Wedding Wednesday: My Surprise (Video) and My Dress.

 

On Saturday Morning, June 15th, I woke up knowing that I was about to go shopping for my wedding gown and I questioned if I would end up saying "Yes to the Dress." I had been overly excited about going shopping for my wedding gown and besides my Older Sister, whom is my Maid of Honor, I would actually have all of my Bridesmaids there with me in addition to my Mom, and Speedracers Aunt and Grandmother. After running a little late in the morning because I got my hair styled, we made it to the Bridal Salon and little did I know, the Day was going to turn out to be better then I expected.

I showed up with a game plan - Introduce the 9 Girls I had with me, Tell the Consultant that My Sister (who now lives in washington and told me she was unable to come) and a mother figure in Speedracers life were both going to be watching VIA "FaceTime," and then I would proceed to find the dress of my dreams - which I already assumingly thought I knew which one that was.

 Game Plan - All Wrong.

When we showed up my mom and a few others were already there and we were waiting for one more, which was actually 2 minutes behind our arrival. We were paired with a sweet consultant named Jordan and we quickly discussed details such as when and where the wedding was; as well as what the theme of our wedding would be. She then asked me who was here with me today and well....
This is what happened::

 

It took me about 30 seconds to actually register that My Sister Lyndsay was NOT in Washington, but was actually here in San Diego face to face with me at the Bridal Shop. I was told for months that she was not going to be able to make it due to her new Job and Lack of Money for a plane ticket. Although crushed, we figured out a way that she could be there and we thought "FaceTime" -- I later found out that she didn't know she was going to be here either but her Boyfriend said he would buy her plane ticket so that she could come be here for My Dress Appointment,  My Birthday, and Fathers Day. My Mom was the only one who knew she'd be here and she actually surprised my dad at the fire station too, which was a tearful reunion as well. Seriously what a great Surprise for Myself and Dad. Right?


1. Trying to Figure out if I was dreaming
2. Actually Realizing that She was Here.
3. "I didn't think you were going to be here"
4. Super Happy!!!



And Yes - in the video, you do hear me yell "Shut the F up" - because was I was in serious shock.

After all the tears were done pouring out of everyones eyes - The appointment really started. And the consultant pulled 3 beautiful gowns, one of which was a gown I had been looking at on the Internet for months now and so badly wanted to try on. I told her I wanted to wait to try that one on because If I loved it, I didn't want to be done after just 3 dresses. I really wanted to experiance trying on different styles and different dresses. I wanted to soak in this whole experiance because they say it's one of the BEST parts of this whole wedding experiance. The Dress defines the Bride. I wasn't about to just find a dress and go with it. I wanted to find the perfect one for me and for Our Day.

The First 3 Dresses were pretty. I told the consultant that I didn't want a ball gown dress or a heavy one which totally eliminated the first 3 dresses. The first one was pretty but some of the detailing wasn't cute and all the ladies agreed with me. The second one had such a gorgeous top to it but the bottom half was a ballgown of tulle and super heavy - it also made me look like I had balloons in my dress. The third one wasn't as big as the second by I didn't like the top - it was too plain for me and the dress overall was uncomfortable. When I got to the 4th Dress, it wasn't big or poofy at all - it was pretty fitting. I walked out and everyone did their "oohhh" and "awww." They Loved it. The back of the dress had a beautiful keyhole cut out in which we all drooled over. So the consultant dressed me up with a vail and some jewlery which added more "awww" to the crowd. But when I looked in the Mirror - I hated it. I hated everything about how I looked. My Hips looked Kim Kardashian huge - like Pregnate Kim Huge. Yeah, that's never a cute look - not even for Kim.

