Rainy Mondays...

I hate Mondays. Doesn't everybody? I have never heard someone say "Oh I am so glad it is Monday... I just love Monday's" If they did then I would know that they didn't work on Mondays!

Well this Monday is just a little different. For me at least...
This time next week I will be waking up to a breakfast of lobster and eating on the patio of our wonderful suite in St. Lucia... I say lobster because JM has already said that we will be having lobster for every meal. Then we will go and run in the waves roll in the sand, drink "Dirty Bananas", lay in the sun too long, and of course... eat lobster again!
BUT today I am sitting in my cube (AKA Pit of despair) and working... or trying to work at least. I have so much to do before I leave, but my lack of motivation is only getting worse. (For those of you UE girls/ guy that read it WILL get done)

This week is all about getting ready for a day that will for sure go by entirely too fast. (Everyone has told me already!) We have been cleaning all weekend and getting ready! I think that even once everything is clean I will still not know what to do, so I will bake.
This week baking something special for our guests and of course it is our dear friend Jeff's Birthday on Thursday! So he, of course, needs some cookies! Plus baking relaxes me... hell even baking my skin in the tanning bed relaxes me right now.

With so much going on, I hope that I have time to blog again before the big day.... I should since I will be working until Wednesday!

I cannot believe that I have been counting down the entire time. Do you know that I wake up and tell JM- "I am so excited that we are getting married!" or I will look at him at night and say " wow we are really getting married". I am sure that he s sick of it ( because I say it EVERY morning)... but I am just so excited to spend the rest of our lives together that I don't want to rush a thing anymore. We have 5 days... and right now I hope that they are long days. It seems that when there is a countdown involved, time just flies a little too fast...
So day, please go by slowly so that I can get everything done... and one more thing...
I wish that there was some sort of "Pause" button on time so that once I am at the reception I could pause everyone but me and JM so that we can take a look around to see everyone who came to celebrate our love with us. Would be pretty cool...

So tonight we are making Monday special... It is date night! JM is taking me to Atlanta Fish Market to have one last date night as an "engaged couple"... I mean we gotta make some time for us somewhere this week!

I hope that everyone has a good Monday... it is making me wish I had taken the week off work!

xoxo
K

10 days and a really fun weekend...

Sorry I have been MIA for a week! I promise that it was only because this wedding is taking over our lives.

This weekend was the best weekend ever. It was my Bachelorette Party/ Weekend get-away to Helen, GA. My wonderful Bridesmaids all rented a cabin in the mountains for the whole weekend... and it was only about 10 miles outside of Helen. All of us had the best time... dancing, singing, baking, eating a TON, and of course a hot tub!
I seriously could not have asked for a more perfect weekend. We stayed in on Friday night and ventured down the gravel mountain side that we stayed on and made it in to town for the afternoon. We drank and ate on an outside patio all afternoon and even made it to Hansel and Gretel's for some candy apples. I do not know if I have ever laughed so hard in my entire life. My stomach still hurts from laughing a TON and eating way way way too much.

Saturday night the ladies baked me a cake shaped out "something Bachelorette- themed" Take a guess! and threw me a lingerie shower! Never have I laughed so hard. Everything that they got me was perfect! Not only does it all fit, but it is all super cute or slutty depending on how you look at it. I cannot post about what it is, since I want that to be a surprise for JM... and because my family reads this too. I will have more than something for every night of the Honeymoon... and that will be fun.

This weekend was the most memorable one of my life. I will never forget how sweet and caring all of my girl friends are. I mean what more could a girl ask for... Eating, laughing, drinking a lot, and dancing on coffee tables. Sorry that I cannot share pictures, they are incriminating and we all have jobs people.

On to wedding news.
We are 10 days away from the big day... that means tomorrow is single digits. We are so ready for this. I have done everything that needs to be done. Just one more meeting and we are in the clear.
Next week I am full of appointments... hair, nails, waxing (yeah waxing everything... and trust me it is the best thing ever- I don't care if anyone thinks that is "gross or slutty"... it rocks! and don't knock it until you try it- I don't know one person that has not liked it afterwards), luncheon with my ladies, rehearsal dinner, and then the big day.

