day 3: Ceremony Pictures

2011-11-08T12:35:00.002-05:00

Day 3: Ceremony Pictures

The ceremony was amazing. Being there before our friends, family, and God pledging our love to one another was more powerful than I ever could have expected. Many tears were shed, but they were tears of joy for the future. I loved every second of these moments!

Don't forget about the Wedding Week Giveaway that I am currently hosting!! The contest ends at 11:59 pm on Nov. 15!! :)

Military Monday Blog Hop

2011-11-07T15:48:00.000-05:00

Wow! I haven't done one of these in a while, but I am SO excited to be participating again!

So if you're stopping by from the Military Monday blog hop, let me know :)

My blog is currently in the middle of an exciting Wedding Week, as one month ago today I married the love of my life!!

Also, I am currently doing a Giveaway so be sure to check that out! Details on both can be found here:

My First Giveaway for you all!!

2011-11-07T12:37:00.000-05:00

Did you know that I am currently hosting

My first blog giveaway ever!!?!?!

In the midst of WEDDING WEEK, I am giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card!!

To enter is really really simple. All you have to do is put your entry on any Wedding Week blogpost.

Here are the entries:

-1 entry for being a follower [please leave your email], per day
-1 entry for Blogging about my giveaway on your blog [please leave a link to the post], per day
-1 entry for tweeting about the giveaway

So, that's 3 possible entries per day :)
The contest will end at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, November 15th and the winner will be announced later in the week!

I am really excited about being able to do this for all of you! I hope you enjoy wedding week while I am away for Mock Mediation!!

Wedding Week Day 2: Pre-Ceremony Formal Pictures

2011-11-07T11:15:00.003-05:00

Day 2: Pre-Ceremony Formals

It was hard to coordinate but we got the timing just right so that we both could take our formals by our ceremony site separately, and without seeing one another :)

Dad

Uncle

Courtney

Casey

Angela

Ashley

His mom

His dad

Joe

Justin

Andrew

I absolutely LOVE this picture of me and my brother. It's one of my favorites from the whole wedding!

Hailey !!

Don't forget about the Wedding Week Giveaway that I am currently hosting!! The contest ends at 11:59 pm on Nov. 15!! :)

Wedding Week Day 1: Girls and Boys Getting Ready

2011-11-06T09:15:00.001-05:00

Day 1: Girls and Boys Getting Ready.

Yes, we went traditional and did not see each other up until the wedding. Unfortunately because of a time mix-up with the limo company, there aren't a lot of the guys getting ready :( But they do look mighty handsome!!

Don't forget about the Wedding Week Giveaway that I am currently hosting!! The contest ends at 11:59 pm on Nov. 15!! :)

Wedding Week Starts Tomorrow!!

2011-11-05T08:30:00.007-04:00

Hi all! So since I am going to be away trying to kick some butt at Mock Mediation Nationals in Des Moines, Iowa, I figured now would be a great time for...

So here's the line-up :)

Sunday: Girls/Guys Getting Ready and Formals

Monday: Pre-Ceremony Family Pictures

Tuesday: Ceremony Pictures

Wednesday: Post-Ceremony Formals with Both Families and Bridal Party Shots

Thursday: Couple Shots

Friday: First Dance, Cake Cutting, Bouquet Toss, Garter Toss, Mother/Son Dance, Mother/Daughter Dance

Saturday: Details Shots

Sunday: Reception Party Shots

Monday: Reflection

Who says there can't be 9 days in a week, right?! ;)

Also, in honor of Wedding Week, I will be doing my first giveaway for a $25 Amazon Gift Card!!

-1 entry for being a follower [please leave your email], per day
-1 entry for Blogging about my giveaway on your blog [please leave a link to the post], per day
-1 entry for tweeting about the giveaway

So, that's 3 possible entries per day :)
The contest will end at 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, November 15th and the winner will be announced later in the week!

Mock Mediation will be competing Friday and Saturday, and will return late Sunday. I will post as soon as I can about the results of the competition! See you all in a while :)

I'm Still Around!

2011-11-04T13:01:00.000-04:00

While I have a few minutes, I just wanted to give you all a shoutout! I am still around, I promise!! And I have been reading all your posts :)

So a few quick updates...

We got our mock mediation cases on Wednesday, so we have been having 4+ hours of practice A NIGHT! Yes, I have kept up on my schoolwork, but literally have no time for a life :(

For Halloween [well we celebrated on Saturday instead of Monday], I attended a BU Hockey Game!!, dressed up as Wilma Flintstone, and hit up the 12:30am showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show!! For anyone who has seen RHPS, you'll understand when I say holy crap!! It was much more vulgar than I was expecting. It was hilarious, but crazier than I though. All in all, we had a great time!

Matt left about a week ago to go do some pre-deployment training. Last night was my last text/phone call, and they are now doing 2 weeks "in the box" aka: no communication! I am not looking forward to it, but like everything else, we'll manage :)

We leave in less than a week for the mock mediation tournament! Holy cow that snuck up fast. It's looking like a great time this year though :)

Oh yeah.. one last thing.. be on the lookout for wedding pictures coming soon, as well as an announcement for my first ever giveaway!! :)

Unofficial Wedding Post :)

2011-10-24T18:09:00.000-04:00

I would like to say that things are finally starting to settle down, but they aren't! Haha. Matt is back at Ft. Lewis :( and I am stuck in Boston trying to get my academics back on track, do all the name change paperwork, and work on Mock Mediation since Nationals are just over 2 weeks away!

