ask me anything: the answers {part 4}

Are you bored yet? Hopefully there’s a little something for everyone in all of these Q&A sessions. If you haven’t found anything that you’re interested in, have faith. There’s a new week ahead and Friday will be my last day answering the questions! This has been a lot of fun for me, though.

Health and Beauty

Erin, I’d love to know what you do to keep your face glowing – your hair so healthy & shiny – and your figure so trim. You look like the picture of a happy healthy mom. And I’d love to glow too.

Can I just say that this question flatters and surprises me to no end? I have struggled with my skin for so many years and even the slightest flaw now makes me worry that a whole village of flaws is coming soon. My worst skin years were my sophomore year of college, but a change in diet, skin care, and some medicine have helped.

I didn’t have a single blemish when I was pregnant. The pre-natal vitamins made me sick, but I took Flintstones vitamins throughout the pregnancy. I started on the pre-natals in the third trimester when I could tolerate them. My hair also grew about a mile during that time, too.

These days, I just wash my face twice a day with Bliss products and then use the Galvanic Spa system three times per week. I drink a lot of water and try to keep my hair off my face as much as possible.

I use all Aveda products for my hair. I use Color Conserve shampoo and conditioner once a week. And then I use Dry Remedy (because I have very course hair) shampoo and conditioner once a week. Confession: I only wash my hair twice per week. That may have something to do with having healthy hair. It’s so dry and course that I find it getes too dry if I shampoo too often. There. I said it! My “dirty” secret is out.

As far as my figure goes… I’d hardly call it trim. But thank you for the compliment. I’m working very hard these days to get it back.

What is your favorite diet food?

I love Lean Cuisines and Smart Ones. I like cooking from the Cooking Light and Biggest Loser cookbooks, but it’s just easy to pop in a Smart Ones. My favorites are Creamy Rigatoni with Broccoli and Chicken and Three Cheese Ziti Marinara. Yum.

How’s the running going? Are you ready for the race?

It’s going. I hurt my knee a few weeks ago, so I was a little discouraged. I’ve been doing Body Pump classes and spending a lot of time on the elliptical in hopes to stretch my leg out and get some of my strength back. I hope to be ready for the race. The whole thought of it intimidates me, to be honest.

What ever happened to Weight Watchers Wednesdays?

I’m still following Weight Watchers– more strictly in 2010 than I was in 2009. I will occasionally post about it, but it’s too hard for me to always devote Wednesdays to Weight Watchers. I like to keep my blog a little more open than that. But I promise to post recipes and give updates when there’s something worth posting about!

I saw you wrote about having a breast reduction. What made you want that?

Well, I think that would be a little obvious, but I had a breast reduction because I felt like my breasts were too big for my body. They got in the way. They dictated what I wore. I had the surgery the year I graduated from college and it was the best thing I ever did for myself. My insurance covered it, so it wasn’t a financial burden. When I was in the 8th grade I remember my friends talking about them. Not ABOUT me or around me, but they were always a topic of conversation and that can get old after a while.

College life, Sorority, Working Girl

Where did you go to college? Were you an Alpha Chi Omega? Are you involved with the local alumni chapter?

I went to Louisiana Tech in Ruston, Louisiana. (Go Bulldogs!) It was a great college experience in a town that I love dearly. I was an Alpha Chi Omega and was even the President. I’m not involved with the local chapter or alumni chapter. Things are a little busy, but I’d definitely consider getting involved someday.

What was your job before you were a SAHM?

I was an Events Planner for a college at the University of South Carolina.

What is your dream job? Will you go back to work someday?

My dream job is to be a successful wedding planner. But I’m not sure that I have the drive to work and sacrifice time with my family to do that someday. I really don’t know if I’ll go back to work someday. The time that I most want to be home is when my kids come home from school. So maybe something part time? Or something on my own out of the home? Wedding planning? Yes, please!

Wedding Stuff

Did you ever sell your wedding dress?

