I have to Confess because it's Friday.

Confession #1. The feeling of having a package on your door step when you get home from work is a fabulous one. Especially when you have this many boxes!



My aunt sent us even more dishes. Which leads me to Confession #2 - we have enough dishes to feed a small country! Kidding, but I won't lie - I can't wait to get fully moved in and have people over!

 Confession #3: Theres an awesome boutique in Bristol with tons of clothes that scream "eeemily, buy me!" I am having to say no but I did find this ring. What a gem!

 Confession #4: This is true. My sister tagged me on Facebook and the more I think about it the more true it is.

 Confession #5: I sent this picture to some of my bridesmaids and they all had me cracking up with their responses. The one that didn't show up mentioned that she thought a headpiece may help give their hair some volume. Aching to see these girls next week!

 Confession #6: I eat muffins like they are going out of style. WHAT KIND OF BRIDE am I?? Blue berry muffins are a weakness.

 Confession #7: Found a package on my doorstep from GlamourMe Jewels: hello new arm candy! I am so psyched!

Okay, I'm getting married a WEEK from tomorrow. Sometime pinch me!

Confessional Friday, y'all.

Confessional Friday #2, ladies.

Yes, this makes like 3 blogs in one week. A record, I am sure. John is studying for the his Board exam and that leaves me quite lonely.

1. I confess that I am now trying out some E.L.F. makeup from Tarjay. I read PinkLouLou's blog & was persuaded. You'd think that because it is so inexpensive that it wouldn't work well, but girlfriends, I am here to tell ya, there are some products that really do show quality! Everything is like $1, $3, or $6... one-dolla, make ya holllla! The wipes are great. The lipgloss is good. But, I tried the Facial Mist & Set first. I put it on as soon as I purchased it on my lunch break. Went back to work... went to Zumba and got nasty... and came home and thought dannnnngg, my make up looks good! Then, I remembered that I had done the spray. This will be used on 7/7 @ 7, people!

2. I confess that I am counting down and ENJOYING the days up to my wedding. I am not feeling stressed... at all. I am just excited... purely elated, if you will. My motto for the next 15 days, "this is our big day and nothing will get in the way" aka... no stress, sisters, no stress!

3. I confess that I am nervous about a name change. I'm afraid I will fail terribly at remembering. Goodness gracious, my new last name is darling and so much fun... and my new nickname will probably be "Emma Gemma"... but I do LOVE my current last name. Being a "Dean" ROCKS. But I'm nervous because with my job I am constantly saying, "Hi, it's Emily Dean with Advanced Logic Industries..." and I have a feeling it's going to take some major practice.

4. I confess I had a good hair day & it made my day! I did that photoshoot... went home and slept... and the next morning my hair was literally exactly the same. I didn't brush it or anything... just threw a couple of bobby pins in and rolled out. I didn't even mean to hide the bobby pins! If this couple happen like...twice a week I would be a happy {indoor} camper!

5. I confess that I have a bagel addition. Across the street is a Jewish bagel place and their bagels are PHENOMENAL. They are $.87! Luckily, the gal this morning made the comment, "they are good but you should not eat them every single day because of the carb count"... thus I ate the skinny half and through the other half in the fridge for tomo! {It was chocolate chip and the cream cheese was cinnamon sugar!}

6. I confess that we picked up John's wedding band tomorrow and it made this whole wedding deal so much more REAL! Seeing John in a wedding band is HOT! I told him there were NO excuses for taking that baby off... to which he replied, "what if I am in surgery or something?" and I said, "if you go into surgery then I will tattoo your ring finger!" Okay, okay! It's a joke, guys. I wouldn't go that far! **He doesn't plan on being a surgeon so I think we are in the clear!**

7. I confess I got an award from the Editor of Be in Style - part of the Become.com's blogging network!

And... Happy Thursday

HAPPY THURSDAY(!!!!!) I am happy this morning, can ya tell?

