15 Day Challenge Sign-Ups!

Guess what time it is?! 15 Day Challenge time!

So here's how it works: Link up your blog below by typing in your blog name and blog's URL (for example, mine is http://lovelovelovesar.blogspot.com). Then, starting Sunday, write a blog post answering the prompt that matches with the date. The writing prompts are as follows:

It's supposed to be for consistent blogging, but don't feel obligated to always post regarding the prompts! The rules are lax so if you miss a day, we won't hate you. In fact, you can even join in halfway through! If you don't like a prompt, answer one with the same theme, or make up your own! It's fun, so make it your own! 

Here is the link-up for all who said they are participating, but make sure to link up daily too!

Thursday Thoughts v.26

Happy Thursday, friends! Write down some thoughts you're thinking today, then link up below so the rest of us can read them! I write mine in list form, but feel free to be as creative as your mind sees fit! Right click and save the photo above, or use your own!

[1]

You guys have seriously no idea how much your words, thoughts, and prayers have meant. Chelsea was such a joy in this world and I am heartbroken she's gone. Y'all have gone out of your way to hold her family and friends in your heart, and I am so blessed to have friends like you. Seriously guys, you have no clue as to how overwhelmingly loved I feel from your blog comments. Thank you.

[2]

To Liz, the woman who has stepped up as a bestie in so many unexpected but needed ways: I love you. Thank you so much for being the bright light in a dark time. I'm so grateful for you.

[3]

I don't know if I've talked about this much on my blog, but this semester, my stats class has been rather difficult. My class has required way more patience than in years past, and since you guys know me, you know that patience is not my strong point. Even though the statistics part has been a little rough, I am so thankful for their attitude change this week (after our come-to-Jesus talk about lack of motivation). Plus they were super witty with their team names for review Bingo yesterday. Bonus points if you understand the cat drawing!

[4]

Dr. Kirk's latest edition of his graduate textbook is finished and he just received the publisher's copy. He let me take a picture of my special recognition (which just means I typed up a bunch of tables in the appendix for him). It's kind of exciting to have your name in a Kirk stats book...! #nerdexcitement

[5]

I made the list for the 15 Day Challenge! I'm thinking we'll start this Sunday, July 1st and go for 15 days, answering one prompt each day until we end on Sunday, July 15th. That means we can easily pre-schedule days if necessary because the date will match up with the numbered day's challenge. I'll open up a link-up tomorrow and keep it open throughout the entirety of the challenge so that we can all join together. For right now, here's the list of the prompts so that you can get started if necessary! Thank you all for your awesome ideas; I'm looking forward to seeing your answers!

Feel free to right click and save this photo, then post it so that others can will join in too! Again, the link-up will open tomorrow! 

Happy Thursday, friends. Here's hoping you feel enlightened today. What are you thinking? Link up here:

With a heavy heart...

 It's with a heavy heart that I tell you that my best friend back in WA Chelsea passed away this morning. 

I've been debating whether or not I wanted to write anything about this, but it seems like such a huge event in my life that I don't think I want to let it go unsaid. 

Chels was diagnosed with colon cancer in the summer of 2010 and proceeded to kick its ass for a year and a half. Usually, chemotherapy is done in rounds because the human body can't handle it, but Chelsea was a rock and was able to withstand a full year and a half. She was doing great until a congenital cyst problem reared its ugly head due to a weakened immune system, which ultimately contributed to her early passing. 

This woman was the glory of God that flew down to comfort me when Chris passed. She was the one who I celebrate every Halloween with (whether I'm in WA or not). I don't know how to accurately explain my relationship with Chelsea, so I looked up our text messages [I have texts from her dated back to April 2011, which is when I got my iPhone. I should go check my old Blackberry...]: At least every other text message has an exclamation point. And a lot of cuss words. And anytime I said something that would make her roll her eyes, she'd say "ohhh lordyy!"

She's the woman who introduced me to the deliciousness of Long Island Ice Teas, the hilarity of sex stores, the dangerousness of Roman candles, the grace of compassion, the security of cuddling with your best friend, the love of country music, the necessity of a weekly happy hour, and the joy of life--and so much more.

