Stephanie Got Married....

Jacob and I ventured to Houston this weekend to see my dear friend, Mrs. Stephanie Ruktantichoke (formally Bridgeman) get married!

The wedding was absolutely beautiful.  She was beautiful.  The flowers were beautiful.  It was just beautiful.

Houston also served as the host to a mini Phi Lamb and grad school reunion.  It was so good to see old friends and catch up about life and jobs.  It made me miss Baylor and Waco a little more.  My homesickness for Baylor and Waco has gone from a dull ache to full blown pain.  Luckily, I'll be back in a few weekends for Homecoming.  Who's going to be there??  I need to see YOU!

Here's a few pics from the weekend:

Home for the Weekend....

This weekend Jacob and I went home to do some wedding stuff.  Long story short, it was an eventful weekend that I'm pretty sure we'll just look back and laugh at one day.  One day....

While home, we decided to put on our best duds and take some updated pictures while at church.  Here are the results from the judges...

Oh, before I forget, Happy Fall!!  Know that I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that I wore a heavy jacket this morning and still needed to turn the heat on in my car.  :)  Did you?

I Got A New Dress....

Not wedding dress......little black dress.  :)

It's floor length and awesome.  It helps it was on sale too!

I Resign...

....from the 30 Day Blogging challenge.

I knew I was getting in way over my head.

In other news....I'm officially down 27lbs.  :)  Hey-oooooooo!

:)  No fat bride here.  Nope.

Weight Loss Update....PICTURES!

I've been told by numerous people that they want to see pictures of me.  So, we go.

Before: (Late May 2010)

Currently: (-23lbs)  

I'm still a work in progress, but hey- it's progress!

Day 11....A Photo of You Recently

Well, many of you know, I'm currently on a diet adventure.  As of this morning, I've lost 23 pounds.  I'm not really big (pun intended) on taking pictures right now just because I'm in the middle of a change.  So, here's what I imagine myself looking like by December:

Day 10.....A Photo Taken Over 10 Years Ago of You

Really?  10 years ago?  I was 14.  Thankfully, I don't have any of those pictures scanned in.  Even if I did, I probably wouldn't post them.  Talk about awkward.  :)

I'm not quite sure when this was taken, but it's circa 1999.  I think....

Either way, it was a long time ago.  :)

For all of you curious souls out there, this is the last picture of all of the grandkids with MeMe and Grandaddy before they passed away.  Everyone came to Grapevine and this was taken at Sears (I think....) at Northeast Mall.  

Day 9.....A Photo You Took

Well, considering most of my pictures are authored by me, it's hard to choose just one.  But, once again, my loyalty to the rules will make me pick.  So here goes nothing....

This was taken in the elevator at the Sears Tower in Chicago.  I had just faced my fears and stepped out onto the plexi-glass ledge that could have, at any time, shattered.  Jacob and I could have lost our lives all in the name of a thrill.  ;)

I like this picture because it reminds me of Chicago, facing a fear, and my favorite guy in the whole world (outside of my dad).

Day 8....A Photo That Makes You Sad

How depressing....

This picture is of me and my MeMe.  We liked to cook back in the day.  Normally, this picture makes me happy, but it falls into the sad category too.  We just observed the 6 year anniversary of her passing away so that's why it makes me sad.  It's sad to realize that she won't be there at the wedding.  That's all I'm really willing to explain....I don't really feel like getting into a depressed mood at the beginning of the day.  

I vote this prompt get removed.  Sheesh.

Day 7....A Photo That Makes You Happy

This picture makes me happy.  It's our first picture together on New Years Eve 2008.  The night we became an official item.  :)

I love you Jacob.  I can't wait to marry you!  (In like 107 days....not that I'm counting.) :)

Day 6....20 of My Favorite Things

This should be easy.... (in no particular order)

1.  Jacob

2.  Blankets

3.  Fantastic shoes

4.  Coach purses

5.  Diet Coke

6.  New clothes

7.  Best friends

8.  My new house.  :)

9.  Paychecks

10.  Funny stories

11.  Laughing till it hurts

12.  Old movies

13.  Baylor

14.  My new church

15.  Singing

16.  Chick flicks

17.  Target

18.  Sleeping late

19.  The weekend

20.  Earrings

See...pretty easy.  That only took me close to 15 minutes to finish.  ;)

Day 5....Favorite Quote

This one was relatively easy....

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent" -Eleanor Roosevelt

No need to explain this one.  I think it speaks for itself.  :)

Day 4....Your Favorite Book

Favorite book......let's see.  I'm going to have to think about this on for a while.  I haven't read anything except text books for about 6 years.  I could nerd it up for you and tell you my favorite text book, but I'm afraid of the judgments that would follow.

