My New Name!

Carrie Anne Schroeder Winchel.

I suppose it's not a huge deal...I've changed my name before, after all.

But I still think it's exciting, and I'm glad that this time I've got the Schroeder in there. I had that name for 21 years, and it's my parent's name...a big part of who I am. Plus, my brother probably won't have kids and all my cousins are girls, so I feel like I want to keep it going a little longer.

And IF (BIG IF) I have a kid I'll probably make their middle name Schroeder.

Carrie Winchel. I'm going to have to get used to that. It's so funny to think that I have Mike's last name. We were both with other people when we met, and were friends for years before we dated, so for a long time, I never even thought about having his name!

I see changing my name as a way to tell the world that we're on the same team. We're the Winchels Dammit! It doesn't feel like I'm losing my identity or giving up anything.

I've even made sure our "kid" shares our surname, so he's not a little bastard puppy anymore. Cash Waylon Winchel. I only call him that when he's in trouble.

When someone refers to us as "The WInchels," though, I kind of feel like we should be starring in a 50's inspired sitcom.

That would be a really weird show.

My Name is Carrie and I Watch "Real Housewives" Shows

Oh, Bravo...you're so sneaky.

As I'm flipping through the channels when Full House reruns are on commercials, you suck me in with the nice shots of New York City, or a fancy dress, or a cute little accessory dog chilling by a pool.

I like to think of myself as a progressive, intelligent woman, so why do I like to watch this drama fest?

Here's what Mike sees when I watch these shows, "Is all these b#tches do throw parties and fight?"

Yeees....(embarrassed face)

Whatever.

I think there must be some part of us that enjoys drama. Some people thrive on having it in their own lives...while others like to watch it on TV. I certainly don't fight like that with my girlfriends...maybe it's because we're too busy working and/or mothering our own children to throw mixed drinks at each other.

But I'm not going to try to justify this guilty pleasure.

I'll just dish...full on disclosure.

My favorite H-wives are Orange County and New York.

I also enjoyed the first season of Beverly Hills. New Jersey is what sucked me into the franchise, but now that Danielle is gone, it's not as much fun, and I'm not particularly enjoying the Teresa-fest.

I think my favorite part of the Housewives shows are not the insane fights, but the little peeks into their lives and their quirks. I'm pretty sure Bravo can edit the high school drama however they want...

But hearing Alexis get Biblical when I don't think she knows what she's talking about...watching Teresa say she's "not a stage mom" as she puts makeup on her 8 year old before a dance recital...OH! And Dina bathing her hairless cat, Grandma Wrinkles, in the sink...those things you can't edit! These gals are hilarious.

So I'm telling myself it's okay to watch as long as I don't start acting like a Real Housewife...which makes me wonder what a Springfield, MO version of the show would look like?

Back to the Grind

We had SO much fun in Myrtle Beach!

It was seriously the most relaxing, stress free vacation I've ever been on. Mike and I make a good team...we dealt with cancelled flights and getting lost without fighting!

We are headed back to work tonight. I expected to be sad (like I was the day after the wedding) but I'm ready to be home.

Every other vacation I've taken I DREADED coming home...but now things are different. I am super pumped to come back to my life. I finally feel comfortable in my world.

I am looking forward to summer: Cardinals games, pool time, cooking, taking Cash to the park...

I enjoy my job, I am ready to go back to work.

I have several friends who are expecting babies soon, so I look forward to being a part of their lives. Ya'll HAVE to let me be Crazy Aunt Carrie!

Aaaand we are looking to buy a house next fall. That will be challenging and fun. I can't wait to paint and decorate!

I have so much to look forward to...I'm hoping to stay connected to all of the great people who made my wedding day so much fun (everyone!) I want to keep "working on my fitness," as Fergie would say. (the pop star...not the Duchess) And I am hoping to be more crafty. I think shopping at Hobby Lobby does that to people.

Oh, and I need to get a library card! I miss reading. Not planning a wedding leaves one with much free time.

More fantastically written posts are coming, but I did take a sleeping pill so I could go to bed at 3 pm...back to my old lady schedule...so I'll say "good night."

Off to the Beach!

We are headed for Myrtle Beach, South Carolina this morning!

I am super excited, since this will be mine and Mike's first real vacation together...which I think is great. I know we didn't really do things the "traditional" way, as in we lived together before we got married, etc. but I think this is a great way to start things.

Mike's never been to the ocean but he loves to swim, so I think I'm incredibly lucky to be with him when he discovers the beach. I just know he'll love it!

That's one of my big goals for our life together...I want to keep things exciting, see each other's dreams come true, and truly LIVE life.

My goal for the week is to be the stress-free, fun, laughing, easygoing, crazy Carrie that I know Mike wants me to be. No worrying about work, no freaking out if things don't go as planned. Which shouldn't be a problem since we literally have no plans. None!

The airport should be interesting...I've only flown once and Mike never has, so I'll have to wait and see how that goes.

