Engagement Photos!!!

Our Engagement Photos are done!!!! Our amazing photographer, Kurtis Kronk and his super assistant MT traveled with us to College Station for their visit to Aggieland to capture our engagement photoshoot! We had an amazing time reminiscing and hanging out in one of our favorite cities in the world.  Here are some of my favorites and below is a link where you can see all of the shots. Enjoy!

Thank you again Kurtis and MT! We love these and will cherish them forever :)

Kurtis Kronk- Engagment photos

From Then to Now.

As long as I can remember I have never really felt 100 percent confident with my body. I know this is something that women from all backgrounds and walks of life struggle with day in and day out.  In High School I tried the South Beach Diet and I also did all kinds of trial and error diets that I have found never have a long lasting effect.  In college, I went to the REC center quite often and would go to group classes which at the time was the only way I would work out. When someone was telling me what to do constantly and I felt like I was being held accountable.  Once going into the real world at work I know especially in my profession there is ALWAYS goodies to try to avoid. Thankfully since I teach I am constantly up and moving around but let's be honest, I totally let myself go last year. I wasn't as happy as I could be with my job, I had a tough class and every Friday I looked forward to going to my favorite bakery and on Wednesday since it was Hump Day I would get Shipley's on the way to work. I would go on walks with my dogs and that was it- occasional bike rides and such but nothing extreme.

After Holland and I got engaged one of my friends since Pre School told me " If there is anything I can help you with for the wedding please let me know!" My friend Anastasia is a personal trainer and zumba, abs and yoga instructor at Bella's Women Fitness.  I told her the best thing she could help me with was getting into the best shape of my life for my wedding day! She was SO excited to help me with what felt like an impossible task to me since I never had the best results when "getting in shape".  We sat down and talked about my eating which she said wasn't too bad. I told her I didn't eat very much meat but she said that was okay and she gave me alternatives on how to get more protein in my diet since I wanted to tone up.  We took body measurements and took my body fat percentage which was 30 percent on December 13, 2013.  My goal was not so much in weight but in my body fat. I don't remember what stage I was in for the 30% body fat percentage but the one I wanted to be in was the "desirable" range.

I started meeting with Ana for 30 minutes a week and she would give me a circuit to go through.  She told me just to try and go through the circuit 1-2 more times and get at least 30 minutes of cardio in 3 times a week. I thought WOW totally doable.  Every other time when I signed up at Gold's Gym I would just walk around and do machines randomly. I had never done circuits at all.

After a month we moved to meeting for an hour. I am not going to lie, the first time was tough. However, Ana always positively motivated me in the nicest way possible. Saying things like "You can do it! and " You're almost there".  Every time I meet with her it goes by SO quickly!  We would measure every 3-4 weeks and I can honestly say was the best feeling. Even though I couldn't see that my body was changing it was- drastically! Between Ana's positive outlook for my goals and her motivation for me along with seeing actual results on paper- I was hooked. I made it part of my routine to go to the gym and since Ana is such a hard worker and always at the gym- she was my accountability. She knows when I am at the gym and when I'm not because she is always there :)

Here is a sample of what Ana would give me for my circuit. This is my most recent one that I got this week.

I have been doing this for 4 months now. I eat healthy- I never starve myself and I get to cheat and have a meal once a week with whatever I want.  Ana and I still meet on a weekly basis and I look forward to going to the gym. I have lost inches all over- my hips and butt were the most stubborn places! Ana has helped design workouts for me that are tailored to what I want and need for my body. She asks me every so often how I am feeling about my body and if there are any specific areas I want to focus on and lately I have been loving all over full body workouts.

I originally saw this as a wedding goal but it has honestly turned into a forever goal. I have never had results like this where multiple people everyday ask my what I am doing and how I am getting fit.  I pulled out shorts from high school and dresses that haven't fit  me for over 6 years and my heart skipped and jumped at least 5 times because they fit. Not only did they fit but they fit well!

Looking at the photo below lets me realize how far I have come.  The photo on the left was from last year in March 2013 and the photo on the right is from March 2014 this year.   What an amazing challenge and change this has been for me. I love how Ana has positively impacted my life with helping me reach my goal in a positive and healthy way.

Thank you SO much Ana for believing in me and for helping me become a happier and healthier person! I love you!

Love,
Amanda

A Speedy Spring

Well hello blog! I have missed you.

Spring has always been a busy time of year for us. We LOVE everything about Spring.  Except for the time change and springing forward an hour- we hate that! The temperature gets warmer, we usually start planting new produce in our garden and relax, relax and relax.  However, this year is a little different. Oh yeah, because we are less than 3 months away from getting MARRIED! It still sounds so crazy when I say it out loud.  There are time when I look down at my hand and I just think " Wow, this is happening!"Not in a I am going to freak out and run away type of feeling but just pure excitement! I have said it more than 5 times that I wish our wedding day was tomorrow. I honestly cannot wait for it.

