some things you've missed

No, you aren't totally to blame for missing out on the thousands of little details that that have been happening in my life over the past few months (geez). I haven't been sharing, but not because of a lack of effort on your part. Every sweet demanding text message has made me smile and giggle, and then I quickly make a mental note that I'm still not blogging today. Being that it's Wednesday, and the blog world is full of wedding posts--I refuse to be outdone. So besides teaching kindergarteners how to say their s's and r's, here is what I have been up to the since August. 

Choose a date.

Book the church. 

Book the reception venue. 

Book a band.

Take engagement pictures.

Pick out Save the Dates. 

Buy wedding bands. 

Book wedding day transportation (to be completed next week)

Find and order a fabulous pair of shoes. 

Order bridesmaids gifts.

Finalize the guest list. 

Pick out Invitations.  

Order a guest book. (to be completed next week)

Register.

Block off hotel rooms. (waiting for calls to be returned) 

Book a honeymoon. (we've chosen a destination! woo hoo!)

Finish our wedding website. 

Meet with Amanda, the wedding planner/savior. 

Order Saves the Dates. (to be completed next week)

Get the ball rolling on bridesmaids dresses. 

Decide on a wedding cake. 

See, I can do this too. 

Two special packages with my name on them have been floating around the country this week. My bridesmaids' gifts arrived today--and I am absolutely giddy about them. And another HUGE package will be arriving at my house on Friday. I'll give you a hint--one of the contents rhymes with "press" and the other rhymes with "nail." Got it? Good. 

And on a completely unrelated note, I'm going to be the proud new owner of an Iphone 5 on Friday afternoon. See ya later Stone Ages. Instagram, anyone? 

where i've been

Having dinner with dad, 

and going to pep rallies, 

and celebrating Bulldog football victories, 

with friends that are close by, 

and old friends, 

and best friends. 

I've been being a bridesmaid, 

and being a bridesmaid, 

and being a bride. 

Be back soon. 

mid-week musings

This is the face of an excited little chick that is the proud new owner of an Infiniti EX35 and Mississippi State season football tickets. And she appears to not have pants on, but I promise they are under there. 

Like the rest of America, I was really into the Olympics. I sat on the couch for the majority of my week long 'summer break' and watched every excited minute of gymnastics, equestrian sports, track and field, water polo, volleyball, etc.. So naturally, I should have been upset with the arrival of the Closing Ceremonies. 

That would have been the case, if the Discovery Channel had not strategically placed the opening night of Shark Week to coincide with the ending of the the Olympics. To the Discovery Channel, I would like to extend my gratitude. These have been the best three weeks of television in my whole life. I can only hope that one day I will be at the beginning of a Shark Week episode referred to as "Shark Expert: Kelsie Fennell." 

And if that isn't exciting enough for you: Today, I went to kindergarten. Five and a half hours of hearing screenings kindergarteners was, strangely enough, really enjoyable. I forgot how awesome they are. After a chorus of "Hello's" and a few ego boosting comments like "You're pretty," I left with a lot of excitement about starting my internship on Monday. I wasn't quite as excited about starting classes tonight, but that's a story for another day. 

Lastly, and perhaps most important, on my list of life happenings is that I drove back to Starkville this week without Mart in tow. My mother drug me to Starkville for my freshman year while Mart got to stay behind and finish his senior year of high school. Since then, we've both called Starkville home. While Mart went to work on Monday morning, I packed my bags and headed back to Starkville alone for the first time since 2007. Needless to say, I am not happy about it. Just a few more days until football season starts right? 

{friday's letters}

Dear Infiniti, after three weeks of not-so-patiently waiting, we got the call today that you were totaled. I'm going to miss you. Thanks for taking good care of me. Now on to the new car hunt. Poor, poor daddy. Dear June 8, 2013, you are sneaking up on me. I feel like yesterday I was frustrated because you were 13 months away. As of Wednesday, we are down to 10 months. I am not making enough progress for you to be moving along so quickly. But boy am I excited. Dear Martin, you started work this week and I couldn't be more proud. I love your office, and love how happy you are. I am so proud of you. Dear summer vacation, I've enjoyed you for the past seven days--but it's time to start school. Every day that passes is one day closer to graduation. I'm ready to get this show on the road again. Dear Wedding Dress, I love you. I can't wait to be reunited. Dear Lilly cat, I know how much you hate coming home. I know you much prefer being in our little apartment with your toys and your bed. I get it, but you have to stop hissing at our family members. They've had enough, and if you keep this up you're going to start losing privileges around here. Dear workouts, I am actually starting to enjoy you. I am starting to appreciate the sweat and exhaustion and aches. I am starting to not dread going to the gym, and to look forward to that time on the treadmill. I'm feeling better, and I feel like I'm looking better. We can do this. Dear 9:00 a.m. dentist appointment, I have successfully avoided you since 2008. I'm not ashamed to admit it, because that's how much I despise you. Then I come home and Mom starts making phone calls. Maybe I can convince them to give me happy gas before they clean me teeth? Prayers are appreciated. 

