Monday, October 10, 2011

Such a big announcement...it deserved it's own post!!!

So...upon deciding to go to grad school in the spring, Kevin and I have made a HUGE decision that was in no way easy.  We have spent many days, nights, hours and minutes talking it out and trying to make sense of what would work best for us.  And after all of the talking, and a few tears we have ultimately decided to postpone the wedding.

Right now my Masters Program will run January through December of 2012, and if we went ahead and got married in June next summer, it would force us to spend the first 6-7 months of our married life apart since Kevin has an amazing job in Knoxville and has no plans of moving to MTSU with me when I go since I don't want to stay there following graduation.

We feel that by postponing the wedding it will allow us not only to be together when we do get married, but will allow us to better enjoy the planning process since we won't be making so many big decisions while I'm away at school and distracted by my school work.  This way I can focus on my work next year, and then once I'm done we can jump head first into planning and truly enjoy it all!!!  Plus, if we got married next June, my summer session would start the Monday following the wedding and we wouldn't be able to take our honeymoon following the wedding!  And after killing myself with wedding plans for a year +...I will most definitely want to escape to paradise for a couple weeks to relax following the wedding!!!

While it was probably one of the hardest decisions to postpone the wedding, we are VERY VERY excited to announce that our new date is...

June 22, 2013

So mark your calendars!!!  We are already super excited and can not wait for 2013 to get here so that we can begin our lives as husband and wife!  621 more days!  We know it will be here before we know it!!!

Lots of Catching up to do!!!!

So...it's been quite some time since I've been able to post, and that's because my life has been COMPLETELY CRAZY over the last couple of months.  There have been soooo many changes that it's not even funny.  Let me give you a quick break down....



As of August 1, I was no longer with my beloved company, Moxley Carmichael, that I had worked for all through college.  I put in over FOUR years at that place!  Pretty much, if I wasn't in class, and the office was open, I was at the office!  It was such a great place to work at through school, and I learned so much!!!  I will be forever grateful to Cynthia and Alan for giving me such a wonderful opportunity!  It was kinda crazy that first Monday waking up and not having to go into work.  BUT...the fact that I was in Austin, TX definitely helped!  :)

On to my next point...at the last minute, Kevin got the green light to go to Texas with some of his co workers to attended the Annual NI Week the first week of August.  We've attended before, but the first time we went, I wasn't 21 yet, and was unable to fully appreciate the city!  Also...the last time we went...we went with an entirely different group of guys.  Last time we went with a bunch of late 30's early 40's married fathers...this time...I was with a bunch of 15...I mean...25ish year old boys!


Needless to say....it was a totally different experience!  This time I did get to go out and enjoy 6th Street a bit.  And I spent a little more time exploring the city.  Kevin and I had once considered relocating to Austin...however, after maneuvering their highway system...I no longer think Austin is in the running.  It's a little too chaotic for me...and that's coming from a girl who grew up with Chicago traffic!  


As soon as we got back from Austin...and I mean...AS SOON AS we got back, we jumped in the car and headed back south, but a little more east this time to Florida for Kevin's 10 year high school reunion!    We got in the day before the reunion and drove a little further south to St. Augustine.  We spent the day in the old town and visited the fort.  It was beautiful...but it was soooo HOT!   We called it an early day, and then headed back to the hotel to get some much needed rest!

Kevin's 10 year reunion was a ton of fun!  They had it at this gorgeous country club near the beach.  I wish I had more pictures of the actual country club!  I hope to one day have enough money to be able to buy one of the homes in the community!  They were seriously stunning!


Once back in Knoxville after our week and a half of travel the job search was on!!!!  Following graduation I had a little post grad crisis, and had a change of heart on which direction I wanted to pursue my career.  I had my degree in Accounting, and had planned on most of college to be a CPA, but after hearing some horror stories from some friends that are in their first years with their firms of the crazy schedules and hours they were working I was a little intimidated.  So I thought I might try banking.  After nearly a month of interviewing I finally got a call back for an in branch interview.  It was the week I was heading to Chicago for my cousins wedding, but fortunately they were able to squeeze me in the morning of my flight.  

After my interview I felt pretty confident, but the branch manager mentioned something to me that didn't sit well.  During my interview he "casually" mentioned how they had been ROBBED...TWICE...in THREE years!!!!  Now, the fact that banks do get robbed was always in the back of my mind...but this solidified it for me.  And it kinda freaked me out...I'm not going to lie.  But I was headed to Chicago for my cousins wedding and I wasn't going to let it bother me.  I mean, I didn't even know if I'd got the job yet!  

So back on the air plane...and off to Chicago!!!  



It was so much fun to be in Chicago with my family!  Kevin had met a good part of my family, but there were still some people that he needed to meet, and everyone was together for the wedding, so it was the perfect opportunity!  The wedding was a blast, and it was so nice to have everyone together!!!


After the wedding Saturday, Kevin and I headed downtown to spend a few days in the city before we headed back home.  It was nice to just go hang out in the city and relax a bit and enjoy some of our favorite foods!!!