So, favorite book.  I would have to say that currently, it's Spoken From the Heart by Laura Bush.  Whenever I have a free moment in life, I pick it up and read a few pages.  I love the way she writes.  Mrs. Bush makes it easy for you to paint a good literary picture in your mind about things.  There's a portion of the book where she talks about a car wreck that she caused that killed her really good friend.  I couldn't help but feel for her during that part.  I can't wait to finish the book.  Granted, it might be on the honeymoon, but I'll finish it. 

Well, It Only Took 2 Days...And I'm Behind:

Day 3: Favorite TV Show

Easy......

F*R*I*E*N*D*S!  

I remember starting to watch this in high school.  I still will drop everything and watch it when it comes on TV.  I <3 this show.  

I'm glad this one was easy to pick.  :)

Day 2....Your Favorite Movie

Well well....favorite movie.  Once again, hard to narrow down.  Here's my favs from various genres:

Animated:

Comedy: 

                                                      

Romantic Comedy: 

                                                 

I can't wait until I can quit picking favorites.  It's reminding me of how indecisive I am.  :)

Figured This Would Be Fun...Day 1

My good friend, Jenni, is doing this on her blog.  I figured this would be a fun way to catch all of you up on my life.

Join in!  It'll be fun!!




Day 1 - your favorite song 
Day 2 - your favorite movie
Day 3 - your favorite television program
Day 4 - your favorite book
Day 5 - your favorite quote
Day 6 - 20 of my favorite things
Day 7 - a photo that makes you happy
Day 8 - a photo that makes you angry/sad
Day 9 - a photo you took
Day 10 - a photo taken over 10 years ago of you
Day 11 - a photo of you recently
Day 12 - something you are OCD about
Day 13 - a fictional book
Day 14 - a non-fictional book
Day 15 - your dream house
Day 16 - a song that makes you cry (or nearly)
Day 17 - an art piece (drawing, sculpture, painting, etc)
Day 18 - my wedding/future wedding/past wedding
Day 19 - a talent of yours
Day 20 - a hobby of yours
Day 21 - a recipe
Day 22 - a website
Day 23 - a youtube video
Day 24 - where I live
Day 25 - your day, in great detail
Day 26 - your week, in great detail
Day 27 - my worst habit
Day 28 - whats in my handbag/purse
Day 29 - hopes,dreams and plans for the next 365 days
Day 30 - a dream for the future



Alright.  Favorite Song....let's see.  That's impossible to answer.  If you know me AT ALL you know how much I love music.  Me picking a favorite song is like a painter picking his favorite painting.  But- I'll give it a shot.

Let's break this down by category:
Hymn:  Great is Thy Faithfulness
Country:  Crazy (Patsy Cline)
Pop:     :)
Rock:  Don't Stop Believing (Journey)
Rap:

Like I said, it's hard to narrow this down.  What an impossible way to start this little adventure.  :)

The Best Laughs Today...

Well, I had a lot of laughs today...but here's the top 2:

1.  While driving to work this morning I got caught at the usual red light.  I don't normally look over and investigate who's next to me, but for some reason this morning I felt an incredible urge to look to my left.  I'm so glad I did because what I saw was a blast from the past.  A bag phone.  Yep.  Bag phone.  This dude was chatting it up on his circa 1993 bag phone.  I'm surprised it still works.  Just in case you don't know what one of these dinosaurs looks like, here's a refresher:

2.  One of my cuties is working on her "th" sound in therapy.  I was trying not to give her a model of correct production for a certain word so I gave her a sentence to complete.  The word I was looking for was "thief" but rather than that, I got this little gem.

Me: Ok...what is this? (showing her a picture card)

Her:  I don't know.  What is it?

Me:  Well, let's see.  He looks mean...so that probably means he's bad.

Her:  Yeah

Me:  He's running from a bank.  Looks like he just robbed the bank so that makes him __________.

Her:  Rich.  He's filthy rich now.

I couldn't help but laugh.....really hard.....for a long time.  

I'm Bad At This....I'm Sorry....

Well, ever since my joy ride into adulthood began a little of a month ago with my job, I've found less and less time to update the blog.  Please accept my apologies.  :)

Here's the latest in my Terkelsen in Training life:

1.  We had to change the reception venue to a rise in cost.  Apparently the fine print stated that prices were subject to change without notification.  The price went up to more than I felt the place was worth so my mom and the wedding planner (the amazing Pam Hill) found a new place:  The Bass Hall!  It's way cooler than the other place and it's cheaper.  I'd say it's a bargain....and I loveeee me a bargain.

Yep...that's the place.  AND!  Jacob and I get to leave the reception in a horse drawn carriage.  I was immediately sold on this....Jacob- not so much.  