Countdown until we tie the knot: 16 days 9 hours and 19 minutes. Okay, and 36 seconds.

Alright so I have a new blogger friend & I swear she may be my long lost OTHER sister. I've got a list of sisters! All of which are fabulous women!

Okay, her name is Megan and she is at For All Things Lovely. Go check her out and follow her - she's inspiring my fashion lately! And it doesn't hurt she has a John of her own!

She did a giveaway for a DARLING ring from Asos. It's a Zig Zag Stackable ring. And hello LUCKY day - I won!

Anyway, are these not cool?

In other news,

I have been working with Richard Shumaker, a local photographer (a HOKIE photographer!) to take some fun Bride-ish pictures. He was a sports photographer but he's expanding the business a bit because he is so talented.

Our shoots consist of me wearing a big white dress & playing dress up in ANY AND EVERY piece of jewelry I can find! The last shoot we had I had a plethora of pearls draped around me!

After the shoot I went to sleep immediatly... and I woke up with a ton of notifications on my phone.

Touch my Facebook app.

Hit the notifications thingy...

And it says "33 people have liked your picture"

To which I wonder what incredible picture I have posted...

THEN, it hits me that I was tagged in a picture. Sleepy Emily is not the brightest.

This was towards the end of the shoot - we had been at it 3 hours and we walked out to the Smith Plantation to catch the sunset. {ugh and it was 9 p.m... this girl was starving & had makeup running!} I goofily suggested we take a picture of my bracelet that I had just purchased and that he did... and then we came out with this photo.

**I'm not big on Pinterest. I don't like copying off of others - if I don't have to. I enjoy doing original things so I was excited that this photograph turned out so well!**

The photo is already very special to me.

Possibly because I take the L-BOMB so dang seriously. {"L-BOMB" was the way in which my brother taught me to SECRETLY talk about love!"}

I was raised that you don't tell a boy that you love them until you know they are the ONE you will marry!

In high school & college, the trend was to tell every boy you dated that you loved them. Not I.

The sacredness of the word really makes for a much more special romance, truly. I remember when John told me he loved me... it was... like a dream. I couldn't believe it.

And for once in my life, I was allowed to write "I LOVE John!" Everywhere. {sidenote: I was in my MBA program so ALL of my notes/papers/research/etc. had doodles saying "I <3 JG!" I swear, I was like a 12 year old!}
Point is: this picture means a lot to me. It's more than just a cute bracelet or fun picture - it holds a whole other story. Because I have only ever dropped the L-BOMB to ONE special person!

A few people have asked where I got it:
I bought this bracelet at Forever21 on Sunday. I had to dig to find it. I believe it is sold out online right now. If you go to a store - you can probably find one. The store in Johnson City, TN that I went to had a couple left.

Click here to look at the bracelet.

Or... check this one out! I am coveting!

Buy it here!

Or...

Adorable, right? Buy it here.

Alright, now, can I please share another photo with you...

My friend Kristi texted me this picture and was like "Who does she remind you of?" I read it and I thought "Dang, that's me!"... John even thought it was me. Elizabeth asked if I made this for my blog.

Y'all, I HAVE A TWIN! HELP ME FIND HER!

Happy Monday?

Goodmorning!

Due to the fact that I have so many new blogger friends, I thought I should do something sweet and share a fabulous deal with you guys!

I ordered my sister some dresses from Tobi this past winter/spring and I get SO annoyed with Tobi because I get e-mails from them EVERY morning telling me to check out their New Arrivals and it drives.me.bonkers!

Well, until this morning. I was up early so I scrolled down and I noticed this little jewel (I had to screen shot it for you because the Tobi site won't let me save!)...

You can't tell me you don't LOVE this piece?

