LHG - my bestie & my bridesmaid!

This post is dedicated to the one and only LHG! She is not only a bridesmaid in our wedding, but has been like a sister to me since the day I met her back in middle school. 

Mr. Hess earned some extra brownie points yesterday by making the 2 and a half our drive to Jacksonville and back with me just to see my bestie!  She has been touring for the last month with the Radio City Rockettes and we got to catch her very last show in Florida before they left for Austin, TX to finish the tour.  Even though I had been working all weekend, I managed to switch around shifts to make sure to get the Jax on time to see my friend, and I'm SO glad I did!

Me and L after the show

Back in middle school, I met the beloved LHG when our summer dance program included housing a guest for the summer to take our intensive classes.  LHG was my guest and, well, when the summer was over never really moved out!  We had an instant bond right away and spent a lot of our time watching Austin Powers, singing Space Ghost songs, and doing our nails.  After the program was over, L and her mom decided it was time for a change in her life and moved up to Orlando.  Giving them time to find a place and settle in, L lived in our guest room and even when they found a place would be over almost every time I was home! I loved it – it was like having another sister, and we did everything together.

When we got to high school, we remained super close.  We started dancing at different studios and focusing on different things, but we always had that understanding that we will love and support each other in whatever we do.  That theory really got put to the test when our senior year came around because LHG decided to move up to New York City, NY by herself as a 17-year-old to pursue a dance career.  I had all of the faith in the world in her, and knew her personality and drive was there more than anyone I knew.

LHG has never really chose the traditional route, one might say, but I am so happy to say that her talents have gotten her all the way to the top.  In my eyes, she has “made it” in what she wants to do and I like to say I live vicariously through her.  She's so brave and takes more risks than anyone I have ever known!

While I was finishing my senior year of high school, Miss LHG was getting settled in NYC and was auditioning for numerous shows and gigs up there.  Right away, she got a job performing in Germany with West Side Story and it was only within a year before I saw her perform on the VMAs as a dancer for Beyonce! I didn’t think I could have been more proud of her than at that moment I saw her on TV, but that was just the beginning...

Backstage with L in Wicked

About 5 years ago I actually got to go up to NY to see her do what she does best – perform on Broadway!  L was casted in the NY Broadway production of Wicked, and I couldn’t be more excited to go see the show!  Unfortunately, the week before I was scheduled to go up there she hurt her shoulder during a performance so I never got to see her perform.  I did, however, still see the show and she pointed out exactly where she did what.  I saw her name and picture in the playbill and again, I couldn’t believe there she was!  My best friend from middle school, my dance partner, and now a professional dancer on Broadway! I was so proud of her.

L backstage with Popov the Bear! Rockettes

She has done a few things here and there since she decided to leave Wicked, but yesterday was the first time I could ever say I officially saw her dance on Broadway!  In 2008 she got the exciting job as a New York - Radio City Rockette!  She did the show right there in NYC that year, but returned to the Rockette stage this year on tour! Not many people can say that, right?!  From reading the program, I found out thousands of girls try out for the part of a Rockette each season, and only 200 get selected to be a part of the group that tours around the country.  I absolutely LOVED the show, and she did such an amazing job!!!

Famous Soldier Scene - Radio City Rockettes

There she is, far right! Radio City Rockettes

 Fourth row from top, 3rd over - Radio City Rockettes

Kicking High, far right - Radio City Rockettes

No matter what we do or where we go in life, we both know we will always have a bond and friendship that can stand any distance or length of time.  It’s funny to say, but she’s kind of like my “Joey” from Friends (one of my and LHG’s fav TV shows of ALL time).  We have been best buds and sidekicks since 8th grade, and throughout the years she has always been there.  There will always be a room open to her in our home and we never know when she will pop up – but she always does.

  So, thanks for being such an amazing friend through it all, LHG.  You are my inspiration to throw myself out there and take risks! I hope one day I can look past my fears and throw everything I have into my dream like you did for yours.  So excited for you to be a part of our big day, and I'm SO happy to know I’m definitely going to be seeing a lot of you this year! xoxo

Love,
Presh (HBPD)

Every Bride Needs a Night OFF!

Here we are, getting into the middle of December already...
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!

I'm sure there are a MILLION things I should be doing right now to plan for the big day (that 7 month mark is quickly approaching!) - but Mr. Hess and I decided earlier today that tonight is going to be a date night.  And on our "date night" we aren't going to spend money, and we are going to come up with a way to just enjoy each other WITHOUT talking about the wedding.  Seems kind of challenging, right?

Surprisingly, this was easier than we thought it would be, and that's exactly what we've done.  We started the night off by going to a Saturday night service at our church - and the message was great.  We sung Christmas songs during worship already, so that put me in the best mood ever!  Then, we came home determined to cook dinner at home, even though neither one of us wanted to cook.  So - we went back to our routes! Fish sticks, mac & cheese, and veggies.  That sounds like a great meal to me!  Lucky for me, Mr. Hess likes childhood food as much as I do.  Hey, we did spice it up by adding salsa and peppers to the mac & cheese - pretty fancy!

