I don't really think I should have to clarify and/or explain my actions, but after a neighbor made some comments yesterday, I thought this may clear things up for anyone wondering/thinking along these lines.

 *I am NOT trying to go through a total transformation before my wedding.*

 * I am not trying to vainly alter my appearance to be a "perfect bride".*

I do realize I am correcting my teeth, having reconstructive facial surgery, and am attempting to get in better shape.
So let me explain:

Teeth:

I have always wanted to correct my teeth. I have been self conscious about them all my life. Many say my teeth are fine or perfect, but to me they are not. I hold back on my smile, throw out bad photos if my crooked front tooth casts a shadow (which happens often), and wish I could go back in time and never suck my thumb as a child. We couldn't exactly afford braces growing up so I am doing it now, when I can afford it on my own. I wanted to do it for years, but I never got around to it. I guess I never felt like I was particularly “stable” where I could commit to a year-long treatment until now. So when I found a good deal, I went for it.
Nose:

In case you forgot, I was in a car accident. I broke my nose and now have a deviated septum. After finding out my nose had already healed from the break, I decided I would not try to "correct" the cosmetic problem because I felt it was very minor. I was referred to a specialist and given a CT scan to make sure nothing else inside my face was damaged. Although my nasal cavity was not fractured, my deviated septum is very severe and my nasal passages are completely blocked on both sides. The average deviated septum is to one side or the other. Mine deviates to the right internally and to the left externally, so my CT scan looked like an “S” where a straight line should be. The surgeon said surgery was necessary. If not now, it would only get worse. I was in shock but decided to move forward and get it over with. I have facial pain regularly and an increased number of migraines. I am not looking forward to the pain of surgery, but am accepting to the fact that it is needed.

I am having a slight cosmetic adjustment but only because the doctor is in there and he is doing it for free. If I was unhappy with my nose before breaking it and he said he could make it prettier while he’s in there, why not? But I want the nose I had before, and he said he will try his best to get it there, while the number one priority is functionality. As for the procedure, I am having a septo-rhinoplasty if you are interested in Googling all the gory details. I can’t bear to watch it and I normally like that stuff. He will not be breaking my bones (like in a standard "nose job") since the bones healed fairly well. He is removing a small piece of my septum and placing it on the "dent" on my nose so that it appears straighter. The septum already has to be removed and reinserted because of the “S” curve so this means he will just shave a small piece off of the cartilage of the septum to place on my “dent”. If anything my nose will be getting slightly bigger. A far cry from a normal "nose job". He will then put the septum back in and reattach it to the rest of my face. This will all be done through small incisions inside my nostrils.

Working out/Losing weight:

I have been in college full time for the last 4 years. For 3 ½ of those years, I was also working full time. My work commute is about 2 hours a day. So as you can imagine, I didn’t have much time to myself while I was in school. I have never been the healthiest eater and when I was limited on time, I did not work out. I was diagnosed with multiple chronic spine injuries back in 2006 (these being the reason I got out of the Marine Corps) and was told that I would not be able to exercise in the same way again. For many years, I agreed with the doctors’ warnings and used that as a bit of an excuse as to why it was “OK” that I didn’t work out. I was never overweight, but as with most women, I felt I could stand to lose a few pounds. Back in 2011 I was given the OK from doctors to do whatever exercises I liked, as long as I was willing to accept the pain. I was reassured that I could not physically make my conditions any worse and I could slowly learn to tolerate my pain levels with physical activity. Now that I am out of school (and we are living in a complex with a free gym just down the road), I am able to work out. I have been trying to eat healthier over the last few (3?) years but often go back to sugar (my weakness) and get back into an unhealthy funk. I do want to lose weight before my wedding. What bride doesn’t? But my goal is to get healthier since I know I am at a higher risk due to my spine problems.

I might as well throw in the fact that I officially became Catholic this past Easter! Lots of people said I did that so I “could get married in the Catholic Church”. Oh if you only knew… but that my friends, is no one’s business but my own. The real reason I became Catholic is because I felt drawn to do so. You can thank my bunk mate and good friend Laura Arscott for introducing me to Catholicism at boot camp back in 2003. So if you want to “blame” anyone for “pushing me” or “convincing me” to join the faith, it would be her, not my fiancé.

So, I am just putting all of this out there for anyone who is curious as to why I am going through all sorts of things to “alter my appearance”. I am simply trying to better myself. Is that a crime? I actually think that is something to be proud of, which is why I am taking the time to write this. I know there will always be people out there, even “friends”, who will stick their noses in the air if you do well for yourself. So to them, here! Here are all the details… all the ins and outs. If you want to judge me for this, go right ahead.