To my best friend since 8th grade: 

I'm so grateful to have known your heart. 

My second-to-last text message I ever received from you was a piece of advice regarding life, and says the following: "You will know what to do. Just take it day by day, minute by minute. Let the pieces fall where they may. Either way, just know I love you and I'm here for you in whatever you may need." Rest in peace, wise friend. Know that you're always with me, now and forever. 

A '15 Day Challenge' Challenge!

An overwhelming number of people commented, emailed, or tweeted that they would join in another 15 Day Challenge should I decide to host another link-up. I think it'd be a blast to read others' answers, especially because all of us have more followers and blogger friends than we did last year at this time.

The only hangup I'm having is deciding which questions should we answer! Holly suggested I should ask others via a blog post, with a reminder of what the prompts were last year:

[1] Discuss your current relationship. If single, discuss how single life is.

[2] Share 30 interesting facts about yourself.

[3] Discuss how you hope your future will be like.

[4] Put your iTunes on shuffle and list 10 songs that pop up. How do they describe you?

[5] Do you have any favorite websites? What are they?

[6] If you could have any job in the entire world, what would it be and why?

[7] Describe your relationship with your parents/siblings.

[8] What are some of your favorite TV shows? Why?

[9] Describe someone who fascinates you.

[10] Give a picture of your 5 favorite famous people and explain why you like them.

[11] What is your favorite movie and why?

[12] Bullet your whole day.

[13] If you could go back and talk to your 15-year old self, what would you say?

[14] What did you want to be when you grew up? What are you now?

[15] What were your highs and lows of the past month?

Those were the questions for last year, but I'm thinking we should come up with 15 new prompts for this time around.

Leave a comment and tell me what you'd like to see other bloggers answer!

Thursday Thoughts v.25

You know the drill, friends! Write down some thoughts you're thinkin' today, then link up below so the rest of us can read them! I write mine in list form, but feel free to be as creative as your mind sees fit! Right click and save the photo above to use it, or use your own photo!

[1]

G-G-G-G-unit (say this as if you were 50 cent) is no longer in Lauren's body, but alas, is a living, breathing human being (albeit a tiny one)! She hasn't blogged about it yet, but if you check out her Instagram (OKLauren), you can see the most adorable baby G ever. Congrats, Laur!

[2]

Yet again speaking of Laurens with babies, one of my IRL (in real life) besties Lauren just announced her pregnancy to the blog world. She also included the cutest videos of her telling her husband then parents that she was pregnant. My favorite part is when both Ryan and Lou's mom think she put the pregnancy test in the presents. Haaaahahaha!

[3]

Shauna mentioned she was ready for another challenge a la last year's 15 Day Challenge. I have two problems with this: one, will y'all even participate? Two, if you want to, what type of questions would you like to see? I'd prefer different questions than last time (ugh, no love stories 'cuz I'm still bitter about the whole breakup thing), but I don't know if I'm creatively-minded enough to come up with 15 new ones. What do you think?

[4]

Another IRL (I took her engagement photos!) friend Karenna just got a blog! Karenna's a second year (err, starting her third year) in my program, but in the general experimental track of the PSY/NSC department (specializing in cognitive psychology). Go visit her and welcome her to the blogoverse!

[5]

I have a hot date with Paul (affectionately known as The Paul Hagan or TPH) tonight. Okay, probably not that hot, 'cuz it's me and all, but I'm thinking I should probably start blogging about dating, right? I haven't had any bad date experiences yet, but this is only date #2 with TPH so there's plenty of potential for hilarity. (Paul, I'm totally kidding.)

[6]

I was baking chocolate chip cookies on Tuesday when I realized that my good friend Matt was starting the driving up to Maryland yesterday. So, trying to be a good neighbor (like Mister Rogers taught me), I made extras to send some with him...and totally forgot he's allergic to chocolate. Shit. Now I have a surplus of chocolate chip cookies and maybe one less friend. ;) #friendfail

Happy Thursday friends! I'm looking forward to the weekend, as it will be full of studying for my qualifying exam and plenty of chocolate chip cookies. How has your week been? Link up and tell us!

