Its Wedding Week and Other Stuff

Whoa. I forgot to was too busy to write on Friday and Monday. Will you please forgive me?

Please???

I swear I have a good reason.

You see I'm getting married this week. That means I am super stressed out!!

Friday was a pretty big day in the life of the soon-to-be Mrs. Queen Benjamin Gwyn.

We got our marriage license (so we can legit get hitched now), I got an iPhone, went through the temple and got to spend the weekend with my long lost Katie Love. Oh, and mothers day. Let's not forget mothers day.BIG day/weekend indeed.

Here are a few pictures:

We can legally get hitched.

Love her SO FREAKING MUCH!

Wedding lights in the tree.

A day of slaving like a child in a sweat shop.

The Dixons, as cute as ever.

The "almost" Gwyns, as random as ever.

Riding in the car on Mother's Day.

I CANNOT wait for the wedding to be here and for Ben and I to be sailing the high seas on our way to the Bahamas. It's going to be legit. 

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ALSO!!! We're giving away a copy of Bloom today in honor of The Book Club.

All you have to do is:

*Mandatory*

Be a GCF follower of All Things Bright and Beautiful.

Be a GCF follower of From the Guest Room

Be a GCF follower of  The Kinch Life

*Optional*

Like All Things Bright and Beautiful on Facebook

Like From the Guest Room on Facebook

Follow All Things Bright and Beautiful on Twitter

Follow From the Guest Room on Twitter

Follow The Kinch Life on Twitter

Comment on what you liked most about Bloom.

*Each comment is an entry so you can have up to 9 entries!*

GOOD LUCK LOVELIES!!!!!!

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Voting for the June book for The Book Club opens tomorrow. Make sure to email me your last minute suggestions:

BrightandBeautifulBlog {at} gmail {dot} com

Coffee Date

If we were having a coffee date right now....

I would probably offer you some water, since that really is the only thing I drink. Or maybe some chai tea.

I would tell you how excited I am that I get to marry the King in 9 days. I've been waiting for this for a while and I cannot believe that it is here already.

I would tell you that I'm really nervous about the actual ring ceremony and reception. I just have so much to get done for it and I have no clue how I am going to be able to get it all done.

I would also tell you that the King and I have yet to get him a wedding band and our marriage license. Oops. Kind of NEED those things.

I would tell you that I am so excited for our honeymoon to the Bahamas and that it what I am most excited about; getting to spend uninterrupted relaxing time with the King.

I would tell you that I am at a cross-roads right now and am possibly rethinking what I want to do with my life.

I would tell you that I have the WORSE migraine in the world right now, so maybe I should take a sip of some caffeine... that IS supposed to help.... right?

I would tell you that I have been listening to Edith Piaf non-stop for the past week and I am in love.

I would ask you what you hopes and fears are.

I would ask you about what you are most excited about.

I would ask you why you choose to continue to come back and read what I have to say (because I feel like I never say anything particularly important, newsworthy or funny).

I would let you know how much I love and appreciate you, even if we have never really met.

I would let you know that I cannot wait until our next little coffee date.

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Don't forget to let me know what you want to read in June for The Book Club. We will be posting up polls Monday! Also, check back Monday for a sweet giveaway and some reading questions for Bloom.

I Love Big Books and I Cannot Lie

I have had the most stressful week at work. Yes, it is only Tuesday. No, I am not being dramatic. It really has been. So what did I do? Other than want to die, I went and binged... on books. I walked myself into Barnes and Noble and book looked  (and bought... but we won't tell the King that). I used the excuse of "I'm doing this for The Book Club. We need new book options for June," but really, I wanted to do it for my own sanity.

I walked around the entire store, grabbing this, grabbing that, ending up with a pile of books taller than me. This is not a lie. I sat down and read through their book descriptions and decided I needed them all. Then I got realistic and decided I only needed half of them. Then the King and Dave Ramsey spoke to me from the loud speaker and said, "you want a house and a car, not to mention that you are about to get married. Put those back." So, like the good girl and almost wife I am, I only bought one. 

That did not stop me from taking pictures of the ones I wanted to get.

*Sorry, but without GIMP and Picnik, I'm lost on making collages.... well at least right this moment*

What book do you want to read and discuss in June? I am so excited for this Book Club y'all. Seriously, it is my only sanity.

Please feel free to email my your book choices for June to: BrightandBeautifulBlog {at} gmail {dot} com

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Next week, I'll be posting reader questions for May's The Book Club book, Bloom.

