There are so many exciting things happening over in my little corner of the world, recently! I had full intentions of doing a Project Wedding update with all of the exciting progress we’ve made in that department, but instead I have SO MUCH MORE to share with you all.

It all began yesterday morning with an out of state phone call that I didn’t recognize. “ORANGE COUNTY” it read under the number, and a light bulb went off! Could it be? No no no. It can’t. It’s just a coincidence. I let it roll to voicemail. As soon as my phone vibrated I snatched it off the table and listened eagerly!

It was.
(CLICK ME)

During the months of March and April Oakley put on a contest called “Perform Beautifully” 10 women would win a spot on the Oakley Women’s Ambassador team, as well as a trip to Napa Valley, California in June to attend a Women’s Fitness Retreat. I WON A SPOT. Me. Charlotte. The no name girl who grew up in Jamestown. JAMESTOWN! Me. I was selected out of over 650 applicants. Incredible, inspirational, tear-inducing bios from all over the country, and they chose ME!

I am honored. I am in shock. I am so flipping excited I can hardly think straight. Oakley is a brand that I truly believe in! From their ski goggles, to their sunglasses and jackets – they have never let me down. Skiing, running, swimming, just hanging out in the sun, I have been able to rely on Oakley multiple times throughout my life. I am so honored to be a part of their family this year! The anticipation might just kill me

In OTHER news, we have made some actual, legitimate progress in our wedding planning. We realized that Chautauqua County is well, TINY. Good talent is hard to come by and will get snatched up that much sooner. We decided that all of the dates the planning books said, we want to be several months/weeks ahead of the recommendations. Boy am I glad we made that decision!!!

My sister pointed out to me the other day that our old band teacher (yeah, I was a band geek. ) left the teaching world and opened a photography studio. I was immediately intrigued, & was immediately certain he was the photographer we wanted as soon as Z & I went to his website. His work was gorgeous. So artistic, so personal. I could feel the story of these weddings while looking through his portfolio. So we contacted him. I was all “i know its so far away but blablabla” and he responded that our wedding date was actually the only saturday in July of 2013 he had left. WOAH. (insert slight panic that I’m going to end up with crappy vendors because everything is booked here)

So we jumped on it! We filled out the contract and sent it off in the mail. Now I just have to cross my fingers, toes, and pray to the universe that the date remains open until the mail gets from Maryland to New York (OMG PLEASE!).

On top of that we chose the important songs of our wedding! We decided on our processional song, our recessional, as well as our first dance. But – I won’t be giving away THAT surprise. I want people in attendance to be surprised by SOMETHING at our wedding since I seem to be blabbing about so much of it. oops

We also discovered both of our passports are expired. Which means that if we did decide on Ireland for our honeymoon, we would have to worry about updating those ($$$$) and with our big move coming shortly after our wedding, we just don’t know if that’s something we should spend the money on. Nothing is ruled out yet, but we are considering a multi-Island adventure honeymoon package in Hawaii instead. We didn’t want to lounge on a beach on our entire honeymoon. We are adventure seeking, culture exploring people – but Hawaii would definitely be the best of both worlds. Beach, Scenery, Exploring, Adventures galore….

Next week when we’re in Texas visiting my family I’ll be showing my dad, step mom, and sister my wedding dress AND PURCHASING IT!

It’s crazy. It is so crazy how happy I feel every time we cross something off the planning list. It fills my stomach with butterflies and my heart with warmth. We are that much closer to being husband and wife <3

I am living on a rainbow right now and I can’t think straight. haha.
ALL I know right now, is that it’s all thanks to my will to DREAM. I DARED TO DREAM. I dreamed big, I reached for it, I achieved it. & this is life showing me that everything pays off. Maybe Happily Ever After CAN exist after all? Maybe it’s not just for the Disney Movies….

You can accomplish anything you set your dreams to.
SO DREAM AS BIG AS YOU CAN