In Which I Was On TV!

You see, I happen to work at the wonderful Rock Ranch, located in The Rock, Georgia. Every autumn they have Fall Family Fun Days each Saturday from late September all the way through November, and each has a theme - for example, this week is Lumberjack day and there will be college teams from all over the southeast competing at lumberjackesque events like chopping trees, sawing beams, and log "burling" in the lake.

Now, why did that make me get on TV?

This year, the enormous corn maze is celebrating "75 years of Oz" (it's the 75th anniversary of the movie!) and the entire maze is shaped like this:

I know. Complicated-looking! And I have to memorize the whole thing because... I'm working in it! Part of the time I'll be a corn cop, helping folks find their way out of the maze if they need a little aid. But part of the time...

I'm dressing up as Glinda!

That dress must weigh ten pounds, but it's my favorite of all the costumes. :D ANYway, all the characters from the movie (but not the wicked witch) are represented by a great cast of Rock Ranch staff, including me. Kids (and parents!) will be able to meet-n-greet us and get their pictures taken.

It's going to be fun! I couldn't be there last Saturday, as I was in a very special wedding bridesmaid-ing, but this week I am stoked to be gallivanting around as Glinda. :D

Last week, myself and Hannah (Dorothy) and Tyler (The Scarecrow) and our events manager, communications director, AND my awesome mama (super-duper assistant extraordinare) all drove up to Atlanta. Whilst there, we stopped by 104.7 The Fish radio station and did a quick radio spot and got a photo with the DJ!

THEN... we went here.

CBS. As in, an actual TV station. (that's Adam, our awesome events manager, behind me)...

Click Here to watch the segment. Unfortunately there's also a bit about a haunted house, but it's over rather quickly. :P I had no idea what to expect when we went in, but it ended up that we didn't have to say anything at all, just smile and wave. There was another short bit where we stood at another table with pumpkins on it and waved goodbye at the very end of the hour and Parker surprised us by asking "So where is the tin man?" And I told her "He rusted over." XD Haha! We didn't have microphones on though.

Being at a real TV station was fascinating. The actual broadcast room was a lot smaller than I had thought, with different desks and areas in one room with several HUGE cameras in the middle that swiveled. One of the behind-the-scenes gals told me that my hair was fantastic and asked if I had any hair secrets to share on how to get it so long and gorgeous. :D (short answer: I don't. Don't blow-dry, don't dye, and don't flat-iron. I curl it once in a great while though.)

 Us waving goodbye. :D

And a scarecrow selfie! :)

After the live TV bit was over, Sue from Field Trips with Sue interviewed Adam more about the Rock Ranch, for her own website.

Then after that we got lost about four times on our way to a certain chick-fil-a (actually walked into the wrong one fully decked out in costume - that was hilariously awkward) we finally made it, ate some tasty salads that the staff served us on the house, and then took our picture with all the customers and handed out coupons in the drive-through. Most of those customers had never even heard of the Rock Ranch.

Just me that day, in a top I found on ThredUP.com. More on that amazing website later. :D

Mama and I made it back home at around 8:00 that night, worn out! But it was so much fun and I would do it again in a heartbeat. :D Maybe I will, we'll have to see! :)

Until then, if you live in Georgia and are looking for some great family fun this fall, come by the Rock Ranch (www.therockranch.com) and see me at the Corn Maze! :)

In Which I Was a (Barefoot) Bridesmaid

My sweet friends!

Life has been full for me this past month! One of the most wonderful events was the wedding of my dear friend, McKenzie. I could not be happier for her and was incredibly blessed to be part of her special day. 

In the craziness of it all, I didn't take many pictures (or even bring my 'real' camera!) so a few of these are snatched from facebook and uploaded from my iPhone, just so you know. ;) 

 Mason jars, twinkle lights, burlap, lace, candles, and some of the fluffiest baby's breath I've ever seen combined to make a DARLING reception at the bride's home, Pecan Pastures.

But I'm getting ahead of myself!

Ohhhhh, this picture. Every girl deserves to be the most beautiful woman in the world on her wedding day, and just look at her... wow. The pre-wedding bridal shoot was done by Kaitlyn Wright (whose pictures are fall-out-of-your-chair STUNNING, in my opinion).

Three of the nine bridesmaids, the bride's sisters and cousin (middle) - such gorgeous girls! 

It was a pleasure to create the jewelry for all the bridesmaids - more pictures later, in another post! 

The ceremony was held in this graceful old church - aren't the columns striking?! :) 

Hey there! (Haha - this picture makes me think of the scene in National Treasure 2 when Nicolas Cage is peeking over a huge bouquet at Abigail in an elevator in Buckingham Palace) 

Ok, this is possibly the most makeup I have ever worn in my life, but it was a special occasion and there was lots of photography involved. The very precious Beka Lavender touched up my face for me and even managed to leave my eyeshadow job (that I'd done myself) alone! She's amazing! :)

Katie!! She's too sweet, and I am so happy to have met her through this experience of bridesmaiding together. ;) 

Doesn't this puff of adorableness, otherwise known as the flower girl, just make you melt? She was towed down the aisle in a little wagon by the ring bearer, as she's still a baby. AWWW.

I could NOT have done this without the support and encouragement (and WOWZA hairstyling help) from my awesome mother. And doesn't she look beautiful in her pink dress? I was flabbergasted when we found that for her at a thrift store for $8, practically brand-new... score!! :D

And I couldn't believe it when I heard from my sweet online friend Courtney that she would be driving four hours to attend the wedding!! She and the bride have been penpals for ages. It was amazing to finally meet her in person!!

So many cute handmade signs at the reception! The bride's family worked so hard to get everything done, and they did a stellar job! 

Such loveliness! Under the pecan trees, on the green grass, tents and satin-draped chairs and sweet tea and lemonade and wedding cake! Not to mention a table heaped with southern goodies like cheese straws, toasted pecans, and chicken salad-stuffed crescent rolls. 

My first photo with the bride - and the groom photobombed it spectacularly. I CRACKED UP when I saw this picture. She's got herself a keeper, for sure. ;) I am so glad Daniel found McKenzie, they make a perfect pair!

:D They're married!

If Daniel and McKenzie have a marriage anything like my own parents, then they will be blessed indeed. :D I'm so glad my Daddy and one of my brothers could come to the wedding, as it was the first time I'd ever been a bridesmaid. :)

And yes. All of the bridesmaids were barefoot. *shrug* Not my thing for sure, but I'd do just about anything for McKenzie, and it was what she wanted! I was just happy the dresses were floor-length! Something about going shoeless in church was so strange! ;)

Stay tuned for more posts, I'm writing one as soon as I hit publish on this one, because a couple of days ago........ I was on TV. :)