As I sit here, I am little more than a week away from easily one of the biggest speeches I will ever have to make aka.

My MOH Speech.

Que that eery music. More like panic music. No, actually more of a jubilant chorus song.

I seriously can't wait for this wedding and I am so happy I get to make this very special speech. But I am also a little bit the nervous one as public speaking is not my forte. Not only that, it is quite the important speech that people will remember and I have to get it right.

Let's go back to the panic music...


I have been researching for months and months on the best tips and these are some of the best I have found...and love.


Number 1- Plan ahead.

If you are like me, this is very beneficial. I can't just wing it. I would be a bundle of nerves if I came up with my speech the day or night before. The mirror will be my best practicing friend.

When you don't prepare, a lot of times it just ends up jumbled and back and forth and not something you would want remember by 150 of the couple's closest friends and family. And possibly on video. Preparing ahead also allows you to jot your notes down on note cards so you don't forget any important parts of your speech.

Number 2- Do Not Embarrass the Bride.

Well, there goes half of my speech. No, not really. You guys are so gullible ;)

But I am thinking this is an obvious tip. Why on the most important day of her life would you want to bring up when she was wasted out of her mind and fell face first into the grass? So best to keep out the very private, secret, embarrassing stories her great grandma wouldn't want to hear.

Instead stick to majority sentimental, cute thoughts. What is the bride's best attribute and why the groom fell in love with her. The goal is to make them feel the warm fuzzy feelings you feel about your best friend and her new hubby. Let them feel why you are standing up there giving this special speech.

But this also doesn't mean bore them. Throw in a mild, humorous story to break it up. Like how she mixed up the ingredients for the recipe she followed the first time she made him dinner. For exampleeeee.

Number 3-Address Both the Bride and Groom.

Everyone always jokes about how it's the brides day and whatever she wants goes. The groom just gets to show up and say I Do. But when you are giving that speech, you are toasting to their marriage and their love, not just that day.

So you want to make sure to include the groom in your speech; as easy as it would be just to talk all about the bride and how gorgeous she looks. You can even throw in how lucky the groom is to have such a beautiful new wife and what he can do to keep her.

Just a thought.

Number 4-Be Yourself.

There is nothing that makes you more nervous than you already are, is being put out of your element. Same goes for your speech. Why crack joke after joke if you know you aren't that funny? (harsh but might be true)
Or if being sentimental makes you uncomfortable but jokes flow from your lips, go with that. It is all about your personality and what will make your speech flow. Don't want to hear crickets. Or at least that's my biggest fear.

My nerves will be jumbling so I know I do not want to make it worse. And let me tell you, funny isn't quite my thing so sentimental is my route. Maybe crack a joke here and there. We will see.

Number 5-Wrap it up

At the end of your speech, you want to make sure the guests now it's the end. So make sure you wrap it up in style instead of just saying OK, yea, now let's toast.

End on a positive note and wish all the health, happiness and love in the future to the bride and groom. And how you can't wait to be there through the ride. I just might have made my closer...

And here's a tip I don't fully agree with..

Do not drink too much champagne before your speech.

And let me tell you why. Champagne calms nerves and gives you a tiny confidence boost to stand up in front of all of those people. I'm not saying get sloshed, just a little happy. And maybe picture them in their underwear. Age old trick.

In the end, we have to remember to have fun. And to speak from the heart to honor the  bride and groom. They chose us for a reason and will love hearing whatever speech we prepare. 



Now, if you'll excuse me I have a speech to perfect and practice!

Just dreamin'

dreams.

Are a very interesting thing. They come to in during your REM sleep. That's the deep sleep when you can no longer hear doors closing in the next room and neighbors stereo music. We all love that deep sleep. That's the good stuff.

It is said our dreams are a way for our brain to process our days events and that's why we dream about the craziest things. They are also supposed to reveal what our subconscious is trying to tell us. Something we aren't aware of ourselves yet. Say, wanting to move to Texas for example. (yup, keep having this one... weird.)

Personally, I love dreaming. I love reading the dream dictionary to see what it is telling me. It is true, I am one of those. One night I had a bat in my dream. Wasn't Halloween, didn't see one on the TV and didn't read anything about them anywhere so I wondered what this could mean.

To see a bat in your dream symbolizes uncleanness, demons, and annoyances.  Alternatively, bats represent rebirth and unrealized potential. You need to let go of old habits. Your current path is not compatible with your new growth and new goals. It may also indicate some unknown situation and how  you are blindly entering into a situation or deal. You need to evaluate the facts more carefully. The dream may also been a pun on feeling "batty" or feeling crazy. 

Unrealized potential? Unknown situation? Or maybe just batty? I went with just being batty. How different these definitions are doesn't deter me from continuing to believe this. Your mind is a mysterious being and wants to be heard. And now I do sound batty for sure.

