as long as you both shall live, with this ring, I now pronounce you....

I do.

I thee wed.

Husband and wife.

The BIG day.

I went to numerous dress fittings. Lost weight, gained weight, accidently lost more weight a week before my wedding sending my alterations lady and myself into a panic to pull in the seam, and there I was.. barely able to breathe once my dress was on and it was time to walk down the aisle. How does one gain and lose and gain 5 pounds in days? Lets not forget to mention, that by the end of my wedding night.. I found myself yanking my dress up discretely (I hope) because that darn thing seemed to be growing on me!

I bought 3 pairs of wedding shoes. 3 pairs. Hated all of them, except the last pair.... or so I thought. Apparently, wearing an 8 pound beaded lace gown makes your feet hurt no matter what you’re wearing on your feet. After the ceremony, and hours of pictures... I put on platform flip flops. Yes, I did. I swear. The girl who owns 739238 pairs of heels, opted for flip flops for her wedding reception. I had dancing all night on my agenda, and my "perfect wedding shoes" weren’t gonna cut it...

I had 2 hair trials. Thought it was exactly what I wanted. Until 3 hours before my wedding. "It needs to be higher! volume! I need volume!" So... my lovely girls helped to give me what I wanted. I think. I wish I would have gotten extensions. Yes, I naturally have wonderful amounts of Latin hair. But, ya know... whatever. Extensions. That’s all Im gonna say.

I remained calm throughout the day. I was the one telling my mother, maid of honors, and bridesmaids to relax. Lets not even get started on how many time I had to tell my dad to breathe. I ate a small breakfast. My wonderful maid of honor, Lauren, even walked completely across a mall to get me a Venti Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks while I got my hair done. I had a few bites of a sandwich while it was makeup time. "Are you nervous!?" My response.... "No."

And I wasn’t. I was marrying my best friend. Who would be nervous about that? I had been practicing my vows since I saw "Father of the Bride" when I was 6... I grew up wearing dresses, and could successfully walk a mile in high heels by the time I was 12. Why would I be nervous? Its only my family and friends... Seemed like such a silly question.

My bridesmaids walked down the aisle one by one, and I smiled watching them from a window.

Then my Maid of Honors walked, arm in arm.. and it was time to pull myself away from the window and stand tall.

When my flower girl and ring bearer made their way down the aisle, I laughed.. My ring bearer took his job very serious. "Throw a petal! Come on! Throw the petals!" he screamed at my flower girl while he flung around the ring pillow my mother spent weeks hand sewing and beading with crystals.

Daddy looked at me and winked.

Piece of cake.

And then the music changed.

It went from a sweet symphony to the traditional "Dun dun dun dunnnnn....."

A few weeks before, while picking our ceremony music... Ryan declared he wanted "Here comes to the bride" to not sound wimpy. He wanted it to be full of deep bass.. as if announcing the royal family...

Bad idea.

My stomach flipped. And then it flopped.. and then.... I felt like I was going to be sick in the sticky Florida May heat. "Ryan is your best friend. He is your lover. He is your soul mate. He is the father of your future children. He loves you even though you’re insane! He is the reason you’re so dang happy all the time!"

And then came the tears.

 And none of this was nerves.

All of this was pure shock.

I, Angela, was marrying the one man that makes so head over heels happy.

Every dream was coming true at that exact moment.

I had found my God given partner, and I was about to commit my entire life to him.

And silly me.

 Before I met Ryan, I never thought I would ever be lucky enough to get married.

I had just turned 22 when I met him. Pathetic, huh?

Here I am... 1 year and and 9 months after the day I had first laid eyes on him.... about to say "I do", to make a deal with God and continue to love this man forever.

I was completely overwhelmed with emotions.

And our pictures?

Shows every insane emotion that came flooding out.

And NOT in the nicest of ways......

"Ok, this is easy.. There he is. MY GROOM. Look how handsome the boys look! And my honey! I havent seen him in like 20 hours. I miss him so much."

"ok, there goes the 2 girls that know more about me then I know about me. Wait, Jessies dress is shorter then Laurens. How the heck did that happen? No biggie..."

"Arent they so freakin cute?"

"My poor mom. Spent days on that dang pillow, and junior is tossing it around like a rag... funny"

"Dun dun dun..... dunnnnn ohhhhhhh crap"

"Um.. whats my name? Where am I? What planet am I on???"

"Look at this handsome man. God, he is so amazing. And so handsome. I hope he remembered to give Joe our weddings bands. Look how dang cute he looks! Those dreamy blue eyes..."

"Woooo Hoooo! This is EASY! Keep your eyes on the prize, Angela... "

"How long is this aisle? I hope it doesnt rain. Mmmmm... my man looks yummy!"

"Crap, this is the moment they sing about in county songs. Daddy is giving me away. Crap. Swallow that  lump in your throat!!! Get it together!!!"

