The Princess is Married and I am NEXT!

Well here we are May 1...21 days until I become Mrs. William Marcus Meeker. I wanted to share with you all the craziness that has been my life lately...

To begin here is a picture of my BEAUTIFUL cousin Stephanie. The new Mrs. Jeremy Burleson. I am so happy for her, but I have to say I am a tad jealous. She looks like she just stepped out of the Perfect Southern section of a Bridal Magazine.I mean...really...she clearly got a huge chunk of the "pretty" genes.

Now here is a shot of all of everyone. Do you see the chunky girl?  The one in the dress with straps? That's me! I never thought that I would be a heavy bride...and have considered calling this wedding off until I can reach a stunning 110 pounds (I'm really short so this is attainable) but is that likely to happen? Probably not!

I have recently become a vegetarian (well  mostly-I did eat meat at the wedding...Marc calls this Flexitarian) and I am strictly sticking to a workout plan. I am better looking today than I have been in years. Heck, my Grandfather said I didn't look like myself. This is good news...well until my other family members (the ones very closely related to the Princess) reminded me that I was fat. They even told me that I should eat better and work out. They told a vegetarian gym rat to eat better and work out. Something here is extremely off. Then they suggested I get my thyroid checked. I, just like ever other woman on earth would love to be able to blame my weight on my thyroid but I know it isn't true. I spent too many years doing horrible things to my body and what I see in the mirror today is a direct result of poor eating and drinking choices. I am proud of my progress but like everyone else would happily welcome acceleration to the goal!

I have searched for a few pictures to illustrate what I mean about the fact that I look better.

High School: I figured I would start with Senior Prom. Look! I am thin and very cute! Weight 125 lbs.

Early 20's: See here I am still cute, vivacious and adorable. But what's that in my hand? It is one of the things that caused my downward spiral. I do have to say that this is by far one of my favorite pictures of myself.Weight: 115
In this picture I am just shy of 22...this was taken about one month before I met Mike.

Mid 20's The Decline: It still blows my mind to this day that 1 year of dating Mike I went from the picture above to this. I am appalled that I spent so much time as a spectator in life. Letting go of control over the things you like to do will quickly make one look like this. When he and I were together all we ever seemed to do was sit in a bar watching sports or playing trivia. Couple a few beers with bar food daily and this is what you get. This picture was taken a few months after my 23 birthday. An interesting indicator of how fast you can start to spiral down.Weight: 165 (i think)

The Up Side of Rock Bottom: This picture was taken right after I made the leap of faith to be with the man that I will be marrying in three weeks. All that time that I spent sad and feeling hopeless about my future really shows. I had lost my Grandmother and my Father and was spending all of my time feeling sorry for myself. It really shows in your skin and of course in your jeans. WOW!!! Weight here: 179. Yep that's right...179 pounds! Pretty Darn Scary!











This was taken two years ago. Noticeably healthier looking but still heavy. It was a quick but gradual change that took me from a svelte early 20 something to the chunky soon to be 30 year old that you see today, but I am proud of the rise and excited for the future. Weight here 165 again.

Here is me today! I have really commited to my new lifestyle. This is an example of all the stuff I take with me daily. My water bottle, my purse, my gym bag and my food bag. Plus I am looking much better...at least I think I do! Weight: 157 and dropping!!!


So what if I am a heavy bride. I am turning 30 this year...and I am having the best year of my life. I am checking off the goals I set for myself January 1 one by one! I am healthy, energetic and best of all HAPPY. So what's a few extra pounds on my wedding day? Those extra LB's will just be around to bear witness to a woman who is getting and becoming more than she ever dreamed of. Maybe a congratulatory bikini shot could be in the works for my 30th?

I would also like to share a little bit of insight that I had this past weekend. I firmly believe that one of the secrets to a great life involve the Inlet Breeze, A Hammock chair, and Your very Best Friends.

The Busy Bride Takes Time Out to Freak Out, Lose Her Mind, Vent, and Break Down!!!!

