Surprise!!!! Can you believe it?!??!

Hi Lovies!!

Andy and I just want to thank you for your continued support. As I'm hardly out and about (hahaha), Andy has been telling me about the encouragement and support and LOADS of LOVE we have been getting about our little blog. Soooooo....

THANK YOU!!

THANXXXX!!!

I told you last week that I had a surprise for you.. and this one is HUGE! Now every week, Andy and I discuss what I'm going to post. As I mentioned before he is FIERCELY private. I like my business to remain just that, my business, but I tend to be a little more open than he is. Hence, this blog. This experience is making me fall more and more in love with Andy. He's really such a sweetheart. And always telling me some nonsense to make me laugh!  This journey is so unbelievable that sometimes I literally have to tell myself, 'hey girl, get off your bum and do some wedding work.' T-460 days til wedding day. Sounds like a lot right? Well today is already done, so T-459 oh my gosh.

Andy and I think it would be INCREDIBLY biased and WRONG for me to be the sole contributor to this our little project so... (drumroll please) ANDY is going to write as well! YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!

He's too much lolol!!

Now please do not pressure the gentleman! His writing style is inspirational and funny. And he is soo sooo good at grasping and maintaining your attention. But because of his schedule it will be in due course. I KNOW you all will enjoy getting the groom's point of view on Wedding Prep and the whirlwind that is Heidi!

Updates:

Apart from the occasional freak out over it, I've been carefully considering my guest list again. So much can change in a matter of minutes far less months. And relationships have a way of evolving or devolving. So on that front, I'm still debating, but we maintain that we will have an intimate, beautiful FUN affair. Point, blank, period.

My friend's Tonya and Sabrina have been SUPER supportive, and since we have been friends from second form Lodge School days it's very special to still be in contact with them and have them love me for me and I love them right back.  The two of them? Know how to get and keep me in check, especially Mrs. Tonya Roberts, so I know they have my back alllll the way. And Sabrina? thinks i'm a nut, so she ALWAYS checking up on me LOL, (she's not half right lololol). They allow me to vent, jabber jaw, discuss and we don't always talk about Wedding Things, sometimes they just check to see how i'm doing and that is a HUGE blessing! It helps keep me sane!


Because...

Can I just say that I have not yet wrapped my head around the fact that I, Heidi Rene'e will be THE BRIDE.   (God help muh). Chris (one of our photographers), said to me that he can't WAIT to see how I will react on Wedding Day. I know I'll cry, because Andy and I have endured and enjoyed LOTS of precious moments together and he is truly my BEST FRIEND. I know I'll laugh because SOMEBODY is going to say or do something totally hilarious and maybe a little off colour. I know I will pray, HARD because I do not want crashers, or paparazzi or wardrobe malfunctions and I want Wedding Day and marriage to be splendid. I know I will sing LOUDLY because I will be overjoyed. Can you tell I'm happy and excited?

hmmmmmmm....

Andy and Heidi: 

WE share everything ( except food I hate sharing my food chile, but i'm working on it haha). We make a great team. WE pray together, laugh together, tell each other off when necessary but we ALWAYS support each other, even if we don't agree 100% with the decisions we may make.

So do not underestimate the power of a supportive fiance', boyfriend, lover, friend. Whatever. We are trying to enjoy this process, cause for us this is the honeymoon period. After the wedding day is done, marriage is the next phase and that is by no means a bed of roses. But we believe it IS what you make it. It can only be successful with God, effort,and the love you put in it. So we're trying our best to be spiritually, mentally and physically prepared. And enjoy that to the fullest too, we've been waiting for a little (lonnnng as France for me tho!! LOLOLOL) while to be married so we're very excited!

Yay us! 

