{{Engagement Pictures}}

I know you've been waiting to see them, so here are a few of my favorites for you to enjoy!

Aren't we adorable? ;) Love that boy! We ended up in the water, but some of those pictures were just too cool for the blog! 

 These pictures are unedited, but beautifully taken. We are waiting on the edited pictures from our photographer. (We have a great friend who gifted us the photo sesh because she's wonderful and loves us... ;) You can tell her how you feel on her facebook page!)

{From Davis to Strausbaugh}

Why I Can't Wait to Get Married

So..... I have a confession to make.

I've been a little..... bridezilla-ish. 

It's not like I planned, but apparently I am so caught up with not going over budget and getting stressed about venues, guest lists, and save-the-dates that I'm forgetting about focusing on the reasons I can't wait to marry my boo thang.

I really thought wedding planning was the fun part of being engaged.

IT'S NOT.

So here goes. This is my list to help me refocus my energies into making my relationship awesome, keeping everyone around me happy, and reminding my fiancé why he wants to marry me.

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Reasons I want to get married

Kevin's hott, and I'm totally in love with him.

(Engagement pics to follow, you WON'T be disappointed!)

I'm going to be REALLY old in April, (like, 24), so I better get married right away so I'm not an old maid, also known as "Small-town-syndrome".

Everyone gets married. And lives happily ever after. Right?

I don't really kinda never maybe absolutely want to have children. I don't wanna!! Definitely.

(My feelings about children will change. Right?)

I want to wear a pretty dress. (And look super skinny in it.)

I want to go on a honeymoon. Hello, road-tripping with a boy!! (And staying overnight in a *gasp* hotel room!)

I want people to toast to me us and tell me us how great I we look and how happy I'll we'll be.

I love dancing. (That's a valid reason, right?)

I really want to rub it in everyone's faces how happy we'll be and how great we look together. I really want everyone to realize how much I love Kevin and how I can't wait to spend my life getting to know him even better. I love all of his weird quirks and annoying statements, and his gymnast-like ability to put his foot in his mouth while still continuing to talk. Wow. SO impressive!

I really can't wait to do all the things married people do. I love Kevin. I want to sit in front of the TV watching LMN movies and figuring out how we'd hide the body. I want to eat popcorn and cry during the most ridiculous romantic movie while he's waiting for the zombies that I told him would show up "sometime real soon". I want to raise a family with him and cry when they turn out to be mini-Kevins. (Omg.... that is terrifying. Hopefully, they don't inherit the trouble-making/finding gene. LOL!)

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This post was inspired by a really cute blog (Stellar Piece) that is written by a friend & his gf. I think when you get engaged, you lose some of that fun & carefree feeling about your relationship. It becomes very permanent, and that's scary. I'm making it a goal to focus on the little things and stay positive, even when wedding planning makes me want to scream. 

Thanks for your love and support in this somewhat trying time.... I will start putting up some funny stories about Kev & myself so you can laugh along with me in my fight to stay sane and have fun wedding planning!

Thanks,

Kelly totally-calm-bride-to-be Davis

Unselfishly-Selfish

You read that right.

I'm basically walking the line between getting everything I want while avoiding Bridezilla status. Although...that would get me on T.V......

I've always dreamed of having a perfect engagement, having an enthusiastic but hands-OFF groom and no meddling relatives, and of course, NO hassle booking the venue and setting a date.

Was I asking for too much?

Here's where the "unselfishly-selfish" term comes in. (Not sure if I made that up myself, but you can use it. If you'd like. Just give me credit if you get rich because of it!)

Picking the Wedding Party

My loving fiance, Kevin-hunkalicious-Strausbaugh, has decided to make my life as a bride-to-be a NIGHTMARE. I'm so glad I love him..... and that I decided to let him live. (Usually, I'd add an "LOL" here to lighten things up.... but I won't.)

Let's take: "How To Drive Her Crazy" for $1000, Alex!

April: Kevin, sweetie pie, can you please pick your groomsmen so I can pick my girls?
May: Hun, did you ask them yet? Can you do that? We need to get them picked. Thanks a bunch!
June: Seriously, can you pick them? Like, now? Oh, you're only having two? Ok, thank you.
July: WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE'S THREE GROOMSMEN?