I was planning on waiting until I got the professional pictures back before posting, but I couldn't wait any longer. I'll post some that my brother's girlfriend took for now, and as soon as the professional photos come back, I PROMISE I will do a "Wedding Week" and designate each day to a certain aspect [with lots and lots of photos!!] So for now, I hope you enjoy :)

Mom and Brother

Casey, Brother, Angela

Matt's brother and Sister

The bridal salon didn't do my hem, so my Uncle had to hold up my dress down the aisle.

Best kiss of my life!!

Matt, me, Justin

Me and Hailey sharing a moment

Waiting for formal pictures to start

Corking the unity sand

Us and the bridal party!

Dip at the end of the first dance :)

Cutting the cake

High fiving after FINALLY getting a small piece to come out haha

Aunt and Uncle

[Step] Dad


My Brother and his beautiful girlfriend, Amanda [the person who took all these pictures!!]

I promise more to come as soon as possible!!

I'm Married!

2011-10-10T15:29:00.000-04:00

The wedding was amazing! It was everything we wanted and more :) I can't wait to show you all pictures :)

We are on our honeymoon now, so I'll be back in about a week!!

1 Week from today...

2011-09-30T12:35:00.000-04:00

I will be a Married lady!!

I really wanted to thank all of you who commented on my post, The Jitters. Looking at my nerves after reading all your comments made me realize that they aren't about the commitment, but rather about the day. Thank you all so so so very much! It's nice to know that I am not alone :)

So to do list for this weekend:
-Place Cards
-Menu Cards
-Programs
-Centerpieces
-Waxing appointment
-Nail appointment
-Seeing Mirabella and Brantley!!
-Starting to pack for the honeymoon/night of the wedding
-Filling out the seating chart lists for the Pavilion
-Finalizing the timeline and distributing it
-Studying for my 2 exams on Tuesday !!
-Writing my policy memo due on Tuesday!!

Wow.. lots to do, but there will be lots of pictures, since we are doing DIY for pretty much everything!!

This is the song that Matthew and I will walk into prior to our first dance!! We love us some Beatles :)

100th Post and Bachelorette Party!!

2011-09-29T15:29:00.000-04:00

Wow, 100 posts already. Holy cow!! Thank you all for following me through all the ups and downs of these last 100 posts :) I can't wait for the next 100!!

As for the bachelorette party, I think I should let the pictures speak for themselves.. We had dinner and then spent the night in the hotel at the casino. We played games, drank, and did a photo scavenger hunt throughout the casino. I had the best time!! I have the best girls :)

It was a great night! I will try to upload the videos from the night, too. P.S. The guy I am hugging is my brother!! Yes, he stopped by. Haha, I wasn't kidding when I said he is my best friend!!

The Jitters

2011-09-27T09:45:00.000-04:00

Hi all! I am alive, I promise! I am recovering from my awesome bachelorette party [pictures to come this week!]. This weekend is the last one before the wedding!! Keep your fingers crossed for no rain on the 7th! Haha.

So here's my question. To all my married followers out there, did you have a case of the pre-wedding jitters? It seems like I'm coming down with them. I just wanted to get everyone's feelings on them. I hear they are common, but I feel guilty about them. I mean, I absolutely love Matt to death, and cannot wait to be his wife, but I'm getting so nervous... Help!!!

Remember that Study Abroad thing?

2011-09-16T10:48:00.000-04:00

Well, this morning I opened my email to find a lovely 4 attachments of paperwork for me to fill out, a specific "experience oriented" template to reform my resume, and a bunch of other things. I got most excited over the Internship Questionnaire. As of right now, here are my top 4 choices:

1. The office of the Department of Defense

2. A Congressional Office

3. A Senatorial Office

4. A Policy Analyst's Office

I was also asked what my party alliance is. I don't think I've ever explicitly said this on here, but I am a red-blooded

Republican.

Some from my high school were actually surprised to hear this. I entered BU as an independent leaning strongly towards being a Democrat. After taking actual public policy courses, courses in political analysis, and actually opened my eyes to the world, I made my alliance with the Republican party.

So my question to you all is do you tend to lean to the right or the left?

Upon speaking to a few professors about being a Republican, the typical response was "You're marrying into the military, so of course you are going to be a Republican."

I never thought about it that way. Do you feel that your association with the military effects your political affiliation at all? Now that I think about it, Republicans do tend to have the military's back, right?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on all this!! :)

P.S. I have a meeting with U Michigan Law School today!!

Move-In 2011!!!

2011-09-15T10:02:00.000-04:00

Let me just start by saying that my dorm is WAY better than the past two years. I am on West Campus as opposed to East Campus [where I was the first two years]. I am in the newest building, and share an apartment on the 22nd floor with 3 other girls. The gym is about 100 feet away, and there is a shuttle bus that brings us to our classes.

When we arrived, two young men took all my stuff out of the car and loaded it into these bins for us to put in the elevator! How nice :)

View of Baaahston out my 22nd floor window

Desk

Closet. I don't need a ton of clothes since I am home every weekend doing wedding stuff :)

Kitchen Area

Val and I. [She is on Mock Mediation with me]

Desk

What classes am I taking, you ask? Graduate level Latin [studying Caesar], Intermediate level Ancient Greek [studying Lysias], Psychology of Personality [theories and application], and a Public Policy course on 9/11.

