So if you know me at all or follow me on twitter, you’re probably aware that I have been laid off for the better part of a year. I was let go from my job last year during this lovely economy and struggled to find something new. Finally I have landed a new gig that promises to be challenging, fun, creative, and incredibly rewarding. I am the new Web Content Producer at ThisWeek Community Media. I’m on my second week and already my head is spinning with possibilities and new information! I love what I’m learning and all the people I work with. This job is exactly what I needed and have been hoping for. I’m so excited to do the things I love everyday as a career.

I also just turned 25 on February 3rd. I’ve heard turning 25 scares a lot of people but this was a birthday I was ready to embrace. It was a quiet and contemplative day and I tried to reflect on what I learned in the last year. This has been a year of exciting events as well as complicated challenges. But overall it was a year of growth in all areas of my life and I am extremely grateful for it. I have wonderful people in my life and overall I am the happiest I’ve ever been. My mind has been opened to possibilities and opportunities that I never thought possible both personally and professionally. I’ve made some great new friends and have been overwhelmed by the community support and encouragement I’ve received from people I’ve never even met. (Twitter rocks!) I’ve gotten rid of some toxic friends and improved my other relationships with those amazing, one of a kind type friends. (Marissa and Miranda- I’m talking about you!) I also feel that my relationship with my sister has grown stronger over the last year and I’m so lucky to have her there for me. But most of all I’m so excited to marry my best friend and love of my life. Chris impresses, amazes, and infatuates me every day and I truly can’t believe I will get to spend the rest of my life with him.

Not to mention that having this new job also makes wedding planning a little easier considering I will actually be able to contribute to our budget. I feel strongly that all couples should contribute something to their wedding budget and I was worried that I might not have been able to. Planning a wedding is really stressful and this new job actually takes some of that stress off of me. (Yeah- a job that takes stress away- how cool is that?)

I wanted to take a little time as well to thank you. I have a wonderful loyal readership and the people who send me emails and ask questions and tweet me are some of the most genuine, awesome people I’ve meet over the last year. Especially you Columbus peeps and the people who helped encourage me to never give up over this tough year. I have found support in people I’ve never met (and some I have briefly) and yet you have been so kind and helpful to me. When I announced I’d finally landed this new job, the flood of congratulations and well wishes I received was overwhelming. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.

Seriously- thank you.

I found some incredible wedding invitations at WeddingPaperDivas.com a few months ago and I check back every so often to see if they add anything I might like even better. Well after checking out the site today I found they are having a site wide sale until the 16th of February! $15 off a $99 purchase, $30 off a $199 purchase, and $50 off a $299 purchase. The code to do this is FEBSALE. You can also get free shipping on your order with the code FREESHIP. You can also combine those two and get both offers which is awesome.

WeddingPaperDivas not only does wedding invitations but shower invitations, save the dates, anniversary, birthday, and any other kind of party invitation you could think of. They have beautiful modern, traditional, formal, casual and everything in between for any kind of stationary you need. And they are incredibly reasonable for brides on a budget. (I found everything I need for under $300 which included invitations, envelopes with liners, reply cards with return envelopes, and place cards for the reception!)

Here are some examples which all have different color options as well:

Go check it out and save some money!

I’m happy to say that my dress has finally come in. Well, I should say it finally came in for the second time. This wait was much worse than the first considering the disaster that unfolded the first time around- Manufacturing problems all over the place and so small I could barely zip it up. A serious blow to my self esteem. Anyway, the dress was shipped to my house and I sat and stared at the box for about an hour, scared to open it. Too much was riding on this dress. Will everything be fixed? Or was I going to have to go out hunting again for the perfect dress that I thought I already found? Ugh.
So I got up the courage to open the box. At first glance things looked ok. Certainly much better than before. Next step… put the dress on. Slowly step in. Zip up… pause. It fits. Holy crap it fits! (Pretty sure there was a chorus of angels singing in the background at this point.) I walked over to my mirror and started to scrutinize. Everything was better. I no longer looked like 10 lbs. of potatoes in a 5 lb. sack. I actually looked good. In fact, I looked damn good! The color and fabric is perfect. Definitely still need alterations like most wedding dresses, but it fits exactly the way a wedding dress should fit when you first put it on.
I’m so happy. I’m thrilled because this is absolutely, 100% my dress. I got those feelings again. Those feelings that make me so excited and anxious to walk down the aisle towards Chris in this dress. He’s going to love this dress. I’m going to feel beautiful wearing this dress. I’m marrying the love of my life in this dress.

