I may be getting married in June but I'm Certainly no June...

Im no June Cleaver, that is

I've said it before and I'll say it again. I am a terrible cook. I'm okay with this this fact. really I am. I'm al a fast learner and have been ever so slowly trying my hand at this mystery wizardry called cooking.My first adventure as you all know from previous posts was Christmas Dinner. Except for a few tears and some burnt Crescent rolls I would say the dinner was successful. Mr. Coastie said he liked the burnt rolls (yeah right) but at least he was a good sport. The rest of the dinner aside being quite beige (not much color, Tom Colicchio would certainly have Padma telling me to pack my knives and leave for the lack of color and plating creativity) was delish if I d say so myself. and Mr. Coastie got totake a bucn of left overs on duty for the remainder of the week. And if he was just being nice and didnt actually like my dinner, ill never know and at least it looked pretty:

The remainder of Christmas was great, we went to the Movies to see Chronicles of Narnia and drove t check out some Christmas lights. Im loving this mini vacay from the life of a Med student! We're having Christmas number 2 with my parents in a few days when Mr. Coastie gets off duty and then we're both off to the Capital One Bowl for NYE and to see Michigan State vs Alabama (my parents Christmas gift to us) Its Mr. Coastie's first bowl game so it should be fun and we get to spend NYE in Orlando with one of my Bridesmaids and her boyfriend!

Hope everyone had a fabulous Christmas and Ill leave you with some pictures of our little Christmas morning

Its Beginning to look alot like Christmas!

One week until Christmas Eve! I love this time of year, its absolutely my favorite, I love the weather and the fun and the parties and the food  and new years and remembering what its all about (giving myself a spiritual check up, Christmas is a good time to make sure youre on the right path when it comes to God).

This Christmas is going to be a VERY different one.  Mr. Coastie is unfortunately on duty Chrismas eve and Christmas Day and can't leave town. Thus it will be our first Christmas just the two of us. Im (well WE're) going to attempt to cook a big Christmas dinner for ourselves and everything! For those of you who know me you know what a scary thought this is. I imagine there will be lots of phone calls made to Momma Doctor and Momma Coastie by the end of the night. whats on the menu you ask? Well I figured we just cook a chicken since there is only two of us no need for turkey, plus its SUPER easy to do a whole chicken (ive actually done it before!) so we'll do a whole chicken stuffed with some veggies like onions and carrots garlic, of course were going to do mashed potatoes, Im not attempting gravy, my mom is making me some that ill reheat. after all it IS our first time, you think i can handle gravy? I dont! were also doing stuffing and I want to make green bean casserole as well. So if anyone has any good easy recipes/ suggestions for me let me know!

Last week when we were home we decorated my families Christmas Tree and It was really nice to have Mr. Coastie be a part of it this year, it was a fun little moment! Momma Doctor even bought us our first ornament for our own tree

So yesterday when I got to Mr. Coastie's (after an agonizing 8 hour drive post 4 hour exam) I arrived to an adorable little tree decorated with gator ornaments (good choice Coastie, good choice)  so we put up our stockings and added our new ornament (above) and the ones we bought at Brunner's Christmas Wonderland (world's largest Christmas store, its in Frankenmeuth, It was on the travel channel and its AWESOME) last year. and voila we have our very own (Charlie brown-esque) Christmas Tree and our stockings (hand made by Mr. Coastie's mom) hung by the fireplace :)

Im officially 1/8th of a doctor!

First semester of medical school is officially done! It feels nice to know that Ive made it here. it seems like just yesterday my roommate and I were freaking out the first week of school wondering how we were going to get through. And here we are! on the other side of semester one!

the next thing on the list is White Coat Ceremony. Ive been looking forward to that since they day I got accepted to school. its not a fancy to do we really just walk across a stage and get a coat put on us, but its my very first REALY white coat, name embroidered and all (even though I'll have to get my name taken out and redone over the summer). Its happening at the end of January and since we only get 3 tickets Mr. Coastie won't be able to come (but thats okay because its the same day as one of his REALLY good friends from home's wedding, so it gives him an excuse to miss it and get to go to Michigan)


I must admit there is something fabulous about knowing that I have nothing to do (but wedding planning of course) for 2 and half weeks! we do ahve some assigned pharmacology reading but chances are ill not be doing that over break. It sounds lame but excited to watch TV again. I miss my terrible Bravo shows!

Im lucky i get to spend a few days with Mr. Coastie and the  after break he's coming to soFla for 9 whole days!

