Too good to be true?

The wedding dress shopping as continued!  This time I was joined by my mother, youngest sister (MOH) and my grandmother.  We had a blast!  But I will say it was exhausting!

What I expected at these boutiques:
- champagne
- to look stunning in every dress
- the "ooo"s and "ahh"s
- to find THE dress
- to hate my body
- Super expensive dresses

What actually happened:
-No champagne
-All dresses are size 10 so if you don't fit that don't consider going in.  I fit most of the size 10's unless it was a tight fitting dress (mermaid).  My hips are not a size 10.
-A few "ooo"s and "ahhs" but more "hurry up" "What's taking so long" and then blank stares
-Did not find THE dress
-I definitely did hate my body at the end of it all
- Pricing was all over the place.  LuLu's was around $800 (similar to David's Bridal!), Stellas was $2,000 and up and Couture Bridal in Addision was in the middle. 

A few photos of the dresses that didn't make the cut:

I really really love this dress, but I can only wear one...so this didn't make the cut

My family really liked this dress, but the train was too short for me and it was too simple

I like the pleating on this dress and the train, but wasn't that big of a fan

This is my DREAM dress, from that last post.
 Obviously the mermaid look didn't work here but it's not custom fit to my body.
The family did not like this dress, but this does look similar to the dress I will be wearing.

I took some time following my 2 day dress fest and thought about each dress.  Then I looked in the pictures at the dresses....because at the end of the day all you will do it look at the pictures right?  If it didn't look good in pictures I didn't want to consider it.  If the details that I loved about it didn't come out in the photos, I didn't want to pick it.  I had a freak out moment that my MOH, Shaena, helped me through when I thought I needed to find another dress because none of the ones I tried on where 'The One'.

And finally I made up my mind.  I am getting the dress I tried on in Amarillo with my fiance's sister.  I loved that dress the minute I put it on and I love that my future Sister-in-Law was there to pick it out with me. 

And then this website came in to my e-mail inbox from my uncle:  www.dressilyme.com  I quickly visited this site (as I hope you will) and I noticed almost every dress I tried on is on this website! (expect for the LuLu dresses)  Even my Amarillo dress!  And this website isn't charging me the $1200 Amarillo is charging.  It's only $200!!! 

I'm thinking this is too good to be true!  But I'll let you know when I get my dress.  I totally ordered it!  I ordered standard size from dressilyme and I'll have the alternations done here.  If I don't like it, I have 5 days to return it (returns are easier if you order standard size).  Not a lot of time to return, but it will be in here in 20 days so I'll have plenty of time for pictures!  All the salons I went to said it would take 3-6 months to get in.  Hopefully Dressilyme works out and I don't have to order from a boutique because it will definitely be a RUSH order!  
Wish me luck!

Living Life to the Fullest in a white dress!

-Rachel

Dress Shopping #1

I finally went wedding dress shopping!  It was awful!  Not completely awful, but not at all what I expected.  With all my family events going on this weekend the only time available to shop was Sunday afternoon.  Looking back it was really sad having to squeeze in wedding dress shopping like a chore or something.  Next time I come to town I'm coming to dress shop and that's it!  You only get to shop for a wedding dress one time, it should be a special experience.

The only dress stores open on Sunday are the big chains: David's Bridal and Alfred Angelo.  David's Bridal is the closest to our house so I made a 3:30 appointment.  Our sales associate was super nice and did a great job finding what I asked for and then finding what would look good on me.

Let's refresh what I thought I wanted:
1. Be sure the dress is interesting from the waist up
2. no strapless
3. show shoulders
4. minimize booty
5. find comfort
Ya, #5 will be impossible.  Wedding dresses are heavy, hot and incredibly uncomfortable!!  I don't understand why, but everything I tried on caused me to sweat like a pig!  I might have been having a Carrie Bradshaw moment, but I didn't break out in hives, so I think it was just the fabric and weight of each dress.
The first dress I tried on was an a-line dress,.  The #4 request of minimize booty did not happen in this dress.  It made my boobs look big and then made my tummy and booty look big, definitely not the style for me.  It was comfortable, but strapless so it was out.  Didn't even bother to take a picture in it...

