What's in a name?

I always liked my name. Growing up I liked having an unusual name that nobody could spell and I could correct people pronunciation of. Having a different first name and a common surname, Jones, was a nice balance I thought. Now I come to a bit of a crossroads where I have a fairly large decision to make.. Do I continue my life as a Jones or do I take on a whole new persona as "Mrs McDaid" ?

I want to say something now and understand I am aware of the white trash connotations... 

I never took my first husbands name.. it just didn't fit. It didn't complement my first name and I didn't like it. 

This time around I guess I have a second shot at a once in a life time opportunity to change my name and I really am considering it. I never thought I would. I always loved being Jones, I never disliked my name as so many of my friends did.. I never dreamed of getting married and becoming Mrs someone else.. I was independent and it just wasn't important to me. I like the idea of being a family unit with one surname but of course I am now part of a nuclear family... Ella has her Dads surname so I don't want her to feel like the odd one out if I do take Lee's name and she is the only non- McDaid.

So it turns out this decision is not just mine to make. Every time I think I've made it I think of another pro/con that throws me out again! Lee doesn't like his name and has offered to take mine... seriously! I don't think I could let him. Another thing that has influenced my thoughts, although really shouldn't, is that his ex-wife took his name. I wouldn't be the first Mrs McDaid.. so do I want to be one at all? But then she took his name.. she was "his" by name.. so will I resent that I am not? It was much simpler the first time around when it was a simple no, not happening, keeping my name, thanks! 

I would love to hear from those of you that have made/are currently making this decision or even those who know what they will do in the future when they are posed with this quandry..

I must add... I do like the way the name looks with mine, and how it sounds... I worry about finding kids names that fit with McDaid better than they fit with Jones.. I often wish I'd given Ella my name, I don't want to regret that again! And lastly... A little picture... 

comments please 

xoxo

miss bb

Sheffield City Hall?

For a while my Mum has been pushing Sheffield City Hall on us as a wedding location.

We were pretty set on New York/Vegas.. at one point she suggested Gretna Green as the Vegas is the UK but on closer inspection... not so much! So a friend at work recently married at City Hall and said it was lovely and it got me thinking maybe my Mum was right. I am horribly indecisive so until it's booked (probably a week or two before we go ahead) I won't be able to confirm what our definite plans will be but I am kind of coming around to this grand building that is really quite close by and where we could have friends and relatives attend if we wished.

It backs on to the Peace Gardens which would be a beautiful setting for photographs and my Dad is a great photographer so we would have a free service in the attendance of my parents. I would really love my friend Caz to be there and we could all go for a meal somewhere afterwards... informal. 

I'm not totally sold yet because we really wanted to do it alone so we can say whatever it is we want to say without worrying about what other people might think... I don't want to censor myself or be nervous just because I have invited guests. I would ideally love to do the deed and have them waiting outside Carrie and Big style but I'm not sure they'd be up for that.. I think if they were coming down for a wedding they'd probably want to see it. I could maybe film it for them to watch later and feel more comfortable... ugh I don't know! Anyway... You know I blog in the stream of consciousness and this is what is in my head right now!

xoxo

miss bb

Waking Up in Vegas

BelleDuJourNYC posted about this polish the other day and it really pushed me back over to the Vegas side! How ridiculous that a nail polish would decide the venue of my wedding..




It's the ultimate vegas wedding colour!



I really love it and it reminded me of all the stuff I collected over the last 6 months for our vegas trip! I love New York I really do but there is nowhere that I would feel excited about getting married in the city! The only budget option is city hall which is all well and good but where's the romance?
I had my heart set on the chapel of the bells...




It just looks how I want it to look and I can imagine saying our I do's there! It's spontaneous, no queuing.. We can go grab our licence and marry within hours of landing in Vegas and I love that! Plus of course many celebs have been married there (inc. The late, fabulous Leslie Nielsen and the gorgeous Kelly Rippa) and it's featured on one of our favourite films "Honeymoon In Vegas"




Best of all is the price! It is, in my opinion the best looking chapel in vegas (inside) and the cheapest too!!! I don't see the point in spending a fortune on a venue when it's just the two of us.. But we still want it to be romantic and a lovely setting for the photos we will treasure forever...



