thoughts on a friday night

Well, yesterday ended a big year for me, the year of 21. So, in honor of turning 22 I think a list is in order. I believe I'll write the highlights of my 21st year of life...

In no particular order...
Had my first alcoholic beverage
I graduated college
Passed the NCLEX
Became an engaged woman
Gained alumni status as a Pi Phi
Went on my first no parents trip (ahem, SBX)
Had my first night out on Dickson Street
Went back to Africa
Moved all my belongings in with a boy
Have my name on the title of a car

I should also acknowledge that tomorrow marks one year of being engaged. Holy Crap. I never ever ever thought that I would ever be engaged for an entire year. Now, I should first say that Karl knows me better than I know myself and proposed in the perfect timing; there is no way I could've ever planned the entire wedding AND actually hand crafted details during school, i.e. I couldn't be getting married any sooner than 3 weeks from now. BUTTTT my cousin, Lincoln, appropriately told me 3 years ago that being engaged for a full year was a horrible horrible thing... and it is. I should've listened to Lincoln. I am SO ready to be married to Karl.

Well, enough of that. So, happy 22nd to me and happy 1st birthday to that thing on my left ring finger.

Well, maybe I have & maybe I haven't

Some may say I've turned a corner. My sisters would probably just say they've gotten lucky the past 4 days. It appears as though the cycle of stress is on a downward slope as wedded bliss is rapidly approaching. In my bout of venue-less panic last week, a dozen or so church friends dared to step up to the plate and take a swing at helping to conquer my ever-growing to-do list of crafts and crap. They have been immensely helpful and my pile is getting smaller as is my level of stress and panic and consequently, my temper. Ha. So, although I still have a million things to do and need a ton of help, the help has arrived and, I believe, is surely here to stay until August 22nd. Then, my parents are on their own to pick up the pieces. hahaha, just kidding. But seriously, I wouldn't stick around if I were them. I booked Karl's one-way ticket to DFW today so I guess that means this is all really happening... well, the plane ticket plus the fact that our ceremony programs were printed today equal for real wedding. Wowzers. 32 days and then I can get off the crazy person train; you can thank me later. As for Callie, she still gets to ride that train for an additional 28 days after I do at which time I will just watch in awe. Poor girl. As for the rest of my sisters... they're all in shambles too. Maddie can't keep liquid in her mouth at dinner time as it just bubbles out and onto her shirt because she is so torn up over all things wedding. Emma resorted to taking a self-defense class in case things start to get physical at The Cuppett house. All I'm saying is only come over if you can defend yourself... and if you know how to tie bows.

sidenote: you may be wondering why I haven't had any pictures up lately. that would be related to the fact that I have worn only pajamas and no makeup for over 30 days in a row.

The Hills

Well, I thought since I use this blog as sort of a journal for myself I couldn't pass up an opportunity to document this life milestone. This year is huge: college graduation, getting my RN license, and the ending of The Hills era. Let me repeat that, The Hills ending marks the ending of an era. I know this is ridiculous but between that show and Laguna Beach, those shows have run throughout my high school and college days. I seriously felt emotional watching the series finale... although, Kristen, you going to "find yourself" in Europe will probably be some spin-off show in which case this post is going to be completely obsolete. I was quickly brought back down to reality and reminded how psycho this show is when I saw the ensem that Spencer wore when he "crashed" the aftershow party. OK, it's fine. I'm over it. Bye Hills, bye LC, Lo, Kristen, Brody (gag, tool bag), Audrina, Ryan Cab, Stephanie, Holly, and all you other barbies. Welcome to the real world.

Problem Solver.

So I'm finalizing our wedding programs and have found myself in a small quandary... what's new? This one I can solve. As I'm listing our wedding party and their relationship to Karl or myself, I'm noticing that the one phrase, "college friend of the bride," or "high school friend of the groom" just seriously minimizes these men & women that we have asked to stand beside us as we make the biggest commitment of our lives. So, I think I'm going to make the executive decision to nix it. I mean, there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with listing the relationship of the bride or groom to each member of the wedding party, BUT, I don't think I'm allowed to put, "Charis Anderson- Lifelong friend of the Bride, high school friend of the groom, college roommate to the bride, confidant, nursing school peer, and belly-dancing partner" on the program.

