Meadows and Reeds: California

Thursday, December 12, 2013

Home sweet home

California Dreaming

Back home for a visit so I will be taking a little blogging break. Make sure to follow me on Instagram @meadowsandreeds to keep up with our California adventures ;)

Xoxo

{Anniversary Series} Wedding Day

After 6 short months of planning, the day finally arrived. August 12th our wedding day. I was what you would call "STRESSED". Who wouldn't be nervous on their wedding day. I'm a perfectionist and I wanted every single detail to be perfect. It didn't help that the only available time they had for us was 10:00am. No time to relax and get ready. It was rush, rush, rush.

We got married at the most amazing place. The Mission Inn in Riverside, California. I found it in a magazine and fell in love. Being from the desert in California there was not a lot of ideal places to get married. Thankfully this place was available and my parents made it happen. It was a dream come true. Once we were all ready they set my bridesmaids and flower girls ahead of me. They swept me away to a side pathway surrounded by vines and the right amount of sunlight streaming through. That's when they sent my Dad in to get me. The first time he saw his little girl in her wedding dress, and the first time I saw him before the ceremony was such a special moment. I was trying really hard to not cry, but it was an emotional moment. They led us to the giant doors and it felt like forever before they opened it. I was told everyone else felt the same way too. I don't know why the coordinators kept me out for so long. Evan seemed a bit nervous that I took off or something.

They opened the doors and I made my dramatic entrance. As Lifehouse's "Everything" played loud overhead. I kept my eyes locked on Evan who was looking handsome in his Army dress greens. My dad gave me away, and Evans dad gave us a blessing, and our friend George married us. We fumbled through our vows of course. Which was so us! That's really hard by the way, trying to remember all those words and repeat them back in front of all those people. We made everyone laugh at least. But it was perfect, right down to our first kiss as husband and wife.

Reception was at the Doubletree hotel in Ontario, California. Our first dance was "I'll be seeing you" since The Notebook was one of the first romantic movies we watched together. Also the inspiration for our wedding and keeping with the 1940's theme. They had a slideshow of pictures of us growing up and us together. I sang Celine Dion "Because you loved me" the first song I ever sang to him {over the phone of course}.

It was a magical day and the best part was I got to marry the man of my dreams. I couldn't have asked for a better man to marry, and spend the rest of my life with.

Wedding Details:

Colors: Black and Red

Theme: 1940's theme

Cake: Buttercream, marble

First Dance: I'll be seeing you

Happy 7 years baby! Love you!

{Anniversary Series} Part 5: Engaged

Since we the topic of getting married had been on the table from the beginning. It's hard to say when exactly we got engaged.
After Evan was done with his "Reintegration" my parents were gracious enough to drive me out to Colorado to get him. This time in the car though, and of course we broke down on the way. Talk about frustrating. It's always when you are in a rush something like that happens. When we finally made it there, we picked up Evan and stayed at a friends house. {Side note: They actually lived not too far from where we lived just last year. Funny how things work out like that!} And of course Evan had to break their shower in such "meet the parents" fashion. We still laugh about that it was pretty funny. Water was shooting everywhere and he looked so sad and pathetic trying to stop it with his shirt. I had to cover my mouth to hold in the laughter!

We planned to go out to dinner to On the Border since we all love Mexican food so much. We were having fun, cracking jokes of course. Evan kind of nudged me and made me excuse myself to the bathroom so he could ask them permission to marry me. It wasn't very nonchalant either. We all knew it was coming so it was a bit awkward. Luckily they said yes, I mean Evan is a pretty nice guy and they love him so it worked out great!

Calling our good friend George to see if he will marry Evan and I

When we got home we looked at rings and everything was really expensive. The one that I wanted was like 20,000 or something and it was just the engagement ring! Yikes! Thankfully my Aunt suggested a family friend who made rings and would give us a good deal. He even went to that jewelry store scoped out my favorite ring so he could make it very similar. So during that time we were already having rings made, talking about dates and locations. And there was still no actual proposal yet. Evan was going to be leaving soon too to go back to Colorado.

We had one last date night before he had to drive home {in his brand new truck :) } We went down to Ontario, Ca to the Old Spaghetti factory and had a romantic dinner. Then headed over to Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga to see a movie {of course}. We saw Lucky number slevin, very romantic! We were headed back to the car and I was rambling off about stuff, not even hearing or paying attention to Evan. He practically yelled in my face to get me to look at him by the time we reached the car.

