Not New Shoes...

New Hair!!! Check me out:




Oh yeah, lookin good!

I took that picture in my office. Today is one of the many days that my boss (the only other person in the building) isn't in. I guess when you're that close to retirement, golf is just more important than people's car insurance. I wouldn't know.

Anyway, since I still don't have wedding pics to show, I decided to take a picture of my everyday view for you too. I go home at the end of every day with terrible neck pain because I stare a computer screen all day that's a little high and slightly cock-eyed from the center of my desk. I'd fix that but I'm too lazy I've been so busy.




You can see I have the essentials: Tony Romo bobblehead, currently empty coffee mug (not for long), pic of hubby, post-its, window to outside world. What you can't see is the *broken marijuana tree to the left of my desk:




Somedays, I really wish it worked...

Hope to have those wedding pics for you soon! Patience is annoying a virtue.

Love love love,

Mandy

*Broken = Fake

New Name, New Look, New...Shoes?

Hello my long-lost Blogger friends! I am back in black! And white and red. I figured with the changing of a name comes the changing of a life and, therefore, a blog. I hope you like it.

I leave you with no promises of mutlitple updates per week but, when we have something going on, I'll try and let you know. I plan on posting wedding pics as soon as we have them.

In the meantime, if anyone knows a good school in need of a basketball coach, let us know! Coach Pratt will rock your face right the heck off. (Just because I'm biased doesn't mean it ain't true).

Love, peace and chicken grease.

~Mandy used-to-be-Smith-now-PRATT~

PS - KJ, if you read this: Help me get that stupid search box off my page! (I only have my diploma in HTML.)

You Be The Judge

The sign above was posted on FailBlog.org recently (hence the big red 'FAIL' in the top right-hand corner). In my opinion, it was posted incorrectly. This is so a WIN, FailBlog!

My Argument:

Point #1: It's not a mistake, you idiots. It's humor. WIN.

Point #2: It's humor...on a Church of Christ sign. We don't usually have a sense of humor! (Or, those of us that do are asked to hide it as much as possible.) True? Yes. WIN.

Point #3: My fiance thinks he came up with the phrase 'Rocket Surgery.' And made my parents laugh with it. And that small display of humor my just be the reason they are paying for this wedding. So...this sign makes my fiance a trendsetter! WIN.

Maybe I'll start WinBlog.org with this picture.

And this one:

UPDATE: I'm too late. There's already a WinBlog.org. And that picture is on page 2. Now I have to submit a picture of myself to FailBlog. Crap.

Welp, That's the End of That...

The Hilltoppers put up an amazing fight against Gonzaga tonight. But, at the last second, lost it all. Too bad. Really, too bad. They had a fantastic season. I really hope I get to cheer for them next year too (please oh please oh please).

On the good side, that means Austin's returning to KY to pack up and head back home (where he belongs) sometime in the next week or so. Hurray!! Unless of course, they offer him a job (please oh please oh please). Or better yet, a GA position (please oh please oh please).

If they don't and one of you has a father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, former 2nd cousin's roommate who happens to work for a Div. 1 men's bball team and is looking for a high-quality GA, contact me. I'll give you cash. =)

As for the rest of you who don't fit that criteria, what good are you?!?!

Just kidding. You can pray. Please pray. We don't want to be a poor married couple. It's WAY overrated. Thank you.

In other news...

I'm in Lubbock right now. What's that? Oh, I forgot to tell you? Yeah...that's what happened...

We had a family reunion filled with embarrassing stories and lots of "I can't believe how big you are" and "It's about time you're getting married" comments (ironic, I know). It was awesome. Way sad that Granny Moo couldn't be there though.

I also got to spend some (very little) time with some old, good pals. Lubbock is the only place I still have close friends so that's always nice (no matter how mean they are). I even got to do some wedding dress shopping with Heather. Much better than the 6 old women that follow me from shop to shop in KC (no offense Mom).

Other than that, we're returning home tomorrow to resume planning. I also have an interviewed lined up at Commerce Bank on Monday. It's not special or even good by any definition but, when those W&R paychecks stop coming, I'm gonna need more help than a measly Christian bookstore can provide. Have I asked you to pray that Austin get's a good setup? Please continue.

