gone with the wind.

I feel very lucky to be able to fly home to the Empire State of the South, Georgia. I normally get to visit home once every summer, but with the exciting wedding events to come, I have been able to come home more than once for planning and such. I do believe I fall in love more and more with Georgia every time I come home. It's an illness I have, with how love struck I am for where I am from. I'd like to say that I just feel overly blessed to have been raised in a beautiful place with historical landmarks, friendly people, fried food and a history that I love to learn more and more about. If you've ever seen the famous movie, "Gone With the Wind" I can admit that I, in someways remind myself of Scarlett O'Hara. I can't decide wether that is good or bad. The famous ending scene of the film I catch myself thinking, "yeah, I'd do and think the same." She is just so obsessed with Tara and the South that she can't leave it. I have an issue, a stubborn issue where I see myself living in one place and one place only, and that's the south. And if someone suggests or throws out the idea of moving away from Georgia and going elsewhere, I have a mental breakdown. It's embarrassing and really horrible. It's a bad case of the Scarlett O'Hara. At some point in time, I know I will have to get over this because not all the stars align as you wish. But before I get over it, I'll continue to drool over my home and bask in the glory of its beauty while I've still got it. These photos are taken in my home town. The photo above is my favorite plantation home that is a part of the trinity, which consists of three historic plantations. Out of the three, this is my absolute favorite, "The Barrington Hall Plantation." My favorite time to visit is during the summer when all of the trees are green and the sun creates the shadows on the kelly green shutters. Im a sucker for architecture, which is why I love the plantation homes, but the big columns get me every time. I just love them. My favorite part of this plantation is the beautiful side gardens.

The gardens are so lush and deep with greenery & flowers. I always wish I could have lived during this time on a plantation and had my side garden to tend to. A place to escape to, read a book, think, have a garden party, a tea party you name it.

For my wedding, unfortunately I won't be having it in Georgia. The dream of a plantation wedding is out of the question. I can't complain though, because it was my decision but I decided I would rather have all of  my family and friends be able to attend in a common state we are all near, Utah, rather than having everyone fork over a leg and a arm to fly to Georgia. But Im pulling strings here to try and make my wedding reception as Southern as can be. I'm bringing in a lot of southern florals thanks to my florist from all parts of the south that remind me of all my memories growing up. We'll be having a lush garland across the vineyard tables of an assortment of green leaves, to give the look of kudzu that reminds me of my home. I know most Georgians hiss at the thought of kudzu, which takes over everything and creates a canopy of vines, but I have always loved it. To me, it has made Georgia have a bit of an exotic touch to it. Within the garland, on the chairs and for the bridal bouquet and bridesmaids bouquet I am having garden & spray roses. They remind me of the southern gardens, not to mention the rose garden bushes seen in the picture above in the plantations gardens. Finally I'll have a garland hung as decoration made out of palmetto palm leaves which resemble South Carolina's state tree, The Palmetto tree. This reminds me of my summers spent on my favorite island, Hilton Head Island. I've spent every summer there since I was a tike. It's a very special place to me. There has been talk of throwing some Spanish Moss in the trees at the venue to represent one of my other favorite cities, Savannah, Georgia. This isn't confirmed if I'll use it or not, but can you imagine the vibe it'll give? Holy Canoly, I can't even handle it. Let's keep our fingers crossed that this all comes together. Im hoping to make this wedding of mine feel as close to home as possible.

Im hoping on my 10th anniversary, or maybe my 1st (that's for sure wishful thinking) to have a whopping celebration with close friends and family on the lawn of my favorite plantation home in New Orleans. Now that would be a dream. But one day, one day, I'll celebrate my love in a place that I love and that would be the day. But for now, I am just as happy. I can't complain because despite the location, I'll be with my family and my dearest friends.

Like I said, sometimes my love for the south reminds me of Scarlett O'Hara's, and Zekey Zoo could resemble Rhett Butler in the sense that if he had it his way, which he probably will, he'd move to California and have no buts about it. And we'd just be reenacting the whole famous closing scene all over again with me whimpering, "Rhett, if you go, where shall I go? What shall I do?" He answers, "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn" and walks away into the fog. And there I sit, on my plantation steps weeping in despair.

How pathetically dramatic is that? I think both Zeke and I could agree that that is exactly how it would play out. In due time, I'll grow up, this I know. But for now... I'll obsess over my "Tara" while I've still got it.

yep. just like that. 

the hills are alive.

the hills are alive with the sound of UTAH. holy cow, can you get a load of this view? Because I cannot. Last night, the zoo and I took our second and final photo shoot session with the most talented Leo Patrone. This shoot was for engagements and we about went on an adventure to find the perfect spot. I think we got the best seat in the house of the valley. Leo has traveled all over and kept repeated himself saying, this looks like New Zealand. I was beyond excited when we were taking photos. I cannot for the life of me wait for these bad boys to be edited and ready to view. I'll keep you all posted! woohooo!!

spent.

holy moly me oh my. my life is consumed with wedding bells and planning. do i dare jump the gun and say it's a blast? eh... lets just say it has its ups and downs. i can confidently say, it's not as bad as i thought it would be. the days that are "bad" are just days when im mopping and most likely exaggerating the pain of it all. my mom has been a wonder woman, being all organized and all. she's such a trooper.

