Calm & Serene

It's here! I leave for Athens tomorrow morning. The only things I have left to do are pack and paint my toenails.

This picture here is the calmness I hope I'll be projecting this weekend. My main goal is not to be stressed out, overwhelmed or negative. This will be a challenge for me because there's going to be lots of family and friends around, and it's in my nature to want to make sure they're taken care of and are having a good time. I'm just going to keep telling myself that I can't worry about everyone else and that I have planned everything as much as humanly possible (or as much as you can without shelling out hundreds of dollars for a Day of Coordinator).

Another fault I'm trying to combat is my tendency to have a "glass is always half empty" attitude. I've had lots of random "what if" worries about the wedding that I know in the end won't matter (like, should I have done the sunless tanning thing?, will people like our food? will people like the band?)

So, I'm going to focus on just having fun, being in the moment and knowing I'm marrying an amazing person who I love and makes me happy and will continue to do so for years to come.

Programs - Check!

The finish line

Gentry and I have been engaged for a freakin' long time. I'm talking 20 months long. Yes, that's right. One year and eight months. I could have birthed two babies in that time. I feel like I've been planning the Olympics, and I'm finally going to see the fruits of my labor.

Now, I have nine little days left. Finally. Sweet Jesus.

My attempt at being artsy

My new favorite show

I really like this show. It originally aired on Canada's CBC, and is now on the Soapnet Channel on Thursdays at 9 Central.

Bouquet toss gets a bad rap

We're having both a bouquet toss and a garter toss (Gentry really wanted this). I've been reading about how so many brides are forgoing these traditions because of how all the single guests secretly hate them.

Since I'm indecisive and always need help forming opinions, I asked one of my single bridesmaids if she thought the bouquet toss was cheesy. She said that she really liked the tradition, so that sealed the deal for me.

I just hope the girls at my wedding are more enthusiastic than in this video.



Do you like the bouquet toss?

Cold feet about the name change

So, I'm definitely going to change my name, but let's just say I'm not enthused about it. I've had my name for 30 years! It's my identity. It was my byline in my previous profession. I'm a little attached.

Don't get me wrong, I love the whole idea of how changing my name will be the beginning of our family. And I can see how changing your name connects you more as a couple. But, I guess I'm just set in my ways and the thought of legally changing my name in two weeks freaks me out a little bit. And even though I'm going to use my maiden name as my middle name, everyone is still going to call me Angie Hislastname.

For a good half of our engagement, I was set on keeping my name, and Gentry, thankfully, was very supportive of this (he said he wouldn't want to change his name either). What changed my mind was that if we have children, I would want all of us to have the same name.

On the bright side, my new last name flows really nicely with my first name.