Incoming!!!:

And our families are getting excited toooooo! We have a few folks planning on coming from Africa, Germany, the UK, Canada, the US and maybe even the Virgin Islands. It's going to be a very special day. But it will be difficult for me especially since my dad won't be there. This year will make 5 years since he passed away. And every year it gets easier, but the pain never goes away. I've learned to live with him being gone. But I know that will be SUPER hard next year, not having my Dad walk me down the aisle. It's one of those rites of passage I'd always looked forward to, and I can't help but feel like I was robbed of it. But I also believe that God ALWAYS provides a ram in the bush. Before he died, he made sure to ask a few of his closest friends to look out for me, to look after me. I still wish my father could be there. He was one of a kind, and he liked Andy very much. I know he would have been very proud of us both. But I also know he had to go. I truly enjoyed him while he was here, and I'm sure I'll feel his presence next year too.

Me and Dad. He allllways liked to interfere wid me as I ready to sleep! Come and wake up big people!

So tying it all together: 

Fiances are the greatest! And they can write blogs too!
Girlfriends keep you sane!
Family drives you crazy, but what is life without fun and a little nuttiness?
Daddy's are important whether near or far. Never forgotten Dad!

Love Heidi
xoxo.

Get Married dot com

My loves!! I've been MIA for a minute. I APOLOGISE PROFUSELY!!

So if you couldn't tell from the title, I have fallen in LOVE! With Tamar Braxton, that lady is TOO FUNNY! You betta get your life... dot COM! LOL

This week we deal with a matter very close to my heart. Touching, painful, raw. Weight loss.

After the first operation. My Mum and Uncle Brian. We'd just been shopppping in NYC!! 

I've always thought of myself as a thick girl. My extended family alwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaays gives me grief about my weight and if I add a few pounds there's hell to pay. "Wha happen ya guts get suh big, ya lettin yaself go or wha??" "You is a young girl wid a good looking man, you betta try and hold onto him, gettin as fat as eva!"

4 years post-op. I still had a tummy :( 

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT???!!?!?!  I can hear the collective screams, sighs and what the beeep... comments coming from you all. Let me tell you, I usually respond with a big long nasty stupse, cut eye and strut away like a diva. Typical Bajan behaviour though, point out the obvious, regardless of the delivery, who cares if it hurts! YA need hurt to get off de fat right?

WRONG!!!

Just this past Sunday, I was feeling all good, since I've lost a few inches. One of my cousins comes over to me while I'm chatting with some church members and says, "waaaaiiiit, wha you aino you gettin married soon doah? de man aint want nuh fatty!! "I usually retort with something snappy like, well thank God that excludes you or whatever, but in this case, I dropped my new line, "Wha ya expect me to leave all de food fuh you, fatty #2?" Besides, I'm USED to people commenting on my weight and I'm being blunt. I'm Ray Charles to it. BUT with the wedding date approaching faster than a speeding bullet (believe it's March already?) my maid of honour is on my back (at my request) about losing the weight and I'm feeling the pressure.

Jan 2012, I think. When the tumour probably started growing :( 

Now Sunday was a milestone for me. Six months post surgery. This is part of the reason my weight fluctuates. I suffer from endometriosis. Hormonal changes and imbalances occur in my body ALLLLL the time. I try to control it, but I hate exercise (more recently have started a little regimen) and I eat what I want in moderation. That of course has to change. A lifestyle change is necessary for me to meet my fitness goal. So for now, I'm taking it one day at a time.

The challenge for me is FOOD! I love it. It does NOT help having a mother and future mother in law who can cook ( my mother is the better cook, just saying, Sorry Andy) But Andria Bowen? That lady can also throw DOWN. And I'm a savoury girl. No sweets for me really unless it's PMS time. So chile, the bloat takes over. Pure salt. Booooooooooooooooooooooo!

Anybody else loves a bull dog from Shell/ Sol ?? ME!!! 

Let me say here, that I am now numb when people comment on my weight because I have a valid reason for having a big tummy. This operation while it was not as invasive as the last, meant that the doctors had to enter my abdomen via four ports/holes. I now bear four circular scars on my tummy as reminders of the 9/10 cm tumour that was removed. It spanned my bladder, bowels and ovaries, pretty much touching every part of my insides and causing so much pain I practically used to impale myself through my lower abdomen to get rid of the pain.

So if a little tummy and some hurtful comments are what I have to endure til the weight melts off with hardwork and dedication, so be it. I will be a svelte, happy, bubbly bride. Because that's who I was before the surgery! And that's who I intend to be every day!!!

