BRIDESMAIDS

Whoever said planning the wedding was the hard part was wrong. Finalizing my bridesmaids has been the hardest thing, ever. Ryan, however, knew who his groomsmen were going to be and pretty much in what order they would be standing from the moment we got engaged. You would have thought he had spent his childhood dreaming of his wedding day. Finally after a month of engagement, I had made a decision of four beautiful gals that mean so much to me. At this point, I was just crossing my fingers and saying my prayers that they would say yes.

I figured with such a grand decision, I needed a grand proposal. So after shopping throughout some craft stores, this is what I came up with. By the way, Carly shopped for this stuff with me during a "girls day" and how I kept the use for the materials a secret baffles me. I had to lie all day to her. To those that personally know me, know I can't lie to save my life. But...I don't think she knew! Wooo! Go me!

Now for the line up...

Matron of Honor: (I know I put maid...my bad) Ashley, cousin

Bridesmaid 1: Carly, BFF--She is getting married in August!

Bridesmaid 2: Madi, cousin

Bridesmaid 3: Robyn, Ryan's sister--Does this count as not being an only child now?! I am super excited to gain a sister!

Each box had...

• A black with gold sharpie mug labeled with "Bridesmaid" or "Maid of Honor", the wedding date, and the girl's name.
• A paper chain of "bridesmaids" with the name of the corresponding bridesmaid.
• A personalized card that popped the question.

Ryan's groomsmen are three boys he grew up with and then, my pick, C.J. This past weekend we finally finished asking everyone in our wedding party, including the kids. Aside from how I asked my bridesmaids, I loved how we asked our flower girls. Over Christmas break Ryan "proposed" to my cousin Graci, 2 years old, with a ring pop. It involved candy so that was an easy answer "I want the sucker." Then he proposed to my bold, outgoing cousin, Lily, 6 years old, with a small, gold, flower ring. Adorable.

The video shows just how shy she was, it was so cute. Oh, and ignore the P.J.'s, it was during our Christmas breakfast.

xo
Miss Mal

#studebakerwedding

Snow, snow, snow, snow.  ...I want to wash my hands, my face, and hair with snow.
Is this what it is like in Vermont during the winter? I can't stop singing Bing Crosby's, "Snow," from White Christmas with all of this angelic-like, pure, white snow surrounding us here in Kansas.  However, snow can be a good thing for us teachers...snow day! I took a sick day on Monday and as I was calling in for another sick day on Tuesday, I was notified that school was cancelled. Thank you God. Today was also cancelled. Can you guess how I've spent my past few days, besides listening to my record player? Pinteresting, of course.

And by Pinteresting, I mean planning for my wedding. My mom used to own her own wedding shop and so I feel like I have practically had most of my wedding planned out for awhile, just had to wait for a groom (found him!). She had a great business and did amazing, but it still makes me wonder, what did we do before Pinterest? There are so many really cool (and odd) ideas that I have gotten from the site.

I have sooo many ideas on my "Winter Wedding-Secret Board" and quite frankly, I can't keep them all a secret. So here's a small sneak peek! I have always loved the richness and boldness in black and gold sparkly things. Then after I watched the movie The Great Gatsby earlier this year, I knew I wanted a party like that. Perfect combo and fitting for winter, if I do say so myself. Formal, fun, and classy. My favorite.
I love pictures and constantly post to Instagram, daily. If you follow me, I am sure you are fully aware. Anyway, I love the idea of guests sharing their photos via IG! Then, the parinoid person I am, I was scared someone would already call dibs on the hashtagname I wanted, so I have already been hashtagging my posts. DIBS! #studebakerwedding

Aside from Pinterest, my Erin Condren wedding planner has been awesome for the planning process and organizing all of the dates, phone numbers, to-do lists, the budget, my scattered thoughts, and much more.

***If you are a "Bride to Be" and in need of a planner, here is a code for 25% off your wedding planner! Code:BRIDE2BE25 offer expires on 2/14/14***

IMPORTANT: I have decided on my reception venue and was able to find a place in my hometown. The kicker, it's in the process of being renovated. It is a historic sight downtown and would bring in a lot of business to our small town if the owners were able to finish the project. Money is an issue though so they are trying to get a grant to help the process go by quicker. Please visit this website and vote daily>>> Small Business Grant from Fedex. You can vote daily from each device (phone, iPad/tablet, laptop, etc.). I have faith in them and that it will be BEAUTIFUL! My only other option is to have a reception hall that is out of town and could possibly not work out if a winter storm rolls through next winter. Thanks a million for your vote! :)