I've been back looking at hotels and flights etc and this is what I came up with..



For the money the Tropicana seems like the best deal! It has great reviews and was recently renovated... The pool looks incredible and having visited vegas once before I'm happy with the location!



So I'm back on the vegas train.. My heart will always be in New York but we will return one day! Vegas was always the plan and now I think we might stick to it!


xoxo

Miss BB

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note
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Apologies for the screen print photos! My laptop is on the fritz so I'm stuck blogging from my iPhone.

The Royal Rings-piration

I've read a lot about the "royal ring" recently. I'm not keen myself but I do like the sentiment. It was Princess Diana's engagement ring, I like that. A hand-me-down always holds its own value within the family. I like to think jewellery has a memory. I, myself have a hand-me-down of sorts. I inherited my Grandmothers solitaire (around 0.60ct if you care to know) and had it for years before finding it a wonderful purpose. I like to think I gave it a new life.

When Lee and I decided to get engaged I knew what I wanted to do but wasn't sure everyone would understand. My Mum had made comment in the past about changing the ring, I worried I might upset her. Lee bought a stand in ring to propose... (tiffany dontcha know ;)) I'll do a whole other post on the proposal if you're interested.

Later I took the diamond from my Grandmothers ring and attended a design day at Ernest Jones (hence me bigging them up all the time)

I loved it! The designer basically took my childlike sketch and recreated it exactly as I pictured it in my mind!

I loved her input.. we got to calculate the costs with different metals and surrounding stones. I settled on two pear shaped amethysts (my birthstone) either side of the diamond and lots of tiny diamonds in the ring mount.

It has a very vintage feel.

I love that the diamond in my ring is so old. It was second hand when my Grandmother got it so it's at least 100 years old and that's lovely to me. I wasn't previously in the family to my knowledge so I have no idea where it came from or what it's seen.. It could have been to fabulous parties or been part of a bigger piece... who knows? It just makes it a little more interesting. Reusing old jewellery in engagement rings has apparenltly become quite popular with the recession and all... This was in part why I did it... although with the ring design costs and the stand in rock it cost as much as new :p

So this is my ring now...

Have any of you reused a family heirloom as an engagement/wedding/eternity ring?

I love the stories so please share :)

And anyone who's had a ring made... you too!!!

xoxo

miss bb



Ring!!!!!

Wow! I was set on the amanda wakely ring but look whats just been added to the ernest jones website at just £135!!!
So cheap and white gold not silver like the aw ring so better!
I can't believe what a great match its is!



Just a reminder...


What do you think????

xoxo

Miss BB

Good News!

I got papers from the court yesterday!!
My decree will be heard on the 6th september, we don't need to attend and unless someone objects we will be divorced 6 weeks later! Yay!
One down, One to go! Lee's is nowhere near that stage unfortunately but I am trying to remain hopeful!!!
:D

xoxo

Miss BB

May/June wedding?

Frustrated isn't the word!
I found out this week that I won't be divorced until January or February at the latest and Lees divorce could be 2 or 3 months later still... ugghhh!! Why does it have to be this difficult?
His ex has caused trouble but mine hasn't so I don't know why it takes so long... whatever, we're trying to remain positive.. just means that the chances of me being pregnant on our wedding day are now a lot higher.. especially as Lee has now had his varicocele emobolisation.
If you have no idea what I'm talking about go and have a look at my babymaking blog..
http://missbbsbabybump.blogspot.com/
So anyway... IF I got pregnant over Christmas it would mean I can't fly after June/July as I would be in my third trimester and Doctors don't advise it.. so if we are going to get married in thr US as we sooo want to then it has to be done by like June but I could have a bump and we MIGHT not be divorced!
I had a dream last night that everything slotted in to place and I couldn't believe my luck. I'd secretly arranged for us to be in New York all of a sudden and filled in all the necassary paperwork etc, big surprise.. then I realise we're not divorced yet and I wake up.
I hate being out of control! It's been made so much worse by the threat of infertility.
It means we really aren't in charge of ANYTHING!
I guess as one of my readers said, doing it all in February would have sucked a little because then all of the special occasions you would celebrate every year would be around the same time... but it was special to us because we got engaged in New York this year on my birthday (4th feb) it would have been really magical to go back and get married.
But hey ho, that's life, I guess it's asking a lot to find the man you actually want to spend your life with and be able to marry him when he wants to marry you...
Rant over.. for now!
I get little bursts of frustration now and then and this is the best forum to vent..
Talking of forums... I wonder when that hater group will pick up on all this... baring in mind what they say about other people they would have a field day with Lee and I getting divorced from out ex's to be together... I will no doubt at some point be branded a "homewrecker" whether is be of my home or his but let it be known now.. That's the one thing they can talk shit about and it won't get a rise..it'll piss me off but I won't argue... how can I? it's an unbelievable story but one day I'll tell it to you.. every detail
For now, thanks for listening and keep your fingers crossed for us :)