Can I also say that Andy loves Heidi. He loved me when we first got together and I was 130 at 22 years old, he loves me even more now!  He loves Heidi healthy and happy. And part of my being healthy is getting fit, part of my being happy is folks minding their own business!

Andy is REALLY happy here !!!! LOL 

So for the wedding, we have both committed to getting and staying fit. We have a looooooong planning process ahead, and a good few comfortable months of enjoying Germany, engagement, Christmas, births, birthdays, a death.. It was all just TOO much EATING so we need to take control of our eating habits and exercise plan again.

Of course Bighead is going to lose all his five pounds in a week. Men are sickening like that lololol. But one of the things I love about Andy is that as long as I commit, he gets in there with me. We eating healthy, drinking healthy. He does his binges at work ;) I have my spies LOL.

I am currently 160 lbs. I want to lose 10 realistically. Lost 2. I'd say I'm doing pretty well so far... let's see how much further I can go!!

Another surprise later on this week, ya'll thought I didn't drop you a line in 11 days without a plan? HA!

Love you!
Heidi xoxo

Love shot/ Engagement Portraits!!

Hi my friends!! Can you imagine I started this blog 7 weeks ago? Crazy right? Time is FLYING! Things have been picking up on the wedding front. WE made a lot of headway on the planning. I'm at dress stage now, trying to decide what goes best with who's body type. Including mine. We have to collaborate on a centerpiece, we're figuring out Reception and other event entertainment and of course we have to sort out our Engagement and Announcement Photo location yaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

So as some of you may be aware, I am a certified, freelance Makeup Artist. I have the opportunity to work with some of, but specifically one of THE best photographers in Barbados. Wade Phillips, is humble, creative, intelligent, SUPER funny and he has a passion for the craft. We plan all of our shoots, determine locations and nothing is left to chance unless we do an impulse shoot. Sometimes you just need to let it flow right?

Wellllll, not so with Heidi and Andy's Engagement Photos. Originally I asked Andy if we could do them almost immediately after we got engaged, because I wanted Wade to capture the glow. The day after? Oh man I was grinning like a cheshire cat. My skin was flawless, I wore LITTLE makeup and I was floating on Cloud 9. It was a verrrrry cold day in Guttersloh, Germany, but Andy and my heart was so warm we only noticed when a biting, cold as neck wind whipped through the townsquare.

Me, Mummy and Auntie Lorna (checking her cell) Hope she comes for the wedding! She is a fierce fashionista! Note the leopard print scarf?  

Fast forward to October 11th. We'd been home for 2/3 days and reality hit. I had just had surgery. This was the first time in 3 weeks I'd get to rest. And I really didn't feel up to a photoshoot so soon. Not to mention Andykins is NOT a photoshoot dude (even tho he is somewhat photogenic it's sickening really).

Christmas 2010. The Bowens -to-be.

We want to save this part of the wedding prep for 2013/2014. We always like to have events to look forward to and we didn't want to rush ANYTHING with this wedding. Everything happens so quickly, I thought, and then Andy agreed with no coercion lol! Man let's take some time out and plan like we do our regular shoots and that way, we maximise the potential of the location. Co-ordinate (or not), our wardrobe and include a few different aspects or subjects into the shoot. After all, I see every shoot as a business opportunity. A showcase of my talent and Wade's and our teams. Still, this one is special. And I want it to show.

Sign of things to come... 2011, when we launched Moden Makeup by Heidi.

Andy and Dre at our friend's wedding.

So we are scouting locations. I have a few in mind, so does Wade so does Andy.  Now it's just to overcome the jitters. I'm always the one applying the makeup, and assisting with model direction onset. Now I AM the model. I reaaaaallly didn't bargain for that one! And Andy? He's a photographer, so wunna dun know that Mr. Man aint about that life. Stand in front of camera rather than shoot? Unheard of. Being a behind the scenes type holds a lot of water!

At TGIF for my friend Shanna's bday celebrations! 2008

Here are a few tips for the happy couple, follow these and you are SURE to have a fantastic shoot, with enviable photos!

