A little bit of quality time is good for the soul!

We're going to Cici's!

With all of this non-stop wedding planning and packing I think it is necessary to have some personal date time with my fiance. I absolutely love saying that word. I only have a few more months to use it... so I try to throw it in there as much as possible.

We have been eating so well this past week. Who would have thought grocery shopping would do that;) But anyway it is Friday and we have decided to splurge. I know I know... what would Bob and Jillian say. It's all about portion control. But enough of that.

I've decided to not make this blog space about all the reasons to eat healthy. I really wanted to take the time to talk about taking personal time with the ones you love. I think in today's society we are constantly on the go. Whether we work 80 hours a week or merely fill our days with extra curricular activities... it is good to sit back and reflect. Spend time with the one you love and also for yourself. Sometimes I have to remind myself that as well.

So tonight... that's what we are doing. We're going to Cici's and catching up on all things wedding or not and putting packing on the back burner for just a little while longer.

Speaking of Week's Activities... I'll fill you in on the progress.

Monday: The Dallas Business Journal named Checkpast (my work) one of the best places to work in the Dallas/Fort Worth area for 2009. YAY! Also my aunt was in town from Houston. She had a teaching conference at the Gaylord Texan. Both Ray and I met her for dinner at Cracker Barrel and then ventured around the Gaylord. Gosh it was absolutely beautiful!

Tuesday: I booked blocks of hotel rooms for our wedding. Our guests will be staying at the Doubletree Hotel Dallas- Campbell Centre at North Park for $89.00 a night. What a deal! That night both Ray and I met up with Kaylan at the Ginger Man for our usual Tuesday special.

Wednesday: Ray met me at my office for a picnic lunch at Turtle Creek Park. He is absolutely amazing like that. I am so grateful for him.

Thursday: Kristin came to my office and we went to lunch at Chilis. It was soooo good to catch up with her. I've definitely missed her. Plus the chips and salsa are always amazing! That night I received an email from a local florist that I won her bridal bouquet at the Dallas Bridal Expo. We will be meeting next week to discuss my options! How fun:)

Friday: I went to make a payment at City Place. We set an appointment for Thursday to further discuss any details such as food, set up, and any questions we might have.
Tonight....Dinner for two at Cici's.

This Weekend: Saturday we have our last meeting with our cake vendor. Ray will further discuss his plans for his grooms cake. Plus we wanted to try champagne flavor just in case that is one we decide to go with. Cake at 11:00AM?!?! Sounds great to me:) Also that afternoon we will be meeting with our new apartment to sign our lease. Move our on August 14. It'll be closer than we think but I'm ready for the challenge:)

Next Weekend: My sister in laws will be in town on Friday, August 7. On Saturday August 8, all six of my beautiful bridesmaids will go with me to South Lake, TX to try on their dresses. I can't wait:) Thank you girls for all of your love and support.

UNTIL THEN....
Love,
Alicia

Let's Join a Gym!

Last night on How I Met Your Mother, the episode began with Ted Mosby talking his friends into joining a gym. While this of course was only a small section of the actual plot, it got me thinking. I really need to jump on the bandwagon and start working out more. I've allowed myself to fall back into the same routine and get lazy. Only a few short months ago, we were running long distances several times a week and now I find myself only going to the gym maybe once or twice a week giving minimal effort.

As a 24 year old this has honestly sadened me. I really need to motivate myself and get back into shape. I guess waiting for the next season of the Biggest Loser is not the answer... even though it is one of my favorite shows and feel that it has been a great motivator in the past.

I have attached a few pictures to remind myself and others what anyone is capable of. Last year a tradition that was not even my own transformed my life. For January 2008, Michael and Kristin Fant said they would run a full and half marathon for December 2008. For one year they would train and accomplish their goal. They enlisted our help. At first I was very adamant that I would merely "work out" with her... until one day I said "we" when discussing our goal of a half marathon. She held it to me ever since. I'm very thankful she did. For a person that couldn't even run a mile to a person who ran 3 half marathons in December 08, February 09, and March 09.

It taught me that you truly can do anything you put your mind to. It just takes dedication and belief. You can not complete your goal if you do not stick with it. There were days I was injured and I wanted to quit... But we didn't. I definitely have her to thank for it. Enjoy some pictures from our year of training and accomplishments!


First month of training... This is how you feel after a hot run.


You can never know how amazing TP is until it's gone:)


Picture after our "mock" half marathon and the boys 22 miles.


Ray and Michael after the Dallas White Rock Marathon


White Rock Marathon and Half Marathon


Cowtown Half Marathon Fort Worth, TX


Angie's Crazy Half Marathon, Houston, TX

I am ready to get started. I'll keep you posted on the progress... training for Cowtown Half Marathon 2010. Bring it on:)

Love,
Alicia

Moving on Out!