Dear Monday v.36

Linking up with Megan for Dear Monday and Meg for Mingle Monday!

Dear Monday, You started so early today for no apparent reason (apparently I wasn't tired?) that I had time to curl my hair, eat a hearty Cheerios breakfast, make and drink coffee, organize my bathroom cabinet, and still make it to work an hour early. Thanks for being a smooth transition to my week!

Dear Lauren, I'm so excited you're officially announcing your pregnancy! I've been dying to celebrate ever since you told me last month in Washington. I cannot wait to see your pregnancy blog posts! Go tell her congrats, friends! 

Speaking of preggo Laurens...

Dear G-Unit, Please come out of your mom's uterus ASAP. Your due date was last week so I'm sure your mother is ready to not be pregnant anymore! 

Dear Stats Class, Since Dr. K had a bad reaction to some oral surgery, he can't talk easily. That means you get me twice a day for 1.5 hours each all week. Suckas. 

Dear Blog Friends, For some reason, I felt super homesick this past weekend and had a "I have no friends, I miss WA!" day. What do you do when you're home alone on a Saturday night and feel like everybody and their mom is busy?

Happy Monday y'all! Here's hoping this week goes by slowly so I can prepare for my oral qualifying examination in two weeks! 

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday, friends! 

Linking up with Lauren for few things I love today: 

-My polka dot Pier One mug from Meghan at More From Meg (my fave!)

-Diet Coke. Always.

-Ugly Betty (I finished the series today...wah wah)

-My Freudian slippers (thanks Liz!) for keeping my toes warm in my over-ACed office

-B-Rizzle for being the best office mate the world has ever seen (even when you beat box or listen to screamo music)

-All the giveaway entrants!

After using all the entries as a teaching tool for random sampling (why else do you think I told you entry number didn't matter?), we have come up with a giveaway winner! If you wanted to know exactly how a winner was chosen, you can ask any of my Summer Statistics 2402 students (spoiler alert: we used a random numbers table and a creatively-used paperclip).  Not even kidding.

Anyway, we randomly sampled Colette from Caffeinated Conversations as the giveaway winner! Colette, email me at sarahlaurielake@gmail.com with your mailing address information and you'll get your package soon!

Happy Friday guys! My parents just got back from an Eastern Washington wine tour, so I'm going to be pretending that I'm drinking wine with my mom all weekend. Anybody have any awesome weekend plans that they want to let me live vicariously through?

Thursday Thoughts v.24

Happy Thursday friends! You know the drill by now: write down a few things you've been thinking this week and then link up below so that the rest of us can read along! Use the picture above or make your own, write in a paragraph or bullet point, have a theme or just randomly jump from topic to topic. It doesn't matter, just link up!

[1]

Today's the last day of the Anthropologie giveaway! Tweet once more, or enter if you haven't!

[2]

I posted a (rare for me) inspirational post yesterday and I've been delighted to read tweets and comments about who inspires you. There is always more room for good in the world. 

[3]

I think I'm going to redo the blog design here at [life of love] but I can't figure out exactly what I want to do. I come up with something I like, then preview the blog and think, eh. Anybody have a good idea?

[4]

I just realized that I haven't gone to Starbucks in over a week. Who am I?!

[5]

The weather in Central Texas has been weird: 100 degrees one day, 73 and raining with lightening the next. It was like the on and off for the past week, which has been glorious, because I get the feeling that here on out, it's going to be ridiculously hot. Luckily, I'm dog-sitting for some friends from church this weekend and they have a pool. Yes please! 

A short Thoughts post because that's all I've been thinking recently! What about you? Link up below and let us know!

Let's make the most of this beautiful day...

Won't you be my neighbor?

Rarely do I feel motivated by anyone personally or professionally. Sure, I have colleagues I admire who excell at producing research and friends who I have the utmost respect for, but there are few people that make me feel inspired to live a better life.