xoxo

miss bb

Amanda Wakely @ Ernest Jones

Have you guys seen these goregous Amanda Wakely rings at Ernest Jones?
So gorgeous and an absolute bargain... definitely in the running for a wedding ring... yes I know I know I take forever to make a decision! No decision is final until the deed has been done!

Check these out and let me know what you think
(click the pictures for a closer look)

£75 - Black Diamonds

£99 - Brown Diamonds

£125 - White Diamonds

Each are Silver which is what brings the price down but would you rather pay more for gold and CZs or less for silver and diamonds? The argument is obviously in which is the hearder wearing against your engagement ring but all metals contain such high quantities of alloy now that I doubt it makes that much difference anymore!

There are a couple of other cute pieces in the collection too... oh go on then I'll throw in some pics of those too, however unrelated :p...

£99 - Silver/Leather/Black Diamonds

£350 - Silver and half carat of white diamonds

£399 - silver with half carat of white diamonds

How cute is this stuff???

For those of you that want diamonds without the crazy inflated gold prices this is for you, the link to where you can buy is below

http://www.ernestjones.co.uk/webstore/l/search/?No=0&Ntk=PRIMARY&Ntt=amanda+wakely

xoxo

miss bb

How are we not DIVORCED yet???... and a sidebar rant

I am sooo frustrated right now!!
I can't remember if I told you this but over a month ago my divorce went to a judge who denied it because my ex didn't tick a box that stated I was intolerable to live with... arrghh!!
So.. he went back to the court and filled in yet another form... making sure to tick ALL the boxes this time... but it's been over a month and we've heard nothing! I will be calling the court in the morning for an update but I can't believe I thought I would be divorced by August... October at the latest.. Now I'm thinking my plans for a February wedding are a little far fetched.
As soon as a judge sees our paperwork and signs off on it we have a 6 week wait and then we will be divorced, it's that simple... once it's actually done!
On the other side I have Lees divorce that's nowhere near that stage yet! I put up for my court fees, as agreed with my ex, we agreed also to pay Lees court fees but discovered his ex could get them at a lower rate because of her earnings.. so she ended up applying and getting half off..
We paid the remaining fee and thought all we were waiting for was some paperwork.. weeks went by and nothing. Last week he got a text saying that she was not willing to use her "discount" and that she thought he should have to pay the full fees. WHYYY??? She was basically blackmailing him, I think she knows we plan to get married and is just trying to make things difficult..
In the end I said if we had to wait we'd have to wait but i wasn't going to be blackmailed. At the end of the day she is divorcing him and officially she would pay the fees, we have agreed to pay them because he left her and she's pretty angry about it.. but it's not like it was a couple of months ago it was like 2 years..
So it came down to us saying we would claim the money we'd paid back and wait till she really wanted a divorce then she'd have to pay for it.. at this point she backed off and said she would deal with it.
Turns out she's had the papers a while and just hadn't sent them back to the solicitors.. nightmare!

