Lauren is a Big Winner!

So...I wish you were up! Because I would be calling to share some fantastic news! But since you are not I will share as best as I can through the blog! Oh but you cant see me jumping up and down...squealing...smiling...jumping on Brian and hooping and hollering some more!

Someone told me about the wedding sight, Style Me Pretty! http://www.stylemepretty.com/
and I love it! I will be honest I check it every other day or maybe a few times a day to get ideas and double check stuff ;)
Well last Monday evening I was checking out the site and they had a little giveaway, follow the link and you can see the details, it is the original post where i left my little reasoning along with 463 other women!

http://www.stylemepretty.com/2009/11/23/giveaway-by-two-birds-bridesmaid/

Basically... Ariane Goldman is graciously giving away THREE of her short, aubergine gowns to one lucky bride. All you have to do is leave a comment below, letting us know which one of the gowns from twobird’s collection is your favorite. We’ll choose the lucky winner on the Monday after Thanksgiving (Nov 30th). So I did and if you have not guessed it yet...I won!!! I cant believe it! Grandma sent us an engagement card with Scratchers in it the other day and I was wondering how often people win more than one dollar with those things... Then I find out I won three bridesmaid dresses (the short ones are $270 each) just by telling them why I like them!! I am sorry to keep gabbing but I am so excited!!

This is what I read just a short minute ago!! Scroll down just a bit once you are on there...
http://www.stylemepretty.com/2009/11/30/new-inspiration-challenge-and-winners-announced/#comments

Twobirds bridesmaids winner will be updated in just a few! for one of our lucky readers. So many options, these truly are the kinds of dresses your girls can wear after the wedding. Congratulations to Lauren who said…

Well I would love to tell you the ones I love and why…First I would like to say they are all amazing…and second my girls are all beautiful and they each have their own body style! That’s why I love each of the following!


I love… “Elizabeth” for Adriane, My maid of honor/sister! She can work anything and I see her working the “Elizabeth”…side note: her middle name!!
I love… “Caroline” for Jessica, the little peek of the back would be something she would be comfortable and amazing in!
I love… “Annie” for Lindsey, this is definitely her style and she would wear it well!
I love… “Jane or Marissa” for Lydia, love the back and she can work it!

Aagh! I am so excited and as soon as my girls find out I know they will be too! These dresses can be worn in various ways be sure to check out the sight!
http://twobirdsbridesmaid.com/

So Lets Talk Wedding...

The venue search has been a little stressful but I am beginning to see what I love (The Boojum Tree), what is within our budget, and what I do not like (stinky old houses that they turn into venues). I am sure those of you who have had a wedding realize this but there is so much little stuff to think about and questions to ask when you are at these places. Yikes! This is still in the works…I have some more upcoming appointments!

I did ask some very special ladies to be a part of our wedding. If I could I would have up to eight important people in my bridal party but as I have come to find out you have to limit stuff and make choices, two things I am not good at! Yikes again!

Calling the girls up and asking if they wanted to be a part of our wedding was not something I wanted to do; I wanted to do it in a fun and more creative way! I found these wonderful calendars (check out the website, very inspirational) http://www.intrinsiconline.com/
at a book store and they were my inspiration to ask… not only because of the cover but also because they can be used to keep track of all the upcoming important dates :)

The front cover of the calendar says:

Journey
Life is more beautiful when we share the journey

–Adele Basher

So for each of my girls I wrote a message of the journey we have had together and told them… It would give us more joy and more pride to have you there walking by our side and I would love for you to continue to be apart of OUR new Journey together!

Thats my Sista!!

Adriane
My absolute beautiful, irreplaceable, exceptional, and amazing sister will be my Maid Of Honor! This Tomboy (in her younger years) wore wrinkled shirts down to her knees and did not give two sh*** about what anyone else thought. She continues to be the same confident, now extremely stylish woman today and I am honored that she will be my main woman as I marry my main man!!
And my Bridesmaids are:

Lindsey and I at her Graduation Party

Lindsey
I was in Lindsey’s Girl Scout troop as a kindergartner (1989) but we did not begin our infamous sleepovers until second grade (1991). Shortly after we began playing soccer together until our final soccer days at Chandler Gilbert! She was there the night I met the man I am going to marry, Mr. Brian West. Lindsey is a very dedicated person…not only to our friendship but to Austin, her family, and her work and she shows it passionately! She has a very kind heart and always has an open ear to listen to anything and everything. I am extremely excited for to be a part of our wedding.

Can you find her...

Jessica was there for those infamous sleepover as well…we also went to junior high dances together, played badminton together in high school :) and she was always with me during our many Chandler Gilbert extravaganzas! Brian reminded me of this so I had to share…The next time I wanted to meet up with Brian (second date if you will…) I informed him I already had plans with Jessica, I never really broke plans with my ladies for a guy! However; this was the beginning of something and I told Brian to call Jessica and ask if it was ok to cancel plans of making cookies so I could hang out with him…Who would have ever guessed blowing off a friend date to make cookies would lead to me being with the love of my life!! Thanks for understanding Jessica! :) Jessica is an exceptional woman who has a heart of gold! Jessica will say something that will make you double take and then you will crack up! She has a way of brightening your day and can always get the party started! I cant wait for you to sing us a little something...Lets Get It On...Haha! :)

Lydia and I: The Dodge Ball Tournament at The Sand Bar

Lydia
I met Lydia in our 7th grade science class at Shepherd Junior High. You know me…loud and outgoing and Lydia was a bit more relaxed and hip! We were opposites if you will but I would call it more of a balance! There was not a day that went by that we did not spend together. I mean that literally…We went to school together, went home from school together, rented movies and spent the night at each others houses every weekend! As Lydia I have grown so has our friendship…she is a kind and sophisticated woman and I am grateful that she continues to be a part of my life and I am excited to have her by my side throughout the wedding adventure!


As I write these things I think not only of these magnificent women but all the other important people in my life. I appreciate friendships more than some may know! What else would I do with out the people that laugh with me when something is funny, hug me when I feel down, smile and jump up and down with me when I am excited or cry with me when something is painful or touches my heart! I love the relationships I have with the wonderful people I do! Thank you for being a part of my life!

Gilbert Here We Come!

We finally heard on the house we have been "patiently" waiting on for 60-some days! This is the email I received from our realtor on Tuesday:

Brian and Lauren,

Congratulations!
The Lowell property is a go!

Simple and sweet! Yeah, we are going to purchase our first home together! I will keep you updated on details of the process and share pictures soon!

Boom! Got Him!

These are a few pictures from our Las Vegas Trip...
I was unable to post them earlier because of the Internet issue...
Thanks Cindy and Greg for the invite, we had a blast!!

Brian's Best Friend!! :)

I am going to Mrs. Brian West

I have been with out the internet for almost two weeks! I unfortunately have to say that I felt crazy without one especially since I have fantastic news to share!!! Mr. Brain West has asked me to marry him. I just could not believe it ;) Of course I said absolutely!!!
Just to set the premise, I thought we were going out for our Love Day…the day we met (October 18th 2001)
On Saturday night (October 17th) Brian took me to Postino’s wine cafe…my new favorite place!!! The atmosphere was so intimate and romantic with candles everywhere! The electricity went out so the dim candles just made the ambiance that much better. We ate, drank, laughed, loved and enjoyed each other…something I think we do very well!
So I asked what we were doing next and he just said well I have a few ideas, usually Brian says “whatever you want to do Lo, you are the one with the social calendar” (haha)
He then pulled up to the Pointe Squaw Peak Resort and then I knew he was up to something. As I started walking to the front desk area he started walking up the stairs…I then started to really wonder what he was up to. We walked to the room and opened the door; he jazzed up the room big time…flowers, champagne…the whole nine! He then got down on his knee and asked me to marry him!!! So wonderful! We then enjoyed the rest of the evening together! ;)



The next day we laid out by the pool all day and my beautiful ring just sparkled in the sunlight and I just kept looking at it! Brian also mentioned that he liked to see it flaring around on my hand as I shared my excitement with others!
We have been together for eight years but every part of this is extremely exhilarating! When we start talking about it I am very giddy and it touches my heart when I see the same enthusiasm in Brian! This is such an exciting time and there are so many things that we must plan for. I can’t wait to keep everyone updated on everything…

It is perfect and it sparkles in the sunshine!

If you know me well enough you know why I have it in the box for pictures!! Haha!

I tried and it was just not pretty!