My Best Friend wanted to see me in a dress that was inspired by Princess Tiana. I wasn't really drawn to the dress but I wanted to try it on just incase I actually liked how it looked on me. So I walked out wearing dress number 5. Half of the group just stared and half of the group went "aww." -- as for me...I HATED IT. I wanted to run back in the dressing room and rip the dress to shreds. It had one strap that was placed so awkwardly across my back, the skirt had huge pickups in it apart from being a ballgown...I hated it. If the top didn't have a strap then the top wouldn't have been so bad and it made my waist look small which of course I loved but that was the only part of the dress I liked. So when we went back in the dressing room, Jordan My Consultant, asked what I was thinking about I said "This Dress is Hideous." She laughed and said "Yah I'm not a fan of this dress either..on anyone." So atleast I had the consultant on my side which made me feel a little better. She asked what I wanted to do next and said "Why Don't we try on that last dress that I absolutley love." This was my hope factor that the dress I had been looking at for over 8 months was "The One." I put it on and really really liked it. When I walked out - I didn't get the reaction I was hoping for. The Girls thought it was "Pretty" but it didn't look as flattering as a Wedding Dress should on a Bride. I stared at myself in the Mirror for about 3 minutes and got really frusterated. I kept asking the group "what about this dress don't you like" and we all kept picking at things we didn't but also things we liked about it.

My Sister then made a suggestion about a specific dress style. The Consultant gave me the Catalog to look at and I pointed at 3 more gowns I liked, in which she said "Everything you told me you don't like in a dress...These Dresses have." So I felt crushed. She then went to pull one final gown that met everything I wanted in a gown and that also had my sisters suggestions. I didn't even see the gown when she brought it into the dressing room. And with that - I tried on my 7th Wedding Gown.


When I put it on she asked me what I thought and I said "The Girls are going to Cry." and as I stepped out of the Dressing room into view, My Mom started to cry. And that's why I knew I had found my dress. My Mom couldn't stop crying which caused a ripple affect of tears across the group. My Consultant quickly got a Vail and Some Jewlery to doll me up with - when I turned to look at myself in the Mirror - I Lost it. I started balling hysterically and I knew that I had found MY Dress. She smiled and said the words that every bride wants to hear...."Are you saying YES to THE DRESS?"......and through all the tears, I shook my head and got out a faint YES!!



MY GIRLS AND I
"After I said YES to the Dress"



.........304 days until Speedracer can see the Dress.....

Happy 23rd Birthday to Me!

My NEW Pink Birthday Present. BOOM!

Happy Birthday Ashlee Michelle - You are 23 years old today.
I know you had a BLAST on Saturday saying "Yes to the Dress" and then
going to your Birthday Party only to get the coolest PINK BEACH CRUISER
from Speedracer, Mom, and Dad. I know you were also really happy to be surprised
by your big sister Lyndsay at the Bridal Salon - She told you she couldn't make it but
flew in from Washington to be there for your dress appointment and birthday - You have
the BEST Big Sister in the world & I know that only made your 23rd Birthday even better.

So Today -
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SELF.
Go out there in your new black dress & rock your 23rd Birthday.
Things can only go up from here and this is your last birthday as a "single" women
and the last birthday you will be able to call yourself Ashlee B. So Enjoy it!!

 

..............................Seriously when did this happen? How is it already my 23rd Birthday?
............Happy Birthday Self, You are super Fabulous.

Will I Say Yes to the Dress?

Somewhere in the world, a little girl is dreaming of her perfect wedding gown. She is thinking about what kind of Bride she wants to be, from her hair to her shoes. She wonders if she wants a mermaid gown, A-Line Gown, does she want an empire waist, or does she want a princess perfect ball gown?
Whatever she dreams of she knows that one day when she is older and in love that she will find the perfect, special gown that she has been dreaming of her whole life. And when she finds that dress she will look into the mirror and SAY YES TO THE DRESS!!!

