Tag Archives: bachelorette

Weddings are getting very Pindictable.

Posted in being single, internet, love, photography by

pinterest someecards
Disclaimer: I am not engaged, I am not fishing for a proposal from my boyfriend, I am not in a rush to get married. But. I am a girl. And we love weddings.

I am free-falling fallen into the abyss that is Pinterest. As described perfectly in many someecards, it is a place we can go to feel hope that if we just see enough pictures, we will get in shape, paint beautiful nails every day, bake perfect cupcakes, make homemade crafts at every occasion, and host terrific parties. As a teacher, I pinterest my heart out thinking “oh now my room will be organized! All my children regularly assessed and progress tracked with ease! Everything color coded! New vocab games daily!”

Of course, the reality of my life is that I never stick with a work out long enough to see any progress, I bite my nails, I eat so much cake batter I never end up with a dozen cupcakes, and my classroom management policy is more like “nobody died, everyone heard about Jesus…great day.”

wedding dressesIt is true that every little girl dreams of her wedding day…I can totally remember thinking about my wedding; dancing and making toasts and being the most beautiful girl in the room. While this is dangerous to admit out loud while in a serious relationship (I can already imagine my boyfriend’s palms beginning to sweat as he reads this), I recently (and sheepishly) began a “secret” Pinterest “Wedding” board. (Ah, you crafty social media people! How well you know me! I love secrets!)

And sometimes, late at night, after a happy hour or two, I find myself mindlessly scanning page after page, pinning, “liking,” watching the music videos people make of their weddings and crying over the happiness of strangers. (click here to lose HOURS OF YOUR LIFE TO LOVE.)

At first, I felt so inspired! Look at all these great ideas! How unique! How special and memorable my wedding will be!

gorgeous

gorgeous

But lately I’ve realized that these are all starting the look exactly the same. There’s almost like a formula for them.

  1. Select outdoor location with stringed white lights everywhere. Places with brick, barns, oceans, are preferred.
  2. Have some sort of new take on buffets – donuts, candy in glass jars, popcorn, ice cream sandwiches.
  3. Bridesmaids MUST be in cowgirl boots. Groomsmen should wear chucks.
  4. PHOTO BOOTH. MUSTACHES.
  5. Bride and Groom must write each other adorable letter to accompany expensive gift (jewelry for her, watch or “man cave” things for him). Letter to be read aloud with respective wedding party as you get ready.
  6. Write your own vows. Use words like “biggest cheerleader” “be a better man” “never knew I could love like this” “marry my best friend.”
  7. MASON JARS. Mason jars EVERYWHERE.
    boots

    everyone and the boots these days!

    favors

    adorbs. i’ll never drink it. too cute.

  8. Work in a fiddle, mandolin, or friends wearing hats and oversized glasses playing guitar.
  9. Have cool things on wooden or chalkboard signs, like “Grub,” “Whiskey Bar,” “Cigars,” “Games.”
  10. Employ as many precocious children as possible, preferably with flowers in their hair, or a sign that says “Here Comes the Bride” in their grubby little hands.
  11. Pass out favors so ridiculously adorable that no one will want to eat them.
  12. SPARKLERS OR ELSE IT WASN’T REAL.

Now, I love looking at all the pictures. Pinterest is like getting a new magazine in the mail every time I open up the internet. I can’t stop looking at all the pretty. But everything gets so cute and tiny and colorful and special and unique and personal….after a couple of hours none of it looks very special at all. But I do hope that all the Wedding DIY stuff and Etsy bits will help brides on a budget plan the day of their dreams.

And when that day comes for me…I think I’ll just look at Pinterest and select a few solid traditional ideas to mix in with just enough personal detail to be unique but not annoying, throw it in mason jars wrapped in burlap, and get hitched in happiness forever.

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SixPackSean Proposes! (Spoiler)

Posted in being single, boys, love, television by

catherineFinale! Sean’s sweet family shows up to help him with his decision, including his niece and nephew! Adorbs.

Katherine: I like her style. I appreciate that she seems super low maintenance – very little makeup, and simple dresses and heels. I just can’t get over how much she talks about “he’s taught me so much about myself” and “he makes me feel good about myself” and “me me me.” She barely talked about the great stuff about Sean. And it’s also a little weird that she keeps saying “I was so skeptical about this process” and it’s kinda like…why would you even come on a show that you were skeptical about?