Evan: I'm trying to propose! {he pulled the little box out of his pocket and held it out to me}
Me: OMG, OMG, OMG, OMG!!! {running around like a crazy person}
Evan: {laughing hysterically} Ashley, I love you will you marry me! {or something like that}
Me: YES!

Even though we were already planning everything and I knew it was coming. There's still nothing like it when a boy gets on one knee and pulls a little ring box out of his pocket and asks you to spend the rest of his life with him. {In a mall parking lot, haha} We came back and showed off the ring to our families. Let the wedding planning begin! {or continue :/ }

Come back tomorrow to read the last part of the Anniversary Series

Click to read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4

Oh and here is Evan and his "new truck" he bought after his first deployment

{Fashion Friday} Prepare for a blizzard

First a hurricane and now a blizzard. The east coast likes to wait for us to get here to hurl mother nature at us. Same thing happened in Colorado as soon as we got there the winter snow acted a bit wonky. Maybe we tip the scales in a way. Bringing the weirdness to every place we go. They say to prepare like it's a hurricane. Possible flooding, power outages. Good thing is I already had leftover stuff from the hurricane when I didn't lose power or got flooding, thankfully. So I decided to get my fashion friday photos out of the way yesterday before we wouldn't be able to get out of the house because we should probably get 1-3 ft of snow. YES 1-3 FEET OF SNOW! You all wonder why I hate snow so much. You seriously can't take a California girl and put her into seriously snowy places for 5-6 years straight! I don't like being stuck in my house. I don't like driving in it. I don't even like playing in it anymore! Sure it's pretty on occasion but when it happens so much it definitely loses its magical possibilities for me at least. I wonder where we will end up next haha maybe Alaska, Antarctica. Hey maybe even the North Pole!

So after dropping Riley off at school I headed on over to the store with practically everyone else on base and filled out up the cart with ummm pretty much junk food. Anyting that would tied us over in case the power went out and we couldn't cook anything for a bit. I think chips, dip and keebler cookies will do for a couple days right?

Wear it 3 Different ways


	Chic, Casual/Layering, Everyday

Trouser shorts

I bought these shorts probably a couple years ago already. I love them they are versatile for every type of look. Casual, dressy, chic etc. I have another gray pair I love them so much!

I did it three different ways so you could see how much you could do with them. For going out or a date add a fitted blazer, statement necklace and heels or booties. Casual everyday you can do a chunky oversized sweater {I wore a long sleeve t-shirt underneath too for an extra layer}. Or a different layered look you can wear oversized boxy top with a tank or other layering top underneath. Add a cardigan {color to make it pop!}, infinity scarf for warmth and accessory and you are good to go. Three very different outfits with one pair of shorts ..and tights but you can change those out. The ideas are limitless.

Blazer,Ring,Tights,Booties: Forever21, Necklace: Wetseal, Shorts: Pacsun, Tube Top: Rue21

Top, Scarf: Wetseal, Cardigan, Tights, boots: Forever21, Shorts:PacSun

Sweater,Tights, ring, boots, : Forever21, Shorts: PacSun

{Jetlag is unfortunate}

Well we are finally back from out "Vacation" as of Sunday night! It has literally taken us all week to recover. We aren't even completely recovered yet either. Our sleep schedules are still out of whack but at least the bags are unpacked and the laundry done!

It was definitely an eventful trip. Constant family time, plus traveling and different time zones equals exhaustion for sure. We did so much stuff and I managed to get some work in too. A fancy styled shoot, a family session. We got to go the L.A Zoo and see the Big paintings in Glendale, Ca at Forest Lawn. Had Riley's early birthday party with all her cousins and friends (which I will blog on later)

We are happy to be home though in time for Christmas not to mention the cold weather again. Our house was sooo cold when we got home and the hard wood floors did not help. I MISS CARPET!

On a good note I am all done with shopping AND wrapping. Everything is under the tree and looking all pretty. Am I the only one who goes shopping early? I like to avoid the crowds as much as I can. Online shopping is also my friend, my very good friend. The husband likes to wait til the last minute as usual and he hasn't even started. He's just crazy in my opinion.

Here is a few highlights from the trip.