After that is was back home to the real world!


While in flight I got a call from the bank, and I was offered the job!!!!  While I was relieved to finally had gotten a job offer...FINALLY... I was a little freaked out about the fact they'd been robbed so much.  When I got home, I seen my acceptance letter from MTSU, and those long crazy hours that come with the first few years in a big CPA firm no longer sounded so bad!

So finally...after much time thought and consideration...I've finally decided to just go back to school, get my Masters of Accountancy, and sit for the CPA exam...after all...how often is a CPA firm in the news for getting held up at gun point!  Because lets face it...with my personality, I'd get shot in an instant! ;)

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Starting to feel like a BRIDE!!!!

So this past Monday (7/11/11), I went dress shopping.  I had been on a short outing once before to browse at dresses when my little sister from the sorority (who happens to also be one of my bridesmaids) was in town.  However, this was a totally different experience.  This time, I ventured out with my mom, my future mother-in-law, and my sister who had come in town just for the occasion!  Before when I had gone dress shopping it just felt like we were playing dress up, that I was just trying on pretty dresses.   BUT, this time when I was out...it finally felt like we were shopping for my WEDDING DRESS!!!! 

Going into the day, I had my sights set on two dresses I had tried on durring the prior shopping trip with my sorority sisters (dress #1 & dress #2).  There was one in particular (dress #1) that was pulling at my heart strings that I couldn't stop thinking about.  I was saving that one for last!!! 

We started the day at a dress boutique near downtown, and it was a total flop.  There wasn't a single dress there that I really liked.  We were in and out of there in about 45 minutes...

This is a little sample of what store #1 offered.  Hot right?!?! The bottom layer that makes the gown full lentgth is actually removable...you know...so that once the ceremony is over, you can take it off and really get the party started!  At least we got a good laugh out of the offerings at this place! Hahaha! 
So back in the car...and off to store #2!!!

This store was definately much more our style!  The dresses were GORGEOUS, and the service, impecable!  This was one of the stores I had visted on my first adventure dress shopping and as soon as I walked in, they recognized me and pulled the dress I picked the last time (dress #2).  We also went through and selected several more gowns for me to try on.  We spent the most time at this store!  This store was home to one of the two dresses I had found last time, and it was my #2 pick going in to the day.  My #1 was at the last store we would visit after this. 

However, this time I found a dress that really stood out to me (dress #3).  One I hadn't tried on the last time I had come in.  It was also the only dress of the day that made both my mom and sister cry.  (I had actually expected more tears since before we had even left the house that morning, my mother was already crying!)  It was pretty much perfect.  It had a little bit of everything I liked from all the different dresses I had tried on.  And on top of that, I knew it was one Kevin would absolutely love.  I spent the most time in this dress.  We put on all the finishing touches, tried different veils with it, different head pieces.  I walked from one end of the store to the other in it.  I loved it, and didn't want to take it off.  But...I had to...because we had one more store to go to. 

So...on to store #3...the final store.


This is where my #1 dress going into the day was located.  It was a fun, young, frilly sparkly dress that I loved....that morning.  However, after the new dress at the last store (dress #3), I wasn't so sure anymore.  But since this was the one time all of us would be together for this, I still wanted to show them, because this was the dress they had all heard about for 2 weeks! 

So...we went in, I slipped it on, she zipped it up....and....the spark was gone.  Even the women at the store could see it in my eyes.  They all said the last time I came out of the fitting room with a huge smile on my face, and that this time, it wasn't quite there. It was hard to compare the two dresses, because they were COMPLETELY different.  There wasn't a single thing similar about them other then the fact they were wedding dresses.  The were different styles, different colors, different materials, they gave off different vibes. 

My sister kept saying that it was totally a me dress.  That it was something she always pictured me in.  And I can't say I disagreed with her.  I had felt the same way.  It was totally the type of dress that I always pictured myself in.  It was totally my style of dress, fun, flirty...it sparkled...literally.  But it wasn't necessarily a dress I would have to wear when I got married.  Cut the train off...and I could and would have totally worn that dress to prom, or my big sorority formal (we have one every four years that calls for big ball gowns and not just a fun cocktail dress like most).  It was a stunning dress, but after finding the new one at store #2, it didn't scream wedding dress to me anymore.

After my first shopping adventure and narrowing down the two, I found that on the one dress I wasn't as crazy about I kept finding flaws (or creating flaws) with it (dress #2).  The other dress, this dress (dress #1), I couldn't find a flaw.  However, today, after finding the new dress (#3), this first dress(#1) was the one I was picking apart.  The one I had raved about for two weeks was now not as impressive to me, and I "realized" that there were actually a lot of flaws that I hadn't seen before.  I think this was just my hearts way of telling me that this wasn't the one.  This dress was gorgeous and their weren't any flaws, but I kept finding them (or making them up). 

