Unscripted Love

I found true love...again! 

Matt and I adopted a puppy!

We have been searching for a male pup for quite some time.  It has been on my Christmas "wish list" for months now and on Sunday morning, we were in luck.  A breeder about 4 1/2 hours away got back to us and said she had two pups available.

So we immediately jumped in the car at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, drove to Petsmart, hit up the ATM and started off on a roadtrip.  After a long journey to Lamar, MO, we were greeted by Chance and Ceaser, two adorable Goldendoodle male puppies.  And after an even harder decision, we chose Chance, the more "chill" of the two and of course, the largest puppy of the litter.  At 9 weeks old, he's already 15.6 lbs!  Which is five pounds larger than his baby brother.

Our Norman, as we have decided to call him, is such a gentle, sweetheart.  Not only has he slept through the night, but he very rarely goes to the bathroom in the house and is learning commands quickly.

Here are some pictures of Norman!  There will be many more posts to come on the new love of my life.  (insert sigh)

Baby Norm

Our family!

And of course, we can't forget about Uncle Cooper!

A Flaw?

Women have strengths that amaze men...

They bear hardships and they carry burdens,

but they hold happiness, love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.

They sing when they want to cry.

They cry when they are happy

and laugh when they are nervous.

They fight for what they believe in...

They stand up to injustice.

They don't take "no" for an answer

when they believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have.

They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.

They love unconditionally.

They cry when their children excel

and cheer when their friends get awards.

They are happy when they hear about

a birth or a wedding.

Their hearts break when a friend dies.

They grieve at the loss of a family member,

yet they are strong when they

think there is no strength left.

They know that a hug and a kiss

can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.

They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you

to show how much they care about you.

The heart of a woman is what

makes the world keep turning.

They bring joy, hope and love.

They have compassion and ideas.

They give moral support to their

family and friends.

Women have vital things to say

and everything to give.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,

IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

________________________________________________

Never forget how wonderful you are.  Happy Monday!

thankful

Today I am thankful for --

My husband.  He's my rock, my smile, my heart.

My family.  They are my life support and provide me with laughter, love and memories.

Cooper, my pup.  He's my buddy!  And I can't wait for him to be Uncle Cooper :-)

My friends.  Whether old or new, near or far...all of them make me who I am.

Our house.  It's a work in progress, but we have finally made it a home...together.

Health.

Happiness.

A great career.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone.  Be thankful, not only for today, but every day.

"We've made it this far,

might as well keep going."

A Tuesday quote from Matthew Telken.

Why? Well, it's our one month anniversary!  Today, I woke up to Matt making me coffee, packing my lunch and playing our first dance song, Lucky.  And that is just what I'm feeling.

Happy Tuesday!

Aww. The Joy's of...

Road rage drivers.

So, it's Monday morning.  I'm in a great mood.  Christmas music is officially playing 24/7 on 102.5 (Delilahhhh) and I'm excited for the short week.

I'm just driving along and BAM.  A car ALMOST runs right into me.  They see me in front of them changing lanes, however, they have to rush to change into that lane as well, not caring if they hit me or not. 

What is it with road ragers?  Why are people so insensitive that if they do something wrong, they can't even bring themselves to give you the "I'm Sorry" wave.  Come on people!  I feel like I'm in a Seinfeld episode.

Jerry: "Where's my thank you wave?  I want my thank you wave!"

Well, the same goes for people who cut you off, tail you to no end and are beyond rude on the road.  I'll admit, I tend to be a fast driver, but by no means am I ignorant enough to not apologize when I've done something wrong, i.e. almost hit someone.

That is all.  My vent for the day is finished.

Hobby Lobby

I don't know about you, but I am quite the fan of Hobby Lobby.  And because this is me and Matt's "1st Christmas", I'm really excited to decorate the house to the max.  So I'm heading to my favorite store tonight to start getting creative.