As an 8yr old, not only was I playing with barbie dolls but I did a lot of dressing up. Somewhere out there, we have a photo of me and 2 of my childhood friends playing dress up. I was way taller then my friends, so of course the clothes didn't fit me as well, but somehow I found myself in a white wedding gown. Like I said, it was akwardly small on me but I didn't care. I felt like a princess. I felt like a Bride. And well, since it was only 1998 I was 12yrs off from finding the man of my dreams - but I knew that my prince was out there somewhere - and so was THE DRESS.
Finding the PERFECT wedding gown has been well - a process. It's not even stressful, but nerve racking. Will I fall in love with a gown, will I Cry when I find "the one." and will Speedracer love the dress as much as I do? These are all questions that have been in my head alot this past week. It's all becoming so real - in the fact that I'm actually getting married. For someone with a Heart Defect that wasn't supposed to live past her first 3 months of life - this is a HUGE DEAL. Not only for me but for my family. I think that's what makes me emotional, super emotional. My Parents who were told that they wouldn't see me grow up, get to be apart of my wedding planning. My Mom gets to watch me try on wedding gowns and in less then a year my dad gets to walk me down the aisle - two things they were told they would never be able to do with me. How Blessed has my life turned out to be?

So Today - with my wonderful and beautiful Bridesmaids (and sister that will be there VIA "FaceTime") My Mom, My Aunt-in-Law, and Grandma-in-Law....I am going for my first (and hopefully only) appointment to try on Wedding Gowns. The Day I have been waiting for since I was 8yrs old playing dress up with my friends. The Day I have been waiting for since I was a little girl in her room sketching out what her dream gown would look like. The Day I have been waiting for since I was a teenager sitting in my room searching the internet for wedding designers and perfect Bridal Gowns. The Day I have been waiting for since Summer 2010 when I first met a boy named Devon. The Day I have been waiting for since Speedracer got down on his knee and asked me to marry him. THE DAY I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR IS TODAY!!!!

Week 1 of Summer Fun

When June comes around - I disappear from blogland and I go enjoy myself. Not on purpose though, I totally don't mean to neglect this here blog and all of my lovely readers - but if I'm not out doing something fun then I have nothing fun and exciting to come write about. Right? Right!!!

This first week of June has been an adventure and I don't see it slowing down until July. eeek! We started our lovely First week of June off with some fun Cosmic Bowling and some alot of cold drinks with 2 of our lovely friends..(who are also in our wedding party).

On Tuesday and Wednesday we have some graduations to attend too - the first happened to be at Speedracers Alma Mater - which, he said made him feel old because he has offically been out of High School for 6 years. *gulp*

 

 

and the 2nd Graduation was for Speedracers Cousin Matt - Let's just say we all cried our eyes out - It was a bit emotional for everyone to watch him get his deploma. Sappy or Proud - It's all good!!!

 

When the weekend came around - we were all ready to head to the San Diego Fair (Del Mar Fair) because it was the 43rd Annual Fire Fighters Demolition Derby and once again, My Dad was apart of it. Let me tell you, this year was without a doubt the BEST Demolition Derby I have seen in a long time and it was a total blast, besides all the minor chaos. okay, sometimes not so minor, but MAJOR chaos.

The Black 17 is My Dad, and The Black 2 Car is our teammate/friend Angel.
and yes, her fuel cell ruptured with her inside the car and caused the car to go into flames.
We are so glad that she got herself out and is safe. It was pretty gnarly and scary to witness.

Overall, the First week of June was an absolute BLAST, spent with the most amazing group of people. And although I am still trying to catch up on my rest and gain all my energy back - I am so ready to take on the next couple weeks of June. Coming up this weekend is My Birthday, Cousin Matts Birthday, and Grandpa Roy's Birthday Bash/Wedding Dress Shopping/ Fathers Day. So here is to another crazy week of June - but hopefully this time I will actually post more the one post this week. *fingers crossed*


"Love without Expecting, Love without Fear...Love, Love, Love" - Matthew Herriman


PEACE, LOVE, and BUTTERFLIES
- Ashlee Michelle

Enjoy Life

"Today, just take time to smell the roses, enjoy those little things about your life, your family, spouse, friends, job. Forget about the thorns -the pains and problems they cause you - and enjoy life" - Bernard Kelvin Clive.