Blessings from the Lone Star State,
Mandy

PS - For your enjoyment, here's part of the embarrassment that came from the reunion:

I'd Kill for Some Chocolate Ice Cream

In case you haven't heard, the Summer of 2009 is being renamed. To "PrattTastic '09!" Learn it, live it.

Alright here's the lowdown:

Wedding Planning
This weeks tackle: Dress.
Max Amount: $2.50
Status: Screwed

Austin Far Away
This Weeks Tackle: Portland, OR
Reason: Dancin with Illinois!
Feelings: COM-A-NU-YEEEAAA-HAAA!!

Mom's Presence in the Planning
I'll sell her to you REAL cheap Amy

Job Search
Freakin boo...

In other news, we got our Engagement Photos back finally. Here's a touch:

Thank you, Sarah Timmons of Spectra Designs in Nashville!

If you want more, all the good ones are on Facebook. Go!

Happy PrattTastic '09 Everyone!

She's Baaaaack...

For now at least. I make no promises after this post. So you better enjoy it.

Actually, I really am going to try and return to this. I'm sure you've all missed me more than as much as I have missed you. However, know this: Pretty much the only thing I have to report on is

1. Wedding Plans
2. The fact that Austin is far away whilest #1 is occurring
3. The fact that my Mom helping with #1 makes #2 suck even worse
4. I need a job

So, if we're all ok with hearing about these things in every post from here to June 26, let's do it!

Ok, so #1: So far, we have (drumroll please) a venue! It may not seem like much to you simple minded folk but to those of us who have endured the torture of attempting to find a place that's not only beautiful but will also keep you from having to file bankruptcy, this is a HUGE victory! Check it out: The Grand Loft

Please don't freak out that, yes, it is in Osawatomie, KS (where?!). I promise, once you walk into this place, you'll forget.

#2: Austin is still truckin along in his internship at WKU. So far, no job prospect has reared it's beautiful head. Booo. But, right now he's livin it up conference style in Memphis. In case you haven't heard, the Hilltoppers are kickin some major Sunbelt rear end. Go Tops!

Needless to say, he's missing out on all the planning. Lucky? Maybe. But he DID get to plan our honeymoon. Wanna guess where we're going?! Here's a hint: It's NOT cold there!

#3: My mother and I have NEVER agreed on anything in my entire life. So, if you think my wedding is going to be any different...stop sniffing glue. But, we're making it. And, because it's her tax refund that's paying for this wedding (the same tax refund that was supposed to pay for her anniversary trip to Hawaii), I'm allowing a few things to slide in her favor. I am, however, drawing the line on wearing her wedding dress from 1979. For 1, I don't wear a size 2. And for 2, the veil makes me look like the Virgin Mary and, well...we won't go there.

#4: Ok, for the first time ever, I'm going on record with this: I admit it. Leaving W&R may not have been the wisest decision I've ever made. Although planning a wedding has been much easier with only a part-time job to get in my way, I get my last W&R paycheck at the end of the month and I have no new job lined up. (Yikes!) So...if any of you need a personal assistant, hit me up! I'm super excellent, I promise.*

110 Days!!!
-Mandy-


*You can't afford me and NO I will not do that.

The Princess has Finally Chosen a Suitor

I went to visit Austin in Bowling Green on January 29. When I got there, I picked him up at the school after work and, ignoring his requests to shower and change first, took him straight to BWW for some dinner.

After dinner, we went to his studio apartment so he could change and stop complaining. =) When we got there, I laid down on the bed and he went into the kitchen. The following ensued:

Me: What was that noise?
Austin: I think your phone vibrated. You got a text.
Me: Oh ok.
Austin: ...are you going to see who it's from?
Me: Eh. Maybe later.

After a few minutes, Austin hadn't come out of the kitchen so I jumped up to check out the text. It was from Facebook, letting me know that Austin had updated his status (because I Facebook stalk him even when I'm not on Facebook).

The text said: 'Austin Pratt has updated his status to 'Austin hopes she says yes.'

I turned to ask what it meant and found him on his knee with this:

We met on MySpace and got engaged on Facebook. Technology rocks!!

PS - Now everyone leave me alone! =)