The Ball is in Our Court

It is amazing how things can change from day to day! Not even a week ago we had absolutely no idea where Bobby would be working, where we would be living, if we would be moving or WHAT in the world was going to happen. We don't have ALL of the details still, but now we have the OPTIONS! We were almost in desperation mode...ok maybe we had reached that point, but now the ball is completely in our court. It is a complete 180 from the position we were in only a few days ago.

Bobby had his in person interview with American Express last Tuesday in Phoenix. He then got through to the FINAL step, a phone call with the VP. This basically meant he made the final two candidates...or so we thought. Turns out the hiring manager liked him and another guy SO much that he decided he wanted to hire them BOTH! So Bobby got the phone call while we were on our way up north Tuesday morning from HR that they indeed were extending him the offer for the position. I almost started to cry I was so happy! I had been praying non-stop that something would work out, specifically Amex, and it did! I had a good feeling about Amex since he applied to the job a few months back and my feelings were right.

He had also been talking with Hertz since last month. He had an in person interview yesterday with them and they pretty much offered him the job on the spot...and not even the job he went in interviewing for...a similar one, but working side by side with the hiring manager and the VP on special projects for the first year, and then after that being in charge of one of their top branches. The best part...we wouldn't have to move. It keeps us in Southern California. Now he has an in person interview with the VP in Burbank next Friday and they will then extend their official offer.

Now we have Amex extending their official offer Wednesday and Hertz soon after that. We get to decide based on their offers what the best choice is going to be. It is a lot to think about! There are so many factors that go into the decision...it's just crazy. We are so blessed to be given the CHOICE and I am SO proud of Bobby for not ever giving up and getting into this position. All of his hard work and dedication has come to pay off and it is exciting! It is still very stressful given the timing of everything with the wedding, but we are just taking it day by day and so very grateful to have these two options on the table right now.

If we decide Amex we will most likely be moving RIGHT before the wedding or right after. That is something Bobby will discuss with them starting on Wednesday. We probably won't get a honeymoon right away because he will be starting his new job at either place, but we will definitely be taking one ASAP!

We are 4 weeks away TODAY from the wedding and there is SO much still up in the air...it is a lot to take on all at once, but I am pretty used to it by now....this is pretty much how our lives always are...CHAOTIC! It's a beautiful mess though and I know we will make it work like we always do :)

Bride Brain

My brain is OFFICIALLY in "Bride Brain Mode". Bobby and I spent a good 4-5 hours today working on the logistical stuff for the wedding. Started the seating arrangements as best we could with people we KNOW for sure are coming and most likely will be coming. We wanted to get a bit of a head start on that (before we have received everyone's RSVP) so we did a first run, which I must say went pretty well and wasn't TOO much of a headache. We have it pretty well figured out so we will see how and if things change as the responses come in.

We also had to fill out our photography questionnaire and photolist. That wasn't too bad, although the photo list got to be a headache give our family situations. Yes, people should suck it up and just stand there for a picture, but we want the pictures to portray happiness too so we just split some of them up haha Makes it easier on everyone and still works.

On the questionnaire it asks for MUST have pictures for the ceremony, pre-ceremony, etc...those were HARD. I have a pinterest board full of wedding photos I love that our photographer has looked at so I trust that she will capture all of the moments we want. I just hope I am not completely overlooking something obvious by overthinking it! If anyone has any photo suggestions do let me know ;)

Wow, typing it out it doesn't sounds like we did a whole lot but it definitely took forever and felt like a lot. It was all really important logistical things that needed to be done though and I am glad they are done!

Our coordinator is working on the day of timeline as we speak so having the timeline down will be the most important part. Things are coming together so that is definitely a relief.

My next dress fitting is a week from today up north. DREADING having to drive up there again though ugh. Really excited to see my dress with my veil and bustle though and bring it home! Praying there won't need to be any more alterations because I REALLY don't want to have to drive up there again it is SUCH a pain in the butt. I will also get all of the random decor that is still up there and the rest of the gifts from the shower that didn't fit last time.

