Wedding Wednesday: Meet my Bridesmaids!

Meet my besties that I'm so honored to have next to me as we tie the knot. I'd be lost without these ladies in my life!

Kristy Floriani: Matron of Honor

Kristy is my older sister and will be my Matron of Honor. Despite our 7 year age difference, we're as close as can be for sisters. Growing up, I know I got on her nerves because I always wanted to be around my "sissy" and her friends. But as we grew up, Kristy really helped take care of me when mom and dad weren't around. She'd pick me up from school, help me with homework and help take me around town to all my various dance, baton and ice skating lessons. While her and I are complete opposites, she's never missed a pageant or one of my performances growing up. Next to my mom, she's been my biggest fan and supporter and I couldn't ask for a better big sister.

Breanne Maples: Bridesmaid

Breanne is one of my ultimate best friends. We met years ago when I competed in her parents' pageant, National American Miss. Over the past 10 years, we've become super close and I don't know what I would do without this girl in my life. Breanne is considered "cupid" for me and Brandon, because I'm sure without her, B and I wouldn't be together. Bre can also be considered my "stylist" and is super creative and has been a huge help for me with wedding planning, hence we call her Head Bridesmaid. We've been around the country together for pageants and have had some hilarious times together (if you get a chance, ask her about our trip to NYC a few years ago and what she asked the world-reknowned photographer shooting my headshots that day). 

Kelly Matt: Bridesmaid

Kelly is one of my best friends from Marquette and I don't know what I'd do without her in my life. Despite living hundreds of miles apart, we talk on a fairly regularly basis and I recently got to see Kelly at her wedding in Florida (p.s. she was a gorgeous bride and had an AMAZING wedding!) I met Kelly on my very first day of college in our very first class, Philosophy. We had the same major in college so we spent a lot of time together studying, doing projects and hanging out. Kelly and I share a love of working out so we were workout buddies in college and we are looking forward to completing a half marathon together next year! Kelly currently lives in Washington DC with her husband, and their cat, Jasmine. 

Haley Landsman: Bridesmaid

Haley is one of my other besties from Marquette. Haley was in the same Philosophy class with Kelly and myself and it turned out she had the same major as well. The three of us spent a lot of time together both in class and out throughout our years at Marquette. Haley is one of the most fabulous ladies I know. She currently lives in Chicago where she works for an advertising agency and anytime I'm in town, I absolutely have to see her. Haley always knows how to make me laugh, and we're like two peas in a pod. I can't wait to have her by my side on our wedding day! 

Molly Briggie: Personal Attendant

If there's anyone who I'd trust to be my "wedding choreographer and stage manager", it'd be Miss Molly Briggie. Molly and I met through working for National American Miss. Moll doll, as we all like to call her, knows how to get things done. She's so organized, is always ready for anything that comes up and she knows how to give us a good giggle. It was a no brainer that I knew I'd want Molly to help me with all the little details along the way. She's been a huge help to me sending me wedding ideas and I know she's going to help us have an amazing wedding day! 

Makeup Monday: What's In My Travel Makeup Bag?

Perfecting my travel makeup bag has always been a struggle for me. I have some travel versions of my favorite items, but I always found myself throwing in my brushes, my favorite everyday makeup and foundation at the last minute before we left. Then I'd get frustrated when we got home, because I'd want my everyday makeup and I'd have to unpack it.

Since B and I travel a lot on the weekends, having a grab and go makeup bag has turned into a necessity for me. Since we can be gone back to back weekends, I needed something that can stay in my suitcase for the week until I pack again and I don't have to unpack to get some of my everyday things.

Enter, my new and improved travel makeup bag filled with everything I need! It's been hard finding travel sizes of my favorite things but here's what I carry with me when we travel. I'm using a Vera Bradley makeup bag that is perfect for it because it has two inside mesh pockets and a large area in the middle where I can put different items (i.e. face, eyes, lips). It also has an outside pocket that holds some q-tips, bobby pins and extra hair ties. 

I feel like I owe this Sephora set I recently purchased the thanks for helping me complete my travel makeup bag. It has some great full size and deluxe size items I've always wanted to try but didn't want to spend the money on for the full size for fear of me not liking it. I've tried out everything in it and absolutely love it!! 

Face

Bare Escentuals Hydrating Bare Minerals Ready Foundation

For a powder foundation with the precision angle brush for application

Benefit Hello Gorgeous foundation

I received this in a small travel size from Sephora-perfect size!

