gleek

First, and foremost, I must say that The Glee Project is freaking awesome. I love this show, and can I tell you how much I am fangirling over these two...

Pretty sure both Chris and I are major fangirling...major. We have serious crushes on Cameron and Damian.

Please check them out and then call me so we can all fangirl scream together.

xo

lauren

happily ever after

Hello, and welcome to another day of wedding fun!

Today's agenda...our FANTABULOUS temple video! Thanks Lilly, you are awesome!

Chris + Lauren + A Wedding from Lilly McDowell on Vimeo.

Hope you enjoyed!

I will put up pictures and video of the reception when I get them! Still waiting on those!

xo

lauren

home improvement

Since moving into our apartment, Chris and I have been trying to put the house together. Finally, we are starting to see some progress!

What is with Chris's gooney face, you ask? Ya, I have no idea?

Last week my mother and I were busy, busy, busy making pillows for the couch...what do you think?

More pictures to come!

xo

lauren

our love story.

Welcome to Day 3 of wedding awesomeness!

On the agenda for today...Our love story.

Now, I have never told the story of how Chris and I met here on the blog. This video we did for the wedding does a much better job at explaining and telling the story...plus it is more fun to watch than to read!

So, without any further ado, our love story...

Chris + Lauren: Our Story from Lilly McDowell on Vimeo.

How did you and your special someone meet?

xo

lauren

ps. Happy 4th of July! I hope you are doing something epic!

chris & lauren bake a cake

Hello there!

Welcome to Day 2 of the wedding festivities!

Today's agenda...Date video!!

Chris and I chose Lilly McDowell to be our videographer, and, like Sara Boulter, we were SO pleased with our choice! Lilly was incredible! So fun to film with...we seriously laughed the ENTIRE time filming with her!

Here is our date video...

Chris + Lauren Bake a Cake! from Lilly McDowell on Vimeo.

Hope you enjoyed watching us eating cake in front of you! Ha

xo
lauren

honey, let's talk...

Why hello! I didn't see you there! How are you?

When Chris and I were going through our gifts from the wedding we opened a cute little present with a lovely jar in it...


Each slip of paper has a question on it that you and your spouse have to answer...

Super cute idea, right?! Chris and I have started pulling a question before bed and I thought I would share these with you.

So, honey, let's talk...

{Question}: If your life was made into a movie, what genre; e.g. romance, comedy, adventure - would people more than likely find it?

{Chris}: Stupid comedy...like Napoleon Dynamite. I can either be really hilarious, or super annoying.

{Lauren}: Most likely a romantic comedy...Chris is the romance, and, although he is pretty funny, I am pretty dang funny too.



What genre would your life be?

xo
lauren

engagements

Welcome to Day 1 of wedding awesomeness!

The first thing on the agenda....Engagement pictures!!

Chris and I chose to use Sara Boulter as our wedding photographer and, BOY, am I so glad we did. Sara was absolutely fantastical! She was awesome to work with and is quite the hoot...we most definitely laughed the whole time while with her. I am so thrilled with how all of the pictures turned out!

Check it...

This was such a fun day and the pictures turned out beautifully!
Thank you Sara!

xo
lauren

day 29

In this past month, what have you learned...

Hmmm...what have I learned...

1. planning a wedding is quite the process
2. when I am crazy stressed out my face tends to take its revenge on me by breaking out uncontrollably
3. I realize everyday how lucky I am to be surrounded by my family, friends, and wonderful fiance who all love me and wish the best for me! I am so grateful!

xo
lauren

day 25

What would I find in your bag...

Hahaha oh goodness...if you know me well you know that my purse is always a complete mess. Mostly it is full of gum wrappers, receipts, random papers, movie tickets, etc. I also usually have tons of lip gloss, hand sanitizer, lotion, bobby pins, and a pile of loose change lost in the bottomless pit. Then we have your regular things like my wallet and phone.

Trust me...it is a mess, and the mess just accumulates as Chris will hand me anything and everything to "put it in the purse"...maybe I should get him a purse of his own.

Man-purse + Christopher = Hysterical Awesomeness.

xo

lauren

day 20

Someone you see yourself marrying or being with in the future...

As a little girl I was (and still am) a princess at heart so obviously I always knew I was going to marry and be with Prince Charming...who else could fill such an important role, right?

And guess what? I found him. Who is he?

This guy...



This Prince Charming didn't come riding in on a white horse to slay some dragons and save me, but he still swept me off my feet.

In two and a half months we will be married and will live happily ever after because that's what a princesses and Prince Charmings do...maybe one day we will even own a castle.

xo
lauren

be my valentine.

To My Valentine...

I love the way you make me smile, and how we laugh until we cry.
I love the way we can do absolutely nothing all day and it turns out to be the best day of the week.
I love how you are a gentleman and always open my door.
I love it when our eyes meet and the only thing you can do is smile.
I love the way you hold me tight and the way you call me pretty.
I love the way we are nerds together, and spend time playing nazi zombies.
I love it when you save me a reeses because you know they are my favorite.
I love the way you know what to say to comfort me when I have had a bad day.
I love how you think I'm beautiful even on the days I don't feel so.
I love the way you sing in your car and make me sing along with you.
I love it when you hold my hand and the way they fit together so nicely.
I love that we are going to spend our lives together and I can't wait to get started.
I love the man you are and what you are striving to become.
I love the way you are so kind to everyone and how you are always smiling.
I love it when you send me sweet little messages and how you always brighten my day.
I love the way you know me so well and laugh at my little quirks.
And...I even love sharing my treats with you...as long as you don't eat too many!

Happy Valentine's Day! I love you all!

xo
lauren

thoughts.

I've been thinking a lot lately...not like you think though...