I have the most admiration for Mister Rogers. I remember him from childhood, watching his television program where he or Mr. McFeely would go to the post office to learn how it worked, or segments on how to do crafts with household objects. I remember loving the Neighborhood Trolley that took me to the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, and I loved King Friday but was terrified of Lady Elaine (I think because of her voice, even though in my adulthood I rewatch the show and wonder what exactly was so scary).

But Mister Rogers' Neighborhood isn't the reason why I love Mister Rogers. I am humbled by the quality, integrity, and love that Fred Rogers possessed on a daily basis.

A Presbyterian minister, I most respect Mister Rogers for the capacity of love and understanding he had. There are an abundance of stories of children writing to or meeting with him, and they all have the same story: nobody will ever understand children as much as Mister Rogers did. One of my favorite stories involves a 6-year old writing to him and Mister Rogers' personal response back to the child. The idea that a child is deserving of a personal letter from an adult is an uncommon one, and yet Mister Rogers responded as if it were the norm. Here's an adult who probably received hundreds upon thousands of letters from children through the 31 years he was on public television, and yet he responded to each letter thoughtfully to show children that yes, they were worth it. (It's also astonishing to note that Mister Rogers told the child to use his imagination to build an at-home Trolley out of boxes or construction paper instead of including a 10% off coupon to a licensed product from Toys 'R' Us.)

One of my most favorite Mister Rogers moments involves his reaction to this video. I challenge you to watch it without love in your heart. 

Not only did Mister Rogers possess an extraordinary amount of gratitude, he constantly challenged others to become better people (in the most loving, least judging way possible). In the current age of dramedy reality television and websites designed to humiliate people, I hope I can work to have just an ounce of the integrity in my day that Mister Rogers had throughout his life. When kids nowadays say their idol is a Kardashian, or Katy Perry, or LeBron James, my heart hopes they get to experience a bit of Mister Rogers' magic in their youth as a real person to admire: a man of compassion, grace, understanding, and a whole lot of make-believe.

Who inspires you?

Dear Monday v.35

Linking up with Megan for my 35th (!!) round of Dear Monday!

Dear Monday, I love that you let me "sleep in" 'til 7:30. You're going to rock, I can feel it.

Dear Austin Trip, You were wonderful. We got to spend some time with friends, drink copious amounts of alcohol, and eat a ton of good food. Plus, my entire Saturday morning looked like this:

Dear Baby Kendrick, I cannot wait for you to come! You're due to arrive in another month or so, but I'm becoming impatient. Hope you liked your sweet gift! 

Dear First Pres Waco, Renting out Waco's new water park for two hours last night was a genius way to kick off VBS week. I don't think I'd pay the entrance fee to go when it's super busy, but I love that we had 200 people total and got in free. Awesome. 

Dear Ugly Betty, You--by far--are my favorite Netflix show to watch this summer. Thanks for keeping me company while prepping for my new courses. 

Dear Blogger Friends, Don't forget about the Anthropologie giveaway I'm hosting! You don't even have to follow me, which means that it's super easy to enter! Pimp it out, yo!

Happy Monday friends! How is your week starting off?

Starbucks Sunday: Social Sunday v.1

 

Things I love today:

-The Anthropologie giveaway on my blog

-The beautiful temperature outside

-Being able to sit on my porch and enjoy the slow Sunday morning

-Coffee, especially from a Keurig

-Comfortable beds

-The Bears kicking bum yesterday (sic 'em!)

-Fun Sunday link-ups! Linking up with Neely and Ashley for Sunday Social.

How did you come up with your blog name?

I don't actually remember...it used to be "Sar's in Texas" in a pun off "She's in Texas (and I'm Insane)" by Tumbledown, but when it became more about my life in general and less about how I had moved to Texas, it changed. I thought about Gratitude Attitude for a while, but I felt like [life of love] just fit me a little better (plus, I can have a gratitude attitude while living a life of love)!

What is your favorite thing about blogging?