I have always thought myself to be quite intelligent, but lately the odd bouts of anxiety surrounding my wedding day make me think that I got the wrong message my whole life. To begin let’s look at the classic movies that I grew up loving and watching daily. We will start with my favorite Alice in Wonderland. Alice was so sick of the way the normal world was that she wanted her own world where everything was different. "If I had a world of my own, everything would be nonsense. Nothing would be what it is, because everything would be what it isn't. And contrary wise, what is, it wouldn't be. And what it wouldn't be, it would. You see?” Oh the wisdom that girl had. She wasn’t a princess and could care less about a “prince”…she just didn’t want to listen to her history lesson. Then of course there is the OCD rabbit who, just like me, is obsessed with the time. But no worry about princesses or weddings, just silliness and a good lesson in getting somewhere on time.

Then there was Ariel from the Little Mermaid. Ariel never really wanted to be a bride…she just wanted to walk on land. And who can blame her…that fish smell had to be getting to her. And her best friend was a crab! Lame! I hope she walked right to a bath tub and got to scrubbing. J

Then of course there is Dorothy from the Wizard of OZ…she just wanted to get home. No princes in this one. And Heidi the little girl that lived on the mountain, she just wanted to see her Grandfather again. 

I always thought that the skexies from Dark Crystal were awesome! I mean...come on...check him out! 

I also loved Jem and the Holograms...Jem was the coolest role model ever! For those of you who didn’t watch this show…think animated Hannah Montana…only Jem could switch herself by touching her earrings. Jem was just a really cool girl…yeah she had a boyfriend but he could be ditched at anytime. Girl Power was very evident in all of these Disney movies. Well the ones I watched anyway.

Now let’s get to the movie that apparently that has made girls suffer from Bridal Retardation for years…our Dear friend Cinderella. Apparently I missed the message of this movie. Out of this one I figured out that a goal and hard work (even when people treat you bad) will get you what you want. Cinderella didn’t want to go to the ball to meet the prince…the girl was just wanting to get out of the house and have a good time. She wanted to have a drink and dance and talk to a human…hey mice are great company but sometimes human interaction just can’t be beat. Besides the wedding scene only accounts for the last minute of the movie. The girl to the left here is the Cinderella I liked!

So why are all the girls in the world so obsessed with being a bride? Or was it the movie Princess Bride? This one I never saw until I was 22 years old and was highly disappointed. The princess was a weak pathetic character…why would anyone want to be like her? I don’t know…is it the dress? The need to have the world revolve around you for a day? I just can’t understand why girls like weddings so much.

I sit here this morning freaked out because my wedding day is fast approaching. Nothing about this day seems pleasing…that is until it’s over and I get to drink wine with all of my best friends. I have no idea how I can stand in front of hundreds of people and give a speech or talk to random strangers everyday with no feelings of stress or discomfort…but this….OMG how will I get through this. I have thought of a million things that I would rather do. Tattoo Marc’s name on my forehead is up there. I really really really am dreading my wedding day. Everything about it seems unnatural and forced. I do NOT want to walk past and then stand in front of my family, friends and worst of all strangers and make such an emotional and sacred vow. I truly feel that this is private thing and should be treated as such…why are we parading it in front of everyone. The spotlight of this makes me feel as though I am making a date to have everyone we know watch us have sex. I just can’t get past the fact that none of the people who will attend the wedding will be a part of our marriage. It is just Marc and I! So why does there have to be so much pomp and circumstance?

……………door bell rings………………Oh my wedding dress just arrived!…………open box…..it’s pretty……………try it on………….NNNNOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! It is hideous. Well it is 4 sizes too big and looks like a prom dress from Lane Bryant. Ok I am overreacting and it will probably be beautiful once it is altered to fit one person instead of two! And before anyone says it…I did already think about gaining weight to make it fit. Sadly my metabolism is too good and there isn’t enough junk food in the world to make me that big that fast.

Today just isn’t my day…at least when it comes to wedding stuff. So I am going to head off to work now and hope that the rest of my day improves. Thanks for letting me vent! J

The Busy Bride is a Garden Bee, Eating Well, Trying Stuff and Enjoying Life!!!

I regret to tell you all that the International cooking project has been put on hold at least for a few weeks. With the ramping up for the wedding (diet) and with our friends (the lucky SOB's that they are) who were in Hawaii for two weeks, I find that it is best that I hold off on the added craziness of International Night. Not to mention that I have a bunch of other projects going on right now!

