What Happens In Vegas...

...gets shared with the Hive!

Last weekend, I had the privilege of spending four nights in Sin City with 17 of my favorite ladies! Our flight from SFO was at 7am, so our journey began very early. Like...so early that I only slept 30 minutes before heading to BART.

Thank goodness for Go Girls.

On BART with a patronizingly happy MOH Meghan

Image courtesy of BM Sarah

 BM Sarah and MOH Meghan onboard our early flight

Yours truly making a ridiculous face.

Upon arriving in Vegas (at 830 am, mind you) we headed to our off-strip suite and met up with BM Karina. Since our room was not yet available, we slipped into our suits and headed out to the pool. Perhaps kicking off the day with Long Island Iced Teas wasn't the brightest idea, but we were in Vegas, afterall.

Our ginormous Long Islands

After floating down the resort's lazy river and consuming another adult beverage, BM Sarah decided it was time to harass the front desk again. While I napped in the lobby, she managed to finagle her way into our room. Hurrah! 

The combination of a lack of sleep, early drinking and greasy pizza ended up being a recipe for a night in, but we definitely made up for it on nights 2 and 3.

By Friday, my mom and aunts, the rest of my bridesmaids and more family friends had all arrived. I had a strict "no stripper" rule (seriously, I just can't hang with all that gyration), so while my mom and aunts went to Chippendales, the BMs and I headed out to the clubs.

As it turns out, wearing bachelorette gear will get you tons of free drinks and access to clubs. We were even invited to join a VIP booth with a group of Australian guys celebrating a bachelor party, but thanks to their lack of conversational skills, that only lasted a handful of awkward minutes before we scooted out of there.

 BM Karina, Me and friend Louise

(Above photos via MOH Brandi)

It was more fun just dancing with the ladies anyhow.

After some of us had (unfortunately) ditched our heels in favor of walking barefoot on the streets of Las Vegas, we managed to make our way into a cab and back to our hotel. The place we were staying had an on-site Denny's and booooy do I owe Mr. Denny for my hangover-free Saturday!

More lounging and tanning (OK, and drinking) ensued the following day.

MOH Brandi and I enjoying drinks by the pool

 Not sure what was going on here, but I was clearly enjoying myself.

And that night we headed out with our entire group to dinner at Le Village Buffet at the Paris Hotel.

On the shuttle to Paris with Mama Seal and BM Megan

Waiting in line for the buffet with BM Sarah and creeper MOH Brandi

After dinner, we decided to do a bit of gambling. Papa Seal had graciously given me a roulette allowance for the trip so I hit the tables - but sadly, Lady Luck was not on my side and all of said allowance was lost. :(

That was of no matter though, my ladies and I decided to head out for another round of club-hopping. Thankfully, BM Sarah (ever the negotiator and leader), setup our schedule and assured our entrance and off we went.

Having way too much fun in a bathroom mirror

Image via BM Megan

 At Serenity

BM Karina and Me

On Sunday, most of my friends, my FSILs and my family members headed back home. MOH Meghan, Mama Seal, a couple aunties and cousins, FMIL Seal and I stuck around for another day and took it easy.

Honorary Auntie Pam and Mama Seal on our way back from the Mandalay Bay

I wish I had taken more photos because sooo many of my favorite people made the trip out and my pictures don't accurately depict that! But the weekend really showed me what amazing loved ones I have. We all had such a blast and I am so thankful for each and every one of them!

What did you do for your bachelorette party?

Pulling Teeth...Literally.

Disclaimer: This post talks a lot about teeth. In particular, bad teeth. If for some reason you are sensitive to such a topic or just plain don't want to hear about it, kindly feel free to skip this one ;)

Today marks 22 days until our wedding. I'll soon (as in a few hours) be leaving to Las Vegas for my bachelorette party and I know when I return I'll only need blink twice and November 11th will be here. With that said, I can't quite be excited yet. Having been engaged for just a couple months shy of two years, I was certain that I'd be overcome with joy (and perhaps nerves) once the under-30-days mark hit.

But, as I said, I can't be excited quite yet.

You see, about four months ago I chipped a molar while eating a chocolate chip. Yeah. A chocolate chip (I told you I was a chocolateholic). Anyway, seeing as how I currently have no dental insurance, I thought I'd be okay with just thorough brushes twice a day, some mouth rinses and (since I'm being honest, occasional) flossing. Well, all was fine until about three weeks ago when I notice a bump below the gum line of my broken tooth. My heart sank because I knew what this was - an abscess. Considering abscesses are signs of infection, I knew I needed to seek prompt dental care.