"Swallow that lump, I say!!!"

"Ok, its me... and him... and preacher man... and 150 people... and God. No prob... Wait. Time for vows? I have to speak? Out loud? "

"Dang it. Stick a fork in me, Im done. There is no going back on these water works..."

"In sickness and in health (sniff, slurp, sniff) til death do us part"

"Ok, that wasnt so bad... Crap, its his turn. This may be worse then my turn. Its a good thing his grandmother hand beaded this hankie Im wiping my snot all over"

"losing it here.... losing it..... He said it. He said I do. The moment I have dreamt of all my life. Sweetest words Ive ever heard!"

"Rings, rings... my rings so pretty."

*Disclaimer- I will not post a picture of our first kiss as husband and wife. It was horrible. I decided it was okay to throw my chubby little arms around my husbands neck, and I look like a lumber jack. True story.

"Husband and Wife? Husband and Wife? Oh my holy JESUS! Husband and wife!"

Marrying Ryan was the most soul calming thing I have ever done. God made it clear that I was marrying my soul mate. There are not words to describe the amount of love for each other that floated from our lips as we said our vows. I think our faces paint the entire picture.

I do.

Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow.

Forever and a day.

Bacon Bite Cup Thingys that make my mouth water....

Disclaimer- Do not make these for your next human gathering if you enjoy left overs. Because there will be zero left for that nonsense.
 -end disclaimer.

Tiny 2 bite pastry cups filled with bacon, cheese, and all sorts of yummy goodness. Super rich, almost overly delightful. Dainty enough for the ladies, and meaty enough for the men.

Bacon is F A B U L O U S. I would marry it if I could.
 No really, holy moly bacon matrimony! My mouth is watering.

And they are so stinkin easy to make! I promise.
 But what I cant promise is that your jeans are going to be really stinkin easy to shimmy on when you wake up the morning after inhaling these bites of dreamy bacon.

 But, that's not important...

Chop up 1 package of bacon. Cook until almost crispy... but not too crispy.

 Once cooked, allow to drain on a few paper towels.

In a bowl... crack one egg..

And 8 ounces of Chive and Onion cream cheese.

Add a half cup of mayo.

Half cup of chopped onion.

And about 2 tablespoons of lemon juice.

Dump in the cooked bacon.

And 3 cups of shredded cheese.

I like using the Mexican cheese combo.

Stir together until it looks like this creamy goodness...

And stick it in the fridge.

These are the dinner rolls I use. The regular ones work just fine also...

Ya know, if 50% bigger and flaky arent your thang.....

Lay out the rolls on the counter. squish the diagonal lines together to form a funky looking rectangle.

Then, using a pizza cuter... cut the dough into squares.

Grease a mini muffin pan rather well....

Line each muffin cup with a square of dough.

Then fill with that creamy goodness you stuck in the fridge earlier....

Bake at 350 degrees for 9 minutes, or until you see the dough turn into a golden brown.

Make these for your memorial day get together...

Before you know it, your friends and family will make up their very own holiday in honor of you and these bacon cups.

Bet cha!

*Variation- To serve them up as a mini quiche for breakfast or brunch, use a regular size muffin or cupcake pan.

Bake those bad boys for about 12 minutes, or until dough is golden.

I prefer the mini ones. I think it has something to do with not feeling so guilty if I eat 2. Ok, who am I fooling.. 3.

Alright, whatever! 12!

Are you there God? Its me, Angela....

Warning my readers right now, this blog is going to sound completely out of context from the usual happy go lucky person that I am. I have some things I need to get off my chest, and its your lucky day. (readers, readers? Are you there? Do you hear me? Who ARE you? Maybe Im just talking to an empty room...)

What is fulfilment exactly? When is your life considered full?

Is it when you bring home enough money to pay the bills, get a haircut, buy organic groceries, and still have money left over for a savings account and a few drinks with friends? AND a full tank of gas?

Is fulfilment having an empty wallet but a full heart, because you get to wake up next to someone who adores you even when you forget to wash your eye makeup off before bed the night before?

Is fulfilment working odds and ends jobs, but having the satisfaction of making ends meet all on your own?

Is fulfilment making enough money to feed yourself and a small country, afford a luxury car, a condo on the water... but just to go home and enjoy it by yourself?

I am not questioning who has dealt my cards. I know the big man upstairs has some major plans for us. I know he is having me go through this storm, so I can truly appreciate the sunshine after its done raining. But, man... he sure is standing me up to quite the test! I left my job due to real deal, unfair circumstances that were outlandish and affecting my relationship with my husband, mainly because the stress and confidence blows were taking a toll on myself as a person. So... my quest for a new job begins....