Sometime it's tough to be angry at her because in he position I know alot of people would do the same thing but you would think you would know that your marriage wasn't working!
I didn't have an affair with he husband (although I'm sure she believes otherwise) He left her and started seeing me. My ex dealt with it and is perfectly civil, we still parent Ella as a team and when I compare him with Lees ex I just can't feel sorry for her. She really is horrible... but then I would say that wouldn't I , I'm the "other woman"... I hate that BTW.
Not quite what I wanted from my life but if you meet the love of your life and you're married to other people... are you supposed to just continue as you are? We didn't do anything wrong, nobody cheated on anyone, we just weren't in love anymore and when that happens someone always gets hurt.

I didn't intend this post to run so deep... it was only really supposed to be a rant about divorce but I have a lot of stuff bubbling under the surface that gets away from me sometimes.

I think I've been pretty honest about the situatuion on the whole but have no doubt it will lose me "fans", "followers" and "subscribers" by being open... not everyone agrees with what we did but I'm past caring. You're supposed to live your life for you, nobody else, whatever you do you should at least try to be happy where you can and no matter what frustrations I have... I am the happiest in a relationship I've ever been.
I like being able to share stuff with you guys and would love to hear your stories!

xoxo

miss BB

TOPSHOP to the rescue?

I accidentally posted this on my beauty blog (oohps)

So I'm reposting here, where it's a little more relevent..

You guys know I have been on the look out for a warmer dress to wear incase we can get married in NYC in February (cold weather there dontcha know!) I had a really pretty dress picked out from next (budget!) and so I didn't want to spend a fortune but I wanted a similar style and I think I've found it. This is kind of a sheath/shift dress from good old topshop, retails around £50 if I rememer correctly and it's short with long sleeves (as the next one) but it's a much thicket material and it has some nice bridal bling..

Check out the cuff bling... can't go wrong!!

I plan to go back soon and try it on... will of course twitpic

(follow me on twitter @msbudgetbeauty)

and subsequently post on this blog...

Any suggestions welcome

xoxo

miss bb

NYC

I'm getting married in NYC

Ok Ok I know... I'm terrible!

I've almost definitely nearly made up my (our) mind(s) this time!

It's NYC all the way!

Providing we aren't poverty stricken in the meantime we should be able to book just after xmas to go early february. We'll be there for my birthday (4th) but be home before valentines so we could have a little party at home on valentines to celebrate with our close friends and family. I can't stress how much I don't want a big party!

Here's all the info I've found and the random videos I've been watching.

http://manhattan.about.com/od/citylife1/a/newyorkwedding.htm

http://www.nyc.gov/html/records/html/about/faq.shtml

http://www.cityclerk.nyc.gov/html/marriage/license.shtml

*****

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9R4LAihqryw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJTTTr8ATMQ&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2oaoVPUYg0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgAoR-39Zyc&feature=related

The problem now lies with what to wear! I found the cute short dress that would accomodate a potential baby bump some time ago and it's been hanging in my wardrobe waiting ever since...

BUT..

New York in February is pretty darn cold! So what do you wear to get married alone (no guests) at city hall when it's freezing outside? Jeans and a sweatshirt? lol

No joke I was seriously going down the white jeans route for some time so I'm not ruling it out now.

Here are some options I'm looking at...

any suggestions of your own for me?

xoxo

miss bb

Celebrity Wedding Inspiration

On a brighter note.. I've been revisting Celebrity hair/makeup/style inspiration today and I thought I'd share with you my favourites...

Sadness aside that these too divorced..and I am still unreasonably sad... I LOVE this one photo they released to the press of their wedding day, she looks so beautiful and her hair is so effortless but glam.. Jealous isn't the word.

This couple have so far had a happier ending...

love the pose, love the dress, she was pregnant (visibly) when they got married but she still looked classically beautiful.. I even love the hair!

Gwen Stefani's wedding dress was a work of art in itself, that along with her hair platinum hair and scarlett lips she stayed true to her personal style while retaining bridal elegance.

This is one of the very few shots of JLos wedding to Marc Anthony.. Love her hair, love the lace... love the flowers, the parasol.......It's just all so romantic isn't it?

Do you have a favourite celeb wedding style?

