Changed the layout, this will be my "Welsh Girl In Washington" blog layout. I think it's nice, I've worked hard on it, the photo is by me. It's an old postcard I had from the first time I met Clayton, the mountain is Mt Baker Which is really close by to us. Lovely to be able to wake up each morning, and see that out of your bedroom window. It's a beautiful site.

This week has been pretty hectic, saying goodbye to family & friends getting last minute packing sorted. Yesterday I went to have a lovely Facial with my sisters, they wanted to treat me. Oh it was so relaxing it was only for 20mins but it was well worth it. We went to have a lovely Salad in the restaurant there before going back. Once we got back home, I was on the move again. I had to go down into town to pick up my new glasses, as well as having another dress fitting. Once that was sorted I came home, and had food before going over my neighbours for a chat.

Today my sisters and I went to pick my dress up, it's finally finished yay and it looks stunning. I can't wait to wear it on the day. We then stopped by to see my sisters new kitten awww she's so cute her name is Korona and she's a Maine Coon. Scroll down on that site and you'll be able to see her. There are two pictures of her, one at a few days old and one at 8 weeks. Isnt she beautiful!

This afternoon my grandparents are coming round to say goodbye for the final time. And then later on this evening my sisters, Sarah, Eloise & Emily and I are going to have a girly night in and watch "The Ring" ooh scary. We're also gonna order Chinese I think mm yummy.

Oh and just to let everyone know, Clayton had his Exam yesterday and he passed!! Yay for him, I'm so pleased. He'll now get his licence on his Birthday which is May 18th.

Wow what a party and what a night. Last night was my Bon Voyage Party, I had such a great time hehe and getting a little bit tipsy in the process. Everyone was buying me drinks I don't know how many vodka and cokes I had!! Well, I was allowed to get a little bit drunk/tipsy seeming it was technically my Bon Voyage/Hen night. It was funny my mother had bought me this pink sash that said "Bride to be" so I wore that all night.

The night started off slow, but then it seemed to pick up towards 9pm. My mother had decorated the whole place with pretty balloons and banners. What I really loved was this seperate little table on the dance floor, decorated with pretty balloons and white lace. On the table was a lovely Feather Quil Pen, with a Wedding Guest Book. I took a few pictures of it here, just click the links...

Feather Quil Pen & Wedding Guest Book

Front of Wedding Guest Book

Back of Wedding Guest Book

Front & Back of Wedding Guest Book

I loved the front that said "Congratulations & Best wishes on your Wedding Day Natalie & Clayton" And the back was soooo cool with the Welsh and US Flags. Inside I have about half the book full with comments saying Congratulations, Good Luck & best wishes for the future. Even my DJ signed it and wished me luck. It's lovely to have that as a keepsake, makes me what to cry seeming I'm leaving so many good friends and family behind. Well, I took many pictures of the night, just click the following links..

What does everyone think of my hair? You can see a better view of it on the first pic...

My 2 sisters and I before the party

Group Photo with all my friends and my 2 sisters

Me and my 2 very best friends Catherine and Laura

Everyone doing the CHA CHA Slide

How to do the CHA CHA Slide

I had a lot of money off family & friends so I'll exchange that for dollars before I go. I also had a lot of Welsh gifts, such as a Welsh cook book, Fridge magnets, A set of oven gloves and a set of kitchen towels. Guess they all don't want me to forget my Welsh Roots.

Aaah guess what my mother did for me, she put me in the local paper "The South Wales Guardian" I scanned the piece, lookie

I knew they'd do something like that, lol thanks mum & everyone! I'll miss you all too.

Sounds like everyone loved the idea of my new hairstyle, so I'm going to go for that tomorrow. My hair appointment is at 2pm. I'll take a pic for all to see :) can't wait I need a change.

Oh and unfortunately Clayton got 69.4% on his test and he needed 70% to pass. I can't believe they wouldn't give him the extra point, that's so not fair. He has to re take it again next week, third time lucky I guess. I'm sure you'll get it next time, you've studied so hard for it.