Lindsey – baby voice. Ew. Is Sean ready to listen to that for the rest of his life? I’m having a hard time with with these first minutes.

I liked Sean’s dad. You can tell this is how Sean learned to be such a gentleman and be so sweet and have the right words that make women cry. It’s a good preview of how Sean might be. Lindsey has the advantage in the innocence department…she pulled the faith and values card with mom, which is a good move.

Mom brought the heat to Sean. And Sean points out, “you’ve seen 20 minutes.” Thinking about how I’ve dated, I can’t imagine what sort of impression I would make on a family in 20 minutes. If I were bringing men around to meet my family to get their opinion, we’d need to do it my family style. We’d start with happy hour in the backyard, maybe play some badminton, make him play with the little boys, then eat too much at dinner, make a dessert like a layered cake that slides right off the top, play Bananagrams or Scrabble, and then get our second wind and go out to karaoke. THAT would see how well he fit in. None of these sober lunch dates while we’re all sweating bullets and swatting bugs.

who would have thought...

who would have thought…

Lindsey has a good sense of humor I think…and she’s come so far from the girl getting out of the limo in a wedding dress. But the baby voice drives me bananas, she wears a lot of makeup, and just seems really immature. I think she *wants* to settle down and be married and start breeding with Sean. But I think she would be happy doing that with anyone.

Catherine freaks out over a “majestic” elephant, which is pretty cute. Lindsey has baby voice, and I’m gonna say Catherine has “bored Asian voice.” I’ve met many a Crazian with the graty/surfer tone that says both “I’m so excited” and “I’m about to throw up” in the exact same tone.

Like any hot-blooded female, I can’t help but enjoy Sean’s gratuitous shirtless scenes as he monologues into the distance about the future. Watching him get emotional about his “future wife” endears him to me even more…I’ve just been rooting for this guy.

So the final ceremony….we’re all waiting to see who gets out of the limo first, since usually she’s the one who gets the goodbye. And it’s Lindsey! As did the “live” studio audience, I loved it when she got pissed, took off her shoes, hiked up her dress, and hiked out of there. But on these shows, I have a hard time with girls at the ripe age of 24 whining about how they just want to settle down and love someone. I have changed so much in between 24 and 28; I’ve learned so much about myself, what is important to me and in a relationship, my communication has improved, etc. I thought I would be married at 23, but I’m so glad I was not!! I’m happy to be 28 and in an awesome relationship, but confident my life won’t be over if something should cause us to break up.

proposalThe proposal scene was pretty cute…we all teared up, even the second time we watched it at the ATFR live special. She just seemed shocked and excited all at once. And then they rode off into the sunset on a majestic elephant…just as every little girl dreams…right? :)

I’m happy with this season. Des as the choice for the next Bachelorette seems predictable. I didn’t like her very much at the end of her run, but maybe I’ll warm up to her. For now, it’s time to say our goodbyes to Sean and wish he and Catherine the best of luck.

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SixPackSean: Bachelor Finale Fiesta!

Posted in being single, boys, life, love, television by

seanTonight is the “most dramatic finale EVER” experienced by Bachelor Sean and his washboard abs. Will he choose prankster military brat Lindsey, who talks in baby voice and at 24, is “ready” to settle down and begin breeding with Sean in Dallas? Or will he choose free-spirited vegan blogger and nose-ringed Katherine, whose sisters intimated she might not be ready to mesh her life in Seattle with Sean’s dreams of family?

admit it...you kinda miss her, too.

admit it…you kinda miss her, too.

I’ve enjoyed the montages of shirtless Sean, the unnecessary shower scenes, the Tierraristic ways of the eyebrow raised around the world, the over-the-top dates (in an ice castle? polar bear plunges? cave swimming in Thailand? Remind me why I’m not on this show!!). Sean has stayed surprisingly classy throughout the show…as a Christian who is also saving herself for marriage, I like that he was clear about his intentions for the Fantasy Suite, and that he has been a gentleman with all the women, and I can’t begrudge him for making out in all the romantic situations because…I totally would, too. I appreciate that ABC even gave him a go, considering how “vanilla” this guy seems to be. But he has showed us the adventurous sides, the prankster sides, and the nerdy sides of himself that have made him more than eye candy. He’s been pretty endearing throughout, although heavy on the cheesy one-liners.