My friend Logan, whose wedding I was in just a few weeks back, used to wear a double wrap leather bracelet with screws on it. I literally would DROOL over it... it was the CC Skye brand and they ran for $92-$110. I was a poor college kid so I had to say no. Luckily, a store in Little Rock called Indigo was carrying the Nicole Richie line, House of Harlow. In that line, Nicole had a very similar bracelet that was about $32. I wore the HECK out of that bracelet. Then, I gave it to Elizabeth in exchange for a pair of earrings! I stalk her on Facebook well enough to know that she wears the heck out of that bracelet, too.

Anyway, a got a text from a friend back in February asking me what kind of bracelet the girls on Ben's season of the Bachelor were wearing... I noticed they were wearing the CC Skye ones, which closely resembled the House of Harlow one I wore in college. ANYWAY, point being... this morning... I'm scrolling down this Tobi e-mail to see this bracelet and I literally JUMPED out of bed and logged into my e-mail so I could get a better look.

First off, this color is INCREDIBLE! Secondly, these are only $33... and HELLO, they are ON SALE right now!

Thirdly, if you go to this link you will see that this bracelet comes in two other colors white & stone blue... both colors are incredible. I couldn't decide which to order!

Nonetheless, I ordered the funky mint/teal color. End.of.story.

Oh, well, I also saw this dress in my e-mail...

You better believe I would have ordered this dress if I had the body of the model in the photo!

I mean, really, how hot would this be for the rehearsal dinner?

SO, to all of you skinny little brides... click here to get a closer look at this dress!

On a different note...

Yesterday was Father's Day!

I LOATHE living away from my family for this very reason: we can't celebrate little holidays like this together. BUG!

Anyway, want to see little Miss (almost Mrs.) Sweetest Thing as a little bitty baby???

Yep, that's MOI. And my handsome father!

For those of you who have QUESTIONED if I was the milk man's daughter... the answer for you guys should now be VERY clear.

My dad had a rockin' head of hair. And hello... look at his lashes.

I don't think they had Latisse back in '87 either???!

Mom made a little comment yesterday after I posted this picture on FB, "Yes, and that hair was all gray by 30... good thing gray looks good on you!"

Hello Day-Ruiner. I have NEVER colored my hair in my life and I have saved it for that one purpose... I will need it in a decade or so... thus I will save all of my money and my hair's health for the days of the grays... :/

Here's a photo from last July 4th... Is it crazy or WHAT... this July 4th dad will be prepping to walk his YOUNGEST child down the aisle! YIKES.

I asked him if he was sad... he said, "Nope, THANKS, JOHN!"

I adore my Father. I am crazy about him, really.

In college, I can recall a few guys telling me that it is intimidating how frequently I talk about him and how I have him on such a pedastal that no one will EVER meet my standards!

One guy actually told me I talk about him like he is some kind of superhero...

Well, DUH! He IS a superhero!

I only make those two points because I honestly believe my dad's example was what led me to John. John and my dad are SO much alike that it is crazy. It's even more funny that my Dad and my brother in law are very simliar, also.

If you are new to reading le blog, you may not know that I actually MET John because of his Father.

We were enrolled in a Bible course together and the teacher had done a survey on adolescents and their relationships with their father's at the age of 15. I was a BRAT at 15 but I knew I would score the highest on the survey because I have always adored my dad.

Wellllllllllllll, someone beat me - someone got a higher score than me... and what'd'ya know! It was a cute boy 3 rows in front of me... it was indeed, the boy I am about to marry! {in approximatly 19 days, 8 hours & 29 minutes!}

Needless to say, John & I both feel blessed to have Father's - especially such terrific men who have taught us both so much.

Wanna know what went down this weekend?

Friday night John & I went exploring... {excuse the my awkward, slumpy pose.}

Sneak attack! Hot date to Mellow Mushroom.

 Is it just me or is Essie's new line not awesome?

My two favorites: Off The Shoulder (pink!) & Mojito Madness (green!).

New colors at GlamourMe Jewels!

Last week I got several e-mails from readers/FB friends asking where I got this headband! Click here to buy this headband! OR to check out some other fun styles.

