Wedding dress number two?

Yup I did it, I tried on another wedding dress after I purchased my hella expensive wedding dress. Why you ask? Easiest way to put it is because I can and wanted to. Even though they all said, don't do it! - you'll regret it, if you put it on and love it what then?!... I didn't listen to them and I'm very happy I didn't.

Finding my dress was probably my FAVORITE part of this entire wedding planning process. You get to put on gorgeous gowns that cost way too much money and feel like a princess. I had so much fun and it all happened all so quickly that I found myself second guessing my first choice.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved my dress when I first put it on I mean I practically yanked it off the rack, so that wasn't the issue. I guess I felt like it happened so quickly that I didn't know if I should've tried on more gowns before finally deciding on my dress.

I mean I did have the most perfect moment when I put my dress on and said yes (which I will get into after the wedding) that I was scarred I got caught up in it all and didn't take the time to really look more, but then again if you know you know right? Well… not always…

Now we're down to the wire and I mean 3 weeks out kinda wire. I already changed my headpiece last week so while I was at the trunk show I spotted it. It was a real show stopper even on the rack- can we take a moment, what is with me and grabbing dresses off a rack like it’s going to be stolen from me or something geez girl relax?!- Anyways- It was an Eve of Milady ball-gown, but not just any ball-gown the kind that I dreamt of when I was a little girl playing Cinderella and looking at Bride’s magazine because at the age of 5 I knew I wanted to get married. It was that kinda ball gown.

I spotted it and I fell in love I didn't care about the price, honestly I didn't care about anything all I knew was that I loved this dress. I left the shop without putting it on because they all say, “don't put on another dress after you’ve already said yes to your dress!” Well I never listen to anyone so as soon as I left the city I called up the shop to setup an appointment. That night I couldn't stop thinking about it. I tossed and I turned all night long just thinking about the possibility of getting this gown. 

The next day when went to the shop and put it on it was perfect. Needed some tailoring at the waist, but pretty much perfect. I felt like Cinderella, BUT I had this feeling come over me almost a sadness. I kept thinking about my other gown and how I wouldn't get to wear it as much. I pushed down the feeling because this gown was stunning, but that feeling kept popping back up like a little voice inside my head saying I'd regret it. 

I pushed that voice to the side and told the dress consultant that I would take it. The price was right I felt like a princess, but at the counter when I went to pay something felt off. I took some time to really think about it and I ended up having them put it on hold and I walked away. That night I still thought about it, but in the sense that I didn't need it. Yes, I loved it, but I loved my original gown more. I loved the idea of having a second dress, but I felt like my original gown was more me and represented how I wanted to look on my wedding day.

I know they say you shouldn't try on anything after you say yes to the dress, but in my case it helped me workout how I was feeling about my original gown. I love everything about my dress and I can't wait to wear it.

If you’re feeling like you didn't choose the right dress I say hunny you only live this life once so go out there and try on whatever you want. Maybe you'll find your dream dress (you can always sell your original gown) or maybe you'll realize that your original gown is perfect for you. Either way you need to do what right for you, not what right for everyone else. Remember at the end of the day it's your special day not theirs.

Xoxo-Ana

HUGE Announcement!

Big Thing are Happening!

Hello my loves,

I have super exciting news. I am  now a Zola ambassador! I know what your thinking, okay ana that's cool but what exactly does that mean and what the heck is Zola? Well let me explains first what this means. So basically if your a bride or groom to be I'm going to have amazing deals coming your way. I'm so excited about this new partnership I have with Zola. Also  I would never partner with a company I didn't believe in 100%. I've even registered myself with Zola for my bridal shower. I hope after you read this post you'll see why I'm so in love with Zola.

Don't know what Zola is? That's okay it's a semi new company, but It's taking the wedding registry world by storm! Not only are they partnered with amazing companies and brands, but if you see something that you want and they don't have it on their list of products you can add it! That's probably my favorite feature. Personally I have a very eclectic taste and most places I like products  from don't have a registry option, besides I don't want to.be registered in 100 different places and confuses people. By using Zola everything is in one convenient spot.

Another great feature is the group gifting. This allows your guests to contribute an amount towards an expensive gift you may have on your registry like that cooper vitamix you've always wanted or that new kithenaid that's calling your name. This way you don't have to feel bad about adding them to your list and hey with a little team effort that item might just end up in your gift pile 😊

Speaking of gift piles. Zola gives you the option of when you would like your gifts shipped. Planning a wedding is a lot of work and maybe you and your future spouse don't know when your getting your place or your moving in after the wedding and don't have space for all your new pretty things. That's now a thing of the past with Zola. Guest have the option of shipping the gift directly to you, but you can wait to ship your gift wherever and whenever your ready. Oh and maybe you changed your mind about that cooper vitamix and want the silver one instead, no problem. You  can turn that item into cash and buy something else on Zola with it! Now that's pretty awesome of you ask me.

If your still not convinced zola is for you yet, this will definitely seal the deal. Are you and the future Mr. or Mrs. an unconventional couple? Do you already have everything you need for a home? Or maybe your just into that minimalist thing. No problem, Zola's got you covered! You can register for guest buy you experiences on Zola. Maybe you want to go to a winery or have a cooking date together. Theirs an option for a honeymoon fund or for guest to help contribute to something you need for the wedding instead.  You can even register for a cleaning service to come to your home and that blue apron subscription you always wanted. Now who can say no to any of that?