36 days to go!

Good Riddance

I FINALLY got our stupid wedding invitations out yesterday. I had planned on getting them out two weeks before this at the latest, but I had some major issues with the stamps and being busy. So yesterday my stamps finally arrived in the mail so I stamped them all right away and took them down to UPS to get rid of them and they of course tell me because of a little bump that I am PROBABLY going to need extra postage...they MIGHT process them but they also might send them BACK. Well screw having them all get sent back so I had to buy even MORE stamps to ensure they would not all get sent back...so all of that drama over getting the "right" stamps and I had to buy the "wrong" ones anyway! Ay yi yi....BRIDE PROBLEMS! That is definitely one of those things I think back about and am like seriously Casey...who CARES what stamps you use!!! Hindsight is 20/20 right. Oh well..what's done is done and they are finally in the mail. The guys at UPS asked me if I wanted the box back that all of the invitations were in and I said quickly "I never want to see that box again!" they laughed...I was dead serious.

So, invitations are on their way...SUCH a relief. On to the next thing, which there are plenty of! Today I had my hair and make up trial! SO FUN! I had been really excited for this and I had picked out a bunch of inspiration pictures and everything, especially my hair, came out totally perfect! I hardly EVER wear make up in general and when I do it's very subtle so I may go a touch lighter on my eye make up, but other than that it was perfection and made me SO much more excited for the big day! The girls I am working with were around my age, fun, sweet, and easy to talk to. I am so happy with my decision to go with Vanity Belle out of Costa Mesa. They're amazing!!! I can't wait to see my whole bridal look come together :)

In other non-wedding news...Bobby has his final interview with American Express on Tuesday in Phoenix. They are flying him in early morning, he is doing the interview and then flying back that same night. So we could POSSIBLY be moving to Phoenix before the wedding! As if things couldn't get any crazier! They just might...and I hope they do because that would mean Bobby gets the job! PHEW! Please cross your fingers and pray for us!

I have been trying to get going on picking music for the wedding. This just might be the most difficult and frustrating part! It is SO hard! I love sooooo many songs it's impossible to choose songs for the important things. This will definitely be the biggest headache! Aside from the seating arrangement...which I don't even want to think about yet! 40 days to go!

Keeping it Together

We are now 45 days out from the wedding and I am definitely feeling the pressure. I had an amazing bridal shower up in Sonoma about 10 days ago, had my first dress fitting and it was all wonderful and I was on cloud nine. Well I am now descending from that cloud and am feeling the stress of all of the million (so it feels like) things I still have to do. Up until now I felt like I was completely on track and ahead of the game, now I feel like I am falling behind slowly.

The list of "to do's" seems endless I don't even know where to start. I have literally had our invitations addressed and ready to be stamped for a month, yet they're still sitting here in the box awaiting stamps because NO post office had the stamps I need (of course). I had to order stamps online and am waiting for them to come...which should be tomorrow. Once I get those out I think I will feel a LOT better because there is a lot I can accomplish once RSVP's start coming in.

I am REALLY anxious for the day to come, and haven't felt all that stressed till now. It is just knowing all of the payments that are going to be do that are mainly the major stress factor, but that's usually what is right? It's definitely not the actual planning part, I love all of that! I know that everything will work out, I just have to keep telling myself that! The days are just flying by and the big day is drawing closer and closer, faster and faster!

My hair and make up trial is Saturday and I have really been looking forward to it! I can't wait!

I go back up to Nor Cal July 24th for my next dress fitting and I am hoping I will be able to take it home with me! They just had to add the bustle, hem it a little, and take it in a little bit as well. I also ordered my veil at that time so that should be in as well. I hope I don't have to make another trip up between then and the wedding, that would be suck. It not only takes a TON of time, but also cost money to get up there and back! So fingers crossed the dress fits perfectly and I can just take it home! ;)

For now I am just doing my best to keep it together and enjoy these last 6 weeks of being engaged and of the wedding planning process. It is a once in a life time process and time so I don't want my stress to ruin it.

woosa!