We decided it would be best to sleep on it since I have another month or two before I HAVE to order it.  So that's what I did...I slept on it last night, and all I drempt about was dress #3 that I had found that day.  In my dreams I could see my mom and bridesmaids getting me into the dress, and I could see my dad walking in the room with a big smile on his face, and I could see Kevin just loving how I looked in the dress as I walked towards him.  I seen myself at the reception, having fun and loving how I looked.  I think the dream is a good indicator as to which dress I will ultimately get since in the two weeks I've been thinking about the first dress, not once did I ever dream about wearing it on my actual wedding day! 

But until then, I guess everyone will have to wait to see which dress I picked out! 

What's coming up....

I'm still in the hunt for the perfect reception hall.  I'll be visiting another this week, and I hope it blows me away.  I'd like to have the reception hall, church, and dress set in the next month or so, so that I don't have to worry and stress about it anymore!  All the other stuff is just little fillers that can be pulled together as the time gets closer! 

Monday, June 27, 2011

Wedding Planning Fun!!

So, I always thought I would love planning the wedding because I'm a total planner and I love planning anything and this is my wedding...so of course I'll love it, but I am actually having a lot more fun then I thought I would with everything!!!  From meeting with photographers, to touring hotels, and discussing the kind of music I'd like at the reception with DJs, it has all been so much fun!  It still hasn't really hit me yet that Kev and I are actually getting married!!!  I've always been more excited about mine and Kev's "happily ever after" and the things that come after the wedding when we're married then the actual wedding day itself, but the more I plan and the more I narrow down my choices the more excited I get!

For a long time I thought Kevin and I had to get married in Knoxville since we live here and since there isn't really anywhere to hold a wedding back in our parents town.  But I was stuck on this idea of getting married in my parents church back home.  It's a very new church, I think we officially had our first mass in there probably my junior or senior year of high school (so 5/6 years ago), and it's small and intimate and simple yet beautiful.




There is a beautiful hotel located on top of a mountain in Gatlinburg, TN.  I will be meeting with the event coordinator this coming weekend to discuss specifics and see if it will be possible to hold the reception there!  I am really hoping that it will be as pretty in person as it is in the pictures, because if so, I totally want to have the reception there! 




Next week, on July 11th my sister will be in town and we are all going to go dress shopping!!!  I went to browse around about a week ago when my little sister from the sorority was in town and I have a couple in mind that I really like and want to show my mom and sister to see what they think!  However, there is definitely one that I can't seem to stop thinking about that may very likely be "the dress"!!!! 

If there is one thing I know for sure, I am definitely loving being engaged!!!  It is such an exciting feeling to know that I will soon be Mrs. Lynn, and that I will be married to my soulmate for the rest of my life!!!  We're both very excited about our future, and we can't ever seem to stop talking about it!  Right now our big dilemma is where we would like to live once I finish up school next year.  While Knoxville has been good to us, we're ready for a change and a bigger city to spread our wings in!  Hopefully in the coming months we'll be able to figure out just where we would like to begin our lives as Mr. and Mrs. Lynn!!!

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

WE'RE ENGAGED!!!!! The beginning in oh so many ways!

So first, a little background as to where the idea of the blog came from (gotta give credit where credit is due!)...

So about a year or so ago I came across an old friends blog where she shared bits and pieces of her small families everyday life.  She shared everything from big events like new babies to the small things like family pizza night and making homemade pizza for the first time with her two young boys.  I thought it was such a creative and fun way to keep family that lives far away updated with the everyday happenings of their new family as well as a great way to permanently record the exciting things that were happening to their growing family.  I loved that she shared the small moments along with the big, as those are some of the most special and most often forgotten with time.

After reading through her blog (and still checking in from time to time), I decided that when I started a family of my own that I would love to do the same thing!  I have family all over the place, and I also have big dreams as to where I would like to end up one day....so I figure this is a great way to share all those special moments with my large family as my little family begins and grows.

So, why start now you ask...well, isn't it obvious....WE'RE ENGAGED!!!!  Kevin asked me to marry him, and well, DUH, I said YESSSSSS!!!!  While it is still VERY VERY new to us, we're both very very excited about our future!!!  We have such big dreams, and we know every single one is possible, we just have to get started and make them happen!!!!  I wanted to start the blog now, because I want to chronicle everything.  I feel like this part of our life together will be just as special and magical as when we decide we want children, and when that day does happen and our kids are old enough, I think this could be something fun for them to look back on!  I know I love hearing stories from both mine and Kevin's parents about how things were for them when they first started dating, when they got married, and everything else that has gotten them to today.

I decided to name the blog "In Love With A Lynn" because, well obviously I'm in love with a Lynn!  And one day soon, I myself will be a Lynn!  And chances are if you're reading this blog, you love a Lynn since hopefully you love us as much as we love all of you!  So it seemed like the perfect name for a blog about us!!!

Once again, we're both very excited about our future together and we look forward to sharing every moment with you.  Both good and bad, the pretty and the ugly, we're very excited about where this beautiful thing called life will take us!!! So strap in and thanks for coming along for the ride!