Happy New Year - 2021

IMG_1750.jpg

Happy New Year!!!

Yes, I know I’m SUPER late but better late than never. I can’t believe how much things are changing. 2020 was an interesting year to say the least. It really felt like a whirlwind but I learning A LOT about myself. My roles as a mother, woman, and partner have all been tested but I survived and that’s a reminder to myself that I will continue to!

I plan to jump back in full force in the coming months but for now; I’m taking things slow. With the wedding less than two months away – I need time to focus and enjoy!

Sending you all lots of love.

Bachelorette Weekend - Charlotte, NC

DSC_6594.jpg

With the wedding only months away and the holidays right around the corner, I knew it was time to enjoy a weekend getaway. I’m doing my best not to be a bridezilla and remain respectful of people’s time – so now was the perfect time!

I’m a pretty laid back person, but I knew I wanted to have a girl’s weekend and with COVID-19 still running wild I knew I had to keep it low-key! I decided to make it a fun and relaxing weekend by heading to Charlotte, NC with a few of my good girlfriends. We rented an Airbnb, enjoyed a photoshoot and took a pole dancing class.

No matter what type of bride you are – you can always enjoy a good vacation with a few of your friends. It was important that we were all able to relax and let our hair down. We enjoyed yummy bites; girl talk and good libations!

t-shirts “girls trip cheaper than therapy”

t-shirts “girls trip cheaper than therapy”

IMG_8960_jpg.jpg
image1.jpeg

I like to believe that I am a prepared person and I made sure to have my girls a goodie bag, often known as the Bachelorette Rescue Kit. I included the following items in my kit:

-        Gum

-        Mints

-        Shout Wipes

-        Protein Bar

-        Makeup Wipes

-        Lip balm

-        Tylenol

-        Benadryl

-        Tissue

-        Panty Liner

Your bag can include whatever you like and match your theme. I purchased these bags from a cute shop on Etsy. I also made these cute water bottle tags on Canva to match my theme.

IMG_5755.JPG
IMG_5765.jpg

I highly recommend trying out a pole dancing class if you’re not really into the club scene. The class at PoleFit Carolinas was awesome! She helped us all feel comfortable and confident! I really want to go back for a visit!

IMG_9086.jpg
IMG_9088.jpg

Here are some photos from our shoot with Denise Benson Photography! They came out great and our shirts were everything I wanted!

DSC_6490.jpg
DSC_6547.jpg
DSC_6508.jpg

DSC_6466.jpg
Big sis, me and mom

Big sis, me and mom

DSC_6663.jpg
DSC_6619.jpg

Not sure what to do for your bachelorette weekend – check out these ideas:

-        Beach Getaway

-        Cruise

-        Nice Dinner

-        PJ Party

-        Exotic Dancer

-        Tea Party

Happy Baching!

The Ultimate Wedding Day Playlist

Natalie + Cleveland51.jpg

I love good music, but I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t listen to it all the time. One of the things my fiancée and I bonded over in the beginning was music. We sat on the phone for hours playing songs and talking about life. It truly connected us and sparked and unforgettable flame. If you’re getting married soon or just in love here are a few songs, you should consider playing! I promise you won’t be disappointed.

Huge shout out to my Instagram fam for helping me create this list!

Check out the entire list here and take a listen!

Let me know if you having any other songs that should be added to the list!

 

1.     Share My Life – Kem

2.     Beautiful Surprise - India Arie

3.     Giving Myself - Jennifer Hudson

4.     Why I Love You – Major

5.     Endless Love - Diana Ross

6.     So High - John Legend

7.     If this world were mine - Marvin Gaye

8.     For You - Kenny Latimore

9.     A Thousand Years – Christina Perri

10. Still in Love - Bryan McKnight

11. You - Jesse Powell

12. I Gotta Be - Jagged Edge

13. At Last - Etta James

14. The Sweetest Love - Robin Thicke

15. Ribbon in the Sky - Stevie Wonder

16. A Couple of Forevers - Chrisette Michelle

17. This one’s for me and you - Johnny Gill

18. Fortunate - Maxwell

19. Perfect - Ed Sheeran

20. Make You Feel My Love - Adele

21. All My Life - KC and JoJo

22. All of Me - John Legend

23. 1+1 - Beyoncé

24. Everything - Ella Mai

25. Greatest Love of All - Whitney Houston

26. Best Part - Daniel Caesar

27. Next Breath - Tank

28. Can You Feel The Love Tonight - Beyoncé and Donald Glover

29. Let’s Stay Together - Al Green

30. Say You Won’t Let Go - James Arthur

31. Fall for you - Leela James

Photo by aneris photography

Photo by aneris photography

Picking The Perfect Bridesmaid Dress | David's Bridal

David’s Bridal is taking extra safety precautions during the COVID-19 virus. We were all required to wear masks.

image0.jpeg

My dress has been chosen (yay!) and now it’s time to shop for my girls!

I must say I am incredibly lucky to have an incredible group of ladies that will be standing by side next year. So, I wanted to make sure that not only was I happy with the dress that we chose but I wanted to make sure that they were happy as well.

If you’ve been following along my #weddingjourney then you know I’m all about being practical and budget friendly. I wanted to select dresses that my girls could wear again. If you’re looking to find attire for your bridal party, then look on further than David’s Bridal. They carry sizes ranging from 0-30W which makes them the best choice when you have a party of all shapes and sizes. Not to mention most of their dresses are under $200 and they are located in several states and offer shipping! This is perfect when your maids live in different parts of the country.

My wedding theme is formal and romantic. I wanted to find a dress that would meet those needs. I knew going in that I wanted my girls in long floor length gowns. My biggest challenge was choosing the top style because the choices are endless; one shoulder, spaghetti straps, crisscross neck, and many more. I also considered doing mix and match styles but decided that I like a more uniform look.

Friendly Tip: Remember you are the BRIDE! Although you want to make everyone happy you won’t. Pick the dress that best matches your overall vision.

There are endless styles to choose from and what I’ve learned is that once you start trying the dresses on you’ll quickly realize what your ‘style’ is and it will make it easier to choose. The best part of the David’s Bridal experience is that they offer in-house alternations, additional fees will apply.

Check out what they tried on!

Crisscross Off the ShoulderStyle: F19951

Crisscross Off the Shoulder

Style: F19951

Full Skirt One-Shoulder MeshF19932  Crisscross Off the ShoulderStyle: F19951 (NLA)

Full Skirt One-Shoulder Mesh

F19932

Crisscross Off the Shoulder

Style: F19951 (NLA)

I can’t wait to share with you all which style we ended up going with! I’m always sharing updates over on Instagram - be sure to follow along!