Oh, and check back on Monday for a schweet give away!

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I'm totally getting married in 10 days. TEN DAYS!!!!! To this guy:

Melts my heart every time.

Sponsor Lovin!

Well hello there everyone. How was your weekend? Mine was very eventful. Lets just say killer spider, babysitting, wedding dress fittings, shopping, make-up trials, more killer spider and even more babysitting. Needless to say, I have had NO SLEEP this weekend and I am feeling it this Monday. 

So, I think I'll introduce my sponsors to you today, and take a wee rest from blogging today.

These ladies are incredible and I seriously am in love with all of them (you know, in a platonic and non-creeper like way). Please, make sure to click on over to their blogs and get to know them! I guarantee that yo u will fall in love with them, just like I have.

Aubrey//The Kinch Life

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Kristen//Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

Hey, Im Kristen from Whiskey Tango Foxtrot! Im an Army wife/blog designer, about to move to Germany with my Hubby. I hope you'll follow us on our journey in a new country! Cant wait to meet you :)
Twitter//Pinterest

Ashlee//And They Lived Happily Ever After

Well, hello there.

I’m Ashlee and my little blog is And They Lived Happily Ever After...

My blogworld is all about my life as a health obsessed, faith obsessed, entertainment TV obsessed, happily(moooost of the time) married life. I have been known to laugh too much, cry too little, and always have a joke on hand.  Well, a joke that at least one person thinks is funny…including me.   Serious is so not my cup of tea…or coffee….or scotch….hey, whatever your little heart desires.  We are not here to judge.

My husband of two years is a Submarine Officer and that keeps our life intriguing. Meet him. He’s a gem, I tell you. So, if you want to follow along our little life together, we'll be sure to keep you entertained.  

Mary Kate//From the Guest Room

Hello! My name is Kate Wise (or mK) and I am a wife to Dustin Wise, current resident of Nashville, TN and a lover of all things creative! I enjoy writing and telling stories, so on my blog you will find lots of posts on things that make me come alive; people, fashion, food, crafting, life, faith and so much more. Be my guest and come say hello!

Facebook//Twitter//Pinterest//Blog Lovin'

Jess//Jess Is More

I'm Jess and I blog over at Jess Is More. I am a future wife, momma to 3 fuzz balls, and a domestic diva in training. Lover of caffeine, a good book, and far too much television. Half-Cuban-Southern-Floridian turned Minnesotan -- My little blog is about my desire to get the most of this precious life, and all of my adventures in between.
Twitter//Pinterest

Katie//The Lee Family Happenings

Hi, I'm Katie! Wife to Anthony Mama to Liam and Aurora (due in June!). My blog is combination of things I love most: family, healthy living, and baking. Stop on by, I would love to meet you!
Twitter//Instagram

Lauren//Pink on the Cheek

Hi, I'm Lauren! Join me while I explore California, finding my way through food, fitness, and fun!
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Also, have any suggestions for books for the June "The Book Club?" Please, let me know!!! We'll be opening the polls next week. Hope you're enjoying "Bloom."

About Me... Today

Everyday I tell the King how excited I am that I have new followers. I have NO CLUE where you guys are coming from, but I am so excited to have you and you are making my day. 

I promised that I would write a little bit about myself so that my new readers could get to know me. It's kind of like a blind date where they have agreed to meet me, but have no clue who I am. Well, here you go lovelies:

Right now I am sitting at my desk, listening to a Parisian Cafe station on Pandora. Why? Because I really wish I were there. My life is so stressful and hectic right now and I feel like I am stretched so thin. Listening to French music and daydreaming that I were walking along the left bank, holding the King's hand relaxes me. It reminds me that my job right now, my school right now and my life right now are not what my life will be 5 years form now. 10 years from now. Even 2 weeks from right now. I shouldn't be so caught up in my stresses. So, for right now, this girl is halfway stuck somewhere in Orlando and halfway stuck somewhere in Paris.

That brings me to my next thing. I love to travel. I rarely get to travel, but I love it. I love learning about other cultures and wish I could immerse myself in them on a daily basis. India, Morocco, France, England, Wales, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Cambodia. These were right off the top of my head. Any conversation where someone says, "Oh, I would love to go to {fill in the blank}..." I immediately say, "ME TOO!" Even if I have never thought about it before their comment. I am always game for going anywhere, anytime. Like right now, can I go here? Please?