As much as I actually dislike the holidays, I really love a great Christmas/New Year engagement story. I love the winter and fires, stockings and confetti, lots of champagne… etc. So for all you men out there hoping to propose to your girlfriend this Christmas, I wish you good luck! I also come to you offering some advice. Christmas is a great day for proposals but you have to remember how your girlfriend feels. For me, Christmas is generally filled with stress and anxiety-filled family messes… if this is the same for your girlfriend, maybe plan a quiet time with just the two of you, alone, special and totally romantic. Take the stress away by reminding her that you’ll always be there for her and that you love her more than anything. She’ll be so happy she won’t remember any anxiety surrounding the crazy holidays. If your girlfriend is really close with her family and relishes in some attention and holiday joy, maybe plan a proposal on Christmas morning surrounded by her family. She’ll be so thrilled that her whole family got to be in on your special moment and you’ll have a great story for your many years together.

Another helpful tip and this goes for all proposals… not just ones around the holidays: always ask the family power figure for their blessing before you pop the question. I’m a big fan of this tradition. It’s not so much asking “permission” anymore as it is a nice gesture that shows your respect for her family and your desire to become a part of it. Your sincerity will be welcomed and you will most likely earn major brownie points from her family. (Chris had to ask 2 sets of parents, since mine are divorced. He even let my mom wear my ring because she loved it so much! And then he put up with my stepfather asking him about 10 times if he was “sure about this”… jokingly, of course. haha!)

The way you propose will say a lot about how well you know her and it will be the story she will tell hundreds of people. It will be one of the best moments of your life. Put some thought into your plan. Think about a few key points you’d like to tell her when you’re down on one knee… but don’t stress about memorizing a long speech. It’s really not about how much you say- it’s how you say it. And though you’ll be nervous, try to relax as much as you can. You’re about to embark on the best adventure of your life with the person you love more than anything.

I wish you good luck, congratulations, and happy holidays!!

(photo courtesy of Jazzlolo [Lauren Kennedy Photography] on FlickR)

With the holidays here, I want to make sure that the little commitment I made to myself a few months ago is still in the forefront of my mind. It’s easy to forget when those delicious pies and treats are staring you in the face. But I promised myself that I’d start working harder to get healthier. After many failed attempts at boring workout plans that drove me nuts, I’ve FINALLY found something that I truly love!! JAZZERCISE!!! It sounds cheesy but I love it and here’s why…

The workouts are hard but fun, the instructors are positive and motivating and the music is engaging and upbeat. Jazzercise is not the grandma aerobics that immediately comes to mind. There are no leg warmers, no sweatbands, and certainly no Olivia Newton John belting out “Let’s Get Physical.” Instead you listen to songs like Britney Spears, “Toxic” or Colbie Callait “Falling” and do workouts that include 40 minutes of cardio, some weight work for your arms, ab exercises, and stretching. The instructors will also show you modified moves for lower impact on your limbs. Especially great for my old gymnastics injuries that have taken their toll on my poor ankles and knees. The instructors are so encouraging and their positive feedback is exactly what I need to hear to keep pushing hard. The routines are repetitive and easy to pick up but not repetitive enough to get boring because they only last the length of the songs. Overall it’s just a great workout that you laugh through AND sweat your butt off.

If you’re like me and haven’t found any exercise you really enjoy doing, I recommend checking out the Jazzercise website and finding a location near you to give it a try. If you want to sign up, there’s a $20 coupon on the website to help with your sign up cost.

Wedding planning is stressful and exercise is the perfect way to beat that stress AND look fabulous in your dress. I can’t wait for my next class tonight!!

What kinds of exercise do you enjoy?