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I love Derby season. I mean, who doesn't? The horses, the hats, the mint juleps :) I can't wait to have Derby parties in our new house next year!

Two horses in this year's Derby are from Gulf Coast Farms in Ocala. Of course I have to cheer on the two home state representatives!! Here are my votes:

Conveyance

Lookin' At Lucky

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First things first.

I have been a little out of sorts the past few days because....drumroll...I have job prospects! One of my former bosses' husband is an attorney in my hometown. While he is not hiring, he promised to keep an ear out for me. Well, out of the blue I get a call a couple of days ago that he has an opportunity that was, in his words, pretty much mine if I wanted it! Well, the next day, he called with another!! The hiring partner for the second one called me today and we spoke....but they want me to work WHILE I study for the bar. Of course, this worries me. But, I luckily didn't screw things up for myself when I mentioned that I was unsure about working and studying and I STILL have an interview with them! Its Monday morning at 9...and I'll be heading home Sunday night for that. 

I never thought in a million years I would have to make a decision like this! One, possibly two, jobs available to me! God is so good!!!!!

Advocacy Banquet

I didn't talk much about BC's visit, but one of the many reasons he drove down to see me was to be my hot date to the advocacy banquet at school! At this banquet, they re-present all of the trophies to all of the competitors, listen to a speaker, learn who won the 1L Moot Court tourney, and find out who the new Board of Advocates are.

This years speaker was a federal chief judge. It was really awesome to hear someone as learned and wise as he is. Even still, the biggest thing he tried to tell us was to take time with our families. Apparently (and I totally believe it) its going to be difficult to try to balance all of our responsibilities as a young associate. I have already promised BC he will always come first. I'm going to work hard, but I refuse to compromise my family and what I believe for a j-o-b.

Anyways, the night was fun and we ended it with a Paradise Brownie from Chili's :) YUM!

Planning update...

Per Lacey, I am required to update my, like, 7 readers on my wedding planning. But I am very happy to do it! Just don't be disappointed that I am way behind. Mostly because (1) I am doing jillions of other things (graduating, exams, jobs, blahblahblah) and (b) I am getting married in November so I have the freedom of a little waiting that other April/May/June brides do not share.

This is what BC and I have decided so far:

Ceremony Location: my home church.

• Don't have a picture. I want it there because that's my home church BUT it doesn't have a center aisle. I conceded once I discovered all the center aisle churches in town have ridiculous rules and charge exorbitant amounts for their dang center aisle's!

Reception Location: local Women's Club

• We wanted to have the reception off-site, at a smaller venue than my church's activity center, and that way it'll be easier to decorate and...well....control other possible variables.

Colors:

• I refuse to "embrace" November. I don't want orange, brown, pumpkins, turkeys, anything. I had my color ideas in my head, and I would put them in my wedding regardless of the month. They are: Navy blue, Lime-ish green, and white.

People: 

• The people have been chosen. I have a MOH, three lovely bridesmaids, a sweet junior bridesmaid, and an adorable brother and sister for the ring bearer and flower girl. We lucked out with the RB and FG...they are the children of very good friends of mine and are old pros at the job! They'll do great!
• BC has picked his Dad as his best man and 3 of his closest friends as groomsmen. 
• I have to give a shout-out to all our sweet friends....BC has groomsmen coming from NC, Virginia, and even Seattle! My sweet friends are breaking up their semesters to hustle back to PC for the wedding...one even has an 8 hour med school exam the day before and is driving in immediately after!!

Dresses:

• I don't have mine yet. That will be put off until the last possible moment so I can make the most out of the wedding diet. My bridesmaid dresses have, however, been ordered and are in! They are Navy, and from Target.com! Yes! A whopping $40. These dresses look way better in person...not so flattering on this girl. The sash around the waist looks like a cummerbund, so I think we're going to replace it with white or something.

Flowers:

• I want green and white bouquets for the bridesmaids, and all white for me. I'm in love with hydrangeas, always have been, so I'm sure that tons of them will pop up in all of the bouquets. The top picture  is the color scheme I'm thinking about. The boutonnière in the bottom picture is what I'm thinking for the guys....minus the pink wrapping. 

 

Music:

• Ceremony stuff was pretty easy. We kept it pretty traditional. And we're going to spring for a live trio because I think those people sound FANTASTIC. It'll be a little pricey but we both agree that it will sound way better. Here's what we've come up with:
• Seating of the fam: Air on G
• Processional, Party: Canon in D
• Processional, Me: Bridal Chorus
• Recessional, everybody: Wedding March
• BC is a music aficionado. I told him that he is welcome to take over for the reception. Plus, I'm not really signing up to dance to Shania Twain any time soon, so I'm down for anything! BC loves all sorts of fun classic rock stuff--Rolling Stones, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Def Leppard, blablahblah. We actually made some prelim decisions!
• First Dance: still thinking...maybe All My Love, Led Zeppelin??
• Party Walk-in: Pour Some Sugar on Me, Def Leppard
• F/D: Father and Daughter, Paul Simon
• Last Dance: You're My Best Friend, Queen
• I must say, I'm pretty excited about the music. I think we're going to have the best stuff. I mean, who expects to hear Rolling Stones or Led Zeppelin for the first dance?!