This trip is supposed to be about finding the perfect wreath and materials to decorate it with.  See, I'm hosting the Weber Shandwick annual wreath-making party in a couple of weeks!  I have never made a wreath before, so the mass researching has begun and I'm super excited to start! 

Here are some looks I'm digging right now...

Of course, while I'm there I'll go down every aisle in search for amazing Christmas decorations.  They are having some great deals this week, which makes it the perfect time to go.

What are you creating this year for Christmas?  Anything fun?  Do tell!

Today I'm thinking about...

Delicious chocolate 'smores

Weathered furniture

(which reminds me of my to do list of actually "weathering" my furniture)

The Grand Opening of Forever 21 at The Galleria on Saturday

Tonight's episode of GLEE

And finally, something that is on my mind every day...

A puppy, just like this one

Happy Wednesday!

Veterans Day

A time to honor military veterans.

A time give thanks to those currently serving.

A time to truly appreciate freedom.

Goodbye Lewis, Hello Telken!

Well, it's official. I'm a Telken! It's been awhile since I posted an update, but the last few weeks have been a whirlwind of new journeys and wonderful memories. The wedding was wonderful, the honeymoon was amazing and our new adventure has begun.

I have so much to fill you in on, but becuase I don't have much time, I'll leave you with one of my favorite pictures so far. Thanks Mike for taking the most beautiful images. They are definitely holding me over until I get to see the professional pictures next week. (Also, many more images on Mike's blog, if you care to take a peek).

We're married!

Wedding Week...

...is here!!!

I can't wait for the celebrations to begin!

Tomorrow is our rehearsal and dinner at Hacienda. Friday is full of bridal luncheons and family dinners. And Saturday, well, you can guess what Saturday has in store. It's the day my new journey with the love of my life begins. The day I say "I do" and become a Telken.

So all I have left to say is... "BRING IT!"

Love,
Stevie Lewis (that's the last time I can say it!)

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Midwest weather is incredible. This year, we skipped from winter to summer and now, we've pretty much skipped the best season of all, Fall. It's cold and rainy and has been for weeks now. And the 10-day forecast is not looking too promising. I know, I know, the weather can change drastically in 10 days. But for now, I'm just going to keep humming "Rain, rain, go away."

And, looking on the bright side of things, I love wedding umbrella pictures! :-)

Hair Trial

So I had my hair trial tonight and it went perfectly. I honestly don't think these pictures do it justice, so you'll just have to take my word for it! We are doing a side bun, with curls and a braid and I absolutely adore it!

What do you think?

Back with the braid

Front with the swoop and the side bun

Back with my friend Arin's hair piece - my something "borrowed"

I didn't want to post pictures with the veil - those you'll have to wait until after the wedding. :-)

Good Honeymoon Reads?

So I'm trying to find the perfect book(s) to take with me on the honeymoon. Right now, the only book on my list is Dan Brown's new book "The Lost Symbol".

Any other good suggestions?

Too bad I already read the Twilight series. Edward would have made a nice tag-a-long.

Our First Wedding Mishap

It had to happen. Right? Of course it did. The infamous transportation issues that most wedding parties have happened to us just about two weeks before our big day. Why? Becuase they are evil, that's why.

Our vendor, Country Club Limosine, had the perfect party bus. 41 passengers, perimeter seating, a bathroom! What more could you ask for. When we booked in April, they said they were renovating the bus and it would be ready in June. So we signed the contract.

Mistake.

After a follow-up call in June, we find out that the bus is not finished and may not be finished in time for our wedding. Come on people! How long can it realistically take to put in an engine!? So we had them switch us to their only other 41 passenger bus. Mind you, this was in JUNE!

Yesterday, Matt got the call. 18 days before our wedding, they told us that they double booked us by mistake and that the other couple signed the contract first. Excuse me?! And yes, I had my first real bride meltdown at my desk, at work, in front of people. It was not a good day.

So, Matt and I got busy finding a solution. Luckily, his friend and softball teammate owns STL Road Pony. For all of you who live in St. Louis, you may have seen this fancy bus driving around the city. It's bright blue, has red leather perimeter seating, a bar, a dance floor, and that's right, to top it all off - stripper poles. Check it out!