On Saturday, August 15, Ray and I will be leaving Plano and moving more into the city of Dallas to be closer to work. To be honest, I am filled with mixed emotions. I'm excited for the new chapter in our lives. Within a few short months after our move, Ray and I will be newlyweds. I love the sounds of that!

On the other hand we'll be leaving everything that we've become used to over the past two years. Our current home holds so many memories. I know it will be hard, but I do look forward to the challenge. I welcome the new experience and know this is merely temporary as we will be looking for our house within a year or two. But before we leave, I wanted to dedicate some blogging space to our current home in Plano.

Guest Bathroom


Picture of the front entrance of apartment


Living Room with new couches!


Master Bathroom!



Our park and training path


The bridge... where Kristin scared a poor old man:)


Mount Everest!

Here's to all the memories at our Plano Apartment. To our neighbors and friends who helped build those memories. To our running partners... we've shared laughs, tears, sweat, and hurt ankles (ok maybe just me). To every day of the past 2 years!

Love,
Alicia

Lights... Camera.... Action... PHOTOGRAPHY!

ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS!

Saturday, July 18, Ray and I met Amber in Hagard Park in Plano to take some extra engagement photos. I am so happy with how they turned out. She did an amazing job! Amber thanks for being such a great friend! Let's just say... that I had to be fearless in a few... those who know me will soon understand what I mean. Hint Hint... I'm "walking" very "tall."

Enjoy the pictures and thank you again Mrs. Amber Stephens for some extra photography!

Here are a few of my favorites:)

Ray and I on a trolley car




I LOVE YOU!


In the gazebo gazing up at my love!


Here's the picture I mentioned earlier.
This is a lot higher up than it looks... but Ray was right.
It is such a beautiful picture.
This ones for you baby.


On the bridge




Kissing behind a tree!


My beautiful Ring!


Fun artsy picture!

We've also hired Dorothy Gautreaux as our wedding photographer. More pictures will soon follow...

Love,
Alicia

We've booked our VENUE!

City Place Here we Come!

On November 14, 2009, Ray and I will be getting married at City Place in Dallas, TX at 6PM. It's official... Ray and I now have a venue and our date is officially set! I could not be happier. We're having the ceremony at 6:00. Cocktail hour and pictures at 6:30. Reception to follow!

Here are some fun pictures provided by the website:

I absolutely cannot wait to celebrate our wedding with our family and friends at such a beautiful location. Only 3 plus months until the big day! More details to come!

Love,
Alicia

My Bridal likes to Party!

Meet my Bridal Party!
I could not imagine our day without your love and support. You girls are the world to me and I can't wait to enjoy every minute of it with you! Thanks in advance for everything you've done for me throughout the years and for all the years to come!
I love you girlies:)

My best friends:) My college girls!


My beautiful Zellner girls and soon to be Sister-in-Laws!


The cutest little 2 year old flower girl ever! I love you Olivia!

Here are a few fun pictures of all my lovely ladies!


New Years 2009


Thanksgiving 2007?!?!


Baby Olivia Memorial Day Weekend 08


Drinks at the Comedy Club April 2009

Here's to all the moments to come!

Love,
Alicia

Wedding Planning!

So I guess it is no longer a secret... not that it ever was...but I absolutely love my fiance! I still pinch myself occasionally to remind myself that yes, I am engaged and yes, WE ARE GETTING MARRIED! OK, I really don't pinch myself... but I look down at my left hand and see the most beautiful ring and it's mine! I cannot believe that as of tomorrow it will be two weeks since Ray dropped to his knee and asked me to marry him. I get chills just thinking about it. The proposal was so special and meaningful. I couldn't have asked for anything better.

So now the fun begins!
Ray and I will be getting married on Saturday, November 14, 2009 in Dallas, TX. We are still working out the details about the venue but have it narrowed down to two. By this weekend, the decision will be made, the deposit will be given, and both Ray and I can cross one more thing off of our list. We have three months to finish planning the wedding. It has been a lot of scheduling, planning, and time consuming moments... but I've really enjoyed every single moment of it! Ray has been so helpful and thoughtful over the whole process. I couldn't imagine my life without him. I LOVE YOU PAPA BEAR!

So these are the details:
Venue: In Progress...
Photographer: Booked!
DJ: Appointment Set
Florist: eh... I love flowers but really can't see paying $1,000s of dollars for something that dies. So we'll see what direction we go in for this.
Invites: I'm making my invites. Should be fun!
Dress: I HAVE MY WEDDING DRESS!!!
Bridesmaids and Groomsmen Attire: I have ideas... but will put those to use on August 8th! Hopefully I'll be able to get my girls together for a fitting and choose a dress that day!
Bridal Party: I am so thankful for my 6 ladies and Ray's 6 groomsmen! They mean the world to us.
Register: Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Macys! (We've currently signed up at all three places... I love this part:)
Honeymoon: I WON A 3 Day All-Inclusive Trip to my location of Choice: Mexico, Bahamas, Dominican Republic! I am so excited. We'll of course extend our vacation a little... but how amazing!

