Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Adorable Fiance Moments

Can I just say how relieving it is to be marrying someone who totally understands your need for 'cheesy.' Even though he probably fakes it for my benefit, I am grateful he does. My babe has been completely consumed in our relationship and I couldn't be happier. I hope this stage never ends- It might be the beginning of the 'newlywed phase' even though we have 100 more days til we tie the knot!
The cute text messages have been life saving since he works every night and I sit here trying to make myself useful. (Seriously, this not having a job thing is getting old!) However, I am grateful to report that I have four interviews this week and they each look very promising- The Lord truly has a plan for us! Anywho, back to these cheesy messages! He texted me and wants to work on wedding plans... he said that is what he wants to do on date night.. I think I need glasses, I feel like I read that one wrong. Ladies, if your man doesn't give two cents about wedding plans and future plans, pretend not to care.. because it is apparently working!
I'm only teasing, each love is different and that is why Dan and I suit each other so well!  He has been stepping up his game and I can't express enough how appreciative I am of that. Lucky for him, tonight I am dedicating to showing him I love him and making him feel special. I hope no one forgets how crucial that is in our relationships, I for one definitely need that! I also have been reading way to many blogs lately because I have so many neat ideas for making your marriage successful and exciting. Last night as he rolled in the dough, I was busy making these:
Cheap Dates jar and the Love Notes jar!

Through some of the research I have been doing and the fact that marriage is expensive, I found some neat ideas that cost me absolutely nothing but thirty minutes. I was able to find two jars for each need. 1. Cheap Date Night jar and 2. Love Letter/notes jar. I got most of my date night ideas from Pinterest and Google, but some were so creative that I am stoked to draw them out! As Dan and I stress about budgeting and working schedules, we wanted to have some special moments to keep the spark alive, as well as our wallets full! Lucky enough, the larger jar was one I have kept since I was little and instead of the large "C" there was once an "E." I just took a razor and carved in my new initial and it was simple. I love re-using projects!! Marriage is so exciting, if you don't think so, try something new! 
Happy Wednesday! xoxo

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Wedding Plans Coming Out Our Ears

My gorgeous ring from my lovely Fiance! 
Ever since I lost my job a couple weeks ago, I decided to knock out as many wedding plans as I could until I am able to find another job! However, my initial thoughts on this process made me excited... now I am realizing it is wayyyyyy more work that I anticipated. It truly is a wonderful process to plan your wedding and enjoy the excitement and thrills, but I am ready to take a long nap and wake up to find all of these plans and appointments taken care of!  I just cannot wait to marry my best friend and start our lives together! Poor fiance has to deal with this crazy bride while he just wants to play halo and teach me to be his partner in crime. Don't worry, it is okay to play halo every once in a while- he knows his limits!
Thankfully for him, I try to avoid pouring out my plans because I know what we all know- most men simply don't care. But let's take a moment to be grateful that they don't care... Instead they care about what is really important- THE ACTUAL MARRIAGE... and of course, the after-wedding priorities- like paying bills, working, going to school and learning to live with one another. While us brides get all caught up in flowers, ribbons and colors, they care that they get to love us forever.. It's kinda awesome!

So while I was caught up on Pinterest in the wedding category, I was grateful to have found this list of the top 100 ways to make your marriage Rock! I love it and will definitely be using these ideas!

Here is the link- or look below!