Common area, where lots of studying [or not studying!] happens :)

As you can tell by my absence, it's already been a busy semester! I even have a test today! With classes and wedding planning, and babies babies babies, I barely have a chance to breathe. On top of that, we have 37 people interested in Mock Mediation this year.. we are only taking 4. So it's going to be VERY competitive!! Also, law schools from across the country are coming here to BU to visit us, so I am obliged to go to those meetings. Sleep... what is that? Haha.. no, I do get a good amount of sleep thanks to my time management abilities :)

This is my car.. or should I say was. The week before school, after a long, grueling process, my baby went across the country to Ft. Lewis, WA to help Matt out on base. I miss her very very much! But, I know she is in great hands :)

The Baby Post [Meet Brantley!!]

2011-09-14T22:19:00.000-04:00

Hello Blogland. This is Brantley Kole.

Proud Godmommy/Auntie :)

Best Friend, Baby Brantley, and Auntie Megan!

Hailey, Tyler, and Brantley

My favorite little man!

His name is Brantley Kole. He was born at 11:46 pm on September 8th. 8lbs, .04 oz and 22 inches long! He has stolen my heart already! I am so proud of you, Hailey! You did amazing through labor and delivery and are already and amazing mommy to our favorite little man! :)

Mirabella Rose

Little Miss Mirabella came over for a visit on my birthday a couple weekends ago.

Her mom put her in her "My Auntie Loves Me" outfit for my birthday :)

Mirabella likes Maxx :)

She holds my hand and my heart!

Dad, I really love this drool cloth!

Nothing like the love from a father to a daughter!

She really likes to put her feet on the ground.

Come here, Maxx! Let me pet you :)

Nap time with auntie!

Falling back asleep after Dad fed me :)

I feel very blessed to have these two special youngsters in my life! I love my niece and my godson :)

Thought Provoking Questions Thursday [#16-30]

2011-09-08T13:41:00.002-04:00

Questions #16-30

16. Have you done anything lately worth remembering?

I got to see my beautiful niece, Mirabella Rose this past Thursday. Every moment spent with her is worth remembering and cherishing.

17. What does your joy look like today?

Getting my hair done for the wedding. This will be my second hair trial. I'm really looking forward to it because it means one step closer to being Mrs. Wade :)

18. Is it possible to lie without saying a word?

Absolutely. A reassuring smile when you're not sure that things are going to be ok. A smile to pretend like you aren't stressed and that everything in life is wonderful, when really, you may be having some serious concerns and problems. The rough exterior of someone who is actually hurting on the inside. People's facades are lies without having to say anything at all.

19. If you had a friend who spoke to you in the same way that you sometimes speak to yourself, how long would you allow this person to be your friend?

Not very long at all. I am a perfectionist when it comes to my school work and other details around me. I sometimes talk down to myself if I feel things aren't up to the right standards. If I had a friend that talked down to me like that, I wouldn't want all the negativity in my life, so I probably wouldn't be friends with that person for very long.

20. Which activities make you lose track of time?

Studying. Being in Matt's arms. Being with Matt. Listening to music. I could listen to music all day, every day.

21. If you had to teach something, what would you teach?

I would teach either Latin because I love it so much and would want to instill a passion for the Classics to my students, or I would teach time management, because I have a knack for taking on WAY TOO MUCH at one time, but still manage to get it all done!!

22. What would you regret not fully doing, being, or having in your life?

This is an easy one. I worry about it all the time. Having children. I am worried that I will not fully be able to be the amazing mother that I'd like to be because of how demanding my future career will be. I want to be the mom that I have already. I want to have children before I'm 30. I want to have a family and love them fully every single day.

23. Are you holding onto something that you need to let go of?

Yes. I haven't admitted this really to anyone. I was hurt by several friends I trusted very much throughout high school, and I still have not let go of that hurt. One was a guy named Mark who was there for me through and after Freshman year. He joined the Army and we wrote letters as best friends every day. He stopped talking to me right before he came home for no reason. He would leave again for training/deployments and would start talking to me again and apologizing, and then would stop talking to me as soon as he was about to come home. It hurt every single time he did it, but I kept hoping that things would change, and we'd go back to being friends again. I haven't seen him in almost six years. He is now married and expecting a baby.

One was a girl named Sarah. We grew up together. Pre-school, elementary school, middle school, and high school. After freshman year, she said I changed too much. Our senior year, she made it her personal mission to make it the worst year of my life. The bullying that she did to me along with four of her friends made me want to drop out of school. Luckily, I had some really good support and I got through it. Still, to this day, I want to know what happened and why she did the things she did after being best friends for 14 years.

24. When you are 80-years-old, what will matter to you the most?

My family. My children, grand children, great-grandchildren [if I have them], and most importantly my husband. I hope and pray every day that we live long, healthy lives together. I hope he is by my side 60 years from now!!

25. When is it time to stop calculating risk and rewards, and just do what you know is right?

I am one to always look at the pros and cons of every situation, but there are situations that when you just know, you know. For instance, getting married at 20 years old. Some risks, but WAY more rewards :)

26. How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?

I think I would be in my mid-20's. I already plan so far ahead for our future. I help take care of bills, want to finish school, and start a family. With the responsibilities I take on, I think I'd be mid-20's.

27. Would you break the law to save a loved one?

Absolutely. No questions asked. I would do anything to protect my loved ones.

28. What makes you smile?

Matt. My dog, Maxx. Getting a good grade on an exam. Dark chocolate. Daisies. Family night playing cards. Surprises. Taking pictures. Listening to music. Mirabella Rose. Olive Garden. Frozen Grapes. Accomplishing a large task. Reading. Praying.

29. When it's all said and done, will you have said more than you've done?

I sure hope so. I'd like to believe that I follow through on my promises and expectations of me. If I say I'll do something, I more often than not get it done in a timely fashion.