10 months and 3 weeks until I become a MRS.! Also, a quick shout out to my main man, Superman, first love--my daddy. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

xo
Miss Mal

The Proposal

Prelude 

     On August 23rd, 2010 I began my journey as a Pitt State Gorilla. Words can not describe how unhappy I was during that time in my life. My grandmother was very sick and we were preparing for the worst, I was attending Pitt State (which I swore I would never do because it seemed like EVERYONE went there and I missed Wichita State), all of my relationships were really rocky, and countless other reasons. I was depressed. All I could do was fully rely on God that he was taking care of me and I was on His path. I remember praying the whole way to class that He would show me love. Love to replace the sadness of my grandma's health, to teach me to love and be comfortable with myself, and love of a person to replace my other rocky relationships.
     As I sat in the last class of the day in Grubbs Hall, General Literature, I was complaining to my friend Carly via text about how horrible this day was. I quickly resent another text to her as a tall, tanned, light haired boy with gorgeous blue eyes walked in wearing dark denim and boots---"I just laid eyes on the guy I am going to marry."
     In the following weeks I found out as much as I could about the boy and loved coming to class. On September 1st, campus flooded with the downpour of rain. This resulted in wet socks, which made for a very unhappy Malarie. Until...the Gen. Lit. cutie randomly ran up under my umbrella in the rain. I thought I was going to pass out. I tried everything I could to get him out of my mind since he was seeing another girl at the time, but I am pretty sure I annoyed Carly with my excitement. Sorry Carly. September went on and on September 25th I spent the evening with my Grandma GG. We talked about boys and other girl things while I also told her all I knew about my Gen. Lit. cutie. I even showed her a picture. I will never forget the look she gave me when she saw his face. She said he was so handsome and I obviously agreed. I got her ready for bed, said goodnight, and then went on my way. I was the last person she spoke with. The next morning when we went to check on her, she had passed.

Friday, December 13th, 2013

     Ryan finally finished school and was about to graduate. The day was all about him! I decided to take a personal day from work to spend the day celebrating with Ryan and his family. My mom had scheduled me a nail and hair appointment, which I desperately needed, for the morning, before the shenanigans began. My hair stylist ended up fixing my hair AND doing my make-up for me. SCORE! All I had left to do was get dressed and I was ready! When I got to Ryan's house he was so nervous and kept saying he was sick to his stomach. I didn't remember feeling that nervous for my graduation, but I just kept giving him sympathy and telling him how proud I was of him hoping to calm his nerves. At about 3:30 Ryan decided he wanted to go tour the college for the last time. Seriously?! It was rainy, my hair was fixed, I was in heels, and it was COLD! I painted a smile on my face and said, "this day is all about you sweetie, so whatever you want to do." As I helped him gather his cap and gown, I teased with him that he should have decorated his cap like all of the girls usually do. "You should have put something like...Malarie will you marry me? on the top of the cap so I would see it during the ceremony. Haha..." As we were walking out the door he handed me an umbrella (the color of the one I had in college) and told me it was for our walk around campus since it was rainy. We jumped in his truck to head to PSU while he changed it to our song Honeybee by Blake Shelton.
     Obviously no one was at the college that day and all of the parking lots were empty, but Ryan insisted we park 2 blocks away where we used to park and sit to talk after class. He was being such a sappy romantic that day for an odd reason. We walked all through campus visiting spots that were special to us, even our General Literature room in Grubbs Hall. About the time by hair went flat, he decided he was ready to leave. Thank goodness! He was being ridiculously emotional that day. On our way back to his truck he started listing reasons he loved me. I didn't understand why, but Ryan is not the kind of guy to say that stuff so I was just letting it soak in. About the time he was going to tell me his #1 reason he loved me, I saw my mom pop up behind a truck that resembled my dad's with a camera looking like the paparazzi. Then, my dad started walking towards us, and out of no where we just happened to be standing in front of his parents' car (I didn't even recognize) and his family piled out. As I looked around confused, trying to figure out why everyone was there and with cameras, I had blocked out all of what Ryan was saying. When I looked back at Ryan, my Gen. Lit. cutie was on his knee and looking as if he was waiting on an answer. Assuming he asked me to marry him, I said yes and instantly began crying with happiness. We had always said that once Ryan graduated we would think about getting married, but honestly, on HIS graduation day, on Friday the 13th, I NEVER saw this coming. On a rainy, Friday the 13th, with an umbrella in hand, we made our own luck and decided on forever together.

 

 

xo

Miss Mal

Smelling the Roses...

Wow. Where do I begin? The past 5-6 months I have been going nonstop and time has flew by.

Right now, I am pushing pause. Breathing. Feeling. Enjoying. Living. 

After swimming (more like doggy-paddling, kicking, and flopping around like crazy) just to keep my head above water, I realized how fast life my life has changed. Teaching has been chaotic, hard, fun, stressful, busy, and so much more, but mostly busy. Between balancing work and my life, I have not had anytime to smell the roses and take in the happenings around me. They can tell you all they want how exhausting a 1st year elementary teacher will be, but until it happens, you will not fully understand. My mind and opinion on teaching has completely changed and looking at that aspect of my life, I am really not quite sure where my God will direct my life's path.

These next few months years are only going to get busier. I can't wait to document every ounce of it.

Welcome to the good life. 

Each year of my life seems to get better and they are always filled with countless blessings. 2013 was great, and the best of the year was saved for last.

On Friday, December 13th, 2013, Ryan Lynn decided he really did want to spend forever with me. He even placed that ginormous rock on my finger to prove it. It was completely unnecessary but of course I did not object. :) It was incredible and there will definitely be more on that story later! Meanwhile, a quick review of 2013.....

xo

Miss Mal

P.S. Thank you Carly for encouraging me to do this and keep it up. :)