Today is My Birthday! I'm 27 Years Young! It was Also My Brother's Birthday! Happy Birthday Shaun!

Today was both my birthday and Shaun's. He was born exactly one year before me. A year later, at his first birthday, I wanted out-for the cake of course-and at lunchtime, I was welcomed into the world. Ever since, my brother and I have been celebrating our birthdays together! Twice the kids at our parties, twice the fun, twice the games, twice the goodies, and you know...twice the cake!! One day soon, Shaun and I will celebrate our birthdays together...he's in Orlando with the rest of the family...but hopefully, they will all make their way to Tennessee!!

On another note, Dean turned 28 on October 5. He got some hunting gear and a chocolate delight birthday dessert! Unexpectedly, Dean decorated a cake for me tonight...it was really sweet-even the trick candles! :) Along with the cake came a really nice Fossil watch.

To Bobby & Betty-thank you so much for my birthday gift! I loved the card too...and two weeks ago, I did not realize you gave us that lamp-the one I love-thank you thank you thank you! :) We've also put a fresh flower in the tiny bud vase!!

The Pictures Are In...Our Engagement Session!!

Here's a link to Dean and I's engagement session. Our photographer is Will Jacks, and he works out of Cleveland, Mississippi. We met him a few weeks ago and had a ton of fun in Mississippi and in downtown Memphis. We snuck into the Peabody and to the roof of the Madison. We hope you like em as much as we do!!! Enjoy! www.wiljax.com/blog/

Labor Day Weekend...

Self-Portrait :)

Dean showing off his guns!!

Mark getting ready to ski!!

Dean and I went to his parent's house near Lake Pickwick for Labor Day Weekend! The weekend was so nice and relaxing! Three days of good food, good people, and good fun! We got a chance to get out on the water on some sweet ski boats and were abe to jump on a friend's JetSki that can go up to 72mph. Let me tell you, Dean and I were flying!!! It was too much fun. We did a little swimming, wakebarding, suntanning, wakesurfing... Our friend, John, and his little girl, Emma joined us. Dean and I met some new friends, Michael, Marabeth, and their son, Aiden. Michael's boat was amazing and went wicked fast! :) They were all so nice....and we had an incredibly fun weekend. Here are some photos and videos.

Baby Parker has Arrived!!! Moriah and Jesse's Baby Girl is Here! Born August 17 weighing 7 lbs 8 oz.!

Dean and I headed up to Methodist Germantown a few hours ago...to congratulate Moriah and Jesse! Way to go parents-what a beautiful little girl!!! I got to hold her for a few minutes and got a few cute shots! I will be back in the morning to keep Moriah and Baby Parker company! No worries, "Aunt" Ivey is here! :)

Shaun and Me...back in October of 2005

I was going through some old photos earlier this week....

and I came across this one! This is my most favorite picture

of my brother, Shaun, and I! We are dancing the night away!

In his shoes...

Me wearing my future hubby's flip flops!

Back to school...

I start back to school in just over a week.

I'm a Senior at the University of Memphis

and I can see the light!! I will soon be a college

grad!!!

Moriah's Baby Shower

Aren't these two the cutest pregnant women you've ever seen? I think so. Carmon (on the left) is due in three days, Aug. 12. Moriah (on the right) is due on Aug. 18. Carmon is having a boy! A rough and tumble boy named Aiden. Moriah is having a sweet little girl named Parker. I am so excited to see the babies! Ladies-I better get a phone call when you're in labor!

"Celebrity Sun meet Ivey" "Ivey meet Celebrity Sun!"

This is a picture of me after Rell sprayed me! I think I totally look ready for the beach!!!

It's Official-The Date is Set!

Dean and I are tying the knot
on May 16, 2009! WooHoo!

We booked the venue...there's
no turning back!

Perfect After-Tan Game-Barbie Cash Register!

Okay, so I went over to Rell's house earlier today and she spray tanned me with the Infinity Sun Tanner! It is so awesome! I will have to post a tan picture of me later, but go to www.celebritysun.blogspot.com and check it all out!!! It looks so natural, and I got tons of compliments later that evening at work! I will definitely keep getting sprayed-I love it! Go now and read all about it, and then call her so she can tan you too! Save your skin and look great! Did I mention that I love it!

While I was getting sprayed, Noah said, "You look so dark...and when I get older I am gonna get sprayed dark too!" It was so sweet. (he's only 3) We then proceeded to play my favorite game/toy-Barbie Cash Register! Here's a few pictures of Noah charging my Barbie credit card and then showing me how to sign my name! Ha Ha!

"To the right, to the right, to the right, to the right..."

Kristen and I on the bus...I must say, what a good pic!

I love the pics we take of ourselves...Dean's arms are 'go-go-gadget' arms...so it works well :)

"Walk it by yourself, walk it by yourself!"

Danielle's 21st Birthday!

Danielle...about to get on the
Double Deuce Limo-Bus! Wow-so much fun! It was a blast and such a
good idea...thanks Christen!

Christen and Dani on the bus! Dani showing off her dancing moves!
Mark and Dani on the dance floor! Melanie and Dani striking a pose!

This is my friend Danielle...having a really good time!

I love you girl! I hope you had a blast cause I know

Dean and I did! I'm so glad you're finally 21!