Aaarggh!!!!

 I am so conflicted!
You may already know this about me.. I'm very indecisive!
So, to begin with we were going to vegas for sure... that was definitely what we wanted to do.
Then we decided we weren't gonna be divorced in time so we looked for alternatives..
We looked at our local register office (eugh), local cities that may have nicer town halls we could marry in... eg, York/Leeds/Sheffield. At my parents request we looked into Gretna Green (so expensive... thought eloping was sposed to be cheap) and then most recently we settled on London.
We thought if we couldn't go where we wanted maybe Christmas in London would be special?
mmm... Now I don't know. We still don't know that we'll be divorced by then so until we have that locked down we can't really make any solid plans anyway so that sucks.. But we keep going back to Vegas.
Part of the reason we were in kind of a rush was because we thought I'd be pregnant by now.. I wanted to be married before we had a baby (preferably before I was pregnant but at least within the first 3 months).
Now we've had our fertility issues (see baby making blog - http://missbbsbabybump.blogspot.com/) we really don't need to rush. There's always the chance I could conceive but I think we're 6 months off that so we have time to go Vegas after all... but now I'm thinking, can we really leave our families out of it? It was the initial plan but now I'm not sure... I'd love to go just the two of us and come back married... it would be romantic and exactly what I think I want but I don't want to look back in 10 years time and wish we'd had a big celebration. We can have a little party of course I just don't want to do anything I'll regret. I was so sure of how I wanted things that now I've had time to take a step back I'm really confused.
If we could go to Vegas tomorrow and get hitched that would be bliss... part of my issue is the timing.. I hate to wait for ANYTHING and I only have a few times in the next 6 month this trip would be possible.. maybe 2 or 3 dates we could go away for maybe 4 nights. If we put it off more than 6 months (which would be easier) I've a lot more chance of being pregnant... which is a good thing but scuppers my plans.
ARRGGHH!!! I'm a secret worrier and try to seem on the outside like I have everything figured out but in truth I have no idea.. so I'm sharing my nerves with you and asking for your help..
If you could get married anywhere where would it be? Home or away I'd love your suggestions.. I don't want a hotel or a beach wedding but am not opposed to outdoors... I don't want a big family affair but could handle maybe 6-8 guests if I must..
The best time we could do this would be February - my birthday is the 4th and Valentines in of course the 14th so they are potential romantic dates..
If anyone knows anywhere lovely in the UK then fab but I also would love to do it somewhere in America.. don't care where or what the weathers like...
WHATEVER
 help??

xoxo

miss bb

love love love IT!

Hey Guys!!!

I found these really sute stacker rings in H&M and they go sooo nicely with my e-ring it's unreal, sooo unfair they aren't even silver so I'll never be able to wear them.. they will rust/tarnish etc etc

sucks! What do you guys think? the top one looks so awesome!!

If anyone knows anywhere I can get a similar ring in silver/white gold PLEASE tell me...

I found the RING!!!

Further to post a couple of weeks ago I finally found my ring... and it was an absolute STEAL!
For so long I've looked for a ring that fits nicely but maybe isn't so "matchy matchy"
I've tried expensive ones, I've tried costume jewellery, I've found nothing...until now.
I popped into Pandora and found this gem for a whopping £35

I love it! it looks so cute with my engagement ring. It may only be silver but I tried to find something gold and nothing went..

Maybe I'll replace it with a diamond band one day or maybe I'll just stack it.. I love the stacks you can get now. I was absolutely OBSESSED with Annoushka stacker rings when I first saw them but they are a little pricey for my budget right now and I don't see the point in spending hundreds on a mediocre ring when I could buy a much cheaper ring that I love and save to get the perfect ring later.

So what do you guys think? if you remember I also have a diamond band I bought a while back I just didn't think it really looked like a wedding ring, I'll probably wear them together. I'll post some pictures of them together  for you guys to check out.

xoxo

miss bb

It's all over!!!

