A very honest update.

So I survived the bachelorette party, but not the relationship- wedding or anything resembling a future with Scott. I called off my wedding five days before it was suppose to happen because I found out he was cheating on me with his married manager. Needless to say I have not had contact with him since the day I found out and made him leave my home. 

It's amazing how life works in mysterious ways and how you see sooooo much you had missed once you remove yourself from the situation. I do not believe I am a gullible person or easily duped. I think I just was deceived, and being deceived does not mean that the person is smarter than you- it just simply means you trusted them way more than they ever deserved. 

It has been an interesting few months adjusting to life as a single woman in her late twenties but it has been a fun journey. I have realized so much more about myself and life these past few months that I never knew...

Things I have learned the past few months:

1. I have the most absolutely amazing support group. I am a strong minded woman because of my family and friends., without them I am not sure who I would be. I allowed myself to cry one day and then moved on with my life. I was determined that the situation would not change who I was, my beliefs on love or marriage or that I would become jaded, negative or a downer. I have done a fantastic job on this if I must say so myself. My outlook on life has never been better...

2. God works in mysterious ways- most people do not get a "heads up" before marrying the wrong person, and I did. For that I am forever grateful. Marriage is for life and if my partner does not agree to having those same morals then they are not the right person for me. I can already see how God is working in mysterious ways and I am excited for what the future has in store for me. 

3. It feels fun to be single and to go out and meet new people, sometimes I forget. 

4. Gender roles do not really exist.  I have fixed so much in the house that was on his "to do list" that I just did it myself, there is no such thing as a "mans role or womans role" because each gender role can do the others "job"... and I did it all. The garage door is fixed, the living room is decorated- pictures hung and a camera alarm has been installed, the list goes on- I can get shit done on my own. ha. 

5. While I do not know the plans ahead for me, I am ok with that- for the first time in my life. I have always liked to be a planner and know where my direction was headed, but we are not in control, and it makes me feel light hearted. I do not know why I ever stressed to begin with on things I could not control. simply silly. 

So while my relationship fizzled, all was not lost. I have came out of this with stronger relationships with my family, friends and faith, and isnt that the most important things in life anyway? The relationship/love aspect will come in its own time, I have faith. 

Friday {favorites}

So this Friday favorites will be short and sweet. 

What I am loving this week, is the fact that today begins my 

BACHELORETTE WEEKEND!

I AM SO EXCITED to share the weekend with all the lovely ladies that I adore. We will be in downtown Savannah and spending time on Tybee beach also! Pedialyte will be brought for the Sunday aftermath for nursing a hangover! eek! The pictures that I am allowed to share will be posted next week! 

SUMMER {concert series}

I mean don't get me wrong, it is still sweltering here, but school is starting back in the area and it makes me wonder... how did summer go by SO fast? I mean faster than any other summer in history... for me at least! 

This summer has been very productive and fun! I have traveled almost every weekend of the summer either for fun or for wedding stuff. I LOVE traveling, it honestly is one of my very favorite things to do, but I guess that's how I blinked and missed summer. 

Part of the summer was spent on concerts... many many concerts! 

Scott and I have seen: 

Dave Matthews Band (his favorite) with John Butler Trio (my very favorite) in Charlotte.

Scott is such a huge fan, but I really love JBT and I am hoping to see him headline.

The Lumineers with The Cold War Kids in Charleston. I have always loved both of these bands so it was a great concert. 

The Lumineers were SO much fun!

Citizen Cope, who I got to meet him before for a "meet and greet" before hand in Charleston. I've met him once before in a bar and we had drinks together, he is super laid back- just like his music. 

This maybe my favorite photograph I have ever taken. Cant you just see it as an album cover?

The Black Crows with Tedeschi Trucks Band in Charlotte. We have seen the Black Crows last year, but the Tedeschi trucks band was new to us. They were awesome and had a folk rock style sound. 

Chris Robinson always puts on such a fun and energetic show.

The Killers in Charleston were simply amazing. I will be the first to admit that I have enjoyed their music but were never in love with them like Citizen Cope or John Butler... however, after this show I am a HUGE FAN! They put on the absolute best show I have ever seen, and I think it's because they had so many extras...

GLITTER CONFETTI! I love Confetti so much that I put it in my wedding invitations. There is something so silly about confetti, and when there are millions of glitter K's and Lightening bolts raining down on you, it just seems magical.
I love it. 

The light show was outstanding. I like mostly acoustic bands, but now I aim to go to other concerts with amazing light shows, it is at entertaining as the music. 

And the final "extra" is the crazy fire work displays they had on the stage. Simply Amazing. 

And The Black Keys with the Flaming Lips with my brother in Greenville.  Unfotunatly my pictures for this concert turned out pretty crappy but they sounded great live. 

A peek of the past summer.

Every year for the fourth of July I go to my parents house on the coast of North Carolina. They have a huge fourth of July festival, which lasts about a week- not just one day. There is a craft show, bands, dancing in the street, vendors, several firework shows on different nights and much more. I look forward to going every year. 