Don't think your guests are computer savvy, no problem. Zola has an awesome customer service team that can help them place their order right over the phone. It's that simple so your aunt in Florida that doesn't believe in wifi or technology for that matter, (we all have one or two). She can connviently call up Zola and speak a consultant who will help her pick out the perfect gift for you off your Zola registry.

Okay so here's the deal. Now that you love Zola as much as I do you can get rewarded for making an account! All you have to do is  create your Zola registry with my link, (https://www.zola.com/invite/analuciaromano), and as soon as someone buys you a gift worth $50 or more you'll receive $50 in Zola cash to put towards anything you want on Zola!

I really hope you guys go and check Zola out you can use my link https://www.zola.com/invite/analuciaromano or not, but if you sign up without my link you'll miss out on the $50 cash so I'm just saying a deals a deal right? And who doesn't love a good deal?! So go check it out and let me know what your thoughts on Zola are I know your going to be just as obsessed as I am 😊

Healthy Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Hello my lovelies,

I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving! Mine was full of family food and making my family help me put together my save the dates for my massive wedding (insert evil laugh here). I know my brides and brides to be know you need to get the free help where you can😊. They came out perfectly by the way and I’m totally obsessed with them. I had to share an image with you guys because well did I mention I’m obsessed with them?

Before I explain how I made these delicious (healthy) cookies I need to talk Gilmore Girls. If you haven’t yet watched a year in the life 4 part Netflix’s mini-series, then scroll down because I wouldn’t want to ruin the epic ending to a fan favorite for you.  -I’ll wait go ahead scroll-

Okay perfect now that we settled that let’s chat GG! Okay so I’ve been a GG diehard from the beginning and I love that all the characters I loved came back except for Chad Michael Murry, but, I’ll get over that. It was full of everything; love, heartbreak and a Paris Gellar meltdown what more could you ask for? I’ll tell you – NOT LEAVING ME IN SUPENSE! Rory is preggers?! It better be Logan and her love baby not the product of a wookie one nighter! I do love Logan and Rory together, but I doubt even if they decide to have another mini-series that they’ll give that to us. Logan will be her Christopher and Jess will be her Luke (so predictable). Even if I wrote the ending I still want more. MORE MORE MORE, I feel like that commercial with the little kids you know the one, “I want more I want more, when you like it you want more”.  We’ll I guess we’ll have to wait and see if they plan on creating another mini-series, but until then I’ll assume that Logan marries the rich French girl while Rory has his baby and she doesn’t tell him (hints the scene she had with her dad). She’ll fall in love with Jess then Logan will come back into the picture want to be a “father”, but his own father will come in-between them ending whatever romance could’ve been. Then Rory will ultimately end up with Jess, but hey that’s just my opinion leave me yours in the comments!

Okay so now lets get into how i made these delicious healthy cookies. I don't know about you guys, but I ate tons of food over the holiday weekend and now it's time to get serious about my wedding bod. I'm all about moderation and not starving myself so I found this delicious cookie recipe from Averie cooks and modified it to be slightly healthier then her version. They're very simple to whip up and unlike many other recipes I've tried these cookies came out moist and chewy! I hope you guys enjoy making them as much as I did. Go ahead and leave me a 🍌🍪 emoji on my Instagram post so I know you came from my blog. @FashionStyleFoodie

Ingredients:

• 1 large egg
• 2 small/medium 
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup palm sugar 
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened (1/2 of 1 stick)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned gluten free whole rolled oats. not instant or quick-cook 
• 1 1/4 cups your favorite gluten free flour (I used coconut flour)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon, added to taste
• 1/2 tablespoon of chia seeds (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• A pinch of sea salt 
• 1 1/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1. To the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or large mixing bowl and electric mixer) combine the egg, bananas (I leave them whole and don't pre-mash them before adding to bowl), sugars, butter, vanilla, and beat on medium-high speed until well combined, about 4 minutes. The mixture won't be smooth, fluffy, or 'creamed' like traditional cookie dough and will have small chunks of bananas present and it's on the runnier side.
2. Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the oats, flour, chia seeds, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, salt, and beat on low speed until just combined, about 1 minute.
3. Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the chocolate chips, and beat on low speed until just combined, about 30 seconds.
4. Using a large cookie scoop, 1/4-cup measure, or your hands, form approximately 14 equal-sized mounds of dough. Tip - Strategically place a few chocolate chips on top of each mound of dough by taking chips from the underside and adding them on top.
5. Place mounds on a large plate or tray, cover with plasticwrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, up to 5 days. This is a wetter, looser dough and isn't suitable for baking until it's been chilled. Do not bake with unchilled dough because cookies will bake thinner, flatter, and be more prone to spreading.
6. Preheat oven to 350F, line a baking sheet with a Silpat or spray with cooking spray. Place dough mounds on baking sheet, spaced at least 2 inches apart (I bake 8 cookies per sheet) and bake for about 13 minutes (for very soft cookies, longer for more well-done cookies), or until edges have set and tops are just set, even if slightly undercooked, pale, and glossy in the center; don't overbake. Cookies firm up as they cool. Baking times could range widely due to the moisture content variances in bananas, climate and oven variances; bake until your cookies are done. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for about 10 minutes before serving. I let them cool on the baking sheet and don't use a rack.
7. Cookies will keep airtight at room temperature for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 6 months. Alternatively, unbaked cookie dough can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, or in the freezer for up to 4 months, so consider baking only as many cookies as desired and save the remaining dough to be baked in the future when desired.

Adapted from Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies