mrs. lee 2.0

so i decided that i needed a change with my hair. i had been wanting to cut it for a couple of months, but to michael's (and everyone else i know) forbiddance strong encouragement, i waited to do it until after our wedding. this ended up being a great idea. had i done it beforehand, i wouldn't have been able to have those long, luscious, curly, locks, and let's face it...long wedding hair is just fab. 

so, fast forward to three weeks after our wedding. i made an appointment with britney at OMGhairsyles. she was referred to me by my bff, erica, and i'm soooooooo glad! she's so fun to just chat with. we talk art and gossip and drama, and all the other good things you get to dish about with your hair dresser. major plus? she does badass hair. so badass, in fact, that it's her own tagline. now to the fun part--my hair transformation!

the cut inspiration:

julianne hough. what a babe.

the color inspiration:

love the brown. love the blonde. love the ombre. done.

the before & after:

photo courtesy of britney at OMGhairstyles.

first, i love how fun and summery my new 'do is! it's so bouncy and full all. the. time. i lost about 9-ish inches of hair (at the longest point), and i've never felt better! it takes me half the time to dry my hair, now, which not only saves me time, but it also saves energy. kudos to me for being a teensy bit greener. i've been re-mastering how to curl my hair with my straightener, and have to say that i'm getting quite good at it. it's so fun to try out different styles! anyway, enough babbling. my hair looks awesome and if you're in the dallas-area and want YOUR hair to look awesome, too, check out my girl, brit, at OMGhairstyles. you won't be disappointed. 

ps. jam for today: icona pop-i love it. and i really do.

snapshots

of the best day of my life. i know, so cliche, but sometimes, just because something is trite, doesn't make it any less true. in short, everything was perfect, and michael and i were surrounded by the ones we love and we celebrated, and laughed, and danced, and had the happiest of times. more coming soon, but until then....

with my cousin, alex.

besties from junior high shae & piper

bridesmaid & bff from college, jennifer

with the best stepdad...ever, tray.

with my soul sister, amy

my best friends, natasha and jennifer

calm before the storm

i really can't explain why or how i'm feeling so calm right now. wedding weekend is upon me and i am feeling pretty great. of course, i've had a few meltdowns hiccups over the last 24 hours, but over all, i've been pretty good. in all honesty, i'm really hoping i haven't just been internalizing all of the typical wedding stress causing a faux-calm, only to have a total breakdown at a really crucial moment. fingers crossed that doesn't go down! 

my anxiety level (which has been known to totally max out) has been hovering somewhere between nonexistent and barely there, which likely because of this guy...

truth is, until about two or three weeks ago, the fact that we're getting married really hadn't sunken in. i still felt like i was planning some event that was in the far distant future or for some other person or something. weird, i know. over the last couple of weeks, though, reality has started to set in, and i couldn't be happier. i love a man who is compassionate, loving and understanding; someone who puts me in my place when i need it (which, lets be serious...that happens more often than not), and challenges me to be the best person i can possibly be. he also drives me absolutely insane. i think the funniest part of all of this, is that he thinks he's the lucky one. 

count down

HO-LY crap, y'all! we're officially 40 days out from our wedding. seriously, WHERE did the time go?? luckily, i feel like i'm pretty on top of everything on my checklist...venues-check! bridesmaid dresses-check! table linens-check! centerpieces-half check! groom-check! 

and that last one--the groom--is the most important part. i think that sometimes, brides get so caught up in all the little details, they totally neglect the most important part of the big day, the person they're promising to spend their life with. now, i know i'm not perfect (i know, shocker!) but i do know that i constantly try to give michael love and attention whenever i can. i want to make sure that he knows that he is the one that is most important to me; not some silly centerpiece or catering decision. so, bridezillas ladies, let's take some time to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. contrary to popular belief, the apocalypse will not begin if every little detail on your wedding day is not perfect. that's life, honey!

now that i'm off of my little soap box (you think i've been dealing with enough brides lately, or what? lol), i can catch you up on what's been going on in my life. here's the stats:

2: the number of attempts at bridal portraits i had to do. i truly have the worst luck with weather. my amazing photographer, shelley (you can find more about her here), was able to meet with me yesterday when the weather finally decided to cooperate. i can't wait to see the photos! she always does an awesome job.

13: the number of days until my bridal shower! amy, my oldest, sweetest, best friend, and her cute mom, nancy, are throwing me a bridal shower in dallas on feb. 17. they are such dolls! i'm so excited to get to have my close friends and family together to celebrate me and mikey-poo getting married! (the gifts won't be half bad, either. ;) ) but seriously, i am so so blessed to have a friend like amy. it's few, and far between, when you find a friend who you not only remain friends with, but manage to not screw each other over at some point during that friendship. love her!

19: the number, so far, of wedding related events we have booked at rooftop. eeeeeek! i'm so excited, i could just die! seriously, i am so grateful for the positive response that the venue has received so far. it's just amazing! 

55: the number of "yes" RSVPs we've received! yippie! and to everyone reading this who has not RSVPd...you BETTER!

32,165,498,413: the number of times i've listened to this song in the past week. can't. get. enough! (and yes, erica, i'm aware that i'm on a total mackelmore band wagon because this is the only song i know by him. sue me. lol.)

happy monday everyone! xoxo

about me from a to z

i'm jumping on the bandwagon and doing this. when i say "bandwagon" i mean that i'm copying shae, and piper. :) enjoy!

Addictions: radar online, vampire diaries, and fruit-flavored tic-tacs

Bed size: queen

Chore you hate: LAUNDRY!

Dogs or cats: dogs like sweet little benny-boy. i would kick a cat. juuuuuust kidding...but seriously, i really don't like them.

Essential start of your day: taking a shower...nothing wakes me up better

Favorite color: purple

Gold or silver: gold

Height: 5'4"-ish

Instruments you play (or have played): piano & guitar

Jobs titles you've had: waitress, lifeguard, tutor, sales & marketing assistant, events manager (my personal favorite)

Kids: none...yet! ;) --and just to clarify to any of my close friends reading this, by saying "yet" with a wink face, simply means i look forward to having some little ones one day...i'm not pregnant now and do not plan on having kids anytime soon, so amz, you can stop having an anxiety attack now. lol.

Live: plano, tx

Mom’s name: amy

Nickname: rach

Overnight hospital stays: none :)

Pet peeve:  bad grammar

Quote from a movie: "Love is passion, obsession, someone you can't live without. I say, fall head over heels. Find someone you can love like crazy and who will love you the same way back...To make the journey and not fall deeply in love, well, you haven't lived a life at all. But you have to try, cause if you haven't tried, you haven't lived." -Meet Joe Black

Right or left handed: left handed, which puts me with the likes of leonardo da vinci, michelangelo, marilyn monroe, brad pitt (swooooon!!) and sir paul mccartney.

Siblings: 1 brother, 1 sister, 1 step-brother, and 1 step-sister.

Time you wake up: today? 7:30 ish

Underwear: target

Vegetables you dislike: it may be easier to say the vegetables i DO like...green peas, romaine lettuce, raw spinach, cauliflower, broccoli, red bell peppers, and that's about it.

What makes you run late: hitting snooze waaaaaaaay too many times.

X-rays you’ve had done: ankle, dental, wrist, fingers.

Yummy food you make: i don't really cook all that much, but i can make my mom's home made chicken fried steak and it's delish!

Zoo animal: fish/aquatic animals

madness

you know I can't resist sharing a good jam--especially when it comes from the most unlikely places. Muse's new song "madness" is just wonderful. and its name truly does the song justice because quite honestly, it's madness that something this good came from muse. (sorry I'm not sorry!) listen and enjoy and thank me later. 

also, I'm writing this post from my brand new iPad!!! I really do have the best fiancé ever. and I'm so thankful that he thinks I deserve gadgets like this...and that he likes to open Christmas presents very very early :) again--sorry I'm not sorry. 'night lovelies!

loving this song right now

i'll hopefully have a birthday update for you soon. in the meantime, enjoy...