Now, I'm sure you are wondering why I am rambling about dreams and their meanings. The reason is that in the past few years since my mom has passed away, dreams have taken on a new meaning for me. She pops up in my dreams here and there and I now see my dreams as a way for my mom to communicate with me.

Just last night, my mom was in my dream. She uprooted my old house (which we are having such a rough time selling) had it put on a truck and she drove it to Georgia. Uh, what??? We have never been to Georgia, we do not have any family in Georgia. So why Georgia, Mom? That one has me scratching my head.

But when I say my Mom is trying to talk to me when she appears in my dreams, this is a good example of this. This dream I think she is telling me it is ok to let the old home, my old home, go. Not just the house, but the place.  I have starting feel moments of sadness being so far away from my family now. I wasn't able to spend the 21st birthday with my little cousin, I can't pop in to see my family as I'm driving around and I just don't see people I know around town. Because this is a new town, with new people.

Don't read more into this though. I love living with my fiance (reference my excitement saying goodbye to the long distance) and I am closer to some friends down here but there are starting to be some moments I miss. So I am convinced this dream my mom wanted me to know it is ok and she's taking the house with her and that's what I need to do. Take my hometown with me, in my heart. This is my new life but I will always carry Harmony in my heart. Deep, I know.

But these dreams are my favorite. I always love waking up from these dreams. I get to see my mom's face and see her alive in my dreams for just a minute. She's vibrant and smiling just how I always want to remember her. I always look forward to having these dreams and I expect a lot more the next year as wedding planning gets really intense. Her telling me to calm down or what not to do. Since she can't tell me in person, she does it through my dreams.

Orrrrr maybe I will just continue to have dreams about my wedding dress having grass stains and the photographer missing. Yes, I am having the wedding nightmares already.

So what do you love about dreaming? Do you read into them or just kind of dismiss them?

I loved the big words today. Feelin' the creativity, 

Show and tell, it's fall!

OK, well almost.

Two things I can't pass up in the blogging world
1. Fall related topics/posts/etc...
2. New Link-ups!

So of course I couldn't wait to participate in the Show and Tell Link up from one of my blog favs..From Mrs. to Mama.

1. Tell us what you are looking forward to this fall?
Basically, for it to be here. Weather, atmosphere, everything! And we are hoping to get some engagement pictures done with the fall foliage (yes, we are way late..it's ok) So that is obviously very exciting!

2. Show us your fall style.

I can.not.wait.to.buy.more.scarves. Ok, ok this a show not a tell. 

Source: fashionistatrends.com via Joseline on Pinterest

Source: fashionistatrends.com via Joseline on Pinterest

3. Tell us your favorite things to do in the fall. If you have children, activities to do with the kids?

Pumpkin picking.
Pumpkin carving.
Fall decorating.

4. Show us your favorite fall beverage.

5. Tell us, how you will be participating in Halloween this year. Plans? Costume ideas? 

That is a very intriguing question. Usually we celebrate our friend's birthday who just happens to be born on Halloween. So it naturally works out for all of us. As for a costume, I definitely want to plan ahead this year. We are always so last minute. Last year it was Power Rangers, maybe this year we will go for superheroes. My dream!


And of course a very happy labor day! Hope everyone got to celebrate in some way!

Sunday Social: Wrapping up the summer

It's time for the first September Sunday Social!

But first Happy September everyone!! Only 13 more days until my best friend's wedding and I am obviously so excited!! Guess I better get crackin on that wedding speech. 

This is also the month of someone's birthday. Maybe someone special. Maybe someone I live with. Maybe my fiance. He turns the big 2. 5. Quarter of a century old. 

And wedding planning better be done by the end of this month. Riiiiight. One can wish. But I do want a good chunk taken care, especially my dress!

Well, on to my Sunday Social!

What was your favorite trip/vacation/activity this summer?

Well, I was not fortunate to go on any trips or vacations this summer...sadly. But I had a definite favorite activity(ies)....bridal shower AND bachelorette party for my best friend celebrating her upcoming wedding!

Favorite outfit look of the summer/clothing item?

I just had to relook over my monthly activites to find my outfit. I had to choose from my sexy moving attire, equally attractive work clothing or random errand clothing. Hmmmm.

What is one thing you wish you had gotten to do this summer?

Does it really have to be just one? Taken a vacation, ANywhere. Even a few days off for the move would have been nice. What was I thinking with that?

Favorite Song of the Summer?

"Call me Maybe" for sureeee.

Favorite movie/tv show of the summer?

Pretty Little Liars and AVENGERSSSS!!

I clearly have issues picking just one favorite. It's a sickness. Can't believe the summer is over already! Feels like it was just May about a week ago.