Yep. Thankfully, it means I got to ask a girl I had been waiting to include, I just had to wait for princess over here to make up his mind. I have three wonderful ladies who I will have standing by my side:

• My twin sister Jess Young
• My BFF Emily Pembroke
• My other BFF Ashley Hughes

One thing I NEVER expected was for people to actually ask or assume they were in your wedding.... but apparently it's a real thing! Ladies, stay classy... wait to be asked!! 

Setting a Date

It's the dreaded question. "When are you getting married? Have you set a date?"

Oh. My. Gosh. I guess in April, my typical answer of: "We're working on it! (Giggle giggle)" was adorable, and now.... I get that look of, "Oh dear, you do know you ONLY have 9 months left, right?"

Yes, I'm quite aware. 

If I could find a place to fit 200 people in a rustic setting and bring my own food and NOT have to spend six grand on catering... That'd be great. (True story...)

Don't get me started on trying to fit OUR wedding into OTHER people's schedules. Seriously?? Didn't realize YOU were getting married .I love being organized and planning things, but let me say that I will be very quick to tell people planning their own weddings to keep as much as they can to themselves. Do it YOUR way, and don't be a pushover. Lesson learned. 

***We are booking the venue and date tomorrow. You can't book the date without checking the venue to see what they have, which is another thing people don't seem to get. 

Anyways, I love my man, and I think that's the only thing I need to really focus on. Thanks for reading this rant.... hopefully you'll get some helpful advice from it! That would really be a win-win! The balance I'm working toward is getting what we want while making sure everyone else has a good time. Hence... "Unselfishly Selfish."

I'll be trying on dresses in late July, so excited!! That is.... if I make it till then..... wish me luck!! 

Kelly D

The Proposal!

FINALLY! I know. You've been waiting so long to hear the story about how Kevin managed to take me off the market.... and here it is! Drum-roll, please............

Kevin & I have a very fun, sarcastic and witty relationship. It's one of my favorite things about us. When he drove to Tallahassee this weekend, I was excited to go to Springtime Tallahassee, which is like a festival downtown. Kevin, however, begged me to go to the park for the lake that my apartment sits next to. We had time, so I said sure, let's go to the lake.

If Kevin is driving down the road, and sees a body of water, he HAS to stop. Not only will he stop, but he'll ask questions. "I wonder how many fish are in there? I wonder who owns this property? I wonder if I'll get arrested if I bring the boat here?" It's something I've learned to live with. It doesn't matter how late we are going somewhere, who we are meeting, how we are dressed.... he has this lake obsession. So I figured I'd indulge, like the great girlfriend I am.

Right when we got out of the car, he grabs a box of cracker jacks and says, "I brought a snack!" Kevin is the king of picking weird food and snacks, so I'm like, "Ok, weirdo. What are you, 12?" I don't like cracker jacks, but I do like fake tattoos, so I was excited about stealing the prize. We walk down by the water and joke around, and I'm ready to leave. He says, "Can you open this?" I called him a weakling and grabbed the box to rip open the lid. Inside sat a little white box, which I assumed was filled with my stickers or fake pirate tattoo that I was yearning for. Kevin reached for the prize, and I pushed his hand away while saying, "It's mine! I found it first!" I guess if I wasn't so competitive I would have realized what was about to happen.

I opened the box and saw a ring sitting on it's side. I looked at Kevin and all I could say was, "If this is a joke I'm going to be SO MAD". He got down on one knee, and said, "It's not a joke, will you marry me?"

Time stopped for a few minutes, and I started crying like the drama queen I am. He was just sitting there, and we were both trying to remember which hand the ring is supposed to go on. (We're pretty, not smart.)

I started to call my mom, all the while continuing to think this was a joke. Why would he want to marry me? I'm all over the place, I cry too much, I'm indecisive, I can't cook, I talk about beef way too much, I don't know how to wear lipstick.... Why me?

I said YES anyways, and we hugged for like ten minutes. I spent the day alternating between talking on the phone, kissing his adorable face, crying, and laughing like an idiot. The ring is stunning, and it's so precious because he picked it out himself. He bought it on Tuesday, asked my mom and dad on Wednesday, and EVERYONE who knew kept the secret till Saturday! (If you know my family.... that's a HUGE deal.)

It was the perfect proposal, so US. I love my Kevy boo boo, (throw up if you have to, I don't care) and I can't wait to marry him! This blog will be my journal of wedding preparations, and hopefully you'll have some laughs with us! Thanks for reading, stay tuned!

