Davids Bridal Called Me Fat: A play in three acts by Rachel

Because I'll have few updates for you until November, here is the story of how David's Bridal called me fat.  It's a lively tale - you'll laugh, cry, and be generally shocked by DB's poor customer service.

Act 1
My mom and sister kindly agreed to go wedding dress shopping with me while my sister was home from college on break last spring.  Like most brides, I was terrified and excited - like a kindergartener before the first day of school I tried not to throw-up from the weird combination of emotions.  I carefully planned my outfit for the next day of shopping (even remembering to wear totally unnecessary nude undies) and went to sleep with visions of wedding gowns dancing in my head.

The next morning nervousness had settled in the pit of my stomach next to my coffee and cereal.  I tried to prepare myself for the tiny bridal sizes.  My clothes range from 4-8 in pant size and tops can be a Small of Medium.  I've watched enough "Say Yes to the Dress" to know that this could mean I could possibly need up to 12 in some wedding styles.  It sucks, but that's the way it is and I was determined to focus on FIT and not the numbers.  Repeating this over and over on the ride to Richmond slowly, but successfully, dissolved the knots in my stomach into butterflies.

I WAS GOING WEDDING DRESS SHOPPINGGGGG!!!!!

The plan was to go to Bridal Shop #1, have lunch, hit up David's Bridal, and then move on the Bridal Shop #2.  We had no intention of buying anything, because I was still planning on attending Running of the Brides in a few weeks.  Our goal to was to figure out sizes, what styles I liked/looked good in, and possible pick out a back-up if ROTB didn't work out.   We had appointments at all three shops, so we weren't worried - we had a schedule.

Bridal Shop #1 was gorgeous and we were immediately greeted by Phyllis who would be my consultant.  I explained to her what style I was looking for and also showed her the photo of My Dream Dress.  Now My Dream Dress (MDD) was terribly out of my price range, but I was hoping she could show us similar, less expensive alternatives.  I don't have any photos from Bridal Shop #1, but here are a few of the dresses I tried on:

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I tried on about 10 dresses, and was eventually convinced to just go ahead and try on MDD: Priscilla of Boston's Morgan.  

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Of course I loved it, but I was relieved that I didn't feel like I needed to have it.  With a $3000+ price tag it was just simply wasn't worth it to me.  Now that PoB is closing, I'm glad this didn't end up being my dress!  We left Bridal Shop #1 feeling confident, having seen at least two dresses that I could afford AND would feel beautiful walking down the aisle in. 

 Lunch was up next.  Obviously we went to Jimmy John's because it's delicious, fast, and the day-old bread is 50 cents.  After eating my ENTIRE Totally Tuna sub, we headed over to David's Bridal.  Cue the scary music.  

To be continued...

Help a sister out!

Please please please, if it's not too much trouble, follow by blog.  It makes me look popular.  Also, any and all feedback is appreciated.  

THANK YOU!!!!  

And now a warning:

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Keep that in mind people, keep that in mind.

When you realize you want...

...to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible. 

I think of Harry saying this to Sally every time some one asks about why Luis and I are getting married so early, so young, so soon.  I'm really not sure why people think it is alright to be so critical (or blatantly rude) to a young(ish) bride.  Being engaged at 22 and married at 24 is not terribly common anymore, but I'm not child bride.  Just because your comment is preceded by "Congratulations!" does not mean that you then have the freedom to say whatever you want.  My five favorite comments have been:

1) OMG! ARE YOU pregnant?!  Seriously, why do you even bother talking in a fake whisper?  We can all hear your rudeness.  No, we're not having a baby.  We're getting married so that we can have a family in the (not so ) distant (but still definitely in the) future.  Even it I was pregnant, what business is it of yours?  If I haven't told you about my pregnancy, you haven't seen me scarfing down pickles and ice-cream, or I'm not sporting a belly the size of a basketball, don't you dare ask if I'm pregnant.  Bottom line: I'm not, so stop being so effing nosy.

2) What do your/his parents think?!  They are just as excited as we are, thank you very much.  They all know and love us/one another, think it's great that they've raised responsible adults that are taking the next step in their relationship, and don't care that we haven't reached the average "age at marriage."  

3) Don't you want to live your life?  Luis is not going to stop me from living my life in anyway.  He enriches my life just as I thought our friendship did up until you asked that question.  I have big dreams and plans and ideas;  Luis supports me in EVERYTHING that I do.  Marriage is a celebration of life and love, not my freedom's funeral.  I want to go to Thailand with Luis, I want to take cooking lessons with Luis, I want to live life with Luis everyday.  See the trend?  