NARS Tinted Moisturizer

Again, a travel size from Sephora. I like to have a variety of foundations with me because I never know what I'll want to wear. 

Too Faced Concealer

The perfect, creamy concealer. I love it! 

Makeup Forever HD Powder

This came in a set from Sephora that I recently purchased.

Eyes

Bobbi Brown Quad Palette

This is a palette that you buy and you can snap out what colors you want. I made mine with a blush, and three eyeshadows: a highlight shade, light brown and a dark brown. This doesn't get a lot of love in my everyday makeup look so I thought it'd be a good basic to have with me when I travel

Sephora Eye Shadow Trio

From the Sephora Super Stars set.

Bobbi Brown Eye Liner

Stila Liquid Liner

Maybelline Mascara

Benefit They're Real Mascara

Lips & Cheeks

Nars Blush in Orgasm

Too Faced Bronzer in Pink Leopard

Bare Escentuals Buxom Lip Gloss

Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss

Laura Mercier Lip Gloss 

Fit Friday: Boot Camp Workout

I recently started a new boot camp that I am loving so far. I typically work out 6 days a week with 3-4 days of weights and doing cardio all 6 days. Sometimes I can get into a "workout rut" and find it hard to get myself to try new exercises.

A few months ago, I had heard about the Best Body Boot Camp, and I knew that the next round of it I wanted to try it out. It's an 8 week boot camp that costs $25. Every two weeks, you're emailed a new workout that includes weights and cardio intervals. You also track your work outs along with two goals you have and if you meet the minimum entries, you're entered to win money each week. There are also a few grand prize winners in the end.

What I love about this online boot camp is a few things...

1. It's helping me to challenge myself. I definitely was sore this week and I actually welcome the soreness. To me, it means I got my butt kicked.

2. There is no "biggest loser". Yes you set goals for it but the goals are things such as stretching more, drinking more water, eating more fruits or going to bed earlier. Currently I'm working on drinking 48 oz of water each day and stretching for 5 mins everyday.

So far I've loved this first week of working out with the boot camp. I'm really looking forward to see what the next workout has in store!

Engagement Photos

About a month ago, B and I had our engagement photos done. I love having my photo taken and I had been looking forward to this day FOREVER! We had them taken on a Sunday afternoon in downtown Omaha, which I ran a half marathon that exact same morning! Despite being tired and sore, I was able to ignore that for the few hours we had our photos taken. We absolutely love the photos. Here's a sneak peek at our favorites!!

I said Yes to the Dress!

About a month after we got engaged, pageant season started in full force. We went on a 3 state run and were gone for 3 straight weeks our west in Arizona, Utah and Nevada. Since we had some down time in between each state, I thought it would be a good idea to hit up a few bridal stores since my mom would be with us.

The day after our Arizona pageant, me, my mom, Breanne (one of my bridesmaids), my pageant bestie Julie and her mom and a few of our other pageant friends, headed to a bridal store in Scottsdale that had been recommended to us by our friends, the Donatis. We all know I was not going to look like an ordinary bride and this place came highly recommended so we decided to try it out.

I thought that with my taste, the dress searching process would be a long one. While picking out dresses to try on that afternoon, nothing really stood out to me. Everything started to look the same on the hanger. Breanne pulled out a couture dress and told me to try it on-I agreed thinking it didn't look like anything spectacular on the hanger.

The first two dresses I tried on were total flops and I started to doubt if I ever would find "the dress". When I put on my third dress (Breanne's pick-the couture dress), I fell in love with it. When I came out, everyone's mouths drop which was was the exact reaction I wanted. I didn't want to take the dress off.

I gave the other dresses I had picked out a try on, but nothing compared to dress #3, the Marchesa gown. I put it on at the end and started crying; a reaction I did not expect at all since I'm used to wearing dresses. I couldn't believe that we found the dress at the first store! I knew that nothing else would compare to this dress because it's so different and so me. Despite being over budget, mom and dad (well we told dad the price of the dress a little bit later ;))  got me the dress of my dreams.

I've been patiently waiting for the dress to come in and I can not wait to put it on for our big day and for everyone else to see it! Lots of people have asked to see it, but I'm keeping it a secret for the wedding day!

Celebrating that I said Yes to the Dress with my pageant besties!!

Stay tuned...