What I Think When You Ask Me "How is Married Life Treating You?"

It hasn't failed. The first time that I have seen a family member or friend after the wedding they ask some form of the question "How's the married life treating you?" My response has always been the same. I give a strange look and say "Good..."

I don't understand why people get so excited for your wedding and then expect right after you say the "I dos" everything to go down the toilet. My husband and I dated for 7 years before we tied the knot, and I honestly wouldn't change a single day of it. We had our ups and downs, like every relationship, but we stuck it out through everything. So, why are people asking if everything is going okay when we took the next step in our relationship?

I understand that in some marriages things change after you get married, but the only thing that has changed with us is the amount of love I feel for my husband. I didn't think that I could love him anymore than I already did, but I was wrong.

The weeks leading up to our big day everyone was joking with us saying things like "This is your last chance to run!" or "This is the last time you will be free!" but we didn't find it that funny. Yeah we may have let out a forced laugh or smile but thats as far as it went. The truth was, we couldn't wait to be married! We would come home and talk about how excited we were and how close the wedding was.

Not all couples look at marriage as the end to the fun and freedom in their lives. My husband and I are actually planning more adventures and trips than we ever did while we were dating. We are looking at this as the beginning of the rest of our lives together and we wouldn't change it for anything in the world!

Sorry for the rant...

Love,

Laura

Wedding Sign Tutorial in 6 Easy Steps!

Hello Everyone!

I've been really busy with finals and wedding planning, so I'm sorry for not keeping my blog updated! Today though I have a fun and super simple tutorial for wedding signs!

Materials

- Canvas Board (any size)

- Acrylic Paint (See picture below for colors I used)

- Thin Paint Brushes

- Printer/Printer Paper

- Pencil

- Tape

Steps

1) Print out your desired design. Make sure you scale it to whatever size of canvas you are using!

I actually found my design on the Ruffled Blog! They have amazing DIY projects for your wedding and tons of pictures of real weddings for inspiration! 

2) Turn the paper over and rub a pencil all over the back. We do this so that when you trace over your project, something transfers so you can paint over it!

3) When you finish with that, turn the picture back over and tape it to your canvas. If you paint it before hand, make sure that the paint is completely dry before this step!

4) Next, trace over the design with a pencil or a pen. You can lift up your design a little to check if its transferring but be careful not to shift it so your design transfers perfectly! After you trace it just take the paper off and it should look like this:

5) I would suggest to first paint over the letters using your lead markings as a guide! If you mess up, just use your background color and repair it!

6) When you finish the letters, move on to the other details in the design. Have fun with this part!

And in 6 easy steps, you have a hand painted wedding sign!

(I haven't sealed mine yet but I will probably put a layer of modge podge over it. I'll update with the end result!)

These are the brands and colors that I used to create these signs:

What is your favorite DIY wedding project? Tell me in the comments below!

Wedding Dress Styles for Plus Size Women

Hello Everyone!

Well it's set! Sunday I'm buying my wedding dress! After a few appointments I finally decided on the one... Ironically, it was the first one I tried on. We are having a very laid back shabby chic wedding. We are looking at barns as venues and old plantation houses; so nothing too formal. My wedding dress is going to mirror our carefree attitude and my own personal style.

The full lace and country chic look for brides is really popular right now. Being a plus sized bride I'm going to only post dresses that also come in extended sizes! I know finding the perfect dress and then realizing it doesn't come in your size is heart breaking, but if you see it on my blog you can most likely find it in your size! All of the dresses I am going to show are from Davids Bridal. They have a large variety of plus size dresses and normally have them in the store for you to try on!

All Over Beaded Tiered Lace Mermaid Gown

Style: 8MS251116

$1750

Dot Tulle Empire Waist Soft Wedding Gown

Style: 9WG3438

$449

Lace Ball Gown with Intricate Embroidered Details

Style: 9WG3512

$699

Tulle Over Satin Cap Sleeve Trumpet Gown

Style: 9WG3640

$1099

Strapless Ruches Bodice Tulle Ball Gown

Style: 9MK3576

$649

I hope this has given you some good ideas! I highly recommend Davids Bridal for your dress, and your bridesmaid's dresses as well! They are super helpful and have great prices!

Wedding Fever!

Hello Everyone!

Within the last week my fiancé, Matt, and I have decided to move our wedding date up! It's been a crazy week but we are getting excited just the same! After talking to our wedding party and family, we are starting to feel giddy about the whole thing. 

A little back story about us first though...

Matt and I started dating on September 12, 2008. We were still in high school and he was a junior and I was a sophomore when we met. One of our mutual friends had him sit with us at the lunch table and introduced us. We almost instantly became friends. I went over to his house that Friday night as we began dating. 

