Posts that I missed #2: Erica's shower!

Ok, so the weekend after we got back from our honeymoon....we flew to Dallas (all the bridesmaids) to host a wedding shower for Miss Erica Snyder...the bride to be on June 19--so soon!!

As always, Dallas was an amazing time. Vanessa met Emily and I at the airport where Heather was nice enough to pick us up and then we were off to dinner with all the DFU and Carol Snyder, who was in town for the festivities!! It was a very delicious meal and I actually saw one of Jimmy's cousins while we were sitting at the table- small world. Then it was off to an SMU bar, full of very rich and very fancy people. Haha.



Me and Payson and Rachel- part of the DFU :)


The other side of the table!


Matron of Honor #1- doing her thing and getting the bride to be drunk


Matron of Honor #2- getting it DONE

PS- all the pictures are stolen from Vanessa's facebook album---as I didn't take any Friday night and just a few on Saturday! Thanks V :)

The next morning Vanessa and I tried to get up and head to CostCo early, but that didn't work because they weren't open. Haha. The host and her mom made us a delicious breakfast of a fruit and yogurt parfait and then we were off to the bridesmaid bootcamp the Erica was hosting us at with her trainer at Cooper Aerobics. And then there was a surprise visitor- Andrew's sister, Kristine, made the trek all the way to Texas from Nebraska!!! Yeah :) I'm so glad she could make it and hang out with all of us- it was so great to have her there.

Pretty much April, Erica's trainer at Cooper, kicked our butts---after a little warm up, we did some intense intervals at different stations with our partners. It was pretty fun and make me realize how much I missed bridal bootcamp and the structured work outs :) We ended the work out with a nice walk around the Cooper complex, with Erica as our tour guide. It was really beautiful and full of lots of healthy people working out- of course. Check out the blog that Erica helps manage as their PR Manager- she's a stud with her own office!!

After that we were off to a delicious lunch at Central Market- a VERY upscale grocery store with a little restaurant in it. It was delicious....and for the record Erica, nothing like Hy-Vee--haha!

Finally, we were off to do what our main goal was there, to get supplies for the shower that started at 6PM. With our trusty CostCo cards in hard, we headed a way away from Dallas to get all the supplies we need for the wine and cheese themed shower. Of course, it had everything we needed at a great price and even some beautiful flowers! But as we left, we realized we forgot the most important part---6 bottles of wine to gift to Erica as part of our present. We then drove around for an hour by Erica's house looking for a liquor store---turns out she lives in a dry county but luckily we found some trashy place that only sold beer and wine, but we were good to go and luckily all the other bridesmaids were already showered and ready so they could set up and we could get ready :)

And ladies and gentlemen....I present to you, our final product! Complete with recommended wine and cheese pairings! I have to say....the bride to be LOVED it! We all knew that she would, but were very happy she was excited!!

There were a great group of girls to help her celebrate and lots of awesome presents!!! I think overall, she had a great time and so did all of us!!!


The table set up- Vanessa's wonderful handwriting!


The set up on the island---and you can see Erica's sweet new countertops!! And Heather being creepy...what's new?


Um, I think she likes it :)


All the shower attendees working on their game!


She LOVED this present!


The bride and all her bridesmaids :) Getting excited for New Orleans and June 19!

Then we were off to Uptown for the night- and things got a little crazy on the dance floor.


Everyone prior to the dancing fools...


The bride has some moves we have never seen...


Heather and I dancing, luckily I wasn't sweating :)

And after a fun and tiring weekend, we were off to the airport bright and early and back home. But never fear our Dallas friends, we will see you all again in only a few short weeks in New Orleans and then again in Dallas at the Wassinger/Snyder wedding shin-dig! Yeah for fun, friends, and good times....

Just act like you're 15- why not!?!?

This past weekend could no better be summed up in one word/number: 15. Why do you ask? Here's a pre-cursor to the explanation.

Individuals involved: Emily McClelland, Erica Snyder, Heather Lichtenauer, Ashley Payson, Rachel Knight, Taryn Phillips, Lauren Hensley, and myself

Location: Dallas, TX

Well here goes the explanation:

