It's Canton Time!

It is time again for the annual Canton trip with the most amazing rabble-rousing, bargain hunting, matching shirt wearing ladies. I am leaving tomorrow to make more memories like the ones below (remember last year?), as well as look for:

1. Halloween decorations
2. vintage trays
3. photo booth props
4. engagement party outfit!

Wish me luck :)

I'm sad my sisters won't be able to make it this year, but don't worry. My mom and I plan to do some damage!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Remember- time goes by fast. Spend it with the ones you love.

~xo~

boy are we excited...

The Merrick family keeps growing! This morning was exciting beyond belief. We were told to wear pink or blue according to what we thought the sex of the baby was going to be to the gender reveal party- aka the birth! Geaux Team Blue! Lauren and David welcomed a new baby boy into their family as we welcomed him into ours. Here's a snapshot of our morning:

I can't believe it's already been 18 months since Hudson was born! I love watching my family grow. Hooray for healthy and beautiful baby Andrew!

feet in the sand with the clan...d

I can't believe we are a month away from Lauren & Justin's wedding at Nottoway Plantation! I feel like Lauren and I have been talking about this wedding since, well, forever and I can't believe it is here! I was lucky enough to get to share in her bachelorette party in Gulf Shores, AL with a gathering of her friends from elementary, high school, and college. There was a little bit of me that wondered how the weekend would go since I'm the "work friend", but these girls put any fears I had to rest on the drive to the beach. As you can read here, we weren't even sure we could make this trip due to Isaac, but I'm so glad we did. The weather was perfection. Leaving on Friday morning, we stopped in Baton Rouge to pick up Laura and dine at the Chimes.Unfortunately they were out of the alligator appetizer, but the boudin balls were spicy and delicious.

"Sing-screaming" to 90s rap songs on the drive to the beach could possibly be my favorite part of the whole bachelorette weekend. Who doesn't use their phone as a microphone, I'd like to know?

The next few days consisted of me trying not to turn into a red lobster on the beach, while still having fun in the sand. I have to tell you- I applied SPF 75 in the condo and then reapplied with 100on the beach and I still got some sun. Gone are the days of  lathering myself in baby oil. Ahh, getting older (and wiser) is awesome, but certainly more pasty! On Saturday night we went to Flora-bama, which has grown considerably since the last time I was there. They have three music stages and more bars than I can count. It was shoulder-to-shoulder crowded, but we found a sweet spot in front of an industrial fan and danced the night away.

 Our last night at the condo we cooked spaghetti, drank wine, opened presents and played bachelorette games that turned into baring our souls to one another. It was kind of priceless.

I can't WAIT for your wedding next month, Lauren. You are the BEST. Thanks for being you...and thanks for having kick a$$ friends.

wedding update: dress shopping

The wedding planning is coming along... and it's really creeping into my blogging time! Sorry I have been absent the last few weeks, but I'd like you to know I now have a florist, photographer, transportation, wedding music, and band. Thank you all for your suggestions! I am meeting with Allison with Aly B's Bakery next week and the priest to go over our FOCCUS test the following week. Yay!

The next biggest challenge is going to be finding THE dress. Two weekends ago my aunt, mom, and I went to breakfast at Another Broken Egg, then met my Lauren at Happily Ever After to try on wedding dresses off the rack. As a first time wedding dress tryer-oner, this was, not surprisingly, an emotional experience for me and I was beyond thrilled to have the ones I love surrounding me. When the consultant placed the veil on my head the tears came rolling down my cheeks and I started shaking from the inside out. Everyone was shouting, "Oh, this is it. This is the dress!" and I am thinking, "No, no, this isn't it, but look at me?! I'm a bride!" It was a pretty surreal moment.

After we left Happily Ever After, we went to Bella Bridesmaid to see what Lauren, the matron of honor, and I liked for bridesmaid dresses. I am pretty sure my colors are going to be dusty rose with hints of champagne and gold. We had fun trying on dresses, talking about honeymoons, and dreaming of the big day. Although I didn't find my wedding dress, I will treasure this day forever.

The search continues...tonight I am going to Azarues to try on more dresses with Leslie. This weekend I am going to New Orleans for a work reconnaissance trip and while I'm there I have set up an appointment with Wedding Belles for Saturday morning. I will try to be better about documenting these wedding planning moments and sharing them here on the blog with you.

Next week my goal is to find a design for our invitations. Do you have any suggestions/ideas or websites/shops we should look at?

xoxo - Linz