2.  I picked my bridesmaids dresses a couple of weekends ago.  I was lucky to have all of my bridesmaids together for this special weekend!  We talked about the next time we'd all be together for sure would be at the wedding! I found "the one" dress at the first stop but needed to make it settled in my own mind that I had exhausted all options so we went looking at another place.  Naturally, I found one I liked there too.  Naturally.  So, I needed to go to another place to settle my mind.  Luckily nothing at the 3rd place was any sort of options.   Here's a picture of my beauties and their dresses:  (Like said on Facebook, right now they look like a bag of Wildberry Skittles, but rest assured they'll all be in the dark purple color in December)

                                    

3.  Jacob and I completed 2 of our 3 registries last weekend.  Jacob claimed we spent 5 hours in Bed Bath & Beyond, but actually we only spent 4.  I can honestly say I've never been that overwhelmed in a store ever.  It's a big deal to be picking out stuff that you'll have for the upcoming future.  Big deal.  No pressure.  Our Bridal consultant guy was a hoot.  He literally followed us around the entire store commenting on certain items and how much he recommends them.  I'm sure I'd recommend a $600 set of pots too if  my job depended on it.  ;)  By the end of it all, we had 14 pages worth of items and we still didn't get everything we had thought of.  After we left BB&B, Jacob needed to go home and take a breather.  I convinced him to let me start at Target without him.  It was across the street so why waste a trip?!  Jacob re-joined me about 45 minutes later and we finished the Target registry relatively quickly.  Jacob even scanned a Nerf Gun.  :)

Next big thing on the wedding planning list is the cake.  :)  I'm uber pumped about the cake and so is Jacob.  

First 2 Weeks of Adulthood....

Well, since we last chatted, I've officially started my job and gotten my first paycheck!  In true Kristen fashion, I thought I would share with you the top 10 things I learned in my first 2 weeks at the new job: the good, the bad, and the ugly.  :)  (there wasn't any ugly...I just couldn't think of any other word to fill in there that fit.)

1.  When you think you've seen it all, you're wrong.

2.  Baby food looks, smells, and probably tastes like vomit.

3.  I have a big nose....according to a kid. (I think they're completely wrong)

4.  Over achieving can really get you places.

5.  Sitting on your butt and doing nothing....yet getting paid....isn't nearly as fun as it sounds.

6.  Having a company email address means you're LEGIT.

7.  Having the first kid that you see in a session pee himself makes for instant office jokes at your expense.

8.  Living 5 minutes from the office allows at least 30 more minutes of sleep each morning.

9.  You can never have enough activities planned for a session...especially when a hyperactive 3 kid is involved.

And finally....

10.  Getting a check for doing what you love is probably the best feeling in the entire world....other than being in love.  :)

Weekend Away....

I'm headed off on a girls weekend away with 2 of my beautiful bridesmaids.  We're headed to Canton to do some girly shopping- craft shopping.  Typical stuff that guys would cringe at the thought of participating in.

I'm glad to be getting away this weekend and try to begin the healing process about Snuggles.  I never in my life knew that it would be this hard to lose a pet.  Ever.

Pictures and details from Canton soon.  My real grown up job starts on Monday....wooo!  Bring on the paycheck!  It's probably best that I'm going to Canton without any feasible income....that way I won't come home more broke than I left.  :)

For Snuggles....

PUT ME TO REST

Time to let me go my friend,

Because my life no-one can mend,

Its better to let me go this way,

Than watch me suffer night and day.

I'm happy to go, my time has come,

My quality of life is no longer fun,

Ive been so ill, so its not a bad thing,

To let me go forever resting.

Stay with me till I drift away,

Fast asleep forever I pray,

To relieve me from suffering and pain,

What more can I ask from my best friend.

Don't be sad, I'll be free from pain,

Never to be ill ever again,

I know you'll miss me being there,

But all the memories you have to share.

Thankyou for being my best friend,

And all my needs that you did tend,

Try not to be sad, try not to cry,

Now's the time to say goodbye...

We're going on 48 hours and it's still not any better.  I still cry at the drop of a hat.  Gah why is this so hard.

This Kind of Stuff Only Happens To Me....

Seriously.  It does.

First "only Kristen" happening:  I ran OUT of my running shorts last night at the apartment gym.  Yeah.  One minute I'm running, the next I'm catching my shorts before they hit my knees.  Not quite sure how I managed that one, but I did.  Note to self:  Don't run in your black Nike Tempo shorts ever again.  :)

Second "only Kristen" happening:  I broke my left pinky toe this morning.  Yeah.  Caught it on the door frame of my closet.  Jacob and I had planned to go watch the CapTexTri this morning downtown by the capital building.  In order to get there by start time, he was picking me up at my apartment at 6am.  Naturally, I woke up as late as possible that would still allow me primping time....5:40.  I was completely dressed, hair done, teeth brushed, etc when remembered I still needed socks.  Bad mistake.  That's when it happened.  I heard the pop and all.  It's one of those things that takes your breath away when it happens.  Not a romantic breath robbery....but one that makes you think you're about to pass out.  Here's a picture of the damage: (It's not that bad....it looks much worse now that the bruising is showing up and the swelling has increased....)