Some awesome things that have happened to us this Spring:
*On March 7 we purchased our first house together! It is currently getting all kinds of face lifts thanks to my Dad. He has a vision and I am trusting him since he has done these types of things a time or two before.

*On March 15th Holland and I stood in the Montgomery Wedding. We were so excited to be a part of Adam and Morgan's special day!

*I turned the Big 27 on March 23rd! Rolling down to the late 20's!


* On March 29th Holland's ( and my soon to be) Niece, Raya turned 4! We also traveled to College Station to take our engagement pictures with our Photographer, Kurtis Kronk and his super assistant MT.

We also went to Denver this past weekend but now my photos have had enough and do not want to come to my blog! I will have to do a separate post for Denver happenings.

I am so pumped for this upcoming weekend! All of my best friends and my family are coming together for my bridal shower! Some of these friends I haven't seen in person since the summertime so I am SOOOOO excited to catch up on some girl time. I cannot wait to play games, eat cupcakes and catch up with everyone. :)

Hope y'all are all having a fabulous week! I am anxious to go to work just so we can get to the weekend.

We are getting MARRIED!

AHHHH. I still can't believe it somedays. I wake up and get ready for work and I still get this jump in my stomach slipping that beautiful ring on my finger. ITS HAPPENING!! Holland and I have been in the works with planning and meetings and meetings and more planning and decisions decisions decisions! It truly has been so much fun and also interesting because Holland is SO involved. He makes me second guess everything like "Hey babe, are you sure those are the colors you want?" "You picked them pretty quickly". He assures me that he is just double checking to make sure I am confident about my decision.... I think he is just being a tad bit difficult though! haha

Our Wedding Day is almost 5 months away and I am BEYOND excited to marry Holland and to celebrate with all of our family and friends. All the large details are in place and now we have to do our little touches to continue to make it our own and symbolize us.

Within a few weeks of being engaged Holland and I had a conversation about our wedding ceremony. We talked about how we wanted it to be- what kind of saying we want possibly and then the big question of  WHO WOULD BE OUR OFFICIANT? Holland and I have a strong belief that anyone who is in love should be able to marry. We believe in Equality. We will have a ceremony that symbolizes love for anyone and everyone and not just between a man and a woman. Our number one choice for our officiant was clear. He was and still is one of the most influential people in my life and because of him I feel I have become a more understanding and better person. I am so happy to say that Lowell Kane will be the man who marries us!

I met Lowell during my first semester of graduate school in a class. We would talk every so often and I learned he was the Program Coordinator for the Texas A&M GLBT Resource Center.  I had been involved in an Aggie Allies program at school but had never visited the center! I think Lowell saw my interest in GLBT since I tried to do every single one of my presentations on the topic and at the end of the semester he asked if I would apply for a Graduate Assistantship position in the center. That was honestly the BEST job ever. During my year of working at the center I learned so much about the GLBTQQIAP culture. Yes people, that stands for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and Pansexual) It is still engrained in my brain, Lowell!

My first weeks working there I would write down questions and meet with Lowell and he would gladly answer them.  I did tons of fun activities like  Guess Who's Gay Panels and The Coming Out Monologues.  We would set up tables and hand out ribbons and information to students on campus.  My favorite thing was just talking to students in the center. It was eye opening to see people feel extremely comfortable within the walls of the center. It is a safe space, it is an open space where everyone is accepting, loving and supporting one another.

Lowell trained me to teach others how to be more accepting and give them information on a topic some of them had never really considered looking into.  My last year at A&M was amazing and I know it is because I was surrounded by some of the kindest and most giving people in the world.

We are both so thrilled to have Lowell not only present on our special day but to be the one who declares us as a married couple.  Thank you, Lowell! :) 

Love, Amanda and Holland

Gifts in a Jar

  Hey friends! This past month has flown by! Holland and I have been extremely busy with planning wedding stuff and so much more we have kinda slacked off this year with buying gifts. I have made gifts in a jar in the past but this year I kinda went to town with it.  These are super great gifts if you are on a tight budget financially or cutting it close on time.  They are also great for the person you have no clue what to buy for.  I like the idea that when I give one of these to someone it is making baking/cooking easy but they are still getting something homemade and delicious.  

These recipes are from a small taste of home magazine that my dad bought me at the grocery store two years ago.  Best five dollars on a magazine ever spent!

I spent a total of $70.00 at the grocery store and made exactly 12 jars( 4 of each recipe on here). I still have enough stuff to make at least two more for each recipe on here as well. 

I have listed a picture for the three types of jars I made this year and on the left is the recipe you attach to the jar for the person receiving the gift. It is just some simple directions on what they need to make the recipe. Underneath each photo I listed how you put the jar together. 

I tried to put the tags for jars on a google doc so I could be all techie and save you time if you decide to make any of these because let's face it, time is special and if I can keep you from having to type or write out anything I will! However, I apologize in advance if this fancy link under this paragraph does not work. Alrighty, let's get to these jars!