Does Distance Make the Heart Grow Fonder?

Kevin and I have been "long distance" for quite some time now.

After the summer we started dating, I had to move back to Tampa for school. It's only about an hour drive, but it was hard to go without seeing each other all the time for the whole summer.

I graduated in December of 2012, and it was a beautiful day of celebration and family. I thoroughly enjoyed being in school, and that's also where I met my best friend, Emily. Attending USF brought many challenges, but I really feel like it was the best school I could have picked. I love my friends, my major and my experiences that came from those few short years. (Looking back, they flew by. At the time, I thought it would never end!)

I moved straight up to Tallahassee after graduating to participate in an internship lobbying for the Florida Cattlemen's Association. If you know anything about me, (see my other blog here) you know that I love Florida and it's agriculture industry. I'm an advocate of Florida's farmers and ranchers, and that can be a little intimidating to guys... thankfully Kevin has always been really supportive, and great arm-candy to have around. (Am I right, ladies?)

We have been having discussions about where I'll be moving, or if I'll be coming home to Manatee county after I'm done with lobbying during the legislative session in May. My decision isn't going to be easy, although my heart says to move home, because it's my HOME. I was born and raised in Myakka City, just like my dad, and that's where we want to plant our roots. Distance has been hard on us, especially since I moved to Tallahassee. I'm no longer an hour away, I'm 5 hours away.

I realize that people have gone through worse, and I'm not saying this is difficult or that it's as hard as having an army boyfriend, but it is rough. We are both busy, but I think this has really made us stronger and we have realized that we can get through anything! If anything.... distance makes me like him even more! ;)

Camera Shy.... NOT!

Here are some of my favorite pictures so far! If this doesn't convince you about how hilarious my boo thang is.... then there's no hope for you! :)

Riding "the hog", Dumb & Dumber-style.

Jason & Heather's Wedding, July 2011

Our first "We're Official" Car Picture. It's the next step after making it "Facebook official".

Dinner with Kevin's Parents and his Cousin & Girlfriend

Family Dinner for Dad's birthday! (August 2012)

Going to Church at Bayside (December 2012)

Our one-year anniversary beach picture!

Our cruise with Kevin's family (Sept. 2012)

One of my favorite pictures! Date Night!

What did I get myself into? (I think we were BOTH asking that question....  

Happy New Year! (2012)

Another one of my favorite pictures... JOURNEY CONCERT! Tampa, 2012

My two favorite guys! 

Road trip to Georgia! (For the day, while I'm living so close in Tallahassee!)

We Found Love at the Auction Barn

If you're like me, you LOVE a good proposal story. The funny ones, the sweet ones, the awkward ones... I absolutely LOVE stories about love. Since you're reading this, hopefully you do, too! This is the story of our relationship, and you'll need this to truly appreciate The Proposal.... coming soon. :)

Kevin and I have known each other since 5th grade. My twin sister married his best friend when we were 19, and they have my perfect niece, Madisyn. Since Kev and my brother in law are BFF's, Kevin has been around Madisyn since she was born. She loves him, which is important to me!

My meddling (but well-meaning) sister and her husband started trying to set us up a few years ago, but we were so different that I didn't think it would work out. Ever.

My dad started an auction company a two summers ago, and Kevin came to "help" on the first night we opened. We all went for barbecue after, and had an awesome time. I began to realize I wouldn't be able to shake him, even though I tried! Kidding.... kind of!

For about two weeks Kevin called, and called, and called. I wasn't sure if he was serious enough about dating me, and I didn't just want a summer fling. I ended up giving him a shot and we saw the movie Bridesmaids, and we haven't stopped laughing since!

Kevin took me to his cousin's wedding, and that's when I knew I was hooked. We had the best time, and I think that was when I started falling in love. I'd never tell him that, and don't you dare, either! I met his family, and loved them right away. I saw Kevin in his element with the people he loves the most. If that doesn't make you fall in love with someone, I don't know what will! I don't get to see my extended family a lot, so I really appreciate the bond the Strausbaughs are lucky enough to have, and I hope he does, too.

We began dating the week after the wedding, and it's been the best almost 2 years of my life! I'd been wondering when we would get engaged, and I'd even broached the topic with my mom after my friend Ashley's wedding when I caught the bouquet and he caught the garter. Little did I know, the wheels were already turning, and a plan was already in motion.....

Stay tuned for the continuation of our love story!