Pretty sure that almost every thought that has and is going through my head is about something like this...

Photographer
Colors
Dresses
Catering
Money
Decorations
Video
Honeymoon
Apartment hunting
Registry
Tuxedos
...

On and on and on. No joke. Weddings are ALL I can think about. I'm sure it's driving Chris, my family, and friends bonkers but it has consumed my entire life. I have tried to keep it all away from the blog and have now failed. Ha, sorry to bring this all to you too, internet. What can I say? I'm tyring to plan what will be the best day of my entire life, Chris's life, our lives. I guess in the end all that matters is the fact that I will be able to spend the rest of my life, the rest of eternity, with the man I love, my best friend, and I cannot wait.

xo
lauren

ps. don't mind the sappiness, it brings us closer. love you all. (seriously though)

yes.

One question can change your life in an instant.

I won't get ahead of myself though...let's start at the beginning.

My family went to Arizona for Christmas this year and we spent the first few days of the trip Christmas shopping. On the 22nd, just a few days before Christmas, we had been shopping all day. After spending a couple of hours at the mall my mom suggested I take a trip to the nail salon while my dad and two brothers went to get haircuts so that she could finish up some last Christmas shopping without our curious eyes snooping around. Where did the third brother go during all of this? No worries, he went to get a manicure with me!

A full set of freshly painted nails later and we were headed to yet another mall. By this time in the evening we had been shopping for a good five or six hours and were all pooped. The boys begged my parents to return to the hotel and they finally gave in. BUT, we had to stop at Costco first. Why couldn't we go the next day? Who knows...the parentals were being very secretive, but hey, it was Christmas time after all and according to my father, "you don't ask questions around Christmas"!

Finally my parents decided we could go back to the hotel and we were all relieved to be going back! As we were making our way up the stairs my mom gave a warning that we were not allowed to enter her room without permission while they sorted out the purchases of the day. So I got into my jammies and was kicking it with the brothers in the living room area when my mother came out carrying four gifts. Apparently these early christmas surprises were the reason for their secrecy all day. An early present? Yes, please! The presents were opened one by one going youngest to oldest and when I opened mine I was surprised to see it empty!

My parents bantered back and forth about who was supposed to put the present in the bag and my mother apologized for forgetting. My dad told us all to close our eyes because the present was not wrapped and he went to grab it from their room. I was trying to think of what little present could fit into the small bag when my dad told me to open my eyes...

One question can change your life in an instant.

"Lauren, will you marry me?"

My cute boyfriend (or should I say fiance) flew out to Arizona and surprised me! I had absolutely no idea it was coming and he is the best Christmas present I could ever ask for! And now...

WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!!!!

xo

lauren

new friends

So I have been a little down since my dear friend Brutus died...I always liked to say hello to him when I woke up every morning or when I got home from a long day. He was a sweet fishy. And yes, I really did say hello to him every time I saw him. We were tight. But because I have been mourning his death and missing him dearly, my cute boyfriend decided to suprise me with a little present...

Meet Norman...

and Willard...

Aren't they so cute? And they are such awesome pets...they are little froggies that live in the water (which I only have to change once every three months) and I only have to feed them twice a week...fantastic!

They were just what I needed and I hope Brutus is happy in fishy heaven. Thanks Christopher!

xo

lauren

a little funny for you

This is awesome...just sayin'.

Starring my dad, brothers, and Christopher.

Please enjoy...

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/bipmulxIzKh7chyY

xo

lauren

a day at the zoo

My mother, Grant, Christopher, and I all went to the zoo yesterday.
...the occasion?
1. it was Zuri's first birthday (the baby elephant)
2. my awesome friend Caitlin is the train driver...(super legit, I know)

Because of my glorious connections, we got into the zoo FO FREE! But, pretty sure the zoo was HOT yesterday...I was dying! The animals and the new additions were fun to see though and the monkeys are always the favorite! After a couple of hours of walking around, we decided to end the day riding the train!

Caitlin in her snazzy conductor overalls

I've got the hook-ups...no worries.

Later in the evening, Chris and I went on a double date with two of his friends...we started the night out at the DoDo (delicious BTW), played a little Bocce Ball, and (because Chris and I lost...) Chris had to buy dessert for everyone at Yogurt Stop.

ps. get peach yogurt topped with strawberries, raspberries, and mango...TO DIE FOR!

xo

lauren

jackson

So this last weekend I went to Jackson Hole! Are you jealous? It was bombdiggity! Here are a few reasons why...

We got to stay in Jackson FOR FREE (thanks to Chris's work)!

I loved walking around the shops (even though everything is ridiculously expensive), while Chris...

...liked the Pot Guts

They gave us a free day at the spa (would I like a free pedicure? Umm...ALWAYS!)

They have the best ice cream EVER (no joke...Moo's ice cream...you better visit that lovely place at least once in your life)

get in mah belllly!

Jackson Hole is one of those places that has a homey feel to it, don't you agree? And everyone we came in contact with was so welcoming and nice.

We love Jackson!

xo

lauren

happy fourth!

So to catch us all up on the past little while....

I went to the Bees game with the Chris, the fam, and the g-parents which was a total blast! It was absolutely beautiful outside!

For the weekend of the fourth, we all went down to cedar to spend some quality time with the cousins! We hung out, played cards, roasted mallows, went to the movies, did fireworks, and rode horses!

(...yes, I did get on a horse even after last years little mishap and there was no falling off this time around)

Luke and his muscles

Chris and Noah

At the parade

Handsome fellas

Aww...naptime with Noah

Pretty sure this vacation was much needed and I had an absolute blast hanging out with the family! Love every one of them! Such an awesome weekend!

I hope you all had a wonderful fourth of July holiday!

xo

lauren