UPDATE:

We found a venue for the rehearsal dinner!

{The Tutwiler Hotel}

Rehearsal{crisis}

I would like a private room seating 45 people.
Not available anywhere.
Wait... 2 places.
One with a $7000 minimum and
the other is $70 a head.

My goodness...

Ryan's mom has been in town
since Sunday searching and navigating
her way around Birmingham for
a rehearsal dinner location.
Birmingham, needless to say, is not
the most accommodating area
for weddings.

Regardless of our frustrating week,
we have had a lot of fun hanging
out and eating really yummy dinners at
Jackson's and Zea. If you happen
to go to Jackson's anytime
soon, I highly recommend their
Caribe flat-bread with a side
of mango chutney.

Oh yeah and about that diet-
I have been able to
easily follow it during the day
and since we have been eating out
and about I have just stuck with
chicken salads and smaller portions.
Okay, I did have a slice of pizza
the other night. HA!

Today we may be able to finalize
a spot for the dinner, we
one more place to check and we will
know where to go from there.
This is pretty exciting and
just means we are that much
closer to the BIG DAY!

{...and that much closer to being here.}

Getting{in shape.}

Workin' on my fitness!!!

I have a little less than six months
until the wedding and I (as any bride would)
want to be in the best shape possible.
For our honeymoon we are going on a
western Caribbean cruise and
I would love to have a rock solid bod!!! HA.

My "crash diet"has officially started.
Not really a crash diet, I will just be eating really healthy,
start running consistantly again and doing
some strength training.

Yesterday, I went grocery shopping (at Publix) and bought
only lean meats and veggies for the next 2 weeks.
My plan is to also include my recipes,
workouts and maybe progress.

As for these next two weeks I have already
prepared for 3 different meals that I can split up
and take to work or eat at home.
FYI using measuring cups are the best and
easiest way to control your portions.

2-Alarm Turkey Chili

1. 1 box of 2-Alarm chili kit (Publix or Winn Dixie has this)
2. 1 can of diced tomatoes
3. 1 can of water
4. 2 lbs of ground turkey (99% fat free)

Follow instructions on the 2-A chili kit

"Nekkid" Fajitas
{No tortillas involved!!}

1. 1 lb of chicken tenderloins (cut into strips)
2. 2-3 bell peppers (i love using all red, yellow and green.)
3. 1 onion
4. 5 sprays of any no calorie butter substitute
5. Your favorite fajita seasoning mix

Saute chicken in a pan with butter sub- once almost done you can
throw in the veggies and season well.
I am not using tortillas because I am not eating carbs right now, although
they have some great "light" options right now at all stores.

Rotel Chicken

1. 1 can of Rotel (I am using the "cilantro-lime" flavor)
2. 2- chicken breasts

This is the easiest recipe and most delicious. You can either bake
this or cook on a stove top with a covered pan.


My goal is to lose at least 13 lbs in
the next 10 weeks, however with my muscle gain
that may take longer or may not
happen at all. Either way I would just like
to make my hubby-to-be PROUD!!!

{Wouldn't this be a great "after photo"?}

Planning{moving right along.}

I have been engaged for 13 days.

We have a date, a venue, 1952 Bentley (our parting car),
booked honeymoon,
an engagement photographer,
a photographer for my bridals
AND FINALLY a photographer for the big day!!

If you follow me on twitter or facebook-
you know how frantic I was about this.

I love to be prepared, but more so
I just wanted to make sure to
get most of it planned before the holidays
so we can just take it easy until January.

What's next on my list?
Oh, that would be my wedding dress...
How exciting is that??
I have a few ideas for that but
who knows what I will actually end up with.
Before the ring I had already planned
everything and now that its actually
here, I have changed a lot of what
I had intended on doing.


{love the frumpy flower detail}

{simple dress in need of a heavily beaded necklace.. not a problem!}

We're Engaged!{the story}

At Nottaway Plantation, the night before he proposed.



Story

We had gone to Louisiana to attend Ryan's sisters
wedding held at Nottway Plantation and
the whole family stayed the night in one of the guest homes.
In the morning we were supposed to all meet for
breakfast in the main mansion. During our walk Ryan
asked me to take a little walk through the garden around
"Iris Pond." We had made it about half way in the garden and
Ryan stopped and told me he loved me for the
first time and that the reason he had waited so long was that
he wanted the next girl he told that to, to be the girl
he would marry.

He got down on one knee.
Pulled the ring from his pocket.
"Natalie, will you marry me?"

I could not have have been more suprised!


1.02 carat asscher cut diamond
absolutely beautiful!


As of last night we officially have a date and venue!!

March 19, 2011

184 days to go until I become Mrs. Natalie Bezet Gravois!



Nottaway Plantation
Proposal site