Getting Back in the Skinny Jeans

As with every girl at some (most) point(s) in her life, I have a few pounds I would like to lose and never find again. I have joked with William that he did this to me since I have gained about 18 pounds since we started remodeling the house and got married.  Before marriage, my dinners usually consisted of chicken, veggies and sometimes a starch.  Dinner with William, however, started with a base of pasta, then chicken, then veggies.  And usually went with a side of garlic bread and a glass of wine.  Now, I know he didn't shove this food down my throat, but when I am making a requested meal for someone after a long day of work, I don't want to make two separate meals.  I did attempt to load more veggies and meat onto my plate than pasta, but what can I say? Pasta is a weakness. Especially with pesto.  And marinara!  ...and parmesan. Too good to pass up.

And when we weren't making homemade pasta, chili, garlic bread and any requested desserts (banana bread, brownies, cake batter cookies, etc.), we were ordering out because we were too busy painting or sanding and needed to feed all our remodeling helpers who showed up that night. So... a year and a half later and my gym picture scared the devil out of me.  Before you judge, let me preface this with the facts that my driver's license photo is a really GOOD photo of me and the gym picture is a very BAD photo of me.

However, you can still see the difference.  Can we say "Fat Cheeks"???  The driver's license photo was taken 1 month and 2 days after marriage, and the gym photo was 1 year and 8 months into marriage. And it was enough to bring tears to my eyes!  Never have I been horrified by a photo like I was by that one and this comparison.

I had a minor amount of relief when my friend Rachel complained of gaining weight a couple months after her wedding.  I had been warning her that it would happen and to watch out for it.  Being naturally skinny though, I didn't think it would ever happen to her.  But when I got the text from her saying her jeans were not buttoning, I can't say I didn't cheer a little on the inside.  I was normal.  It happens to skinny people too.

So I am posting this story and horrible photo here as a challenge to myself and acceptance that it's happened and I have to deal with it.  It is no longer winter and I can't hide behind scarves and jackets.  It's time to get back to healthy, back in shape and find my happiness again.

Here's to getting back in the skinny jeans!

Nicolini Wedding

The wedding planning process for me was a big deal.  Between sorority life and being a PR major, I had planned and attended my fair share of events.  I had opinions on things most people don't even know was supposed to be thought about.  (Did you check the bathrooms at your venue?  I did - I don't want to use a gross bathroom at a wedding, and I surely didn't want to force that on my guests.  Because we were serving drinks.  Good drinks.  Drinks that are guzzled faster than iced tea.  You're welcome.)

So when a bride is suddenly faced with planning an event for 200-300 people almost by herself and never having planned an event before, it's enough to make her lose her mind.  Which I did.  I'll admit it.  But now that it's over and I'm thinking clearly again, I have free mind space I can use to critique the events planned by others who are losing their minds.  Sounds fun, right?  But it's maddening.  I just want to go to an event and not think about what I would have done differently or what I can predict will go wrong.  (I do also notice the beautiful things and the amazing things brides come up with.  I'm not all bad.)  But I just want to enjoy the experience and ooh and ahh.  And then the Nicolini wedding happened...

William's roommate from college, Ryan Nicolini, was set to marry his beautiful bride this past Memorial Day weekend in Mid-City New Orleans. This was my second trip to this wonderful city, and a great time was had by all.

The wedding was in an incredible church that was huge and built in 1844.  I wish I'd gotten a picture of the scroll work on the pews.  It was beautiful.  And the floors underneath the pews were all hand-laid original hardwoods that were worn to perfection.

Source:  www.stjosephchurch-no.org

I think my favorite part was her bouquet.  It had spanish moss cascading out of it and down her dress.  It looked incredible and so southern and so New Orleans.


Photo compliments of the groom's dad's Facebook post.

This photo is probably the only time I didn't see Ryan beaming.  He's smiling here, but I'm telling you, he BEAMED all day.  He was the happiest and most excited groom I have ever seen.  He was so proud to be marrying Jessica.  And he should be :)

The ceremony was a full mass, but while long, it didn't feel like it.  The priest was a little extreme in drawing out his words and making everything a production.  I prefer more subtle traits in my clergy, but his homily was special to the bride and groom while also teaching the guests about life-long love for each other and God.

As the bride walked back down the aisle, I turned to look at William in shock and said, "I have nothing to say.  I have no critiques.  It was amazing."  William, knowing how detail-oriented and downright crazy I am, mirrored my look of shock and said he agreed.

The reception followed with more amazingness.  The couple both love dancing, so when the first dance was announced, everyone got up to get a good view.  And they did not disappoint.   It was saucy, sexy, fun and beautiful.  I wish I'd gotten a video. Next time...  The food was amazing, table decorations awesome... I just can't say enough. I was so in awe I only took 2 pictures the entire day.  On William's phone... because mine has no memory... Again.

And y'all, they cut the cake with a sword.  Like a metal, shiny, real-life sword.  The boys cheered and the girls looked confused.  But it made for some good "wedding was so cool" gossip later.

Congratulations to Ryan and Jessica!  Your love is beautiful, and we hope you have a wonderful life-long love.