I thought long and hard about it, but I never did it. The economy took a hard turn and I didn’t feel like I’d be able to get back the money that I thought my dress was worth. I’m not attached to my dress, but I don’t want to sell it for just $500 when I know what I paid for it. I had it professionally cleaned and spent a good amount of money on that, too. It’s safely in its box, freshly cleaned, under a bed in our house. I may never open the box for fear of having to have it cleaned again. And if someone does want it and wants to discuss purchasing it, we can definitely talk about it. I realize my chances aren’t great any more now that the dress is almost 3 years old. I purchased it in May 2007 for my May 2008 wedding. I do love it! (and for those new to the blog it’s a Carolina Herrera dress.)

What is your favorite wedding portrait?

Is it vain if I say my favorites of just of me? Two of them are from my bridal portrait session and one is from the wedding day. {all by Kelly Moore Photography}

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What are your favorite colors for weddings? Have you made any color/inspiration boards lately? What do you think about purple and red? Would you make an inspiration board for me?

My favorite wedding colors vary. I think they should be representative of the couple. I used pink and gold and they were so “Erin.” I love marigold, purple, yellow, pale greens, gold.

I haven’t made any color boards lately, but here are some of my old favorites. I used to have access to Photoshop and it was so much fun to play around and make the boards. I need Photoshop again so I can make more boards! {These were all either made for friends, for me, for fun, or for Style Me Pretty contests. Two of them were featured on SMP.}

Please forgive me for not being able to properly credit these photos. All of these boards have been featured on my blog before and were properly credited then. I no longer have the original files showing me where I got all of these images.

akincarroll wedding inspiration board

This is the pink and gold board that I created for our wedding.

purple and grey inspiration board

I put together this purple and gray board for a reader that wrote to me.

olivia wilde emmy dress inspiration board

this board was designed around the gorgeous Reem Acra dress that Olivia Wilde is wearing.

green wedding inspiration board

I did this one for a friend. I still hope she uses it. Hint hint! This one was featured on Style Me Pretty.

blue, black, and white copy

A color board based around the gorgeous cotton photo by Kelly Moore. This one was submitted to Style Me Pretty and made it to the voting round of a contest.

yellow and black inspiration board

Yellow and black- just for fun! I do know that two of these images are from Thoughtful Day, one of my favorite blogs!

green eggs and ham

A baby shower inspiration board based on “Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr. Seuss. I created this one for a contest.

pink paisley inspiration board

Just an idea for a little girl’s birthday party. This one makes me really happy.

I would absolutely make a purple and red inspiration board for you. Email me and I’ll get to work!

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Comments

  1. says

    Omigosh, I love your bridal picture. SO BEAUTIFUL. Well all of your wedding pictures are gorgeous but those pictures are amazing. And you are so good at inspiration boards. Where were you when I was getting married?!?!

  2. says

    I love your bridal portraits. That’s the one thing I didn’t have done before my wedding and I regret it now. I didn’t have my dress in time to have them done.
    You are very talented, I think you would do really well as a planner for a lucky bride.
    BTW, I’m also an Alpha Chi.
    Thanks for these posts. They have been great!

  3. says

    Erin, you were such a gorgeous bride! I think I’ve seen these before, but again, I just have to say how pretty you look!

    And there’s no shame in loving your bridal portrait photos. I feel the same way about mine 🙂

  4. says

    Hi! I’ve been reading your blog for a while now, and I thought I’d leave my first comment! I’m thrilled to discover that you are an alumni of my sorority! Your bridal portraits are gorgeous and give me inspiration for my own wedding planning, so thank you!

  5. says

    These are awesome 🙂 I am def not bored. I love reading all of your answers! I have to say I am SUPER jealous of your “2 times a week wash” oh how i wish i could do that!
    PS–those wedding photos are GORGEOUS!! Loooove them!

  6. Ashley says

    Love Love Love the little girl birthday party ideas. Where can I find that pink & green brithday hat? I think my little one really needs that for her 1st birthday.

  7. says

    You’ll do fine on the race!!

    My little cousin is at LA Tech! And I randomly found out the other day that a friend’s husband is from Ruston. Small world.

  8. says

    I also meant to say that I am taking printouts of your bridal pics to my stylist for my next haircut. Not for a wedding day or anything, but I want those long curls every day. Gorgeous!