I really cannot believe that it is here. I know that I have said that a billion times, maybe a trillion, but I think that every girl dreams of how her wedding will be one day...
and this is exactly what I had dreamed of. I am just so very lucky to have found JM and for him to have let me have my dream wedding too!
(If were up to him, we might already be married, and it might have happened on a beach, in Vegas, or even a courthouse... but he loves me so and has let me do what I want)

I am most excited to see what he thinks of everything when he sees it for the first time. I don't know if he will notice the flowers, linens, or every single detail as I will that night... but he might now that I have mentioned it??? I do know that he will notice me! LOL!

I have been dreaming about this wedding, our wedding, for the last 20-something years... and now that it is finally here... I would not change a single thing. I got my Prince Charming meeting me at the alter and then it will be all "Happily Ever After" right??? HA!

I cannot wait... even though I have heard many people saying "This is the wedding of the century" it really will be to us...

10 days until I have to change the name of this blog... there will no longer be "a crack in my Grigsby life"... It will be "The McCracken Life" but I gotta think of some good names...
and what will I write about? What it is like to be a working wife who commutes 60 miles a day total? Boring... I will think of something though so don't you worry... Maybe we will have a baby soon... who knows what is next? I don't...


and as always sorry for the randomness of this post. My mind is going a million mile a second and I am just writing what I am thinking...

I hope that everyone has a happy Wednesday and I promise to post sooner than later.

Love and kisses!
Katie

And so it is planned...

Done. Done. Done.

Monday night my mom and I met with our Wedding Coordinator for the day of the wedding. It was a dream come true and if you are on the fence about to have a wedding coordinator or not... DO IT. AND if you need someone in Atlanta I highly recommend Lisanne McDearman with Watermark Weddings. Never have I been more impressed.
She came over and we went through a 22 page check list to go over ALL details and stuff we want done for the wedding. It was in 10 point font, and I was shaking. Did we cover everything? Do I have everything I need? and am I ready for this?
I was ready- hell yes I was! Had it all. Covered more bases that I thought.
My mom and I have met with all of the vendors, done all of the planning, reviewed and updated all proposals, paid all deposits, did it all.... and now I had to hand it all over to her.
If you don't know... I am a control freak when it comes to planning. And I just let someone take over. Completely. She is now my only contact and she will come up with time lines and coordinate the arrival of EVERY. LAST. DETAIL. I have nothing left to worry about and it is scaring the shit out of me- it is a great thing though.
She is doing so much more than I even imagined that day so that me and my mom can have a great time and not worry about a single thing. Even bringing food to the church for the wedding party to have while we get ready! This is great, but why am I nervous?
Is it my dresses?
The flowers?
What if I trip down the aisle?
What if I cannot stop crying?
What will it be like with 250-300 sets of eyes on me at once?
All of this has been going through my head the closer that we get.... but yesterday JM said the most wonderful thing....

"we'll be just fine...just show up...that's all you gotta do...I'll take care of the rest...
once we are standing up there together, hand in hand, there's no stoppin us...that is our comfort zone, so we'll get thru it together... "

He is so cool under pressure. He amazes me. And I know that all nerves and every thought will completely leave me right there at the alter when I take his hands. Just like magic.
There is going to be an overflowing feeling of love in that church on October 30th. Our love and every ones over-flowing love for us.

Until then... I sit back, Gym- Tan- Laundry, and get the house clean and ready for our wonderful friends who are staying with us at our house the wedding weekend.

AND this weekend? Bachelorette Party. MINE that is! We are off to Helen, GA tomorrow for Oktoberfest. My bridal party is taking me to a kick-ass cabin this weekend to do nothing but relax, eat, drink and of course be merry.
I cannot wait. Legwarmers and sweaters... what could be better?


T minus 16 days. AND then we are off to the beach as Mr. and Mrs. McCracken. Sand, cocktails with umbrellas, and warms salty water are calling our names... and I can almost hear them...

More updates to come.

filled with love,
Katie

I throw my hands up in the airs sometimes...