And then I find something that seemed to have fallen from the heavens. I really felt like God was smiling down on me the day I found this “wedding coordinator” job. I stressed and prayed and pleaded that God let this be real. This is what I have been wanting, and wishing, and hoping for... and just as fast as the dream was right before my eyes, it was gone.

Now, here I am, 3 weeks later. Stressed, on the verge of tears, and pondering ways to pay my next car payment. Thank God for my grocery shopping binge before we hit rock bottom. I can feed myself and a small country... but that’s pretty much all I can handle right now.

I don’t get it. I pray every day for other people... I pray that they meet their soul mate, or fight off a sickness, or get that job they want so bad. I pray for peace, and for our men overseas, and for those less fortunate. I pray for my family and my friends, for health, and prosperity.. . and I see the fruits of my prayers every day.

Dear God, is anyone praying for me?! Because I kinda feel like we can’t take this anymore. I know I have a family, and friends, and a husband that adores me... but this roof over my head.. and the food in my fridge, and this happy go lucky spirit I tend to have... I don’t know how long its gonna last.

I guess what Im praying for today is a prayer... I pray that someone prays for me. I don’t know if thats wrong. I know there are people who need prayers more than I do, but I promise with all my heart, that I will return the favor.

Our Engagement...

My engagement story is a very interesting one...

The story starts in July of 2008. Ryan and I decided to move in together. And Ryan also decided that it was time to buy me a ring. So, he started saving money and lots of it. The day after I signed our lease, sealing the deal.. I lost my job. Ouch.

So, here we are. 2 young people, with no furniture and no silverware and bare walls... trying to make ends meet. Needless to say, our one man salary at the time wasn’t enough to put much food in our fridge and Ryans savings account quickly dwindled to nothing.... and the ring plan was put on hold. In the mean time, I stumbled on a beautiful waterfront garden pavilion down the street from our condo, where I decided I wanted to get married one day.

I finally got an okay paying job that September. By October , our banking account was looking slightly stable again... and Ryans wheels starting spinning. The hunt for the ring began.

Thanksgiving 2008 was not a pleasant one for me. I had developed a wicked case of bronchitis, a sinus infection, and a touch of pneumonia. Hell did not begin to describe how sick I was. Thanksgiving was okay besides the forces being against me, and this is the day Ryan pulled my father into my parents backyard and asked for my hand in marriage.

The following day, Friday November 27th... Ryan and I worked a half day. When leaving for work that morning, I was severely disoriented and wishing I could crawl back in bed. My immune system was completely dissolved, and I was officially drained. Ryan wanted to take our camera with us that morning “I want to go by the wedding place after work, so we can take pictures to show my family.” It didn’t make sense, but I didn’t have the energy to question it.

After work, we went to my parents house to have Thanksgiving leftovers for lunch. Ryan was obnoxiously antsy the entire time, and I didn’t understand what his rush was. I ate slowly and took my time as I chatted with my parents, without stopping to notice that they were pretty antsy also.

On the drive home after lunch, I grew more and more tired... wanting nothing more than to take a hot shower and to crawl into my bed. But, Ryan insisted that we stop by this wedding spot to take pictures. I reluctantly agreed. He grabbed our camera, and we started walking toward the garden when a bunch of little old ladies started filing out of the building. “Honey! We cant take pictures with all these old ladies around! Lets come back some other day! Its cold, Im sick, I want my bed! Lets go!!! Please!!!” Ryans face fell as he got back into his truck. Our 2 minute drive back to our condo was quiet and awkward. Something was troubling this man. “Honey, are you okay? Why are you not talking? Whats wrong?”... his response?“Nothing”. Well, Fine then!

As soon as we got home, I went into our bedroom to pull out my comfy sweats... As far as I was concerned, my day was over and I was going to shower and get into bed. On my way to the bathroom, Ryan grabbed my arm and pulled me back into the room. He said he needed to talk. It went something like this:

Ryan: (While giving me a hug) “Will you marry me?”

Me: “Of course honey! We already talked about this”

Ryan: (pulling away to look at me, and reaching into his pocket) “No! Will your promise to love me forever?”

Me: “Oh my Gosh. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh! Youre asking me to marry you!?”

Ryan: (While opening a small black velvet box) “Will you marry me?”

Me: (Now completely throwing myself on him) “Yes, yes! Yesssss!!! Baby! YES! Oh my Gosh, YES! (crying, crying, sniffling, more crying)

This went on and on for about 15 minutes before I even had the nerve to look at the ring. And when I did see my gorgeous, amazing, sparkly ring just SMILING at me.. . it all began again. More crying, more oh my gosh’s!, more sniffling, and more crying.

Ryan’s first master plan? To propose to me at the wedding place of my dreams in the same exact place we were to share our vows. Im still in awe that he planned something so simply romantic and wonderful.