  9. Laura in LA says

    I love the question & answer posts! I have been reading your blog for a while & think it is so neat that you went to school at Tech. My Dad worked there for 25 years & I live just outside of Ruston. Love your blog!

  10. says

    How fun!

    You’ll be ready for the race–I know you can do it! Have you tried icing your knee? I swear by ice therapy if my knee or something is bothering me after a run. Hope it gets to feeling better!

  11. says

    Erin!!!! I love your bridal portraits, they are just stunning! I wasn’t a reader yet during your wedding planning days, but I’ll be looking through the archives for sure!

    Thanks for sharing – and I only was my hair twice a week too!

  12. says

    Hi Erin! I’m a first time commenter, but been following for awhile. I’m not engaged, but have a long time South Caronlinian (and proud of it) boyfriend. We recenetly made the move from Florida to my home state of Oklahoma. I hope someday the two of us will move to South Carolina. Anyway, love your dress…you can just hold onto as loooong as ya want. Or maybe just until I get engaged :)Anyway, thanks for the always upbeat, inspriring and real blogging!

  13. says

    I love body pump! Granted I upped the weight last night and foresee major soreness in my near future. These posts are fun, it’s neat how many questions you get.

    ITB,
    Emily (haven’t written ITB in a while:))

  14. says

    Hi Erin-

    Love your blog. Just wanted to comment on the “wedding dress selling” topic. I bet you could make more money than you think! I wore an ’06 Monique Lhuillier (the style is Miranda)…Granted, It was still in store in ’09 and I bought it for my ’09 wedding… However, I made almost ALL of my money back. The girl who bought it paid $600 less than I did! Give it a try!

    Madison

  15. Eve says

    I’m guessing the answer is no…..but is there any chance you’ve made a chocolate brown and peridot/sage green board? I am having a garden wedding with the reception in the mansion (weather permitting!), and I am definitely at a loss for inspiration. Like I mentioned, my dress is a Carolina Herrera and I have silver Manolo’s……the BM dresses are Melissa Sweet peridot green…..
    Anyway, if Hudson is ever down for a nap, your whole house is clean, and you’re inspired…I’d love to see your ideas with those colors!

  16. says

    Each and everytime I see your wedding pics, I think you are the most picture perfect bride.

    I love the one of you laughing. That’s exactly how I imagine you to be.

    Beautiful, even with the baby weight!

  17. says

    I love that some of your favorite wedding pictures were from your Bridal session! I feel the same way about some of mine! I think it’s the fact that the photographer gets to move us around, the bride is the only focus and it’s the first time the bride is a “bride.” I absolutely tell everyone who is debating on getting them done that they are worth it! (Yours are gorgeous by the way!)

  18. says

    I love that some of your favorite wedding pictures were from your Bridal session! I feel the same way about some of mine! I think it’s the fact that the photographer gets to move the bride around, the bride is the only focus and it’s the first time the bride is a “bride.” I absolutely tell everyone who is debating on getting them done that they are worth it! (Yours are gorgeous by the way!)

  19. says

    Hi Erin,
    I was so excited to see you are an Alpha Chi. I also went AXO, but at Clemson, and my Alpha Chi sisters are my best friends to this day. Thank you so much for giving AX such great representation! 🙂 Your bridal portraits are so beatiful and unique, mine were my favorite photos of the experience as well.

  20. Jamie says

    Love your wedding pics and the inspiration boards. We have some stuff in common…I was an Alpha Chi Omega at University of California, Sacramento & I would LOVE to be a wedding (or party) planner!!

  21. says

    Awww…the pink and green birthday board is perfection! I hope you don’t mind me using it for inspiration come next August. Loved reading all your answers. Thanks for openly sharing!

  22. says

    I only wash my hair twice a week too 😉 The drying part is still miserable! I’m thinking of researching those super power hair dyers..wondering if they speed things up! Your bridals are BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!

  23. says

    I am new to your blog and a little behind as well – but I just wanted to let you know that I think you have the most beautiful wedding dress I have ever seen! You look just absolutely stunning. Thank you for sharing!

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