"I throw my hands up in the air sometimes
Saying ay-oh, gotta let go.
I wanna celebrate and live my life
Saying ay-oh, baby let's go.
Cause we gon rock this club
We gon' go all night
We gon' light it up
Like it's dynamite.
Cause I told you once
Now I told you twice
We gon light it up
Like it's dynamite"

YES that is my favorite song right now... and it is in my head all. the. time!

As of today we are in the teens my friends! THE TEENS. Can you believe it? NO I cannot. It is so exciting that we are going to be married in just a few short weeks. 19 days to be exact...


Well this weekend we had one last wedding to attend... It was number 10. It was fun and so great to see all of our friends. There are MANY "Congratulations" in order on this post... So we will start from the top. (Sorry I don't have pictures from every wedding with me at work- I finally put them all on my computer at home)
CONGRATULATIONS TO....
Mr. and Mrs. Adam Foster (4-9-10)
MR. and Mrs. Brian McElroy (4-10-10)
Mr. and Mrs. Tommy DeFreitas (5-8-10)
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Piper (5-15-10)
Mr. and Mrs. Tim Franklin (5-24-10)
Mr. and Mrs. Nate Mohs (6-19-10)
Mr. and Mrs. Tim Finney (7-10-10)
Mr. and Mrs. Hank Puryear (7-24-10)
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Cox (8-14-10)
Mr. and Mrs. Bryan Auferio (9-5-10)
Mr. and Mrs. Casey Colclough 10-9-10)

We wish you all the best in your new lives together! All of your weddings were WONDERFUL! and we had the best year celebrating with each and every one of you on your special days!

We are NEXT... Last but certainly not the least... Saving the best for last... whatever you want to say, it is OUR TURN. And we cannot wait to see all of you at our wedding.

It has been one hell of a ride, but we cannot wait to get off this ride, to be married, and of course live happily ever after. I am sure that I have driven JM completely mad sometimes... that I have been a diva at moments (only a few)... and that I know I have gotten my way. A lot. BUT you know what?
I have had a blast. Everything that we have planned, I know has a personal touch for us. It has been the most fun year of my life. So much excitement, tears, laughs...
and most of all...

I just wanna throw my hands up in the air sometimes
Saying ay-oh, gotta let go.
I wanna celebrate and live my life
Saying ay-oh, baby let's go.
Cause we gon rock this club
We gon' go all night
We gon' light it up
Like it's dynamite.


19 days y'all... and it is ON.
Tonight I have my final fitting. AND we are meeting with the "day of" coordinator to get all this straight. Then I think that we will all feel a 10,000 lb weight lifted off our shoulders.
Of course I will keep you posted on the last minute stress.
I hope that everyone had a fabulous weekend.

xoxo
Katie

Friday... Are you in love?

I AM!

A few things that I am loving about today, besides the fact that it is FRIDAY, are:

My family is coming to dinner tonight for my Dad's Birthday Dinner!



The Hot Apple Cider that we are making tonight to go with some Maple- Mustard Glazed Pork Chops! YUMMY!




That Chip, my brother, is living her for a few more weeks until he decides his next adventure! (He got a job working for a company, GANZ LLC, that all moms know... beacause they make Webkinz!) He has a few cities across the country to choose from and has to make a decision by October 30th! (Date sound familiar???) He will be moving while we are in St. Lucia... so I gotta see him A LOT before he leaves again. BUT at least I know that we can go and stay with him where ever he goes! (I am secretly but not so secretely hoping that he picks NYC!)




and of course that we have 22 days until the big day! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

What are you loving this Friday?

What will I do....

So this morning when I was working out with Rachel, my trainer and friend, we were talking about the wedding. How close it is, do we have most of it done?, everything.... I swear she knows more details about it all than anyone! But a thought came aacross my mind...
"WHAT WILL I DO ONCE THE WEDDING IS OVER?"
What is going to take up my time??? I have been planning and prepping for a whole year... and once it is over, what will I plan for? What will we do on weekends? I am so excited to NOT have to do it all over again, but at the same time I know that I will miss it.
My mom might miss it.. and what will she do? She has been busting her ass to get stuff done while I am at work... and thank you mom- we will never be able to thank you enough!