I'm not upset anymore because this is a whole lot cheaper and I'm sure it will be a lot more fun! So, the point of this ranting post? Don't use Country Club Limosine. They. are. no. good.

On to a brighter subject, the wedding is 17 days away. Things are going smoothly, numbers are in and we are actually under (which is fab!), I have my hair trial tonight and I just can't WAIT for this day to be here.

If I have time, next blog post is Lynn's wedding!

Can't stop moving!

I haven't blogged in awhile. And it's not because I don't have anything to say, because I do. It's because I am SO busy that I haven't had anytime to get stuff written down! As I write this, I'm at the airport, waiting for my flight to Philadelphia for a FedEx Racing event.

Can't wait to get there though. It looks beautiful!

I come back tomorrow night, it's a short trip. But I have to get back to the office to prep for my FedEx NFL event in San Fran on Monday and Tuesday of next week.

And no, I'm not finished yet...I get back in town only to have my last dress fitting and get ready for Lynn's wedding (Matt's sister) which is October 3rd. It really is neverending these days.

So you may ask how wedding planning is going. Well, it's not, really. I have a giant list of to do's with no time to check anything off! Hopefully after I get through these events, I'll have some time - I have to make time because the wedding is 30 days away tomorrow.

One month. One month, people. Can't wait.

I can hardly wait another minute!

Tonight is the night for some show choir and show-stopping dance moves! Yippee!

And Biggest Loser next Tuesday? Man, I'm in trouble with all of these TV shows....

Hellloooo Fall!

Dear Fall:

I have to admit, you are my favorite season. It used to be Spring, with all of the fresh flowers and rainy days, but you have pushed your way past and are sprinting full force ahead. What do I love about you, you ask? Well, I adore...

• The changing leaves
• Pumpkin Spice Lattes from Starbucks (yum!)
• Crisp evenings
• Cardigans
• Less and less yardwork
• Organizing!
• Hot tea
• The thought that I can make Alpine Chicken all too soon
• Changing out my wardrobe and buying new necessities
• And...the big thing...knowing that my wedding is just. around. the. corner.

So welcome Fall! Just do me one favor, make sure you don't bring really cold temperatures and cloudy skies on October 24th. I'd like the prettiest day of the 2009 season.

Your fan,

Stevie

Wait a minute, Mr. Postman!

That's right, folks! The invites are officially out. This definitely makes the wedding seem all too "real", but I can say that I'm so excited for October 24th and honestly can't wait to start this new journey.

Many of you already know, but mom actually designed these invitations herself. Not only are they amazing and unique, but they are made with love, by the MOB herself! I couldn't be more impressed with how they turned out and I'm stunned by my mom's creativity with this HUGE project. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Bachelorette Party and Updates

If we're facebook friends, you have most likely seen the hundreds of pictures that were posted about my bachelorette party in Kansas City. Some needed to be taken down (thanks Jennifer) and others were just hilarious. I tried to pick my favorite pics from the weekend, but just looked at what I uploaded and I have a ton to share!

First night: Friday night, we all went to dinner at XX (can't remember the name!) in downtown KC at the Power & Light District. I've been out there before, but it's always so much fun! After dinner, we went to a piano bar, country bar (too bad the bull was broken) and a dance club.

I am so lucky to have been surrounded by my close friends AND family. All the girls got a long incredibly well, which is always a bit iffy when bringing so many groups together.

So who came? We had my mom, Matt's sister Lynn, and my sister, Jenny. Jenny threw a fabulous bachelorette party. Thanks sister! Then we had my oldest friends: Arin, Andrea, Jennifer, Danielle, Erin and Lisa. Matt's group of friends came as well, and from all of my posts, I'm sure you have seen how close I am with them. There was Lisa, Lisa, Tara, Tammie, Allyson and Heather.

The whole group! Minus my mom, who is taking the picture.