I hate washing my hair. I don't like fixing it either. Thus, headbands, hats & dry shampoo are my 3 best friends.

Happy Monday.

Confessional Friday

Well, in the words of A Blonde Ambition... it's Confessional Friday, people!

This could get pretty juicy.

1. I am REALLY missing my family lately. This whole 13 hours apart thing ain't workin' fo me! I would give anything to be with my dad this Sunday.

My mom & dad & cousin, Dezi, met me outside of Jackson, TN to bring some of our wedding gifts that I couldn't live without... aka: the toaster & microwave. I caught this picture with Papa Bear & Dezi.

Found this little jewel of a dress at Ross for $12.99!

2. I'm psyched about all of the wedding festivities... but I'm super psyched about Jamaica. John & I LOVE adventuring & traveling together but it'll be SO different in Jamaica... I'm sure everywhere I go I will be saying "hey, y'all... this is my HUSSSBANNND!"

So my 2nd confession: I started stocking up on hats last Fall when we got engaged. I knew John wanted a beachy Honeymoon so I began immediatly shopping for fun hats. {A confession w/in a confession - I LOATHE the sun... I have a liver disease that causes this and I will share the deets another day!} I ordered the hat featured below - and had a local shop monogram it... and I did this in FEBRUARY! Haha, I wasn't kidding when  I said I was excited.

These photos are old ones that I texted my mom... it's like I have to get her approval!

3. I am obsessed with my neices & nephews. My brother has 3 kiddos & my sister has 2.

John & I talk about them ALL of THE TIME. My neice Caroline {she's 4} cracks us up with the way she talks. Sometimes, we just try to have conversations talking like her. A common phrase we say is "youwwa willy wiiieeed!" {aka: you're really weird!}

Last night my sister called and asked to speak with John. She told him that Georgia Kelley (featured below) had just told her, "Mommy, when I grow up I want to be a Doctor, like John, & I want to work in the hospital!" There is nothing cuter than seeing how excited John got when he heard that!
A couple of recent pictures:

Baby Bo used Caroline & Olivias toys to help Paul weedeat. DOES IT GET ANY CUTER?

When I was in home in May I woke up very early Sunday morning to find this. If I up to this face every day I would be a happy(ier) person!

3. I can cook... no wait, I LIKE cooking! Who am I?

 4. I'm crazy about the lighting in the loft. Weird fact, right? I guess I really do enjoy the "small things" in life! I just love all of the lighting - there are little lights everywhere & it makes the place look so cool & mod! And a few skylights, too! (the downside: SO MANY LIGHTBULBS TO CHANGE!)

5. I found a new make up that I LOVE!

I am a huge fan of ANYTHING Revlon makes that says "color stay" - because it truly does stay. Revlon just came out with a WHIPPED foundation. It's so smooth & creamy - goes on and looks flawless! AND, it has a yummo smell!

 6. I am a wedding planning FREAK OF NATURE!

I have to envision EVERYTHING. I have tons and tons of "inspiration boards" on my phone. I do NOT Pinterest at ALL. Rather, I do my own Pinterest.

For instance, the first I ever made was for my Bridesmaids to make sure the idea of what I wanted them to look like would really come together. So, I took a picture of the bridesmaids dresses, placed a picture of the bouquet next to it, then added their jewelry, shoes, nail polish & hairstyle. It gives me comfort because I can sort of see what I want the girls to look like! I did this for the Ringerbearers/Flowergirls, bridesmaids gifts, etc. I do it for EVERYTHING.

And because I am a freak of nature, I had to make itineraries for the Bridesmaids & Groomsmen. I put them on the wedding Facebook group so that everyone has access to it. AND, because so many people are from out of town and I want for everyone to have an idea of what is going to happen & when.

After the wedding I will share the others... those are just too juicy for today's Confessional!