In other news my friend Catherine got her work visa today at the London Embassy, she'll be flying out too Orlando Florida 2wks after me. She's working in Disney World in one of the gift shops, and she'll be out there for 3mths. She's going with her college so it's all arranged.

Today has been an eventful day, I spend all morning phoning my bank and Credit Card Places to Cancel my cards. It was funny when they asked me "What is the reason for closing your account" "Um well I'm emigrating to America in 2wks" Oh and then the whole story comes out, people want to know why and such. Hehe I don't mind telling them, they are all happy for me and wish me luck for the future.

This afternoon I went to town to get my US Dollars, I now have $1000 sitting beside me. It cost me about 585 pounds about 5 pound less than what I expected. My friend Catherine and I went round the shops, I bought this cool Welsh top it's red and says "Wales" on it with the Welsh Flag in the middle. I then bought a nice baige flowery skirt. And a lovely Purple skirt with matching top. They look lovely very summery. I'll take a pic in the next couple of days.

Tomorrow I'm going to the Drs to copy all my medical records, for when I move. At least the Drs over there will have my records then. And on Thursday I'm having my hair cut and colored, I'm thinking of having "Kelly Clarksons" Hair Style, what does everyone think? I think it looks lovely.

I had a good weekend. Saturday I went into town to have my eyes tested, and to get new glasses. So I have new glasses, ready to go away. My mum and I went round the shops while my dad went to the Record fair. Sunday was a lovely relaxing day, and final packing of my suitcase :)

Oh I just want to wish Clayton my baby good Luck in his retest of his real estate exam, I'm sure you'll ace it this time. You've studied so hard over the last week. Good Luck babes.

My sister and my niece & nephew came round today. It was fun to have them round for all the afternoon, I'm gonna miss them growing up when I'm away. We then went out to the shops to get some lunch. I went to the travel agents and ordered my US dollars, 590 pounds will get me exactly $1000 which isn't bad but last time I went it was like 570 for a $1000. Hope the exchange rate changes in my favor when I pick them up.

This evening I went to have my second dress fitting, wow I couldn't believe her work. She's put a lot of effort into re sizing my dress, and you wouldn't think at all that it has been altered. Hehe and I was gonna take a pic, but the dress was full of pins seeming she hadn't stitched it all up yet. So I didn't want to show everyone, when it was like that. It doesn't really do the dress any justice when it's like that. I have to go down a week Wednesday for my final fitting, it should be all ready then. Awww I can't wait.

I've been looking at flower bouquets on ebay, some of the artificial ones are really lovely. There are some talented people out there. I really don't know what I want whether I want fresh or artificial ones. At least with the artificial ones you get to keep it as it was for keepsake, so I'm thinking of leaning towards the idea of artificial bouquets.

Went shopping yesterday with my mum and my sisters, we went searching for Bridesmaid dresses, as you all know. We searched everywhere, and came to a Lilac dress in Debenhams click here to see. I think it looks lovely, the pic isn't that big to see, but it's very light and summary. The girls liked it and that was the main thing. Then we went to a jeweller's to re size my Great Grandmothers wedding ring. It fits me perfect now.

We went to have lunch at a local restaurant called "starving Jacks" I had this to die for Salad bowl lol it was lovely. After that we went shopping again, I bought this white top with a Tatty Bear on it, holding a flower. Hehe I have a thing for Tatty Bears, oh I also went into a craft store and saw a Cross Stitch with a Tatty Bear on it, I thought it was cute. I ended up buying it, thought I'd have a go and Cross Stitch, my gran is very into it so I thought I'd give it a go. Here's what it should look like once I've finished... Tatty Bear Cross Stitch

When I was in the craft store I also found some lovely Wedding Invitations, of course they are Tatty Bear, hand crafted though. I took a picture of them here When I saw them I fell in love with them, so I bought a few sets of those.