 

Meet Martin

This kid started his new job today. After five years of studying, homework, and tests--he is finally an accountant. I couldn't be more proud. Happy first day of work buddy, you're going to be great. 

This is Martin. You've heard about him. I'm marrying him. But you really don't know him. I guess since he went out on a limb and proposed, maybe I should give him a "Meet Martin" tab over on the left. But that's a really big commitment, and I just don't know if I'm there yet. Kidding.

So, Meet Martin. 

-Accountant--as of 8:00 this morning. Need one? I know a guy. 

-Mississippi State graduate. And Sigma Chi frat star. Kidding about the frat star part, but he was a Sigma Chi. And he was the Sigma Chi house dad this past year. But they paid for his school, so that either makes him a genius or a frat star--you choose. 

-Happy, smiley, funny. But don't tell him I said he's funny. Kid's got jokes. 

-Loves Jesus and loves his mom. The two most important things to look for in a man. 

-Reality-TV-a-holic. Although I can't say I'm too far from crossing that line as well.  

-Sports guru. Football, baseball, basketball. It's a good thing we have similar interests. It's a good thing I've cried over watching Mississippi State lose a basketball game. It's a good thing I fell in love with MSU Baseball. It's a good thing I squealed like a child when we got our season football tickets. Because Mr. Tribble, he loves it all even more. 

-Confident, genuine, honest. 

-A great friend. Evident by the 15 guys that will be standing beside him on our wedding day. 

-More fun to be with than a barrel of monkeys. Always up for an adventure. Always ready for a good time. 

The macaroni to my cheese for the past seven years. They've been some good ones. 
Say a little prayer for your new friend Martin today. I know he would appreciate it. 

fly away

oh hi... 

 i'm home... 

i finished my finals on friday and closed the book of 'my third semester' of grad school. 

i also spent last week without internet because the dear stranger that i've been bumming off of decided to move away without telling me. 


it is what it is. 


unless i can get arrested or something for admitting that. 


then i'm just kidding. 

i'm in full-on wedding mode during this week of 'summer vacation.' 


last night--i got mine and my mother's entire guest list typed up (minus some addresses), picked out and ordered a precious monogram from etsy, found the beer cups i want to use for the reception (which will be ordered as soon as i get my monogram back), and made myself a hefty to-do list for today. boom. 


and who said planning a wedding was hard? 
kidding again. 

and... dad flew over the house yesterday afternoon. he's so cool. 

happy monday y'all. 

have a good one. 

if you really knew me...

.. you would know that I'm terribly self-conscious, which makes it so ironic that I write my life for everyone to read.. but would make total sense to you if you could see the number of drafts that are unfinished in my posts list. 


.. you would know that sometimes I like to tell myself I'm allergic to peanut butter, because it smells bad, looks gross, and I probably wouldn't like it if I tried it. 


.. you would know that I talk to most of the animals that I encounter during the day. 


.. you would know that I love to be alone. 


.. you would know that I still haven't stopped looking at this ring on my left hand. 


.. you would know that I don't know my right from left. 


.. you would know that I still don't really know how to do my makeup, and just yesterday I considered going to the Clinque counter and asking them to teach me. 


.. you would know that I would have a bakery if I were ever to become a good baker. 


.. you would know that my closet is organized into cocktail dresses, church dresses, game-day dresses, shorts, pants, jeans, casual shirts, tanks, school shirts, sweaters, and coats.


.. you would also know that all my shoes are simply thrown in a pile in the floor underneath that organized ridiculousness. No, I don't get it either. 


.. you would know that I journal. Not every day. Not anything super important. But in those seasons in life that deserved to be journaled. Go Moleskin. 


.. you would know that I am the only person in America who still doesn't have an Iphone or Instagram. 


.. you would know that I am envious of those who have the confidence to wear red lipstick. 


.. you would know that sometimes I have trouble with eye-contact. And just realized this when I had to work with a client on maintaining eye-contact. Fail. 


.. you would know that I tan too often, and I've become aware of it in the past few years. 


.. you would know that rethink about 75% of the conversations I have during the day. 


.. you would know that I have trouble not purchasing things that are coral. No matter what it is. 


.. you would know that I would wear headbands every day if that was acceptable. 


.. you would know that I'm nervous about planning my wedding because of 'what a wedding should be' in my hometown. 


.. you would know that one of the very few times I feel comfortable talking in front of large groups is when I can talk about Jesus. And I think that's so awesome. 


.. you would know that I would eat sour candy for every single meal of the day if someone could promise me there would be no side effects.