Food:

• What everyone goes to receptions for. Well my friends, this will not disappoint. Here was our mindset: my parents are going to give us money to throw a party for ourselves. Why not have the food at that party that we LOVE? Some people might be huge snobs about our food choices, and in that case they are completely not invited to the fun. But for all the normal people out there...enjoy our prelim list of must-haves!
• chicken tenders, pizza, chicken salad and stuffed mushrooms, fried green tomatoes, a raw oyster bar, boiled peanuts, sushi, smores, pulled pork sliders, fruit and veggies, and all sorts of other things. I can't wait.
• CAKE. So excited. We've found pictures of cakes we like, and so far this one is the front runner: 

• Of course, change the damask pattern to Navy and the little pink dots to green. And take away the crystals. But we LOVE this cake and the design!!
• GROOM'S CAKE. BC wants a guitar. We've found some really awesome looking ones online...now we just have to find someone talented enough to make it look normal.

Honestly, this might be it so far. Dang this post is forever long and took me forever to type out!

The most important thing out of all of this: the luxury of ending the day married to my best friend. BC visited this weekend and it will be a month before we see each other again, the longest we've ever gone. I miss him terribly and he left this morning! I fall in love with him more and more everyday and I am SO BLESSED to have found him and be able to spend the rest of my life with him!

The Dreaded...

BAR EXAM!

Okay, so I'm not close to actually TAKING said exam, but I am pretty dang close to having to have my application in. I have about a week left before it is DUE. Yes, due.

I just need to note that I am painfully terrified of actually turning this thing in. I have to have everything right or, pretty much you die. I've printed out two drafts so far and keep finding little tiny things. I think this might be my last draft...I have got to get this thing in!

Total price to register for the FL Bar Exam: $975! ACK!

Faves...

Around here, sunglasses are treasured. In the South, people usually pick out a good pair and stick with them...especially if you grew up around water of some sort. Costas, Ray Bans, Maui Jims, Oakleys, all kinds!

My favorites:

Costa Del Mar Switchfoot

Tortoise frames, green mirror lenses!

I haven't had them since the end of March...they were a casualty of the wreck :( The left lens was completely shattered and they had to be sent in for repair. I had just bought them too!! 

I previously had the tortoise Switchfoot with the amber lenses (and of course I lost them somewhere), and I must say....green mirror is the way to go!

We're slowly becoming a Costa fam...BC recently made his first Costa purchase:

His are the Brine style...

What can I say...we're BIG fans of the tortoise/green mirror combo!

catch-up and a lil advice

Wow, I haven't posted in a little while! I wanted to post everyday with fun stuff, but I have def fallen down on the job!

Most recently, I have been all involved with the judging stuff. Seriously, every day at least once a day. Last rounds are Monday morning, and then they find out (I think) Tuesday who makes it into the tournament. I'm excited to see who makes it! Seriously, there is some really good talent in the 1L class.

Also, I sent out 23, YES 23, cover letters and resumes a couple of days ago!! I am officially flooding the market! I plan on sending tons more out on Monday.

I don't really have much to talk about today. Except maybe a little girl advice. I keep having friends who are talking to me about the guys in their lives. Things that they aren't quite okay with but they convince themselves it fine and end up making excuses for themselves and their guy. LOOK LADIES...if you are making excuses or rationalizing ANYTHING, its a red flag. Plain and simple. I tell you this: true love is easy. Yes, marriage is hard work blah blah blah. But its even harder if you don't end up with the right person! Your life isn't over--you never know who will show up tomorrow. Do NOT be afraid to communicate. If he is doing something and you aren't on the same page about it TALK ABOUT IT. If you are afraid he's going to jet if you talk, do it anyway. If he jets, HE SUCKS. If he sticks around and *gasp* talks it out, he actually cares about you!

Any questions about boys? Let me know. BC knows stuff and he def won't sugar coat anything!

Movie Review

This weekend I went to visit my lovely fiancé, BC, in NC! We went on lots of dates, and I love them all. They range from dinners and movies, to wandering around the mall. He is fantastic. But I digress.

We saw two movies this weekend...and I totally recommend BOTH!!

First: Date Night

So funny!

First, Tina Fey and Steve Carell are FANTASTIC together! They have a great chemistry. Plus, it was a pro-marriage movie, which is great and so rare! Without revealing too much, Tina and Steve are a married couple, married for a while, and lead busy lives, juggle having kids, and are actually trying to stay together and keep things exciting. It was nice to see that from Hollywood. I mean, the storyline won't be winning any Oscars or anything, but it was funny! I mean, of course, who are the actors, hello.