30. If you had the opportunity to get a message across to a large group of people, what would your message be?

Wow. I would like to say a lot. But if I had to boil it down, I guess I'd say that we all need to start looking out for one another, rather than making everything a competition. Mean-ness won't get you anywhere but alone and depressed, so share the love!

I hope you'll join me next week!

I'm Still Here!

2011-09-07T09:54:00.000-04:00

Well, school started back up yesterday. I moved in Saturday, went home for the weekend [Sunday was my birthday], and re-moved in on Monday. Since being here, I've had a TON of work, a couple meetings, a not a whole lot of sleep! I promise a picture update ASAP!

Have a great day everyone!

The Start of 365 Questions :)

2011-08-27T13:38:00.000-04:00

So, I stole this from the lovely Sarah Dee @ A Heart Like Mine. If you haven't checked out her blog, head on over there. She's very nice and was my **Summer Essentials Swap Partner** a couple months ago :)

So here's what it is... 365 Thought-Provoking Questions to answer in one year. I think I am going to try and answer 15 or so a week, and probably dedicate a specific day to it :) So be on the lookout. And if you'd like to, feel free to join in!!

Questions 1-15

1. When was the last time you tried something new?

I would have to say just yesterday. I tried out the Wii Fit to support Ashley [my sis in law] and her weight loss goals. It was pretty fun, actually.

2. Who do you sometimes compare yourself to?

I would say that the person I compare myself to most often would be my mom. She's a great lady, but definitely has a temper. And sometimes I see that temper in myself. I think I have better control over it, but when it flares up, I definitely compare myself to her.

3. What's the most sensible thing you've ever heard someone say?

"All you need is love" -- John Lennon. Think about it, and it'll make sense. Love from your family, love from your friends, and ultimately love from that one special person. It really is all you need. Now that I have so much love in my life, I feel supported and I feel ready to tackle whatever challenges come my way, because I know that I'll have a whole group of people loving me no matter what.

4. What gets you excited about life?

The future. Sometimes it's scary and really stressful, but it does get me excited. I can't wait to be Mrs. Wade in just a few short weeks. I am so excited to start our lives together and experience things like buying a house, him going to college and me going to law school, finding careers, buying a car, having children, playing cribbage together when we're old and grey. All those things make me really excited to get up every morning and do what I have to do to make all those dreams come true.

5. What life lesson did you learn the hard way?

Trust. Before becoming a rape survivor, I trusted way too easily. I live in a really small, rural town where everyone knows one another, so I'd open the front door to our house without looking. I'd leave my car unlocked at night. Well after several burglaries [one being the GPS out of my mom's car] and after the rape, I find it really hard to trust people. It takes a lot more now than it did before for me to make friends and to actually let them in.

6. What do you wish you spent more time doing five years ago?

Well, five years ago was 2006. It was the year of the rape, so I guess I would have to say I wish I had spent more time being a kid and enjoying high school. But instead, I was forced to grow up really fast, and I spent a lot of time grieving and being angry and going to therapy to get to the point that I am at now. I wish I had spent more time having fun and being with my friends like a normal freshman in high school.

Me before Freshmen year

7. Do you ask enough questions or do you settle for what you know?

I LOVE to learn. I am always asking questions. There are certain professors that I don't feel comfortable asking, but for the most part, I'll go to office hours once a week or once every other week. I really do love gaining knowledge, so the more questions I ask, the more I'll learn. Also, if Matt and I are looking for something in a store, I am always the one to ask an associate where to find it so we don't waste time wandering around. Sometimes asking questions is efficient.

8. Who do you love and what are you doing about it?

I love my Matt, so we are getting married! Haha. Well, I have loved him for a few years, and he has loved me longer. We decided to vow our love for one another in front of our friends, family, and God. I can't wait to be his wife and love him forever!! Also, I love my family. We are pretty much like the Tanner's from the tv show "Full House"... We always hug and tell each other we love one another haha.

Matt being Mario from Super Mario World.. he goes "Ohhh Army-o" Haha. Love my goofball :)

9. What's a belief that you hold with which many people disagree?

God. I believe in God. I love Jesus. But, I'm not one of those types of people who will shove my beliefs down your throat. Some people who do not believe ask me how I can believe without solid evidence. I know there is a God. I pray to him, and even the unanswered prayers lead me in the right direction. I am on God's path and although I make decisions in my life that lead to certain good/bad things happening, he is always there to help me decide and to give me the strength to overcome any obstacles I may face.

10. What can you do today that you were not capable of a year ago?

I can mediate a law case for competition. A year ago, I took up an interest in Mock Mediation, but didn't really have an idea about what it was. Now, I am proud to say that in the preliminaries, I came in 3rd out of the whole country, and I won the national championship in the final round among the 4 top mediators. I am proud to say that I am an All-American Mediator and that I was sent to London to compete!! :)

When I found out I won.. tears of joy!! And Dean Stern in the background so so happy!!

11. Do you think crying is a sign of weakness or strength?

For me personally, I hate relying on people and I hate people seeing my downfalls, so I see it as a sign of weakness. Sometimes, I just need to cry. I just need to let all the stress out and it makes me feel better. But I hate when people see me cry, because that ruins the tough exterior that I portray. I am always the "go-to gal" that people go to with their problems. I try to figure out my problems for myself, mostly. I have gotten better about sharing what's going on since I've been with Matt though.

12. What would you do differently if you knew nobody would judge you?

This is really tough for me to admit. You all know how much I love school and love learning. But Matt is going to be my husband, and he comes first. Honestly, if education wasn't so important and nobody would judge me, I would give up my schooling for now, go live out with Matt, and have a child sooner rather than later. I really do love my schooling, and of course I'm not giving it up. But, if circumstances were different, I would definitely consider it.

