Today is my Wedding Day!

Let the bells ring!

Let the people sing!

Okay, well...I guess people can sing, because I'm getting married today to my favorite Tyler Smith in the world!

As I'm sure you know, I'm not really sitting here writing a blog on my wedding day...but I scheduled it in advanced because I wanted you to know how excited I am!

This is a thanks to everyone who has been reading along about our wedding planning - we are so excited that it is here, and I'm super excited to be able to start sharing all my DIY projects and pictures in a few weeks!

We'll see ya then!

Zai Jian! (Because hasta la vista just doesn't work for me...)

We've Been Engaged for One Year...

...and we'll be married in three days!

It is amazing to me to think that I have been planning this wedding for one year now.  The time has flown so fast, and I have worked so hard on decorations and plans (that I of course can't wait to share with you all once the wedding is over and I've spent lots of time with the new hubby on our cozy mountain honeymoon that we are so excited about)!

In honor and remembrance of such a fantastic year with my fiancé, and of the fun of being a fiancée, and the fact that in three days I will no longer be using those words... here is a small recap of the past year:

He asked on OU's beautiful campus May 15, 2012!

Our first kiss in the spoon-holder! (An OU tradition/superstition).

Looking for a venue!

A "Welcome" quilt from my mother-in-law!

Wedding dress shopping with my best friend!

Finding our beautiful wedding venue!

Back to school!

Our first Christmas on actual Christmas Day!
Before we were either at our respective families or I was in China.

My friend got married!


(Then Tyler and I caught our first stomach bug together.  NO FUN...and definitely NO PICTURES! )

We always have coffee love!  (Duh!)

Our wedding shower, with the best man and matron of honor.

Last month of college for Tyler!!!

Tyler graduated this past weekend, so that is SUPER exciting...not to mention (again) that we'll be married in three days, which in my opinion is even more super exciting!  What a crazy few weeks, but so exciting and so worth it!


What a great year it has been to be the fiancée of Tyler!


So until next time, think of me with excitement, anticipation, and...of course...coffee.

How I asked my Bridesmaids...

If you tuned in last week, you saw how I asked my flower girls if they wanted to be...well, my flower girls.  This week, similarly, I am going to show how I asked my bridesmaids!  Their names are Deana (my matron of honor), Sherry (my best roommate and Chinese friend and plain awesome friend ever), and Kelsey (my almost sis-in-law!)  I'm so glad each of these girls can be here, and my life wouldn't be near the same without them.

My bridesmaid cards are similar to the flower girl cards, so if you wanted to see how I made them, check out my flower girl post.

Just like last week's cards, I used scrapbook paper to make everything.  I used my handy-dandy cutter to cut the 12 in pieces in half, then folded each 6 x 12 into thirds.  Then, you have first flap, second flap, and then a long space for a message.

My first flap for Deana's card...
(My apologies for poor quality, these pictures were taken with my iphone before it drowned. RIP dear iphone)

I always make my first flap the most decorative, the second flap will have important information, and the middle section is always for something more personal.

What special ways did you ask your girlfriends to be a part of your wedding?

How I asked my flower girls...

Today, I'm going to start unveiling some of my very very numerous DIY projects that I have made for our wedding!  This little diddy is about how I asked my flower girls (who will actually be called my "pebble girls"...that surprise coming up after the wedding!)

My pebble girls' names are Jayden and Rylee.  They are both my little cousins, and lots of fun and adorable. I wanted to do something that let them feel like they were making the decision whether or not they would be in our wedding, so I asked!  Today I'll show you the little cards I made them!

Here is a timeline of how I made the cards:

Everything is made out of scrapbook paper - the card itself and the dresses.  I cut the dresses out of white card stock, drew a design in a very light brown marker, and pasted it on.  I wanted to make things a little girlier, so I put glitter on the bottom half of the dresses.

Their names are made out of some stamps I had, and I wrote the rest.  The card stock is folded into thirds.  Once you open the first flap, I wrote the information regarding time and place about the wedding.  After that flap is opened, I wrote a little letter to the girls on the inside.

How did you ask your flower girls to be in your wedding?

It's May - My Wedding Month!

Well, friends, it is officially May!

This is a picture we took near our Wedding Venue about 8 months ago!  Such a beautiful area - and we are so ready to see it again in two and a half weeks!

Once the clock strikes midnight, there are only 17 more days left until our wedding!  (And that is the reason you haven't seen me on here much!)

I have one and a half weeks until I have to move out of my apartment.  One and a half weeks until I am temporarily homeless.  Or more likely one and a half more weeks until I randomly live with my parents for a week.

I have just over one week until I'm DONE with my student position, and with papers and final projects for the semester!!!  (SO ready to see what else is out there for me.)

Then, of course you know that in two and a half weeks is the wedding!

Life couldn't be any crazier, and it is only just now sinking in how close the wedding is. 

I really am almost done with everything, but I do still need to make a few signs, all four bouquets, and finish my veil....which means I need to get my sewing machine out.  Yeah, I know.  Its a hard core veil.

Not really, but the trim for my veil is going to be a pain in the butt. 

Anyone who wants to sew it on for me is welcome to do that.

Just kidding, but not really kidding.

On a super exciting note, Tyler has an interview scheduled for his top job pick, so it is in high confidence and in all of our prayers that he gets that!

Thanks for reading....I promise, my posts will include pictures after the wedding....but right now, "Ain't nobody got time for that!"

Now on Etsy!

Good morning, coffee readers! 

I took a big step today!  I've started my etsy shop!!  I can be found under the shop name LoveCoffeeDarling.  Sounds familiar, yeah?

Well, as of right now I only have one item, but I expect that to change this summer when I can resell some of my own wedding crafts, and make more to sell...if things hit it off that is.

So this is just some good old fashioned hype and PR...and letting you know that soon...(like after May 18th my wedding day and my honeymoon soon)...I will add more items to put up for sale!

April 19, 2013 - Oklahoma City Bombing Anniversary

As most remember, today 18 years ago was the day the Murrah Building in Oklahoma City was bombed.  I was only 5 years old when that happened, but images of the building and images of all the notes and teddy bears attached to the surrounding chain link fence for all the victims will forever stay in my mind.  

With the explosions in Boston so close to this anniversary, we Oklahomans couldn't help but to have Boston in our thoughts today.  

I've visited the Oklahoma City National Memorial several times, but today I able to visit for the first time on the anniversary.  A really beautiful sunset accompanied the scene.  

I really don't think that was a coincidence.