1. Go out the night before or have a quiet dinner with your intended. Think nothing of the shoot or any wedding plans or details. Just bask in your partner's nearness and warmth. Rekindle the flame if you want to use a cheesy phrase :)

2. Be yourself. The photographer? He/she needs to feed off of your energy. If he gets the vibe that you are a fun-loving  hip couple, he can use that. If you're shy and reserved, a little more effort is required on both parts.

3) Ladies, Select Comfortable clothing. Dresses are preferable but not always practical. Gents, no ball busting pants please, you may have to lift the lady, and wardrobe malfunctions are unacceptable. Thank You.

4) Bring more than one outfit. Variety is the spice!

5) Have your makeup professionally applied OR practice beforehand. One of the biggest faux pas I see increasingly at Wedding Receptions is the Love Portrait with BOTH the bride and groom looking like they ran a marathon through chicken grease and lard oil. Not cute. Memorable for all the WRONG reasons.

6) Location, location, location. People, the cliff at Enterprise is PLAYED OUT!! So are the Harry Smith Ruins!!! And Dover Beach... At least I think so. Barbados is the MECCA for white sandy beaches, we have some flora and fauna, and have you driven past a freshly plowed field lately? I find those landscapes to be beautiful and unique. Why settle when you can be different in a simple yet effective way?

Flora and nuff fauna, aka bush and greenery. But LUSH and vegetatious! lol!
Shot from one of the engagement portraits Wade and I worked on. 2011

7) Include one over the top, really random photo. Our last engagement shoot,Wade told our couple to chase each other along the (yea you guessed it) beach, but the bride to be fell! And let me tell you that shot was PRICELESS! Their faces were candid, the emotion was real and what captured my attention most was the shot after, when they collapsed in each others arms laughing their heads off? Organic, natural, sweet.

8) There will be closeups, do NOT eat garlic.

9) All white is crisp, but also played out. Find the Pantone website and exercise your right to mix and match. See how the couple below used white shirts, but switched up the pants? Still co-ordinated, but individual. I love this!

The Merritts. Gorgeous couple and so in love!

10) Relax. These are the FUN photos, the ones that show your family and friends your playful but romantic side. Remember you are paying for them, so please have a good time!!

The beach scene IS gorgeous though, isn't it?

Next Week: It's an uphill battle, but they're dropping!!!!

Cut that out girl!!!!!!

Hi everyone! 

Guest list time! Chile, I was dreadin it from the time I hit back in Bim October 8th 2012. And here it be, MURRR DERRRR!

For my engaged and even unwed ladies, the wedding day is about you and your husband-to-be. Do not be BULLIED, shanghaied or horsewhipped into having to invite 4000 million people you don't know. Thank God our families are NOT like that. We have a formula for deciding who we want there, it's called communication. 

Now Andy and his parents will sort out the family and friends, his parents feel we would appreciate having as extended guests. My family? Has left the guest list to me and my mother. And I have started the chop chop process. This process has caused me to become ruthless. Yea I said it, all of my family and friends CANNOT attend. IT is NOT possible. We simply can't afford it. There are plenty people I, Heidi personally, would LOVE to host at our wedding. But contrary to popular belief, I am NOT a millionairess. So that idea of hosting 200-300 (guest list on my side originally was about 300, no seriously family alone was 200 both sides hahahhahha JOKES)  people went out the window HURRIEDLY! 

Guest List got CUT: Need to ease ya pocket? Cut the list FIRST!

If I were to include alll the people who invited me to theirs, my THOUGHTS would go broke much less muh bank account. Sooo, Andy and I had to make some tough decisions (mostly me) considering that my family on BOTH sides is ENORMOUS! All we've been hearing is, "wha I don't know what Heidi is gonna do, she has sooo much family." Well hear dis. Heidi has it COVERED! And all who don't like it, quite frankly WOULD LUMP IT!

MYOB - google it! LOL  will I be there?? Are you inviting me? What are your colours? How many flowergirls? Groomsmen, dish are they cute?? No but seriously, don't you WANT aspects of your wedding to be a surprise for your guests? Including WHO you invite? Makes the event so much more exciting! 

