"No one longs for what he or she already has, and yet the accumulated insight of those wise about the spiritual life suggests that the reason so many of us cannot see the red X that marks the spot is because we are standing on it. The treasure we seek requires no lengthy expedition, no expensive equipment, no superior aptitude or special company. All we lack is the willingness to imagine that we already have everything we need. The only thing missing is our consent to be where we are.”

Barbara Brown Taylor

No resolutions

I don't have a New Years resolution. I don't have a 2012 recap. I'm not willing to let go of 2012, just not yet. (I can't believe I can't say "I got married this year" anymore! WHAT. No fair.)

But I do have a list. I'm going to make copies of this list and put it up in my office, in my room, maybe even in the bathroom. This list is a list of things I want to do, need to focus on, or want to be better at. Some need an "explanation", some don't. 

1. Drink more water
2. Take care of your skin
3. Take vitamins
4. Do yoga once a week
5. Eat healthy
6. Relax - less caffeine (and booze only on weekends?)
7. Print out pictures (gosh I haven't even printed one wedding photo yet)
8. Frame/scrapbook (honeymoon album sits HALF done...)
9. Record (goes with the above two... need to start recording details)
10. LESS social media
11. LESS cell phone
12. MORE music/books/outside time (thank you kindle!)
13. Focus on only GOOD
14. Get ready for newness
15. "Life board" (I'm going to create a visual life board of things I want...)

So, that's it. I also have little blurbs of smaller things, "do a juice cleanse!", "go skiing!", "Visit Nebraska!"which I will keep adding to. 

Tryin' to be #13 and focus on the really, really good year that 2013 is gonna be. :-)
 

Bridesmaid Question

Dear Hayley,

A very close friend of mine is planning her wedding. Our mutual friend, the one who just cannot be excited for her, may or may not be in the bridal party. It's going to be awkward because out of the foursome (our college group of friends) she would be the only one not in the bridal party. 

The bride is very conflicted because 1) Does she endure annoying friend for one day or allow this to be a huge falling out. 

Sure she could endure it for a day but it's her wedding day sooo I dunno it's quite a pickle. 

Thoughts?

PS makes it worse: this friend was in my wedding party. 

 

Sincerely, 

 

A Friend

 

___

Dear Friend,

AHHHHH. I HAVE SUCH STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT THIS.

OK. I will cal the bride "bride" and the friend "annoying girl".

Is annoying girl ALWAYS annoying? Or is she going through a rough patch? Is this consistent with her personality (being jealous, annoying, not happy for others, etc.) or is this just something she is sensitive about?

If this is a VERY dear friend who bride considers family, who she sees herself being friends with for a long time, who is usually lovely and supportive but is probably going through her own stuff right now... I would say put her in the bridal party. And it couldn't hurt to have an honest conversation with her, to acknowledge that annoying girl maybe hasn't been as supportive as bride has hoped; and that bride wants nothing more than to share her special day with annoying girl. Weddings bring up everyone's shit. A lot of people get uncomfortable & downright rude. SOMETIMES it's worth it to be a bit sensitive to that.

BUT.

If this chick is just normally not a supportive person, WARNING. IT WILL JUST GET WORSE. Your bridesmaids should be the people who you can turn to when the wedding shit gets crazy. They should NEVER be the cause of the shit. Not to toot my own horn, but my bridesmaids were freaking. unbelievable. Constantly helping, asking what they could do, SO SUPPORTIVE and GENUINELY happy for me. They submitted to all of my crazy crafts and ideas, and if they didn't think that every single idea I thought was just pure genius, I had no idea. They were exactly what bridesmaids should be, and your friend deserves no less. IT'S HER WEDDING DAY. The only thing she has to "endure" is family, and only if her family is paying. If they aren't, she doesn't even need to really deal with that, hah! A bridesmaid shouldn't be an endurance.

Let this be the catalyst to call out a crappy friend. Who wants more crappy friends? I don't understand why people want to maintain crappy relationships.

Dear dear bride. It is your wonderful wonderful perfect fairytale day where you marry the man of your dreams (i hope). Don't try to please everyone. It's impossible. Please yourself, and your husband. And those who truly love & care about you will be pleased, for the simple fact that YOU are pleased. I promise.

xoxo

The Holidays Are Here...

Hope everyone is enjoying their holiday season... mine is swamped. Filled with both festive & non-festive things, but still, phew!

There is plenty to recap on, but that gets overwhelming to me. I'll get to it... eventually. Thanksgiving was spent in CT & was a lot of fun. We had some friends & family over the night before which will hopefully turn into an annual thing. It was fun using so many wedding gifts! It has yet to snow here in MA, but with less than 2 weeks left until Christmas, I'm confident we'll have a white Christmas! (At least, here's hoping...)

Speaking of, I need to finish Christmas shopping. This year has not been easy.

Cheers to family, friends, food & wine, being together & appreciating each other.  Cheers to my first holiday season as a "Mrs". :-) And cheers to many, many more! xo

Lea-Ann Belter Blog Feature

Pop on over to my wedding gown designer's blog to see our wedding day featured!!

http://www.lea-annbelter.com/blog/2012/11/16/lea-ann-belter-annabelle-bride-hayley/

:-)

Quiet...

I haven't been writing, because I feel like there are so many things I want to post. I have 6 drafts started about the bachelorette, rehearsal dinner, wedding morning, wedding day, honeymoon, wedding DIY crafts, etc. None are finished. Blah. 

Guess I just need to set aside some quiet time and do it.

It's dark early now, and it's cold out. First snow of the season came last night.
 

 

9.9.12

A peak into the best day ever.... 2 minute wedding highlights

xoxo