Happy Birthday To Us!

SEPTEMBER 1, 2006

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO BETH, MY AUNT BARB & I!

Happy 26th Birthday to me! Happy 25th Birthday to Beth my bridemaid, soon to be mommy, and close friend!

Me, Beth and Courtney (picture above) have been friends for 4 birthdays now! Seems like 10!

Here is a picture of me on my 23rd and Beth on her 22nd. Boy have we change for the better! Enjoy the concert Beth!

Happy Birthday to my Aunt Barb! I searched my house for a picture of my aunt and I but my mom has all of them at home. I was born on her birthday and since then she has been such a fabulous role model for me. She is such an influential person in my life. I can't wait to see her in 35 days for my wedding.I love you very much Aunt Barb. Give Pat and Cedar a kiss for me!!!

Bachelorette Party!!!!!!

Good Evening! I thought I would post my Bachelorette Party pictures from this past weekend. I didn't do the regular drunkin mess tradition. I have a baby sister thats 17 and a bridesmaid that is almost 8 months pregnant. I wanted to include both of them so I wanted to do something we could all be included in. The worst part about it, IT WAS A TOTAL SECRET!! I wasn't told a thing. A few clues slipped out here and there but for the most part it was a total surprise. So my mouth dropped when I found out what we were doing. We left on the train on Friday for Chicago. Once we got there we met my bridesmaid that lives in Chicago at the train station and then we were off to the hotel. When we checked into our rooms we were all so hungry we immeadiately ordered pizza. (We actually ate pizza everyday we were there.) After we all got settled in I walked next door to our other hotel room. I looked down and saw an envelope laying on the ground in front of the door. I picked it up walked into the room and sat down where everyone was. I opened the envelope. In it contained my surprise. If you know me at all, you know that my favorite thing in this whole world is the Broadway hit musical Wicked. (For all of you who aren't on the up and up with musicals, it's the untold story of the witches of OZ. It takes place before Dorothy arrives. It's the story of their lives when they first met in college. I know it's a little silly but the whole show is about best friends. Thats why I love it so much. If you have a best friend in your life, you have to see this show!! I cry everytime I see it because it is so special to me! It was so wonderful to be able to share that with the girls that hadn't seen it yet.) So anyways, the girls bought all of us tickets to see the show that next night. It couldn't have been more perfect. We spent the days shopping, eating, and shopping more. The weather was so perfect. I truly couldn't have asked for a better weekend. I had one bridesmaid missing this weekend. You'll see pictures of her after my shower on the 16th. My bridesmaids know me so well. They worked so hard on this weekend making it special for me. Well here are some pictures. Enjoy!


In front of the theater

My beautiful bridesmaids. Too cute!

My sisters. Do we look alike?
Having lunch at my favorite resturant PF Changs One of my gifts. My "Soon To Be Mrs. Farley" track suit. I will wear it the day of my wedding while getting ready. Love This!!!

Ryan came to the train station to pick me up. With 2 dozen roses I might add! A little bird must have told him!

Engagement Pictures

Just got back from getting my engagement pictures. They turned out beautifully!!! I am so excited. Our parents loved them. Enjoy!

My Bridal Shower

On August 14th I had my first bridal shower. Ryan's mother, grandmother, and aunt's threw it. It was so wonderful. Most of his family was in town for his Aunt Barb's wedding that took place that previous Saturday. Since they were all here it was the perfect time to get together. Most of my bridesmaids were there except for two that are 4-7 hours away. Angie (Ryan's mother) invited a lot of her friends, co-workers, neighbors, and close family. It was great. The food was amazing! Both Aunt Debbie's, Aunt Barb, Angie, and Grandma Phyllis worked so hard to make everything perfect. Ryan's Aunt Lisa made the cake and the cookies. They were so beautiful I hated to eat them. I'm so lucky to soon be apart of such a wonderful family. Miss you all and can't wait to see you all soon! -Love Melissa

My great cake and cookies!!! Thanks Aunt Lisa.

My table runner from Pottery Barn! Thanks Angie.

Michele's Wedding

Here are some great photos of a wedding I was recently in. Michele, the bride, is actually one of my bridesmaids. We met while up at school at ISU. She got married on August 5th. The wedding was in Michigan and she was such a beautiful bride!! Ryan and I had a great time. He even got to golf while he was there and won $100 during the game! But shortly after that he got food poisoning from a piece of under cooked chicken he took off the grill. But he got over it the next morning and the wedding went off without a hitch! It was great to be apart of the day.

Great picture of Michele. She looked so amazing!

Giving our serious face as we showed off our great dancing capabilites!

Hello Everyone!!

A picture of us taken in front of the tree at Rockefeller Center

Hi everyone. I am starting this blog to update everyone on our upcoming wedding. I have a close friend that is doing the same with her pregnancy and it's so great to see the all the pictures. So check back from time to time to see what is progressing. I think the count is down to 42 days now!!! Talk to you all soon! -Love Melissa


How it all began...............On January 3, 2006 Ryan and I were on a plane to New York. So far in my short life, it is my favorite vacation spot. Before the plane took off Ryan told me he had to go to the bathroom. Seconds later my name was called over the loud speaker on the plane. I was asked to come to the front of the plane. Once I made my way up there I saw Ryan on one knee. He asked over the loudspeaker if I would marry him. What a proposal! It was a great start to our trip. Although it was very cold in NYC we were too busy being on cloud nine to notice.

By the Trump Towers



Downtown NYC (notice the heavy parka. Very sliming!!!)