JaimeLynne

Oh she is so cute! How many weeks are left until they will be able to perform surgery? Financially, are they anywhere near the $ goal to be able to provide the surgery?? Just wondering - I could probably donate a little at a time... just let me know if they need some extra help! I think about Beate often...

Eek, ok I must say I had to stop reading after page 5 (lol). However, I just wanted to pop in and mention an alternative method for those of you that want a little "boost" to help lose weight. It is a supplement called Relora. (Many of you have probably seen commercials for "Relacor" - it is similar to that, just make sure you get a high potency, high quality brand of RELORA and NOT Relacor) My therapist actually recommended this supplement to me because I have a problem with Adrenal Fatigue - basically my body has been overproducing a chemical called Cortisol for way too long and my adrenal glands are shot. High levels of Cortisol can also increase stress eating. While I begun to take this supplement purely for stress/anxiety I found out that it has this added benefit of weight loss. I lost about 5-7 lbs. when I was taking it consistently over about 3 months. I do want to point out that it works best when combined with Alpha Lipoic Acid and Fish Oil . I got off of Relora for a few months and my weight shot back up 5-7 lbs. I just started back on it about 2 weeks ago and I have dropped 1.6lbs as of this morning (yay! ) Plus I notice that my anxiety is greatly reduced again. I go to SunDrops to get this supplement and a guy working there one day said he lost 15 lbs. taking Relora with no other changes to his diet/exercise patterns. I am happy to report that I have had no negative side effects from this supplement. More on Relora: Quote: Relora® is a new, non sedative herbal stress relief formula derived from magnolia and phellodendron extracts that supports those with general stress and related irritability, restlessness, food cravings, snacking, and poor sleep quality to relax and reclaim a sense of stability and well being. Research Shows 8 out of 10 people feel more relaxed and find better sleep with Relora®! In a clinical study conducted at the Living Longer Clinic in Cincinnati, 50 people suffering from chronic stress were administered 200 mg of Relora® three times daily for two weeks. Results showed that 8 out of 10 participants felt more relaxed and 7 out of 10 reported more restful sleep. Post trial analysis revealed 78% of the patients felt more relaxed, and while the product does not cause significant sedation 74% of the patients also experienced a restful night’s sleep. Only 24% of participants reported drowsiness. In addition, Relora® was judged to be gentle on the stomach by 94% of the subjects, and no significant side effects were reported. Stress and Food Cravings Chronic stress can cause cravings for cookies, candy, chips and other unhealthy foods. While most adults who have these cravings under stress are aware of their unhealthy appetite, scientists have had difficulty in demonstrating actual cause and effect. However, Dr. Elissa Epel and colleagues at University of California, San Francisco has shown that individuals who are high reactors to cortisol, consume more calories and more sweet foods under stress. Their recent research also demonstrated that greater food consumption occurred in high cortisol reactors when they were in a negative mood. Elevated levels of cortisol and lowered levels of DHEA are associated with stress. Relora® has been shown to support normal, healthy levels of cortisol and DHEA helping to manage stress-related eating. A second trial conducted at the Living Longer Clinic measured cortisol and DHEA levels in patients with mild to moderate general stress. A two-week regimen of Relora® caused a 227% increase in salivary DHEA and a 37% decrease in salivary cortisol levels, as amounts of each of these substances returned to normal in all subjects during the course of Relora® use. How does it work? Relora® was designed and evaluated to support healthy management of stress-related symptoms such as irritability, emotional ups and downs, restlessness, tense muscles, poor sleep, and concentration difficulties. It uses an advanced combination of magnolia and phellodendron extracts to help support normal levels of the cortisol and DHEA hormones in the body to promote the management of stress related symptoms. Relora® works by binding to stress receptors in the nervous system to promote relaxation and feelings of well being while ignoring receptors associated with sedation.

Congrats to the Mr. & Mrs.!

OMG how did this sneak up so quickly?!? Amy, you are going to have the most fantastic wedding - I just know it!!!! You must be so excited right now xoxo

Hey ladies! Thought I'd shoot a reminder out there about our upcoming meetup!!! I can't believe it's almost here - I am so excited I swear I'm going to make it this time... LOL

OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Martin and I are DYING over here!!! LMFAO My Dad sent this to us recently and kept telling us to read it. Once I saw it reposted on here I knew I had to read it. My Dad said he had to stop half way through to keep from peeing on himself. I must admit, we had to do the same My cheeks HURT!!!!

We are sort of doing a combination of the options you mentioned. We chose Elizabeth Medina Elizabeth Medina Photography, Mexico Destination Wedding Photographer, Wedding Photojournalism throughout the Riviera Maya, Yucatan and Mexico as our photographer (after a LOT of thinking and searching!). She lives in Mexico but on the opposite coast from our destination. That said, we are paying for her and her assistant to fly from the Yucatan to PV as well as paying for their lodging + purchasing a package. We considered bringing someone from our home state (TX), and although he was much less expensive he is also a lot less experienced with destination weddings. I would like to add that it is possible to make a connection with your photographer via the internet! Heck, just look around this forum. Several of us have formed very close friendships with others on the boards and if we're lucky we get to meet some of them! I "speak" with my photographer at least once a week (probably bug her a lot - sorry Elizabeth! ). I have complete confidence in her ability to shoot well in a location that she's never been to before. Again, we researched our choices a lot before making this decision because meeting up at the ceremony site was just not an option for us. That said, I'm sure we will share many conversations between now and our wedding regarding photo ideas, etc. I think the best piece of advice I can give you is to go with someone who is experienced with DWs or weddings in general, and stalk their blogs/websites for awhile (hahaha!) to see if they are consistently producing good results. Hope that helps! Good luck!!!

I was going to suggest the Arboretum, but I see it's already been mentioned here a couple of times! I wonder if you could hold it at the Nasher out in the sculpture garden...? It's hard to say - hence why we are flying away to PV for our wedding! Have you been to any local bridal shows? I think you might find some unique ideas there. Good luck!

Hmmmm... let's see... my fav gifts to receive are really nice candles (Pacifico, Archipelago, etc.), Thymes has some great bath salts/milk bath soaks, a nice bottle of wine... My fav gift from our E-Party was this: Z Stemmed Martini Glasses Also, fun wine charms are neat. Tami (foxytv) got me some cool ones for the Secret Santa last year. They have little sayings like "To your health", "Bottoms Up" and "Cheers" (among others). So now every time we have ppl over we have them choose their "saying of the night" and whenever they say it everyone has to toast and reply with their own saying (and of course take a sip!). It's really fun

That is a really cute room! I love all the cheerful colors

I like the turtle set

Oh, I really like those!

Quote: Originally Posted by Kat81 I didn't get mine... Maybe it got lost on the web HA HA HA That must be it!

We are hosting a little fireworks watching party on our roof deck. Actually I just finished sending off the Evite for it

OMG that's hilarious!! lololol

Today was my final exam in World Lit so 1 class down, 2 1/2 to go! I can't wait to go dress shopping but I really would like to drop a few lbs. first. Stress has really been getting to me lately and I've put on about 3-4 lbs. in the past month or so. I had been losing weight so going up is no bueno... Unfortunately I don't think the stress is going to let up anytime soon (at least school wise) so maybe I should just get out there and look! ... then again I also know myself and if I got one this early I would probably change my mind at least once

Keeping you, your Dad and your family in my thoughts...

Normally I have a tough time with these polls but I must say #1 definitely jumps out at me! It looks perfect on you!

Quote: Originally Posted by Just Martha That rocks! Now, we don't wanna see you on here until tomorrow! In my defense, this is my first time on here all day and I've already studied 4 hours But yes, I will get back to studying shortly! Quote: Originally Posted by MelanieS Wow! You must be their favorite niece! Seriously, that is so generous of them to offer to pay for your dress, plus it's a great way to encourage you, too. When will you graduate? It really is so sweet of them. They have no kids of their own and we have always been pretty close - I think they do look at me in a semi-parental way. They have been great role models for me and I appreciate it all!

Quote: Originally Posted by starchild Well get off BDW and hit the books! LOL That's good news LOL I know! I have a final exam and a quiz tomorrow. I took a break because they left a message saying to call them back tonight. Then I told Martin that of course this deserves its own thread Had to share the exciting news with someone (and of course, who better than y'all!?) Still have about 100 pages of reading to complete for tomorrow plus some other general studying... at least this gives me something to look forward to!

I just got a call from my Aunt and Uncle and they said they are going to buy my wedding dress for me! (Up to $1k) One condition - that I finally graduate! LOL This will be a combo graduation/wedding present to me. It takes a lot of pressure off because FI's mom has offered to make my gown but she just made my FSIL's and while it came out good in the end there was a lot of stress involved on both ends, and I don't need anymore stress in my life!!! Soooo I guess I can start looking at dresses soon - how exciting

Love it - I think the style will be flattering on most. Do you mind if I ask how much you are paying? Are you buying them or are your BMs?

You look great in that dress!

Quote: Originally Posted by ChristinaH The $10.7 million renovation at the CasaMagna Marriott Resort and Spa began June 12 and will go through October 31, 2008 - the low season. (Fortunately for us, our wedding is at the tail end of the renovations.) Can't wait to see the changes! There were a few upgrades throughout the property when we were there in April, so I'm excited to see what they'll do with the rooms and the main restaurant, La Estancia. Awesome!!! Now I'm really interested in this hotel.

Good insights Alyssa and Harty. Poor little Niles! I can only imagine how scary that must've been for him. I'm so glad he's OK! Our little Dachshund Ollie has it out for Bulldogs. Martin's brother has a bulldog/boxer mix named Rosco and Rosco never bothers Ollie but every time Ollie sees Rosco he all of a sudden thinks he weighs 100 lbs (he weighs 10, lol). I have never seen Ollie act this way around any one else or any other dog. It is so strange - something about Bulldogs (even puppies) turns him into Kujo - we have to hold him back! It can be funny at first, but also scary because if one of these dogs were to snap back they could easily take Ollie out. Martin's bro tries to just let them "have it out" but there's no way I'm letting my little Dachshund get into that mess!