Also Just last week we got a chance to go to one of my old friends weddings. I love weddings. im a sucker for them and I always cry. no really ALWAYS. you dont even want to know how badly ill be blubbering at our big day. In any case it was tons of fun and even though it was in the midst of finals im glad I got a chance to go! so just a quick congratuations to the new Mrs. Peters! you looked beautiful melissa :)

long breaks are always too short

Welp, here we are on the flip side of a "long break" funny how my entire week off seemed like just a day off. regardless of how short it may have seemed thanksgiving was still a much needed rest. I've got 3 weeks straight of finals and then I will have officially made it through my first semester of medical school. crazy. I remember back in august when I felt like this semester would never end, when I was scared and confused and overwhelmed at the idea of being in medical school. and now? I'm in a groove. Ive figured out how this all works and am settled into a routine and a way of life that is incredibly difficult and taxing but I love it none the less. Some days all I wonder if I'm crazy for doing this but most days I know this is where I belong. The next three weeks will definitely be crazy I've got 3 exams a practical and an OSCE so lets cross our fingers i come through unscathed! and then its Christmas break! I've got lots on the agenda for the break as far as wedding planning goes. Bridesmaid dresses, tuxes, registry, booking hotel, several craft trips to michaels and making/addressing save the dates. so I'll definitely be busy!

over thanksgiving I had a meeting with a florist to discuss flowers and centerpieces etc. for the wedding. I should be getting a mock up/ proposal and quote in a week or so and will be deciding if I'll be using her. Most likely I'll end up making my own centerpieces to save money but i figured if she is doing our bouquets and bouts i might as well see what she comes up with for the centerpieces as well! as far as bouquets are concerned Im still looking at things like this:

I spent the rest f the break studying, bummer, i know. we had our thanksgiving dinner on friday so that Mr. Coastie could be in attendance since he was on duty on thanksgiving day. So even though it was a day late it was just as yummy!

Saturday we tried to go to the FSU/UF game but couldn't get tickets so we just spent some time tailgating with  Seminole MOH and Brother Groomsman which was tons of fun, until of course my gator boys lost. terribly. oh well you can't win em all!

And last but not least, just before break my roommate and I got our appartment into the christmas spirit, we decided that since we don't have a fireplace, we improvised and made one (reason number 400 the chalk board wall is amazing!)

note the flames (drawn by me) and the stockings (real) pinned to the mantle (fake, drawn by the roomie) oh and of course our immaculately decorated Christmas tree!

commence holiday season :)

We're complete!

as you all (may or may not) know I have introduced to you all but one of my bridal party members. up until now I had been saving one spot. I started a new phase in my life not long after I got engaged and I knew that I would most likely meet someone in this new place that I wanted to share my day with so I decided to save one bridesmaid spot.  I am happy to announce that the bridal party is officially complete!

I decided a few weeks ago who I wanted to ask to be a part of the wedding. She has become a very close friend and certainly the best friend that I have here in South Florida. With alot of people around me in this new setting turning out to be not the person i thought they were she has remained true and there for me through it all. we've suffered through exams and nights out and gossip and even emergency room visits together. So while we havent known each other for that long I feel very blessed to have her in my life and am very excited for her to be a part of Mr. Coastie and I's big day. 

so over an oh so fancy dinner at friendy's I popped the question: will you be my bridesmaid. and after some ridiculously loud screams that warrented funny looks from our waiter (who later congratulated me on my wedding and her on her "new position as a bridesmaid" ) she said yes. and of course she immediately went home and look up yellow heels and emailed me a list of websites.clearly shes going to be a great bridesmaid.

so without further ado I introduce to you Dr. Bridesmaid:

Sneak peak!

our photographer just sent me the sneak peak of a few of our engagement pictures!! eek im VERY excited, we should get them all back in about 2 more weeks but check feel free to check these few out

Our photos were done by Linsey at Lindsey Lou photography . she is GREAT and I cant wait to see the rest of them :)

Coming soon!

Im so excited I can barely contain it! Our Engagement pictures are done!! We havent seen any of them yet and should be getting a preview by the end of this week and all of them in 3 weeks. Im so very excited to see them. We had ALOT of fun shooting them. the first half were taken at Railroad square art park which is a nifty little place in Tallahassee that has tons of colorful backdrops. the second half we went for something fun and headed out to a playground for a few fun shots. Im so excited to see how they turned out and can't wait to get our save the dates made and sent out. ill post a link as soon as the preview comes out!