                                                                                                                      Peace, Love, and Butterflies
                                                                                                                           Ashlee Michelle

June is My Month

I can't believe that once again a year as flown by and we are already into MY BIRTHDAY MONTH.

I seriously felt like June 2012 just happened and that I was celebrating turning the age of 22 - but alas, we are now at June 2013 and I have just a few short 17 days until I am 23. Oh Boy, here we go.

I've always been into taking the whole month to celebrate myself, because well, I think I deserve it.
But this June is extra special to me because I get to celebrate a lot of things: My Birthday, Wedding Dress Shopping, and Engagement Photos. It's pretty jam packed this June, we are busy every single weekend doing something. Which, I'm totally okay with because MY Month won't be boring in the slightest. I'm pretty dang lucky around this time of year.

I was telling one of my beautiful friends/bridesmaids, that I was nervous of this birthday because although the last 2 years of parties have been a blast - it seems like after my birthday happens, all of the "friends" I thought I had disappear due to some big fall out. My friend count for celebrating birthdays is getting lower each year. I thought about not even having a Birthday Party this year because I was afraid that once again, I'd look around and nobody would be there. But, I'm confident that these friends will stick around because they've been there for the last 3 years celebrating with me. So, I'm not going to let anything bring me down this year, nope not at all, and because of all the exciting things that are happening this June....This year may just be the BEST birthday yet!!

So here is to you, My Beautiful Month of June. I can't wait to celebrate with you for the next 30 days, We have a lot to do in these next couple weeks so I really hope that you are ready to get your party on!


"Love without expecting, Love without Fear...Love, Love, Love" - Matthew Herriman

PEACE, LOVE, and MY MONTH.
-Ashlee Michelle

Water.

 

Water.I have always had such a love/hate relationship with water because of how boring and plain I thought it was. I am much more into drinking something with taste - my problem was with sugary drinks - soda has always been my down fall. But, more recently I have been spending my days drinking as much water as I can. And I did research on the benefits of water because I started to see changes in myself because of drinking water every day. Oddly, if I am not drinking tea of any sort, I am drinking water. Which is crazy, because I wouldn't even drink water once a day.

First things first, I found my love for FIGI water a few years back and ever since it has been a love of mine and I usually don't get any other types of water unless FIGI isn't a option. It's very rare if I have another form of water. I think it's important to find a water that you love, because yes, waters taste differently, not completely sure why. But, find a brand that works FOR YOU and that you love - for me - Figi!

Secondly, I have always been the kind of person that puts atleast 1 slice of lemon in her water, for extra taste - and it looks pretty. But lately I have been getting into adding other fruits into my water to create my own tasting water, with out the added sugars. My favorite would have to be water with lemon & cucumber. Here are my top 5 favorite Flavored Waters to make:

FAVORITE WATERS:
1) Lemon/Cucumber
2) Strawberry/Orange
3) Apple & Cinnamon Stick
4) Cucumber and Mint
5) Raspberry and Lime

 

You can really add anything you want to your water - and it's super delicious - My favorite thing to do is to fill up a mason jar full of the fruits/herbs I'm using add water, and them keep them in the cold refregirator for several hours or over night. It makes the taste stronger as it sits. Delecious!!

There are many benefits to drinking water also:
- Weight Loss
- Reduces Headache
- Younger, Brighter looking skin
- Reducings dark under eye circles
- Keeps you Energized
- Better Excersize
- Keeps you hydrated
- Good Mood
- Active Appetite Suppressent - You eat less.

So next time you are super thirsty, but you don't want to drink a plain old water - don't go straight to soda and sugary drinks, you can get a healthy and yummy taste out of making your own flavored water. You also can't go wrong with all the wonderful benefits that drinking water has. Especially during the summer time, you always want to make sure you're drinking enough water while you are at the beach, under the sun. Because sadly, Beer is going to make you dehydrated. So throw in a few waters between your cold beers.
HAPPY, HEALTHY DRINKING!!
PEACE, LOVE, and BUTTERFLIES
-Ashlee Michelle