So, while Mr. Hess finishes up his ONE NBA Live BBall video game he is allowed to play tonight, I am baking cookies and writing a blog about NOT writing a blog...lol.  But if you think about it, this one doesn't really count...does it?! ;)

So what I've learned in the last month is this:

No matter how many things you need to check off of your ever growing "TO-DO" List....every once in a while you need to take a NIGHT OFF!  Enjoy a date night with your groom, and take a break from driving him crazy about what you want this color to be, what flower you want to put where and what flavor you want to be at your cake tastings.  I'm pretty sure I've added just about all the appointments in Mr. Hess's calendar that it can take for the next week with meetings and tastings, so he deserves it.

Oh yeah, that's a Christmas Tree Hat - WHY NOT?! LOL!

I think those cookies are ready - and now, it's movie time! :)

Enjoying a break while I still can,

Presh

November Check-In!

For Mr. Hess and I, November was absolutely INSANE!!!! 

I was a Co-Maid of Honor in my friends wedding (Love You Britt!), we attended another friend's wedding - (don't worry, I'm taking notes!), I had extra weekend practices AND we both worked 10 games and 2 dunk shows in one month.  We usually have on average about 6-8 games tops in one month - so we had A LOT to practice and prepare for...

Somehow throughout all of that madness and working our day jobs, we found some time to get some things checked off of our ever growing TO-DO List!

Going into December, we have finally checked the following off:

• Set a DATE! July 22, 2011!
• Booked our Church - Henry Chapel - the chapel to our church we are members at.
  
• Booked our Reception Venue - Heaven Events Center!
• Hired a Day-of Wedding Coordinator (THANK THE LORD! I think I would go insane if I didn't know she would be there to help me out!)
• Finished our P.R.E.P. for Marriage class at church! 
• Booked a Photographer! Elegant Imagery, they have a really unique and fun style!
• Met with 2 Florists, and are ready to book one! (Within our budget too - score!)
• Ordered all of our Bridal Party dresses! BIG SHOUT OUT to my HBSH Bridal Party! Thanks for being on top of things and getting this done so soon! :)
• Made a Wedding Notebook that holds all of our contracts, receipts, catalogues, business cards, and information we need to contact our vendors. 
• Figured out how to upload videos on here!!!! 

This is what our end tables consist of these days - my Wedding Planning Book, Notebook, Engagement Party book and Bridal Magazines.

All in all, for what we had to deal with this month, I would say we did a pretttttty good job!  There are days where I feel like we are way ahead of the game, and days where I feel like there is still SO much to do.  All I can do is stop, take a deep breath, and take it one day at a time.  My main goal in planning this wedding is to enjoy it.  So far, I haven't broken it yet....

Speaking of videos - I felt like it was a lot I would have to write to explain all that we did this month, so we decided we would have a once a month update video, starting with this one! Too bad the camera died right when we were ending in though...lol:

Happy December Everyone! 

Can't believe it's already here, I LOVE IT!!!

 231 days and counting...

Until next time,

Presh 

From The Singing Christmas Trees to Christmas Caroling!

Tonight we went to go see the annual production of The Singing Christmas Trees.  Last year, I got to be in the show - so I was excited to go and see the show as a spectator.

"O Holy Night" - The Singing Christmas Trees 2009

The Singing Christmas Trees is a tradition in Central Florida, and is put on every year by our home church - First Baptist Church of Orlando. The show features a huge choir, full orchestra, worshipful dance, powerful drama, and a beautiful display of 250,000 lights!  The background of the show is made up of 2 40-foot Christmas Trees filled with a choir from top to bottom and the show tells the Greatest Story of All...the Story of Jesus Christ.  

I thoroughly enjoyed performing with the cast and dancing for the Lord, but this year we have had too much on our plate in the last few months to permit me to commit to rehearsals.  So I turned in my dancing shoes this year, and planned on going to enjoy the show.  I was so proud of the cast, and felt blessed to be a part of such a great production.

Here I am with the girls in last year's production: 

I plan to be a part of the dance troupe in the future as much as I can, but for now all I can do is go and support them. Here I am with my parents and grandma to see the show this year!  

After the show, we were definitely in the Christmas spirit, and did a little bit of Christmas Caroling in the car.  It got pretty ridiculous, but this might have been one of the best songs in the car.  It was getting pretty good, so of course I got the camera out...

Later on, we decided to be dorks and do our version of Singing (in front of the) Christmas Trees! We're weirdos - but I love it.

 

Hope you enjoyed the Christmas Singing as much as we did!  Now time to get crackin'...