Wedding Ideas Collage...

So...here are some of my thoughts and ideas...I love the color combination between the "cymbidium orchid " lime green, fuscia pink, and bits of orange...

My Sparkly, Blingy, Glittery,Twinkly, Sequiny Shoes

Aren't these the blingiest shoes you've ever seen?

I think so...I've got to get them!

Molly, Shelly, Rell-Let me know if you don't like 'em!

Oh My Gosh-I'm Getting Married!

I would have to say that I definitely have a good bit of the wedding planning done...well, that is I've decided on a ton of things, but I have to book everything.
My 'to-do' list this coming week:
Book Venue
Book Photographer
Book Music
Yeah, no big deal, just book everything...haha

I'd like to think about what I HAVE done though...
1. Chosen attendants (check)
2. Picked bridesmaid dresses (check)
3. Bought wedding gown (double check)
4. Picked flowers/reception decor (check)
oh...I need to talk to my florist, Kellie (but she's about to have a baby, so it will have to wait)
5. Chosen tie/vest for my husband to-be (check)
6. Chosen favors (check)
7. Picked out bouquet flowers/colors (check)
8. Found awesome shoes!!! (I think my bridesmaids are going to wear the same ones:)
9. Oh, and Dean and I picked a date: May 16, 2009
Mark it in your calendars!!!

Don't worry, I will keep everyone updated on what's going on!

Your 'to-do' list is as follows:
Go to your planner/calendar/little black book....(do it right now.....)
(are you there yet?)
And mark down that Ivey and Dean are getting married on Sat, May 16, 2009.
It's going to be at the Tunica River Park in Tunica, MS just 17 miles South of Memphis.

More details to come...

It's a Fight for Water!

One day at Memphis Botanic Gardens...

Never a dull moment with Lily and Noah!

Our pup, Jedi...he's on look-out!

Can you tell he has one blue eye and one brown eye!?!? He is so sweet...but Dean did not like him on his 280 ZX.

My soon-to-be husband...back in March 2008

Beautiful Butterflies

Juicy Juice= $1.20 Kid Tenders= $3.95 Letting a 3 year old play with your keys to watch the trunk pop= PRICELESS

Sweet Lily

Lily texted me a few days ago...all by herself and this is what it said, "I love you Ivey".
Is that not the sweetest thing you've ever heard?

Chocolate + Sprinkles + MMs = Happy Tummy

Seriously-these are the best things ever...even if you're not a chocolate lover. You will fall in love with these! My fiancee helped me make these last night for a friend's birthday...and some thought they were so good they hid them from everyone else! :)

Yummy Cupcake Bites!!!

Here are some pictures of the cupcake bites I made a few days ago. I made 100 for my friend Carmon's Baby Shower-they were such a hit! It was the first time I had made them...and they were oh-so-tasty!! Thanks to my new sista-in-law-Rell...she's a wiz in the kitchen! The recipe comes from Bakerella...check it out.

GOT BLING?

My beautiful ring...bling bling!

It was totally worth the wait, way
to go Dean!

More Pictures of our Trip!

Dean and I at Patriot Park in Pigeon Forge, TN!

Notice the bling around Dean's waist!!! :)

Grandpa's Cabin

Pictures of our trip

Here are Dean and I before we went tubing down the Little River.

Dean and I are engaged!!!

It's July 9, 2008...and this is our very first post. My new sister-in-law has a blogspot and I thought it was a great idea, especially now that Dean and I are engaged!! So...here's the story...

Dean and I were headed to my Grandpa's cabin in Wears Valley, just a few miles from the entrance to the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. We were meeting up with my sisters and their bfs for the 4th of July. My parents and brother were unable to make it, but this trip will be the first of many, so next time we will all be there! Grandpa and Renee were excited to have us, even though we went a day early. Well, on July 3, Renee kicked us out of the cabin (thanks to my bro who made sure we went out and explored the town since he couldn't be there himself to do it) around 11 to go have lunch, check out the Smokies, go hiking, etc. Dean and I, along with my sister, Shelly, and her boyfriend, Gary, headed out. We stopped at a local 'general store' so we could have lunch, but we found no lunch. She told us to head up to the BP station where the food was "reaaaaaal good and reaaaaaaal cheap". So we did. After lunch, we made our way driving into and around the Great Smokey Mountains. we headed for Newfound Gap, but took a wrong turn somewhere and ended up seeing a beautiful waterfall.

We headed back in the right direction and about 45 minutes and a lot of 'switchbacks' later, we ended up at the Tennessee/North Carolina State Line at Newfound Gap!!! It was spectacular!

We decided to hike up to the top, since we had driven as far as we could. Not realizing that 2.7 miles up to the top would take us a while, we turned back after about a half a mile. We got some good pictures and some funny ones...

Before heading back to the car, we took some pictures at the lookout point at Newfound Gap...and that is where Dean proposed to me! I had no idea it was coming, but as soon as I looked back at him from up on the rocks, he was down on one knee with another rock-a diamond!!! It was beautiful and I was awestruck! I was so surprised, and then of course I started to cry. Thank goodness my sister was there to take pictures of the whole thing! It was absolutely incredible and I still can't believe it happened!