13. Do you celebrate the things you do have?

I was just praying about this last night. I don't think I do this enough. I mean, I pray for others in tough situations, and I pray for things that may go wrong, and I pray for strength for myself to keep going on, and I pray for the safety of those I love, but I pray and give thanks for the things I do have far too little. I definitely need to work on that in the coming months!

14. What is the difference between living and existing?

I would saying existing is just going through the motions, but not really experiencing life. Living is doing all the things you never thought you would or could, loving, making mistakes and learning from them. It's really experiencing life rather than just going through the day by day.

15. If not now, then when?

If not now, then in the future. I live for the future. I am always planning ahead and always trying to figure things out well in advance. I don't like when plans change. Matt and I are opposites when it comes to this. He definitely is spontaneous, "what happens, happens," "We'll figure it out when we cross that bridge" kind of person. Some things I do in the now, but a lot of times, I am more focused on the future.

Well, I hope that you enjoyed learning a little bit more about me. I like these questions. They aren't you're typical "What's your favorite color? Where do you see yourself in five years?" kinds of questions. But yeah, if you'd like to play along, feel free :)

The link to the questions can be found Here!!

Giveaway from Utterly Chaotic Designs

2011-08-25T20:58:00.000-04:00

Attention, Attention!!

Utterly Chaotic Designs is having a FULL BLOG MAKEOVER Giveaway. Who wouldn't love to win that? :)

So head on over here!!!! to check out Brea's awesome work and her giveaway :)

What's in a Vow?

2011-08-25T11:13:00.000-04:00

So after my meeting with the fabulous Pastor Drew and his lovely wife Crystal last Friday, I really decided to kick these vows up a notch.

A while back, Matthew and I decided that we were going to write our own vows. I am very religious, but even so, the standard "to honor, cherish, and obey" line really doesn't suite us. Matt isn't too religious, so we didn't want it to be uncomfortable for him either. Plus, we have written tons of letters and emails to each other and seem to be able to clearly communicate our feelings to one another, so why not right? I figured if I had told him a trillion times how much I care for him, why should this be any harder, right?

Wrong. Dead wrong.

To those of you out there who have written your own vows, I tip my hat to you. You also know exactly what I'm talking about. Sure, telling your significant other how much you care for them is easy. But vows... vows are different. They are your promises to your husband that you will follow for the rest of your life.

So what exactly goes in a vow?

Well, I went to google and looked it up. Some people tell funny stories of one another. Some tell tearjerkers of the exact moment they knew they wanted to marry the other. Some tell the story of how they met. You can include your definition of love. Your definition of marriage. A quote from a movie. From a book. From the Bible. You can list every reason why you love the other person. You can tell what you wish for your futures together.

Basically.. you can put anything, so that really didn't help. I mean, I don't think we want mine to go in one direction and Matt's to go in another. What about time length? I hope mine aren't too long... Wow. Again, a lot harder than I thought...

So I talked to Pastor Drew. He suggested coming up with an outline between Matthew and myself of what we'd like in our vows. For instance: Start with your definition of love. Tell how the other person has made you a better person. Where would you like to see yourselves in five-ten years? Then end with your actual "vows" to one another.

Jackpot! That was such a great idea. I already talked to Matt about the outline, so as soon as he gets back from the field we are going to sit on Skype and discuss the kinds of things we want in our vows. They won't be exactly alike, but they will go enough together to make sense :) We are choosing not to read each others vows before the ceremony, so that the first time hearing them will be at the altar :) Also, we are going to keep them under a minute long, which I think is a great idea.

We are choosing to read them rather than try and memorize them. I am fairly decent at memorizing things from my 10+ years doing theater, but I know that I would choke as I'm looking into Matt's eyes at the altar about to marry the love of my life. It'll be nice to have them written to scrapbook as well.

So, did you write your own vows? If so, did you write them separate from your partner or together? What sorts of things did you include?

Mirabella Rose

2011-08-24T10:00:00.001-04:00

This is going to be a long post, but I promise adorable baby pictures at the end!!

Once upon a time there was a boy named Justin and a girl named Kendra. They met at work and hit it off right away. Over the next two years, their relationship was up and down A LOT. They were together for most of the time, but did actually separate a few times.

Kendra and I got along fairly well when she and Justin were on good terms. Hint**Justin is my brother, and for those of you who are new followers, I talk about how close we are HERE!! :) I love my brother very much, and only want the best for him, so of course when a girl is jerking him around and sexting other guys while she is dating my brother, I tend to not like her very much.

Eventually, Kendra and Justin split up for good. This was Summer of 2010. However, my aunt and uncle were still friendly with her, so they asked her to house sit for them while they went out of town. Very weird situation, right? Well, Justin being a guy decided to "spend some time" with Kendra that week [my birthday actually] if you know what I mean, but little did he know that he was about to change the rest of his life forever.

That all happened in September of 2010.

Enter November 2010. Car ride home from Boston with my uncle.

Uncle: Megan, how do you feel about everything going on?

Me: [thinking he's talking about school and my championship]: I'm really excited. It seems like life is starting to finally move in the right direction

Uncle: Really? I thought you would have been upset. I mean you're going to be an aunt so young.

Me: **Blank Stare** Ummm..

Uncle: Oh no! You didn't know.. Kendra is pregnant and is saying Justin is the father.

Yup. As much as I love my brother, this was a HUGE slap in the face. I was the last to know out of my whole family, and he didn't even tell me himself. I was extremely hurt, but I got over it because I needed to be there for my brother. He ended up telling me that he thought I had too much other stress with Matt being gone and school and whatnot... No excuses. I love you, you're my best friend, you should have told me this!!

