Wedding Season 2014

Forget the baby talk, Wedding Season has begun! My best friend for the past 23 years (I'm 28 years old) so my lifelong friend - is getting married. She is a savvy sexy successful woman who is way to cool to call me her friend but for some reason she does. (Thanks!) Her #1 no-no is most social situations is children. She'd just "rather not". Rather not deal with the crying, rather not deal with the distraction and just "rather not". So at her upcoming wedding at the end of February she has a strict NO CHILDREN rule. Five of her nine bridesmaids are married and three of the five have children. More like toddlers, not children. Either way, they are not invited to the wedding.

I was so anxious for her reaction when I announced my pregnancy. I expected her initial reaction would be one of the following Pinterest comments:



    

YIKES!! Not so nice...
 Style Unveiled.com

God Bless this bride with THREE pregnant BMs
source

Ack! Even hubby recalls the bride-to-be saying "You better not knock her up!" ayayay

When the day came I missed my chance to tell her face to face. However, she knew something was up and asked me a few days later. She is happy for me and hasn't banned me from her wedding.

Let's face it, this pregnancy hasn't change me much. I'm a pretty lame friend anyways. I'm definitely not the one you call for a crazy night out. A crazy night IN? I'm all over that! lol

For all other pregnant bridesmaids out here: I found this website with pregnant bridesmaid advice. 

1. Be honest with the bride With this being my first baby I have no clue what to expect! But she is my BFF so she pretty much knows everything about me anyway.
3. Order a bigger dress Done!

       

This is the dress straight from the boutique. Yes I said boutique, not store because it came with a boutique price tag, we're not talking David's Bridal here!

 I took this picture in my 17 year old sister's bedroom so the color doesn't do it justice. It's a really pretty dress I will ABSOLUTELY wear again, believe it or not. Also I had extra spark that day (notice the static cling). 

This is before alterations. Can't wait to see how big I get by the end of Feb!

More advice....
7. BYOB: Bring snacks and water to stay hydrated. Fainting bride, cute. Fainting preggo, "TIMBER!!"
8. Comfortable shoes! Flats for sure!
9. Laugh at yourself Hormones = emotional. But tears at a wedding are OK!


I'm signing off with Grits on this. Being pregnant is hard enough, add in supporting your BFF on the most important day of her life and it's hard to remember to take care of yourself. So a definite Grit post.

Grits,

It's not like I can wear high heels right now anyways.

Tragedy in Boston hits close to home

Let me tell you how I heard the news. 

My bridesmaid, Ally had a birthday April 9th and she was running the Boston Marathon on April 15th.  I was out of town on her birthday, so I was buying her a Boston Marathon t-shirt online for her birthday/congrats on running your 2nd marathon.  I pressed BUY and went to check on her race time online.  She wasn't quite done with her run and had the last few miles to go.  Her boyfriend had finished his and he did great! 

I'm at my desk when my other bridesmaid Google messages me saying "Holy Crap Boston" to which I reply "was that meant for me?" and then she tells me bombs went off at the finish line.  The finish line ?!  The one Ally hasn't crossed yet??  Or did she cross when the bombs went off? 

I can't even explain to you what I was feeling at that moment.  Time stood still.  It was like my friendship with Ally passed before my eyes, but then it didn't.  I knew she was ok, but I didn't know.  I wanted to see photos and video of what happened, but then I didn't.  Within the minute, we knew Ally and her boyfriend were ok.  They were 2 blocks from the finish line.  Ally had finished the race, they just hadn't updated her finish time.  Now's the time you start thinking "Well, what if it had been a bigger bomb? What if she hadn't pushed herself to run faster?  What if, What if, What if I hadn't said my morning rosary and included her in it?" 

In the end, it's not up to us to question the events of the day.  It's up to God to make them happen.  Are prayers answered?  Sometimes.  Is God's will done?  Yes. Every time. 

Ally and her boyfriend

A kiss never tasted so sweet...

This post isn't about me or my friend Ally.  It's just another way to always remember the souls who left this earth that day.

Krystle Campbell

AP Photo/Campbell Family

Martin Richard

Photo: Bill Richard via AP

Lu Lingzi

Source

 

And let us be forever thankful for the heroes who emerged from the rubble. 

Source: Charles Krupa—AP

The father of 2 military veterans, both of which are deceased, found courage to help others

 

The mother and daughter (npr.org link) who found encouragement in the hospital when visited by two military amputees. 
That npr.org link is a GREAT interview
 

The stranger who loaned her phone to help runners call family (first-hand blog post immediately following attack)

(Source)

And those runners who KEPT RUNNING to donate blood for the injured. 

When was the last time you donated blood?

 

While there are High Heels and Grits all over this story, it is more fitting to sign off saying
Call your family, say your prayers, spread love, and
God Bless America