Just a thought on this delightful Friday afternoon spent with a TV tray in front of me for the past 8 hours as I type my life away on Microsoft Word...

Quicksand.

I am sinking. I am taking the NCLEX (aka the most important test I have EVER taken) in 24 hours, I just found out that my venue won't hold the number of guests we are expecting, and have had more emotional breakdowns today than I have in the past year combined. I thought my church would be an appropriate place to study today- as I need Jesus- so I went and plopped myself down in our quiet foyer, strategically positioned under a cross- haha- anyways, I watched as our pastor changed the marquee to read, "Choose Joy Everyday." I'm trying. Like, I am really trying. It's hard to "Choose Joy" when you are having to search for a new venue 5 weeks before your wedding, after invitations have been printed, rehearsal dinner location has been chosen, hotels have been booked... I mean, really, am I starring in a reality TV show that I don't know about? I legitimately feel like things happen to me and only me, like, who else would this series of events happen to? Oh, probably the girl that sets herself up for them. Anyways, here I am, studying my brains out for the NCLEX, hoping I pass so that I can actually use the degree that I worked my tail off for over the past 4 years, desperately wanting August 21st to be here so that this journey to the altar will be OVER, and getting really tired of people telling me that, "in 10 years you won't even remember," and "it's all going to be OK." Yeah, I know it's all going to be OK because I have faith and salvation in the God that makes it all OK... BUT that doesn't mean that this doesn't suck MAJORLY 100% ANNNND guess what? I AM GOING TO REMEMBER IT IN 10 YEARS and it's super sad if you don't remember your wedding day details 10 years after you painstakingly planned them. Well, I'm trying to choose joy. Maybe it will be easier to choose joy after my venue has been chosen, you know, that venue that I'm inviting over 400 guests to join me at in 5 weeks.

What am I doing?

On a separate note: I have been a horrible friend lately and totally neglectful of my sweet friends that I have long-owed a phone call to. I am desperate to catch up on life and am just praising the Lord that NCLEX will be over in less than a day so I can get back to life. So, please forgive my absence as less important things have been overgrowing my time the past few weeks, such as Marlene Hurst and her 27 hours of review video lectures.

PS- You know who at you know which venue: you are a miserable, miserable lying & deceptive man. I hope you never book another event in your life.

Excuse me, what?

So, mine & K's wedding is in 51 days... excuse me, what? I literally have the hugest butterflies in my stomach over everything that's left to do. I recently told someone that I could've gotten engaged last week and already have planned what I have planned over the past 11 months. I am a super-control freak, major Type A personality, and am just all tore up that I still have so much to do. Ha. Seriously, though. Anyways, bottom line is that with or without the details, I am getting married in 51 days and am just thrilled about that- thrilled to be married, to finally be with Karl for more than a week at a time, thrilled that planning will be over, thrilled that a week long Mexico vacay will be a matter of hours away. Ahhhh, sounds sweet.

I feel like a bad blogger for taking such long hiatus' in between posts so I thought I would try and snap out of my wedding planning funk and come up with a list on why my life doesn't suck as much as I usually think it does and why I am so happy it's July 1st...
-As previously mentioned, I'm getting married in 51 days= cra cra & awesome
-I get to see Karl in 45 more days
-My birthday is in 28 days
-My sweet cousin is expecting Baby Valin pretty much any day now and I am just so excited for him to get here
-My fave holiday is July 4th. I wear red shoes with white stars on them every year, once a year. Can't wait to put them on in 3 days.
-Well, thats about it. I should try harder on the list next time.

In other news: my life is no longer consumed 100% by wedding planning... it now shares 50% of its time with studying for state boards aka NCLEX. woof. I never thought I would wake up and have to choose between sending harassing emails to sub-standard vendors and sitting at the computer watching Marlene Hurst lecture on body systems for 27 hours. There's a first time for everything, huh?

Lastly: A quick and hopefully non-spoiling review of Eclipse... BEST.MOVIE.I.HAVE.EVER.SEEN.