Well, Kendra hadn't been completely faithful to Justin during their relationship, so naturally he was questioning paternity. The whole nine months of the pregnancy, he was wondering if he was actually going to be a father. He didn't want her to keep the baby at first, which I do not agree with or support at all. I am 100% against abortion except in extreme cases like rape and incest. Things progressively got weirder. She wouldn't talk to anyone in our family. No one had seen her in months to see if she was even pregnant. She got fired from her job. My brother asked if he could go with her to doctor appointments to support her and she continually refused. She sent him 1 sonogram photo and that's all.

We did, however get invited to the baby shower. It was an awkward experience, but I didn't care. I was there to support the mother of my soon-to-be-niece. At this point, I was the only one in my family to acknowledge that Justin was going to be a father. I didn't doubt the paternity, and I was actually excited to be an aunt.

My mom tried a couple times to reach out to Kendra, but for some reason, I was the only person Kendra actually communicated with, making me the monkey in the middle.

Well, May arrived and so did Mirabella Rose, the world's cutest little girl!!

Since her birth, almost 3 months ago, I have seen her the most. My brother got a paternity test, and surprise, he is the father [sarcasm]! We were notified via text that she had the baby through a c-section. We were not allowed to see her until Sunday [Mirabella was born on a Friday].

Since the paternity test, things have been not so good. At first, she brought Mirabella to see our family. But the whole family was there, so no one really got to bond with her. When Justin went to her house to visit, her dad sat there and screamed at him, or they would all just stare at him awkwardly. It wasn't fair to him.

Unfortunately, my mother left Kendra a nasty voicemail that initiated Kendra filing for Sole Custody. Justin and Kendra went to court and got Joint Custody, but with no set visitation. If my brother wants to see his daughter, he has to go to her house on her terms and can only see her for an hour at a time, because they were the last case of the day at court and the judge was too lazy to appoint visitation.

Justin will be going back to court in the next couple weeks, and I promise to keep you all update.

In 12 weeks, my brother has seen his daughter about 10 times. Not because he doesn't ask every single day, but because Kendra won't let him see the baby.

My mother has not seen her in over 5 weeks because of the voicemail.

My Memere has only seen her once.

I have seen her every week since. I keep my mouth shut so I can see that little girl. I am not on Kendra's side. I am not on Justin's side. I am on Mirabella's side. If that means I have to suck it up and play nice so that I can see my niece, that's what I'll do. I actually ran into Kendra and Mirabella today at Hailey's doctor appointment, and am going to see my little ball of sunshine on Thursday.

I hope that court straightens things out because it breaks my heart to see Justin hurting because he can't see his daughter. It breaks my heart to see Mirabella being used as a weapon between two people. It breaks my heart to see Kendra trying to do all of this on her own.

**Congrats on making it this far! There are of course many small details that I couldn't possibly write all of in this one post, so if you have questions or comments or any suggestions on helping the situation, please don't hesistate!!**

Now for the pictures :)

Proud auntie

Father, Auntie, and Mirabella Rose

Father and Daughter :)

So much red hair just like Daddy!!

Nothing like the love of a father for his daughter

No more pictures please!!

I'm a little gassy but I really like the outfit you got me auntie!


Matthew and Mirabella. He was so afraid to drop her so he held her like a football haha! He is also her only Uncle [until Kendra's 13 year old sister gets married] and he already loves his niece so much.

I'm too cute to cry!

I had a long day, I need a nap!!

She sleeps with her hands over her eyes! So cute :)

Hey Uncle Matt, I love the outfit you bought me! Pink is my favorite color :) And look what I found.. my thumb!! :)

Oh yes, she is so cute and looks just like her daddy. I am a proud Auntie to a beautiful little lady named Mirabella Rose. I hope the visitation gets straightened out soon!!

Good Morning Blog Land

2011-08-23T09:11:00.001-04:00

Hello everyone! It's looking bright and sunny out here in good ol' Connecticut. Well, I have about a week and a half until I move in-to school and 2 weeks from today I will starting classes! Yay! I really can't wait to get up to Boston. I have an apartment-style dorm this year with Val from Mock Mediation and 2 other girls, so I'm really excited to see what it's going to look like! 22nd floor eeeeee :)

Today we have Hailey's baby appointment. I've been going for the past month to the once-a-week check-ups. Last week they told her she could start dialating at any time, so we are hoping for some progress today! I can't WAIT to meet my new godson. On Saturday, my mom, Mark, and I went to Bass Pro Shops.. Love that place! Anywho, I bought Brantley a hunting camo onesie since his daddy likes to hunt and fish and whatnot. I'm going to bring it to the hospital when he arrives! I have the 25th picked, my mom says the 26th, and Hailey says before the 28th!! Let's see when this cute little bundle arrives!!

Also, tonight I have a phone conference with my wedding "planner." I really am not sure what to say to her. Do I just pretend she hasn't blown me off for over 4 months now, or do I bring it up? I mean, when we put the deposit down, the contract says unlimited e-mail/phone contact, a meeting 8 weeks prior to the wedding at the Venue, full day-of set-up and support from two planners, a wedding day timeline for the bridal party and vendors, and a few other odds and ends. I haven't gotten any of that and we're 6 weeks away. Hmmm.. I just don't know. My problem is that I hate creating waves. I could never picture myself saying "well we paid you for this this and this, but haven't received any of the services.. what's the deal?" Everyone around me is saying I should grow a backbone and stand up for her, but if she's going to be a part of the wedding day, I don't want it to be tense, you know?