Hey Guys!
So it's over... it's all over!
I can't say I'm not dissappointed but my dreams of a Vegas wedding have finally been quashed.
What with the divorces taking forever to go through and Lee losing his job it just isn't going to happen.
So all my plans were pretty much for nothing, that's pretty gutting.
I think what will probably happen now is we will get married in London... this was one of our fallback ideas all along but we were never settled on it.
We have everything we need to go get married.. we just need to be officially divorced and then it will be like a 2 week wait and we will hot foot it down south and do the deed.
Of course I will be taking you guys with me and there should be many makeup/hair trials/tutorials in the weeks leading up to it but i think we could be waiting till christmas :(

Ah well I'll keep you guys updated as I go along

xoxo

miss bb

With this ring...

So here's my engagement ring

It's kind of vintage looking, I have it made and I love it..

The problem is I haven't found a ring that looks right with it.

This ring has a kind of milgrain finish and a diamond band, it's shaped but I don't want a shaped wedding band, I wanted a diamond band that would look nice alone aswell as with the engagement ring. It's been a tough search, I'd take CZs if I could find the perfect ring but I haven't!! plus if I buy costume jewellery it won't last so even when I see something that looks like the perfect fit it's never any good.

I thought about having one designed but it will take 3 months to come back and I'm not sure how much time I have, I've already had to wait so long to get re-married that I don't want to slow things down any more just for a ring. So anyway.. I found this...

It would go perfectly.. I'm yet to try it on in the store but it's exactly what I've been looking for :)))

If anyone has any suggestions or has seen anything suitable keep me informed!!

Until then..

See you in my next post

xoxo

Miss BB

Wedding Dress Stress

Choosing your wedding dress should be something you only do once right? In my case.. no!

The first time around I had a big wedding but I didn't want to go for the big dress.
I had a lovely floor length ivory evening dress but it was no meringue.

This time around I just don't know what to wear!!!

It will be just the two of us and a very informal setting, I've even considered wearing jeans and tshirt.

I guess I'll hold on to the photos forever though so I need to put a little more thought in!

The two dresses below are my two choices right now, the first I recently bought from Next, thought it looked kinda cute and would work if I happened to fall pregnant before the big day...

The second is one I had a go at making myself, a retro number, but I don't know if it's nice enough for the day... It's not very wellmade... I'm barely a novice with a sewing machine lol.

On the jeans front I considered buying a really nice pair of white ones and embellishing the back pockets with my new initials...

I could spring for some designer shoes to "special up" the outfit lol

My next decision is hair and makeup but not until I've decided on the dress...

I'm swaying towards the cream flowy number myself but I'd love your opinions

xxx

miss bb

Flights of Fancy

This week I decided on the dates we would go away.
So the next thing is researching flights and hotel... now THAT is a big job!
Do I book online? using expedia or a like company or do I book flights/hotel seperately?
Do I visit a travel agent, can they REALLY get me the best deal?
When do I book? Now? Last minute? When will I save the most money?
Do I just book flights and hope for a cheap deal when I just turn up on the day????
OMG how stressful is planning a holiday? VERY!
So I think I'm going with expedia because I haven't booked a trip any other way for like 8 years... I pretty much LOVE it.. only problem is that expedia are not offering me any direct flights on the dates I want them... and all the airlines are ones I've never heard of, now British Airways or (my fave) VIRGIN!!
So I check virgin for their flights and they're crazy expensive..
At this point I'm thinking, what would I rather? Go with this unknown (to me) airline and have more money for the hotel... OR pay more to fly virgin and have to go seriously budget on the hotel? what's more important for our "weddingmoon"???
mmm... I'm pretty sure I will end up booking expedia as the hotel/flight deals are yet to be beaten on my little research jaunt but if anyone hasd any suggestions or tips I would appreciate it!
I have visited vegas before buit a different time of year and the options were more varied.. If anyones been around October... even better to get married... post a lil comment, I'd love to hear from you!
In the meantime I will continue my frustrating search for the perfect trip!
I will book asap and I will surely update you all as soon as I have.

LOVE YOU xxx

miss bb

I've been collecting

Hi Guys!

I plan to vlog this in a kind of haul format..

I've been collecting bits and bobs for our trip to vegas

This is what I have so far...