this past weekend the zoo and i had our photo shoot for engagements by my favorite photographer, leo patrone. i am so antsy to get back the proofs come monday. and because utah's weather hasn't been so friendly, and leo really wants the perfect scenery with the sun, we get the privilege to have another shoot with him next week. im super pumped. on another exciting note, zeke and i found a 1920's bungalow style home to rent for life! shizam! it's on the most magical street with big trees lining up on both sides. just what i was hoping for. the home looks like one you'd imagine in every halloween moving growing up, so my heart has been pitter-patter with all of the day dreaming going on in my head for the month of october. i just can't wait to decorate a  home! on a budget of course. next up is finally purchasing a external hard drive so i can actually upload photos on my computer of my southern island vacation. can't believe i have no room on this desktop.  oh and one more final note : we are jetting to the grand cayman islands in the caribbean for the honeymoon. say it isn't so....

books books all kinds of books.

books books, all kinds of books. here is my goal of wanted collected books. im a sucker for table books of all things fashion, travel, lifestyle, interior design and my favorite icons. one day, one day i'll have tables of books stacked and stack and read over and over again. it will be something zeke will call clutter, and it shall be mine all mine.

happy birthday, america.

America, the beautiful. Today is your special day, to shine in the american skies with your sparklers so high. We thank you for our freedom and rights and dedicate this day to you on the 4th of July! We're proud to be an American as we wave our flags so high, so Happy Birthday America, for you're one of a kind!

(apologize for the poor photo quality. my actual camera has some complications due to the sea on the island of hilton head and the thing has yet to repair, so the iphone I lean towards these days. blast...)

catching fireflies in the georgia skies.

That's right folks, IM ENGAGED, and tying the knot with the zeke squad come September 8, 2012! We could not be more thrilled and excited for the party that will be taking place with family and friends that we oh so adore!

I have so much to catch up on but first things first is the story of my so called "firefly." As you all know, the past couple of weeks I spent at home in Georgia and on vacation with my Mom's whole side of the family in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Before the trip to the island, Zeke jetted off on a plane to his first visit ever to the deep south! I was so excited for his arrival and to show him the stomping grounds of my beloved south. I'll get more into our high adventures in posts to come, but as for the proposal, that was unexpected and quite the surprise.

One night at home in Georgia, I decided to take Zeke firefly catching since he's never been before. Back where he is from, California, they don't have such a fly that lights up the sky, so he was pretty excited to grab our mason jars and catch the little boogers who glow in the night. I love firefly catching. When I was younger, it was a summer pastime with my neighborhood pals. We'd call them lightening bugs then, and sadly, we'd catch the lightening bugs at dusk and well... smash them and rub their glow on our skin so that our skin would too glow in the dark. Pretty sad and twisted that we used to do it, but I use the excuse that we were kids and we were curious and creative then.

My backyard is pretty spectacular, I must say. My parents have put forth a lot of hard work to make it as lush and beautiful as it is today. It's one of my many favorite things I look forward to when I come home in the summers, is to sit on the porch in my backyard telling stories, eating pie and watching the fireflies glow and listen to the cicadas "sing" their loud noisemaking songs. Even thinking of doing that right now gets me all hyper and giddy. I have such fond memories of spending time with my family and friends doing that. Along with my backyard comes the deep deep woods. I grew up exploring these woods as a kid with my friends. We did everything back there. We'd stay out late at night in the woods telling ghost stories in a circle spooking ourselves out still our skin crawled. We'd splash in the creek and hang around "pride rock" as we called it which resembled Pride Rock from the Lion King. I even remember the boys once hid in the woods and waited for us girls to show up and attacked us with paint ball guns. Now that was chaotic. We did all kinds of things back in the day that sadly I feel most kids at that age don't do anymore. But for me, Im thankful that I have those special memories and that they happened in my very own backyard.

Zeke didn't know this at the time, I guess he just felt that the moment was right while I took him back into the woods of my childhood and relived a pastime with him. It was  perfect timing because a heat lightening storm was rolling through and those are my all time favorite. We spent about a half hour trying to catch the fireflies, but we're having the worst luck ever. It was so dark that we'd lose the location of the fly instantly after it would glow. Finally Zeke screamed claiming that he had caught one! I was so pumped, so I crouched over to see the firefly in the palm of his hands but I couldn't see the guy glow. I was so confused, I thought for sure the firefly had died. And suddenly, I saw something slightly flicker... and it was a teeny bit yellow just like my firefly and then I realized that the Zoo had caught me a REAL FIREFLY, a beautiful yellow sapphire ring! My jaw dropped. He was proposing to me!! I was so caught off guard that I started laughing! I was so giddy. He just laughed too because we were so caught up in the excitement and in the reality of a special time to look forward to ahead. It was a special moment. One that meant more to me then I think he knows. Another special and very important memory added to the place that I grew up. Everything about those woods and my backyard have an even greater place in my heart now and I feel very lucky that Zeke is a part of it. June 22 was a night to remember. Thank the heavens above that the Zoo put a firefly on my finger so I can officially have him all to myself forever and ever. Can I get an amen to that?