More important, I love the King. Just in case anyone wants to know why I reference him as the King, it is because his name is King Benjamin Gwyn. Yep. I'm marrying a King in 16 days and I will therefore be Queen Benjamin Gwyn. He makes me incredibly happy. Loving him is one of the easiest things I have ever done. His love for me makes me want to be a better person. I just love him. Okay?

Speaking of Kings and Queens and Royal Weddings, I completely forgot to wish the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge a happy one year on Sunday. It was marked on my calendar because 1. it is a royal wedding calendar and 2. because I am mildly obsessed with them. Happy One Year Kate and Wills, love King and Queen Benjamin Gwyn.

Other than all of that stuff, you can almost always count on me being random, having dance parties (according to my friends. I didn't realize that they thought every time I fall on my face, I was dancing... Ill take it) and hiking the urban metropolis of Orlando.

I'm so excited to have all of you following me in my adventure of becoming a newlywed and wife and of become a normal human being. I cannot wait to get to know you all better. Thanks for hanging around, and hang on for the ride.

The Book Club - May

Together with Mary Kate (From the Guest Room) and Aubrey (The Kinch Life), every month I will be hosting a book club! Bloggers and non-bloggers welcome.

For May, the votes tallied up in Kelle Hampton's book, Bloom's, favor. 

I bought my copy over at B&N and got 20% for a Mother's Day Special they are running. Hurry up and grab yours and start reading!! 

On May 14th I will be hosting a giveaway where we will be giving away a copy of the book to one lucky reader. Make sure you come back and jump on that great opportunity. Then, about a week before the link-up party, we will post a series of questions about the book. You can choose to answer these questions in your post if you'd like, but if not that's fine too. Just make sure you post about the book and what you learned, loved or grew from the book. 

Friday, May 25th is going to be the big link-up party! I am so excited for this guys. It is my first link-up to host and I cannot wait to see what you all think of the book. I cannot wait to get to know you all better as we bond over this story of a mother's love and growth as a person. If you are a blogger, create a blog post and link it up. If you aren't a blogger, but just a reader, please, leave us a comment of what you thought! It is amazing to see how many of you are joining in this adventure with us and to see my idea "bloom" into what it is now is an incredible feeling. It is only because of loyal readers like you. Thanks for your support and help (I feel like a PBS donation commercial).

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In other news, I finally got my engagement ring back yesterday. After "the incident" you bet this puppy is even more protected.

Reunited and it feels so so good! Also, the King doesn't care for my lip color choice. Nor do any men I have accidentally ran into today. The women though? Boy, they love it. What can I say... I'm a lady killer.

Check out that Blang Blang.....

Lessons Learned as an Almost Newlywed

When you fall in love its all roses and unicorns. Really, it is.

Then you fall deeper into love. That is where commitment comes into play. Its only roses; no more unicorns, but roses. They still smell fantastic and things are great, but just not unrealistic.

Then you decide to combine lives. The roses are there, just with tons and tons of thorn.s They are just as beautiful and wonderful; there is just a lot more to work through and past to see it. 

The thing with marrying someone is that you have to be willing to remove the thorns (no matter how painful that process it.... It is.... Trust me), so you both can enjoy the beautiful and more meaningful rose garden that awaits.

  Enough with the SUPER corny and "rosy" use of symbolism.

The truth of the matter is, the King and I are at the stage where we are combining two different lives so that we can form OUR one life. We had no clue that our lives were different, but what we want is one together, and so that, my friends, requires sacrifice.

I know I know I know. This is a, "duh, you were going to have to do this," kind of situation. I guess what I am getting to it that it is really hard. You want to be selfless, but sometimes you have to be selfish. You have to fight it out, talk it out, kiss it out and then start it all over again. You just do. That is how the whole "marrying someone and staying married" thing works. 

I don't know if he needs to hear this, but I need to say it, if not for him then for everyone else to know this about him. The King is the most responsible, loving, loyal and kind-hearted person I know. He is selfless and charitable. He would only kill a fly if it would be the only thing that would make you happy or if you needed it because that fly was the last thing available for a food source and you needed it to survive. We have been making adjustments career-wise, home-wise and life-wise to prepare for our life together and he has been incredible giving. 

Despite how hard this all is, I know it will be worth it. I know I will never starve. I know I will not want for anything that I need. I know that my children and I will always be cared and loved for. I know this because the King is dedicated to me. I am dedicated to him as well.

So, moral of the story... getting married and making a life is hard. It is worth it. Oh, it is going to be worth it! Being able to be his forever is going to be the best part of it all. I don't care if I have to give my right arm... and my left... it is so going to be worth it.