Also the LAST wedding before our own is this weekend... and I am excited that it is the last one, and I dont think that I will miss going to all of the weddings either. It is sad, but I am wedding-ed out! We have enjoyed every single one of them. And watching all of our frineds get married has been a blast... but this will be 10 for the year. I mean who goes to 10 weddings in a year and saves the last for their wedding.... WE DO!
and we are going to rock it out for sure! You know what they say, "Save the best for last..."

But what did you do after your wedding and honeymoon were over? I am thinking that the house will be much cleaner and that the little projects will finally get done.

23 days until I am a Mrs. I still cannot get over that.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Fall, oh how I have missed you...

All of you know how much I love Fridays... I love them almost as much as I love fall. I wish that it was fall all year long. Not just because we are getting married in the fall... but there is just magic in the air in the fall, followed by the warm smell of Hot Apple Cider on the stove. And y'all I am making Cider tonight.

There are just so many things to love about fall. The smell of fall s in the air outside here in Georgia and we are even lucky enough to NOT have a day that is over 90... not even over 80 and I am loving every minute outside. Even though I am trapped in this pit of despair, my litter box, shit hole, formally knows as my cube at the office. Everyone who has been in my office to visit always says "how depressing" Guess I need a lamp or something? I love my job promise... it is just that with fall makes me want to knit something, paint anything, redecorate a little, spray the house with concentrated aromas that smell like "fall", light candles, and be more creative than any other time of year... how will I have time for all of that? (Cube walls closing in now)

The bonfires that come with grilling out... the Football games that gather friends like family and family like friends. Fall leaves, pumpkins, the warm colors that will appear on my long drive home from work. I love everything that there is to love about fall. Candy Corn included. I mean really how could you not love fall? You are weird in my book if you don't!

One think that I really really love about the fall is clothes. yes that is so like me...
BUT I really can appreciate a handmade scarf from some that loves you. Thanks Mom for all of the wonderful scarves and making me learn to knit... Knitting next week I promise!

My Ugg boots... I don't care if they are "out of style"... they are too comfortable to not wear. They are perfect with leggings and a long sweater. My vintage leg warmers... They are Navy Blue Cashmere- thank you to my wonderful Aunt Bunny. I am sure that she got them when they really just came out at somewhere super fabulous... they are the best hand-me-down I have ever gotten. Ever- hands down. and they are so wonderful with a huge over sized long sleeve T to wear to bed...or wear them with ANYTHING they are that wonderful.

This year I have decided that I am going to jump back into knitting. AND I must learn to crochet... MUST LEARN. There is so much that I want to make... Blankets, Hats, Scarves, and of course... Leg Warmers for everyone! I want yummy delicious vibrant colors to wear! I can wear all the black in the world I want... as long as I have bright knitted accessories this fall... and with that I have decided my signature look for this fall, maybe even winter, Black leggings, long sweaters, and knitted every king of accessory you can think of, with a wonderful headband. Will post pictures of that soon!

Another fall ritual I have... going Brunette! It will be here soon enough... Gotta get married and for that I will be blond- just as everyone has known me forever!
Once we get back though... you can bet your ass that my hair will be dyed faster than you can say "roots".

One last thing.
Congratulations to Daniel and Elisabeth! Happy One Year Anniversary! We love you both so much! Elisabeth is one of my best friends and she has such style, grace, and most of all class. Yup you got it girl! She is an excellent cook, who always shares her recipes, who always lends an ear to my "stories", and who will always come and visit me in my pit of despair... Love you!

and for those of you who might be crazy- and don't like leg warmers... Make fun of me all you want... and all I will say is "Go to hell"... but I will rock of those leg warmers until spring! Starting tonight... with a bonfire, the grill master- JM cooking something wonderful, and me lounging under a blanket while I soak in everything fall... there will be a lot of soaking it all in to come.

I hope that everyone is enjoying their beginning of fall...

PS. We have 30 days until we say I do. How fast do you think that will fly by??? and no I will not freak out. Everything will get done... it always does especially when your mom knows magic.

Everyone have a wonderful weekend!

XOXO
K