This year I got to bring this sweet angel with me and to celebrate I bought her a sea horse dog cookie. The look she is giving in this picture is so funny with icing on her lips. 

  

The beach crew: dad, mom, Scott, myself and bayla, my nephew Austin, my cousin Amanda and her boyfriend Jeremy. We were also the Bocce Ball Crew... and dad won the game like ten times in a row! He was so proud.

Have you ever seen a face happier than this? I mean really, look how happy she is,
she loves the beach. 

Scott, myself, mom and dad waiting to watch the fire works on the beach.
 I just love fireworks. 

Scott and I at sunset on the beach. 

I love the beach in the evenings, it is so peaceful. Its my favorite time of the day to go and just relax and read a book. 

Scott, Bayla and I infront of the light house waiting for the fireworks on night two. 

Bayla photobombing us haha. We were going to dinner to celebrate our belated anniversary. 

Friday's {favorites}

The things I am loving this week: 

All of our wedding invitations are out and we are receiving all RSVP's now... and so far not a single no! I added this confetti in the invitations to create a fun party feel when opening them! It's also a tradition; my grandmother has put confetti in my birthday cards since I can remember, so it has always been a fun family tradition that I have also adopted.  Can you believe we only have ONE month and a half?! eeek.

I love that even my sweet dog Bayla knows that a Southern lady sits with her legs crossed. haha. 

I may or may not have pointed Scott into the direction of this bracelet ha. It matches the ring he bought me for Christmas and I could always use an "arm party" in  silver! Hmm maybe he will get it for a wedding gift? *wishful thinking* 

So I am lost without my computer. EVERYTHING and I mean everything was on it... four years worth of work and progress, pictures and logos, not to mention all of my graphic design elements were on that computer. IT still has it and I am hoping that they can at least recover all my information. Since it was a work computer they had some sort of block on it to where I could not back it all up- (they did not want work information stored). So I am on the hunt for a personal computer and I think I have fallen for the mac book air. I am deciding between the 11 inch and 13 inch screen. It's small and thing enough to fit into my purse and travel. That way I can do all design work and everything needed on my personal computer and leave my work computer for... well work. So hopefully this will be my birthday purchase since my birthday is the month after the wedding! 

And finally I love my new MAC lipstick "Speed Dial." Its a bold pink and makes me feel sassy and girlie! ha. Funny how a lipstick can complete a look. 

*ignore the lack of signature, I will have my computer in working order next week! 

XOXO, Rebecca

Charleston Visits.

 My cousin came down to visit and we toured around downtown Charleston. Charleston is so beautiful and historic I should take advantage of being a tourist in my own town sometimes. I get so busy and since I live her I often just say "oh I can do that another day" but then the day doesn't come. So I have made a vow to make the most of my city and that is just what I did on her recent visit. 

In the Gazebo right off the battery. 

That day was so hot, we got in the pineapple fountain with lots of children who were 
splashing around. 

The ever charming, Rainbow Row.

Love these old oak trees, a good reminder of being in the South.

Amanda and I toured water front park and the battery. Did a little bit of shopping in the market, then had lunch at Henry's. We were so hot we had to have a few drinks... which we would have had drinks even if we were not hot! ha. Then I introduced her to Kaminsky's bakery where we shared a piece of cake, and oh my the desserts in there are sinful. 

Now that fall is approaching I intend on continuing to explore Charleston more, it's too beautiful of a town to take for granted! Now only if I can find the time...

Breakfast @ Tiffanys

My Maid of Honor Kristi threw me a Breakfast at Tiffany's themed shower, and it was absolutely the best shower I have ever been to. I mean I may be a bit biased, but she put in so much detail and thought that it was perfect. I was honored that she put in all that work for me, and it shows how well she knows me because the shower was just so "me."

Kristi and I drinking mimosas and bellini's, so good! 

A few of the ladies having brunch.
Left to right: My cousin Amanda, Kelly (both bridesmaids), my previous manager Caroline, myself, My MOH Kristi and my mom. 

The shower was held at one of my favorite restaurants, The Old Village Post House. Scott and I go there for birthdays and other special occasions and I have been there a few times for brunch. It has such charm and great low country food. The food did not disappoint and was delicious! We had french toast, shrimp and grits, sausage, bacon, eggs, fruit, salmon and lox, muffins and so much more... I mean it was amazing. 

A few of my bridesmaids and friends from college, Wallace and Sarah. Love them! 

My Bridesmaids! My friends are so pretty!
L to R: Sarah, Kelly, Allison, Ashley, myself, Amanda, Kristi, Stacey, Nicole and Liz. 

All of my friends and family that attended my fabulous shower! 

The details were so cute: blue tiffany boxes at every table, little diamond gem stones on the tables, labels on the Hershey Kiss favors that had "Rebecca's Shower" and others had a picture of Audrey Hepburn saying "thank you Dahling". She framed a couple of our engagement pictures for display. 

The table settings, were just "dahling" hehe. Each person had a note to write a wish for us. I saved them for Scott to open when he got home for work that night. He really loved reading the some silly and some thoughtful messages. 