Isn't it nice and.....large?  It's probably the width of 2 of my other toes together.  My poor obese toe.  :(

Engagement Pictures Have Arrived!

Better Late Than Never....

Sorry again for the delay in posting.  Life has been all kinds of adventurous these days.  First there was moving, then graduation, then the engagement party, and finally the crazy trip to Kansas for a wedding.  So, let's take each life event and give it it's own time in the spotlight:

Graduation:
What an awesomely stressful day.  :) Jacob and I left Austin around 9am and got to the arena waaay early in typical Kristen fashion.  After meeting up with family and taking pictures, I walked back to the holding area and was greeted by one of my favorite professors.  I asked her if my hood was on right and she stopped and looked at me rather concerned and said, "Sweety, I hate to tell you this, but your hood is the wrong color".  I'm sorry, what?!?! Apparently, the white portion of the hood is supposed to be yellow.  White means you wrote a thesis, yellow means that you didn't.  I mean, I'm fine with appearing smarter than I am, but I'm not willing to do it at the expense of being the odd man out in the group.  I was told that the bookstore booth might have some extras and to go there and check.  So, running through the halls of the Ferrel Center in my 4 inch heels, I went in search of the illusive hood.  Yeah- too bad they didn't have one.  I found my brother and he said that the would go to the bookstore on campus and exchange the hood for the right one.  We were pushing the boundaries considering it was 45 minutes till the ceremony started.  I set into a fit of shaking from the stress.  (Which, taught me that I need a wedding planner.  I can't have shaking fits the day of the wedding.  I just can't.)  Everything turned out well, I got my hood and walked the stage without tripping.
 

Me, DeDe, and Jacob

Me, Dad, Mom, and DeDe

Me and Jacob

Oh hey- it's the right hood!

After graduation...and with the right color hood.

Aunt Mary Lou, me, and Aunt Faye.  They traveled all the way from Louisiana!

He said he was proud of his little graduate.  :)

Engagement Party:

After graduation, Jacob, Toby, and I started the long 4 hour journey to Longview for our engagement party.  Jacob's parents threw us a fantastic shindig.  Food was great, conversation was great, everything was great.  So great that we were so preoccupied that the only pictures taken during the party were at the end...and one of them is completely ridiculous- thanks to me.  

                                       

Aww....we're pretty stinkin cute together.

Let me explain...I learned this trick while at Baylor.  It promises to produce gut busting pictures every time.  All you have to do is trill your lips, blow raspberries, or whatever you want to call it.  In middle school choir, Mrs. Allen called it "blowing bubbles"

Kansas:

Sunday morning Jacob and I flew to Kansas City to attend his childhood friend, Greg's wedding.  Apparently our reputation preceded us because everyone knew us as, "the ones from Texas".  Awesome.  The wedding was beautiful and I had a great time learning about the crazy antics Jacob and Greg got into.  For example, Greg's mom was super eager to share the story about how when Jacob and Greg were in elementary school she heard them making all kinds of noises in the bathroom so she went to go check on them....and they were both peeing on the wall.  Awesome.  :) 

The adventurous part of the trip came at about 10:30 Sunday night when I got a call from my mom telling me that all of the flights that next morning were oversold and we were pretty much stuck in Kansas City.  Jacob and I flew on my brother's standby passes because he works for American Airlines so when a flight is oversold, it means that our hopes of getting on a flight were immediately dashed.  After some research, mom found a flight out of Springfield that we would be able to get on.  Too bad Springfield is 3.5 hours from Kansas City and we have to be there an hour before the flight leaves....which means that we have to leave by 2:30am....and it was already 12:30am.  Yeah.  Well, after getting about 1.5 hours of sleep, we got in the rental car and began the lonely drive to Springfield.  I drove from Kansas City until Sarcoxie...which is about 45 miles from Springfield.  I got to the point to where I couldn't hold my eyes open anymore.  Like- past the point of exhaustion.  We made the flight and got home to Grapevine around 8:30 and went back to sleep and woke up at 12:30...and we're still exhausted.  All in all, it was a pretty good trip.

                                                  

Jacob and the KU mascot.  Take note of the "Gig Em".

Me and the KU mascot.  Sic 'Em.

Ok.  I'm done for now.  :)  You're welcome.