I feel like people always say the friendships, but I'm gonna have to agree! I love the blogging community, and how one blog post or tweet from a blogger can automatically make me fall in friendship love. Sarah and I Skype frequently (we're practically sisters) and Whitney's tweets are my favorite!

What's one thing you've discovered because of blogging that you can't live without?

Either e.l.f. face primer (it's amazing, although the pump sucks) or Erin Condren's life planner. I haven't actually bought an EC planner yet (because when I first found out about them last year, I had just bought a planner I loved) but I cannot wait to buy one of the new 2012 life planners! 

Facebook or Twitter?

Twitter. Plus I don't have a Facebook, so you know...Twitter. ;) 

If one celebrity read your blog, who would you want it to be?

I have no idea. I feel like I would have nothing in common with a celebrity because my lifestyle would be so drastically different (guys, I live in Waco). But, if I had to pick the celebrity who I think we'd get along the best, I'd go with Emma Stone.

What is something you want people to know about your blog?

I feel like my blog is genuine: I don't have to pretend to be someone I'm not, I don't have to write when I don't want to, and I can just be me. I love blogging and the friends I've made through this forum, but I always try to stay true to myself instead of gaining followers for the sake of having followers (it still weirds me out that 300+ of y'all read my blog, in the most awesome way!).

Happy Sunday friends! Hope to see your post linked up, too!

Anthropologie Giveaway! Giveaway closed!

Guess what time it is?! Giveaway time!

This week, to celebrate being done with wedding season for the year (don't judge, it's been a rough three months!), I'm giving away some bohemian Anthropologie home and body goods! 

You could win the following gift package:

A 4-leaf clover bone white lucky charm, Blithe and Bonny Goat's Milk Soap (in grapefruit scent), a bottle of Grown Under Glass's Hydrating Multi-Purpose balm, and a Beetle Paper Mouse Pad. Total retail valued at $55, you can win this gift set by entering this blog's giveaway!

You can enter in a few ways:

[Mandatory]

Leave a blog post comment about your favorite thing you've bought/seen at Anthropologie, or what you'd buy if you had unlimited money!

[Additional entries]

-Be a follower of [life of love] via GFC! There's a follow button to your right ---> or you can enter the blog URL (http://lovelovelovesar.blogspot.com) on your dashboard.

-Follow Sar on Twitter ('cuz who doesn't love more people to follow?) 

-Tweet/blog about this entry! You can do this 1x/day until the contest ends. Make sure to tag me (@lovelovelovesar) or let me know the URL of your blog post so that I can see it! 

Easy peasy right? Giveaway entries will be randomized (so the order you enter doesn't matter) and a winner will be chosen via Random.org in one week, on Friday, June 15th. Contest ends at midnight on Thursday, June 14th, PST. 

You do not need to leave a comment for each entry, just one comment with all your entries will be sufficient. :) 

Good luck!

Thursday Thoughts v.23

Happy Thursday friends! You know the drill: write down a few things you're thinking today and then link up below so that others can read what's on your mind! 

[1]

We just got the digital copies of all the photobooth pictures from Liz's wedding. There are some great photos, but I think the first ones I took with Beth are my favorite. 

[2]

I have been absolutely delighted by the Keurig that Baylor's GSA has gifted me for the year. My mornings pretty much look like this for the summer thus far:

[3]

Megan H. invited me to go see the Transit of Venus with the Central Texas Astronomical Society on Tuesday. We met in a large field with an unobstructed view of the sun, and the CTAS had a ton (probably 10 or so) of telescopes lined up for people to walk around and look. My favorite was the "Sunspotter II" which used a basic prism to reflect the sun on a piece of paper. You can see Venus in the lower right quadrant of the sun. Awesome right?

[4]

This week has flown by. Seriously, how is it already Thursday? I feel like I've gotten a ton done and yet none at all. We (Casey, Liz, and I, with Sarah Jane yesterday) went to happy hour Tuesday and Wednesday because our favorite bartender no longer works at our go-to happy hour place. Not that I'm complaining or anything...