Look at the most amazing cake ever! It's in the shape of a tiffany's box, gorgeous! 

Even the cupcakes had some bling in it! haha. 

My sweet flower girls, and soon to be sister in laws. hehe. They are SO adorable. 

 The games Kristi chose to play were SO funny. Each table had a "bride" and the rest of the table had to make a wedding dress for her out of toilet paper. It was absolutely hysterical and everyone really got into it! 

My two aunts "designing" my cousins paper wedding dress. Ashley was laughing so hard
she was crying! Is this not the cutest picture?

These were the final results of the wedding dress designs! haha. Amanda on the left won, but obviously fun was had by all! Kristi had gotten the winners of the games gift cards to Starbucks or Target... I mean who does not love that? 

 The next game was a question and answer game, about how well I knew Scott. If I got the answer wrong I had to put a piece of bubble gum in my mouth. Kristi had contacted Scott beforehand to get his answers. The questions were anywhere from "what type of super hero would Scott be" to "What animal does he think I would be," I mean some of them were pretty tough. Oddly enough I got the crazy ones right haha. I did pretty well, but in the end I did have a large wad of gum I was chewing on! 

My large mound of gum from missing a few questions. 

Opening gifts.

That was such a special day and such an amazing shower. I am blessed to have such a fantastic friend put so much work into giving me a shower. I am also super blessed to have such great support of friends and family come and celebrate Scott an my upcoming nuptials!  

Friday {favorites}

This week it feels like fall. The weather is cooling down and I am in a light sweater, which is unheard of during this time of the year for Charleston. Usually we have sweltering hot summers that can usually last well into October. On several occasions I have worn shorts or or short sleeved dresses on Christmas because it seemed like a spring day.

So this friday I am loving all things of fall. The first starting with football season! Whoohoo! I am a Gamecock fan and SO excited that football season is a mere few weeks away. I bought this dress hoping I can make it to one of the tailgates. While living in Columbia I had gone to every single home game for at least 7 years straight. Once I moved to Greenville which is Clemson territory, then Charleston, it has made it harder to get back to the games. It also doesn't help that majority of my tailgating friends have moved too! 

Boots! I LOVE these boots, I need them and I must have them... beautiful. 

I have a new found love for hats also. It has been so rainy here that I have been wearing hats more than any other time in my life. I think this one will be on my "to be purchased list" with my new married initials of course! 

I want a chevron patterned fabric with garnet initials, Go Cocks!

I bought these two bracelets from Kate Spade. I love them and they match with everything. I was lacking an "arm party" so I have started a short stack with these beauties! 

This is my favorite, so simple. 

Happy Friday!

*My original computer crashed yesterday and gave me the screen of death, which is basically when a computer gives you the finger, and my signature is saved on that computer sooooo... no signature logo today. I am hoping IT can recover it and fix it because I have so many important things on it. Fingers Crossed! 

Weekend {update}

A few weeks back Scott and I went to Charlotte for the weekend to watch The Black Crows and the Tedeschi Trucks Band Live... and they did not disappoint! 

I love his crazy hippie dances! Chris Robinson of the Black Crows is just so
entertaining to watch! 

However it RAINED and rained and then rained some more, which I surprisingly was unprepared for. It's only surprising because we have experienced SO much rain lately that I dont leave the house without an umbrella and rain boots... or at least a jacket. But nope, I brought no rain gear for Charlotte, which the concert was at an outdoor arena and we were soaked to the bone. Even though we were drenched, we had so much fun. 

It rained SO hard, this picture is so fuzzy because it was pouring on us during this photograph. 

We went to NODA beer brewery and had lunch at the food truck and sampled several beers. The NODA brewery was so fun and relaxed. There were families there and dogs, it was just a fun vibe. 

NODA Beer, yum!

We also went to an indoor market and grabbed brunch and I ran across a salt vendor.  I know it sounds weird, but this guy had over 600 variations of salt. Who knew there were so many options? I wasn't sold until he had me try chocolate salt on watermelon... oh my, it was heaven! So I bought a small packet of chocolate salt so I wouldnt be tempted to put it on everything. He also encouraged us to use it to sprinkle on cookies and basically any fruit or dessert. yum! 

Chocolate Salt, Oh My Goodness, fabulous.

We were lucky the concert fell that weekend because it was also restaurant week. Scott made reservations for E2 which was Emeril Lagasse's Restaurant and BLT Steak. E2 was by far our very favorite, the cocktails were delicious, but the banana cream pie was out of this world! The recipe is on foodnetwork.com however it looks complicated and I do not need anymore sweets before the wedding, eek! 

Divine. And yes I had to put in a bunch of extra reps in the gym to work this sucker off! I do have to fit into a dress in a few months... or a month and a half. eek! 

It was a wonderful weekend and I returned home with my idea of the perfect souvenirs: a Mary Kay Andrews book from a charming used bookstore, chocolate salt, pictures of one of the best concerts we've gone to and lots of beers. winning.