This next dress was cool.  It had a HUGE skirt, way too big, and the sales associate clipped the chest area awkward so it looks weird in the photo.  But the skirt disconnects from the top and the top is actually a cocktail dress that is hidden under the skirt.  I think it's a cute concept that would go well with the cowboy boots I want to wear at the reception. 
I showed this dress to the Farmer and he didn't like it.  His reaction was "It doesn't show off your curves".  I love that he loves the part of me I dislike the most!

This was the dress I "liked the most".  I didn't love any dress, but this one I liked the most:

Wow! The lightening in there is awful.  When my mom took these pictures she took them sitting down, so I look SUPER FAT.  Which is why I'm eating a salad for lunch today.  Here I was thinking I didn't want something form fitting, but the Farmer is right, this look is great on me, I think.  I love the straps and boob coverage but would need it taken in under the chest to show I do have a waist.  This was full lace with a few beads and sequins on the train and bust.  I'm concerned the beads will catch on carpet or any flooring and cause the train to skip while I'm walking down the aisle instead of flow smoothly ya know?  I do love this veil.

So it wasn't the best shopping trip, but the dresses were only $850 so maybe if we find some higher quality dresses it will be the fit and style I'm looking for.  I'm researching Dallas boutiques and the designers they carry.  I came across this La Sposa dress that I love.  It is a Spanish designer, as in Barcelona Spain.

Click for link: This is dress number 7 of 17 

  

I do love this dress from La Sposa. It highlights the curves, but keeps them soft and romantic.  I've always wanted a veil with the lace trim and this is just over the top!  This dress isn't that interesting in the bust area and there are no straps, so we'll have to try it on to see what I think.  I know this designer is in a Dallas area bridal boutique so I might call ahead to be sure they have this dress in stock!

If I'm doing the calculations right, it can take up to 6 months to get your dress in and altered, so I need to have a dress by the end of August.  Eek!  Pray for me!

Living Life to the Fullest, just not in a wedding dress yet....

-Rachel

the dress and the drama

It's time for a wedding post.  Yes I'm engaged. I haven't shared that yet but I am.  The farmer still has pictures of the engagement on his camera that he can't seem to locate.  So until I have visual proof take my word that I'm engaged!!

With planting season here now and harvest coming in the fall there are few months in a year we can get married.  It looks like we'll be having a winter wedding.  Meaning I now have 8 months to get my rear in gear and start planning the wedding. 

It really helps that my parent's friends and my family are so open to help us with the wedding.  My mom's friend offered to throw an engagement party and help me with my invitations. She's an artist with 2 sons that have no intention of getting married soon so she's itching for a wedding. 
My aunt offered to buy my wedding dress which would be a huge load off of my personal expenses, as I was expecting to buy it for myself. Moving to West Texas was the first step in preparing for the wedding.  It helped me cut back on living expenses leaving me room to save.  Saving is the only way to have the wedding of my dreams.  It was a sacrifice I was willing to take but it turned out not everybody is as open minded as I am. 

When my mom heard about my aunt offering to buy my dress she would not have it.  She feels it is the mothers role to buy the dress.  I have never been married before so I have no clue! I've read multiple wedding books and it's tradition for the brides family to pay for the wedding so I guess dress falls into that category.  I do remember reading you should accept all gifts unless it causes tension. I wouldn't have accepted this gift from my aunt if I thought it would cause tension.  And honestly I was blind sided when my mother shared her feeling of rejection.  In no way did I purposly intend to reject my mother and in no way did my mom offer to help with the wedding initially. Hence me changing my lifestyle to make this event happen.

The day before I moved to west Texas, while the Uhaul is full and sitting in the driveway my mom extends her financial help and requests it goes toward buying the dress. She also wants to be included in all things wedding which is understandable as the mother of the bride.  