100 Ways to Make Your Marriage Work

  1. Write him letters
  2. Go on regular date nights
  3. Write his name on lipstick on the bathroom mirror
  4. Revitalize the romance with intimate dates
  5. Pray together
  6. Hide notes in secret places
  7. Go to bed at the same time
  8. Listen to music together-share earbuds
  9. Send him on a scavenger hunt in the house
  10. Buy him gifts he will love
  11. Hide a treat in his glovebox or desk at work
  12. Read the Bible together
  13. Wear shirts that tell the world you love your spouse
  14. Praise your spouse to other people
  15. Let them overhear you
  16. Read a marriage devotional
  17. Porn-proof your home
  18. Be best friends
  19. Sleep in his t-shirts
  20. Look to him to make the big decisions (see comment section for my opinion on #20, #21)
  21. Let her make the small ones
  22. Don’t nag him
  23. Put down the seat, pick up your socks for her
  24. Renew your vows privately with whispers and memories
  25. Renew them publicly with cake and bubbly
  26. Fight naked
  27. Tell him you like him
  28. Receive his compliments
  29. Pick your battles
  30. Show her you love her and tell him you respect him
  31. Go away together at least once a year
  32. Frame your wedding vows
  33. Her: Read For Women Only
  34. Hang pictures of the two of you around your house
  35. Kiss in front of your kids
  36. Make his favorite dessert
  37. Have pictures of just the two of you made
  38. Make sex a priority
  39. Spend time apart occasionally
  40. Learn to enjoy something he loves
  41. Surprise each other
  42. Meet him at the door
  43. Dreamstorm
  44. Text each other from across the room
  45. Be accountable to each other
  46. Set reminders on your phone to remember him/her throughout the week
  47. Call him right now and tell him you appreciate him
  48. Be affectionate
  49. Him: Read For Men Only
  50. Leave work and come home early
  51. Wash, vacuum her car. Keep it full of gas.
  52. Give each other romantic coupons
  53. Engage every day in meaningful conversation
  54. Compliment each other
  55. Touch your spouse several times throughout the day
  56. Take one day a month to make your spouse your total focus
  57. Let each other sleep in
  58. Be spontaneous!
  59. Argue fair: avoid these words “you always” and “you never”
  60. Kiss every day
  61. Find tangible ways to serve your mate without complaining
  62. Forgive quickly
  63. Be honest.
  64. But not hurtful
  65. Get on the same page: plan your budget together
  66. Look your best as often as you can
  67. Guard your marriage
  68. Get out of debt (and stay out)
  69. Laugh together
  70. Have a date night in
  71. When your together-BE TOGETHER (take a break from phones, technology, etc)
  72. Talk about your favorite memories together
  73. Tell him he’s sexy just because
  74. Tell her she’s pretty, especially when she’s not feeling it
  75. Make him breakfast in bed
  76. Do her chores for her
  77. Get a couple’s massage or host your own privately
  78. Read a book out loud together
  79. Dance together-soft music (alone) or rocking music with the kids
  80. Bring her/him a favorite drink during the middle of the day
  81. Exercise together-hikes, bike riding, etc
  82. Choose not to be annoyed by an irritating behavior/disappointment
  83. Tell him a secret he doesn’t know about you
  84. Thank your spouse just because, often
  85. Sit on the same side of a booth at a restaurant
  86. Lay in bed together and stare into each other eyes, without talking
  87. Learn something new together-take an art class, cooking lessons, etc
  88. Leave a sweet comment on the Facebook wall
  89. Teach your kids about marriage
  90. Stop what you’re doing, look them in the eye and listen to their answer
  91. Create art together
  92. Support each other’s goals
  93. Know when to talk and when to hush
  94. Consider counseling (even if there’s not conflict)
  95. Doodle his name
  96. Bring her flowers (even when she says they are too expensive)
  97. Wear something he loves
  98. Share furniture-sit in his lap
  99. Fight for your marriage
  100. Remember your spouse rocks-even when they don’t

How We Became "Mr. and Mrs. Cogburn"

Growing up as a little girl I never dreamed I would be where I am today. For starters, I am still only five feet tall with very small ears and tangly hair. Second, I am still working towards an Associate Degree (three years later). Third, I am very silly with an obnoxious laugh that is bound to annoy everyone.  Then finally, I am crazy in love with my fiance. Yep, you read right- MY FIANCE! I can't believe it either. I thought this would never happen, perhaps because I was against love and thought it's existence was a slim chance, in my lifetime at least.
If anything, I hope this blog is a reflection on my love for my sweetheart and the times we will go through together. I aim to please, but I can't say all the words will warm your heart. Marriage is about going through life and learning to fall in love with the same person, over and over again. I know it will not always be this easy, in fact, I am expecting it to be hard and gruesome at times. For me, I am still in twitterpation mode and have yet to really experience those hardships. But as we go through this journey, keep in mind, I am new to the whole wife thing.

So on that note...

Let's start at the Beginning. 
(Here is a letter I wrote to my sweetheart for his birthday.. However, little did I know, I was the intended birthday present as he shortly thereafter put a ring on it!)