So my questions are...

Does anyone else have any exciting news going on this week?

Also, what would YOU do personally in my situation?

2 Wedding DIY Projects!

2011-08-22T21:30:00.001-04:00

So I have two projects for you: Our Ceremony/Reception signs and the paper leaf cut-outs for our wish tree!

For the signs, I bought paint, brushes, and arrows at Michael's with a bunch of 40% off coupons :)

For the wish tree, I had already traced 100 leaves on 4 different colored papers so that I only had to cut them out this time. Instead of doing a guest book, we purchased 2 "Wish Trees" and we are going to have the guests write on and sign the leaves then put them on the trees :)

After they were painted. Drying in the sun

In the meantime, I should cut some leaves!

25 Cut green leaves :)

I painted the black with a thick horse hair brush and stenciled the gold with Martha Stewart letter stencils and a thin paint brush. I dabbed over the stencil rather than pain so that the paint wouldn't run under the stencil outline. I did touch-ups in black with the smallest paintbrush I have :)

I can't decide if I want to do a thin gold outline about a centimeter from the outside edge of the arrow that would be about a centimeter thick. What do you think? I also may stencil some gold leaves on the edges :)

Case of the Mystery Package.. Solved!!

2011-08-22T21:07:00.001-04:00

Ok, so the Fed Ex guy surprised me by showing up to my house again today. He said he had forgotten to deliver a packaged down the road and figured he would save me the 45-minute trip and gave me my package. After I signed for it, I could help but rip it open!!

The Box

Hmm.. a box inside a box?

Hmmm.. the company Matt bought my engagement ring from? Jewelry?! :)

Ring box? Hmmm...

Little shiny black box? Any guesses?!?!

7mm White Gold Pearl Studs to wear with my wedding dress... :)

And to wear every day because I LOVE PEARLS!! :D

Don't mind the gross hair.. I just got done working out.

This one had a hard time going through because I haven't worn earrings in years!!

So these pearl earrings came as an early birthday present from the most thoughtful, handsome fiance ever!! :) I am so excited. Perfect size and color!! :) And I love pearls!! Also, he got me my new disposable camera for another birthday present. I told my friend Angela that I am spoiled.. she says that I'm "well-cared for" haha. I like the sounds of that ;)

My Matthew is always thinking of me and always doing nice things for me. I always hope that I am doing enough for him in return. I try to surprise him with care packages and whatnot, and DEFINITELY did a lot for him on his birthday this year, considering it'll probably be the only one in the next few years that we'll get to spend together. We don't do gifts often... usually not even for Christmas, but when he does, he sure knocks them out of the park!!

So the mystery is solved, and the frustration was well worth it!! :D

Mystery Package

2011-08-22T11:15:00.000-04:00

So, Fed Ex tried to deliver a package to me on Friday, but I was out meeting with Pastor Drew, so I missed it. On the slip is says that "Shipper requires signature in person at this address." Hmm... I was thinking all weekend of what it could be. I've ordered a couple things for the wedding and my school books, but why would I be required to sign for them?

So, I rushed home this morning after a much needed girls night last night with Angela and Amberle. We had yummmy frozen mudslides!! :) Well, much to my dismay I pulled into my driveway at 9:45 am with a "We're sorry we missed you" doortag hanging on my front door. This time it not only said the whole thing about the signature, but also said that the "package is not authorized for drop at staffed facility." Third and final attempt tomorrow. WELL... I have Hailey's **LAST** baby doctor appointment before her son arrives, so sorry Fed Ex, I will not be here to receive the package in the AM. So what happens then if it isn't authorized to be held at a nearby facility?

I called Fed Ex to figure out what was going on and they said I could have the package re-routed to another residential address tomorrow so that I would be there for its final attempt. Hmmm... I am going to be at a hospital tomorrow with my pregnant best friend... So, I pleasantly explain the exciting news to the man and he proceeds to ask me the address of the hospital.

.... ARE YOU JOKING ME?!?!

Hahaha.

At this point, I am almost in hysterics I am laughing so hard [on top of sneezing and coughing from the end of this dreadful cold I've had for a week!!], and I again pleasantly try to explain to the man that I'll be AT A HOSPITAL which I am pretty sure won't deliver me my package. He puts me on hold to talk to his supervisor, who says that because of the nature of the package, if they re-route it to a holding facility, I will have to bring 2 forms of government issued ID [instead of the standard 1], a proof of address [piece of mail that gets sent to my house with my name on it so they know I actually live there], AND I have to sit around and wait for an email tomorrow afternoon because he is only authorizing the package to be held for the rest of the business day [it takes about 45 minutes to get there].

So my question is ....

What the F is this mystery package?!?!

Down in the Dumps

2011-08-20T21:07:00.000-04:00

I've been really down lately. It's not really anything to do with Matt leaving for the field until September. We've surprisingly gotten to talk quite a bit!

** Mini-Vent**

It's just that I feel like I have no support. I've been posting about the wedding frequently this month, but most of the time I am doing things on my own. I can't be happy about the wedding at home because of my brother's baby drama [a story to come really soon]. Everyone is so stressed and upset with that, that I don't feel right being happy. I can't be happy about the wedding at Matt's because all his mom can talk about is Andrew and Karen's wedding [which is still about 11 months away]. My matron of honor bailed on me via facebook for a really important appointment, after not seeing me or talking to me in almost 2 weeks. I just wish I could get some help and be excited. Yes, I am excited about all the little projects and whatnot that I have planned. But, it would be so much easier and more exciting if I had some help. I just wish my bridesmaids would call or text every once in a while to see how I am doing or my brother is doing with his daughter.

