Weekend of Wedding Festivities

This weekend was jam packed with wedding business, mainly.... DRESS SHOPPING!!!! I will post pictures from dress shopping, but don't worry... none of the ones I post stand a chance of being "the" dress. Andy reads my blog on occasion so I don't want to give anything away. :-)

I woke up extra early on Saturday morning just because I was so excited. I also woke Andy up because I started bouncing on the bed while singing a made up song that went something like, "Today's my special day, I'll wear the dresses, glitter and be gay" (the 'glitter and be gay' line is from Candide... I was not really going to be gay). I seriously felt like it was Christmas morning! Before dress shopping though, Andy and I hit up the farmers' market and then I also did a little yoga. Then I got ready... and made sure to make myself extra beautiful so that I'd get a better picture of what I'd look like on my wedding day. Then... it was time!!!

Alyssa, Anna, Elizabeth, and Sarah all crammed into my car and we headed off to my first appointment. Once we got there I felt a little nervous/uncomfortable. The dresses were nice, but nothing was that amazing (and they were also a little over budget).

Organza dress at the first store - too boring

Since the appointment went faster than anticipated, we ended up heading straight to the second store - they were nice enough to let me come in earlier than planned. That place was so much fun! They had couches for the girls to sit on, drinks, cookies... a much more relaxed setting. Better yet, all of the dresses in the store were in my budget, so it was fun to pick out dresses without worrying whether or not they were affordable. I tried on a ton! Here were some "winners."

I'm pooping a parachute

Beauty and the Beast!!!

Trust me - those two pictures are nothing like what I picture myself wearing, but it was fun to try them on anyway. We got a good laugh! I will say there was one dress (and veil) that stood out from the rest. I felt so pretty (and skinny!) and the girls all seemed to like it too. :-) I will keep looking a little because there are a few styles I like that weren't at either store, but I will say... I have found the most ridiculously beautiful "back-up" dress in the world. I already want to try it on again!!

After dress shopping the girls and I went out to lunch to celebrate our success.

Anna, Alyssa, Elizabeth, Sarah, and Bride Babs!

I must say... I've watched "Say Yes to the Dress" for about... oh.... ten years now? And whenever someone brings a lot of people to their appointment, you know it's going to be bad news because someone in the group is going to be a negative nancy. That was NOT my experience at all. I could not have asked for a more positive wonderful group of friends to go with me. I love these girls so much and they made me feel great! I wish I could take them shopping with me all the time, lol!

On Sunday I woke up early again - feeling extra motivated by dress shopping, I did some yoga and then rode my bike to the gym for a little elliptical action. Then Andy and I went to Trader Joe's and bought lots of healthy Seetha-approved foods. My Seetha plan is going great. Assuming I will make it through today (which I will), I will have gone the ENTIRE month of September without 1) weighing/measuring any food, 2) calculating any calories, and 3) binge eating. In addition, I still have not strayed from the starch rule, the diet coke rule, or the fake sugar rule. GO ME! It's definitely paying off. I feel better about myself, my clothes finally fit again, I don't crave sweets nearly like I used to... and I'm just feeling calmer about food in general. Thank God.

Anyway, continuing on...

It turns out that there was also a wedding expo downtown on Sunday! Andy's mom and little sister drove out so they could go with me, which was very nice of them.

Ali - my future little sis!

We got to see a fashion show (that excitingly had "my dress" in it). The fashion show was pretty hilarious - there were also guys modeling tuxes who thought they were the cat's meow. They weren't! But their "moves" made us all laugh.

This guy thought he was all that

The expo was mostly vendors, which was alright, but I wasn't there to sign up for any services. However, Sandals was there... you know, the all inclusive resorts in cool places like Jamaica? Anyway, they had a slot machine game you could play. I stood in line for awhile watching everyone in front of me lose. Then it was my turn... I won!!!! If Andy and I decide to honeymoon there, we will get $200 off the cost of our stay! Of course I'm sure it's pretty expensive to go there, but it was exciting to win nonetheless.

After the expo we headed back to our place where Andy, his dad, and brother were all watching football. We grilled dinner (slight hiccup in that when our propane tank ran out and we had to get a new one), and then went to get frozen yogurt.

All in all, a good weekend. It was especially nice to not have to work for once!