[5]

Since my original Favorite Things Swap package got lost, Lin was way too sweet and sent me a package from her. It was full of goodness and I should've taken a photo of everything that was in it, but she made the mistake of including Raisinettes (they were gone within 45 minutes of receiving the package) and then I felt guilty for taking a photo with not everything in the picture. Regardless, thanks Lin! You're amazing.

[6]

The Anthropologie giveaway happens tomorrow! Get excited!

What are you thinking today? Link up and tell us!

Jeff & Joanna's Wedding!

The wedding I went to last weekend, Jeff and Joanna's, was absolutely beautiful. I wish I would have taken more pictures, but to be completely honest, I was so caught up in the love of the wedding that I didn't even think about it. Regardless, I did catch some photos throughout the weekend!

The wedding weekend started with the bachelorette party in Addison, where we went to get our nails done, had a lingerie shower in the hotel room, and then went out for dinner and karaoke at an interesting restaurant. 

From left to right, Emily, Abby, Kathy, Joanna, Lauren, Laura, me, and Stephanie 

Kathy, the Maid of Honor (who did a fabulous job her first time ever participating in a wedding, might I add) reserved the bus for us to eat inside, because Jeff actually proposed on a school bus (since he actually first asked her out on a school bus). It was a little hard to navigate around the tables, but it was worth it!

The next day, Lauren (a bridesmaid) and I went shopping at an outdoor mall, then met up with Joanna's extended family for lunch. We also met the rest of the groomsmen (one of them was a HS teacher who taught "Ag." I had to ask what it was, which means clearly I did not grow up in the south), which was fun. 

Then, we had the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner. The rehearsal went painlessly, and the rehearsal dinner was delicious! I got to sit next to Joanna's cousin Julia who was quite possibly my favorite person ever. We bonded over shared love of 90s music and ridiculous knowledge of Eminem lyrics. 

This is Kathy, the MOH and a good friend. Somehow this is only one of 3 photos I have of me of the weekend, which clearly shows how awesomely into human contact I was during the wedding. Love it!

Then Saturday was the wedding. We all went to get our hair done at a salon, then headed to the church to get ready. This is one of my favorite photos (not pictured is Joanna, purposely hidden in the background, and Carla, a bridesmaid who had to run back to the hotel room) of the girls finishing getting ready.

The gorgeous bride and me:

Seriously, I had the best time throughout the weekend. I'll leave you with the sweetest photo of Jeff and Joanna during their first dance. So sweet right?

Now that it's over, I'm a little sad that I have nothing else to look forward to for the rest of the summer, but I'm also relieved that all the weddings for this summer are finally over! 

10 on Tuesday (Dear Monday style)

Linking up with Lin for 10 on Tuesday (but doing it Dear Monday style, since I missed Megan's link-up yesterday)!

[1] Dear Lucy, You were the only puppy I have ever loved, mostly because you were practically mine (or at least Trent let me pretend you were). Rest in peace, sweet puppy dog.

[2] Dear Jasmyn, You've already gone above and beyond to say thank you for last semester, so imagine my surprise when I received this in the mail. I have never loved a glass with a longhorn on it so much. :) Thank you for the graciousness and love in your heart, and the sweet glass you sent me. 

[3] Dear Joanna (and Jeff!), Your wedding was absolutely beautiful. I cried twice during the ceremony: once when Jeff saw you for the first time (he had a plastered smile on until you turned the corner when he couldn't hold back his excitement) and once during Jeff's vows when he choked back tears. I'm so grateful to have gotten to share a part in your amazing wedding weekend, and I cannot wait to be present for many more big days in the Lamkin family. 

[4] Dear 9:45am stats class, Although I miss having you at 8am, y'all are going to be a blast. I can tell that you're very interested in the material (well, as interested as one can be in statistics) and I've been impressed with the questions you're asking already. Here's hoping for a successful month!

[5] Dear Ann Taylor Outlet, You are my weakness! I know what I'm getting myself into every time I walk through the door, but I still put myself in that situation. My new earrings, capris, and adorable dress say thanks though, because they love their new home in my closet. 