4) So you're just going to be a housewife?  Umm no.  I have a job, am getting my master's degree, and am actively searching for a new and better job.  When we have a family, I'll probably be a mostly-stay-at-home-mom.  Luis didn't say I had to - in fact he had no expectations about what I'd want to do.  We came to the decision together that this will most likely be the best solution for our family.  Yes, it kind of sucks that his career comes before mine in this aspect (because he will be the primary bread winner), but the big picture is our family will be our number one priority.  Plus, I'm selfish and want to be the one who gets to be with our (future) totally awesome kids.  It's a privilege and a choice.  


5)  Are you sure?  ..... Are. you. serious.   Obviously I'm sure or I wouldn't have said yes.  When you know, you know.  It's simple and easy and so, so right.  Luis and I make each other happy.  Please respect our happiness by never asking me that again.  


I'm so blessed to realize that I want to spend the rest of my life with Luis and I truly do want the rest of my life to start as soon as possible.  So I would appreciate it if people would just realize that.  Any one else ever receive some unexpected advice/questions/comments after sharing major news?  

Sorry I('m not) Sorry

I guess I didn't set up my posts to go online automatically as well as I thought.  Scheduling them for October 2012 wasn't my best idea.  Having too much fun on a sunny Florida beach to notice was.

Look for new posts starting tomorrow and please keep me in your prayers on Friday - I potentially have a job-related opportunity that could potentially be a big deal (at least to me.)  Thank you in advance!

I like free stuff.

I really do.  Especially because I'm my entire paycheck gets sent directly to a Mazda dealership and my university.  Also, especially free coozies.  I always have at least one in my purse, but I think this a crazy Southern girl habit.

So go here: http://theomgmom.com  and let Mandy know that you'd like to win a $50 gift card from Drugstore.com and then give it to me.  It's not a coozie, but I'll settle.

Side note:  Mandy tweeted me a few days ago after I tweeted about how she was following me on Pinterest.  Turns out she didn't intentionally follow me, but I still got to feel pretty cool for awhile.  

Almost as cool as a FRESH pizza vending machine:

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Yeah I need one of these.

Be careful what you wish for.

"Colder weather has descended upon the DC area with a vengeance," I type as I pull a blanket closer around my shoulders and reach for a steaming cup of tea.


All I really have to say today is:
1) Be really really careful what you ask for.  I wanted apple picking weather, not teeth-chattering cold.  Specificity clearly is key.
2) Always splurge on the car model with heated seats.  It will always be worth it.... unless you live on a tropical island.  
3) My gift for my mother's XXth birthday (trust me, its a big one) arrived from Amazon. broken.  again.  WHAT THE EFF AM I GOING TO DO?!?!  (Dear Pinterest and Google gods, please help me find a better gift that also has low-cost expedited shipping. Amen.)

In other news:
Two of my facebook friends (not anyone I talk to regularly) are pregnant.  And not woops-I'm-in-high-school pregnant or left-for-college-came-home-early-with-a-baby pregnant.  Like graduated-from-college-had-a-beautiful-wedding-bought-a-house-with-a-nursery pregnant.  I am super excited for them, but 100% freaked out.  Though, I think some of my friends had the same reaction when I told them I was getting married.  Coming soon: stupid shit people say to when you're a "young" bride including, but not limited to: "don't do it," "you're way too young," and "OMG you're pregnant?!"  Yeah, fun times.

Hello, my name is Rachel and I am a Pinterest-aholic.

I'm blogging from a Starbucks.  Drinking a pumpkin spice frap.  Sue me, I couldn't hold out for colder weather... and like I said, it's laced with highly addicting drugs.

Today we will be discussing my other addiction: Pottermore Pinterest.  It took about 18 years to get my registration email, but it is SO worth the wait.

Come on... try it!  You'll like it!  All you're friends are doing it!

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I literally pin everything I see if I even remotely like it.  My iPhoto is really excited because it is no longer burdened with wedding inspiration and I'm really excited because Pinterest also keeps track of where I found everything.  (The "clicking on the photo for the link" feature is something that my sister had to show me.  It was like the heavens opened up and the angels sang.... until she made fun of me for being the dumb blond I am can be.)

I know I'm a little behind the times with this, but if you're behind me - trust me.  Once you start pinning, your life will never be the same.  I thought I was a huge procrastinator before, but now?  GINORMOUS.  The worst part is I legitimize my time spent on Pinterest because I'm looking for wedding/style/gift suggestions.  I have learned a lot of cool stuff (how to fishtail braid my hair, some nifty wedding DIYs that will hopefully save me oodles of money), but have had some epic fails thanks to Pinterest as well - one involving glitter nail polish that would. not. come. off.

Some gems I've found so far include:

Cookie Dough Cake Balls from Heaven

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Potential Christmas gifts.... that I want to get.  

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Love this shirt... almost as much as I hate love barefoot running.

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Am I alone in the addiction?  Doubt it.  I bet y'all are sipping Starbucks and pinning away.  You can follow me on Pinterest here:  http://pinterest.com/rgf/    Let me know your username so I can follow you too!