Cue the full-blown anxiety attack.

 Not me, but a dude having an anxiety attack nonetheless.

Image via Cure Anxiety Attacks

Dental care for me meant, well, going to the dentist. And I am terrified of the dentist. Despite practicing good oral hygiene, I've always had "bad" teeth. When I was 6 I had to have two abscesses removed and two baby molars pulled and it hurt. Going to the dentist does not signal "a good time" to my brain.

It also meant coming up with more money as I'd surely have to pay out of pocket for any necessary dental work. I did some research and was actually able to purchase some affordable insurance. The only hitch was that it wouldn't be effective until November 1st. I realized my situation was pressing and required more urgent care so I made an appointment with a local dentist running an affordable deal on dental exams. While waiting for said appointment, I saw my regular medical doctor and was prescribed some medicine to tide me over.

And a week ago I went in for my first dental appointment in...years. I really think I was more embarrassed than terrified, but I went anyway. As I feared, the news was less than optimal. I actually had two abscessed teeth AND a gum infection. Yes, hive and I can't even believe I'm sharing all of this with you. Anyhow, considering my coverage doesn't kick in until the first of next month, they decided it would be in my best interest, financially, to start my work then. So, 10 days before my wedding I will be treated for my gum infection, and 9 days before my wedding I will have oral surgery to extract TWO molars.

This date with the oral surgeon and his pliers, my friends, is preventing me from feeling excitement about our upcoming wedding. The kind dentist assured me that the swelling will have gone down in time for my big day and proclaimed it was better to take care of the abscesses ASAP rather than running the risk of a dental emergency on the day of our wedding. Her logic is sound so I suppose there's not really away around it and that makes me sad and nervous.

I wanted to spend the week before my wedding stressing about OOT bags and assembling programs not laying in bed eating soup and wallowing in my guilt (because afterall it is my own fault) and self-pity. I also can't help but fear that the swelling will not actually have gone away and that I'll forever have wedding photos of me with swollen cheeks!

In summation, things can and likely will go wrong both before and on your wedding day. I don't really think it's possible to make lemonade out of lemons in this situation, but I am doing my best to have a sense of humor about everything. It's surely typical of my luck to experience this sort of misfortune prior to such an important day, but I will take it with stride...and a couple less teeth.

Keep smiling, kids! And go to the dentist every six months :D

Did you experience any sort of hiccups before your wedding? How'd you handle it?

Miss Seal Gets Beautified!: My Hair and Make-Up Trial

After a roller-coaster ride of making a hair and make-up artist decision, I've finally found the woman who will be making me up on the day of the wedding. Despite some previously unfortunate circumstances on the glamour-front, and having not budgeted any money for my day-of hair and make-up, I was left in quite the predicament. Thankfully, I have the most amazing family in the world and my parents graciously offered to pay for my dream vendor! A winning situation? I think, YES!

Anyway, enough jibber-jabber, let's get on to the good stuffs.

Last week, I met with the lovely Susie Chhuor for a hair and make-up trial and boy was I blown away! From the moment I sat down, I knew I was in good hands and knew that the unexpected investment would be totally worth my parents' money :)

What I typically look like without make-up:

Mr. Seal and I after completing Bay-to-Breakers in SF this past May.

Now, you may be wondering why I didn't show you what I looked like "before make-up" on the actual day of the trial, and I will gladly explain. The only picture taken of me without makeup that day was by Susie...and it was right after I got my eyebrows waxed. When I showed the picture she sent me to the Sealman, he (no joke) laughed for a full minute. Anyway, I'll let you see the picture below, but I just couldn't bear the thought of that photo being on the FRONT page of the blog for all to see and laugh at...because I totally look terrifying.

Back to the trial! After explaining/showing Susie my make-up inspiration (think very defined eyes and natural lips!), she got to work. I was excited to hear that Susie uses airbrush foundation as I've never had this done before. The result was a surprisingly "light" feel and complete coverage of my newly developed stress pimples! The expert then finished up my eyes and lips and we moved on to my hair.

As perhaps you recall, in addition to my cathedral-length veil, I plan wearing a beautiful headband I purchased off of Etsy. I therefore wanted a tiny bit of a "bump" on my head to allow the band to lay secure. My other requests were for lots of curls in the back of my head pinned up into a loose/messy kind of bun and for my bangs to be swept to the side off my face.