[6] Dear Jason Mraz, I know that I already know your new album front and back by heart, but thank you anyway for keeping me company on the drives to and from Dallas. The amount of love you possess and share with your listeners is astounding.

[7] Dear fancy outdoor shopping area in Allen/Plano, Texas, Thanks for the reminder. 

[8] Dear Baylor Baseball, You're going to the Super Regional! The Year of the Bear continues. Awesomely, it's being held here in Waco. Sic 'em and kick butt! I hope I get a chance to go and support you!

[9] Dear Dissertation committee, So far, all five of you I wanted have accepted! I cannot wait to get this prospectus meeting out of the way and move on with my dissertation, so let's hope scheduling goes easily! Although the idea of oral qualifying exams kind of terrifies me, I'm ready to get it done! Here's hoping...

[10] Dear Blogger friends, Guess who is having an Anthropologie giveaway sometime this week?! I have to take photos for it (which is why it's taking a little longer than anticipated), but you're going to be delighted! Stay tuned for some bohemian house and home accessories. 

Happy Tuesday friends! How has your week been thus far?

Liz's Wedding!

As those who have read my blog recently know, I've been pretty busy going from wedding to wedding, watching a ton of friends get married. It's been a blast, and yesterday was my final wedding of the season (until Katie and Kyle get married in October, but I don't know if I'll be able to fly home for that). Before I post photos of the most recent wedding, I wanted to finish posting my pictures from my bestie Liz's wedding from Memorial Day! 

Enjoy this picture-heavy post of my bestie Liz getting married!

Getting ready, the makeup artist (and the same woman who eventually did my hair) Jessica was fabulous. Although Liz needs no makeup, she looked absolutely gorgeous. 

Richard, one of the other two cosmetologists, is Liz's favorite hair stylist. Liz's hair was similarly perfect!

Liz made us matching tank tops that say "Bridesmaid" (or in Casey's case, "Matron of Honor"). From left to right, here's Casey, Beth, Liz, me, and Amy. 

My fabulous bestie in her gorgeous dress!

One of my favorite photos: catching Liz checking out her makeup in the mirror.

I have no pictures of the actual ceremony, because I was in it! However, you can trust that it was a beautiful ceremony! At one point, Beth's daughter (who was a flower girl) started fussing and wouldn't be quiet, so Beth had to take her away from the ceremony. During the recessional, since Beth was gone, I got to escort two men back down the aisle, which was kind of awesome. Pimpin' it up, you know my style. ;) Kidding.

The reception was in Liz's parents' barn, which was decked out in rolls of gossamer with three gorgeous chandeliers. My style would have been little more country chic (considering it was a barn) but it looked gorgeous as a formal reception venue. Liz's mom Cathy (and friends Tina and Janet) did a beautiful job decorating the inside. 

The first dance was beautiful as well! How deeply in love they look, and so happy too!

Catching a sweet moment right before the father/daughter dance, here is the newly elected Mr. Ralph Patterson (McLennan County Republican Party Chairman)!

Casey gave a very sweet MOH speech to Liz and Travis.

Here are Liz and her mother Cathy, looking as gorgeous as ever. No doubting their relation in this photo!

Trent graciously accepted my invitation to be my plus one and was a fantastic date (any man who made sure I was always holding a margarita is my type of guy). We didn't get to dance together (I barely got a chance to sit and eat!) but we have plenty of photobooth pictures!

The exit was filled with sparklers (and, unlike Sumerlin's wedding, no sparkler injuries!) and a ton of love. 

You can kind of see my bridesmaid's dress in the background of this photo, but that's not why I love it.

So that was Liz's wedding last weekend. Gorgeous, right? It was a ton of fun and my cheeks still hurt from smiling (although it could be because of Joanna's wedding from yesterday too)! I love celebrating love.

Stay tuned for pictures of Joanna's bachelorette party/rehearsal dinner/wedding! I haven't gotten a chance to look at them (as I haven't been back in Waco for 12 hours yet!) but I cannot wait to show you some Jeff & Joanna love.

Been to any weddings recently? Do you have many planned for this summer?