Recently Jason and Christi took us to McKay's (the holy mecca of used books/dvd/cd's) and I purchased a huge cart full of cookbooks. The interesting part is that I also purchased a how to become vegetarian book and a vegetarian cookbook. This book has been amazing. It has some of the coolest recipes. I am enjoying taking the time to learn to cook vegetarian.

The thought of becoming a full time vegetarian is hard to commit to because I don't think I can give up my yearly oysters at Christmas or not eat southern turkey dressing at Thanksgiving. Other than a handful of times I found that meat is really not that important to me and I could probably get away with being an occasional meat eater. Of course I do not agree with the way the beef/pork/poultry industry is raising animals (and if you watch Food Inc you will too) but I think the idea of not having the option to eat meat makes it hard so I do not want to give it up altogether. So I am flirting with the idea of eating less meat...at least for now. As of today I have not had meat since March 17...that's almost three weeks!  I haven't really missed it, nor have I craved it. I am making some pretty cool stuff too. Here are the two meals I made recently. Not bad huh?

This one was a wonderful risotto with peas and asparagus. It was amazing! And I paired it with a confetti salad. (Both recipes are in the book...but the salad I added some extras)

And a Mushroom, Kale and Leek soup. This one turned out to be weird since after it looks like this you throw it in the food processor, but it was very tasty.






I have also been out in the yard working my booty off! I have been digging out flower beds and preparing to plant the garden and all of the flowers that BETTER win me the freaking Yard of the Month! If the people down the street with 400 lawn ornaments can win it than I should be a shoe in with tasteful gardens! Here is the before and afters of my progress so far:

I dug out a flower bed around the phone wires. I really hate the phone pole and I am trying to disguise it.

 Then I planted some Iris here that are transplants from Christi's garden. I can't wait until they bloom.

Hideous right? In an attempt to hide this hideous silk fencing that stands at the edge of our property I dug out another bed. This is ridiculously hard when you have to dig grass out of clay...and did I mention the rocks? Unearthing rocks is pretty tough...but a great workout.

I filled this one with Red Canna's (another transplant from Christi's garden) and some White Azalea's. This is going to look awesome when these finally get big and bloom.

I also dug out flower beds around all of the trees in the back yard.  i have an assortment of Blue Hydrangea, Caladiums, Forget Me Not's, Dahlia's and other cute little flowers. I can't wait to see them bloom. And for those of you who have tried to dig in Tennessee know what a feat this is. :)

And around this Large tree I have Red and Purple Zinnia's. This will look awesome when they bloom.

I also made myself an herb garden which contains: Rosemary, Dill, Oregano, Sage, Basil, and Cilantro. I know that it just looks like a pot with dirt in it, but I think it will be adorable when they sprout up.

I have also started all of my seeds for my garden. I am doing: strawberries, spinach, bell peppers, banana peppers, tomatoes, cantaloupe, Swiss chard and zucchini. Plus I am going to get a transplant of raspberries from Christi. :)

Plus at the Farmer's Market today I bought a Granny Smith Apple tree. I really can't wait until this little guy starts giving me some apples. Granny's are my absolute favorite!!!

I also added some Primrose, Dianthus, and Stargazer lilies to this bed. Really excited that my Japanese Toad lily and Easter lily are sprouting up. Even though my Easter lily is running a little behind this year. :)

And of course there is my front flower bed...the Hosta is peaking out, but I am still stuck on what to plant this year. This and digging out the veggie garden are the only two large projects left. Well that and trying to grow some decent grass. :)





Other than the current food venture and of course all of the yard work I am also eyeball deep in wedding planning, day dreaming about the cruise, and preparing for Stephanie's wedding. We leave for the beach in 15 days. AHHHHH! And just in case I don't have enough on my plate I am working on another blog called "Lauren Tried It". It is a place where I can share products and experiences that I have tried and loved. Maybe that one will be a fun paid blog. :) I am putting the finishing touches on one about my favorite doggy shampoo and I am in the process of trying a skin care line from Avon.


Upcoming events:

This Thursday April 8 I will be volunteering at the Special Olympics. I hope that I can share a wonderful story once it is over. :) I am really excited.