She sure pulled it all off effortlessly! Ready for the results?

Omg. Please disregard the double bags under my right eye and my crazy hair! I was running around trying to get my eyebrows waxed before the trial! (Mr. Seal....STOP LAUGHING!)

(All above photos/artistry courtesy of Susie Cee)

A sneak peek of the look with the veil and earrings ;)

 A little greasy a couple of hours in, but I'm naturally oily--I'll just have to keep a compact on hand!

A close-up of my hair after a couple of hours. (That loose curl is my fault--I was picking at a bobby-pin!)

 And me at the very end of my evening. Despite a bit of shine, the look was still completely intact.

PS - It seriously started to STORM the minute I decided to head home after the trial (like...full on buckets of water and gusts of wind) and regardless of the bad weather, my hair stayed in place and my make-up stayed fresh. With California's completely unpredictable weather, I am confident that my hair and make-up will withstand whatever weather my wedding day has to offer!

Now, with the the hair and make-up off of my mind, I'm feeling loads better about this whole wedding thing again.

What do ya think? Did you have a hair and make-up trial? How'd it go?!

Licensed to Wed!

Welp, kids...the Sealman and I officially applied for our marriage license and, I've gotta say, it was exciting.

We began the day by finishing up the very last of our church paperwork and - despite an onslaught of relentless rain - decided to take care of our license too.

At our local parish waiting for our letter of permission to get married in San Francisco.

(Don't mind my hair - we had just taken refuge from the torrential downpour outside. Mr. Seal was mocking me, but the joke is on him because I've just shared his goof-face with the world wide webzzz.)

Thankfully the town in which Mr. Seal and I live also happens to serve as the county seat, so we didn't have to travel too far in the storm to take care of our soon-to-be-married business.

I was well aware that I'd need to have made my name change decision by the time we applied for marriage and, thanks to some wondrous advice from all of you, was prepared to make my choice. (In case you all are wondering, I agreed with the majority and decided to drop my middle name, replace it with my current last name and take Mr. Seal's last name as my new one.) Despite having made said decision, I did have some mixed emotions upon seeing my new name written on its first official document - part of me was giddy, and another small piece of me was reluctant to bid adieu to my current last name (even if it is just shifting to the middle). I think it was more that I felt filling in a box on an application wasn't ceremonious enough - ha, but I suppose that's what the wedding is for, eh?

Anyway, the very sweet clerk had an infectious smiled and seemed to really enjoy helping us which greatly contributed to the experience! We both left with huge grins on our face.

Mr. Seal diligently reading "Your Future Together," the  booklet given to us along with our marriage license.

Wow. We're getting married! It's official ;)

Have you gotten your license yet? Are you changing your name? Was it weird!?

THE Band.

Woohoo, hive! I've got some great news ;) After over a year of searching - I've found a wedding band to pair with my engagement ring.

In case you all forgot what my e-ring looks like, here's a refresher!

 

This puppy is a three-stone diamond ring with 10 additional diamonds on the sides. It's gorgeous and I love it but it didn't come as a bridal set - in other words, we had to track down a matching band on our own. Originally, I wasn't too concerned about it and had fun trying on different styles. And then, after leaving the fifth jewelry store empty-handed, I became discouraged. I eventually ended up buying a band I wasn't crazy about but when I returned home and confirmed I was less-than-enthused with my choice, I decided to return it. So, as I normally do when let down, I put it all to the back of my head and forgot about finding a ring.

Until finally, about two weeks ago, I realized I really needed to find and purchase my wedding band because this wedding is rapidly approaching whether I ignore it or not. 

I thankfully had some help. FSIL Tracy and her mom come over every week for health chats and general catching up - I noticed her channel set wedding band and asked if I could take it for a test drive with my e-ring. She gladly obliged and I, then and there, decided I needed to find a ring just like it. 

And after some online research, the Sealman and I invested in this beauty.

(Don't mind my jacked up nails, I missed a trip to the salon)

Theeeen, perhaps for our fifth first anniversary...I'll get another ring for the top. (Except mine will be white gold.)

The top ring is borrowed from FSIL Tracy's mama for this photo-op. I approve of the symmetry.

What do you guys think? How difficult (or easy) was it for you to find your band?