Hey everyone, hope ya'll had a great Easter, I did. Not a a lot has been happening with me, I've started packing my suitcases ready to go. I have one suitcase of clothes, and the other with everything else. My room is looking really bear now, 3wks tomorrow I fly to the US not long now. My bon voyage party is on the 24th April which is a week Saturday.

Tomorrow I'm going down town with my sisters and my mother, to shop for Bridesmaid dresses. So that should be fun. Then on Thursday I go to have my second dress fitting, I can't wait to see my dress. I will definitely get my mom to take a pic for you guys and I'll e mail it to all on Thursday night :):)

Hehe was talking to Clayton, and get this he kinda told me that he hadn't completely unpacked his suitcase from the October trip to the UK. I went totally nuts on him, but that's not all!! He asked me if I had lost a top, or couldn't find one. For months and months now, I've been looking for a white top I had that said "Always trust your heart" I don't know what happened to it. Little did I know, that my soon to be husband had it in his suitcase all this time.

Men huh, can't live with them can't live without them hehe!

Went to an Easter Fair today, with my sister Sarah. It was in the local Church, as they were raising money for the family center they run. I took Joanna my niece there, She was happy seeming there was face painting, badge making and they were making Easter Baskets as well. Hehe so guess what I did for 2hrs out of my day.

Clayton passed 2 out of 3 sections of his exam. He got 60% out of the 3rd section but the pass was 70% so he needs to retake the third section again. Which I believe he'll be doing next week, I know you can do it babes. Hehe Rome wasn't build in a day.

Oooh lookie what I made...

I made the Easter Bunny from a Tutorial, thanks too Melissa's Pixel Garden

Yay my tickets came today, ahh I'm so excited I can't wait. It was wired cause I had the tickets technically all the information was there and the itinerary, and a leaflet explaining what "E Tickets" were. I read it and it made sense why I didn't have the tickets, but I called the travel place just in case. Apparently it's a new Electronic way of ticketing, you just go to your check in desk like normal with your itinerary and they'll have your ticket on the computer.

My mum came up to me Saturday, and gave me my Great Grandmothers wedding ring. She wanted me to have it, I was so honored it was a really special moment to me. Clayton also booked the hotel for our Honeymoon night, we will be staying at the Hotel Bellwether In the Executive Suite. Overlooking Bellingham Bay how romantic is that.

I've been making over my Sleepless In Seattle - Online Romance MSN Group. I'm trying to make it more popular and so forth, and bring new members in. I'd love to help other people in the same situation as me, Online Long Distance Relationship.

Clayton is taking his final Real estate exam tomorrow, it's a 4hr exam with 135 questions. Wish him luck everyone. If he passes this then he'll be a qualified agent, how neat is that. Good Luck baby I know you can do it.

Ooh my Tiara came yesterday, it's so lovely. I also went to town yesterday and bought my wedding shoes, they are designed like ballet shoes and are white, of course. Everything is coming together slowly. Exactly a month from tomorrow, I'll be with Clayton yay.

Joanna my niece had a wonderful Birthday party, it was a lot of fun. Here's a pic of her having her after having her face painted... Face Painted

Was talking to Clayton's friend Chris today, and he's offered me the job of website designer for the Bellingham Railway Museum website. And I accepted, so how cool is that. I know I don't like trains all that much, but I guess I'll have to get used to them being married to a train buff an all lol. It'll also give me something to do, besides do nothing lol. I'll have to think of how I can make the website more presentable, I mean it is like a guys website as it is I don't wanna bring to much of my femine ways into it lol. I'm going to have a real good go at it though :):)

My grandparents (My Dads parents) are coming down today to wish me luck with everything and to give me a wedding present. So that'll be nice to see them, I've asked everyone back here to give me money as a gift because I can exchange it and get more out of the dollars when I'm over there.

Oh and my mum has booked the flight tickets to come over for the Wedding. My Mum & Dad Eloise & Emily (my sisters) and my grandparents (My mums parents) are traveling over on the 29th June - 12 July. And everyone is so excited, they haven't traveled out of the UK before.