the time is near!

its getting close! only ten more days! its gone by so fast! this whole week i have been working (m-s, 830-530!) not so much fun but i will be able to have all of next week off! (for those of you who don't know i work in an office for a small carpet cleaning business) i normally don't work EVERYDAY, so i have had about it with answering phones.. and its only Wednesday! I'll give you an example that probably almost happens everyday!

Ring Ring:

 Brooke: Thank you for calling chem-dry of the west this is Brooke how can i help you?

Customer: hi i need a price on some carpet cleaning, i have a 3000 sq. ft. home.

Brooke: Okay what exactly do you need cleaned?

Customer: My carpets.....

Brooke: okay soo a living room dining room, 2, 3, 4, 5 bedrooms???(thinking.. you just called a carpet cleaning place.. do you want me to guess what areas in your house are carpeted!!! geezZZ!)

Lets just say I'm ready for it to be the weekend!

Am i going crazy?

This Friday there will only be six more weeks left for planning our wedding….!! I feel like I’m starting to go crazy! Last week I think there was something wrong with everything that I was planning,well trying to plan! Dates were being changed, pictures weren't right, announcements were printed on the wrong paper..  I’m to the point where I feel like I have to do everything to make sure there are no mistakes… OCD... Just a little bit! ah ha.... please tell me this is normal! It will be here before I know it, I still have much to do… right now I’m working on finding a wish tree... I’m looking for Manzanita branches, I’ve looked online, don’t care much for buying things I can physically touch… Anyways that’s my main focus right now! 

i really like this one! when people come in they can sign our guest book and write you a "wish" hence the name of the tree... the directions can say...

We invite you to send a special wish to the

Bride and Groom

as they begin their life together 

and hang it on their wish tree.

 Need some inspiration? 

words of wishes 

marriage advice 

memories of your wedding 

draw a picture

Have fun and don't forget to sign your name!

OR

These cards will be
for our wedding book
a modern twist
on the standard look.

As we begin our Journey
As the brand new Mr. and Mrs.Ridley
We could surely use 

Your good Wishes.

Jot down a Memory,

A reminder of the day.
Draw a doodle or picture

If your not sure what to say....

Share with us your Wisdom

About Marriage, Love, and Life,
The secret to being a good Husband
Or a thoughtful, loving Wife.

Please don't forget
It would be such a shame
to hang your card on the tree
Without signing your Name.

i think they are both cute and informal..... 

Center Pieces

i finally got my large center pieces out of the way!  Still working on what is going to go in the middle of the tables besides candles.. thinking of a flower ball,, but a rectangle, it seems that they don't make rectangular plastic liners.. so if anyone knows where i could get some let me know! oh anyone have a lemon tree..? i need about 150 lemons, who knew they were 87 cents each! Here is a sample center piece my mom and i did:) they are about 41/2 feet tall!

 Were getting ready to send out our announcements, hoping by next week! time has gone by fast! Still so much to do, kinda makes me crazy...On the flip side my sisters and mom are Preparing for the bridal shower.. what should i wear.. cute huh.. ??

Bling Bling

Brooke and I went to Newport Beach yesterday for Brooke's birthday. While she was laying out on the beach I was messing around with my camera and took a few shots of Brooke's wedding ring. I always catch her looking at in the car, at church, when we are holding hands.... She always says, " Its so sparkly!" Very Cute..... These pictures are the best pictures of the ring so far. She has had the ring now for over 2 months and we really haven't posted a lot of pictures showcasing the ring. She loves the ring and so do I.... but there is a little story behind the diamond.
My mom has been wearing that diamond in her wedding ring for the last 29 years. My Great-Grandfather had that diamond hoping to give it to his first born son. Unfortunately he never had a son to give him the diamond. So he decided to give it to his first born grandson.... My dad. To keep the diamond in the family my dad decided to give the diamond to his first born son... Me. Now its in Brooke's ring for the next 20+ years until our first son will get engaged.

He lights up my life...

76 more Days!

When we first go engaged I thought that this would be a LONGGG engagement... Now that I think about it… it really isn’t! Only 76 more days, 2 ½ more months, some odd hours and minutes, time goes by so fast! Everything is progressing so quickly!!! I go for my first dress fitting on Wednesday! 2 out of 4 of my girls are already fitted, and their dresses are on their way! The next main thing I’m working on is center pieces for the tables... It is so hard, to pick something… I just don’t know! I feel like I have looked at everything! Could use some help in this department! Getting married is wonderful thing… planning it... ehh NOT so much for me. When you’re planning a party for 200 people, I would definitely advise getting a planner, worth the money. (I don’t have one, wish I had one!)
D&C 42: 45Thou shalt live together in love.....

Ready set... go!

The planning begins… has begun

Where do you even start when planning a wedding?? You have the announcements, pictures, linens, flowers, table/ chair rentals, music, food, cake, desserts, flatware, dishes, napkins, drinks, attire, shoes, hair, make up… and MUCH MUCH MORE! Its good thing I’m somewhat of an organized person! So far Ryan and I have tackled our announcement(super cute)..(don't judge me for thinking its cUte), the DJ and a play list of our own, food, bridesmaid’s dresses and their bouquets, MY dress and bouquet, going to purchase the material this weekend! Groom and groomsmen boutonnieres, an idea of what we want our reception to look like (tables, center pieces, linens, napkins), it’s coming together so quickly!

Cant wait until the day is actually here!

Quote

"The secret of a happy marriage is to serve God and each other. The goal of marriage is unity and oneness, as well as self-development. Paradoxically, the more we serve one another, the greater is our spiritual and emotional growth."
Ezra Taft Benson

Engaged

Engaged

January 11th 2010, Ryan and I got engaged!! If you didn’t know already… : ) This past weekend we got to take our engagement pictures by the marvelous Amy Clark, she is amaZing at what she does! (I’ll post a few). As we were taking our pictures we both had the same feelings… that the wedding/marriage is getting much closer and real! The count down started the moment we got engaged.

Since I/we have been planning our wedding (Ryan has helped tons) I have looked at my life in such a different way... Several “older” people have told me(don't be offended if you are in this group)... “It’s never going to be the same” (NOT IN A bad Way eitHer) One thing that will be different is that we will be sealed for time and all Eternity... I can’t tell you how excited we are (yes I’m speaking for my Future to be huBBy:)) to be together for ForEvEr!






Ryan: today was fun... Makes it feel closer :) you looked beautiful babe…. I love you so much!
Me: It’s finally happening! I Love you too!

He is absolutely adorable and he’s mine…