And everyone has been telling us to "take lots of pictures!" I'm SO bad at remembering to take pictures!

I DID start a Flickr account. Not sure what to do with it yet, but I'll figure it out.

I hope everyone has an amazing week! I am sure I will!!! ;)
Hey, we work hard, so I think we deserve it!

The Hangover

Married!!

Aside from the beginning of the ceremony getting completely screwed up, my wedding was better than I could have ever expected.

It was amazing spending time with my friends Hannah, (who made my hair absolutely beautiful. OMG I looooved my hair!) Sabra, (who was so much help it's not even funny and now my mom wants to adopt her) Allison, (who helped me decorate and kept me from being too mean to Mike while we decorated) Jasmine, Shannon, and Heather kept me laughing and calm!

I also loved spending time with Mike's friends and with people from work I don't get to see often enough. Our wedding was exactly what I wanted it to be...an amazing rock n roll party with all of our favorite people.

And now it's over. I cried when Mike read me the vows he wrote last night...but I've cried 4 or 5 times today! I had SO much fun last night, I felt so loved, and honestly, proud that we pulled it off. I was overwhelmed that so many of our friends pitched in to help, even though we didn't give anyone a title of "bridesmaid" or "groomsdude."

Anyway, I really feel sad that this night we worked so hard to make happen is just a memory. It was over too fast.

I'll feel better tomorrow...when we leave for Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I am just having a kid-after-Christmas moment. I really and truly am looking forward to spending my life with Mike.

Now that we aren't practicing our first dance and I'm not stalking wedding websites like a crazy lady, I will hopefully get back to blogging more!

I will share how thrilled I am that I heard the best thing any of our guests could have said so many times: "I love the music!" We worked so hard on the playlist and it made my WEEK that people enjoyed it! (There was, like, 6 hours of music that didn't even get played!)

I feel the tears coming again, so I'm going to watch TV on the couch with my...husband!!!

--Carrie Anne Schroeder Winchel

Heard it in a Love Song...

So happy to report progress on the wedding front.

We are writing our own ceremony, and after a few waaaaay to cheesy attempts, I think we've got a short ceremony that is different, fun, rock 'n roll and "us." Oh, and multimedia...and hopefully hilarious.

The only thing left to do for that is I want to come up with some great things for us to promise during the ring exchange. By great I mean funny, and maybe slightly inappropriate.

I am also working on our play list today, which we are doing ourselves with our own music. We are hiring a DJ to monitor, play and operate things. I am SO glad we can make our own play list. I feel bad because a lot of the music Mike likes wouldn't really work for a wedding situation...at all. (he's aware of this and not offended.)

Anyway, I used to work for a wedding DJ company and I know they basically use the same music for any wedding and I don't want that. At all. Ugh.

So I have pretty much perfected the pre-ceremony tracks...to set the mood. We know what will be playing during the ceremony; and my dinner play list...a.k.a "ambiance for an elegant meal" a.k.a. "let's watch while the bride tries not to spill spaghetti or wine on herself" needs some more songs, and I plan on raiding my mom's pretty solid music collection this week for those.

The main list, "Dance Play List" will be tricky, but I can do it:

I have to figure out how to flow...and flow back again between: outlaw/underground county, '80's hair rock, '90's hard rock and pop, classic rock, regular country, love songs...deep breath* Oh, and I an desperately trying to find a way to work in the Stephen Colbert/Jimmy Fallon/Taylor Hicks version of Rebecca Black's "Friday." I would love a flash mob choreographed dance.

It'll work. I just hope people have FUN. I hope people aren't "too cool" to dance and get crazy with us. That's what I want more than anything.

Okay, I'm done. Thanks for reading. Occasionally I feel the need to vomit out all of my ideas so my head doesn't explode...which is why a decoration post is probably coming soon.

Garland made out of Bud Light cans that happen to be my Wedding Royal Blue? Maaaaybe!

WEDDING UPDATE: What No Bride-to-be Wants to Hear

"It doesn't fit."

Whhhhaaaaat?

Yep, that's what the adorable little alterations gal at Davids Bridal told me Saturday at my fitting.

Here is my dress. Keep in mind I'm not a waify wedding dress model who's being paid to look angelic and virginal and full of wonder.

Anyway...I bought the dress a year ago, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. But, yeah, the zipper only went about halfway up my back, and I spent all my boob job money on the honeymoon, so that's not the problem.

My mom said it's probably because I have been working out and spending lots of time with p90X Tony, so I am just more muscly.

Muscly and brawny. Like Xena: Warrior Princess.

BUT my story does have a happy ending. The lady in charge of my alterations suggested we make my dress have a corset back!

So that makes my dress a) one of a kind and b) sexier.

And you lucky people will get to look at something like this:





I kid...

I'm hoping for something more like that.

Here's to drinking a Guinness at 10 am on St. Patrick's Day!