April 29th, 2013


Danny,

I have quite the story for you; however, I’m not so sure how it is going to end. I guess that part is up to you. Growing up, I always decided that I was not like the other kids. I never liked the same games or enjoyed the same adventures. I always danced to the beat of my own drum, grooving to whichever rhythm I felt most fun. I have always been that way though and I’ve learned to love that about myself. I never had to worry what other people thought, because I simply didn’t care all that much. I was best at just being myself.
I accepted being lonely for a long time because I function better that way. I could choose what I wanted to do and didn’t have to take into account others’ opinions or irrelevancies. I never expected anyone to understand me and let’s face it, enjoy the weirdness I so fully emulate. For twenty brutal, “girl” years, I have stood beside myself and conquered every fear alone. I never dreamed that one day I would meet someone to make sense in my upside-down world. As I entered the summer of 2012, I knew that it was going to be different. Not only different, but extremely painful. It felt like learning to breathe all over again. Every intake of breath felt like an anticipated ‘nails on a chalkboard’ result, but to my relief was accompanied with an exhale that became rewarding and bitter-sweet. Last year was easily one of the hardest years of my life. I forgot who I was and what type of women I wanted to become. 2013 started the same way: agonizingly painful. The entire month of January was excruciating. A horrible freeway car accident, a bed-rested illness, work issues and the list goes on. I felt like the world was crashing down on me and the weight was just too much. I quickly determined that this year was instead the worst year… ever. I hated anything and everything that moved, perhaps what didn’t move as well. I was over being kind to people and looking at the glass half full. I lost my need for love and stopped believing that that even existed. For a few months after, I crawled into a hole and got all too comfortable. It was dark and scary, but it seemed comforting not knowing what was next to me.
            Then, brilliantly, the month of March came around and I was done being my hermit self and I felt ready to take on what the world had to throw at me. I was on top of the world and I was ready to dance to my drum again. I examined every particle of life as meticulously as I could just so I could learn to love it. Every day I became stronger, my health was better and I was finally smiling. What an accomplishment right? I was that wonderful ‘me’ that believed in miracles and pictured those princesses and prince charming’s as real people. I went as far as thinking the stoplight turned green just because I was coming through. The sun shined through every portal and it was some kind of happy I had never known. I soaked it up like a sponge, never thinking what was in store for me.
            On a lazy afternoon I decided that I was hungry... Okay, you caught me- I’m always hungry. I decided to flee my office for an hour to enjoy the likes of the café downstairs. I always ordered the same thing, but it was a treat all the same: Chicken Enchiladas. As I talked with some co-workers and friends from the café, I found myself staring straight at the cutest guy I had ever seen. He was tall, dark and handsome and oh-me-oh-my, he grew the sexiest mustache I had ever beheld. However, this wasn’t the first time I saw him. I used to go get lunch every once in a while in hopes that he would be working and that I would work up the courage to say something clever to him. I always failed because he walks so fast, but I used to daydream what his life was like. I pictured him going to school, probably dating some beautiful girl, working part time at the best café and he was just perfect in every way. I even went as far as thinking about what he would say to ‘pick me up.’ I almost had to slap myself away from staring because he kept looking at me like I was insane. He probably would have brought me over a napkin to wipe the drool off my face if I hadn’t successfully broken eye contact.
            With the notion that I would once again fail in talking to him and even knowing his name, I went on eating a salad and being embarrassed that I got dressing all over my face. I was starting to sweat, my palms and everything. What if this was my big chance and I was missing it? How silly I thought I was. I tried to turn my back on him until he came up to the bar where I was sitting to pay someone’s tab. “Is this it?” I thought, as he was less than two feet away. (I’m really sweating now).  His coworker comments on his mustache and BOOOOOM I was in! I piped right into the conversation. I was even being funny! THAT NEVER HAPPENS! He seemed intrigued and I kept the conversation going as long as I could until he escaped and then drat, I was out, once again. At that point, I was unable to find my next move. Should I have just straight up kissed him in front of everyone? Maybe not. But man it was tempting. He was incredibly attractive and I’m sure he gets that all the time.
            Again, I felt that I had lost this one and went on eating my embarrassing salad.  I stiffened my back so I wouldn’t foolishly swing around to look at him once again. But I just couldn’t get enough. He was honestly the best thing I had ever seen and I could not just let that go. So again, I boldly called across the café for him to come over. I asked him a ridiculous question about his mustache to spark a conversation again. It worked but only for a short time, then he had to return to work. However, I was quite certain that he seemed interested. From there, I had to work fast because I was scared he would come up again and I was running out of funny things to entice him with.
            I grabbed a napkin and quickly jotted down my name and number and a few silly verses then got the heck out of there. I left the napkin in his co-workers hands and made her promise to give it to him. I hopped into the elevator and giggled like a little girl the whole way up to the fifth floor. I was glued to my cell phone for the next hour until he texted me. From that moment, I was already hooked. The rest is history. Who knew that such boldness would affect the rest of my life? I found the person I will spend eternity with and it is the best love in the world. He is the best thing in my life and I will love him forever.
            Dan, I love you so much. You are such a blessing and I am so lucky to have you in my life. I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy and supporting you through whatever comes our way. I will always be your best friend and you will always be mine. I will take care of you and give you whatever it is you stand in need of. I will be your safe place and I want you to tell me anything and everything. Share your life with me, please!
            I love you. Now and always.
                                                                                    Forever Yours,   Emily