So tonight, we celebrate his choice, and the three hour finale we will have to endure in order to witness it. At my house, the champagne will be flowing, the desserts highly present, and the estrogen at record levels. We will have Bingo specifically designed for this episode, and be trying out Pinterest hair and make-up ideas during commercials.

I'm not sure shower scenes are necessary, but....if we must!

I’m not sure shower scenes are necessary, but….if we must!

Throw the Ultimate Bachelor Party with us! Here’s my blog from HuffPo about it, and the updated Bingo Terms for tonight’s episode:

  • Free space for “love”
  • “final rose”
  • “falling in love”
  • “intense”
  • anyone cries
  • Sean’s six pack
  • “journey”
  • “scared of getting hurt”
  • “I didn’t think it would be like this”
  • hot tub scene
  • talk about future life together
  • watch a sunrise or sunset
  • a limo
  • a helicopter
  • crying
  • “family is so important/everything to me”
  • “my future wife”
  • reveal a fear or secret
  • “husband”kissing underwater
  • “come so far”
  • making out in water
  • “I missed you!”
  • Sean offers a toast
  • Chris counsels Sean
  • “Will you marry me?”

Have fun! Good luck! Tweet me your pics :)

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SixPackSean – Hometown Dates! Sean Tells All!

Posted in being single, boys, life, love, television by

I'm not sure shower scenes are necessary, but....if we must!

I’m not sure shower scenes are necessary, but….if we must!

Four women. Four hometowns. Four “meet the parents.” Very exciting!!! Sort of. Probably more so because I was eating ice cream at the same time.

ashLee

ashLee

AshLee - I think she might be looking to make a career in romance novel writing. She just spits poetry jams about Sean being “the one” and “falling in love” and “never thought I would feel this way” and blah blah blah. It’s all very fairy tale, which is great, until she says things about how much she loves Sean because he talks just like her dad and reminds her all day long about her dad. It crossed into creepy. I wish I could like her, but I can’t. Something is very flat and wanting in her elocution and personality…and using the polar bear plunge as a relationship metaphor was a reach.

Katherine - She’s grown on me. Her date was the most like something I would actually do – photo booth, making wishes, walking through farmer’s markets, etc. She’s outgoing, goofy, unself-conscious. And it’s also just refreshing to see a top four contender who isn’t taking the Bachelor to her little farm or military outpost. Ie an ethnic girl who lets Sean into her Filipino culture.

"we should totally hike together...alone...in the forest...forever...."

he is really unattractive, isn’t he.

this is one of my faves!

this is one of my faves! i kinda miss tierra

Des - loved the little hike date! I’m an outdoorsy girl myself. And she was wearing neon green, so…win. And she PUNKED HIM!!!! Ahhhh that was awesome. I didn’t see that coming at all! Clever. I now can like her. I also liked that her parents were kinda homely and super sweet. But her brother was aggressive and wanted to “holla at ya” to Sean. Yikes. But I did appreciate him coming to Sean and asking the hard questions that everyone is really thinking as they watch these episodes. I know I would be challenging any guy who came home with my sister after 6 weeks and wanting our blessing on their proposal. But Sean held his ground under pressure and that was good to see. And I think he’s being honest about how rough it would be to enter the family on the grounds of that tension.

Lindsey?! I can’t remember her name! The other girl. She doesn’t have a hometown, really, as a military brat. But I liked their cute date, walking around having beer and cupcakes (hello, my world!), and I even enjoyed her little “army training” with Sean, sneaking in spankings and push-up contests. More of that. Her family was cute, and I think I could see her with Sean. Who ever thought the girl who came out of the limo in a wedding dress would make it this far?!

Cocktail Party - Sean doesn’t know what he’s doing with his life…classic. Des pulls him aside for a last minute plea. Will it pay off?! Katherine and Lindsey, the youngest on the show, go for the sexy look. I wish the ladies would keep it a leetle more classy!!! He had some drama with both of their families, so his hesitation is understandable….goes with Katherine. She’s a lot more fun.

such a hottie.

such a hottie.

admit it...you kinda miss her, too.

admit it…you kinda miss her, too.

Sean Tells All - Love a little bro time with Chris Harrison. That man belongs in my living room. All I really wanted was a montage of SixPackSean with all the six pack has to offer. Plus a big dish on Tierra and her eyebrow of evil.

I did appreciate the tribute to sweet one-armed Sarah. I personally found her personality a little flat but she was smart and pretty and obviously a strong, independent woman worthy and deserving of great love and I hope she finds it soon.