The Fab Four! Reuniting a year later, and a few times in between. Dancing on stage at the piano bar. Very embarrassing when sober. The PCH crew Not that I really need one...just a funny picture

"All the Single Ladies!" (Well, at least the unmarried ones)

My besties

Dancin' the night away

My wonderful family!

Day 2: Saturday night we all laid out at the pool, relaxed and got ready for the lingerie shower. These pictures are a little out of order, but I'm too lazy to rearrange them. So, my mom and Jenny totally decorated our suite! They put up bachelorette signs, had cookies, cheese and crackers and even decorated cups with my face on them for each girl there. It was a blast!

Here we are at Kona Grill. A fab restaurant on the Plaza, where we stayed out on Saturday night. If you look closely, you'll see that Matt joined us. Yes, Jenny did buy an inflatable muscle man and put Matt's face on it. Trust me, it was a hit!

At the shower when I got my goodies...and Matt.

Being a bachelorette is fun!

Skip to the end of the night...good ol' ball and chain

I guess I carried him around all night. If this isn't true love, I don't know what is.

All the bridesmaids!

Right after the lingerie shower. So happy Aunt Linda and Heather were able to join us! And thanks for all the presents, everyone!

Getting ready to paint the town red. Holla!

It was such a great weekend! Love ALL of you.

So, on to some updates:

• We had our tasting. All I have to say, is get your taste buds ready and come hungry! We didn't change a single thing on the menu, everything was absolutely delicious
• I had Lynn's bachelorette party this past weekend and I can't believe her wedding is just around the corner. If you don't know Lynn, she is Matt's sister and is getting married 3 weeks before us. The Telken's have a busy month!
• Invites go out on Saturday! Can't wait until people start responding. And FYI, my mom did the invitations all by herself. She did the most amazing job and I'm so happy she was able to contribute her talents to this wedding
• Hair trial has been set! Last fitting has been set! Now we're just going through all of the last minute to do's....which is growing by the minute
• Matt's bachelor party is this weekend at the Lake - hopefully everyone comes home safe and sound
• Just found out I'm traveling 3 times in September. Oh well, it will make the wedding get her faster
• Next shower is on the 29th and it's being thrown by Darla and Lynn Telken. Can't wait!

Ok, that's all for now. I know...huge blog post, but I haven't caught up with you all in awhile.

Talk soon!

Busy Busy!

What a crazy summer! I can't believe we're already into August and I have just over two months to go until the wedding. Well, let me get you caught up on what I/we have been up to!

We went to Chicago a few weeks ago to visit some friends - Arin, Josh, Jen, Jason - the list goes on and on! And it was even better because Amanda was up there that weekend, so we got to hang out the entire time!

Day 1: I went shopping with Jen and Arin and then we went to a delish dinner with our significant others, plus Choi and Tesha. Afterwards? Out!

Day 2: Annual Kegger on Campus at Jen and Cassandra's and then out again!

It was a crazy fun weekend and it's always sad to head home.

Next up, Emily's bridal shower! Because Em and I are unfortunately getting married on the same day, we decided to have each other to a bridal shower and will eventually plan a weekend away after the wedding to share all the fun details!

My gift to Em and Brandon -

What else...

• I had Lynn's shower (Matt's sister). I can't believe they are 2 months away! I got her the same type of frame as Emily and Brandon's...very cute
• Matt and I are doing more housework. We're in the middle of painting the guest rooms and rebuilding the hallway closet. Only a few more to do's and we'll be done with the inside of the house for a few months.
• So many friends are getting puppies! Tara and Derek got a yellow lab puppy named Santino, AKA Sonny. Heather and Mike got a mini goldendoodle puppy named Albert. And Arin and Josh finally got Yogi! I'm so jealous of everyone and can't wait until March when Matt and I pick out our puppy.
• This weekend is my bachelorette party in KC! I can hardly stand the 2 day wait I have. Obviously there will be a post dedicated to the party and I can't wait to share the details.

That's all for now. Phew!