Troubled by Toddlers & Tiaras

Okay, so I have to admit that several months ago I got sucked into TLC's Toddlers & Tiaras. It was an accident, really. I was never a pageant girl and I didn't know anyone that was when I was growing up. I think I initially was fascinated by the families that were so sucked into the crazy lifestyle of pageantry (at least it appears that way on TLC).
For the most part, I laughed off the stereotypical pageant mom's. The over-dosing of the girls with pixie stix before a pageant irritated me, but other than that I had the attitude, "to each his own".



However, after watching the last episode I was heart broken. There are a brother and sister pair, Braxton and Alaska. The mother and step-father were absolutely awful. They did not treat their kids equally. Both the boy and girl were put in pageants. The mother and father continuously complimented Braxton and always neglected and even put down Alaska. I felt awful for the little girl.






She was not only beautiful, but she seemed to be a great kid. Regardless, no child should be treated the way that they treated Alaska. To really understand the scope of just how bad these parents were, you'd have to watch the whole video. While Braxton typically wins the pageants they both enter, this grand finale he did not and his sister won. Of course, the parents ended up adoring her because she won. It was awful. I couldn't get over that having a title was what made a mom love (or at least show love) to her own daughter. I know you're probably thinking, why did you keep watching if you thought it was so awful. The best I can explain is that it's like a scary movie, you want to look away at certain parts but you also don't want to miss anything.

http://tlc.discovery.com/videos/toddlers-tiaras-season-4-videos/

The Love Bug is Biting

So, if you keep up with my blog you know that I am happily engaged and wedding planning is in full-swing. But, my own wedding is not the only planning that is going on in my life. Two of my closest friends (both from college) are also engaged and getting married in 2012!!! I am so excited for them and us just to be able to experience all of this stuff together.
So, I am going to be a bride first, a maid of honor second, and a bridesmaid third but all before the end of 2012. : )

Here is Mary and her fiance, Andrew. Mary lives in Florida and is going to school to be an elementary education teacher. She is amazing with kids and will be a great Mom one day! Mary and I met in college by fate. She moved into the empty suite next door to me my junior year. We instantly clicked. We both cheered in college together for the Barry Buccaneers. We were pretty much inseperable from the time that we met. We coached cheerleading together, traveled together, and became part of each other's families. Honestly, Mary is like a sister to me. I am an only child but she definitely filled that role. Her family is like my family and visa versa. It's so nice to have a friend like that. Mary is spontaneous and free-spirited. She has always been a good friend and is always fun to be around. I was honored when she asked me to be her maid of honor. : ) Believe it or not, I have never met her fiance, Andrew! He is in the Army Florida National Guard. So she is having to plan on a wedding on her own while he is Iraq. As her maid of honor, I wished I lived closer to be more of a part of her planning. But, I know it will all work out and the wedding will be even more meaningful since they have had to have a long distance relationship for so long.



And here is Jamie and her fiance, Scott. They live in New York. Jamie is an event planner. She is amazing at what she does, but luckily in college she thought she wanted to get into broadcast radio and we had most of our classes together. Jamie, also known as "Roomie" because she was the first roommate I ever had. (I'm an only child so that is a big deal) ha. Jamie and I met before freshmen year of school in a program that the university offered to introduce all the newbies. We instantly became friends and even kept in touch in the weeks leading up to starting college. It was so comforting knowing someone before entering that chapter in my life. We have so many memories throughout the four years of college but even after. Jamie is such a caring and honest friend. She is also a ball of fun. Again, I have not met her fiance, Scott either. Unfortunately, that is what happens when you live far away from your college friends.



These two girls mean the world to me and it really does make me so happy to see them so happy too! I have to be honest though, one of the the reasons I am most excited for all of these weddings is for us to all be together and to meet these two Romeo's of my friends.

P.S. I wouldn't be surprised if I have to update this blog with two of my other closest friends getting engaged. (I'll refrain from details because I don't want to jinx it) But, I'm telling you, the love bug is biting. But at the same time, I also know we are "at that age" when it's all about the weddings. In a few years, we'll be planning the baby showers and all that fun stuff. Believe me though, I am in no rush. I think I'll enjoy the wedding festivities for now! Cheers to my fiance and my good friends and theirs!