And the slow jam remix of Sean showering at the end?! Thank you, producers, for finally acquiescing to what a nation of women has wanted! If this was 15 years ago, I’d be buying up Tiger Beats with Sean’s poster and hanging them above my bed. He’s yummy.

Sean has carried himself well all season and should be proud. And most of the girls (minus Tierra, 50 Shades Obsessee, and Selma, to a certain extent) were mostly classy.

I really hope someone on the internet makes a Tierra mash-up like Courtney Robertson’s… I get that song stuck in my head all the time and watch it on the regular. AND I can’t wait until After the Final Rose – when the girls will probably eat Tierra alive.

YES.

SixPackSean – Bachelor Episode 7 Recap

Posted in boys, life, love, television by

one of my most favorite tweeters ever.

Fantasy island week in St. Croix? Sean can be shirtless 24 hours a day? Never saw it coming! Winky face….This week settles who gets to take Sean on hometown dates. The claws are OUT. And Miss Eyebrow Tierra moving her little pullout bed into a different room because she’s “not friends with girls who like my boyfriend” is the perfect dramatic start to this episode.

Ashlee (OCD professional organizer and a too uptight for me) and Sean take a trip to a private island, but they must swim to the boat from shore: cue shirtless Sean and a close of up AshLee’s seriously micromanaged body! At dinner, AshLee (really?! That spelling!) spends ten minutes giving us an anxiety attack before her big secret reveal – she married when she was a junior in high school to rebel against her parents. She’s now 32, so I think it’s safe to say that was a dumb teenage mistake, and we don’t have to be upset about it. Then she yells “I love Sean” to the heavens. Now that I find to be a deal-breaker.

Back at the house, our favorite Tierr-orist gets her first one-on-one card with Sean, and complains about the possibility of bugs and her makeup sweating off…you can practically feel the tension reaching a boiling point with the other girls.

Is anyone else surprised she’s still here??

But then! The BEST BACHELOR GROUP DATE EVER!!!!

LOVE the no makeup in the morning date. You can learn a lot about a girl by how she reacts to that. And you can tell a lot about a guy by how they react to girls with no makeup. AND their date was SICK!

  1. Be the first people in America to see the sunrise.
  2. Have mimosas with your girlfriends and a hot guy while you watch it.
  3. Take a road trip!!!
  4. In a Jeep!
  5. Meet a freaking PONY named PIPPIN!
  6. Swing in a legit jungle tree house.

Ahhhh I love it.

One on One with Lesley - I’m surprised when Sean says that he wasn’t really feeling things for Lesley. I thought they got along well. But she is guarded and awkward and Sean is is all about the PDA. She’s a sassbox. I didn’t like her at the beginning, but she’s grown on me.

Tierra and AshLee Catfight – Fav Quotes

“Men love me!” – Tierra – um.

LOVE that his sister had to fly in and give him a little sit down. And that her piece of advice was “don’t pick the girl that the other girls don’t like.” Aaaaaaamen.

“My parents told me; “Tierra, you have a sparkle! Do not let those girls take your sparkle away. People have judged me because of my eyebrow. I can’t control my eyebrow! I can’t control my face!”"

“I have such a big heart but I’m so sensitive and I’m so scared. I’m gonna be honest with you because I always am…” – Tierra to Sean. As she sits “crying” (tearless cry…what is that about?!) about how “I hate being like this with you.” Which is weird, because she has spent every episode sobbing/hypothermic/falling up stairs/manipulating herself into a rose situation.

“I can’t believe they did this to me!” – Tierra, from the limo as it pulls away. Right. Because your own actions had *nothing* to do with it.

again...ben who!?

again…ben who!?

So we’re all breathing a little easier with Tierra gone. In order to keep the drama spicy, next week ABC producers apparently spike Des’ brother’s drink and he gets in a pissing contest with Sean.

Overall, I have to say I appreciate how Sean just takes the game into his own hands. Calling off cocktail parties, sending girls home whenever he wants, parading around shirtless at every possible moment…this guy is getting it done. The girls leave me embarrassed for women everywhere, but I love the clothes/hair/makeup and cringing at all the stupid, sappy, unreal things they say to Sean. I’m getting more and more excited for the After the Final Rose Ceremony! Will Tierra show? Will they hire extra security? Will her eyebrow finally be allowed to speak for itself?! Will her sparkle prove it’s existence?!

Stay tuned for next week’s hometown dates!

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