The Company We Keep

    Weeeellll "people let me tell you 'bout my beeeeeessssstttt friend".... or at least a few of them :) This post is all about two of the sweetest girls, who also happen to be some of the best friends I have acquired over my (almost) 24 years. 

     You know those people who just have amazing talents that you just cant help to be a little jealous of? Yea me too! How about the friends who you don't live near but you get together and then just pick up where you left off?? Yep we have that in common too! Okay, what about the kind of friends who are so happy to help that they are almost more excited than you??? Omigosh then we must have the same friends!!!

Molly.

    Molly Katherine McGuire. Remember that name, because one day she will rule the world- okay, at least New York City! This girl has literally been around since day 22 of my life OMLY because she was born that many days after me. Our parents have been best friends for many many years and we have carried on the tradition despite going to rivalry schools from pig tales to graduation caps. She is one of those that we don't have to talk everyday but the second we start you better just grab a seat because you will be waiting on us to stop for a while :) ANYWAY time for me to brag on this wonderful human being. Molly is a magician when it comes to styling in the hair, make up, and editorial world. Check out her website here: http://www.mollykmcguire.com/ and if you want to know how she does it all you can also check out her youtube channel!! 

    Needless to day she has been a part of every stage of mine and Zack's relationship and has also been one of our greatest cheerleaders.This girl has graciously accepted being a part of mine and Zack's wedding, I mean she would have been a bridesmaid if we were to do anything like a normal couple... but she is taking on the hole of my stylist and I couldn't imagine having anyone other person in charge of making me the most beautiful I have ever been! I cannot wait to see her in a few weeks and start off the year of celebrations. <3

Haley.

    Haley Ottmann, formerly Haley Howell is a probably one of the most genuine human beings that has graced this earth! I met Haley about 5 years ago while in our first interior studio of our architecture program at The University of Texas at Austin- I know what a mouthful! Haley started out a little reserved, compared to me almost everyone in the studio was HA, so we were not very close until the next year when we discovered that we lived just around the corner from each other and would walk home together. When the rest of our graduating class went to study abroad and we took an architecture studio we became almost inseparable!! During this year Haley and I even got our guys together, this is when she also became a part of mine and Zack's relationship. Haley helped me also grow closer to God and reminded me the teachings of His perfect timing and how all of the times in life that the Lord makes us wait "He will give you the desires of your heart".

   Haley now works in Huston at an architecture design firm and has started a photography business with her husband Rob. She is talented without question, but what I love most about her photos is that they are the physical manifestation of the love that she has for love. Haley has graciously agreed to take time out of her busy schedule to meet Zack and me to take our engagement photographs!! You guys do yourselves a favor and take a look at her beautiful site here: http://www.haleyottmann.com/

Zack and I cannot wait to include our friends in our wedding! What other way is there!?

*As always check back next week for the latest scoop on #TheRoadToRoberts*

Friends, Family, & Fiance

New Adventures

Life.

     With the start of the new year we have both started our routines for the year including workout schedules, clean eating habits, school, testing, work, and making time to enjoy this exciting year!

    The past few weeks have been pretty crazy here in Austin! I have gotten back into the FULL swing of work after the holidays, which keeps me pretty busy. Zack has also started back up with school soooo we will stop seeing each other again pretty soon ;) haha I have also signed up to take the last two of my licensing tests in April, which means that I will be hitting the books soon myself! I wanted to make this a personal goal so that I can be completely licensed by the time my name changes! Eeeek!! :)

    We are very excited to start the wedding celebrations in about a month! I have been blessed with great work friends that have chosen to throw Z and I an engagement party, which will be here in Austin. This will be a great way to have a chance to celebrate with friends that will not be with us on our wedding day. We cannot wait to see those who can come and are thankful for Rosalyn, Natalie, Katie, Kaylyn, and Mika for thinking of us and our families! Since this is my first shower I have now had my first experience in shopping for hostess gifts for these ladies as well- and boy let me tell you it can be a lot of pressure! I am a perfectionist, so that does not help me ha ha, and having friends who are different from each other makes you think creatively ;) I have had a lot of fun searching for these items and putting together something to thank them each for their time and friendship; I hope that they enjoy it! 

    

Wedding.

    Updates on the wedding plans include finding my shoes, one small step for woman and one giant leap for woman-kind! This was so much harder than I thought it would be, but being a Railey we want to get things on sale instead of full price (thanks blood line), so I hit the Nordstrom "Half off Annual Sale", of course! I have also been able to set the date for my second fitting now that I have them, because my seamstress was not too thrilled that I came to the first fitting without them- until she found out that I had found the dress the day before- ha ha! I will travel back up in the middle of March for this and to celebrate Henley's 22nd birthday!!! How did that happen??!!??

