Marriage: Month One

yep. 

it has already been one month folks! 

we have loved every single moment of it 

I think our favorite thing is saying "husband" and "wife" 

its just so much fun! 

the question we get asked most is

"does it feel any different being married now?"

usually we say no since 

we were together for over 5 years  

we lived together for nearly 2 years before we were married 

and we always knew we were going to end up husband and wife :) 

so though it doesn't feel like much has changed.... 

actually a lot has changed since the wedding 

mainly, MY NAME! 

yep, I am officially Mrs. Lauren Elizabeth Rice!!!

in addition to that over the past month of marriage we: 

went to our first married NC State game

with another newlywed couple, The Millers! 

celebrated a couple friends' engagement at their first engagement/wedding induced party

they're getting hitched in May 2014, Jared and I are both in the wedding!

went on our first "vacation" as a married couple

 

to Boone, NC for a lovely weekend with 3 other lovely couples 

had so much fun eating oysters, drinking wine, and laughing until our sides hurt 

love these people 

celebrated our first married holiday 

much more fun when you're married! 

and finally...

we moved! 

into a bigger, nicer, and closer to work house 

we love it so much even though we are still just renting

there is a lot of unpacking left to do 

but our goal is to be all moved in a ready to host Thanksgiving dinner at our new home! 

over the next few weeks I am looking forward to 

sifting through the wedding photos and sharing more moments from our favorite day

unpacking and decorating our new home 

continuing celebrating being married 

preparing for the holidays 

oh yeah, and working! 

We're Married!

September 28, 2013 was the best day of my life so far 

I wish I could write down everything so I could remember everything that happened 

but that is why we had the video camera there...

for now I am going to just soak up being the new Mrs. Rice :)

Here are a few sneak peeks from our most fabulous day! 

as if I don't brag enough about our photographer Libby McGowan

these pictures should speak for themselves. 

hello, awesomeness?

So Close!

I have been MIA from my blogging 

Mainly because I am about to explode with last minute lists and ideas for the wedding

Welcome to my wedding brain...

We have exactly 15 days until the big day!!!!!!

(AHHHHHH)

I am super excited but also a little stressed 

I think I'm stressed because I'm not stressing and I think I should be...

(If that makes any sense at all) 

I feel like I'm an abnormal bride. 

This wedding is really 5 years in the making

And while I don't want to wish it away 

I can't wait for mine and Jared's conversations to be about something non-wedding related for once

And it will be awesome when the wedding anxiety nightmares stop 

(So I guess I'm subconsciously stressed) 

I am just beyond ready to have all our loved ones in the same place for once 

We will have 9 different states represented at the wedding which I think is really neat! 

I bought Jared's gift this week and I am oh so giddy to see his face when he opens it

And I can't wait to read my vows to him 

(Which I still need to finish...)

I.Just.Cant.Wait.

But also time slow down a little so I can finish up all these last minute projects

Football Season is HERE

food, beer, games, friends, fall 

does it get much better?

Mr. & Mrs. Wuf at Matt and Kelly's wedding
obviously I was completely star struck
[first & only picture with them since 4 years as a student and 2 as alumni]

I don't know what I get more excited about 

tailgates 

or 

the football games 

probably the tailgates 

either way

I am super excited this weekend kicks off the season for NC State! 

friends of ours who have season tickets were married last weekend 

so they won't be at the game due to honeymooning 

by default Jared and I got their tickets

score.

I put together a few of my favorite memories from passed years

beyond excited to head to Raleigh after work 

to spend time with friends, tailgate, 

and of course, watch some Wolfpack Football!! 

Loss and Bliss

last night I lost my first patient 

it was also my:

first code 

first time doing CPR 

first time pushing code medications 

first time oxygenating a patient by bagging

but mostly, 

it was my first loss 

my co-workers were concerned for me 

but I was ok

I was at peace with the situation

last night totally confirmed that I am where I need to be 

I was born to be an emergency nurse 

and couldn't be happier about it 

I absolutely love my job and not many people can say that 

today I am blissfully happy 

because we are exactly one month from our wedding date 

the time has seriously flown 

we have a few things left to tie up and plan 

but mostly just payments to be made 

it feels good to be so close 

and surprisingly I am not as stressed as I thought I would be 

I have my dress and we have our rings 

really just the vows are left to nailed down

everything else is just details 

I can't wait to be Mrs. Rice forever :)

Bachelorette Weekend!

before I headed to Atlantic Beach for my bachelorette weekend 

I got to ride on the EMS truck 

it was a blast 

 Meghan's boyfriend, Ryan, graciously offered his family beach house to us for the weekend 

it was the perfect location for a wonderful time 

 how cute are those rainbow houses?

I only requested one thing for the bachelorette

penis straws. 

(because I think they are hilarious)

Meghan pulled out all the stops and made these adorable little kits for all us girls 

included: mini champagne, mini Advil, gum, 5hour energy shots, and penis straws! 

friday night we cooked at the house 

we had an amazing salmon and starch filled dinner to prepare our stomachs for the evening ahead 

 proof bachelorettes can both be cute and creepy 

my besties 

we met European boys 

who were fascinated with the bachelorette concept 

 

met a bachelor on his trip too 

obviously we needed to document that...

of course it was only nice the last day we were there 

so we got in some beach time finally 

then at at El's Drive-In on the way out of Atlantic Beach 

highly recommend this place for anyone visiting the area! 

things I learned from this trip:

a trip with your best friends filled with lots of "girl talk" is good for the soul 

not everyone understands what a bachelorette is 

bachelorette outfits can apparently be easily confused with Ms. America contestant outfits

a sash saying "bachelorette" and a crown with a veil will get you lots of drinks 

(and be the cause of a killer hangover...) 

I have the best girlfriends a girl could ask for 

(as if I haven't said that enough)

only 40 days until I am officially MRS RICE! 

Updates

life has become ridiculously busy 

and i love it 

the weekend before last we traveled to Ocracoke Island for the annual trip

with about 20 of our friends 

the amazing Boddie's hosted a wonderful weekend that continues to get better every year 

our friends Bunn and Paula Boddie hand made personal corn hole boards as an early wedding present 

I totally cried when they surprised us with them

just a casual 5 tent, 4 truck, 2 large speakers, full volleyball court set up on the beach

of course I forced a group picture

already excited for next year 

last weekend was my bridal shower 

I.Love.My.Friends. 

I can't say enough how lucky I am to be surrounded by such wonderful and supportive women 

love Love LOVE my amazingly gorgeous mom!!! 

just best friends for over 10 years 

the food spread that was all made by my MOH's sweet mom! 

playing shower games

and making me cry with sweet words 

all my favorite ladies :) 

after the bridal shower my bridesmaids, mom and I headed down to the bridal store

they all got to see my (actual) dress on me 

it was so fun showing them and I loved their reactions to me in the dress 

and as of today...

(the background picture is the first picture we took as a couple over 5 years ago...melts my little heart)

I am seriously so excited to call this man my husband 

we have all of the big things done for the wedding

now comes the fun part...paying for it. 

oy vey

this is the last weekend I will be in Winston for four weeks! 

coming up... 

bachelorette party 

grandparents arriving in Wilmington & dress fitting 

Labor Day weekend & first NC State football game