1. Friday night = baller seats at the TSwift concert, courtesy of Heather, because she pretty much runs the show at AA arena :) Average age at the concert: 15 years old. Maybe even lower. But we sat next to 15 year old boys.
2. Late Friday night = we went out, sat down to get a beer, had one beer, then boys arrived. Minutes after boys arrived, we all left. While we did not leave because of the boys in real life, that is what 15 year old girls would do. Because they have secret crushes on boys and get all silly and smiley when they come around. So they leave because they are nervous.
3. Later Friday night = get home and pop in High School Musical 2. Most of us fall asleep watching, but it's so good.
4. Saturday morning = sleep in (a bit, not sure Heather would agree with this one...but getting up 4 hours later than I do during the week makes me happy!), head to brunch with $1 mimosas. Only 2 of us (out of 4) order them, we eat and leave, not even thinking twice that we could have had a nice buzz to start out the day.
5. Saturday afternoon = go to Yogalicious. Eat yogurt/ice cream with 17 toppings each. Sit around and talk about how good it is and we can't wait to come back tomorrow.
6. Saturday mid-day = go to a bar. ***Ok so yeah, 15 year olds can't do that, but I mean you will understand later. Just go with it*** We sit at a dark booth by ourselves, only talk to each other and the funny bartender. Boys that we know come over and talk, we chat but show no real interest and they leave, just leaving us girls again. Then we convince the bar to make us a special appetizer (not on the menu) of fried pickles. Because they are delicious and we are 15- so our metabolisms are rocking and it doesn't even matter.
7. Saturday later day = go home and take a nap. Not because we maybe had one too many beers......just because we are tired and need rest. Like all 15 year old that exert far too much energy. To try to put us to sleep, we watch the remainder of High School Musical 2. I never nap because I'm so intrigued as how they are going to solve the dilemma in the movie of Troy not remaining true to himself. *Gasp!*
8. Saturday night = get ready and meet friends for dinner. Three people at the table order grilled cheese. Yum...love those 15 year old taste buds!
9. Saturday later night = attempt to go "dancing" at a bar in a "rough" part of town. Instead we just stand there with our drinks and look awkward as biker boys stare. We call our moms crying and walk out.
10. Saturday later later night = back to our mid-day bar spot. Walk in through the crowd, take a booth, order diet cokes and water. 20 min later, the rest of the group arrives and we all agree that we want to go home and watch High School Musical 3. Yes, this is why I love my friends. I'm secretly dying to watch it. They know it.
11. Saturday slumber party = fall asleep to High School Musical 3 and dream happy dreams of a 15 year old with worries of a 15 year old. No job stress, wedding planning, owning a home...just "why is this zit popping up? OMG"
12. Sunday morning = Cinnamon pancakes, eggs, and soda for breakfast. Just what the doctor ordered.
13. Sunday afternoon = Ice cream stop #2 of the weekend. Like I said, we're 15, we got some kicking metabolisms.
14. Sunday afternoon (as well) = Ikea- while this is not the destination a 15 year old might pick. I absolutely felt like a kid in a candy store- a BIG candy store- here. WOW is all I have to say. WOW. But I did pick up the Spanish version of their 2010 catalog.
15. Sunday evening = off to the airport, McDonald's for dinner, and Sudoku on the plane.

While these 15 examples of how our weekend consisted of acting like 15 year olds wasn't enough, Taylor Swift's song lyrics to her hit song "15" was enough for me to realize how much life changes each year. As a 15 year old, your activities, priorities, thoughts were SO different then as a 24/25 year old.

However, everything in your life at that time was just as important to you as everything is now- regardless as how the world sees it. So whatever is truly important to you, whatever dream you have of accomplishing or wherever you think you see yourself going- don't let the world stop you. Yes, responsibilities are much greater when you get older and there are more things to consider---but that shouldn't stop pursuing a dream of yours. At 15, I truly thought I could conquer the world, no matter what I chose to do. Sometimes now I find myself having a dream or vision, but stopping those optimistic thoughts short because it's not the "right" thing to do. It's not what I "should" do. But you know what? If as we grow, we all keep a little bit of that 15 year old spirit we once had with us....I think the world would be a much happier place....full of ice cream, HSM movies, laughter, friends, and a whole lot of dreams to come true.

Thanks friends in Dallas for a WONDERFUL weekend. Emily and I couldn't have had a better time or asked for better friends!! And thanks T-Swift for your ever inspiring words, even for this 24 year old. You rock :)

Upcoming weekend: In pictures

This morning, I received our weekend schedule from our gracious host Erica for our trip to Dallas which officially begins Friday at 3PM. Here is a preview in pictures of what is to come. I CAN'T WAIT.

OPENING ACT FOR T-SWIFT. LOVE HER. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HER AGAIN.

NO WORDS NEEDED. FAVORITE EVER. 2ND TIME SEEING THE FEARLESS TOUR THIS YEAR. SO SO EXCITED. THANKS HEATHER FOR THE TICKETS!!

OF COURSE, WE WILL BE WATCHING THE K-STATE GAME. MAYBE THEY'LL PULL OUT A WIN? OR NOT? REGARDLESS- LOVE THEM.

NIGHT OUT IN UPTOWN IS A MUST WHEN GOING TO D-TOWN. LOVE PEOPLE WATCHING THERE.

I WOULD LIKE TO ENTER A SOUND CLIP HERE OF ME SCREAMING BECAUSE I AM SO EXCITED FOR MY FIRST TRIP TO IKEA EVER. I MIGHT NEED AN EXTRA SUITCASE.

THERE SHE IS - 2 STEPPING OF COURSE - GRACIOUS HOST #1. ERICA, LOVE THE MOVES. MAYBE SHE'LL EVEN TAKE A WALK AROUND THE LAKE WITH ME :)

THERE SHE IS, HOST #2. WITH HER 2% MILK OF COURSE. ANY WEEKEND WITH HEATHER IS GUARANTEED TO BE HILARIOUS :)

Thanks for letting us invade your house and city. Can't wait for the fun to begin!!