Three proms later I graduated high school and he was still by my side. We pretty much knew by this time that We would be getting married but we weren't sure when. I wanted to graduate college first and since I was going to the university in town, we would still get to be together just as often as we were before. 

Throughout college, he has stuck by my side making me laugh and keeping me sane. He was supportive when I went through rush week for the Panhellenic sororities on campus. He was ecstatic when I got my bid to be a member of Alpha Delta Pi. 

We went to multiple socials and formals and he grew close to my sisters as I did. He supported me in everything that I have done or tried to do. He has always been by my side. 

On October 7, 2014 Matt proposed! He modified a copy of Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince so that he could use it as a ring box and still satisfy my love of Harry Potter. 

Since there we have been in a whirlwind of engagement pictures and wedding planning. This last week we decided to move the first date up so we have been planning a little more seriously. 

I will be posting wedding ideas and things that are trending in the wedding planning world! We are currently looking at save the dates and invitations so look forward to posts about ideas that we are thinking about! Comment below about ideas that you feel made, or would make your wedding perfect!

(Tentative) Dragon*Con Cosplay List!

Hello Everyone!

Today I'm talking about my (tentative) Dragon*Con Cosplay list! I'm so excited to start working on these cosplays and getting ready for my favorite con!

Number 1!

Briar Rose from the animated Disney film Sleeping Beauty

I did this one last year and it was so comfortable and so much fun to do! I am hoping to add her basket and purple scarf this year.

Number 2!

Pam from the animated series Archer

I am looking forward to this cosplay sooooooo much! It's going to be so much fun! I will just be able to relax and say fun one liners.

Number 3!

Lydia from MTV's Teen Wolf

I haven't started watching this series yet but two of my friends are pushing me to start it. They want me to cosplay Lydia's character. I'm sure that once I start it, I will love it and want to start it right away!

Number 4!

Cinderella from Disney's new live action Cinderella movie

And last button least, I'm going to tackle the ballgown from the new Cinderella movie! I'm really nervous about this but I'm also really excited for the challenge! 

I'll be posting updates as I start working on these! Keep checking back for updates! Post in the comments to let me know some of your favorite cosplays or ones that you re currently working on! Also let me know if you are planning on going to Dragon*Con this year!

Cinderella Inspired Butterfly Skirt

Hello Everyone!

As some of you have seen, I created a Cinderella inspired skirt yesterday for the premiere of Disney's new live action Cinderella movie. I got a few comments at the theater about how much people loved it. It took a few hours, but I was very proud of how it turned out!

The materials costed me a little over $40 since I had a coupon for Joann Fabric Store. I love using this store because they almost always have amazing coupons! They let you use multiple coupons and even take competitors! 

The pattern I used was Simplicity's 1427 in the 14-22 size option. 

Instead of using all four of the layers of tulle I just had 2. You should be able to get away with using 8 yards of tulle instead of the 14 5/8 it suggests. 

I found the butterflies in the floral department of Joann. They had metal clips on the back so I clipped them onto the tulle and then just hand sewed them on to the first layer of tulle using the clip. 

I used the silk hydrangea and cut the flowers off the stems and hand sewed the on the first layer as well. 

I love how it turned out! Feel free to leave pictures of your Disney inspired creations in the comments! Also if you use instagram, check out my profile for updates on my latest projects!

(photo edits by Jaclyn)

A Little Bit About Me!

Hello Everyone!

My name is Laura and thank-you so much for stopping by my blog! I will be using this space to talk about plus size fashion, making my own every day clothes and cosplays, and my wedding plans!

I am 22 and it seems like I'm always doing something! I am always either doing something with my sorority, Alpha Delta Pi, or working on class work, or making a new outfit. 

I have been cosplaying for a few years now so making my own costumes and everyday clothes is one of my favorite things to do! I go to Dragon*Con in Atlanta, Georgia every year, so you will be seeing the progress of my costumes as I work on them. 

Another large part of my life is Harry Potter. I have been an avid fan since I was in third grade. Thankfully my wonderful fiancé has been super supportive of this love. He went to the opening of the Diagon Alley section of Universal the day that they opened and made sure that we were in the first 100 people to get in that morning. His support even goes over to our engagement. 

With the help of my Little Diamond Sister from my sorority, Matt found the most perfect way to propose to me! 

Matt and I started dating September 12, 2008. We were young and baby faced but we knew soon into the relationship that it would be more than just a high school fling. 

A little over 6 years later we are engaged and planning our wedding! It won't be for a couple of years just because I want to finish college first and then have a year to plan. 

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog! I will be posting again soon!