     Another detail that has started is the HONEYMOON!! :) Zack has taken this under his wing so that it can be a little surprise, although we are looking at a beach! We started to look into Europe but knowing myself I might A. Not ever come back, B. Spend way to much money trying to "go see it all while we are over there." soooo we decided to put that trip off for a couple years after Z graduates so we can save up! 

I am excited to see where he picks, but I am more excited to just start our first adventure together! I will admit that planning a trip out of the country for the first time with out your parents makes you feel like a 2 year old again- "Mom what do I look for?", "Is this good?", "But Trip advisor says this..." haha 

    I am thankful for my friends, family, and fiance!

 

    

Happy New Year!

"A new year is 365 new chances."

Merry Christmas.

     I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas (or whatever holiday you celebrate) and a Happy New Year surrounded by friends and family! Our Christmas vacation started Wednesday the 23rd and ended short on the 27th because of Goliath the winter storm. We flip flop holidays now that our families don't live in the same town anymore, so this Christmas was spent in Odessa with Zack's family. We had an amazing time spending the time with everyone, especially those that we do not get to see except for once a year.

     Zack's family has food traditions for sure! Christmas eve they ALWAYS have a wonderful shrimp boil that Z -- Okay me too-- looks forward to all year, and on Christmas the tradition is to make fajitas! Tammy always goes above and beyond with sides and snacks, you have no idea how yummy, so next year [resisting] is going to be sooooo tough!!  We love sitting around the table and catching up with those who are staying and those who drop in. The crew this year was Zack's two older sisters Ashley and Allison, Ashley's Husband Justin, Zack's cousin Jason, his wife Megan, and their son Tucker, and  last but not least Tammy's parents. Ashley and Justin live in Odessa, so we always get to spend time with them when we venture back to Odessa. Allison lives in Washington DC, so she flies in the week of Christmas to spend until after New Years with their family. Nena and Papaw live in Ruidoso and split holidays with their three girls at the Holidays, so we lucked out that they were "scheduled" to spend this Christmas in Odessa this year.

     We had wonderful weather on Christmas Eve so we spent much of it outside playing with the dogs. Jason came over and chatted with us for a couple hours before we ate dinner, and gave us advice on things that they have learned though out their 5 years of marriage. His advise matched what most people have given us, so we know he wasn't lying haha just kidding! We love hearing everyone's stories of their engaged days and and their lessons learned after marriage. We also got to catch up with Megan and their little one too when she came over before dinner too. Its always fun to be around kids and see the kind of patience and fun Z has with them, he will be a great father one day- Don't worry we still LOVE the option of giving them back to their parents, we are in no rush to start a family!  

     On Christmas we were able to ask Allison and Ashley to be a part of our house party, and they said yes- yay! This is not usually done, especially when you do not have bridesmaids, but I felt like I wanted to ask them to be a part of the showers and parties like Henley is. I love these two and could not be happier that I get to gain two older sisters! We also got the chance to ask his Nena and Papaw to be our officiant and guidance/marital counselors, this was very important and special to the both of us on such a personal level, and we are so blessed for their excitement and acceptance in such important roles. 

* The Robert's Wedding definition of House Party * 

These are people that Zack and I would have chosen as bridesmaids, groomsmen, ushers, or any special part of our wedding. These are people who have been a part of our relationship and who support our future. They will not stand with us but will be a part of showers and parties throughout our engagement and the wedding as they choose.

Happy New Year.

     We both had to work the week between Christmas and New Years so we were back to normal on Monday, although both of our jobs were pretty slow so we both feel okay about taking off that week next year! We planned on spending New Years Eve with friends who will be with us the following year, and were grateful that we could. Rosalyn and Christian invited us over to cook dinner and then spend a nice and relaxing evening with friends (and puppy dogs) ringing in the new year, and starting our countdown at 365 days!! 

     Rosalyn has been a big help and supporter with our future and in questions with planning our wedding. She also graciously said yes to being a part of our wedding party, and we couldn't be more thrilled to have her and Christian be a part of our day and marriage after! We are also so excited to be a part of their new adventure of 2016-- they are expecting their first child, a baby boy due May 1st! This year is looking to be one of the best years for all of our friends!

     We were also able to catch up with Mindy and Lukas this holiday weekend for brunch. This was a fun morning full of catching up and talking about what 2016 holds for each of our stages in life. Mindy and Lukas moved back to Austin about six months ago, and are now three months away from closing on the house that they are building in Round Rock- see a big year for our friends! Zack and I were both blessed to be a part of their whole dating relationship, their engagement as a bridesmaid and groomsmen, and now their marriage. We both want them to be a part of all that we are experiencing in our engagement and future as well, and were blessed when they wanted to be a part of our wedding party as well.

     We wish you and yours all the blessings in the world for your 2016!
Cheers!