I cannot stress enough, my family is huge! His is much smaller, although we are always meeting someone new from His dad's side lol. I really want to make Andy happy on Our Day, I want to be happy, And EVERY day after the wedding we want to be happy. We don't want to be bogged down with big bills years and years after because we overextended ourselves. POINTLESS. For what? For people to say how lovely the wedding was and talk about it. Not me and dat pelee case boahsie! Oh and let's not forget when time comes to HUMBLY request a gift or 'monetary contribution' you gets next to NONE. I think not. 

it's all about the dollars and cents. Save where you can! 

Alright, so there's the family and the guest list. We love our family, but ammm, we are pretty well organised over here. We know what we want, how we want and how we aim to get it. Plus Andy is a man with a plan, he is so calculated it ain't funny. And he is very level headed. On the other hand, I'm the free spirited, creative type, happy go lucky, but when it comes down to business and especially MY business, I get down to it. i do NOT mess around. And I do NOT like people assuming they know me or mine, if they don't. Focus on you, and I'll do me. Oooook? 

I LOVE this! 

Suddenly, lots of our family and a few friends want to 'help'. Don't get me wrong, some of them mean well, at SOME point we will need help, but right now, we good tho, but thanks!  I'm glad they are excited, BUT, this is OUR wedding. Why don't you do this, go there, you don't need that, why would you invite them? Ok I told so and so they are invited, they are invited right?. Wait wait wait wait wait! Who's wedding is it anyway? Now I do NOT mind the "how are plans coming along?" question, that seems to be the norm. But the, what are your colours, where it gine be? how much people ya got? can I be your bridesmaid? wait, Andy got a best man? who it is? HOLLLLDDD UP!?!?! where, when, why, who, what, now? I'm tired just typing it lol! Read photo caption!

Monster-in-Law: One of my allltime FAVE movies. But at the end of the day, Charlie was right, Vi had her time, it's time for her to step aside! My mother-in-law-to-be is NOTHING like her btw! Just clarifying!

Andy and I? We brainstormed, took an idea from a friend's wedding we attended recently (thank you girrrl) and Voila. Problem solved. It may mean that our actual wedding day is ALOT more intimate than I had anticipated, but shouldn't it be that way? Shouldn't it consist of those family members and a few friends you chat with and hang with regularly? I think so. No hard feelings to my extended family or nuff friends. Please don't worry, we have something in the works for alllll of our guests. We just have to be conscious of our spending. Especially these days. 

Wanna be like this on wedding day?

Or would you prefer this?  I know this is our route. No misery over  money or people you didn't want at your wedding for us! 

Hard decisions to make friends, yes yes. But let us keep things in perspective. Go broke for one day, or ENJOY the time leading up to, day of, AND after so that the beginning of your marriage is not just about making ends meet. But further exploring your relationship, growing together and loving each other. That's what we want. As I mentioned, we have a plan for those we can't have on Wedding Day. And we are going to work it. We hope that our friends and family will be understanding, but if they're not TOO bad. I love my family very, very much. But this is their time to prove just how much they love me. My extended family members on my mother's side know me very, very well. They are well aware of my love for them, but I am a no nonsense person. And I'm not a child anymore, this isn't a children's party. Chicken wings and Pringles are NOT gonna cut it.  We don't want a potluck wedding, we want a well organised, well catered event. No hard feelings people, it is what it is. Our Wedding Day :)  

Since we LOVE to offer some measure of guidance in our blog, use this chart. I find it is quite helpful and to the point. Don't you? 

Keep the guest list tight. Less is MORE. However, please do explain to whoever you don't intend to invite, be they family or friends that you won't be inviting them. It takes the pressure off and stops the humiliation of having to explain months or years later when you see them that you simply 'couldn't afford it'. While that may be true, copping out is NEVER a good plan. Stop worrying about whether they invited you to theirs or not. Their circumstances are NOT yours. MOST people will be understanding. Those that aren't, well you know now who your real friends are. 

(Photos taken from google images).

Next week!! Engagement Photos!!!! Woop woop!! 

love,

Heidi xoxo