Second: How To Train Your Dragon

We went and saw this movie in 3D--super cute! It had a great little story, great music, awesome graphics! And yes, we were the only ones in the theater that were not children or parents, but honestly, it was still a great movie. The writers set up a great storyline and there was an unexpected ending! That doesn't happen too much in these types of movies.








Don't forget the snacks! Our new movie tradition is Sour Patch Kids and a Coke Icee! YUM! What's yours?

It just shouldn't be.

Something very disturbing happened yesterday.

Everyday, all over America, radio stations play some sort of "throwback" section of music. It seems like most of the music is from the 80s, you know, all that fun stuff we could still dance to: the Bangles, Blondie, Michael Jackson, Elton John, Abba, Rod Stewart...all those sorts of things. Well, I was happinly enjoying the throwback music yesterday when WHAT CAME ON but.....*NSYNC!!!!!!!!!! I could not even believe it. And it wasn't even old school *NSYNC, I Want You Back, or Tearin' Up My Heart, oh no. It was Bye Bye Bye!!!!!!

Now, I have to express my love for those pop guys. They, along with BSpears, Christina, Backstreet Boys, got me through middle school. I remember hanging out with my friends, singing along, it was great! While we're on that topic, how about this picture--anybody remember the BSpears daisy cd?? I thought it was so cool when we all found out that the cds came in different colors with different colored daisies. To a middle schooler, the early days of pop music were it.

And now...we've gotten to that point. Music that came out in the mid to late 90s, and the early 2000s....now officially is considered "old." Yesterday, I felt like I was 115 years old!!

Delicious lunch.

The Chick-fil-A sandwich. Absolutely genius in creation, pure deliciousness. It is, of course, only improved by the addition of the this:

and this:

Mmm. The original sandwich, those wonderful waffle fries, and that AWESOME sweet tea.

Now, I don't know about most people, but I like to rank Chick-fil-A's in towns that I have lived in. In my hometown, one particular one holds a lot of memories from high school. Let me digress for a moment. I was an SGA officer my senior year, so I had a ballin' parking place. Everyone would hop in my car and we would speed off to the drive-thru Chick-fil-A. Ah, good times. Now, here in law town, I must say, I have had to get adjusted to the sweet tea at the Chick-fil-A by my house. Chick-fil-A people! Wake up! A teenager working an afternoon job can't properly make sweet tea! You need to find one of those sweet old ladies who has been doing this FOREVER to be in charge of the tea. Then, and ONLY then, will it be correct :)

I don't believe you Sir!

Let me tell you, this woman is awesome. Some love her, some hate her. Either way, she doesn't deal with nonsense.

This week, I have had the pleasure of judging the practice rounds of my law school's 1L moot court rounds. Next week is graded rounds. So far, the only thing I have come away with is this: I am destined to be a judge. But not a simple trial judge, oh no. I want to be one where I get to ask questions, get answers...be involved! And, since I don't really foresee being chosen to be an appellate court judge anytime soon....I'm going to go for with being a TV judge! I mean, what could be more fun! You are essentially a fashionable arbitrator, and you get to rule however you want! I can just see it...it will probably have to be broadcast on FOX, because I also foresee getting a little feisty.

Easter weekend!

I LOVE Easter weekend! Mostly because it is always spent in sunny FL! First, BC got into town Wednesday night and we IMMEDIATELY exchanged Easter baskets.

His basket included tons of stuff, including flip flops for the beach that weekend, a sweet Jeep Matchbox car, and a Led Zeppelin shirt. Pretty much the best Easter basket ever :)

Mine (which there is no picture of) was all pink :) And the best surprise? Underneath the big yellow duck (inside joke) he brought me with the basket--RED VELVET CUPCAKES!

These things have become our "special times" treat. He also brought along some pink lemonade Easter cupcakes with the red velvet ones with super cute tiny chick candles. So cute!

Friday we headed down to FL to pick up the new car! It is so wonderful and looks almost EXACTLY like the other one. I love it and am SO GRATEFUL to my parents forever!

Saturday we went out on the boat! So beautiful! The water isn't quite emerald yet, and it will definitely take some time before the water warms up, but we had fun nonetheless. It was Ben's first time out on the boat in the ocean! He loved it! We saw dolphins too...such a treat! :)

After that, we headed to one of our fave places for an early dinner before heading out to see Hot Tub Time Machine...I love date night!! :) I think we've decided on this same restaurant for our rehearsal dinner...that place is delish and is a must for ANY and ALL FL visits!!!!

Easter Sunday started with Easter baskets for me and BC from Mom and Dad and then onto some family friends for Easter lunch! We have been going over there ever since we moved to my hometown and I can't wait to start a new tradition with my *new* family! BC fits in so well with everyone and I just love him so much!