 7. This is my last confession- and the most juicy!
Last week, John texted me at work and was like "Em, you have a package in the mail?" Of course I got all excited and nervous because I was thinking, "uh, what did I order??" Anyway, he ran it up to my office & when I opened it - I was like a KID AT CHRISTMAS!

It was... a box.. of LATISSE.
No, I did NOT order any Latisse.
Rather, a NEW friend sent it(!!!!!!!!!!!!).

I could not believe it. I will have more details later but here is a picture of my eyelashes after ONE week of use. OKAY OKAY OKAY, I know that it won't work until 6 weeks of use but I want to track it week by week to see if I can see any difference! I am crossing my fingers it will have kicked in a little by wedding time!
Have any of you tried Latisse? I would love to hear your reviews!

Alright. Happy Friday.

Giveaway WINNER!

Today's the big day!

The GlamourMe Jewels Giveaway Contest is DONE & I am almost positive this will be a GREAT day for our winner!

Before I begin, let me give you some details on the contest.

I found GlamourMe Jewels on Instagram. I found myself LOVING all of their beautiful bracelets. Finally, I broke down and ordered one. I wear it ALL the time. I get TONS of compliments!

Anyway, the owner of the store is super precious - and it's no secret that I love giving business to those who have great customer service.

Anyway, this giveaway has been fabulous for the store - I have received several e-mails from people who went ahead and made orders!

Visit the GlamourMe Jewels Etsy page by clicking here.

Follow "Glamour Me Jewels" on Instagram and you can see her beautiful pieces as she comes out with them!

ALSO, you can LIKE GlamourMe Jewels on Facebook by clicking here.

AND, because I was swamped with e-mails last week I did a sad job in replying - I apologize for that! But I know my Twitter link often doesn't work... for those of you who asked my Twitter name is EmilyAnnDean! Follow me & I will follow you back - I love tweeting with my Blogger friends!

See that beautiful hot pink & gold bracelet?? It has a new, adorable owner...

Miss Kelsey from Beauty Without Limits! YAY! She is so deserving! I couldn't be happier for her - in fact, she had the most entries! I think this bracelet will be DARLING with the outfit she has on in this picture!

On a different note, can you believe it - I am 23 days and 9 hours from being a married woman?

Jeez Louise - I can't wait! John & I just smile from EAR to EAR when we talk about it! AH!

Alright, well I've got a post lined out on some new makeup I've been trying that I LOVE! I am thrilled to share the deets!

Have a lovely day!

Loftin' Life & Give Away Updates!

Isn't that a beautiful wall outlet????? Sorry, I'm a lazy cropper!

 

I went out to explore my new city & since I live in the Birthplace of Country Music now I thought I needed to dress to match the scenery! (keeeeeding!) It wasn't intentional, I just didn't want to get ready so I threw on a hat & left!  

Saturday JG took a study break and came to town! We did lots and LOTS of adventuring! 

We Believe in Bristol! I LOVE this town! I can't believe I am saying that either! If you know me at all you know I am obsessed with being an Arkansan... but it's true - Bristol is a COOL place! 

MARK MY WORDS - I will be going to the Bristol Motor Speedway this Fall! Yeeehawww!

I gotta learn who these guys are so I can be in on all the Nascar chit-chat around here! 

Only 26 more days, y'all! Can you believe it??? We will be MR. & MRS.! {& even more exciting that John will be done with his Boards!..prayers please!!} 

Okay, I may not be Mrs. Domestic/Betty Crocker but boy can I bake some cookies! {shoutout to my Mom & Sister for teaching me that!}

Won't lie... I am obsessed with having my OWN kitchen! It's too fun! Just wish I had internet and cell service! We get a landline tomorrow... SO hilarious. We went to Wal-Mart to buy a "house" phone and we were laughing because hadn't seen those in ages! {at&t is not a hot commodity around here!}

 

I want this SO badly. This verse has really carried me through the last few weeks. It's comforting, really. If anyone knows where this can be found - please let me know! Thanks!