I will of course fill you in on more details as they come along. I'm sure I'll be doing a great deal of posting in the next few months:)

SO ENJOY!

Love,
Alicia

Hello Fiance! Happy 4th of July!

I'm ENGAGED!

Let me start from the beginning. It all began on Friday, July 3, 2009. Checkpast and PFS had closed their doors for the holiday weekend and both Ray and I were getting ready for our Road Trip with The Fants to Oklahoma City for the July 4th Holiday. I was so anxious and excited because it has been since January 2008 since the four of us had taken a road trip together. Little did I know that this would be a trip like none other.

Friday, July 3: While Ray was taking the kiddos to Dogs Play, a daycare and boarding place, I was packing our suitcase. All of a sudden, I hear a loud crash and then a shatter. While packing, I had somehow knocked off one of our mirrors and watched as it smashed to the ground. Even though it is said to expect 7 years of bad luck for breaking a mirror, I was not phased. The morning had started off so well and I would not let this minor set back bring me down. But a good note to self... I will have to make a trip to Garden Ridge for another mirror in the near future:) Anyway our bags were packed, lunch was made, errands were ran, and by 4:00 it was time to head out to McKinney to meet Kristin and Michael. 3 1/2 hours later, a quick stop at the Oklahoma/Texas Border...

(picture I "borrowed" from Kristin!)

a pit stop at a local gas station, many tent and firework citings , billboard scrabble, knippleheimer songs, and dinner at Subway... we were finally in Oklahoma City. That night we took a trip to BRICKTOWN! It is said to be modeled after the River Walk in San Antonio! It was amazing. Well this is of course after our random stop in a field where a lot of local Oklahoman individuals were waiting to see fireworks. We couldn't make up our mind about staying or leaving... so after our second trip to the same spot in the field... and I'm sure many individuals were confused by this indecisive nature... we left for Bricktown for a better view! After viewing fireworks, we decided to continue walking. Ray said, "hey why don't we take some more pictures." I of course am always up for extra pictures to remember the moments. But what I didn't realize was this was our moment... the moment I had been waiting for for over 7 years....

MY PROPOSAL!


Alicia Rose Waldrup... Will you marry me?!?!
Yes of course!
(Well I said that after I said... Are you serious... don't play:)

Ray putting the ring on my finger


Looking at my beautiful ring!


The happy couple!


Group Picture after the proposal! I am grinning from ear to ear:)

..and here's a video of the whole thing (with great ambient music!!)

That night of course I could not sleep! I was so anxious and excited... and I think I stared at my ring for an hour just trying to soak in the fact that it was mine and this was real! What an amazing day. I am so thankful for my fiance... my love... as well as my great friends that mean the absolute world to me. I am so glad they could share this with us... plus you guys are amazing photographers!

July 4: Playing around at OU Campus
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!
After a quick continental breakfast at the hotel, we drove over to the OU campus.

THE FANTS and (soon to be) Zellners!


One of many 1,000s of statues and fountains at the OU Campus...
A perfectly placed bird poop dropping made this statue look sad...
So this is how we cheered him up:)

Group pic in front of the gigantic "O" donated by class of '07... I think:)

Later in the afternoon, we stopped by the Botanical Gardens. What we didn't know was that everything was FREE! Here are some pics of our trip!

Cute Bug hidden in the Garden

Mr. Frog Prince... I've already got my prince!

That night... we went to Nonna's for dinner and watched the storm pour in. Even though a little wet, we still rode a river taxi through Bricktown and ended in Skky Bar where we watched the fireworks over looking the Bricktown Ballpark! What an amazing night!

Dinner at Nonna's in Bricktown!

Sunday, July 5: On our last day in Oklahoma, we stopped at Waffle House and had an amazing breakfast/lunch... for some of us (cough cough Michael and Ray) we had a little bit TOO MUCH of an amazing meal... I was proud for you guys attempting the challenge... but it made me full watching you ! At least the trip allowed Ray to save the runaway eggs. Without him, 70 eggs could have perished...Or run into a parked car...

For our last trip in OK, we decided to stop by the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial. It definitely touched my heart. I remember as a fourth grader hearing of this tragedy... a federal building had just been bombed! It definitely hit a little too close to home for me.

Photos of the destruction




View of what now stands... 9:02: Our lives changed forever!
In remembrance of the 168 people who died!


Faith Sustains Us!


And Jesus Wept!

Let us remember that FAITH DOES SUSTAIN US!
It is in all times and especially in the most difficult of times that we should seek Christ and build a stronger relationship with him. It is in Him that we can truly understand redemption and sacrifice and be healed.