Bachelorette Weekend

This Bachelorette weekend seems to have an overwhelmingly large amount of photos so I'll try to keep my babbling short. My sisters planned this perfect vintage inspired weekend. We went to the lake and it was such a great break right before the wedding.

Almost as soon as we got there, we went out on the boat to our dinner reservation at Barnharts (restaurant and bar that is boat accessible which meant it wasn't super handicapped accessible for Mads but she rocked it).

Somehow Tor ended up being the only one rocking the red lip.

Sash repurposed. 

 All weekend life long, wardrobe decisions went through STB and all footwear was purchased by or belonging to her, my sisters learned and loved having a personal stylist. New Magee motto; WWSW: What Would Shannon Wear. 

 Barnharts, the service was pretty bad and the drinks pretty weak, but we had the best time.

 Rosie and Marilyn

And the ride home at the end of the night included one pretty dark dance party. My biggest regret is not getting a picture of our nautical chauffeur. My biggest failure is not having pictures of this dance party. You live and you learn.

The next morning's brunch included mimosas, as all brunches should.

And the adorable glasses gifted by my in-laws. 

The weekend set-up: alcohol, cake pops, muffins/ cupcakes, popcorn. What a girl wants, what a girl needs, whatever makes you happy sets you free.

Cheers!

Fizzy drink flaws.

And Torey's game of the morning, she went above and beyond her MOH duties to put on this fantastic weekend.

 Saturday was a big day, we went tubing down the natural lazy river in Ludington after crafting our vintage headbands. We, smartly filled up all the tubes before going to the State Park and then deflated many of them in order to fit people in the car. I use the word "fit" loosely.

 And tubing! We all strung ourselves to Maddies boat of a raft (necessary so her cast didn't get wet) which made our voyage even more of a lazy ride for most. Except for Liz and I who were at the front and in charge of making us move more quickly or steering us away from a stump, and every time we did that, Shannon held our drinks. If not double, the girl was triple fisting. 

 Halfway down the river we discovered many holes in Maddies raft which we needed to save because of her leg and because of the cooler. So we were so glad we had brought the trusty pink duct tape! And the tube pump because every 40 minutes we'd give it another hit of air. Always classy, what can we say?

 The tubing adventure lets out at Lake Michigan so we all headed to the beach with the cooler from the car for lunch. We ate our sandwiches and passed out almost instantly. None of us remember falling asleep and no one can tell you how long we slept but we all had pretty hearty naps. Which called for some solo shots.

 Somehow Meg's picture was deleted, sorry babe.

Dinner consisted of all of my favorites; hot dogs, pasta salad, watermelon, rum and diet, a beautiful view and these lovely ladies. Seriously I love it all!

They gifted Tim and I a spiritual bouquet of firsts wine and I am proud to inform that we have only gone through two thus far, First fight remains corked.

 And more of Torey's perfect games. Who said what, a facebook quiz and wedding charades which we turned into Fish Bowl/ Celebrity for obvious reasons.

 Seriously, every detail was perfect and so well thought out. Every moment was one worth remembering and documenting so thanks for bearing through this insanely long post. These women are the most special to me and I would not want my last weekend of bacheloretteness to be with anyone else.

Of note: we also went to HOF for lunch after mass, not documented because Torey's phone is terrible.

Guess Who's Back?

Back Again.

As of this morning, we have internet! I should feel guilty about how good it feels. Tim and I spent the last two hours of this morning on our respective computers totally cut off from the real world. The only interaction we shared (or are currently still sharing) involves flipping the computer toward the other, exclaiming, "Look at this!..." So, this could be the beginning of the end. We are catching up on the whole life we missed (Blogs, wedding pictures from guests, pre-season ESPN videos, google mapping our area for the billionth time, the new Taylor Swift song, etc.) and feeling great. Now as I type this though I'm realizing how pathetic it is.

So, we are 16 days newly wedded and our life has been a whirlwind, there is much to be blogged. Posts to expect shortly: Bachelorette Party, Pre-Wedding Chaos, Pre-Wedding people who I owe my life to (the list is lengthy), Wedding, U-hauling across the country, Settling into our Apartment, Honeymooning in coastal Maine, Starting work, and all things about learning to love this new city. As I said, it's been a whirlwind. But it still is so surreal, part of me still feels like I should be at CUA orientation. There have been lots of joy but also lots of feels so I guess you should also prepare yourself for that?

Well I am off to update my About page and google Chinese take out places, and try to convince Tim to watch an episode of Parks and Rec with me as a way to celebrate this land of the living, social media experience. All things important going on around Casa Kenney. In an hour and forty-two minutes my computer will die and maybe when I leave the couch for a charger, I'll make lunch. And then again maybe not. 

Wine and Cheese and Cheese and Wine

A post dedicated to my fourth and final bridal shower. 

(You can see the others here: One, Two, Three)

Don't worry about my being a diva, it seems absurd to me too. But I guess that doesn't really pose a good case for my not being a diva. In order to make excuses and start rambling just so the jury can find me guilty: if you remember one was a surprise from my DC friends, and the second held by my aunts at my grandmothers home three hours north of here primarily for family members, the third all Tim's side, and this one was for the local crew. Does this make it seem less ridiculous? Nope.

So this group shot if full of St. Joe High School women.

And though this was my fourth shower, this was Torey's first because she was in Florida all summer.

She's my sister and my MOH and my best friend. She planned this whole beautiful event in the 4 days after she got home... Everyone, join me in singing her amazingness.

This is my home transformed into party central. It's funny to see what three balloons can do.

I had such a great wine and cheese filled evening. And I was so blown away by the generosity of so many women whom I love and have know me at various point of my life but have formed me in Christ in all things. Gratzie!

Meg made the sash, do you love it? Good because shortly it will make a reappearance. 

Here's a game, guess my age in these photos. I was 5/10. 

This poor cripple waited patiently all night just so everyone would leave and she could put her foot up.

Everyone, seriously, cast your vote: should she scoot or crutch down the aisle?

My godmother came in all the way from Indy. 

It was a pinteresty affair

If all of these parties have done one thing, it's showered me with beautiful women. Externally, sure, but also as human persons. I am so blessed to be able to fill four parties with women who care about me and show me what authentic female relationships look like. These are women who constantly show unconditional love and are always making themselves a total self-gift to any and all. These are women who recognize the dignity of each other and never stop affirming it. It's as if these women in my life are the models for all of JPII's theology, or the other way around, it's beautiful.

Ready to wear another white dress? Yes I am. Yes I am. 

Thanks to everyone who made this night perfect. Cheers to August 9th.