But whats better then that plan? The way it actually played out. Just me and the most amazing man in the world, in our condo where we shared so many struggles and tears and wonderfully happy times... Asking me to be his wife, the mother of his children, and his soul mate until God parts us.

I couldn’t have anticipated a greater proposal. Is it the kind of stuff you see in fairy tales? Nope. But its my fairy tale. And I wouldn’t have changed it for anything.

That night (forgetting about my sick, sad immune system) Ryan and I celebrated at my favorite restaurant, and then celebrated with our closest friends at my favorite watering hole.

And then we lived happily ever after!

... but thats not the end!

My wedding- Details.

On May 16th, 2009 I said the words "I do" to the man who would say them back, as we proclaimed our forever love for each other in front of our family, friends, and God.

Almost as exciting as the moment, was the excitement of planning our wedding. Picking colors, and fonts, and flowers, and details.. and too many ribbons? Swirly font? Music? Who should sit with who? Sit down dinner or buffet? White folding chairs or Chivari? Traditional? Who would give toasts? Best waterproof mascara? French Bustle?

Before all these questions, I already knew what I wanted to see on my wedding day. I wanted a room rich in color, but classic. I wanted the room to have clean dynamics, but warm and inviting at the same time. I wanted my guests to truly walk in, and feel the amount of love between my husband and I. I wanted everyone to understand what we were all about as a couple.

Im a sucker for vintage. And Glamour. And drama. And my husband found all 3 in my engagement ring. My engagement ring set the tone for my wedding day. Im in LOVE with my engagement ring... delicate, feminine, and stunning.

And thats exactly how I wanted my wedding day to be!

Brides Attire-

The Dress. Casablanca 1908 inspired hand beaded vintage damask lace gown. A line.

Classic satin kitten heels adorned with Swarovski crystals.

Vintage glamorous diamond drop earrings (My something borrowed from my husbands grandmother), and a diamond beaded bracelet  (My something old. Made from my Grandmothers rosary. She passed 4 years before I was born, and she is also my name sake)

Flowers-

What is more traditional and feminine and breath taking then roses? Known as the flower that truly means love, I knew I wanted roses to be my flower...

My bridesmaid bouquets were made up of different shades of pink roses and some ivory to add extra drama. The stems were hand wrapped in cornflower blue satin ribbon.

My bouquet was made up of 7 (yes, seven!) dozen roses. Hand wrapped with white satin ribbon and adorned in pearls.

My centerpeices were made up of amazing roses, set in silver bowls among tables dotted with rose petals.

My 4 tier wedding cake, was matched with 3 tiers of roses and topped with a mini bouquet.

Ceremony-

Handmade flower balls, tied with cornflower blue satin ribbon, hung from sheppard hooks leading up our aisle. Handmade by my wonderful mom.

Handmade Sandalwood fans on every ceremony seat helped guests survive the May heat during the ceremony. Each fan tied with pink ribbon and a tag reading "Thank you for sharing our special day! Ryan & Angela. May 16th, 2009"

Guests were given vintage inspired programs as they were seated.

Programs introduced our immediate family, wedding party, both readings, a brief story of how we met and our engagement, and the lyrics of our first dance song.

Our wedding took place under hundred year old oak trees, and the waters of the bay as a perfect back drop to tie in all the elements. Chivari chairs were used to keep up with the vintage feel.

Reception-

Vintage inspired alphabetical seating charts.

Keeping up with the vintage, table numbers.

Feasting table for the bridal party. Lace silverware, silver chargers (food was served on silver laced china), crisp white linens, silver chivari chairs, vases filled with glass stones and water hiding mini blue LED lights to add a contemporary feel. Centerpieces circled with rose petals.

LED centerpieces

Guest Table.

White chiffon draped the walls, lit with soft pink uplighting.

Favor boxes had each guests name inscribed on the handmade tags, used in place of name cards.

Personalized favor boxes filled with pink and silver wrapped Hershey kisses. Scroll announced a donation to St. Jude in honor of our wedding guests.

Bridal Party Attire-

Bold Chiffon tea length  Raspberry pink, and Cornflower blue dresses with satin white sashes..

Classic tuxes with silver vests and ties.

Blue and pink ribbons sewn onto our flower girls dress to tie in the colors of our wedding day.

The Cake-

Ryans Aunt Joanne, is not only a fabulous woman, but a wedding cake maker.

My cake was extremely important. I wanted a yummy buttercream cake. And I wanted it to be super pretty.. like fondant.

Stacked high, with each layer different.

And this is the masterpiece in all of its amazing glory!

Each layer is decorated with a different pattern. Bottom and middle layer is her secret recipe cake with chocolate frosting, and the middle and top layer is red velvet with cream cheese frosting.

Cake is sitting on a silver vintage cake stand.

And thats our wedding.

The most beautiful day of my entire life!