It's been a month since the move, so hopefully things have smoothed over...  I'll be traveling to Dallas this weekend for my littlest sisters dance recital and I plan on doing some dress shopping if possible.

My thoughts on wedding dresses are:

A) most personal photos are taken from the waist up do be sure your dress is interesting from the waist up.

B) I'm big busted so I need straps. Cannot do strapless

C) Farmer likes my shoulders so try to show those.

D) minimize the booty

E) find something comfortable. Meaning I can sit down in it, dance in it, kneel and stand in it but also it's not so  stuffy that it's not a representation of me, it won't look good in cowboy boots and I look out off place in my elegant farm wedding. No backless silk plunging neckline going on here....
I'm leaning toward something like this:

I'll let you know how it goes.  Hopefully no more drama!

Sunday Funday

This Sunday morning, the first Sunday morning since moving out here. Instead of high heels and pantyhose with a champagne brunch I'm covered in dirt and loving every minute.

What's your color personality?

I recently took this color personality quiz which was pretty fun.  I was expecting the simple green, blue, black, white colors....but I came out with the color personality of: CORAL

 *elegant*

*down to earth*

*sweetly feminine*

It finally clicked.  I'm elegant yet down to earth and sometimes I'm even sweetly feminine.  So coral is most definitely my color personality.  I love natural blues, greens, whites, etc and a pop of coral would look beautiful in every room in my apartment.  I'm so excited with this!  I've never LOVED orange or LOVED pink, but I'm always drawn to them...and coral is the best of both worlds!

Some Inspiration in shades of Coral:

via
Love the blue walls, carpet, art work and oh ya, there's coral

via
Love that the coral is on the wall and everything else is neutral.
But because of the walls this room has a bright character!

Love EVERYTHING about this collage - patterns, blue, white, coral, texture, gold!

Love the symmetry. Love the blue and white with pop of coral

all three above via
Love the blue and white again, but also the texture in the pieces from nature
Oh, and there's a pop or coral!  It totally makes a room for me!

Don't get me wrong, sometimes coral triggers the thought of an old lady's 1970's condo or a retirement home in Miami.  But I find relaxation in both of those examples. 

An old lady with nothing to do all day...yes I'd love to be her.

In Miami living off my retirement?  Can't wait for that day either! 

And yes, I'm sureyou thought of coral and thought of the photo below (which I LOVE)

No matter how you look at it, I'm smitten by coral.

via

Living an "elegant, down to earth" Life to the Fullest with hints of coral!

-Rachel

My Favorite Bloggers

Time to share with you a few of my favorite blogs!!

Melissa from 320 Sycamore shares her AMAZING home renovations
Seriously, check out her Kitchen redo! 

Michelle at The Vintage Apple is a elementary school teacher
in a low income school district and while her day is worse
than I could ever imagine (think of re-living those years in elementary school where everyone hates you) she seems to find the silver lining in her day!
She also just got married and has an amazing husband and a doggy!
My kind of lady!

I love Jamie's blog title because I'm pretty sure it has to do with a beautiful song I hear at tons of weddings.  Jamie puts tons of Pinteresting images up every Wednesday. I love the dresses she shares!  Also, because I love her blog design I revised my blog (once again) thanks to her designer!  It's really simple!

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Another blogger named Michelle...Has a beautiful family, a loving husband and is having some issues fitting in with her neighborhood stay at home mothers. 
She does alot of pinning also!

I might need to make this into a page on my blog....I have a TON of other favorites including some personal friends of mine!  Stay tuned!

Live Life to the Fullest....one inspiring blog at a time!

-Rachel

Goodwill

My favorite new store is GoodWill!!

Check out these 'vintage' purses I bought for $8.00 total!  ($4.00 each).

I can just picture that straw clutch with my bright green 'golf' shorts, a flowy white top and bright wedges.     The colorful clutch would be great with an all white outfit or an all tan outfit.  I think it would really pop!  The bright pink sticker is just the price tag I haven't taken off yet.

Living life to the fullest...with Good Will