**End Vent**

On another note, my new digital camera that Matthew ordered me for my birthday came in! I have a few projects to show you all soon :)

Also, Hailey and my mom came with me to my hair trial and my make-up trial. I would post pictures, but I don't want to take a chance of the GROOM seeing before the wedding hehe! I will say that I am doing an up-do, have a silver headpiece and a two-tiered veil :)

In the MOST EXCITING NEWS, my best friend Hailey will be having her baby probably by the end of next week. I am so excited to meet my godson, Brantley Cole :)

Wedding Update

2011-08-12T21:31:00.001-04:00

So, I have SO much to update on, but unfortunately my camera broke :( A new one is on its way and should be here sometime next week.

Here is what I can show you :)

Arrived overnight for standard shipping!

MUCH better :) These mini tealight holder-lanterns are the perfect size!!

Unity Sand main vase. It says "Today I marry my best friend" October 7, 2011

Our personalized vases

Wish tree box!!

My wish tree!! I am painting the leaves green :)

Front of our invitations, pre-bows haha. Took hours to tie 75 bows

All ready to be shipped out!!

I also mailed the invites out, got our first RSVP today :) Started looking for new vases because the original ones were discontinued :( , bought some leaf bouquets at Michael's, bought our arrow signs, and much more!!

I'll post more pictures when I get my new camera in!! :) I am really grateful to Matt for buying me a new one!!

Tomorrow, half the guys [and me!!] are going to look at tuxes.

I have my make-up trial on Wednesday!!

And Matthew leaves tomorrow for 2 weeks in the field :( LAME!! BUTTTT... we did take this on Skype before he left :)

Holy COW my hair is getting long!! Funny, because Matt claims to be balding ;)

It's My Wedding, and I'll Be Excited if I want to!

2011-08-02T17:26:00.000-04:00

So with all these wedding "to-dos" and crafts and whatnot, I find myself getting really really excited over the little things. Now don't get me wrong, Matt is a very good listener and fairly involved with the planning. But I'm pretty sure, he isn't going to get too excited over me finding paint on sale for $0.29! Haha

With my mom worrying about my brother going to court over custody of his 8 week old daughter, Matt's parents worrying over Ashley's drama lately, and Matt's mom worrying about Andrew and Karen's wedding [which is next July...], I really don't have an outlet where I can get excited over the wedding. So that's where you all come in. Haha. Over the next 2 months, I am sure I will be posting a TON about my little wedding triumphs and crafts and struggles.

What's in the Bag?

On my enormous list of Wedding to-dos today, I went to Michael's. This is what was in my bag.

DIY Place Cards with a template for the computer

DIY Program kit with templates online


$0.29 green paint for the leaves on the Wish Tree and Gold ribbon for our "Within the Ribbon Cards"

5 more chalkboards for our love quotes. Still need 5 more!!

Then I went to the Dollar Tree to look for our vases and candles, but got neither haha

Basket for the leaves

Bunches of leaves that I can cut off and put in the basket

Bunches of daisies to cut the tops off and put in the glass lanterns

Paint brushes

What's in the mail?

We've been ordering so much stuff that I can't keep my head straight. Haha. So I came home from work on Monday to 6 HUGE boxes.

We ordered 50 of these hanging lanterns. They are WAY too big, and the company return policy is sketchy, so we're going to stick candles in them and use them to decorate the cocktail area, the aisle, and the head table :) We ordered smaller ones from Crate and Barrel today!!


Here is one vase. It's a big vase.. $1 at the Dollar Tree! I love bargains. Those are our Manzanita branches. 16 of them came in the mail today. We may need more depending on our guest count, but we're playing it by ear. See how large the lanterns look next to the branches? Yeah.. looks pretty silly haha. So we're going smaller. Also, I need to find sand or rocks to fill the vase with and candles to put in the lanterns.

So what are we waiting for in the mail right now? Our unity sand vases, the 2 wishing trees, the silk leaves, and the mini lanterns. Buying in bulk online seems like the way to go lately. Other than shipping and handling being outrageous on some sites, Amazon and save-on-crafts have both been a HUGE HELP!!

What else did I do today, you ask?

1. Ordered the invitations!! :)

2. Called Hannoush and Kay about getting our wedding bands coated before the wedding.

3. Booked our Honeymoon Suite

4. Got in touch with our Pastor to set up a day to discuss the ceremony

5. Called BU about the deposit for the Internship Program!!

Wow. It was a busy day today haha. I am really getting excited over how close the wedding is!!

Internship News

2011-08-01T19:11:00.000-04:00

Remember how a few months back I mentioned that I was applying for an internship in Washington, D.C.?

Well, I did and they started making their decisions August, 1st [Today].

Yup. The day the decisions started being made,

I got accepted!!

I am so excited for the opportunities ahead :)

Wedding Projects

2011-07-31T14:42:00.000-04:00

So this week, I am going to try and get my craft on and get some wedding projects done.

This Week in the Mail!

1. 2 Wish Trees

2. Branches for centerpieces

3. Mini lantern candle holders for centerpieces

4. Unity Sand Set [minus the sand]

5. 1000 silk fall leaves

Well, Blog loves, this week I hope to get all the "Wishing Tree" stuff ready, make 1 centerpiece prototype so I can make the rest when it gets closer, and stuff the organza bags for our guests with the silk leaves. I also have to order invitations!! I made a list of stuff I need to buy at Michael's [LOVE THAT PLACE] last night with Matt, and he said it wasn't too bad... YAY!!

I will definitely be posting sneak peaks of the projects as they go along :)