Tags for Jars

First up is Double Dutch Chocolate Holiday Cookies

Hollands mom made these with her niece and nephew two years ago for Christmas. They were supposed to be for Santa but Jayne said she ate about 2 dozen of them on her own!

How to make jar:
-1 and 1/2 cups all purpose flour
-1/2 teaspoon baking soda
-1/4 teaspoon salt
-1/2 cup double dutch dark cocoa
-3/4 cup sugar
-1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/4 cups red and green milk chocolate m&m's
1/3 cup white baking chips

1. In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt. In a 1qt jar, layer the flour mixture, cocoa, sugar, brown sugar, M&M's and baking chips.
**make sure you pack down the layers, especially the brown sugar! If not not all the m&m's and chips will fit**


                          Hearty Pasta Soup

To make jar:
-1/2 cup dried split peas
-2 tablespoons chicken bouillon granules( I used Knorr)
-1/2 cup dried lentils
-2 tablespoons dried minced onion
-1 teaspoon dried basil
-1 teaspoon fried parsley flakes
-1 envelope savory herb with garlic soup mix or vegetable soup mix
-2 cups uncooked color spiral pasta

1. In a 1qt glass container, layer the first seven ingredients in the order listed. Place the pasta in a resealable plastic bag.  add to jar.

                     Sand Castle Brownies

To make jar:
-1/3 cup chopped nuts
-1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate chips
-1/3 cup flaked coconut
-2/3 cup packed brown sugar
-3/4 cup sugar
-1/3 cup baking cocoa
-1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1. In a 1qt glass jar, layer all ingredients in order listed, packing well between each layer.




For the tops of the jar lids I used mod podge and some holiday scrapbook paper.  I used a sponge brush to put some podge on the lid then onto the paper then sealed it all in by brushing on top as well. I let these dry over night before making the jars so they wouldn't stick at all.

I hope you all have a very happy Holiday! 2013 is coming to a close and it was a fabulous year for us. So excited for 2014!


Love,

Amanda and Holland

Perfect Timing

Gosh... Where do I begin? I cannot believe I am about to write the post about our engagement. It is something I have dreamed about for years and it became real last night. SO lets begin!

Holland had mentioned going to take pictures in front of the bean at Millenium Park at night time once my cousin PP picked us up from the airport. The last two times I have been to Chicago PP and I always take a signature pose at the bean, so it was a must thing to do on our list! We all had an awesome day in Chicago. We ate breakfast at Ann Sathers and went to see the Hunger Games movie. We were kind of running low on energy since we only had three hours of sleep so we relaxed and napped at my cousins apartment until her husband, Billy got home from work.

We got on the train and we were all debating if we should go eat first or go to the bean first. Holland said we needed to eat first because I get a tad bit grumpy when I am hungry and he was right. By the time we were at our stop I was REALLY hungry.  We ate the best deep dish pizza I have ever had in Chicago at Giordannos. Seriously, it was like Ninja Turtle cheesy good when we took the slice off the silver pan.

After dinner we started to walk to the bean which wasn't far away at all but BOY it was COLD!

We started to take pictures and it was so strange because I have always been to the bean in the daytime when there are at least 100 people there. Everyone must have been busy making turkeys and sides!
Now looking back, it is hilarious because Holland just kept insisting on taking more pictures. He kept looking back and seeing if the few people that were there were clear out of the way so we could get a good picture. He also made me take off my beanie and I was saying " OH MY GOD! Its freezing! Why do I have to take off my beanie!?" He insisted so I just went along with it.

 Then it happened..........

 I had just talked to a friend a few weeks ago about her engagement and I asked what her now fiance said. She said it was all a blur and I REALLY tried to focus in on the words Holland was saying to me but I felt just a complete shock and emotion take over my body.  Very slowly he said: "Amanda Richelle Bruns... I have always loved you and I will love you forever, will you Marry Me?"

You would think after eleven years together I would SCREAM yes, but I just stood there still in shock for a good 3-6 seconds. I finally was able to formulate the words.."Yes, Of course". 

 After this moment I started to jump up and down and come back from the clouds a little bit. I did not put the ring on right away because I just kept shouting "Oh my gosh! ITS SOOOOO PRETTY!" and I said "I CAN CALL YOU MY FIANCE NOW!!!
 I slipped off the ring that I wore on my middle finger of my left hand. It was a ring that Holland gave me for my 16th birthday- almost 11 years ago!  I went from feeling freezing to feeling warm. I could not stop my smile and giddy feeling. I know people are saying Finally!! Believe me I think that too. However, I always knew it would happen when the time was right, and the time was perfect.

I am beyond excited/Thankful for all the great things that are happening in our lives. Chicago has always been a special place to me especially in the last three years of my cousin moving here. It will now always be a reminder of the true beginning of our forever journey together.

Thank you to everyone who was in on the secret and to my cousin for capturing the moment. I love you!!!

Thank you all for the congrats and well wishes. We love and appreciate every single word.

Love,

Amanda and Holland